Stroessner & the Reign of Terror
El Reino de Terror
Where the Bones of a Buried Rat Lie
The Quarry at the Crossroads
The Tollbooth in the Labyrinth
Callaghan in the Crosshairs
The Hourglass Running out of Sand
The Final Facedown
The Patricide
The Murders on Three Bridges
The Lady J Experiment
The Crimson Blueprints
Escrito con Sangre
Eldorado – The Fabric of a Legend
The Spoils Raked from the Cinders
The Tears the Sun Wept
Fists of Iron, Tin and Cocaine
Conquerors & Captives
Petty Thieves & Businessmen
Threads Spun in the Dark
Flight towards the End of Light
Graveyard Grapevine
The Game & the Challenge
T the Heart of the Ivory Maze
Destiny Comes with Strings Attached
Más Allá del Límite
La Cara Oscura de la Moneda
The Triumphs of Greed over Soul
When the Reds Fade from Purple (You're Left with the Blues)
Riddles & Madness
Dovetail Deals by the Devil's Door
Life int the Rearview Mirror
Goda Råd & Visdomsord
Stroessner & the Reign of TerrorExperienced by the author when he was detained in a Stroessner torture center, this is the meticulously researched story about the longest-serving dictator in South America in the 20th century. It reveals corruption, drug trafficking, American support, the Nazi link and Operation Condor.“This book is the product of a flagrant violation of human rights that the author personally experienced in 1982. It was the time of the flight of the Condor – the military criminal pact made official in Santiago de Chile on November 25, 1975 to supposedly save the Southern Cone of Latin America from the clutches of atheistic and stateless communism. Paraguay lived this period with terror, and Kim Ekemar's narrative is a valuable contribution to learning about the country's recent history – especially for new generations, who need to know what happened in those years as a fundamental part of an education based on truth and not in the falsification of the past. At its core, 'Stroessner & the Reign of Terror' is a direct criticism of the institutionalization of the State outside the law in Paraguay. This book will eventually become a fundamental basis for the great debate in the classrooms of secondary schools and universities, in cultural centers and – why not – within the National Congress of Paraguay itself.” – Dr. Martín Almada, Alternative Nobel Laureate, and member of the Executive Committee of the American Association of Jurists (AAJ).“Part historical text and part political thriller frightening in its reality, "Stroessner & the Reign of Terror" presents a wealth of information on a tormented era in Latin America’s history. In this true story, Ekemar offers a detailed investigation of one of the most vicious and corrupt dictatorships that the South American continent has ever known.Alfredo Stroessner’s thirty-five-year regime was the longest-lasting dictatorship in twentieth-century South America. Ekemar’s narrative, supported by personal experience and extensive research, paints a chilling picture of the pervasive human rights violations of his iron-fisted rule, which was marked by personal and political corruption, sexual depravity, and the protection of Nazi fugitives, drug traffickers, and terrorists.The text contains reminders that the practice of torture was extensive under Stroessner, with political activists, journalists, peasants, teachers, intellectuals, indigenous tribes, children, and pregnant women among the targeted. Victims were flown out over the Paraná River and dropped to their deaths from airplanes.Ekemar also reveals the extent to which the United States knew about, and was responsible for, the abuses that took place during “Operation Condor,” a Cold War-era campaign of political repression and state terror that involved intelligence operations and the assassination of opponents in South America and elsewhere. The program was intended to eradicate communism and Soviet influence in Latin America’s Southern Cone; sadly, one of the methods used was to prop up brutal right-wing dictatorships in the countries involved, supporting them with funds, training in effective methods of torture, and more. The book vividly and meticulously describes the treatment that Ekemar and his wife received while detained by the Paraguayan police.Front cover art, while graphic and disturbing, is appropriate for the nature and content of the book. To facilitate personal research, Ekemar has included ample listings of data, statistics, and online resources.Part historical text and part political thriller frightening in its reality, El Reino del Terror presents a wealth of information on a tormented era in Latin America’s history. It is a powerful call for the truth to be recognized and taught, and a warning to us all of the perils of failing to honor our human rights and guard our freedom.” - A 5-star rated review by Clarion Foreword Reviews
El Reino de Terror“Part historical text, part political thriller frightening in its reality, this illustrated work presents a wealth of information on a tormented era in Latin America's history. Ekemar also reveals the USA's responsibility for Operation Condor, a Cold War-era campaign of state terror.” - A 5-star rated review by Clarion Foreword Reviews ——————— El “Reino del Terror” efectivamente sumerge al lector en una atmósfera de pesadilla. Es un testimonio sincero de primera mano acerca de una de las dictaduras más feroces que asolaran a nuestro Continente durante el siglo pasado; por así decirlo, es una “micro-historia” que nos remite a las espléndidas obras de ficción de Asturias, García Márquez, Vargas Llosa y Carpentier, entre otras, solo que en este caso se trata de un documento veraz basado en la cruda realidad atestiguada -sufrida- por el autor y su esposa, una realidad ciertamente conmovedora y alucinante. El magnífico esfuerzo de documentación que permite contextuar lo ocurrido redondea sin duda el trabajo. “El Reino del Terror” constituye una lectura obligada para todos aquellos que buscan desentrañar la naturaleza del poder absoluto y sus consecuencias avasalladoras en la vida de las personas de carne y hueso. Por todo ello resulta ser un libro altamente recomendable. – Javier Barros, ex-embajador de México ante la UNESCO https://www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/el-reino-del-terror/ “Este libro es el producto de una flagrante violación a los derechos humanos que el autor personalmente vivió en 1982. Era la década de ‘plomo’, es decir, la época del vuelo del Cóndor, el pacto criminal militar oficializado en Santiago de Chile el 25 de noviembre de 1975 para supuestamente salvar al Cono Sur de América Latina de las garras del comunismo ateo y apátrida. Paraguay vivió con terror este periódo, y el libro de Kim Ekemar es un valioso aporte para conocer la historia reciente del país. En el fondo ‘El Reino del Terror’ es una crítica directa a la institucionalización del Estado al margen de la ley en Paraguay. Este libro va a resultar con el tiempo una base fundamental para el gran debate en las aulas de los colegios secundarios y universitarios, en los centros de cultura y –porqué no– en el seno del propio Congreso Nacional del Paraguay.” – Dr. Martín Almada, Premio Nobel Alternativo "Alfredo Stroessner's thirty-five-year regime was the longest-lasting dictatorship in twentieth-century South America. Part historical text and part political thriller frightening in its reality, 'El Reino del Terror' presents a wealth of information on a tormented era in Latin America's history. Ekemar's narrative, supported by personal experience and extensive research, paints a chilling picture of the pervasive human rights violations of his iron-fisted rule, which was marked by personal and political corruption, sexual depravity, and the protection of Nazi fugitives, drug traffickers, and terrorists. The text contains reminders that the practice of torture was extensive under Stroessner. Ekemar also reveals the extent to which the United States knew about, and was responsible for, the abuses that took place during 'Operation Condor', a Cold War-era campaign of political repression and state terror that involved intelligence operations and the assassination of opponents in South America and elsewhere. 'El Reino del Terror’ is a powerful call for the truth to be recognized and taught, and a warning to us all of the perils of failing to honor our human rights and guard our freedom." – A 5-star rated review by Clarion Foreword Reviews “El libro efectivamente sumerge al lector en una atmósfera de pesadilla. Es un testimonio sincero de primera mano acerca de una de las dictaduras más feroces que asolaran a nuestro Continente durante el siglo pasado; es una historia que nos remite a las espléndidas obras de ficción de Asturias, García Márquez, Vargas Llosa y Carpentier, entre otras, solo que aquí se trata de un documento veraz basado en la cruda realidad sufrida por el autor. El magnífico esfuerzo de documentación que permite contextuar lo ocurrido redondea sin duda el trabajo. ‘El Reino del Terror’ constituye una lectura obligada para todos aquellos que buscan desentrañar la naturaleza del poder absoluto y sus consecuencias avasalladoras en la vida de las personas de carne y hueso. – Javier Barros, ex-embajador de México ante la UNESCO
The first of seven books covering the terrible fate of losing your identity and the right to recover your stolen life.Coming out of a coma, Matthias Callaghan finds himself tied to a hospital bed, wrapped in bandages and suffering from amnesia. As he gradually recovers his memories, Callaghan discovers that he – in a case of mistaken identity – has been mutilated and subject to a full face transplant while being comatose. After being released from the hospital, Callaghan spends months in solitary depression plotting his revenge on the five people who have caused him the loss of his identity and former privileged life. What he learns the hard way is that his revenge must encompass the Russian Mafia, a treacherous lawyer, his former business partner, his ex-wife and his estranged father.“Ekemar plays the plot beautifully … A unique, multilayered tale with fresh twists.” Kirkus Reviews“A well-conceived tale for those who enjoy smart, complex, global intrigue.” Clarion Foreword Reviews“It takes a lot of skill to bring so many interesting characters together, explore their histories, build a great main character, plot out some wild revenge plots and watch what happens, all while making some fascinating points about the follies of greed and pride. A fantastic amount of creativity.” OnlineBookClub Reviews“This is a very captivating novel with a very good plot. The beginning immediately draws the reader into the complex web of mystery.” CreateSpace Reviews
Where the Bones of a Buried Rat LieAfter a second full face transplant Matthias Callaghan eases into a different life together with his new girlfriend Samantha. Not until too late does he realise that the Metropolitan police, the Russian Mafia's legal adviser, a gangster boss named Flint and a group of swindled octogenarian ladies continue their attempts to confront the person they believe he is. The sudden reappearance of his ex-wife makes his life trickier still. Then, when his former business partner is released from prison, Callaghan is sued for millions.Hard pressed from all sides, Callaghan's solution to his situation is to adopt one of his former identities in an attempt to neutralise his enemies by negotiating an assassination."This is multilayered writing at its best, as plot tendrils reach in all directions, and at its center is Callaghan himself—a victim of mistaken identity … It’s a must for those who enjoyed the previous volume. This well-written thriller’s complex plotting and characterization make for a fine read.” – Kirkus Reviews"Callaghan’s quest takes him across the globe and into contact with a vast array of people, both upright and unscrupulous. Engaging subplots involve sex-slave traffickers and wealthy, elderly women who are seeking their own justice after being swindled by his father. The story’s many plot threads are meticulously interlaced, and the pieces come together in a coherent conclusion. That’s a considerable feat because there’s a lot going on and many characters to keep track of.The writing is intelligent and sophisticated … a well-conceived tale for those who enjoy smart, complex, global intrigue.” – Clarion Foreword Reviews“The intricacy with which Matthias plans and juggles his life according to what face he is wearing is quite amazing, and the author shows great skill and dexterity in managing and organizing all his relationships so that he never gets caught in one of his impersonations … The number of storylines adds to the depth, intrigue, and originality of the plot.” – Amazon Editorial Review
The Quarry at the CrossroadsThe third of seven books covering the terrible fate of losing your identity and the right to recover your stolen life.When he's taken in for questioning by the police, Matthias Callaghan is faced with two options: to maintain the identity he has been obliged to adopt or to reveal his real one. For different reasons, in either case he risks going to prison and losing a fortune.Callaghan realises that he must flee Europe and decides to start a new life in Australia. After selling off everything he owns, he travels to USA to shake off any pursuers. Unknown to him, he's nevertheless followed by an assassin. After the assassin catches up with him at a desert hotel, Callaghan understands that he has to change his escape plan and instead crosses the border to Mexico.Unaware of the extent of the manhunt mounted to find him, he's all of a sudden preyed upon by the FBI, Interpol, two competing drug cartels, a London gangster kingpin and the Russian Mafia."As usual, Ekemar expertly balances his myriad schemes and characters … this penultimate volume is an electrifying thrill ride that sends its disparate characters rushing toward their various destinies. The author tops it all off by leaving readers teetering on a cliffhanger. Once again, Ekemar’s well-drawn, realistic characters and wild, suspenseful plot render this an absolute must-read for series fans.” – Kirkus Reviews“The plot is suspenseful and tightly constructed. Throughout the manuscript, the suspenseful tone is kept up well from all points of view. The international crime, medical, and economic content all struck me as believable and well researched. The book is indeed hard to put down.” – Amazon Editorial Review“The writing is intelligent and sophisticated. The main characters deftly conduct global transactions in prose that is detail-rich. The story’s many plot threads are meticulously interlaced, and the pieces come together in a coherent conclusion. That’s a considerable feat because there’s a lot going on and many characters to keep track of. This is a well-conceived tale for those who enjoy smart, complex, global intrigue.” – Foreword Clarion Reviews
The Tollbooth in the LabyrinthThe fourth of seven books covering the terrible fate of losing your identity and the right to recover your stolen life.Chased across the world by police and criminals alike, Matthias Callaghan eludes them all by hiding in Australia. With his girlfriend Samantha, he starts a new life in the belief that he hasn't left traces behind allowing Interpol, the Russian Mafia and a London gangster named Flint to find him. Six months later he finds out that he's wrong.Once again on the run, he and Samantha escapes to a distant island where they try to come to grips with Callaghan's quandary. Due to the greed and mistakes of others, he has lost his face, his identity and his former privileged life. Although the price to pay will be steep, the pair settles on a daring plan to remove all threats to Callaghan's existence and allow him to recover his true identity.“Ekemar packs the finale of this original, complex tale with action and intrigue from stem to stern … As in earlier installments, Callaghan’s schemes are intricate and brilliant, as is Ekemar’s successful juggling of the sheer volume of characters, deceits, motives, and themes … A fitting thrill ride of a conclusion to a four-book series packed with complex characters, motives, and themes that will delight and perhaps trouble, but not disappoint, fans of this series.” – Kirkus Reviews
Callaghan in the CrosshairsThe fifth of seven books covering the terrible fate of losing your identity and the right to recover your stolen life.“Ekemar (The Callaghan Tetralogy, 2018, etc.) revisits the adventurous exploits of Matthias Callaghan in this exhilarating opening to a new trilogy.Ekemar spends the lion’s share of this installment laying out the protagonist’s situation while establishing the various characters and what roles they’ll play in the cliffhanger ending.He effectively assembles a complex web of mobsters, reporters, cops (clean and dirty, local and international), smugglers, and people who’ve been wronged by one or more of Callaghan’s ever shifting personae. The action bounces around to encompass Russian gangster machinations in the United Kingdom, a smuggling operation by plane and camel caravan in Morocco and Mauritania, other members of the Russian mob tailing a dirty cop as he lives it up in France, a crucial arrest at an Italian airport, and a blissfully ignorant Callaghan awaiting his third child. In between, Ekemar skillfully and unobtrusively recaps pertinent details of Callaghan’s unique history via dialogue, introspection, speculation, and exposition. Readers will find it useful to read Ekemar’s last four Callaghan books before approaching this one. However, it will surely please established fans.“A fast-paced, page-turning continuation of a singular and thought-provoking series.” – Kirkus Reviews
The Hourglass Running out of SandThe sixth of seven books covering the terrible fate of losing your identity and the right to recover your stolen life.
The Final FacedownThe last of seven books covering the terrible fate of losing your identity and the right to recover your stolen life.
The PatricideAfter a fire, the wealthy landowner Patrice Lafarge is found alone and dead in his bedroom locked from the inside. Inspector Rimbaud reviews the case and counts on the help of his sharp-witted Aunt Emilie. What at first appears to be an accidental death is after the autopsy declared to be a homicide. One of the children at home on Clos Saint-Jacques to celebrate Patrice Lafarge’s 75th birthday over a May weekend has to be the killer, but – who did it, how was it done and for what reason?This clever ‘whodunit’ set in 1935 France introduces a winning pair of sleuths, Inspector Jean-Claude Rimbaud and his savvy aunt Emilie Beauchamp, who probe the death – behind a locked door – of Patrice Lafarge, whose heirs had gathered at his country estate to learn of a change to his will. As in many Golden Age puzzle mysteries, the plot is the key … Readers who enjoy pitting their wits against that of the author will find themselves satisfied by the surprising solution. – The BookLife Prize in Fiction
The Murders on Three BridgesIn need of a change of scenery, Detective Inspector Ricardo Arriaga boards Stella Australis for a trip around Tierra del Fuego. Before the ship reaches Cape Horn, the officer alone on the bridge is shot dead while sailing the ship a short distance across a bay. When other officers come rushing to enter the bridge, they found all doors leading to it locked from the inside. With most passengers and crew ashore on an excursion to a glacier and the runaway ship headed for shipwreck on the rocky coast, the captain is faced with overwhelming challenges.The detective inspector eventually deduces that the death of the officer must be murder. By meticulously going through the evidence and interrogating the crew and passengers still onboard, he narrows down the suspects to nine – but who among them is the killer? The American CIA agent on a secret mission or his talented wife? The Lebanese profiteer or his Turkish mistress? The ship’s hostess and its assistant engineer getting rid of her bothersome ex-lover? The aloof British photographer affected by too many wars? The disabled Frenchman suffering from food poisoning? The ship’s doctor about to retire after having spent half a lifetime in the Middle East? And then there’s the most confounding question of all: how was the murderer able to escape with the doors locked from the inside?There comes a moment when the detective inspector finds himself challenged by the explanations for the murders that have taken place on not only one but three different bridges, and one of these concerns his two fathers – the one he has never met and the one he is litigating.
The Lady J ExperimentThis is a novel that invites many descriptions: a thriller with erotic undercurrents; a study about where today’s technology will take us in the near future; a discussion about the definition of identity; and, at the same time, a story about relentless revenge.In 2059, three female clones, named after their prototype Lady J, escape from the Scottish research centre where they have been brought to life a decade earlier. Their bodies are governed by one single mind, which is determined on avenging the callous experiments that Dr Galmuth, responsible for the Lady J clones’ in-vitro-births, has performed out of greed. The clones’ flight through England eventually brings them … no, her … to London, where they – no, she – starts a killing spree with the intention of letting Dr Galmuth slowly face the appropriate consequences for the treatment of his laboratory-developed progeny who are growing three times faster than other humans. Provoked by Dr Galmuth’s actions, she evolves into a prodigious murderess with the final goal of getting him to pay the highest personal price possible.Besides being a thrilling story where it’s hard to tell whether you agree with the assassin or those who hunt her, this futuristic novel – based on realistic, present-day technological research combined with a psychological study of the human psyche – is a mind-boggling tale about what the future may have in store for us.
The Crimson BlueprintsThe letters, diaries and other documents related to the strange events leading up to the McPherson fire murders; and the previouslyunpublished novel The Ship by the late Paul B.Crimson.At the end of the sixties Paul B. Crimson fought in the war that USA waged against Viet Nam. During the three years he stayed on, he learnt how to kill and how to abuse drugs. He also kept diaries of everything he experienced, and which he later concentrated into a manuscript.On his return to USA this manuscript of his was accepted by a publisher and had an astonishing reception. Living off the royalties, however, he slipped into the habits acquired overseas. Eventually his editor convinced him to start writing a follow-up to his success and cleaning up his act by moving to a small town in Maine.Crimson started writing his second novel with no clear idea how it would end. By fusing keen observations of people in tranquil Harbor with notes from his editor and his soldiering past in Vietnam, he launched The Ship – a terrifying scenario of snowstorms, survival and soul searching. Then Crimson’s unstableness provoked events to spin out of control, while he let his work in progress mirror his perceptions of them.This astonishing compilation of the documents Paul Crimson left behind shows how he was manipulated, how war memories provoked him to be insane and – despite all – the creative process he went through writing this terrible novel.This is a multi-layered narrative about manipulation, the impacts of war and the creative process. Only months before his own death, Crimson’s editor handed over all unpublished documents in this strange affair to Kim Ekemar. His compelling compilation – replete with ice and fire, chilling violence and searing psychological drama – explores the complex boundaries of reality and human experience.
Escrito con SangreCuando fue publicado en 1971, la novela de guerra de Paul Crimson, Velvetón Nocturno, resultó en un gran éxito. Persuadido por su editor de escribir otro libro, el renuente Crimson finalmente aceptó de hibernar en un pueblo en la costa de New England para curar su impedimento para escribir.Manipulado por intereses comerciales, Crimson comenzó a escribir su segunda novela sin tener la idea de como la iba a terminar. Fusionando sus agudas observaciones de la gente en el tranquilo pueblo de Harbor, notas con sugerencias de su editor y su pasado como soldado en Viet Nam, botó La Nave – una historia terrorífica de tormentas de nieve, supervivencia y almas perdidas. Luego la inestabilidad emocional de Crimson provocó los acontecimientos de escapar fuera de control, algo que Crimson refleja como él los percibe en la novela que está escribiendo.Esto es una historia de capa tras otra infinidad de capas llenas de manipulación, los impactos de guerra y el proceso creativo. Unos pocos meses antes de su muerte, el editor de Crimson entregó a Kim Ekemar todos los documentos inéditos en este caso extraño. Su absorbente recopilación – repleta con hielo y fuego, violencia escalofriante y trama sicológico abrasador – explora los límites complejos de la realidad y la experiencia humana.
Eldorado – The Fabric of a LegendThe myth of Eldorado spread due to a ritual the Muisca tribe performed in present-day Colombia. However, the territory that the Muisca controlled didn't have much gold to speak of; instead they traded salt from their salt mines for the occasional payment in the precious metal.Nevertheless, the legend of the chief of the Muisca tribe offering gold and precious stones to a remote lake caught the ears of many conquistadors who wanted to repeat the fantastic feats of Hernando Cortés and Francisco Pizarro.The expeditions – each one more extravagant and costly than the previous – caused unimaginable misery for anyone involved and all the victims that stood in their way.
The Spoils Raked from the CindersDuring the WWII, Anton Gleichner – employed by the Hitler regime to decommission valuables from Jewish citizens in France – realized early on that Germany was bound to lose the war. When an opportunity presented itself, he seized upon it to steal a fortune in gold with the intention of starting a new life in South America.Against the background of the greatest war looting in history, the story follows Gleichner's desperate and often violent attempts to flee Europe for South America, where he hopes his stolen treasure will provide him with a new identity and an anonymous, comfortable life.His escape route takes the reader across France, Spain and Portugal where his most primitive instincts barely managed to keep him alive. To his great relief, he eventually reached Buenos Aires. It didn’t take long, however, before he discovered that the migration of fleeing Nazi officers to Argentina imperiled his own situation.Meanwhile, the members of the Nazi leadership who didn’t commit suicide or managed to flee to South America, were facing the Nuremberg trials after the war had ended.
The Tears the Sun WeptWhen the WWII is nearing its end, Anton Gleichner – who works for the Nazi organization Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg decommissioning valuables from Jewish citizens in France – realizes Germingany is bound to lose the war. He decides to steal a fortune in gold objects, escape the Nazi's inevitable defeat in Europe and start a new life in South America. There he forms a business agreement with the American Charles Munroe.Four decades later, the freelance journalist Dusty Dawes gets an assignment for The National Geographic Magazine to investigate the cocaine trade between Colombia to the USA.The task takes him across mountains on horseback and by riverboat to the production facilities, and later, by coincidence, to one of the top leaders who launders the organization’s proceeds.Incorporated in the main story are historical flashbacks that created the South America that Dusty encountered in 1982: The ritual that created the Eldorado myth, the dwellers in the Amazon rainforest and the slave trade originating in Africa.This is the first book in the illustrated thriller trilogy The Circles of Gold.
Fists of Iron, Tin and CocaineAfter Dusty has managed to track down João, one of the leading members of the Cartagena Cartel, he travels from Salvador to Rio de Janeiro, where he gets romantically involved with João’s mistress, Jacie. When she suddenly disappears, Dusty eventually discovers that she has traveled to Paraguay on João’s instructions to withdraw a large sum of money in cash.When they, to Jacie's surprise, meet again in Asunción where she's been obliged to stay put for several days due to a local bank holiday, they are both imprisoned owing to the excessive security surrounding an event that Paraguay's president is attending.After Jacie has extricated herself from her detention by denouncing Dusty as a terrorist, she is finally able to withdraw the money João has ordered her to pick up. She flies to La Paz where she meets him and is given new instructions by João where to deliver the money.Two days later, Dusty risks escaping the jail where he's been held, and an alert for his capture is issued. After reaching out to his consulate and getting diplomatic protection, Dusty is declared persona non grata and expelled. Knowing that Jacie possessed a ticket to La Paz, he follows her there.In between the chapters, there is vital historic context about Alfredo Stroessner's dictatorship and the tin king Simón Patiño who went from being among the poorest in Bolivia to become one of the world’s richest men.This is the second book in the illustrated thriller trilogy The Circles of Gold.
Conquerors & CaptivesChased on the Inca Trail from Machu Picchu to Km 88 with a fortune in their backpack, the unprepared Dusty and Jacie suffer the capricious weather conditions for days and nights trekking above the clouds while being pursued by two thugs from the Cartagena Cartel.After being ambushed and abducted on their return to Cusco, they are flown to Colombia to be questioned by the Cartagena Cartel's leading members, where their future fate is planned by the sadistic Jaime Nava. Seeing how Jacie rapidly deteriorates in Nava's hands with the intent of forcing Dusty to bend to his will and kill a former associate, Dusty desperately searches for a way out of their captivity.This, the third and last installment in the illustrated thriller trilogy The Circles of Gold, is set to the historic background of the Inca chieftains fratricidal war, Francisco Pizarro's daring conquest of the Inca empire and the mounting search for the elusive Eldorado kingdom where the streets were rumored to be paved with gold
Petty Thieves & BusinessmenIn 1982, the independent reporter Dusty Dawes is offered the assignment to investigate the production facilities, the smuggling routes and the organization behind the cocaine reaching the US.He travels to Colombia, where he has been permitted to watch the production operations in San Agustín and in the Amazon rainforest. What neither he nor his editor-in-chief, understand, is that they are being manipulated for business purposes by Jaime Nava, the powerful Cartagena cartel adviser.Then Jaime Nava's plans go awry when Dusty on an impulse deviates from the travel route that has been planned for him.Petty Thieves & Businessmen is the first volume in the thriller trilogy The Beaked Whale Assignment.
Threads Spun in the DarkAfter Dusty has managed to track down João, one of the main bosses behind the Cartagena Cartel, he travels from Salvador to Rio de Janeiro, where he gets romantically involved with João’s mistress, Jacie. When she disappears, Dusty finds out that she has traveled to Paraguay on João ’s instructions to withdraw a large sum of money in cash.When they, to Jacie's surprise, meet again in Asunción where she's been obliged to stay put for several days due to a local bank holiday, they are both imprisoned owing to excessive security surrounding an event that Paraguay's president is performing.After Jacie has extricated herself from her detention by sellingout Dusty, the next day she finally receives the money João hasinstructed her to withdraw. She flies to La Paz where she meets himand gets new instructions from João where to deliver the money.Two days later, Dusty risks escaping the jail where he's been held, and an alert for his capture is issued. After reaching out to his consulate and getting diplomatic protection, Dusty is declared persona non grata and expelled from Paraguay. Knowing that Jacie had a ticket to La Paz, he follows her there.When Dusty discovers that she has gone by train and boat to Peru, he takes the same route. Unaware that a member of the Cartagena cartel is observing him, Dusty bumps into Jacie again. They travel together by train to Cusco, where João awaits her.Threads Spun in the Dark is the second volume in the thriller trilogy The Beaked Whale Assignment.
Flight towards the End of LightChased on the Inca Trail from Machu Picchu to Km 88, the insufficiently prepared Dusty and Jacie suffer the capricious weather conditions for days and nights trekking above the clouds while being pursued by two thugs from the Cartagena cartel.After being abducted on their return to Cusco, they are flown to Colombia to be questioned by the Cartagena cartel's leading members, where their future fate is planned by the sadistic Jaime Nava. Watching Jacie rapidly deteriorating in Nava's hands, Dusty desperately searches for a way out of their captivity.Flight Towards the End of Light is the third and final installment in the thriller trilogy The Beaked Whale Assignment
Graveyard GrapevineEleven short stories in the span between life and death.Not everything is what it seems – a tombstone doesn’t necessarily mean the end of a person’s life. The remarkable short stories included in this book narrate eleven extraordinary cases with the common theme that life challenges death. So, prepare yourself for the meeting with a Tibetan monk as he contemplates his way out of a Chinese prison, a Mexican mythomaniac’s idea of true beauty, and the secret caller of a Russian Duchess. You will encounter a ruthless German concentration camp commander, a shipwreck survivor in the Indian Ocean, and a spy novel writer with emerald eyes. You will be shown how too much luck can become a strikingly sad experience, how the prospect of taxes can be more aggravating than the knowledge of looming death, and that orchestrating your own demise for a new life is a daunting task indeed. There’s an account of the repeated delays for a man condemned to death because he refuses the humiliation of getting down on his knees yet another time.Most terrifying of these captivating tales is, perhaps, the unique opportunity to listen in on the cut-up confession of a plastic surgeon after his execution.“Death comes in many guises and registers—tragic, comic, ironic—in these mordantly entertaining stories.” - Kirkus Reviews“I am always thrilled when I can rate a book 4 out of 4 stars. This collection was a powerful and fascinating read. After I had finished, I tried to think back and pick a favorite story, but they were all so different and so well written that I couldn't decide on the best.” – Onlinebookclub Reviews
The Game & the ChallengeThirteen short stories about moments preceding the inevitable.What’s it going to be – the dice or the gauntlet?If you’re game, here are thirteen thought-provoking short stories to challenge you.Rumours of a mad captain’s ship stranded in the desert attract men from around the world, each armed with a different theory. Two generals play Russian roulette that’s bound to have a checkmate ending. And as for the game of chess, you’re in for several surprises as its key moments throughout history are revealed.A bobby treads the London streets where the cobblestones rhyme. An Arabian princess will tell you the story behind her dead lover’s eyes. The powerful pull of a macumba moon makes for a ghoulish supper. When the gift of a golden wish turns true, the consequences become dicey. Getting to work in Mexico City turns out to be more than a difficult task, considering the time involved.Read the letters revealing the palindrome nature of a relationship made impossible. Join a confidence game in which the con man gets trapped in his own device. Get an invitation to a hilarious movie pre-production meeting that ends with disaster. Enjoy the memoirs of a self-made scrap millionaire who doesn’t shy away from the pleasures in life.And – how would you react if you were handed the world on a plate, with no knowledge of the price tag? Read and decide for yourself – if you’re up to the challenge.“Thirteen riveting short stories of suspense and intrigue: a commute to work in overcrowded Mexico City turns out to be a journey of many twists and turns. A Chinese and a Russian general decide who will win a battle by having a contest that includes Russian roulette and a chess game using prisoners of war as live pieces. A man who has the power to have anything he wants discovers the deeper meaning and implications of having wishes come true. A con artist who thinks he hit the jackpot winds up in prison, but that’s just the beginning of a tale of one-upmanship. These are just some of the plots, places, and characters in these stories, which can all be aptly be described as page-turners. Ekemar enhances his engrossing plots with a finely honed gift for description and metaphor, whether he’s presenting his characters or the vast array of worldwide locations and historical settings they inhabit. In “Mad Captain Boccaccio and the Ship in the Desert,” for instance, the desert fire and the man beside it are palpable: “The boulders cast long shadows across the space that separated them, thumb-nosed by the dancing flames that interrupted the serenity of the place. The man wore a cape … It covered him completely from head to feet, and barely allowed one to imagine the bearded features of a weathered face well past fifty.A book of provocative, gripping tales, replete with elaborative imagery.” – Kirkus Reviews“Ekemar enhances his engrossing plots with a finely honed gift for description and metaphor. A book of provocative, gripping tales, replete with elaborative imagery” Kirkus. “I can’t remember an overall stronger book of short stories that I’ve ever come across prior to reading this one” Onlinebookclub Review. ”This collection will appeal to readers who enjoy fiction with absurdist twists that near magical realism” AmazonNo matter the genre, setting or year being represented, the one thing that the stories have in common is the excellent writing style of the author that is consistently showcased throughout each individual story. The same style is apparent as an undercurrent to each story even as they quite often shift in tone as the book progresses. It is indeed an impressive feat that the author has been able to pull off in this collection. I can’t remember an overall stronger book of short stories that I have ever come across prior to reading this one. The stories are just as engaging as they are diverse. Overall, this compilation has something for just about any reader out there as it covers so many tastes in such a myriad of ways. There is truly so much variety in this collection that it is still quite amazing to me that the author made it come together so well as a cohesive overall piece of work. – Onlinebookclub Reviews“This collection will appeal to readers of literary fiction, particularly those who enjoy fiction with an absurdist twist that nears magical realism.” – Amazon Editorial Review
T the Heart of the Ivory MazeIn this a-maze-ing collection you will lose yourself in nine original and entertaining short stories about the traps and benefits of taking advantage. Join the frantic train ride of a rock ‘n’ roll star and the legacy in its wake. Listen to the haunting sounds from the tomb of a cool club-land saxophone player. Learn the false reasons for the murderous example taught by a Mafia boss in Rome. Share the pragmatic gunpoint view of an Afghan suitor made cynical by war. Suffer through a thousand and one gourmet dinners endured under the threat of decapitation. Enter a killing game making it into the Internet age, get to know a drug addict who trades his vice for someone else’s soul, and meet a witty critic with a heart of stone and a pen of steel. And somewhere near its heart you’ll bump into an escape artist whose success fails him when he can’t escape from the maze he’s in.
Destiny Comes with Strings AttachedTwelve short stories about control – lost or exploited.Did you ever ponder the events that control our fates?From this collection of short story gems you will understand that our destinies are not ruled by chance but that they are in the hands of someone … perhaps even in yours, should you be among the fortunate ones. Meet a genius with a bottle, a juggler with words and spouses traded in their husbands’ interest. Strings are pulled in a courtesan’s letters, and with the use of manipulated pictures they cause the downfall of a Caribbean dictator. As food for thought: stars are sold for peanuts, a vineyard turns out sour grapes and wild strawberries evoke past passion. A mistake turns a castle in the air into reality. The arrival of death comes as virtual relief from the venomous tongue of a mother-in-law. Curses arrive carried by the winds: one in the shape of a written note and others brought by a black eagle. If you believe our lives are made up of haphazard events, you’re in for a surprise. After you’ve read these twelve tales, your heart will feel a gentle tug to remind you that your destiny, too, comes with strings attached.
Más Allá del LímiteEn las historias que arman este mosaico de sentimientos humanos, el lector dará la vuelta al mundo antes de encontrarse en momentos muy distintos del siglo XX para incorporarse a ocho culturas tan distintas como distantes.Conoce a don Rafa, un hombre mexicano muy simpático. Sin embargo, no puede ni decir ni vivir con la verdad. Las únicas excepciones son las que se refieren a la amistad entre hombres, al reconocimiento de la belleza femenina y en los enfrentamientos en las corridas de toros.Una Nota Final en D Sostenido Menor es un cuento escrito para a todo volumen repiquetear con sonidos. Un genio del jazz vive su historia de amor y traición. Para él, lo que más importa es el ambiente adecuado para explorar la música – aunque en la orquesta la revancha toca un blues mortal.Un par de escritores protegidos del sol africano por la sombra de un árbol espinoso, en una cultura extraña para ambos, no se conocen más que por los intercambios lejanos de sus miradas y, a través de este lenguaje silencioso y sutil, se inspiran para reinventar uno la vida del otro.Los suecos tienen dos temas que no dejan de platicar: el clima y su opresivo sistema de impuestos. ¿Qué se puede hacer para evadirlos? No es inusual que encuentran estos temas hasta más importantes que la muerte.Desde hacía tiempo, en Estados Unidos la codicia y el entretenimiento extravagante se habían vuelto dos factores claves en el mundo del espectáculo. La pregunta es: ¿qué tan lejos están unos hermanos escapistas dispuestos a llegar para satisfacerlos?Un hombre vividor, preso en Arabia, es condenado a muerte. Con la ayuda de su amplio conocimiento de los asuntos gourmet, muy astuto logra un arreglo cocinando para el jeque a cambio de veinticuatro horas más de vida. Aunque el jeque tiene la cabeza del prisionero a su merced, su estómago está a la merced de su prisionero.Como consecuencia de su superstición y pobreza extrema, dos campesinos en Malasia se retan sobre una boleta de la lotería. El destino duplica el resultado de su reto de manera caprichosa, comprobando que la suerte puede llegar en distintas formas.En un cuarto de ejecución, un cirujano plástico se encuentra oficialmente declarado muerto. Mientras sus pensamientos están trozados en pedazosrecordando los eventos que lo llevaron a su condena, su relato muestra que la hipocresía, la vanidad y el deseo por la venganza son fuerzas sumamenteimportantes en la negación de la verdad.
La Cara Oscura de la MonedaEn estos relatos, el lector se encontrará en un viaje impredecible para conocer siete mundos completamente distintos. También será un viaje en tiempo donde los personajes, los escenarios y sus motivos cambian de historia a historia.Un monje tibetano contempla los cinco obstáculos que lo previene fugar de una prisión imposible de escapar, hasta que la fuerza bruta que lo mantiene encarcelado está vencida por la fuerza de su voluntad.La vida de una estrella de rock ’n’ roll toma el ritmo de un tren. Después de lentamente haber partido de la estación cuando era niña, la falta de control resultado de sus éxitos hace que empieza a viajar más rápido hasta que su vida se vuelve un tren desenfrenado.Mientras un despiadado pero hábil administrador de un campo de concentración está en constante búsqueda de soluciones, una ama de casa en un pueblo cercano lamenta que cada rato está obligada limpiar las ventanas de su casa.Un náufrago en el océano Índico usa su ingenio parar luchar contra los elementos por su supervivencia.Basado en un crimen verídico, este acontecimiento tomó lugar en Guatemala en 1971. La ejecución de los culpables fue publicada de manera extensa, y el sentimiento público era que se había logrado justicia en el caso. Pero – ¿cuál fue la razón que los llevó a su atroz crimen? Revisando los antecedentes, deberían existir explicaciones lógicas de por qué se desencadenan crímenes sin sentido como éste.Una duquesa rusa abruptamente decide viajar de Moscú a su casa en la campiña para finalmente recibir un pretendiente rechazado.Como si fuera con el pincel de un pintor, seis personas dejan sus impresiones individuales sobre un lienzo donde la escena es un café pintoresco donde las pinceladas de la suerte y las mentes conspiradoras de los participantes resultan ser exactamente como el aire primaveral – impresiones falsas. Entre los estafadores y los engañados, ninguno puede evitar registrar una pérdida.
The Triumphs of Greed over SoulThis book includes four narratives from South America's past:In 1750, a sailing ship with a cargo of slaves from West Africa destined for Brazil was caught in the horse latitudes' doldrums with disastrous consequences for everyone on board. The slaves rebelled against their inhuman conditions including being shackled, but the uprising was quelled. When the wind finally started blowing again, an ostracized tribal member from the Amazon rainforest was encountered at sea and added to the cargo.In 1872, the poor, illiterate and orphaned Simón Patiño was struggling to survive. Years later, by luck and cunning, he became the proprietor of a property that turned out to be the most prosperous tin mine in the world. Thanks to his shrewd manipulations, reinforced by bribes, he eventually managed to dominate Bolivia's exports and become one of the richest persons in the world.In 1931, the astute founder of a growing crime organization in Rio de Janeiro came up with an idea to enrich himself further. To his great surprise and satisfaction, his promotion of a samba school competition made a lasting impression, which continues to this day. But while he was successful creating the most famous carnival in the world, his scheming didn't work out as planned when he confronted his main competitor to determine who would rule the Rio underworld.In 1972, Paraguay's dictator Alfredo Stroessner fought for a year to solve several simultaneous and apparently impossible challenges against his interests. How could he avoid the suspension of the yearly million-dollar aid from the USA, if he didn't give up the heroin trafficker Auguste Ricord? If he gave up Auguste Ricord, would the army generals on Ricord's payroll launch a coup against him? How could he explain the gruesome fate of the two German scammers to the ambassador? In what manner could he get rid of Josef Mengele, who some years earlier had paid handsomely for a Paraguayan citizenship?
When the Reds Fade from Purple (You're Left with the Blues)Lyrics to fourteen songs weighing the impact of challenges and loss.
Riddles & MadnessLyrics to fifteen songs hatched in mysterious dimensions.
Dovetail Deals by the Devil's DoorLyrics to fourteen songs reviewing the manipulative and the diabolical.
Life int the Rearview MirrorLyrics to fourteen songs contemplating wishful thinking and the conclusions of past experiences.
Goda Råd & VisdomsordVisdomsord som ser sanningen i vitögat.Observationer som får en att nicka i samförstånd.Ordstäv som framkallar ett leende.Denna samling av mer eller mindre insiktsfulla ordspråk började med att författaren ville skapa ett stilprov för den nya sättmaskin med 100-tals fonter som hans reklambyrå med sätteri och tryckeri införskaffat i slutet på 1980-talet. Projektet avslutades emellertid aldrig emedan företaget såldes innan stilprovet blev färdigställt.Den ursprungliga idén med stilprovet var att varje font skulle illustreras med ett roande ordspråk ackompanjerat av en lätt beskrivning avseende typsnittets upphovsman, dess historia, m m.På dessa sidor återfinns många av de unika ordstäv som skulle ingå – här dock återgivna i en och samma font. Denna senare omständighet hindrar dessbättre inte läsaren av dessa visdomsord från att lyfta på mungiporna vid en genomgång av denna samling av iakttagelser som gjorda för att framkalla smilgropar.
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