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 | Aug 22, 2024 | Novels
Jack learned early in life how to survive in a cruel world. When five years old, his drug-addicted mother abandoned him to live with the homeless. By age eight, his feral qualities had caught the attention of the Colonel, an enigmatic man who recruited such lost souls into his fold. Through only a verbal contract, binding for life upon penalty of death if broken, the Colonel would care for and train Jack in his academy until accepted into Horus, a mercenary security company. An offer is made, and the boy found a home.
The academy is everything Jack could wish, and the skills he learns come as natural as the beat of his heart. In youth, Harold and Myra are his closest friends, but while one will be a lifelong comrade, the other becomes a rejected lover with a vendetta.
Over the years, the role of an assassin suits Jack well. He’s exceptional in every mission, shining like a favored son in the Colonel’s eyes until the day arrives in Afghanistan where conscience forces Jack to make a dreaded decision. He kills the warlord he’s assigned to protect, and breaking the Colonel’s contract, flees. Now, even his friends will hunt for him.
For years Jack ran, always looking over his shoulder. Then he met Valerie and hoped for a fresh start. Yet peace comes at a price, as Jack finds himself entangled in the web of a ruthless criminal organization and the Colonel, who tracks down his whereabouts. With nowhere to turn, the former assassin must choose between old friends and new, the chance to renew his life, and killing the man that had become like a father to him.
“The Devil’s Contract” is coming soon in eBook and print to all major book sellers.
by Glenn | Mar 10, 2023 | Novels
GREAT NEWS !!! “When the Violin Weeps” is a Book Excellence Award Finalist in the Historical Category!!! It is a great honor for an author to receive an award for their writings. The research performed for this novel was often mentally exhausting due to the traumatic events and its history.
Through life in a Warsaw ghetto and the Treblinka death camp, Jacob Liebermann lives for a day of reckoning with Klaus Hermann, the SS officer that killed his wife. After a harrowing trek to freedom in Palestine and joining Jewish resistance groups to combat a new enemy, Jacob makes the country home. He becomes one of Israel’s first Mossad agents. Then fate brings him face to face with the devil incarnate in South America.
