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Devil’s Ledger
![Devil's Ledger: A Female Sleuth Financial Thriller with International Espionage (A Louise Moscow Novel Book 3) by [Lorraine Evanoff]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41lSea1bH4L.jpg)
Devil’s Ledger by Lorraine Evanoff is a suspenseful political thriller that will have your mind racing and heart pounding. We follow Louise Moscow who is a fierce and confident spy set on a mission to expose the corruption behind the world’s oldest bank in Siena, Italy. She soon becomes the target of powerful enemies, the Master of the Russian Dark Arts. She will do whatever it takes to bring forth the truth of the political and financial corruption in Siena.
Evanoff has done it again! This book has it all, corruption, action, history, and a dash of romance. The author’s writing is captivating and transports the reader onto the streets of Italy alongside Louise. I really enjoyed the vivid descriptions as it really brought the scenery to life and gave this story more of an exotic feel, well for me anyway as I’ve never been to Italy.
The character development in the story is one to be admired as Louise is such a strong and compelling female character that anyone can admire. Similar to the character in the movie Salt with Angelina Jolie, Louise is strong, sexy and intelligent; who wouldn’t want to be her? Evanoff keeps the reader on their toes with unexpected plot twists that are wild but cinematic. But even with these sharp turns in the story the excellent writing ensured the plot was easy to follow. On par with Dan Brown novels, the historical aspects of the novel are intriguing and thoughtfully included in a way that intelligently elevates the novel.
The action scenes made this suspenseful action story hard to put down and I found myself finishing the book fairly quick. Devil’s Ledger is intoxicating, action packed, and will leave the reader wanting more. I highly recommend this political thriller to readers who are looking for an intelligent and sophisticated international espionage story.
Pages: 288 | ASIN: B09JXPWPYW
The Curse of Clansmen and Kings
Two Faces of Janus follows a brash aristocrat as he navigates the perilous politics found in 2 B.C. Rome. What inspired you to write a story about Lucius Antonius?
I’ve always found the legacy of Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony) to be one of the most compelling accounts about political corruption, betrayal, and family tragedy. Iullus Antonius was the only son of Mark Antony who Caesar Augustus spared and raised almost like a son in the imperial court. When it came to light in 2 BC that Augustus’s daughter, Julia, was having several affairs and that Iullus was her primary lover, the emperor demanded he commit suicide.
Very little is known about Lucius Antonius except that he had to conceal that he was exiled in Massilia (modern-day Marseille) for his father’s crime as a traitor. I often wondered how Lucius reacted to his father’s disgrace and how it impacted his life. Answering this question inspired me to write the historical fantasy series, The Curse of Clansmen and Kings, and Two Faces of Janus. Lucius is cast as a villain in the series, but his back-story propels what he does and hopefully makes him more relatable.
Why did you feel a short story format worked better for this story rather than a full length novel?
The short story allowed me the opportunity to explore the immediate impact that the death of Iullus Antonius had on his son, Lucius, and for rest of the immediate family. The revelation of how Lucius was devastatingly impacted will be unveiled in the fourth book (Skull’s Vengeance) of my historical fantasy series. Further, I’m also considering a standalone historical fiction novel about the earlier life of Lucius Antonius.
What surprised you the most about Lucius Antonius real life story?
Though Lucius had to conceal he was exiled in disgrace for his father’s crime, the senate decreed that all honor be paid to him at this death. His ashes were laid in the family sepulchre of the Octavvi. This suggests that he was able to restore his standing in Rome. There is conjecture that Lucius’s son/grandson was Marcus Antonius Primus, a general who secured Rome for Vespasian to be emperor after Nero’s downfall.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am completing Book 4 (Skull’s Vengeance) in the Curse of Clansmen and Kings series which should be released later in 2022.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
A brash young aristocrat, Lucius Antonius anticipates Emperor Augustus Caesar will support his lofty ambitions to serve as a praetor in the Roman justice system in 2 BC Rome. As the son of the distinguished politician and poet, Iullus Antonius, Lucius prays to Janus, the two-faced god of beginnings, to open the door for him to rise politically. But he is unaware of the political firestorm ready to erupt in the imperial family.
Augustus must confront evidence that his daughter, Julia, has behaved scandalously in public and that Iullus is her lover. The prospect that Julia might want to marry Iullus—the only surviving son of Marcus Antonius—threatens to redirect the glory from Augustus to his most hated rival beyond the grave. Caught in the political crossfire, Lucius must demonstrate his loyalty to Augustus by meeting all of his demands or face the destruction of his family’s legacy and possibly his own life. Will Lucius ultimately choose to betray and abandon his disgraced father?
Accountability, Honor and Loyalty
The New Cold War finds Russia on the brink of a technological innovation that can bring about a new cold war and one agent is tasked with stopping them. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Any time we stand on the shoulders of our predecessors without the correct philosophical understanding of how we got there, we go down a road that inevitably leads to problems. Quantum computers may offer some incredible breakthroughs, but we need to stop and consider the possible ramifications of the technology or the wrong intentions could create a world-wide disaster.
Chris Hodge is an intriguing and well developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Chris Hodge is guided by asking metaphysical questions in the truest fashion to learn what is really going on in this world. He holds the belief that we are all world citizens and as such have a civil duty to ask these questions. The abbreviated answer is accountability, honor and loyalty.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
One of my personal tenets is always asking the question “why” and not simply following what is told to you. Right now we live in a world where a leading news outlook starts the conversation with “This is what you NEED to know”. How could they possibly discuss the issues for the average world citizen in 1 paragraph? I hope that this book encourages readers to ask questions and think more deeply about a variety of topics.
What can readers expect in book three of the The Relevant Series?
Readers can expect a continuation of Hodges development as he pursues his ideologies across the world in a stand-alone story with ties to the first 2 books in the series. Perhaps some old characters will make an appearance under new circumstances. The story will confront key developments in espionage related to cyber topics and the misguided understanding that the world has on the topic as a whole. Why is Russia attacking worldwide interests with hackers, and to what end? What are China’s real goals 20, 30 and 50 years from now?
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
“Those who are looking for chinks in America’s armor think they have found it: our rapidly growing reliance on quantum computing. And now it is going to take some of our nation’s smartest geeks to keep us all safe and free. Peter Zaccagnino has penned a compelling thriller here. Read it now. Or wait and read the real-life version of the story in the newspapers in a few years.” – Don Keith, author of more than 35 books, including WARSHOT and ONLY THE BRAVE
“You’re asking me to solve a problem before it’s a problem. What’s our plan?”
When the Soviet Union fell in 1991, it appeared that a new world order had emerged, one where democracy prevailed and autocratic communism was rendered obsolete. Some claimed it was the end of history. Except the Russians had other plans. They weren’t ready to abandon their power on the world stage without a fight.
After over a decade of development, Russia is only months away from finalizing an advanced quantum computer that can break all known encryption in less than a microsecond. When the CIA unearths intel on Russia’s progress, they turn to agent Chris Hodge, the man judged by the Agency as best equipped to lead the team tasked with sabotaging Moscow’s advanced quantum computer.
If Chris Hodge and his team succeed, democracy will continue to prevail.
If Chris Hodge and his team fail, Russia’s victory on the technological front will lead to Moscow’s unbridled power.
Will Chris Hodge remain relevant after the most difficult mission of his career?
The New Cold War
![The New Cold War : Defending Democracy From Russia's Secret Tech Weapon (Relevant Book 2) by [Peter Zaccagnino]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51y8nCXgRSL.jpg)
A war is being fought on a battlefield that’s separated by thousands of miles. The New Cold War, the latest entry in author Peter Zaccagnino’s thrilling The Relevant Series, finds Russia developing a technological superweapon that can destabilize the balance of power between the U.S. and Russia and create a new world order. Can agent Chris Hodge and his crack team figure out the complicated puzzle behind Russia’s quantum computer and accomplish their mission?
Throughout this riveting story every character has a unique dynamic that makes them very engaging. They are either witty, intelligent, or brave and they all serve to educate the reader about various political and technical matters through their unique points of view and knowledge of world affairs. Agent Hodge is skilled, punctual, politically savvy and a chess pro to boot. He will capture readers’ attention with his personality. As the novel’s only female character, Miss Valerie Mosier, exudes an autocratic, modern, and assertive female vibe that makes her an excellent character in a contemporary thriller. Also, an important character in the plot is Sergei, a brilliant and frustrated scientist, which I think serves as an example of how people allocated with the responsibility of advancement of a nation must have freedom of choice.
In an otherwise business-oriented atmosphere, the witty exchange of views between the tech-savvy and experts of the cyber security agency really elevates the intrigue in this novel. The chess tournament and matches between Hodge and other players are also what I believe to be ‘the knight’ in the story, a crucial element to the book.
This is an engrossing techno-thriller replete with technical jargon that will immerse readers in the quantum computing world. While I was a bit confused, as I’m certainly not an expert in quantum computers, I think it did feel authentic and led me to want to research a bit about quantum computing to make sense of the terminology. Nonetheless, as the story progresses, the author has done a great job including the character of Bond, a person who is less acquainted with quantum computing, so that the experts could explain it in layman’s terms to Bond and the reader.
With discussions of diversified political views and capitalism vs communism, the author has come up with a riveting story exploring the New ‘Cyber’ Cold War between the U.S. and Russia, and educates the reader about quantum computing while doing so.
The New Cold War is an intellectually-invigorating political thriller that is high in social commentary. Readers who enjoy crime thrillers or suspenseful espionage action novels will have plenty to enjoy in Peter Zaccagnino’s well-crafted page-turner.
Pages: | ASIN: B09J6GN127
Pillars of Salt
![Pillars of Salt by [A. Adams, J.]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ARVg6JRsS.jpg)
Pillars of Salt is J.A. Adam’s debut thriller which follows the exploits of Harvey Junior, or H. He spends the novel trying to figure out what happened to his father who apparently committed suicide following a major accident at his salt mine which killed 13 people. H, knowing his father’s personality, is adamant there is more to the story and foul-play to be uncovered. From the first page, the reader is overwhelmed with the context and intricacies tangled within this intense corporate world Adam depicts. They portray Louisiana in a way that is so intimate and familiar; every location and setting is truly brought to life by Adam’s beautiful descriptions and attention to detail. Adam’s spent many years teaching at Louisiana State University, and their love for the state is truly evident in the story. Their depiction of the characters in such a personal way helps to easily elicit empathy from the reader; they are likely to feel connected to the characters in both the ups and downs of the narrative.
The narrative Adam tells is a near-flawless contribution to the thriller genre as a whole. The book is inundated with the most interesting twists and turns, including several plot twists that are guaranteed to keep thriller fans firmly on the edge of their seat in crippling suspense. One aspect I particularly enjoyed was the overall depth of the story- it’s one layered with so many details, conspiracies, and corporate scandals that add to the plot exquisitely. There is no chance that anyone reading this story will get bored, it’s unbelievably captivating.
As someone with relatively limited experience of corporate greed and the dark reality of business corruption; it was fascinating to follow H as he navigated all the difficulties and enemies in this narrative. As both H and his surroundings were fleshed out exceptionally and so effectively brought to life, the struggles H faces, and the narrative overall, felt very real and suspenseful.
Pillars of Salt is a riveting political thriller, colored by the southern backdrop, and held together with a compelling protagonist.
Pages: 258 | ASIN: B096KD58TM
An Increasingly Complex Puzzle
Sixty Position With Pleasure follows a man who struggles to make sense of a mind-boggling mystery while being a politically active citizen experiencing an exciting affair. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
My genre is mystery thriller but in this novel, as in my previous two, I always aim to place the story in the context of an unusual setting. My first novel was set in the recent past (year 1990), my second in the present, so it was almost a logical progression to set my third in the future (year 2050). I tried to imagine what it would be like for a small mountain and lake side town in Ireland to become one of the minority of places in the world to actually benefit from climate change, through developing into a tourist hotspot. The futuristic elements are small but nevertheless significant, like the household food pot which uses genetically modified micro-organisms to churn out meat-protein, flours and spices. And the 3-D home entertainment system using holograms to create a theatre in your living room. And of course, robots, which have moved beyond ‘artificial intelligence’ to ‘artificial personality’ even to the extent of being able to make spontaneous witty comments. This futuristic town provides the background against which the mystery is played out. It starts simply enough with a hit-an-run accident, but develops into an increasingly complex puzzle, culminating in a surprise reveal and what I hope is an even bigger surprise for the second reveal at the end of the novel.
Charlie Gibbs is a fascinating character. What scene was the most interesting to write for his character?
Charlie is placed in many different scenarios, some pleasant, some difficult, all requiring him to draw on his personal resources in different ways, so it was interesting to figure out what he would do in each situation. I would have to pick out as a personal favourite the scene where the annoying alpha-male sales manager, Hogan, asks Charlie to translate into Dutch an invitation for sexy new boss, Ilse Teuling, to go out to dinner. Charlie translates, but slips into the Dutch a warning that Hogan is a total !***! and persuades Ilse to dine with himself instead.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Recent political events, both in the USA and the UK, are the target for the political satirical elements of the plot. Anther contemporary issue touched on is women’s rights. Also religion, though more the behaviour of ‘the religious’ rather than religion itself. However the novel is primarily intended to be an entertaining and absorbing story into which these more serious elements are lightly woven.
When and where will this book be available?
The book is currently being prepared for print, Kindle and epub formats to be sold through my website, Amazon, Smashwords and other outlets. Expected publication date last week of December, but may be a little earlier.
Zero
![Zero by [Al Schnupp]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41oLDLEP6zS.jpg)
Al Schnupp’s writing is witty, sharp, and distinct. The satire and humor organically embedded in this story makes it a stand out book of 2021 for me. You cannot go a page without finding the text to be entertaining or amusing.
We follow the story of Zero, a man who is not so wise but interesting to follow regardless. Zero has a wife, Maxine. His wife is sly, sometimes two-faced, and to some extent unethical. Maxine has a huge influence on Zero. She can convince her husband to partake in something that he was initially not confident about. Maxine may seem horrible to some, but there are parts of her character that I thought to be brave. She is unstoppable and a go-getter once she sets her mind to something. Horace is another major character that I found to be intriguing. Horace is a close associate of Zero and his wife, and they involve him in their ambitions. Zero is convinced by his wife to go for a political seat. Politics is not easy even for the wealthiest, most powerful, and experienced. Zero wants to vie for Icon of Groad, a top seat in his country. With the help of his wife, Zero strategizes and gets Horace, his campaign manager to help in his campaign spree. I enjoyed following this trio because of their diverse characters and how each complemented the other. Running a successful campaign is not a one-man show and Zero needed a support system to see his plan succeed.
The development of the plot and building of characters makes you appreciate how great of a writer Al Schnupp is. The author understands his readers and uses familiar examples when narrating the various occurrences and events. The style of narration is engaging and appealing to readers that enjoy satire. When reading this book, you realize how society is flawed to a certain degree as the author highlights issues that we face in contemporary society. The political theme in the book was significant and relevant especially for readers that are invested in policymaking and both local and international politics. Al Schnupp’s satire is top tier. I enjoyed how the author talks of the status quo. He is witty and uses distinct words and phrases when addressing societal issues through his characters and the storyline. I could not help but think of the many Zero’s we have in real life, as this character had a shady background, and yet he had ambitions to lead. Inspector Oodles was a favorite character. I liked the traits he was given and the process he took while investigating Zero’s father’s death. The detective work was another intriguing aspect of this story that I enjoyed following.
Zero is one of the funnest books I’ve read this year. I enjoyed the satirical storytelling, sharp by subtle wit, and the humorous detective work. If you’re looking for a light and fun story, look no further than Al Schnupp’s engaging political comedy.
Pages: 108 | ASIN: B093SXG461
LITERARY TITAN 