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A Bloody Business: A Thriller
History meets comedy meets hitman.
Martin Williams often finds himself in deadly historical events, with a good chance his mark will die without any intervention. But professionals don’t leave things to chance, and Martin is a motivated worker for his paymasters, the Firm.
Follow Martin’s lethal career across four decades, three continents, and thousands of cigarettes. Along the way, Martin will find himself on a sinking RMS Titanic, crawling through mud in the middle of the Great War, holding the sold stocks that trigger the Great Depression, embroiled in a home-grown Communist workers’ revolution, and relaxing on a peaceful Pacific atoll the day after Pearl Harbor, to cover half the adventures within.
But as time progresses, the world descends into the Cold War, and Martin finds himself increasingly in the crosshairs of equally skilled practitioners for rival organizations. Tiring of espionage, he begins to eye retirement. But will the Firm allow their prized employee to fade into obscurity?
Or will they send Martin to join his previous assignments in the ground?
Martin Williams often finds himself in deadly historical events, with a good chance his mark will die without any intervention. But professionals don’t leave things to chance, and Martin is a motivated worker for his paymasters, the Firm.
Follow Martin’s lethal career across four decades, three continents, and thousands of cigarettes. Along the way, Martin will find himself on a sinking RMS Titanic, crawling through mud in the middle of the Great War, holding the sold stocks that trigger the Great Depression, embroiled in a home-grown Communist workers’ revolution, and relaxing on a peaceful Pacific atoll the day after Pearl Harbor, to cover half the adventures within.
But as time progresses, the world descends into the Cold War, and Martin finds himself increasingly in the crosshairs of equally skilled practitioners for rival organizations. Tiring of espionage, he begins to eye retirement. But will the Firm allow their prized employee to fade into obscurity?
Or will they send Martin to join his previous assignments in the ground?
- GenresMystery Thriller
209 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 29, 2024
About the author
Stephen A. Roddewig
26 books16 followersStephen A. Roddewig is an author from Arlington, Virginia. His latest feat of cutting back from four to two cups of coffee a day has convinced him that he is superhuman, and his membership in the Horror Writers Association hasn’t disproven that belief.
When not pushing the bounds of human endurance, he has published fifty short stories and three novels. Mostly, though, he spends his time reading incredible war fiction from William Peter Grasso while cycling in the gym and cooking like his savings depend on it. You can find more of his speculative fiction and comedy at stephenaroddewig.com
When not pushing the bounds of human endurance, he has published fifty short stories and three novels. Mostly, though, he spends his time reading incredible war fiction from William Peter Grasso while cycling in the gym and cooking like his savings depend on it. You can find more of his speculative fiction and comedy at stephenaroddewig.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 20, 2024
Creative premise; approaching some of the most tragic historical events with comedy was fresh and incredibly fun. I laughed aloud several times (per chapter!). Intriguing characters unite the different episodes. Martin’s nonchalance and penchant for being in the wrong (or right?) historical place at the right time made for a hilarious saga, and Tessa was such a badass. So glad the author included a strong heroine to accompany his protagonist.
Lighthearted but with a healthy dose of solemnity that ultimately transformed the book into a nuanced cautionary tale. Loved seeing how Martin’s character development progressed throughout the book. Impressed by audiobook narrator Jonathan Kilgore’s ability to juggle several accents and voices.
Lighthearted but with a healthy dose of solemnity that ultimately transformed the book into a nuanced cautionary tale. Loved seeing how Martin’s character development progressed throughout the book. Impressed by audiobook narrator Jonathan Kilgore’s ability to juggle several accents and voices.
April 17, 2024
This book was such a fun time. I’m not even a huge history buff, but I enjoyed every second of it.
Martin Williams is one of those characters that is just so amusing that you can’t help but root for him… even if he’s not exactly living by moral standards. The historical events and situations he found himself in were both exciting and intriguing and every chapter felt like a fresh new adventure with this amusing character.
Overall, Roddewig has managed to weave historical fiction with comedy and plenty of thrills and action to create a genre-bending masterpiece.
Martin Williams is one of those characters that is just so amusing that you can’t help but root for him… even if he’s not exactly living by moral standards. The historical events and situations he found himself in were both exciting and intriguing and every chapter felt like a fresh new adventure with this amusing character.
Overall, Roddewig has managed to weave historical fiction with comedy and plenty of thrills and action to create a genre-bending masterpiece.
June 5, 2025
A Bloody Business by Stephen A. Roddewig is a bloody good time. If you had told me that this was a byproduct of the writers room from Archer, I’d have believed you (coincidentally, one of my all time favorite shows).
Martin Williams galavanting journeys put onto display the Author’s reverence for the subject matter. His deft hand weaves a wonderfully poignant theme throughout Martin’s journeys in Europe, Asia, and a particularly striking journey into a booming post-war America. In a stark, but well escalated, turn from the overall tone, the final chapter hits like a slug from Martin’s revolver and leaves you contemplating the nature of war and peace.
Fans of Archer, Get Smart, The Man From U.N.C.L.E, and other classic spy stories, you will love this book. It has the highest seal of approval I can give for the genre–I gave my copy to my dad.
If I had to critique anything, it would be that there are times when the inner monologue can become a little “exposition-y” (which is rich coming from me…I do it all the time). With that said, a reader less knowledgeable with the subject matter would likely appreciate it, and it’s not his fault Stephen seemingly pulled the settings straight from my Wikipedia history.
To really put it over the top, I would have liked to have seen a little more from the primary antagonist, but the relationship works well in the vein of classic spy stories.
Outside of the story, the production quality is fantastic. You can easily tell the Author took the time to create a quality work–my copy of Mistborn has more misedits and typos than this book. Additionally, it reads fast. I really appreciate it when I can rip through a good story over a long weekend, set it down, and say, “I really enjoyed that.”
Overall, I have it slotted in my overall 2024 ratings right between two bestsellers: right below Dark Age by Pierce Brown, and right above The Way Of Kings by Brandon Sanderson.
Pretty good company I’d say.
Martin Williams galavanting journeys put onto display the Author’s reverence for the subject matter. His deft hand weaves a wonderfully poignant theme throughout Martin’s journeys in Europe, Asia, and a particularly striking journey into a booming post-war America. In a stark, but well escalated, turn from the overall tone, the final chapter hits like a slug from Martin’s revolver and leaves you contemplating the nature of war and peace.
Fans of Archer, Get Smart, The Man From U.N.C.L.E, and other classic spy stories, you will love this book. It has the highest seal of approval I can give for the genre–I gave my copy to my dad.
If I had to critique anything, it would be that there are times when the inner monologue can become a little “exposition-y” (which is rich coming from me…I do it all the time). With that said, a reader less knowledgeable with the subject matter would likely appreciate it, and it’s not his fault Stephen seemingly pulled the settings straight from my Wikipedia history.
To really put it over the top, I would have liked to have seen a little more from the primary antagonist, but the relationship works well in the vein of classic spy stories.
Outside of the story, the production quality is fantastic. You can easily tell the Author took the time to create a quality work–my copy of Mistborn has more misedits and typos than this book. Additionally, it reads fast. I really appreciate it when I can rip through a good story over a long weekend, set it down, and say, “I really enjoyed that.”
Overall, I have it slotted in my overall 2024 ratings right between two bestsellers: right below Dark Age by Pierce Brown, and right above The Way Of Kings by Brandon Sanderson.
Pretty good company I’d say.
June 5, 2025
An absolute delight. Forrest Gump meets James Bond, in the best way possible.
February 28, 2026
Positives:
Just finished this and WOW! It’s so good. Martin is an amazing MC and I love how his character is written. I also love how the author ends the book. It was so bittersweet! I am floored by how much I enjoyed this read. I’m also shocked it was closed door, I half expected some hanky panky, but Martin never gets further than thinking about it and kissing one girl.
This is a unique read because of the formatting. It is more a compilation of short stories about this character’s life, however you don’t feel like you are missing out on anything. We start the book on the Titanic, then go through WW1, WW2, and many other major world events.
If you’ve been wanting to try out a thriller, I would highly recommend starting with this one! It is truly a masterpiece.
Content:
Cussing: Yes. Quite a bit. It was mostly British swearing, but there were a few f—- and sh-t in there as well. But the cussing felt perfectly natural in the story, I surprisingly wasn’t bothered by it.
Gore: This wasn’t terrible for me. The main character is an assassin, so there is a lot of blood, etc.
Violence: Yes. Every chapter there were fights.
Romance: Thoughts of girls, kissing.
Just finished this and WOW! It’s so good. Martin is an amazing MC and I love how his character is written. I also love how the author ends the book. It was so bittersweet! I am floored by how much I enjoyed this read. I’m also shocked it was closed door, I half expected some hanky panky, but Martin never gets further than thinking about it and kissing one girl.
This is a unique read because of the formatting. It is more a compilation of short stories about this character’s life, however you don’t feel like you are missing out on anything. We start the book on the Titanic, then go through WW1, WW2, and many other major world events.
If you’ve been wanting to try out a thriller, I would highly recommend starting with this one! It is truly a masterpiece.
Content:
Cussing: Yes. Quite a bit. It was mostly British swearing, but there were a few f—- and sh-t in there as well. But the cussing felt perfectly natural in the story, I surprisingly wasn’t bothered by it.
Gore: This wasn’t terrible for me. The main character is an assassin, so there is a lot of blood, etc.
Violence: Yes. Every chapter there were fights.
Romance: Thoughts of girls, kissing.
March 2, 2026
Attention, fans of Archer: Here’s your next read.
Five stars! This book succeeds in something genuinely rare: balancing razor-sharp humor with well-researched historical settings and immersion. Come for the history, stay for the clever banter and absurd hijinks. You’ll genuinely laugh out loud while reading — and never quite know what’s coming next.
Beneath the wit and twists is a clear respect for its weightier themes. Roddewig doesn’t treat war and political violence lightly, instead, he demonstrates an awareness of the human cost, grounding the comedy in a reality that feels informed with care.
Five stars! This book succeeds in something genuinely rare: balancing razor-sharp humor with well-researched historical settings and immersion. Come for the history, stay for the clever banter and absurd hijinks. You’ll genuinely laugh out loud while reading — and never quite know what’s coming next.
Beneath the wit and twists is a clear respect for its weightier themes. Roddewig doesn’t treat war and political violence lightly, instead, he demonstrates an awareness of the human cost, grounding the comedy in a reality that feels informed with care.
April 5, 2024
A bloody good time!
A Bloody Business is a fast-paced, genre-bending anthology about a hitman who seems to always find himself smack in the middle of major historical events. It's thriller meets historical fiction meets dark comedy, and the result is a series that will make you laugh and then immediately after say, "oh that's gotta hurt."
It's bloody and humorous, but the book is also not afraid of going on more serious directions at times, pointing out certain truths such as the destructive nature of war, or the morality of living life as a hitman. These things truly put the dark in the book's dark humor.
Overall, this book is a fun and interesting read with layers and reoccurring characters that draw you in again and again. I would recommend this book for history buffs and thriller lovers who don't mind a little blood on their shoes.
A Bloody Business is a fast-paced, genre-bending anthology about a hitman who seems to always find himself smack in the middle of major historical events. It's thriller meets historical fiction meets dark comedy, and the result is a series that will make you laugh and then immediately after say, "oh that's gotta hurt."
It's bloody and humorous, but the book is also not afraid of going on more serious directions at times, pointing out certain truths such as the destructive nature of war, or the morality of living life as a hitman. These things truly put the dark in the book's dark humor.
Overall, this book is a fun and interesting read with layers and reoccurring characters that draw you in again and again. I would recommend this book for history buffs and thriller lovers who don't mind a little blood on their shoes.
March 5, 2026
Definitely the most enjoyable read I've had in a long time. The humor, the action, the history, and the incredibly amusing situational irony that Martin pulls us into creates a beautifully original book of adventures and thrills. I can absolutely see "A Bloody Business" being made into a movie or series, and I hope it does.
April 6, 2024
If there's a better book with my name on the cover, I haven't written it (yet).
February 15, 2025
What can you expect when you enter the world of "A Bloody Business"? Expect a lot of action, a whole lot of smoking. Like old movies, old TV shows smoking. Drinking, violence (though never too much), women, one-liners, satire, a whole lot of love for the craft of a good yarn and a genuinely heart-warming acknowledgements section (which, frankly, is an achievement in its own right)
Everything is expertly paced because as rich in detail as some parts are, it is never at the expense of moving the story along. The characters are well-developed. So that even a minor German soldier gets to shine a little without stealing Martin's deadpan thunder.
From start to finish, it is an irreverent, rip-roaring, bloody charmer.
In other words - a bloody fantastic book.
Everything is expertly paced because as rich in detail as some parts are, it is never at the expense of moving the story along. The characters are well-developed. So that even a minor German soldier gets to shine a little without stealing Martin's deadpan thunder.
From start to finish, it is an irreverent, rip-roaring, bloody charmer.
In other words - a bloody fantastic book.
February 28, 2026
This short thriller has comedic twists that keep you on your toes. Martin Williams is one of the unbelievable but relatable characters that has you coming back for more every chapter! From his slapstick comedicly timed thoughts to his concern not for his life but his smokes and whiskey. This character and the world he lives in, has you craving more right until the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews