Posts Tagged ‘thrillers’

Popular short story compendium ‘5 SHORT STORY GEMS’ available as audiobook!

Posted: July 22, 2025 in 5 Short Story Gems, Audiobooks
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‘5 SHORT STORY GEMS: Once Were Brothers / Mr. 100% / A Gladiator’s Love / The Last Tasmanian Tiger / Brooklyn Bankster’ by Lance Morcan is available now as an audiobook via Amazon’s Audible initiative. (Listening time 5hrs. 53mins). To listen to a sample, click on “Virtual voice sample” at: https://www.amazon.com/Short-Story-Gems-Gladiators-Tasmanian/dp/B0FDKW87RC/

‘5 SHORT STORY GEMS’ caters for all tastes, including historical fiction, adventure yarns, romance, bank heist and legal thriller. Technically, this box set includes four short stories and one novella. The odd one out being the aforementioned legal thriller.

Each short story has also been published as a standalone Kindle and audiobook. To view the Kindle links for each book go to an earlier post at: https://morcanbooksandfilms.com/2020/04/01/book-launch-5-short-story-gems/

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For those who prefer the printed word, ‘5 SHORT STORY GEMS’ is available as a paperback via Harvard Book Store, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones UK & Europe bookstores, Amazon and via public libraries.

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LOOKING FOR SOME GOOD HOLIDAY READING? CHECK OUT THESE “ADDICTIVE” BOOK TRILOGIES!

Posted: December 16, 2024 in The Orphan Trilogy
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Romper.com invites you to check out its “Addictive Book Trilogies with a Cult Following to Dive into STAT.” Our bestseller international thriller series The Orphan Trilogy (The Ninth Orphan, The Orphan Factory, The Orphan Uprising) – by James & Lance Morcan – comes in at #5 on the list! James’s name comes first because the trilogy was his brainchild.

The list follows below.

Addictive Book Trilogies list:

#1  The Hunger Games – by Suzanne Collins
#2  The Millennium Trilogy – by Stieg Larsson
#3  Infernal Devices Trilogy – by Cassandra Clare
#4  Graceling Realm Series – by Kristin Cashore
#5  The Orphan Trilogy – by James and Lance Morcan
#6  The King Trilogy – by Stephen Douglass
#7  His Dark Materials – by Philip Pullman
#8  The Bourne Trilogy – by Robert Ludlum
#9  Trilogy Of The Chosen – by J.M. LeDuc
#10 The Falsifiers – by Antoine Bello
#11 Bloodlines Trilogy – by Glen Duncan
#12 The Beyond Trilogy – by Janet Morris
#13 The Bronze Horseman Trilogy – by Paullina Simons
#14 African Trilogy – by Chinua Achebe
#15 The Ibis Trilogy – by Amitav Ghosh

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Romper.com’s summary of The Orphan Trilogy follows:

“James and Lance Morcan’s Orphan Trilogy is a fast-paced international conspiracy series that follows an orphan named Nine. He is one of twenty-three genetically superior orphans being raised and groomed by Chicago’s Pedemont Project to start a new world order. The series follows Nine as he comes of age within the orphanage, then escapes and goes on the run across America and overseas, all the while using espionage skills from his upbringing to try to outrun his former father-figure. Talk about suspense from the get-go!”

Amazon link to The Orphan Trilogy: https://www.amazon.com/Orphan-Trilogy-Ninth-Factory-Uprising-ebook/dp/B00BGGM05U – It’s available as a Kindle ebook only. However, the three books in the trilogy are available individually as paperbacks and ebooks.

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THE EXCHANGE: Grisham’s latest far from his greatest

Posted: January 22, 2024 in Book reviews
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John Grisham’s latest offering, THE EXCHANGE, was not worth the wait in this book critic’s opinion. Presented as “The riveting sequel to The Firm, the blockbuster thriller that launched the career of the world’s bestselling author,” it pales by comparison to that earlier novel.

Sure, it picks up where The Firm left off, albeit 15 years later, but it’s so dialogue heavy it’s a virtual talkfest interrupted by a seemingly never-ending round of meetings, international flights, phone calls, more flights and still more interminable meetings. The repetition is mind-blowingly tedious and annoying. Drama, action, and tension are totally lacking. Very disappointing – especially as this critic is a long-time Grisham fan and considers The Firm one of his very best novels.

Ah, well…Grisham remains one of my favorite authors – up there with M. Connolly, D. Baldacci, N. DeMille, G. Iles, K. Follett, Sir G. Archer, L. Child, C. Iggulden, F. Forsyth et al. – and, as always, I do look forward to his next offering.

Meanwhile, for anyone still interested in the storyline for THE EXCHANGE, here ‘tis as it appears on the book’s Amazon page…

Mitch McDeere has cheated death and come out the other side. Fifteen years ago, he stole $10 million from the mob and disappeared. Now, with his enemies jailed or dead, he has fought his way to the top of the biggest law firm in the world.

When a new case takes Mitch to Libya, danger awaits: he’s soon in the biggest hostage negotiation in recent history with terrorists who have murdered and will murder again. Their demand is staggering: a ransom of $100 million must be paid within 10 days.

But this isn’t a random kidnapping – it’s personal. And no one, not even Mitch’s wife in New York, is safe.

To see what reviewers are saying about ‘THE EXCHANGE: The Firm, Book 2’ go to: https://www.amazon.com/Exchange-After-biggest-Grisham-decade-ebook/dp/B0BX44G8TR/

#Amazon global review rating: 4 out of 5 stars after 37,123 global ratings.

-Lance Morcan

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Skeptical book critic questions authors’ knowledge

Posted: May 15, 2021 in The Me Too Girl
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“How can two guys write with any knowledge about challenges faced by a female icon of the Me Too movement?” That’s what one book critic asks about our co-authored crime thriller The Me Too Girl. Our answer? It wasn’t easy…

However, Amazon reviewers appear to think we did okay as they’ve given the novel a 4.2 star rating globally.

Hall of Fame Top 100 reviewer Grady Harp describes the novel as “A literary amber/red alert!” and says “This book is important – as well as being a fine read. Highly recommended.”

Vine Voice book critic Ray F. says, “It is a story praiseworthy in what it is attempting to do.”

And Amazon reviewer Sheri A. Wilkinson describes it as “A must read (for men and women).”

The storyline: Young Los Angeles public relations exec Suzie Fox is being blackmailed for sex by a bad cop, a senior officer of the LAPD no less. Suzie fights back the only way she knows how, and, in the process, unwittingly becomes a beacon, a shining light, for America’s Me Too movement and for abused women everywhere. But will justice be served?

The Me Too Girl by [Lance Morcan, James Morcan]

The Me Too Girl is available via Amazon as a paperback and Kindle ebook: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08137BDGH/

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‘Heads You Win’ – another thrilling novel from master storyteller Jeffrey Archer

Posted: December 18, 2020 in Book reviews
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Alexander Karpenko is no ordinary child, and from an early age, it is clear he is destined to lead his countrymen. But when his father is assassinated by the KGB for defying the state, he and his mother will have to escape from Russia if they hope to survive. At the docks, they are confronted with an irreversible choice: should they board a container ship bound for America, or Great Britain? Alexander leaves that choice to the toss of a coin…

Heads You Win by [Jeffrey Archer]
https://www.amazon.com/Heads-You-Win-Jeffrey-Archer-ebook/dp/B07BGY4YH1/

My review:

★★★★★  Archer’s Heads You Win is essentially two stories about the same people – one about a young Russian and his mom who, after a coin toss flee to make a new life for themselves in America, and the other about the same pair who flee to England to make a new life there. Spanning two continents and 30 years, the concept and the writing are brilliant with mind-bending plot twists guaranteed to keep you turning the pages. Warning, spoiler ahead: I note some reviewers are critical of the ending. I found it both startling and unsettling. Whilst it’s an ending that has apparently disappointed some, it doesn’t detract from can only be described as a brilliant read. –Lance Morcan

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Aviation thriller inspired by true-life near-tragedy

Posted: September 3, 2020 in The Heathrow Affair
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On 10 June 1990, British Airways Flight 5390 suffered explosive decompression resulting in the captain being partially sucked out of the aircraft. This near-tragedy was the inspiration for our aviation thriller THE HEATHROW AFFAIR.

The Heathrow Affair by [Lance Morcan, James Morcan]

“Brilliant, I loved it! Easily worth the 5/5 Star Rating.” -Amazon Australia Top 50 reviewer Todd Simpson

“An immensely entertaining romance adventure!” -Amazon Hall of Fame Top 100 reviewer Grady Harp

THE HEATHROW AFFAIR is available via Amazon as a paperback and Kindle ebook. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07X8CN6BD/

You can read the opening chapters if you click on the book’s cover on its Amazon page… Happy reading!

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The Orphan Trilogy thriller novels now available as paperbacks

Posted: May 3, 2020 in The Ninth Orphan, The Orphan Factory, The Orphan Trilogy, The Orphan Uprising
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New Zealand publisher Sterling Gate Books has announced that all three novels in its bestselling thriller series THE ORPHAN TRILOGY (The Ninth Orphan / The Orphan Factory / The Orphan Uprising) are now available via Amazon as paperbacks as well as Kindle ebooks.

All three novels in the trilogy have been regular visitors to Amazon’s bestseller lists on Kindle, but until recently only book one, The Ninth Orphan, was available as a paperback. That changed last month with the release of book two, The Orphan Factory, and this week with the release of book three, The Orphan Uprising, as paperbacks.

This comes as good news for the many fans of the series who enjoyed The Ninth Orphan paperback and lamented the fact it was the only novel available in paperback form.

 

The three novels, together with their Amazon links (to the paperbacks) are listed below:

The Ninth Orphan (The Orphan Trilogy Book 1) Kindle Edition

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0473193132/

“Ranks amongst the best thrillers.” –Kindle Book Review UK

 

The Orphan Factory (The Orphan Trilogy Book 2) Kindle Edition

https://www.amazon.com/Orphan-Factory-Trilogy/dp/0473519747/

“Answers a lot of questions while also opening other doors for the final book in the trilogy.” –The Kindle Book Review

 

The Orphan Uprising (The Orphan Trilogy Book 3) Kindle Edition

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0473521040/

“A heart-tearing, mind-splitting, gut-churning crusade.” –Welcome Home Soldier Reviews

 

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THE ORPHAN FACTORY, book two in The Orphan Trilogy, now available as a paperback

Posted: April 25, 2020 in The Orphan Factory
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Those who enjoyed the bestselling international thriller THE NINTH ORPHAN (The Orphan Trilogy Book 1) are advised THE ORPHAN FACTORY, book two in the trilogy, is available via Amazon as a paperback as well as a Kindle ebook.

 

The Orphan Factory (The Orphan Trilogy Book 2) by [James Morcan, Lance Morcan]

Paperback published.

This prequel to book one in the trilogy is an epic, atmospheric story that begins with 23 genetically superior orphans being groomed to become elite spies in Chicago’s Pedemont Orphanage and concludes with a political assassination deep in the Amazon jungle.

 

See what the critics are saying about THE ORPHAN FACTORY:

“Black ice and black ops perhaps have a lot in common. You don’t see’em coming until you spin out.” –Welcome Home Soldier Reviews

“Buckle up for another wild ride in the Orphan Trilogy” –My Scribe World

“Answers a lot of questions while also opening other doors for the final book in the trilogy” –The Kindle Book Review

 

THE ORPHAN FACTORY is exclusive to Amazon.

Paperback link: https://www.amazon.com/Orphan-Factory-Trilogy/dp/0473519747/

Kindle link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008M9WWKW

 

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Paperback version of ‘The Dogon Initiative’ novel launched

Posted: April 22, 2020 in The Dogon Initiative
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The paperback version of our action-adventure The Dogon Initiative  has been published on Amazon. It follows last year’s successful launch of the novel as a Kindle ebook.

 

The Dogon Initiative (The Deniables Book 1) by [Lance Morcan, James Morcan]

Paperback available now.

 

In The Dogon Initiative, a group of foreign mercenaries hired as deniable assets by a newly-formed humanitarian division of the CIA is tasked with saving Mali’s persecuted Dogon people from genocide. They are the Deniables. Their operation must be carried out in stealth while journeying across some of West Africa’s most hostile terrain. As if all that’s not enough, they are also instructed to help solve an ancient astronomical mystery linked to the pyramids of Egypt.

The Deniables soon find themselves fighting for their lives when they get caught in the middle of warring ethnic factions in Mali. Their only way to survive is to join with the Dogon in a race against the clock. The stakes are so high that not only could an entire indigenous group be wiped off the face of the Earth, but all evidence that supports advanced ancient technology theories surrounding the Dogon and a lost civilization thesis may be destroyed in the process.

Inspired by a true-life mystery of astronomy, The Dogon Initiative  highlights some of the many myths and theories surrounding the fascinating Dogon people of Mali. In particular, their unexplained knowledge of the invisible-to-the-eye Sirius B white dwarf star, the rings of Saturn and other heavenly bodies, and their rumored ancestral relationship to ancient Egyptians.

 

The Dogon Initiative  is exclusive to Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Dogon-Initiative-Deniables-Lance-Morcan/dp/0473519720/

 

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Amazon Hall of Famer lauds new release box set of short stories

Posted: April 10, 2020 in 5 Short Story Gems
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“Very highly recommended.” That’s Amazon Hall of Fame Top 100 book reviewer Grady Harp’s summation of 5 SHORT STORY GEMS: Once Were Brothers / Mr. 100% / A Gladiator’s Love / The Last Tasmanian Tiger / Brooklyn Bankster – a new release compendium of short stories that is currently exclusive to Kindle.

The Hall of Famer says, “Lance Morcan proves he is a master weaver of stories. This collection of tales, so appropriately called ‘GEMS’ in the bundle’s title, is a solid survey of Morcan’s gifts as a writer.”

 

5 Short Story Gems -3D cover

New box set for lovers of short stories… https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086JZSK2T/

 

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