The Footage That Shook America (The America Trilogy Book 2) - David B. Lyons

Smile. You're on camera. Everywhere you go.

— A conwoman. A cop. A gentleman. A rebel. —

In a small suburb of Connecticut, and totally unaware of each other, four lives are about to collide.

But will their lives entangle before experienced cop, Nate Bennett, and rookie cop, Maggie Zucha, complete their investigation of tracking down footage that, if released, will shake America to its very core?

Their detective skills are put to the toughest test, but they'll need to be quick because they’re not the only ones searching for this story… and whoever finds it first will hold all the power.

...but just what is on that footage?

Will you see it coming?

The Footage That Shook America is the sequel to the controversial bestselling novel In The Middle of Middle America and is the second book of a trilogy based on the escapades of television news anchor Sarah-Jane Zdanski.

 

What did I think?

I read The Footage That Shook America a while ago but I've only just got round to posting my review as words completely failed me after I turned the final page - mind officially blown!  I was gripped from start to finish and I couldn't read fast enough to find out what the footage was, but that's not even the best part as there's so much more to this outstanding novel.

Love her or hate her, Sarah-Jane Zdanski once again takes centre stage in this second book in The America Trilogy.  We already know how ruthless she is and that's why she's such a successful news anchor.  The story is told from several different viewpoints and it's like gathering all the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, but the picture doesn't become clear until you have all the pieces.

It's impossible to predict and I was filled with rage and indignation as the story played out but oh how I enjoyed every single second of it.  The writing is as breathtaking as the plot and David B. Lyons has such an inimitable style that makes him one of my favourite and most recommended authors.

The Footage That Shook America is so exquisitely clever; David B. Lyons goes straight to the top of the class with five gold stars.  Very highly recommended.

My rating:

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In the Middle of Middle America - David B. Lyons

 

WHEN LIVES ENTANGLE, WEBS WILL WEAVE...

Time: September, 1997.

Place: Lebanon, Kansas—quite literally, as marked by a monument, the very middle of middle America.

A teacher. A soldier. An immigrant. A joker. A loner. A chancer. A carer.

A mosaic of seven regular townsfolk are going about their days, blissfully unaware their lives are about to interweave, interchange and interact; entangling into such a messy web that, together — and unbeknownst to them — their lives end up changing the face of America forevermore.

In the mold of movies such as Traffic, Magnolia & The Usual Suspects, In the Middle of Middle America follows multiple characters and allows the reader to become a fly on the wall to observe these seven lives entangling into such a mess that they ultimately lead the reader into a head-spinning twist.

What did I think?

OMG!  This may very well be one of the best books I have ever read.  Just scroll down to the bottom of my review and click the buy link now - you will not be disappointed.  For anyone still reading, I'll tell you why I loved this book so much.

With a number of character storylines to follow, it is indeed a tangled web that is woven by David B. Lyons in his latest novel, In the Middle of Middle America.  There may be a decent number of characters but it never gets confusing as each one is brought to life through the absolutely flawless writing and I really cared about each and every one of them.  Even the small town location of Lebanon, Kansas feels like almost a character in itself and there really is a monument there marking the very centre of America.

This book is so perfectly plotted that it will blow your mind.  I know I was left like a gaping fish out of water at the end, gasping for breath and flapping around in excitement as the magnitude of the absolute masterpiece I had just experienced finally hit me.  David B. Lyons is the Master of Misdirection and this is without doubt his magnum opus - it really is nothing short of a masterpiece.  Stand up and take a bow, Mr Lyons!  I certainly gave him a virtual round of applause at the end.

Five stars is not enough for In the Middle of Middle America; it's simply outstanding!  Honestly, I can't stop raving about this book - it's an absolute MUST READ!  It's a book I would like to read again, even though I now know the awesome twist, just to see how cleverly it is written.  David B. Lyons is such a talented wordsmith and coupled with his intricate plotting makes him one of the cleverest authors I've come across.

Easily my favourite book of 2021, In the Middle of Middle America is an outstanding small town mystery suspense that sure packs a big punch.  I challenge you to read a better book this year!  I don't just recommend it, I implore you to read it - I guarantee you won't regret it.  

I received a digital ARC from the author to read and review; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Scoop of the Year - Tom Claver

Martin, a hapless journalist on a weekly financial magazine, sees his life take a nosedive with the arrival of Tom de Lacy, a well-heeled reporter who grabs the limelight, not to mention the well-paid industrial correspondent’s job that he has his eye on. 

He does his level best to sabotage Tom’s career, only to see his rival land a plum job in television. 

But watching his rival’s success while his life disintegrates makes Martin a desperate fellow. Falling on hard times can be murder, and in certain circumstances could even give rise to it. 

So when Martin gets a scoop on a major corporate scandal, he just has to grab the opportunity with both hands. He sees it as not only his turn to shine, but his duty.

What did I think?

Well this was a surprising hidden gem.  You can tell from the cover that it has a slightly comic feel to it, but it's more satirical than laugh out loud funny; think Drop the Dead Donkey rather than Bottom.  It's a fascinating insight into the newsroom and the cutthroat world of journalism but also a parody on life, and work-life in particular.

I didn't like Martin at all when I first encountered him in the book; he thinks the world owes him a favour, so I was surprised to find myself rooting for him as the book went on.  Martin is so envious of his co-worker, Tom, that he sabotages his work but in typical comedy fashion, it spectacularly backfires and Tom is promoted from print to TV.  Martin's envy knows no bounds and he fixates on Tom rather than trying to work hard and better himself.

When Martin loses his job and faces challenges in his personal life, it felt like he spiralled out of control.  Enter hit-man, Jebb.  Now this would be funny on its own but then Jebb sets his sights on Martin's sister, Caroline.  They are so afraid of Jebb that they don't want to hurt his feelings and Caroline finds herself in hilarious situations from which she cannot escape.

Just when Martin is about to hit rock-bottom, the light at the end of the tunnel comes from a most surprising source.  Martin has been given an absolute gem of a story to investigate but in true Martin-style, this story comes with a price.  Can Martin put aside his selfishness and get the story, whatever it costs?

Scoop of the Year is written in such a way that, although he's annoying as hell, you find that you really root for Martin and hope things turn out ok for him in the end.  All joking aside, there are some serious subjects to mull over in Scoop of the Year as we encounter the multi-million dollar pharmaceutical business.  Although it is fiction, you can easily believe that it could be true and it gives me a shiver just thinking about it.  Absolutely anything can happen, and often does, in the murder and mayhem of Scoop of the Year.

Cynical, witty and gripping, Scoop of the Year is a slick, humorous thriller.  It's written as vividly as a TV script and it would be amazing to see it on our TV screens sometime soon.

I chose to read an ARC and I am thrilled to open the tour by sharing my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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