John Hazen is one of my favourite indie authors as my many previous blog posts on him should prove. I’m delighted to announce his new release in the Fava series: “Zyklon”, which I had th epleasure of reading ahead of its release.
“Zyklon” is a gripping thriller with depth and plenty of rather contemporary themes and issues in it. For that alone it is worth reading.
Remarkable here is the figure of Reverend McKenzie, a controversial, Islam hating outsider in the presidential candidate race.
Our main heroine, Fran, is a journalist who has become a news anchor, chosing an easier albeit somewhat more boring life over investigative journalism. Her predecessor is covering the campaign of presidential candidate Peter Kent. While the focus on the campaign trails, a sinister serial killer, the so-called Zyklon murder, grabs our attention by killing five descendants of Nazis with Zyklon gas.
Fran can’t resist to get involved in the investigation.
The story is complex with an inter-woven plot that links the murder and the campaigns, but it also links the present investigation with the previous thriller “Fava”, explaining some of the backstory and characters, which gives a rewarding sense of continuity and character development.
The themes are all very relevant to current affairs but this novel is far from a black and white scenario as one might expect. It’s fast paced with plenty of surprises and twists, character evolvement and character depth, humanity and morals.
Hazen has a knack for subtlety and nuances, unpredictable turns and a intelligent and sensitive writing style. I’m a big fan of all of his novels so far and cannot recommend this enough. A true gem.
http://www.blackrosewriting.com/suspensethriller/zyklon
Bio: John Hazen came to writing novels relatively late in life, but once he started he hasn’t looked back. He was born and raised in Massachusetts but has lived in the New York City/New Jersey area for the past forty years. Degrees from Rutgers, The New School and NYU buttress a lifelong passion for learning and a love of history. Inspired by Lynn, his wife of over thirty-five years, he pursued the dream of becoming an established author and is now working on his fifth book. John and Lynn love to travel, and the experiences of those travels find their way into his writing. John’s reading tastes are eclectic, ranging from histories to classic novels to an occasional piece of modern trash. His absolute “must reads” are Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potterseries and Doris Kearns Goodwin’s No Ordinary Time.
Website – www.johnwhazen.com
Twitter – @john_hazen
Facebook – john.hazen.92@facebook.com
Book links:
Aceldama – http://www.blackrosewriting.com/suspensethriller/aceldama or
Fava – http://www.blackrosewriting.com/suspensethriller/fava?rq=fava or
Journey of an American Son – http://www.blackrosewriting.com/suspensethriller/journey-of-an-american-son?rq=journey or
Dear Dad – http://www.amazon.com/Dear-Dad-Novel-John-Hazen/dp/1466394757
Thanks Christoph, John Hazen-s latest sounds a great read. Oh for more time… x
I know what you mean Joy. Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs!
Reblogged this on DSM Publications and commented:
Check out the new release, Zyklon, by John Hazen, as featured in this post from Writer Christoph Fischer’s blog.
Thanks Don 🙂
You’re welcome.
I don’t know why, but I always think “Z” names are catchy. I like this one. Well, except for the connection to the gas! 😀 Thanks for sharing this, Christoph. It sounds very exciting. Best to John. Hugs all around!
Thanks Teagan. It certainly is exciting and poignant, too.
Hugs!
Oh, this looks like a fab read. And sounds eerily similar to ‘some’ current politics. I’m adding to my TBR. Thanks. ❤
Thanks Debby. I can’y possibly imagine what you mean… ❤
Lolllllllllllllllll 🙂 xxx