Award-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.
I really liked “Death mask” by Eric Gates. It reminded me of the best thrillers I have read over the years like Jason Bourne or Jack Ryan. I mean it. It was that good.
The lead character is a very strong woman who kicks butt from the beginning to the end. She is brave, resourceful and a genius.
I just finished a few bland books and really enjoyed being swept away by a real thriller.
My husband read this first, and recommended it to me. Wow, is it ever intense, with super-fast pacing, no lulls, and short chapters. The characters are terrific and the action is full of suspense and drama. Author Eric J. Gates has won multiple awards and has lived the life he writes about – cracking military codes and teaching information technology security to intelligence communities, police and military personnel. His writing shows it. Very impressive – five stars!
31 seconds. No alarm. No lights. No warning. No witnesses. 2 adults. 2 kids. Gone in 31 seconds. No loose ends. Or are there?
This is the high-speed rate my heartbeat follows whenever I read an Eric Gates thriller. His prose is so efficient, it makes you wonder how he does it, yet he gets the job done every time. DEATH MASK is another triumph, clever in its twists and turns and unexpected choices and actions of his well-developed characters. The author's deep understanding and knowledge of code cracking and military life is apparent throughout, and short chapters enhance the pace, tension and anticipation. And that plot? A lie is a lie. For a moment it may deceive, but it cannot deceive forever.
The ending implies that there might be a sequel. Some matters are left unresolved, leaving one dangling, longing to tie up unfinished business. But if stories of betrayal are what you thirst for, DEATH MASK is an engaging thriller that has you covered with enough action and interest to keep you guessing right up to the end and keep those pages turning.
If reading Eric Gates' Bio didn't persuade me to read his book the first few pages pulled me in and I could not put it down. I wondered if someone with this much technical background could write a compelling story. Well, the plot takes off from the first page and I couldn't put this down until the end.
This is the first female lead I have read as portrayed from the standpoint of ability and skill and Mr. Gates does a fantastic job keeping her a soldier. A soldier with a lot to lose.
All the characters are well-developed and the pace is fast but perfect for the high stakes game our protagonist finds herself in. The fast-paced storyline grabbed me from the first paragraph and held me until the end. I closed this book hoping there is more to come from this author.
An intense roller coaster thriller that kept me captivated from beginning to end. Action, drama, twists, suspense, espionage, intriguing characters, and different POVs can be found in this well woven plot.
I enjoy reading Gates. Beyond the sterling entertainment, a reader is assured of learning something new about operational tradecraft, quantum computing, Artificial Intelligence; in other words Eric J Gates is the ideal thriller writer for the 21st Century because he knows his stuff. DEATH MASK is a case in point. It's a ratatata-boom of a novel, both action packed and intriguing.
The rhythm of the writing is augmented by the brief chapters, switching at a beat between the first person perspective of Sheran, the lead protagonist - we get to 'see' her inner thoughts italicized - and well paced storytelling.
I commend the author's portrayal of women. Gates has discarded the typical sexist tropes. He doesn't waste time trying to trade on Sheran's looks, bust size and scenes of coquettish flirtation, instead he focuses on her competence, her tradecraft, her mission focus, and the overwhelming and inexplicable jeopardy she is confronting.
As is now the norm in modern publishing, every book is a set up for the sequel, and DEATH MASK is no exception. Questions still linger despite the booming termination of the plot; but this is all tantalizingly good provided Eric J Gates gets out the sequel pronto. I can't wait to read it.
Eric J. Gates is a new to me author, and I’m so glad I picked up a copy of Death Mask. If reading about the personal life of this author wasn’t enough to lure me into reading more of his books, reading Death Mask certainly was. The fast-paced storyline grabbed me from the first paragraph and held me tightly through to the end.
Imagination interwoven with the author’s fascinating high-tech expertise grounds this story in reality while taking the reader on an amazing rollercoaster ride brimming with pulse-pounding action and unexpected twists and turns. This plot driven story will keep your attention glued to each page.
If you love fast-paced thrillers steeped in high-tech espionage, suspense, and drama, Death Mask is definitely a must read. Strap yourself in for a great ride.
A favorite passage: “I felt my stomach lurch as my feet left solid ground, and immediately released my pilot chute. As the ground rushed up at me, the pilot pulled the main chute out of the backpack and I felt a strong jerk as it deployed. Three seconds later, my running feet touched the ground.”
In Death Mask, we meet Zoe Davis, a bookshop owner, happily married with two sons. She lives a normal life. But as a former professional assassin employed by a top secret unit, she has a past that is far from normal. And overnight that past returns to threaten both her and her family. And so Zoe is galvanized into action to seek who it is that wants her dead. What follows is a taut, thrilling and relentless ride as she defends herself and family and pursues her quarry. Could it happen? Is it believable? Mr. Gates pushes the envelope of probability, but recent world events incline me to believe that it could. That’s more than a little scary. Death Mask is the eighth novel of Mr. Gates that I’ve read, and as in all of them, I was pulled into dramatic events from page one. Using prequels and sequels, his thrillers are skillfully written, interconnected, hi-tech stories. He knows stuff most of us don’t, and he shows no reticence in letting the reader know it. As a thriller writer myself, I contend that Eric J. Gates’ imagination puts him in a class of his own. Death Mask is an excellent thriller. Recommended.
Mr. Gates is an excellent writer: his stories are well-planned, with strong characters and lots of action to keep the reader turning pages, following the twists and turns, trying to guess what will happen next. I like the use of short chapters to help speed the flow of the story. The book comes to a satisfactory ending, but also leaves some avenues open to allow for continuing story lines, if the author so decides. I received an ARC for the book – this review is my honest opinion, and I purchased a copy on release to support this deserving writer. I have several other of Mr. Gates’ books in my TBR queue and look forward to reading them.
Death Mask by Eric J. Gates is an espionage thriller that makes you doubt your neighbor. Zoe Davis (or Sheran) is a bookstore owner living with the man she loves, normal enough. After he proposes, her past collides with her present and, she puts him and his sons in danger. One freak mistake saves her life, giving her enough time to put distance between herself and Liam. Transforming back to her ghost agent days, she must decide if she will try hiding again or take the fight to them. It has taken them six years to find her, but now she doesn't even know who is leading this renegade team of killers.
I found Eric J. Gates writing similar to Robert Ludlum. Death Mask is a military thriller that will have you hanging on every step Sheran makes. The Egyptian process of mummifying a person is behind the meaning of Death Mask. The Egyptians constructed a similar face on the outside of the coffin that the soul would recognize and join its body in the afterlife. Sheran had to find her death mask when she left the special ops so she could distinguish her soul after she left it behind. This novel is a fast-paced journey from near-death to impossible odds. With an edgy precision for details and danger, Gates creates a web of espionage and deceit at the highest levels. I loved how the characters come alive, with strong personalities that connect the readers to the fictional terror that awaits them.
Eric Gates writes from his personal experience and knowledge, but within the realm of fiction. This book tells the story of a retired American covert terrorist and begins with a botched hit on her life. Next enters a not so retired US covert terrorist with instructions to kill. Will he attempt to carry out his mission or does he realize he, too, could be on someone's hit list?
The retired US person whose life is now on a hit list is a woman who has lived a peaceful life since her retirement, and has even become the live-in love of a law-abiding man with two sons. Liam, her other half, has just proposed marriage to her. Now what?
How will Liam and the boys react to the reveal of her former life? Who had the hit put out on her? China? Russia? England? Her own government? Other, as yet unnamed European or Asian countries? As the two former terrorists form an uneasy alliance, they strive to find out the entity or entities behind the hits, the tie-in to government - and the tie-in to information technology.
This is an action-packed story, full of suspense as well as many twists and turns from beginning to end. A very interesting story. What further impressed me is that the author, as part of the story, explains to the reader, in some detail, the intricacies of items that other authors simply skim over.
Another book that involves our two protagonists. Can't wait to read it.
Zoe is living an ordinary life. A bookstore owner in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she resides with a man she loves and his two sons. But a covert operation completed in a mere thirty-one seconds on a street similar to hers, in a house equally similar, will turn her ordinary world upside down. For Zoe is not what she appears to be. Her name, her background, even her appearance have all been carefully fabricated and now her past, violently and without warning, rises up to haunt her. Someone is trying to kill her. But who and why?
Death Mask is a heart-pounding, intense thriller that, once you read page one, is hard to put down. Author Gates has concocted a fast-paced narrative with short chapters and alternating points of view which serve to increase the overall tension in the story. Gates’ high tech expertise is on full display in Death Mask and, while totally invested in Zoe’s journey, I actually learned a thing or two about artificial intelligence while on the ride.
Death Mask is a must-read for lovers of political intrigue and espionage thrillers, or those who simply enjoy a high-tension, page-turner that will keep you up into the wee small hours of the morning, unable to put it down.
I understand that Author Gates has other novels involving the vividly written characters in Death Mask and I will be sure to put them on my to-read list.
Death Mask comes highly recommended by this reader. Five big shiny stars!
Zoe Davis, former undercover operative, finds her life in danger. And not only hers: the lives of those she loves. “[The family] have just discovered they welcomed a stranger to their midst. Someone different from who she appeared to be. Someone unexpected. Dangerous. A killer.” Eric J Gates’ latest offering contains all the incidents and narrative energy that I have come to expect from his novels. But Gates is that rarest of male action/thriller-writers: one who can create three-dimensional female characters who sit at the centre of events (and not at the periphery waiting to be ‘saved’ by some hunky man). The chapters of ‘Death Mask’ are short and punchy: not a word is wasted. This makes for a very fast reading experience (“Oh, I’ll just read one more chapter. Well, maybe two…”). The author alternates between the first and third person POV, which allows him to put you inside the mind of the protagonist at key moments. Crafty. The novel is also laced with impressive weaponry knowledge and some imaginative, well-informed IT stuff. Among the bullets and explosions you might well learn something too! Gates is my go-to author whenever I want some well-constructed escapism with a satisfyingly high body-count. Highly recommended for lovers of the high-octane narrative.
Every chapter has suspense, danger, excitement and some heartbreak. What starts out as an unexplainable attack on a woman who left her world of violence behind becomes more stressful as the story goes on. Zoe had a life of being a government assassin where she was extremely good at her job. She took great pains when she "retired" to leave that life totally behind her. Or so she thought. When her new family is put in mortal danger, she lays out a plan to keep them safe while she deals with the impending threat.
Soon Zoe discovers that people she used to work with are involved in the plot to kill her. She is befriended by someone she used to work with and together they set about trying to eliminate the threat. However, every time they deal with one, another one materializes. Thankfully Zoe has planned ahead for something similar and has resources she can call on to see her through.
The character development in this book is outstanding. The plot is amazing. The details paint a graphic picture of every scene. There are many surprises that Zoe encounters, such as people from her past life who have planned for her to play a vital role in national defense. What a brilliant story to weave everything together!
The last time I was drawn into a novel within the first three sentences in chapter one, was The Martian by Andy Weir. Eric J. Gates’ Death Mask grabs the reader by the collar, shakes them three times, and screams, pay attention, this is going to be a wild ride.
And it is.
The short chapters and the rotating points of view took a few pages to get used to, but once I did, Mr. Gates’ technique became the perfect way to tell this tale. I like the strong female protagonist who is attempting to escape her past by trying to have a normal family life.
Not going to happen.
No spoilers here, sorry, you’ll have to read the book. But I can say, if Mr. Gates decides to make this book one within series, he’s got my vote and I’ll be the first one to buy book two.
Highly recommended for readers who like a fast-paced thriller with a strong female protagonist. I had a hard time putting the book down and lost numerous hours of sleep due to the excellent way the author tells his tale.
I know I am in for a fantastic read!! I've never been disappointed! Zoe had quit the group she formerly worked for. Doing jobs often from the WH. The last year she had been going with a man with two young boys and the man was at the point of proposing. When it came across TV that a family of four had been killed in their home. Their home was the exact home Zoe and the family had moved from recently. Zoe said no basketball this evening. You have to leave now. As she pointed toward the TV, she said "that should have been us!" So the story hit the ground running and didn't stop until the end! You won't be disappointed!
I liked it more than I thought I would. Until the end. There were interesting characters, a good plot, lots of action. Liked all of it. Then got to the end. It seemed rushed and anticlimactic. She blows up the generators. Next chapter everything is over and swept under the rug. Questions remain. What kind of end stories do the main characters have? Are two of them going to get together, as hinted? What will happen to the main character? I would like to have seen some resolution for them.
Death Mask is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller. There was only one thing that held this back from 5 stars for me. The book switched POVs, which I liked but Sharon’s POV switched from first-person to third-person. I can honestly believe something like this has or could happen. I was almost expecting a predictable ending, but I am so glad there wasn’t one.
(3.5) I rounded up because I feel it's better than a three, but a four star rating might be pushing it. The character development was good and the pace is non-stop, but it was too tongue-in-cheek for me. I guess I was expecting something that felt more real. Clean editing and a well put together plot kept it entertaining.
Different type of thriller as you begin, showing how this group operates and wonder why they hit this home. The woman in the lead is strong and has the ability to do her job. He is a master at breaking codes an military life and giving us a fast pace story with twists that keep you to the end. Well done.
As much fun as a decent movie, with a side of schooling
Quick, fun, escapist read with a decent female lead and believable plot and characters. Some lectures on the science behind artificial intelligence were interesting to me, but should you choose to skip those you won't feel like you've lost the plot. Can easily be read as a stand-alone novel.
The chapters full of italics were very difficult to read, and totally unnecessary. However, this was a fantastic story. I just wish it was an easier read. The plot was damn tight. Great characters. Bold situations. The end was totally understandable.
I'm so glad to have found this book. Jam packed with mystery and chaos. Nothing is as it appears even after it's explained. It also seems to take place in real time which makes it very thought provoking. Hope there is another book on Sheran.
I enjoyed this book, and the suspense which increased the tension between the characters making a truly exciting story. The descriptions of the methods, and how they were used was refreshingly different.
This was a nice suspense thriller by Eric J. Gates. I loved the detail of the people's lives and what they are doing and who after them. Julie with Summer Fling Reading Challenge.
Zoe, an ex-government agent is making french toast for breakfast for her family and realizes someone is trying to kill them. Her training kicks in, she sends her family to safety and she prepares to fight. A non-stop exciting adventure that will keep you turning the pages until the end
A well written book which I think, shows us the danger in AI. Humans can make enough mistakes without computers trying to run things. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, couldn’t put it down.