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Shadows #0.5
Facets
Six short stories of deceit and betrayal .
From the savannah of Africa to the grey corridors of the UK's Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), the lives of diamond smugglers and intelligence agents clash as personal agendas come to the fore.
There are those who will stop at nothing to get what they want, who will sell out anyone, anywhere, at any time.
Then there are the innocents...
The prequel to 'Chasing Shadows'
From the savannah of Africa to the grey corridors of the UK's Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), the lives of diamond smugglers and intelligence agents clash as personal agendas come to the fore.
There are those who will stop at nothing to get what they want, who will sell out anyone, anywhere, at any time.
Then there are the innocents...
The prequel to 'Chasing Shadows'
115 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2015
12 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Eric J. Gates
28 books153 followersAward-winning author Eric J. Gates has had a curious life filled with the stuff of thriller novels. Writing Operating Systems for Supercomputers, cracking cryptographic codes under extreme pressure using only paper and pen and teaching cyberwarfare to spies are just a few of the moments he’s willing to recall. He is an ex-International Consultant who has travelled extensively worldwide, speaks several languages, and has had articles and papers published in six different countries, as well as radio and TV spots. His specialty, Information Technology Security, has brought him into contact with the Military and Intelligence communities on numerous occasions. He is also an expert martial artist, holding 14 black belt degrees in distinct disciplines. He has taught his skills to Police and Military personnel, as well as to the public.
He now writes thriller novels, drawing on his experiences with the confidential and secret worlds that surround us.
He now writes thriller novels, drawing on his experiences with the confidential and secret worlds that surround us.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 30, 2019
Facets is a collection of six short stories with interwoven plots of thievery, deceit, mastermind criminals and the agents who pursue them. Stories where the bad guys aren't always all bad. And the good guys are good.....ish. Just pure entertainment and fun to read.
Starting with a tale about an African boy whose life path is chosen by two acts of bravery, each story in the collection builds on the last, adding its own bit of deception to the stack.
I liked how the stories are interconnected by characters or events. There is little character development or descriptions of place. But these stories are action driven not character centric. Pure entertainment.....like an action movie or a James Bond film. It isn't about the characters really....but about their actions and decisions.....and the consequences. Brain candy. And, I loved it!
The book is a quick read at 116 pages.
Very entertaining read. I will definitely be reading more by this author. Eric J. Gates has written several thrillers including Leaving Shadows, and The Cull series.
Starting with a tale about an African boy whose life path is chosen by two acts of bravery, each story in the collection builds on the last, adding its own bit of deception to the stack.
I liked how the stories are interconnected by characters or events. There is little character development or descriptions of place. But these stories are action driven not character centric. Pure entertainment.....like an action movie or a James Bond film. It isn't about the characters really....but about their actions and decisions.....and the consequences. Brain candy. And, I loved it!
The book is a quick read at 116 pages.
Very entertaining read. I will definitely be reading more by this author. Eric J. Gates has written several thrillers including Leaving Shadows, and The Cull series.
December 11, 2015
...a gem of a short story collection...
...an elegant compendium of inter-related short stories told by a crime fiction master craftsman ... I’ve admired all of Eric Gates’ work to date, and this collection of gems matches his usual high quality... the thread running through the book ties back to a young man in Kenya, and tracks parts of his adulthood in the shadows of international intelligence... a key mover and shaker in the clandestine world of spies, terrorists and diamond smuggling on the Eastern African continent, his influence is far reaching... despite the murky areas of illicit commerce he indulges, there are strong moral principles he lives by, and often others die by...
...an elegant compendium of inter-related short stories told by a crime fiction master craftsman ... I’ve admired all of Eric Gates’ work to date, and this collection of gems matches his usual high quality... the thread running through the book ties back to a young man in Kenya, and tracks parts of his adulthood in the shadows of international intelligence... a key mover and shaker in the clandestine world of spies, terrorists and diamond smuggling on the Eastern African continent, his influence is far reaching... despite the murky areas of illicit commerce he indulges, there are strong moral principles he lives by, and often others die by...
March 19, 2019
A superb, engrossing compilation.
This is my third foray into the world of Eric J. Gates. Having enjoyed ‘Outsourced’ and ‘Primed’, I got into his short story compilation, ‘Facets’. It is, in fact, a novella split into six distinct parts, rather like a serial. The plot is gripping and superbly written, the dialogue hard-edged and realistic. And with descriptions so vivid, I felt I was there, in the zones, standing beside snipers on hot, arid terrain, helpless men under interrogation, and mixing with the denizens of the seedy, treacherous world of the spy. I said to myself. “This stuff goes on. This shit really happens. And this is the way it happens.” High octane stuff indeed from Mr. Gates.
I believe the short story is the writer’s greatest challenge. Novels allow a writer to get up to mischief. He can inflate and pad out, and if he’s good he can become something of a ‘Fancy Dan’ writer. To write it well, the short story demands discipline, it leaves few places to hide and can reveal a writer’s shortcomings. That’s probably why many novelists don’t do them. For me, the short story is the true test of a writer’s mettle. And Mr. Gates has passed that test with flying colors. ‘
The ending of the last story indicates to me that we can expect more of this wonderful stuff. I do hope so. ‘Facets’ is top notch storytelling and highly recommended.
June 3, 2018
This book of interlinking short stories is a good read, well-written and full of really interesting characters. If you like reading thrillers but are short on time, these stories are a good solution for you - the perfect length to read over a meal or during the commute! I'd definitely recommend them, and I'd love to read more stories like them, including some involving the characters involved in these, to find out what happened to them next.
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
January 30, 2019
Like facets on a blood diamond, each short reveals a glimpse into the story’s heart. This could easily have been a full-length novel since each story is a snapshot of an ongoing plot. Quality writing with fascinating characters. I highly recommend this fast-paced compendium. Smith descends further and further into evil while the elusive Simba Mtu remains true to his convictions. There is subterfuge, betrayal, assassinations, and intrigue which make for a great thriller. Although I received a free copy my opinions are my own and voluntarily given.
February 28, 2019
Very interesting series of short stories, which are all connected in one way or another. That was very cleverly done, actually.
As a general rule, I am not a fan of short stories as a fair few authors lack the knack of wrapping the story up at the end in a satisfactory way but these stories have no such issues.
I am looking forward to reading more by this author in the future.
4.5 stars from me.
As a general rule, I am not a fan of short stories as a fair few authors lack the knack of wrapping the story up at the end in a satisfactory way but these stories have no such issues.
I am looking forward to reading more by this author in the future.
4.5 stars from me.
December 20, 2018
Short and tense
This is a short burst of adrenalin that leaves me loving Lion Man. It's bloody and violent, filled with vengeance and satisfaction but most of all, gazing into the eyes of a lioness was a little magical. Love this author.
This is a short burst of adrenalin that leaves me loving Lion Man. It's bloody and violent, filled with vengeance and satisfaction but most of all, gazing into the eyes of a lioness was a little magical. Love this author.
January 28, 2019
Compelling
Great stories of mysteries and intrigue. I enjoyed them completely. Keep up the good work and thank you. The end
Great stories of mysteries and intrigue. I enjoyed them completely. Keep up the good work and thank you. The end
February 1, 2016
*** Stripped-down, Slick and Cunningly Constructed ***
'Facets' is a cunningly-constructed piece of work, comprising six vignettes which together make up a full-length thriller. Imaginative and fast-paced, the storylines move between Africa, the UK and South Asia. Characters are skillfully drawn, and the narrative is stripped-down and slick. A great introduction for those who have not yet sampled Eric Gates' particular type of action novel - and for those who have, well, you're going to love it (as usual).
'Facets' is a cunningly-constructed piece of work, comprising six vignettes which together make up a full-length thriller. Imaginative and fast-paced, the storylines move between Africa, the UK and South Asia. Characters are skillfully drawn, and the narrative is stripped-down and slick. A great introduction for those who have not yet sampled Eric Gates' particular type of action novel - and for those who have, well, you're going to love it (as usual).
April 23, 2016
Facets is an incredibly told collection of short stories of deceit, terror and betrayal told by a master thriller writer. The description is vivid, the characters jump off the page and the suspense is well-paced throughout .The Lion King is the story of a young African boy who leaned his mantra for life at a very early age from his father. These principles guide him in a variety of ways during good and bad times. Facets is a book based on sound principles, social justice and moral belief. It's full of experential wisdom and is value laden. It's excellent and I recommend highly.
May 19, 2019
Very entertaining! Mr. Gates weaves a fascinating tale through this collection of short stories. Each short story is a brief glimpse and adds to the overall tale. I highly recommend this collection!
December 31, 2019
Well written
Builds well through the story with mini endings built in climaxing in a great ending with justice well served in an unexpected way.
Builds well through the story with mini endings built in climaxing in a great ending with justice well served in an unexpected way.
September 23, 2019
Six stories, all intertwined
I like the way that Mr. Gates develops his characters, thru the stories. I'm not sure how the last story fits in, but I am sure that it does, somehow. Maybe you can spot the connection that I missed.
I like the way that Mr. Gates develops his characters, thru the stories. I'm not sure how the last story fits in, but I am sure that it does, somehow. Maybe you can spot the connection that I missed.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews