M. Louis's Blog, page 5
October 12, 2015
Review: The Godwulf Manuscript
The Godwulf Manuscript by Robert B. Parker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A friend of mine was aghast that I had never read a Spenser novel before. “You write detective crime thrillers and you haven’t read Spenser?!” she said. I hid my embarrassment and asked her suggestion for where to start. She said to start at the beginning, so I did. The Godwulf Manuscript is the first of Robert B. Parkers Spenser series. A very entertaining story about a private detective who had been hired by a University to retrieve a rare and fragile manuscript. Like all good cases, this one turns out to be more involved and complex than the theft of the manuscript.
Mr Parker has an easy flowing writing style that’s comfortable to read and follow. His characters are quirky and interesting. An all around enjoyable adventure. It’s quite a compliment when people mention that there’s a bit of Spenser in my PI character Jake Brand. Listening to friends book suggestions is also a wise idea.
Filed under: Plot Sub Plot
October 7, 2015
Review: Ratcatcher
Ratcatcher by Tim Stevens
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Tim Stevens Ratcatcher is the first in his John Purkiss series. Purkiss is a former member of British secret service who is tasked with tracking down other British secret service members who’ve gone rogue. Ergo the name, a catcher of rats. I found the book entertaining though I thought the plot reached a few too many times, leaving me trying to reconcile how events might unfold as told. It’s a good read on a rainy day. 3.5 stars
Filed under: Plot Sub Plot
October 6, 2015
Giveaway of Book 2 – Secondhand Smoke
Win a copy of Jake Brand PI book 2 on Goodreads! Contest ends October 26th.
No strings attached – all free. Win/Win!
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/156788-secondhand-smoke
Filed under: Plot Sub Plot Tagged: Crime Thriller, free books, Mystery, Portland
October 1, 2015
Book 1 for Free! (who doesn’t love free?)
In honor of the upcoming publication of book 2 of the Jake Brand PI series – Secondhand Smoke I’m giving away digital copies of Angel’s Devil (Book 1). You might be thinking – Why free? Does this book suck? Is it really free?
Why free? I want to get you hooked on this crime / thriller series that has been called “…intriguing and entertaining,” by Foreward reviews. The first one’s always free right? But be warned these books have been known to make you laugh, have you staying up reading later than you planned and wanting to grab a drink with the characters.
Does this book suck? No. Most emphatically NO! It’s been rated 4.8 stars out of 5 on Amazon and that’s not just reviews from my friends and family; these are people who coughed up good money for their reading experience and then said nice things about it:
“From page to page, I never knew what would happen next – just what a reader wants. Jake’s personal devil and angel each gave him advice on the run, but Jake had to make the final decisions. Highly entertaining.” ~Sarah H
Is it really free? Yes – you just need to subscribe to my email updates. I promise not to spam you, send loads of stupid emails or do anything with your email address besides send you the occasional update on Jake Brand books and events. Scouts honor.
So go get your free copy of Angel’s Devil – if you don’t love it, I’ll give you your money back. ;-) http://mlouisbooks.com/free/
Cheers,
M. Louis
Filed under: Jake Brand Private Investigator Tagged: Angel's Devil, Crime Thriller, free books, Mystery
December 24, 2014
Michelle Part 2
I felt trapped between my table and the wall behind me, my level of discomfort almost as high as the drama that had just unfolded.
She picked her purse up off of the floor and began riffling through it, sniffing back her emotion. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. I looked up at her just as she looked at the handkerchief in my hand, and then she shifted her gaze to my eyes.
“I apologize. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”
She smiled sadly and said, “It isn’t as if we gave you a choice. No, I should be apologizing to you. Here you are trying to enjoy a meal and you have to endure my…I don’t even know how to describe…”
“No need. Here.” I handed her my handkerchief, she smiled a thank-you.
She dabbed at her eyes and gently blew her nose into the square of cloth. “I must admit, this is the first time anyone has ever shared a handkerchief with me. What is the protocol now that it’s been used? Do I hand it back? Do I wash it and mail it back to you? Or should I just give you cash?”
“None of the above, actually. I have a drawer full, just for moments like this[KT1] . I think the sensible thing would be that you just keep it.” I smiled and hoped that her day had warmed a bit. I found myself attracted to her, not just her beauty, but her sadness, her vulnerability. What is it about pain that we humans seem to take pleasure in? Is it that someone else’s hurt reminds us that ours isn’t so bad?
She dabbed a couple of times and asked, “How did you ever decide to hoard handkerchiefs?”
I laughed, “Well’ hoard’ may be a bit strong. Unusual, that’s certainly the case. Have you ever noticed that when you’re meeting with someone, they’ll occasionally touch their nose? I do, and I can never tell if they have an itch or are hinting that I’m displaying too much. So, I decided I needed to carry something. I found that tissues were to messy, so I decided to try cloth. And I’ve never looked back.”
“Very reasonable of you. I think I’ll try that myself.” She wiped below her eyes and said, “I know I look a wreck, do you mind watching my coat? I need to go clean up, and I’ll be right back.”
“Not a problem.”
She smiled, rose from her seat, and walked toward the ladies room. Not only did she have a pretty face, but she was slender, and from the look of her legs, physically fit.
Filed under: Plot Sub Plot
December 16, 2014
Michelle Part 1
I often eat lunch at Stanford’s in Lake Oswego. I always order the same thing: grilled salmon, well done, no sauce. Everyone at the restaurant knows my order. You know you’re predictable when even the other regulars know your order.
The other day, I inadvertently overheard the conversation of a couple sitting at the table next to me. They seemed to be in their early forties; they wore stylish clothes and sad faces. She was lovely: shoulder-length reddish-brown hair, long lashes, and nails done to perfection, all offsetting brilliant blue eyes that wanted desperately to sparkle. He was handsome: full head of hair, strong chin, intense brown eyes, and long slender fingers.
“Then you’re saying it’s over,” she softly said. She stared directly at him.
He, on the other hand, couldn’t make eye contact, examining his hands, picking at his meal with his fork. “I suppose.” He hesitated for a moment as she sniffled, quietly, once only. He looked at her, pain in his expression. “It isn’t what I want. But you have to understand—I can’t leave her. It wouldn’t be right.”
I could tell by her reaction, a hardening of her lips and a steeling of her eyes, that he had stepped even deeper into it. “Really, Sam, you can’t leave her? Six months ago, you met with your attorney. Two months ago, you told me papers were being drafted. And now you can’t leave her? Were you ever going to leave her? Have you ever told the truth?”
He turned away from her withering glare. “That’s not fair. You know I love you and want to be with you. But…”
“But nothing. You’ve led me on. Admit it, you’re a user. Even now you’re manipulating me. If you were a man, a man of honor, you’d just say it. Say it now, Sam. Say it’s over.”
He paused before he spoke, choosing now to consider his next step, perhaps finally realizing his path couldn’t be retraced. “Honor? You want to talk about honor? You’ve known all along that I’m married. Didn’t stop you, though, did it. You’re right. I don’t have any honor. But don’t sit there wrapped in a coat of righteous indignation. You’re a cheat just as much as me.” He looked around the room, stopping to examine me for a moment. He knew I’d heard all of their conversation. I couldn’t not hear it. He looked back at her and said, “Fair enough, you want me to do the honorable thing. It’s over, Michelle. Over.” He reached into his back pocket for his wallet, pulled money out, and tossed several bills onto the table. He stood and looked at her. She couldn’t look back at him. Her head was bowed, with one hand covering her eyes. “Keep the change,” he said, and he walked out of the restaurant.
Filed under: Plot Sub Plot
December 8, 2014
Welcome
Every journey begins with a first step. I began writing two years ago and published my first book last week. It’s called Angel’s Devil and is a fictional detective mystery/romance novella set in Portland, Oregon. The main character is Jake Brand. Jake is former special forces and currently operates a private detective business. Much of the book is about Jake coming to grips with the end of one relationship, and the rekindling of an old one.
I started writing so that I could one day say that I had written a novel. I had no expectations of anyone else reading it or ever selling it. Angel’s Devil is actually the second Jake Brand book I’ve written, but the first I’ve published. It’s a shorter book, a novella technically. The first as yet unpublished first book is a full novel. As I was finishing up the first book, I decided to write the second shorter version of Jake Brand to drum up interest. So the first book published is the second book written.
As of today, 14 copies of Angel’s Devil have sold. It’s only available on Amazon as an ebook, but should be available as a paperback in the next week or so.
There were a lot people who have helped with this book, including early readers (Naomi, Paige and Dr. Ray), my editor Kristin Thiel (she’s amazing), my production guru Vinnie Kinsella, and my technical wiz Marie. Thanks to all of you.
Filed under: Plot Sub Plot
