NEW AND NOTEWORTHY
JUST IN TIME FOR THE SUMMER.
ALL OF MY E-BOOKS ARE ON SALE FOR JUST 99¢!
THE WAVE - A JOHN DECKER THRILLER
CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER
JUST 99¢ EACH DURING THIS SUMMER "BEACH READING" SALE.
AND WHILE YOU'RE AT IT, CHECK OUT
THE PUBLICIST BY VERONICA C. WRIGHT,
ALSO FOR JUST 99¢!
PLUS TWO TEEN TERRORS (featuring both Kiss me, I'm Dead and Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher) IS AVAILABLE FOR JUST $1.49.
SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
POWER UP YOUR KINDLE AND DOWNLOAD THESE e-BOOKS
BEFORE YOU HEAD TO THE BEACH!
Once again this month, my heart goes out to all the victims of the tsunami and earthquake in Japan.
Given the mega-tsunami featured in THE WAVE, I know all too well the kind of damage these freaks of nature can cause.
Please note that I am donating 10% of all book sales of THE WAVE through the end of this year (2011) to Japanese relief efforts.
Get your Kindle copy of The Wave on sale for only 99¢,
and help the Japanese tsunami relief effort!
Kirkus said, "Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."
To order your copy of The Wave — A John Decker Thriller, click here.
And now for something completely different . . . I'm happy to announce that The Gramma Sutra has been syndicated! That's right. The GrammaSutra can now be viewed at www.vibrantnation.com.
Reaching more than 100,000 monthly visitors, VibrantNation.com is the leading online community for Baby Boomer women — the place where they connect and support each other on issues unique to life after 50, including fashion, beauty, family, relationships, work, money, and sex.
Or, go right to the source at TheGrammaSutra.com where you can check out our growing portfolio of Gramma Sutra Sex Positions — contemporary "Kama Sutra" poses for women of a certain age.
The Gramma Sutra Channel at YouTube continues to generate thousands of views. Check out our most recent presentation at the First International Conference on Aging and Architecture @ UPENN. The Channel features numerous clips of my writing partner (Sylvana Joseph) and I as we discuss sex and women of a certain age in front of a group of architects from around the world. Click here to see all the clips, or immediately below for the 5-Minute highlights reel.
Inspired by the ancient Hindu classic, The Kama Sutra, The Gramma Sutra delivers humorous infotainment on the psychology and physiology of sex for women of a certain age.
The website of the same name serves as an online community for mature women, enabling them to speak candidly and anonymously with one another on sensitive topics ranging from vaginal dryness during menopause to sex after a double mastectomy. [NOTE: We have a very strict Privacy Policy.]
Become a GrammaSutra Test Bedroom and you and your honey (or honeys) might be featured in the next print edition!
Post a Comment and share your wisdom on
Check us out on Facebook & become a fan.
Or, follow us on Twitter today!
Want a good laugh? Visit SAYINGS OF SUBSTANCE . . . abuse. This hilarious site features pithy sayings from your favorite celebrity junkies and drunkards — the quotes they can no longer remember, and would probably rather forget. Like Charlie Sheen. They even invite you to send out an SOS (Sayings Of Substance) to them by finding a funny quote from your favorite celebrity junky or drunk. Click here to be entertained.
Meanwhile, The God Machine continues to climb up the charts . . . especially as an eBook.
The novel will also soon appear in a variety of foreign languages (and markets), from Spanish (for distribution in Spain and all of Latin America) to Turkish. So — Gracias, and Çok Sagolun!
Spread the good news. If you liked The God Machine, please pen a review at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble.com or Goodreads.
Click here to purchase your copy of the book the Historical Novels Review called, "a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery . . . (and) a very impressive historical thriller."
Last but not least, let's not forget my YA novels, now in paperback for the first time. They are:
KISS ME, I'M DEAD.
Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl. She likes to have fun. She thinks her sister is ridiculous. Her parents drive her crazy. She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.
Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship, the disaster that killed her sister. Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.
Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry and strange things happen when Mallory is angry. Yes, Mallory is like any other teenage girl . . . except Mallory is dead.
Ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, Kiss me, I'm Dead was named a Notable Book for Teens by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teen's Top Ten, and nominated for a Cybils literary award, a Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book’s list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.
The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review termed it, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "Kiss Me, I’m Dead scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."
Click here to purchase your copy of Kiss me, I'm Dead!
CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BODY SNATCHER.
Here's the thing about body snatching. You just can't think about what you're doing. You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister. You can't feel bad. In fact, you can't feel anything. That's the key. Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over. You're dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead. It's no way to live, but for some, it's the only way.
Until they come for you . . .
Previously named a Junior Library Guild selection, Publishers Weekly called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”
Click here to purchase your copy of Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher.
And if that isn't enough, BOTH titles are also available in Two Teen Terrors — A Cornucopia Press Collection.
Click here to purchase your copy of Two Teen Terrors!
MOST RECENT REVIEWS
THE WAVE — Latest Editorial Reviews
Kirkus
"Sandom's strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."
To purchase your copy of The Wave, click here.
THE GOD MACHINE — Latest Editorial Reviews
Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) @ Small & Creepy Films
"Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It'll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage."
bookpage.com
"Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end."
Historical Novels Review
"History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story, reminding one of a multilayered Russian matryoshka doll. The reader will also learn a great deal about da Vinci, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and many more historical geniuses . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"
GOSPEL TRUTHS — Latest Editorial Reviews
Crystal Reviews
"J. G. Sandom, like Dan Brown and other writers covering similar conflicts, offers each reader a thrilling adventure ride but also some fascinating knowledge about Masons, the Founding Fathers of America, architecture, cathedrals, and so much more . . . Gospel Truths is a dynamic, exciting, intelligent read that will thrill every reader and, for true seekers, may even send you searching for the real 'gospel truth.' A notable novel that will gain fresh attention and interest of new readers! Move over, Dan Brown!"
To purchase your copy of Gospel Truths, click here.
THE WAVE — Latest Reader Reviews
sandi @ amazon.com
"Worth reading. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down. It moves pretty fast. Now I'm reading other books by this Author. Enjoy!"
Squirrel @ amazon.com
"The Wave by J.G. Sandom is a relentless and breathless thriller about FBI code breaker John Decker trying to prevent a Jihadist eco-terrorist named El Aqrab from setting off a mega-tsunami aimed at destroying the Eastern Seaboard. Couldn't be more timely given what's been happening in Japan. Except this book deals with a mega-tsunami, more than ten times taller and more powerful than the tsunamis we've been watching on the news from T'hoku, Japan. Incredible. Great characters and relentless action. I don't understand some of these other reviewers. What's with the two stars? Maybe they just didn't get it. I loved this book."
DT @ amazon.com
"I loved this book! It had action and suspense and more action. I'll admit at first I didn't think I'd like it. What the heck is a cryptanalyst anyway! I was wrong. Decker's a great character and the environmental terrorism angle was exciting and right on the money given the news and current events. I loved Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Wave was a lot like that book. Fast read, great characters and really exciting. I can't wait for a sequel."
Melissa P. Gray "bookbabe" @ amazon.com
"The wave is fantastic; a roller coaster of a book. John Decker and Emily Swensen deal with terrorists both religious and environmental and a slew of governmental obstacles trying to avert a major disaster. If you want a great thriller with well-written characters and a disturbingly plausible plot, then this is the book for you. Move over Crichton, Sandom is here."
Michael Weis @ amazon.com
"You always learn a lot from Sandom's books. I had to do some fact checking on mega tsunamis before I bought the premise, but Sandom checks his facts and then "arranges" them to create a truly scary threat. And, he knows how to keep the action moving, and usually on several fronts. I also learned a fair amount about Islam which is in stark contrast to the mindless, oversimplified shouting going on in the media and much of the public. I'm looking forward to other John Decker thrillers."
John T. Richardson @ amazon.com
"I first read this book around the time it was originally published. I greatly enjoy fast-paced thrillers and The Wave certainly delivers for me. John Decker is a very strong, likeable character, more than capable of sustaining a detailed and suspenseful book like this. Decker and Emily Swenson bring to mind Dirk Pitt and Eva Rojas as well as Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu. But author JG Sandom is able to bring life to his characters with the added benefit of a current topic - terrorism (eco and/or otherwise) . . . After a recent re-read, I find that the book certainly still holds up! It is even more relevant today. The author's experiences gathered while living and traveling around the world, are quite apparent and beneficial to both the story line and color of The Wave. Weave in Mossad, Al'qaeda and . . . hell, I just love this book. It is a lot of fun. Do yourself a favor - read it."
Harvey @ amazon.com
"A riveting look at the shadowy war on terrorism . . . An action-packed, non-stop thriller. John Decker, a Cryptanalyst working with the FBI assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, finds himself working on a deadly plot of eco-terrorism. The plot is masterminded by Jihadist El Aqrab, who has recently been arrested for slaughtering a family in Tel Aviv. John Decker is determined to discover why. This gripping book takes you along on John Decker's assigment involving the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, murder and romance. This book would be an incredible movie!"
Jeffrey Einstein @ amazon.com
"J.G. Sandom breathes real heart and soul into this utterly plausible cast of flawed but irresistible characters. John Decker is a wonderfully reluctant hero, and even the villains in this story are unmistakably human in the depths of their pain, vengeance and sheer calculation. This book is the real McCoy, right up there with the best modern thrillers; Sandom's eye for intrigue, suspense and drama is apparent in his attention to detail and nuance. Can't wait to get my hands on "Gospel Truths", one of Sandom's earlier novels. If it's only half as good as "The Wave" I'll expect another two or three sleepless nights — and chalk them up once again as time well spent."
Gracie412 @ amazon.com
"All I can say is WOW . . . I love thrillers, and this John Decker story is a great one. The concept of environmental terrorism is all the more frightening because of the reality of global warming and cooling political alliances. John Decker is one of the great flawed heroes. Like Jason Bourne and Jack Ryan, John Decker is smart, dedicated, resolved and has a personal life that would make Dante weep. As a puzzle lover I was psyched to see a hero who also loves to piece things together and is addicted to codes and such. A demented killer in the middle east, a package of uranium large enough to make a nuclear bomb, an Israeli police officer, a gorgeous oceanographer and a volcano in the canary islands are pieces of this puzzle that Decker and Swenson (the love interest who actually is more than a pretty face, thank you J.G. Sandom!) have to put together before a catastrophe destroys millions of people. I LOVED this book. It's a thrill ride of a read and if you liked The Bourne Series or any of Tom Clancy's or James Patterson's stuff, you'll love The Wave. I recommend it highly."
To purchase your copy of The Wave, click here.
THE GOD MACHINE — Latest Reader Reviews
mietzemiau @ Amazon.com
"I came across this book the last night of my stay in a vacation rental. As I had an early flight to catch the next morning I figured I'd just read myself into a good nights sleep. WRONG! The plot is captivating and every chapter leaves you wanting to devour the next without hesitation. By 4am I forced myself to put the book down. The next day I downloaded The God Machine to my kindle and enjoyed yet another night of great adventure and little sleep. J.G. Sandom has written a thrilling book packed with rich characters. I loved the weaving of historical figures with modern day characters. This book is so enjoyable that I am baffled as to why it has not yet been made into a movie."
M. Lambert @ Amazon.com
"Great read! I loved how the author built in all the history elements into the book. Looking forward to his next novel."
Elaine Townsend @ Reading Addict
"This book ties the great minds of the Masons like Franklin and daVinci into a thrilling race to create a portal to Heaven . . . I like the way the author used short chapters to hop between past and present story lines. It was an easy plot to follow even though the stories were told in a fragmented way. There were two big ideas that struck me and stuck with me. First, a lot of the hub-bub surrounding this portal to Heaven was because it gave a way to reunite with our loved ones who had passed on. Ben Franklin (as told by the story) spent his entire life trying to build this machine to be with his deceased son Franky. But after a lifetime of failing, Franklin realized he had lived his entire life focused on the past and never truly living. He had poured all of his energy into his experiments and thus created no relationships with anyone. He realized, like so many do who suffer great loss, there is not value in living in the past. The second point was regarding this idea of a portal to Heaven and thus a direct path to God. In the end, the hero of the story realizes that what God has been trying to tell us since the beginning of time is that we don't need a portal to Him because he is always with us. All we have to do is pray/talk to Him, and we are with Him. I think sometimes it is easy to forget that just because He doesn't always answer our prayers the way we want that He isn't listening." [You are so right, Elaine. Thanks! JGS]
John Murphy @ Goodreads.com
"I was introduced to J. Sandom and his early work, Gospel Truths, by chance. Intrigued by Mr. Sandom I decided to read the Gospel Truths but did so with some intrepidation. As a Jesuit-educated history student I was concerned that the historical, theological underpinnings of Mr. Sandom's novel would lack the academic rigor I would expect even for a fictional writing. Not only did Gospel Truths exceeed my intellectual expectations, but I was impressed with the seamlessness with which Mr. Sandom chases history in the context a compelling love story. When it came to The God Machine, my trepidation returned. Why test fate? What if this sequel was not as good? I took a leap of faith and was not disappointed. Mr. Sandom confirmed his ability to interwine the continuing spiritual and emotional tribulations of Joseph Koster in a very granular and enticing examination of history, religion and morality. It is clear that Mr. Sandom has his own opinion and I congratulate him for having the courage to state it. But whether you agree or not with his point of view, your appreciation for the interplay between American history and American morality will be greatly enriched. He brings Ben Franklin to life. I found myself rooting for Ben on his odyssey and had to remind myself Mr. Franklin's story has already been told. That is because Mr. Sandom's Ben Franklin is not the well-known figure of American antiquity but, rather, a complex human being driven by love and desire for things large and small, who in the process made great history. It suggests that all of us could make great history and should. I highly recommend this God Machine."
Michael Weis @ Amazon.com
"I had read Gospel Truths and enjoyed it, so was looking forward to The God Machine and wasn't disappointed. Intricate and mysterious - Sandom is some kind of polymath - so much, about so many things, crammed into a good page-turner, from chips to church. I've heard that Sandom and Dan Brown both went to Amherst at the same time. It makes me wonder whether Brown might have been inspired by Sandom, since Sandom's was published first. But Sandom's works are much more intricate and complex. And, those 1 star reviews. What's with that? Maybe they're Church people or wish they were. Anyway, buy it."
Etienne @ Etienne's Blog
"Interesting and very flowing. It is hard to put the book down as every chapter leaves you wanting for more. It is also interesting how the author develops the romantic story between the two main characters as he did in his previous book Gospel Truths . . . Great credit has to go to the author for conducting vast historical, mathematical, and scientific research to include in the book's story."
Dave Dafilou @ Amazon.com
"The God Machine is a fast reading fun book. The plot unfolds rapidly and there is constant action. I like the characters in the book. The main character has appeared in previous Sandom books, and although I have not yet read these books, it was easy to follow the references and keep on track with the plot. I also thought Sandom did a good job of setting the scene for the book regardless if it was pre-revolutionary Philadelphia or modern day California. With a few well chosen sentences, the author made you understand the key features of where the scene takes place. That is important for a story that moves across the US and Europe and through differnt time periods. This was my first Sandom novel and I have already bought my next."
Matt @ goodreads.com
"Great read. Fast paced and exciting. Really interesting concept; very thought provoking. Joseph Koster is a great main character, smart and deductive. A thriller you'll have a hard time putting down."
B. Moore @ Amazon.com
"I love to read, read a great deal, but will drop a book I don't find interesting anywhere from the first page to well into the book. I want to be engaged by the plot, the characters, or both. The God Machine has a complicated, engaging plot, and is intelligently written, with vast amounts of historical detail. It moves right along and certainly kept me enthralled. It is a book that is far, far better than many of those on the best-seller lists. And J.G. Sandom is a far better writer than many of those best-selling authors who churn out books like widgets on an assembly line. He deserves a wide audience."
To purchase your copy of The God Machine, here.
GOSPEL TRUTHS — Latest Reader Reviews
Linda "katknit" @ Amazon.com
"Gospel Truths is an intelligent, complex, and competently written thriller. No bells or whistles here, just a few laptops, along with some dedicated and dangerous individuals determined to get their hands on Q, for various reasons of their own. And no neatly wrapped up ends in the final chapters. But there are some interesting passages descriptive of different locations, such as Chartres and the Rodin Museum in Paris . . . Masonic secrets, corrupt church officials, and money laundering schemes - all well before Da Vinci Code, imagine that!"
David Hall @ jgsandom.com
"Michner and Rutherford wrote complex historical novels. I am so amazed when an author combines technical, historical and complex writing in a single work, as you have. We readers of novels depend on the accuracy of the presentations . . . I look forward to any future writings."
Dan @ Square Dancing Dan in Denmark
"The atmosphere in Gospel Truths is dark and moody. Sandom is a creative wordsmith and his characters are compelling and likeable . . . (Gospel Truths) delivers a well crafted story with surprising twists . . . l am looking forward to reading the sequel."
Tom Bradley @ chapter.indigo.ca
"Gospel Truths is a moody, literate thriller that preceded The Da Vinci Code by more than a decade. It's a great mystery, intricate and complex. A great read."
Ben @ www.goodreads.com
"Fascinating and well-written, it's what the genre should be — an intellectual, as well as a visceral thrill."
To purchase your copy of GOSPEL TRUTHS, click here.
KISS ME, I'M DEAD — Latest Reader Reviews
Elvis57 @ Amazon
"Kiss Me, I'm Dead will delight students of history and lovers of mystery . . . Fans of J.G. Sandom will be thrilled that he has written a thoughtful and thought-provoking novel for young adults. The cast of characters in Kiss Me I'm Dead is varied and fully developed. Readers will root for the heroes, boo the villains, and gain insight to the motivations of all. This novel would make an excellent book club selection for young adult and adult readers. In addition to the historical aspects of the novel, character development and writer's craft would both be rich seeds for discussion."
Whisper1 @ librarything
"The Washington Post rated this one of the top ten Young Adult books. In addition, (the novel has been given) many other awards, included Horn Book’s list of recommended American historical fiction. It is also one of the few books selected by the American Library Association as a best book for young adults. Highly recommended, I can certainly understand the accolades "
Dana Greenleaf @ BRHS Book Reviews
"The suspense of the novel kept me reading . . . (Kiss Me, I'm Dead) got very intense, especially at the questioning of finding out who set the fire on the boat."
To purchase your copy of Kiss Me, I'm Dead, click here.
PUZZLES & e-POSTCARDS
For those of you who like puzzles and games, click here . . . just for fun! Challenge yourself to THE GOD MACHINE crossword or jigsaw puzzle.
Click here to view and download some e-Postcards/Wallpapers based on THE GOD MACHINE.
READINGS & SIGNINGS
Do you have ten members in your Reader's Circle or Book Club? Want to have a Skype Reading and Book Conference about The God Machine, The Wave, Kiss Me, I'm Dead or any of my other books? Click here to learn how you can bring me into your home via a free Skype online video call. All you need is broadband Web access and a PC.
I appreciate your feedback. If you'd like to say something about a reading, please click here.
IN OTHER NEWS
Caroline Thompson (author of Edward Scissorhands) said, "Move over, Dan Brown . . . All hail J.G. Sandom . . . (The God Machine) is a thrilling and breathless, rapturously-written and mind-blowing read. It’ll keep you up all night, turning pages as fast as your little fingers can manage." BookPage said, "Sandom has a knack for combining legendary gospels, ancient secrets, star-crossed lovers and Masonic puzzles to create a simmering stew of conspiracy, intrigue and danger that keeps the plot pot boiling until the very end." And the Historical Novels Review said, "History galore, violence, and intrigue fill the pages of this tightly plotted, twisting and turning adventure story . . . Those who love numbers, physics, and a truly unpredictable, suspenseful mystery will relish the facts and ponderings replete in this well-written, mysterious spin-off of The Da Vinci Code. The God Machine is a very impressive historical thriller!"
The Church insisted it didn't exist.
They lied.
They said it was just a Masonic legend.
It wasn't.
A two thousand year old secret.
Revealed.
The coded journal of Benjamin Franklin. A hidden map. A legendary gospel. These are the first pieces to an ancient puzzle so powerful it could destroy the very foundation of Christianity.Once before, Joseph Koster unearthed one of the Church's most deeply buried secrets . . . and it almost cost him his life. But some treasures are too hard to resist. And as Koster puts the pieces of Franklin's puzzle together, he discovers something even more startling . . . and infinitely more deadly.Now, along with beautiful Indian high-tech mogul Savita Sajan, Koster must race to decode Franklin's journal before it falls into the hands of those who would do anything, kill anyone to suppress it. But in a world of secret societies, ancient conspiracies and Masonic puzzles, locating the prize is one thing . . . staying alive, another.For as Koster and Sajan are about the learn, the same key that unlocks the doorway to Heaven . . . could open the portals of Hell.
For an excerpt from The God Machine, click here.
To purchase your copy of The God Machine, click here.
Did you enjoy The God Machine? Read the prequel: Gospel Truths . . . now available as an eBook!
Years before the News of the World phone hacking scandal implicated the venerable Scotland Yard, another cover-up took place . . . when the head of one of the largest private banks in Italy was found hanged under Blackfriars Bridge.
At the time, it was ruled a suicide. But was it?
BASED ON A REAL INCIDENT!
When City of London Police Inspector Nigel Lyman is assigned to investigate the death of a notorious Italian Banker found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London, the inquiry leads him to the Amiens and Chartres cathedrals in France in pursuit of a shadowy arch criminal — leader of a corrupt Masonic lodge, the I Four — intent on acquiring an ancient Gnostic Gospel whose discovery would undermine the very foundations of Christianity.
Booklist called Gospel Truths, "a splendid, tautly woven thriller . . . (and) an intelligent mystery of tremendous spiritual and literary depth." Library Journal said, "A masterful first novel, based on a true incident, which spins a complicated web of corruption, greed and deception." And Mostly Murder characterized it, "A fascinating mystery . . . captivating and engrossing."
The character of the Archibishop in Gospel Truths is modeled on my cousin, Paul Marcinkus, Archbishop, former head of the Vatican Bank (IOR), and once Mayor of the Vatican City.
For an excerpt from Gospel Truths, click here.
I'm featured under One to Watch at BookReporter.com. Check out the in-depth author interview during which I speak about Gospel Truths.
To challenge yourself with a Gospel Truths puzzle, click here.
To purchase your copy of Gospel Truths, click here.
The Wave - A John Decker Thriller continues to climb up the charts, especially in eBook form.
If you liked Gospel Truths or The Wall Street Murder Club, if you enjoyed Kiss Me, I'm Dead or Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher, if you loved The God Machine, check out The Wave — A John Decker Thriller.
Kirkus said, "Sandom’s strength lies in the verve of his story, with writing that has both muscle . . . (and) brains . . . Races from improbable to crazywild, all in good fun, with Sandom always one step ahead . . . A story with enough manic energy to be worthy of a nuclear explosion."
When Cryptanalyst John Decker of the FBI is assigned to the Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York, he has no idea he is about to be thrust into a deadly plot of eco-terrorism masterminded by El Aqrab, a diabolical killer recently arrested in Tel Aviv whose calling card is to wrap his victims up with incendiary devices designed to produce flames in the shape of Koranic verses. Some call it aesthetic destruction.
Following the theft of 8 kilos of Highly Enriched Uranium, an ultimatum is issued to the West: Release El Aqrab or a nuclear bomb will be detonated. But, at the last moment, El Aqrab escapes . . . and the authorities never get the bomb.
While Homeland Security is convinced it's headed for New York, only Agent Decker — assisted by brilliant and beautiful oceanographer Emily Swenson — believes the bomb’s true destination is La Palma, in the remote Canary Island chain.
Now, Decker and Swenson have less than six hours to prove their theory, defuse the bomb, and prevent a mega-tsunami from annihilating the Eastern Seaboard.
See some recent TV interviews on "Breezin' with Bierman" — available at YouTube. Watch me read from The Wave, and chat about my other recent publications.
[NOTE: I am currently working on a sequel to The Wave called The Plague. More announcements about this new John Decker thriller soon!]
For an excerpt from The Wave, click here.
To purchase your copy of The Wave, click here.
Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher is my third Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released as Resurrection Men under pen name T.K. Welsh. Now is your time to buys this thrilling horror story, for the first time available as a paperback and eBook.
Here's the thing about bodysnatching. You just can't think about what you're doing. You can't feel sorry for the person, or think they look like your mother, your brother or your sister. You can't feel bad. In fact, you can't feel anything. That's the key. Because the minute you start feeling something, it's over. You’re dead — pennies on the eyes, dirt on the face dead. It’s no way to live, but for some, it’s the only way.
Until they come for you . . .
Check out the latest in-depth author interview at Wordswimmer. See what inspires me to write my YA novels, and learn something about my writing process. Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher was previously named a Junior Library Guild selection.
Publishers Weekly called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher, “A haunting tour of London's underclass during the 1830s . . . Teens will likely be both captivated by Victor's harrowing story as well as his ability to prevail in the face of harsh injustices." BIG A, little a called the novel, “A moody, evocative tale . . . J.G. Sandom is fast becoming one of my favorite writers. His work transcends genre and audience classification.” VOYA said, "Teen readers will thoroughly enjoy the hair-raising suspense in this historical thriller." Kirkus Reviews called Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher perfect for, “audiences that relish historical fiction." TeensReadToo termed it, “an intense, dark work of historical fiction . . . I highly recommend this book.” KLIATT said, "Like M.T. Anderson's The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this look at sinister events in history makes the era come alive and lingers in the memory." Jen Robinson's Book Page called the novel, “Gripping and fast-paced, filled with intriguing historical details . . . The ending is utterly satisfying and consistent. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction." The Miss Rumphius Effect said, “(J.G. Sandom), where have you been? I loved this book . . . Pick it up and you'll find it hard to put down.” And School Library Journal said, “Part historical fiction and part adventure story, the novel brings excitement to Victorian England . . . Readers will be on the edge of their seats.”
For a sample chapter of Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher, click here.
To purchase your copy of Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher, click here.
Kiss Me, I'm Dead is my second Young Adult (YA) novel, originally released as The Unresolved under pen name T.K. Welsh . . . and — of all my work — one of my personal favorites.
This award-winning novel is finally available in paperback and in eBook form from Cornucopia Press.
See what the Washington Post called, "a subtle gem."
Mallory Meer is like any teenage girl. She likes to have fun. She thinks her sister is ridiculous. Her parents drive her crazy. She has a crush on Dustin and follows him everywhere.
Mallory even has a summer job — figuring out the truth about the fire on the General Slocum steamship . . . the disaster in which her sister was killed. Mallory is determined to find out the truth, and to bring the guilty parties to justice.
Sometimes Mallory gets angry, very angry. And strange things happen when Mallory gets angry.
Yes, Mallory is just like any other teenage girl.
Except Mallory is dead.
Kiss Me, I'm Dead was ranked one of the Top Ten Children's Books of the year by the Washington Post, and nominated for a Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Teens' Top Ten, the only book award recommended and awarded solely by teens. The novel was previously named an Association of Jewish Libraries Notable Book for Teens by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee. Kiss Me, I'm Dead was also nominated for the Cybils literary awards, named one of only a handful of Best Books for Young Adults (BBYA) by the American Library Association (ALA), and recently added to Horn Book's list of Recommended American Historical Fiction.
The Washington Post said, "(J.G. Sandom) writes with a precision and delicacy unusual for YA fiction," and called the book, "A subtle gem." School Library Journal said, " Kiss Me, I'm Dead tells a remarkable story in a remarkable way." Horn Book Magazine called the work, "A decidedly unconventional ghost story . . . (and) a tightly wound novel." Kirkus Reviews termed it, "A remarkable account." Romantic Times said, " Kiss Me, I'm Dead is a book you shouldn't pass up." Midwest Book Review called the novel, "a wonderfully different kind of ghost story." And Bookslut.com said, "Kiss Me, I'm Dead scores on several levels, most notably as a drama that blows apart all preconceived notions of how history can be retold."
For a sample chapter of Kiss Me, I'm Dead, click here.
To purchase your copy of Kiss Me, I'm Dead, click here.
And if that isn’t enough, both Kiss Me, I'm Dead and Confessions of a Teenage Body Snatcher are both available in Two Teen Terrors — A Cornucopia Press Collection.
To purchase your copy of Two Teen Terrors, click here.
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