Tuesday 10 January 2012

Have You Read...Conn Iggulden?

Today marks 2,061 years since Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon and changed the course of history for the Roman Empire and began his journey to becoming Emperor.

I have always been fascinated with Rome and I stumbled onto these books a few years ago. They are a fictionalised novelization of Julius Caesar's life from a young man right through to his eventual death. Whilst I normally read thrillers I do stray outside the genre from time to time and these books are among the most thrilling books I've ever read. The books will make you will feel like a centurion on the front lines of the legion or a senator sitting in the benches listening to the oratory of Crassus or even a plebian watching the Triumph of Marius.



If you want a rip roaring series set in the cauldron of Ancient Rome check out this series, you won't be disappointed.

Thursday 5 January 2012

"The Harder They Fall" eBook Giveaway!

Win 1 of 5 FREE copies of "The Harder They Fall".



Five years ago, Adam Kane’s life fell apart when he was dishonorably discharged from the military. Forced to return to San Francisco, a disgraced and broken man, he thinks his life can’t get any worse.

He’s wrong.

A terrifying attack sets him on a collision course with an enemy more powerful and dangerous than he can imagine, but the only man who has a chance of stopping it doesn’t even exist yet.

All across America a shadowy organization is seizing control of the illicit drug trade, growing ever more powerful, while the most devastating attack in US history is being planned in secret.

A new epidemic sweeps the streets.



The reviews on Amazon have been good so far, all 5 Stars.

"Was drawn in from the very beginning, it's a real page turner."

"Great book, couldn't wait to see what was coming next."

"It left me wanting more."

"I loved this book and was left with a feeling of loss at the end, secretly hoping that the author is busy creating the next installment... Love, love, love it!"



Enter the competition by following me on Twitter or tweeting the giveaway to your own followers (or both!).
Not sure how to enter? Watch the video below and don't miss out!

Wednesday 4 January 2012

Best of 2011 Part 1

If you haven't read Stuart Neville yet, you really should. I read both "The Twelve", or "The Ghosts of Belfast" as it's called in America, and the follow up, "Collusion", last year.


I came across "The Twelve" by Stuart Neville completely by chance in my local Easons early last year.

I'd never heard of him before as it was his first published novel but the cover looked good so I picked it up, read the blurb on the back and had to buy it.Turned out to be one of the best buying decisions of the year.

It was nothing short of a masterpiece.

In Gerry Fegan he created one of the most compelling protagonists I've read in years (it's probably not accurate to call him a hero). The story dragged me through the streets of Belfast, populated with the remnants of the Troubles and showing the new face of power sharing compromise.

To say that it's a pulse pounding page turner, which it is, almost robs it of some of it's power. This is more than just your average thriller. In a sense the novel has similarities with the excellent John Connoly's work as Neville expertly interweaves elements that may be supernatural and may not.It examines actions and consequences and shows the wounds that can sometimes never heal.

It's a blistering debut novel and should be on everyone's "to read" list.

The follow up, "Collusion", picks up the narrative some time after the close of the first novel.


One of the aspects of the novel I loved most was that Neville ups the stakes with Gerry Fegan and his possible supernatural connections. This builds in intensity throughout the novel as Fegan is inexorably pulled towards further redemption.
"Collusion" also brings another figure, Detective Inspector Jack Lennon, to the fore. We follow his journey as he searches for his daughter while a fearsome killer, "The Traveller", follows his every move.

The two novels are among the best of the Irish crime writing that I have read and Neville's next book, "Stolen Souls", is among my most anticipated reads for this year.

Find out more about his books on Amazon by clicking here.