Category: Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday – Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Comedy/Satire, Murder Mystery, 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 latest Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight one of my most anticipated Australian novels of 2024, with the hilarious upcoming crime fiction read, Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson.

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret Cover 1

Amazon

Over the last few years, one of the most consistently impressive and enjoyable Australian authors has been crime fiction author Benjamin Stevenson.  A former comedian (alongside his brother), Stevenson dove into the world of crime fiction with his exciting debut Greenlight (also released as Trust Me When I Lie and She Lies in the Vines), which proved to be a gripping and enjoyable read.  Stevenson followed this up in 2020 with his second novel, Either Side of Midnight, which proved to be an excellent sequel to Greenlight.

While I have really enjoyed his more serious crime fiction novels, Stevenson’s best work is easily his Ernest Cunningham series.  Starting in 2022 with the outrageous and incredible Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone, this series follows a murder mystery expert who finds himself trying to solve an elaborate killing involving his own trapped family.  Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone was such a good book, especially as Stevenson expertly utilised his comedy background to tell a particularly entertaining story, and it ended up being one of my favourite pieces of Australian fiction from 2022.  Not to be outdone, Stevenson followed this book up last year with the awesome sequel, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect.  Once again forcing the protagonist into a unique locked-room mystery, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect proved to be an epic book, especially as it cleverly parodied the crime fiction genre, and it was one of my favourite books and pieces of Australian fiction from 2023.

Needless to say, I have been keeping a close eye out for anymore books from Stevenson, and I was delighted when I found out there was going to be a third Ernest Cunningham novel coming out later this year.  This book, which is set for release in late October 2024, is the awesome sounding Everyone This Christmas has a Secret, which will throw the protagonist into a whole new mess of trouble.

Plot Synopsis:

Benjamin Stevenson returns with a Christmas addition to his bestselling Ernest Cunningham mysteries. Unwrap all the Christmas staples: presents, family, an impossible murder or two, and a deadly advent calendar of clues.

If Knives Out and The Thursday Murder Club kissed under the mistletoe…

My name’s Ernest Cunningham. I used to be a fan of reading Golden Age murder mysteries, until I found myself with a haphazard career getting stuck in the middle of real-life ones. I’d hoped, this Christmas, that any self-respecting murderer would kick their feet up and take it easy over the holidays. I was wrong.

So here I am, backstage at the show of world-famous magician Rylan Blaze, whose benefactor has just been murdered. My suspects are all professional tricksters: masters of the art of misdirection.

THE MAGICIAN
THE ASSISTANT
THE EXECUTIVE
THE HYPNOTIST
THE TWIN
THE COUNSELLOR
THE TECH

My clues are even more abstract: A suspect covered in blood, without a memory of how it got there; A murder committed without setting foot inside the room where it happens; And an advent calendar. Because, you know, it’s Christmas.

If I can see through the illusions, I know I can solve it.

After all, a good murder is just like a magic trick, isn’t it?

Now this sounds like a pretty damn epic read and boy am I going to have fun with it later this year.  Taking his fun concept and turning it into a Christmas-themed murder mystery is a brilliant move from Stevenson and I am really excited to see how it works in Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret.  Focussing the murder on a bunch of different entertainers, all of whom are trained liars and distractors, should result in a complex mystery and I am sure that Stevenson is going to produce a very memorable story around it.  The utterly ridiculous scenario also plays masterfully into Stevenson’s comedy and performance background, so I am sure its going to be loaded with some amazing jokes and references that will appeal to a lot of people.

Look, after all the fun I’ve had with his last few books picking up the new Benjamin Stevenson is a given for me at this point.  However, having a new Ernest Cunningham mystery that features an elaborate and entertaining Christmas themed murder mystery is just gold and there is no way I’m not going to have an absolute blast reading this book.  I am exceedingly excited for Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret and I cannot wait to see how Stevenson continues his outstanding series.  While I am a tad worried about the shorter length of this novel, which might restrict the mystery a little, I am sure that Stevenson has something special planned, and I look forward to seeing it unfold.  Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret has the potential to be one of my favourite books of the year and in my opinion October cannot come soon enough.

Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret Cover 2

Amazon

Waiting on Wednesday – Capture or Kill by Don Bentley (series created by Vince Flynn)

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Thriller, Waiting on Wednesday5 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 my latest Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight a new entry in one of my favourite thriller series that looks to take the franchise in a new direction with Capture or Kill by Don Bentley.

Capture or Kill Cover

Amazon

Ever since I started writing this blog one of the main spy thriller series that I have been enjoying are the exciting Mitch Rapp books.  Initially written by Vince Flynn, the Mitch Rapp books follow a grizzled American spy who is sent out to stop the biggest threats to the United States in a very violent fashion.  The first 14 Mitch Rapp books were written by Flynn before his passing in 2013, with the series subsequently continued by Kyle Mills.  I personally have enjoyed the last several books by Mills, including Red War, Lethal Agent, Total Power, Enemy at the Gates, Oath of Loyalty and Code Red, which have contained some outstanding storylines, including attacks on America’s power grid and a dangerous US President trying to take down the protagonist.  As such, this series is now firmly on my must-read list every year, and I always look forward to an over-the-top adventure with Mitch Rapp.

The 2024 addition to the series is set to come out in September, however, there have been some interesting developments on that front.  The main change is that Kyle Mills is no longer writing the series and instead it has been taken over by veteran thriller author Don Bentley.  Bentley, who already has a lot of experience with other major thriller series, looks to take the series back to its roots with Capture or Kill, especially as it will see Rapp return to take on dangerous threats in the Middle East.

Plot Synopsis:

Mitch Rapp faces an Iranian foe bent on destabilizing the Middle East in the newest thriller from Vince Flynn’s #1 New York Times bestselling series, now written by the “worthy successor to Tom Clancy” (Publishers Weekly) Don Bentley.

April 2011: On a remote mountaintop overlooking the remains of the Iranian nuclear weapons program, Azad Ashani witnesses a Quds Force demonstration of a capability meant to upend America’s war in the Middle East. Ashani, director of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security and Irene Kennedy’s former back channel to the Iranian government, recognizes the demonstration’s true significance, and the nation-ending conflict it will provoke. Alone, Ashani stands no chance of preventing this rush to madness.

But with the help of one man, he just might.

In Washington, DC, CIA director Irene Kennedy briefs the president that the operational window to kill or capture Osama bin Laden at his recently discovered compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan is rapidly closing. But before he’ll authorize a commando raid on Pakistani soil, the president demands irrefutable proof of bin Laden’s presence.

Proof he trusts just one man to provide.

Preventing a looming war in the Middle East while delivering justice for the nearly 3,000 Americans killed on 9/11 would be a big ask for anyone.

Mitch Rapp isn’t just anyone.

This sounds like a pretty fun new adventure for the Mitch Rapp series, and I am very intrigued to see how Bentley takes over the character in this 23rd book.  Pitting Rapp against terrorist foes and the Iranian government is a classic adventure for this action protagonist, and I am curious to see the story go back a few years to 2011.  I have no doubt whatsoever that Capture or Kill is going to be a particularly exciting and epic read, and I cannot wait to get my hands on it later this year.

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

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.

Waiting on Wednesday – Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Thriller, Waiting on Wednesday5 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 highlight an exciting and epic upcoming legal thriller with Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh.

Witness 8 Cover

Amazon

Over the last few years, I have really grown to enjoy the work of thriller author Steve Cavanah.  A compelling author with an awesome body of work, Cavanagh routinely produces intense and captivating thrillers with unique plots that really draw the reader in.  For example, last year, Cavanagh released the impressive novel Kill For Me Kill For You, which provided a fantastic new take on the classic plot of Strangers on a Train.  The distinctive thriller storylines that the author features in his works really appeal to me and Cavanagh is currently on my must-read list every year.

Cavanagh is best known for his Eddie Flynn legal thriller series, which is his main body of work.  Starting in 2015 with The Defence, the Eddie Flynn novels follow a former conman turned defence attorney who finds himself involved in a series of unique and deadly cases.  I have had a wonderful time with some of the latest books in the series, including The Devil’s Advocate, which saw Flynn attempt to save an innocent man from a murderous district attorney, and The Accomplice, where Flynn’s client was the wife and alleged accomplice of a brutal serial killer.  I had an exceptional time with these amazing legal thrillers, and I have been very excited to see how Cavanagh will continue the Eddie Flynn series in the future.

It looks like we won’t have to wait too much longer for the next book from Cavanagh, as we have a new novel coming out in August with Witness 8.  The eighth book in the Eddie Flynn series, Witness 8 will see Flynn defend another innocent person in unusual circumstances as the prime witness in a murder trial plays her own twisted games.

Plot Synopsis:

Ruby Johnson is a nanny and maid to wealthy families in Manhattan’s West 74th Street.
She knows their routines. Their secrets.
One night, on her way home, Ruby witnesses a neighbour’s murder.

She knows the victim. She knows the killer.
She makes an anonymous call to the police and names the murderer.
But Ruby didn’t tell the truth…
Because there’s something wrong with Ruby Johnson.

Eddie Flynn, conman turned trial lawyer, must defend an innocent man accused of this terrible crime.

As Ruby’s deadly game begins, one thing is certain.
It won’t be the last murder this witness is involved in…

I absolutely love the sound of Witness 8’s plot and I already know I am going to love this book.  Cavanagh always has fun portraying corrupt members of the trial process with their own agenda, whether it be death-loving prosecutors or a murderous juror, and his new focus, a lying witness with sinister plans is going to be good.  I have no doubt that Cavanagh is going to twist this case into something special, and I cannot wait to see how the thriller unfolds.  Expect high stakes moments, entertaining court scenes, and over the top legal manoeuvres as the unconventional lawyer protagonist goes up against both the system and the nefarious Ruby.

Honestly there was no way that I wasn’t going to grab Witness 8 when it comes out.  Cavanagh has really impressed me with his last several novels and I am a real sucker for a good legal thriller.  As such, I am extremely confident that I am going to absolutely love Witness 8 and it will probably be one of the most entertaining and exciting books of 2024.  An epic new book from one of my favourite legal thriller authors.

Waiting on Wednesday – King’s Enemy by Ian Ross

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction, Waiting on Wednesday5 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, I highlight an awesome and exciting upcoming novel that I know I’m going to love with King’s Enemy by Ian Ross.

King's Enemy Cover

Last year I had the very great pleasure of reading my first book from historical fiction author Ian Ross, with Battle Song.  The first entry of Ross’s de Norton trilogy, Battle Song followed a young English squire, Adam de Norton, who is forced into the service of notorious knight Sir Robert de Dunstanville.  Following Sir Robert across Europe through the tournament scene, Adam soon learns what it is to be a fighter and a knight.  However, when English lord Simon de Montfort rebels against King Henry III, Adam and Robert return home to a civil war, determined to fight on the side that will provide them the greatest reward.  Battle Song ended up being a very epic novel, that was both action-packed and powerfully written, while also featuring an intriguing look at one of England’s lesser-known civil wars.  I had such a great time with Battle Song, and it ended up being one of the best books I read in 2023.

Ross followed up Battle Song with the second novel in the de Norton trilogy, War Cry, which I read earlier this year.  Set shortly after the events of Battle Song, War Cry sees a newly knighted Adam de Norton forced back into war when further rebellions kick off across England in support of the deposed King.  This proved to be an outstanding sequel to Battle Song, and I loved how dark the story got in places, especially the ending where the protagonist loses everything.  This was another exceptional read in my book, and it easily cemented me as a fan of Ross’s writing.

Due to how much fun I had with the first two books in this trilogy, I have been keeping a close eye out for the third book.  Luckily, it doesn’t look like I am going to have to wait too much longer to find out how the trilogy ends as the final entry, King’s Enemy, is set for release in September.  King’s Enemy sounds extremely awesome, especially as it will follow the protagonist and his love interest after they are branded as traitors and forced to flee across England towards a desperate last stand.

Plot Synopsis:

The Battle of Evesham has been fought and lost. The King is triumphant, Simon de Montfort is dead, and Adam de Norton is a prisoner, stripped of everything he once honoured and prized.

Escaping from captivity in the grim castle of Beeston, Adam becomes a fugitive in a country in turmoil. Branded a king’s enemy, he can be slain with impunity.

Together with the widowed Joane de Bohun, Adam flees across a bleak winter landscape, evading both pursuing royal troops and a desperate band of outlaws to seek shelter with a surviving rebel force in the north. But when the rebels are beaten once again, only one place in the land still holds out defiantly against the king: Kenilworth Castle, the mightiest fortress in England.

Joining the garrison of Kenilworth as it prepares for one of the most epic sieges in English history, Adam finds dangerous foes both inside and outside the walls. But as the siege grows ever more brutal, he must decide between a valiant defence and a still more perilous bid for freedom.

Now, after how epically dark the previous book ended, there was no way I wasn’t grabbing King’s Enemy when it came out.  However, I have been even more keen to read this book after seeing the above plot synopsis.  Having the protagonist go from respected knight to royal fugitive is an intriguing turn of events, and I’m sure that Ross will come up with an intense and desperate flight across England.  In addition, the finale of the book is set to take place during one of the longest sieges in English history, which is very, very cool.  I am a huge fan of books that feature epic sieges, and I cannot wait to see how Ross will approach this epic historical event.

Another aspect of King’s Enemy that I am very interested in seeing is the overall fate of the main character, Adam de Norton.  Throughout Battle Song and War Cry, I have become highly invested in Adam’s story, especially as he is one of the few loyal, honourable and chivalrous knights in the plot.  Ross has left open several intriguing character storylines that need to be addressed in the final novel, including his romance with Joane de Bohun, the various enemies he has accumulated throughout the war, and whether he will be allowed to remain a knight and keep his ancestral lands.  I look forward to seeing how Ross wraps up Adam de Norton’s tale, and I cannot wait to find out what happens to this character.

Look, based on how impressive the first two novels in this trilogy have been, there is no chance that I would stop reading it now.  I absolutely need to know how Ian Ross’s captivating historical tale ends, and the fact that the final chapter of the story features a massive siege is all I need to know to grab King’s Enemy the instant it comes out.  As such, King’s Enemy is now one of my most anticipated reads for the second half of 2024 and I am so damn excited for it.

Waiting on Wednesday – Precipice by Robert Harris

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical 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.  For this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I check out the intriguing upcoming historical thriller for legendary author Robert Harris, Precipice.

Precipice Cover

Amazon

Robert Harris is a very impressive author who has producing complex works of fiction for over 30 years.  Best known for his numerous novels that blend historical events with thriller storylines, Harris has created several impressive and outstanding novels set back in the past.  Many of these, including Fatherland, Enigma, Archangel, and The Ghost have been adapted into television shows or movies over the years, which really showcases the outstanding range of narratives he has come up with.

I personally have had a wonderful time with several of Harris’ more intriguing novels over the years, all of which were exceptional pieces of historical fiction.  The first Harris book I read was the 2013 novel, An Officer and a Spy, which proved to be a perfect novelisation of the infamous Dreyfus affair, and which stayed with me for many, many years.  I more recently read his 2020 novel, V2, which told an elaborate, multi-layered story about the utilisation of V-2 rockets in World War II, and the awesome 2022 novel, Act of Oblivion, which covered the compelling, decades long hunt for two of the men responsible for the execution of King Charles I.  I have deeply enjoyed all these amazing books from Harris, and it ensured that any of his future novels would be square in my sights.

As it happens, Harris has a compelling book set for release in a few months’ time.  This book, Precipice, has a fantastic World War I plot set around an infamous British political scandal.  Set to feature intrigue, espionage, and the horrors of the first World War, Precipice, sounds extremely awesome and I cannot wait to unwrap its unique, historical mystery.  I have no doubt whatsoever that this is going to be one of the top historical fiction novels of 2024 and I am very excited to get my hands on it.

Plot Summary:

Summer 1914. A world on the brink of catastrophe.

In London, 26-year-old Venetia Stanley – aristocratic, clever, bored, reckless – is having a love affair with the Prime Minister, H. H. Asquith, a man more than twice her age. He writes to her obsessively, sharing the most sensitive matters of state.

As Asquith reluctantly leads the country into war with Germany, a young intelligence officer is assigned to investigate a leak of top secret documents – and suddenly what was a sexual intrigue becomes a matter of national security that will alter the course of political history.

Seamlessly weaving fact and fiction in a way that no writer does better, Precipice is the thrilling new novel from Robert Harris.

Waiting on Wednesday – The Last Shield by Cameron Johnston

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.  In this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I check out the outstanding upcoming dark fantasy read, The Last Shield by Cameron Johnston.

The Last Shield Cover

Amazon

Over the last few years, I have been having an awesome time getting to know rising author Cameron Johnston who has been making his mark on the world of dark fantasy fiction.  Debuting back in 2018, Johnston impressed me with his very first novel, The Traitor God, which was a clever and intense revenge filled fantasy romp.  Johnston followed up The Traitor God the next year with an excellent sequel, God of Broken Things, which ended up being one of my favourite books of 2019.  These first two books were very good, and I made sure to keep an eye out for any additional work from Johnston, which ensured that I grabbed a copy of his third book, The Maleficent Seven.  An intense, outrageous, and over-the-top dark fantasy homage to classics like Seven Samurai and The Magnificent Seven, The Maleficent Seven was an outstanding book, that saw seven magical supervillains take up the good fight.  All three of Johnston’s novels have been pretty damn amazing, and as such I was very excited when I saw he had a fourth book coming out later this year.

This fourth book is The Last Shield, and it is currently set for release in September 2024.  Another intriguing dark fantasy novel, The Last Shield has another epic plot behind it, as a lone fantasy hero engages a dangerous heist crew in a secure palace.

Plot Synopsis:

A gender-flipped Die Hard set in a mysterious castle, Cameron Johnston’s The Last Shield is an engaging fantasy read, perfect for fans of John Gwynne and Mark Lawrence.

The ancient forest realm of Sunweald is bordered on two sides by far mightier nations – a precarious situation. At its centre, the Sunweald Palace is home to the Lord Regent and the heir to the throne, together with numerous precious and powerful artefacts. The Palace is protected by the realm’s elite Shields, dedicated to guarding the royal line against all foes.

A group of vicious brigands called the Wildwood Reivers have been stealing arcane artefacts and smuggling them across the borders, out of Sunweald. And the objects they most desire are stored in the mystical Wyrm Vault, hidden away deep in the bones of the earth, within the walls of the Palace itself.

As political and religious tensions mount, Sunweald’s druids prepare to enact rituals for the Summer Solstice – but the Wildwood Reivers and their treacherous allies have other plans. It falls to Briar, the commander of the Shields, to defend the ancient corridors and secret tunnels of the Palace. The odds may be against her, but she’ll see every enemy head adorning a spike or she’ll die trying…

Now, as a well-known fan of novels with awesome and unconventional story ideas behind them, this is obviously a book that I am extremely interested in.  Set to combine Johnston’s well-established flair for dark fantasy fiction with a cool, Die Hard inspired story, The Last Shield sounds so damn epic and I love the idea of a hero facing off against a team of thieves dedicated to taking over the palace and stealing it’s ancient treasures.  I am imagining a very brutal action-packed fantasy read here, filled with secret tunnels in place of air vents, and all manner of over-the-top shenanigans, which sounds very, very cool, and which I know Johnston will use to his full advantage.

Honestly, based on how impressive Cameron Johnston has been with his first three novels, I was already planning to grab The Last Shield as soon as it comes out.  However, now that I have seen the wonderfully crazy and fun plot synopsis above, this has become one of my must-read books of 2024 and I am so very exited to get my hands on it.  The Last Shield has so much potential, and I have no doubt it will be one of the most entertaining novels of the year.

Waiting on Wednesday – The Wrong Man by Tim Ayliffe

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Murder Mystery, Waiting on Wednesday5 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, I highlight an excellent upcoming piece of Australian crime fiction with The Wrong Man by Tim Ayliffe.

The Wrong Man Cover

As regular readers of this blog will know, I consume a lot of Australian fiction each year, mainly because of my geographic location and the focuses of my local publishers.  A large portion of this Australian fiction tends to be crime fiction, with my fellow Australians coming up with an amazing range of thrillers, murder mysteries and other crime-focused reads.  Some of the best of these make full use of the Australian setting to tell their compelling stories, and I have become a huge fan of Australian crime fiction as a result.  One of my favourite authors coming up with awesome Australian crime fiction is journalist turned author Tim Ayliffe, who has had some great success with his John Bailey books.

The John Bailey novels are an excellent series that follows the titular character, an alcoholic and damaged journalist, as he finds himself involved in a series of dangerous situations related to his investigative stories.  Not only do these novels feature captivating thriller storylines and compelling mysteries, but Ayliffe often laces them with intriguing insights into Australian society, featuring plot points that have parallels to real life headlines, social issues or controversies.  These include examining foreign interference in Australian politics, terrorism, the growth of right-wing extremism, and the impact of international spies in Australia.  As such, I have had a wonderful and thoughtful time with each of the John Bailey novels, and they are often some of the top pieces of Australian fiction I read each year.  This includes The Greater Good, State of Fear, The Enemy Within (one of my favourite Australian books of 2021), and Killer Traitor Spy (one of my favourite Australian books of 2023).

Due to how much I have enjoyed Tim Ayliffe’s work in the past I was excited when he recently announced he had a new novel coming out in 2024.  That book is The Wrong Man which is currently set for release in early July.  The fifth entry in the John Bailey series, The Wrong Man has an amazing plot behind it that I am really excited for.

Plot Synopsis:

The fifth novel in the John Bailey thriller series. Bailey is trying to solve two murders, ten years apart – unfinished business from his former flame Sharon Dexter. But will it cost him his life?

Detective Holly Sutton has been seconded to work with the New South Wales Homicide Squad to investigate the murder of Sydney socialite, Tottie Evans, who was found dead at the Palm Beach home of a millionaire property developer.

Alec Blacksmith isn’t like other real estate guys. He’s a former mercenary soldier who shot to fame after appearing on a reality TV show. Blacksmith is refusing to cooperate with police because he has his own secrets.

John Bailey is an old school reporter with a nose for a story.

He gets a call from the police about a break-in at the house he inherited from his former girlfriend, Sharon Dexter – a cop murdered in the line of duty.

Whoever crowbarred the lock was looking for Dexter’s case file about the murder of a waitress named Sally King at an exclusive Sydney gentlemen’s club a decade earlier. After examining the file, Bailey discovers something that will blow up the Homicide Squad’s investigation into Tottie Evans’s death – a link to the murder of King.

The only problem is that a serial killer is already serving a life sentence for the crime.

Catching killers is Holly Sutton’s job. But for John Bailey, solving the case offers him a chance to finish a job for the woman who saved his life.

I really like the sound of this latest John Bailey novel as it a lot of interesting elements to it.  A pure murder mystery focused book will make The Wrong Man stand out a little bit from the previous entries in the series, and I like the scenario that Ayliffe introducing here.  Controversial figures, linked murders, and a potentially falsely imprisoned serial killer has some real potential for a narrative, and I cannot wait to see how it unwinds.  The inclusion of a controversial soldier as a prominent figure was also interesting to me, and it made me wonder if Ayliffe is going to allude to a high-profile legal case that recently played out in the Australian media.  I am also interested in the character of Detective Holly Sutton, and I am looking forward to seeing how she plays off the older John Bailey.  Bailey, a damaged figure who has slowly been pulling his life together throughout the series, will also be a great inclusion, and I am curious to see how his character continues to evolve, especially after the additional health issues that were raised in the previous book (those darn Russian sonic weapons).

Based on my previous positive experiences with Tim Ayliffe’s work, I am very keen to get my hands on the new John Bailey book when it comes out in a few months’ time.  The Wrong Man has a very exciting and compelling story behind it, and I am keen to find out how it all comes together.  I have no doubt that The Wrong Man will probably end up being one of the top Australian novels of 2024 and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

Waiting on Wednesday – A Tide of Black Steel by Anthony Ryan

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 latest Waiting on Wednesday post, I highlight an awesome and highly anticipated upcoming fantasy novel from one of my favourite authors with A Tide of Black Steel by Anthony Ryan.

A Tide of Black Steel Cover

Amazon

There are so many great fantasy authors currently plying their literary trade to eager audiences, but one of my favourites is the extremely talented Anthony Ryan.  A compelling and prolific author, Ryan has been dominating the genre for over 10 years with several impressive series, including his Raven’s Shadow, Raven’s Blade, Slab City Blues and Draconis Memoria books.  While all these series sound extremely good, I have only had the pleasure of reading Ryan’s latest series, although that has been more than enough to make me a major fan.

This series was the exciting and intriguing The Covenant of Steel trilogy.  Set in an elaborate and battle-torn fantasy world, The Covenant of Steel books followed the tumultuous life of Alwyn Scribe, a former outlaw who finds redemption and a new purpose after being trained as a scribe, and then becoming a key figure in a series of wars and religious revolutions.  Told through an awesome chronicle style, this series was so damn good, and featured some great characters, powerful battles, and set up a complex new fantasy realm.

All three books in The Covenant of Steel were particularly epic, and I really enjoyed each of them.  This included the impressive first novel, The Pariah (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021) that perfectly up the series, The Martyr (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2022) that continued the excellent story while also feature some amazing battles, and The Traitor (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2023) which provided a dark and compelling finish to this gripping series.  I came away a massive fan of Ryan after reading these three books and I have been eager to dive into some of his other series.  I also kept an eye out for whatever new book Ryan was cooking up next as I planned to read them as soon as it came out.  Well, it looks like I won’t have to wait much longer as Ryan has a new novel coming out in a few short months.

That new novel is A Tide of Black Steel, which is currently set for release in September 2024.  The first book in his new Age of Wrath series, A Tide of Black Steel will present the reader with a cool, Norse-inspired fantasy tale of war, adventure and family drama, which sounds very fun.

Plot Synopsis:

A NEW AGE HAS DAWNED. AN AGE OF BLOOD AND STEEL.

AN AGE OF WRATH.

The land of Ascarlia, a fabled realm of bloodied steel and epic sagas, has been ruled by the Sister Queens for centuries. No one has dared question their rule.

Until now.

Whispers speak of longships of mysterious tattooed warriors, sailing under the banners of a murderous cult of oath-breakers long thought extinct. A tide of black steel that threatens to vanquish all in its path.

Thera of the Blackspear, favoured servant of the Sister Queens, is ordered to uncover the truth. As Thera sails north, her reviled brother, Felnir, sets out on his own adventure. He hopes to find the Vault of the Altvar – the treasure room of the gods – and win the Sister Queens’ favour at his sister’s expense.

Both siblings – along with a brilliant young scribe and a prisoner with a terrifying, primal power – will play a part in the coming storm.

The Age of Wrath has begun.

I really love the sound of the great plot that Ryan has come up with for his new book and A Tide of Black Steel is currently one of my most anticipated fantasy books in 2024.  A more Norse-inspired fantasy read from Ryan has a lot of potential, especially as it will be somewhat different to more classic medieval fantasy we saw in Ryan’s previous series.  A compelling adventure fantasy tale that sees two rival siblings lead separate expeditions into the wilds is going to very fun, and I am already excited to learn more about the mystery of the tattooed warriors.  However, the reason I am most intrigued by A Tide of Black Steel is that it is set in the same universe as The Covenant of Steel books.

I am very excited for this as I really did love reading The Covenant of Steel books the last few years.  While it isn’t 100% clear in the summary above, A Tide of Black Steel appears to be a sequel to Ryan’s previous series, and I am excited to see if he will pick up some of the established storylines and plot points from the prior books.  The land of Ascarlia was mentioned to a degree in the previous series, primarily in The Pariah where they were minor antagonists, so it will be interesting see how it ties into that.  I am also curious to see if any characters from The Covenant of Steel books will be featured in this upcoming series.  Thanks to prophetic visions in The Heretic, you know that the story of Alwyn Scribe isn’t finished, and the character, or potentially his son, are bound to return at some point.  As such I have my eye on the “brilliant young scribe” character mentioned in the synopsis, although this does seem a little too obvious.  It will be very interesting to see how this pans out, and I have no doubt I am going to love all the featured connections no matter what.

Look, I was always planning to grab A Tide of Black Steel when it came out, especially after really getting obsessed with Anthony Ryan’s last series.  However, the fact that A Tide of Black Steel is going to be some form of continuation to The Covenant of Steel books makes this a must-read for me, as I really can’t wait to see an expansion of the fantastic fantasy universe from these previous books.  This is frankly one of the top upcoming fantasy books I want to read and there is no way this doesn’t end up being one of my favourite books of the year.