Black Sun Rising

by Otho Eskin

1st Place PenCraft Award Winner
Literary Titan Gold Book Award Winner
2025 IAN Book of the Year Awards Finalist
BestThrillers.com Book Awards Finalist

When Washington, DC, homicide detective Marko Zorn’s partner is murdered, his search for justice leads him deep into Black Sun, a violent neo-Nazi movement built from the ruins of WWII’s most sinister forces. Their unleash a catastrophic attack that will plunge the nation into chaos.

To stop them, Marko must outwit a woman known as the Bride of the Apocalypse, navigate the treacherous ambitions of two of the world’s richest—and most ruthless—men, and confront a conspiracy stretching from Washington’s corridors of power to the shadows of the city’s underworld.

Can Marko save the country from annihilation?

A pulse-pounding thriller in the tradition of Baldacci, Clancy, and Patterson, Black Sun Rising delivers relentless suspense, razor-sharp political intrigue, and a chillingly timely story of unchecked hatred— and the one man willing to risk everything to stop it.

Black Sun Rising is the fourth book in Otho Eskin's Marko Zorn series, which includes The Reflecting Pool, Head Shot, and Firetrap. Each novel can be read as a stand-alone or as a part of the series.PRAISE FOR BLACK SUN RISING

“Another Otho Eskin thriller that delivers double the trouble, twice the action, and quadruple the enjoyment.” —Steve Berry, New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author

“A lost World War II weapon of mass destruction…. A devastating explosion in Manhattan that conjures fears of another 9/11 …
A charismatic police detective stalking his partner’s killer … Otho Eskin’s Black Sun Rising delivers the propulsive elements of a classic thriller in an all-too-frightening story about today.” —David Morrell, international bestselling author of First Blood, creator of Rambo

“Taut, tense, and excruciatingly timely! Only the savviest of insiders—like Otho Eskin—could have concocted this gripping cautionary tale.” —Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author

“A scorching tale [and] breathless non-stop thrill ride. . . . Forget about the old cliché ‘ripped from the headlines.’ . . . Here is a brilliant, bracing and blistering book that may predict them instead.” —Jon Land, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery

280 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 10, 2025

About the author

Before he turned to writing fiction, Otho Eskin served in the U.S. Army and in the United States Foreign Service in Washington and in Syria, Yugoslavia, Iceland and Berlin (then the capital of the German Democratic Republic) as a lawyer and diplomat. He was Vice-Chairman of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, participated in the negotiations on the International Space Station, was principal U.S. negotiator of several international agreements on seabed mining and was the U.S. representative to the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. He speaks French, German, and Serbo-Croatian. He was a frequent speaker at conferences and has testified before the U.S. Congress and commissions.

Otho’s career in the Foreign Service unknowingly prepared him for thriller writing later in life as he witnessed political corruption at every strata of society. While stationed in East Berlin during the cold war, the East German intelligence service (Stasi) operating on behalf of their Soviet masters, published a book entitled “Who’s who in CIA (correct title), translated into several languages and with wide distribution. This propaganda effort listed Otho and was intended to claim that he was a U.S. spy. (He was not). This was part of East German and ultimately Soviet, disinformation campaign to make the work of U.S. Foreign Service officers serving abroad more difficult.

Otho Eskin has also written plays including: Act of God, Murder as a Fine Art, Duet, Julie, Final Analysis, Season in Hell, among others, which have been professionally produced in Washington, New York and in Europe.

Otho is married to writer Therese Keane and lives in Washington, D.C.

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Black Sun Rising, by Otho Eskin, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Marko Zorn is a detective in Washington DC. Marko's partner is killed, and he wants to fins his killer. This book was a bit to heavy, dark, and violent for me.

[Abibliofob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black Sun Rising is another sinister story about power plays in D.C. from a master storyteller by the name of Otho Eskin. Once agin we get to follow Washington detective Marko Zorn when he delves into a dark and bloody plot. Zorn is definetaly not your average police officer and that is why I like this series so much. Eskin has created a character far from what I usually see in crime ficton. In this one we have some bad guys with connection to the third reich which is not so common anymore, it is actually refreshing to not having to deal with all the bad guys comming from the middle east. I must thank Meryl Moss Media Group for reaching out to me with an advace copy of this book. The release date is June 10th 2025. But you can read the previous three books waiting for this one.

[Marie A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, fair warning. If you pick this book up, do not plan on putting it down, unless like me, life things still had to happen.

“Black Sun Rising” is an edge of your seat thriller and if you are at all familiar with DC, it is so easy to picture the areas referenced so easily. I was so intrigued with the main character, Marco Zorn, as soon as he was introduced. A homicide cop in DC that doesn’t carry a gun? There is definitely a story there.

I believe this is part of a series featuring the main character, but I know that at least this one can be read as a standalone novel.

With everything going on in today’s world, it makes Mr. Zorn’s story, as amazing as it is, seem like something similar could happen.

The summary of the book tells you what the book is about. The book on the other hand, if you are anything like me, will leave you with some unanswered questions and slightly afraid of what the answers might be.

This is a quick read and I throughly enjoyed it. I would like to thank Kendall Farris at Meryl Moss Media Group for an advanced reader’s copy. As always, all opinions are my own. Happy reading!

#NetGalley #BlackSunRising #OthoEskin #KendallFarris #MerylMossMediaGroup #ARC #Series #StandAloneBook #Thriller #EdgeOfYourSeat #DC #UrbanMystery #UrbanThriller #ContemporaryMystery #ContemporaryThriller #Mystery #HardToPutDown #QuickRead

[whatnolareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

LISTEN. I thought I was picking up just another political thriller—and instead, I found myself in a full-blown domestic terrorism plot with neo-Nazis, corruption in high places, and a homicide detective who won’t carry a gun but WILL carry the weight of the whole damn country on his back. Like—this book did not come to play.

🖤 THE VIBES:
Dark. Tense. Smart. The kind of read that makes you side-eye your government while clutching the book tighter because Eskin builds this web of political chaos that feels a little too real. One Goodreads reviewer said this story “hits hard and fast”—and baby, they weren’t lying. It’s giving Homeland meets The Night Agent but with more grit.

💣 WHAT IT’S ABOUT:
A bombing at a homeless shelter triggers a much bigger investigation. Zorn, the king of being brilliant and difficult, starts digging and uncovers a terrifying plan by a white supremacist group (hello, modern-day Nazis) to unleash an old-school Nazi weapon during a U.S. presidential inauguration. This isn’t just solving a murder. This is stopping a literal coup.

🧠 MARKO ZORN:
He’s sharp. He’s unorthodox. He’s morally complex. Like someone on Goodreads said—he’s “not your typical cop,” and that’s what makes him addictive. He doesn’t follow the rules. Hell, he barely acknowledges them. But he gets the job done, and you never doubt he feels the weight of it all.

🎯 FINAL THOUGHTS (aka my spiral):
This is not a cozy read. It’s not for when you need something soft and safe. This is for when you want to feel something sharp. Black Sun Rising grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. And when you finish it? You’re left looking around, realizing that some of this fiction feels a little too nonfiction-adjacent.

So if you want a political thriller that makes you think, makes you worry, and makes you appreciate the rare good guys left—this one’s for you.

Would I recommend it?
Absolutely. Especially if you love characters who break all the rules, plots that feel too real, and books that aren’t afraid to shine a light on the ugliest parts of society.

[David Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this current, highly relevant and suspenseful story. Although this is part of a series, it was my first and it holds up as a stand-alone. The characters are well drawn with realistic personalities. Some you root for, some you fear for, and some that you just want to kill. I found the descriptive narrative cinematic, relatable and easy to feel like a fly on the wall as the action takes place around you. Marko is a compelling protagonist and a character I look forward to learning more about as the series continues.

Thank you to Kendall Farris at Meryl Moss Media Group for the gifted copy.

[Wendi Flint Rank (WendiReviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Another spine chilling, perfectly crafted adventure that, by the time
we’re closing in on the wrap-up, has shown, again, the peculiarities of the
enigma, Marko Zorn. An Officer who refuses to carry a weapon, and almost
never kills suspects, is a major headache to the Command Staff, but is so
bloody valuable everyone, up as high as we find ourselves in the power
structure, have to deal with the guy~WHY~he is a flipping genius / complete
odd ball!
Black Sun is world ending stuff, and Marko, aided by his new (and excellent,)
if not ‘rookie raw’ are going to have to trust each other when it comes to
their eccentricities and different approaches to solving complex cases.
There are too many people who just cannot stand Marko, and for good reason,
however, he’s known for getting things figured out. His new Partner was
displaying some detective talents, but sadly, she was murdered during the
fiasco.
I’m a huge fan of this series, and of this installment. It’s clear,that the
Author’s real world experience has helped him craft / create a world of
agencies, positions, crimes, and methods of murder/destruction.
This book is just great as part of the series, or as a standalone, Things
are easy to put in place, and it’s just as good. I recommend this to
people who enjoy well,written, action packed thrillers.
My thanks to Meridian Editions via NetGalley for the download
copy,of,this book for review purposes.

[John Purvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Otho Eskin (https://othoeskin.com) is the author of four novels. Black Sun Rising was published early last June and is the fourth novel in the Marko Zorn series. It is the 69th title I’ve completed reading in 2025.

I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. My opinions are unbiased and entirely my own. Due to scenes of violence and mature language, I categorize this novel as R.

Marko Zorn is a detective with the Washington, C. Police department. He has been very successful, but does not follow orders well. In fact, he was court-martialled for failing to follow orders when he was in the Army.

A new President is about to be sworn in to office. German intelligence has warned that a Neo-Nazi group is planning to assassinate the President-elect on inauguration day. Zorn is ordered to track down the person known as Black Sun and stop the assassination attempt.

Zorn and his young partner, Latasha Powell, are following leads to who set a bomb in a local non-profit. They have reason to believe it is tied to Black Sun. Zorn must deal with interference from several sources.

His former commanding officer (the one who had him courtmartialed) is the Vice President-elect. He orders Zorn to find Black Sun and stop him. One of the world’s richest men, Cosmo Hunter, also calls in Zorn and gives him the same orders. The head of Homeland Security, Liz Fletcher, gives him much the same order.

After a meeting with the Vice President-elect, Zorn is ambushed in a parking garage. He is saved by the intervention of a German Intelligence officer. He, too, wants Zorn to find Black Sun. Zorn discovers the background of Black Sun. Several canisters of lethal nerve gas developed and stored by the Nazis have been found by Glack Sun. Those canisters have now been brought to the US.

As Zorn and his partner continue their investigation, more lethal opposition is encountered, and Powell is shot. With only days left, Zorn is sent undercover to join the Black Sun organization.

Zorn is taken to a training camp with other Neo-Nazi recruits. he is under constant threat as he struggles to prove himself. Among those he encounters is Mrs. Davenport, a beautiful woman known as the Bride of the Apocalypse or sometimes as the Angel of Death.

Zorn distrusts her, and she appears to be a high echelon leader within the movement. Even though she admits to having shot Powell, Zorn is coerced into a night of passion with her.

Then it is time for the showdown. The Neo-Nazis are armed and sent into DC with the gas canisters. Will Zorn find a way to prevent the release of the gas during the inauguration proceedings? Will he survive? Will he find out who Black Sun is?

I enjoyed the 5+ hours I spent reading this 280-page thriller. The novel was short. I think it could have been fleshed out a little more to improve the flow and give depth to the characters. While this is the fourth novel in the series, it reads well as a standalone work. I give this novel a rating of 3.8 (rounded to a 4) out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Sun Rising kicks off with a brutal explosion at a shelter in Washington, DC, and from there, the pace never lets up. Marko Zorn, the homicide detective at the center of it all, is thrown into a case that spirals far beyond what seems at first like an isolated act of terror. Political intrigue, extremist violence, and shadowy forces collide as Zorn and his partner, Latasha Powell, find themselves pulled deeper into a world of conspiracies and deadly power plays. The book blends police procedural grit with the breathless urgency of a thriller, building toward threats that could destabilize not just the city, but the entire nation.

I found myself struck by how alive Zorn’s voice feels on the page. He’s sardonic, weary, sharp as a blade, and relatable all at once. The author writes him as a man who wrestles with his own demons but never loses his edge. That mix of cynicism and determination hooked me right away. I also appreciated Latasha. Her optimism offsets Zorn’s brooding tone, and their partnership gives the story warmth amid the chaos. The writing itself moves with snap and bite. Scenes never linger too long, and there’s always this current of tension beneath the dialogue. It reminded me of noir in some ways, but updated with a contemporary urgency.

The flood of conspiracies, high-ranking officials, billionaires, and hidden organizations kept the story charged with energy. Each new twist raised the stakes and added to the sense that danger was everywhere. Rather than slowing things down for quiet reflection, the book leans into the chaos, and that frenzy becomes part of its thrill. This is a book about a city on edge and a detective who refuses to play by anyone’s rules. The excess, in a strange way, matched the paranoia and adrenaline running through the story.

Black Sun Rising is a sharp, breathless ride. It’s for readers who love thrillers that don’t flinch from big stakes and who enjoy characters that live in moral gray zones. If you like your crime stories tangled with politics, secrets, and the pulse of real danger, this one’s worth your time.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a true thriller, thanks to @meryl_moss with the #gifted 𝑩𝑳𝑨𝑪𝑲 𝑺𝑼𝑵 𝑹𝑰𝑺𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝒃𝒚 𝑶𝒕𝒉𝒐 𝑬𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒏, out last week!

A Marko Zorn Novel, I did what I often do, and started a series at number 4. I guess this prevents my series fatigue! I honestly don't think I would tire of this one though, as it is an intensely quick read. I read this in less than 2 days, barely putting it down, and now I am hooked on Marko Zorn.

Zorn is a police detective with the homicide division in D.C. when a bomb explodes at a community building for marginalized communities. He immediately catches sight of a man who seems off and when he tries to arrest him, the man says something cryptic and Zorn remembers nothing more. This sets off a chain of events that pushes Zorn into the heart of a neo-nazi conspiracy group with a weapon long thought lost and plans that go beyond anything in history.

This story is tense and full of action, but also made me laugh with Zorn's dry wit and dark humor. There is no lack of critique of current and imagined systems here, which I thought was brilliant, as no one was spared completely. The fast-pace made this a very plot-driven story, but pieces of Zorn were shared in a way that made me curious about him, and again, the snark sold me. I wouldn't have minded more on other characters, but this wasn't that kind of book. The next one looks like it will expand on one of the most devious villains, and I can't wait to see what she does next! It was a breathless, page-turner with just enough believability to be scary. Especially now.

I loved the bookmarks, crossword puzzle (which I finished!), and bayonet charm that I received, which made me highly anticipate action when I reached that part in the book! I am also glad I got to hear the launch day zoom event with so many brilliant people! It always makes a story even better to hear the author talk more!

If you are looking for a summer thriller, this is a great, gritty choice!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

[Richard Derus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real Rating: 3.5* of five

The Publisher Says: A long-buried Nazi weapon resurfaces. America stands on the brink of destruction. One man must stop history's darkest nightmare from happening again.

When Washington, DC, homicide detective Marko Zorn's partner is murdered, his search for justice leads him deep into Black Sun, a violent neo-Nazi movement built from the ruins of WWII's most sinister forces. Their goal: unleash a catastrophic attack that will plunge the nation into chaos.

To stop them, Marko must outwit a woman known as the Bride of the Apocalypse, navigate the treacherous ambitions of two of the world's richest-and most ruthless-men, and confront a conspiracy stretching from Washington's corridors of power to the shadows of the city's underworld.

Can Marko save the country from annihilation?

A pulse-pounding thriller in the tradition of Baldacci, Clancy, and Patterson, Black Sun Rising delivers relentless suspense, razor-sharp political intrigue, and a chillingly timely story of unchecked hatred—and the one man willing to risk everything to stop it.

Black Sun Rising is the fourth Marko Zorn novel.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.

My Review: Somehow, in the shift between publishers, I missed book three in the series. The publisher assures you this is fine, that all the books can stand alone; inadvertently testing the hypothesis, I report success.

I'm already on record about thrillers and me needing some time apart. Nothing in this decently-executed example of the genre convinced me otherwise. Topical to a fault, I was unable to dismiss the feeling that Author Eskin has actually predicted the future. This story *will* unfold, and this way. That should disgust you.

Meridian Editions offers a trade paper edition for $19.95.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of eBook

The explosion of a bomb outside Friendship House sets a nefarious plan in motion. Detective Marko Zorn, and his partner, Latasha Powell, head to the scene where, while investigating, Marko is attacked. Shortly thereafter, Latasha is murdered, leaving Marko to head off a nightmarish event: the resurgence of a Nazi-era weapon to be used against the American people during the Inauguration Day festivities.

Can Marko stop the attack? And what will be the cost?

=========

Although there are four other books in the author’s Marko Zorn series, this story works well as a standalone. From the outset, this unfolding narrative will keep readers on the edge of their seats, turning pages as fast as possible. Well-developed characters, a strong sense of place, and a gut-wrenching, sinister plot pull readers into the telling of this tale from the outset. Astute readers may identify a significant plot twist early on [there is a clue or two], but this does not detract from the story being told.

An atmosphere of impending doom permeates the pages of the story, keeping readers on edge as tension and suspense keep them guessing. Politics, power plays, and terrifying realism all have a part in the evolving narrative; readers who enjoy political thrillers as well as Marko Zorn fans, will find much to appreciate here in this taut thriller that races toward a somewhat-unexpected denouement. Be prepared, however, for some unanswered questions.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Meridian Editions and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#BlackSunRising #NetGalley

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This is the 4th book in the series and I am not disappointed. The story begins with Marko and Latasha, his partner' at the station when they feel a bomb blast. Soon it is all-hands on deck as the respond to the location, Friendship House, which was a sanctuary for the poor and desperate. While on the scene, Marko walks around looking for someone that might have been involved. Spotting a person, he goes to arrest him, but someone hits him in the head. The suspect escapes, but Marko remembers him telling him about the Black Sun.

As Latasha and Marko investigate, they learn about a Nazi organization. Marko has also gotten involved with three other partiers asking him to find who is the Black Sun. As their search continued, Marko was attacked and he started having someone watch his back. After a meeting with someone regarding Nazi history, Marko went one way while Latasha went to interview someone else. Unfortunately, Latasha was killed along with another police officer who was with her.

It was decided that Marko would go undercover and join the Nazi organization. The Police Chief and an FBI identified Marko as being a wanted man which would allow him to join. The reason they needed Marko to do this, is because the date for the Presidential inauguration was getting close.

Read along and see what Marko had to endure through his training and how the group was going to kill the President. Discover who the Black Sun was and it all worked out in the end.

This is definitely a book well worth reading!

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trope City

BLACK SUN RISING (BSR) is the fourth book in Otho Eskin’s Marco Zorn series. I’ve read all four of these thrillers and they are entertaining page-turners, with BSR beginning, like most Mick Herron thrillers, with a heinous and massively murderous act of terrorism.

Observes Marco (page 3): “We’re frozen in horror. Before us, a large building is partially collapsing in black smoke and flames. The front of the building is a gaping smoking hole. Whole floors are exposed.” Hundreds perished in this bombing, and it is Marco Zorn’s remit to find out who did this and why.

Eskin tells a good story. Even so, the quality of his writing that grabbed my interest was his skillful and frequent use of thriller tropes.

Full disclosure: I have written SHAKEDOWN: A THRILLER, A WRITER’S TOOLKIT, A SCANDAL, and the second edition of my book contains an index where the hundreds of tropes that I used to write SHAKEDOWN are alphabetized and listed.

And, I was fascinated to see that in our work, Eskin and I have lots of overlap, since we both used the tropes (let’s only do the shared tropes beginning with the letters A, B and C in the index): An Abduction at Gunpoint, Action Hero, Affably Evil, Antihero, Battle of Wits, Being Watched, Big Bad, Big Brother Bully, Black Shirts, Brutes, Chekhov’s Gun, Chew Toy, Combat Intellect, and Connect the Dots.

Of course, for both BSR and SHAKEDOWN to work, a reader must apply another trope. This trope, in the W section, is: Willing Suspension of Disbelief, which means that a writer has provided enough plausibility so that, according to AI, readers drop their skepticism and acquiesce to impossible or fantastical elements in the story as the narrative moves forward.

Anyway, this is a good book… a beach book… and a worthy addition to Eskin’s oeuvre.

[Doreen Prentiss Gabriellini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Black Sun Risingby by Otho Eskin is a timely political thriller that takes place in Washington, DC. Detective Marko Zorn is charged with shutting down a violent neo-Nazi movement. This is the fourth book in the Marko Zorn series. I have not read the other books in the series so I can say that this can be read as a stand alone novel.
I enjoy political thrillers especially if they are timely which this one definitely is. The book is fast paced. It gives you all the things you expect from a political thriller. There is corruption at the highest levels and add some domestic terrorism which must be stopped by Inauguration Day.
Marko Zorn is our main character. He is a cynical Detective who you can’t help but root for. One of the things that makes him memorable is his moral compass. While some of his feats of dastardly do are sometimes unbelievable, you still want our main character to catch the bad guys.
The setting is familiar to most as it takes place in Washington D.C. The setting also helps with the conspiracy theories, the corruption, high ranking government officials as well as rich people with lots of money. My only issue was that the plot seemed, at times, to be absurd. There is a ‘resurrected’ weapon from WWII Nazi Germany and a character that is named the bride of the apocalypse. Suspension of disbelief is needed in some of these areas. My final issue was that the conclusion was totally rushed.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marko Zorn is not the usual sort of detective we read about, he has peculiar ways to read people and situations and fights crime unarmed. A Neo-Nazi group blows a halfway house in Washington DC and he is requested to lead the investigation to find the culprits and also who is Black Sun. Soon after his partner, Latasha, gets killed by a member of the group and his desire to discover the truth places him undercover. What the reader will find is a group that is led by Nazi's values and ways of life, lots of prejudice and hate, violence, and quite a few people with lots of money to spend on such matters. Zorn is an interesting character but he seemed to be almost the only good one the others were all despicable human beings with no regard for human life. It's like reading about Hitler being born again...
I thank the author, his publisher,and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black Sun Rising starts with a bang and keeps up a cracking pace. A political thrilled crossed with a police procedural exploring domestic terrorism and neo Nazi groups. I loved getting to know unconventional cop Marko Zorn. Marko is a homocide detective who doesn’t carry a gun and blurs the lines between official and unofficial justice. I loved how his experience was balanced by his newer recruit partner Latasha. There was an interesting mix of side characters ranging from high up Government officials, evil protagonists and an Elon Musk cross Steve Jones character l.

A tightly plotted thriller I enjoyed getting caught up in a world of the Black Sun Rising groups with its werewolves and cyclones. It was eye opening to see the indoctrination into such neo Nazi groups! I was kept guessing right or the end and i was satisfied that the main storyline was wrapped up but there was still more that could be explored. This one is the fourth in a series but definitely can be read as a standalone. I’m keen to go back to the beginning of the series. Author Otho’s notes were interesting and biography is worthy of its own novel.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opening with a bang, and not losing momentum for a moment, this is one thriller that will have you turning pages late into the night. With the rise of fascism here in the states, this book is very timely. The high-level corruption, neo-nazis, domestic terrorism, it’s all too easy to imagine some of the events playing out in real time in the US. That said, the characters are believable, and the story has good pacing. The descriptions make it feel like you’re watching everything unfold before your eyes. Although part of a series, this works just fine as a standalone, so don’t worry if you haven’t read the other books in the series before. Definitely recommend if you enjoy fast-paced, high stakes thrillers!

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Sun Rising, by talented author Otho Eskin, is full of surprises, as any procedural/thriller should be. As the book begins, Marko Zorn, a policeman in Washington, D.C., and his partner are called to the scene of a bombing. Once there, he uncovers something called "The Black Sun."Soon Marco and his partner find out that it may be a Nazi organization. The story continues as Marco goes undercover to infiltrate this organization. Time is of the essence as the presidential inauguration draws closer. Black Sun is full of twists and turns as the reader accompanies Marco on his most difficult undercover assignment yet, hoping to prevent the deadly plans that the Black Sun intends successfully to implement.

[Kelly Heslip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Marko Zorn is on the case again...this time he's out to solve his partner's murder. What he uncovers is past evil from WWII come back to life to threaten humanity all over again. In daring fashion, Zorn sets out to uncover conspiracies and to save the world.

From start to finish, this was a high powered action thriller. It was hard to put down and read in a few sittings. You don't have to read the other installments featuring Detective Zorn to enjoy this story. It's part political and part spy thriller. Very edge of your seat reading is in store if you love this type of book. Even if you don't, give it a try, and then check out the other Zorn novels.

Thank you to Meridian Editions and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrifyingly realistic and so timely! This book resonated with me due to our current political culture in the US and the rise of white supremacy. Marko Zorn is a homicide detective in DC and has stumbled on a plot to cripple the US. The deadly poison Zyklon could devastate the US if it is released into the atmosphere. Marko must infiltrate the Black Sun and take down two diabolical men intent on destroying the country in search of power.
This was a taut thriller, and while it is the 4th thriller in the series, you could read this as a standalone. I was completely shocked by one of the events in the book! The book moves quickly - I read it in one sitting!

[John Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black Sun Rising by Otho Eskin is a good story set in Washington DC during the lead up to the inauguration of a new president. It has the basics of a good thriller including Nazi WW2 weapon, a man believing he is the next Fuhrer, and a threat to an American president. The story is well told with all the twists and turns revealed throughout the book keeping you interested. Definitely a good read for thriller readers looking for a new series to read. The only downside to this book is that I think it would be even better to read the previous books in the Marko Zorn series, which I had not done. I would have understood some of the actions of Marko better.

[Sandra Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the Marko Zorn series but it does well as a stand alone novel. This one has Det. Zorn infiltrating a neo-Nazi organization in an effort to stop an attack meant to destabilize the nation.

If you like political thrillers that include terrorism plots with historical backgrounds, check this one out.

**I received an ARC from Meryl Moss Media Group for an honest review.

My Review

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a thriller! The main character is a detective. He is known to be a great cop that doesn't carry a gun and doesn't kill anyone. He doesn't play nice with orders he doesn't agree with. He goes undercover to infiltrate a group that is determined to cause major damage to the US on the day the new administration is sworn in. The book is full of twists, turns and action. A well written story and kept me turning pages and staying up way to late reading.

[Catherine Poe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new to me author with a political thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. This is book 4 in the Marko Zorn series but can be read as a stand alone. When Washington DC homicide detective Marko Zorn’s partner is murdered, he searches for justice and finds that it leads him to a violent Neo Nazi movement called Black Sun. Their goal is to plunge the nation into chaos. Marko Zorn must stop them.

[Kristi · Rating 2 out of 5]

“‘You must know hundreds of people here. Many are your loyal political supporters.’ ‘There’s no such thing as loyalty in Washington.’”

This book was WILD! It starts off with one hell of a bang (😏) and the action never lets up.

Unfortunately, though, the writing just wasn’t there for me. I skim read the majority of this because the character development was lacking and thus I wasn’t all that invested in the story.

Thank you to Meryl Moss Media Group for the gifted copy.

[Candy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a bit of a disappointment for me on a couple of different levels. Based on the author’s credentials, I was expecting a thrill ride. It started off extremely well, but the excitement never matched the first pages. Instead, the book was predictable with clumsy writing as far as repetition and dialogue. The plot moved very slowly, and bogged down in minutiae at times.

https://candysplanet.wordpress.com/

[Virginia Winfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this fast paced thriller with lots of action and twists and turns. I loved Marko and hope to read many more thrillers with him. I really enjoyed how scared I was as I read this story. I could not put the book down. I received a copy of the book and gave an honest opinion.

[Julia David · Rating 4 out of 5]

After an explosion shakes the city, Marko and his partner jump into the investigation. He’s suddenly in high demand, with several people vying for his attention and trying to sway his findings. Everyone seems to be after the same goal. To infiltrate a neo-Nazi group, Marko has to go undercover—and that means becoming an outlaw himself. With lies all around and pressure from every side, he’s being pulled in multiple directions. Now he has to uncover the truth and stay alive. The question is, can he make it out?

[Abasiama Udom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book had me eyes wide open till the end. Otho did a great job and I am glad I got an ARC.

The pacing, plot twists and ending. I had myself searching conspiracy theories after reading.

[ALaraReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Sun Rising reads like a high-octane action movie on the page. From the very first chapter, it throws you into a whirlwind of danger, suspense, and high-stakes drama. With a “save the United States” mission at its core, the story is packed with tension, betrayal, and twists that keep you guessing. The main character being on the run and labeled most wanted adds that extra adrenaline rush. If you love fast-paced thrillers with cinematic energy, this one delivers big time.