List of 15 authors coming to the 2021 hybrid Texas Book Festival in October. Photo: google
The Texas Book Festival is excited to unveil fifteen authors joining the weeklong hybrid Festival this fall. The Festival will feature Pulitzer Prize–winning author Colson Whitehead, Michener Center for Writers instructor Elizabeth McCracken, bestselling novelist and 2016 Kirkus Prize finalist Amor Towles, National Medal of Arts recipient and 2005 Texas Writer Award recipient Sandra Cisneros, bestselling children’s author R. J. Palacio, and many more. (Texas Book Festival, 2021)
Starting October 25, the weeklong hybrid Festival will include a robust, diverse lineup of established, emerging, and debut literary talent for readers of all ages. TBF’s full lineup will be completed and revealed later this summer.
The full list of the fifteen sneak peek authors include: • Rumaan Alam, “Leave the World Behind” • Benjamin Alire Sáenz, “Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World” • Sandra Cisneros, “Martita, I Remember You / Martita, te recuerdo” • Mary Gaitskill, “The Devil’s Treasure” • Gabriela Garcia, “Of Women and Salt” • Elizabeth McCracken, “The Souvenir Museum” • Maggie Nelson, “On Freedom: Four Songs of Care and Constraint” • R. J. Palacio, “Pony” • Raj Patel, “Inflamed: Deep Medicine and the Anatomy of Injustice” • Don Tate, “Pigskins to Paintbrushes” • Amor Towles, “The Lincoln Highway” • Sergio Troncoso, “Nepantla Familias: An Anthology of Mexican American Literature on Families in Between Worlds” • Colson Whitehead, “Harlem Shuffle” • Lawrence Wright, “The Plague Year: America in the Time of Covid” • Cecily Wong, “Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer’s Guide”
With a vision to inspire Texans of all ages, the Texas Book Festival connects authors and readers through experiences that celebrate the culture of literacy, ideas, and imagination. Founded in 1995 by former First Lady Laura Bush, Mary Margaret Farabee, and a group of volunteers, the nonprofit Texas Book Festival promotes the joys of reading and writing through its annual Festival Weekend, the Texas Teen Book Festival, the Reading Rock Stars Title I elementary school program, the Real Reads Title I middle and high school program, grants to Texas libraries, and year-round literary programming. This year’s hybrid Texas Book Festival will take place from October 25 through October 31, with virtual events October 25 – 28 and the Festival Weekend taking place on the grounds of the Texas Capitol October 30 – 31, featuring renowned authors, panels, book signings, and children’s activities. Thanks to generous donors, sponsors, and volunteers, the Festival remains free and open to the public.
‘Red Deception’ by Ed Fuller and Gary Grossman. Photo: amazon
Masters of international intrigue Ed Fuller and Gary Grossman are back with their latest, timely geopolitical thriller, “Red Deception.” When terrorists bomb bridges across the country and threaten the Hoover Dam, the vulnerability of America’s infrastructure becomes a matter of national security. But Dan Reilly, a former U.S. Army intelligence officer, predicted the attacks in a secret State Department report written years earlier – a virtual blueprint for disaster, that was somehow leaked and is now in the hands of foreign operatives. (Gary Grossman, Ed Fuller, 2021)
With Washington distracted by domestic crises, Russian President Nicolai Gorshkov sends troops to the borders of Ukraine and Latvia, ready to reclaim what he feels is Russia’s rightful territory. Tensions in Europe threaten to boil over as a besieged American president balances multiple crises that threaten to upend the geopolitical order. With the U.S. at the mercy of an egomaniacal leader, and reporters and covert agents on his tail, Reilly may be the one man who can connect the dots before an even bigger catastrophe unfolds. Blending career insight with first-hand knowledge of global politics, Fuller and Grossman draw a chilling portrait of the fragile fault lines in Europe and the players poised to seize power.
Ed Fuller is CEO of Laguna Strategic Advisors, a global consortium providing business consulting services worldwide. He has served on business and charitable boards during his 40-year career with Marriott International where he was chief marketing officer followed by 22 years as president and managing director of Marriott International. His book, “You Can’t Lead with Your Feet on the Desk,” has been printed in English, Japanese and Chinese. Fuller served as captain in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany and Vietnam and received the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation medals. He and Gary Grossman are co-authors of the Red Hotel series, including the 2018 thriller “Red Hotel,” “Red Deception,” and soon to be followed by “Red Chaos.”
Gary Grossman is a journalist, newspaper columnist, documentary television producer, reporter, media historian and the author of “Executive Actions,” “Executive Treason,” “Executive Command,” and “Executive Force.” In addition to the bestselling Executive series, Grossman wrote the international award-winning “Old Earth,” a geological thriller. With Ed Fuller, Grossman has collaborated on the globe-hopping Red Hotel series. He served as chair of the Government Affairs Committee for the Caucus for Producers, Writers and Directors, and is a member of the International Thriller Writers Association and Military Writers Society of America. Grossman has taught at Emerson College, Boston University, USC, and currently teaches at Loyola Marymount University.
“An in-depth and realistic ground-level view of the type of asymmetric Nation-state sponsored threats faced by the Agencies tasked with protecting the United States both domestically and abroad.”
Edward Bradstreet, Special Agent, Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
‘Where Do You Hang Your Hammock?’ by Bella Mahaya Carter. Photo: amazon
Bella Mahaya Carter is a creative writing teacher, empowerment coach, speaker, and author of an award-winning memoir, “Raw: My Journey from Anxiety to Joy,” and “Secrets of My Sex,” a collection of narrative poems. She has worked with hundreds of writers over the past eleven years and has degrees in literature, film production, and spiritual psychology. Her poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, articles, and interviews have appeared in Mind, Body, Green; The Sun; Lilith; Fearless Soul; Writer’s Bone; Women Writers, Women’s Books; Chic Vegan; Bad Yogi Magazine; Jane Friedman’s Blog; Pick The Brain; Spiritual Medial Blog; Literary Mama; several anthologies, and elsewhere. In her new book “Where Do You Hang Your Hammock?: Finding Peace of Mind While You Write, Publish, and Promote Your Book” she shows writers how to use their present circumstances as stepping-stones to a successful and meaningful writing life.
“Where Do You Hang Your Hammock?” begins with an Introduction where the author shares her personal experience about how a hammock she received from her husband and daughter for Mother’s Day helped her conclude that peace and happiness come from within. She thought she had placed it in the perfect spot in her backyard but when the neighbor cut down a tree that gave her shade, she was furious about it for a month. It was not until she gave in, relocated it and found another ‘perfect spot,’ that she found that the bliss was not in the hammock itself, but in the permission she “gave myself to let go and be completely present and alive there.” Her goal is that this book will “encourage readers to lean in to their work and their lives with greater freedom, curiosity, and celebration.” It is divided into five parts: Dream (Universal Doubt, Stories That Create Suffering), Nourish (Small Adjustments, Body Breaks), Write (Journal Writing Is Good For Your Writing, The Time It Takes), Publish (Why We Write, The Dream), and Promote (Author Expectations, Hiring a Publicist). Each part stands alone and some chapters end with writing prompts to help readers dig deeper into the subject as it pertains to their lives. Throughout, she also shares her seven major crossroads moments on her path to publication, known as MYHM (move your hammock moment). This must-read resource is meant to give writers inspiration and help authors overwhelmed by the publishing process.
Writing and getting published can be intimidating and there are more than enough books out there dealing with the subject. “Where Do You Hang Your Hammock?” is not only a how-to book, it is also meant to help readers be mentally prepared for the entire process by dealing with fears and feelings of inadequacies and giving them coping skills. The book is brilliantly divided into different stages so that readers can choose what to focus on depending on their needs or just read all the way through. The chapters are short and to the point, without unnecessary ramblings, and the language is easy to understand, true attributes of an educator. Highlights include chapter 38. Craft: Six Ways to Improve Your Writing where the author gives writing tips such as avoiding general terms and writing using your natural speaking voice; chapter 69. Marketing Versus Publicity (marketing is an ongoing process while publicity is a targeted media campaign), and chapter 81. How to Plan a Successful Book Tour. An interesting concept she shares is that “readers want to see their own lives reflected in what they read;” this is why we read and why we write, to connect with others, so we should not be afraid to write about our experiences. It is updated for the modern age with the inclusion of using social media, Facebook and Zoom. “Where Do You Hang Your Hammock?” by Bella Mahaya Carter is an extremely useful and inspiring guide designed to bring out an individual’s creativity. It is recommended for readers looking for ways to improve their writing and tips for how to handle what comes after a book is published.
“Perhaps one of the greatest skills I know in service to dreams is the understanding that growth takes place at the edges of one’s comfort zone.”
*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.
‘The Shadow’ is the new thriller by James Patterson and Brian Sitts. Photo: amazon
James Patterson is one of the best-known and biggest-selling writers of all time. His books have sold in excess of 375 million copies worldwide. He is the author of some of the most popular series of the past two decades – the Alex Cross, Women’s Murder Club, Detective Michael Bennett, and Private novels – and he has written many other number one bestsellers including romance novels and stand-alone thrillers. He also writes a range of books for young readers including the Middle School, I Funny, Treasure Hunters, Dog Diaries, and Max Einstein series. James has donated millions in grants to independent bookshops and has been the most borrowed author of adult fiction in UK libraries for the past eleven years in a row. In his new book with co-author Brian Sitts, “The Shadow,” he reimagines one of America’s iconic thriller heroes. Released today, it is now available everywhere books are sold. (amazon, 2021)
“The Shadow” – Only two people know that 1930s society man Lamont Cranston has a secret identity as the Shadow, a crusader for justice. One is his greatest love, Margo Lane, and the other is fiercest enemy, Shiwan Khan. When Khan ambushes the couple, they must risk everything for the slimmest chance of survival, in the future. A century and a half later, Lamont awakens in a world both unknown and disturbingly familiar. The first person he meets is Maddy Gomes, a teenager with her own mysterious secrets, including a knowledge of the legend of the Shadow. Most disturbing, Khan’s power continues to be felt over the city and its people. No one in this new world understands the dangers of stopping him better than Lamont Cranston. And only the Shadow knows that he is the one person who might succeed before more innocent lives are lost.
‘Steel Fear’ by Brandon Webb and John David Mann will be released on July 13, 2021. Photo: amazon
Brandon Webb is a combat-decorated Navy SEAL sniper turned entrepreneur who has built two brands into an eight-figure business. As a U.S. Navy chief he was head instructor at the Navy SEAL sniper school, which produced some of America’s most legendary snipers. John David Mann is co-author of more than thirty books, including four The New York Times bestsellers and five national bestsellers. His writing has won multiple awards, including the Living Now Book Awards Evergreen Medal for its “contributions to positive global change.” Webb and Mann have been writing together for a decade, starting with their bestselling memoir “The Red Circle.” Their debut novel “Steel Fear,” is their seventh book together and the first thriller of many to come. It is the story of an aircraft carrier adrift with a crew the size of a small town, a killer in their midst, and the disgraced Navy SEAL who must track him down. Release date is Tuesday July 13, 2021. (amazon, 2021)
“Steel Fear” – The moment Navy SEAL sniper Finn sets foot on the USS Abraham Lincoln to hitch a ride home from the Persian Gulf, it is clear something is deeply wrong. Leadership is weak. Morale is low. And when crew members start disappearing one by one, what at first seems like a random string of suicides soon reveals something far more sinister: There is a serial killer on board. Suspicion falls on Finn, the newcomer to the ship. After all, he is being sent home in disgrace, recalled from the field under the dark cloud of a mission gone horribly wrong. He is also a lone wolf, haunted by gaps in his memory and the elusive sense that something he missed may have contributed to civilian deaths on his last assignment. Finding the killer offers a chance at redemption, if he can stay alive long enough to prove it is not him.
A new month means new books on the horizon. These are some notable new releases for the month of June in my favorite categories: Mystery and Thriller, Science Fiction, Fiction, Nonfiction, Historical Fiction, Memoir and autobiography, and Fantasy. If I could pick just one this month, it would be “Falling” by T.J. Newman (amazon, Goodreads, 2021)
Mystery and Thriller “Falling” by T.J. Newman Release date: July 6, 2021
You just boarded a flight to New York. There are one hundred and forty-three other passengers onboard. What you do not know is that thirty minutes before the flight, your pilot’s family was kidnapped. For his family to live, everyone on your plane must die. The only way the family will survive is if the pilot follows his orders and crashes the plane. Enjoy the flight.
Ven was once a holy man, a keeper of ancient archives. It was his duty to interpret archaic texts, sorting useful knowledge from the heretical ideas of the Burning Age—a time of excess and climate disaster. For in Ven’s world, such material must be closely guarded so that the ills that led to that cataclysmic era can never be repeated. But when the revolutionary Brotherhood approaches Ven, pressuring him to translate stolen writings that threaten everything he once held dear, his life will be turned upside down. Torn between friendship and faith, Ven must decide how far he is willing to go to save this new world—and how much he is willing to lose.
Lexa Thomas has never quite fit in. Having grown up in a family of blondes while more closely resembling Constance Wu, she is neither white enough nor Asian enough. Visiting her father in Taiwan as a child, Lexa thought she had finally found a place where she belonged. But that was years ago, and even there, some never truly considered her to be a part of the family. When her estranged father dies unexpectedly leaving the fate of his Taiwanese family in Lexa’s hands, she is faced with the choice to return to Taiwan and claim her place in her heritage or leave her Taiwanese family to lose their home for good. Armed with the advice of two half-sisters (one American and the other Taiwanese, who cannot stand each other), a mother who has reevaluated her sexuality, a man whose kisses make her walk into walls, and her self-deprecating humor, Lexa finds the courage to leave the comfort of New York City to finally confront the person who drove her away all those decades ago.
No matter how smart we believe ourselves to be, we are all susceptible to bullshit―and we all engage in it. While we may brush it off as harmless marketing sales speak or as humorous, embellished claims, it is actually much more dangerous and insidious. It is how Bernie Madoff successfully swindled billions of dollars from even the most experienced financial experts with his Ponzi scheme. It is how the protocols of Mao Zedong’s Great Leap Forward resulted in the deaths of 36 million people from starvation. Presented as truths by authority figures and credentialed experts, bullshit appears legitimate, and we accept their words as gospel. If we do not question the information we receive from bullshit artists to prove their thoughts and theories, we allow these falsehoods to take root in our memories and beliefs. With real world examples from people versed in bullshit who work in the used car, real estate, wine, and diamond industries, Petrocelli exposes the red-flag warning signs found in the anecdotal stories, emotional language, and buzzwords used by bullshitters that persuade our decisions. By using his critical thinking defensive tactics against those motivated by profit, we will also learn how to stop the toxic misinformation spread from the social media influencers, fake news, and op-eds that permeate our culture and call out bullshit whenever we see it.
After being stolen from her wealthy German parents and raised in the unforgiving wilderness of eastern Europe, a young woman finds herself alone in 1941 after her kidnapper dies. Her solitary existence is interrupted, however, when she happens upon a group of Jews fleeing the Nazi terror. Stunned to learn what is happening in the outside world, she vows to teach the group all she can about surviving in the forest—and in turn, they teach her some surprising lessons about opening her heart after years of isolation. But when she is betrayed and escapes into a German-occupied village, her past and present come together in a shocking collision that could change everything. Inspired by incredible true stories of survival against staggering odds, and immersed with the journey-from-the-wilderness elements that made “Where the Crawdads Sing” a worldwide phenomenon, “The Forest of Vanishing Stars” is a heart-wrenching and suspenseful novel from the #1 internationally bestselling author.
Richard Marx is one of the most accomplished singer-songwriters in the history of popular music. His self-titled 1987 album went triple platinum and made him the first male solo artist (and second solo artist overall after Whitney Houston) to have four singles from their debut crack the top three on the Billboard Hot 100. In Stories to Tell, Marx looks back on his life and career. He writes of how Kenny Rogers changed a single line of a song he had written for him then asked for a 50% cut—which inspired Marx to write one of his biggest hits. Yet amid these entertaining celebrity encounters, Marx offers a more sobering assessment of the music business as he has experienced it over four decades—the challenges of navigating greedy executives and grueling tour schedules, and the rewards of connecting with thousands of fans at sold-out shows that make all the drama worthwhile. He also provides an illuminating look at his songwriting process and talks honestly about how his personal life has inspired his work, including finding love with wife Daisy Fuentes and the mystery illness that recently struck him—and that doctors have not been able to solve.
Everyone knows the legend. Of Arthur, destined to be a king. Of the beautiful Guinevere, who will betray him with his most loyal knight, Lancelot. Of the bitter sorceress, Morgana, who will turn against them all. But Elaine alone carries the burden of knowing what is to come–for Elaine of Shalott is cursed to see the future. On the mystical isle of Avalon, Elaine runs free and learns of the ancient prophecies surrounding her and her friends–countless possibilities, almost all of them tragic. When their future comes to claim them, Elaine, Guinevere, Lancelot, and Morgana accompany Arthur to take his throne in stifling Camelot, where magic is outlawed, the rules of society chain them, and enemies are everywhere. Yet the most dangerous threats may come from within their own circle. As visions are fulfilled and an inevitable fate closes in, Elaine must decide how far she will go to change destiny–and what she is willing to sacrifice along the way.
‘Great American Road Trips’ by Reader’s Digest. Photo: amazon
Now that summer is here, most people will be taking vacations, including road trips. Reader’s Digest has put together a new book, the first in the Great American Road Trips series, that covers Scenic Drives. Hoping to inspire readers to travel and explore the wide-opens spaces and breathtaking views of our country, “Great American Road Trips – Scenic Drives: Discover Insider Tips, Must-See Stops, Nearby Attractions and More” is a complete guide to making road trips easier.
“Great American Road Trips” begins with a foreword by the editors that explains the purpose of this book “These trips will take you on an odyssey in your car, van or RV.” These drives range from the ones that lead to beaches to the more adventurous, like a trip along North America’s highest paved road, the Mount Evans Scenic Byway in Colorado. Each one is a firsthand experience from travelers and photographers themselves and comes with helpful added tips like length of trip, fun facts, nearby attractions, and “not to be missed” points of interest. All this is highlighted by over 140 gorgeous photos. The information is divided into five parts: West (Seward Highway in Alaska, Big Sur Coast in California), Southwest (Apache Trail in Arizona, Texas Hill Country in Texas), Midwest (Illinois River Road in Illinois, North Shore Scenic Drive in Minnesota), Southeast (Bayou Country in Louisiana, Cherokee Foothills Byway in South Carolina), and Northeast (Cape Cod’s Route 6 in Massachusetts, Vermont Route 108 in Vermont).
Whether taking a cross country trip or planning a staycation, “Great American Road Trips” is the ultimate guide to scenic drives. Even if you are not planning a road trip anytime soon, it still contains exceptional pictures and information about each scenic drive. The first person descriptions make them more realistic. Highlight: each section ends with a quote and being from Texas and having lived near Fredericksburg, I am partial to the one after ‘Southwest,’ “Where flowers bloom, so does hope” by Lady Bird Johnson because it accompanies the picture of a field of bluebonnets near Fredericksburg. Seeing all these flowers along side the road every spring is awe-inspiring. All the pictures are colorful and they make each destination look more inviting. “Great American Road Trips” is an extremely helpful resource for anyone planning a scenic drive or two and might just inspire a bucket list altogether.
*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.
Dawn Fades’ new album Ode is now available for pre-order. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Los Angeles CA post-metal group Dawn Fades will release their sophomore album Ode, September 10, 2021. Ode will be available on vinyl, CD and all digital platforms via Metal Assault Records. The first single and music video “Taste” premiered June 25, along with the pre-order launch of the album in all aforementioned formats. (Dawn Fades, 2021)
Comprising six songs spanning ethereal experimentation and crushing heaviness, Ode shows a band unshaken by the pandemic induced time away from the stage. The new offering reveals Dawn Fades as now more resolute in their vision and execution. Mixed by heavy music mainstay Josh Newell (Intronaut, Anthrax, Linkin Park), Ode manages to be both more mature and more raw than the band’s critically acclaimed self-titled 2019 debut. While expertly retaining the core elements of their highly successful debut; Dawn Fades takes their musical evolution to even greater heights on Ode, undoubtedly leaving an even stronger impression on listeners.
Frontman and songwriter Sam Sherwood says the album is “a picture of feelings about the trappings of the world we find ourselves in. I believe we are doing a thing that has its own life to it. There is darkness and screaming inner-torment and there are ear-worm hooks.”
LA Weekly describes Dawn Fades as “a mashup of Deftones and Neurosis, with hints of Eyehategod and Enslaved.” Ode is now available to pre-order with the official album release slated for September 10, 2021.
Ode track listing:
Dearth (8:17)
Taste (5:11)
Ode: Part 1 (1:51)
Ode: Part 2 (5:56)
Front (6:57)
Chains (8:36)
Turning (3:23) Total Runtime: 40:11
Dawn Fades is: Sam Sherwood – Vocals Scott Rosenquist – Drums Markus Erren Pardiñas – Bass Nate Hertweck – Guitar
’39 Down’ is book one of the Joseph Schneider, Traitor-Patriot series by Paul Schwartzmeyer. Photo: amazon
Paul Schwartzmeyer is a former Marine Corp radio man. After graduating from college, he worked on oil rigs in the bayous of offshore Louisiana and in Texas. For eight years he worked as an engineer in the Saudi Desert where he was given the highest level security clearance to work with radioactivity and explosives. He also worked in Dubai as well as in the Al Rub Al Khali, one of the most desolate places on earth. His worldwide contacts include soldiers of fortune, oil industry executives, combat veterans, hostage negotiators, madams, and pub owners. He has extensive knowledge in the workings of international banks, trade cartels and the civilian military complex and his books are metaphors for a world few people ever see. He is the author of the series Joseph Schneider, Traitor-Patriot. “39 Down” is book 1 of the series and the story of Paul Trifthauser, who unknowingly inherits an espionage network from his grandfather.
“39 Down” begins with a CIA memo to the FBI director from the Intelligence Division regarding Joseph Gerhold Wendel Schneider that includes his personal information such as date of birth, occupations, and known family members: his grandson Paul Trifthauser, who is the protagonist of this series. The story starts as Arianna, Paul’s girlfriend, is grieving the death of Gregor, Paul’s best friend. He was shot coming out of Paul’s office building while wearing his jacket so Paul assumes he was the intended target, not Gregor. His death spooks them so much that when Paul’s mother calls to say she is selling the family home and that he needs to go and clean out his stuff, he and Arianna do not think twice about leaving town. Paul is newly sober and he fears that if he starts drinking again, he will lose Arianna and he has already lost too much. But Gregor’s death is only the beginning of the drama and chaos that will upend both their lives. When they find Joseph’s stack of crossword puzzles in the family home’s barn, Arianna, who is good at puzzles, goes through them. Together, they begin to unlock the mystery of Joseph’s past which leads to Paul unknowingly inheriting an espionage network so secretive and so lethal that that even the CIA was afraid to confront it. Buried in layers of code, hidden in 3,000 crossword puzzles are Joseph Schneider’s secrets. Now Paul has to figure out the code before his grandfather’s enemies, the world’s massive trading cartels, realize he does not know it. Not knowing who he can trust and armed with nothing but intuition and with the help of a twenty-nine year old Indian prostitute named Alejandra, he races against time in an attempt to stay alive.
The Joseph Schneider, Traitor-Patriot series is based on many composite characters, including Paul Schwartzmeyer’s grandfather Joseph Reeb, who was a former tanner for the Pearce Arrow company, a decorated combat veteran in World War I, and owned a furniture store in Buffalo. “39 Down” has a feeling of authenticity since the author used some of his own background to create the Paul Trifthauser universe, including spies, cartels, and Alejandra, the prostitute/assistant. It is narrated in the first person point of view so the reader has an insight into Paul’s state of mind, especially when everything is falling apart around him. Due to Paul’s extensive character development, readers come to care about what happens to him. The language is easy to understand and poetic at times: “The Rover glided over the sand as if we were floating on a cloud.” Some chapters begin with CIA memos updating the Trifthauser/Schneider case which hints that the CIA really is following Paul, that he is not just paranoid. His grandfather’s code name was Arnus, ‘39 Down’ in correspondence with foreign agents; that is where the novel’s title comes in. It is fascinating when Paul describes what it is like living in isolation and how traumatic it can be going back to civilization: “It takes about a month to internalize it. It’s a process. At night, the silence is so encompassing that your ears ring. The ringing keeps you awake, but when that dies down, your body takes on a calmness that’s quite profound. After just five months, I returned to ‘civilization.’ It was one of the most horrid experiences in my life. I couldn’t sleep inside, choosing to sleep on the roof of my apartment in Dhahran. I drank incessantly, I thought I’d lose my mind.” With action that flows easily through the pages, it is a definite must-read. “39 Down” by Paul Schwartzmeyer is a globe-trotting spy adventure that sometimes keeps readers guessing but does not disappoint. It is recommended for fans of spy thrillers similar to The Bourne series by Robert Ludlam and the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child.
The Kindle edition of “39 Down” appears to be the unedited version because it has numerous typos and grammatical/spelling errors. This does not take away from the quality of the story.
*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.
‘The Hollows’ by Mark Edwards will be out July 8, 2021. Photo: amazon
Mark Edwards writes psychological thrillers in which scary things happen to ordinary people. He has sold 3 million books since his first novel, “The Magpies,” was published in 2013, and has topped the bestseller lists several times. His other novels include “Follow You Home,” “The Retreat,” “In Her Shadow,” “Because She Loves Me,” “The House Guest,” and “Here To Stay.” He has also co-authored six books with Louise Voss. His new book “The Hollows,” a chilling story set deep in the woods, will be out Thursday July 8, 2021 and is available for pre-order on amazon. (amazon, 2021)
“The Hollows” – With his marriage over and his career in freefall, journalist Tom decides to reconnect with his fourteen-year-old daughter, Frankie. Desperate to spend precious time together now that they live an ocean apart, he brings her to Hollow Falls, a cabin resort deep in the woods of Maine. From the outset there is something a little eerie about the place―strange whispers in the trees, windchimes echoing through the forest―but when Tom meets true-crime podcasters David and Connie, he receives a chilling warning. Hollow Falls has a gruesome history: twenty years ago this week, a double slaying shut down the resort. The crime was never solved, and now the woods are overrun with murder-obsessed tourists looking to mark the grim anniversary. It is clear that there is something deeply disturbing going on at Hollow Falls. And as Tom’s dream trip turns into a nightmare, he and Frankie are faced with a choice: uncover the truth, or get out while they still can.
SA Examiner 