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Provenance of Ashes
Jeffrey Ulin’s Provenance of Ashes is a riveting espionage thriller that grips you from the first page and doesn’t let go. Set against a backdrop of historical intrigue, the novel weaves a complex tale of Nazi-looted art, the Mossad, and a tangled web of past and present secrets. The story moves between different time periods and locations, from 1944 Munich, where stolen masterpieces are hidden, to 1988 East Berlin, where a group of students gets caught up in international espionage, and beyond. At its core, the book explores the weight of history, the moral compromises people make, and how the past refuses to stay buried.
Ulin’s writing is immersive, pulling you into his world with vivid descriptions and sharp, believable dialogue. The opening scene in wartime Munich sets the tone beautifully, artwork being smuggled under the cover of chaos, a Nazi officer sealing away treasures not for admiration but as leverage for the Reich’s uncertain future. The historical depth of the novel is one of its strongest points. It’s clear Ulin did his research, crafting a narrative that feels both authentic and compelling. The Nazi antagonist, Dieter Mullenhauer, is terrifyingly pragmatic, making his actions all the more chilling. His cold efficiency in hiding stolen art and eliminating witnesses without hesitation is disturbingly real.
The modern storyline, particularly the sections set in 1988 East Berlin, was my favorite part of the book. The tension is thick from the moment the protagonist, Marco Bellagio, and his friends cross into East Germany under the pretense of attending a Bruce Springsteen concert. Their naive excitement quickly turns to paranoia when they realize they’re being watched. The dialogue in these scenes crackles with nervous energy, especially when they unknowingly befriend two East German men who might not be as harmless as they seem. The casual way these characters discuss escaping to the West, offering information in exchange, is haunting. You can feel the walls closing in around Marco, even if he doesn’t fully realize it yet.
The book sometimes juggles so many storylines that it risks losing momentum. The alternating perspectives between past and present add depth but occasionally slow things down. That said, the chapters written from the perspective of Werner Boesseneker, a second-generation Nazi loyalist embedded in the Stasi, were eerily fascinating. His unwavering belief in his father’s ideology makes him a compelling but disturbing character. The best thrillers make you uneasy, and Ulin certainly accomplishes that.
I’d recommend Provenance of Ashes to fans of historical thrillers, espionage fiction, and anyone who enjoys a well-researched, intricate plot. If you liked The Night Manager by John le Carré or The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro, this book is right up your alley. Ulin balances action with historical weight, creating a novel that lingers long after the last page. It’s a high-stakes journey through history, deception, and the power of secrets, and it’s definitely worth taking.
Pages: 396 | ASIN : B0DSCKL6DK
Sky Thunder
Sky Thunder is an intense, high-stakes military thriller that plunges readers into a covert operation aimed at stopping a dangerous new stealth missile program. The story follows a specialized team of operatives as they infiltrate Russian territory to sabotage a top-secret facility developing advanced weaponry. The stakes are global, the action relentless, and the geopolitical intrigue thick with tension. Through a mix of tactical precision, political maneuvering, and pulse-pounding combat, the book captures the high-risk world of special operations and intelligence warfare.
One of the book’s biggest strengths is its commitment to authenticity. Stewart clearly knows his stuff when it comes to military operations, and he doesn’t hold back. The mission briefing sequences, the chain of command details, and the breakdown of special forces strategy all feel meticulously researched. This level of detail makes the story immersive, especially the section where Colt and his team receive their OPORD (Operations Order), which is packed with acronyms and unit designations, making it feel more like a declassified military report.
The action sequences, however, are where Sky Thunder truly shines. The book is loaded with high-adrenaline combat scenes that feel cinematic. A standout moment comes during a chaotic firefight with Russian attack helicopters, where the operatives engage in a desperate battle to stay alive. The descriptions are vivid, the stakes high, and the sense of danger palpable. There’s also a particularly tense HALO (High Altitude, Low Opening) jump scene where Colt experiences a moment of sheer isolation as he plummets through the night sky, uncertain whether his team followed him out of the plane. These moments make the book gripping, giving readers a front-row seat to the intensity of modern warfare.
Character development, while present, takes a backseat to the mission. Colt, the team leader, is competent and battle-hardened, but his internal struggles are only briefly explored. We get glimpses of his doubt and leadership pressure, especially during critical moments, but the book focuses more on external threats than deep emotional arcs. Supporting characters like Smitty, Super Dave, and Lindsey add personality, but the sheer number of operatives and military personnel makes it hard to form strong attachments to any single one. That said, the camaraderie and sharp banter between team members help keep the story grounded in human connection.
Sky Thunder is a must-read for fans of military thrillers who appreciate realism and tactical depth. If you love books by authors like Tom Clancy or Brad Taylor, this will be right up your alley. However, if you prefer character-driven stories over mission-driven plots, the technical detail might feel overwhelming. The action is top-tier, the tension real, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Just be ready for a deep dive into military logistics along the way.
Pages: 298 | ASIN : B0DK655KYG
Ebbing and Flowing in Emotions
The Lady of the Lighthouse follows a woman balancing a lonely existence, a failing marriage, and her own unwitting involvement in espionage. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
I’m drawn to reading novels that explore themes revolving around suspense and difficult choices. I wanted to write a novel in a similar vein. Loralei is a strong, flawed, yet relatable character, I think, who struggles to live her life her way with her convictions despite the difficult time and situation she lives in.
Did you plan the tone and direction of the novel before writing, or did it come out organically as you were writing?
I had an idea of the general direction of this novel because I sketched out the ending and a few basic ideas before I started writing. The overall tone of the novel seemed to develop on its own, ebbing and flowing in emotions and actions based on what the characters ended up doing.
What was your approach to writing the interactions between Loralei and Devon?
I tried to have Loralei and Devon react to each other’s words and actions in scenes including dialogue to give a sense of their relationship. But I also tried to include an unspoken tension between them, which probably came from all the outside pressures they were dealing with in their lives, that drove their individual actions and affected how they related to each other and other people.
Can we look forward to more work from you soon? What are you currently working on?
I am working on another suspense novel.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
A pirate, a Great Lakes shipping captain, a dashing Italian spy, and the lonely, pregnant young mother who loved them all.
Loralei Lancaster, a lonely, pregnant young mother and lighthouse keeper on the Great Lakes is caught up in a WWII espionage plot while waiting for her shipping-captain husband, Devon, to return from a Great Lakes voyage. When a dashing, Italian spy posing as a down-and-out art dealer and handyman enters her life and seduces her, she must ultimately choose between her passionate love for him and her love for Devon, her family and her country.
The Lady of the Lighthouse
Terri Greening’s The Lady of the Lighthouse is a historical novel set during WWII, blending the isolation of lighthouse life with suspense, wartime intrigue, and forbidden love. The story follows Loralei Lancaster, the devoted keeper of a lighthouse on Lake Superior, as she navigates loneliness, her troubled marriage to freighter Captain Devon, and the threat of sabotage by a shadowy enemy. Meanwhile, subplots of espionage and sabotage unfold in Europe, connecting art theft, Nazi spies, and clandestine missions to the broader war effort. The novel weaves history with fiction, painting vivid portraits of both the wilderness and the darker edges of human relationships.
In the opening scene, Loralei is gazing over a kaleidoscope sunset while tending to the beacon, which immediately sets a vivid tone. You can feel her yearning, both for her distant husband and the life they once had. The lighthouse feels alive, a character in its own right, and a symbolic role as a beacon of hope amidst the war’s chaos. But just when you think the story is about quiet introspection, the plot thickens. Loralei’s encounters with Jake Calico, a supposed smuggler who may be sabotaging ships, add a layer of danger and temptation that feels like catnip for fans of morally complex thrillers. Her midnight trysts on the beach with this mysterious man create a palpable tension between duty and desire, and I found myself flipping pages, torn between rooting for her and questioning her judgment.
Loralei is complex and relatable, haunted by grief and longing for connection. But Devon’s coldness made me want to yell at him to shape up! His aloofness is explained by his love for the lake and his father’s death, but there’s a bitterness in his treatment of Loralei that makes their scenes uncomfortable at times. The subplot involving Loralei’s fears that her unborn child might not be Devon’s raised the stakes emotionally. Jake is enigmatic, brooding, and too charming for his own good. The plot twist was thrilling but also heartbreaking.
Andre Sorrento, an Italian spy masquerading as an art curator, brings a high-stakes international angle to the story. Andre’s ability to hide in plain sight while committing cold-blooded murders added a sinister flair. The art theft subplot, involving priceless works hidden from the Nazis, gave me Monuments Men vibes. I couldn’t help but appreciate how the novel tied together seemingly disparate elements art, espionage, and domestic drama into a cohesive narrative.
The Lady of the Lighthouse is a fascinating read. It’s part historical drama, part romance, and part wartime thriller, offering a little something for everyone. Fans of espionage will enjoy Andre’s cold calculations and the Nazi sabotage plot, while those drawn to romance will savor Loralei’s complicated love life. The writing is atmospheric, the themes of loss and resilience are poignant, and the historical details make the story immersive. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction with an edge of danger or to those who’ve ever dreamed of lighthouses and longed to uncover their secrets.
Pages: 271 | ASIN : B0BXHT12ZK
The Moldavian Gambit
Brad M. Meslin’s The Moldavian Gambit is a gripping geopolitical thriller that weaves together espionage, military intrigue, and historical echoes of the Soviet Union’s collapse. Set in the early 1990s, the novel follows an audacious plan to steal a Soviet nuclear weapon amid the chaos of Transnistrian separatism. Intelligence officers, Mossad agents, and political leaders from the U.S., Russia, and Europe scramble to outmaneuver each other in a game of deception, strategy, and survival. The stakes are global, and Meslin’s expertise in national security shines through in the novel’s intricate realism and technical precision.
The writing is razor-sharp, loaded with tension, and refuses to spoon-feed the reader. Meslin plunges straight into the thick of things, throwing us into boardrooms buzzing with Cold War-era paranoia and battlefields where bullets fly and ideologies clash. The pacing is relentless, and while the dialogue sometimes feels a bit too polished for real-world exchanges, it adds to the novel’s cinematic feel. One particularly striking moment comes when Lt. Col. Sergei Rostov reflects on the bloody chaos of Moldova’s fight for independence; Meslin doesn’t just describe the action; he makes you feel the weight of history pressing down on the characters.
The characters themselves are a fascinating bunch, each driven by personal and political motivations that make them feel tangible. Dov Ma’alat, a retired Mossad operative, is a standout world-weary but sharp, reluctant yet indispensable. His past haunts him, yet he’s pulled back into the fray, proving that in the world of intelligence, retirement is just a technicality. On the Russian side, Rostov is equally compelling, caught between loyalty to his homeland and the cold pragmatism of survival. The power plays between military brass, intelligence officers, and politicians create a dense but rewarding narrative web.
Meslin masterfully weaves historical and technological details into the narrative, showcasing his deep knowledge of defense systems and geopolitical maneuvers. This rich authenticity adds depth to the story, immersing readers in its intricate world. While some passages delve extensively into missile capabilities, they serve to enhance the realism. Once the stolen nuclear device comes into play, the novel shifts into high gear, transforming into an edge-of-your-seat thriller. With high-stakes betrayals and last-minute gambits, the tension never lets up, making for a gripping and exhilarating read.
The Moldavian Gambit is a must-read for fans of Tom Clancy and Frederick Forsyth readers who love espionage with a heavy dose of military realism. For those who appreciate a meticulously crafted geopolitical thriller that mirrors the complexity of real-world conflicts, Meslin’s debut is a rewarding and thought-provoking ride. With its gripping storyline, intelligent writing, and high-stakes action, The Moldavian Gambit is an impressive debut that leaves a lasting impact. It’s a thrilling and immersive experience that will keep readers hooked until the very last page.
View the Book Trailer HERE
Pages: 373 | ASIN : B0DNNDVCWV
Universal Tyranny
In The Well, a virologist and Russian defector steals the world’s deadliest virus to create a universal cure but instead sparks a deadly competition between nations. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
Ever since childhood, when I first realized the threat of nuclear weapons, I have always been concerned about existential threats to humanity. Although I am a cardiologist, I became very interested in the threats of pandemic illness from the SARS and various flu viruses since the early 2000s. But my overwhelming fascination in writing this novel was the posing of the following question:
At the current state of mankind’s moral and ethical development, would a miraculous discovery, controlled by the wealthy and powerful, lead to universal well-being or universal tyranny?
It is also ask myself this question about AI.
Are any of your characters’ dialogues or traits based on people from your own life?
Gia is the combination of 2 Brazilian women, both multilingual, extremely intelligent, beautiful, and ambitious, and of course, extremely sexy.
Popov is in part inspired by a Russian Orthodox priest who taught me Russian for 3 years in high school. The remaining part of Popov is derived from a salty, good-natured, white-haired and bearded, pirate-like, elderly accountant who managed the affairs of my brief solo, private practice in Las Vegas.
It is said that all writing is autobiographical. I see a lot of myself in Rex, particularly the desire to achieve mastership.
How long did it take you to imagine, draft, and write the world your characters live in?
Because of a dream decades ago, I knew how my story would start and how it would end. After my retirement from group practice, I decided to write a first chapter, which to date is largely unchanged, and
presented it to a friend at breakfast in a Bangkok hotel in January 2018. Happening to be a publisher, he loved it and encouraged me to keep writing.
My second pen to paper was on a layover at Shanghai airport traveling to Los Angeles in June 2018. I wrote a penciled outline of the entire story over a couple of hours. I then spent the summer crafting the story into the first draft of a screenplay. Thinking that no one would be interested in a spec screenplay of an unpublished and unknown writer, I turned it into a novel over the course of a year. During the pandemic, I found a great sound guy in Las Vegas and transformed it after many attempts into an unabridged audiobook.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
The next book in The Well series is The Cauldron, the pure golden Chinese pot which can amplify the mystical properties of the waters of The Well. The story explains how The Cauldron in 1728, originally possessed by a murdered Taoist monk, crossed the Pacific from Macau, China in the possession of venomous Portuguese pirates/slavers, who battled and evaded the British Navy. They landed in Spanish-controlled Colombia as slavers with no slaves in the middle of an African colonial slave rebellion.
After escaping the Spaniards with the aid of escaped slaves, they traversed the Andes, staving off malaria, indigenous attacks, and betrayal among themselves. Only one pirate survived, reached the western Amazon, and delivered The Cauldron to “The Unseen”, the miraculous and at times invisible Amazonian tribe, the guardians of the waters of The Well. The story ends in modern times during Popov’s initial Amazonian quest for The Well.
In truth, The Cauldron will have to wait until I finish my ongoing project.
The story is called The Horse. It is a visionary fairy tale for adults, which children will thoroughly enjoy. The outline and screenplay have been written.
In 1947, a young ex-Marine Wyoming rancher, whose wife died in a relocation camp after childbirth, seeks a cure for his 5-year-old Japanese American daughter’s terminal illness based on a calling from a Native American legend.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
Switch up the Typical Trope
Heart of Evergreen follows a devoted wife who discovers her name linked to a hit list on her husband’s laptop, turning her life upside down. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
This is book three of a trilogy so as such, I wanted to take my characters further into the espionage side of the story and incorporate heartfelt emotions and family-type life mixed in with conspiracy theories, and military installations in and around Denver, CO. I knew how the final two love stories would turn out, so it was important to wrap up my characters to more than satisfactory endings. Living in Colorado and knowing the strife personally that many of my characters went through was therapeutic for me and it helps those who may not know how to help themselves in a given or similar situation.
What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
One goal was to switch up the typical trope of “bad Russian, good American” by giving the angle of heroism to a character that most wouldn’t. The story is compact but packs a strong punch. It was important to make my characters feel what was written and for that to come across strongly to the reader. The love, the hurts, the mental and emotional toll life can dish out, especially in an environment in which one must die in order to live. Honestly, the conspiracy theories surrounding Denver International Airport, one airport that covers 54 square miles, were fun to write about. I love DEN airport and writing about what you know or have been many times, helps drive the story forward. This book is fiction, but many real-life experiences are woven in.
Do you think there’s a single moment in everyone’s life, maybe not as traumatic, that is life-changing?
Oh yes, I’ve been in life-changing and traumatic events that have shaped and moulded my person forever. Some of these have been incorporated into this trilogy. Multiple child loss, childhood cancer, a child with ADHD yet becomes an Eagle Scout, Nursing, finally finding love, the list is endless.
Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?
This is the last book in this trilogy, so no books to follow this one, with this series.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Instagram | Art Gallery | Amazon
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He had become a liability and Dmitry had to protect himself. He would not take his own life like the general. Yes, he was heavily trained in special tactics, and yes, his own oligarch money sat nicely in a Swiss bank account under a holding company that was untouchable. Russia could do absolutely nothing about his Swiss bank account. Yet he WAS touchable!!! Even though he, himself had never once killed anyone, he had been complicit by his position between those who ordered hits and those who carried them out. Thus, he packed a bag and drove his luxurious SUV down to Denver, to the Federal Center, and asked at the gate for Director James Tilson, that he, Dmitry Ivanov, had top-secret information for him. One of the guards radioed inside and spoke with the director. Director Tilson informed the guards that two members of his team would go to the gate and escort Dmitry Ivanov inside. Dmitry had to turn himself in if he wanted to live!
It was the last Thursday in May, a lovely day in the mountains, and he wondered if he would ever see the mountains again…or daylight, for that matter…or Susan Davis…he’d come to love her…at age 30, his budding romance with Suz, a gorgeous 25-year-old, green-eyed redhead who was a perfect angel…his angel…she painted like an angel…in watercolor…he would never see her again…he’d come to love her…love…True Love…now that part of his life was over…again…he wouldn’t see any of the people he’d come to know and truly cared about during his time spent in Evergreen…so many regrets…he’d come to care deeply for the children as well…he was racked with grief for what was not to be…and for his numerous regrets…
The Well
The Well, by R. Chapman Wesley, is a riveting blend of science, spirituality, and redemption, masterfully constructed to provoke both thought and emotion. At its core lies Professor Anatoly Popov, a brilliant virologist and Russian defector, whose audacious theft of the world’s deadliest virus from a U.S. counter-terrorism lab sets the stage for a high-stakes, globe-spanning saga. Inspired by an ancient Chinese legend, Popov’s radical vision to fuse the virus with meteorite fragments in pursuit of a universal cure ignites a deadly race among powerful factions. This perilous journey places Popov at the intersection of salvation and destruction, raising an urgent question: Will his ambition heal humanity or seal its doom?
Chapman’s narrative propels readers deep into the Amazon rainforest, where ex-SEAL Rex Lee unravels the mysteries surrounding “The Well,” a fabled source of healing power. As the story unfolds, Lee is forced to confront humanity’s moral dilemmas, balancing the hope of salvation with the terrifying potential for annihilation. With its ambitious scope and intellectual depth, The Well explores weighty themes that resonate on a universal level. It delves into morality, redemption, and the interconnectedness of existence, inviting readers to reflect on humanity’s duality—the capacity for boundless creation and catastrophic destruction.
Symbolism abounds, offering layers of metaphorical richness. The Well itself serves as a moving representation of humanity’s eternal quest for meaning, unity, and salvation. Chapman’s prose is both poetic and precise, weaving themes of sacrifice, spiritual awakening, and the high cost of knowledge into a narrative that feels both timely and timeless. His storytelling is meticulously crafted, seamlessly blending speculative science with philosophical musings to create a work that is as thought-provoking as it is captivating.
For fans of works like The Alchemist and Dune, The Well offers a similar fusion of philosophical depth and imaginative breadth. Its exploration of the intersection of science, mysticism, and the human condition ensures it will linger long after the final page. This is not just a story—it’s an experience, one that challenges, inspires, and enthralls. It is a must-read for those seeking a compelling and meaningful literary journey.
Pages: 202 | ASIN : B0CDMDC6NM
LITERARY TITAN 