“The Hunters”, by Jason Pinter (Mira Books)

Free eBook from a great new voice in Thrillers

After one of the most harrowing weeks of Henry Parker’s life, night has finally come. Settled in with Amanda Davies, he sleeps before preparing to chase a story alongside his mentor, Jack O'Donnell.

Meanwhile Jack sits on the other side of town, fresh out of rehab, hoping to salvage a once-great career derailed by public humiliation. This is Jack's last chance to leave his mark.

Elsewhere in the city, two killers are on the move. They are brutal, calculating, and after tonight their decade’s long plan will come to fruition. But before the morning comes they have a few stops to make...

This eBook forms a bridge between The Fury and The Darkness. The story takes place in the single night that sits between the two novels.

The Hunters is very much laying the groundwork for The Darkness, and a couple of characters that arrived at the end of The Fury are fleshed out a little more (the ‘hunters’ of the title), as a brutal consolidation of New York’s criminal underbelly continues and loose ends created by the events of the previous novel are tied up. As always, Pinter’s gift for bringing to life the seedy underbelly of New York is on brilliant display once again.

Henry Parker is moving in with his girlfriend, Amanda, after the difficult events of The Fury - they are recently reconciled after Parker’s risk-taking and uncanny ability to get into trouble became too much for her; Jack O’Donnell returns home after his stint in rehab, and begins the process of resurrecting his life and career.

Technically, Pinter’s not a “new” voice in the genre any more – The Darkness will be his fifth novel, after all, but he still seems very young and new. That is not a veiled way of me criticising his writing – far from it, as his novels are great fun to read, and improve with each new book.

Along with the short story, the eBook comes with an exclusive note from Pinter to readers (mainly a very nice “thank you” and introduction to the series and characters), and a handy “Who’s Who” of the characters in the Henry Parker series (this was very handy, as it had been a while – and a great many books – since I last read a Pinter novel). If The Hunters has whet your appetite for the next in the series, then you’ll be glad to know the eBook also comes with an exclusive excerpt from The Darkness.

All in all, I would say this is a pretty good freebie from a good up-and-coming thriller author. The story doesn’t really go anywhere, as you will need to read The Darkness in order to see where the story is going, but I would say it’s well worth a look. If I wasn’t already a fan of the series, my interest would certainly have been piqued by reading The Hunters. It certainly made me re-shuffle my review schedule, as I became enamoured once again with the characters – The Darkness will be reviewed very soon.

[The eBook can be downloaded from Pinter’s blog]

“The Fury”, by Jason Pinter (MIRA)

Henry Parker’s Fourth Outing Calls Closer to Home

Accosted by an unknown dishevelled junkie outside his office, Henry Parker is surprised when he is called to the city morgue to identify the murdered remains of same junkie – who happens to be his brother. Only problem is, Henry doesn’t have a brother, and never has as far as he’s known. The brother he never knew has been shot execution-style in a hole of an apartment in New York’s Alphabet City, his body wasted from hunger and drugs. Stephen Gaines was a man with whom Henry shared nothing except a father; a father who kept the secret from him up until Stephen’s death.

After confronting his father, who is promptly arrested for the murder, Henry finds himself sucked into a personal mission to discover who killed Stephen, and why. As his investigation leads down into the underbelly of New York and the drug world, he sets out on a dangerous path to hunt down a drug lord who may or may not be an urban myth.

With The Fury, Pinter’s ability to craft a fast-paced thriller, filled with emotion (and only just skirting the edge of schmaltz) and interesting twists and turns, remains firmly intact. There are, no doubt, many who might dismiss the Henry Parker series as throw-away crime fiction, but Pinter is better than that. His novels, set in New York and the world of journalism, are gripping and thrilling tales of a young, idealistic journalist with the worst luck in the world – or the best, given his profession and his front-line seat to so many front-page scoops. Pinter’s characters remain interesting and far from one-dimensional. Henry’s relationship with Amanda is on the mend, and his dealings with his father feel genuine and far from the teen-angst they could have been if written by another author.

There is real continuity within this series, as Pinter’s characters develop and grow with each passing novel. The Fury will leave you eager for the next instalment of Parker’s exploits. Pinter has written another novel that will entertain, surprise, and keep you guessing until the end.

This is a highly recommended series, and one I’ve been hooked to since its first instalment, The Mark.

[The Hunted, an ebook novella, and The Darkness are now available in the US, and will be reviewed here soon.]

For Fans of: John Sandford, James Patterson, David Ellis, Jack Kerley, Joseph Teller, Andrew Grosse, Peter de Jonge

Possibly the UK Cover, to be released in August 2010:

“The Stolen”, by Jason Pinter (MIRA Books)

A kidnapped child returns home suddenly, and journalist Henry Parker is on the case

One day five years ago, Daniel Linwood disappeared. When he reappears, with no memory of those lost five years, he come under intense scrutiny from the media. Henry Parker, a reporter at the New York Gazette, is assigned to the story, by request of the boy’s family. Parker sets out to understand what has happened to the boy. Moving beyond the human-interest angle of the piece, he soon discovers that Danny is not unique, and that a string of children who were abducted have been returned to their families, all with the same amnesia of the years they were missing.

Along with intense, hostile scrutiny from the media establishment, Parker must tread carefully and navigate around the strange (and highly suspicious) opposition to him pursuing the wider story from the extremely-tough-on-crime New York Senator, Gray Talbot, who threatens to prosecute Henry and the Gazette if they take their investigation any further. This, coupled with a warning from his editor, naturally only heightens Parker’s desire to get to the bottom of the story, and find out what’s happening to these kids and where they’re being taken. With help from Amanda, a Legal Aid lawyer and his ex-girlfriend, he slowly pieces together the story.

Pinter’s writing and plotting continues to get better with each novel, and his protagonist grows ever-more mature and worldly as the series progresses. He is more comfortable in his job, a little jaded yet retaining the hunger and idealism of a newbie reporter. The novel details more of this life in New York, perhaps mirroring the author’s own experiences, with a bit of social commentary to add flavour and depth to the story.

The pace of the novel is slower to get started than The Mark and The Guilty, which really rattled along at a breakneck pace – though it does pick up considerably about half-way through. It seems that for this novel, Pinter felt more confident in his writing to allow the novel to unfold at its own pace, dwelling more on setting the scene and character development.

Pinter’s characters continue to be interesting to read about. While there are some standard thriller tropes the author makes use of (difficult childhoods, estranged parents, etc.), the characterisation still feels fresh and special. Henry, in particular, is a great ‘hero’, with his mix of idealism and naïveté, his tenacious desire to help the needy and so forth. It sounds clichéd and unoriginal, but Pinter has really created some very endearing characters, which makes this series so engaging and readable. One great character is Jack O’Donnell, the polar opposite of Henry: he is a hard-boiled, whisky-soaked, aging journo full of cynicism and combativeness, and works well in the story as a foil to Henry’s idealism, as he tries to make the younger reporter a bit tougher, steering him through the troubled waters of the craft.

Overall, this is an excellent thriller, with an interesting and realistic protagonist, and an engaging plot. The Stolen is good fun, gripping, and very well written.

An excellent addition to the series and genre as a whole, The Stolen is highly recommended (along with the rest of the series).

Henry Parker Series: The Mark (2007), The Guilty (2008), The Stolen (2009), The Fury (2009)

“Poison Study” & “Magic Study”, by Maria V. Synder (MIRA Books)

The first two novels in a compelling new fantasy series

Poison Study: Yelena has a choice: be executed for murder, or become food taster to the Commander of Ixia. The story then follows her journey from prison cell to her new role as first-defence against assassination attempts. She leaps at the chance for survival, but her relief may be short-lived. Life in the palace is full of hazards and secrets. Wily and smart, Yelena must learn to identify poisons before they kill her, work out who she can trust, and spy on those she can’t. Who is the mysterious Southern sorceress who can read her mind? Things get even more dangerous when Yelena realises she has magical powers of her own, for using magic in Ixia is punishable by death…

I couldn’t put this book down. Sarcastic and troubled, Yelena is far more than a one dimensional character, and is proactive in determining her own fate, making her an appealing and complex character. Throughout the novel, Snyder constantly teases the reader with glimpses of her past, forcing you to piece it together slowly. Yelena’s world is intricately realised, particularly, and appropriately for a food taster, the smells and flavours she encounters. The developing relationship between Yelena and Valek is sharply observed, in a book in which no character’s intentions are clear. Snyder keeps us guessing right up until the final page. A gripping read.

Magic Study: In this eagerly-anticipated sequel to Poison Study, Yelena has returned to Sitia and been reunited with her long-lost family. However, she doesn’t fit in, and her brother is less than delighted to see her again, resenting her return to the family. She also needs to learn to control her magical powers, before she accidentally blows herself (and others) up. And there’s also the small matter of the order for her execution in Ixia. So Yelena travels to the Magicians Keep to begin her apprenticeship. But trouble keeps on following her. As she struggles to understand who and what she is, a rogue magician is abducting and killing girls, and it looks like Yelena is next on his list.

Magic Study is just as gripping as its predecessor. Yelena is a thoroughly modern heroine who battles magicians but also worries about relating to a family she hardly knows. The action is fast-paced and full of twists and turns, and Snyder delights in turning the reader’s preconceived opinions about her characters upside down. A fairly large cast of characters is kept firmly in check, and again her flair for description illuminates the differences between the countries and people of Sitia and Ixia. Part adventure, part detective story as Yelena and the other magicians race against time to find the killer, Magic Study will keep you spellbound. Highly recommended.

With such good plotting, quality writing, and a superb new heroine, Poison Study and Magic Study mark the beginning of something great from a promising new voice in fantasy fiction.

The journey concludes in Fire Study, which is out through MIRA books in January 2009 (we will bring you a review of this, too).

Reviewed by Emma Newrick

“The Mark” & “The Guilty”, by Jason Pinter (MIRA Books)

The first two volumes from one the most promising new voices in Thriller writing

Jason Pinter’s The Mark introduces us to rookie reporter Henry Parker, as he starts his dream job at the fictitious New York Gazette (based on, I assume, the New York Times). Sent on a simple assignment by his idol and new mentor – Jack O’Donnell – Parker finds himself in a fatal altercation after trying to help a couple, only to result in the death of what turns out to be a New York cop. What follows is his harrowing journey to discover just what he’s got himself involved in, and why so many people seem to want to put a bullet in him. His dash for freedom introduces him to Amanda Davies, who become tied up with Parker’s quest for redemption, not to mention something of a love interest.

The Guilty picks up pretty much where The Mark left off, with Parker now back at the Gazette and still working as a journalist, his reputation more-or-less intact. Then people start dying. A sniper is on the loose, taking the lives of seemingly innocent people. Parker’s nose for a good story sets him on a collision course with the sniper, who has a deep interest in vintage weaponry and a seemingly all-consuming interest in the Wild West… Parker’s investigation into the killer’s motives put his friends and loved-ones in harm’s way, and it becomes a race against time as Parker (with the help of O’Donnell again) tries to help prevent each new murder. All this, while his journalistic nemesis Paulina Cole takes shots at him from her rival newspaper, the New York Dispatch.

Pinter’s writing style is superb throughout both of these novels. His prose are extremely tight, pulling you along with the characters, as he ratchets up the tension and excitement – dangling just enough information to keep you hooked. There is no doubt that the word “thriller” is most apt in these two instances. All of Pinter’s characters are realistic, colourful (but still believable), and well-constructed – from the slightly damaged Amanda, to Jack O’Donnell (the classic, whisky-soaked and cynical old journalist, who comes to consider Parker as a surrogate son). You certainly come to care about the characters – not least because of the sheer amount of abuse Parker is subjected to during both of the novels.

Having a journalist as a main protagonist is a great change from the standard cop or PI approaches (not that these are bad, mind you); it allows Pinter to take his characters in a new direction and gives the reader a new perspective of what can happen when such news-worthy crimes occur. It’s also allowed Pinter to discuss (perhaps) his opinion of the state of journalism in America – as Paulina Cole writes about Parker, in The Mark, journalists are increasingly becoming the story, with almost the same level of celebrity as those they write about, diminishing the respectability and quality of journalism. I thought this was an interesting touch, for the background of the novel.

If I had to locate his style and skill within the Thriller genre, I would say he is a mixture of James Patterson’s better qualities (pacing, especially) and John Sandford’s quality and plotting. My one criticism is related: like Patterson, Pinter’s style of writing relationships can be a little too sugary or melodramatic – this is especially the case for Henry and Amanda’s relationship in The Guilty. It’s a minor gripe, but it’s still valid.

Truly one of the best new writers in the genre. Pinter should enjoy a long and successful career. If you like your thrillers fast-paced, exciting and expertly executed, The Mark and The Guilty could not come more highly recommended. Addictive reading.

(The Mark is out now, and The Guilty will be released on December 12th)

For fans of: Brett Battles, David Baldacci, John Sandford, James Patterson, Alex Berenson, Jack Kerley, Lee Child, Marcus Sakey

"Killer Year: Stories To Die For", edited by Lee Child

A glorious collection of crime writing’s best new talent

Killer Year is the latest crime/thriller collection from MIRA Books, following the aptly-titled Thriller. The first volume contained a number of established writers – e.g. Brad Thor, John Lescroart, and also Lee Child, who edited this volume. Killer Year, on the other hand, is all about new blood.

It would be easy to write a great deal on each and every one of these 16 stories, but I shall limit myself to a quick nod to the best: Brett Battles’ tale of murder and revenge surrounding an exotic dancing establishment in the Phillippines contains his trademark keen eye for human characters and his brilliantly atmospheric locations. Allison Brennan’s story of grief and state-level politics is a cutting indictment of the privatisation of and the influence of money in government, showing how real people can suffer from politicians greed. Toni McGee Causey’s “A Failure To Communicate” introduces us to Bobbie Faye Sumrall, a true force-of-nature who refuses to play her appointed role as hostage. Other stories and authors to check out would be Jason Pinter’s “The Point Guard” (a botched robbery of a local convenience store has terrible repurcussions), Robert Gregory Browne’s “Bottom Deal” (a down-and-out cop comes to the aid of a friend), and Marcus Sakey’s “Gravity And Need” (a tale of the difference between what someone wants and what someone needs). These are just a handful of the stories contained in Killer Year.

Some of these stories are incredibly short (e.g. J.T. Ellison’s “Prodigal Me” is a mere nine pages long), while others clock in at a more weighty (though still brief) 20-30 pages. What struck me most is that they are all extremely well crafted; each contains enough detail to not leave the reader at sea, tight plotting, great characters, and each story is perfectly summed up. Despite their frugal length, though, every one of these tales is satisfying in itself. Though you will finish wanting more. The best thing about their length is that they lend themselves well to commutes, waiting rooms and lunch-hours.

If, like me, it can sometimes take a little push to try out new authors (if the Waterstone’s 3-for-2 didn’t already get you), Killer Year is the best thing to happen to crime fans. As Lee Child writes in his introduction, this is a “sampler” book, much like the CDs you get mounted on the covers of music magazines, with single tracks by certain up-and-coming bands, aimed at giving you a taste of what is to come. This book contains sample stories by up-and-coming authors, most of whom are likely to enjoy a good deal of success – both because they were included in here, and also because they are just so very good at what they do.

Punchy, expertly crafted thriller tales to whet your appetite for the latest crop of crime writers. Excellent.