Former CIA analyst pens espionage thriller. Want to win it?

Who better to write a spy thriller than a former CIA analyst?

Mark Henshaw's debut novel, "Red Cell" (Touchstone, May 2012, $24.99, 326 pp.) is a fast-paced espionage thriller written by an insider. Henshaw, whom the publisher describes as a decorated CIA analyst, is in the know about the the CIA Red Cell - a top secret analysis unit. Our friends at Wikipedia say: "Red Teams or Red Cells are U.S. government parlance for the National Security Co-ordination Team (NSCT), these teams or units are designed to test the effectiveness of U.S. tactics or personnel."
 
But the way this book came about is not all so top secret as that. Henshaw, married with two children, wrote the book during a seven-year timespan (2003-2010), including two years during which he and his wife were accompanying his son Adam to chemotherapy treatments. Adam, who was battling Leukemia, survived. And so did Henshaw's story, after he battled for it.

"With a complete story finally in hand, I had a few running battles with the CIA Publication Review Board to get it cleared so I could shop it around to literary agents. PRB reviewer were convinced that some of the story details would reveal classified information about Agency tradecraft," he writes in press materials for the book.

It's hard enough to get published these days without having to get permission from a government agency! But Henshaw ultimately won the argument and even got a nod from Hollywood. This story may soon be adapted for the big screen. Per the publisher, the book has already been optioned by Johnny Depp's production company, Infinitum Nihil. 

Want to win it?

Spy thriller lovers, this one's for you. If you would like to "win" my brand new paperback review copy of the book, simply comment on this post with your email address. If you're selected as winner (at random, of course), I'll contact you to find out where to mail the book. If no one comments or otherwise claims the book it will be donated to the Pottstown Regional Public Library.

Book description from the publisher:

From the Tom Clancy of a new generation, a debut thriller following two CIA outcasts who must race to stop a secret Chinese weapon that threatens to provoke a world war.

After her first assignment in Venezuela goes disastrously awry, rookie case officer Kyra Stryker is brought back to Langley to work in the Red Cell, the CIA’s out-of-the-box think tank. There she’s paired with Jonathan Burke, a straitlaced analyst who has alienated his colleagues with his unorthodox methods and a knack for always being right, political consequences be damned. 

MARK HENSHAW

When a raid on Chinese spies in Taiwan ends in a shoot-out and the release of a deadly chemical, CIA director Kathy Cooke turns to the Red Cell to figure out why China is ready to invade the island nation without any fear of reprisal from the US Navy. Stryker and Burke’s only lead is the top CIA asset in China, code named Pioneer. But when Pioneer reports that Chinese security has him under surveillance, Stryker is offered a chance for redemption with a highly dangerous mission: extract Pioneer from China before he’s arrested and executed. The answers he holds could mean the difference between peace in the Pacific or another world war.

From CIA headquarters to the White House to a Navy carrier in the South China Sea and the dark alleyways of Beijing, Red Cell takes readers on a whirlwind race against time as Stryker and Burke work to save Pioneer and discover the hidden threat to America’s power: China’s top-secret weapon. CIA analyst Mark Henshaw infuses expert knowledge of the intelligence world into a pulse-pounding plot to create a fascinating, authentic, and unforgettable read.

Check out the publisher's book website, with access to audio excerpt from book.

About the author:

Mark Henshaw is a graduate of Brigham Young University and a decorated CIA analyst with mroe than 11 years of service. In 2007, Henshaw was awarded the Director of National Intelligence Galileo Award for innovation in intelligence analysis. A former member of the Red Cell think tank, Henshaw lives with his family in Leesburg, Va.

Book giveaway: 'The Hope Vendetta' by Scott Mariani

Today I'm giving away a book that, as you can see, has both flames and guns on its cover - ubiquitous signs of a modern thriller.

Just published earlier this month, "The Hope Vendetta: A Novel" by Scott Mariani, (Touchstone/Simon & Schuster, March 2012, $25, 352 pp.) is written in the vein of Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne novels. Thanks to the publisher, I have a brand new hardcover version of Mariani's latest to give away to one lucky reader.

About the book (from the publisher's website):

A DEADLY CONSPIRACY. AN ANCIENT PROPHECY. A RACE TO STOP AN ATTACK OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS.

Still reeling from a devastating personal loss, ex-SAS operative and hero for hire Ben Hope has decided to put down his gun for good and return to the theology studies he had abandoned years ago. When his professor and friend asks him to help find his missing daughter, archaeologist Zoë Bradbury, Ben declines but puts his former SAS buddy Charlie Palmer on the case. But when Charlie runs into trouble on the Greek island of Corfu, Ben reluctantly joins him to find out what might have happened to Zoë. Ben has no idea he’s just embarked on the most dangerous mission of his life. Ben realizes that Zoë’s most recent archaeological discovery of an artifact related to the book of Revelation is at the heart of her dis-appearance. What is the ancient secret that Zoë uncovered? And just who is willing to do anything to protect it? The investigation leads Ben from the Greek islands to Savannah, Georgia, to the holy city of Jerusalem, and he soon discovers that it’s not just Zoë’s life on the line but those of millions. Yet those hell-bent on staging an end-of-days–like attack for political gain will soon face the ultimate reckoning in Ben Hope.  

About the author (information from his website):

SCOTT MARIANI

Scott Mariani grew up in Scotland. He studied modern languages and film studies at Oxford University and went on to work as a translator, language teacher, professional musician, pistol shooting instructor and freelance journalist before becoming a full-time writer. His books include the Ben Hope series: "The Alchemist's Secret," "The Mozart Conspiracy," "The Doomsday Prophecy," "The Heretic's Treasure," "The Shadow Project," "The Lost Relic," and now "The Hope Vendetta."

Mariani lives and writes in west Wales. He is also the author of the Vampire Federation series: which includes "Uprising and "The Cross."


 Want to win it? Simply comment on this post with your email address. I'll contact you to find out where to mail the book if you are selected.

Novel giveaway: 'Hard Target' by Howard Gordon

It was a little over a year ago that I gave away a copy of Howard Gordon's first novel, "Gideon's War" on this blog (see that post here). It seems Mr. Gordon's been busy, because here we are just 14 months later and I have his follow-up novel to give to a lucky reader.

"Hard Target" by Howard Gordon, (Touchstone, January 2012, 274 pp., $25.99) continues to follow "global peacemaker" Gideon Davis, who finds himself in the middle of a terrorist plot to destroy the U.S. government.

Win the book:

Would you like to win this book? Comment below with your email address. I will contact the winner, who will be selected at random, via email to get his/her mailing address (so I can mail the brand-new review copy of the novel to you.)   

About the book (from the publisher):

Gideon Davis has settled into the quiet life of an academic and is weeks away from being married when he discovers evidence of an impending terrorist attack on U.S. soil. He brings his suspicions to his ex-girlfriend, FBI Agent Nancy Clement, but her bosses are leery of Gideon’s source: a meth-head informant affiliated with a white supremacist group.

Both Gideon and Nancy become increasingly convinced that a serious plot exists, but their informant is murdered before they can get more details from him. So Gideon enlists his brother, Tillman — newly sprung from prison through a presidential pardon — as an undercover operative to infiltrate a group of white supremacists who may be involved.

Eventually, Gideon and Tillman get on the trail of the real conspirators and uncover their audacious plan to eliminate the entire top tier of the U.S. government during a high-value, mass-casualty attack. With only Nancy’s support, Gideon and Tillman go rogue to stop the powerful titan behind the conspiracy before the entire government is toppled.

With nonstop action and ticking time-bomb suspense, Hard Target will keep readers turning pages and their hearts pumping fast.

AUTHOR HOWARD GORDON

About the author:

A Hollywood writer and producer for the past 25 years, Gordon was the executive producer of television's "24" "Angel," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "The X-Files." His current projects include "Homeland," on Showtime, and the recently-debuted prime-time series "Awake" on  NBC.

Gordon's first television work included ABC's "Spenser for Hire" and "Beauty and the Beast."

Gordon is a Princeton University graduate.  He lives with his wife and three children in Los Angeles, Calif. 

Learn more about the author on his website, www.howardmgordon.com

Like mystery? Here's one written by 26 authors (double book giveaway)

Philadelphia-area author Lisa Scottoline is one of 26 writers who collaborated on "No Rest for the Dead: A Novel," a soon-to-be-released mystery (Touchstone Hardcover/Simon & Schuster, July 5, 2011, $24.99, 252 pp.) All proceeds from this thriller (with the exception of contributor expenses) are being donated to an extremely worthy cause - the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

In a manner similar to that icebreaker in which one person would start a story and each person in the circle would add a sentence and continue on until the story took on a life of its own, this novel - a serial novel - was written chapter by chapter by the 26 authors. Each numbered chapter is attributed to the author of that particular chapter. With 31 total chapters, some of the writers penned more than one.

According to the publisher, this is the first time such a large number of bestselling authors have been involved in a single project. The full list of authors is:

Jeff Abbott
Lori Armstrong
Sandra Brown
Thomas Cook
Jeffery Deaver
Diana Gabaldon
Tess Gerritsen
Andrew F. Gulli (also an editor of the novel)
Peter James
J.A. Jance
Faye Kellerman
Raymond Khoury
John Lescroart
Jeff Lindsay
Gayle Lynds
Phillip Margolin
Alexander McCall Smith
Michael Palmer
T. Jefferson Parker
Matthew Pearl
Kathy Reichs
Marcus Sakey
Jonathan Santlofer
Lisa Scottoline
R. L. Stine
Marcia Talley

Edited by brother and sister team Andrew F. and Lamie J. Gulli, the novel includes an introduction by author David Baldacci.

The following description of "No Rest for the Dead: A Novel" was provided by Touchstone:

When Christopher Thomas, a ruthless curator at San Francisco's McFall Art Museum, is murdered and his decaying body is found in an iron maiden in a Berlin museum, his wife, Rosemary, is the primary suspect, and she is tried, convicted and executed. Ten years later, Jon Nunn, the detective who cracked the case, is convinced that the wrong person was put to death. In the years since the case was closed, he's discovered a web of deceit and betrayal surrounding the Thomases that could implicate any number of people in the crime. With the help of the dead woman's friend, he plans to gather everyone who was there the night Christopher died and finally uncover the truth, suspect by suspect. Solving this case may be Nunn's last chance for redemption … but the shadowy forces behind Christopher's death will stop at nothing to silence the past forever.

I have two copies of this brand new book, courtesy of Touchstone, that I'd love to share with two readers. Simply comment on my blog and/or e-mail me at mkaras@pottsmerc.com with your mailing address and I will throw your name in a hat to win the book. Entries must be received before 3 p.m. on Friday, July 2, to be considered. (random drawing). Rest assured, there is no tomfoolery on my part w/ your contact info.... Your address won't be given out to another soul. I just want to know where to send your book, if you're selected.

Also: If you happen to be in New York: The Center for Fiction, 17 E. 47th St, New York, NY 10017 is holding a reception where you can meet a number of the contributors to "No Rest for the Dead" on Friday, July 8, at 7 p.m. Cost is $8, with proceeds going to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The authors scheduled for this event include: R.L. Stine, Diana Gabladon, Jeffery Deaver, Gayle Lynds, Michael Palmer, Peter James, Marcia Talley, John Lescroart, Jonathan Santlofer, and Andrew F. Gulli.

Learn more about the novel at www.norestforthedead.com

To learn more about the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, or make a direct donation, click here.

BOOK GIVEAWAY: Howard Gordon's debut novel, 'Gideon's War'

Today is the release date of Howard Gordon's debut novel, the thriller "Gideon's War" (Touchstone Hardcover/Simon & Schuster, $24.99, 320 pp.).

In honor of the author's first published novel, and the fact that his publicist sent me a fresh copy, I'm giving away a free brand-new hardcover copy to the first person who comments on this blog.

Gordon is the executive producer of television's "24" as well as upcoming TV thrillers "Homeland," on Showtime, and "Legends" set for NBC.

According to his publicist, Gordon has more than 20 years of experience in successful franchises like "24," "The X-Files," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and "Angel." Incidentally, Gordon's first television work included ABC's "Spenser for Hire" and "Beauty and the Beast."

Actor Kiefer Sutherland, with whom Gordon worked on "24" says “True to form of my eight-year experience with Howard Gordon on 24, 'Gideon's War' is a rip-roaring thriller.”

The plot of the book is described as such:

Gideon Davis, an American peacemaker, knows more about hush-hush discussions in Capitol corridors than hand-to-hand combat. But his more practical, tactical skills come into play when he’s called on by family friend and government bigwig Earl Parker to chaperone a rogue agent from Southeast Asia to Washington, D.C. The agent, Tillman Davis, has promised to turn himself in — but only to his estranged brother, Gideon.

Unexpected twists and turns send the mission awry, leaving Gideon, with the help of the attractive, cunning Kate Murphy, to evade hostile local insurgents led by Tillman in this page-turner that will surely keep you guessing.

Alex Berenson, New York Times bestselling author of "The Midnight House", said in promotional materials, “Howard Gordon, the man behind '24,' makes the transition from screen writer to novelist look easy with his ahead-of-the-curve thriller.”

Click here to read a Jan. 7 article, "Howard Gordon inks alter ego to Jack Bauer" on Newsday.com

According to a Jan. 7 posting on the blog 24 Spoilers:

Gordon, 49, began writing this thriller during the 2007 writers’ strike. "Gordon had time on his hands, and had dreamed of writing novels since graduating Princeton," states the blog.

The blog continues that the "particularly well-written page-turner about two brothers – one supremely good, the other not – whose lives were forged by the horror of their parents’ murder-suicide. And here’s the kicker: Gideon Davis is the anti-Jack Bauer, a pacifist who can’t even look at guns. A sequel, 'Allegiance,' is due to come out next year."

Here's an excerpt.