‘Fall Out’ by M.N. Grenside

Published by Urbane Publications,
21 May 2020.
ISBN: 978-1-91266675-1 (PBO)

The Prologue takes place in 1944 in a deep cave in the Philippines, and General Yamashita overseeing the gassing of a work force of prisoners and Japanese soldiers who have completed a secret project underground. So that it remains a secret, the cave is then sealed shut.

In present day Los Angeles, Sam Wood has just completed his screenplay entitled Fall Out. He puts five copies in five envelopes and posts them to five different people.

One of the recipients, a Marcus Riley has just had a book he bought the film rights for turned down by all the studios he approached to make it. When he reads Fall Out he is so excited he drives over to Sam's to discuss it, only to find he has been murdered. Beside Sam's body is a list of all the people to whom Sam sent a copy of the screenplay.

Intrigued, Marcus traces all the recipients and it becomes obvious that they were all involved, as was Marcus, in the making of a film several years back called The Last Company that was suddenly abandoned leading to a falling out of the friends involved.

Marcus teams up with Mako, daughter of one of the recipients and they embark on finding out why Sam was murdered, and the real reason why The Last Company was never completed.

On tracing the other copies of the screenplay for Fall Out, it becomes clear that each one is slightly different from the others.  When they compare them they find that there are clues hinting at a fortune discovered, conspiracies and a murder that took place back then, all connected to the making of the film The Last Company.

The more they delve into the past, the more they realise that they have to solve the clues Sam has left before more people are murdered. It becomes a race against time as someone certainly doesn't want the film Fall Out to be made. Marcus is determined it will be, but will it cost him his life?

A very clever and intricately woven story of greed and the lust for power. Making the book even more intriguing is the fact that some of it is based on fact. It also offers an interesting insight in to film making. I thoroughly enjoyed every page of it and can't wait for the next book by the author – The Bastion. I have read the first two chapters that are printed at the back of Fall Out and am hooked already!

I cannot imagine anyone not being enthralled by this exciting thriller and therefore highly recommend it.

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Reviewer: Tricia Chappell

M N Grenside began his working career straight out of school at Lloyds of London, specializing in Kidnap, Ransom and Extortion Insurance. At 25 it was time for a career change, so he started his media career working for Jim Henson and The Muppets©. He went on to create and produce several television series and mini-series. In 2004 he arranged the US $250 million buy-out of the Hallmark Channel International which was then successfully sold to NBC. He returned to producing a number of movies and mini-series. Recently he has morphed into a serial entrepreneur and is now a co-founder of seed to shelf CBD producer Dragonfly Biosciences (www.dragonflybiosciences.com) and a founder in two separate digital companies…. but has also seen a very good return from his love of cooking in an expanding waistline. He has a collection of classic cars that he has raced all over the world. He enjoys risk and has parachuted in New Zealand, scuba dived in the Pacific, hang-glided in the Himalayas and even tobogganed down the Cresta Run. In nearly every case chasing after his wife who is utterly fearless!  He is now writing the follow up to Fall Out, entitled The Bastion. He lives in Malta with his wife, his collection of classic cars and two French bulldogs.

He writes a humorous blog www.andanotherthing.com

https://mngrenside.com

Tricia Chappell. I have a great love of books and reading, especially crime and thrillers. I play the occasional game of golf (when I am not reading). My great love is cruising especially to far flung places, when there are long days at sea for plenty more reading! I am really enjoying reviewing books and have found lots of great new authors.

‘Absolute Proof’ by Peter James

Published by Macmillan,
4 October 2018.  
ISBN: 0-23077218-2 (HB)

Peter James has climbed to the very top of the crime writing genre with his unputdownable, and page-turning series of police procedural novels featuring DI Grace set in Sussex. All of which have hit the top of the bookselling charts.  How brave then, when in control of one of the most popular police procedural series ever penned, that James has stepped away from that series, for this book, and written a standalone of mind-blowing difference.

And yes, this book kept me up all night turning pages and wondering what or who, would be behind the mystery of the existence of God, but how different to anything James has written before, and I have read all his previous work.

Ross Hunter, an established, successful and truly honest journalist, is visited by a Doctor Harry F Cook, who claims to have proof about the true existence of God. He tells Hunter he has proof that Jesus Christ came to earth, and gives him an extremely large manuscript where by, he says, the proof lies within. He asks Hunter to read it and then get back in touch with him.

Hunter, being a top investigative journalist is naturally interested, smelling a story. He agrees to read it. Cook is then found dead, and this sets Hunter on a journey to put the pieces together that he has read in the manuscript to see if indeed  they are true and God exists. The journey takes him to Egypt and on to Los Angeles and through more danger than Hunter experienced when he was a frontline journalist in bomb stricken Iraq.

So, does God exist? Read the book and find out. It is a highly recommended page-turner.  5 stars, Mr James for your originality, incredible mind, and page-turning prose. I salute your genius.

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Reviewer: Linda Regan.

www.lindareganonline.co.uk

Peter James was educated at Charterhouse and then at film school. He lived in North America for a number of years, working as a screen writer and film producer, before returning to England. His multiple award-winning, Sunday Times Top Ten bestselling novels have been translated into thirty-three languages. His writings reflect his deep interest in medicine, science and the world of the police. He has produced numerous films, including The Merchant of Venice, starring Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons and Joseph Fiennes. He also co-created the hit Channel 4 series Bedsitcom, which was nominated for a Rose d'Or. Peter James won the Krimi-Blitz 2005 Crime Writer of the Year Award in Germany, and Dead Simple won both the 2006 Prix Polar International award and the 2007 Prix Cœur Noir award in France. Looking Good Dead was shortlisted for the 2007 Richard and Judy Crime Thriller of the Year award, and has been shortlisted for both France's SNCF award and Le Grand Prix de Littérature Policère. He divides his time between his homes in Notting Hill in London and Sussex.

Linda Regan is the author of six police procedural crime novels. She is also an actress. She holds a Masters degree in critical writing and journalism, and writes a regular column, including book reviews, for three magazines. She also presents the book-club spot on BBC Radio Kent. She is an avid reader and welcomes the chance to read new writers. 

  To read a review of Linda's most recent book
The Terror Within
click on the title. 

www.lindareganonline.co.uk

CWA Daggers Longlists to be Announced

Longlists for the coveted 2020 CWA Daggers will be revealed at noon on Friday 5 June for its ten categories, including non-fiction, short stories and debut crime fiction.

The world-famous Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Daggers, which honour the very best in crime writing, are the oldest awards in the genre. Created in 1955, the CWA Daggers have been synonymous with quality crime writing for over half a century.

Past winners of the Gold Dagger (best crime novel) include Jane Harper, Mick Herron, Ann Cleeves, Ian Rankin, Belinda Bauer and Val McDermid. The Daggers are also renowned for showcasing new talent with the coveted John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger, which in the past has spotted now established names including Dreda Say Mitchell, Louise Welsh and Gillian Flynn.

Judging year 2019-2020 has seen a major reorganisation of the Daggers’ judging panels with an infusion of new blood to create a diverse cross-section of jurors.

CWA Honorary Vice Chair, Maxim Jakubowski, said the refreshed juries were to “move with the times and reflect the diversity of tastes and choices of the reading public.”

Linda Stratmann, Chair of the Crime Writers’ Association, added: “It’s been an exciting period  after a recent review and refreshing of the judging panels with existing judges moved to different categories, and new judges brought in. We are committed to ensuring the awards remain exciting, relevant and independent.”

New judges include former Guardian crime correspondent turned author, Duncan Campbell, leading book blogger and Daily Express reviewer Anne Cater, popular culture chronicler Woody Haut, broadcaster Angela Rippon and head reviewer for Love Reading, Liz Robinson.

All titles for the CWA Dagger awards are put forward by publishers.

The shortlist will be announced later in the year, before the glittering awards ceremony which is due to take place on 22 October with guest speaker, the TV presenter turned crime novelist, Richard Osman.
The ceremony will be conducted online, if required.

The longlist will be available on the CWA website from noon on 5 June, as well as via its Facebook, Twitter #CWADaggers and YouTube channel.