Month: May 2024

WWW Wednesday – 29 May 2024

On By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

Hill 112 by Adrian Goldsworthy (ebook)

Hill 112 Cover

I have been having an amazing time reading the epic historical novel Hill 112 by Adrian Goldsworthy this week.  A powerful and brutal World War II novel, Hill 112 follows three young soldiers fighting in one of the bloodiest battles of the Normandy campaign.  I am deeply enjoying this epic book and I only have a little bit left of it, so I should finish it off soon.

Amazon

 

Warhammer 40,000: Cain’s Last Stand by Sandy Mitchell (Audiobook)

Cain's Last Stand Cover

I was in the mood for some fun listening this week, so I dove into a couple of the fantastic Ciaphas Cain audiobooks.  Following a complex character as he navigates the dark Warhammer 40,000 universe with humour and justifiable fear, the Ciaphas Cain books are very entertaining, and I have been deeply enjoying this series lately.  Cain’s Last Stand is a particularly interesting inclusion and I look forward to seeing how it comes together.  I am absolutely flying through Cain’s Last Stand at the moment, and I should finish it off this weekend.

Amazon

What did you recently finish reading?

Think Twice by Harlan Coben (Trade Paperback)

Think Twice Cover

I powered through Think Twice by Harlan Coben last week, knocking off the final 200 pages in a single day.  This was an outstanding and entertaining read that proved to be one of the most exciting thrillers of 2024 so far.  Make sure to check out my review for it here.

Amazon

 

Crucible of Chaos by Sebastien De Castell (Audiobook)

Crucible of Chaos Cover

After having so much fun with the epic novel, Play of Shadows, earlier this year, I decided to also read Sebastien De Castell’s 2023 release, Crucible of Chaos.  Serving as a loosely connected prelude to Play of Shadows, Crucible of Chaos was a unique mystery novel that saw wandering magistrate enter a conflicted abbey where the monks have initiated a holy civil war.  This proved to be an exceptional listen that I could not stop listening to.  A very highly recommended piece of fantasy fiction, I am hoping to get a review up for it very soon.

Amazon

 

Warhammer 40,000: Duty Calls by Sandy Mitchell (Audiobook)

Duty Calls Cover

Another Ciaphas Cain audiobook I checked out this week was the very fun Duty Calls.  Duty Calls was an epic read, and I loved the entertaining and thrilling plot that forced the protagonist into some dark adventures.

Amazon

What do you think you’ll read next?

Nero by Conn Iggulden

Nero Cover

The next book I am planning to check out is the epic historical fiction novel Nero by Conn Iggulden.  An intriguing read from one of the top authors of historical fiction, Nero will follow the early days of the titular tyrant and show the events that led to him becoming Emperor.  I am very curious to see how Nero turns out, and I have high hopes this will be one of the best historical books of 2024.

Amazon

 

That’s it for this week, check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

Think Twice by Harlan Coben

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Thriller3 Comments

Think Twice Cover

Publisher: Century (Trade Paperback – 14 May 2024)

Series: Myron Bolitar – Book 12

Length: 419 pages

My Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars

Amazon

Legendary thriller author Harlan Coben returns with another outstanding and twisty read that forces his longest running protagonist into a dark and deadly adventure with Think Twice.

Harlan Coben is an amazing writer who has been setting the world on fire for years with his exceptional thrillers that contain impressive twists and unbelievable turns, all set around distinctive and clever story ideas.  Many of his best books have been turned into fantastic television series, and his work has a habit of transforming into excellent dark content.  I personally have come into the Harlan Coben fandom a bit late, beginning with I Will Find You last year.  I loved the excellent story it contained, and it ensured that I would continue to check out Coben’s work in the future.  I’m very glad that I did, as his latest novel, Think Twice, proved to be a particularly epic read.  The latest entry in Coben’s long-running Myron Bolitar series, Think Twice reintroduces his iconic protagonist Myron Bolitar and sets him loose for his 12th novel.

After many ups and downs, former basketball player and incorrigible troublemaker Myron Bolitar is back in the sports agent game, once again situated in his New York office, surrounded by his unusual friends.  Working hard to bring his business back to its old glory, Myron is unprepared for a ghost from his past to literally come back and haunt him in the strangest way when two FBI agents visit his office, seeking his help to find a suspect in a recent double murder.

The investigation into the murder has revealed DNA evidence that points towards Myron’s former client and rival, Greg Downing.  The only problem is that Greg Downing died three years ago, and Myron was the one who gave the eulogy.  With the FBI convinced that he is lying and knows something about Greg’s whereabouts, Myron is intrigued, especially as his complicated history with Greg has given them an unbreakable connection.

Determined to find out whether Greg could be alive, Myron teams up with his partner in crime, the dangerous billionaire Win, to seek the truth.  Their investigation leads them from New York to Las Vegas to Montana and back again as they attempt to find any hint about what happened to their old client.  But the further they dig, the more it becomes apparent that there is a dangerous killer on the loose who likes to hide their misdeeds in the most sinister of ways.  But is Greg alive and perpetrating these crimes, or is someone else setting him up for the fall? And does that someone now have Myron in their sights?

Wow, now this was such a good thriller.  Coben really pulled out another wild and clever story with Think Twice and I got so drawn into this fantastic read.  Making full use of his interesting story premise, existing character arcs, and habit for outrageous twists, Coben had me hooked the entire way through, and I had so much fun with Think Twice.

I really loved the compelling story that Coben came up with for Think Twice, and frankly I got addicted to it in the opening pages as the reader is swiftly introduced to multiple awesome aspects of the plot.  The initial scenes with main point-of-view character, Myron Bolitar, reveal that a recurring character believed dead is still alive and is the main suspect in a murder case, while separate sequences told from an unknown person’s perspective, reveal intimate details of a unique serial killer stalking the country.  The story quickly develops into a hunt for the presumed dead client, as Myron and Win seek to find and help him before the FBI can.  This turns into a great missing persons investigation for the first third of the novel, as the protagonists hunt across America, digging up clues and coming into conflict with other interested parties in the case, including a sinister mob boss with a fun nickname.

This first third of the book, while a tad slower than the rest of the narrative, proves to be a great introduction to the story, and Coben does an excellent job of setting up some key plot elements and character introductions that pay off well in the rest of the book.  The author keeps the narrative going strong, and you are soon introduced to more mysteries, secrets and threats as the protagonist tries to discover what is happening and who is truly responsible.  There is a great deal of tension and mystery the entire way throughout the story, and I really got caught up in this book, powering through the second half of Think Twice in less than a day.  Coben brings the entire mystery together extremely well, and I think that this book had a very strong conclusion.  There are some great twists in the lead up to the big confrontation, and events get very frenetic and deadly in all the most exciting ways.  After some massive moments, Coben loads up additional twists to really strike the reader hard, and you will come away feeling bruised from the resulting whiplash.  I really enjoyed how these twists came about, and I think that Coben did an outstanding job setting them up and subsequently unleashing them.  This was honestly a brilliant story that had me hooked the entire way through.

The author set a great tone for Think Twice that ensured the reader was constantly engaged and forced to keep reading.  The entire story is very fast-paced, and the outrageous characters featured within are fun and exciting, allowing you to connect both with their unique investigation methods as well as the myriad personal dramas that result from their interactions.  While most of the story is told through the eyes of main character Myron, several key parts of the book are shown from alternative perspectives.  This helped to create a much more intense read, especially the scenes that show the unknown antagonist’s thoughts and kills.  Not only does this help set up some great twists but it also ensures that the reader gets drawn into the resulting game of cat and mouse.  Other perspectives, especially towards the end and helpfully distinguished by changes in font, are also well done and herald some massive events.  Coben did a great job of blending the story’s sports-themed mystery with the more intense, character-driven elements of the plot, and I ended really impressed with how this entire book came together, especially with the clever and compelling twists.

Unlike some of the other Coben books that I have read, Think Twice is part of a series and follows on from the previous mysteries contained in the Myron Bolitar books.  Indeed, the storyline in this 12th entry is strongly related to previous books in the series, especially the third novel, Fade Away, with many of the characters introduced there coming back in a big way.  While there are many references to this previous book, Think Twice still works well as a standalone novel, and Coben ensures that all the key plot elements from Fade Away and other Myron Bolitar books are explained quickly and effectively as the story continues.  As someone who has not read any of the books in the series, I was easily able to follow the plot of Think Twice while still getting drawn into the key character arcs and storylines.  However, I feel that established fans of the series will probably get a little more out of Think Twice, especially when it comes to the continuation of some intense character interactions.  As such, Think Twice is going to appeal to a lot of readers, and someone a little newer to Coben’s work can easily jump into this long-running series with barely any issues.

The final thing I want to highlight about Think Twice are the intriguing and fun characters that Coben features throughout his book.  Coben clearly likes big personalities with complicated feelings, and I had a lot of fun getting to know the cast of this series, especially as there are some distinctive oddballs here.  The most prominent character is series protagonist Myron Bolitar, a former star basketball player turned sports agent, lawyer and occasional investigator.  Myron proves to be a fun protagonist to follow, and I liked his morality and sense of right and wrong, which contrasts well with other key characters.  Coben did a good job of drawing the reader into Myron’s personal issues, of which there are many, especially when it comes to the side characters in this book.  Thanks to the renewed focus on his old rival, Greg Downing, several figures from previous books are reintroduced, including his old flame and his biological son that was raised by Greg.  This leads to substantial drama, especially as the various relationships are strained from previous betrayals and lies.  Myron’s complicated relationships with these returning side characters proves to be a key part of the book, and it was interesting to see him finally get some closure with some characters, while renewing old issues with others.

Aside from Myron and the returning characters from Fade Away, the cast of Think Twice are entertainingly unusual, and it proved interesting to see the fun range of figures the protagonist surrounds himself with.  The former women’s tag-team professional wrestlers who have become Myron’s colleagues was an interesting touch from Coben that I certainly had fun with, and Myron’s entertaining family who interact with him in the background were also entertaining.  The main supporting character you have to talk about is Myron’s best friend and confidant, Win.  Windsor Horne Lockwood III is ultra-rich, ultra-eccentric and just a little bit crazy.  A deadly figure with no moral compass, Win backs his friend up in many ways, and has no problem getting lethal when the situation calls for it.  Win honestly steals most scenes he is in, and he plays off Myron really well, ensuring that they come away as an amusing and effective team.  Throw in a great antagonist with clever methods who remains hidden for much of the book, and Think Twice has some great characters whom Coben uses to their full extent to tell an interesting story.

Thanks to its outrageous story, cool plot concepts and excellent twists, Think Twice proved to be an amazing read that I could not get enough of.  Slick, clever, and highly addictive, Think Twice really showcased Harlan Coben’s ability to pull together a brilliant thriller.  I had such a great time reading Think Twice, and I cannot wait to see what unique story Coben pulls together next.  Highly recommended to both established Coben fans and new readers looking for a distinctive thriller.

Think Twice Cover 2

Amazon

Quick Review – Body of Lies by Sarah Bailey

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Murder Mystery, Quick Review, Thriller1 Comment

Body of Lies Cover

Publisher: Allen & Unwin Australia (Trade Paperback – 27 February 2024)

Series: Gemma Woodstock – Book Four

Length: 470 pages

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Amazon

One of Australia’s best authors of crime fiction brings to life another complex and intense murder mystery with Body of Lies by Sarah Bailey.

Plot Synopsis:

A car crash victim clings to life and is rushed to hospital but can’t be saved. Hours later, her corpse is stolen from the morgue. No one knows who the dead woman was or why her body was taken.

Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock is back in her hometown of Smithson on maternity leave when the bizarre incident occurs. She is intrigued by the case but reluctant to get involved, despite the urging of her journalist friend Candy Fyfe. But in the days after the body goes missing, the town is rocked by another shocking crime and Gemma can’t resist joining the investigation.

Candy and Gemma follow the clues the dead woman left behind. As they attempt to discover the identity of the missing woman, Gemma uncovers devastating secrets about the people she thought she knew best. The closer Gemma gets to the truth, the more danger she is in. She desperately needs to confide in someone—but is there anyone she can trust?

This was another interesting and compelling read from Bailey, who really impressed me back in 2021 with her standalone novel, The Housemate, which ended up being one of my favourite books and Australian novels of that year.  Body of Lies is another outstanding book from Bailey, which serves as the fourth entry in her Gemma Woodstock series and provides the reader with an amazing and dramatic mystery.

I had a lot of fun getting through Body of Lies as Bailey comes up with an elaborate story that really draws you in.  Whilst it is part of a larger series, Body of Lies is easily read as a standalone novel, with Bailey doing a good job of reintroducing key elements from the previous novels where necessary.  Thanks to this, Body of Lies has a quick start which reconnects readers with the protagonist while also providing key information about the initial death, as well as the unusual circumstances surrounding the missing body.  Despite still being on maternity leave, protagonist and main point-of-view character Gemma Woodstock begins investigating, and soon finds herself drawn into a series of additional crimes in the Smithson area that may or may not be related to the stolen body.

This resolves into quite an awesome story, as you really get drawn into Body of Lies’s intense and intricate mystery.  Bailey keeps making the case even more complex thanks to additional deaths and other unusual events, and the constant raising of stakes ensures the reader’s attention stays on the story.  At the same time, the protagonist’s personal life also takes centre stage in the plot as Gemma deals with a new baby, a traumatised older child, a lying family, a pushy friend, and multiple work conflicts as she attempts to reintegrate back into her own job.

While I got really invested in the story, I think that the final third of Body of Lies got a little off the rails.  Not only are there a huge number of emotional and family dramas surrounding the protagonist, many of which seem a little unnecessary, but there proves to be a huge number of personal connections to the case that drive the protagonist on.  While I liked the increased motivations for the protagonist, these connections seemed way too coincidental, and honestly it stole a lot of realism from the plot.  I also did get a little tired of the many personal dramas that seemed to surround the protagonist.  While I realise that Bailey was trying to showcase the complex life of her protagonist, much of which is driven by the tragic events of the prior books, as well as the side effects of single-minded determination to finding the truth, it honestly got a bit frustrating to follow her at times.  Still, Gemma’s struggles out of her own obsessed mind added some excellent drama and substance to the narrative and Bailey certainly kept her story arc interesting.

The solution to the big mystery turns out to be pretty darn bonkers, and I guarantee most people won’t see the full extent of it coming.  While Bailey did do a good job of setting this reveal up and laying down some hints, it ended up being a very surprising and over-the-top solution that might not work for everyone.  Still, readers are left with an excellent final confrontation and the mystery ends up wrapping up in a satisfying and intriguing way.  There is also a really good twist around a hidden antagonist, which is guaranteed to shock readers and keep them on their toes.  As such, this was a pretty awesome story, and I had a wonderful time getting through it.

In the end, Body of Lies proved to be an outstanding and highly exciting novel that drew me in with its elaborate mystery.  While I didn’t love everything about Sarah Bailey’s new narrative, Body of Lies was still an amazing piece of Australian crime fiction, and well worth a read for anyone looking for a complex and impressive mystery with compelling character elements behind it.

Amazon

Waiting on Wednesday – The Devils by Joe Abercrombie

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Fantasy, Waiting on Wednesday7 Comments

Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  For this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I am jumping ahead to 2025 to highlight a book I am particularly excited for with The Devils by Joe Abercrombie.

The Devils Cover 2

Amazon

There are few modern authors more influential in the field of fantasy fiction than the exceptional Joe Abercrombie.  Known for his outstanding dark fantasy novel, Abercrombie has been one of the top authors in the genre for years, especially when wowing readers with his iconic The First Law series.  Currently sitting at nine books, including his original First Law trilogy, his three standalone novels (Best Served Cold, The Heroes and Red Country), and his latest Age of Madness trilogy.  The last of these, the Age of Madness books, are particularly well represented on this blog as they proved to be exceptional books for each of the years they were released.  All three of them, A Little Hatred (one of my favourite books of 2019), The Trouble With Peace (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2020) and The Wisdom of Crowds (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021), were very highly rated by me and I could not get enough of this series.

Due to how much I have enjoyed Abercrombie’s work in the past I have been eagerly awaiting some new book for him for years.  As such, I was very excited when I found out that he had a novel coming out early next year with The Devils.  Set for release in May 2025, The Devils will take readers to an alternate version of medieval Europe where all manner of dark creatures roam and even darker deeds are committed.  While it isn’t part of the First Law universe, this new book sounds extremely cool, and it really has a lot of potential.

Plot Synopsises:

A brand-new epic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Joe Abercrombie, featuring a notorious band of anti-heroes on a delightfully bloody and raucous journey.

Holy work sometimes requires unholy deeds.

Brother Diaz has been summoned to the Sacred City, where he is certain a commendation and grand holy assignment awaits him. But his new flock is made up of unrepentant murderers, practitioners of ghastly magic, and outright monsters, and the mission he is tasked with will require bloody measures from them all in order to achieve its righteous ends.

Elves lurk at our borders and hunger for our flesh, while greedy princes care for nothing but their own ambitions and comfort. With a hellish journey before him, it’s a good thing Brother Diaz has the devils on his side.

Or

Europe stares into the abyss.

Plague and famine stalk the land, monsters lurk in every shadow and greedy princes care for nothing but their own ambitions. Only one thing is certain: the elves will come again, and they will eat everyone.

Sometimes, the darkest paths lead towards the light. Paths on which the righteous will not dare to tread…

And so, buried beneath the sacred splendour of the Celestial Palace, is the secret Chapel of the Holy Expediency. For its congregation of convicted monsters there are no sins that have not been committed, no lines that will not be crossed, and no mission that cannot be turned into a disastrous bloodbath.

Now the hapless Brother Diaz must somehow bind the worst of the worst to a higher cause: to put a thief on the throne of Troy, and unite the sundered church against the coming apocalypse.

When you’re headed through hell, you need the devils on your side.

Well now, this sounds pretty damn awesome.  I honestly never knew that I needed a Joe Abercrombie dark alternate history book where a priest must lead a band of literal monsters to save the world from elves, but now that I know that it exists and is on its way, I cannot wait to read it.  The Devils sounds like such an outrageous novel, and I am getting some very fun The Dirty Dozen vibes from it, which is always great.  I also cannot wait to see Abercrombie’s take on a riven, dark alternate Europe, and I am curious what horrors and unique occurrences his imagine can envision for this landscape.  This setup, combined with an amazing setting and Abercrombie’s brilliant take on human nature and dark fantasy, easily ensures this is going to be an incredible novel.

Look, if I was purely seeing the plot synopsis for The Devils on its own, I would be very interested and would make it a priority to read this awesome upcoming book.  But the fact that it is written by Joe Abercrombie, who is easily one of my favourite authors, there is no way in hell that I am missing out on this book next year.  I have no doubt what-so-ever that The Devils is going to be an exceptional book and I will probably end up loving every single second that I spend reading it.  As far as I’m concerned, the number one contender for best fantasy book of 2025 has just been announced, and if I could walk through time to get a copy of The Devils sooner I would.

The Devils Cover 1

Amazon

WWW Wednesday – 22 May 2024

On By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW Wednesday3 Comments

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

Think Twice by Harlan Coben (Trade Paperback)

Think Twice Cover

I just started reading the intriguing thriller Think Twice by Harlan Coben.  A compelling novel that sees one of Coben’s recurring protagonists investigate recent murders apparently committed by his long-dead friend, Think Twice has an intriguing plot behind it that I am really starting to get into.  I have made a bit of progress already and I am hoping to knock off Think Twice over the weekend.  I look forward to finding out how it comes together, and I am hoping for a really elaborate narrative.

Amazon

 

Crucible of Chaos by Sebastien De Castell (Audiobook)

Crucible of Chaos Cover

After having so much fun with the epic novel, Play of Shadows, earlier this year, I have been meaning to read more stuff from impressive author Sebastien De Castell.  As such, when I was in the mood for a good fantasy book, I decided to grab the late 2023 release, Crucible of Chaos by De Castell.  Serving as a loosely connected prelude to Play of Shadows, Crucible of Chaos is a unique mystery novel that sees a wandering magistrate enter a conflicted abbey where the monks have initiated a holy civil war.  I am loving this outrageous and awesome novel, and I am absolutely flying through the audiobook version of it.  I am nearly halfway through Crucible of Chaos at this point, and I am very, very intrigued, to see how De Castell will bring this elaborate story together. 

Amazon

What did you recently finish reading?

The Girl in Question by Tess Sharpe (Trade Paperback)

The Girl in Question Cover

I managed to finish off the fantastic young adult thriller The Girl in Question by Tess Sharpe this week.  The sequel to the impressive novel, The Girls I’ve Been, The Girl in Question was an amazing and very clever book that really grabbed my attention.  A particularly impressive read, review to follow soon.

Amazon

 

Warhammer 40,000: Deathworlder by Victoria Hayward (Audiobook)

Warhammer 40,000 - Deathworlder Cover

I also finished off the awesome Warhammer 40,000 novel, Deathworlder this week. A particularly dark and epic piece of Warhammer 40,000 fiction, Deathworlder was an outstanding debut novel from Victoria Hayward and I will try to get a review up for it quickly as well.

Amazon

What do you think you’ll read next?

Death on the Tiber by Lindsey Davis

Death on the Tiber Cover

While I have a few potential books to read next, I think I will probably dive into the new Lindsey Davis novel, Death on the Tiber.  The latest book in Davis’ long-running Flavia Albia historical murder mystery series, Death on the Tiber will see the series’ protagonist investigate another complex murder in ancient Rome, this time while dealing with demons from her past.  I really love this amazing series and I have no doubt I will have a wonderful time reading Death on the Tiber.

Amazon

 

That’s it for this week, check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

Waiting on Wednesday – Darkside by Michael Mammay

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Science Fiction, Thriller, Waiting on Wednesday6 Comments

Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  I run this segment in conjunction with the Can’t-Wait Wednesday meme that is currently running at Wishful Endings.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  In this latest Waiting on Wednesday post, I highlight a particularly awesome science fiction thriller coming out later this year that I am very excited for, Darkside by Michael Mammay.

Darkside Cover

Amazon

The second half of 2024 is looking particularly awesome, as there are a ton of outstanding books coming out before December.  While I have my eye on quite a few fantasy and science fiction novels in this period, one that has especially caught my eye is the outstanding sounding novel, Darkside by Michael Mammay, which will bring me back to the author’s epic and impressive Planetside series.

The Planetside series is an excellent science fiction series that features high-stakes military thriller storylines in the far future.  I have been a big fan of this series since the beginning, when, by chance, I chose to listen to the first book in the series, Planetside.  Mammay’s debut novel, Planetside was an outstanding book that saw a retired military colonel, Carl Butler, sent to an alien planet to find a missing officer.  However, he soon finds himself involved in an elaborate conspiracy as alien forces and members of his own side try to stop him.  I had an awesome time with Planetside and it ended up being one of my favourite books of 2018, especially as Mammay ended everything with a pretty epic final twist.

Mammay followed up Planetside the next year with the fantastic thriller Spaceside, that saw the protagonist deal with the many consequences of his previous adventure, and which also ended on a bang.  This was another amazing read and Spaceside ended up being one of my favourite books of 2019.  The exciting series continued in 2021 with Colonyside as Butler was once again dragged into a dangerous conspiracy on a planet, this time involving a corrupt company and dangerous alien fauna.  An outstanding novel that had me on edge the entire time, Colonyside was a pretty awesome book, and unsurprisingly was one of my favourite novels and audiobooks of 2021.

While I haven’t been able to make time to check out some of Mammay’s other intriguing science fiction novels, the Planetside series is something that I will not be able to ignore, so I was very excited when I found out that Mammay was releasing a fourth book, Darkside, later this year.  Set for release in September, Darkside will see the return of the Butler as he is forced into another elaborate adventure, this time on a moon where everyone wants to kill him.

Plot Synopsis:

In this thrilling, action-packed fourth installment in the Planetside series from acclaimed science fiction author Michael Mammay, retired Colonel Carl Butler gears up for another military investigation, full of danger, corporate intrigue, and tech people would kill for—perfect for fans of John Scalzi and Craig Alanson.

Colonel Butler has paid his dues and just wants to enjoy his retirement on a remote planet. But the galaxy has had other plans. He has been roped into searching for a politician’s missing son and an industry magnate’s missing daughter. He has been kidnapped, violated numerous laws, and caused the destruction of colonial facilities. He’s famous—or infamous, depending on who you ask—praised and reviled in equal measure across the galaxy for his exploits.

And he is determined to never let the government drag him into another investigation.

But when a runaway twelve-year-old girl whose father has gone missing asks him for help, well…it’s a lot harder to say no.

The girl’s father, Jorge Ramiro, was supposed to have been on Taug, a moon orbiting the gas giant Ridia 5, working on a dig with a famous archaeologist. But now there’s no sign of him and no record of him being there. Mining operations on the moon are run by two different consortiums, Caliber and Omicron—both of which have tried to kill Butler in the past. Butler doesn’t believe in coincidence.

Landing on Taug with his right-hand man Mac, computer genius Ganos, and an elite security squad, Butler soon finds that they’ve charged back into the crosshairs—because Ramiro is not the only who has disappeared, and the perpetual darkside of this moon is hiding more than the truth about a missing archaeologist…

Now this is going to be good.  Mammay has built up quite an interesting narrative around Butler during the first three books in the series, and this fourth entry, Darkside, will make great use of them.  While forcing Butler, who by this point is one of the most infamous and controversial figures in the galaxy, into yet another sinister investigation is par for the course in this series, I am very much looking forward to seeing how this plays out.  Not only will we have a cool new environment, a mysterious moon with alien archaeology, but we will see Butler have to contend with multiple old enemies in the form of two companies he has crossed paths with before.

As such, I see Darkside playing out as a very elaborate mystery thriller as Butler tries to figure out which of his enemies are behind this new plot, while both companies try to kill them.  Watching the direct old soldier go up against intrigue, politics and dangerous schemes is going to be a ton of fun, and I cannot wait to see what elaborate story emerges, especially as these conspiracies are never simple.  I am also intrigued to see how Butler has evolved since his last adventure, especially as every time he’s in action, he seems to do something utterly destructive.  This reputation is a bit of a double-edged sword for the protagonist, and I am sure it will come into play in some interesting ways, especially if his opponents seek to exploit it again.  There are so many other cool elements that could come into play here, and I have no doubt this is going to be epic.

Honestly, there is no way that I am missing Darkside later this year when it comes out.  I am way too invested in the Planetside series by Michael Mammay and I am very intrigued to see how it continues, especially as the protagonist is still dealing with the fallout of his previous adventures.  I have no doubt whatsoever that Darkside is going to be an impressive and outstanding read, and it will probably end up being one of my top books of the year.  I am already in love with the cover and I cannot wait to see how this novel unfolds.  At this point I am planning to check out Darkside on audiobook, mainly because it will likely feature the narration of the always epic R. C. Bray, and I know that will make this amazing novel that much better.

Top Ten Tuesday – Authors I’d Love a New Book From

On By The Unseen LibraryIn List2 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics.  For this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, participants are tasked with listing the top authors that they’d love a new book from.  This could be because the author hasn’t written anything for a while, has passed away, or because the blogger has loved the author’s work so much that they have outpaced their writing.

This proved to be a rather interesting topic to pull together and I was eventually able to come up with a good ten entries, including my typical honourable mention section.  I ended up with a good mixture of authors, many of whom haven’t released a book quick enough for my liking for various reasons.  I have cheated a little bit in places when it comes to some writers, but I did try to avoid authors who had a new book out in the last year, even if said book wasn’t part of a series that I was interested in.  I think my final list turned out rather well and there are several awesome authors I wish I could get a new book from.

Honourable Mentions:

Brian McClellan

In the Shadow of Lightning Cover

I really enjoyed McClellan’s last book, In the Shadow of Lightning, and I am desperate for a sequel.  However, I should also read his Powder Mage series properly to get some epic fantasy adventures.

 

Andrew Shvarts

It Ends in Fire Cover 2

Shvarts is an excellent young adult fantasy author who had been really growing on me thanks to his Royal Bastards trilogy (Royal Bastards, City of Bastards and War of the Bastards) and his standalone novel, It Ends in Fire.  Unfortunately, we haven’t had anything from Shvarts for a couple of years, which is a real shame.

 

Chris Wooding

The Shadow Casket Cover

Chris Wooding probably shouldn’t be on this list, considering he did have a book out last year.  However, I am extremely keen to get a copy of his next novel in his Darkwater Legacy series, especially after how good his first two books, The Ember Blade and The Shadow Casket, were.  I’m mostly including Wooding here because I know it will be a while until we get a third Darkwater Legacy novel, and I am very impatient.

 

Suzanne Collins

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Cover

I’m of the firm belief that there is even more that can be pulled from The Hunger Games universe, and I really hope Collins develops some additional awesome books.

Top Ten Tuesday:

Terry Pratchett

Guards! Guards! Cover

Let’s start this list off very strong with the late, great Terry Pratchett.  I have made it no secret that Terry Pratchett is one of my absolute favourite authors, and his books have been a big part of my literary journey, including inspiring the name of this blog.  I have had the great pleasure of reading all his books over the years many times, and if we could get at least one more, I would be very happy.  I would especially love another entry in the Discworld universe, mainly because there are still a few questions that need to be answered, but alas that is not to be.  As such, Pratchett was the easiest choice I made for this entire list, and I am sure many other readers out there would agree with my desire for another Pratchett novel.

 

Jim Butcher

Battle Ground Cover

The second entry on this list is another pretty obvious one for me, as I have been absolutely powering through Jim Butcher’s iconic Dresden Files series the last couple of years.  All 17 books in this series, such as Storm Front, Dead Beat, Changes and Skin Game have been so damn epic, and I have loved every second I spent reading it.  However, we haven’t had a new Dresden Files book since 2020, when the last two books, Peace Talks and Battle Ground came out.  Now that I have read through the entire series, I am desperate for a new book, and the 18th entry in the series cannot come soon enough.

 

Patrick Rothfuss

The Name of the Wind Cover

An author who will no doubt appear on many participants lists is Patrick Rothfuss.  An excellent writer of epic fantasy fiction, Rothfuss deeply impressed readers with his first two novels, The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man’s Fear, both of which are part of his iconic Kingkiller Chronicles.  Unfortunately, we have not had a new book in the series since The Wise Man’s Fear came out in 2011, and people are very, very keen for a third entry.  While Rothfuss did recently release the novella, The Narrow Road Between Desires, I would give anything to finally get my hands on the long promised third book, The Doors of Stone.

 

Sam Hawke

Hollow Empire Cover 2

One series I have been particularly upset not to see anything from recently is the Poison War series by Sam Hawke.  Hawke really impressed me with her first two novels, City of Lies and Hollow Empire, and I have been eagerly awaiting a third entry in the series, or even a new book from Hawke, for a while.  Unfortunately, we haven’t had anything from Hawke since 2020, and I hope that changes at some point in the future.

 

Max Brooks

Devolution Cover

Max Brooks is another great author who hasn’t written a new novel for a while.  Brooks, who shot to fame with the exceptional World War Z, has only really written another full novel, Devolution, which was another amazing book.  Devolution came out in 2020 and that was the last book we’ve seen from Brooks, excluding his Minecraft novels (I might be a snob by leaving them out, but oh well).  I would absolutely love another clever horror novel or unique thriller from Brooks, and hopefully that will happen sooner rather than later.  Brooks does have a cool sounding novella coming out later this year, so that might hold me over for a while.

 

Joe Abercrombie

The Wisdom of Crowds Cover

I am a huge fan of Joe Abercrombie, and his awesome and addictive dark fantasy novels are so damn good, especially those that are part of his First Law universe.  His last trilogy, the Age of Madness books (A Little Hatred, The Trouble With Peace and The Wisdom of Crowds), were particularly epic, and Abercrombie left The Wisdom of Crowds on an intriguing note.  However, it has now been three years since we’ve seen a new book from Abercrombie, and I am really eager to see more from him.  Abercrombie does have a new book, The Devils, coming out next year, and while it’s not part of the First Law series, I cannot wait to check it out.

 

Scott Lynch

The Lies of Locke Lamora Cover

Another major author who many people would include on this list is Scott Lynch, whose Gentleman Bastards series has inspired many fantasy fans.  Made up of The Lies of Locke Lamora, Red Seas Under Red Skies and The Republic of Thieves, the Gentleman Bastards novels are so damn good, and I had an amazing time reading them.  Unfortunately, it has been over 10 years since we got a new entry, and the fourth book, The Thorn of Emberlain, still has no firm release date.  Many fantasy fans, including myself, are still hopeful that we will get The Thorn of Emberlain at some point, and I know I am going to love it when it finally comes out.

 

Timothy Zahn

Thrawn Cover

After falling in love with his epic Star Wars novels, including Thrawn, Alliances, Treason, Chaos Rising, Greater Good, Lesser Evil and Scoundrels, I would love another book from Zahn, especially if he returns to the Star Wars universe again.  I think there is a need for Zahn’s talents in the Star Wars extended fiction space, especially as his most iconic character, Grand Admiral Thrawn, recently had his live action debut in the Ahsoka television series.

 

Nick Martell

The Voyage of the Forgotten Cover

Nick Martell is an author who greatly impressed me over the last few years.  His debut trilogy, the Legacy of the Mercenary Kings series, was exceptional, and I loved the elaborate story he told.  All three books, including The Kingdom of Liars (one of my favourite books, debuts and audiobooks of 2020), The Two-Faced Queen (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021) and The Voyage of the Forgotten (one of my favourite books of 2022), were exceedingly good, and I had an outstanding time reading them.  However, it has been nearly two years since Martell’s last book, and we have yet to have any details about his future works.  While I don’t want to rush Martell, I sure would love another book from him, especially if it continues the elaborate narrative he set up in his initial trilogy.

 

Andy Weir

Project Hail Mary Cover

The last entry on this list is acclaimed science fiction author Andy Weir.  Weir deeply impressed me with his 2021 novel, Project Hail Mary, which featured an exceptional and highly clever story, and I am also a big fan of his iconic book The Martian.  Due to these, Weir is on my instant-read list, and anything new that comes from him will be grabbed and enjoyed on sight.  However, we haven’ seen anything from him for a while, and I hope that he pulls something together soon.  Still Weir is known for having a big gap between books, so I’m sure something will turn up at some point.

 

 

That’s the end of my list.  As you can see, there are several great authors I would love another book from, and hopefully I won’t have to wait too long for some of them.  I think this list turned out great, and I look forward to seeing which of these authors will provide me my desired book first.  Let me know which authors you would love another book from in the comments below.

Book Haul – 20 May 2024

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Book Haul1 Comment

I have been having another excellent couple of weeks for books, and I was lucky enough to receive several incredible and amazing new novels from local publishers and Netgalley.  These novels include some truly awesome new releases, including books that have the potential to be some of my top reads of the year.  I cannot wait to dive into them, and I so excited to see how they all turn out.

The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence

The Book That Broke the World Cover

The first recently received book I want to highlight is The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence.  The sequel to The Book That Wouldn’t Burn, one of my favourite novels of 2023, The Book That Broke the World was an epic and complex fantasy novel that followed several complex protagonists in an impossible library.  I have already read The Book That Broke the World, and it proved to be an exceptional novel that draws you in with its complicated and elaborate narrative. 

Amazon

 

Crucible of Chaos by Sebastien De Castell

Crucible of Chaos Cover

The next book that I want to highlight is the audiobook version of Crucible of Chaos by Sebastien De Castell.  I picked up this audiobook recently due to it being a prequel to De Castell’s other 2024 novel, A Play of Shadows.  Set in the same series but featuring a different protagonist, Crucible of Chaos features a dark and addictive mystery as a travelling magistrate attempts to determine the source of a strange cult that has taken root in an isolated monastery.  I just started reading Crucible of Chaos today and I am loving it’s outstanding and highly entertaining story.

Amazon

 

Eruption by Michael Crichton and James Patterson

Eruption Cover

I was very happy to receive a copy of the upcoming epic thriller Eruption. Written by the superstar team of the late Michael Crichton and the master of thriller fiction James Patterson, Eruption promises to be one of the hottest thrillers of 2024 and I cannot wait to dive into it.

Amazon

 

Camino Ghosts by John Grisham

Camino Ghosts Cover

Another excellent thriller I recently got my hands on was the new John Grisham novel, Camino Ghosts.  An intriguing legal thriller that serves as a sequel to some of Grisham most entertaining reads, Camino Ghosts promises to be a great novel that I cannot wait to dive into.

Amazon

 

The Youngest Son by John Byrnes

The Youngest Son Cover

I was also very happy to receive a copy of the Australian historical fiction novel, The Youngest Son by John Byrnes.  Starting in the 1920’s, The Youngest Son will follow the lives of three different children as they attempt to survive Sydney’s seedy underbelly.  I am very excited to check this novel out, especially after enjoying Byrne’s debut novel, Headland, last year.

Amazon

 

Dragon Rider by Taran Matharu

Dragon Rider Cover

An exciting fantasy novel set around a rebelling prince who steals a dragon egg, Dragon Rider sounds like an excellent novel, and I cannot wait to check it out.  A shoutout as well to the awesome cover, it looks very cool

Amazon

 

Death in the Air by Ram Murali

Death in the Air Cover

I was very interested by one of the most recent books I received, Death in the Air.  A fun and whimsical Indian murder mystery with colonial overtones, Death in the Air sounds like an amazing book and I look forward to reading author Ram Murali’s debut.

Amazon

 

Seeker by Samuel Griffin

Seeker Cover

A captivating fantasy debut, Seeker will follow a young slave who is forcibly recruited into an order dedicated to sensing and defeating ancient leviathans.  A very cool book that I hope I get to read soon.

Amazon

 

Song of the Samurai by C. A. Parker

Song of the Samurai Cover

The final book I recently received was the compelling and complex historical fiction novel, Song of the Samurai.  An intriguing novel that will follow a disgraced samurai and musician as he is forced to embark on a dangerous pilgrimage.  I love the sound of this unique debut and I cannot wait to dive into it.

Amazon

 

 

Well, that’s the end of this latest Book Haul post.  As you can see I have quite a bit of reading to do at the moment thanks to all these awesome books that have come in.  Let me know which of the above you are most interested in and make sure to check back in a few weeks to see my reviews of them.

Behind a Closed Door by J. D. Barker

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Thriller3 Comments

Behind A Closed Door Cover

Publisher: Hampton Creek Press (ebook – 13 May 2024)

Series: Standalone

Length: 514 pages

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Amazon

In the mood for a thriller that’s a little more adult than your typical tale of spies and killers?  Then make sure to check out the cool new book from veteran author J. D. Barker, Behind a Closed Door, that sets a married couple on a dark path of deceit, manipulation and murder.

J. D. Barker is an interesting author for me, mainly because I have previously only read the collaborations he has done with other writers. This includes the compelling Dracula adjacent novel, Dracul, which he cowrote with Dacre Stoker, as well as the intense and powerful novel he wrote with James Patterson, Death of the Black Widow. The second of these books ended up being one of my favourite novels of 2022, and I loved the intense and highly entertaining story the collaboration created.  As such, I have never had the opportunity to read a story purely from Barker’s mind, so I was very intrigued when I got a copy of his new book, Behind a Closed Door.

Husband and wife Brendan and Abby Hollander are facing marital difficulties as their challenging careers and spiralling personal lives take a deep toll.  Desperate to reignite the spark of their marriage, the couple are convinced to download the popular app, Sugar & Spice, which has been taking the world by storm.  The app awards points for daring, romantic and erotic activities between the two, and Brendan and Abby quickly find themselves reconnecting through their amorous exploits.

However, not everything is what it seems with Sugar & Spice, and soon the couple find the app manipulating them in ways they never imagined.  Forced to participate in a series of increasingly taboo tasks, Brendan and Abby are caught up in a series of dangerous seductions, unwanted encounters and terrible lies that threaten to overwhelm them.  Worse, the app begins to request unthinkable criminal acts, the fallout of which paint Brendan and Abby as dangerous killers.  Unable to leave the app’s twisted game, the couple’s only hope is to find the creators and shut it down.  But with more and more people being dragged into the hype around Sugar & Spice, can the Hollanders escape the insidious evil coming for them?

Behind a Closed Door proved to be an exciting and addictive thriller from Barker that I had an outstanding time getting through, thanks to its unique story, compelling characters, and diabolic scenario.

The author starts Behind a Closed Door off slow, as he carefully builds up the protagonists and the dark scenario they are about to enter.  The book initially comes off as a more of an erotic drama then anything else, as there is a focus on the two protagonists coming together as a couple thanks to the Sugar & Spice app.  This continues for a good chunk of the first half of the book, and I must admit that I initially had a hard time getting too involved in the plot.  However, in hindsight, Barker provides some excellent build-up to the plot here, while also hyping up the more adult elements of the book.  Thanks to his excellent use of quickfire chapters and perspective changes, you get to see how adventurous the app initially makes them feel, while also providing intriguing and chilling hints about the events to come.  There is also some excellent initial character development here that pays off big as the story continues.

I personally got more drawn into Behind a Closed Door when the worm inevitably turned, and the app started to force the protagonists into darker scenarios.  This initially results in some substantially heightened drama, as the protagonists attempt to come to terms with some of the dark things they have done, as well as the actions of those closest to them.  I really enjoyed how sinister events became here, especially as both protagonists are pushed in some terrible directions and are drawn even deeper into the app’s dark web.  Previous elements of the plot, such as Brendan’s job, also become a lot more significant, and it goes to show how effectively Barker set things up in the beginning of the story.

The final half of the book is where things really get interesting, as the protagonists find themselves in major trouble.  Forced on the run due to the dark deeds they found themselves drawn to, they must contend both with typical law enforcement, and the many people who have downloaded the app and are being coerced into messing with them.  There are some amazing reveals about the true nature of Sugar & Spice here that draw the entire plot together, and I loved just how desperate things got for the protagonists, especially as Barker just kept throwing elaborate twists and turns at them.  I honestly powered through the final 200 pages of this book in no time at all, it was that damn exciting and addictive, and I deeply appreciated the elaborate and intense action that emerged.  Everything perfectly leads up to Behind a Closed Door’s big conclusion, as the protagonists come face to face with the true evil of the story and are left battered and destroyed by it.  I loved how dark things got towards the end, and Barker cleverly resolves it with some great moments that call back to earlier plot points.  Throw in some exceedingly smart reveals, especially about who was really manipulating the events of the story, and this ended up being an outstanding read that I could not get enough of.

One of the things I most enjoyed about Behind a Closed Door was the excellent and flawed characters that Barker featured throughout it.  The most prominent of these characters are the protagonists Brendan and Abby Hollander, who download the app to reinvigorate their marriage after a series of personal fumbles.  Both characters come into the story feeling very relatable, as the pressures of life are wearing them and their relationship down, and you understand their desire for a fresh start.  As such, you grow close to them and feel their pain as the plot continues, especially as they are forced or mistakenly follow through with the dark desires of the app, while also forgiving them for some dumb mistakes they make.  I really liked how both the characters developed, especially Abby, who grows into quite a strong and resourceful character.  Her actions and ability to make the hard decisions ensure she is the true badass of the story, and I liked how well Barker hid many of her harder qualities and motivations until they needed to come out.

Additional characters of note include the Hollanders’ best friends, who end up helping and hindering them in equal measures, and the assassin duo Romeo and Juliet.  Romeo and Juliet are hardcore Sugar & Spice users who plan to ride the app’s game to a happy ending and prove to be fun counterparts to the protagonists with their willingness to do anything and the role reversal in who is taking control of the situation.  Romeo and Juliet’s twisted relationship is a fantastic part of the plot, and Romeo proves to be a real standout character, especially as he violently tanks his way through the various hurdles of the book’s conclusion.  Barker did a great job with these various characters and their elaborate character arcs of excess and twisted love were extremely fun.

I also must mention the dark and cynical note that Barker includes about technology.  Throughout the course of Behind a Closed Door, Barker is constantly critical about the ways in which humans have become dependent on technology and information, especially through your phones, and this becomes very apparent when the protagonists download the Sugar & Spice app without considering the consequences.  While the nefarious actions of the app in Behind a Closed Door is exaggerated for plot reasons, it speaks to fact that most people (myself included) are willing giving up their personal data and privacy for the sake of a cool app or convenience.  This reliance on technology becomes even more apparent later in the book when the protagonists are forced to go off the grid to survive.  I loved the before and after contrasts as the characters find their own devices and everyone with a phone turning against them, and it was great to see Barker portray everything as being too connected.  This becomes particularly apparent in the last part of the book, especially when you realise the elaborate plan of the antagonist, which ends in a very satisfying way after Barker’s earlier warnings.

Overall, I was very impressed with Behind a Closed Door, which proved to be a particularly epic and addictive thriller.  J. D. Barker has written a deeply compelling and intense thriller that makes excellent use of its more adult trappings and saucy inclusion to tell a complex tale of deceit, lies and betrayal.  Fast-paced, suitably dark, and loaded with memorable moments, Behind a Closed Door was an outstanding book that is really worth checking out.

Amazon