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Under Eden
A Lone Wolf Journalist Targeted for Assassination...An International Network of Billionaires Footing the Bill. Why?
Readers say: "Masterful suspense...terrifying action...beautifully written and veined with dark humor."
In the real world, in mid-2021, a prominent Dutch anti-corruption reporter and justice campaigner was shot in the head in Amsterdam, making global headlines. Months earlier, a Greek investigative journalist was murdered outside his home in Athens by assassins on a motorbike. While Under Eden is fiction, and reporter Gar Hart carries a gun, readers have asked, "could this be true crime?"
In October 2021, the real world Pandora Papers were released by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists with headlines like "The World Reacts After Secret Documents Show How The Elite Shield Their Riches." Under Eden delves into a dramatized dimension of a parallel theme.
"Gar Hart...twisting the tail of a leviathan as submerged as le Carré's dark webs. Author Mark Furness crackles out fire and ice in a wry voice, piles on inventive and ingenious mysteries, body-slams action, and bleeds characters as damaged and compromised as any Child, Connelly, or Grisham." Tom Flood, winner of the Miles Franklin Award, Australia's equivalent of the US Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the UK Booker Prize.
Ride with a maverick journalist on a spell-binding adventure from the Australian outback to some of the world's most colourful cities as he cracks open a sinister underworld of the ultra-rich...
It begins when a Sydney billionaire's son suspiciously goes to prison for stealing money. Hart, and his colleague, Claire Styler, don't buy the PR line about mental illness. They dig deeper, unearthing a dark family secret. Now witnesses are turning up dead around the world.
Slipping from Sydney to the UK and China, trying to outplay shadowy pursuers - who are now targeting Hart's children - the reporters realize that exposing a grand conspiracy of business and political titans will take both a pen and a gun...
Author Mark Furness was a foreign correspondent in the US, the UK, Australia, and East Asia. Reviewers say, "Gripping, non-stop suspense...the author knows his stuff."
Readers say: "Masterful suspense...terrifying action...beautifully written and veined with dark humor."
In the real world, in mid-2021, a prominent Dutch anti-corruption reporter and justice campaigner was shot in the head in Amsterdam, making global headlines. Months earlier, a Greek investigative journalist was murdered outside his home in Athens by assassins on a motorbike. While Under Eden is fiction, and reporter Gar Hart carries a gun, readers have asked, "could this be true crime?"
In October 2021, the real world Pandora Papers were released by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists with headlines like "The World Reacts After Secret Documents Show How The Elite Shield Their Riches." Under Eden delves into a dramatized dimension of a parallel theme.
"Gar Hart...twisting the tail of a leviathan as submerged as le Carré's dark webs. Author Mark Furness crackles out fire and ice in a wry voice, piles on inventive and ingenious mysteries, body-slams action, and bleeds characters as damaged and compromised as any Child, Connelly, or Grisham." Tom Flood, winner of the Miles Franklin Award, Australia's equivalent of the US Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the UK Booker Prize.
Ride with a maverick journalist on a spell-binding adventure from the Australian outback to some of the world's most colourful cities as he cracks open a sinister underworld of the ultra-rich...
It begins when a Sydney billionaire's son suspiciously goes to prison for stealing money. Hart, and his colleague, Claire Styler, don't buy the PR line about mental illness. They dig deeper, unearthing a dark family secret. Now witnesses are turning up dead around the world.
Slipping from Sydney to the UK and China, trying to outplay shadowy pursuers - who are now targeting Hart's children - the reporters realize that exposing a grand conspiracy of business and political titans will take both a pen and a gun...
Author Mark Furness was a foreign correspondent in the US, the UK, Australia, and East Asia. Reviewers say, "Gripping, non-stop suspense...the author knows his stuff."
406 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2022
22 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Mark Furness
16 books12 followersHi. I'm a bestselling author of thrillers, mysteries, and dark comedy crime. I live in Sydney, Australia.
Before writing fiction, I worked as a foreign correspondent in the US, the UK, Australia, and East Asia. I draw on these experiences to inform my crime stories which often feature journalists.
My major novel featuring journalists is the international conspiracy thriller, Under Eden. While fiction, this three-part series has many parallels with the real and deadly world in which investigative journalists operate.
Unlike Gar, I did not carry a gun on the job. But there were occasions when that type of defence would have been handy. I might have gone in harder on my subject matter, as Gar does. Ha.
In creating my story, I considered the real perils faced by contemporary investigative journalists.
In Putin's Russia, the Communist Party's China, and the Kim family's North Korea, there is little dissent from the local media. Dictators who control the dark forces of the State are rarely sleepless about internal criticism.
External criticism is another matter. The Saudi Arabian regime, unhappy about its King and Prince being accused of corruption by dissident journalist and The Washington Post columnist, Jamal Khashoggi, lured him to the Saudi embassy in Istanbul, Turkey, where he was literally butchered a couple of years ago.
The Saudi's make Donald Trump's signature cry of 'Fake News' look like a soft approach to dealing with media critics.
But for plenty of powerful people, murder or 'disappearance' remain the ultimate methods to shut up journalists.
Of course, not all journalists are saints.
I've met a few who have taken a rich man's coin to publish good things about their subjects and ignore the dark. And there are others in the mould of the late American publisher Arthur Kasherman who portrayed himself as a "vice crusader" publishing fearless exposés about corruption and gangster rule. Others, however, called him a blackmailer who threatened to write defamatory articles about them if they didn't pay him off. Kasherman owned his own press, so he had a free hand to say whatever he wanted. Until he was shot dead while dining out.
If you read my stories, you'll find they're all veined with gritty, dark humour.
I can't be sure of the source of this. But as a 21-year-old, I flew a hang-glider into high voltage wires, sustaining electrical burns which left me hospitalized and in rehabilitation for over a year. My body still bears a few physical scars, but I believe my brain fully recovered. This belief is disputed by some of my friends and family members.
Most recently, I published, Justice Machine, Book #1 of a dark comedy crime thriller series titled Firefly Electrics. The books feature suburban electricians, Lennie and Joe, and a cockatoo named Rawcus, who fight on behalf of society's underdogs against corrupt elites of the Establishment.
The British Crime Writers Association Debut Dagger competition long-listed my international conspiracy thriller, with the working title FBEyes. It is a follow-on to Under Eden in which journalists uncover corruption at the high-tech frontier of the global arms industry. FBEyes is also slated for publication in late 2020.
You can learn more at: markfurnesswriter.com
All the best, Mark
Before writing fiction, I worked as a foreign correspondent in the US, the UK, Australia, and East Asia. I draw on these experiences to inform my crime stories which often feature journalists.
My major novel featuring journalists is the international conspiracy thriller, Under Eden. While fiction, this three-part series has many parallels with the real and deadly world in which investigative journalists operate.
Unlike Gar, I did not carry a gun on the job. But there were occasions when that type of defence would have been handy. I might have gone in harder on my subject matter, as Gar does. Ha.
In creating my story, I considered the real perils faced by contemporary investigative journalists.
In Putin's Russia, the Communist Party's China, and the Kim family's North Korea, there is little dissent from the local media. Dictators who control the dark forces of the State are rarely sleepless about internal criticism.
External criticism is another matter. The Saudi Arabian regime, unhappy about its King and Prince being accused of corruption by dissident journalist and The Washington Post columnist, Jamal Khashoggi, lured him to the Saudi embassy in Istanbul, Turkey, where he was literally butchered a couple of years ago.
The Saudi's make Donald Trump's signature cry of 'Fake News' look like a soft approach to dealing with media critics.
But for plenty of powerful people, murder or 'disappearance' remain the ultimate methods to shut up journalists.
Of course, not all journalists are saints.
I've met a few who have taken a rich man's coin to publish good things about their subjects and ignore the dark. And there are others in the mould of the late American publisher Arthur Kasherman who portrayed himself as a "vice crusader" publishing fearless exposés about corruption and gangster rule. Others, however, called him a blackmailer who threatened to write defamatory articles about them if they didn't pay him off. Kasherman owned his own press, so he had a free hand to say whatever he wanted. Until he was shot dead while dining out.
If you read my stories, you'll find they're all veined with gritty, dark humour.
I can't be sure of the source of this. But as a 21-year-old, I flew a hang-glider into high voltage wires, sustaining electrical burns which left me hospitalized and in rehabilitation for over a year. My body still bears a few physical scars, but I believe my brain fully recovered. This belief is disputed by some of my friends and family members.
Most recently, I published, Justice Machine, Book #1 of a dark comedy crime thriller series titled Firefly Electrics. The books feature suburban electricians, Lennie and Joe, and a cockatoo named Rawcus, who fight on behalf of society's underdogs against corrupt elites of the Establishment.
The British Crime Writers Association Debut Dagger competition long-listed my international conspiracy thriller, with the working title FBEyes. It is a follow-on to Under Eden in which journalists uncover corruption at the high-tech frontier of the global arms industry. FBEyes is also slated for publication in late 2020.
You can learn more at: markfurnesswriter.com
All the best, Mark
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 10, 2018
I received a review copy of this book from the author.
I was excited to read this book, as it falls squarely in my favourite genre - but I have read a lot of books in this genre and so I am not easily impressed. WOW - I AM IMPRESSED! This book was fantastic! The author has woven a masterful story full of intrigue and danger. The plot of the story is modern and realistic and as a result a little scary - this author clearly knows his stuff. The writing is sharp and smart and sets a lightning fast pace, with lots of twists and turns and breathtaking suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat - and kept me up reading well past my bedtime. The characters are all thoughtfully created and as a result are relatable and interesting. I connected with all of them in some way. Gar Hart is my new favorite hero. Although he is certainly not perfect and battles his own inner demons, he is tough and persistent and doesn’t back down from a challenge, even at his own peril. I couldn’t help but cheer for him throughout the story. This book has it all - pulse-pounding action, razor-sharp dialogue, breathtaking suspense and even a touch of humour here and there to balance everything out. I am hooked. I can’t wait for Gar’s next adventure. An excellent read! I highly recommend it.
I was excited to read this book, as it falls squarely in my favourite genre - but I have read a lot of books in this genre and so I am not easily impressed. WOW - I AM IMPRESSED! This book was fantastic! The author has woven a masterful story full of intrigue and danger. The plot of the story is modern and realistic and as a result a little scary - this author clearly knows his stuff. The writing is sharp and smart and sets a lightning fast pace, with lots of twists and turns and breathtaking suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat - and kept me up reading well past my bedtime. The characters are all thoughtfully created and as a result are relatable and interesting. I connected with all of them in some way. Gar Hart is my new favorite hero. Although he is certainly not perfect and battles his own inner demons, he is tough and persistent and doesn’t back down from a challenge, even at his own peril. I couldn’t help but cheer for him throughout the story. This book has it all - pulse-pounding action, razor-sharp dialogue, breathtaking suspense and even a touch of humour here and there to balance everything out. I am hooked. I can’t wait for Gar’s next adventure. An excellent read! I highly recommend it.
December 11, 2018
I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. I had a difficult time with this book. It started out slow for me, so I had a hard time getting into it.
February 7, 2019
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author ... and purchased a copy anyway. Yes, the story is THAT good. A timely tale of global conspiracy, packed with twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters are strong, likeable and believable - and I can't wait to see what they get up to next. Bravo, Mark Furness!
February 6, 2019
A fast paced action whirlwind of international intrigue
with a flawed protagonist who can’t help but keep up the battle to expose the bad guys and the billions of dollars that drive their nefarious endeavors.
A “cracker” of a read !!!
with a flawed protagonist who can’t help but keep up the battle to expose the bad guys and the billions of dollars that drive their nefarious endeavors.
A “cracker” of a read !!!
January 16, 2019
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Voracious Readers in return for an honest review.
Not my usual genre however I did enjoy the characters and the storyline.
I will expand my reading to take in this type of story in the future. I did enjoy the book and would recommend it.
Not my usual genre however I did enjoy the characters and the storyline.
I will expand my reading to take in this type of story in the future. I did enjoy the book and would recommend it.
December 14, 2018
This story was my introduction to Mark Furness’ work and what an introduction! A fast paced hard hitting story with wonderful twists and turns! Gar is a damaged yet determined protagonist who keeps on digging for the truth regardless of the cost to himself and his friends and family. Well developed characters and gritty non-stop action.
This book kept me entertained with a well-crafted plot and on the edge of my seat from the beginning. I couldn’t put this unpredictable novel down until the very last page. Definitely a five-star effort Mark!
This book kept me entertained with a well-crafted plot and on the edge of my seat from the beginning. I couldn’t put this unpredictable novel down until the very last page. Definitely a five-star effort Mark!
February 15, 2020
Excellent conspiracy thriller about a journalist who uncovers a trail of corruption that takes him from Australia to the U.K. and China. Really well-written and hard to put down.
I was given a free copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
I was given a free copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
February 8, 2019
This genre is not my usual cup of tea but I was hooked after reading some of Furness's earlier works and could not wait to read this full size novel of the crazy adventures of damaged Gar Hart. He's a journalist trying to make a living from a dying trade so he becomes very creative in tracking down the 'truth' behind some dark and frightening events. It's a bit like watching a Bond film occasionally - you know it's outlandish but for escapism literature it's damn good. I found myself quietly cheering Hart on as he weaved himself in and out of trouble. I occasionally got quite angry at him for being just a little too careless but all was forgiven when his incredible love for his family (and dog) are revealed. The first few pages felt a little confusing at times but that was probably because I was reading it late at night. Once I was hooked I couldn't put it down and my kindle was glowing well past midnight to find out what was happening next. Highly recommended.
February 7, 2019
A thrilling ride on the wild side
Mark Furness' series 'Under Eden' had a steely grip on my heart from beginning to end. It laid bare a world of violence and sensuality I have never experienced. It's intense, funny and dark, very dark.
What price would you pay to expose a global criminal network. Would you risk your job, your life or the life of your friends and family? Is it possible to protect those you love from determined and ruthless psychopaths hell bent on holding on to their power and wealth?
I couldn't imagine this world existed but Gar Hart's story is so real that by the end of this series I was looking at life in Sydney very differently. Be prepared for anything and everything in these amazing thrillers.
Mark Furness' series 'Under Eden' had a steely grip on my heart from beginning to end. It laid bare a world of violence and sensuality I have never experienced. It's intense, funny and dark, very dark.
What price would you pay to expose a global criminal network. Would you risk your job, your life or the life of your friends and family? Is it possible to protect those you love from determined and ruthless psychopaths hell bent on holding on to their power and wealth?
I couldn't imagine this world existed but Gar Hart's story is so real that by the end of this series I was looking at life in Sydney very differently. Be prepared for anything and everything in these amazing thrillers.
July 30, 2019
Thank you to @voraciousreadersonly for introducing me to another great author! Furness takes his audience on an international rollercoaster of reveals of major deception and the danger that follows. Gar is a writer for an online publication which is covering the trial and imprisonment of the son of an international financier. When things start to not add up, Gar finds himself going down the rabbit hole to a web of murder, future, and financial coverups beyond his wildest dreams. Things take a treacherous twist, however, when those Gar is on the trail of discover his snooping and go to evil means to knock him off his trail. Despite the danger that he has found himself in, Gar doesn’t give up his pursuit for the truth, and his story explodes with journalistic shrapnel. I give this book 👍🏼👍🏼
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2019
A riveting read from the get go! Voracious Readers Only surprises me again with a well honed crafty tome of international intrigue and relentless, violently funded greed. You will love the simple lack of humanity, the complete clinical narcissism that allows you to get a full hate-on for the well connected assortment of evil souls. This novel kept me jumping and the heart a’thumping…so very well worth your precious free time! I hated having to put it down to join the mundane world…this will absorb you with a steadily increasing appetite for a well manipulated plot. Fast paced and voraciously insidious [no pun intended]…loved it!
January 20, 2019
We've all probably commented about how the rich and powerful are always getting away with murder and all manner of crime and its just not fair! ... enter a messed up, almost washed up news man who stumbles on a doozie! Swamps, yachts, courtrooms, conspiracies, bankers, terrorists, assassins,..... then it gets personal..
A long read with a satisfying finale leaving it open for more books to come.
I received a free copy of the book from the author through Voracious Readers only in exchange for my honest review.
A long read with a satisfying finale leaving it open for more books to come.
I received a free copy of the book from the author through Voracious Readers only in exchange for my honest review.
February 28, 2019
This was fantastic!
Amazing writing and a genuine page turner. Starts off with a bang and just does not let you go! From the first chapter in the Australian bush, to the last I could not put this down. The pace of writing and overall level of suspense and action is fantastic. Mark's characters seem like real people too, without over the top movie like actions, which helped as a reader to believe that the events were really playing out somewhere.
I look forward to Mark's future work because this as a debut full length novel was fantastic, 5 stars!
Amazing writing and a genuine page turner. Starts off with a bang and just does not let you go! From the first chapter in the Australian bush, to the last I could not put this down. The pace of writing and overall level of suspense and action is fantastic. Mark's characters seem like real people too, without over the top movie like actions, which helped as a reader to believe that the events were really playing out somewhere.
I look forward to Mark's future work because this as a debut full length novel was fantastic, 5 stars!
February 25, 2019
A series of grisly murders lead to the discovery of a dark global criminal enterprise by a tenacious Journo who’s unable to take no for an answer, even it means putting his life at risk. Furness takes us on a gripping international journey as our protagonist dodges the bullets and joins the dots to uncover a deadly conspiracy. A cracking read from start to finish.
June 6, 2019
I received a complimentary online copy of this book from the author thru my association with Voracious Readers Only . Thank you to both parties.
Loved the book. 5/5 stars! Page turner from page 1. I love when a book keeps my interest like that!!!! Loved the characters and look forward to reading the other books in the series.
Loved the book. 5/5 stars! Page turner from page 1. I love when a book keeps my interest like that!!!! Loved the characters and look forward to reading the other books in the series.
February 15, 2020
Ok,so I had to think about this book before I wrote a review. I thought the story started off well with plenty of action, but that quickly changed. It became quite confusing at times with all the different characters and the different companies they work for. I found it hard to keep track of what was going on at times. It all comes together in the end however, if a little far fetched. I still don’t get the reason for including the scene with the strap on. It didn’t add anything to the story at all! And I can’t work out why the title of the book is Under Eden?
February 6, 2019
I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving a free copy. I loved each part of this set. The characters are so believable & the plot is intense. The first part kept me up til 5am if that tells you anything! Can’t wait to read more from Mark Furness 😁
February 15, 2019
Gifted this book by the author via Voracious Readers. A great read which fairly crackled with all the plots and subplots interspersed with the brutality, torture and surprisingly humour. Will be looking out for more from Mr Furness definitely.
February 16, 2019
With a plot that's a bit over the top and prose that's messy and tough, this is still a very good read. There are lots of funny points and a good flow to the story, so I'll even forgive all the stupidity.
February 21, 2019
Great story. I purchased the book from Amazon and found it a real page turner as I followed the dangerous pursuit by Gar to expose the corruption of powerful figures in Australia and overseas. I look forward to another story like this from Furness.
March 11, 2019
An amazing three-part thriller that you cannot put down. Fast-paced and great characters, some that you will love to hate. This is the very definition of edge of your seat suspense!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 11, 2019
Pacy and unpredictable. Great characters and unexpected twists make this a ripping read. Gar is today's kind of hero, rough edgy and relentless. The rogues are nasty and have plenty of ruthless hirelings to protect their millions. Read and enjoy.
September 23, 2019
The author was kind enough to forward parts 2 & 3 of this book, and the ending did not disappoint! This is a dark and twisted world where money is the root of all evil. The story is a reminder to keep your friends close but your enemies closer.
February 5, 2019
I received a copy of this book from the author. Couldn’t get into this book at all. I found it difficult to follow the characters and where they fitted with the main character.
February 23, 2019
Enjoyed this novel very much. The story kept me interested which is hard to do. I can't wait to read more from this writer.
April 29, 2019
This wasn't my usual genre but I couldn't put it down. I do like books with a satisfying conclusion though and this one delivered.
May 12, 2019
I received a Complimentary Copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only.
This book is detailed and suspenseful!!
The characters were realistic and kept me interested.
....Interesting plot twists!
This book is detailed and suspenseful!!
The characters were realistic and kept me interested.
....Interesting plot twists!
July 12, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this trilogy. Gar Hart is a journalist who becomes embroiled with some shady characters in the world of people with too much money. Hart is a determined, sometimes flawed sleuth, who pulls no punches in finding the truth behind the death of a billionaire’s son.
I was taken on a ride through Sydney’s seedy side, where Mr Hart thwarts many attempts to silence him. The author, Mark Furness takes you on a sometimes disturbing ride as Hart’s life becomes threatened by unsavory characters. When Hart’s family become targets as well, the heat really is turned up. This is a good read if you enjoy noir crime. Be prepared to be taken into the dark side of human greed.
I was taken on a ride through Sydney’s seedy side, where Mr Hart thwarts many attempts to silence him. The author, Mark Furness takes you on a sometimes disturbing ride as Hart’s life becomes threatened by unsavory characters. When Hart’s family become targets as well, the heat really is turned up. This is a good read if you enjoy noir crime. Be prepared to be taken into the dark side of human greed.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews