crime – M.J. Hollows/Michael J. Hollows

The German Messenger – Available Now – The new heartbreaking World War 2 historical fiction novel for 2023, from the bestselling author of The German Nurse

My new novel The German Messenger is available now on eBook and audiobook! (Paperback preorder information below)

You can get it from the following links: Amazon (This link takes your to your own country), Waterstones (UK), Bookshop.org (Worldwide), Audible (Audio)

As the bombs fall, the race to save her son begins.

Liverpool, 1940. Journalist Ruth Holt is struggling in the terror of the Blitz when her young son is suddenly snatched away in broad daylight. Soon after, the kidnappers’ demands arrive. They are working with the Nazis, and she has no choice but to co-operate, or the authorities will learn that she is harbouring secrets of her own.

Ruth’s job gives her access to critical information, and if she does not share it with Britain’s enemies, her child will face the consequences. Desperate, she falsifies information, lying to everyone: her employers, her family and her lover. But as the demands increase, the knife edge she walks on grows increasingly thin. If she falls, she will never save her son.

A powerful and heartbreaking WWII historical novel for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Nightingale and Beneath a Scarlet Sky.

Readers LOVE The German Messenger!

‘A mesmerizing historical novel that gripped me from the start… Simply marvellous.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I loved this book… I finished it in one sitting.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A wonderful combination of the impact of the World War II Blitz, skullduggery and friendship all thrown in together… Would recommend.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I did not want to put this book down… I finished in two sittings. I loved it.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The paperback version will be published in the UK on the 30th of March 2023, US & Canada 2nd 0f May 2023, and Australia 3rd of May 2023.

Please consider preordering via the below links:

Amazon (Worldwide)

Bookshop.org (Worldwide)

Barnes and Noble (US)

Indigo (Canada)

Waterstones (UK)

Thank you, and happy reading!

Far Worlds Released!

I meant to blog a few days ago, but I’ve been ill. Oh boy, have I been ill! 4 boxes of man size tissues was not enough to stall this manflu of epic proportions and getting up from the sofa still makes me feel dizzy. On Tuesday I had to drag my sorry arse to the driving theory test centre and spent a horrible 40 minutes curled over the desk. Thankfully I passed. I didn’t fancy having to do that again. (I already passed about ten years ago, but stopped pursuing the practical test after a couple of harsh fails.)

But that’s not the only good thing that happened on Tuesday, no!

Far Worlds was released.

Those of you that have been reading my blog regularly will know of this already, but Far Worlds is a speculative fiction anthology in which I have a story. Its been published by the lovely people of the Bolthole and is currently available on Kindle, here and will be available, I’m told, in paperback next month.

I just love the artwork for this book:

I mean, look at it, how awesome is that? It’s a shame my kindle is black and white. I will be getting a paperback of it!

As part of the promotion for the book, the editors posted an excerpt from each story on the books Facebook page. So I might as well share the excerpt from my story again. Also, each story has its own internal illustration. Manuel Mesones (You can find him here) has done a fantastic job with each of these. I won’t tell you which character this is, but you can all guess in the comments.

What he saw astounded him. He had uncovered a metal construction, approximately one metre in length, curved at one end. The most startling thing about the object was that it was fire-blackened from one end running along its surface, removing all detail, scouring it into a smooth plate. He had no idea what it was or where it had come from; he hadn’t seen anything like it before in his career. But whatever it was, he was sure of one thing.

It wasn’t from this world.

I hope that makes you want to go and read the story and please feel free to add your feedback and comments on here, Amazon or on Goodreads.

Once again, thanks for reading and I hope to be back with some more news soon!