It's Always Darkest (A Paul Mallory thriller) [Kindle Edition]

This ebook appealed to me enormously. The author writes with authority and deftness. I identified very easily with the main character Paul Mallory, an easy going journalist content with his lot who enjoys old films and collects trivia just to perplex a geeky work colleague. Paul is jogging along in life doing well enough - when the mysterious and vaguely sinister Bentley Cramer approaches him with an offer he can't refuse.
Quote: "He was large enough and round enough to join the solar system with no questions asked. The cigar that protruded from the right side of his mouth would have been a full day's work for the best torcedor in Havana, and if he was worried about the stadium being a smoke-free location, he gave no sign of it. Gave no sign, in fact, of ever being worried about much of anything." Throughout the book, characters are sketched so convincingly they step from the page & go home at night to their loved ones.
Before Paul can say wtf? he finds himself working for the irrepressible Bentley and in Russia reporting on a handball competition. But he soon learns there's something very funny going on. Or at least it would be funny, if people weren't getting murdered. Before long Paul is on the trail of a psychopathic killer who would give Fredrick Forsyth's 'Jackal' a run for his money.
Paul Mallory's point of view is written in the first person, which creates an immediate bond. When the action moves elsewhere it is described in 3rd person pov which I appreciated, as some scenes are as you would expect in a hard hitting thriller such as this, violent.
This book worked for me on all levels. I liked the characters, enjoyed the action scenes and locations and appreciated the author's knowledge of his craft. Parts of the book made me smile at the sly humour the author allows his main character to display from time to time. I felt as though I'd made a new friend in Paul Mallory and I'm certain I won't be the only one by a long shot to become a fan.

In case you're wondering, I have a little system in place when reviewing indie authors. I know how hard it is to get the formatting, grammar etc correct when you're editing your own work. So any indie ebook automatically gains points when these are correct, in this book they are impeccable. I then add points for storyline, orginality and enjoyment. This book scores all five points. If I'm reviewing a book which is published by a 'house,' I automatically expect some of the money I've paid to have been spent on an editor. You can find more reviews by me, Julia Hughes on Goodreads.

I recently had the immense pleasure and lucky coincidence of meeting author, Stephen C. Spencer, through twitter. After exchanging a large number of messages, blog comments, and questions back and forth, I decided to check out a sample of his book. Right away, within a page or two, I knew I wanted to write a review about his work. So I sent him a message letting him know I was interested in doing a review of his story, which he graciously accepted. So without further ado, I invite you to enjoy my review of Stephen Spencer's debut novel, "It's Always Darkest".

Paul D. Mallory, a sports journalist, is committed to a simple lifestyle until an offer he can't seem to resist comes along to change all that. A high paying new job with plenty of perks seems like a dream come true yet comes with costs and risks Paul never imagined when he becomes part of the largest story of his career. Spencer is a fresh voice in the thriller genre and with this debut, he's on track to rival the greats like Michael Connelly with his Mickey Haller series, James Patterson's Alex Cross series or Tom Clancy's espionage novels.

It's Always Darkest is full of intrigue, vividly described settings and characters. Spencer takes the reader on a fast paced ride that's difficult to resist. With each chapter comes another layer of suspense, mystery, and questions that all come together in the end, as smoothly and satisfying as one of Mallory's beloved cigars. The main character, Paul D. Mallory, is a richly detailed character with a clever and unexpectedly sharp wit. While the first few chapters are comprised of seemingly incongruous and unrelated circumstances and characters, do not be fooled. Every detail has been meticulously planned and layered to come together in the most stunning and surprising of circumstances. The supporting characters, like Paul's powerful new boss, owner of the Cramer Syndicate Press, are the perfect counterpoint to Mallory's almost cavalier path in life. As uncertainty grows around him, Paul is swept along against his will and away from the comfortable life he's known.

As a debut novel, this is definitely a glorious beginning. Spencer is an author to watch and has excellent skill with weaving a challenging and satisfying story that leaves the reader hungry for more. To find out more about this tremendous talent, visit [...]