(jacksonville.com, Nov. 30, Gordon Jackson)

Camden attorney Charlie Smith is the newest character

Camden County attorney Charlie Smith has a long history of public service – city attorney, state representative, governor’s floor leader.

The Charlie Smith in St. Marys author Steve Berry‘s new book, The Charlemagne Pursuit, is a brutal assassin who says he’s killed more people than he can remember.

Berry offered to use Smith’s name in his new book, set for release Tuesday, after Smith did him a favor while on vacation overseas several years ago. But Smith, who hasn’t read an advance copy of the new book, said he didn’t know he would be a namesake for a hit man.

“I hope it doesn’t ruin what little reputation I have left around here,” Smith said, laughing. “It’s fun to have your name used in a best-selling novel. I’m looking forward to the reaction.”

All six of Berry’s novels have made the New York Times Bestseller List. The Alexandria Link reached No. 2 two years ago.

Berry has been using the names of prominent and little-known people in Camden County since his first book, The Amber Room, was published in 2003.

“I wanted the characters’ names to have meaning,” he said.

In Smith’s case, Berry said, he didn’t plan to make him a villain because the villains in his books are usually fictitious names. But Smith made a special (more…)

(The Independent, Nov. 20, Barry Forshaw)

Just like The Da Vinci Code – but much better

Dan Brown‘s The Da Vinci Code has become instant shorthand for those who consider it the last word in dumbed-down, crassly written fiction. But there is no denying the appeal of the globe-spanning, puzzle-based narrative, with strands reaching from ancient history to the modern world. Before The Code, Katherine Neville offered some ingenious sleight-of-hand in this style. Now she has followed up her debut novel, The Eight, with a blockbuster thriller that again pushes all the Brown buttons.

The premise of The Fire is refreshingly original. A father is escorting his chess-prodigy daughter, Xie, to a remote Russian monastery to take part in a prestigious game. But before it can begin, Xie watches in horror as her father’s brains are blown out. Xie (now Alexandra) survives. But, 30 years (more…)

(andrewgrossbooks.com, Nov. 2008)

The Dark Tide by Andrew Gross

What inspired you to write THE DARK TIDE?

I’ve always been fascinated by how quickly life can change in a nanosecond. Even the most successful lives, the most insulated. This was a theme in THE BLUE ZONE. In this case it’s a good dad and successful hedge fund trader who fate lures into a terrible event. And that event unleashes a web of mystery about who that man really is. And what’s behind him all these years…”

The novel begins explosively with a catastrophe on a commuter train arriving at New York’s legendary Grand Central Terminal, a scene that will knock readers back in their seats and leave them breathless. How long have you been planning to delve into the concept of a life simply “disappearing” in the wake of a sudden catastrophe?
Well, this book really isn’t about terrorism or catastrophe. It’s only the catalyst to drive the central mystery of the story. It’s about a woman whose husband kisses her goodbye in the morning, wakes up the kids, gets on the train, and is never seen again. The reaction I’m hoping for in my readers isn’t (more…)

(app.com, Nov. 23, Bruce DeSilva)

Michael Connelly is hard on his heroes. They are always getting shot, stabbed, bludgeoned, kidnapped, blown up or run over. And given the emotional trauma he subjects them to, physical injury is often the least of it.

Mickey Haller, the sleazy criminal lawyer Connelly introduced in “The Lincoln Lawyer” (2005), was so shattered by the end of that novel that it has taken him more than two years to heal. Now, after recovering from a gunshot wound — and the cosmic shock of discovering there are ethical lines he won’t cross — Mickey is ready to return to the courtroom.

As “The Brass Verdict” opens, he’s scratching to get his law practice going again. But when an old colleague is murdered, leaving his thriving practice to Mickey, our flawed hero is suddenly awash in cases. Chief among them is the Hollywood celebrity murder trial of Walter Elliot, a hot producer accused of shooting his unfaithful wife and her lover.

Mickey throws himself into the work, wondering all the while which of the cases he’s inherited may have gotten his old friend killed.

That’s what Harry Bosch wants to know, too, and it’s his job to find out. Harry is the haunted, menacing Los Angeles homicide detective who has (more…)

(Kennebec Journal, Nov. 21, Craig Crosby)

Vermont author Archer Mayor is in the final stages of his 20th mystery novel, and as seriously as he takes his craft, his best work often comes from what his books leave out, allowing readers to light the bulb on the movie projectors in their minds.
“Your intelligence and imagination fills in the holes I purposely leave behind,” the charismatic Archer told a group of nearly 20 fans who gathered to hear him speak Thursday night at the Lithgow Public Library. “The best authors are the ones that disappear.”

Mayor’s series, all based around his detective, Joe Gunther, has been described by the Chicago Tribune and New York Times as among the best in police-procedure writing.

Mayor, who appeared at the Lithgow Library to promote his 19th book, “The Catch,” much of which takes place in Maine, integrates actual police methodology with intricately detailed plot lines into novels that Booklist has said are “among the best cop stories being written today.” (more…)

Indiana Jones, The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull – A cinematic phenomenon, 20 years of Henry Jones Junior, or as he likes to be called, Indiana Jones. He has taken us through deserts, jungles, oceans and more.  With his unforgettable grin, bullwhip and well worn brown fedora he leads us in 4 block buster movies. In his new movie (The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) he will have contacts with the supernatural, Russians and Marion (his cocky ex-fiance). But this review is on the book, written by James Rollins. This powerful author creates an amazing book. True to the movie, he uses powerful mental pictures to allow the story to come alive. He creates relationships between the characters as you were in side their heads. His vivid picturing is well partnered with unbelievable word play. I really suggest you read this book!

Mitchell

Get your signed copy of Indiana Jones by James Rollins at www.vjbooks.com!

Every once in awhile we hear from a customer, telling us of the exciting novel that they have just completed, and would I like to read it. Well . . . sure send me a copy? When I received Andy Peterson’s (a long time friend of VJ Books) first novel I was quite curious about comparison’s to books by Steve Hunter, and Lee Child, two of my favorites. I did read it, in fact couldn’t put it down. Nathan McBride, the hero of what promises to be an incredible series, has it all, history, skills, attitude, strength, rugged-good looks, . . . he even has his own helicopter! The bad guys are the baddest, the body-count plentiful, the plot complex – with surprises at every turn. Thanks Andy, for a thrillride I truly didn’t expect. I know our customers avoid pbo’s, but I really want you to read Andy’s book! If you like it as much as I did, drop a line to his publisher telling them so, and ask that his next book be released is hardcover!

John

Get your signed PBO copy of First to Kill from www.vjbooks.com today!

(popsyndicate.com, Nov 13, Stefan Halley)

Sean Chercover follows up his debut novel with another solid entry.

After getting critical praise for his debut novel, Big City, Bad Blood, author Sean Chercover returns with his Shytown gumshoe Ray Dudgeon.  Big City, Bad Blood is a terrific classic crime noir style story that turned a lot of heads.  Chercover tosses off the sophomore slump with Trigger City and brings Dudgeon back with another nail biting story of corporate espionage and big business cover-ups. 
After the events of the last book, Ray finds himself falling on hard times.  He is barely paying the bills by doing spousal snooping.  When a retired U.S. Army Intelligence office walks in and hands Ray a check for $50,000 if he’ll work exclusively for him, despite his better judgment, Ray says yes.  On the surface the case looks cut and dry.  Isaac Richmond wants to know about his estranged daughter’s life before she was gunned

(more…)

(Dallas Morning News, Nov. 23, Joy Tipping)

Wally Lamb

Wally Lamb’s readers must be among the standard-bearers of literary patience: It’s been 10 years since his last novel, I Know This Much Is True, although he has edited two books of stories from the women of York Correctional Institution in Connecticut, where he teaches writing workshops.

The author’s experiences with women inmates strongly influenced the new book, The Hour I First Believed, 700-plus extraordinary pages in which he explores the ramifications of violence, from the shootings at (more…)

(John Hutchinson, Nov. 10, 2008)

A couple of years ago a friend turned me on to an author named Blake Crouch.  His first book, Desert Places, a genuine edge-of-your seat thriller, just blew me away.  It turns and twists as you live the horror of a man tormented by a serial killer, framed for his unbelievable acts of psychotic cruelty.  It’s not horror novel, at least it’s not delegated to that genre, but it is a mystery with the suspense and terror only expected from the masters of that field.

Next, came Locked Doors, a sequel that made the original tame by comparison. 

We came to know Blake and were pleased to promote these books.  The response was incredible, as our friends and customers discovered an amazing (more…)