WHAT'S NEW IN JUNE, 2010
NEW AND NOTEWORTHY IN JUNE, 2010
The latest edition of THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller is finally available as an eBook and trade paperback. Look for it at Amazon.com.
Kirkus said, "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."
And, for the first time ever, THE UNRESOLVED is available as a paperback and in eBook form. If you held off buying that expensive hardback, now's your chance to read the "author's cut." Click here to purchase your copy today.
In the meantime, THE GOD MACHINE continues to climb up the charts . . . especially as an eBook.
The novel will also soon appear in Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America), in Polish, and even in Turkish. So — Gracias, Dziękuję and Çok Sagolun! (Goodness . . . what's next?)
Spread the good news. If you liked THE GOD MACHINE, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads. (If you do, I'll feature you on this website!) Then, email your friends and tell them about it. Click here for THE GOD MACHINE postcards.
Or, if you already own the book and you want your own GOD MACHINE Bookmark, click here.
The Church insisted it didn't exist.
They lied.
They said it was just a Masonic legend.
It wasn't.
A two thousand year old secret...
Revealed.
The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.
Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets, and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling, and infinitely more deadly.
Now, along with beautiful Indian high-tech mogul Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing . . . staying alive, another.
For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven . . . could open the portals of Hell.
Check out my recent author interview at the official International Thriller Writers official website, and see what prompted me to write THE GOD MACHINE and GOSPEL TRUTHS.
For this month's excerpt from THE GOD MACHINE, click here.
To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.
MOST RECENT REVIEWS
THE GOD MACHINE -- Latest Editorial Reviews
Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
"Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."
bookpage.com
"Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."
Historical Novels Review
"History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"
R&B
"A fast-paced thriller of a ride which kept this reader on her toes. Side by side search and chase more than two centuries apart, the pace and mystery do not waver. A tremendous amount of research must have gone into this book, and into the hands of an author who knew what to do with it . . . Exhilarating, penetrating, even while switching between centuries as far back as A.D.33, does not lose its focus . . . I recommend this book to readers of action, historical fiction, historical religion, and fans of thrillers."
bookideas.com
"The author of Gospel Truths, J.G. Sandom has already shown he intends to give Dan Brown some competition. Fortunately, he has the talent to make this a serious challenge. Brown would be well advised to check his rear view mirror because there's someone closing fast and about to overtake the famous author of The Da Vinci Code!"
Armchair Interviews
"J.G. Sandom creates a thriller that compares in suspense to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code."
Book Passage
"A thrilling tale of secret societies, ancient cover-ups, intellectual puzzles, and nonstop action . . . Original."
Books By Mail (BBM)
"I learned a valuable lesson this weekend. Don't start a J.G. Sandom book at 11:00 at night with the intention of reading a few chapters before bed. When I finally finished the book, it was 2:34 in the morning, and I had to get up in 4 hours. It was definitely worth the loss of sleep. The book is a non-stop suspense ride that takes the reader from past to present . . . a journey that is filled with excitement, love, danger, and murder. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for thrilling read and a thought-provoking story."
GOSPEL TRUTHS -- Latest Editorial Reviews
Crystal Reviews
"J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more . . . Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"
To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.
THE GOD MACHINE -- Latest Reader Reviews
Dave Dafilou @ Amazon.com
"The God Machine is a fast reading fun book. The plot unfolds rapidly and there is constant action. I like the characters in the book. The main character has appeared in previous Sandom books, and although I have not yet read these books, it was easy to follow the references and keep on track with the plot. I also thought Sandom did a good job of setting the scene for the book regardless if it was pre-revolutionary Philadelphia or modern day California. With a few well chosen sentences, the author made you understand the key features of where the scene takes place. That is important for a story that moves across the US and Europe and through differnt time periods. This was my first Sandom novel and I have already bought my next."
Matt @ goodreads.com
"Great read. Fast paced and exciting. Really interesting concept; very thought provoking. Joseph Koster is a great main character, smart and deductive. A thriller you'll have a hard time putting down."
B. Moore @ Amazon.com
"I love to read, read a great deal, but will drop a book I don't find interesting anywhere from the first page to well into the book. I want to be engaged by the plot, the characters, or both. The God Machine has a complicated, engaging plot, and is intelligently written, with vast amounts of historical detail. It moves right along and certainly kept me enthralled. It is a book that is far, far better than many of those on the best-seller lists. And J.G. Sandom is a far better writer than many of those best-selling authors who churn out books like widgets on an assembly line. He deserves a wide audience."
James T. Glover @ Amazon.com
"I bought this book and actually quit reading the book that I was presently reading at the time. Once I started I couldn't put it down. Excellent job keeping you interested and it never lets up. I don't remember a slow part in the whole book. Characters were great and the story was great. Kind of reminded me of Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. Not that the plot was the same just there was a lot of stuff that was in both books. However, I found this book much better and better written. I would suggest this book to anyone who loves a historical thriller."
Moni @ Amazon.com
"J.G. Sandom's first novel, Gospel Truths, was called "the thinking man's Da Vinci Code." Now, with the publication of The God Machine, Sandom has secured his position as the premier writer of theo-thrillers, outdoing even Dan Brown . . . I LOVED this book! It doesn't pander to readers, and, like with Gospel Truths, I learned all kinds of interesting things about the Gnostics, an early Christian sect labeled heretics by the Church, plus a host of real historical characters: from Da Vinci and Ben Franklin, to electrical geniuses Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison . . . I also loved the fact that the book features a smart and beautiful woman of color, Savita Sajan, Koster's partner. It's rare to read books where such characters are truly 3-dimensional, and not just thrown in as exotic love interests. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys religious thrillers and mysteries. It's fast-paced, well-written and fun. Plus, as with all of Sandom's books, you'll not only be entertained, but learn something new and interesting too."
Thriller Crazy @ Amazon.com
"While checking out a new novel by Steve Berry, I came across this new religious thriller by J.G. Sandom called The God Machine. A quick scan revealed that the book features a heroine named Savita Sajan. As a woman of Indian descent, it's rare to see such characters in popular fiction, and so I snapped it up.
"I am so glad I did. I LOVED this book. It's a roller-coaster of a ride that flits back and forth in time, from the days of Benjamin Franklin (a central character in the book), to today. Without giving away too much of the plot, the book involves the quest for a lost Gnostic gospel (the Gospel of Judas) once owned by Ben Franklin, and thought heretical by the organized Church. If uncovered, the presence of the gospel might completely undermine the Church because it features a version of Christ's teachings that are contrary to what we have come to believe today.
"But the book is so much more. This particular version of the gospel features a strange drawing, a part of which was first rendered soon after the time of Christ by one of his followers, and then expanded over the centuries by Leonardo Da Vinci, Franklin himself, and later by other electrical inventors, from Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison, to Savita herself. (Savita actually attended Edison High School!)
"Too often in novels when Indian women are depicted, they're either subservient bystanders or exotic sex kittens. But in The God Machine, Savita Sajan is actually the head of a very successful high-tech company in Silicon Valley. (I couldn't help thinking of Padmasree Warrior, the CTO of Cisco Systems.) Brilliant, often funny, deeply religious, passionate, and, yes, beautiful, Savita Sajan is someone all girls (Indian or not) can look up to. I also liked her male counterpart, the hero of the novel, Joseph Koster, who suffers from a mild form of Asperger's syndrome, a kind of autism.
"The book is set primarily in New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC, but Savita and Koster also travel to England and France in their quest, places where Franklin lived and worked during his career as a statesman. And wherever they go, they're trailed by a Columbian killer nun who assassinates the enemies of the Church by strangling them with her rosary beads. Really creepy!
"While the book succeeds brilliantly as a thriller (I couldn't put it down), it's also chockfull of interesting tidbits about Biblical history, chip technology, the Knights of Malta, Freemasonry and, of course, the life of Ben Franklin. It also explores the connection between religion and science, things based on faith versus things based on reason. I loved that about it because it really made me think in new ways about science.
"I recommend this book to anyone who likes religious thrillers, historical thrillers (for the parts that take place in the 18th century) and for those readers who actually like to learn something while they're being entertained. It's kind of like Dan Brown meets Michael Crichton. Buy it. You won't be disappointed."
Ed Lute @ Reading Experiences
"A very good thriller . . . (with a) very well developed plot . . . (and) a strong Gnostic message . . . The book has made me curious again about Ben Franklin. Recommended!"
D.T. @ Amazon.com
"I picked up this book when it was recommended by Amazon. I am so glad they did. It was really a fun read. I love religious thrillers and this was one of the best I've read. Just as good as any Dan Brown's written. In fact I liked it a lot more than The Lost Symbol. The story caught me right from the beginning. I thought the main character, Joseph Koster, was really interesting. He suffers from a mild form of autism called Asperger's Syndrome that makes him socially inept but also really good at certain mathematical problems, which is why he's a good code breaker. I also liked the heroine in the story, an Indian woman named Savita Sajan. She's smart and successful and beautiful, all at once! Plus, one of the villains is a nun who kills people (get this) with her rosary! As a former Catholic school girl, I could really identify. The pace of the book is like a roller coaster. And while you learn a lot about things like the freemasons and the founding fathers (Franklin plays a role in the book) the story is so interesting that it never gets in the way of the plot. I finished the book in two sittings! I've never read anything else by this author but I plan to now. It was that good."
David Hall @ Amazon.com
"For those of us that need to view American history from a different point, this reader was not disappointed. The writer's research and description of Ben Franklin and his time is more than commendable. It must be applauded. The locations of early America are accurate. For a reader who has not visited historical London or Paris, this is for you. For those of us who are familiar with present-day New York City, you will find comfort. I suggest that a reader read GOSPEL TRUTHS first. That novel will give a good foundation for THE GOD MACHINE . . . How the author keeps his history, location, personalities, and science in order is almost incomprehensible. The science alone will make a science buff scream with joy . . . Please give this well-written work a try. You will not have wasted your money."
Traveler @ Amazon.com
"I have loved Sandom's books in the past but, with this novel, he really hit it out of the ballpark. The history is rich, the characters real, and the clip irrestible. You won't want the story to end. Perhaps most memorable for me was Sandom's portrayal of Ben Franklin. I have long been fascinated with Franklin and I feel like Sandom personalized him for me in an unforgettable way. You will savor this book long after you finish. Enjoy!"
abdoggett @ Up in the Air and BN.com
"I really enjoyed this book! It is a cross between The Da Vinci Code and National Treasure. It really should be made into a movie. I am looking forward to reading Gospel Truths. If you are a fan of historical thrillers such as The Lost Symbol, you should definitely read The God Machine. It is a fast-paced, page-turner that keeps you hooked right up until the last page. A GREAT read!"
R.S. Beck @ BN.com
"The God Machine is perfect for night-time reading. The characters are accessible and the thrilling plot moves fluidly. Even if you think you know what is going to happen at the end, you keep reading to find out the conclusion. What Dan Brown has on Mr. Sandom, I do not understand. This book should be made into a movie."
George Smith @ Amazon.com
"This is the best religious thriller I've ever read...Part historical fiction, I loved the way it brought Benjamin Franklin to life . . . The God Machine is perfect summer reading, a beach book that will shake you like a rag doll while you sizzle . . . the book is also a keen exploration of the relationship between science and religion, proof and faith, and how our culture has turned technology into a kind of 21st century deity . . . As well-researched and historically fascinating as Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, as relentless and fast-paced as James Rollins's Doomsday Key, and as well-written as Paul Sussman's The Last Secret of the Temple, The God Machine has it all!"
David Lincoln Ross @ Amazon.com
"Sandom is a born story-teller . . . (THE GOD MACHINE) is a well-oiled and humming mystery, whose pages fly by in a flurry of action and suspense."
James Wynbrandt @ Amazon.com
"An illuminating, intelligent and gripping thriller . . . as relentless in its pace as it is rigorous in its plotting and satisfying in its payoff . . . Propelled by a gallery of unforgettable supporting characters drawn not so much from imagination as from a twisted parallel universe . . . Sandom has managed to make both the machine and his story as real, palpable, and alternately beautiful and terrifying as what we expect to find at the heart of the eternal battle between good and evil."
Mandi @ Entertainment Weekly (under The Lost Symbol review)
"Just finished reading another book The God Machine by J.G. Sandom that also has the masons. That one was good too."
E.M.S. Cohen @ jgsandom.com
"Just read you for the first time. Thrilled! Enjoyed it."
A.G. (Gavin) Williams @ Amazon.co.uk
"The cross that anyone writing a book such as The God Machine must bear is the horrendous oversaturation of the thriller genre at the moment with Da Vinci Code similarities. (Note: Da Vinci Code was not the first of this type of book, but was the one most easily recognised.) So, it was with a lot of caution I started reading this book, and was fully prepared to go into "airport-lounge-rapid-page-flick" mode. I surprised myself by actually enjoying this. Good job by J.G. Sandom to keep elements fresh. If you like this type of genre, it's a good book to buy."
Bonnie Brooks @ Amazon.com
"This gripping historic adventure mystery weaves through the past to the present and will keep you turning the pages."
Ted Gramkow @ Amazon.com
"The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons were made possible by Mr Sandom's genre-breaking novel Gospel Truths, published in 1992. Now with The God Machine, he has set the bar even higher for future religious thrillers . . . In The God Machine the reader gets it all: crafty intrigue, implausable situations, historical references all tightly woven and masterfully written . . . Before you head to the movies this summer and spend $12 for a ticket to see another lackluster Hollywood summer bummer like Angels and Demons, order The God Machine, pull out the beach chair, pop open the umbrella, dig your toes in the sand and have fun with this well-crafted thriller. It's well worth the time."
Douglas W. Randall @ Amazon.com
"One thing I liked about The God Machine is its historical detail. I spent hours looking up enlightening things from the book. It's a good read and a great story."
Ladybug @ Amazon.com
"I loved this book! It's not a difficult read, (and) you don't have to get too bogged down in any special knowledge; the author gives you what you need. The characters are likeable and believable . . . A fun read for vacation, when you don't want to overinvest!"
Karen Elley @ The Book Case
Re Nikola Tesla's recent 115th Birthday, Karen writes: "Tesla is in good company—Edison, da Vinci, and Ben Franklin — in J.G. Sandom’s page-turning thriller, The God Machine."
Marcia Zand @ jgsandom.com
"The perfect balance of history, intrigue and action to leave the veteran reader sated."
Jeff Einstein @ Amazon.com
"Sandom just keeps getting better. Who else can write in such delicious detail about religion, microchip architecture, Ben Franklin, the Freemasons and the Enlightenment — all under one cover? And who else can dress it all up in the habit of a disarmingly gorgeous but sociopathic killer nun? The God Machine is terrific fun, and a great read. Buy it."
gracie412 @ Amazon.com
"I loved this book . . . fast-paced, easy to read, and kept me on my toes until the last page . . . If you like books with action, adventure and really smart plots, this is the novel for you!"
seagull49 @ BN.com
"One of the best books I have ever read. Right there with the great Dan Brown . . . Do your shelf a favor and buy it."
Muriel Falvey @ jgsandom.com
"I love history, I love religious thrillers, and 'The God Machine' is one of the best I've read . . . Who needs Dan Brown when you have J. G. Sandom?"
Adam Bierman @ jgsandom.com
"Highly entertaining, and yet you don't leave your brain at the front cover!"
John Moore @ jgsandom.com
"As good as any Dan Brown has written . . . I could not put it down."
Travis Deputy @ Amazon.com
"This novel can definitely stand on its own two feet amongst the crowded religious thriller genre; and not only does it stand, it shines among some of the best in the field. This one's got wheels, not feet! Definitely the best religious thriller I've read in a while . . . Better than The Da Vinci Code . . . I give it 5 stars out of 5, or 10 out of 10! It's a rarity in the world of fiction, especially amongst those of this ilk. Buy it now and prepare to be up for an allnighter!!!"
Amos Lassen @ Amazon.com
"This is quite a book — so much so that I read this in one sitting. It is full of adventure and paced so that, for me, it was impossible to put down . . . The God Machine pulled me in and kept me hooked."
To purchase your copy of THE GOD MACHINE, click here.
GOSPEL TRUTHS -- Latest Reader Reviews
Etienne @ Etienne's Blog
"I chose this book and this author because I read an article comparing the author to Dan Brown and the book to The Da Vinci Code. Well, now that I finished it I can say that (it's)...a very good story...The ending is slightly different than that of other books which deal with the same subject...Usually, in other books, the characters decide to do nothing with the discovery (of a hertical gospel) -- as this would upset society. But, in this case, the author chooses a more open ending."
David Hall @ jgsandom.com
"Michner and Rutherford wrote complex historical novels. I am so amazed when an author combines technical, historical and complex writing in a single work, as you have. We readers of novels depend on the accuracy of the presentations . . . I look forward to any future writings."
Dan @ Square Dancing Dan in Denmark
"The atmosphere in Gospel Truths is dark and moody. Sandom is a creative wordsmith and his characters are compelling and likeable . . . (GOSPEL TRUTHS) delivers a well crafted story with surprising twists . . . l am looking forward to reading the sequel."
Tom Bradley @ chapters.indigo.ca
"Gospel Truths is a moody, literate thriller that preceded The Da Vinci Code by more than a decade. It's a great mystery, intricate and complex. A great read."
Ben @ www.goodreads.com
"Fascinating and well-written, it's what the genre should be — an intellectual, as well as a visceral thrill."
Lee Titus @ jgsandom.com
"May God truly guide your wonderfully magnificent work! Thank you from Lee! P.S. I really look forward to reading The God Machine."
To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.
THE WAVE -- Latest Reader Reviews
Harvey @ amazon.com
"A riveting look at the shadowy war on terrorism . . . An action-packed, non-stop thriller. John Decker, a Cryptanalyst working with the FBI assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, finds himself working on a deadly plot of eco-terrorism. The plot is masterminded by Jihadist El Aqrab, who has recently been arrested for slaughtering a family in Tel Aviv. John Decker is determined to discover why. This gripping book takes you along on John Decker's assigment involving the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, murder and romance. This book would be an incredible movie!"
To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.
READERS' POLL
Here are the results of the May 2010 Readers' Poll, derived from Chapter 13 of THE GOD MACHINE. The question was, "What was etched on Ben Franklin's concave mirror after his house had been robbed?" Only one third of you got this one right. The correct answer was, "A Maltese Cross."
For the results of previous polls, click here.
PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS
For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here...just for fun! Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.
Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.
READINGS & SIGNINGS
Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club? Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about THE GOD MACHINE, THE WAVE, THE UNRESOLVED or any of my other books? Click here to learn how you can bring me into your home via a free Skype online video call. All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.
I appreciate your feedback. If you'd like to say something about a reading, please click here.
IN OTHER NEWS
Did you enjoy THE GOD MACHINE? Read the prequel: GOSPEL TRUTHS . . . now available as an eBook!
Before The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol . . . before The Last Templar . . . before The Secret . . . and before THE GOD MACHINE — there was GOSPEL TRUTHS! Re-released after almost two decades, it's time to read the book that started it all.
J.G. Sandom is featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview.
Booklist called GOSPEL TRUTHS, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller . . . (and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery . . . captivating and engrossing."
When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal — leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four — intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.
For an excerpt from GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.
To challenge yourself with a GOSPEL TRUTHS puzzle, click here.
To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.
THE WAVE - A John Decker Thriller continues to climb up the charts, especially in eBook form.
If you liked GOSPEL TRUTHS or THE HUNTING CLUB, if you enjoyed THE UNRESOLVED or RESURRECTION MEN, if you're loving THE GOD MACHINE, check out THE WAVE — A John Decker Thriller.
Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."
When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses. Some call it aesthetic destruction.
Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.
While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.
Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.
See some recent TV interviews on "Breezin' with Bierman" — available at YouTube. Watch me read from THE WAVE, and chat about my other recent publications.
[NOTE: I am currently working on a sequel to THE WAVE called THE PLAGUE. More announcements about this new John Decker thriller soon!]
For an excerpt from THE WAVE, click here.
To purchase your copy of THE WAVE, click here.
RESURRECTION MEN is my third Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh. If you're planning to buy a copy, hold tight: It will be available in paperback and eBook form in only a few weeks.
RESURRECTION MEN was recently featured in Curriculum Connections ("Murder and Mayhem Under Grey skies" by Joyce Adams Burner), a joint venture publication between School Library Journal and TeachingBooks.net that reaches more than 60,000 educators and librarians around the country every month. Click here to hear me speak about the pen name T.K. Welsh through the TeachingBooks.net "Name Pronounciation Guide".
Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires me to write my YA novels, and learn something about my writing process.
RESURRECTION MEN was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.
Publishers Weekly called RESURRECTION MEN, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale . . . T.K. Welsh is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called RESURRECTION MEN perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction . . . I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details . . . The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “T.K. Welsh, where have you been? I loved this book . . . Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”
Inspired by the 1831 "Italian Boy trial" of body snatchers in London, England, RESURRECTION MEN is a spine-tingling murder mystery that pits a beggar boy named Victor against a nefarious group of Resurrection Men. In this tumultuous dark underworld, where a fresh subject can fetch as much as nine guineas — the yearly salary of a working man — Victor must risk his life to uncover the identity of the murderer who is at the heart of London's furtive trade in human corpses.
For a sample chapter of RESURRECTION MEN, click here.
If you already own a copy, click here to access a secret section of the site...just for you. [NOTE: Make sure to enter the name Secret (S-e-c-r-e-t) and the correct Password, printed at the rear of the book.]
To purchase your copy of RESURRECTION MEN, click here!
The UNRESOLVED is my second Young Adult (YA) novel, published under the pen name T.K. Welsh . . . and, of all my work, one of my personal favorites. It is now — finally — available in paperback and in eBook form. Click here to get your copy of the "author's cut" version of what the Washington Post called a "subtle gem."
THE UNRESOLVED was ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books by the Washington Post, and nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, which recognized only six works in Jewish teen literature that year. THE UNRESOLVED was also nominated for the Cybils literary awards, named one of only a handful of Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.
The Washington Post said, "Welsh writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction." School Library Journal said, "THE UNRESOLVED tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called THE UNRESOLVED, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "THE UNRESOLVED is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review called THE UNRESOLVED, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "THE UNRESOLVED scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."
Inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, THE UNRESOLVED reaches back into history to explore what was, until recently, the greatest disaster in New York City history.
Mallory Meer had just turned fifteen when, thanks to the only boy she ever loved, she would be dead, a victim of the General Slocum steamship disaster. Bound by love to her grieving family, and outraged by the multitude of senseless deaths, Mallory haunts those responsible for the tragedy, determined to see that justice is served.
Based on the real-life sinking of the General Slocum steamship — which caught fire in the East River, New York, in 1904, resulting in the death of over 1,000 mostly German immigrants on a Lutheran church outing — THE UNRESOLVED is at once a ghost story, a courtroom drama, an examination of immigrant life, and a tale of love, redemption and revenge. The novel dramatizes how a single life — and death — can have a powerful influence on history.
For a sample chapter of THE UNRESOLVED, click here.
To purchase your copy of THE UNRESOLVED, click here!
Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books by the Washington Post, which called the novel a "subtle gem," THE UNRESOLVED was named an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens, nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, a Cybils literary award, and a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA).
RESURRECTION MEN is also going to paperback and eBook soon. Keep an eye out!
