Chanticleer Book Reviews

Tag: Global Thriller

SOLSTICE SHADOWS: A VanOps Thriller, Book 2 by Avanti Centrae – Espionage Thriller/Suspense, Historical Thriller,

Something really nasty is afoot in the world as the Russians attempt to build a super quantum computer so powerful that it will be able to hack into America’s computer capabilities, bypassing even our most advanced protection and control or shut down every computer in the U.S.

As we find out about halfway through Solstice Shadows: A VanOps Thriller, the second book in Avanti Centrae’s VanOps thriller series, they’ve run a test of their capabilities by using a prototype to shut down Manila in the Philippines, a city of nearly 14 million people. The test shuts off its electrical power, lights, traffic signals and causes its citizens to tear the city apart. A fine test case for its potential impact on the USA.

All they need to complete their evil system is some rare superconductivity material that appears to have come from a meteorite that allegedly landed on Earth at roughly the same time as Moses led his people out of Egypt. The clue to its location is an ancient star map dating back to those times now in the possession of Maddy Marshall, the heroine of the VanOps’ first book. Also in her possession are slivers of the actual meteorite that she can activate with her mind, giving her the ability to meld with the ancient material and hurl deadly fireballs at an enemy.

It’s a breathless chase across the world as Maddie, her twin brother Will, Maddie’s boyfriend Bear, and a female operative named Jag use the resources of VanOps, shorthand for Vanguard Operations, a secretive CIA unit to uncover the secrets of the star chart and discover whether the meteor even existed and if so where it might be located.

Not only do the four have to constantly fight an assassin from Russia who mysteriously seems to show up wherever the quartet shows up, whether they’re in Egypt, Mexico, Morocco, and a host of other countries, but they have to deal with their own personal struggles. Maddie, for example, vacillates between attaching herself to both Bear and an ex-boyfriend. While Bear must handle his jealousy over Maddie’s attachment to her former boyfriend, Vincent. Will, Maddie’s twin brother, has to deal with the death of his wife while also being attracted to Jag who seems not at all interested in him.

Aside from the fast-paced action, which shares some of Steven Spielberg’s “Indiana Jones” DNA through its chapter-ending cliffhangers and international intrigue, Solstice Shadows features some impressive research into extinct civilizations’ insights into astronomy and structures they built to track the movement of the stars. Be prepared for a physics lesson or two as well as some deep dives into the archeology of pyramids in Mexico and Egypt.

Tying it all together is the not-improbable cyber-attack Russia could launch against the U.S. in the real world. The urgency of trying to find the superconductivity material to thwart a Christmas day attack provides the velocity of this smart, fast International thriller.

Solstice Shadows: A VanOps Thriller won Grand Prize in the 2019 CIBA Global Thrillers Awards for high-stakes thrillers. Find out more about the first book in the VanOps series, The Lost Power, here.

November 1, 2020
NEVER AGAIN by Harvey A. Schwartz – Alternative History, Terrorism Thriller, Historical Thriller
Given recent world events (from COVID-19 to the murder of Floyd George and the subsequent civilian marches, even the boomeranging price of oil), Schwartz’s tale of Holocaust II is far, far too believable to be a work of fiction.

Imagine Tel Aviv being virtually obliterated by an atomic bomb; imagine one woman—a former NYC TV journalist—as the last one standing with three atomic bombs of her own – complete with the codes and crew to use them in the Negev Desert; imagine deciding to send one of those WMDs to obliterate Damascus. Imagine saving one of those bombs to fight another day: even if that fight happens to be in the USA.

Welcome to Israeli minster Debra Reuben’s evaporating world. Soon joining her on this incredible journey is Israeli Navy officer Chaim Levi who happens upon a luxury yacht in Spain – only to have it become the means of transport across the Atlantic to Massachusetts once he makes acquaintance with Reuben—the remaining bomb safely stowed on board.

Once stateside, it’s a matter of what to do with the radiation-oozing device. Fortunately, there are many in the Jewish community ready to help, from civil rights lawyer Ben Schapiro (also a sailplane—upscale glider—enthusiast), militant activist Abram Goldhersh and his pacifist wife, Sarah. Together, they set their minds against the president of the United States (Lawrence Quaid) and his somewhat estranged, more sympathetic spouse, Catherine. With more people arriving to join the cause, gather to join a huge protest march slated in front of the Washington Monument. But Quaid and his hawks soon decide to send over 400,000 Jews (mostly Americans—all declared “enemy combatants”) to 21st-century concentration camps.

Schwartz’s inventive fiction feels as if it’s been ripped from today’s headlines. When this review was first penned, the Toronto Star’s front page shouted this: “Trump Threatens to Use Military Force.” We all know what happened next. Never Again might be too close for comfort for some, but others may find the story cathartic. The writing, itself, is strong and well-balanced with more than a few end-of-chapter cliffhangers. Schwartz’s novel is well worth a read—especially now as his fictional vision slips closer and closer to fact.

Never Again won 1st in Category in the CIBA 2018 Global Thriller Book Awards.
October 13, 2020
VENETIAN BLOOD: Murder in a Sensuous City by Christine Evelyn Volker – Suspense/Thriller, Amateur Sleuth, International Mystery & Crime

Venice has a long and intricate history and is best known as “The Floating City.” Tourists from across the world come to marvel at its beautiful architecture and walk over its countless bridges. Getting lost in time among the splendors of Venice can be seductive. Visitors will recognize the undercurrent of romance and mystery to the city, and make no mistake, Christine Evelyn Volker captures it in her novel, Venetian Blood: Murder in a Sensuous City.

Anna Lucia Lottol is on vacation in Venice, trying to forget about her failed marriage. Soon after arriving, Italian authorities detain her and name her suspect number one in the murder of the Venetian businessman, Count Sergio Corrin. Anna’s innocence quickly becomes murky, and she enlists the help of her friend Margo to unearth the truth and clear her name before it is too late.

As the women investigate the elite circles of art and finance, there is a persistent suspicion towards Anna’s involvement. From the beginning, she presents herself as somewhat of an unreliable narrator. Her dishonesty creates an interesting parallel between what she is hiding from the detective and everything she hides from herself. As she dives deeper and deeper into Sergio’s secrets, her sanity comes into question. At night, she hears unexplainable sounds from an abandoned building, has dreams of stabbing Sergio, and believes she’s being followed whenever she is alone. But when an unknown assailant attacks, who can she trust?

Within the first few pages, Volker’s writing paints an enticing picture of mystery and murder that ferries readers far beyond Venice’s touristy parts into the Venetians’ winding alleyways. The way Volker develops her plot is like piecing together an elaborate puzzle. The pieces are all there, but readers will only unravel the mystery when the picture is complete and the last page is finished.

In Venetian Blood, Volker draws inspiration from her own life, which adds layers of individuality and artistry to the novel. She grew up with a passion for languages, and her career in the global financial industry eventually brought her to Venice, the first of many visits. In addition to writing mysteries, Volker also uses her writing to advocate for environmental sustainability.

Venetian Blood: Murder in a Sensuous City is the perfect summer must-read mystery and reached the highly competitive level of Semi-Finalist in the CIBA 2018 M&M Awards for Mystery novels. Get ready to journey into the allure of romance and mystery that awaits among the canals of Venice.

Readers can enjoy the Venetian Blood: Murder in a Sensuous City book trailer here.

August 14, 2020
The SUNKEN FOREST by R. Barber Anderson – Thriller & Suspense Action Fiction, Literary Fiction, Military Thrillers

American timber company, NTI, flies over a remote area of the Congo with sophisticated instrumentation. Data shows an immense, deep depression in the jungle floor, a giant caldera from an extinct volcano. Despite the depth of the crater, the canopy level above remains constant and gives no clue of what lies below. To NTI, this could be an indication of tropical hardwoods beneath, potentially the size of mature redwoods. To the indigenous tribes, the sunken forest is a forbidden zone guarded by a legendary black devil who brings sure death to trespassers.

NTI sends a group in to explore and determine if their data is correct, that what lies beneath is an untapped bonanza of timber. The group persuades a few local tribe members to guide them. They make it to the edge of the caldera and are never heard from again. When the tribal guides return home, they suffer banishment for showing strangers the way to the forbidden zone.

Zora de Rycken, an outdoor adventurer with exceptional jungle survival skills and Special Forces training, is enlisted to guide NTI scientist Carver Hayden to discover the fate of the first group and to complete their unfinished mission.

Once in their expedition staging area in Brazzaville, Congo, the second NTI team encounters an unscrupulous Russian billionaire, Oleg Levkov, with a timber company of his own. Though it would seem they are in competition, Oleg assures them his only interest is in the legendary black devil. Oleg is a big game hunter with a fascination for big cats. He is sure through his own research that the black devil is a giant black lion no one has seen before, and he wants to be the first to kill one.

When the NTI team arrives at their basecamp, the nearest open ground in the vicinity of the caldera big enough to land a helicopter, and the starting point for the previous NTI team, Oleg is already there. Oleg’s team has secured a native guide, Ngiome. Oleg’s helicopter departs just as the NTI team arrives, and Zora is sure she sees members of Ngiome’s tribe aboard. Has Oleg kidnapped these people to secure Ngiome’s services?

One thing is certain, no matter which company wins the timber rights to The Sunken Forest, the result will be the same. Pristine jungle unlike any in the world will be laid waste leaving nothing but an empty muddy scar on the Congo.

Barber Anderson weaves a captivating tale that lays out the consequences of Industrial greed and conservation set against a thrilling backdrop of jungle, violence, and sex.

November 21, 2019
BLIND TRUST by John W. Feist – Political Thriller, Suspense/Thriller, High-Stakes Int’l Thriller

Brad Oaks and his wife Amaya have no idea what is in store when they answer a call for help from the newly appointed Japanese prime minister in John W. Feist’s second novel, Blind Trust.

The year is 2022, and a mysterious explosion compromises Japan’s electric grid infrastructure (LNG regasification, to be precise). Yuko Kagano’s election as the next prime minister comes with the hope that she will commit to her campaign promise of restoring Japan’s energy structure. However, she must first deal with the criminal activity associated with the previous leader. She needs help. She calls on Brad Oaks and Amaya Mori, his wife, for advice on pipeline and steel strategies. Amaya especially, as the two women have known one another since college, and both are heirs to familial steel companies, the American Elgar Steel and the Japanese Kanawa, respectively.

Brad Oaks gave up his lawyer career a few years back after he rescued Amaya when she was abducted due to her connections with her father’s company. The two fell in love, married, and moved to California. Now, Brad is the executive vice president of Elgar Steel (Please refer to John W. Feist’s first novel in the series, Night Rain, Tokyo). Three years later, they receive a call from Eisuke Tanaka, the commissioner of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, who delivers the message that Yuko requests a meeting with them in Tokyo. The call couldn’t have come in a more inconvenient time. Brad and Amaya are critically assessing a possible new season in their marriage: adoption. Placing their plans on hold, they fly to Tokyo unaware that they will be walking into deadly covert schemes to undermine the prime minister.

John Feist blazes a path in his approach to geopolitical suspense. Having ventured into Japanese culture via his past professional connections, Feist understands, firsthand, the underlying and ongoing cultural tension that exists between the Japanese and foreigners in the business sector. That said, Feist’s method of storytelling is not Americanized, which usually follows an often dizzying and fast-paced route. Instead, tension builds through innuendo-rich dialogue scenes between characters as he undergirds his plot with realistic aspects of Japanese culture that is rooted in “nativism” (the revival or perpetuation of an indigenous culture especially in opposition to acculturation, Merriam-Webster).

Feist does an excellent job surrounding Brad and Amaya, his principal characters, with a diverse cast of characters that range from subdued to surly. Each chapter alternates character POVs packed with a handful of red herrings and a plethora of unexpected twists and turns amid political history and the sights, sounds, and smells of a beautiful Asian country.

Blind Trust is a unique and satisfying Political Thriller that closes on a promising note of a sequel.

September 23, 2019
WHAT THEY DON’T KNOW by K. V. Scruggs – Medical Thriller, Medical Mystery, Conspiracy Thrillers

Author K. V. Scruggs proves that What They Don’t Know can kill. When left unchecked, public policy propelled by the best of intentions is still subject to the greed and corruption of those with the power to implement it. Scruggs takes us on a frightening journey where pervasive technology paired with behind-the-scenes corruption can hide grave results from the trusting, and now vulnerable, citizenry.

Cheyenne Rose lives a glamorous life as a Talk Show Host who sensationalizes the stories of the guests interviewed on her program titled, ‘The Stories That Matter.’ The unexpected adventures of one family on her show irrevocably touch Cheyenne’s heart. She has no idea that her own life is about to be inextricably tied to them and their troubles.

This young family’s infectious innocence and zest for life spread through Cheyenne and her audience. They attribute their blessings to the new government health care system that has implemented complete access to health care for all – including a life-saving surgery for one of their sons. Cheyenne reports that streamlined efficiencies built into this medical care solution are celebrated by patients, doctors, nurses, and practitioners. It almost seems too good to be true.

In order to have the peace of mind that comes with such effective health care, small intrusions into individual privacy, hardly noticeable, are necessary. For example, the technology tracking your vital medical signs can dispense pharmaceuticals you may need. In addition, this miracle tech monitors an individual’s activities to ensure they get enough sleep, exercise, and, well, maybe also keeps track of other personal information.

When an ugly surprise lay ahead for the guest family on Cheyenne’s show, events prompt her to ask questions that government officials don’t want to answer. But how can she stay one step ahead of a political adversary who knows her perhaps better than she knows herself? Now Cheyenne is plunged into the midst of a dangerous struggle that threatens the lives of those close to her, and ultimately her own.

The author, a physician by day, threads her mastery of medical knowledge throughout this thrilling novel, making it terrifyingly believable. Her writing is suspenseful and exciting, with dynamic characters who heighten the fast-paced mystery. K.V. Scruggs enjoys writing about thought-provoking medical issues, and the outcome is nothing short of a heart-pounding thriller.

This dramatic tale explores what can be hidden within the deep, dark crevices of getting what you want.

What They Don’t Know won 1st Place in the 2017 CIBAs in Global Thrillers Awards!

June 20, 2019
STORMFRONT by James Tacy Cozad – Thriller & Suspense, Mystery, Domestic Terrorism

The billionaire and founder of Gallagher Pharmaceuticals is a bad man. His stratagem: targeted biological warfare on specific groups of people worldwide. His followers, the chosen precious few, will be immune and survive. If the plan succeeds, Gallagher will be their leader. Can this supremacist leader compel his followers to execute an evil plan of worldwide, biological murder?

Meet a retired serviceman and current rancher Finn Dalton. After the trauma he experienced in his war-time service, all he yearns for now is a peaceful life, one where he can hunt rabbits and other game animals with his buddy and fellow veteran, Sam, and their beloved band of dogs. And maybe marry his girlfriend, Kiera Utsi. This peaceful existence is threatened one day during a hunt when Finn and Sam discover a mutilated corpse out in the New Mexican desert. Needless to say, Finn believes it to be a very suspicious death. The men alert authorities, but Finn is far from satisfied with the direction or progression of the investigation.

Tension and danger mount when Finn and Kiera follow perilous leads down trails fraught with unbelievable risk, uncovering more and more about the murder and how it is connected with Gallagher Pharmaceuticals. Their questions always lead back to the man in charge: Gordon Gallagher. But who will believe their theories and accusations? And now someone is trying to kill them.

The clock is ticking as to when the deadly virus will be let loose, and neither Finn nor Keira knows if they will be immune. Moreover, they’re not sure who they can confide in or join forces with. As the crisis builds, they risk fatal mistakes. Will they have to infiltrate the compound itself? Stormfront is approaching. And time is running out.

Author, James Tacy Cozad knows the territory in which his characters live, and his descriptions of the setting vividly add to the dynamic of the fast-paced plot. His knowledge of the beautiful and dangerous scenery combined with a well-researched understanding of weaponry brings to life a character that is “James Bond-like” in scope and capabilities, making this a rather fun, if not frightening, read.

James Tacy Cozad won 1st Place in the 2017 CIBAs for Global Thrillers category for Stormfront.

February 25, 2019
HONG KONG CENTRAL, Lee Carruthers #3 by Marilynn Larew – Suspense, Crime Thriller
Former CIA agent and all around badass, Lee Carruthers, returns for the thrilling third book in the series, Hong Kong Central by Marilynn Larew.

Lee is looking forward to some well-earned downtime, so when her ex-boss and mentor, Sidney Worthington calls with another job, Lee is not amused. During her previous mission, people tried to kill her—multiple times. All she really wants right now is some serious R&R. However, she is the gal who will never say “no” to a job. And besides, Worthington swears it’s an easy gig.

Easy sounds nice. So, our heroine jets off to Hong Kong to track down Henry Wong, an antique dealer who missed a routine weekly check-in for the first time in twenty years. What could possibly be easier?

Once Lee arrives, she sets out to locate Wong Antiques and its proprietor, Henry. Ever the professional finder, she arrives at the antique shop just in time and witnesses Henry’s kidnapping. Lee “borrows” a random motorcycle (she’s not shy about bending a law or two when necessary) and the chase is on, ending when the bad guys dump Henry inside a bar run by a notorious Triad. This initiates a string of unfortunate events for Lee.

In no time at all, Lee is caught up in a battle between the police and pro-democracy demonstrators. The police pursue the demonstrators with tear gas and arrest as many of them as they can get their hands on, including our heroine – Lee. The pièce de résistance: while in jail, Lee is doused with vomit, thanks to one of her cellmates. The end of a perfect day—said no one.

Once Lee is released, her mission becomes even more tangled by labyrinthine layers of deception and obfuscation. She must kick her badassery into gear to complete the mission and stay alive. So much for a simple job.

The character of Lee Carruthers is well-crafted, compelling, and believable. She knows what she wants and when she wants it – and especially when she doesn’t. She can dazzle her prey by wearing a sexy black dress, tote a pistol in her clutch, or sport blue jeans and running shoes to investigate a suspicious event. Readers who loved Lee Carruthers in The Spider Catchers and Dead in Dubai will love her even more now. Readers who are new to Larew’s series are in for a fabulously thrilling, nail-biting, page-turning, edge-of-their seats ride.

Marilynn Larew’s writing style is smooth, engaging, and well-paced. Her ability to craft vibrant settings against the backdrop of exotic and gritty Hong Kong is exceptionally well-delivered. To sum it all up, Hong Kong Central is an absolute win.

Reviewer’s Notes:
- How was the writing? Excellent. The author crafts a solid story layered with interesting characters moving in and around the exotic, politically sensitive, and criminal underworld of Hong Kong. Her ability to create intriguing, believable scenes with succinct, eloquent prose is outstanding.
- Is there any sex? Yes, but it’s not graphic and works to reveal Lee’s attitude towards short and long-term relationships.
- Is there any violence? Yes, but it is not disproportionally graphic and is necessary to reveal the possible dangers facing the lead character.
- How is the book narrated? First-Person.
- Which tense is the book? Past.
- What’s the mood? Tense, colorful, and mysterious.
*Fans may purchase Hong Kong Central from the following retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, Kobo, and Apple iTunes
February 15, 2018
GLOBAL THRILLERS Book Awards 2017 SHORTLIST for Lab Lit and Global Thrillers
The GLOBAL THRILLERS Book Awards recognizes emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Lab Lit and Global Thrillers. The GLOBAL THRILLERS Book Awards is a division of Chanticleer International Novel Book Awards and Writing Competitions.

Chanticleer Book Reviews is looking for the best books featuring suspense, thrilling stories that put the balance of world power or that will end the world as we know it. We include with Global Thrillers the Lab Lit genre. Lab Lit is when Fiction Meets Real Science and Research or stories that are based on real science and research up to a certain “what if” point.

2017 is the first year that we offered the Global Thriller Book Awards and we are honored to announce the very first authors whose works have made the 2017 GLOBAL THRILLERS Book Awards!

Examples from www.LabLit.com:

Enigma by Robert Harris; A brilliant mathematician struggles to crack German codes in the second world war. Historical Fiction
The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch; A budding marine biologist has an unforgettable summer.
Arrowsmith by Sinclair Lewis; A scientist/medic leans the hard way that pure research is nobler – and cures plague in the process.

GLOBAL Thriller examples:

Best examples of these are James Bond books, X-Men, Tom Clancy novels, and Star Wars/Star Trek where humankind is at stake or the planet is doomed.
(For light-hearted, cozy, or classic Mystery and Suspense entries see our Mystery & Mayhem Awards and for Thriller/Suspense/Hardboiled-Detective series, please see the CLUE Awards)

More than $30,000.00 dollars worth of cash and prizes will be awarded to Chanticleer Book Reviews 2017 writing competition winners at the Chanticleer Authors Conference April 21st, 2018!

This is the Official announcement of the Authors and Titles of Works that have been SHORT-LISTED for the GLOBAL THRILLERS 2017 Book Awards. These titles will now compete for the First In Category positions.
- Amy Rogers – The Han Agent
- Denis Lipman – Striking Terror
- Mario Loomis, MD – Essence
- John Yarrow – The Recombinant Theory
- John D Trudel – Raven’s Redemption
- Lou Dischler – Off Road to Armageddon
- K.V. Scruggs – What They Don’t Know
- Sara Stamey – The Ariadne Connection
- Daniel Elliott – The Kingmaker
- Dean De Servienti – Quantum – The Trilogy Begins
- James Tacy Cozad – Stormfront
- Avanti Centrae – VanOps – The Lost Power
- Lawrence Verigin – Seed of Control
- Lee Burvine – The Kafir Project
- Richard Gargulinski – Magenta is Missing
Good Luck to all of the 2017 GLOBAL THRILLERS Short-Listers as they compete for the First Place Category positions.

First In Category announcements will be made at the Awards Ceremony. The GLOBAL THRILLERS Grand Prize Winner and First Place Category Winners will be announced at the April 21st, 2018 Chanticleer Writing Contests Annual Awards Gala, at the Chanticleer Authors Conference that will be held in Bellingham, Wash.
January 31, 2018
SEED of CONTROL: Generations to Execute by Lawrence Verigin – a relevant global thriller

A ruthless international cartel aims to control the world’s food supply and destroy anyone who gets in their way in this latest action-packed — OMG! this could really happen — global thriller from the author of award-winning Dark Seed.

Author Lawrence Verigin returns with his memorable cast of characters in this sequel in his enthralling thriller/suspense series that focuses on GMOs (genetically modified foods) and the international companies that control their ever-increasing impact on the world’s food supply.

When affable investigative reporter Nick Barnes responds to an urgent request from one of his old colleagues, Summer Perkins, and sets out to meet her in a rundown San Francisco dive bar, he doesn’t expect to find her murdered corpse waiting for him in a darkened booth. With his investigative instincts kicking in hard, Nick returns home and starts making calls trying to discover what story Summer might have been working on that could have gotten her killed.

In short order, Nick’s curiosity puts him squarely in the sights of the ruthless industrialist cartel. His life—along with that of several of his colleagues—is now threatened. Meanwhile, the local cop who is in charge of the investigation into Summer’s murder seems to be getting nowhere fast.

At the urging of his friends, Nick goes into hiding. A wealthy Texas businessman, who has had past personal ties to the cartel and has seen the error of his ways, comes to his aid.

The suspense builds as Nick and his cohorts are chased from one safe house to the next as they try to stay one step ahead of the cartel’s ruthless killers while they frantically work to uncover the scientific evidence they will need to expose the environmental carnage and famine that the genetically modified seeds will wreak upon the world’s population.

Extensively researched, Seed of Control is an engrossing suspense thriller that comes with a timely warning about the possibly devastating effects genetically modified plants can have on the world’s fragile environment. The work is a powerful warning about the perils of allowing a few monolithic corporations to control the world’s supply of seeds, their only motive being profit rather than the health and survival of third and fourth-world at-risk populations.

As the powerful cartel raises the stakes with their unlimited resources and ruthlessness, Nick becomes more determined than ever to expose their secret agenda and their means of implementing it.

Verigin’s Seed of Control global-thriller is about a conspiracy plan of unimaginable destruction. This riveting and timely novel brims with international intrigue and surprising plot twists. Highly recommended.

November 3, 2016