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Riverbend
Riverbend is a stylish psychological thriller with pitch-black comedic undertones which starts with a bang and has several seat-of-your-pants sequences guaranteed to make you squirm in your favorite reading chair more than once. A twisted love story of revenge, revelation, righteous justice, revitalized purpose - and excellent hindsight - packed with action, suspense, offbeat humor, complex characters and "enough sexual tension to embarrass a professional."
FBI Special TASK Agent Les Moore is back after a self-imposed three year hiatus following the murder of his wife and daughter by the nation's worst serial killer, dubbed "Riverbend" after his favorite body dump site just outside Seattle. But Les and the new partner he didn't want - Special Agent Cyndra Lynn Baker (second in her class, which really pissed her off) - end up chasing The Killer, and several others, across the nation and back to "where it all started, and where it all will end."
A taut, clever who-done-it with strong-willed and highly vocal characters, Riverbend "rides the thin line of violence, fear and funny" in a way few books have. You will want to look away, but you won't be able to. And in the end, Riverbend will leave you wanting for more of Les Moore, Cindy Baker, Phil Brinkman... and Riverbend.
FBI Special TASK Agent Les Moore is back after a self-imposed three year hiatus following the murder of his wife and daughter by the nation's worst serial killer, dubbed "Riverbend" after his favorite body dump site just outside Seattle. But Les and the new partner he didn't want - Special Agent Cyndra Lynn Baker (second in her class, which really pissed her off) - end up chasing The Killer, and several others, across the nation and back to "where it all started, and where it all will end."
A taut, clever who-done-it with strong-willed and highly vocal characters, Riverbend "rides the thin line of violence, fear and funny" in a way few books have. You will want to look away, but you won't be able to. And in the end, Riverbend will leave you wanting for more of Les Moore, Cindy Baker, Phil Brinkman... and Riverbend.
434 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 12, 2011
3 people want to read
About the author
Glenn A. Bruce
51 books19 followersMember Writers Guild of America, West
Member International Thriller Writers
With over 30 traditionally published novels currently in print, Glenn A. Bruce, MFA, has had a wild ride. He was born in Miami, Florida, son of William Arden Bruce, an aircraft router for Eastern Airlines, and Verona Sizemore Bruce, a mechanical draftsman and advertising executive for Panelfold Doors. Glenn figured out how to "write his way through school" from the 6th grade, editing the school newspaper, and again later in college. A professor suggested writing for TV and had a writer-producer friend send a copy of "Hello Larry" - but when Glenn read it, he knew instantly he was not destined to write sitcoms. Nonetheless in 1979, Glenn moved to L.A., worked for rental houses Leonetti and PSI, and almost became a Teamster driver. That Fall, he took one of Syd Field's first classes at Sherwood Oaks Experimental College and his "life changed." In two months, Glenn had written his first screenplay "Sudden Courage" which got him his first agent and was optioned several times. He knew screenwriting was his calling. His first sale was sketch material to "Assualted Nuts" (Cinemax) which led to several "close calls" writing specs for "Quincy, M.E." and "Simon and Simon." His big break came after he was asked to write "Bloodsport" then lost that assignment, but went on to develop and write "Kickboxer" which many said was Van Damme's breakout film. This led to similar action credits and eventually to "Baywatch" and "Walker: Texas Ranger." In 1997, Glenn developed "Deconstruction" with Jonathan Frakes (another "almost" when Frakes went back to direct "Star Trek: Insurrection"). In 2000, Glenn moved to the mountains to teach Screenwriting, Acting for the Camera, and Video Production A-Z at Appalachian State University where he wrote and directed several award-winning safety videos along with a local commercial that won two Comcast awards. He has written over 75 screenplays and teleplays with over 60 short stories, essays, and poems published all around the world. His story "Clive Dials Up" won the annual "Down and Dirty" contest at About That, and he has been a two time finalist in the annual Defenestrationism short story contest. In 2014, he earned an MFA in Writing. He recently finished his 50th novel.
Member International Thriller Writers
With over 30 traditionally published novels currently in print, Glenn A. Bruce, MFA, has had a wild ride. He was born in Miami, Florida, son of William Arden Bruce, an aircraft router for Eastern Airlines, and Verona Sizemore Bruce, a mechanical draftsman and advertising executive for Panelfold Doors. Glenn figured out how to "write his way through school" from the 6th grade, editing the school newspaper, and again later in college. A professor suggested writing for TV and had a writer-producer friend send a copy of "Hello Larry" - but when Glenn read it, he knew instantly he was not destined to write sitcoms. Nonetheless in 1979, Glenn moved to L.A., worked for rental houses Leonetti and PSI, and almost became a Teamster driver. That Fall, he took one of Syd Field's first classes at Sherwood Oaks Experimental College and his "life changed." In two months, Glenn had written his first screenplay "Sudden Courage" which got him his first agent and was optioned several times. He knew screenwriting was his calling. His first sale was sketch material to "Assualted Nuts" (Cinemax) which led to several "close calls" writing specs for "Quincy, M.E." and "Simon and Simon." His big break came after he was asked to write "Bloodsport" then lost that assignment, but went on to develop and write "Kickboxer" which many said was Van Damme's breakout film. This led to similar action credits and eventually to "Baywatch" and "Walker: Texas Ranger." In 1997, Glenn developed "Deconstruction" with Jonathan Frakes (another "almost" when Frakes went back to direct "Star Trek: Insurrection"). In 2000, Glenn moved to the mountains to teach Screenwriting, Acting for the Camera, and Video Production A-Z at Appalachian State University where he wrote and directed several award-winning safety videos along with a local commercial that won two Comcast awards. He has written over 75 screenplays and teleplays with over 60 short stories, essays, and poems published all around the world. His story "Clive Dials Up" won the annual "Down and Dirty" contest at About That, and he has been a two time finalist in the annual Defenestrationism short story contest. In 2014, he earned an MFA in Writing. He recently finished his 50th novel.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 19, 2012
Riverbend was a 15 year process for me, between research, other projects and life happening; but it remains one of my favorites for its extremely dark (and darkly funny) content. I enjoyed developing the main characters (Les Moore, Cyndra Baker and Phil Brinkman) over the years to the degree that three sequels became obvious and are in the works.
The first is actually a prequel that tells the story of Les Moore's relatively normal life and family - and how it all came crashing down when Riverbend decided to enter their lives. At the same time, a young Cindy Baker is making her way through the FBI Academy and getting her first assignments in the field. We see how Les and Cindy - without knowing it - are cut from a very similar and particular cloth, mentally and emotionally - as their paths inexorably converge at Riverbend.
The next sequel follows Cindy's attempts to avenge her favorite partner and continue their traditions. The "final" sequel (at least for now) has Cindy fighting for her life in Riverbend.
More than anything I've written (and I've written a lot in 35 years), I think Riverbend has informed my taste, style and rhythms more than any other novel or screenplay. Each subsequent thriller has its own life. (Versions of the Truth is not as dark or funny, and is set solely in South Florida, but still has the flavor of Riverbend as it is played out in a completely different environment; thereby creating its own style and rhythms. Rubric, coming out soon, is at times even darker than Riverbend, with much less humor; but it still has echoes of the original feeling that infuses Riverbend.)
So Riverbend becomes the gateway novel to my world of crime fiction. Several of my fans have read it more than once; some have read it several times - and plan to read it again! I of course have read it hundreds of times over the years as I have worked on it, editing it (mainly in the last five years), and I still laugh at the funny scenes and lines and still go breathless during the tense ones. What came together in 1999 as a 1,000 page manuscript has condensed into 400 or so pages of intense, action-packed, humor-laced, at times grisly entertainment. The book is still fun for me to read!
About the Author
Glenn A. Bruce wrote the hit movie "Kickboxer" and wrote for the television series "Walker: Texas Ranger" and "Baywatch." He has written several books including "Temptation Key" and "Versions of the Truth." A constant traveler, he has visited all of the many locations in "Riverbend" - and has lived in Florida, California, Hawaii and Boston, briefly. He now lives in the mountains of NC. He and his wife try to escape as often as possible.
The first is actually a prequel that tells the story of Les Moore's relatively normal life and family - and how it all came crashing down when Riverbend decided to enter their lives. At the same time, a young Cindy Baker is making her way through the FBI Academy and getting her first assignments in the field. We see how Les and Cindy - without knowing it - are cut from a very similar and particular cloth, mentally and emotionally - as their paths inexorably converge at Riverbend.
The next sequel follows Cindy's attempts to avenge her favorite partner and continue their traditions. The "final" sequel (at least for now) has Cindy fighting for her life in Riverbend.
More than anything I've written (and I've written a lot in 35 years), I think Riverbend has informed my taste, style and rhythms more than any other novel or screenplay. Each subsequent thriller has its own life. (Versions of the Truth is not as dark or funny, and is set solely in South Florida, but still has the flavor of Riverbend as it is played out in a completely different environment; thereby creating its own style and rhythms. Rubric, coming out soon, is at times even darker than Riverbend, with much less humor; but it still has echoes of the original feeling that infuses Riverbend.)
So Riverbend becomes the gateway novel to my world of crime fiction. Several of my fans have read it more than once; some have read it several times - and plan to read it again! I of course have read it hundreds of times over the years as I have worked on it, editing it (mainly in the last five years), and I still laugh at the funny scenes and lines and still go breathless during the tense ones. What came together in 1999 as a 1,000 page manuscript has condensed into 400 or so pages of intense, action-packed, humor-laced, at times grisly entertainment. The book is still fun for me to read!
About the Author
Glenn A. Bruce wrote the hit movie "Kickboxer" and wrote for the television series "Walker: Texas Ranger" and "Baywatch." He has written several books including "Temptation Key" and "Versions of the Truth." A constant traveler, he has visited all of the many locations in "Riverbend" - and has lived in Florida, California, Hawaii and Boston, briefly. He now lives in the mountains of NC. He and his wife try to escape as often as possible.
Displaying 1 of 1 review