Book Tour – It's All About the Book

May 23 – 29, 2024 Book Blast

Barrister Perris Mysteries

Jonathan Perris Can’t Save His Clients…
Until He Saves Himself

1907

Rising from the devastation of a massive earthquake and fire, San Francisco is once again on the move. But a strike by streetcar drivers threatens to halt the Golden City in its tracks. Protests turn to violence and violence leads to death. Soon a young guard is convicted of willfully killing a protester and the public is out for blood.

Jonathan Perris, an immigrant attorney from England, has opened a law firm with an eye toward righting wrongs, and the guard’s conviction may fall into that category. But the talented barrister soon finds his newfound career shaken by a tragic event: the gruesome homicide of the beautiful and mysterious Lena Mendelssohn—a woman he’s been squiring around town. It’s difficult to run a law firm when you’ve been arrested for murder.

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Book Details:

Genre: Historical Mystery
Published by: Red Trumpet Press
Publication Date: May 21, 2024
Number of Pages: 422
ISBN: 978-1-7337863-4-8 (Paperback) 978-1-7337863-0-0 (ebook)
Series: Barrister Perris Mysteries, Book 1
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

Shortlinks:

Author Bio:

A native of California, A.B. Michaels holds masters’ degrees in history (UCLA) and broadcasting (San Francisco State University). After working for many years as a promotional writer and editor, she turned to writing the kind of page-turning fiction she loves to read. She writes historical fiction (“The Golden City” series, which takes place in Gilded Age San Francisco) as well as contemporary romantic suspense (“Sinner’s Grove Suspense.”). “Barrister Perris Mysteries” is her latest endeavor, based on characters introduced in “The Golden City.” All of her books are stand-alone reads.

Michaels lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband and two elderly, four-legged “sons” (16 and 17!) who don’t seem to know they’re just dogs. She is an avid reader, traveler, quilter and bocce player, as well as a mediocre but enthusiastic golfer.

September 4-29, 2023 Virtual Book Tour

Not every fishmonger can be a secret agent.

Journey to an unnamed mountainous country in central Europe at the end of the Great War. Enter Citizen Orlov, a simple fishmonger and an honest, upright citizen, who answers a phone call meant for a secret agent and stumbles into a hidden world of espionage and secrecy. Recruited by the Ministry of Security, he is sent on assignment to safeguard the king.

But Orlov soon discovers that his ministry handler, the alluring femme fatale Agent Zelle, is planning not to protect the king but to assassinate him. Caught in a web of plot and counterplot, confusing loyalties, and explosive betrayals, Orlov finds himself on trial for murder. Given the opportunity to clear his name, he finds that the lives of his friends, mother, and fellow citizens hang in the balance.

My Thoughts

I used to read a lot of espionage fiction but have gotten away from it over the years. Citizen Orlov reminded me of why I enjoyed the genre so much, while at the same time turning that genre on its ear. Instead of the suave, experienced, clever spy, here we have Citizen Orlov…an Everyman caught up in a convoluted assassination plot simply because he answered a phone call.

Orlov’s practicality and “let’s get on with it” attitude appealed to me as I followed his adventures through to the end. Although I will admit that I had a moment of “is he stupid” when he walked out of jail and immediately returned to selling fish. But he’s not stupid. He’s practical.

Payne’s writing is crisp, featuring short sentences and matter-of-fact dialog and description. He tells Citizen Orlov’s story in a straightforward and unadorned manner, further conveying the general atmosphere of fear and betrayal that permeates the narrative. I found his style a refreshing change from the cozy mysteries I’ve been reading lately.

I’ll be recommending this to fans of espionage fiction and world literature. Well done!

Book Details:

Genre: Espionage Thriller
Published by: CamCat Books
Publication Date: May 2023
Number of Pages: 288
ISBN: 9780744309010 (ISBN10: 0744309018)
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | CamCat Books

Book Shortlinks:

Amazon – https://amzn.to/43khWci
Barnes & Noble – https://bit.ly/3PMigNT
BookShop.org – https://bit.ly/46F66fJ
Goodreads – https://bit.ly/3NzV0Qw
CamCat Books – https://bit.ly/3JPxAFD

Author Bio:

Jonathan Payne is a British-American writer based outside Washington, D.C. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Novel Writing from Middlesex University, London. His short fiction has been featured at the North London Story Festival and in magazines including Turnpike, Twist in Time and Fiction Kitchen Berlin. Before moving to the United States, he worked for the British government on matters of national security. When not writing or reading, he can be found in the boxing gym.