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Covert Dreams
What if the government said that your missing wife never existed? Intrigue and conspiracy from Munich to the burning sands of Saudi Arabia.
"As he sat there, he became one gigantic spasm. His body jerked involuntarily, without interruption, and he began to spin. The world was upside down, sideways—because what couldn’t possibly be, inexplicably was. Blobs of perspiration fell onto the book. B.J. slammed it shut. He pushed the terrible pages aside. He was in such a state that the librarian looked up at him from across the room, frowning disapproval his way as sharp as Arabian swords.
But B.J. didn’t notice. He couldn’t see. He was lost completely to the horror of his mind."
If you love fast-paced international thrillers, then take on COVERT DREAMS. It is like "reading Robert Ludlum and the Bourne series" - Dale Roberts, mystery writer
"Don't start reading this book on an evening when you have to get up early the next morning, because you're going to find it hard to put down!" - Nick Russell, NY Times bestselling author of the BIG LAKE series
From the author of DEADLY EYES, a thrilling Caribbean mystery.
EXCERPT
The Munich all around her was bustling with activity. She could hear it from all directions. Munich was a wonderful city, a fun-loving place, the live and let live ebullience of the city emanating from its every nook and cranny. She had had a lovely stay here. All of it had been so adventurous, so new, so unlike life back home in Arizona. She could vividly recall the first time she had ventured into a Munich beer garden, where the liter mugs had been so huge that she had had to lift hers with both hands, and the giggles, from him, until he too had had to use both hands.
The fumbling noises he had been making came to an abrupt halt. He began stroking her cheek again. Gus looked so happy, so young, so full of life. It was so hard to imagine that he could be so heavily involved in all this horror.
Gus smiled at her once more. His eyes were soft, so gentle, so caring, so loving.
Maybe this was some kind of huge mistake. Maybe he wasn't going to kill her after all. Maybe everything would turn out happily ever after. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.
But then suddenly she saw it clearly. It was no fairy tale. There would be no maybe. This was real, as real as the mixture of sadness and fear that now flooded her brain.
And then she died, with her eyes wide open, challenging, piercing his to the end.
"As he sat there, he became one gigantic spasm. His body jerked involuntarily, without interruption, and he began to spin. The world was upside down, sideways—because what couldn’t possibly be, inexplicably was. Blobs of perspiration fell onto the book. B.J. slammed it shut. He pushed the terrible pages aside. He was in such a state that the librarian looked up at him from across the room, frowning disapproval his way as sharp as Arabian swords.
But B.J. didn’t notice. He couldn’t see. He was lost completely to the horror of his mind."
If you love fast-paced international thrillers, then take on COVERT DREAMS. It is like "reading Robert Ludlum and the Bourne series" - Dale Roberts, mystery writer
"Don't start reading this book on an evening when you have to get up early the next morning, because you're going to find it hard to put down!" - Nick Russell, NY Times bestselling author of the BIG LAKE series
From the author of DEADLY EYES, a thrilling Caribbean mystery.
EXCERPT
The Munich all around her was bustling with activity. She could hear it from all directions. Munich was a wonderful city, a fun-loving place, the live and let live ebullience of the city emanating from its every nook and cranny. She had had a lovely stay here. All of it had been so adventurous, so new, so unlike life back home in Arizona. She could vividly recall the first time she had ventured into a Munich beer garden, where the liter mugs had been so huge that she had had to lift hers with both hands, and the giggles, from him, until he too had had to use both hands.
The fumbling noises he had been making came to an abrupt halt. He began stroking her cheek again. Gus looked so happy, so young, so full of life. It was so hard to imagine that he could be so heavily involved in all this horror.
Gus smiled at her once more. His eyes were soft, so gentle, so caring, so loving.
Maybe this was some kind of huge mistake. Maybe he wasn't going to kill her after all. Maybe everything would turn out happily ever after. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.
But then suddenly she saw it clearly. It was no fairy tale. There would be no maybe. This was real, as real as the mixture of sadness and fear that now flooded her brain.
And then she died, with her eyes wide open, challenging, piercing his to the end.
307 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 17, 2011
30 people are currently reading
489 people want to read
About the author
Mike Meyer
10 books354 followersMichael Meyer is the author of mysteries, thrillers, humorous fiction, and non-fiction: Love and romance, laughter and tears, thrills and fears.
He has resided in and has visited many places in the world, all of which have contributed in some way to his own published writing. He has literally traveled throughout the world, on numerous occasions. He has lived in Finland, Germany, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He gained the wanderlust to see the world, to experience other cultures, at an early age, and this desire has never left him. If anything, it has only gained in intensity as he has aged.
Among the many unique things that have happened to him in his world travels, he has walked the streets of Istanbul with a detective, searching for a pickpocket who got him good. He has ridden on the back of a motorcycle in Tehran while the driver, who spoke not one word of English, pointed out all the sights to him. He has wrestled an Iranian soldier who tried to break into his hotel room in Tehran. He has had the paint completely stripped from his car as he drove across Saudi Arabia in a sandstorm. He has stood on the stage of a busy nightclub in Tokyo, singing "She'll be Coming Round the Mountain When She Comes" to an audience feeling no pain from the Sake they were drinking. He has been chased by a family of mongooses (yes, that is the correct spelling) on the idyllic Caribbean island of St. Croix. And that is just the beginning of his long list of worldly adventures.
As a recent retiree from a forty-year career as a professor of writing, he now lives in Southern California wine country with his wife, Kitty, and their two adorable rescue cats.
He has resided in and has visited many places in the world, all of which have contributed in some way to his own published writing. He has literally traveled throughout the world, on numerous occasions. He has lived in Finland, Germany, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He gained the wanderlust to see the world, to experience other cultures, at an early age, and this desire has never left him. If anything, it has only gained in intensity as he has aged.
Among the many unique things that have happened to him in his world travels, he has walked the streets of Istanbul with a detective, searching for a pickpocket who got him good. He has ridden on the back of a motorcycle in Tehran while the driver, who spoke not one word of English, pointed out all the sights to him. He has wrestled an Iranian soldier who tried to break into his hotel room in Tehran. He has had the paint completely stripped from his car as he drove across Saudi Arabia in a sandstorm. He has stood on the stage of a busy nightclub in Tokyo, singing "She'll be Coming Round the Mountain When She Comes" to an audience feeling no pain from the Sake they were drinking. He has been chased by a family of mongooses (yes, that is the correct spelling) on the idyllic Caribbean island of St. Croix. And that is just the beginning of his long list of worldly adventures.
As a recent retiree from a forty-year career as a professor of writing, he now lives in Southern California wine country with his wife, Kitty, and their two adorable rescue cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
February 28, 2013
Review pending. This is a good read. Some minor niggling things but nothing that bugged me.
It was a good mystery supence psycho-thriller. Well done. Recommended! (more later).
It was a good mystery supence psycho-thriller. Well done. Recommended! (more later).
May 6, 2013
For weeks now B.J. has been having the same dream over and over again about a woman he has never met. The dreams are wearing on his sanity as he searches for an explanation for why fear rages in the stranger’s eyes. While halfway across the world, Stan Halsey is looking for his wife. She was supposed to arrive in Saudi Arabia shortly after him but somehow, once landing in the Kingdom, no one has seen her since. Stan searches official offices to discover that there are no records of him even having a wife. These two seemingly unconnected mysteries unfold in this intense thriller that keeps you guessing page after page.
Covert Dreams is a brain twisting story that involves multiple storylines that tease you to try and solve the mystery before the main characters do. Author Michael Meyer did a splendid job of connecting these two storylines with his vivid cliffhangers at the end of each chapter. I really enjoyed how the story unfolded and finally tied together in the end. I was pleasantly surprised by the plot twists and the ending (which I will speak no further of so that I don’t let anything out of the bag).
While the book was very entertaining and engaging there were a few things that I felt could have been stronger. The first part of the book felt like it was meandering as B.J. and Stan where trying to get their bearings straight. I understand the need to set the status quo and show the reader their turmoil, but I think the plot could have moved a little faster though. Things did pick up and were full steam ahead by the second third of the book. My other issue with the book was the lack of attributes in the dialogue. At times it was confusing figuring out who was speaking.
Even with these minor criticisms, Covert Dreams is a well-rounded thriller that will keep readers guessing all the way to the last page.
(This book was provided to Compulsion Reads for review by the author.)
Covert Dreams is a brain twisting story that involves multiple storylines that tease you to try and solve the mystery before the main characters do. Author Michael Meyer did a splendid job of connecting these two storylines with his vivid cliffhangers at the end of each chapter. I really enjoyed how the story unfolded and finally tied together in the end. I was pleasantly surprised by the plot twists and the ending (which I will speak no further of so that I don’t let anything out of the bag).
While the book was very entertaining and engaging there were a few things that I felt could have been stronger. The first part of the book felt like it was meandering as B.J. and Stan where trying to get their bearings straight. I understand the need to set the status quo and show the reader their turmoil, but I think the plot could have moved a little faster though. Things did pick up and were full steam ahead by the second third of the book. My other issue with the book was the lack of attributes in the dialogue. At times it was confusing figuring out who was speaking.
Even with these minor criticisms, Covert Dreams is a well-rounded thriller that will keep readers guessing all the way to the last page.
(This book was provided to Compulsion Reads for review by the author.)
March 18, 2012
I reveived this book from my Read It & Reap group on Goodreads for review.
About The Book
B.J. seemed to have his life on track, or so he thought. Then the dreams began. Who was this woman in his dreams? She wasn't his wife. Why do his dreams all take place in Munich, Germany? As the dreams continue, they turn into nightmares that he can't escape from. Despite trying everything, including doctors, the nightmares continue. BJ's life begins to fall apart and he questions his own sanity.
Stan has his own nightmare to contend with. His wife Valerie was supposed to meet him in Saudi Arabia but she never arrives. When he seeks help in locating her he is astonished to learn that there are no records anywhere that show she ever existed.
Filled with believeable characters and a thrilling plot, I was captivated from chapter to chapter. This story will grab you and not let go until its conclusion.
About The Author
In all lands the storyteller is revered. The first storytellers used spoken words, accompanied by facial espressions and gestures. Ancient tribes left paintings on cave walls to tell their stories. Native Indians gathered around a fire, using their music, dancing and costumes to act out their stories.
Michael Meyers lives in 21st century. He uses pen and paper and a computer to tell us his stories. In the true tradition of storytelling, his words are his expressions!
Fasten your seatbelts, open the book, and enjoy the ride.
I gave this book 5 stars because when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it.
About The Book
B.J. seemed to have his life on track, or so he thought. Then the dreams began. Who was this woman in his dreams? She wasn't his wife. Why do his dreams all take place in Munich, Germany? As the dreams continue, they turn into nightmares that he can't escape from. Despite trying everything, including doctors, the nightmares continue. BJ's life begins to fall apart and he questions his own sanity.
Stan has his own nightmare to contend with. His wife Valerie was supposed to meet him in Saudi Arabia but she never arrives. When he seeks help in locating her he is astonished to learn that there are no records anywhere that show she ever existed.
Filled with believeable characters and a thrilling plot, I was captivated from chapter to chapter. This story will grab you and not let go until its conclusion.
About The Author
In all lands the storyteller is revered. The first storytellers used spoken words, accompanied by facial espressions and gestures. Ancient tribes left paintings on cave walls to tell their stories. Native Indians gathered around a fire, using their music, dancing and costumes to act out their stories.
Michael Meyers lives in 21st century. He uses pen and paper and a computer to tell us his stories. In the true tradition of storytelling, his words are his expressions!
Fasten your seatbelts, open the book, and enjoy the ride.
I gave this book 5 stars because when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it.
April 10, 2012
I liked this book, but it was a little confusing at first have two different plots going on at the same time. Though, as I read it more I got used to it and it was an awesome book!I really recommend it to anyone and everyone! The two main characters Stan and BJ I absolutely fell in love with. BJ started out as a working man, good for anything you need him to do, but then is turned into a nervous wreck by a dream that keeps repeating itself, as the dream continues and BJ does more reseach into it he finds out that where and who is with him in the dreams, is an actual person, who just happened to be murdered years before then, and an actual place. Then there's Stan, who is going through his own problems in Saudi Arabia. His wife has gone missing, somewhere on the way to their new job and Stan is determined to find her. Even when he doesn't even have evidence that she exists, all her information gone, except his memories. This book will grab you from behind and not let you go. I guaranty you'll love it.
February 10, 2016
Very suspenseful book. I started to figure it out towards the end and was somewhat correct but there was so much more.
B.J starts having the same dream over and over again that seems so real. He finally decides to check out places and street names in Munich and is surprised that they match his dream. He ends up going to Munich to try to figure out what is wrong in his head.
Stan is in Saudi Arabia where his wife is supposed to meet him but she disappears and there is no record of her. He ends up losing his job and goes into hiding to try to find his wife.
The relationship between the two men is finally revealed at the end and is shocking.
B.J starts having the same dream over and over again that seems so real. He finally decides to check out places and street names in Munich and is surprised that they match his dream. He ends up going to Munich to try to figure out what is wrong in his head.
Stan is in Saudi Arabia where his wife is supposed to meet him but she disappears and there is no record of her. He ends up losing his job and goes into hiding to try to find his wife.
The relationship between the two men is finally revealed at the end and is shocking.
June 18, 2013
Two stars. Officially at Good Reads the means "it was ok." That about says it for me. I made it to the end. Simply put, it's generic "pop" writing. a rearrangement of cliches or riffs published in the hope of hitting the best seller lists. The literary equivalent of a pop record or for most of what passes for commercial song writing these days. At one point I was even put in mind of Some Like It Hot.
Ah well...every so often I have to read one of these.
Ah well...every so often I have to read one of these.
July 2, 2012
B. J. had the nightmare five nights in a row. Gina wanted to help him, but she didn't know what to do. The dream was always about Munich and the girl. It seemed so real he couldn't quit thinking about it. For B. J. it had been over a month and the dreams were still coming, but now he had a name for the girl, Dabbie. He felt like he knew Munich intimately, even though he'd never been to Germany. In his dreams he spoke German, but he didn't know German. He knew he had to find out what was going on.
Stan Halsey was going crazy. His wife was missing. He couldn't get anyone to believe she even existed. He had signed a one year contract to work at the University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia. They had traveled from Portland to London to Rome. He had flown into Saudi Arabia first to check everything out and she came later. There was no record of a visa even applied for and no record of her flight arrival. The American consulate in Saudi Arabia weren't of any help. After the vice counsel, more of less, booted him out of his office, he kept remembering Valerie's warnings that they were being followed. A wave of terror washed over Stan as he asked himself how he could have ignored her warnings. He remembered Valerie telling him how she had met Mohammad at the gym and he had told her he'd see her in Saudi Arabia. How did he know before she did? Because they found no evidence of her existence, he was on his own.
Awesome book. Well written, easy to read. Characters were likeable and heroic. Couldn't quit reading because I couldn't figure out where the story was going. So realistic it will make you think. He built up the suspense from the very beginning of the book and kept it going to the very end. Conspiracy theorists will eat this up.
B.J.'s dreams made me think that his past was wiped from his memory, along the lines of the Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum. As B. J. tried to puzzle out the answers, I could sympathize with his confusion and fear.
As Stan was planning and searching,looking for his wife, his feelings of anger, frustration and panic are so easy to understand.
These things really do happen and that is why this book is so very believable. Just when you think you know where it's going it takes you on a wild ride through kidnapping, slavery and selling women for wealthy men's perverted pleasures. How easy do you think it is for people to do this? What would you be capable of doing to find the one you love? How far would you go to get answers? It made me think of the college student that disappeared during spring break on a carribbean island. That's how easy it is for something so terrible to become a part of your life. We Americans are so innocent and naive when it comes to dealing with a foreign country.
Covert DreamsMike Meyer
Stan Halsey was going crazy. His wife was missing. He couldn't get anyone to believe she even existed. He had signed a one year contract to work at the University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia. They had traveled from Portland to London to Rome. He had flown into Saudi Arabia first to check everything out and she came later. There was no record of a visa even applied for and no record of her flight arrival. The American consulate in Saudi Arabia weren't of any help. After the vice counsel, more of less, booted him out of his office, he kept remembering Valerie's warnings that they were being followed. A wave of terror washed over Stan as he asked himself how he could have ignored her warnings. He remembered Valerie telling him how she had met Mohammad at the gym and he had told her he'd see her in Saudi Arabia. How did he know before she did? Because they found no evidence of her existence, he was on his own.
Awesome book. Well written, easy to read. Characters were likeable and heroic. Couldn't quit reading because I couldn't figure out where the story was going. So realistic it will make you think. He built up the suspense from the very beginning of the book and kept it going to the very end. Conspiracy theorists will eat this up.
B.J.'s dreams made me think that his past was wiped from his memory, along the lines of the Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum. As B. J. tried to puzzle out the answers, I could sympathize with his confusion and fear.
As Stan was planning and searching,looking for his wife, his feelings of anger, frustration and panic are so easy to understand.
These things really do happen and that is why this book is so very believable. Just when you think you know where it's going it takes you on a wild ride through kidnapping, slavery and selling women for wealthy men's perverted pleasures. How easy do you think it is for people to do this? What would you be capable of doing to find the one you love? How far would you go to get answers? It made me think of the college student that disappeared during spring break on a carribbean island. That's how easy it is for something so terrible to become a part of your life. We Americans are so innocent and naive when it comes to dealing with a foreign country.
Covert DreamsMike Meyer
October 4, 2012
I've never read a book that was such a mind blowing twist from beginning to end. What I thought I understand was only the tip of the iceberg in learning the hidden truths. Hidden truths continued to weave thru out the entire book. The author has created such a rich tapestry of characters that leave you wanting to know more about them. Here are my thoughts about the book:
Dabbie Hodson is a college student that studying abroad in Munich, Germany. She believed in dreams and parapsychology such as telepathy. She met up with a man named Gus Simpson who only wanted to know more about Dabbie. Yet Gus Simpson was hiding something from everyone including Dabbie. He cared about Dabbie very much. Dabbie was murdered and her case was never solved. Gus Simpson vanished from sight. BJ has been working for Weatherstone Advertising Agency but feels that he's being slowly pushed out of his job. BJ has just landed a huge account for them yet has hardly worked on it because he's being dreaming about the same woman night after night. BJ feels like he's going out of his mind yet cannot stop this from happening. His wife Gina says that he needs to move on from this which is putting a strain on their marriage. BJ continues to dream without end. Stan Halsey is looking for a new leash on life along with his wife Valerie. He goes to U.P.M. in Saudi Arabia to secure their home while he's teaching. He knows that his wife arrived but she has gone missing without a trace. No one believes Stan has a wife because all documents state that he's single which is a blatent lie. Stan is frantic with worry and frustration about his missing wife. He meets a woman named Linda Green who sometimes thinks her name is also Karen but doesn't know why. Linda know that she's been held against her will by a man named Ibrahim Muffani. Ibrahim Muffani is a doctor that is doing experiments on the mind's of his subjects with terrifying results. What is going on? Why is BJ dreaming? Who is Dabbie? Will Stan find his wife? Where is Valerie? Who is following everyone? What is the big secret? Your answers await you in Covert Dreams.
While searching for the answers to the above questions. Ask yourself this:Do you control your dreams, thougths, and identity? Explore this fascinating story of long kept secrets that no one wants to be revealed to the outside world.
Dabbie Hodson is a college student that studying abroad in Munich, Germany. She believed in dreams and parapsychology such as telepathy. She met up with a man named Gus Simpson who only wanted to know more about Dabbie. Yet Gus Simpson was hiding something from everyone including Dabbie. He cared about Dabbie very much. Dabbie was murdered and her case was never solved. Gus Simpson vanished from sight. BJ has been working for Weatherstone Advertising Agency but feels that he's being slowly pushed out of his job. BJ has just landed a huge account for them yet has hardly worked on it because he's being dreaming about the same woman night after night. BJ feels like he's going out of his mind yet cannot stop this from happening. His wife Gina says that he needs to move on from this which is putting a strain on their marriage. BJ continues to dream without end. Stan Halsey is looking for a new leash on life along with his wife Valerie. He goes to U.P.M. in Saudi Arabia to secure their home while he's teaching. He knows that his wife arrived but she has gone missing without a trace. No one believes Stan has a wife because all documents state that he's single which is a blatent lie. Stan is frantic with worry and frustration about his missing wife. He meets a woman named Linda Green who sometimes thinks her name is also Karen but doesn't know why. Linda know that she's been held against her will by a man named Ibrahim Muffani. Ibrahim Muffani is a doctor that is doing experiments on the mind's of his subjects with terrifying results. What is going on? Why is BJ dreaming? Who is Dabbie? Will Stan find his wife? Where is Valerie? Who is following everyone? What is the big secret? Your answers await you in Covert Dreams.
While searching for the answers to the above questions. Ask yourself this:Do you control your dreams, thougths, and identity? Explore this fascinating story of long kept secrets that no one wants to be revealed to the outside world.
April 5, 2013
“Covert Dreams” by Mike Meyer is a cleverly told, multi-layered mystery/ detective story that kept me guessing and wondering from the beginning.
It starts with the murder of a girl in Munich in 1984, then moves 27 years forward, where B.J. splits from his girlfriend because of his recurrent dreams about the murdered girl. As he starts to feel that he knows her and speaks German – despite that not being possible – he even hires a private detective to find out about the girl.
In a separate present day storyline Stan Halsey has accepted a teaching position in Saudi Arabia when suddenly his wife is missing and all public records of her have also disappeared.
Stan decides to investigate himself since no official help is forthcoming and discovers by coincidence that another woman has recently disappeared in a similar way.
I don’t want to give away any more of the plot, only that both B.J. and Stan start to uncover things bigger than they had expected and that I was on the edge of my seat while pacing through this book to find out the connection.
This is a very well structured and neatly told thriller, skilfully done with great surprises and turns to make this far from predictable, certainly for me. The book was a bit of a special find for me as I had by coincidence just recently been to both, Saudi Arabia, and Munich which is also my home town and I did appreciate the many cross references of metaphors in the narratives that always pointed from one country to the other. However, the story works just as well without the local knowledge, if you are a fan of suspense and mystery this is certainly one for you. I was amazed at how long the two parallel stories could run separately with only hints at a connection, but it worked very well for me. A well-deserved 5 stars.
It starts with the murder of a girl in Munich in 1984, then moves 27 years forward, where B.J. splits from his girlfriend because of his recurrent dreams about the murdered girl. As he starts to feel that he knows her and speaks German – despite that not being possible – he even hires a private detective to find out about the girl.
In a separate present day storyline Stan Halsey has accepted a teaching position in Saudi Arabia when suddenly his wife is missing and all public records of her have also disappeared.
Stan decides to investigate himself since no official help is forthcoming and discovers by coincidence that another woman has recently disappeared in a similar way.
I don’t want to give away any more of the plot, only that both B.J. and Stan start to uncover things bigger than they had expected and that I was on the edge of my seat while pacing through this book to find out the connection.
This is a very well structured and neatly told thriller, skilfully done with great surprises and turns to make this far from predictable, certainly for me. The book was a bit of a special find for me as I had by coincidence just recently been to both, Saudi Arabia, and Munich which is also my home town and I did appreciate the many cross references of metaphors in the narratives that always pointed from one country to the other. However, the story works just as well without the local knowledge, if you are a fan of suspense and mystery this is certainly one for you. I was amazed at how long the two parallel stories could run separately with only hints at a connection, but it worked very well for me. A well-deserved 5 stars.
December 10, 2011
I was totally captivated reading this riveting international thriller. I was bounced back and forth from the beer gardens and streets of Munich to the deserts of Saudi Arabia. This story kept me totally involved from beginning to end and all points in between.
B.J. is a happily married man, a career in the advertising business and content with his life. He starts to have dreams about a woman named Dabbie who is a stranger to him and as the dreams progress and continue he discovers that he is the man in the dreams with her. When the dreams turn into nightmares they begin to threaten not only his marriage but his sanity and stability as well. Ultimately, as the dreams overpower him, he sets out for Munich to confront his demons head-on. What happens from that point on is an engagingly powerful set of circumstances that will keep you on the edge.
Stan has just arrived in Saudi Arabia to start a new job and to make a new start with his wife. When his wife does not arrive as planned and there is no sign of her very existence his life is turned upside down as he is thrown into and experiences a nightmare of his own.
The characters are extremely well developed and believable. Their frustrations, fears and panic as they set about on their separate journeys will grab you, fill you with compassion and haunt you as the story unfolds.
I highly recommend this book to all readers who like to be totally captivated and swept away.
B.J. is a happily married man, a career in the advertising business and content with his life. He starts to have dreams about a woman named Dabbie who is a stranger to him and as the dreams progress and continue he discovers that he is the man in the dreams with her. When the dreams turn into nightmares they begin to threaten not only his marriage but his sanity and stability as well. Ultimately, as the dreams overpower him, he sets out for Munich to confront his demons head-on. What happens from that point on is an engagingly powerful set of circumstances that will keep you on the edge.
Stan has just arrived in Saudi Arabia to start a new job and to make a new start with his wife. When his wife does not arrive as planned and there is no sign of her very existence his life is turned upside down as he is thrown into and experiences a nightmare of his own.
The characters are extremely well developed and believable. Their frustrations, fears and panic as they set about on their separate journeys will grab you, fill you with compassion and haunt you as the story unfolds.
I highly recommend this book to all readers who like to be totally captivated and swept away.
April 5, 2013
This book was exciting, I could picture the details vividly, and imagine it as a movie! I was once again entranced by a book that I did not want to put down. It's not that these stories are hard to pick back up a few hours later, it's more that they're so exciting and full of suspense that it makes you not want to be pulled away from the story. There are so many plot twists and turns that you don't see coming, that you can't wait to see what is coming up next. Someone said to me, "You know these are books, not movies. You can walk away and pick up right where you left off, it's not a movie where you are going to miss an important detail". In reality, I know that to be true, but the anticipation of finding out what will happen next is what keeps me so into the story. Apparently, I also tend to gasp at times when reading really good suspense novels, such as this one, and I think that's a sure sign that it's a good book. If it can draw you in and make you feel like you are right there in the midst of the action, that's good writing. The only down side is the ending. Not the end of the story, that was phenomenal! The end of the book. It left me wanting more, what happens next?! When I read a good book, I always want them to be part of a series so I can continue with the story.
Disclosure: I received a PDF copy of this book for free to facilitate this review. Regardless, all opinions expressed are my own.
Disclosure: I received a PDF copy of this book for free to facilitate this review. Regardless, all opinions expressed are my own.
August 4, 2014
I was totally captivated reading this riveting international thriller. I was bounced back and forth from the beer gardens and streets of Munich to the deserts of Saudi Arabia. This story kept me totally involved from beginning to end and all points in between.
B. J. is a happily married man, a career in the advertising business and content with his life. He starts to have dreams about a woman named Dabbie who is a stranger to him and as the dreams progress and continue he discovers that he is the man in the dreams with her. When his dreams turn into nightmares they begin to threaten not only his marriage but his sanity and stability as well. Ultimately, as the dreams overpower him, he sets out for Munich to confront his demons head-on. What happens from that point on is and engagingly powerful set of circumstances that will keep you on the edge.
Stan has just arrives in Saudi Arabia to start a new job and to make a new start with his wife. When his wife does not arrive as planned and there is no sign of her very existence his life is turned upside down as he is thrown into and experiences a nightmare of his own.
The characters are extremely well developed and believable. Their frustrations, fears and panic as they set about on their separate journeys will grab you, fill you with compassion and haunt you as the story unfolds.
I highly recommend this book to all readers who like to be totally captivated and swept away.
B. J. is a happily married man, a career in the advertising business and content with his life. He starts to have dreams about a woman named Dabbie who is a stranger to him and as the dreams progress and continue he discovers that he is the man in the dreams with her. When his dreams turn into nightmares they begin to threaten not only his marriage but his sanity and stability as well. Ultimately, as the dreams overpower him, he sets out for Munich to confront his demons head-on. What happens from that point on is and engagingly powerful set of circumstances that will keep you on the edge.
Stan has just arrives in Saudi Arabia to start a new job and to make a new start with his wife. When his wife does not arrive as planned and there is no sign of her very existence his life is turned upside down as he is thrown into and experiences a nightmare of his own.
The characters are extremely well developed and believable. Their frustrations, fears and panic as they set about on their separate journeys will grab you, fill you with compassion and haunt you as the story unfolds.
I highly recommend this book to all readers who like to be totally captivated and swept away.
April 15, 2013
As far as International thrillers go, this was my favorite. However I found that some of these things can, and probably do, happen in real life. What I liked was how B.J. had dreams of a place that he has never been to before. Medicine and doctors are no help. He is stuck with the dreams. Finally he decides to travel to where his dreams take place, Munich. Once he gets there the book explodes into all sorts of thrills and drama. My mind was racing back and forth, in a good way. I truly enjoyed the way the writer drew me in to the story. The way that peoples lives were erased, and people went missing really got me into the book. I needed to know who was responsible and why was B.J. speaking German in his dreams? There were so many questions, and the author did a great job of answering them!
The way the author described certain scenes was also enjoyable. I found myself picturing some scenes in my mind. This would made a great movie!
I have heard many people say "follow your dreams", now I know why we shouldn't!
The book was easy to read, and I enjoyed his different style towards the end. I am giving this book a 5/5! I was given a copy to review from Orangeberry book tours, however all opinions are my own.
The way the author described certain scenes was also enjoyable. I found myself picturing some scenes in my mind. This would made a great movie!
I have heard many people say "follow your dreams", now I know why we shouldn't!
The book was easy to read, and I enjoyed his different style towards the end. I am giving this book a 5/5! I was given a copy to review from Orangeberry book tours, however all opinions are my own.
January 16, 2012
This is a thriller with connections in Munich Germany, Saudi Arabia, kidnap victims and some very strange persistent dreams that the central character, B. J. is having about a young woman called Dabbie that he seems to know so well in them. B. J. thinks he is going crazy, his wife is suspicious and he is making a mess of his life as a consequence so he decides to get to the bottom of this.
Straight off the bat you start wondering what on earth are the dreams about and then you are thrown another strand of the plot about Stan's wife going missing in Saudi Arabia but with no official record of her having existed.
Eventually the strands will intertwine and you begin to link an old murder in Munich with the dreams and kidnapping in Saudi Arabia.
Mike Meyer has written a real page turner that you will just want to keep reading to work out what is going on, you won't piece all of the plot twists together until the very last few pages and in my mind that makes this a very good book. If you love a good suspense, conspiracy and thriller, this will give it to you and keep you guessing, get hold of this now!
My rating is 4 stars which means I loved it!
Straight off the bat you start wondering what on earth are the dreams about and then you are thrown another strand of the plot about Stan's wife going missing in Saudi Arabia but with no official record of her having existed.
Eventually the strands will intertwine and you begin to link an old murder in Munich with the dreams and kidnapping in Saudi Arabia.
Mike Meyer has written a real page turner that you will just want to keep reading to work out what is going on, you won't piece all of the plot twists together until the very last few pages and in my mind that makes this a very good book. If you love a good suspense, conspiracy and thriller, this will give it to you and keep you guessing, get hold of this now!
My rating is 4 stars which means I loved it!
March 18, 2013
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. B.J. and Gina are a wonderfully loving couple. They wanted children, but that was not to be, yet through even that, they became closer than ever…until now. His dreams have begun taking taking over his life! What’s real? What’s not? Is he losing his mind???
Stan Halsey and his lovely wife Valerie have decided they need a fresh start after the unfortunate death of their son. Stan has a lucrative job offer in Saudi Arabia and leaves Valerie in Rome while he sets things up. She sends a message saying she’s about to land in Jeddah. When he arrives, not only is she nowhere to be found but there’s no evidence of any paperwork proving her existence. Is he losing his mind? Does Valerie even really exist?
I’m not giving anymore character descriptions besides these two main characters for fear of creating spoilers. This novel will definitely be on my top ten favorites of 2013. The story has so many twists and turns, it left me with my head spinning (in a good way)! The end shocked me, trust me, read this book, you’ll be picking your jaw up off of the ground too. BEST. READ. EVER!
Stan Halsey and his lovely wife Valerie have decided they need a fresh start after the unfortunate death of their son. Stan has a lucrative job offer in Saudi Arabia and leaves Valerie in Rome while he sets things up. She sends a message saying she’s about to land in Jeddah. When he arrives, not only is she nowhere to be found but there’s no evidence of any paperwork proving her existence. Is he losing his mind? Does Valerie even really exist?
I’m not giving anymore character descriptions besides these two main characters for fear of creating spoilers. This novel will definitely be on my top ten favorites of 2013. The story has so many twists and turns, it left me with my head spinning (in a good way)! The end shocked me, trust me, read this book, you’ll be picking your jaw up off of the ground too. BEST. READ. EVER!
March 31, 2013
This book is a fast paced thriller that kept my attention throughout. There are two main characters and each has his own plot going on in the book. First we have BJ, a hard working man who is trying to earn a living. Things are going well until he starts having reoccurring dreams of a city he's never visited and a woman he does not know. As the dreams turn into nightmares his life begins to unravel.
Then there is Stan. He and his wife decide to start over after the death of their son and the plan is to take a job in Saudi Arabia. Stan arrives first and when he goes to the airport to meet his wife he finds she isn't there. When he reports her missing he finds that there is no record of her existence. There is no visa in her name, no flight itinerary, nothing. Since no one believes she is real he begins the hunt to find her himself.
This was a griping book with these two men as the central characters. Both are going through their own nightmare on their own. The characters were well developed and I wanted to know what was going to happen to them next.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Then there is Stan. He and his wife decide to start over after the death of their son and the plan is to take a job in Saudi Arabia. Stan arrives first and when he goes to the airport to meet his wife he finds she isn't there. When he reports her missing he finds that there is no record of her existence. There is no visa in her name, no flight itinerary, nothing. Since no one believes she is real he begins the hunt to find her himself.
This was a griping book with these two men as the central characters. Both are going through their own nightmare on their own. The characters were well developed and I wanted to know what was going to happen to them next.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
March 21, 2012
I really liked the book. This is not my usual genre but I am happy I gave it a try. The plot is interesting and the book is suspenseful till the end. I could not put it down. But it was a little confusing with all its details.
The story starts with B.J's recurring dream and he goes to Munich to find the reason of the dream since the dream has the backdrop of Munich and there is a girl named Dabbie who he doesn't know in real life. Strange thing also happens in his dream like he can speak German though in real life he doesn't speak German.
Stan is looking for his missing wife Valerie who has disappeared and the officials says she doesn't exist.
There is a link between both the events which we come to know in the last part of the book. I liked the characters and the idea which was implemented well. The suspense in the story really tempted me to turn to the last page but I resisted the urge. A great book and definitely a recommendation for mystery lovers.
I thank the author for providing such a great story to read and review.
The story starts with B.J's recurring dream and he goes to Munich to find the reason of the dream since the dream has the backdrop of Munich and there is a girl named Dabbie who he doesn't know in real life. Strange thing also happens in his dream like he can speak German though in real life he doesn't speak German.
Stan is looking for his missing wife Valerie who has disappeared and the officials says she doesn't exist.
There is a link between both the events which we come to know in the last part of the book. I liked the characters and the idea which was implemented well. The suspense in the story really tempted me to turn to the last page but I resisted the urge. A great book and definitely a recommendation for mystery lovers.
I thank the author for providing such a great story to read and review.
February 3, 2012
In Greek Mythology, Cassandra was given the gift of prophecy, but the curse that nobody would ever believe her. In Covert Dreams, the characters must have felt much like Cassandra.
B.J. is having a vivid, recurring dream about Dabbie, a woman he has never met in Munich, a city where he's never been. Everyone assures him that it doesn't mean anything, but he knows and we know that it does. Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia, a man is going crazy looking for his wife who has disappeared. But all the records show that she never existed and everyone assumes that he is indeed crazy. A diplomat in an Athens hospital has some incriminating knowledge but because of his head trauma, again, no one believes him.
We know it all ties together with a brutal murder in Munich in 1984, but how? The complex plot twists and turns toward a conclusion I never saw coming. If you enjoy psychological thrillers and exotic locals, this is the book for you.
B.J. is having a vivid, recurring dream about Dabbie, a woman he has never met in Munich, a city where he's never been. Everyone assures him that it doesn't mean anything, but he knows and we know that it does. Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia, a man is going crazy looking for his wife who has disappeared. But all the records show that she never existed and everyone assumes that he is indeed crazy. A diplomat in an Athens hospital has some incriminating knowledge but because of his head trauma, again, no one believes him.
We know it all ties together with a brutal murder in Munich in 1984, but how? The complex plot twists and turns toward a conclusion I never saw coming. If you enjoy psychological thrillers and exotic locals, this is the book for you.
March 20, 2012
B.J. is having a vivid, recurring dream about Dabbie, a woman he has never met in Munich, a city where he's never been. Straight off the bat you start wondering what on earth are the dreams about and then you are thrown another strand of the plot about Stan's wife going missing in Saudi Arabia but with no official record of her having existed. I loved that this book because it kept me guessing at what could be the possible relationship between the two guys. I do think the book was a little bit repetitive about the recurring dreams but I loved that it held my interest throughout the story. I also enjoyed the conclusion because it was not the typical ending to a story. I expected the good guys to win and although the hero has a perceived happy end, we reading the book know it was not.
February 6, 2013
Conspiracy theories run rampant in this international thriller as Mike Meyer takes you on a psychological journey that questions the fine line between reality and insanity. Stan has a perfect life, until his wife suddenly vanishes without a trace and with no record of her existence. BJ is living with a repeating nightmare so vivid and real, that he begins to question whether or not it’s actually happened. As they fight the doubts of others to prove that their memories are real, they encounter kidnapping, slavery, and many other horrors along the way. Written with a gripping suspense, this story is sure to keep you up at night, as it left me desperately needing to know what happens next.
I was provided a copy of the book by BTS eMag for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review – all conclusions are my own responsibility.
I was provided a copy of the book by BTS eMag for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review – all conclusions are my own responsibility.
September 27, 2014
Meet B.J. An average guy, entering middle age with no particular spectacular skill set. He is married. Grew up an orphan goes to work, back home.....
Then he starts to dream. He dreams about a young woman he never met. He dreams of the two of them together in a country he has never been to. He dreams this in German but he can only speak English.
Ignoring people telling him these dreams that now even has flashbacks when awake B.J sets out to find the truth.
Soon the reader meets other men and woman like B.J. The woman all lost a child...did B.J kill this girl in 1984?
International intrigue, black opps that has completely dropped off the radar, conspiracy and an ending that nobody would see coming..this book is like reading Gone in 60 seconds at warp speed with a hook within the first two kindle pages...this is an absolute must read.
WaAr
Then he starts to dream. He dreams about a young woman he never met. He dreams of the two of them together in a country he has never been to. He dreams this in German but he can only speak English.
Ignoring people telling him these dreams that now even has flashbacks when awake B.J sets out to find the truth.
Soon the reader meets other men and woman like B.J. The woman all lost a child...did B.J kill this girl in 1984?
International intrigue, black opps that has completely dropped off the radar, conspiracy and an ending that nobody would see coming..this book is like reading Gone in 60 seconds at warp speed with a hook within the first two kindle pages...this is an absolute must read.
WaAr
September 27, 2014
Meet B.J. An average guy, entering middle age with no particular spectacular skill set. He is married. Grew up an orphan goes to work, back home.....
Then he starts to dream. He dreams about a young woman he never met. He dreams of the two of them together in a country he has never been to. He dreams this in German but he can only speak English.
Ignoring people telling him these dreams that now even has flashbacks when awake B.J sets out to find the truth.
Soon the reader meets other men and woman like B.J. The woman all lost a child...did B.J kill this girl in 1984?
International intrigue, black opps that has completely dropped off the radar, conspiracy and an ending that nobody would see coming..this book is like reading Gone in 60 seconds at warp speed with a hook within the first two kindle pages...this is an absolute must read.
WaAr
Then he starts to dream. He dreams about a young woman he never met. He dreams of the two of them together in a country he has never been to. He dreams this in German but he can only speak English.
Ignoring people telling him these dreams that now even has flashbacks when awake B.J sets out to find the truth.
Soon the reader meets other men and woman like B.J. The woman all lost a child...did B.J kill this girl in 1984?
International intrigue, black opps that has completely dropped off the radar, conspiracy and an ending that nobody would see coming..this book is like reading Gone in 60 seconds at warp speed with a hook within the first two kindle pages...this is an absolute must read.
WaAr
November 22, 2012
This was a solid thriller. It's not the usual genre I read in but it kept me hooked until the end and I will definitely search out other books by the same author. There were times when I found myself a little confused by the expositions on covert government operations, but the action sequences were great and even when I thought I had the plot figured out there were a couple of surprises left to come. It was clear that the author had experience of both the main locations of Munich and Jeddah and they were vividly described. If there was one character I didn't like it was the police detective Schmidt, who's continual disbelief I found hard to understand, but the desperation of the central characters of BJ and Stan was palpable and I really wanted to find out what happened to them.
January 21, 2012
Covert Dreams by Michael Meyers is a thriller of international proportions; a non-stop, suspense-filled story of a murder in Munich in 1984 which comes into play in the present time in Saudi Arabia. Full of twists and turns, the protagonist is haunted by dreams which add a psychological mystery to the story.
I enjoyed reading this book. It was well-written and held my interest throughout. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary action and suspense, especially one with international mystery.
I enjoyed reading this book. It was well-written and held my interest throughout. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary action and suspense, especially one with international mystery.
November 12, 2011
Michael Meyer’s COVERT DREAMS is an engaging tale that quickly harnesses the reader into the conspiracy and collusion of foreign intrigue. The characters are sympathetic and so well-written that readers will experience their fears and frustration in not being able to break free of a bad dream. But, is it a dream? Meyer keeps his readers on their toes. Don’t be too hasty in thinking you have it all figured out.
December 12, 2011
Covert Dreams, a contemporary thriller by Mike Myers, is a highly original and different book. It delves deeply into the psychological and parapsychological. At the same time, it is a compelling thriller full of action and a mystery of the “what the hell is going on?” type. The characters are interesting and engaging. Please be assured you will find out what’s going on, and you’ll happily keep turning the pages to do so.
December 2, 2013
I'm a firm believer in dreams and this book shows how dreams can come true - in a not good way! Mike Meyer does a wonderful job in engaging his readers with multi-layered mystery in this book. I found the characters believable and enjoyed how they each had their own journey throughout the story. Mike's imagery in scene description drew me into each scene and I love that about a book! This book is definitely worth reading. Great job Mike!
March 5, 2012
This was the thriller where you get to travel, you get to go to Germany and Saudi Arabia, this story kept you sucked in frorm beginning to end. This is about two men facing their dreams and their demons in separate countries but somehow tied together. I felt the characters were well thought out and believable. A book that should be read by all who love thrillers with the international flair.
March 19, 2012
Thank you to Mike Meyer and Read It & Reap for providing this book. It took about 75 pages before I really started getting into this book. Synopses are readily available, so I won't get into that. The characters are easy to empathize with and once the story starts unfolding and the connections between them are clearer it is a very quick read. Thanks again!
March 24, 2012
It took me awhile to get into this book. About 75 pages or so into it, the action started picking up and I liked it. This isn't my usual reading and the repetition was a little much for me, but I understand why it was done. Overall I enjoyed the characters and action and will recommend it to my friends.
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