New Books (January 2017)

January 20, 2017August 23, 2018 Civilian Reader New Books Aaron M. Glazer, Alexander Freed, Barbara Bourland, Brian Platzer, Cassandra Khaw, Charles Stross, Chris Wraight, Corey J. White, Deborah A Wolf, Elizabeth Strout, Emily Ruskovich, Gavin Extence, Graeme Simsion, Jack C. Haldeman, Jared Shurin, Jennifer Kitses, Joe Haldeman, Jordanna Max Brodsky, Julianne Pachico, K.M. McKinley, Mahvesh Murad, Matthew Quirk, Michael Ponsor, Mindy Mejia, N.J. Fountain, Nicholas Eames, Nicky Drayden, Robert Elegant, Sara Blaedel, Sarah Gailey, Steve Rasnic Tem, Susan Dennard, Thomas Perry, Tim Lebbon, Titus Chalk, Zoe Fraade-Blanar

I had anticipated a slow month, but the first couple of weeks of January have seen a flood of new ARCs and eARCs come in, as well as a few that I’ve picked up myself. So, this is the first of probably two such posts this month. Any of the below catch your attention? Have you read any already? Feel free to leave a comment.

Featuring: Sara Blaedel, Barbara Bourland, Jordanna Max Brodsky, Titus Chalk, Susan Dennard, Nicky Drayden, Nicholas Eames, Robert Elegant, Gavin Extence, N.J. Fountain, Zoe Fraade-Blanar, Alexander Freed, Sarah Gailey, Aaron M. Glazer, Joe Haldeman, Jack C. Haldeman, Jaroslav Kalfar, Cassandra Khaw, Jennifer Kitses, Tim Lebbon, Mahvesh Murad, Mindy Mejia, K.M. McKinley, Julianne Pachico, Thomas Perry, Michael Ponsor, Brian Platzer, Matthew Quirk, Steve Rasnic Tem, Emily Ruskovich, Jared Shurin, Graeme Simsion, Charles Stross, Elizabeth Strout, Corey J. White, Deborah A. Wolf, Chris Wraight

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New Books (Jan)

January 15, 2016August 23, 2018 Civilian Reader New Books A.F.E. Smith, Adam O’Fallon Price, Algonquin, Anthony O’Neill, Black Library, Bret Witter, Camille Perri, Carol Goodman, China Miéville, Christopher Farnsworth, Christopher Sorrentino, Doubleday, Gav Thorpe, Glen Erik Hamilton, Glen Weldon, Gollancz, Grove Atlantic, Heidi Pitlor, Jill Lepore, Joanne Harris, Jonathan Wood, Kristopher Jansma, Lavie Tidhar, Lawrence M Schoen, Lindsey Davis, Liz de Jager, Louisa Hall, Matt Gallagher, Matthew Quirk, Megan Miranda, Mike Lawson, Minotaur Books, Mulholland Books, Open Road Media, Patrick Lee, Richard Kadrey, Richard Russo, Rob Boffard, Sean McFate, Simon & Schuster, Simon Morden, St Martin's Press, Tachyon Publications, Terry Brooks, Thomas Christopher Greene, Tim Akers, Tim Lebbon, Titan Books, Tor Books, Transworld, Viking, Voyager, William Morrow

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A post-Christmas and New Year smorgasbord of awesome has come flooding in, these past couple of weeks. On top of that, there have been some I’ve bought myself (I got a lot of wonderful book vouchers and Amazon credit, this year…).

Featuring: Tim Akers, Robert Jackson Bennett, Rob Boffard, Terry Brooks, Lindsey Davis, Liz de Jager, Christopher Farnsworth, Matt Gallagher, Carol Goodman, Thomas Christopher Greene, Louisa Hall, Glen Erik Hamilton, Joanne Harris, Kristopher Jansma, Richard Kadrey, Mike Lawson, Tim Lebbon, Patrick Lee, Jill Lepore, Sean McFate & Bret Witter, China Miéville, Megan Miranda, Simon Morden, Anthony O’Neill, Adam O’Fallon Price, Camille Perri, Heidi Pitlor, Matthew Quirk, Richard Russo, Lawrence M. Schoen, A.F.E. Smith, Christopher Sorrentino, Gav Thorpe, Lavie Tidhar, Glen Weldon, Jonathan Wood Continue reading →

Review: THE DIRECTIVE by Matthew Quirk (Headline/Back Bay)

October 22, 2014 Civilian Reader Review Back Bay Books, Crime, Headline, Little Brown US, Matthew Quirk, Mike Ford Series, Politics, Thriller, Washington

A series of unfortunate events met with terrible decisions

What if the only way to go straight is to break the law?

Michael Ford has finally escaped his chequered past to lead the respectable life he’s always dreamed of, preparing to settle down with his fiance Annie. But the quiet is shattered when his brother, Jack, comes back into his life.

Jack is a world-class con man who has finally overplayed his hand. He’s in way over his head in a conspiracy to steal a billion-dollar secret from the heart of the financial system. And in an effort to help his brother, Mike soon finds himself trapped by the dangerous men in charge — and responsible for pulling off the heist himself.

With Annie’s safety on the line, Mike tries to figure out who’s behind the job — and realises the only way to keep the honest life is to return to his criminal past. But will he get in too deep to save Annie’s life?

You may have caught my glowing review for Matthew Quirk’s debut, The 500. It was with considerable anticipation, therefore, that I awaited for his next book. The Directive, a direct sequel, failed to live up to my expectations. There are some good things to say, but sadly it had just as many flaws as strengths and they eclipsed much of what I enjoyed.
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