NazilliVille: 100 for Harry

NazilliVille: 100 for Harry: There is now a Facebook page for 100 For Harry - Please come and show your support. https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/groups/30235...

California by Ray Banks

 Ray Banks has done it to me yet again. A straightforward linear tale. No intermingled plot lines. No unexpected surprises. Yet once again I felt totally compelled to finish this novella in one sitting.

Banks totally captivated my attention. Ask my opinion as a reviewer how does he do it? Buggered if I know! It's just top notch and totally immersive, addictive prose. The secret I think is in the voice. His characters come out of the page at you raging and frothing in Blu-Ray 3D HD and demand your attention.

California is the tale of one man's fight to keep his cool. Of course he fails at this spectacularly and yet he is provoked time and again. The logic Banks uses to justify his characters actions is irrefutable. Banks doesn't so much tell a story as he drags you along to experience the action. An absolutely first class read.

Download California HERE

Off The Record - A Charity Anthology edited by Luca Veste

 Luca Veste should be applauded for putting together such a huge charity project that encompasses thirty Eight writers from the USA and the UK. All profits are going to benefit two children’s literacy charities in the UK and the US. Check out the links below and show them your support:

http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/
http://www.cliontheweb.org/

There are not one but two Forewords. To represent the UK is Matt Hilton. To represent the US is Anthony Neil Smith.

Off The Record’s content is inspired by, as the name might suggest, classic song titles. There is every spectrum of music represented in fictional form including such classic songs as: Stairway To Heaven, Comfortably Numb, Light My Fire, Sheila Take A Bow, Free Bird, Venus In Furs, Life On Mars, Behind Blue Eyes. An eclectic range of choices if ever there was one. Thirty eight voices all putting their unique slant on these classics titles.

This review could be several thousand words long to be honest. Such a huge range of talent is represented. I’ll reign in my gushing enthusiasm and give you a few words about each tale.

Neil White’s Stairway to Heaven brings us a prisoner whose desperation and despair leads him to a fateful act. Col Bury’s Respect features a vigilante who the reader can’t help but root for. Steve Mosby’s God Moving Over The Face Of The Waters is beautifully told and deliciously melancholic and tells of a deep connection with the sea. Les Edgerton's Small Change made me smile with its interesting twist.

Heath Lowrance brings a violent and disturbing but intelligently told tale with I Wanna Be Your Dog. AJ Hayes writes his prose with the mindset of a poet his Light My Fire is no exception to this. Redemption Song by Sean Patrick Reardon gives you a lot of detail for the minimal work count afforded. A tale well told. Ian Ayris blends violence and thoughts of literature in they way only he can in Down In The Tube Station At Midnight.

Nick Triplow's A New England brings us stark social commentary and a humane act. Charlie Wade brings us humour with a violent edge in the Smiths inspired Sheila Take Bow. Iain Rowan's Purple Haze an adeptly told tale of some lads out of their depth on the wrong side of town was believably told. Thomas Pluck brings us Free Bird and outlines that sometimes you just have to do something regardless of the consequences.

Matthew C. Funk brings obsession and S&M to the table with Venus In Furs. R. Thomas Brown at his intelligent and thoughtful best brings us revenge in Dock Of The Bay. Chris Rhatigan doesn’t waste a single word in the intense Shadowboxer. In Roll Me Away by Patti Abbott brings us sadness and irony.

I Wanna Be Sedated by Chad Rohrbacher a haunting tale in every sense of the word. Court Merrigan brings Back In Black (A Hiram Van Story). A dark tale with a darker conclusion. Paul D. Brazil does what he does best and entertains in that way only he can. Humour and dark deeds mixed deliciously in the blender of his imagination. Nick Boldock master of the clever ending brings us Superstition a tale of one man fortunes.

Bye, Bye, Baby is Vic Watson’s excellently told melancholic tale. Blood On The Dancefloor by Benoit Lelievre is a dark tale of competition and perhaps also jealousy. American Pie by Ron Earl Philips was reflective and ultimately heart warming. Detroit Rock City by Chris La Tray has an expansive emotional feel to it. Exceptionally well drawn characters. Super Trouper by Nigel Bird zooms in to the minutiae then expands effortlessly to the big picture. Classic Nigel Bird.

Pete Sortwell's So Low, So High seemed to almost perfectly encapsulate the title. I greatly enjoyed Julie Morrigan's Behind Blue Eyes a good old fashioned gangster tale. David Barber with Paranoid takes the straw that broke the camels back and uses it to violent effect.  McDroll brings us Nights In White Satin and a tale of quiet despair, the kind of tale she does so well.

Be My Baby  “Killing For Company is by Cath Bore. Excellent descriptive writing and with a well constructed unexpected conclusion. California Dreamin’ by Eric Beetner feels so realistic you can almost feel the sun beating down upon you. A classic revenge tale. A Day In The Life “How Many Holes” by Steve Weddle a cautionary tale: Don’t mess with folk you don’t know. My own Karma Police is a Sci-fi tale. Good taste prevents me from reviewing my own work.

Smells Like Teen Spirit by Simon Logan a  very stylish feel to it. One of my favourites. Luca Veste picks Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb for his selection. A gritty tale that also manages to encapsulate it’s title nicely. Nick Quantrill never disappoints and Death Or Glory is yet another strong well detailed tale from the Hull writer. Two Little Boys by Helen Fitzgerald gave me a good chuckle or two. A tale of an alternative therapy that is an accident waiting to happen. Ray Banks tells the tale of a worthless character who we feel no sympathy for. A tale with a most satisfying conclusion.

I could gush about this collection but then you’d get bored and I really only want to convey a simple message: Buy this book not only is it a great value uplifting read but it is for worthy causes. A fantastic mix of up and coming talent and some established names all of whom I am proud to feature along side. There really isn’t a bad story on it. Mr Veste should rename his blog which is called Guilty Conscience. His own conscience is clear he’s done sterling work here.

UK: Download Off The Record HERE
US: Download Off The Record HERE

Deadland,USA-Mindless Consumerism-Vol. 1

Heath Lowrance brings us the first in a new zombie series – Deadland USA – Mindless Consumerism. The more I read by Lowrance the more I enjoy his writing. He writes in a strong, clear and distinctive voice.

I know from my own efforts that Zombie fiction is a cliché ridden minefield. One has to be original or at the very least interesting to stand out from the herd. Lowrance has opted to start with interesting in this ongoing serial. A cynical, wise cracking, street smart young man is voice of the narrative in the form of a journal. This allows Lowrance to talk to his audience and add a little black humour into the mix.

There's plenty of action in this opening episode. The dialogue is excellent and believable. I'd say this is an exceptional start to a series I'm going to enjoy reading.

Download Deadland Vol. 1 in the UK HERE

Download Deadland Vol. 1 in the US HERE

A DECEMBER SPECIAL OFFER WHICH CAN’T BE BEATEN!!!

Yes, we have lost our marbles! Our sanity has gone up in a flash of smoke. An offer so good it won’t be beaten.

If you purchase Nigel Bird’s critically acclaimed novella SMOKE which is on special offer at just 86p/$1.34 we will give away a PDF copy of my flash fiction collection absolutely FREE for nowt, zilch, nothing, gratis.

(This offer also works in reverse. If you purchase my own Flashes of Revenge I will send you a FREE PDF copy of Nigel's novella)

Offer ends 31/12/2011.

Here’s what some very talented people say about Nigel Bird’s Smoke:

“So this is how it went for me last night. I went to bed thinking I'd make a start on Nigel Bird's brand new novella SMOKE and then hopefully manage to get some sleep in. Two hours later I was still reading. Feeling guilty that it was 3am I turned off the light, only to switch it back on at 4.30am to finish reading this superb tale about the high jinx that two young lads get up to in Tranent.”  - McDroll.

“Being familiar with Nigel Bird's bitter-sweet short-stories, I was fascinated to see how trying his hand at a longer piece would turn out. This novella is a little different from many of the aforementioned short-stories in that the writing voice is unashamedly Scottish. And brilliantly so. I think of all the UK short-story writers plying their trade at the moment, along with the inimitable Mr Paul D. Brazill, Bird is the one writer that has most successfully found a voice for the US market. That being so, I loved the fact he's returned to his Scottish roots for 'Smoke'.”  – Ian Ayris.

“It's no secret for crime fiction fans that Nigel Bird is the real deal.

Smoke features all of his strengths -- complex characters, a well-constructed story and very fine writing. Working-class Scotland comes to life here, from chip shop wars to dog fighting rings. Violence is a way of life for the characters in Smoke, which makes the moments of humanity all the richer.

Jimmy emerges as the most likable character. He's trying to rise above his disfigurement and the general s*** life he's had. I hope Bird continues to write about him.” – Chris Rhatigan

Nigel Bird's debut novella, Smoke, is the story of a town, Tranent, and the rough edged characters that live there.

Smoke is a spin off from Bird's great story An Arm And A Leg-which was included in this year's Mammoth Book Of Best British Crime.

The main characters are Carlos, who actually lost an arm and a leg at the end of the aforementioned story and is hell bent on revenge, and Jimmy, a young kid with a good heart who has drawn the short straw in life. And they have a mutual hatred of the Ramsey brothers, who are making their fortune organizing dog fights.

Smoke is reminiscent of Allan Guthrie's Savage Night in the way it cleverly interweaves different strands of the story and its great mixture of colorful characters, absurdest humour and hard boiled crime.

It's a funny, gripping and moving book which left me desperate to read a follow up! Recommended. – Paul D. Brazill.

Download Smoke in the UK HERE
Download Smoke in the US HERE

Download Flashes of Revenge in the UK HERE
Download Flashes of Revenge in the US HERE

Gun by Ray Banks

 I like to discover new authors with as few preconceptions as possible. I don’t read up on them. I don’t read reviews. I just dive into the icy waters of a new writers imagination. However, everyone I know in the crime writing fraternity, which I am new to, raves about Ray Banks. Still I bided my time and read his novella Gun when I was good and ready.

On the face of it the plot was a simple one. A guy just out of prison wants to earn some cash without the drudgery of the 9 to 5. Who can blame him eh? He runs an errand for a dodgy character that he feels owes him a favour. Things pretty much go downhill for Richie from there on in.

The dialogue throughout the story is absolutely spot on. It is never overdone nor underdone. I have discovered a great secret. The most powerful adhesive in the world: Ray Banks. Try as I might I could not put down my kindle. It was stuck fast to my hand. I was absolutely captivated. Gun had realism, grit, wit, violence and given the tone of the story, surprisingly also hope. Yes you were right my crime writing friends Banks the master has sucked in another one.

Download Gun HERE

13 Shots of Noir by Paul D. Brazill

Somewhere in a small dark room, possibly in an underground bunker, there is a man. This man studies, with an intelligent gaze, a bank of video screens. He sips slowly at polish vodka and watches. This man sees all human life. He sees parading before him a cast of serial killers, priests, kids with dogs, old curmudgeons and hen pecked husbands. When he’s done observing human life on special monitors he also sees vampires and werewolves. Occasionally he’ll push a button or scribble a line of text and like a master puppeteer he makes them all dance to his tune. He takes in all he sees and then drinks more vodka. When he has computed the results a little ticker tape spews from a console before him. He looks briefly at this and frowns unhappily.  He then turns it upside down, smiles and burns it with a zippo lighter. He switches off the screens and begins to write.

13 Shots of noir is a tonic akin to Lilly the pink's medicinal compound. If you are suffering from S.A.D you'll be G.L.A.D you downloaded this dark and witty chucklefest. Paul D. Brazill masters irony and makes telling a clever tale look easy. His use of misdirection is employed elegantly in one tail in particular. Paul has all the tools of the master storyteller at his disposal and he is not afraid to use them. You’ll find a bit of everything here including werewolf noir in the sublime Drunk On The Moon. A story that has spawned a hugely successful series. You’ll find the straw that broke the camels back in first story The Tut. A tale for all the married fellows out there.

The Ballad of the Kid is a very touching short tale that I enjoyed possibly even as much as Drunk On The Moon. Paul if you are reading this please make The Ballad Of The Kid into a novella or something. An incredibly powerful and emotional story. To me anyway.

The Friend Catcher had one of the best opening lines I’ve read in a very long time. A tale I greatly enjoyed and that craftily brought home a more powerful message than you might at first realise.

The pun Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder alone makes this collection worth buying. Paul’s work is always enjoyable and always a pleasurable read. There are even now folk on my morning bus that won’t sit near me for fear of small sudden explosions of random laughter as I read a kindle app on my phone and make them jump. Thank you Mr Brazill I now have plenty of space on the bus.

In my reviews I often make a big deal about Paul’s humour. However, there is much more to his stories than humour. PDB is not above a bit of crafty social commentary, why not discover that for yourselves whilst playing a Judas Priest record backwards?  13 Shots of Noir is a collection I am more than happy to give five enthusiastic stars to.

Download 13 Shots of Noir HERE

Drunk On The Moon: It's A Curse (Story 7) by K.A. Laity

I had a fever. Cold sweat stood out on my forehead like molten lava. I shuddered involuntarily. A need to feast consumed every fibre of my being. My nerve endings coursed with need throbbing, pulsating, and yearning. My unholy desire must be quenched. My lust MUST be sated. My fingers jangled on the keyboard as with expert strokes I opened a screen and behold. There it was filling my screen craving my attention:
Drunk On The Moon by K.A. Laity.
Like any true addict I was only too happy to oblige. I clicked download with 1-Click and my need was fulfilled. All was well with the world.

K.A. Laity brings us a contender for my favourite of the Drunk On The Moon stories. I have read nothing by Laity prior to this and so I did not have any preconceived expectations. What she brought was an exceptionally strong voice to the character of Roman. There is less action in this episode than some of the others and yet I felt totally fulfilled with the story. Laity has done Paul D Brazill’s creation justice with this tale.  Snappy dialogue, great one liners and a larger role for Duffy all helped make this an episode I could really get my teeth into. I’m not going to define it any clearer than that, other than to say that Laity has tuned into Paul’s creation perfectly. It’ll be my pleasure to give this howling good read 5 silver tipped stars on Amazon.

Download Drunk On The Moon: It's A Curse HERE

That Damned Coyote Hill by Heath Lowrance

Ever since childhood I've been a fan of the westerns starring Clint Eastwood. They seemed less clichéd and the central character the mysterious "man with no name" was so much more interesting than some random good guy dressed in white.

So it is with That Damned Coyote Hill. Lowrance brings us an interesting and enigmatic lead character who is cast firmly in three dimensions. He uses strong descriptive writing and the weather perfectly to bring added atmosphere into the story. That Damned Coyote Hill might have been a fairly standard western revenge tale, however, by adding the supernatural element Heath gives the reader so much more value. An inspiring mix of genres that had me hankering for more.

A well spun tale in which the author avoided the usual pitfalls and kept up a great atmosphere throughout. You have a bit of everything action, strong characters, mood, and atmosphere. I look forward to reading more fiction by Heath Lowrance.

Download That Damned Coyote Hill HERE

Kick It Again by McDroll

Another great collection of stories by McDroll. Some of the tales although very short managed to capture the imagination perfectly. The first story A Straight Game started off the collection playfully with a couple of humorous characters chewing the fat in a game shop. Things soon degenerate and the tale takes a violent turn for the worse.

No More Choices the second tale is bleaker, starker and tinged in gritty realism. Desperation this time is a motivating factor for a dark deed. The Return Journey is a reflective, haunting and cleverly executed tale that is perhaps my favourite of the collection. McDroll shows a real storyteller’s eye for detail and the backdrop for this story is harsh, stark and believeable.

In The Trip the tension builds surely throughout before reaching an explosive climax.
The use of descriptive language on occasion in this collection was breathtakingly effective. Here's an example from the final tale Unrest: Military helicopters hung overhead like bulky metal dragonflies glinting in the sun.

A very enjoyable 5 star read for lovers of short fiction.

Download Kick It Again HERE

Old Man Coyote by R.Thomas Brown

Old Man Coyote is the first in a series of stories by R.Thomas Brown. This series will explore ghost stories and folklore but in a modern setting. I found that Brown succeeded in giving the story an interesting fable like quality to it. A grandma frightens her grandson with stories about the charismatic old man across town. The stories couldn’t be true could they?

The author manages to captivate the reader with the fairy tale like feel of this story. Strong descriptive writing and good characterisation make this story stand out above the average. A great short read.

Download Old Man Coyote HERE

11 The Hard Way by Graham Smith

This is Smith's debut collection and I have to say I am impressed. Short stories are difficult to write and getting the right ending can be particularly tough. However, this is where Graham excels in adding that twist or trick ending that really makes a story shine. Some of his endings are surprising whilst others are plain quirky but all are cleverly executed.

Another thing I enjoyed about this collection was the “voice” of some of the characters within the stories. This voice was very strong particularly in the first story Under The Cover of the Streets and stood out well also in Bobby’s Bar.

A quirky and interesting collection that contains all the necessary ingredients for an entertaining read. Smith gives us humour, wit and plenty of action. He manages to get a surprising amount of story within a few words. Some of his tales convey precise descriptive detail and a clear sense of irony such as Shooting Stars. Other stories like the Kansas Kindred Killer showed good deal of plot development for a such short story.

The only negative is that a couple of the stories have a plot kink or two that with closer editing could have easily been ironed out. A great value collection that I would recommend.

Download 11 The Hard Way HERE

Heartbreaker by Julie Morrigan

Julie Morrigan is one of the most prolific indie writers out there. In the last year I have read two novels and two short story collections penned by Julie. The versatility and ease with which she switches between genres is enough to leave most writers green with envy.

I eagerly await each new release by Julie, as I am now a huge fan of her work. Some writers are natural storytellers and like an expert musician they make it look easier than it is. Julie is such a writer. She never wastes a word and never includes words that don’t belong. Her prose flows along at a great pace but is never rushed, always measured and considered.

Heartbreaker is Julie’s latest novel. I am a huge music fan so I was keen to see what Julie did with the fictional band Heartbreaker. When Alex Weston is hired to ghost write a book about lead singer Johnny Burns and his band she couldn’t predict what effects this would have on her own life. The story is told from the perspective of ghost writer Alex. The story is nicely layered with flashbacks to events in the bands past. These flashbacks help us build up a picture of the band. Believability is something Julie always gets right and you find her insights about the band to be totally credible. I could just as easily be reading about Black Sabbath or Led Zeppelin.

If someone else had written this it might have been quite a sedate story. However, Julie always keeps her prose interesting with humour, heart and soul – the stuff of life. With any tangled web of a band there are always secrets and you can expect the same of Heartbreaker but I’m not about to give anything away. You will just have to read this excellent book for yourselves. If you like fictional rock biographies such as Espedair Street by Iain Banks then you will surely enjoy Heartbreaker.

Another triumph for Julie Morrigan the master storyteller who deserves to be a household name. A great five star read.

Download Heartbreaker HERE

More Liverpool Five by Luca Veste

In More Liverpool Five Luca Veste's voice seems stronger and more assured than in his first excellent collection Liverpool Five. The stories in this collection are more narrative in style than in the last collection which were more reflective in nature.

It's fair to say he's found his feet and planted them firmly on Terra Nova with this collection. He's planted his flag whilst he's at it and if you were wondering his flag is red with a Liver bird on it.

His first offering Night Vision features some superb characterisation and dialogue as two heavies chew the fat before a job. A great thought train conveyed here. I suspect we may see more of at least one of these guys in the future.

The second story Time had me picturing a constantly zooming camera each shot revealing a slice of story until the conclusion. Well written with a lot of plot detail for such a short story.

Uninspired the third tale is Veste at his thoughtful, reflective best. A sad tale that shows how mental illness can creep up on us slowly and stealthily.

Fate is a chilling tale. You never know who is watching when you are out in public.

Nightmares is a sequel tale to my favourite story from Liverpool Five. Where Liverpool Five tells a story from one perspective we get the other characters story. Whilst the first tale is uplifting this first tale is a sad melancholic reflection of the times.

I enjoyed both collections and particularly the themes that Veste explores. This newcomer to the scene has hit the ground running with his own unique style. Both collections are well worth a read. I suspect Luca Veste will go on to write intense psychological thrillers, his stories show an emotional depth that I have rarely seen in the genre.

Download More Liverpool Five HERE:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/More-Liverpool-Five-ebook/dp/B0062DGL98/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322557121&sr=8-1

Off The Record - A charity Anthology edited and compiled by Luca Veste

Available for download from today is Luca Veste’s (Guilty Conscience Publishing) charity anthology Off The Record. The proceeds from this anthology will benefit literacy charities in the UK and the US:

In the UK, National Literacy Trust:
http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/

In the US, Children’s Literacy Initiative

http://www.cliontheweb.org

The many talented authors, 38 in total, were given a simple brief: Write a story inspired by a classic song title.  The result is a hugely varied line up of stories. Please show your support to this most deserving of causes. Available at only £2.29 in the UK the featured authors are:

1.Neil White - Stairway To Heaven
2.Col Bury – Respect
3.Steve Mosby – God Moving Over The Face Of Waters
4.Les Edgerton - Small Change
5.Heath Lowrance - I Wanna Be Your Dog
6.AJ Hayes - Light My Fire
7.Sean Patrick Reardon - Redemption Song
8.Ian Ayris - Down In The Tube Station At Midnight
9.Nick Triplow - A New England
10.Charlie Wade - Sheila Take A Bow
11.Iain Rowan - Purple Haze
12.Thomas Pluck - Free Bird
13.Matthew C. Funk - Venus In Furs
14.R Thomas Brown - Dock Of The Bay
15.Chris Rhatigan – Shadowboxer
16.Patti Abbott - Roll Me Away
17.Chad Rhorbacher - I Wanna Be Sedated
18.Court Merrigan - Back In Black
19.Paul D. Brazill - Life On Mars?
20.Nick Boldock – Superstition
21.Vic Watson - Bye Bye Baby
22.Benoit Lelievre - Blood On The Dancefloor
23.Ron Earl Phillips - American Pie
24.Chris La Tray – Detroit Rock City
25.Nigel Bird - Super Trouper
26.Pete Sortwell – So Low, So High
27.Julie Morrigan - Behind Blue Eyes
28.David Barber – Paranoid
29.McDroll - Nights In White Satin
30.Cath Bore - Be My Baby
31.Eric Beetner - California Dreamin'
32.Steve Weddle - A Day In The Life
33.Darren Sant - Karma Police
34.Simon Logan - Smells Like Teen Spirit
35.Luca Veste - Comfortably Numb
36.Nick Quantrill - Death Or Glory
37.Helen FitzGerald - Two Little Boys
38.Ray Banks - God Only Knows

As if that wasn’t enough there are forewords from UK writer Matt Hilton, and US writer Anthony Neil Smith.

UK Download link:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Off-Record-Charity-Anthology-ebook/dp/B006EU1E7S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322400171&sr=8-1

US Download link:

http://www.amazon.com/Off-Record-Charity-Anthology-ebook/dp/B006EU1E7S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322401838&sr=8-1

Find out more about Luca Veste over on his blog:  http://www.lucaveste.com/

Inside by Victoria Watson

Victoria Watson has written another reflective and sensitive piece.  This I believe is “her thing” what she does the best. Strong characters with deep emotional content that makes a good connection with the reader. A very nostalgic warm tale or so I thought just before the darkness hit me. I’m not going to give away any plot points here just read and enjoy!

Once more Victoria shows her talent for characterisation and strong descriptive writing in a cracking short story that I really enjoyed. It worked on several levels and spoke volumes about the complexity of human nature. Another five star story from Victoria Watson.

Download Inside HERE

A Scattering of Ashes by Craig Douglas.

I first came across Craig Douglas in Byker Books Radgepacket series of gritty anthologies that pride themselves on being industrial strength fiction. Craig’s stories stood out as having more emotional substance. That I think is the nub of Craig’s talent for writing. I don’t know how he does it is so subtle but you feel a connection with his writing, with his characters it’s both magical and rare.

 His descriptive writing is second to none. He pretends to be a Radgey character but underneath he has the soul of a poet not a squaddie. I know he’d deny this with fervour so here’s an example:

Dappled flashes played on the bed between the shadows of boughs. Dust rises from the windowsill, something displaces it.

I could fill this blog post with more examples but I’d rather you read them for yourselves in the fantastic collection. If you need any further encouragement he is donating 50% of the proceeds to the BLESMA charity for limbless veterans.

I’ve written a little something about each of the stories below to further whet your appetite:

Murder Among Comrades - Mistrust, suspicion & paranoia define this exciting tale as bullets fly overhead.

The Last Veteran - A touching tale told with emotion & beautifully descriptive writing.

Trial Of Meat - Short. Brutal. Real.

The Trouble With Milkmen - A strangely touching ending. Men no matter how tough are still hurt little boys at heart.

Thunder on the horizon -
Scarily prophetic, sharp incisive brilliant social commentary.

Digging Up The Past - A simple act brings back memories of the past.

Flesh & Blood - Douglas writes melancholy so well. This story set in the Falklands is so sharply realistic that it could be a documentary. A sad tale that speaks true to the heart.

Welcome Home - The harsh reality of war

Scargill’s Man - A very sad tale that Craig brings to life expertly. A world weary melancholy atmosphere that is almost off the page it's so tangible.

The Incident At Wedzendorf Woods - Hollywood never tells the full story of the things that go on in war. Craig Douglas does here.

British Pride: A Nazi's Tale - A bigot released from prison finds the world a very different place. His crimes unforgivable

Rejoice In Thy Youth - Could there be hope for the future with a new life?

Homecoming - A cracking realistic story that could easily be expanded into a novella.

Time Split - An interesting little sci-fi tale very different to the rest of the collection

Magic in the Land of the Pathans - A bittersweet tale of magic & murder

Equal in his Eyes - a cursing shell shocked preacher shows great compassion.

Download A Scattering of Ashes HERE

Infection by Mark Cooper

With Infection Mark Cooper has created a credible zombie story. Mark doesn’t overdo it as is so easy with zombie fiction. His dialogue, characters and plot are all believable, at least as believable as any zombie fiction can be.

Cooper’s work flows very nicely and you soon find yourself rattling off the pages and with a thirst for more of the plot twists. Mark’s descriptive writing isn’t forced and again slides along nicely with the plot. Even with the excellent pace of Infection Mark leaves room for some fantastic descriptive writing.  It’s obvious that Mark is an accomplished storyteller. The characters in the story were interesting and well rounded. You found yourself rooting for them.

The author has left plenty of scope for a follow up and as I’m a bit of a “dead head” I really hope he writes one.

Download Infection HERE

One Dead Hen by Charlie Williams

A serial killer is stalking the shadowy streets of Mangel. Who can stop this killer they call the Reaper? Who is man enough to track him down? Who could possibly take on this beast? What manner of man can contend with this fiend? Step forward Royston Blake Mangel needs your swede on the case. Mangel needs YOU!

One Dead Hen is the first novel I have read by Charlie Williams. I enjoyed the character of Royston Blake immensely.  I found the telling of the story from his perspective to be both fun and entertaining. However, this single character perspective did become just a little bit wearing after a while. I enjoyed the added few snippets of journalistic articles at the end of some of the chapters. These helped to break up the story a little.  I feel that maybe another perspective mixed into the plot on occasion would have made it a more engaging read.


That said there was ready wit and humour throughout. Unlike some reviewers of this story I did not find the language off putting. It was relevant and in character and added to the humour at times.  The character of Blake has a very strong voice and is an interesting well rounded creation. I’m a big fan of Robert Rankin and found some parallels of his Brentford books in One Dead Hen. Overall a very enjoyable read and told in a fairly unique way. I will certainly be reading more by Charlie Williams I can tell that Blake will have me chuckling at every turn.

Kick It by McDroll

A collection of five short stories which all have one thing in common: no frills. These tales cut right to heart of the matter they don’t meander along with unnecessary flowery language or page filling meaningless unwanted description. This collection bypasses the pleasantries and goes straight for the jugular. How refreshing! The endings when they come are usually sharp, stark and a shock to the system. McDroll’s stripped back style is interesting and unique.

If asked to pick a favourite it would have to be Drowning. McDroll conveys the internal dialogue of a desperate woman excellently and ends the story with a flourish of brilliance.

Three of the five stories deal with character DC Gemma Dixon. A wise cracking young woman working hard to survive and thrive in the man’s world that is modern policing.  McDroll’s collection of stories is set in Scotland and her use of language reflects that giving extra realism to the stories. A great value collection that is well worth downloading.

Download Kick It HERE

Drunk On The Moon Volume 6 - Silver Tears by John Donald Carlucci

One of the things I am enjoying the most about the Drunk On The Moon series is the fresh perspective each author brings to each new instalment. Carlucci's interpretation is an action packed tale that barely leaves the reader time to breathe before we are plunged with Roman into each gripping scene.

Other writers for the series will have to go a long way to beat the opening line that I won't spoil for you here. Carlucci's hooks you faster than a politician fills up his expense account.

There is some excellent descriptive writing:
It felt like a mini sun had exploded in my chest and I was ready to combust in the flames.

The author provides us with a believable and credible reason for Roman's excess drinking. Regular readers of this blog will know I am a fan of this fantastic series. Carlucci has added another cracking instalment with style, flair and a little humour. We also see the introduction of another character in the form of a back street surgeon. As the series progresses we start to see Paul D. Brazill’s fantastic creation in fantastic high definition technicolor. Another must read short story.

Download SIlver Tears HERE

Reprisal Volume 4 - She'll Get Your Engine Started by Sam Lang

Sam Lang's Reprisal series has had a promising start. We have now reached the fourth instalment of the Reprisal story arc which is proving to be a slow burner of a series. Lang is taking his time and bringing us delicious little mini stories to develop the Reprisal universe and introduce its deadly denizens. This tale and the previous one have dealt with two convicts who will no doubt be travelling though the town of Reprisal in the near future. Rather than be frustrated by the slow start I am really enjoying the build up.

Sam has another dark tale this time from the point of view of another prison inmate. The prisoner in question is in the next cell to the convicts who feature in Reprisal 3 - Shadow Boxing. If you enjoy Sam's dark and interesting narrative as much as I do then you’ll find him an entertaining writer with a great eye for detail. A natural yarn spinner. He crams in lots of little details that pique your interest and make you want to keep on reading. A subtle humour is ever present. I'm not sure how conscious this is for the author it seems so natural. However, this is not silly slapstick humour but dark as tar black humour.

Another great read from Sam Lang in this increasingly intriguing and gripping series.

Download Reprisal Volume 4 - HERE

Drunk On The Moon - The Story So Far

Trestle Press have set out their stall using the freedom of the ebook to do new and innovative things. Ever since I first read Paul D. Brazill’s writing in one of Byker Books early Radgepacket anthologies I’ve been a fan. Paul’s humour and wit are what captivate me and everything he writes is extremely entertaining throughout.  When I heard that he had a new series about a werewolf private investigator I knew I’d enjoy it.

Now as this is Paul there was, of course, a twist in the tail. Paul set up the stall of the series by writing the initial instalment entitled Drunk on The Moon. The inspiration for the story is the Tom Waits song of the same title. Brazill described a world of hard drinking, violent characters which he peppered with his usual witty one-liners and running gags. Music references litter the story like jewels waiting to be discovered. The descriptiveness of the writing is sublime and a tangible atmosphere is created expertly by the author. I read the story in one sitting and was hooked on this dark world so excellently conveyed. I couldn’t wait for the next instalment. Paul has carefully picked writers that he believes will bring a certain unique something to the series and I can honestly say that he has chosen well. Each writer has left their own mark on the series and we have seen the character of Roman Dalton grow through these first six stories. 

I hope that I have sold the idea of the series to you because it really is well worth a read. I’ve put a download link and timeline for the series for you so that you can explore the stories in order. Get high this week, get Drunk On The Moon.

Drunk On The Moon by Paul D. Brazill – Release Date 4^th July 2011.

Volume 1 - Download HERE.

Drunk On The Moon: Fear The Night by Julia Madeline – Release Date 24^th July 2011.

Volume 2 - Download HERE

Drunk On The Moon: The Darke Affair by Allan Leverone – Release Date 10^th August 2011.

Volume 3 - Download HERE

Drunk On The Moon: Insatiable by B.R. Stateham – Release Date 5^th September 2011

Volume 4 - Download HERE 

Drunk On The Moon: Getting High On Daisy – Release Date 4^th October 2011.

 Volume 5 - Download HERE

Drunk On The Moon: Silver Tears by John Donald Carlucci – Release Date 2^nd November 2011.

Volume 6 - Download HERE

The Buzz around Byker Books

Byker Books Radgepacket series is what started me writing again and I owe them a debt of thanks.  Their own special brand of industrial strength fiction has a broad ranging appeal to fans of gritty, dark and urban fiction. Byker cite their influences as the likes of Irvine Welsh, Danny King, Kevin Sampson.  That gives you some idea of the kind of ground breaking fiction they put out.

I have been lucky enough to appear in volumes four and five of the Radgepacket series.  The sixth volume in this excellent series is due out next March and will feature such talented writers as:  Paul D. Brazill, Peter Sortwell, Nigel Bird, Craig Douglas, Col Bury, Ian Ayris, Nick Quantrill, Luca Veste, Danny Hill and many more including myself.
Byker have made their entire back catalogue available to download on ebook at bargain prices. Please take the time to look at the excellent catalogue of anthologies all available for under £1 in the UK or under $2 in the US.

Radgepacket 1 - download HERE

Radgepacket 2 - download HERE

Radegepacket 3 - download HERE

Radgepacket 4 - download HERE

Radgepacket 5 - download HERE

Other Byker Publications:

Maxwell's Silver Hammer by Andy Rivers - download HERE

I'm Rivelino A Life of two halves by Andy Rivers - download HERE

More Burglas Diaries by Danny King - download HERE

Dumb Luck by Tom Arnold - download HERE

Manchester 6 by Col Bury

This is the first I have read of Col Bury’s writing and I was impressed from the start. Col has a knack for squeezing a lot of action into few words. Writers have a habit sometimes of not trusting a reader to make a logical leap during a story. Not so with Bury, he trusts you to follow his thought train without a huge neon arrow pointing the way. This is in a word refreshing. A great collection and I’m looking forward to a follow up title. I’ll say a few words about each of the stories and try my best not to give anything away.

Lucky Shit - A jobless guys has a run of good luck which you just know is going to end badly...

Fists of Destiny - A gripping and tense story. A tale that gives an idea of the kind of narrative we could expect from a novel by Bury. An excellently related piece of fiction and my favourite of the collection.

Mr Curly Top - A playful tale with a sense of humour to it.

Forum Of Fury - A stark reminder that all actions have consequences.

Snakes 'N' Ladders - An aptly titled revenge tale.

Gallance - An action packed story and a character I'd love to see again.

Download Manchester 6 for just 86p HERE

The Facebook page for Manchester 6 HERE

Keeping Quiet by Victoria Watson

This is a doleful and melancholy tale. Victoria Watson charts the life of a woman born before the war. She manages to convey the details of a sad, lonely and sheltered life excellently. The main character is always caring and constantly keeping the peace between warring family members. Her domineering mother takes away her finest years day by painful day.

As downbeat as the story is, you are left feeling uplifted and grateful for what you have got in your own life. An extremely strong and reflective story from the author. If you read it in an environment that allows you to concentrate on the minutiae of the story it is a powerful and emotive exploration of the characters life. Victoria Watson continues to delight and surprise with the depth and variety of her writing. She is most definitely an author to watch out for.

Download Keeping Quiet HERE
You can find Victoria's blog HERE

Smoke by Nigel Bird

Ever since I first read Dirty Old Town by Nigel I have been a fan of his short stories. The collection which followed it Beat On The Brat only reinforced this feeling. When I heard that Nigel had a novella out I was excited at the prospect of reading it.  I wanted to see how Nigel would handle longer fiction and he didn’t disappoint me.

Bird brings us a unique flavour in the setting of the town of Tranent. Like most writers of his considerable talent you can’t quite put your finger on the singular thing that makes his writing unique. Smoke is Brit Grit at its very finest. Think in terms of Layer Cake or Snatch.

The story starts with Jimmy being humiliated at school and vowing revenge against his nemesis Sean Mulligan. Things go downhill for Jimmy very quickly from there. This is also the story of Carlo who we first saw in Nigel’s story An Arm And A Leg which appeared in The Mammoth Book Of Best British Crime 8.

The story is set in the middle of a huge dog fighting tournament and one or two scenes excellently convey the brutality of this horrendous pastime. I won’t grace it with the word sport.  Nigel’s writing often deals dark settings and damaged characters and this is particularly true for Smoke.  The two main characters in Smoke are physically damaged in different ways.  However, don’t let this put you off, always with Nigel’s fantastic writing there is humour and a nugget of hope. There is always a shot at redemption for these characters. The story is left open and we could possibly see the return of one of the characters in the future. I do hope so it would be great to see the setting of Tranent again.

I started off as a fan of Nigel Bird’s and my admiration for his work has only increased with the addition of Smoke to his portfolio.

Download Smoke HERE

The Longcroft Estate needs YOUR Talent!

Writers do you dare step into the shadowy alleyways of the Longcroft Estate? Will you go for a drink in the dingy Red Lion or the Rampant Horse? Maybe you could have a drunken snack in Kebab King. If you have been inspired by my tales from the Longcroft Estate you now have the opportunity to write your own story in this challenging setting. Trestle Press will publish your story as the fourth in the series. The third story Rowan’s Folly will be out in the very near future.

Stories ideally must be 2,000 words or preferably longer. However, shorter stories will be considered if they are excellent. A well as myself there are two independent judges who will read the submissions and judge the best. Those judges are talented writers Nick Quantrill and Nick Boldock so you know these guys have an eye for a great story. 

If there is more than one story that really shines for us then we will consider also integrating it into the series at a later date with the author's permission.

I’d encourage writers to reuse places and/or characters that have already appeared or at least been mentioned in the series but it is by no means mandatory.  Let your imagination roam the litter strewn streets of the Longcroft and hit us with your best shot.

Please send all submissions to: dazzasaint@gmail.com

Please put LONGCROFT STORY in the subject line. Closing date for submissions is 19th December 2011. If you have any questions then please address them to me via email.

If you are new to the Longcroft series you might like to download them to familiarise yourself with the setting. Please see the links below for information. Both stories are only 86p / $1.34 downloads.

Info on A Good Day HERE

Info on Community Spirit HERE

Blood Guilt by Ben Cheetham

This is the first novel I have read by Ben Cheetham and it won't be the last. Blood Guilt is a cracking page turner of a thriller. I found it well written, suspenseful and above all believable. Cheetham whilst cranking up the tension never once over does it. The dialogue is snappy, clever and again totally believable.

Blood Guilt is, I feel, as well as being an excellent story an exploration into the what if. By this I mean what if your own life turned to crap due to one event? What if you had nothing to lose and let the darker side of your character roam around and seek vengeance where in order to atone for guilt? Cheetham managed to engage me totally with the story

Harlan is desperate to make amends for killing a man and he puts aside everything else in his life in his quest to help the widow. He crosses the line again and again. I found my frustrations mounting with Harlan, the central character, as he felt the need to punish himself time and again. I felt sympathy for his partner, Eve, as she was knocked back again and again by Harlan's self-destructive actions and yet despite this remains devoted to him. Ben Cheetham proved himself a fine story teller and I became a fan after reading this novel.

The author doesn’t bog down the text with too much descriptive dialogue. He chooses instead to add it when it is needed most and this makes Blood Guilt a gratifying read. 

On the whole a fine tale well told and one I would recommend to lovers of good thrillers. Cheetham is an author to watch and I hope he gets the success he deserves with this excellent thriller.

Download Blood Guilt HERE

Find out more about Ben on Good Reads HERE
Find Ben on Twitter as @Ben_CheethamUK

The Writing On The Wall By Julie Morrigan

Julie Morrigan once again proves that not only is she talented but she is also versatile. I've read three titles by Morrigan this year and quite frankly any of them is worthy to have pride of place on the shelves of a major book retailer as opposed to the tiny digital coffin that is the modern e-reading device.

Morrigan deserves all the success that a major publishing contract might bring. However, as with Andy DuFrane from the Shawshank Redemption some birds should not be caged as their feathers are just too bright. The diversity Morrigan has brought us with her titles this year would not be allowed by a dollar obsessed traditional publisher that is of course totally their loss and our gain.  This reader for one is overjoyed that she self-publishes her work. Released in time for Halloween the Writing On The Wall brings us several chilling tales.

Shadow Man - A straightforward chiller that does a great job of suggesting more than it shows in classic horror tale style.

The Black Dog - A contender for my favourite of the collection. Artefacts such as books contain power as we learn from this brilliantly told tale.

Chocolate Button Eyes - One to make you shudder and proof if ever it were needed that danger does not always emanate from a masculine source.

So Many Summers - A story that left me melancholy as it did a great job of reinforcing the brutality of life. As always with the best stories a clever twist ensures you remain captivated throughout.

The Project - A short intelligently told tale in which we learn that torment can come from unlikely and distant sources.

Seasons Of The Witch - A tale that is written in the style of a modern fairy tale and proves very effective indeed. Fabulously compelling.

The Writing On The Wall - The set piece of and title story for the entire collection. I read this and found that it was so well written it was almost 3D HD. A very "cinematically" written story which frankly could be made into an excellent movie. I am in awe of Morrigan's talents.

Frigid Air - A guest appearance by Steven Miscandlon who edited, proof read and carried out graphic design work on the cover. He proves to be a fine writer too in this great tale. I most liked the wit and humour that he carefully wove into the narrative like little chuckle mines in a minefield awaiting a hapless foot to step on them. A fine story well told.

Download The Writing On The Wall HERE

If you haven't already check out the following titles by Julie Morrigan:
Gone Bad - A collection of short stories featuring dark deeds.
Convictions - Julie's Debut Thriller Novel
Heartbreaker - Julie's latest novel released in October 2011.

I Should Have Seen It Coming by Victoria Watson

Victoria Watson is one of Trestle Press’s newest signings. She impressed me greatly with this excellent story.  Written in the first person Watson unveils the story of a woman who has fallen upon hard times.

The woman finds a deck of tarot cards and the next thing you know she is called Jacqueline Stargazer and is making plenty of money fraudulently.  If you mess with karma you soon find things don’t go your way.  So it is for our central character.

Watson has most definitely found a strong voice for this story and we find that we are sympathetic with the main character throughout. She managed to pack plenty into this short story and it is clear that she is an accomplished and very competent writer.  This tale although told in the first person never for one moment became dull or uninteresting she keeps it real and believable.

You would be hard pressed to find fault with the internal dialogue described by Watson it struck a chord as being a genuine thought process and as any writer knows that is a hard thing to achieve. I’ll be looking out for more from the talented Victoria Watson.

Catch Victoria's blog HERE
Download her story (Only 86p!) HERE

Liverpool 5 by Luca Veste

Luca Veste sprang onto the writing scene earlier this year like a scouse gazelle on steroids.  He very quickly established a good name for himself with his excellent blog Guilty Conscience

Liverpool 5 is a collection of five flash fiction stories. The stories are set in and around the great city of Liverpool. The stories are about life, death and the wafer thin relationship between the two to quote Luca.
I’ll discuss each story in the order it appears in the collection. As this is flash fiction I’ll try to generalise so that I don’t give anything away.

Dreams – This story is perhaps my favourite of the collection. Luca makes a great point about life, friendship and relationships in this story. A heart warming and beautifully melancholy tale.

Model Behaviour – Social networks come under a lot of scrutiny.  On the news you hear mainly negative things.  But what if someone used it to reach out to you in a time of crisis? A fantastic observational story that makes you think.

Heavy Sleeper – Now a couple of years ago I slept through an earthquake.  This story sent a chill down my spine because I am a heavy sleeper.  An excellent and darkly chilling tale.

Peeling Spuds – A tyrant of a husband.  A selfish pig who cares about nothing and no one but himself. Everyone has their breaking point right? Eloquently related from the start and with a very clever twist.

He Ain’t Heavy – A tale of two brothers whose lives take them in two different directions which could turn out to have potentially dire consequences.

What Luca Veste does best is give you everyday situations and make them interesting. He has the gift of the storyteller and you find yourself racing to get to the end of each story to see how it turns out. He has an uncomplicated style of writing and that is not a criticism.  He uses this style to great effect to engage and hook the reader expertly.

Trestle Press have once again signed up a cracking writer who I have no doubt will turn out to be the Steven Gerrard of their squad. Strong, solid always reliable and a great finisher.

Download Liverpool 5 for only 86p HERE