From Manhattan With Revenge – Christopher Smith

It’s certainly no secret that Christopher Smith is my fave thriller/suspense author.  I love his characters in all their delicious, decadent, demented glory.  I love the swank of NY society that Mr. Smith is able to describe in so few words, yet somehow still so completely immerse you in the surroundings that you can see it and feel it.  I love that he is a storyteller first and foremost, winding a tight, riveting plot around you that you can’t escape and feel disappointed when it ends.  From Manhattan With Revenge is no different.  Mr. Smith has hit his groove as a writer and his latest novel does not disappoint.

From Manhattan With Revenge picks up where From Manhattan With Love leaves off and Ms. Carmen the assassin is pissed.  Her lover, Alex, has been killed by their powerful employers and she’s next.  Unfortunately for them, she has connections too.  Let’s just say they picked on the wrong girl.  We’ve met Carmen a few times in some of the author’s previous novels and I’ll be honest, she wasn’t one of my favorite characters.  There were glimpses of hope for her, but I wasn’t convinced and wouldn’t have blinked an eye at her demise.  He soundly changed my mind with this novel, as he lets us into her world where we are given more insight into her psyche, her background, her “weaknesses”.

As Carmen goes about seeking her revenge for Alex’s death while trying not to get killed herself, we are introduced to more colorful freakishly fun characters from the New York elite with more money and time on their hands than sense but, as it turns out, who Carmen can’t currently live without — literally.  Vincent Spocatti returns and we are introduced to orphaned Chloe, Carmen’s “weakness”.  I loved Chloe!  I had hopes to see her down the line in some of Mr. Smith’s future works — that girl had potential!  (I could have just see her and Beth Spellman from A Rush To Violence either pitted against each other or working together to save their loved ones 😉 ).   But, with Mr. Smith’s golden rule that nobody is safe from death, not even main characters, you’ll have to read the book to see if spunky little Chole makes it or not.

As usual, the author spins a tightly woven tale that keeps you guessing with twists and turns that make sense but that you didn’t see coming.  I wouldn’t call his writing sparse.  I call it precise and lean.  I don’t find myself paging through unnecessary fluff or flowery prose, yet it is entertaining and anything but dry.  He focuses on the story,  which draws you in and keeps you firmly planted in Carmen’s world.  The pace is fast but the story and background are thorough, leaving you guessing at nothing except what’s going to come next.

That’s it, folks.  That’s all I can say without giving away the plot, which I always refuse to do.  Reviews aren’t a retelling of the story, they’re a recommendation (or not).  Right?  😉

So, thriller fans, as usual I highly recommend picking up Christopher Smith’s latest work, From Manhattan With Revenge.  Read the novella From Manhattan With Love first, though.

You can follow the author on Twitter @CSThrillers, on Facebook, or at his website www.christophersmithbooks.com

The Fifth Avenue Series Boxed Set – Christopher Smith

If you’ve been reading my blog, you’ll know it’s no secret that I’m a hardcore Christopher Smith fan.  I’m getting excited and gearing up for the release of two more novels in The Fifth Avenue series — From Manhattan With Revenge on August 30th, and Park Avenue later this year.  With those new releases coming out soon, I figured the timing was perfect for a review of The Fifth Avenue series boxed set.

Fifth Avenue, the first book in the series, introduces us to the Redman family.  Yes, they’re uber-rich, sophisticated and powerful, but being a part of New York’s elite doesn’t make you perfect.  Far from it.  This book delves into the ultimate family drama that defines the Redmans.  We get to know George, Elizabeth and their daughters Celina and Leana intimately; their secrets, their failings, triumphs and victories.  We also meet rival Louis Ryan, a man consumed by hate who has devoted his life to avenging his wife’s death and crushing the Redman family.  The book takes you on a rollercoaster ride of betrayal, murder, greed, corporate espionage, and sibling rivalry while giving you a titillating peek under the tent at New York’s high society.

The series continues with Running of the Bulls, where we are introduced to private investigator Marty Spellman (who now has his own series, beginning with A Rush to Violence, to be continued with A Rush to Murder and A Rush to Vengeance in 2013), and continue to follow assassin Spocatti from Fifth Avenue as he and his associate Carmen leave a path of destruction and dead bodies through New York City.

A former Wall Street mover and shaker who bilked billions from his clients has just been released from prison, and suddenly the people who put him there are turning up dead.  Marty has been hired — under false pretenses — to investigate the man as research for a book, and becomes entangled in a world of violent sex parties, brutal murders, mystery and intrigue.  Everyone is suspect, even his client.

From Manhattan with Love, a novella and prequel to From Manhattan with Revenge brings us back to Leana Redman, whose world collides with Carmen the assassin and her partner, Alex, who are attempting to save their own lives by taking another.  Leana isn’t the original target, but quickly becomes one simply because of who she is.

Christopher Smith is a definite must-read for thriller/mystery/suspense fans.  Twists and turns in the plots of these stories are unexpected and unpredictable without being confusing.  Top that off with an author who is an excellent storyteller and a talented writer, two things that unfortunately don’t always go together, and you have yourself a big helping of deservedly bestselling fiction.

Mr. Smith is a favorite of mine because he is unafraid.  He is unafraid to be real in his writing, telling a story as it should be told and not coddling the reader.  He is unafraid to peel away the layers and go deep into the darker side of all of us, and unafraid to assume that his readers are intelligent and thoughtful.  You will be dismayed, stunned, surprised at some of the plot twists in these books, but that’s what makes them special and memorable for the reader.  In a world where the weak do not survive, these characters, with all of their power and influence, make their weaknesses their strengths, exploit them even.

The author obviously digs deep within himself when creating his characters and developing their relationships with each other.  I have to admit, I’m enamored of Leana Redman.  I guess it’s because she reminds me a lot of myself, lol.  I relate with her rebellious nature and refusal to give a shit what anyone thinks about her.  I really “get” her and how her relationship with her family made her into who she is.  Sure, she’s got her faults, but she’s all the stronger and more delightful for them.  I see Mr. Smith’s characters in the people all around me.  They are that authentic and substantial, rich with nuances and layered with dimension.

He also has a talent for setting the scene.  You will feel like you’re in The Big Apple, riding in a cab down 74th Street, having a drink in a ritzy hotel, sitting in The Tarot Cafe with Roberta having a cup of tea. (I’d love to know if he modeled that café after something that really exists.  Sure feels like it, and I’d love to visit!)

So, my friends, I encourage you to pick up this series today.  That way, you’ll be ready for From Manhattan with Revenge in a couple of weeks.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:  Christopher Smith’s days as an indie author are numbered.  I will be delighted, but not surprised, when I hear a major publisher has picked him up.  I love to be able to say, “I told you so,” and have no doubt, I will be.

You can follow Christopher Smith on Twitter @CSThrillers, on Facebook, or at his website:  www.christophersmithbooks.com