Michael P. King

Woo hoo! It’s the winter holidays. No matter what you’re celebrating, I wish you and yours a fabulous holiday and a wonderful new year.

Great news. The Dark Web Scam: The Travelers Book 9 eBook version will be released this month. Because of Covid, people working from home, etc., getting the eBook distributed is taking longer than usual, so I’m not quite sure of the official release date. But as soon as I know, you’ll know. Hope it’s going to be a great addition to the Travelers series. Can’t wait to hear what you think.

How could a little murder-for-hire scam go so wrong? The Travelers and a computer hacker are operating a dark web con, taking cash from suckers who think they’ve hired contract killers. Easy money. And no one to complain to the police. But after their partner is murdered, they’re on the hunt for payback.

I’ll send a reminder when the official release date is certain, so you’ll know that The Dark Web Scam is available at your preferred vendor and about any special pricing to celebrate the release.

In the meantime, I’ve been reading a few old Perry Mason mysteries. I knew about them, of course, and I’ve seen some of the original TV shows on Amazon Prime, as well as the new HBO show, which made me want to have a look at the original books.

I read The Case of the Dubious Bridegroom and The Case of the Lonely Heiress. These are real pre-Miranda period pieces, so the police have a lot more leeway and Perry Mason isn’t afraid to push the law right to the edge. The writing is serviceable, and the storytelling is first rate. So if you haven’t read any of them, you might want to give them a try.That’s all for now. Happy reading!

Bought a gas fire pit for the back porch so we can extend our outside time farther into the fall. So far, it’s been a great place to drink Saturday morning coffee and watch the birds at the feeder.

The Dark Web Scam: The Travelers Book 9 is still being edited. Hope it’s going to be a great addition to the Travelers series.

How could a little murder-for-hire scam go so wrong? The Travelers and a computer hacker are operating a dark web con, taking cash from suckers who think they’ve hired contract killers. Easy money. And no one to complain to the police. But after their partner is murdered, they’re on the hunt for payback.

I just read Breakout, the 21^st Parker novel. This one involves a prison breakout and subsequent caper. As you might recall, I’m a big fan of these books and they’re an inspiration for the Travelers series. Donald Westlake, writing as Richard Stark, wrote 24 Parker books, the first 16 from 1962-1974, the last 8 from 1997-2008. The latter ones have to deal with technologies that didn’t exist when the series began. But every one of these books that I’ve read (twenty, perhaps?) has been a riveting page turner.

While on the subject of fun reads, Grosse Ponte Pulp: John Rockne Mystery Series books 1-3 by Dan Ames is free today. I picked up a copy. Here’s the link if you want to check it out. (There’s nothing in this for me. Just though you might like to know.)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I5RZD2E

That’s all for now. Happy reading!

Here’s another in the series of emails about the thinking behind a Travelers book. This time, Thicker Than Thieves.

Often, in a Travelers book, the Traveling Man’s wife does the key seduction, while the Traveling Man is more focused on manipulating the other pieces of the puzzle. (Like in The Blackmail Photos.) So in Thicker Than Thieves, I thought it would be fun to put him in the role of primary seducer.

To that, I wanted to add a scam we haven’t seen before in a Travelers book (always looking for something new!), which led to the idea of the Travelers robbing smugglers.

From there, one choice lead to another. The smuggled item to be stolen? Mob diamonds from India. The smugglers to steal from? Iranian Americans. And so it goes until we’re dealing with white nationalists and Middle Eastern jihadis.

It was a little more research than usual, but lots of fun to write. Getting all the pieces to fall together was a complicated challenge. I hope you enjoyed it.

If you haven’t yet read Thicker Than Thieves, you can check it out here:

https://books2read.com/u/megY8g

Happy reading!

The days are getting shorter, the leaves are falling, and we had to bring the plants in off the porch. (Yes, it’s Iowa and winter is coming. Just not for a while we hope.)

The Dark Web Scam: The Travelers Book 9 is off with the copyeditor. When a murder-for-hire scam goes wrong, the Travelers find themselves up against sex traffickers and drug dealers, with a newspaper reporter and the cops thrown into the mix for good measure. Getting even has never been easy, but does it have to be this hard?

Meanwhile, from the “you can’t make this up” file, here’s an article from the Atlantic Magazine about a woman who helped a prisoner escape from prison in a dog crate. Really. Not kidding.

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/10/toby-dorrs-great-escape/615487/

Also, I was just turned on to Joseph Kanon. He writes thriller and spy novels set at the end of World War II. I’m reading his first novel, Los Alamos, which involves a murder investigation that takes place in 1945 during the Manhattan Project to build the atomic bomb. Thus far, an excellent read.

Finally, if you’re into free eBook promos, here are two I’m participating in:  The October First-in-Series Crime Promotion and the “Fifty Free” Thrillers promotion. As usual, you get a free eBook for an email list signup. Hope you find something you like! Here’re the links:

https://books.bookfunnel.com/crimeseriespromo/c7izpftc57

https://books.bookfunnel.com/free_action_adventure_thrillers/6jrgchuv4n

That’s all for now. Happy reading!

As I promised, here are the links to two free eBook promos:

Free Thrillers to Stuff that New Kindle:

 https://books.bookfunnel.com/thrillerstuffers/iudqpk0ev9

Darkest Days: https://books.bookfunnel.com/darkestdays/7nefixz2yd

As usual, you get a free book for an email list signup. There is some overlap between these two promos, but there are enough new choices for me to share them with you all. Hope you find a great read to hold you over until The Murder Runis released next month.

Happy New Year!

 

I was in Colorado last week. It’s one of those go to spots for those of us who live on the prairie. Did a little hiking, toured Odell’s brewery, and hung out with some old friends. Everything went exactly as planned, which is the way I like it when it’s not happening to characters in a novel.

Now I’m back at home and hard at work on the next Travelers book, which involves the theft of bank account codes, a visit to the vet, and a rash of murders.

In the meantime, two items I wanted to share:

Did you know that you can borrow eBooks from the library? Where I live, I can go online to my local library, click on a link, and go to an eBook library where I can borrow books to put on my kindle. Maybe you can do the same thing. I read a lot of books. I can’t always buy all the books I’d like to read, so this makes another great option, particularly when I don’t want to carry library books on vacation.

Also, Limitless Mystery is offering a mystery/thriller giveaway until June 29. It’s the usual deal. Receive a free eBook for joining an author’s email list.

This is a roundup of all sorts of mysteries and thrillers. There are over 40 books included, and I hope you’ll find some fun summer reading. They are all free, so check them out. Here’s the link: https://books.bookfunnel.com/limitlessmystery

Finally, thanks so much for helping out with The Kidnap Victim promo last month. Your interest in the Travelers series and your reviews on Amazon are essential to promoting the series to new readers.

Happy reading!

SaveSave

SaveSave

Just a reminder. Here are all of the specials to celebrate the release of The Kidnap Victim: The Travelers Book 5.

The Kidnap Victim eBook is $.99 from today through May 15 (Wednesday-Tuesday). https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CRY2MNJ

The Traveling Man: The Travelers Book 1 eBook is free today and tomorrow (Wednesday and Thursday). https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019DGN21A

The Travelers Series Books 2 & 3: The Computer Heist and The Blackmail Photos eBook boxed set is $1.99 through 15 May https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0788QZRQ8

The Freeport Robbery: The Travelers Book 4 eBook is $1.99 through May 15. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071NHN3VZ

So if you’re behind, now’s your time to catch up on the series.

Happy reading!

 

Exciting news! The Kidnap Victim, the Travelers Book 5, is now out. It was supposed to be released next week, but I couldn’t wait. To thank all of you for your support, the eBook will be $.99 until May 15. Then it goes up to its normal price of $3.99. Here’s the link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CRY2MNJ

To celebrate the release of book 5, The Traveling Man eBook will be free for two days—May 9 and 10, and The Traveler Series Books 2 & 3: The Computer Heist and The Blackmail Photos eBook boxed set, and The Freeport Robbery eBook will both be discounted from May 9 through May 15. So if you’re behind, now’s your time to catch up on the series. And don’t worry, I’ll remind you on May 9 so you won’t miss out.

Here’s the description of The Kidnap Victim:

When the hard men come with their guns. . . and bundle you into the trunk of a car. . . who do you wish had your back?

The Traveling Man and a new partner have their eyes on a safe deposit box full of drug money when the new partner’s husband unexpectedly shows up, muddling up the score.

Meanwhile, the Traveling Man’s wife, who’s busy charming the daughter of her new boyfriend, is spotted by an old mark they previously swindled, a mark who’s looking for payback.

The Kidnap Victim is a gritty crime thriller with twist and turns galore. If you like fast-paced action, devious plot twists, and criminal mischief, you’ll love the fifth novel in the Travelers series.

And the review:

“For this latest Travelers outing, King . . . once again offers a lean, dialogue-driven blast of shifting alliances and action. . .. With minimal exposition, the author keeps his characters’ temperaments and decisions in the forefront of the story. . .. As always, King leaves his creations in intriguing new positions by the end, ensuring anticipation for the next high-stakes volume.This Travelers tale delivers another exceptional slice of gamesmanship, slippery morals, and emotional fallout.”—Kirkus Reviews

I can’t wait to hear what you think of the new book.

 

 

 

Woo hoo! James Moushon at HBS Author’s Spotlight just posted an interview he did with me about writing and book marketing. Here’s the link: http://bit.ly/2GiPSNd

 

Whatever you’re celebrating this time of year, I want to wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season and a fantastic New Year.

A new Travelers thriller, The Kidnap Victim, will be coming out in the spring of 2018. It takes place immediately after the action in The Freeport Robbery. In it, the Travelers are each working on their own. The Traveling Man and a new partner have their eyes on a safe deposit box full of drug money when the new partner’s husband unexpectantly shows up. Meanwhile, Mrs. Traveling Man, who’s busy charming the daughter of her new boyfriend, is spotted by an old mark they previously swindled. What could possibly go wrong?

And while you’re waiting for The Kidnap Victim, if you like Scandinavian crime thrillers, check out Leena Lehtohainen’s books. They’re very different from mine—the hero’s a young Finnish police woman—but they’re great fun.

Happy New Year!

SaveSave