Synopsis:
Peter Leonard’s jaw-dropping VOICES OF THE DEAD introduced us to two mortal enemies: Holocaust survivor Harry Levin and Nazi death angel Ernst Hess. Now, their struggle reaches its dramatic conclusion in BACK FROM THE DEAD.

Bahamas, 1971. Ernst Hess, missing and presumed dead, regains consciousness to find himself stuck in a hospital bed on a strange ward in a foreign country. He must do what he needs to do to get his life back and to finish the job he has been doing for decades.

Harry believes he has already stopped Hess. When he finds out that the war criminal has somehow survived, Harry must do the only thing he can do – kill Hess again – even if it means crossing continents and putting his life and the lives of those that matter to him on the line.

Action-packed and darkly humorous, BACK FROM THE DEAD is the unforgettable conclusion to a story that launches Peter Leonard into the pantheon of great suspense novelists.

My Thoughts and Opinion:
WOW!!! Peter Leonard did not disappoint for this anxiously awaited sequel!!!

I was first introduced to this author in January, 2012 when I read and reviewed  Voices of the Dead and became a fan of his work.  Even though it has been a year, within the first few paragraphs, I was drawn back in and buckled up for another fast paced thrill ride.

In Voices of the Dead, Nazi war criminal, Ernst Hess, was shot three times by Holocaust survivor and victim of Hess’, Harry Levin, who believes the shots were fatal.  But were they?  Thus begins Back From The Dead.  And this time, Hess is back with vengeance leaving innocent bodies in his wake, without a thought.  However, Harry Levin is just as determined to hunt him down and make him pay for his sins.

Leonard doesn’t miss a beat. The same white knuckle read he takes his readers on in Voices of the Dead is as equally suspenseful and action packed in Back From The Dead.  Once again, the pages kept turning because I could not put this novel down.  I found myself trying to read faster to keep up with the action.  The characters come to life. Peter Leonard’s writing is nothing short of amazing.  The only negative is that now I have to anxiously await his next novel.  Highly recommend both Back From The Dead and Voices of the Dead!!!!  You won’t be disappointed!!

(2013 Challenges: Just For Fun, EBook, Count The Way, A-Z, Where Are You, Mystery/Crime, FreeReads, 52 in 52, Outdo Yourself, Read-A-Latte)

REVIEW DISCLAIMER
This blog was founded on the premise to write honest reviews, to the
best of my ability, no matter who from, where from and/or how the book
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DISCLAIMER
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No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me,
or given to family and/or friends.
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…of The Ambassador’s Daughter by Pam Jenoff

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….. of A Bullet For Carlos by Giacomo Giammatteo

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ADDENDUM 02/22/13
Due to a non response in the allotted time, another winner has been chosen.

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I was excited when Rebecca, from The Cadence Group, contacted me about today’s guest.  This is the 3rd visit here at CMash Reads, which as you know means, there is another book for us to hear about.  You can see his previous stops here for Redemption Day and  Bullet Work.    So without further ado, Mr. Steve O’Brien!!

STEVE O’BRIEN

Steve O Brien is an attorney, author, and former thoroughbred owner. Dead Money is his third novel. It follows Bullet Work and the critically acclaimed Elijah s Coin, recipient of nine literary awards, including Best Young Adult Fiction, National Best Books Awards, and Best Novella, Next Generation Indie Book Awards. He lives in Washington, D.C.

GUEST POST

Where’d you get that idea?

 The most common question I receive is where did I get the idea for my book? Ideas for storylines, at least for me, don’t magically appear. I don’t necessarily look for ideas either. It could be something I read many years before that suddenly jumps onto the page.

That’s what happened with Dead Money.

It came from a short news story. That caused me to investigate further. The story goes like this:

On July 16, 1981 a middle aged man in a gabardine suit walked up to the betting window at Pimlico racetrack three minutes to post for the third race. He wagered $5000 to show on a horse named Mister’s Mistress. Then he made a similar bets on long shots in the sixth and seventh races.

The man in the gabardine suit had a bad day. He did not cash a single bet that day. But the real betting wasn’t in Maryland, it was in Las Vegas.  At that time Las Vegas did not commingle bets with US racetracks. That meant that bets in Las Vegas did not affect the pari-mutuel payout. Bets made in Las Vegas were paid at track odds. Friends of the gabardine suited man had a very good day in Las Vegas, cashing bets on heavy favorites that paid more to show than they did to win.

In the third race, favorite My Edelweiss paid 3.40 to win, 2.40 to place and 4.40 to show.

The seventh race was where they made their biggest strike. Noble Side won paying 3.60 to win, 3.40 to place and 9.40 to show.

The man in Maryland manipulated the show pools, his friends in Las Vegas bet and cashed at track odds. Their bets were outside the commingled pool and therefore did not lower the odds on their chosen horse.

     Although casinos executives are loath to talk about losses and betting scams, Hank Heffron, manager of the sports book at Barbary Coast Casino said, “They got us. They made a bunch of bets and probably hit every book in town.” When asked if the casino honored the wagers, Heffron said, “Yeah, we cashed them. But it won’t happen again.”

     Really?

     As long as there are non-commingled betting services that pay track odds, there will be the risk of a pari-mutuel betting scam.

So where did my story idea come from? That news article was the genesis. Then I asked “what if?” What if someone pulled this betting scam in one of the biggest races in the country—-The Kentucky Oaks?

That’s where Dead Money was born.

As any good reader of fiction, you still might be suspicious. You may think technology has changed, that speed of information forecloses scams like this. Las Vegas bets are now part of the commingled pools. Digital fingerprints make illicit bets harder to pull off.

You would be right.

But if you’re convinced that such a scam won’t work in today’s environment, check out the fifth race at Thistledown Racetrack on May 21, 2012.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The stranger’s menacing, dismissive laughter echoed in attorney Dan Morgan’s head. In the heart of thoroughbred country–Churchill Downs–a major con was about to be pulled. Despite Dan’s efforts, his filly, Aly Dancer, was somehow part of the scheme.

You Can’t Stop It.
Dan’s dream as a thoroughbred owner was to run in a Grade I race—a televised stakes race. That opportunity had finally appeared. So far it had only resulted in threats, violence and death.

You Can’t Stop It.

What was the scam? Who was involved? Who could he turn to?
Post time was nearing.
The man’s sinister voice would not leave him.

You Can’t Stop It.

THANKS TO REBECCA, FROM THE CADENCE GROUP,
I HAVE ONE (1) BOOK TO GIVE AWAY
U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY

CLICK HERE FOR THE ENTRY PAGE

DISCLAIMER
No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me,
or given to family and/or friends.

The stranger’s menacing, dismissive laughter echoed in attorney Dan Morgan’s head. In the heart of thoroughbred country–Churchill Downs–a major con was about to be pulled. Despite Dan’s efforts, his filly, Aly Dancer, was somehow part of the scheme.
You Can’t Stop It.
Dan’s dream as a thoroughbred owner was to run in a Grade I race—a televised stakes race. That opportunity had finally appeared. So far it had only resulted in threats, violence and death.

You Can’t Stop It.

What was the scam? Who was involved? Who could he turn to?
Post time was nearing.
The man’s sinister voice would not leave him.

You Can’t Stop It.

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Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

This week’s muse:
Miz B has recently changed the format for this meme.  Instead of a weekly question we can now just post our thoughts on anything pertaining to books and/or reading.
 
My thoughts this week:  Surprise deliveries.
Be honest!!  Do you wait and hope that you will receive a goodie via mail and/or UPS?  I will fess up and say that I look forward to these deliveries.  I’m so bad that when I hear the mail carrier close my mailbox, I am checking it immediately to see if  there are any books.  The heck with the bills, I want books.

And 2 weeks ago, I received such a treat.  A book that I hadn’t expected but was so thrilled about receiving, that as soon as I got back to my desk, I was sending out emails to say thank you.  You ask what had me grinning ear to ear?  It was an ARC that Liz, from Media Muscle/The Book Trib sent, from an author that is on my “authors to read list”, Barbara Taylor Sissel, who is on my “favorite authors to read” list.  I have been a fan for a few years now and knew that a new book was coming out but not sure when.  I started it yesterday and was hooked.  Matter of fact, since today is a holiday, I think I am taking the afternoon off, so I can read it.  Barbara will be here in April as a guest author for Evidence of Life, and when you can read my review.  Until then, I recommend you read one of her previous novels.  You won’t be disappointed.  I’m off to my reading chair…..have a great day!!

February is being hosted by Audra @ Unabridged Chick

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia of A girl and her books and is now on tour.

According to Marcia, “Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

 

       

Sunday:
Five Years To Live by Frank Zaccari from Author for Providence Book Promotions
In A Small Town by Marc DiGiacomo from Author for Partners In Crime Tours

…of Echoes From The Infantry by Frank Nappi

6 Maureen Carol Be a Public Follower of ‘CMASH Loves to Read’

An email has been sent to the winner and she has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.  Thank you to those that entered.