Twisted Wire creates a lot of interest in first week

It is so nice to receive reviews so soon after the book’s release. It has been a long road to get to this point. Writing in the toughest of genres requires patience, excellent editing and yes, luck. Next year will see the publication of the third Enda Osin mystery book. I seem to have created a character in ‘Fish’ that has every reader falling in love with him. What a great compliment. I thank you for your continued support. The first in the series, Isia’s Secret, will be out on Audio by the end of October so look out for that.

A word about the three people who really helped to create this book:

Mrellan Harahan, my wife and fellow author, who has cut her teeth on this the first full length book she has edited. Like my first editor, Suraya Dewing who worked with me on Isia’s Secret, Mrellan never held back but encouraged, pushed and poked until I got things right.

Irene Kimmel, my marketer of Archetype Marketing, who not only designed beautiful cover and formatted the book but also worked on producing a fabulous web site and loads of advice on advertising.

Jennie Jansen, my proof reader who polished the book and helped produce a manuscript any author would be proud of.

Last and most important of all, my thanks to all my reviewers who continue to support me. I list below some of the reviews received during the first week.

 

 

Vibrant Characters and plenty of Cliffhangers

Every new book is better than the one before! This one has all the elements of a great story: vibrant characters, plenty of cliffhangers, and a plot so current it could have been taken from the Sunday London Times.

Once again, we get the opportunity to see the world through the eyes of our favorite jaded, sarcastic and obsessive political reporter, Enda Ocin. Enda has now settled into married life with the beautiful and proper Jessica Du Rosse. A new character named Fish, Enda’s man Friday, has talents that constantly amaze Enda. As usual, the beauty of Ray Stone’s writing is his gift for writing characters so real and unique you could spot them in the crowd at Time Square on New Year’s Eve.

The plot of this story is fairly simple but Stone will capture your attention when Enda is sucked into a conspiracy to commit industrial espionage with a twist. The streets and alleyways of Europe come alive as the setting for this breathless story about a futuristic plane. Before you pick up this book and begin to read make sure you have plenty of snacks and a comfortable chair. It is going to be a long night! [by M. Harahan]

 

Ray Stone writes devilishly intricate plots

I was excited to receive a copy of Twisted Wire from Ray Stone in advance of its release. I’ve read all of Ray’s books to date and this one is definitely the leading edge of a body of great work.

Ray Stone writes devilishly intricate plots, interwoven with great action, twists and most importantly realistic and enthralling characters. Enda Osin is unforgettable and engrossing as the bulldoggedly curious political journalist who just can’t keep out of trouble – anywhere. If it’s not with the governments he writes about, it’s with his editor Max – or with his equally engaging wife,Jessica. Jessica is everything that Enda isn’t: beautiful, sophisticated, elegant and thoughtful. Together, they take on the world once again and it’s a real page-turner to see what they uncover and if they come out of it unscathed.

I highly recommend this book and this author to anyone who enjoys a good thriller. And I encourage you to read the first Enda novel, Isia’s Secret, as well. In fact, get them both together and binge read your way through Enda’s adventures. You won’t be sorry.

Thanks, Ray, for the chance to read your work. I look forward to the next Enda Osin novel – which I understand will be released in early 2015. [by A.M.Connor]

 

It’s a terrific read with excellent plot turns

Twisted Wire is another in the Enda Osin series where, as an investigative Journalist Enda receives a mysterious phone message about a parcel and although counselled by his young wife, Jessica, to not ‘start digging something up…’ he follows up on the address in the message because it seems familiar.

Unable to ignore the questions raised by the parcel and the message Enda begins on a trail that uncovers international espionage that takes him to Germany and other parts of Europe. Jessica, who takes on the role of research assistant, travels with him.

These two are very well portrayed. We hear the story from Enda’s point of view but Jessica plays her part right up to the point where Enda is devastated by the prospect of losing her. They work as a team and neither upstages the other.

However, it is an Enda Osin story and he is never too far from the action. The story is told from two points of view – Enda’s and the point of view of the perpetrators representing agencies competing for the advanced aircraft technology.

As a reader who likes to see the characters live on the page I found the character of Fish very appealing. He was believable in every way. He spoke and behaved as I would expect him to and he was an excellent contrast to Jessica and Enda. Loved him! Scruffy, unreliable and unexpectedly turning up at critical times. I hope he’s in the next book.

Olga who has a tattooed face, I’m not so sure about. I found myself wondering how someone with such distinctive markings could hide from the Russian agents who were chasing her. So I wondered what the tattoos were like.

Now a bit about the plot without giving too much away. Once again journalist, Enda cannot resist following a lead that has the air of mystery and intrigue about it. He intercepts delivery of a memory stick on which are classified plans for the SX56 hyper supersonic aircraft, the next big thing in international weaponry. The superpowers are after this highly classified information and want to be first to build it. Enda senses a good story and nothing can stop him following his journalistic instincts which lead to a race from Europe to UK involving people at the highest government levels.

Enda and Jessica dodge the bullets and get the plans into the right hands but not without huge risk to themselves. As in ‘Isia’s Secret’ he acts against government advice and runs the gauntlet but emerges to tell his story. The story has pace and is complex plot-wise.

This is a step up from his first novel, ‘Isia’s Secret’ and I look forward to reading the next in the trilogy.

It’s a terrific read with excellent plot turns. [by Suraya Dewing]

 

Stone’s best novel yet

With Twisted Wire, author Raymond Stone has eclipsed his first novel, Isia’s Secret. His latest mystery thriller takes you at a fast run through international corporate espionage as Britain, Russia, and America compete for contracts worth billions.

Twisted Wire may be about a piece of technology engineered to go wild, but it also apply describes Stone’s intricate plot twists, complex in their crafting and timing.

Jessica Du Rosse returns as Enda Olsin’s rational foundation and conscience. A true partner in this adventure, her support and counseling keep Enda on course and on his toes.

The story is told with a style that makes it entirely plausible and possible, leaving the reader free to enjoy the fast paced character and conflict. Enda also chooses his sidekicks carefully and his choice of Fish is a gem to be remembered and anticipated in future stories.

I’ve enjoyed this story and recommend it highly. [by Enos Russell]

 

Clive Cussler, Ken Follet or James Patterson – Ray Stone has arrived

Another thriller from that British ex-pat. His use of geography and thrilling plot twists are much better in this the second volume in Enda’s life story. His use of UKism’s makes this read even more enjoyable, even if he can’t spell like us colonials! I’d highly recommend this thriller suspense to anyone that has every read Clive Cussler, Ken Follet or James Patterson novels. His details are hard to break, yet he stills leaves a lot to your imagination. I felt dirty in the plot along with the characters. I for one am waiting anxiously for the next Enda story to unfold!

Ray – thanks for the entertainment, the book was a page turner – even on my Kindle! Deb told me to put it down on many recent nights this week so she could rest! I plan to reread it in the very near future. Best work to date! [by Michael Myers]

 

I could’nt wait

Super glad to receive ‘Twisted Wire’ for review before it is published. After reading ‘Isia’s Secret’, I couldn’t wait to read another Enda Osin mystery.

Enda, now married to Jessica, gets involved in industrial espionage. After receiving a strange phone call regarding delivery of a package, Enda decides to investigate and uncover a good story for the Herald. In this part of the trilogy Fish who is an ex con joins the team. Enda and Jessica discover that two giant companies are competing to get access to advanced technology in order to develop a hyper-speed aircraft. Everything gets complicated when intelligent agencies become involved and little by little Enda and Jessica enter into a web of political intrigue without knowing who they can trust.

As I expected, ‘Twisted Wire’ is another well-crafted thriller by Raymond Stone. New characters like Fish are described vividly and the plot is so thrilling that you will read it nonstop. Stone keeps the style of his previous book as Enda’s POV mixed with an omniscient POV.

If you haven’t read the first book make sure to do so before ‘Twisted Wire’ comes out. I look forward to reading the last book of the Enda Osin trilogy soon. 5 out of 5 stars [by Azadeh Nafissi]

 

It Crackles and Explodes with

Wow, what a sequel to the first in this trilogy. When I read Isia’s Secret I loved the scenic tour and the adventure – and the romance that developed between Enda and Jessica. In Twisted Wire I found a much darker story that takes place in London and Berlin. The characters are really 3D and that is what I have come to expect from Stone. Enda is married and Jessica and ‘Fish’ help out when they find the Russians have duped Enda into delivering secret plans for a computerized program that should be helping the Americans fly a hyper-speed craft with military options. The Russians want it as well and so do the EU, and Enda is caught in the middle being chased by the police and a very nasty Russian spy. There is also one twist that really caught me out. What really impressed me was the way Stone portrayed MI6 and the SVR as they really are. No frills, just dirty tricks and cover-ups. There are no winners here; just the truth about modern security services, spy cells, and a race to fly hyper-speed first. [by C. Renton]

 

Couldn’t Put It Down

Ray Stone has written a fabulous piece of fiction and the second in the Enda Osin trilogy. To date I would say this is his best work.

Enda Osin, political columnist, once again becomes embroiled in a political scandal, this time of huge proportions. A strange call from a wrong number and Enda is investigating. What he gets into is political intrigue and scandal followed by sabotage and murder. The stakes are high and lives are at risk, especially Enda’s. With assistance from a few dedicated people, some strange, some not so, some out to settle a score, and all of them willing to risk their lives to help Enda get to the truth, they embark on a most dangerous mission.

The characters are wonderful and true to the part they play. I loved them, especially Fish, who enters the story early on and is an integral part. The action scenes are well-written and I had trouble putting the book down, wanting to see what would happen next.

I highly recommend this book and very much look forward to the next Enda adventure from Ray Stone which will be released in early 2015. [by Jennifer Jansen]