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Architect of Courage
Ordinary Man, Extraordinary Situation
In June 2011, September was weeks away, and the full dread of the approaching anniversary hadn't yet settled on New York City's residents. But from One Police Plaza to the FBI's grim headquarters in Washington, D.C., the top brass harbor a rumbling in the gut. Each person who works for them down the line shares their unease, from every rookie cop walking the beat to the lowliest surveillance specialist. And Archer Landis is about to get caught up in their fixation.
Landis is not one of his city's guardians, and a different sort of electricity runs under his skin on this warm Thursday evening. A highly successful Manhattan architect—a man you'd say has his life totally, enviably, in order—Landis works the room at a Midtown reception, shaking hands, being seen, accompanying his cheerful greetings with the convivial clinking of ice in an untouched glass of single malt.
When the noisy crowd becomes sufficiently dense and everyone present can say they've seen him, he will slip away. Out on Fifth Avenue, he will grab a cab for the run south to Julia's Chelsea apartment. It's a trip that will hurtle him into deadly danger. Everyone and everything he cares about most will be threatened, and he will have to discover whether he has the courage to fight his way clear.
Architect of Courage won a second-place award in the 2023 Public Safety Writers Association writing contest! Great recognition from an organization that likes to get crime right!
In June 2011, September was weeks away, and the full dread of the approaching anniversary hadn't yet settled on New York City's residents. But from One Police Plaza to the FBI's grim headquarters in Washington, D.C., the top brass harbor a rumbling in the gut. Each person who works for them down the line shares their unease, from every rookie cop walking the beat to the lowliest surveillance specialist. And Archer Landis is about to get caught up in their fixation.
Landis is not one of his city's guardians, and a different sort of electricity runs under his skin on this warm Thursday evening. A highly successful Manhattan architect—a man you'd say has his life totally, enviably, in order—Landis works the room at a Midtown reception, shaking hands, being seen, accompanying his cheerful greetings with the convivial clinking of ice in an untouched glass of single malt.
When the noisy crowd becomes sufficiently dense and everyone present can say they've seen him, he will slip away. Out on Fifth Avenue, he will grab a cab for the run south to Julia's Chelsea apartment. It's a trip that will hurtle him into deadly danger. Everyone and everything he cares about most will be threatened, and he will have to discover whether he has the courage to fight his way clear.
Architect of Courage won a second-place award in the 2023 Public Safety Writers Association writing contest! Great recognition from an organization that likes to get crime right!
347 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 9, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 9, 2022
In Architect of Courage, we find main character Archer Landis attending a reception and receiving the accolades of his colleagues. To all, it seems he has the perfect life. Things are not as they seem, of course. Leaving the reception, he goes to his mistress’s apartment to find she has been murdered.
This book is fast-paced, and the reader will find themselves sucked in with each new twist. The story alternates between NYC, a beach house, and Spain which introduces us to a cast of international characters. I feel like this gave the story depth and added to the mystery.
I highly recommend this book to all thriller lovers and look forward to reading more from this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, Victoria Weisfeld and Partners In Crime Tours. I'm excited to be a part of this tour.
This book is fast-paced, and the reader will find themselves sucked in with each new twist. The story alternates between NYC, a beach house, and Spain which introduces us to a cast of international characters. I feel like this gave the story depth and added to the mystery.
I highly recommend this book to all thriller lovers and look forward to reading more from this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, Victoria Weisfeld and Partners In Crime Tours. I'm excited to be a part of this tour.
October 16, 2022
Victoria Weisfeld lives in my town, and after reading a local newspaper article about her first novel, I had to give it a read. I enjoyed this book, which has a complex plot that will captivate readers and keep them riveted to the very end. The best thing about the read is the wonderful prose Ms. Weisfeld provides. Here are a few examples: “His last words disappeared into the void where feelings go do drown.” . . . “He pushed those thoughts into a corner of his mind and doused them with scotch.” . . . “Nearly two hundred people assembled to enjoy this perfect bite of summer’s goodness.” The writing here is exquisite and a pleasure to read.
Who knew that architecture could be such an exciting and dangerous profession? Not since Howard Roark have we seen an architect whose adventures raised so many issues of personal accountability and courage. Our hero here, Archer Landis, faces personal tragedy and professional calamity while dealing with his own marital infidelity and moral ambiguity. When he finds his young mistress murdered in her apartment (which is the first scene, so not a spoiler), he flees the scene, not wanting to be associated with the crime or linked to his lovely subordinate. The remainder of the story circles around the questions of who killed Julie, and why, and who Julie really is and how she came to be in a position where anyone would want to kill her. Archer’s adventures are aided by his earthy Irish attorney and a private investigator from the law firm and include travels to Spain and Belgium as he follows his compulsion to avenge Julia’s death, or at least reveal her killer. The twists and mysteries that arise along the way are plentiful and keep the action level and tension up throughout. There are several twists at the end that will surprise readers as all the loose ends are tied up in exciting fashion.
There are a few elements of the plot that stretch logical reality and a few things that appear prominently without seeming to play a role in the ultimate story. There is perhaps a bit more than normal need to suspend disbelief to ride along through the entire plot, but the pacing and writing quality of the book allows you to overlook these issues and enjoy the story, which is ultimately about Archer’s inner struggle as much as any physical confrontations.
I can recommend this as a suspenseful and entertaining read peppered with thought-provoking situations. It’s a commendable first novel and I look forward to more from Ms. Weisfeld.
Who knew that architecture could be such an exciting and dangerous profession? Not since Howard Roark have we seen an architect whose adventures raised so many issues of personal accountability and courage. Our hero here, Archer Landis, faces personal tragedy and professional calamity while dealing with his own marital infidelity and moral ambiguity. When he finds his young mistress murdered in her apartment (which is the first scene, so not a spoiler), he flees the scene, not wanting to be associated with the crime or linked to his lovely subordinate. The remainder of the story circles around the questions of who killed Julie, and why, and who Julie really is and how she came to be in a position where anyone would want to kill her. Archer’s adventures are aided by his earthy Irish attorney and a private investigator from the law firm and include travels to Spain and Belgium as he follows his compulsion to avenge Julia’s death, or at least reveal her killer. The twists and mysteries that arise along the way are plentiful and keep the action level and tension up throughout. There are several twists at the end that will surprise readers as all the loose ends are tied up in exciting fashion.
There are a few elements of the plot that stretch logical reality and a few things that appear prominently without seeming to play a role in the ultimate story. There is perhaps a bit more than normal need to suspend disbelief to ride along through the entire plot, but the pacing and writing quality of the book allows you to overlook these issues and enjoy the story, which is ultimately about Archer’s inner struggle as much as any physical confrontations.
I can recommend this as a suspenseful and entertaining read peppered with thought-provoking situations. It’s a commendable first novel and I look forward to more from Ms. Weisfeld.
July 18, 2022
An action-packed thriller about a NYC architect whose successful life is suddenly upended by tragedy. The reader gets an exciting ride of plot twists. Great writing too.
June 28, 2022
In the book, the genre was listed as murder mystery. If you pick up this book expecting a murder mystery, you will be disappointed. This book is not a whodunnit, where the amateur sleuth Archer Landis is solving the mystery of his lover’s murder.
This book is a thriller, where the unwilling hero, Archer Landis, is being accosted personally and professionally, forcing him to chase the rabbit down its hole.
Rating Architect of Courage on a 5-point scale against the “perfect thriller”, I give this 4.25.
Strengths of the story. The pacing is fast without being aggressive or too fast to follow and has the plot twists that are the hallmark of a good thriller. Our hero is in constant mortal danger, and like so many thriller heroes, has no idea why. The setting moves between NYC, a beach house, and the south of Spain and draws in international figures from Spain, Israel, and Morocco. Having the hero be an industry leading architect sets this book apart, bringing in a world seldom explored in thrillers. This book is well written in terms of the noun-verb-noun writing and the editing. There is a lot to like.
Where the story fell short of the ideal. While the book is well written, the opening chapters were rough. The adjectives were too flowery, the cheating husband too falling on his own sword. There are also several convenient coincidences and suggestions by minor characters that felt less than organic, intentionally set to advance to the next chapter. This does clean up by about the fifth chapter, when the story really takes off.
Thriller endings are often difficult. Authors generally have created such a complex weave of plots (those twists and turns readers love) that to unravel each one in a logical and satisfying manner is a very complicated task. When you get to the end and look back over the entirety of the story, do the actions of all the players (not just the hero) hold up? Weisfeld did better than most, but she wasn’t perfect. I am not going to go into spoiler detail. These plot resolution points prevented me from scoring the book higher, but I doubt it is something that will bother the vast majority of thriller lovers.
Bottom line: Architect of Courage is for you if you are into thrillers, faster paced stories, and international flavors.
This book is a thriller, where the unwilling hero, Archer Landis, is being accosted personally and professionally, forcing him to chase the rabbit down its hole.
Rating Architect of Courage on a 5-point scale against the “perfect thriller”, I give this 4.25.
Strengths of the story. The pacing is fast without being aggressive or too fast to follow and has the plot twists that are the hallmark of a good thriller. Our hero is in constant mortal danger, and like so many thriller heroes, has no idea why. The setting moves between NYC, a beach house, and the south of Spain and draws in international figures from Spain, Israel, and Morocco. Having the hero be an industry leading architect sets this book apart, bringing in a world seldom explored in thrillers. This book is well written in terms of the noun-verb-noun writing and the editing. There is a lot to like.
Where the story fell short of the ideal. While the book is well written, the opening chapters were rough. The adjectives were too flowery, the cheating husband too falling on his own sword. There are also several convenient coincidences and suggestions by minor characters that felt less than organic, intentionally set to advance to the next chapter. This does clean up by about the fifth chapter, when the story really takes off.
Thriller endings are often difficult. Authors generally have created such a complex weave of plots (those twists and turns readers love) that to unravel each one in a logical and satisfying manner is a very complicated task. When you get to the end and look back over the entirety of the story, do the actions of all the players (not just the hero) hold up? Weisfeld did better than most, but she wasn’t perfect. I am not going to go into spoiler detail. These plot resolution points prevented me from scoring the book higher, but I doubt it is something that will bother the vast majority of thriller lovers.
Bottom line: Architect of Courage is for you if you are into thrillers, faster paced stories, and international flavors.
May 29, 2022
I received a gifted copy and am providing a review.
Archer Landis – Known as Arch to his friends. He finds himself being thrown some of life’s curve balls that he was not expecting. It is not a spoiler to say this book starts off with Arch findings his mistress, Julia, dead in her apartment. This leads Arch to places he never expected to have to go, considering he was “just” an architect.
Marjorie – Archer’s wife of many years, having met each other in college.
Hawkins – Archer and Marjorie’s son. Here’s a character for you, as messed up as they come. Hawk was a fledgling architect, working at his father’s firm, Archer + Porter, but wasn’t getting the breaks he felt he deserved. He went to work for his father’s rival. Hawk is a troubled young man.
Deshondra – Archer + Porter’s receptionist.
Julia – Arch’s mistress and a very good architect working for Archer + Porter. Beautifully talented lady. Why was she killed? This is what Archer set out to find out.
Chaya and her parents – Chaya being a friend of Julia’s since their school years.
Karsch – Archer’s rival in the architecture business.
Of course, there are the detectives involved, the FBI, the JTTF, Archer’s lawyer who also hired Carlos to help Archer. Arch found himself traveling from New York, where his firm was located, to Brussels to Tarifa, looking for answers that he wasn’t sure he would find. There were so many secrets surrounding Julia that he only discovered after her death. He wanted to find out the reasons why. The title of this book “Architect of Courage” really is spot on as Archer really was “just” an architect, one set on a mission to find out who killed Julia and why, but was he really prepared for the answers he found out along the way? I found this to be quite an intense read, with the last ten or so pages really wrapping things up and providing answers.
Archer Landis – Known as Arch to his friends. He finds himself being thrown some of life’s curve balls that he was not expecting. It is not a spoiler to say this book starts off with Arch findings his mistress, Julia, dead in her apartment. This leads Arch to places he never expected to have to go, considering he was “just” an architect.
Marjorie – Archer’s wife of many years, having met each other in college.
Hawkins – Archer and Marjorie’s son. Here’s a character for you, as messed up as they come. Hawk was a fledgling architect, working at his father’s firm, Archer + Porter, but wasn’t getting the breaks he felt he deserved. He went to work for his father’s rival. Hawk is a troubled young man.
Deshondra – Archer + Porter’s receptionist.
Julia – Arch’s mistress and a very good architect working for Archer + Porter. Beautifully talented lady. Why was she killed? This is what Archer set out to find out.
Chaya and her parents – Chaya being a friend of Julia’s since their school years.
Karsch – Archer’s rival in the architecture business.
Of course, there are the detectives involved, the FBI, the JTTF, Archer’s lawyer who also hired Carlos to help Archer. Arch found himself traveling from New York, where his firm was located, to Brussels to Tarifa, looking for answers that he wasn’t sure he would find. There were so many secrets surrounding Julia that he only discovered after her death. He wanted to find out the reasons why. The title of this book “Architect of Courage” really is spot on as Archer really was “just” an architect, one set on a mission to find out who killed Julia and why, but was he really prepared for the answers he found out along the way? I found this to be quite an intense read, with the last ten or so pages really wrapping things up and providing answers.
July 9, 2022
I liked this novel where an average individual is thrust into an overwhelming situation. Landis, the head of a successful architect firm, discovers a murder and shortly his life is turned on end. I like how he has to figure out the murder, why he has had been deceived, and what it all means. All too soon his own life is in danger.
I like Weisfeld's writing style. The narrative flowed well and the pace of the plot was consistent. I liked how Landis was developed as an amateur sleuth on a mission to understand all that has happened to him while making sure he stays alive. The plot structure seemed to have a few convenient coincidences but otherwise was good.
I like to learn something when I read a novel and in this one I appreciated all the information about building design and the thought that goes into a well designed one. There was also the interesting issue of designing a building with a view to anticipating how terrorists might attack it, especially if the building will be built near what could be a terrorist's target. The information was woven into the plot well.
This is an interesting murder mystery exploring issues of architecture and terrorism.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
I like Weisfeld's writing style. The narrative flowed well and the pace of the plot was consistent. I liked how Landis was developed as an amateur sleuth on a mission to understand all that has happened to him while making sure he stays alive. The plot structure seemed to have a few convenient coincidences but otherwise was good.
I like to learn something when I read a novel and in this one I appreciated all the information about building design and the thought that goes into a well designed one. There was also the interesting issue of designing a building with a view to anticipating how terrorists might attack it, especially if the building will be built near what could be a terrorist's target. The information was woven into the plot well.
This is an interesting murder mystery exploring issues of architecture and terrorism.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
December 2, 2022
Terrific page-turner!
I had the pleasure of watching Ms. Weisfeld develop this crime fiction over the years as she was a member of my Sharpening the Quill Writing Workshops. From the beginning, it was clear she had the discipline, passion, intelligence, and talent to write a fine novel. That's precisely what she's done.
Not only is the plot carefully crafted and masterfully executed, but the point of view is also excellent. Not every writer can write convincingly from the POV of a different gender, but Weisfeld handles it very well indeed. The protagonist, Archer Landis, feels fully formed and authentic. His character arc is satisfying, and his challenges are credible. He's an imperfect, intriguing, fully human character.
I was also impressed by the way Weisfeld handles setting. Both New York and Brussels feel well-researched and appropriately contrasting.
All in all, a great read. You'll be entertained, and kept guessing. It's a damn smart book, and I hope the first of many. Enjoy.
I had the pleasure of watching Ms. Weisfeld develop this crime fiction over the years as she was a member of my Sharpening the Quill Writing Workshops. From the beginning, it was clear she had the discipline, passion, intelligence, and talent to write a fine novel. That's precisely what she's done.
Not only is the plot carefully crafted and masterfully executed, but the point of view is also excellent. Not every writer can write convincingly from the POV of a different gender, but Weisfeld handles it very well indeed. The protagonist, Archer Landis, feels fully formed and authentic. His character arc is satisfying, and his challenges are credible. He's an imperfect, intriguing, fully human character.
I was also impressed by the way Weisfeld handles setting. Both New York and Brussels feel well-researched and appropriately contrasting.
All in all, a great read. You'll be entertained, and kept guessing. It's a damn smart book, and I hope the first of many. Enjoy.
Read
July 8, 2022Architect Archer Landis’s evening began with promise: international commissions; accolades from his peers; his lover’s open arms waiting for him. Set in hot and humid New York City with the 10th anniversary of 9/11 approaching, Vickie Weisfeld’s debut thriller heats up from Landis’s girlfriend’s murder to plot twists and turns to its well-earned conclusion. Be prepared to travel the world with an international cast of characters who will keep you guessing.
January 2, 2023
I loved this murder mystery/thriller! And I learned so much about the world of big city architecture. The author really knows her stuff. Writing from a male point of view, she successfully captured the inner world of the protagonist, Archer Landis, so much that I felt like I was reading his mind. Quite the feat for an author of a different gender! This is very well-written, and a worthwhile read.
July 8, 2022
Architect of Courage is an excellent debut novel. The language and descriptions as seen through the eyes of architect Archer Landis are well-done as is the flow of Weisfeld's words. Whether in New York or out of the country, the settings and scenes feel real. The twists and turns of the book create a wonderful ride for the reader that ranges from suspense to thriller.
August 19, 2022
Try Architect of Courage. You’ll travel the world. Have intelligent company. And there’s great flash bang action. Victoria Weisfeld has written a story with the same care that her character, Archer Landis designs buildings. She has planned every detail, plot hinge, surprise to make a dramatic design. Try it.
August 1, 2023
This is a definite page-turner! The characters are wonderfully detailed, as are the New York settings and the glamorous world of its elite. The plot is original, and it kept me guessing until the end. It is a book I didn't want to put down, and will look forward to this author's next one.
July 8, 2022
This is a great book with lots of twists and shocking surprises.
September 21, 2023
I think this book was very well written and intense from the beginning to the end. Being the author’s debut novel, I was very impressed!
After a reception acknowledging his accomplishments, main character, Archer Landis slips out to go visit his mistress. For a man who was somewhat arrogant and cocky, and who pretty much had it all, his world gets rocked when he finds his mistress, Julia, murdered on the floor.
Julia worked at the firm in which he was a partner. After her murder, Archer finds out she was not at all who everyone thought she was.
This book is face paced and has many twists and turns. The story flowed easily and the plot just kept building. I thought it was going to be just a murder mystery but the book tool is around the world exploring issues or architecture and terrorism.
For Archer, life is good and it seems he has it all until…his whole world gets turned upside down! Will he be strong enough and have the “courage” to face the people looking to destroy him? Will he be able to protect his family or succumb to Julia’s killers?
I received a free copy of this book from Partners In Crime Tours in exchange for my honest review
After a reception acknowledging his accomplishments, main character, Archer Landis slips out to go visit his mistress. For a man who was somewhat arrogant and cocky, and who pretty much had it all, his world gets rocked when he finds his mistress, Julia, murdered on the floor.
Julia worked at the firm in which he was a partner. After her murder, Archer finds out she was not at all who everyone thought she was.
This book is face paced and has many twists and turns. The story flowed easily and the plot just kept building. I thought it was going to be just a murder mystery but the book tool is around the world exploring issues or architecture and terrorism.
For Archer, life is good and it seems he has it all until…his whole world gets turned upside down! Will he be strong enough and have the “courage” to face the people looking to destroy him? Will he be able to protect his family or succumb to Julia’s killers?
I received a free copy of this book from Partners In Crime Tours in exchange for my honest review
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews