Thursday, May 5, 2016

Hand Over Fist by Michael Ross (Excerpt, review and GIVEAWAY) GFT






Hand Over Fist
by Michael Ross

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GENRE: Thriller

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BLURB:

When an old friend disappears, Martin learns nothing is what it seems…

Martin Russell can barely face the future. With dismal life prospects and an estranged family, he is at the end of his rope. When an old friend, Hannah, elbows her way back into his life, Martin’s luck begins to turn around.

Hidden within the shadows of evil, there must be some good…

Ex-policeman Bobby Tanner lost everything one rage-filled night. Now he runs a reading group for alcoholics where he meets a young drug dealer, Zack, who disturbs him in a way that’s hard to define. Bobby soon discovers the teenager is in over his head and has been dealing with a despicable individual known as The Chemist.

The roots of evil run deeper than we imagine…

Martin’s lucky streak begins to unravel when Hannah suddenly goes missing, and he turns to a friend of a friend, Bobby, for help. Thrust into an underworld empire of corruption and half-truths, he learns his friend may not be who he thought she was.

In a shadowed world of deception, stalkers, and despicable drug dealers, Bobby and Martin must uncover the truth, and fast…

Several lives depend on it.

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EXCERPT

She did not recognise the number coming up on her mobile and hesitated slightly before answering, “Hannah speaking.”

“Why just the person, and how are you today, Hannah?”

A cold shiver ran from the back of her neck down to her ankles. She tried to keep her voice neutral. “Hi. I thought you were abroad just now.”

“Who says I’m not?”

A tremor of relief briefly visited her. “Oh, I see.”

“Actually, I’ve come back. I missed the old haunts. I can’t seem to get the place out of my blood.”

Was it her imagination or did those two words, “haunts” and “blood,” seem to resonate in her head? She needed to sound in control, and so her reply was firmly delivered, “And you rang me because?”

“Just to say hello, Hannah, just to say hello.”

With that, the phone went dead. Hannah’s immediate reaction was anger at the caller’s obvious attempt to unsettle her. She hit the recall button and redialled the incoming number but the other phone was already switched off. She was well aware that anger is sometimes a protective shield behind which lurks blinding terror, but sitting alone in her car, Hannah recognised that she had lost that shield and a fearsome terror instantly slewed through her entire body.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 It was a strange and twisting road that led to the publication of my first novel. From my humble beginnings, as an office clerk, to ownership of a multi-million dollar business I always maintained my love for literature.

Born and raised in Bristol, England. I spent most of my life in business, my companies turning over in the region of $500 million. The majority of that time marketing cars, eventually owning the largest Saab specialist in the world, before a bitter divorce forced me rethink my priorities. Particularly between 2003 and 2005 when I had to accept that I was no longer a millionaire but literally penniless. I avoided bankruptcy by the skin of my teeth and slowly rebuilt my life.

This led me to the life changing decision to leave the bustling city and move to live halfway up a mountain in the Welsh valleys. At the same time I started a part time six year English Literature course at Bristol University, and attended creative writing classes at Cardiff University. I left school at sixteen and this was my first taste of further education and an immense challenge.

I eventually adjusted my thinking to the academic life, and on 30 June 2015 had confirmation of my 2.1(Hons) degree from Bristol University. At the same time I also won the prestigious Hopkins Prize for my essay on Virginia Woolf and the unsaid within her text. Now the university courses are finished it will, with any luck, gives me plenty of extra time that I can devote to my fiction writing.

Thanks to the university experiences, my interest in English literature has flourished over recent years. Hopefully I have evolved as a writer from my earlier work in short stories (over ninety of them.) Although interestingly my first three novels have all been developed from a long forgotten short story.

Life is, once again, very good, and I live very happily halfway up a mountain, in the Welsh Valleys, with my wonderful partner Mari, and our rescue dog Wolfie.

Twitter         @mikerosswriter
Goodreads    Mike Ross

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The tour dates can be found here


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My review:




3.75 out of 5 stars

Hand Over Fist by Michael Ross is the first book in the ‘Out of Hand’ series and follows the events surrounding Martin Russell, a man who has experienced the destruction of his home life, and the changes wrought by his re-connection with an old friend, Hannah Williams.  It turns out that there are connections and undercurrents swirling around both of them, and the path they are on may not lead to a result that benefits everyone or anyone.

This contemporary suspense thriller introduces a cast of characters who operate in a gray area that sometimes dips down into a darker aspect of society.  The gritty action, surprising twists, and ethical quandaries that are presented start slowly and gradually work up to an exciting climax that is followed by an epilogue that leaves the door open for additional adventures involving many of the characters. 

It took me a while to get immersed in the story, partly because of the use of third person omniscient point of view which gave me such a sense of whiplash as perspective rapidly shifted between characters, but also because I didn’t feel a connection to many of the characters.  Despite this, I developed a somewhat grudging respect for some of the multitude of people whose lives are touching, even though I was troubled by their actions, and I struggled to decide whether I liked any of them.  The action is a little uneven for me, and some things were a little too abruptly contrived, but things do escalate until one becomes anxious to find out what the endgame is and who is going to be successful. 

There are nicely poetic word portraits painted, and an intriguing look at a set of flawed people and the lengths they go to in order to arrange their world to their specifications.  I confess to being a little unsettled by the way things turn out although it is in keeping with the tone of the story and adds to the realism. Those who like intense gritty suspense stories with atypical heroes will undoubtedly enjoy this tale.


A copy of this title was provided to me for review




















32 comments:

  1. Hi Reading Addict
    Thank you so much for hosting this, my very first review interview (be gentle with me.)
    I do wonder how much I lose out by the story being British rather than American.
    The decision to move between viewpoints was a matter of debate with my editor, but it is a style I love reading as much as writing; obvious villains, like Nash, I think, are best left for the reader to conjure up their own images and dislikes. He gives me the creeps, but I can understand how he might not 'get' to some people. I did struggle to understand your statement about anything being "abruptly contrived." Certainly every page flowed in the writing and there was very little to be done in the way of re-writing. I'm working on the follow up stories - which characters do you think I should pursue?
    Once again thank you for take your time and trouble over this review.
    Best wishes
    Michael Ross

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    Replies
    1. Hi Michael,
      Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog. I apologize, I am a bit under the weather so this will be a relatively short response and I will endeavor not to include any spoilers. I am sure that there are those who are not bothered by head-hopping, but I have met plenty of readers who aren't fond of that technique.

      I am sure that there are some differences in perception related to our cultural diversity, but I think that my feeling that events were a little too contrived is just a reflection of my personal paradigm. I thought that Bobby and Zachary's relationship turned around way too quickly, Zach's connection to Xenon seemed too nebulous to provide such access, and the secondary romance that develops at the end of the book was too instantaneous. There are other examples, but these are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

      I think that it would be interesting to get a closer look at Zach and Xenon.

      Good luck with the tour!

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    2. Hi
      I hope you are feeling better.
      My editor is furiously opposed to 'head hopping,' and I would be amazed to find any left in the final manuscript
      My favorite thriller writer is Harlan Coben, and switching viewpoints is a technique that he uses constantly and I would love to be a tenth as popular as he is.
      I cannot say I agree with your analysis, but I suppose as the author I have so much more invested in the characters.I see Zack is a lovable rogue,a real "Artful Dodger" who it is almost impossible not to like. He has been buying drugs through Xenon for over a year so I don't think their relationship is anything like nebulous. And the secondary romance - being too instantaneous? Well I have most definitely been there and done that!
      Regardless of our different perceptions I have greatly enjoyed the experience and wish you all the best in the future. Michael Ross

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  2. I am grateful you have taken time to bring us this great giveaway, thank you.

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  3. What comes first for you--the story or the characters?

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    Replies
    1. The characters - they tell me the story as I get to know them.

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  4. I liked the excerpt, thank you.

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  5. What is your favorite genre to read and write?

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  6. This sounds like a really awesome book, I love a good thriller!! Can't wait to check it out, thanks for sharing :)

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  7. Thanks for the giveaway! I like the excerpt and cover. :)

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    1. I love your avatar - I worked with a wolf conservation group for a couple of years - but never saw one with a rose in its mouth!

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  8. What si teh best joke that you have heard recently? Thanks for the giveaway. I hope that I win. Bernie W BWallace1980(at)hotmail(d0t)com

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  9. This is a new author for me but the book sounds very intriguing, so I'd love to learn more!

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    1. Only 0.99 today - so go for it Nikolina. Best wishes Michael

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  10. Hi
    I have just received an email from my publishers to say that Hand Over Fist is on sale for 99c for today only. I did not have a clue they were doing this!
    www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01EI2RBK2
    www.amazon.com/dp/B01EI2RBK2
    Have a good day.
    Michael Ross

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  11. I enjoyed reading the excerpt and the review. This book sounds like such an interesting and intriguing read! Totally can't wait to check out this book!

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  12. Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?

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    Replies
    1. Leonardo da Vinci - just to be in the company of an undoubted genius, and try and fathom how his brain worked.

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  13. Thank you once again for the giveaway and have a fun Friday!

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  14. Have an amazing fun filled Saturday and thank you for this giveaway

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  15. Where is your favorite place to read?

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  16. What is your favorite pleasure food?

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  17. Ice cream (probably why I visit italy every year!)

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  18. Good Morning and thank you for the opportunity to win

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  19. My PC blew up yesterday and after running around in circles I am online at 5pm! A day that has passed me by, up until now! Have a good day everyone. Michael

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  20. Congrats on the new book and good luck on the book tour!

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  21. I have added this book to my TBR list and look forward to reading this book!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Ally - I really hope you enjoy reading it.
      Beat wishes
      Michael

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