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Back Into A Life Of Crime
The Shadowmaker follows a renowned thief and FBI informant whose new assignment could be the biggest score of his life, but he must to keep his worlds from colliding. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I wanted to write a character that was highly complex, someone who danced between the lines of good and bad. He’s a thief and a mobster, but somewhere deep within him is this sliver of goodness and chivalry and honor. Henry isn’t in it to hurt people, but I think him being an FBI informant is sort of his way of finding a bit of humanity within himself. His character was somewhat inspired by Michael Corleone from Mario Puzo’s The Godfather—this kid who tried desperately to live a straight life but continues to get pulled back into a life of crime. It was a really fun theme to play with.
Henry Sirola is an intriguing and well-developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Like any hero, I wanted Henry to be tough, methodical and smooth. But he’s not perfect—he’s not infallible. He makes mistakes, he gets caught, he gets scared. I developed him in a way that made him every bit as human as the rest of us and it was important that readers had a chance to not only appreciate what he’s going through, but to relate to him as well.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I think the idea of “good guy gone bad” is something I’ve always been drawn to. I also wanted to include a storyline that keeps the reader guessing, and eventually there’s this big scene at the end where the veil gets lifted and the reader realizes that there’s been something happening in the background the whole time—something the reader never saw coming.
What can readers expect in book two in the Shadowmaker Series?
Book 2 of The Shadowmaker is going to be really exciting. There is a ton of action in this one, and the story is completely set in Europe with a series of amazing locations. Readers will quickly discover how Henry escaped from the U.S., but ultimately, the driving plot is what happened to Isabell—that’s going to be the real hook to book #2.
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World-renowned thief, Henry Sirola, has a secret. He’s also an FBI informant.
When he’s given a new assignment by the Croatian mob to retrieve a priceless artifact, he knows it could be the biggest score of his life, but he needs to keep his two worlds from colliding. Henry and his associates embark on a mission that takes them to Brazil and home again where an assassin strikes at the heart of their crew.
Now, hunting down a cold-blooded killer, Henry embarks on an international quest for the truth through the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains to the cafes and castles of Italy to the back alleys of Zürich. His battle for survival uncovers his troubled past and takes him through the dark underworld of organized crime into a pursuit of self-discovery as the battle between good and evil turns personal.
The Shadowmaker
Shadowmaker by T.J. Champitto is a suspenseful crime thriller and the first book in the Shadowmaker series. It’s an action-packed and exciting thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from the beginning. The story centers around Henry, a successful criminal who appears to be moving up in the world with a new job and a plan that will make him and his partner millions. Henry’s world quickly descends into chaos when a sudden incident occurs, resulting in death.
Champitto creates a thrilling world with compelling characters and an intriguing plot that unravels flawlessly, keeping readers eager to read one chapter after another. I especially enjoyed the danger Henry always seems to fall into and the plot twists that keep the reader guessing what will happen next. Henry’s character development is excellent. As you become familiar with him, a little more about his past and way of life unravels further, reeling you in as you dive into the mystery.
The author’s writing style shines well throughout the book, which is easy to read and holds my attention throughout the story. I enjoyed the shocking turns of events, and suspense, which only added to the storyline, setting, and action. There is always a sense of impending danger, both thrilling and frightening, in an entertaining way.
Shadowmaker is a stellar read that will keep you mesmerized by the characters and unexpected plot twists. I highly recommend T.J. Champitto’s book and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Pages 380 | ASIN 1957288973
LITERARY TITAN 