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Book Review: Trackers by Nicholas Sansbury Smith
Goodreads
From USA Today best selling author Nicholas Sansbury Smith comes another harrowing story of survival in a post-apocalyptic world.
The end of the world is just the beginning of the hunt…
Estes Park Police Chief Marcus Colton and tracker Sam ‘Raven’ Spears have never liked one another, but when a young girl goes missing in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colton hires Spears to help find her. Their search ends after a night of devastating horror. When word reaches Estes that the nation has been hit by a coordinated electromagnetic pulse attack, Colton and Spears are forced to work together again. But they quickly realize they aren’t just tracking a killer–they are tracking a madman. As the United States descends into chaos, the hunters become the hunted.
Halfway across the country, Senator Charlize Montgomery awakes to find the nation’s capital has gone dark. Forced to set off on foot, she treks across a city that has woken to a new world, and as the night progresses, she learns the EMP attack was just the beginning
An alarmingly realistic thriller
An alarmingly realistic thriller by Nicholas Sansbury Smith! He tackled not only a realistic threat, but also an amazing plotline. It almost seemed like two stories interwoven with great skill. Scary, intriguing, and very entertaining! Two siblings. A brother and sister from different parts of the country. One wacky serial killer on the loose in the midst of a national crisis.
Characters were believable and made it an entertaining read. One was an ex-military guy with native american background. I found this one rather refreshing from the usual types.
Can’t wait for the next one!
Amazon | Website |
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 Trailer
IT’S TELEVISION TUESDAY TRAILERS!
With Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2
Are you pumped for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2? Tell me in the comments!
Benjamin Thomas
@thewritingtrain
http://www.mysterythrillerweek.com
Books that FRUSTRATE me! with Sasha Alsberg
IT’S TELEVISION TUESDAY FOLKS!
What books frustrate you? Tell me in the comments!
Benjamin Thomas
@thewritingtrain
http://www.mysterythrillerweek.com
Book Review: Little Black Lies
In the halls of the psychiatric ward, Dr. Zoe Goldman is a resident in training, dedicated to helping troubled patients. However, she has plenty of baggage of her own. When her newest patient arrives – a beautiful sociopath who murdered her mother – Zoe becomes obsessed with questions about her own mother’s death. But the truth remains tauntingly out of reach, locked away within her nightmares of an uncontrollable fire. And as her adoptive mother loses her memory to dementia, the time to find the answers is running out.
As Zoe digs deeper, she realizes that the danger is not just in her dreams but is now close at hand. And she has no choice but to face what terrifies her the most. Because what she can’t remember just might kill her.
Little Black Lies is about madness and memory – and the dangerous, little lies we tell ourselves just to survive.
A stellar read by Sandra Block! Psychiatrist Dr. Zoe Goldman is a memorable character with a hidden mystery. She’s wrapped up in a dire search for her birth mother, whom she never knew, but in the end discovers a lot more than expected. This is a wonderfully written intriguing mystery that’ll keep you turning pages into the night.
Setting. I loved the setting of this book for many reasons. I used to work in different medical settings with the same type of patients seen in this book. So this gave me a familiar feeling.
Plot. The plot was smooth, evenly paced and interwoven with the skill of a seamstress. That’s about all I can say without spoilers!!
I’m really looking forward to the next two books. The Girl without a name, and The Secret Room
Thanks!!!
Benjamin Thomas
@thewritingtrain
http://www.mysterythrillerweek.com
Audiobook Review: Fallen by Leslie Tentler
AUDIO FORENSICS EDITION
Fallen by Leslie Tentler
Written by: Leslie Tentler
Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin
Length: 9 hrs and 24 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date: 04-08-15
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Goodreads Description
“If it wasn’t an armed robbery, it was a hit. An execution.”
Amid a sultry Atlanta summer, someone is targeting police…
The investigation becomes personal for APD Detective Ryan Winter when a colleague and friend is shot dead, the second victim in just weeks. But even as he finds himself being drawn into the tense hunt for a serial cop killer, he is forced to re-examine his own shattering personal tragedy.
An ER physician at Atlanta’s busy Mercy Hospital, Dr. Lydia Costa is no stranger to suffering. Still, the recent police slayings reopen barely healed wounds — and bring her face-to-face with her ex-husband, Ryan Winter.
As the body count rises and paranoia tightens its grip on the police force, Lydia and Ryan are pulled together by circumstances and fate… causing old passions to reignite despite their painful shared past. But as Ryan moves closer to discovering the killer’s identity, someone is watching, placing both him and Lydia in mortal danger.
HEAR ME OUT….
Leslie Tentler is a excellent suspense writer! Fallen is not only well written but also captivating on many levels. I listened to the audiobook version of this and loved it. Narrator Marguerite Gavin does a superb job bringing the story and characters to life.
Seeing an embattled ER physician, Lydia, having to confront her ex-husband through a series of murders is the center of the story. There is an unmistakable bond between them despite the circumstances.
I can’t say enough about this story. It has all you can ask for from beginning to end. Love, romance, suspense, mystery, crime drama, hope. It’s all there.
AUDIO FORENSICS
Narrator Performance: 8/10
Narrator Marguerite Gavin is skilled in the use of accents. She does a decent job portraying a male voices in this one. Actually her male voices were flawless. One of the male police officers spoke English with a latin american accent and she nailed it. Fresh, believable, and entertaining. High five Marguerite!
Story Connection: 10/10
Marguerite had all cylinders firing in this one. I really didn’t notice her that much. Which is code for excellence. No impedance through voice, skill, or lack of connection. The investment in the story was evident and conveyed with professionalism.
Voice Switch Over: 9/10
This is probably one of the hardest things to do as a narrator. Not to mention doing it consistently over the course of the story. Switching of male <-> female characters was very precise without distraction. Hats off to the narrator.
Sound quality: 10/10
No problems here. The entire performance upheld professional standards. Nice.
Emotional Resonance: 9/10
Very entertaining! All aspects of the story were very touching. The mystery embedded at the core is full of suspense and will keep you guessing until the very end.
Overall: 8/10
A great book! I’ll definitely be listening to the next one in the series.
Leslie Tentler
Goodreads | Website | Amazon | Facebook
Benjamin Thomas
@thewritingtrain
http://www.mysterythrillerweek.com
The Story of Entrepreneur & Author Gavin Mills
Welcome to another edition of…
The Story of the Writer Series
with Author Gavin Mills
Gavin Mills is the author of Dup Departs: A Time to Go and Seed of Reason. He’s an entrepreneur of two companies, a former world dancer, and all around awesome dude. Gavin is also one of our participating authors of this years inaugural Mystery Thriller Week Event taking place this February 12-22. Don’t miss it!!
So, who is Gavin Mills? And what is his story?
*Where are you originally from?
I am South African born and bred, hailing from Springs, a small mining town on the apron of Johannesburg, the city of Gold.
Awesome!! I know a few peeps in S. Africa. In Cape Town and Johannesburg.
*What kind of band were you in?
LOL! I was never in a band. I was a dancer. I started in engineering then computers and then did a flip flop and became a dancer. I must have been pretty good at it – I did my first professional show before taking a class! I went on to perform as principal dancer at the Moulin Rouge in Paris – a show with the hottest women on Earth. What a life!
Wow! I’m trying to picture you dancing in my head.
*Introduce us to your main character.
Arnold Dup Preez makes movies – and everyone calls him Dup. He was a dancer when he was younger (funny that), and followed a natural progression into movie production. He has an ex beauty queen wife and two young kids, but his life is a shambles. His business is going to the dogs and he is less than impressed with life in the new South Africa. He is not overly ambitious and his business is floundering. He has reached a cross-roads in his life. He knows the journey ahead will not have a happy ending the way things are going, but does not know how to change. He is pretty desperate and open to suggestions – that could have bad outcomes. But deep down he has character and strength even he never knew he had. And being forced into corners will reveal his true mettle.
Nice. Our true colors shine when we’re under pressure. Way to go Dup!
“Character is the real foundation of all worthwhile success.”-John Hays Hammond
*You’re a writer; so whats your story, or what inspired you?
Frustration in a world going bonkers? My first book was Seed of Reason – a fantasy. It is about a New Order that was going to right all wrongs – which then goes pear-shaped when the darker attributes of puppet-masters reveal themselves. It is a book that takes a look at people and society and questions a lot of things about life. It took me 7 years to complete and I am very proud of it. After that I decided to have some fun, and Dup was written with a very different intent –basically to press buttons and get pulses racing.
Interesting. At least your persistence paid off after 7 years. At this rate, my first book will be done after 7 years.
*What’s your GOAL in becoming a writer?
I s’pose to be read – and hope some people like my stuff. Writing is a very frightening prospect at times. It is human nature to want people to like you when you are bearing your soul and placing your talents up for scrutiny. But the Goal? Hey: Fame and fortune! Lol!
Hahahhaha!! That’s great. I understand and agree about bearing your soul to the page wondering how it’ll turn out. I”m there right now. I love the simplicity of wanting to be read. That says it all.
*What 3 things have hindered you from completing your projects? (CONFLICT)
Three things that hinder? Me, me and me. We can all do what we set our minds to, but sometimes life gets in the way …Or that’s what we tell ourselves. I believe I can write, but sometimes when writing, question this conviction. But always, we have it within us to do. But that doing is sometimes really difficult.
I totally relate to this. Why is it so hard get past our fears? It’s a very subtle feeling.
“Conflict cannot survive without your participation.”-Wayne Dyer
*What keeps you motivated in achieving your dream? (DESIRE)
Ask that to the worker bee. It is in my nature. I chizel away in my little playground and believe that one day, some of the things I do will be great.
That’s right! If we believe it, it will happen. Plain and simple.
*What’s your ANTAGONIST? What’s in the way?
Family and professional obligations. I once heard that if a guy hasn’t made it by forty, he never will. I don’t think it’s as much an age thing as a family thing. When still single, I could do with my time what I wanted. Now my first responsibility is my family – and that’s not only financial. It’s love, my company, my time. This is a blessing, but with regard to dedication to creation, certainly a challenge – But one well appreciated!
Those are all wonderful things! I’m in the same boat.
*If you have given up your dream, why?
I believe dreams change. What I dreamt for in my twenties are not the same things I dream about now. And it is this fact that brings the dynamics which forge our characters. When you get stuck in a dream, you miss out on the world of opportunities that pass you every day.
I like the spin on this. Very true.
*Why do writers give up, quit or never complete their projects?
I don’t think it’s only writers that give up. People give up in all careers and situations – the same as there are success stories everywhere in life. Giving up is not a milestone, it is a state of mind. We can achieve whatever we want so long as we believe it can be done, we believe we personally can do it; we start and then keep going, and resolve never to give up until it’s done. This is the mindset of success.
I love that statement!! Lovely. The mindset means a lot. Our state of mind throughout the process has a lot to do with it. Thanks for sharing.
*What would you say to a struggling writer who’s given up?
Don’t be so dumb. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and looking to blame someone or something. And stop being so precious about whether it is a success or not. Set a date, stick to the date and get down to it. Keep going ‘til the end, and whether it is a best seller or spaghetti, pat yourself on the back for writing a book – because not everyone can do that…
Amen to that brother! I love the bluntness to this one. In other words, get ‘er done! Totally needed to hear that one.
BONUS: What else do you have coming down the pike?
I’ve got three other stories swimming around in my head. I have started on two of them. One is a prequel to Dup. A somewhat darkly humorous love story. Should be interesting…Beside that, life, life and more life – warm in the love of my family.
Thanks Gavin!
ME – GAVIN MILLS
Gavin Mills started out studying Chemical Engineering before two year’s military service, becoming a 2nd lieutenant and serving as transport officer for 52 Battalion out of Ogongo in Namibia in the late ‘70s. Then into computers before giving up corporate life to become a professional dancer, performing first in South Africa and later in London, Paris, Spain and Portugal -some of the highlights being principal dancer in Moulin Rouge Paris France, Scala in Spain and Canary Islands, and Estoril Casino in Lisbon, Portugal. On returning to South Africa, he got into choreography, stage production and industrial theatre playing a significant role in voter education leading up to the historic SA 1994 elections. Then back to the corporate world focusing on event marketing and production. Today apart from his passion for storytelling, he also runs two successful
How can readers find out more about you and your work? Anyone wishing to find out more about me and my books can find me on Goodreads, my FB author’s page and Pinterest:
Goodreads | Facebook
Don’t be a stranger!
Benjamin Thomas
@thewritingtrain
http://www.mysterythrillerweek.com
Discussing Plays, Novels, and Reading With Elena Hartwell
Welcome to another edition of Forensic Lenses
An investigative and exploratory approach into the minds of voracious readers everywhere.
Please welcome novelist, playwright and teacher Elena Hartwell!
Elena is the author of One Dead, Two to Go and Two Heads Are Deader Than One Both a part of the Eddie Shoes Mystery Series. She is also one of our wonderful participating authors in this year’s Mystery Thriller Week event. Beginning Feb. 12-22. Don’t miss it!
*Who influenced your reading habits the most as a child?
My parents taught me to love reading. I was read to extensively by both parents. My father would put his rocking chair in front of my and my older sister’s bedroom doors, and we would go to sleep to the sound of his voice and the shushing of the rocker on the hardwood floor. We read the Narnia series, the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, Watership Down, all the great books. The other big influence I had as a child was my paternal grandmother. Granny read mysteries and westerns, she got me into those genres.
I love that they taught you a *love* of reading. That says much more than just reading itself.
*Who were your childhood heroes?
Nancy Drew. Misty of Chicoteague and the two kids who own her. Lucy in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. Outside the literary world, probably Carl Jung. My parents had a Jungian library for a while. It was the 70s.
Oh wow. Carl Jung. I’ve been enjoying his work too, among others. ENFP’s rock!! Everyone’s heroes are unique.
*What sort of books did you read as a teenager?
Mysteries – Tony Hillerman, Sue Grafton, I loved the Jean Auel Clan of the Cave Bear series. I read a lot of Sci-Fi – Robert Heinlein, Asimov, Anne McCaffrey.
Lovely. I like Sci-fi too. Haven’t read Sue Grafton yet, unfortunately.
*Any particular books that shaped you in this time period?
Watership Down was a big one. And The Hobbit. I use The Hobbit all the time when I teach story structure. Little House on the Prairie series, I wanted to be Laura Ingalls. Any book about horses, I’m still in love with them.
YES. I just listened to the Hobbit audiobook and it was wonderful. I got a better realization of the story this time around.
“Reading changes us.”-T.Michael Martin
*How did you get into theater?
I dropped out of high school, so when I decided I was going back to school I had to start at a community college, because I didn’t qualify for a four-year. I started back, while working full-time as a bartender, and started with Spanish and Acting. Spanish because I’d need a language requirement and I’d been very good at it in high school. I grew up in San Diego, so there was a lot of Spanish spoken around me. I took Acting because I’d always thought it would be fun to try and I was easing into going back to school. I loved the acting class and went on to take every theater course Grossmont College offered, as well as working on a number of productions. I went on to get a theater minor at the University of San Diego, a M.Ed with an emphasis in teaching theater from UW-Tacoma, and a Ph.D. in dramatic theory and criticism from the University of Georgia. Throughout my educational years and beyond I continued to work professionally in theater and teach on the university level.
Very academic! I’d love to hear one of your classes!
*Name the core elements of a play, and what is its purpose?
This could be answered a number of ways. I’m going to go with dialogue, conflict, and universality. Dialogue, because despite the fact there is action in plays and we go to watch them, not just hear them, the basis of a play is the text written by the playwright, primarily in dialogue. Conflict, because without conflict there’s nothing to overcome, and if there’s nothing to overcome, there’s no tension or rising action or character development, and universality because it is through the specificity of a character or event that makes the experience of going to see theater universal. We have the opportunity to realize we often struggle through the same issues, regardless of race, ethnicity, politics, or religion. I can watch a play about a black family and feel it resonate with my own experiences, even though I’m white. I can watch a play about gay issues or struggles of faith, and while I’m straight and agnostic, I can still find common ground with the characters. It also creates the opportunity to recognize our own prejudices and hopefully become more accepting and compassionate.
Very interesting. I’ve actually only been to one play so I don’t anything about the subject. Thanks for sharing!
*How does the structure differ from a novel?
I would argue it really doesn’t, except there are no intermissions in a novel. I often hear people talk about “Three-act structure” – but as a playwright and novelist, I think novels are like One-Act plays, not Three-Act plays.
Interesting. I wish I could pick your brain more about this subject!
*Have you written any plays?
Several. I’ve been published and produced around the US, and parts of the UK and Canada.
Awesome. I wonder what happens next? Do you submit it to someone for casting?
*Name your top 5 favorite characters.
Bilbo Baggins from JRR Tolkien. Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. Pryor from Angels in America. Bosch from Michael Connolly. Kinsey Millhone from Sue Grafton.
YES. Bilbo Baggins is a wonderful reluctant hero. LOVE Bosch.
*Did your taste in books change while in college?
Nope.
Simplicity is bliss.
*If all the books were going to be burned, yet you had your choice of three, which would you select?
The Oxford English Dictionary, Stephen King’s On Writing, and Strunk and White’s Elements of Style. Then we could write new ones.
Oh wow. This is s fascinating choice indeed. Then writing new ones! You have the right kind of spirit!!
*If you could pick any fictional character for a sibling who would it be? Brother or sister.
Merlin the Magician. He would be an awesome brother. Though Gandalf would be a close second.
I can see you love magic! Personally I’d take Gandalf.
*Name your favorite modern authors and what you appreciate about them.
Dennis Lehane, he writes stand alones, a contemporary series, and historical, I love his breadth. Gillian Flynn for her strong, unique voice and proof women can write terrible people too. Blake Crouch, I can’t put it into words why his books enthrall me so, but I can’t put them down once I start them. Sue Grafton for her sheer tenacity and so many years of wonderful books.
Historical fiction is now one of my favorites. Not so familiar with the others. At least I haven’t read them yet. (Don’t hate me).
*What books would you like to recommend to us?
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger, The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens, Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger, Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny, Burial Rites by Hannah Kent, Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.
Awesome. I’ve come across William Kent Kreuger. Thanks for the recommendations!
THANKS ELENA!
Don’t be a stranger…
Benjamin Thomas
@thewritingtrain
http://www.mysterythrillerweek.com
Book Recommendations with Kristina Horner
TELEVISION TUESDAY
Book Recommendations with Kristina Horner
What’s on your reading list for 2017? Tell me in the comments!!
Up for a reading challenge? Join the Book Hoarders Bucket List Reading Challenge (Goodreads group here)
A Challenge for Book Hoarders Like Me at SallyAllenBooks.com
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Benjamin Thomas
@thewritingtrain
http://www.thewritingtrain.com
Watch “APA Webinar: Blogging About Audiobooks” on YouTube
IT’S TELEVISION TUESDAY FOLKS
Audio Publishing Association Webinar: Blogging About Audiobooks
Do you blog about audiobooks? Enjoy audiobooks? Tell me in the comments!
Benjamin Thomas
@thewritingtrain
http://www.mysterythrillerweek.com
The Writing Train: Join the locomotion 