Wednesday, December 24, 2025

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:


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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:
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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:


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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 the Star Trek universe:

Star Trek: Discovery (2020)


Star Trek: Discovery
Season 3. Episode 11.
Episode entitled: Su’Kal.
Released December 24, 2020.
Directed by Norma Bailey.
Created by Bryan Fuller, Alex Kurtzman.
Written by Anne Cofell Saunders, Sean Cochran, Anthony Maranville, Chris Silvestri, Brandon Schultz.
Based on Star Trek, created by Gene Roddenberry.
Music by Jeff Russo.
Cast: Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug Jones, Anthony Rapp, Mary Wiseman, Wilson Cruz, David Ajala, Oded Fehr, Ian Alexander, Blu del Barrio, Bill Irwin, Janet Kidder, Tig Notaro, Emily Coutts, Patrick Kwok-Choon, Oyin Oladejo, Ronnie Rowe, Avaah Blackwell, Raven Dauda, Nelu Handa, Andrew Hinkson, Jinny Jacinto, Fabio Tassone, Robert Verlaque, Danny Waugh, Shelley Owens.

On this day in music history - Mother Earth, by Within Temptation (2000):


Mother Earth

Album by Within Temptation,
released December 24, 2000.

Track list:

Mother Earth; Ice Queen; Our Farewell; Caged; The Promise; Never-Ending Story; Deceiver of Fools; Intro; Dark Wings; In Perfect Harmony; World of Make Believe; Bittersweet; Jane Doe.

On this day in movie history - Mad Max 2 (1981):


Mad Max 2

aka The Road Warrior,
directed by George Miller,
written by Robert Benton, Terry Hayes, George Miller and Brian Hannant,
was released in Australia on December 24, 1981.
Narrated by Harold Baigent.
Music by Howard Shore.


Cast:

Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence, Michael Preston, Max Phipps, Vernon Wells, Kjell Nilsson, Emil Minty, Virginia Hey, William Zappa, Arkie Whiteley, Steve J. Spears, Syd Heylen, Moira Claux, David Downer, David Slingsby, Kristoffer Greaves, Max Fairchild, Tyler Coppin, Jerry O'Sullivan, Tony Deary, Kathleen McKay, Guy Norris, Anne Jones, James McCardell, Harold Baigent, Stewart Finlay-McLennan, Joanne Samuel.

On this day in television history - Johnny Staccato (1959):


Johnny Staccato

Season 1. Episode 15.
Episode entitled: The Unwise Men.
Released December 24, 1959.
Directed by Robert B. Sinclair.
Written by Frank Dana, Shirl Hendryx.
Music by Elmer Bernstein.


Cast:

John Cassavetes, Eduardo Ciannelli, Marc Lawrence, Jack Weston, Marge Redmond, Bernard/Bernie Fein, Walter Maslow, Vincent Barbi, Terry Frost, George Boyce, Lillian O'Malley, Harry Raven, Edwin Rochelle, Jeffrey Sayre.

Born on this day – Scott Spiegel:


Scott Spiegel


Writer

Director

Producer

Actor

December 24, 1957 – September 1, 2025

Credits:

2001 Maniacs (2005); 78/52 (2017); A Blossoming Brilliance: An Interview with Scott Spiegel (2013); A Conversation with Quentin Tarantino & Scott Spiegel (2004); A Night in a Sanitarium (1973); Acting and Reacting (1978); All the Worlds a Stooge (1974); Attack of the Helping Hand! (1979); Attack of the Pillsbury Doughboy (1976); Babysitter Wanted (2007); Booby Bartenders (1974); Cain Hill (2016); Cinemaker (2004); Civil War Part II (1977); Cleveland Smith: Bounty Hunter (1982); Clockwork (1978); Corny Casanovas (1971); Crimewave (1985); Curse of the Werewolf (1974); Darkman (1990); Death Proof (2007); Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022); Drag Me to Hell (2009); Evil Dead 1 & 2: The Musical (2004); Evil Dead II (1987); Facing the Lion (2010); Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman (2007); Flying Saucers Over Hollywood: The 'Plan 9' Companion (1992); From Dusk Till Dawn (1996); From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money (1999); Full Tilt Boogie (1997); Gimme Skelter (2007); Half-Wits' Holiday (1974); Here Today... Gun Tomorrow (1976); Hit List (1989); Hostel (2005); Hostel: Part III (2011); Inside the Asylum: The Making of '2001 Maniacs' (2006); Inspector Klutz Saves the Day (1969); Intruder (1989); Invaluable: The True Story of an Epic Artist (2014); It's Murder! (1977); Jackie Brown (1997); James Bombed in Here Today... Gun Tomorrow (1976); Just Say Julie (1989–1992); Lionheart (1990); Love, Cheat & Steal (1993); Making the Amazing (2004); Manhunt (1974); Mischief Night (2014); My Name Is Modesty: A Modesty Blaise Adventure (2004); Mystery No Mystery (1976); Nightmares (2026); No Dough Boys (1974); Nude Bowling Party (1995); Oedipus Rex (1972); Picnic (1977); Pieces of Deconstruction: Looking Back at a Grindhouse Gorefest (2011); Pies and Guys (1971); Post Traumatic: An American Nightmare (2009); Pulp Fiction (1994); Pulp Fiction: The Facts (2002); QT8: The First Eight (2019); Rake (2014); Red (1993); Reflections on the Living Dead (1993); Robot Ninja (1989); Sam Raimi Early Shorts (1985); Shemp Eats the Moon (1978); Shock Cinema Vol. 1 (1991); Six Months to Live (1977); Skinned Alive (1990); Slashed Prices: The Making of Intruder (2011); Slice and Dice: The Slasher Film Forever (2012); Spider-Man (2002); Spider-Man 2 (2004); Spring Break '83 (2009); Spring Cleaning (1979); Straight Into Darkness (2004); Stryker's War (1980); Swallowed Souls: The Making of Evil Dead II (2011); Sweet 16: DVD Introduction by Aleisa Shirley and Scott Spiegel (2008); The Absent (2011); The Blind Waiter (1980); The Case of the Topanga Pearl (1976); The Cult of Ichi (2007); The Dead Next Door (1989); The Evil Dead (1981); The Final Round (1977); The Girl I Want (1990); The Great Bogus Monkey Pignuts Swindle (1975); The Happy Valley Kid (1977); The Hollywood Sign (2008); The Incredibly Strange Film Show (1988); The James Hoffa Story (1975); The James R. Hoffa Story, Part II (1976); The Nutt House (1992); The Quick and the Dead (1995); The Rookie (1990); The Sappy Sap (1985); The Singing Nuts (1974); Thou Shalt Not Kill... Except (1985); Three on a Couch (1974); Three Pests in a Mess (1974); Three Smart Saps (1973); Together & Alone (1998); Torro. Torro. Torro! (1981); Uncivil War Birds (1976); Where Truth Lies (1996); Wild Malibu Weekend! (1995); Within the Woods (1978).

Born on this day – Clarence Gilyard:


Clarence Gilyard


Professor

Actor

Writer

December 24, 1955 – November 28, 2022

Credits:

227 (1987); A Matter of Faith (2014); artScene (2013); Boondoggle (1999); CHiPs (1982–1983); Christmas on the Coast (2017); Die Hard (1988); DieHard is Back (2020); Diff'rent Strokes (1981); Eleanor's Bench (2020); Fan des années 80 (2010); From Above (2013); L.A. Takedown (1989); Left Behind II: Tribulation Force (2002); Left Behind: The Movie (2000); Legacy of a Spy (2021); Little Monsters (2012); Making the Grade (1982); Matlock (1989–1993); Off the Mark (1987); Orange Bowl Parade (1997); Riptide (1984); Simon & Simon (1986); Solomon's Universe (1985); Sons of Thunder (1999); Soul Train (1996); The 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2023); The Beast (2016); The Duck Factory (1984); The Facts of Life (1979); The Great Los Angeles Earthquake (1990); The Karate Kid Part II (1986); The Kid with the 200 I.Q. (1983); The Making of 'Left Behind II: Tribulation Force' (2002); The Making of 'Left Behind: The Movie' (2000); The Perfect Race (2019); The Sector (2016); The Track (2015); Things Are Looking Up (1984); Top Gun (1986); Top Gun 2: Back to Traffic School (2012); Walker Texas Ranger 3: Deadly Reunion (1994); Walker, Texas Ranger (1993–2001); Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire (2005); Walker: Behind the Scenes with TV's Toughest Cop (1996).

Born on this day – Janet Carroll:


Janet Carroll


Actress

December 24, 1940 – May 22, 2012

Credits:

20 to 1 (2007); 21 Jump Street (1988); 227 (1987); 3rd Rock from the Sun (1999); 7th Heaven (1999); A Year in the Life (1987); Alice (1985); All You Need (2001); Ally McBeal (2002); Astronomy (1988); Betrayed: A Story of Three Women (1995); Beverly Hills Buntz (1988); Beverly Hills, 90210 (1999); Beyond the Quest (2007); Bluffing It (1987); Bonnie (1995–1996); Born to Be Wild (1995); Boy Meets World (1994); Brothers & Sisters (2006); Buck James (1987); Cagney & Lacey (1985); Changing Hearts (2002); Chicago Story (1981); Christmas Spirit (2011); Coach (1996); College Debts (2015); Confession (2005); Crosser (2016); Cupid (1998); Daughters of Privilege (1991); Dead Last (2001); Designing Women (1987); Destiny Turns on the Radio (1995); Double Dare (1985); E/R (1984); Empty Nest (1990); Enough (2002); Entertainment Tonight (1989); Family Business (1989); Forces of Nature (1999); Frank Leaves for the Orient (1999); Getting Physical (1984); Glory Days (1990); Hill Street Blues (1983–1986); Hot Pursuit (1985); I Gave at the Office (1984); Jake and the Fatman (1989); Judging Amy (2003); Knight Rider (1983); L.A. Law (1988); Laugh Busters (1984); Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2010); Life Goes On (1990); Living in Captivity (1998); Living 'til the End (2005); Maggie (1998); Mancuso, FBI (1990); Married... with Children (1994–1997); Mary (1986); Matlock (1995); Melrose Place (1993–1997); Memories of Me (1988); Murphy Brown (1990–1996); Norm (1999); One Special Victory (1991); Pacific Blue (1996); Pacific Station (1991); Pasadena (2002); Quantum Leap (1989); Reasonable Doubts (1992); Risky Business (1983); Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story (1986); Scrubs (2006); Secret Admirer (1985); Sharing Richard (1988); Silver Spoons (1987); Six Degrees (2007); Spencer (1984–1985); Still Standing (2002–2004); Talent for the Game (1991); Techno Babble: A Cautionary Tale (2013); The Art of War III: Retribution (2009); The Boys (1988–1989); The Bronx Zoo (1987–1988); The Closer (1998); The Clown Project (2008); The Devlin Connection (1982); The Famous Teddy Z (1990); The Golden Girls (1987); The Hat Squad (1992–1993); The Jeff Foxworthy Show (1997); The Killing Time (1987); The Marriage Undone (2002); The Mommies (1994); The Omega Code (1999); The Platinum Triangle (1990); The Right of the People (1986); The Substitute Waiter (2004); The Twilight Zone / Segment: Cold Reading (1986); This Is the Life (1982); This Joint Is Jumpin' (1997); Time of Your Life (1999); Timemaster (1995); Touched by an Angel (1996); Ugly Naked People (1999); (Untitled) (2009); What Happens Next (2011); When He's Not a Stranger (1989); You Again? (1986).

Born on this day – Sharon Farrell:


Sharon Farrell


Actress

Dancer

December 24, 1940 – May 15, 2023

Credits:

Broken at Love (2013–2014); JAG (1999); Last Chance Love (1997); The Young and the Restless (1991–1997); Timeless Obsession (1996); White Cargo (1996); Yakuza Connection (1995); Beyond Desire (1995); A Gift from Heaven (1994); Arcade (1993); Sworn to Vengeance (1993); Matlock (1992); Lonely Hearts (1991); Freddy's Nightmares (1989); One Man Force (1989); Can't Buy Me Love (1987); Rituals (1984-1985); Night of the Comet (1984); Lone Wolf McQuade (1983); Small & Frye (1983); T.J. Hooker (1983); Sweet Sixteen (1983); Born to Be Sold (1981); Separate Ways (1981); Rage! (1980); Out of the Blue (1980); Hawaii Five-O (1977–1980); The Stunt Man (1980); Mrs. Columbo (1979); The Last Ride of the Dalton Gang (1979); The Fifth Floor (1978); The Magical World of Disney (1978); Confessions of the D.A. Man (1978); Man from Atlantis (1978); Switch (1977); Gibbsville (1976); Police Woman (1974–1976); Doc (1976); Bronk (1975); The Premonition (1975); McCloud (1975); Police Story (1973–1975); Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1975); Harry O (1975); The Six Million Dollar Man (1974); The Wide World of Mystery (1973–1974); Petrocelli (1974); Police Surgeon (1974); The Underground Man (1974); It's Alive (1974); Insight (1968–1974); This Is the Life (1974); Chase (1974); The F.B.I. (1974); Love, American Style (1974); The New Perry Mason (1973); Marcus Welby, M.D. (1972); Banyon (1972); The Eyes of Charles Sand (1972); The D.A. (1971); The Love Machine (1971); The Name of the Game (1969–1971); Men at Law (1970); Medical Center (1970); Quarantined (1970); The Reivers (1969); Marlowe (1969); Premiere (1968); A Lovely Way to Die (1968); The Wild Wild West (1968); The Virginian (1967); The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964–1967); Iron Horse (1967); Not with My Wife, You Don't! (1966); Run for Your Life (1965); The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1966); Dr. Kildare (1964–1965); My Three Sons (1965); I Dream of Jeannie (1965); Rawhide (1965); Ben Casey (1963–1965); The Spy with My Face (1965); The Fugitive (1965); The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1964–1965); The Beverly Hillbillies (1965); Burke's Law (1964); Gunsmoke (1963–1964); Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1964); The Movie Maker (1964); Wagon Train (1962–1964); Arrest and Trial (1964); The Lieutenant (1963); Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963); Death Valley Days (1953); My Favorite Martian (1963); Saints and Sinners (1962–1963); Empire (1963); 40 Pounds of Trouble (1962); Alfred Hitchcock in Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1962); Naked City (1961); Kiss Her Goodbye (1959).