What do you think?
Rate this book
David Mitre Thriller #1
A Sudden Death in Cyprus
Fugitive crime writer David Mitre is caught up in a deadly conspiracy when he's witness to a brutal murder on the stunning island of Cyprus.
Having melted easily into Cyprus's relaxed expat community, fugitive crime writer David Mitre is feeling relatively secure. His cash stashed in secret accounts and his exit routes mapped out, he can concentrate on his writing. All that changes when he's witness to a cold-blooded murder in broad daylight on Paphos beach. The killing brings David to the attention of the FBI, who forcefully request his help in solving a crime far worse than anything he's been accused of.
Fight or flight? Is helping the FBI the only way David will be able to live his life without constantly looking over his shoulder ... or could it lead to an even worse fate?
Having melted easily into Cyprus's relaxed expat community, fugitive crime writer David Mitre is feeling relatively secure. His cash stashed in secret accounts and his exit routes mapped out, he can concentrate on his writing. All that changes when he's witness to a cold-blooded murder in broad daylight on Paphos beach. The killing brings David to the attention of the FBI, who forcefully request his help in solving a crime far worse than anything he's been accused of.
Fight or flight? Is helping the FBI the only way David will be able to live his life without constantly looking over his shoulder ... or could it lead to an even worse fate?
250 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2018
4 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
About the author
Michael Grant
80 books11.3k followersCo-author with Katherine Applegate of Ocean City, Making Out, Summer, Animorphs, Everworld, Remnants, Eve and Adam.
Pseudonymous coauthor with KA of Christy (the TV spin-off books), Sweet Valley Twins, Girl Talk and various Disney spin-offs.
Pseudonymous author of Barf-O-Rama.
Author of Gone, BZRK, The Magnificent 12, Messenger of Fear, Front Lines, Monster and A Sudden Death in Cyprus.
AKA Michael Robinson (restaurant reviews and newspaper features).
AKA Michael Reynolds (legal name) political media producer. (Team Blue).
Pseudonymous coauthor with KA of Christy (the TV spin-off books), Sweet Valley Twins, Girl Talk and various Disney spin-offs.
Pseudonymous author of Barf-O-Rama.
Author of Gone, BZRK, The Magnificent 12, Messenger of Fear, Front Lines, Monster and A Sudden Death in Cyprus.
AKA Michael Robinson (restaurant reviews and newspaper features).
AKA Michael Reynolds (legal name) political media producer. (Team Blue).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 5, 2019
What an entertaining book! Reading A Sudden Death in Cyprus was like making a new acquaintance, expecting only to kill some pleasant time, and discovering, wait -- there's some depth there, more than meets the eye.
This is a story about a crime in an expatriate community. The narrator is a mostly-reformed, gentlemanly felon who now has a perfectly respectable cover life as a published author. Still, he's not eager for anyone to look too closely into his past. Outstanding warrants, and all that.
So far, so superficial, right? But Michael Grant and his character David Mitre also display some perception and introspection along with Mitre's corny patter and his deeply shallow persona. The writing is far better than in many thrillers that have come my way, with the odd geopolitical content painlessly woven into the narrative. The other characters were diverse and well-rendered.
I liked it. I liked it a lot. So much that I'm hoping there's maybe a series afoot -- with perhaps an offbeat crime-fighting team comprised of a redeemed petty criminal and a stunning female FBI agent.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance readers copy.
This is a story about a crime in an expatriate community. The narrator is a mostly-reformed, gentlemanly felon who now has a perfectly respectable cover life as a published author. Still, he's not eager for anyone to look too closely into his past. Outstanding warrants, and all that.
So far, so superficial, right? But Michael Grant and his character David Mitre also display some perception and introspection along with Mitre's corny patter and his deeply shallow persona. The writing is far better than in many thrillers that have come my way, with the odd geopolitical content painlessly woven into the narrative. The other characters were diverse and well-rendered.
I liked it. I liked it a lot. So much that I'm hoping there's maybe a series afoot -- with perhaps an offbeat crime-fighting team comprised of a redeemed petty criminal and a stunning female FBI agent.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance readers copy.
November 19, 2023
"So, like a professional writer, I got up and used it as an excuse to not write."
December 3, 2018
I received a free copy of A SUDDEN DEATH IN CYPRUS (David Mitre Thriller Book 1) by Michael Grant in exchange for an honest review. David Mitre is a fortyish author of crime novels; he is also a retired burglar, con artist, jewel thief, and fugitive from American justice. One day, he’s hanging out at a beach-side bar in Cyprus, avoiding writing, when he witnesses a gruesome murder performed in the open daylight. As he’s the only one to notice, he makes a quick escape because he does not want to get involved. When David is subsequently approached about the matter by a police detective, David begins to implement some plans to earn him some good will from the local community. However, when FBI agents arrive at his doorstep, he becomes irretrievably involved in the investigation. His investigation leads him to some dark discoveries; there’s more at stake than just finding one murderer.
I liked it. David has a pretty good grasp on the fact he is not a good person, but he has a sense of humor about it. I didn’t always like David, but I liked him better when he was making fun of himself. I would definitely read another novel in the series.
#ASuddenDeathInCyprus #NetGalley
I liked it. David has a pretty good grasp on the fact he is not a good person, but he has a sense of humor about it. I didn’t always like David, but I liked him better when he was making fun of himself. I would definitely read another novel in the series.
#ASuddenDeathInCyprus #NetGalley
January 21, 2019
A tale of two halves
David Mitre (not his real name) is a con man but he's a good one and at heart a loveable rogue. While drinking at his favourite beach bar in Cyprus, he witnesses the brutal murder of a British woman who is also, coincidentally, a confidence trickster and this violent act sets in motion a whole sequence of events which turns his cosy world upside down.
The style of writing is throwaway and almost whimsical. It’s light-hearted in many ways and will annoy the hell out of some readers as it did me to start with. However, once I became inured to the style, I began to enjoy the read. Having said that I found the first half of the book disjointed and clunky. It just didn’t flow and was at times difficult reading. I know myself how some reviews, for instance, almost write themselves and others are hard going. Once I reached the second half of the book the writing was smoother and raced along at a breathless pace which was immensely enjoyable.
All characters were developed very well as individuals – even some of the more minor ones. The dialogue was believable and at times humorous although the device used to tell the reader what Mitre was thinking but not saying was crass and juvenile. At one point I promised myself that if the author used "I did not say" one more time, I would stop reading.
To sum up; it’s holiday reading; nothing deep or meaningful. The author is apparently very well known for his Gone books which are aimed at the teen market. If his success in that genre is to be duplicated with the David Mitre series, he needs to up his game although the signs are encouraging.
mr zorg
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
David Mitre (not his real name) is a con man but he's a good one and at heart a loveable rogue. While drinking at his favourite beach bar in Cyprus, he witnesses the brutal murder of a British woman who is also, coincidentally, a confidence trickster and this violent act sets in motion a whole sequence of events which turns his cosy world upside down.
The style of writing is throwaway and almost whimsical. It’s light-hearted in many ways and will annoy the hell out of some readers as it did me to start with. However, once I became inured to the style, I began to enjoy the read. Having said that I found the first half of the book disjointed and clunky. It just didn’t flow and was at times difficult reading. I know myself how some reviews, for instance, almost write themselves and others are hard going. Once I reached the second half of the book the writing was smoother and raced along at a breathless pace which was immensely enjoyable.
All characters were developed very well as individuals – even some of the more minor ones. The dialogue was believable and at times humorous although the device used to tell the reader what Mitre was thinking but not saying was crass and juvenile. At one point I promised myself that if the author used "I did not say" one more time, I would stop reading.
To sum up; it’s holiday reading; nothing deep or meaningful. The author is apparently very well known for his Gone books which are aimed at the teen market. If his success in that genre is to be duplicated with the David Mitre series, he needs to up his game although the signs are encouraging.
mr zorg
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
October 8, 2019
Michael Grant's first adult novel is a convincing demonstration of his unique skill in producing prose fiction for virtually any genre or targeted age group.
In A SUDDEN DEATH IN CYPRUS, Grant creates a protagonist who is very similar to himself. Like Grant, David Mitre (just one of his aliases) dropped out of high school, started a life of crime, and met that perfect woman in the window. Like Mitre, Grant was a fugitive from the law; perhaps that's why he took a pseudonym as an author. Regarding the Grant/Mitre oneness, Grant explained to me, "Frankly I thought Mitre might be insufferable, so I'm relieved people don't seem to hate him (me). The Mitre ‘voice’ is a pretty faithful representation of what goes on inside my head." So it's not "just" a mystery, it's also a character study --- of the author and what he might have become had he not chosen well in terms of a life partner.
Before Grant's life of crime began, at the tender age of four, he tried to be a businessman…er, business-child. He wanted money for a toy, so he took a box of vanilla wafers, poured them into a container, and "set off around the neighborhood as the world's first (and probably last) door-to-door vanilla wafer salesman." However, he realized that he wasn't going to make enough money to achieve his goal, so, as he writes in the scene from Mitre's point of view, "...when I got home I noticed some crumpled bills and loose change on my grandfather's mahogany chest of drawers. I took the money and claimed it had come from robust Nilla sales."
Years later, in spite of having dropped out of high school, Grant and Mitre were accepted into college. Both dropped out rather quickly and worked in the restaurant business as shift managers. At one point in their lives, they lived under a viaduct. And they met a girl in the window, the beautiful and talented woman who in real life is Katherine Applegate. Grant was intelligent enough to stay with Applegate, and they co-authored the hugely successful Animorphs series after ghostwriting a few books and getting some Harlequin romances published. Neither has looked back as they continue to write together and apart with numerous bestselling and award-winning children's books.
Pity poor David Mitre. He left the girl in the window, and his life has been lonely and fraught with the stress of wondering if law enforcement agencies are looking for him. He has assumed many aliases, but now has one he likes and a life he enjoys as a writer of mystery novels.
Mitre is living in Cyprus and enjoying the view at a bar when he notices a woman who appears to be watchful in a manner that screams she's scared, that something is wrong. When someone who is obviously not a professional waiter approaches the lady with a bottle of wine, Mitre clearly sees every movement and every moment of the faux waiter's murder of the middle-aged tourist. Afraid of becoming involved and risking his most necessary anonymity in a murder investigation, he leaves the scene quickly.
However, Mitre has been noticed. And when a local police official asks him to look into the crime, he has a choice. He can run, or he can stay and see what is really going on. And it's on Cyprus that the whole novel takes place. We learn about life there and the robust British expat community. We learn about the refugees who arrive on Cyprus desperate to live a better life. And we learn about the sometimes unsavory and cruel treatment of the refugees there.
Mitre finds out about two illegal activities that are taking place on the island, and he is confronted by FBI agents who want his help in investigating them. It's puzzling and confusing. Who murdered the tourist, an ex-British intelligence agent? And why?
Grant's writing talent, honed after years of penning young adult action books, shines brightly here. His narrative and distinctive voice are eloquent and often quite lyrical.
"No one ever admits to being asleep, lacking a sense of humor, or having no imagination. Everyone thinks they have an imagination, but few do, and fewer still are capable of pro-level imagination, the kind of imagination a clever criminal, or novelist, might need. Without imagination the first cave men would still be in the first cave, because it takes imagination to wonder what's over the next hill, or to conceive of a cure for disease, or to imagine strapping on a rocket and flying to the moon. Many good things come from imagination.
“But imagination is to fear as gasoline is to fire."
In addition to such fine examples of narrative, the story is filled with Grant's wry sense of humor as Mitre narrates the action in a cleverly self-deprecating manner: "You read stories about warriors --- Vikings, Huns, Mongols, Marines --- who never so much as whimper while they have a leg cut off with a pair of snub-nosed kindergarten craft scissors, but I am none of those things."
Mitre doesn't want to do the right thing. He would prefer to live his quiet, peaceful life, write his books while getting distracted in attractive ways as often as possible, and enjoy his scotch, a good cigar and a beautiful view (much like Grant). What will Mitre do when he is forced to choose --- his comfortable existence or doing the right thing, even though the latter may mean his life will be upended? Is he a dishonest person who can be redeemed, or an honorable man who has strayed from the right path and now has a chance at redemption?
Be prepared to travel a lovely and action-filled path along with David Mitre as he struggles with his past, present and nervously iffy future. And once readers realize that there will be a sequel, AN ARTFUL ASSASSIN IN AMSTERDAM (coming December 3rd), they eagerly will anticipate learning more about this complex and fascinating character.
Reviewed by Pamela Kramer
In A SUDDEN DEATH IN CYPRUS, Grant creates a protagonist who is very similar to himself. Like Grant, David Mitre (just one of his aliases) dropped out of high school, started a life of crime, and met that perfect woman in the window. Like Mitre, Grant was a fugitive from the law; perhaps that's why he took a pseudonym as an author. Regarding the Grant/Mitre oneness, Grant explained to me, "Frankly I thought Mitre might be insufferable, so I'm relieved people don't seem to hate him (me). The Mitre ‘voice’ is a pretty faithful representation of what goes on inside my head." So it's not "just" a mystery, it's also a character study --- of the author and what he might have become had he not chosen well in terms of a life partner.
Before Grant's life of crime began, at the tender age of four, he tried to be a businessman…er, business-child. He wanted money for a toy, so he took a box of vanilla wafers, poured them into a container, and "set off around the neighborhood as the world's first (and probably last) door-to-door vanilla wafer salesman." However, he realized that he wasn't going to make enough money to achieve his goal, so, as he writes in the scene from Mitre's point of view, "...when I got home I noticed some crumpled bills and loose change on my grandfather's mahogany chest of drawers. I took the money and claimed it had come from robust Nilla sales."
Years later, in spite of having dropped out of high school, Grant and Mitre were accepted into college. Both dropped out rather quickly and worked in the restaurant business as shift managers. At one point in their lives, they lived under a viaduct. And they met a girl in the window, the beautiful and talented woman who in real life is Katherine Applegate. Grant was intelligent enough to stay with Applegate, and they co-authored the hugely successful Animorphs series after ghostwriting a few books and getting some Harlequin romances published. Neither has looked back as they continue to write together and apart with numerous bestselling and award-winning children's books.
Pity poor David Mitre. He left the girl in the window, and his life has been lonely and fraught with the stress of wondering if law enforcement agencies are looking for him. He has assumed many aliases, but now has one he likes and a life he enjoys as a writer of mystery novels.
Mitre is living in Cyprus and enjoying the view at a bar when he notices a woman who appears to be watchful in a manner that screams she's scared, that something is wrong. When someone who is obviously not a professional waiter approaches the lady with a bottle of wine, Mitre clearly sees every movement and every moment of the faux waiter's murder of the middle-aged tourist. Afraid of becoming involved and risking his most necessary anonymity in a murder investigation, he leaves the scene quickly.
However, Mitre has been noticed. And when a local police official asks him to look into the crime, he has a choice. He can run, or he can stay and see what is really going on. And it's on Cyprus that the whole novel takes place. We learn about life there and the robust British expat community. We learn about the refugees who arrive on Cyprus desperate to live a better life. And we learn about the sometimes unsavory and cruel treatment of the refugees there.
Mitre finds out about two illegal activities that are taking place on the island, and he is confronted by FBI agents who want his help in investigating them. It's puzzling and confusing. Who murdered the tourist, an ex-British intelligence agent? And why?
Grant's writing talent, honed after years of penning young adult action books, shines brightly here. His narrative and distinctive voice are eloquent and often quite lyrical.
"No one ever admits to being asleep, lacking a sense of humor, or having no imagination. Everyone thinks they have an imagination, but few do, and fewer still are capable of pro-level imagination, the kind of imagination a clever criminal, or novelist, might need. Without imagination the first cave men would still be in the first cave, because it takes imagination to wonder what's over the next hill, or to conceive of a cure for disease, or to imagine strapping on a rocket and flying to the moon. Many good things come from imagination.
“But imagination is to fear as gasoline is to fire."
In addition to such fine examples of narrative, the story is filled with Grant's wry sense of humor as Mitre narrates the action in a cleverly self-deprecating manner: "You read stories about warriors --- Vikings, Huns, Mongols, Marines --- who never so much as whimper while they have a leg cut off with a pair of snub-nosed kindergarten craft scissors, but I am none of those things."
Mitre doesn't want to do the right thing. He would prefer to live his quiet, peaceful life, write his books while getting distracted in attractive ways as often as possible, and enjoy his scotch, a good cigar and a beautiful view (much like Grant). What will Mitre do when he is forced to choose --- his comfortable existence or doing the right thing, even though the latter may mean his life will be upended? Is he a dishonest person who can be redeemed, or an honorable man who has strayed from the right path and now has a chance at redemption?
Be prepared to travel a lovely and action-filled path along with David Mitre as he struggles with his past, present and nervously iffy future. And once readers realize that there will be a sequel, AN ARTFUL ASSASSIN IN AMSTERDAM (coming December 3rd), they eagerly will anticipate learning more about this complex and fascinating character.
Reviewed by Pamela Kramer
January 20, 2019
Nicely done. David Mitre is on the run because of his multitude of crimes= burglary, con games etc.- but he's hiding in plain sight on Cyprus where he has refashioned himself as a crime writer. Much to his dismay (and to be fair, horror), he witnesses a murder on the beach. This leads to a cascade of problems with both the Cypriot police AND then two people who purport to be from the FBI. Is anything or anyone what they seem? Well, David has to make some decisions. You might not agree with them but you will appreciate his self awareness. Thanks to net galley for the ARC. An interesting new character and I look forward to seeing him again.
November 2, 2019
Michael Grant’s first adult novel, “A Sudden Death in Cyprus,” is a convincing demonstration of his unique skill in creating prose fiction of virtually any genre or targeted age group.
In this novel, Grant creates a protagonist who is very much like the author himself. Like Grant, David Mitre (just one of his aliases) dropped out of high school, started a life of crime, and met that perfect woman in the window. Like Mitre, Grant was a fugitive from the law — perhaps that’s why he took a pseudonym as an author. Regarding the Grant/Mitre oneness, Grant explained to me, “Frankly I thought Mitre might be insufferable, so I’m relieved people don’t seem to hate him (me). The Mitre ‘voice’ is a pretty faithful representation of what goes on inside my head.” So it’s not “just” a mystery, it’s also a character study — of the author and what he might have become had he not chosen well in terms of a life partner.
Before Grant’s life of crime began, at the tender age of four, he tried to be a businessman, er, business-child. He wanted money for a toy, so he took a box of vanilla wafers, poured them into a container, and “set off around the neighborhood as the world’s first (and probably last) door-to-door vanilla wafer salesman.” However, he realized that he wasn’t going to make enough money to achieve his goal, so, as he writes in the scene from Mitre’s point of view, “….when I got home I noticed some crumpled bills and loose change on my grandfather’s mahogany chest of drawers. I took the money and claimed it had come from robust Nilla sales.”
Read the whole review at: PamelaKramer.com
In this novel, Grant creates a protagonist who is very much like the author himself. Like Grant, David Mitre (just one of his aliases) dropped out of high school, started a life of crime, and met that perfect woman in the window. Like Mitre, Grant was a fugitive from the law — perhaps that’s why he took a pseudonym as an author. Regarding the Grant/Mitre oneness, Grant explained to me, “Frankly I thought Mitre might be insufferable, so I’m relieved people don’t seem to hate him (me). The Mitre ‘voice’ is a pretty faithful representation of what goes on inside my head.” So it’s not “just” a mystery, it’s also a character study — of the author and what he might have become had he not chosen well in terms of a life partner.
Before Grant’s life of crime began, at the tender age of four, he tried to be a businessman, er, business-child. He wanted money for a toy, so he took a box of vanilla wafers, poured them into a container, and “set off around the neighborhood as the world’s first (and probably last) door-to-door vanilla wafer salesman.” However, he realized that he wasn’t going to make enough money to achieve his goal, so, as he writes in the scene from Mitre’s point of view, “….when I got home I noticed some crumpled bills and loose change on my grandfather’s mahogany chest of drawers. I took the money and claimed it had come from robust Nilla sales.”
Read the whole review at: PamelaKramer.com
October 2, 2019
As a fan of Michael Grant's work, in particular the YA Gone series and the Front Line series, I happily awaited "A Sudden Death in Cyprus" to arrive. Grant's adult thriller did not disappoint. I love a good thriller with a solid mystery and characters that I simultaneously want to smack and hug. "A Sudden Death in Cyprus" has humor, plenty of action, a solid cast of characters, and setting that makes a Midwesterner jealous. I liked David Mitre and I definitely look forward to reading more. I'll have a more in-depth review up on my blog in a few days.
October 16, 2019
Current topic, a little confusing on bad guys and ended pretty quickly.
February 28, 2023
A crime thriller by Michael Grant, it's certainly something. David Mitre is a fugitive hiding out in Cyprus, with a side job as a crime novelist. On this vacation in paradise he witnesses a murder of woman and is then contacted by the FBI. Apparently, this murder is connected to a long rabbit hole of dirty money & human trafficking. Agent Delia "recruits" David, not only for his crime skills, if his record is anything to go by, but because she knows he might possibly have some connection upon learning a string that leads to the underworld. With no options of decline, David reluctantly helps in as he tries to fit the puzzles of an unrelated murder linked to a Russian mafia and oncoming refugees from Egypt. Of course, the further he gets in, the more apparent that paradise is not what it seems and his cover becomes more threatened by the day.
For 250 pages, Grant is able to make a story that is both thrilling and simple enough to not feel overly complex. Added with a cast of complicated characters, there is always an air of mystery and tension with each page turn. However, certain sequences that get into the action can get overly-detailed, and that is what lead me to feel confused in those areas. Some of those felt like it went through quick, while others drag for a while. It's still enjoyable, as the ending leaves it on a nice little note of closure. So even with the issues on some of the writing area, I will be looking forward to reading the sequel to see what Mitre has next in store for himself.
For 250 pages, Grant is able to make a story that is both thrilling and simple enough to not feel overly complex. Added with a cast of complicated characters, there is always an air of mystery and tension with each page turn. However, certain sequences that get into the action can get overly-detailed, and that is what lead me to feel confused in those areas. Some of those felt like it went through quick, while others drag for a while. It's still enjoyable, as the ending leaves it on a nice little note of closure. So even with the issues on some of the writing area, I will be looking forward to reading the sequel to see what Mitre has next in store for himself.
April 8, 2019
David Mitre is an author of crime novels and sees a murder take place while
On Paphos Beach in broad daylight. He says he is not a good person as he is a
thief and has a sense of humor about it all. The murder brings him to the
Attention of the police and FBI who ask for his help. David has plenty of money
Stashed away and with his background it is best that he help the police.
This was an interesting read and on the short side with good characters
And kept the reader turning the pages. This was the first book I’ve read by
this author.
On Paphos Beach in broad daylight. He says he is not a good person as he is a
thief and has a sense of humor about it all. The murder brings him to the
Attention of the police and FBI who ask for his help. David has plenty of money
Stashed away and with his background it is best that he help the police.
This was an interesting read and on the short side with good characters
And kept the reader turning the pages. This was the first book I’ve read by
this author.
May 14, 2022
Entertaining and fun. Nice sense of humour.
July 28, 2020
A fast-paced thriller that will leave you gasping as you turn the pages. Loved the setting and the characters. Everything you could ask from a murder mystery - location, action and that little bit extra.
December 11, 2020
Brilliant. Had it all, great story line, great characters, action and with lots of laughs thrown in.
April 4, 2022
Cool and scary
December 10, 2022
Good well paced story, the ending was handled very well without going into unnecessary detail
September 18, 2024
A great pace, vivid descriptions, wonderful narration an unusually serious social issue gets addressed.
Looking forward to getting stuck in with this new series.
Looking forward to getting stuck in with this new series.
September 26, 2024
What a fab book. So funny I laughed out loud at times.
Well drawn characters, many of whom touched your heart.
Amazing plot and local colour.
What's not to love?
Well drawn characters, many of whom touched your heart.
Amazing plot and local colour.
What's not to love?
February 20, 2025
Loved the somewhat sardonic humorous tone of this!
Read
October 9, 2022Dnf
August 29, 2023
Excellent story, well written and hilarious in places....
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews