MATA HARI: Agent H21 – THE EYE OF DAWN is a pet project of mine. For many years now I have been interested in the story of Mata Hari – and even beyond that, the myth that has built up around her. I asked myself was there a real-life character more befitting the Pulp Fiction […]
Tagged James Hopwood, Mata Hari, Pro Se Productions, Pulp Fiction, Spy Fiction
Title: Gunshine State Author: Andrew Nette Publisher: 280 Steps (pictured above) First Published: 2016 The Heist Always Goes Wrong You may have met Gary Chance, the central protagonist in Gunshine State, before. I’m reluctant to describe him as a hero, because Chance is a career crim – yeah, he’s a bit of a bastard. Chance previously appeared in the […]
Tagged Andrew Nette, Australia, Crime, Crime Fiction, Gary Chance, Gunshine State
Title: Balazar the Butcher Author: Emerson Dodge (Paul Wheelahan) Publisher: The Cleveland Publishing Co. (No. 1411) First Published: 2004 ‘This killer from Sonora was an odd one!’ Despite the cover image, which looks like Red Sun era Charles Bronson, I can’t recall a moustache or a knife in the story. But I guess this type […]
Tagged Charles Bronson, Cleveland Publishing, Emerson Dodge, Western
Title: The Vengeance Trail Author: Paul Evan Lehman Publisher: Star Western (No. 103) Published: 1957 ‘His back was a target for every outlaw gun!’ On the title page, each Star Western declared, ‘This is a Star Western. Every story new. Every story complete.’ This is somewhat of an exaggeration, the stories were new to Australian […]
Title: Five Guns to Red Butte Author: Ben Taggart (Roger Green) Publisher: Iron Horse Westerns (251) – a Division of Cleveland Publishing Co. Published: 1976 ‘Only Clint Dawson could save the town!’ The cover of this 100 page novella, features a villainous Lee Van Cleef look-a-like, which in some ways is appropriate, as the hero of […]
Tagged Cleveland Publishing, Lee Van Cleef, Roger Green, Western
Hold on to your seat. Nathan Cutter is back in his bloodiest adventure yet. Crime kingpin Yuen Lao still wants Cutter dead. But Cutter is on his trail, looking to settle the score once and for all. Featuring gunfights, car chases and an explosive finale, CUTTER AND THE KINGSNAKE is a high-octane thrill fest that will leave you gasping for breath. From Pro Se Productions.
DATELINE HOLLYWOOD: The latest release from Pro Se Productions is a book I’m pretty excited about. HOLLYWOOD MYSTERY contains five stories from the Golden Age of Celluloid, where the stars get to solve the crime. Joining me on this journey to tinseltown are noted authors Mark Squirek, Christofer Nigro, Wayne Carey and Gordon Dymowski. My […]
Tagged Crime Fiction, Hollywood Mystery, James Hopwood, Myrna Loy, Pro Se Productions, The Thin Man, William Powell
Since Clive Cussler became a brand, with at least five series on the go, I have had trouble keeping up with his output – or rather with the cadre of writers assembled to pump out each of the novels. That may not be such a bad thing, as the tales seem to be a bit hit and miss these days. The Storm is not the worst I have read, but it isn’t top tier Cussler either.
Tagged Clive Cussler, Graham Brown, Joe Zavala, Kurt Austin, NUMA, The Storm
Title: The Four Legendary Kingdoms Author: Matthew Reilly Publisher: Pan Macmillan Published: 2016 Series: Jack West Jr. – Book 4 I have a love / hate relationship with Matthew Reilly’s novels. When Reilly gets it right, his books are the equivalent of a spectacular Big Screen Blockbuster movie; they are jaw-droppingly exciting and a great […]
As a part of Pro Se Press’ innovative Single Shot line, the follow-up to my blood and thunder tale Cutter’s Law is now available. This second tale in the VENGEANCE trilogy is entitled GET CUTTER – and it’s BIGGER, BETTER and BLOODIER. The series features Nathan Cutter, an Australian soldier whose life was turned upside […]
Tagged Get Cutter!, James Hopwood, Pro Se Productions, The Executioner