The Global Thriller Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of High Stakes Thriller and Lab Lit Fiction. The Global Thriller Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).
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.
These titles have moved forward from the 2025 GLOBAL THRILLER High Stakes Thriller Fiction Long List to the 2025 Global Thriller Book Awards SHORT LIST. These entries are now in competition for the 2025 Global Thriller Semi-Finalists. FINALISTS will be chosen from the Semi-Finalists and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference, CAC26.
We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 18th, 2026 in beautiful Bellingham, WA sponsored by the 2026Chanticleer Authors Conference.
These titles are in the running for the SEMI-FINALISTS of the 2025 Global Thriller Book Awards novel competition for High Stakes Thriller Fiction!
Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works!
Alexandra Pugachevsky – I Rodion
Angela Greenman – The Child Riddler
Anne Louise Girodet – Plan A
Avanti Centrae – The Picasso Job a Phoenix Thriller
Brad M Meslin – The Moldavian Gambit
C.W. James – Mission Red Scythe a James Vagus Teen Espionage Thriller
Dave Mckeon – Sabotage
David R Leng – Echoes of Fortune the Search for Braddock’s Lost Gold
Dheepa R. Maturi – 108 an Eco-Thriller
Ellis K. Popa – Dawn To Dusk
Ernesto H Lee – Action This Day
J.L. Spears – Daemon Protocol
James Alan Mcgettigan – The Altered Moon Dust Cosmos Book 1 the Second Edition
Julie Lomax – A Pawn’s Game
Kevin Hwang – The Regression Strain
Kevin Miller – High End
L.M. Weeks – Bottled Lightning
M. E. Schuman – The Catalyst
M. E. Schuman – Where the Sleeping Lady Lies
Michael Maloof – Relentless
Ralph R. Rick Steinke – Vital Mission a Jake Fortina Series Love Story
Randall Krzak – Mission Yemen Xavier Sear Thriller Book 2
RK Jack – Devourer From Beyond
Stephanie Bretherton – The Fire in Their Eyes
Susan Rogers and John Roosen – Warrior Pose
T. D. Severin – Deadly Vision
T.O. Paine – The Crisis
Thomas Lapham – Beyond the Signal
Thomas M. Wing – Against All Enemies
Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.
PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS!
This post has been posted on the Chanticleer Facebook Page. We try to tag all authors listed here in the Facebook post. However, it is easier for us to tag authors when they have Liked and Followed us on Facebook.
Seating is Limited. The esteemed WRITER Magazine (founded in 1887) has repeatedly recognized the Chanticleer Authors Conference as one of the best conferences to attend and participate in for North America.
The Global Thriller Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of High Stakes Thriller and Lab Lit Fiction. The Global Thriller Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).
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.
These titles have moved forward in the first look rounds from all 2025 GLOBAL THRILLER High Stakes Thriller Fiction entries to the 2025 Global Thriller Book Awards LONG LIST. These entries are now in competition for the 2025 Global Thriller Short List. The Short Listers will compete for the Semi-Finalists positions. FINALISTS will be chosen from the Semi-Finalists and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference, CAC26.
We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 18th, 2026 in beautiful Bellingham, WA sponsored by the 2026Chanticleer Authors Conference.
These titles are in the running for the SHORT LIST of the 2025 Global Thriller Book Awards novel competition for High Stakes Thriller Fiction!
Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works!
Alexandra Pugachevsky – I Rodion
Angela Greenman – The Child Riddler
Anne Louise Girodet – Plan A
Avanti Centrae – The Picasso Job a Phoenix Thriller
Brad M Meslin – The Moldavian Gambit
C.W. James – Mission Red Scythe a James Vagus Teen Espionage Thriller
Dave Mckeon – Sabotage
David R Leng – Echoes of Fortune the Search for Braddock’s Lost Gold
Dheepa R. Maturi – 108 an Eco-Thriller
Ellis K. Popa – Dawn To Dusk
Ernesto H Lee – Action This Day
Gerard Shirar – The China Paradox
J.L. Spears – Daemon Protocol
James Alan Mcgettigan – The Altered Moon Dust Cosmos Book 1 the Second Edition
JH Gruger – Gravity of Sol-3
Julie Lomax – A Pawn’s Game
Kevin Hwang – The Regression Strain
Kevin Miller – High End
L.M. Weeks – Bottled Lightning
M. E. Schuman – The Catalyst
M. E. Schuman – Where the Sleeping Lady Lies
Michael Maloof – Relentless
Nick Hoy – Hollow Men
Ralph R. Rick Steinke – Vital Mission a Jake Fortina Series Love Story
Randall Krzak – Mission Yemen Xavier Sear Thriller Book 2
RK Jack – Devourer From Beyond
Stephanie Bretherton – The Fire in Their Eyes
Susan Rogers and John Roosen – Warrior Pose
T. D. Severin – Deadly Vision
T.O. Paine – The Crisis
Thomas Lapham – Beyond the Signal
Thomas M. Wing – Against All Enemies
Tom Dolan – Boba Wars Zero
Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.
PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS!
This post has been posted on the Chanticleer Facebook Page. We try to tag all authors listed here in the Facebook post. However, it is easier for us to tag authors when they have Liked and Followed us on Facebook.
Seating is Limited. The esteemed WRITER Magazine (founded in 1887) has repeatedly recognized the Chanticleer Authors Conference as one of the best conferences to attend and participate in for North America.
Only 1 week left to submit your books to these prestigious CIBA Divisions and embark on an extraordinary journey to success. With over $30,000 in prizes awarded annually, now is the time to make your mark!
The Clue Awards, The Global Thriller Awards, and the Mystery and Mayhem Awards are still open!
Congratulations to the Winners of the 2024 Clue Award for Suspense/Thrillers!
Pamela Beason –If Only
Jeff Nania –Musky Run
Sean Hagerty –Jones Point
Kathryn Caraway –Unfollow Me
Carl Vonderau –Saving Myles
Shanessa Gluhm –A River of Crows
Michael Pronko –Shitamachi Scam
And a huge round of applause for the 2024 Clue Grand Prize Winner:
Enemies Domestic by John DeDakis
Congratulations to the Winners of the 2024 Global Thriller Awards!
T.O. Paine –The Delusion
Charlie Robinson –Heavy Hysteria: A Novel of Corporate Intrigue Involving the Minerals of this Sacred Earth
Tony Ollivier –The Tokyo Diversion
Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke –Change of Mission: A Jake Fortina Series Novel
Ron Singerton –Ruptured
Sheri T. Joseph –Edge of the Known World
Carla Seyler –A Place Unmade
Randall Krzak –Frozen Conquest
And a huge round of applause for the 2024 Global Thriller Awards Grand Prize Winner:
A Blanket of Steel by Timothy S. Johnston
Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the Mystery & Mayhem Awards!
Patrick E. Craig –The Boy In Blue Denim
Lori Roberts Herbst –Graven Images
Gail Noble-Sanderson –A Cup of Revenge – A Drew Davies Railway Mystery – Book 2
M. K. Graff –Death in the Orchard: A Trudy Genova Mystery
Miriam Verbeek –The Forest
Kari Bovee –The Pryce of Conceit
And a huge round of applause for the 2024 M&M Grand Prize Winner:
If Two Are Dead by Jeanne Matthews
At Chanticleer, we see your success as our success. The CIBAs provide dedicated promotion at every advancement tier, from our highly anticipated Long Lists to our prestigious Grand Prize Winners. We work tirelessly to maximize your digital footprint through our high-traffic website, social media campaigns, and newsletter features that energize both authors and readers.
We are always eager to support the Best Books through the CIBAs. Join the ranks of celebrated authors who have already taken this critical step in their publishing.
Your book deserves to be discovered, celebrated, and shared with the world. Don’t miss the chance to showcase your talent and gain valuable exposure at the Chanticleer Authors Conference (April, 2026) where Winners from all 28 Book Award Divisions will be announced and honored.
Readers are always searching for their next great thriller, and your story deserves to be heard. Submit now and leave a lasting impression.
The Global Thriller Awards celebrate stories where individual actions determine the fate of nations—or species. Our Hall of Fame showcases authors who’ve mastered the art of maximum-stakes storytelling, proving that the best thrillers don’t just entertain; they remind us that heroes can emerge when humanity needs them most.
From underwater civilizations fighting for survival to international conspiracies threatening global stability, these Grand Prize Winners understand that when the world hangs in the balance, readers demand heroes worthy of the challenge. Each of these celebrated works demonstrates what happens when exceptional writing meets planetary-scale peril.
We’re here to celebrate the past Grand Prize Winners that showed us just how high stakes the suspense can be!
A Blanket of Steel: The Rise of Oceania Book 6 By Timothy S Johnston
The review for this year’s Grand Prize Winner is forthcoming. In the meantime, here is our review for the previous book in the series and 2023 Cygnus Grand Prize Winner, The Shadow of War:
In Timothy S. Johnston’sThe Shadow of War, gripping personal, ecological, and political battles rage undersea for autonomy and power against the powerful surface nations. But even the ocean depths churn with betrayal, conflicting loyalties, and the ruthless ambitions of humanity.
This thriller opens on the dystopia of the year 2131, when rising sea levels have forced humanity to establish and inhabit underwater colonies. The fear of environmental collapse is heightened by the prospect of war as the colonies struggle to maintain their independence.
A simple scientific exploration of theChagostrench by two geologist brothers takes a horrific turn, snapping the science fiction tension with the impact of gore horror. A slight touch by one brother on the hull of their Seacar causes his hand to suddenly dissolve into a strange mass, melting flesh away from bone. This opening foreshadows the enigmas and anomalies to be unravelled in a vast undersea mystery.
Jake Fortina and the Roman Conspiracy By Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke
Talk about a ripped-from-the headlines thriller in Jake Fortina and the Roman Conspiracy!
In this multinational geopolitical thriller by Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke, a power-crazed Russian oligarch wants to usurp the current Russian dictator to take his place as the head of the government. He forms his own paramilitary force to steal priceless paintings from a Vatican church with plans to resell them for billions to fund his campaign. But why stop there? He also explodes illicit small-scale atomic weapons to further destabilize the Russian leader and cast himself as the country’s new czar.
Meanwhile, a crazed U.S. right wing military adjutant buys loads of AK-47s from the Italian mafia to arm U.S. paramilitary groups intent on enforcing their own far-right views in America.
Two professors uncover a conspiracy to sterilize liberal Americans with specially-manufactured electric cars, in Charlie Robinson’s thriller, Hybrid Hysteria.
Dr. Theresa Lauzon, endowed assistant professor at SUNY-Canton’s Department of Automotive Engineering, comes to Charlie “CC” Cavanaugh, university Chaplain and physics PhD, with two troubling revelations.
First, while testing an electric car donated by the Gauss Hybrid Electric Automobile Company (GHEA), she’d discovered troubling spikes in its battery’s electromagnetic field. She connects these spikes to a rash of infertility and miscarriages along the Pacific coast, where GHEA cars have boomed in popularity.
Second, Theresa is pregnant, and the father is GHEA’s technician-on-loan to SUNY-Canton, Jay Fish. And though Fish recently disappeared from campus, Theresa has much more complicated problems.
The Chameleon: A Jake Palmer Novel by Ron McManus takes on one of the most terrifying issues in the modern world: nuclear weapons in the hands of terrorists.
Amidst the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan, the world’s superpowers recognize that both nations possess large nuclear arsenals, which intelligent, well-armed fanatics threaten to steal for their own nefarious purposes. If these weapons went off, they could easily lead to World War III. To prevent this, the U.S. eagerly takes on the role of supervising the security of these weapons in both countries.
In this terrorism thriller, India and Pakistan clash over the disputed Kashmir region. Pakistan’s leaders decide to secretly deploy a variety of nuclear weapons to the front, sending them along backroads in unmarked trucks. But in a carefully planned attack, terrorists kidnap one of these vehicles containing three nuclear weapons, before substituting a precise duplicate truck to take its place. The theft is not discovered until the decoy truck reaches its destination.
Bill Hefflin is a man apart—apart from life, apart from his homeland, apart from love
At the start of the 1989 uprising in Romania, CIA analyst Bill Hefflin—a disillusioned Romanian expat—arrives in Bucharest at the insistence of his KGB asset, code-named Boris. As Hefflin becomes embroiled in an uprising that turns into a brutal revolution, nothing is as it seems, including the search for his childhood love, which has taken on mythical proportions.
With the bloody events unfolding at blinding speed, Hefflin realizes the revolution is manipulated by outside forces, including his own CIA and Boris—the puppeteer who seems to be pulling all the strings of Hefflin’s life.
The Bourne Identity Meets John le Carre’s The Spy Who Came In from the Cold
Now that you’re set on your next reads, what are you waiting for? The only way to join this amazing list of Global Thriller Winners is to submit today!
Those who submit and advance will have the chance to win the Overall Grand Prize of the CIBAs and $1000!
Now is your chance to touch the hearts of readers everywhere. Your Thriller story deserves to be discovered, and you can submit to the 2025 Global Thrillers Awards by the end of the month. Don’t miss this chance to give your book the recognition it deserves.
The Global Thriller Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of High Stakes Thrillers. The Grand Prize Winner, Timothy S. Johnston’s book, A Blanket of Steel, will be promoted for years to come in our annual Hall of Fame article, as well as be featured on the Global Thriller contest page year ’round!
The best part about being a Chanticleer Int’l Book Award Winner is the continued love and promotion for your book!
Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. It’ll drive you crazy. Literally.
Emma has sacrificed everything for her research in psychology at the University of Baltimore, dedicating her twenties to studying the persuasive effects of social media on the masses.
And, just when it’s about to pay off, her relentless graduate professor mysteriously disappears. They never got along, and the detective on the case blames her.
Now, desperate to clear her name, Emma sets out on a dangerous adventure only to discover a web of shocking lies and twisted motivations. Dark forces set in motion during the ‘90s converge, intertwining the dot com era, social media, and toxic manipulation.
A sinister, narcissistic madman has stolen her research, and with it, he can persuade the world to do as he wishes.
Scientific and moral questions swirl in Charlie Robinson’s latest thriller, Heavy Hysteria: A Novel of Corporate Intrigue Involving the Minerals of this Sacred Earth.
Readers are thrust into a suspenseful journey with worldwide implications alongside Dr. Charlie Cavanaugh, a 68-year-old priest and scientist.
Arriving home after a spiritual retreat, he is surprised by an FBI agent sitting with Cavanaugh’s gun on his lap. The agent has subverted a freshly enhanced security system to retrieve Cavanaugh’s encrypted, unpublishedHybrid Hysteriareport from a concealed USB stick.
The FBI needs Cavanaugh’s assistance with a delicate national security issue.
Having survived the implanting of another man’s memories, ballet dancer David Knight is struggling to adjust. He has been hunted, attacked, and almost killed because a TV minister wanted the acquired memories destroyed; injuring his best friend. Now a year later, the memories are gone, but his life will never be the same.
While trying to find his new normal in Canada’s premier dance company and living a pauper’s life, he’s fired because of anger issues. But when friend and aging spymaster Asher Fitzsimmons offers him a three-day contract for some light surveillance of one of the world’s largest security software companies, he jumps at it. However, David is soon embroiled in a corporate conspiracy that drags him to Japan to save the life of a billionaire’s daughter and uncover the greatest sleight of hand in history.
IN THIS COMPELLING third installment of the Jake Fortina global thriller series—set predominantly in Italy—US Army Lieutenant Colonel Jake Fortina and his Italian Carabinieri bride, Sara Simonetti-Fortina, must each face deadly threats from different enemies. Meanwhile, Jake’s decision to seek a change in his life’s mission turns out to be far more momentous than expected. Jake’s new mission will require him and Sara to face criminal and dark international enemies head-on, and to seek the assistance of his closest allies while employing his vintage resourcefulness and agility. Will the assistance provided by a highly trusted US Army sergeant and a Ukrainian Air Force colonel be sufficient for Jake Fortina to accomplish his mission? Find out in this fast-paced and heart-pounding thriller!
From Chanticleer:
This Series also won a First Place in the 2024 Series Award, book 1, Major Jake Fortina and the Tier One Threat, will be showcased in the first-place post for Series. You can also check out our review for book 2, Jake Fortina and the Roman Conspiracy, Our 2023 Global Thriller Grand Prize Winner here:
Talk about a ripped-from-the headlines thriller inJake Fortina and the Roman Conspiracy!
In this multinational geopolitical thriller by Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke, a power-crazed Russian oligarch wants to usurp the current Russian dictator to take his place as the head of the government. He forms his own paramilitary force to steal priceless paintings from a Vatican church with plans to resell them for billions to fund his campaign. But why stop there? He also explodes illicit small-scale atomic weapons to further destabilize the Russian leader and cast himself as the country’s new czar.
Meanwhile, a crazed U.S. right wing military adjutant buys loads of AK-47s from the Italian mafia to arm U.S. paramilitary groups intent on enforcing their own far-right views in America.
RUPTURED: The story of a family torn apart, unsuspected betrayal, terrorism, secession, and potential civil war as the nation is sundered.
Following the loss of a hotly contested election, Jefferson Calhoun Lee, a former U.S. senator with a questionable past establishes the Nationalist Christian Republic of America, a conglomeration of states with ties to the old Confederacy.
Janice, wife of FBI Director Steven Whitinghill, accompanies her debonaire lover James Goodwin, a close friend of Lee, to the NCRA’s capitol in Montgomery, Alabama where Lee is sworn in as the all-powerful leader of the new nation. Amid mounting chaos U.S. President Edith Barnes is encouraged to declare war as powerful members of the NCRA engage in draconian measures that spin out of control. Janice, having severed her relationship with husband and daughter, learns of Goodwin’s checkered past and attempts to survive as her world turns upside down.
In a near future where DNA tests are used at ID checkpoints, brilliant Alexandra Tashen is hiding in the open. After a blissful childhood on a Texas ranch, she learned of the secret in her genes—a harmless inherited marker and ancestry that would get her deported to a brutal regime and likely death. Her adoptive father’s experimental gene therapy masks her marker, but not completely. Every security check is a one-in-ten chance of getting caught.
When her father vanishes, Alex risks everything in a headlong and often comic search across nations. A volatile love triangle develops with two brothers—one a disgraced intelligence officer, the other a damaged, charismatic diplomat—each guarding secrets of their own. As betrayals mount and the secrets unravel, Alex must confront the confounding choices between love, family loyalty, and moral obligation.
Edge of the Known World blends the tension of a global thriller with the heart of a love story.
Valentina Sorelli is a part-time graduate student and full-time marketing director of a community park in New Orleans. Jack Stillman is a corporate executive who hijacks his company’s research for personal gain, and he doesn’t care about the consequences. Their separate paths intersect when Valentina meets Jack’s son Sam, who becomes the link between the worlds of scientific discovery and corporate espionage.
As the story unfolds, Valentina and her classmates unite to try to stop Jack. They get a little help from a corporate whistleblower as well as the FBI. Valentina’s friendship with one of her classmates evolves into something more as they fight for their lives. A Place Unmade takes the reader on a provocative journey into the dangers lurking in our decreasing lack of biodiversity and patentable genetics.
An international criminal gang, known as Diablo Corps, plans a series of devastating attacks to take over the G7 countries unless their demands are met. Secure in their hidden headquarters in Antarctica, they possess the means to disrupt the leading world economies. The CEO wants what other power-hungry people want—more power.
Will the G7 bend to the will of these rogues or will evil triumph? Diablo Corps believes their previous infiltration of the international banking system and world stock exchanges will allow them to risk all on a single gamble.
The Scandinavian Protection Agency joins forces with Bedlam to thwart the efforts of the group and restore faith. Will Antarctica become a smoking ruin or will the world suffer an economic meltdown?
From Chanticleer:
Frozen Conquestby Randall Krzak is a thrilling and intense conflict between the cold of Antarctica and the blazing ambition of those seeking global control, fusing the issues of power, greed, and survival into a high-stakes adventure.
The icy edge of Antarctica serves as the center of a sinister organization, Diablo Corps. The ruthless leader, Walter Brown, threatens global mayhem if his aspirations for power are not met. With technological efficiency and the ability to disrupt critical infrastructure, Diablo Corps is poised to leverage its capabilities against the G7. Soon, an anonymous climate-related warning is sent out, with events such as the hacking of the London metal exchange proving to authorities the true weight of that threat.
Such dire actions demand an immediate answer. A classified team of specialists is called upon to gather at Ramstein Air Base. With naturally skilled leader Craig, sharp and observant Evelyn, and the humor and humility of Rufus and August, the promising recruits form the Bedlam Quick Reaction Force (QRF) and venture out into the peril of a frozen land.
The Global Thriller Awards celebrate the highest-stakes suspense fiction—where the fate of nations, civilizations, or even humanity itself hangs in the balance. While our Clue Awards focus on personal crimes and our M&M Awards celebrate intimate mysteries, Global Thriller demands nothing less than world-shattering events and planet-threatening conspiracies.
This is where Jack Reacher meets Mission: Impossible, where scientific discoveries become weapons of mass destruction, and where a single hero’s actions determine whether civilization survives another day. From underwater empires fighting for the future of humanity to cyber-terrorists threatening global infrastructure, Global Thriller authors understand that sometimes saving the world is the only story worth telling.
The Categories Where Heroes Rise to Global Threats
Historic features the theater of war, international spycraft, and epic conflicts that shaped our world—think The Hunt for Red October or wartime espionage where one mission changes history.
LabLit merges real science with “what-if” scenarios that feel terrifyingly plausible—where cutting-edge research becomes humanity’s salvation or its doom, like The Andromeda Strain for the modern age.
Science Fiction explores threats from beyond our known reality—alien invasions, interdimensional warfare, or technological catastrophes that make Independence Day look like a warm-up act.
Dramatic delivers classic Die Hard-style consequences where personal stakes escalate to global proportions—one hero, impossible odds, and the clock ticking toward worldwide disaster.
Action/Adventure needs no explanation—pure adrenaline-fueled storytelling where heroes race against time to prevent global catastrophe through spectacular set pieces and death-defying stunts.
CyberTech (Cyberpunk) presents dystopian futures with 1980s aesthetics and futuristic technology—where digital wars determine physical reality and hackers hold the keys to civilization’s survival.
Celebrating Our 2024 Grand Prize Winner!
Timothy S. Johnston took home the 2024 Global Thriller Grand prize win with his epic underwater thriller A Blanket of Steel! This concluding volume of The Rise of Oceania series delivers everything we expect from world-class global thriller fiction.
Johnston’s masterpiece imagines a future where climate change has devastated the surface world, forcing humanity to colonize the ocean floors. As nations suffer famine, drought, and apocalyptic flooding, underwater leader Truman McClusky faces his gravest threat: a Russian assassin bent on destroying humanity’s last hope for oceanic civilization. With the fate of underwater colonies hanging in the balance, Mac must uncover the killer’s identity while leading the largest underwater battle ever assembled.
A Blanket of Steel represents the pinnacle of global thriller storytelling—The Expanse but told beneath Earth’s oceans, where one man’s final test determines the future of human survival. In addition to all the featured posts that have already gone out for the Global Thriller Awards, A Blanket of Steel will be regularly promoted throughout the year and for the next five years in our upcoming Hall of Fame post. Timothy S. Johnston will also be invited to participate in a Chanticleer 10-Question Interview, and A Blanket of Steel will receive a coveted Chanticleer Editorial Review.
Looking for Your Next World-Saving Read?
Check out some of these incredible global thrillers we’ve reviewed recently that showcase the life-or-death stakes that define the genre!
THE LAST RIVAL: A Time of Our Choosing By Kyle Palmer
The Last Rival: A Time of Our Choosingby Kyle Palmer is a modern take on the mid-20thcentury style of pulp-fiction, combining the genre’s brazen and entertaining storytelling with reflections on the deeper meaning behind all the action. This masculine romp through history dares to imagine the aftermath of World War II—in a slightly different world.
The story opens in Washington, DC, in 1946, through the eyes of a fictionalized “Wild Bill” Donovan. The real Wild Bill was an American soldier and intelligence officer, perhaps best-known for founding the CIA. Author Kyle Palmer deftly weaves such historic details into his fictionalized account of American history, offering readers a chance to learn as they come along for the ride.
From the machinations of government in Washington, DC,The Last Rivalspirals into the wild resurgence of a World War II threat. The powers of the Third Reich haven’t truly been neutralized.
THE WOLF HUNTER: DESOLATION: Mack Murphy Series Book 1 By Terrence O’Malia
InThe Wolf Hunter: Desolation, Book One of Terrence O’Malia’sMack Murphyseries, staff sergeant Mack Murphy is convinced there are three types of people: sheep, wolves, and hunters.
The sweet, innocent, dutiful sheep are blissfully unaware of the deadly wolves that could strike at any time. But thankfully, the hunters protect the sheep and even seek out the wolves to prevent their attacks on the flock. Mack defines himself steadfastly as a wolf hunter. He loves his family with all his heart and would do anything to protect them.
Mack’s protective nature continues into his military life where he is part of a team based in the mountains of Afghanistan. Just as it is with his family, he pledges his full allegiance to his team.
Frozen Conquestby Randall Krzak is a thrilling and intense conflict between the cold of Antarctica and the blazing ambition of those seeking global control, fusing the issues of power, greed, and survival into a high-stakes adventure.
The icy edge of Antarctica serves as the center of a sinister organization, Diablo Corps. The ruthless leader, Walter Brown, threatens global mayhem if his aspirations for power are not met. With technological efficiency and the ability to disrupt critical infrastructure, Diablo Corps is poised to leverage its capabilities against the G7. Soon, an anonymous climate-related warning is sent out, with events such as the hacking of the London metal exchange proving to authorities the true weight of that threat.
Such dire actions demand an immediate answer. A classified team of specialists is called upon to gather at Ramstein Air Base. With naturally skilled leader Craig, sharp and observant Evelyn, and the humor and humility of Rufus and August, the promising recruits form the Bedlam Quick Reaction Force (QRF) and venture out into the peril of a frozen land.
CLIMATE DRAGON: Treachery, Pestilence & Weirding Weather By S.W. Lawrence
Climate Dragonby S.W. Lawrence offers a unique blend of climate fiction, thriller, and real scientific inquiry, setting the stage for an intriguing trilogy centered on dual crises—an impending climate catastrophe and the outbreak of a mysterious disease.
Jake Harper, a newly minted engineering professor, and his romantic partner Abbey London, an infectious disease specialist, balance their burgeoning careers with their bustling inn outside Washington, D.C. But the demands of their lives are disrupted as the two crises draw in Jake and Abbey—the only people prepared to face them.
Jake’s suspicions of a cyberattack on the North American power grid grow after attending a lecture at George Washington University. Meanwhile, Abbey discovers an alarming new bleeding disorder spreading among the drug-injecting population, raising the stakes for both her career and personal safety as she navigates the risks to her pregnancy.
The Byzantine Crossby Dena Weigel starts at the end of an explosive rogue mission. Sarah Kraft is committed to saving a record of irreplaceable relics from a bombing mission in World War II. Despite her extraordinary success, the OSS spy is later put out in the cold by her handler, Albert Phillips, for a mistake she didn’t commit.
Years after World War II has ended and the Cold War is dominating headlines, Kraft has a new role as an art insurance appraiser in New York. The company’s lip service for their rich clients and irreverence for her skills don’t sit well with Sarah. It becomes clear that her moral compass will soon lead her into unemployment. But right at the end of her rope, Agent Phillips returns to recruit her back into the organization, now rebranded the CIA.
Sarah Kraft’s mission is simple: break into the Kremlin and retrieve an ancient relic from before the birth of Christ.
These reviews represent just a glimpse of the high-stakes adventures and world-threatening scenarios waiting to be discovered in today’s global thriller fiction.
See the Chanticleer Difference for Yourself!
We’re excited about all the exceptional books we receive every year for both the CIBAs and for our Editorial Reviews. The Chanticleer International Book Awards offers an incredible $30,000 in cash, prizes, and promotion across all divisions!
This is the journey from beginning to end for the CIBAs! Every list you make means more promotion for you and your work as each advancement tier is posted right here on our website, on our social media, and also out in our newsletter! Your book deserves to be discovered.
The World Needs Your Story!
Global catastrophes demand global recognition. Whether your thriller features international conspiracies, scientific disasters, or heroes racing to prevent worldwide destruction, the Global Thriller Awards provide the platform your world-saving story deserves.
In a world facing real global challenges, readers hunger for stories that remind them heroes can triumph against impossible odds. Your thriller could be the next to join the ranks of celebrated authors who understand that when the stakes are planetary, only the best storytelling will do.
The Global Thriller Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in High Stakes Thriller Fiction.
The Global Thriller Book Awards is a division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The CIBAs).
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.
For other Mystery Divisions see our Clue Awards for Suspense/Thriller Novels and our M&M Awards for Cozy-and-not-so-Cozy Novels.
1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners were announced at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony by Isaac Fozard on Saturday, April 5th, 2025 at the Bellingham Yacht Club in beautiful Bellingham, Wash. sponsored by the 2025 Chanticleer Authors Conference.
This is the OFFICIAL 2024 LIST of
the GLOBAL THRILLER BOOK AWARDS First Place Category Winners
and
the GLOBAL THRILLER Grand Prize Winner.
Congratulations to the FIRST PLACE CATEGORY WINNERS of the GLOBAL THRILLER BOOK AWARDS for High Stakes Fiction and Lab Lit, a division of the 2024 CIBAs.
T.O. Paine – The Delusion
Charlie Robinson – Heavy Hysteria: A Novel of Corporate Intrigue Involving the Minerals of this Sacred Earth
Tony Ollivier – The Tokyo Diversion
Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke – Change of Mission: A Jake Fortina Series Novel
Ron Singerton – Ruptured
Sheri T. Joseph – Edge of the Known World
Carla Seyler – A Place Unmade
Randall Krzak – Frozen Conquest
The Grand Prize Winner for the CIBA 2024 GLOBAL THRILLER Awards is:
Attn CIBA Winners: More goodies and prizes will be coming your way along with promotion in our magazine, website, and advertisements in Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards long-tail marketing strategy. Welcome to the CIBA Hall of Fame for Award Winners!
This post has been posted on the Chanticleer Facebook Page. We try to tag all authors listed here in the Facebook post. However, for Facebook to allow us to tag an author, that author must LIKE our page and Follow Chanticleer Reviews.
A Note to ALL the WINNERS: The coveted CIBA Blue Ribbons will be mailed out starting in May. We will contact you with an email to verify your mailing address and other items.
ALL the WINNERS: You will receive an OFFICIAL EMAIL NOTIFICATION with Digital Badges and more information.
NOTE: We will post at least two 2024 CIBA Divisions’ OFFICIAL Winners per business day starting April 14, 2025. We do a final sweep and reconciliation prior to making the Official CIBA Posts for the 2024 First Place and Grand Prize Winners. We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding. There are many moving parts involved with the Chanticleer International Book Awards Program.
Thank you for participating in the 2024 CIBAs! We are looking forward to reading your future entries.
The Global Thriller Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of High Stakes Thriller and Lab Lit Fiction. The Global Thriller Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).
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.
These titles have moved forward from the Global Thriller Semi-Finalists to the 2024 Global Thriller Book Awards FINALISTS. The FINALISTS will be recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference, CAC25.
We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 5th, 2025 in beautiful Bellingham, WA at the Bellingham Yacht Club sponsored by the 2025Chanticleer Authors Conference.
These titles are in the running for the FINALISTs of the 2024 Global Thriller Book Awards novel competition for High Stakes Thriller Fiction!
Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works!
Timothy S. Johnston – A Blanket of Steel
T.O. Paine – The Delusion
Charlie Robinson – Heavy Hysteria
Erik Foge – Between Methods and Madness
Benjamin A. Sharpton – The 3rd Option
Tony Ollivier – The Tokyo Diversion
D.W. Layton – Otello’s Oil: A Saga of Blood and Oil
Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke – Change of Mission: A Jake Fortina Series Novel
David Wickenden – The Origami Deception
Ron Singerton – Ruptured
Sheri T. Joseph – Edge of the Known World
A.J. Landau – Leave No Trace
Benjamin Spada – The Warmaker: a Black Spear novel
Carla Seyler – A Place Unmade
Randall Krzak – Frozen Conquest
Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.
PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS!
This post has been posted on the Chanticleer Facebook Page. We try to tag all authors listed here in the Facebook post. However, it is easier for us to tag authors when they have Liked and Followed us on Facebook.
Seating is Limited. The esteemed WRITER Magazine (founded in 1887) has repeatedly recognized the Chanticleer Authors Conference as one of the best conferences to attend and participate in for North America.
The Global Thriller Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of High Stakes Thriller and Lab Lit Fiction. The Global Thriller Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).
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.
These titles have moved forward from the Global Thriller Short List to the 2024 Global Thriller Book Awards SEMI-FINALISTS. The FINALISTS will be chosen from the Semi-Finalists and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference, CAC25.
We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 5th, 2025 in beautiful Bellingham, WA at the Bellingham Yacht Club sponsored by the 2025Chanticleer Authors Conference.
These titles are in the running for the FINALISTs of the 2024 Global Thriller Book Awards novel competition for High Stakes Thriller Fiction!
Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works!
Breakfield and Burkey – Enigma Forced
Daniel R. Thrace – The First Civilization
Timothy S. Johnston – A Blanket of Steel
T.O. Paine – The Delusion
Charlie Robinson – Heavy Hysteria
V.P. Evans – The Rebirth
Erik Foge – Between Methods and Madness
Erik Foge – Horizons Without Boundaries
Benjamin A. Sharpton – The 3rd Option
Tony Ollivier – The Tokyo Diversion
D.W. Layton – Otello’s Oil: A Saga of Blood and Oil
Jordan Berk – The Timestream Verdict
Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke – Change of Mission: A Jake Fortina Series Novel
David Wickenden – The Origami Deception
Ron Singerton – Ruptured
Sheri T. Joseph – Edge of the Known World
Keith Wilson – Mystery of the Blue Stone
A.J. Landau – Leave No Trace
Benjamin Spada – The Warmaker: a Black Spear novel
Carla Seyler – A Place Unmade
Thomas Roehlk – Red Deuce
Randall Krzak – Frozen Conquest
Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.
PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS!
This post has been posted on the Chanticleer Facebook Page. We try to tag all authors listed here in the Facebook post. However, it is easier for us to tag authors when they have Liked and Followed us on Facebook.
Seating is Limited. The esteemed WRITER Magazine (founded in 1887) has repeatedly recognized the Chanticleer Authors Conference as one of the best conferences to attend and participate in for North America.
The Global Thriller Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of High Stakes Thriller and Lab Lit Fiction. The Global Thriller Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).
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.
These titles have moved forward from the Global Thriller Long List to the 2024 Global Thriller Book Awards SHORT LIST. These entries are now in competition for the 2024 Global Thriller Semi-Finalists. The FINALISTS will be chosen from the Semi-Finalists and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference, CAC25.
We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 5th, 2025 in beautiful Bellingham, WA at the Bellingham Yacht Club sponsored by the 2025Chanticleer Authors Conference.
These titles are in the running for the SEMI-FINALISTs of the 2024 Global Thriller Book Awards novel competition for High Stakes Thriller Fiction!
Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works!
Breakfield and Burkey – Enigma Forced
Daniel R. Thrace – The First Civilization
Timothy S. Johnston – A Blanket of Steel
T.O. Paine – The Delusion
Charlie Robinson – Heavy Hysteria
V.P. Evans – The Rebirth
P.H. Ferrar – Nothing New Under the Sun
Erik Foge – Between Methods and Madness
Erik Foge – Horizons Without Boundaries
Benjamin A. Sharpton – The 3rd Option
Tony Ollivier – The Tokyo Diversion
D.W. Layton – Otello’s Oil: A Saga of Blood and Oil
Jordan Berk – The Timestream Verdict
Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke – Change of Mission: A Jake Fortina Series Novel
David Wickenden – The Origami Deception
Ron Singerton – Ruptured
Sheri T. Joseph – Edge of the Known World
Keith Wilson – Mystery of the Blue Stone
A.J. Landau – Leave No Trace
Benjamin Spada – The Warmaker: a Black Spear novel
Carla Seyler – A Place Unmade
Thomas Roehlk – Red Deuce
Randall Krzak – Frozen Conquest
Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.
PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS!
This post has been posted on the Chanticleer Facebook Page. We try to tag all authors listed here in the Facebook post. However, it is easier for us to tag authors when they have Liked and Followed us on Facebook.
Seating is Limited. The esteemed WRITER Magazine (founded in 1887) has repeatedly recognized the Chanticleer Authors Conference as one of the best conferences to attend and participate in for North America.
The Global Thriller Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of High Stakes Thriller and Lab Lit Fiction. The Global Thriller Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).
