Tag: Thriller

The Day of the Martians: The Martian Diaries, Volume 1 by HE Wilberson

Review - Submitted

The Martians are returning to Earth, chaos, and fear run high as many remember their first invasion. Now the stakes are higher. Set in Wales in 1913, astronomer Ogilvy is one of the first to recognize the comet racing toward Earth for what it is and its deadly inhabitants, the Martian tripods.

A sequel to The War of the Worlds story, H.E. Wilberson has delivered on what could have happened after The War of the Worlds in a vivid style. The storyline flows well, and character development is strong. Vivid descriptions are used allowing the listener to connect with the story even more.

As I listened to the story, I noticed three things that stood out. The first was the informal use of language, it did not reflect the era of the time; the second was the societal practice of protecting the female gender from anything bad; and finally, the interaction between the astronomer and the military personnel was very much what one would expect from that era. I think the research that went into this book was good and it was written in the informal style to enhance its relatability to its audience.

Like War of the Worlds, there were sound effects and music which presented a realistic touch to the sequel. H.E. Wilburson captured the fear and drama of the original and seamlessly moved it into the sequel. Action packed and full of twists, listeners are treated to the suspense that will have them on the edge of their seats.
The narrators, Terry Thompson, and Harry Preston performed the audiobook smoothly, moving the story along at a solid pace. Their voices were steady but not monotonous as they added just the correct amount of emotion.
There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook published by Author’s Republic.

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The Extinction Series by Nicholas Sansbury Smith

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I have had the pleasure of both listening to and reading the entire Extinction Series by Nicholas Sansbury Smith.  I received these books as gifts from friends and some I have purchased.

First, let me say that this author is amazing!  He has real-life experience in Homeland Security and Emergency Management, so his stories are based on what could happen should mankind take things a bit too far.  Each book is about survival in a post-apocalyptic world where decisions are being made without the full story.

Master Sergeant Reed Beckham and his GHOST team (Delta Force) have been faced with almost every imaginable mission and had never lost a single member until they ran smack dab into the Variants.  Once human the Variants devolved into vicious killing animals only to redevelop into the most vicious, deadly and intelligent killing machines!

The series covers the United States and parts of Europe where the Variants took different forms and their strength varied depending upon the environment.  Throughout the series, until the end, Smith keeps his readers and listeners riveted to the story.  Smith fully develops each character, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant – each one plays an important role in the series.

Smith’s audience will cheer for victories, cry over the deaths of characters and will gasp at the plot twists he successfully completes.  By the end, Master Sergeant Reed Beckham and Dr. Kate Lavato and their friends find themselves in a gut-twisting ending that no one foresaw.

With each book, I found myself growing more and more connected to the characters, more so when I was listening to the audiobook (see audiobookreviewer.com for individual reviews of each book in the series) because Smith built a fantastic storyline and the narrator, Bronson Pinchot performed the books as if he too were immersed in the storyline.  Pinchot gives a stellar performance that leaves the listener on the edge of their chairs.  Pinchot becomes the story, he moves it along with his voice and skill.  Putting both Smith and Pinchot together was perfect!

This series is much more than a zombie book, it is about what could happen if things don’t change.  It is about survival, humanity, choices, relationships, secrets and duty.  Nicholas Sansbury Smith provides a series that will haunt you days after you finish, you cannot help but think back and wonder.

I can only give this series a 5-star rating, but in my mind, it deserves a dozen more!

The Extinction Cycle Book Series:
Extinction Horizon
Extinction Edge
Extinction Age
Extinction Evolution
Extinction End
Extinction Aftermath
Extinction Lost
Extinction War

 

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Interview with Author, Nicholas Sansbury Smith

Author Interview

The following is an interview done with Nicholas Sansbury Smith, author of the Extinction Series, Hell Divers Series, Trackers Series and ORBS.

Smith is an excellent author, one I have followed for a while starting with the Extinction Series.  I cannot speak highly enough of Nicholas Sansbury Smith’s creativity and his genuine ability to mesmerize the reader/listener while effectively inducing horror with each word.  What makes his series so captivating and horrifying is the realness of an EMP attack and the likely consequences – he blends and molds his stories so expertly that one cannot distinguish between reality or fiction!  Check out his books on Amazon and Audible.com!

 

What were your goals and intentions in this series of books, and how well do you feel you achieved them?  

I always say that I write Post-Apocalyptic fiction for 2 reasons. 1. Entertainment. 2. As a warning that if we’re not careful we could lose everything. I think my stories do a little bit of both.

What do you think most characterizes your writing?

Survival and action. My characters are always facing challenges that we would face in a post-apocalyptic event. Action is a significant part of my stories because these challenges would require characters to fight for survival.

What was the hardest part of writing these books?

Coming up with unique angles. There is so much PA fiction out there right now it’s difficult to find something new and even harder to determine whether readers would enjoy the new angle.

What did you enjoy most about writing these books?

The fact people are reading them. I still wake up almost every day thinking I’m living in a dream. I never thought people would enjoy my books and I’m very grateful to my readers for giving my work a chance.

How did you become involved with the subject or theme of your books?

I worked for Homeland Security and Emergency Management when I wrote my first post-apocalyptic novel, a genre I’ve always loved. My background in disaster management and mitigation really helped me write with experience. I think that has given me an advantage in this genre.

Where did your love of books/storytelling/reading/writing/etc. come from?

I’ve always enjoyed reading and writing. Even when I was a little kid I was coming up with these crazy stories in my mind and putting them on paper through words or art. My mom said I was born with an active imagination. Writing provides an outlet to get those ideas out of my mind and to share them with the reader.

How long have you been writing?

Professionally, for six years, but I’ve been writing since I started reading.

What inspires you?

I just love sharing my stories with readers. That’s the biggest inspiration, coming up with new ideas excites me more than anything, and anticipating what readers will think of my stories is great motivation.

What do you like to read in your free time?

I read what I write—post-apocalyptic fiction, but I also enjoy historical fiction like Killing Rommel by Steven Pressfield, or his Tides of War, and Gates of Fire.

What projects are you working on at the present?

A secret project, more Hell Divers, and an Extinction Cycle spin-off. Might be doing a Trackers spin-off soon too, and I have two new series coming out in 2019-2020.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I always dreamed of making a career of this but I didn’t think it was possible until I found Kindle Direct Publishing. That’s when I got serious about writing and turning this into a full-time gig. Since 2013 I’ve published over 20 books and have a small press.

What question do you wish that someone would ask about your books, but nobody has?

Good question—I’m not sure. I’ll leave that to the reader to figure out. : )

The four series you have now for readers/listeners do you plan to stay with this genre or are you looking into another genre?

I’m definitely sticking with post-apocalyptic fiction for now.

Do you have a pseudonym?

Nope. Nicholas Sansbury Smith is my legal name and I used my middle name to help stand out a bit since there are so many Nick Smith’s out there.

 

 

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Layers of Deception by Leo James

Review - Submitted

A struggling software business based in the U.K. is seeking clients and successfully find one in Malaysia.  Steve Roussos, along with his colleagues, is excited – their bills will be paid, they are a success and they are ready to move forward; well, that is until one makes a startling discovery on the dark net that will send their worlds spiraling and for some will end in deadly consequences!

Leo James has skillfully written an international thriller with plot twists and developments that are solidly done.  James explores the emotions and relationships built between multiple characters fully.  Each character is well developed and relevant to their role in the novel.  The plot moves well and quickly. The story is action packed with the emotional realism of despair one experiences when finding oneself in a never-ending cycle of darkness and danger.

If you enjoy thrillers, this is an excellent read!

Click here to pre-order!

 

 

 

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Professor K: The Final Quest: A medical mystery (Jack Rogan Mysteries Book 4)

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Gabriel Farago has done it again!

Jack Rogan needs a new challenge. For Rogan, experiencing and telling the stories are far more exciting and fulfilling than the solitary feat of writing them. When Jack is contacted to help Tristan and the Countess, he leaps to their rescue. He finds himself enmeshed in several different situations that do not at first seem connected. The Vatican needs Professor K’s gene work and only Jack Rogan can deliver it! Tristan and Lorenza have been kidnapped and are the prisoners of a notorious Mafia figure; Jack Rogan is on hand to help with the rescue.

A master storyteller and wordsmith, Gabriel Farago entertains his readers with vivid descriptions, clear yet complex plots, and realistic characters. His genius at bringing together several characters from previous books to fulfill their moment of destiny is done with great care and attention to detail. Including the Italian Mafia, The Vatican, and Pope, along with IS terrorist, Farago takes his readers on an emotional journey that will leave his readers on the edge of their chair and pondering moments of destiny in their lives!

Farago delivers another fascinating, well-written novel that is action-packed and realistic. Well researched, Farago delivers many instances of destiny, a theme throughout the book.

Don’t miss this book! Although a standalone, it does tie up some loose ends that will leave his readers gasping!

This is a must read, if you love thrillers, Farago delivers!

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Someone Close to Home by Alex Craigie

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Someone Close to Home by Alex Craigie is amazing!  Megan Youngblood is a young girl with a domineering and manipulating mother who is seeking to climb the social ladder by any means.  Megan is a talented pianist who grows her talent and becomes renowned, earning money and fame.  All she needs is Gideon, but life takes a turn.  We are given a front row seat to the emotional and physical roller coaster ride that is Megan’s life after a stroke places her in a nursing home at the hands of a vengeful and vicious victim of her mother’s evil plotting.

Written as a memoir, Someone Close to Home is captivating as the reader moves from memory to the present and back.  Craigie skillfully places her readers into the story through the strong character developments and ease in which the dialog and plot move.  Without realizing it, I cheered at Jordan’s departure; I cried at the pain of Megan; I slapped my chair at Theo’s dressing down by Gideon; Martin’s subsequent impact on Annie; and when I closed the book at the end of the last sentence I cried.

This is a beautifully written book, mixing thriller with memoir style writing. I have not had so many different reactions to one book ever.  Craigie has done what every author wants – transported their reader into a powerful, creative story and let them experience the book completely on many different levels.  There are several different characters in this book that are incredibly remarkable.

If you are looking for a book that holds your attention and elicits passionate responses from its readers, this is the book!  I cannot highly recommend this book enough.  I was truly surprised at how it captured and held my attention and continued well past the last page – and I absolutely hate to cry!

An amazing book! A definite MUST READ!

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Ignition (William Hawk Book 1) by Willian Hawk

Review - Submitted

The fate of the world all too often rests on the fate of an illogical person who is eager to push “the button” or set off a chain of events that no one but the smartest, strongest, best armed and most adept can fix.  That is until now!  William Hawk just turned 16 and is hoping his life is going to get more interesting now that he can drive, date, and be his own man … well, that is until a unique chain of events sets off his otherworldly self and he meets Grace.  Grace is an otherworldly soul as well, a Change Agent III just like William.  Although Grace knows she’s a Change Agent III and her twin brother and all around evil demonic presence Ravios aka Roland is set to destroy not just the world but the universes.

William and Grace find themselves on the wrong side of the local police, his current girlfriend and his best friend are all involved; they find themselves befriended by a couple of Native American’s with the sight.  Together they set about to accomplish the first step of “ignition”.

This was an awesome read! The author, under the pen name William Hawks, does an excellent job of building his characters fully.  Laying out the storyline in a logical and realistic manner.  The vivid descriptions of the terrain, situations, and encounters are clear and rich.  One cannot help but feel satisfied or sadness or even the gasp that escapes when one realizes what everyone’s role truly is in the story.

The author genuinely has written an action-packed adventure that will have audiences on the edge of their chairs.  I could not put the book down until I finished it.  My grandson is now reading the book and is LOVING it!  I think he secretly hopes that next year when he turns 16 something mind-blowing will happen to him too!

I appreciated the fact that the author developed the characters in a realistic manner, she had William doubting himself; had each character responding in a realistic manner.  An excellent adventure!

WordsAPlenty highly recommends this book to readers of all ages.

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Predictable Violence by Gillean Campbell

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A copy of this book was sent to WordsAPlenty for an honest review.

 

When someone loses their family to violence, justice must be served.  For Mackenzie Anderson losing her husband and two-year-old daughter was more than collateral damage … losing her heart was devastating enough now she had to save her soul and mind.  Going after the killer of her family results in a life-changing event.  Now she fights for the dead; serving up justice by finding murderers.

Mack is investigating a triple murder with no clues, no evidence, no clear motive and no suspects.  In a plot-twisting, mind-blowing turn of events – Mack comes face to face with another murderer – the guy who killed her family.  Can she deal with him and still solve this case?  Will she live to see tomorrow?  Will she commit the unthinkable?

Gillean Campbell has delivered an edge of your seat murder thriller that will leave the reader sitting in stunned silence!  This is not your typical murder mystery!  Campbell has built a solid backstory that is spelled out at the beginning of each chapter solidifying the past to the future and giving us the full story of who Mack is, why and where she is headed.

One cannot help but feel the pain Mack suffers throughout the book, but it does not take away from the murder at hand.  Rather it adds to it in ways that are more influential to the story in its entirety.

Campbell delivers a potent story that is well written, terrifying each step of the way, and with a surprise ending that is amazing!  What seems to be a complex story is, in reality, a well woven, easy to follow story that comes together in the end with a shocking ending!

The cover and title blend well into the story.  Very well done!

I enjoy mysteries and thrillers, but Campbell has created a complex, likable, respected and realistic character.  I started this book and had it finished in two days because I could NOT put it down!  It is not a book that one can read whenever – it’s just not possible!  You CANNOT put it down once you get started!!!

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The Last Oracle A Climate Fiction Thriller (Sam Jardine Crime Thrillers Book 3) by Christopher Hepworth

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WordsAPlenty was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Christopher Hepworth has written an engrossing financial thriller that explores and reveals the appalling degree of greed and manipulation of a few for their own financial gain and political notoriety.

Sam Jardine is once again being called in to negotiate a monumental deal. Known by many as a gifted yet quirky negotiator, Jardine is known for getting the job done.  His sense of morals and ethical behavior presents him as naïve but he is far smarter and all too often underestimated by most.

Jardine is asked to negotiate a deal that enmeshes him into a battle with a secret organization of men who are willing to sacrifice the environment for greed and political gain while also dealing with terrorists. In the end, Jardine must make hard decisions that could spin the world into global catastrophic financial and environmental disasters. All the while keeping a promise to an ancient one and trying to save his brother, Jack.

Christopher Hepworth is a masterful storyteller weaving complex situations by placing Jardine in unnerving encounters and non-stop action.  Hepworth creates a realistic plot with believable and strong characters.  I have admired Hepworth for his repeated use of strong female characters.

This is not a book that one can put down once started; Hepworth is enthralling and unexpected.  His clever plot twists are flawless and his understanding of human nature is frighteningly accurate.   One cannot read this and walk away from it unscathed, you will be haunted by it!

Definitely, a must-read for fans who enjoy thrillers, environmental issues, and action-packed adventures.  Hepworth knows how to keep the suspense going!

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The Fall, a novel of post-apocalyptic Australia, Book 1 Conversion by S.T. Campitelli

Review - Submitted

I was given a copy of The Fall, a novel of post-apocalyptic Australia, Book 1 Conversion by S.T. Campitelli in exchange for an honest review.

The Fall, a novel of post-apocalyptic Australia, Book 1 Conversion by S.T. Campitelli is a detailed version of what we could be facing when a deadly and destructive virus spreads unchecked.  Unlike most where there is one country or individual to blame, we are given another unique possibility.

The story begins in 2052.  Survivors who are fortunate enough to have been granted admittance to these secure structures survive while others less fortunate are left outside to fend for themselves with the deadly creatures that roam freely seeking out fresh human meat to consume or infect.  Not only do the Kulin survivors have the infected hordes to worry about but now they have some serious betrayal issues but also an insanely unbalanced villain that will wreak havoc.

Campitelli develops his characters vividly and with subtle yet in-depth detail.  No one will have any issues visualizing each character.  The plotline moves smoothly yet at a fast action packed rate that leaves one on the edge of their chair.  I had difficulty putting the book down after I started it!

Campitelli is a masterful word-smyth building a storyline that is both engaging and exciting.  His dialogs are perfectly matched to the situation and characters.  He leaves no stone unturned, the audience has a thorough picture of what is going on yet still manages to surprise us multiple times!  I like that he not only took Australia as the setting but the way he broke the story up giving his audience multiple points of view.

As a first time author, he hit it out of the ballpark with this book!  He has definitely set the standards high for himself but I am confident he will continue – he is a gifted author who innately writes good solid books.

If you enjoy horror, apocalyptic stories, and realistic scenarios, this is the book for you!

A definite 5-star review due to his innate writing skills and unique storyline.

 

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