by Glenn | Mar 13, 2025 | Novels
Readers’ Favorite Five Star Review for “Into the Cauldron”
Reviewed by Manik Chaturmutha for Readers’ Favorite
“Into the Cauldron” by Glenn Starkey is a raw and unfiltered portrayal of the American Civil War, with Trooper Jonah Gustafson caught in a whirlwind of conflict, loss, and survival. After enlisting in the 3rd Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry, Jonah’s trek takes him beyond the traditional battlefields into the wetlands of Kansas and Missouri, besieged by relentless guerrilla fighters and clashes with Native American tribes. But the novel is more than just a battlefield account. It reflects on the tragedy of war, not just for soldiers but for civilians and entire nations. Through Jonah’s eyes, the novel explores the genocide of Native American tribes, the blurred morality of war, and one man’s desperate search for meaning in the wreckage of his life. With its deep focus on personal redemption, the story is as emotional as it is immersive.
The novel does not glorify war; instead, it starkly reveals it for what it is: starvation, disease, betrayal, and living under the specter of death. Glenn Starkey not only writes a story, he makes readers live and experience it. The structure is solid, moving seamlessly from Jonah’s struggles to the broader horrors of war, making it feel immersive yet deeply personal. The writing is raw, packed with punchy, unforgettable lines that cut through the narrative. The dialogue is sharp, realistic, and often laced with dark humor. The descriptions are nothing short of cinematic. You don’t just see the setting; you feel the evocative descriptions. The characters, especially Jonah, are fleshed out with such depth that their pain feels personal, and their victories, though rare, are hard-earned. The novel also does a remarkable job of balancing perspectives. While the pacing occasionally slows due to historical detail, the narrative never loses its grip. “Into the Cauldron” by Glenn Starkey is for readers who appreciate military stories with depth and realism.
Available at all major online booksellers. Buy Now at https://store.bookbaby.com/book/into-the-cauldron …
by Glenn | Mar 13, 2025 | Novels
“The Devil’s Contract” Five Star Book Review by Readers’ Favorite
Reviewed by K.C. Finn
“The Devil’s Contract” by Glenn Starkey is a high-intensity action thriller that follows a man shaped by violence, survival, and tough choices. Jack started life being abandoned by his drug-addicted mother, then later he was taken in by a mysterious Colonel. Jack is trained to be a top-tier assassin, learning everything he needs to become the perfect weapon, and, after years in a brutal academy and working for the mercenary company Horus, he’s the best at what he does. When his conscience finally catches up with him, he breaks his contract, instantly becoming the hunted instead of the hunter. Years later, he tries to leave that life behind and build something real with the woman he loves, but the past isn’t done with him yet. Just when he thinks he’s free, the world he tried to escape comes crashing back, forcing him into one final battle for his future.
Glenn Starkey delivers an action-packed story that kept me on edge from start to finish, and I spent the whole-time flipping pages eagerly, without a clue about what would happen next. A real highlight for me was Jack’s emotional state and his interesting relationships, especially with the Colonel and the seemingly ordinary people he met along the way. The fight scenes were realistic, with every move carrying weight, and the emotional stakes were just as high. Something else that I loved was how the book explores questions about loyalty, redemption, and whether you can ever truly escape your past, putting emotional weight on Jack’s shoulders. The pacing is also relentless, with each chapter pulling you deeper into Jack’s world and making it impossible to stop reading. Overall, I highly recommend “The Devil’s Contract” if you love action thrillers with pulse-pounding plots and plenty of heart.
Available at all major online booksellers. Buy Now at https://store.bookbaby.com/book/the-devils-contract …
by Glenn | Feb 26, 2025 | General, Novels
“LORDS OF THE DAIS” — COMING IN SUMMER 2025
Detective Sergeant Lewis Malcolm, a former Marine Corps veteran, never thought he would one day be at the center of a modern-day Jack the Ripper investigation. The residents of Morgan City live in terror at the horrors of seemingly random butcheries left by the killer. And with the city council’s political games, making demands and interfering at every step, Malcolm is forced into standing against the tsunami of fear enveloping everyone.
With the assistance of Police Chief James Matthews, rookie Detective Marsha Hennessey, and prominent criminologist Dr. Robert Edwards, Lewis opens old wounds from past investigations and delves into the mindset of an insane predator nicknamed ‘Jack.’
The madman could strike again, anytime any day, and Lewis Malcolm has orders to stop him at all costs. But Jack is like a ghost that comes and goes in the night, leaving panic behind when he vanishes.
Lords of the Dais is a mystery thriller, a psychological page-turner that will keep readers wanting to know who the modern-day Jack the Ripper is—and when he will be captured.
“Lords of the Dais” will be available on all major online booksellers in eBook and print formats…
by Glenn | Oct 7, 2024 | Novels
“When the Violin Weeps” received a 5 Star Review from Readers Favorite. It’s a great review and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did… The book was truly a tough one to write, filled with a spectrum of emotions for me because everything within its pages is based on a horrific true history. The novel is available at all major online booksellers in eBook and print formats.
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite
When The Violin Weeps by Glenn Starkey is a historical fiction novel that delves into the harrowing events of the Holocaust during World War II and the formation of the State of Israel. The story follows Jacob Liebermann, a former violinist with the Warsaw Philharmonic, as he grapples with the devastating loss of his wife, Hanna, who is murdered in a gas chamber. Forced into the overcrowded Warsaw ghetto and enduring the horrors of the Nazi regime, Jacob vows to survive against all odds, honoring Hanna’s memory amidst the unspeakable atrocities that surround him. The language is both poignant and lyrical, weaving vivid imagery into realistic historical descriptions for maximum emotional impact, drawing readers into the world he has recreated from history’s greatest horrors.
Author Glenn Starkey’s writing gives the reader a presence right on Jacob’s shoulder as they feel every moment of despair and tragedy on his journey to find new strength. Jacob’s grief and determination are challenged constantly by the well-timed events of the plot, and the author’s ability to evoke such intense feelings allows readers to connect deeply with the narrative, making the real historical events all the more impactful. The novel is steeped in meticulous research, providing an authentic portrayal of the Holocaust that honors the memory of those who suffered but also educating readers about this dark chapter in history just as much as offering an engaging story. By highlighting Jacob’s promise to his wife as the driving force of the plot, the importance of hope and survival builds into a powerful message that leaves readers with a conclusion packed with strength in times of darkness. Overall, When The Violin Weeps is a heart-wrenching tale that is sure to engage and impress fans of detailed and emotive historical fiction.
by Glenn | Sep 2, 2024 | General
I’m often asked, “Which of your books should I read first?” We all have different interests. Action, thriller, historical fiction, romance – the genres can seem endless. Most of us already know what we like. In a bookstore, we head straight to those aisles. Yet every now and then we seek a new author with a fresh variety of stories. So here are brief descriptions (one-liners to capture interest) for each of my novels. Hopefully, they will assist in your search. For in-depth descriptions, and to see the awards a book has won, select one of the books here on my website. My books are available in eBook and print formats at all major online booksellers. Autographed editions are at 1820 Coffeehouse in Alvin, Texas. There are sixteen books to choose from, and I hope you will enjoy them!
Glenn
THE DEVIL’S CONTRACT – Abandoned on the streets, a boy is raised to be a governmental assassin and must endure the contract for life. In time, conscience overcomes him, and he breaks away knowing he will no longer be a predator, but the prey.
SOLOMON’S MEN – A professional thief is duped into stealing the true burial shroud of Jesus from an ancient order, then finds himself hunted by militant monks.
THE HONJO – sequel to “Solomon’s Men.” A priceless ancient sword is the ransom for Valdez’s daughter-in-law, forcing him to return to being a thief.
BLACK SUN – A boy grows to manhood in his quest for survival during the bloody Mexican Revolution of 1910.
WHEN THE VIOLIN WEEPS – From the Warsaw ghetto to a Treblinka extermination camp, Jacob Liebermann endures Nazi atrocities in hopes of one day exacting revenge for his murdered wife.
THE DAGGER MAN – Two men born the same night, under the same star; one becomes the Messiah while the other becomes a zealot group’s assassin.
MICAH – Stalin’s experiments to breed apes with humans to create a super soldier go astray when creatures are born and escape into the mountains.
McKENNA – An investigator’s daughter is caught up in a human trafficking ring and he must find and free her before she vanishes into the underworld.
INTO THE CAULDRON – In the midst of the Civil War, a Union cavalryman battles Indian tribes, Confederate guerillas, and unforgiving environments to protect settlers along the Santa Fe Trail.
AMAZON MOON – A man seeks redemption or death in his journey to find sanity through a war, government deceit, and a hideous creature lurking deep within the Amazon jungle.
THE COUNCILMAN – In 1956 Texas, a young man returns to his hometown in search of his mother’s murderer and finds corruption at every turn.
CHARON – In a dying East Texas town, five teenage boys discover their fates are entwined when they unleash the demons of a Ouija board upon their community.
STEEL JUNGLE – A terrorist attack on a refinery forces a lone security guard and his veteran friends to halt the bloodbath.
COBRA AND SCARAB – An Egyptian Queen steals control of a kingdom from her nephew until the day of reckoning comes.
YEAR OF THE RAM – In a time of savage war, a Mongol general finds a son he never knew was born and must risk losing him while saving his nation against the onslaught of a massive greed-ridden army.
THROUGH THE STORMS: THE JOHN G. SLOVER DIARY – non-fiction – a Civil War veteran’s life is detailed in the personal diary he carried in his saddle bag.
