Jackson Coppley's Blog, page 5

Foreign Correspondents

Our readers outside of the United States have asked how they can order Nicholas Foxe Adventures from Amazon in their home countries. Here are links for our readers in major Amazon English-Speaking markets:

Click on your country

The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson

I was intrigued by Erik Larson ever since reading his “Devil in The White City” years ago. He wrote history in a way that unfolded like a novel. Same was true with his “Dead Wake” about the sinking of the Lusitania. Not so with “The Splendid and the Vile.” While an interesting read about the Battle for Britain from the time Hitler entered Poland to the time the United States entered the war, it reads straight-up history.

 

The focal point is Winston Churchill, the stalwart leader who guided England through its darkest hours amid relentless Nazi bombings. The narrative vividly portrays how the English populace coped with these incessant air raids. One wonders how we Americans would react to relentless attacks on our cities.

 

In a particularly compelling segment, Larson excels at detailing the surreal reality of frequent air raids, where the elite of London nonchalantly hosted parties despite the danger. The anticipation builds as Larson meticulously describes the attendees and their activities, creating an atmosphere that hints at impending disaster. When a bomb shatters a ballroom, the aftermath is narrated with gripping precision.

 

However, the book falters in providing excessive detail on mundane events, such as the meticulous enumeration of wine bottles ordered for an event. This penchant for exhaustive minutiae, akin to revealing the intricacies of making a violin (inside joke), may test the reader's patience.

 

At 546 pages, "The Splendid and the Vile" demands a considerable investment of time, yet the reward lies in an enriched understanding of England's solitary struggle against the Nazi threat. Despite occasional detours into unnecessary details, Larson's account remains a valuable exploration of a pivotal period in history.

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Who the Hell is Harry Black?" by Jake Needham

In "Who the Hell is Harry Black?" by Jake Needham, a mystery unfolds on a desolate Thai beach where an eighty-six-year-old man is shot by a skilled sniper. The question lingers: Why eliminate an elderly man nearing the end of his life? Inspector Tay, a respected yet eccentric detective in Singapore, steps into the investigation.

 

The narrative, part of the Inspector Tay series, delves into the events leading to Harry Black's demise. Harry, seeking to unveil hidden secrets, approaches a well-known true crime writer in England. These secrets, related to 'the greatest crime of the twentieth century,' ultimately make him a target. Unlike Tay, readers are privy to the motive behind Harry's assassination, creating an intriguing dynamic.

 

As the plot unfolds, both Tay and the reader embark on a journey to unravel the crime Harry had concealed. Needham skillfully introduces surprises, disclosing the identity of the assassin. The novel weaves its tale in classic mystery fashion, providing a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience.

 

Recommended

 

PS: As a fellow writer, I was amused by Needham’s reflection on the novelist’s motivation:

 

“But the amount of money you made reflected how many books you sold, and it was the number of sales that made a writer or broke a writer. Whether it was the money you cared about or not, it was the money that mattered in the end.”

You Only Live Once by Haris Orkin

Haris Orkin's "You Only Live Once" is an absolute riot. In this blog, I mentioned a recent giveaway, where Orkin generously offered the book for free for a limited time. There are real gems hidden in those promotions, and this novel is undoubtedly one of them.

The narrative revolves around James Flynn, a remarkable individual boasting expertise in marksmanship, a black belt in karate, fluency in four languages, and a magnetic charm with women.

He's also a heavily medicated patient in a Los Angeles psychiatric hospital.

In Flynn's eccentric world, his locked ward is the secret headquarters of Her Majesty's Secret Service, and he believes himself to be a licensed-to-kill secret agent. His superior is none other than the head of the hospital, whom he refers to as "N." When N and his assistant Honeywell get fired, James interprets it as a nefarious kidnapping, prompting him to escape the hospital with the unwitting help of orderly Sancho.

Thus kicks off an adventure that's part Don Quixote, part James Bond. James's first mission is to rescue Dulcie, a nurse at the hospital who he believes is a kidnapped fellow agent. His escapades lead him to Dulcie's boyfriend's house, where he stumbles upon a bag of drug money. Seizing the opportunity, James walks away with the cash.

When Sancho encounters James again, the transformation is staggering. Clad in Armani and cruising in a new Aston Martin, all thanks to the recovered cash, James fits the role he’s imagined for himself.

The drug cartel, however, isn't pleased about their lost money, setting the stage for a high-stakes chase where James is determined to thwart the imagined plot he believes the cartel is hatching.

"You Only Live Once" is a rollercoaster of hilarity, with laugh-out-loud moments and masterfully crafted writing. I highly recommended for those seeking an entertaining and uproarious read.

Have you completed your set of Nicholas Foxe Adventures?

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Holiday Specials

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I'm participating in a limited-time giveaway by fellow authors, just for the holidays. Click on the image below to see the selection available to you.

Simply Lies by David Baldacci

"Simply Lies" by David Baldacci is a psychological thriller that defies a conventional rule: Draw the reader in from the first page. Instead, Baldacci immerses us in a chaotic domestic scene involving a struggling single mother and her unruly children. Despite this unconventional start, the novel captivates as it unfolds the story of Mickey Gibson, a former police officer turned stay-at-home mom, whose life takes a mysterious turn.

Mickey's routine work for the detective agency ProEye takes an unexpected twist when she is assigned a field task to inventory a mansion. What begins as a routine job leads Mickey to discover a hidden dead body, setting off a chain of events that challenges her perception of reality. Reporting the incident to the police, Mickey finds herself in a perplexing situation, as nobody at ProEye claims to have sent her on this assignment.

The enigmatic Clarice, a voice on a burner phone, emerges as the catalyst for Mickey's involvement in the investigation. Despite being an unknown entity, Clarice compels Mickey to delve deeper into the case and unveil the identity of the killer. The narrative skillfully explores Clarice's background without revealing her identity, adding layers of intrigue to the unfolding mystery.

As the story progresses, the midpoint may create a false sense of conclusion, but Baldacci expertly introduces unforeseen twists and turns, keeping readers involve in, what turns out to be, a more complicated plot. To fully grasp the intricacies of the plot, readers might find it beneficial to keep notes on the evolving characters and unfolding events.

"Simply Lies" proves to be a fascinating and well-crafted read, defying expectations and delivering a fine psychological thriller. I highly recommend it to readers seeking a suspenseful and unpredictable narrative.

Have you completed your Nicholas Foxe Adventures collection?

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More Free Books

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Here is another limited-time giveaway by fellow authors. Click on the image below to see the selection available to you.

Free Books

(If you are viewing this in an email, click "Check It Out" to go to my blog.)

I'm participating in a couple of limited-time giveaways by fellow authors. Click on the images below to see the selection available to you.

Project Hail Mary

"Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir caters to readers who crave intricate details, akin to someone explaining the inner workings of a watch when asked for the time. As someone with a physics degree, I found the level of detail somewhat excessive and beyond my personal interest. Do I really need to know the calculation details to have a centrifugal force of 1.5g?

In terms of writing, my assessment may be biased due to a recent encounter with the Pulitzer Prize-winning "Trust." Transitioning from the eloquence of a golden-throated orator in "Trust" to the narrative style of "Project Hail Mary" felt like shifting from a polished speaker to a conversationalist at a bar, albeit one who tends to over-explain.

The story unfolds through the perspective of Ryland Grace, who, in a state of induced coma, awakens with two long-deceased shipboard companions. Struggling to recall even his own name, Ryland grapples with the mystery of his companions' identities and the purpose of his presence on the ship.

Gradually, Ryland recovers his memories, realizing that a celestial anomaly threatens Earth's existence, necessitating this space journey as a desperate attempt to find a solution in another star system. To its credit, the narrative has unconventional space sci-fi ideas, shifting the threat from extraterrestrial beings to a peculiar single-cell life form resembling algae, thriving in temperatures akin to those on a star's surface.

Around a quarter into the book, Ryland forms an alliance with an intelligent life form, embarking on a collaborative adventure to unravel a mystery that threatens two worlds. This dynamic duo transforms the narrative into an interesting buddy adventure, redeeming the book's overall appeal.

Gone for the Holidays

See a selection of books that are free during the holiday season.