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Don't you love this cover? I think it's superb! It's the work of an excellent artist, Teresa Tunaley. You can see her work at : Artstopper.com If you agree with me, you can leave your comments about my cover at her website. Thank you for visiting.....and please buy BLOOD RED SQUARE when it's available. You'll enjoy the read.
"Pat Mullan shocks us into paying attention from word one, page one and does not let us go until he decides to release us! That is how compelling BLOOD RED SQUARE reads! TLike a dynamo running ahead of itself."
- novelist Robert W. Walker, The Instinct and Edge Series
Read the press release here:
BLOOD RED SQUARE Press Release - January 5, 2006
BLOOD RED SQUARE was showcased the week of December 5-9, 2005 at :
Crimson Dagger
Mystery Fiction Magazine
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Blood Red Square by Pat Mullan Publishers: LBF Books, 2006 ISBN: 0977308251 Reviewed by Narayan Radhakrishnan, New Mystery Reader “…. blurb informs us that Mullan is ready with another MacDara thriller Who Killed Hammarskjold? I have already booked my copy!! Recommended, highly recommended.” This is how I ended my review of THE CIRCLE OF SODOM by Pat Mullan in 2003. And I was WRONG. The new MacDara thriller is out, but the title has been changed to BLOOD RED SQUARE. And readers who expect the suspense, thrill and chill of THE CIRCLE OF SODOM are in store for a shock….for the suspense, thrill and chill are double in tone and content in BLOOD RED SQUARE- and its one hellovva read. This time around former MASH Commanding Officer- turned- multimillionaire – turned Special envoy of the President of United States is called for duty .. international duty…. It all starts with the surfacing up of certain secret documents which shed light on the true story behind the death of Dag Hammarskjold. For those weak in history, here is the story- Dag Hammarskjold was the UN Secretary General during the late Fifties – y’know doing the same job our Kofi Annan does now. He died in mysterious circumstances, supposedly in an air crash in the Congo in 1961. though rumors were afloat that it was a murder, investigations drew a blank, and the death was considered as an accident. But now certain documents which throw light on the death of Dag Hammarskjold have reached the wrong hands, in particular one Misha Kedrow and a terrorist named Eduardo Kelly Herrara aka Conor Brady. If the documents, reaches the general public, and if a new twist is given to the same, it might simply mean a new world crisis, a new cold war…. A not so cold a war. Chaos is the verdict, and only one man can stop them, and that someone is our own Owen MacDara. How MacDara solves the problem, and how he prevents world chaos forms the theme of the work. Pat Mullan is no one-book wonder. Each book is heavily researched and authenticated by factual reality and with some literary license, his books are not ‘fiction’ but ‘fact-ions’. The idea of taking a page from history, giving a fictional twist to it, has been used by many an author, in particular by Ken Follett (Eye of the Needle) and Jack Higgins (Eagle has Landed). These books were grand reads, and it was difficult to distinguish were reality ended and fiction started. Likewise herein, BLOOD RED SQUARE also provides a grand read, and as already said it’s a thrilling chilling read. The blurb again informs us that the author is ready with another thriller TRIBUNAL: DUBLIN NOIR, and I for one have already booked my copy. With THE CIRCLE OF SODOM, Mullan had challenged Tom Clancy and Michael Crichton, and with BLOOD RED SQUARE he has challenged Ken Follett and Jack Higgins. One thing is for sure, Mullan is a force to be reckoned with.
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BLOOD RED SQUARE is now available on Amazon and other on-line stores - or buy it at your local bookstore (if they don't have it, just ask them to stock it: my publisher will be happy to accomodate them) - or get it directly from my publisher's on-line bookstore at a better price: LBF Books.
Reserve a copy (or 2) right now - this First Printing will sell out fast !
is the story of the creation and redemption of a terrorist. It is also a story of revenge. It centers around the death of the UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold in a plane crash in the Congo in 1961. Considered suspicious at the time, no evidence surfaced to show that it was anything other than an accident. My novel proves otherwise. Secret KGB documents pointing to collusion between Moscow and Washington in the death of Hammarskjold are liberated from KGB archives in 1997 by Misha Kedrov, an enigmatic new Russian entrepreneur. Kedrov, consumed by revenge for the murder of his parents, plans to use the documents to seek vengeance. He is ably supported by Conor Brady, aka Eduardo Kelly Herrera, an Argentinian, on the run, turned terrorist from circumstance and not from ideology. Only one man can thwart Misha Kedrov, stop Conor Brady, and prevent the chaos they plan.
That man is Owen MacDara, special envoy of the President of the United States, a man who moves with equal ease in the halls of power or on the dark killing fields of international intrigue.
FREE PREVIEW Prospekt Mira Conor Brady had chewed his fingernails to the quick a long time ago. With nothing now left to chew, he did his best to eat the rag-nails until the blood appeared. A strange affliction, it demonstrated a contradiction in an otherwise extremely cool and imperturbable person under pressure. And Conor was under pressure now. He'd been at his position for an hour and a half and the cold began penetrating deep inside his body, his thermal gloves tested to the limit. Even if his feet were frostbitten, his hands must remain warm. His hands and his eyes were his tools, his instruments of precision. From his vantage point on the roof he could see the entire length of Prospekt Mira. Near empty, the street saw an occasional vehicle, some cyclists and the odd native or two, well muffled up and scurrying along to get out of the cold. It wasn't an evening for lingering. Not a soul had entered or left the Imperial Hotel since Conor Brady had arrived. The concierge showed himself once in a while, epaulets shining and the collar of his greatcoat pulled up around his ears. The big Russian would step outside once every fifteen or twenty minutes, take a hasty look up and down the street, grab a smoke, then rush back inside again, leaving lingering wisps of his breath and smoke suspended in mid-air. Conor moved back into the shadows and checked his equipment once again, never failing to keep a wary eye on the street below. The sniper rifle, fixed on its tripod on the parapet wall adjacent to the chimney stack, gave him the optimum position both to execute his task and shelter him from view. Satisfied, he lingered a while, caressing the stock and scope, feeling the passion arise in him. He'd just finished his checkout when the car entered the end of the street. As he watched it approach, he noted it had the size and distinctive profile of a Mercedes saloon. When it slowed down before the Imperial Hotel, Brady felt certain that his target had finally arrived. Positioned behind the scope, he could see the hair growing out of the concierge's nostrils as he emerged to greet the occupant of the Mercedes which had now come to a full stop. The big concierge moved briskly to the car, opened the door, and held it as his guest rose into view and turned to thank him. The face in the scope and the rotund profile proved unmistakable. Conor coordinated his hands in precise unison with his eyes. He had stopped breathing entirely. As if independent of him, Conor's right index finger squeezed the trigger. Gently. Expertly. Conor didn't bother to confirm the kill. He never did. He never missed. In thirty seconds he'd returned his weapon to the sheath slung inside his greatcoat and left the roof. In a minute he had left the building. In three minutes he had left Prospekt Mira.
Look for it in your bookstores by the end of this year - 2005. If it's not on the shelves, please ask for it. That will prompt the bookstore to stock it. Thank you!
Praise for PAT MULLAN
"Pat Mullan shocks us into paying attention from word one, page one and does not let us go until he decides to release us! That is how compelling BLOOD RED SQUARE reads! Like a dynamo running ahead of itself."
--novelist Robert W. Walker, The Instinct and Edge Series
Another misconception is that thrillers are not well written. Pat Mullan knocks that notion right out of the water. That he is a poet is immediately evident and when you think of that other fine poet, James Lee Burke, you'll know you are in the same creative territory. The quality of the writing raises the terrific story to new heights. Here is the future of the thriller and it's called PAT MULLAN. Glory be indeed!
-Ken Bruen, 2004 SHAMUS Award winner for best novel for 'The Guards'
The CIRCLE of SODOM is an exciting and gripping novel. The writing is clean, tight, and tense, and the characters, even the walk-ons, are very real and believable. The protagonist is both tough and likeable, and the villains are credible in their motivations and their private agendas. The climax is stunning.
" an exciting and gripping novel" - Ardath Mayhar , author of sixty novels (Doubleday, Athenium, Berkley)
The CIRCLE of SODOM takes you on a roller coaster ride. Hang on! Or you won’t get to the end in one piece. It begins with one of the most intriguing openings I’ve ever read. Then it takes you from today’s headlines, into the shadows behind them. It is a story of the forces that shape our world in the financial, political, and religious spheres, and of the leaders in these areas who battle for our allegiance. And in the end, I suppose, it boils down to the essential—good versus evil. What a tale! I couldn’t put it down. Number One Thriller!
E.M.Schorb, award winning author and poet:
winner of The Frankfurt Grand Prize in fiction for his novel, Paradise Square;
1973 International Keats Poetry Prize;
Verna Emery Poetry Prize for Murderer's Day, his fourth collection of poetry (Purdue University Press).
The CIRCLE of SODOM is a terse political thriller that never lets up until the final confrontation occurs. The story line is fast-paced and loaded with action, but also enables the audience to understand the motives of each of the key players as Pat Mullan constantly switches third person perspective so the reader receives a complete picture of an incident. It is this difficult to deliver the technique of the changing point of view that can easily lead to spectator confusion, but Mr. Mullan displays his skills as fans will easily follow along this one sitting thriller.
"Exciting action-packed thriller" - Harriet Klausner, Amazon No. 1 Reviewer, who gave The CIRCLE of SODOM 5 stars.
With rapid-fire pacing and well-drawn characters, Mr. Mullan takes the reader on a magic carpet ride all over the United States, England, Belgium, Switzerland and Hong Kong to weave a tale most evil and scary. The plot involves the very presidency, and the group plotting against our democracy is made up of very determined right-wing fanatics.
Pat Mullan is a mature and knowledgeable writer who puts together a thriller with the best of them. The CIRCLE of SODOM is an outstanding first effort from an author who can continue to capture his audience as long as he cares to try.
"An excellent read! " - Shelley Glodowski, MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW
Part Tom Clancy, part Michael Crichton, The CIRCLE of SODOM by Pat Mullan provides an entertaining and thrilling read of the first order … the chilling suspense will keep you restless !!! Mullan is ready with another MacDara thriller, BLOOD RED SQUARE. I have already booked my copy!!
"Recommended, highly recommended !!!"
- Narayan Radhakrishnan, NEW MYSTERY READER
"You know you're reading a good thriller when you start to cast it for the movie before you've even finished." The plot is as complex as a Grisham novel, with twists and turns that kept me reading all night. The characters are exceptionally well drawn and the dialogue fairly whips along. All the ingredients for a good thriller are here. The CIRCLE of SODOM is pacey and exciting and filmic in its descriptions, and is an impressive first novel. Definitely a gripping read for those long winter evenings ...........Eithne Hannigan, Book Reviews, CONNEMARA LIFE magazine
"a rollicking ride…….a great new book in the thriller genre!" Well, this was a rollicking ride. Read The CIRCLE of SODOM, and you'll get to follow Owen MacDara on his odyssey from New York to the Atlantic Ocean, from Palm Springs to the backwoods hills of Tennessee, all in the name of love and daring-do. There's a lot of action packed in these 300+ pages, action dealing with terrorism, spying, attempted coups, and religious fanaticism. Good, tight writing, clean prose that just zips along, and characters that are engaging and memorable all contribute to a great new book in the thriller genre. Peggy Vincent, Oakland, California, February 12, 2004 (Peggy Vincent is the author of Baby Catcher….film rights have been optioned by Elliot Gould's production studio and the screenplay has been assigned)
" Pat Mullan writes an exciting and fast-moving tale … a timely read" Author Pat Mullan writes an exciting and fast-moving tale. From almost the first page, Owen MacDara finds himself in danger and confronting men who believe that God has called on them to bring about the end times. The use of computer warfare and cyberterrorism to undermine the economy, discussions of antiterrorism tactics, and the modern militia movement all are well researched and seamlessly incorporated into the adventure. Mullan's strong story-telling provides a completely enjoyable reading experience - Rob Preece, Book Reviews Editor, BooksForABuck.com
THE CIRCLE OF SODOM by Pat Mullan, is compelling. It's a political thriller that happens to be timely. And timeless.This book is an even mix of Crichton and Clancy and written equally as well. It's a classic page-turner and almost comes across as though it had been adapted from a screenplay... "Who am I? . . .I am an author and teacher, in that order (for now.) My debut novel (which debuted in the midlist) was released by Penguin Putnam in 2004 and my second novel will be released later this year. "
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