New Review of GHOST GUNS from The Florida Bar Journal

GHOST GUNS: A MATT O’MALLEY THRILLER

Book Reviews

by Thomas G. Kane

Cover image of Ghost GunsPeople are succumbing to a mysterious illness around Orlando’s Lake Eola, while state, local, and federal officials do everything they can to prevent the public from learning the truth behind the deaths. Kaitlyn Clancy is being held hostage, and a ruthless arms merchant known as The Hawk is hunting Matt O’Malley.

These are just some of the electrifying story lines running through the latest book in the Matt O’Malley thriller series, Ghost Guns. Thomas G. Kane, an Orlando attorney and Florida Bar member, conjures up a thrilling tale that has the protagonist struggling to learn the identity of The Hawk and trying to prevent him from deploying a new chemical weapon of mass destruction — a poison so powerful that a few drops in a body of water will render the water highly toxic for years. Lake Eola is a test case, and the results are devastating.

The fast-paced action in this highly entertaining novel forces the reader to explore the danger terrorists pose to soft targets such as water supplies. But, like all of Mr. Kane’s novels, Ghost Guns also explores larger issues of social import.

In his first book in the Matt O’Malley series, Desperate Hours, Mr. Kane wrote about the danger of the lone wolf terrorist in large public gatherings. In Desperate Hours, the antagonists attempt to blow up a tour boat with a presidential candidate aboard along with hundreds of dignitaries during a Fourth of July fireworks show.

Human trafficking by the Russian mafia was the underlying theme of Desperate Days, a novel that has O’Malley racing around the Adirondack State Park during four harrowing days, attempting to locate and save the daughter of a friend from being smuggled out of the country.

Kateri’s Treasure weaves together the stories of the bateaux (war boats) sunk during the French and Indian Wars in Lake George, and legends surrounding St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the “Lily of the Mohawks.” Kane blends the two with a modern-day story of a rogue MI-5 agent on a murderous spree as he searches for treasure in Lake George. The author uses this story to raise questions about what actually is of value in our lives, what constitutes true treasure, and the importance of natural environments.

The author had an active trial practice for 25 years and those experiences creep into his books. The stories are driven by dialogue that fills out the characters, making them real and identifiable. He explores, and gives voice to, the thoughts of the antagonist as well as the protagonists. He has an excellent ear for how people speak to one another, and he gives life, humor, and pathos to his characters. Even the villains are given an opportunity to vent their grievances, whether real or imagined. They get to present them, and the reader is able to decide whether they are valid or not.

Molly Kacheris graduated from the Florida State University College of Law and is a member of the Florida, D.C., and Virginia bars. She currently practices in McLean, Virginia.

Plans for Ghost Guns on Internet?

Wednesday August 1, 2018 could have proven to be a landmark day in the gun debate. That’s when people were supposed to be able to start legally downloading blueprints for 3D-printable guns. The implications of this could be historic. Do-it-yourself firearms don’t have serial numbers and are untraceable. Supporters say the ability to build unregulated and untraceable guns makes it much harder, if not impossible, for governments to ban them. Others fear the technology will make it easier for terrorists and people who can’t pass background checks to get guns.  A Federal Judge blocked the release of the plans on the internet, but this issue is far from resolved.  Stay tuned for further developments.

GHOST GUNS now available!

 

I am very excited about the release of the fourth novel in the Matt O’Malley series. This book is set both in  Lake George and Orlando, Florida. In this exciting book, Matt O’Malley is challenged to stop a maniacal arms dealer determined to unleash a powerful chemical weapon on the world, but first he must rescue a young woman from her subterranean capitivity. However, it’s not that easy. Matt does not know who the woman is, where she is being held capitive; or, in fact, the identity of the arms dealer.
Ghost Guns is available to retailers through the distributor North Country Books, and at book stores and gift shops throughout the Adirondacks. The print and Kindle version are available on Amazon.com. A print copy (autographed if you like) can also be ordered at a discount from this web site.

New Matt O’Malley Mystery Available Soon!!!

thumb_Kateri's Treasure Cover - Version 2Kateri’s Treasure is the latest book in the Matt O’Malley Mystery series. This time, Matt comes up against a disgraced and ruthless former MI-5 agent determined to locate a treasure trove of blood diamonds that were meant to be payment to a drug lord for a shipment of arms to rebels in Africa. Matt and his friends are sucked into a whirlwind of deception, murder and kidnappings soon after he discovers a dead body on a sunken bateau in beautiful Lake George. Integral to the story is the simple faith a young man has in the Adirondack’s own, Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks, and the legends that surround her. The plot takes many unexpected twists and turns but becomes very personal as Matt seeks to unravel the mystery in order to save one of his friends who has been taken hostage. It all comes to an amazing conclusion in the waters of Shelving Rock Falls in a life or death struggle.

Kateri’s Treasure will be available in  bookstores throughout the northeast and as a e-Book on Kindle and Nook.  It also may be ordered directly from the author who will be happy to autograph it for you through this website.

Kindle & Nook

I have recently returned from another wonderful visit to Lake George and the Adirondack State Park.  I had a few book signings and got to see a number of great people who had read Desperate Hours and came looking for Desperate Days.  I can’t express how grateful I am that these books are finding an audience and people seem to enjoy them enough to want more of the Matt O’Malley series.

In response to a large number of inquires Eileen and I decided it was time to move into the Twenty-first Century and get Desperate Hours and Desperate Days into e-book formats.  Since I have the technical skills of your average head of lettuce it fell to Eileen to figure out how to accomplish this goal.  I am thrilled to announce that she worked on it while I was away and now both books are available on either Kindle or Nook.

Rodgers Rock pictured here is featured in a key scene in the book Desperate Days.

New Matt O’Malley Mystery Is Available!

Desperate Days, is the second thrilling “Matt O’Malley” mystery novel by Thomas Kane set in the beautiful Adirondack State Park. The tranquility of the park stands in stark contrast to the evil acts that are occurring there in this action packed, tightly paced thriller. Continue reading

New Matt O’Malley Mystery Due Soon!

Desperate Days, is the second thrilling “Matt O’Malley” mystery novel by Thomas Kane set in the beautiful Adirondack State Park. The tranquility of the park stands in stark contrast to the evil acts that are occurring there in this action packed, tightly paced thriller.
Matt has returned to upstate New York from his home in Florida only to learn that Erin, the beautiful young daughter of his friend Carol has disappeared. Carol has gone to the police who believe that she is overreacting and with no evidence of foul play they refuse to look for Erin. In desperation, Carol turns to Matt O’Malley, who has problems of his own. Almost since he arrived back in the Adirondacks, the Men of Islam have been seeking their revenge on him.
When Matt O’Malley starts asking questions concerning the missing Erin’s whereabouts he runs into the ominously menacing Sergei Popov who drives Matt to commit acts that just days before he would not have believe himself capable of, as he uncovers an unspeakably horrifying crime playing out in one of the remote Adirondack Great Camps.
Matt’s quest to save Erin leads him on a frantic four day chase throughout the Adirondacks, all the while dodging terrorist assassins who are trying their best to kill him. As Desperate Days races to an explosive and suspenseful conclusion, Matt must test the limits of his own mental and physical endurance as well as the strength of some of his closest friendships as he will do whatever he has to do to save Erin from a ghastly fate.

Book Club Discussion Guide

BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION GUIDE
I have received a number of requests from book clubs for personal appearances and for a discussion guides. I have gone to some of the book clubs and had a great time. It is fascinating to me how readers make the characters their own and fill in the blanks about them. One of the clubs decided they wanted to decided what actors would play what parts if Desperate Hour were ever made into a movie. Out of these appearances I have tried to distill some of the most interesting topics and questions into one guide. I hope this will be of some assistance to some group out there! Continue reading

Video Trailer For Desperate Hours

Check out the new trailer for Desperate Hours! Click on the title above to view trailer Continue reading

Hackercrafts

In the climactic final moments of Desperate Hours an inanimate object, the Hackercraft Sterling, becomes one of the heros of the story. This boat actually exists and is a prototype of an entire new line of boats being made by the company located at Silver Bay on Lake George. You can view these magnificent boats at the newly designed show room located at the Silver Bay location. Unfortunately, there are no tours currently avaialble at the production facility in Ticonderoga. It is there where the latest in marine design and technology is pared with old school craftsmanship to produce these timeless classics. Continue reading