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I Wanted To Bring Out The ‘Lion’
Lion – Most Wanted follows Aslan as he breaks a high-value target out of a Russian supermax prison and becomes the most wanted man in the Middle East. What were some sources of inspiration that informed the development of this novel?
1) My visit to Budapest, Hungary
2) A sex-trafficking ring operating in England
3) The Bosnian war
4) The theory that the Syrian civil war is over oil/ gas pipelines
5) The British hacktivist who become a social media consultant/ hacker for the Islamic State
6) The film, Eye in the Sky
What were some obstacles you felt were important to developing Aslan’s character in this book?
I wanted to drive home the point that, all Aslan wants, is to get out of his circumstances. I needed a clever way to really let him be left alone which needed the ancillary characters’ motivations to be equally developed.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
The scene where Aslan escapes from the Hungarian gang. It is brutal because I wanted to bring out the ‘lion’ , no holds barred.
What can readers expect in book three of The Escape Series?
For now, I haven’t considered a trilogy for The Escape Series. This is primarily because I want to move to a new series (of which 4 books are in development). But one can never tell: I might bring Aslan back. Everybody loves stories in which trouble finds the hero who has given up a dark past 🙂
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Lion – Most Wanted
Having made the decision to turn his back on freedom and conduct a daring jailbreak from a Russian prison, Aslan Terzi is now the most wanted man in the world. Hunted by agencies and mercenaries, with little to no allies, he must rely on all his skills if he is to come away with his life. Driven by their own motives, his enemies will not rest until he is dead and buried. But the one thing Aslan knows how to do is fight and his enemies will soon learn why he has been given the title, The Lion.
Lion: Most Wanted by Douglas Misquita is the second book in the authors thrilling Escape series. It follows up on the events of the first book and continues the story of Aslan Terzi, who is now on the run. I really enjoyed this book. It was a rollercoaster of an adventure that is filled with high octane thrills and intense action. I enjoyed it so much that I could not put the book down and finished it fairly quickly.
The plot of the story was easy to follow and fairly straightforward, but the magic happens in the adrenaline fueled way the author delivers all of it. The language is descriptive and visceral and really moved the story along at a nice pace.
Although layered with subplots and a multitude of characters, it wasn’t difficult to follow. Each character was essential to the narrative and I felt I really understood each of their motives and agendas. While this is the second book in a series I think you can still read this book as a standalone novel without feeling lost. This is due to the great writing which catches the reader up where necessary, but also due to the fact that this is easily a self contained action adventure novel.
Lion: Most Wanted is a slick and explosive action-thriller that is wildly entertaining and fun to read.
Pages: 221 | ASIN: B09ZJCG8CZ
Our Decisions Define Us
Trigger Point follows Luc as he must stop a terrorist plot while navigating a political and religious web of corruption as a deadly team is hunting him. What were some sources that informed this novel’s development?
I was intrigued by “The Islamist: Why I joined Radical Islam in Britain, What I Saw Inside and Why I Left” by Ed Hussain, “Radical Islam: Past, Present, and Future: What Moderate Muslims Will Not Tell you” by Anita & Vann Boseman, “God’s Wolf: The Life of the Most Notorious of All Crusaders: Reynald de Chatillon” by Jeffrey Lee, “A Common Word Between Us and You” by Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal, Kingdom of Jordan. There was also “The Entity: Five Centuries of Secret Vatican Espionage” by Eric Frattini. At the time of writing, the book was prohibitively priced to the extent I asked myself, ‘Who does not want us to read this?’. All-in-all, I wanted to challenge the stereotype of a terrorist and show that everybody has a propensity for violence if not checked.
Luc Fortesque is a consistently entertaining character. What were some character motivations that you felt were important to developing him throughout the novel?
In the first book of the series, The Apocalypse Trigger, Luc is the bad guy. Readers will hate him. By the time I wrote The Immortality Trigger, he seemed like the guy I wanted to return. So I set him on this path of redemption. He’d done some pretty nasty stuff and has always attributed his life-choices to external stimuli. But at the end of the day, our decisions define us, and who we become. That became the theme and we see it resolve in Trigger Point. The bad guy finds his soul, his righteousness. Also melds with my belief that everybody is doing what they can to survive in this world.
Was there anything taken from real life and put into the story?
Plenty. All the locations, vehicles are factual. Raynald de Chattilon and Nur ad Din were sworn enemies during the crusades. The syncretism of Catholic and Maya beliefs is real as is the ritual and the construct of the typical Maya village. Zombie Deer Disease is real, as is the (questionable) research that I caught onto and used to great effect. The Swiss vaults described in the book exist and nobody knows the true extent of the wealth or secrets stored there. The Japanese Unit 731 existed and its research was co-opted by the US after WWII. The Chinese AI entity is based on fact – Western companies are indirectly providing the expertise much to the concern of their home nations. I’ve done my best to be non-offensive yet informative in my exposition of Catholism, Islam and religious trends.
This is the third book in your Luc Fortesque Adventure series. What can readers expect in book four?
Visitors to my website will observe I’m happy doing trilogies before moving on to something fresh. For now, there won’t be another Luc Fortesque book. I’ve got another hero coming up and yet another that I’m concluding in another series. Then I’m contemplating a wild prehistoric adventure. Who doesn’t ?
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Trigger Point
![Trigger Point: A Luc Fortesque Adventure by [Douglas Misquita]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51kqGkZFbKL.jpg)
The third Installation of the Luc Fortesque series, Trigger Point by Douglas Misquita is an action-packed thriller. The novel follows the journey of Luc, who has acquired secret knowledge about an impending terrorist conspiracy. Forces are sent to get hold of Luc, as his knowledge puts the Holy See under the criminal radar. A former agent Raymond Garrett is on a mission to expose the EI Fantasma, but the drug mafia also has some plans in store for Garrett. Now the question is, will they be able to pierce through the veneer of rampant internal corruption, barbarism, and history of betrayal? Or will they be defeated in the face of intense corruption within the government and religious bodies?Â
Douglas Misquita’s use of lucid language complements this intricately woven story. Trigger Point does an amazing job at keeping the reader glued to the pages from the beginning till the very end with action that is easy to follow and a story line that is deeply intriguing. Although the novel contains a plot that can easily stand on its own, you should definitely check out the previous two novels in the same series–The Apocalypse Trigger and The Immortality Trigger. Written in the same vein as the works of Dan Brown, this story aptly captures the nuanced deception running through various international, political and religious institutions.
This is an action thriller written for action thriller fans. It contains all the high points I wanted in a high stakes crime fiction novel, and one of the best character developments I’ve seen in a series in this genre. There are multiple twists throughout, leading to a tense reading experience. However, the incidents, while highly entertaining, are still grounded in reality, possibly due to the thoughtful descriptions and exposition throughout the novel. The author has brilliantly executed an array of ideas into a comprehensive whole, utilizing a unique writing flair that I’ve come to expect in Douglas Misquita’s novels.
Combine the intricate nature of Dan Brown novels, add the intensity and political web of Robert Ludlum’s Bourne series, with the world building of Michael Crichton and I think you’ll understand what Trigger Point has to offer readers. The characters in the novel are as intriguing as the storyline itself. Never for a moment, did I feel that these are not real-life human characters. They come alive with their virtues and vices combined, giving them a human touch. The author has put extra attention towards the development of each character, making them even more appealing to the readers.Â
The complex yet easy-flowing storyline, the rounded characters, and the infusion of action make Trigger Point an enthralling read that immerses readers in a tumultuous world full of adventure.
Pages: 417 | ASIN: B08S7Q8JSD
Ingram’s Nightmares
Douglas Misquita Author Interview
Spectre is the thrilling conclusion to your Kirk Ingram saga. Do you feel like you accomplished everything you wanted to with this series?
I know I said ‘thrilling conclusion’ in the synopsis that appears on the back of the book, but I wonder if we’ve seen the last of Kirk Ingram. That said, I feel extremely satisfied with what I’ve accomplished with Spectre, and how it augments the previous two books in the series. For example, in book #1, Haunted, I gave Ingram frequent nightmares, which is stereotypical of a protagonist with a troubled past. But then in Spectre, I used that element and exploded it into an entire book by positing the question: What if Ingram’s nightmares aren’t what they seem? The Kirk Ingram stories stand alone, but readers will appreciate the elements in Spectre that tie them into a trilogy.
How do you think the story, and your writing, has changed throughout the series?
A good aspect of self-publishing platforms is the hassle-free option to update previous books. I have the advantage that my reader base isn’t (yet) in the thousands and millions, so why not make an improvement? When book #2 – Diablo – released, I reviewed Haunted and spruced up the tone of the book, even thrashing sections I saw no point in this time around. I’ve certainly matured as an author. One simple way to see that is the ratings on Goodreads have improved with each book. My plots have always been complex and I’m finding new ways to keep that complexity interesting to the readers. Another constant in my writing nowadays is I always want to educate my readers. Even if my stories are fiction, I set them against the backdrop of contemporary events and locations, so that my readers learn something besides the entertainment value.
This book is exceptionally well written and wastes no time getting to the action. What were some goals you set for yourself in this book?
Thank you for the compliment. Key locales for the book were inspired by a vacation in Italy. I wanted to feature the imposing Christian and Roman edifices. Next, I wanted Ingram to have closure. In Haunted he lost his family; I wanted him to get over his guilt, to live his life to the fullest. I’ve always been interested in history, and Spectre gave me the opportunity to tell a story that converges from two different timelines. And finally, I wanted to write a paranormal story, but one that stands apart from the usual. And I believe, I’ve done that.
What is the next project you’re working on and when will it be available?
Next up, is book #3 in the Luc Fortesque series, Trigger Point. It will be available fall 2020.
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![Spectre: A Kirk Ingram action thriller by [Misquita, Douglas]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51mMQYusAoL.jpg)
More than 2000 years ago, the deeds and words of a Jewish carpenter seeded an ideology that inexorably spread across the known world. Who was he, really? Conspiracies, doubts, faith abound.
300 years later, Constantine marched victoriously into Rome. In a move befitting a shrewd politician, Emperor Constantine sought to legalise the radical religion proclaimed by the hitherto persecuted Christian sect with the ulterior motive of crowning himself godhead of a united empire.
But what if there existed others, who possessed the same powers as the Christ, and threatened the emperor’s new religion, and upset his ambitions?
June 2017: A remote abbey in the Italian Alps is attacked by an ethereal force. Every one of the abbey’s gifted residents is murdered, save for its newest resident, Jovanni Rossi.
A passenger jetliner makes an emergency landing at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport with seven casualties aboard. The perpetrator: former FBI agent, Kirk Ingram.
Seeking answers, Jovanni Rossi and Kirk Ingram must team up and face an incredible reality-altering truth.
Pursued by a vengeful father, a relentless contract killer and a sadistic gangster, the pair find themselves embroiled in a grander conflict between good and evil…
And they are the only people who stand against a dark force arising out of medieval times to consume the Earth!
Spectre
![Spectre: A Kirk Ingram action thriller by [Misquita, Douglas]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51t7xEsqWCL.jpg)
Spectre: A Kirk ingram Action Thriller is practically a movie in its embryonic stages. It features a tortured protagonist accused of being the perpetrator of a heinous crime, a tragedy-stricken sidekick, and perhaps most interestingly, the history of Christianity woven throughout the plot.
The story begins in 33 CE with a vague and mystifying account of a Jewish household. We are then brought forward 300 years, where a power-hungry emperor attempts to popularize the new religion Christianity and claim it for his own. However, we discover that there are people with supernatural powers, almost otherworldly that add conflict to the situation. Now, in the present day, former FBI agent Kirk Ingram is thought to be the killer of nearly all of an abbey’s residents. Using his wits and increasingly untrustworthy body, he pairs up with the last remaining resident of the abbey, Jovanni, in order to solve the mystery and save the world from mysterious dark forces.
The book lives up to its title- it is most definitely an action packed, thrill heavy ride; I can almost visualize a Tom Cruise scene accompanied by a hardcore, brainy backstory. I particularly enjoyed this novel because it reminded me of my science nerd phase, where I was a hopeless Dan Brown addict. Some parts of Spectre reminded me of the Da Vinci Code– maybe because of the religion-forward detective work that was happening. But at the same time, Douglas Misquita’s own voice was unquestionably distinctive. I would think of it as Da Vinci Code meets James Bond meets Kirk Ingram’s particular brand of panache. I found myself comparing it to a lot of movies- which I would assign as a hefty compliment to the book. I have read so many thrillers where the authors waxed poetic on their knowledge of spy-related stuff, and while educational, I am hardly reading thrillers for their didactic value. Douglas Misquita kept it to the point: it was informative without losing its entertainment value.
The author’s incisiveness and knowledge also shone through in all the parts where he linked the past and present; religious movements and their effects. Kirk Ingram and Jovanni are also in no manner the flawless heroes. Kirk has a troubling past and faces ethical dilemmas throughout the book; not to mention a body that can betray him at any moment. I enjoyed this aspect of the character- it adds depth and dimension to what can often and unfortunately turn out to be a two-dimensional untouchable action machine.
Spectre: A Kirk ingram Action Thriller is a riveting and engaging story that I would recommend. Nothing like a religious conspiracy theory filled thriller to keep you up all night!
Pages: 359 | ASIN: B07YDV1YWT
A Fantastic Prison-Break
Douglas Misquita Author Interview
Lion – Escape from Russia follows 5 strangers that attempt a risky prison breakout and must face the consequences. What was the inspiration for the setup to this thrilling story?
I love prison break stories. Right from the get-go, I decided the 6th thriller would have a fantastic prison-break as one of the key plot elements. The other element I would not compromise on was a ‘non-NATO’ hero. I think we’re all aware of what’s happening in Syria. I thought to myself, I’m certain there are every-day people in Syria, who are heroes, and I must capture that aspect in the story.
This is an exciting prison break story that seemed to revel in the details. What research did you undertake for this book to make things seem authentic?
For any of my research, Wikipedia is a starting point. Then I branch out. For the prison element, I watched documentaries on prisons in South America, Russia, the USA; I read news articles on prison atrocities and stories of members of a Russian pop-band, who were incarcerated. Found a couple of ‘top 10 worst prisons’ lists. I familiarised myself with the design elements of prisons (I love the word ‘panopticon’), found reference schematics for solitary confinement and prison cells, read up on security measures, and then drew my own prison, made it as impregnable as I could… and then decided what I needed to break somebody out of it. A logistical nightmare, good thing I write fiction. 🙂
For the Syria, Turkey border crossing and Russian atmosphere, there was more news article reading. The controversy of the chemical weapons in Syria and the conflicting reports interested me. I couldn’t work it entirely into this book, but it’s coming in the next book in this series. I use Google Maps a lot to familiarise myself with streets, layout, perspectives. The part about the Russian mercenaries getting duped upon arrival in Syria is based on a real incident. To get my facts about mercenaries correct, I read a book which explains how mercenary companies function. I think the Mil gunship is an intimidating helicopter. Without giving away too much, I watched flight sim videos, got a helicopter-fanatic-friend to run me through the rudiments of flying the thing and then put my spin on it. Every vehicle – including the Russian vehicles used in the prison – are real.
You have a knack for creating varied and well-developed characters. What were some ideas you wanted to explore in this batch of characters?
I wanted to capture the strife in Syria. There are so many actors in the war, its terribly confusing and I’m certain Syrians know the original reason for the rising is lost in ulterior motives played out by the US- and Russian-led factions. I wanted my hero to be a political fugitive, and at death’s door. I wanted him to just be fed up with the war… and then, bring him back to the war… for his own objectives. This is because I think the people affected by the War are really doing anything they can to just survive. And that’s the underlying driver for any of the sequences in the book.
Mercenaries have always fascinated me. They’re portrayed as rogue soldiers with tons of attitude when they are employees for a company that needs to show profits. Well, and their job entails doing things regular armies cannot do for violating conventions and so forth. I wanted to bring out the for-profit facet of a mercenary company and focus not only on the boots-on-the-ground but the CEO and his advisors. I also wanted to toss out certain stereotypes. When you read the book, you’ll see my guys are not prone to killing but do their best to avoid it… unless it’s absolutely necessary. That’s why I even showed a merciful terrorist in the first chapter.
What is the next book that you are writing and when will it be available?
The next book is SPECTRE. It’s Book #3 in the Kirk Ingram action series. I can tell you, I’m pretty excited about it. It ties in everything from Haunted (2011) and Diablo (2015) and takes Ingram to a mind-blowing trilogy. I intend to release it in January 2020 – the anniversary of my debut novel, Haunted, back in 2011.
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![Lion - Escape from Russia by [Misquita, Douglas]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41qbjdm6UCL.jpg)
The Syrian War has spilt into its sixth year. The bloody contest between the Syrian National Army and the Free Syrian Army is confounded by rebel factions, terror outfits, fundamentalists, unscrupulous businesses… and a proxy war between the United States and Russia.
Aslan ‘The Lion’ Terzi, a political prisoner incarcerated at the notorious Tadmor Prison, is near suicide when a Daesh commander inexplicably gives him a new lease on life. Disillusioned by the depravity of the War, he chooses to flee Syria. But, a chance encounter at the border draws him back… for the love of a woman.
Goldline Solutions is the security contractor of choice for Sheikh Akhmed bin Rashid. When the disappearance of Goldline client, Leonid Rashnikov, threatens a lucrative multi-billion-dollar deal, CEO Samuel Goldsmith will put everything on the line to restore the sheikh’s confidence.
Russian FSB agent Illiya Pushkin sanctions an illicit operation in Syria. With a vindictive colleague on her trail, she finds herself complicit in a crime that propels her into the FSB’s most-wanted list.
Five strangers. Working on assumptions. No elaborate plan. No inside help. They will attempt the most audacious supermax prison breakout ever attempted on Russian soil.
In an imperfect world, the singular human instinct of survival is all that matters.
And there will be a heavy price to pay.
Lion – Escape from Russia
![Lion - Escape from Russia by [Misquita, Douglas]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41ReIR6ROKL.jpg)
Thrilling from the first page to the last, I was instantly drawn into Lion’s vivid tale of unwavering action and adventure. Lion follows five individuals, brought together through intricate and overlapping incidents to pull off a prison break like no other.
The first scene unfolds with Aslan Terzi locked away and at death’s door when a timely turn of events has him reunited with the outside world. New and old acquaintances gravitate to combat and once again Aslan is thrown into the thick of the conflict, he so desperately tried to run from.
Misquita’s novel was an absolute thrill to read. His research is top notch and the flawless detailing shows for it. When I started the book, I did a double take just to make sure it was fiction! From the get-go we are thrown into the action; bloody, gut-wrenching, fist beating, action. And the pace does not let up. The character’s point of view switches frequently and subtly. You have to keep your eyes glued to the page to catch those quick changes. This is probably my only complaint, I got lost a few times because the narrative changed from one person to the next with little to no warning. However, I was impressed with Misquita’s smooth transitions and by the second half of the book, I got used to the speedy change of perspective.
The well-defined characters of Lion and descriptive action scenes are undoubtedly my favorite features. Each character begins with a defined personality that aids in the development throughout the book. The romantic, family and friendship relations among the characters appear as authentic and never fall into stereotypical roles. For such a short book all the characters portrayed a well-rounded arc. There were, of course, some individuals with a stronger narrative but I never felt there was a character lacking in explanation.
For a book of carnage and war as a backdrop, Misquita does not censor his readers from the gruesome battle scenes. Lion doesn’t pull its punches, with every fight scene emoting the overwhelming desire from the fighters to survive. As a reader, every do-or-die situation expressed the same sentiment as the real things; I had no idea what the outcome would be. The rich detail and graphic storytelling illustrate a gripping and awesome tale that Misquita beautifully crafted for his readers to enjoy, and enjoy it I did. This is my first book of Misquita’s but not my last.
Pages: 304 | ASIN: B07RTZ9JXX
LITERARY TITAN 