The Breaker - series. Books 1 - 3:

 

The Breaker

ISBN: 9781656281517

Description:

How do you know the one you love won’t hurt you?

Or even try to kill you?
In many cases … you don’t.

How do we choose our path and purpose in life?

What makes us who we are?
When Seth Egan starts working as a private detective, he knows he’ll make enemies.
It goes with the territory.
As Seth works on a murder case and hunts down the killers, he becomes the target.
Some people have no conscience, shame, empathy, or remorse.
To get their own way, to get what they want, to take everything, they will do anything.
Even murder.
In the end, they will drag you down to hell with them.
Sometimes, our enemies are those closest to us.

Amazon link:

https://t.co/eKFZ03giKR?amp=1

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Bad Blood

ISBN: 9798682203192

Description:

No one is paying Seth Egan for his latest case.

He keeps this one unofficial.

Pro bono publico.

Off the books.

For him, this one is personal.

A matter of bad blood.

A woman with a grudge of her own leads Seth to a place where people vanish without trace.

Money is the motive.

Greed is the motivator.

Scores that can only be settled in blood.

A dark underworld of illegal gambling, prostitution, drugs, violence and murder.

Amazon link:

 

https://t.co/e0XiS8crAr?amp=1

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Mall Maze

ISBN: 9798729917235

Description:

Friday the 13th.

Unlucky for many.

What should have been a routine adultery case ends with Seth Egan fighting for his life.

Cut off from the world.

With no way to call for help.

Trapped in a place where the walls are coming down around him.

Seth is running out of places to hide.

As chaos reigns and the city burns … the hunters close in.

Amazon link:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09244XVYW/

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Themes:

Abuse by proxy, Adultery, C-PTSD, crime, detective, domestic abuse, enabler, flying monkey, gaslighting, hardboiled, heist, infidelity, murder, narcissism, narcissist, narcissistic abuse, neo-noir, personality disorder, psychopath, sociopath, suspense, thriller, vigilante, violence.

Books available in hardcover, paperback and Kindle.

A percentage from sales of my books is donated to Multiple Sclerosis (MS) research.

What’s On?

What’s On?

A Guide to Movies and TV Shows

Hardcover

ISBN-13: 9798342696098

Paperback

ISBN-13: 9798341177307

Kindle

ASIN: B0DJTZ8T58

Back cover description:

What’s On? … is the timeless question we have all asked ourselves almost every day of our lives, as we reach for the remote control and settle in front of the TV screen.

Jack Kost, a life-long movie buff and coffee addict, offers his choice of favorite movie and television masterpieces.

Providing possible answers to the question of What’s On? with over 1,900 titles, from golden oldies and timeless classics, to more recent releases, all meticulously logged and summarized.

An invaluable and collectable go-to source for discovering new favorites and revisiting old ones.

Perfect for film enthusiasts and casual viewers alike, this guide will spark conversations, bring back memories, and help you navigate the ever-evolving world of screen entertainment.

A wealth of recommendations and insights from a passionate movie buff to enrich your viewing experience, complete with personal reminiscences and nostalgic reflections, told with a world-wise critical eye, sardonic dry wit, a healthy dose of cynicism, biting observations, and a well-founded rant here and there.

Just don’t challenge or get him started on his personal favorites, like The Shining, Point Blank, Jaws, The Exorcist, The Duellists, Romeo Is Bleeding, or The Ninth Configuration. His opinions on these and other iconic titles are as intense and unyielding as the movies themselves.

All compiled by an author who not only watched the movies, but also read the books on which they were based, did his research, drank a lot of coffee in the process, and advocates for the importance and value of reading.

A glimpse into the over-caffeinated mind of a writer with a passion for great stories.

What’s On? is a celebration of the intersection between page and screen, and a reminder that great on-screen adaptations often start with a great book and a strong cup of coffee.

Kick back, grab your coffee, and enjoy the show!

As author Jack Kost says:

“Happy viewing … and do yourself a favor … read the books.”

Slipped Masks:

Slipped Masks

ISBN: 9781719330640

Description:

I can’t call you because if he hears me talking on the phone he’ll hit me again. He scares me. I know sooner or later he’s going to kill me. I’ll text you again when I can. I love you, Casey. I’ll spend the rest of our lives proving to you how much I love you. Please come. Please save me …

With only text messages to guide him, Casey Byrne is on the hunt, racing across five states to save his ex-girlfriend, Madison.

Casey loves Madison deeply and wants desperately to save her life and rekindle their relationship.

But the closer he gets to her, the more surreal his journey becomes as the dead bodies pile up in his wake.

Clinical Lycanthropy: the delusion that a human can physically transform into a wolf.

If you were insane, would you know it?

How would you see the world if you were convinced you could transform into a wolf?

The hunter … and the hunted.

Slipped Masks is a dark neo-noir thriller about how the need for love and companionship becomes twisted into obsession, possession, jealousy, violence and murder.

A horrifying portrait of Clinical Lycanthropy.

Amazon link:

https://t.co/2Gwb135V3m

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Themes:

Sociopathy, narcissistic abuse, personality disorder, Clinical Lycanthropy, crime, murder.

Book available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle.

A percentage from sales of this book is donated to Multiple Sclerosis (MS) research.

Work in progress:

My next books are Triangulation and Stinger.

Books 4 and 5 in The Breaker series.

Set in the year 2001, the story continues from Mall Maze.

Themes:

Crime, detective, hardboiled, heist, murder, narcissism, narcissistic abuse, neo-noir, psychopath, sociopath, thriller, vigilante.

 

A percentage from book sales is donated to Multiple Sclerosis (MS) research.

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The Breaker is an on-going series.

I’m outlining other stand-alone thriller novels.

Several coffee table books on my photography and my wife’s artwork.

A humorous book, based on the antics of our crazy pet Ragdoll cat, entitled: It’s That F****** Cat Again!

Here’s a GIF I made of our cat, settling down for another of his daily naps:

On this day in television history - Justified (2013):

Justified

Season 4. Episode 3.

Episode entitled: Truth and Consequences.

Released January 22, 2013.

Directed by Jon Avnet.

Written by Graham Yost, Benjamin Cavell, Ingrid Escajeda, VJ Boyd, Leonard Chang.

Based on the short story Fire in the Hole by Elmore Leonard.

Music by Steve Porcaro.

Cast:

Timothy Olyphant, Nick Searcy, Joelle Carter, Jacob Pitts, Erica Tazel, Walton Goggins, Jere Burns, Ron Eldard, Joseph Mazzello, Robert Baker, Julia Campbell, Michael Graziadei, Jenn Lyon, Jesse Luken, David Meunier, Abby Miller, Lindsay Pulsipher, Josh Stamberg, Jonathan Kowalsky, Scot Zeller, Joe Stevens, Richard Augustine, Trevor Hammonds, Caileigh Scott.

On this day in music history - Across an Ocean of Dreams, by 2002 (2002):

Across an Ocean of Dreams

Album by 2002,
released January 22, 2002.

Track list:

The Ocean Dreams; The Sound of Still Water; The Sea at Night; Valley of Healing Waters; The River's Journey; Oceans of Life; Well of Wisdom; Lady of the Moon; Nautilus; Heart of the Nile.

On this day in movie history - A Slipping-Down Life (1999):

A Slipping-Down Life

directed and written by Toni Kalem,

based on the novel by Anne Tyler,

was released at the Sundance Film Festival in the United States on January 22, 1999.
Music by Peter Himmelman.

Cast:

Lili Taylor, Guy Pearce, Irma P. Hall, Tom Bower, Bruno Kirby, Veronica Cartwright, Shawnee Smith, Sara Rue, John Hawkes, Marshall Bell, Jo Ann Farabee, Harv Morgan, Jason Russel Waller, Lew Temple, Jason Kavalewitz, Jeff McMillioan, Brian Stack, Kevin Stack, Billy Harvey, Mike Hynes, Michael Ramos, Eric Tatuaka, Jamie Dickerson, Tony Frank, James N. Harrell, Clea DuVall, Keith McDermott, Topher Glenn, Gary Ragland, Dan Bennett, Kirk Watson, Doris Gramm, Vincent James Prendergast, Brian Prendergast, Mike Keller, Johnny Goudie, Floyd Freeman, Norman Bennett, Margaret Bowman, Stacy Bellew, Greg Corner, Xanna Dont, James Douglas, Dan Eggleston, Johanna Goldsmith, Michael Gottschall, David Houston, Alicia McCutcheon, Daria Prendergast, Brad Schreiber, Jordan Stone, Scott Teeters, Chris Warner.

On this day in movie history - Vice Squad (1982):

Vice Squad

directed by Gary Sherman,

written by Sandy Howard, Gary Sherman, Robert Vincent O'Neil and Kenneth Peter,

was released in the United States on January 22, 1982.
Music by Joe Renzetti and Keith Rubinstein.

Cast:

Season Hubley, Gary Swanson, Wings Hauser, Pepe Serna, Beverly Todd, Joseph Di Giroloma, Maurice Emanuel, Wayne Hackett, Nina Blackwood, Sudana Bobatoon, Lydia Lei, Kelly Piper, Kristoffer Anders, Joseph Baroncini, Fred Berry, Tom Brent, Grand L. Bush, Marilyn Coleman, Michael Ensign, Nate Esformes, Stacy Everly, Cliff Frazier, Lyla Graham, Peter Harrell, Jonathan Haze, Vincent J. Isaac, Cyndi James Gossett (as Cyndi James-Reese), Ben Kronen, Bob Laird, Doug Laird, Robert Miano, Richard Milholland, Vahan Moosekian, Mark Ness, Stack Pierce, Barbara Pilavin, Donald Rawley, David Ross, Stan Ross, Cheryl Smith, Hugo Stanger, Arnold F. Turner, Nicole Volkoff, Richard Wetzel, Ark Wong, Harry Hart-Browne, Doctor Hayes, Troy Martin.

On this day in television history - M Squad (1960):

M Squad

Season 3. Episode 18.

Episode entitled: Pitched Battle at Bluebell Acres.

Released January 22, 1960.

Directed by Earl Bellamy.

Written by Rik Vollaerts.

Music by Benny Carter.

Cast:

Lee Marvin, Paul Newlan, George Keymas, John Dennis, Frank Richards, Jack Mather, Cay Conway, Bill Cassady, Ken Christy, John Gallaudet, Jon Locke.

On this day in movie history - Time to Kill (1942):

Time to Kill

directed by Herbert I. Leeds,

written by Brett Halliday,

based on the novel by The High Window by Raymond Chandler,

was released in the United States on January 22, 1943.
Music by Emil Newman, Cyril J. Mockridge and David Raksin.

Cast:

Lloyd Nolan, Heather Angel, Doris Merrick, Ralph Byrd, Richard Lane, Sheila Bromley, Morris Ankrum, Ethel Griffies, James Seay, Ted Hecht, William Pawley, Syd Saylor, Lester Sharpe, Charles Williams, LeRoy Mason, George Melford.

Born on this day – Pamela Salem:

Pamela Salem

Actress

January 22, 1944 – February 21, 2024

Credits:

A Necessary Death (2008); After Darkness (1985); All Creatures Great and Small (1978–1988); April's Shower (2003); Back to School (2007); Big Love (2010); Blake's 7 (1978); Boon (1987); Buccaneer (1980); Chain (1990); Chance in a Million (1986); Crown Court (1981–1984); Doctor Who (1977–1988); Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor Adventures (2017); Don't Leave Me This Way (1993); Down's Revenge (2019); EastEnders (1988–1989); El C.I.D. (1990); ER (1996); Ever Decreasing Circles (1984); Flesh and Blood (1980); French Fields (1989–1991); General Hospital (1979); Gods and Monsters (1998); God's Outlaw (1986); Gosia's Witch (2009); Happy Ever After (1969); Hellsing Ultimate (2008); Howards' Way (1986); Into the Labyrinth (1981–1982); Jason King (1971); Licensed by Royalty (2003); Lytton's Diary (1985); Magnum, P.I. (1985); Man at the Top (1972); Never Say Never Again (1983); Never Say Never Again: Royal Film Premiere (1983); Never Say Never Again: Sean Is Back (2009); New Scotland Yard (1972); Night Train to Murder (1984); No Longer Alone (1978); Out of the Unknown (1971); Party of Five (2000); Perfect Scoundrels (1992); Pig (2011); Quicksand (2002); River Made to Drown In (1997); Royal Variety Performance 1984 (1984); Salomé (1986); Scorpion Tales (1978); Seagull Island (1981); Strangers (1982); Succubus (1987); Suicide, the Comedy (1998); The Adventurer (1972); The Bitch (1979); The Book of Eve (2002); The Carnforth Practice (1974); The Consultant (1983); The Early Life of Stephen Hind (1974); The Girls of 'Never Say Never Again' (2009); The Great Train Robbery (1978); The Making of 'Never Say Never Again' (2009); The Onedin Line (1972); The Paradise Club (1990); The Professionals (1978); The Sandmine Murders (2012); The Secret of Seagull Island (1982); The Tripods (1984); The West Wing (2005); Then Churchill Said to Me (1993); Thirteen at Dinner (1985); Tycoon (1978); Van der Valk (1977); Wide Awake (2007).

Born on this day – John Hurt:

John Hurt

Actor

January 22, 1940 – January 25, 2017

Born on this day – Bill Bixby:

Bill Bixby

Actor

Director

Producer

January 22, 1934 – November 21, 1993

Born on this day – Diana Douglas:

Diana Douglas

Actress

January 22, 1923 – July 3, 2015

Born on this day – Marvin H. Albert:

Marvin H. Albert

Writer

January 22, 1924 – March 24, 1996

Credits:

Books:

A Dancer's Progress and Schodinger's Cat (1993); A Nightmare to Dreamland (1985); All the Young Men (1960); Apache Rising (1987); Back in the Real World (1986); Becoming a Mother (1982); Bimbo Heaven (1990); Broadsides and Boarders (1958); Clayburn (1989); Crazy Joe (1974); Dark Goddess (1978); Driscoll's Diamonds (1974); Duel at Diablo (1966); Get Off at Babylon (1987); Goodbye Charlie (1964); Hidden Lives (1981); I'd Love to But I Have a Game (1993); Last Train to Bannock (1989); Long Teeth (1987); Miami Mayhem (1960); My Kind of Game (1962); No Chance in Hell (1960); Operation Lila (1983); Party Girl (1958); Rider from Wind River (1988); Skylark Mission (1973); Some Die Hard (1961); Stone Angel (1986); Strike Force 7 (1975); The Divorce (1965); The Don Is Dead (1972); The Gargoyle Conspiracy (1975); The Girl with No Place to Hide (1959); The Golden Circle (1987); The Hoods Come Calling (1958); The Lady in Cement (1961); The Last Smile (1988); The Long White Road (1957); The Man in Black (1990); The Medusa Complex (1982); The Midnight Sister (1989); The Pink Panther (1964); The Reformed Gun (1989); The Riviera Contract (1992); The Untouchables (1987); The Vendetta (1972); The VIPs (1963); The Zig-Zag Man (1991); Three Rode North (1989); Till It Hurts (1960); Trail of a Tramp (1958); Valley of the Assassins (1975); What's New Pussy Cat? (1965).

Movies and television:

À corps et à cris (1989); A Twist of Sand (1968); Bullet for a Badman (1964); Duel at Diablo (1966); Lady in Cement (1968); Nick Quarry (1968); Pour cent millions (1992); Rough Night in Jericho (1967); The Don Is Dead (1973); The Law and Jake Wade (1958); The Ugly Ones (1966); Tony Rome (1967); Wahdah be-Wahdah (1984).

Born on this day – Ann Sothern:

Ann Sothern

Actress

January 22, 1909 – March 15, 2001

Credits:

The Whales of August (1987); The Little Dragons (1979); Flying High (1978); The Manitou (1978); Captains and the Kings (1976); Medical Story (1975); Crazy Mama (1975); Golden Needles (1974); The Killing Kind (1973); The Weekend Nun (1972); The Great Man's Whiskers (1972); Fol-de-Rol (1972); Alias Smith and Jones (1971); The Chicago Teddy Bears (1971); A Death of Innocence (1971); Congratulations, It's a Boy! (1971); The Virginian (1971); The Greatest Mother of Them All (1969); Love, American Style (1969); Insight (1964–1969); Chubasco (1968); Family Affair (1968); The Outsider (1967); The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (1967); My Mother the Car (1965–1966); The Legend of Jesse James (1965); The Lucy Show (1965); Sylvia (1965); The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1964); Lady in a Cage (1964); The Best Man (1964); Atta Boy, Mama (1962); The Ann Sothern Show (1958–1961); The DuPont Show with June Allyson (1959); The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour (1957); Private Secretary (1953–1957); The Ford Television Theatre (1957); The Milton Berle Show (1955); Lady in the Dark (1954); The Red Skelton Hour (1953); The Blue Gardenia (1953); Hollywood Opening Night (1952); Schlitz Playhouse (1952); Shadow on the Wall (1950); Nancy Goes to Rio (1950); A Letter to Three Wives (1949 & 1985); Words and Music (1948); April Showers (1948); The Judge Steps Out (1948); Undercover Maisie (1947); Up Goes Maisie (1946); Maisie Goes to Reno (1944); Cry 'Havoc' (1943); Thousands Cheer (1943); Swing Shift Maisie (1943); Three Hearts for Julia (1943); You, John Jones! (1943); Panama Hattie (1942); Maisie Gets Her Man (1942); Lady Be Good (1941); Ringside Maisie (1941); Maisie Was a Lady (1941); Dulcy (1940); Gold Rush Maisie (1940); Brother Orchid (1940); Congo Maisie (1940); Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President (1939); Fast and Furious (1939); Hotel for Women (1939); Maisie (1939); Trade Winds (1938); She's Got Everything (1937); There Goes the Groom (1937); Ali Baba Goes to Town (1937); Danger - Love at Work (1937); Super-Sleuth (1937); Fifty Roads to Town (1937); There Goes My Girl (1937); Dangerous Number (1937); Smartest Girl in Town (1936); Walking on Air (1936); My American Wife (1936); Don't Gamble with Love (1936); Hell-Ship Morgan (1936); You May Be Next! (1936); Grand Exit (1935); The Girl Friend (1935); Hooray for Love (1935); Eight Bells (1935); Folies Bergère de Paris (1935); Kid Millions (1934); The Party's Over (1934); Blind Date (1934); The Hell Cat (1934); Melody in Spring (1934); Let's Fall in Love (1933); Broadway Thru a Keyhole (1933); The March of Time (1930); Whoopee! (1930); Madam Satan (1930); Doughboys (1930); Good News (1930); Song of the West (1930); Show of Shows (1929); Broadway Nights (1927).

Recommended reading - The Onion Field, by Joseph Wambaugh (1973):

The Onion Field

By Joseph Wambaugh

Published 1973.

ISBN-10: 0385341598

ISBN-13: 978-0385341592

Description:

This is the frighteningly true story of two young cops and two young robbers whose separate destinies fatally cross one March night in a bizarre execution in a deserted Los Angeles field.

Joseph Wambaugh. A former LAPD detective and perennial bestselling author, he is the cops’ poet laureate, and this is the true story he was born to tell.

“A distinguished ‘factual novel.’ A fascinating account of a double tragedy: one physical, the other psychological.”

– Truman Capote.

Orson Scott Card, on inspiration:

Everybody walks past a thousand story ideas every day.

The good writers are the ones who see five or six of them.

Most people don't see any.

- Orson Scott Card.