The new book trailer forSmokescreen, my debut, published in 2013/2014. Thought I give it a fresh coat. Hope you like it. The novel is available at Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords. You can start atAmazonor get it at the given links at my store.
Praise for Smokescreen
“Boundary-Breaking” Indie Reader (2016)
“A well written and totally absorbing political spy thriller” – Midwest Book Review
“Original and Bold Plotting” – The Examiner
“Authentic and Compelling”e-thriller.com
“An intriguing international thriller of conspiracy and espionage” – Crime Thriller Hound
“Bourne-like” – Times of Israel “A Must Read for 2014”- Digital Journal “Ample Adrenaline” – Millennium Post (India) “International, Realistic, and Above All Intense ” – Book to the Future “Extraordinary Thriller” – Expat Living Singapore
“Talib’s skill with settings was reminiscent of Barry Eisler’s fabulous John Rain series.” – Rabid Reader’s Review.
I am pleased to unveil the book covers for my novel in translation in Spanish and Portuguese.
Smokescreen will be available in Spanish and Portuguese. The original English version was published in 2013 by Typhoon Media (Hong Kong).
The protagonist, Jet West, was contrived during my days working as a magazine reporter for Singapore Tatler. But the inspiration for the story came about much earlier and included observations of Singapore society and my stint in Cairo, Egypt.
En una antigua cafetería del Cairo, dos espías veteranos planean una misión secreta para resolver, de una vez por todas, el conflicto entre Palestina e Israel bajo la promesa de que Israel hará una gran concesión como parte de un tratado de paz.
En Singapur, Jethro Westrope, un periodista de una revista de sociedad, tropieza con una escena del crimen: En sus últimos momentos, la hermosa Niki Kishwani le da una grabadora digital, una evidencia que pone en peligro la vida de Jethro. Por si fuera poco, el periodista es incriminado por el homicidio de Niki.
Ahora Jethro tendrá que encontrar al asesino de Niki mientras se adentra cada vez más en una red de conspiraciones e intriga que involucra a miembros de los gobiernos de Singapur, Israel y Estados Unidos, cada uno con una agenda compleja, competitiva y potencialmente mortal.
En este contexto trepidante, Jethro tendrá que encontrar respuestas y salvar su propia vida, pero nada es lo que parece. De pronto se halla en el centro de un complot político diabólico y apabullante con grandes implicaciones globales.
Jethro se sorprende al descubrir que no sólo lo han incriminado por homocidio, sino también por asesinato político. En sus manos recae una responsabilidad que se vuelve más grande que su propio destino.
Cortina de Fumaca
Em um antigo café no Cairo, dois espiões veteranos planejam uma missão secreta para resolver – de uma vez por todas – o conflito israelo-palestino. A promessa: Israel fará uma concessão importante como parte do tratado de paz.
Em Cingapura, Jethro Westrope, uma jornalista de revista, tropeça na cena de um assassinato: a bela Niki Kishwani o dirige, em seu último suspiro, a um gravador digital, evidência que coloca a vida de Jethro em sério perigo. E, muito pior, ele é enquadrado pelo assassinato de Niki. Jethro sai em busca do assassino de Niki e é atraído para uma rede de engano e intriga envolvendo funcionários dos governos de Cingapura, Israel e Estados Unidos, cada um com uma agenda complexa, competitiva e potencialmente mortal.
Contra esse pano de fundo pulsante, Jethro corre para encontrar respostas e se salvar – no entanto, nada é o que parece. Ele se encontra no centro de um enredo político tão diabólico e abrangente em suas implicações mundiais que fica surpreso ao descobrir as manchetes de amanhã de hoje.
Ele está sendo criado não apenas como um assassino, mas como um assassino, e algo muito maior do que seu próprio destino está em suas mãos.
“Is this your Easter egg?” A reader’s message to me after noticing that I had planted a tiny mention in every book of mine. Now he’s wondering where I’ll put the next one. Have you spot them yet?
Alcove, located in Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, has such a lovely, garden patio with many locals enjoying the sunshine with their cocktails.
In Gun Kiss, I wrote a scene that takes place at this popular place. So, I thought it’ll be nice to give you a taste of the place that goes beyond the pages of the book. So, I contacted the management and asked them if they’d be kind to contribute a recipe for one of their drinks.
Here’s a cocktail recipe, courtesy of Alcove, for one of their most popular cocktails. The cocktail Tigermom Gimlet is named after the bar manager, Cari Hah.
Hip place serving LA cuisine with farm-fresh southern Californian produce in a rustic-chic dining interior.
Add: 1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Beachwood Café
Cute and cozy place serving American eatery tucked beneath the Hollywood sign.
Add: 2695 N Beachwood Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068
Alcove
Housed in two historic bungalows, this cottage-like cafe serves up large plates of gourmet American classics.
Add: 1929 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Pink Taco
Trendy eatery/bar with a rock ‘n’ roll vibe, serving Mexican fare, including tacos & margaritas (though the place is not mentioned in Gun Kiss, it had inspired the fictional establishment Mama Tacos owned by the protagonist).
Add: 225 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Figaro
A screenwriter and actor rendezvous spot with French antics, sidewalk tables and bistro fare.
Add: 1802 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Resw
Bar Nineteen 12 at The Beverly Hills Hotel
Indoor bar with signature cocktails overlooking the terrace.
Add: 9641 Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Pita Jungle
Mediterranean/Arabic dishes with vegetarian options.
A report from my publisher revealed that Gun Kiss is one of the Top 5 selling ebooks for the month of January 2018. It kinda feels like a pop singer trying to climb the music charts. This was a fun book to write, and thankfully my sentiments are shared by readers. The novel also comes in a paperback version, available at your usual stores.
I received a nice Silver Seal (a 5-Star review) from Readers’ Favorite for Incognito, my Vatican thriller.
I was happy to read that the reviewer felt the darkness in the story. It was an effort I put in not only in dialogue, action but in the way I described scenes, including weather.
I’ve been asked to produce another novel with the same characters. We shall see. I enjoyed writing this story. To be frank, I could’ve continued writing further. The darkness somewhat became an obsession with me but I knew I had to write The End at the right moment.
The book is close to the heart. It is based on personal experiences during my trip to Europe that became materials for the story. If you like snow, this is the book for you.
I saw the paperback version of Gun Kiss on the first day of the new year when the courier guy arrived with a box from the publisher. Here it is. What do you think? By the way, can you hear the birds in the background? That was coincidental, not planned.
The book is available at your usual stores along with the Kindle version, which is still on sale until 7 January. Personally, I’m not too bothered whether I read books on electronic devices or on paper. I’m flexible that way, having been introduced to Kindle by someone. Of course, there was some slight resistance in the initial, but having experienced it first hand, I find that it works for me too. So Kindle or paperback, it’s all the same to me. Naturally, if you are a traditionalist, you want to feel the paper in your hand. But I wonder what the ancient Egyptians would have thought of paperback books against their mud tablets. See my point?
Still, it’s nice to have a paperback version of a book. But having the best of two world’s is much better.
