Well, the time has finally come, and my new novel is officially in stores all over the country. Gallery Books at Simon and Schuster, the fine folks who bring you Stephen King and Don Winslow, have brought this one out in high style, and it’s s stunner of a package. I am grateful and astonished at the amazing job they’ve done, and hope you’ll all buy two copies. After all, it makes a great gift. I’m sure I’ll be saying that a whole darn lot over the next few months.
I will be appearing to promote RESURRECTION EXPRESS at Austin’s finest word emporium, BOOKPEOPLE, at 7pm on Monday October 1st.
It’s an interesting event because I’ll also be sharing the stage or whatever with three guys named Miles. That is to say, MILES ARCENEAUX, which is the pseudonym for Brent Douglass, John T. Davis and James R. Dennis. They wrote a book together called THIN SLICE OF LIFE and named themselves Miles. Haven’t read the book, but the sample chapters over at Miles’s website make it out to be pretty cool. And, you know . . . us guys from Texas, we gotta stick together. Click the cover to learn more.
Okay, enough about Miles . . . go and buy my book. It’s got everything: gun battles, helicopters exploding, cool heists and sexy dames. Plus almost unilateral rave reviews from nearly everyone who’s read it. How can all the critics be wrong, kids? Plus the book is dirt cheap over at Amazon. And if you’re not a paper fan, the download is even cheaper.
But don’t take my word for it. Just look at what THEY are all saying:
“Resurrection Express has the pacing, technical detail, and unshakable suspense to excite thriller fans, and even readers who typically retreat from the high-tech context will appreciate (Elroy) Coffin’s slightly disoriented man-with-a-plan character. Romano relies on sharp instincts and scary-smart strategy over chance to give his hero nine lives, and he layers in plenty of depth beyond expertly drawn tech-thriller aspects. The center of this story is a man obsessed with reclaiming his life, even as he doubts that anything good stays that way. A must read for followers of Andrew Vachss and Charlie Huston.”
Booklist (starred review)
“The pace never slackens in screenwriter Romano’s superior debut thriller . . . Extreme violence follows (protagonist Elroy) Coffin like a shadow . . . but the gunplay and torture always advance the complex, multilayered story line. Few will anticipate the plot twists or the extremely satisfying resolution. Romano doesn’t pull his punches, killing off characters the reader cares about, but again, the deaths serve a larger purpose and aren’t presented merely for shock value.”
Publisher’s Weekly (Starred Review)
“Compelling, devastating and brutal, with battle-hardened prose and relentless energy, Stephen Romano has crafted one hell of a first novel. A juiced-up, whacked-out, back-to-the-wall book that reads like a ride through the Knife and Gun Club on the night of a full moon, riding the Resurrection Express will leave you dizzy from betrayal, speechless from reversals, and quite possibly battered and broken by its revelations.”
Greg Rucka, New York Times bestselling author of ALPHA and creator of the Eisner Award-winning Queen & Country series
“A high-voltage blast! Romano’s action scenes are light years ahead of the pack, fueled by muscular prose, terrifying villains, and Elroy Coffin—a protagonist for the ages. RESURRECTION EXPRESS is one of the finest examples I’ve encountered of noir’s evolution into the 21st Century.”
Blake Crouch, best-selling author of Run
“RESURRECTION EXPRESS is a rip snortin’ white knuckle ride. It’s a page-turner that sinks its teeth into you and won’t let go. Stephen Romano has created a meal you will want to swallow whole, it’s that hard to put down. His damaged protagonist, Elroy Coffin is a compelling computer freak with criminal skills who you can’t help but root for. Resurrection Express is a savage and vicious little tale that fans of Don Winslow will lap up. Highly recommended!!”
Don Coscarelli, director of Phantasm, The Beastmaster and Bubba-Ho-Tep
“RESURRECTION EXPRESS whipsaws along at 100mph, with so much momentum that the reader feels if he hits one bump, he’ll go straight through the windshield.”
Tom Piccirilli, author of the International Thriller Writers’ Award-winning novel The Cold Spot
“RESURRECTION EXPRESS is a cinematic, hyperkinetic, action-packed thriller.”
Jeff Abbott, New York Times bestselling author of THE LAST MINUTE
“Stephen Romano’s imagination is so scary-brilliant, you should be required to obtain a controlled dangerous substance license before opening RESURRECTION EXPRESS.”
Duane Swierczynski, Author of the Anthony, Barry, Macavity & Shamus Award-nominated Charlie Hardie series.
“Stephen Romano’s taut prose is as unrelentingly violent and brutal as the story he tells. Resurrection Express is a killer debut that demands attention. A scorching read.”
Brian Azzarello, New York Times bestselling author of Joker and creator of the Eisner Award-winning 100 Bullets series
“Stephen Romano steps into the ring with lead in his gloves and a razor in his boot. When you read Resurrection Express you can’t help but take your eyes off him as the pages fly by—and then he’s got you.”
Sean Doolittle, Barry Award-winning author of Safer and Lake Country.
“There are some names that all horror, gothic, crime, fantasy and sci-fi genre fans should know. But there is a new name that should very shortly be added to that list. (Stephen Romano’s novel, Resurrection Express is) brain-meltingly awesome. My only problem was not being able to get to the next page fast enough.”
Nerdlocker.com
“Fast paced, filled with no apology violence, this is a great action thriller . . . spellbound readers will appreciate this gory tale, as violence is the American way to resolve rivalries.”
Harriet Klaussner, The Mystery Gazette
“Stephen Romano makes an explosive debut with RESURRECTION EXPRESS. Strap yourself in for a high-tech adventure in this innovative, cutting-edge thriller with enough diabolical angles and conspiracy theories to please any enthusiast of the genre. A great read!”
Fresh Fiction.com
“Wow, this book is chalk (sic) full of adventure. If you like crime novels with a lot of action, this is exactly what you’re looking for. Elroy has a fascinating mind as a code-breaker, and it was really fun to get into his brain . . . I would definitely recommend this book if you like movies or books like Ocean’s Eleven or The Italian Job. I think this book would make a great movie, we’ll have to keep our eyes open for any film option news!”
Appraising Pages.com
“(A) complex multifaceted novel starring hard-ass people battling for lead dog position. (It) will be shortlisted as one of the top thrillers of the year.”
Gumshoe Reviews.com
“The action is fun and fast paced in this thriller romp. Occasional gory scenes are well contrasted with Elroy’s internal dialog about his love for and need to rescue his wife at all costs. Most thriller readers will enjoy, especially the late plot twists.”
Library Journal
“Horror scribe Stephen Romano makes his crime fiction debut in the sci-fi tinged thriller Resurrection Express. Romano makes the transition with aplomb – and how. The author’s ability to write horrific violence and monstrous evil are on display, and the suspense rarely flags. But Resurrection Express is not merely horror transposed; it is also a compelling mystery that marks an auspicious crime fiction debut.”
Crime Fiction Lover.com
Come see us in October!