2019 and The Decade–That’s a Wrap!

As the entire decade of the 2010s comes to a close, Raymond humbly shares with you what an amazing and busy ten years it has been.

Blues in the Dark Cover

In 2010, HUNT THROUGH NAPOLEON’S WEB was published, along with CHOICE OF WEAPONS, an anthology containing three of Raymond’s earlier James Bond novels.

2011 saw the publication of the first entry in a five-book serial that Raymond calls his “magnum opus”–THE BLACK STILETTO (from Oceanview Publishing). Additionally, two other novels were published as e-books (and subsequently became available in print and audiobook)–ARTIFACT OF EVIL and TORMENT–A LOVE STORY. Finally, Raymond’s tie-in, co-authored with filmmaker John Milius, HOMEFRONT–THE VOICE OF FREEDOM, was published. Crossroad Press also began publishing Raymond’s BACK LIST of original novels as e-books and audiobooks.

In 2012, THE BLACK STILETTO–BLACK & WHITE and HITMAN: DAMNATION were published. Additionally, all six of Raymond’s JAMES BOND NOVELS (originally published between 1997 and 2002) were made available as e-books.

James Bond Ebooks

In 2013, THE BLACK STILETTO–STARS & STRIPES made its debut from Oceanview Publishing.

The year 2014 was a busy one. THE BLACK STILETTO–SECRETS & LIES premiered, followed by Raymond’s collaboration with fellow 007 author Jeffery Deaver as co-editors of the annual Mystery Writers of America anthology, entitled ICE COLD–TALES OF INTRIGUE FROM THE COLD WAR. The collection contained short stories by both Raymond and Jeff, along with many other terrific authors and members of MWA. The year closed with the publication of the final book in the serial, THE BLACK STILETTO–ENDINGS & BEGINNINGS.

In 2015, Crossroad Press published an anthology of Raymond’s unpublished and previously published short stories, along with a stage play, entitled 12+1–TWELVE SHORT THRILLERS AND A PLAY. Raymond’s tie-in to the popular videogame, DYING LIGHT–NIGHTMARE ROW, was published in Poland. Finally, Oceanview published as an e-book anthology, THE BLACK STILETTO–THE COMPLETE SAGA.

12 + 1 by Raymond Benson

2016: DYING LIGHT–NIGHTMARE ROW was published in English.

In 2017, Raymond began a relationship with Skyhorse Publishing with the appearance of THE SECRETS ON CHICORY LANE. His short story, THE MacGUFFIN, was published as an e-book after appearing as “The Purple Bag” in the online magazine, HOP Media, in 2016.

2018 saw the publication of IN THE HUSH OF THE NIGHT.

In 2019, Raymond’s latest suspense novel, BLUES IN THE DARK, was published by Skyhorse’s new imprint, Arcade CrimeWise, and his musical score for the short film, GHOSTS IN THE INK, won the award for Best Score at the Vegas Movie Awards.

All of these works, as well as Raymond’s back list from the 80s, 90s, and 00s, are available for purchase on the various Books pages:
Fiction and Non-Fiction
The Black Stiletto Serial
James Bond Novels
Media Tie-Ins

RAYMOND WOULD LIKE TO WISH EVERYONE A MERRY AND SAFE HOLIDAY SEASON AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

ONWARD TO THE 2020s!

“Blues in the Dark” October 2019!

Raymond’s new suspense novel, “BLUES IN THE DARK,” a Hollywood crime drama set in the 1940s and present day that tackles racism, sexism, and murder, will be published on October 8, 2019, by Skyhorse/Arcade CrimeWise.

Karissa Glover is a movie producer who moves into a decrepit but functional old mansion in the West Adams Heights area of Los Angeles, where black celebrities of yesteryear–Hattie McDaniel, Louise Beavers, and others–once resided. The former owner was a white actress, Blair Kendrick, who often starred as the “bad girl”–a femme fatale–in films noir of the 1940s. However, Blair’s career was cut short when she was tragically killed by the mob after allegedly witnessing the slaying of a corrupt studio head in 1949. As Karissa and her producing partner decide to develop a modern film noir about Blair Kendrick, malevolent forces from the past attempt to stop them–first with intimidation, and then with the threat of murder. Is this because Karissa has learned that Blair was involved in a then-taboo interracial relationship with jazz musician Hank Marley? What really happened on the night that death struck in a dimly lit studio mogul’s office? The consequences of Blair and Hank’s doomed love affair still resonate in the present day as Karissa attempts to unravel Blair’s secrets. Seeping with mystery, intrigue, Hollywood history, and forbidden romance, Blues in the Dark is Raymond Benson at his most insightful and page-turning best.

“This lovingly and sharply evoked homage to the glory days of film noir works on every level: as a gripping thriller, as an insightful look at racism in Hollywood, and as a perfect entree into the ever-fascinating world of moviemaking.” (Booklist STARRED Review)

See the Books/Fiction Page to pre-order the hardcover or e-book!

Bonus! Raymond’s 2017 novel, “THE SECRETS ON CHICORY LANE,” will be available in trade paperback with a new cover on September 1, 2019!

New Novel “Blues in the Dark” for 2019

As the year 2018 comes to a close, Raymond is pleased to announce that his next novel is titled BLUES IN THE DARK and will be published by Skyhorse Publishing in the Fall of 2019. In keeping with his previous two novels from Skyhorse, BLUES is a stand-alone suspense tale. This one is set in Hollywood in both the present day and the 1940s. Watch this space for future news regarding BLUES IN THE DARK!

Raymond’s previous novels of suspense from Skyhorse, IN THE HUSH OF THE NIGHT and THE SECRETS ON CHICORY LANE, have received very positive reviews and are still available in hardcover, audiobook, and e-book. See the Fiction Page for links to purchase.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

“In the Hush of the Night” May 15, 2018!

Raymond’s new thriller, IN THE HUSH OF THE NIGHT, will be published by Skyhorse Publishing on May 15, 2018!

From the New York Times bestselling author and former James Bond novelist comes a gritty, riveting tale of modern crime, featuring a female FBI agent embroiled in a Russian human trafficking case.

Chicago Special Agent Annie Marino examines the case of a dead young woman who possesses a tattoo Annie has come across before―that of bloody bear claws. Several deceased women with the tattoo have turned up over the past few years, all suspected of being involved in a vast human trafficking operation.

Annie’s neighborhood friend, Jason Ward, is a young writer engaged to be married into an upper-class family from a posh Chicago suburb. Jason believes his future brother-in-law, a war veteran, is definitely a bully―but does he also have ties to the Russian mob?

Yana Kravec, a woman from St. Petersburg, Russia, has been fraudulently lured into a trafficking scheme and thrown into a horrid and seemingly hopeless situation. She is, however, determined to fight back and escape her captors.

Annie’s investigation eventually uncovers a sordid plot of procuring slaves overseas and marketing them in the US. Her interests soon coincide with those of Jason and Yana, bringing the trio together to fight against a deadly network of criminals. As the separate lives of these characters collide, their paths ultimately converge in a night of terror and survival in a Michigan forest, where they become the prey of evil men who will stop at nothing to protect their secrets.

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“Bringing to light the often-hidden underbelly of human trafficking crimes, Benson spins a riveting, suspenseful narrative that is as much a cat-and-mouse procedural as it is an exploration of the victim’s humanity. The FBI detail is impressively realistic and the dynamic Special Agent, Annie Marino, is terrific!”
―John Douglas, former Chief of FBI’s National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime and co-author of Mindhunter, the basis for the Netflix television series

“With can’t-stop-reading suspense, In the Hush of the Night splits open an ugly international criminal underworld that includes Russia’s vicious FSB. Rich with details, this insider thriller has far-reaching tentacles that FBI Special Agent Annie Marino pulls together through a joint operation of the FBI, ICE, local police, and sheriff organizations across six states. Turn on your reading light and settle in for an exciting ride.”
―Gayle Lynds, New York Times-bestselling author of The Assassins

“Chilling and laced with menace, In the Hush of the Night deftly tackles a horrifying, timely, and too-often-overlooked crime of our day. Annie Marino is a great character, and the author’s knowledge of the underworld is more than a little frightening. If you’re not reading Raymond Benson, you’re missing out.”
―Marcus Sakey, author of the bestselling Brilliance Trilogy and Afterlife

“A gritty, realistic story of human trafficking that introduces Annie Marino, an FBI agent unafraid to work the toughest cases. Benson’s stellar novel In the Hush of the Night twists and turns to the explosive and satisfying ending. You’ll want to hear more from Annie Marino.”
―Jamie Freveletti, internationally bestselling author of Blood Run

“In the Hush of the Night sucked me in and kept me glued to the page. Raymond Benson’s book is an intense and frighteningly authentic portrayal of the harrowing experiences inflicted on human trafficking victims by the depraved men who prey upon them for profit and twisted pleasure. FBI Special Agent Annie Marino’s compassion, strength, and dedication to the pursuit of justice for these women makes her exactly the kind of realistic hero readers crave. A captivating story that will stay with you long after you reach the end.”
―Diane Capri, New York Times- and USA Today-bestselling author of The Hunt for Jack Reacher series

You can pre-order the hardcover, e-book, and audiobook from the link on the Fiction page.

“Secrets on Chicory Lane” $1.99 E-Book Sale!

THE SECRETS ON CHICORY LANE is enjoying a $1.99 #BookBub E-Book Sale for one week only, beginning February 22, 2018! Now’s your chance to pick it up for your e-reader (any platform).

“Benson, a master of suspense, has crafted a story as compelling as any thriller but with a depth of feeling few thrillers achieve. And the ending, I guarantee, will leave you breathless.” –William Kent Krueger, Edgar Award Winning Author of “Ordinary Grace”

Here are links to some retailers:
Amazon Kindle
B&N Nook

Spread the word!

“Torment–A Love Story” now in Trade Paperback!

Raymond’s 2011 ghost story/horror novel, “TORMENT–A LOVE STORY” (previously only available in English as an e-book and audiobook, and in print in Italy), is now available as a trade paperback from Crossroad Press, available from Amazon! A story of voodoo and obsession delivers thrills and chills… and yes, it’s a love story, too! Order it from the Shop: Fiction page!

“The Secrets on Chicory Lane” is Here!

Raymond’s new stand-alone novel, THE SECRETS ON CHICORY LANE, will be published October 10, 2017, by Skyhorse Publishing (note revised pub date), but it is trickling into stores now. The book is also listed on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Links to retailers can be found here.

Reviews will be posted here as they come in.

Raymond has signing events scheduled for October 4, October 8, and November 5 in the Chicago area, and signed books can be pre-ordered from these outlets as well prior to the appearance date.

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From the New York Times bestselling author comes a new novel of suspense involving a small town neighborhood street where first love, a child abduction, and abuse collide.

Sixty-one-year-old Shelby Truman, a best-selling romance novelist, receives a request to visit her childhood friend, Eddie, who is on Death Row. Though mentally ill, Eddie is scheduled to be executed for murder.

As Shelby travels home to Texas for the unnerving reunion, she steps into the memories of her past, recalling her stormy five-decade-long relationship with Eddie in order to understand what led the beautiful and talented—but troubled—boy who lived across the street to become a killer.

Shelby fears that her flashbacks, whether they occurred in the nearby public park, in their respective houses, or in their “secret hiding place” where they could escape Eddie’s abusive father, might be shocking . Most significant was the tragedy of one summer that set in motion a lifelong struggle against an Evil—with a capital “E”—that corrupted their all-American neighborhood.

With only a few days left for Eddie to live, Shelby braces herself for a reunion that promises to shed light on the traumatic events that transpired on her street, changing everything Shelby thought she knew about the boy on Chicory Lane.

Pre-Order “The Secrets on Chicory Lane”

Raymond’s new stand-alone novel, THE SECRETS ON CHICORY LANE, will be published October 3, 2017, by Skyhorse Publishing. The book is now listed on Amazon and Barnes and Noble for pre-order. Links to retailers can be found here.

Reviews will be posted here as they come in.

Raymond has signing events scheduled for October 4 and October 8 in the Chicago area, and books can be pre-ordered at these outlets as well.

* * *

From the New York Times bestselling author comes a new novel of suspense involving a small town neighborhood street where first love, a child abduction, and abuse collide.

Sixty-one-year-old Shelby Truman, a best-selling romance novelist, receives a request to visit her childhood friend, Eddie, who is on Death Row. Though mentally ill, Eddie is scheduled to be executed for murder.

As Shelby travels home to Texas for the unnerving reunion, she steps into the memories of her past, recalling her stormy five-decade-long relationship with Eddie in order to understand what led the beautiful and talented—but troubled—boy who lived across the street to become a killer.

Shelby fears that her flashbacks, whether they occurred in the nearby public park, in their respective houses, or in their “secret hiding place” where they could escape Eddie’s abusive father, might be shocking . Most significant was the tragedy of one summer that set in motion a lifelong struggle against an Evil—with a capital “E”—that corrupted their all-American neighborhood.

With only a few days left for Eddie to live, Shelby braces herself for a reunion that promises to shed light on the traumatic events that transpired on her street, changing everything Shelby thought she knew about the boy on Chicory Lane.

Black Stiletto E-Books Again On Sale!

Once again! THE BLACK STILETTO: THE COMPLETE SAGA e-book (5 books in 1!) is on sale for $2.99 on Amazon Kindle & KOBO thru July 17! The five individual titles are only 99 cents each. Sandra Brown says about The Black Stiletto: “…one of the most original heroines I’ve read in a long time.” Here’s the Amazon link.

20 Year Anniversary of “Zero Minus Ten”!

It was twenty years ago this month (April 1997) that Raymond’s first James Bond novel was published in the UK by Hodder & Stoughton. ZERO MINUS TEN marked the first time an American author assumed the mantle of penning original adult 007 books. It was published in the US in May ’97 by Putnam, and was serialized in Playboy magazine (April and May ’97). The locations include Hong Kong/Kowloon, Macau, China, Australia, England, and Jamaica.

From the jacket flap: “In ten days, Hong Kong will pass into the hands of the Chinese–and 007 is on his way there to undertake his most dangerous and thrilling mission yet. In the Australian desert, a nuclear bomb explodes. There are no survivors, and no clues about who has made it or detonated it. In England, two police officers are shot dead when they apprehend a cargo vessel in Portsmouth dock. Vast quantities of heroin are later found on board. And in Hong Kong, an explosion rips through one of the colony’s famous floating restaurants, killing the entire Board of Directors of EurAsia Enterprises Ltd, a multi-billion dollar shipping corporation. The People’s Republic of China is about to resume control after a century and a half of British rule–and the colony is a powder keg waiting to explode. The tension reaches breaking point when a solicitor from one of Britain’s most prestigious law firms is killed in a car bomb at Government House. These apparently random events are connected–and Bond must find out how and why. From the seedy strip clubs of Kowloon, 007’s investigations bring him into conflict with ruthless Triad gangs, a power-hungry Chinese general–and a beautiful night club hostess called Sunni Pei. All enquiries seem to lead to EurAsia Enterprises Ltd–and its assassinated owner. James Bond is about to come up against one of the most formidable adversaries of his career. A new era of high adventure, intrigue and danger begins for James Bond with Raymond Benson’s eagerly awaited 007 thriller–a story of sensuality and nonstop excitement.”

The novel is currently in print in the trade paperback anthology, CHOICE OF WEAPONS, as an e-book on Amazon Kindle, and as an audiobook. Original print copies of the UK or US hardcover or paperback are often available on Amazon Marketplace and eBay. You can find Amazon links here.