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Hi readers and fellow authors,
If you are looking for a fast-paced, twisty, and action-packed slice of noir then try my novel The Gamblers. It starts at breakneck speed, ends with a bang and packs in enough incident and tension along the way to keep even the most jaded reader of crime fiction biting their fingernails! The plot revolves around the build up, execution and aftermath of a double heist that involves a lot of drug money. It isn't one for the cosy crowd (I will warn you now - it's violent and the characters swear a lot), but if you're an Elmore Leonard or Jim Thompson fan then I think you'll get a real kick out of it.
You can get this big, complex thriller for only 99p in the UK (normally £1.99) and $0.99 in the US (normally $2.99) for the rest of November. A bargain, even if I do say so myself.
Here are a couple of reviews from the US Amazon page:
4.0 out of 5 stars Great characters, crazy story
By Heath Lowrance (Detroit)
Kandinsky is a hardcore gambling addict and loser who owes far more than he can repay to loan shark. He's a guy who's screwed from the get-go. But when he overhears a plan to rob a drug dealer, he convinces himself and his friends--who are even bigger losers than him--that they can pull off a miracle. THE GAMBLERS is a sprawling, complicated novel with lots of intriguing characters, a great sense of humor, and a beautifully constructed sense of impending doom. The large cast are all tied together in really clever ways that you wouldn't suspect, and as each of their personal sagas play out, and wind closer together, you're left slightly amazed that Stanley is able to pull it off. It's a very well-structured novel, but Stanley's real strength is the depth and believability of his characters.
5.0 out of 5 stars The mutant son of "The French Connection"
By Mets6986 (New York, NY)
When William Friedkin's movie version of "The French Connection" came out in 1971, it raised the bar for depictions of grittiness and nastiness in the drug underworld. A lot has come along since then, but after finishing "The Gamblers" by Martin Stanley, this is the closest parallel for me.
The hero of "The French Connection" -- Popeye Doyle -- was not especially sympathetic. Neither is the protagonist of "The Gamblers," Kandinsky. In fact, he's a dreadful human being who's trying vainly to redeem himself by the worst means possible. He's surrounded by a huge array of even more loathsome characters, yet some of them (such as Liam the dealer and Dave the ultra-dirty cop) still engage gleams of sympathy as they try to keep their lives on track amid chaos.
The subject matter here is not everyone's cup of tea. The violence is pulverizing (and the raunch factor is very, very high). But I stayed up well past my bedtime last night to finish this because I was compelled to see how it turned out. The intricate web of deceits and double-crosses plays out really well. Every time you think things can't get worse, they do. And the atmosphere -- with a big hand from the regional English locations and accents -- is very rich.
US Link UK link
If you are looking for a fast-paced, twisty, and action-packed slice of noir then try my novel The Gamblers. It starts at breakneck speed, ends with a bang and packs in enough incident and tension along the way to keep even the most jaded reader of crime fiction biting their fingernails! The plot revolves around the build up, execution and aftermath of a double heist that involves a lot of drug money. It isn't one for the cosy crowd (I will warn you now - it's violent and the characters swear a lot), but if you're an Elmore Leonard or Jim Thompson fan then I think you'll get a real kick out of it.
You can get this big, complex thriller for only 99p in the UK (normally £1.99) and $0.99 in the US (normally $2.99) for the rest of November. A bargain, even if I do say so myself.
Here are a couple of reviews from the US Amazon page:
4.0 out of 5 stars Great characters, crazy story
By Heath Lowrance (Detroit)
Kandinsky is a hardcore gambling addict and loser who owes far more than he can repay to loan shark. He's a guy who's screwed from the get-go. But when he overhears a plan to rob a drug dealer, he convinces himself and his friends--who are even bigger losers than him--that they can pull off a miracle. THE GAMBLERS is a sprawling, complicated novel with lots of intriguing characters, a great sense of humor, and a beautifully constructed sense of impending doom. The large cast are all tied together in really clever ways that you wouldn't suspect, and as each of their personal sagas play out, and wind closer together, you're left slightly amazed that Stanley is able to pull it off. It's a very well-structured novel, but Stanley's real strength is the depth and believability of his characters.
5.0 out of 5 stars The mutant son of "The French Connection"
By Mets6986 (New York, NY)
When William Friedkin's movie version of "The French Connection" came out in 1971, it raised the bar for depictions of grittiness and nastiness in the drug underworld. A lot has come along since then, but after finishing "The Gamblers" by Martin Stanley, this is the closest parallel for me.
The hero of "The French Connection" -- Popeye Doyle -- was not especially sympathetic. Neither is the protagonist of "The Gamblers," Kandinsky. In fact, he's a dreadful human being who's trying vainly to redeem himself by the worst means possible. He's surrounded by a huge array of even more loathsome characters, yet some of them (such as Liam the dealer and Dave the ultra-dirty cop) still engage gleams of sympathy as they try to keep their lives on track amid chaos.
The subject matter here is not everyone's cup of tea. The violence is pulverizing (and the raunch factor is very, very high). But I stayed up well past my bedtime last night to finish this because I was compelled to see how it turned out. The intricate web of deceits and double-crosses plays out really well. Every time you think things can't get worse, they do. And the atmosphere -- with a big hand from the regional English locations and accents -- is very rich.
US Link UK link
