I have some exciting news about an author whose work I have reviewed on this blog before, Luke G. Dahl. Dahl has just recently released a new book called Gangs of Stockholm, a true psychological thriller about a teenaged boy who becomes a member of one of Stockholm’s infamous gangs. In an exciting twist, Gangs of Stockholm has even been dubbed the #1 New Release in Amazon’s Teen & Young Adult Literary Biography eBooks category!
Check out Gangs of Stockholm on Amazon.
Eric is an ordinary boy with an ordinary life in Stockholm, Sweden. Then one day, a well-intended act of bravery leads him down a one-way road straight into Stockholm’s underworld. Seduced by the adrenaline and secrecy of gang life, it doesn’t take long for gang activity to become the driving force of Eric’s life. But what causes great excitement can also cause great pain–how will he survive it? Will he be able to keep his secret double-life from his family? And will Eric ever have to face the consequences of his choices?
Like Daddy’s Curse, this book is both heart-wrenching and compelling, most especially as it is based on real events. Eric is a very relatable character, and it’s hard to not feel for him when things begin to fall apart. Of course, I feel that there could be more to the story than what is told in this novel, but I suppose there’s only so much that can be done when a book is based on a true story.
Also, if you don’t like violence or can’t stomach it, you probably won’t want to read this. After all, it’s about gangs; there’s bound to be violence, and a lot of it. And if you don’t like emotional reads, this book isn’t for you, either. Eric is not only part of a gang but is also on the verge of adulthood; emotions run rampant, and there isn’t exactly such a thing as a “happy ending” in this world.
Regardless, if you like crime stories and coming-of-age novels, you’ll find Gangs of Stockholm to be very engaging and captivating.
You may have noticed another name on the Amazon page. Yes, I worked as editor for this novel and other works by Luke G. Dahl over the past few months. After I reviewed Daddy’s Curse, Dahl offered me some editing work in the revision of Daddy’s Curse and a couple of his other works. I am very grateful for this work, especially since I really enjoyed these stories and am glad to have been able to make them the best they could be.
In addition to the new book, one of Dahl’s other books, Daddy’s Curse, has just been named an Amazon bestseller in the Teen & Young Adult Literary Biography eBooks category.
Check out Daddy’s Curse on Amazon.
Please join me in congratulating Luke G. Dahl in the comments below.
Do you have a new book coming out? Know of another small-print or indie author releasing some new work? Drop a line in the comments or e-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com and I might announce it in a future post.
Designed by Stephanie Hoogstad circa 2011
is it just me, or are most of the novels you recently reviewed contain violent material? >.<
The short answer: I suppose you could say that a lot of them have had that sort of content. Violence is, after all, an unavoidable reality, so I don’t see any reason to hide from it. At least in books I don’t have to worry about getting caught up in it and I’m removed from it enough to not be too overwhelmed.
The long answer: while over the course of the last year I have certainly reviewed many books with violence in them, many also do not or the violence is rather tame and/or off screen. Mumbai Matinee and Crossing Allenby Bridge, for example, contain some more tragic scenes but not have much violence actually shown blatantly in the narratives themselves. Then there are those books like what I have reviewed most recently–Skooter Girl, Lakewood, Sunshine’s Excellent Adventures, and The Present is a Gift–which contain little or, in some cases, no violence whatsoever. It all depends on the genre. Crime novels, for example, are almost guaranteed to have violent material because that’s how the world of crime works. With other genres, such as fantasy and science fiction, I just happen to like a certain kind of novel, that which pushes characters into extreme situations and tests the boundaries of humanity; often, testing these boundaries will lead to violence and emotional turmoil. Violence tied together with emotional upheaval can be key to heightening tension and creating a fulfilling reading experience. Not always, of course, as I’m certain there are numerous examples from a wide variety genres which do not need any violence in order to maximize the tension and entertainment appeal, but frequently. (That’s a bit different when you get to kid’s and middle grade books, but that’s a different story.)
what’s the not-so-short answer? -_-
The part of the comment that starts with “the long answer”. 🙃