Starred Review from Publishers Weekly for Act of Will

*

As 18-year-old orphaned actor Will Hawthorne explains early on in this clever page-turner, "I don't want you thinking you're going to get a tale about some blue-eyed tyke with a heart of gold in a world where good triumphs over evil. You're not, I'm not, and in my experience it never does." Charged as a rebel after escaping the authorities in a world not unlike Elizabethan England, obnoxious, charming Will joins a small mercenary group and proves himself the least honorable of them all. When the group comes under attack from crimson-armored raiders, Will reluctantly fails to betray the companions he is even more reluctantly growing to like. In small, swift "scenes," Hartley (On the Fifth Day) deftly proves that people you shouldn't trust at your back can be the best ones to have at your side. (Mar.) Publishers Weekly 1.5.2009

From Booklist

This fantasy by a Shakespearean scholar tells the story of hapless young actor William Hawthorne in a

fictional world that, not unlike Elizabethan England, brims with intrigue. Saving his neck by joining a

band of heroes led by a warrior possessed of a magical and powerful sword, Hawthorne unwittingly joins a

battle against an evil empire bent on crushing everyone to its will.... Hartley’s prose is

so graceful, his narrative so taut, and his battle scenes so exciting and well described, however, that one

quickly forgives his betimes paint-by-numbers development. All this is especially true of the compulsively

readable second half, which unfolds with remarkable elegance and power.

— Jack Helbig

 

Early Reviews for What Time Devours

“A.J. Hartley takes the reader on an intelligent, intense, suspenseful ride in

What Time Devours.  A crime tale about Shakespeare, trust and redemption

that keeps you turning the pages.” —James O. Born, author of Burn Zone

 

“A fabulous thriller by an amazingly talented author. 

Exciting and meaningful, it surprised and transported me.”

—David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author of The Brotherhood of the Rose

"A good writer can give you an interesting plot and reasonably sympathetic characters, a very good one can make that plot an obsession and those characters compelling–and this is what we get from Hartley. The best writing is that which least interferes with the reader’s plunge into the story–and we have that here. It’s always a surprise and delight to discover a terrific new talent, someone whose works you want to recommend and better yet, read them yourself, so it’s a great pleasure to read and recommend this book..."
    He’s got our attention with a book that’s better than just a copy of The Da Vinci Code. Now let’s see what he can do with the next one. He’s already a New York Times bestselling author. Armchair Interviews says this book is a rare achievement, an intelligent thriller, and it will whet your appetite for the author’s other works"

        --C.L. Rossman for Armchair Interviews

 

"a visually explosive rollercoaster ride that melds fact and fiction."    Ace Hall for The Big Thrill

 

"What Time Devours is a well-crafted, edge of your seat thriller. Just when you think you’ve figured out what’s coming next, the story takes a sharp turn and takes off in a new direction. From an opening that will have you keeping your windows covered come nightfall, this dark suspense will keep you guessing until the very end."    Kimberly Swan for Darque Reviews
 

 

"WHAT TIME DEVOURS is an entertaining thriller as the Shakespearean scholars are as cutthroat as Richard III."

Harriet Klausner for Genre Go-Round Reviews

 

Reviews for On the Fifth Day

Not only is Hartley’s novel well paced, with enough twists and turns to keep most thriller fans satisfied, he avoids the missteps of most attempts to cash in on the Da Vinci Code zeitgeist by focusing on the faithful rather than freewheeling conspiracies; his is a welcome take that considers thoughtfully... issues of belief and doubt. ...This slam-bang title is a very fun, surprisingly satisfying read. (July)"

Publishers Weekly May 21st 2007

 

"Mixture of murder and history and travel, all well written, make this a 5-star read." Patricia E. Reid for Armchair Interviews

 

"Terrific plotting, first-rate suspense.  On the Fifth Day is a ripping good read."


     Kathy Reichs

 

"A.J. Hartley is a rare discovery:  a writer capable of challenging a reader as much as he thrills .  His latest novel, ON THE FIFTH DAY, careens at a breathless pace from dark crypts to exotic sunlit shores.  Full of historical mystery, rife with intrigue and suspense, here is a tour-de-force sure to keep pages turning deep into the night."
--James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of Black Order

 

Reviews for The Mask of Atreus

 

What they're saying so far...


"Rich with historical and archeological detail, this well-constructed debut from Hartley celebrates the power of legend while delivering an engrossing mystery that skips nimbly between continents and cultures... Hartley has created an enduring heroine in Deborah, who’s courageous, loyal and smart enough to learn from her mistakes. Although it’s unclear whether there are more adventures in Deborah’s future, this intricate and absorbing thriller augurs well for Hartley’s career."

P U B L I S H E R S  W E E K LY
 2/8/2006 3:25 PM Page 67

 

This "very good novel (especially for a first effort) is about a female museum curator who discovers a secret room filled with priceless treasures from ancient Greece — and the corpse of her best friend."                         Otto Penzler for the New York Sun

Feature article at http://www.nysun.com/article/37163
 

 

 

THE MASK OF ATREUS is a tightly plotted, imaginative and wholly engaging thriller that hits the reader with a doozy of a plot-twist at around the 3/4 mark. Hartley breathes life into his characters and puts them through their paces with the skill and enthusiasm of an accomplished storyteller.  Is it any good?  Let me put it this way....heck, yeah!

Jeff Cook for Round Table Reviews

 

"This debut novel is a true thriller which will keep the reader jumping at twists and turns as intricate as a Minoan labyrinth, but with themes drawn from today’s headlines.  RECOMMENDED."

 - Michele A. Reed: For I Love a Mystery Newsletter

"THE MASK OF ATREUS is an intriguing debut novel by A. J. Hartley, an author who clearly knows his subject. The action moves apace, and the plot twists and turns, keeping the reader guessing. The characters are well drawn and Deborah Miller is particularly vivid. For readers who find the setting of this novel interesting the author has provided a postscript about the source material he used... the threads of the story snap together in the final pages. I would certainly read another by this author."             Kerrie Smith: For Reviewers-choice.com
 

"The Mask of Atreus is the kind of top-notch historical thriller that should appeal to fans of The Da Vinci Code and Michelangelo's Notebook. Fast-paced adventures, compelling characterizations, intriguing morsels of mythology, provocative historical details, some mind-blowing surprises, and - above all - a charismatic and imaginative heroine combine to make A. J. Hartley's debut novel a smashingly entertaining success."

Tim Davis (Bookloons.com April 24th 06)

The Mask of Atreus is one of those rare mystery novels that combines an exciting story line, rich in historical and archaeological detail with a quality of writing which is a joy to read. 

Richard Laymon Kills: Same Vein

 

 

"...well worth reading and one trusts Hartley will not stop at one novel." Denise Pickles for Mary Martin Bookshop
 

 

"This one has a surprise twist to the plot that you won't see coming--though it makes perfect sense in context. If this is how Mr. Hartley starts out, it will be interesting to see what comes next."

Judith Kreiner (Washington Times, April 9th 2006)

 

 

"Reminiscent of the best Dan Brown intrigues."

Charlotte Observer (April 16th 06)



"THE MASK OF ATREUS is a terrific amateur sleuth mystery starring a likable intelligent 'amazon' struggling with her Jewish roots and Massachusetts family as her biggest 'issues' until the murder of her beloved mentor, a father figure to her. Deborah keeps the exhilarating thriller focused as she conducts her investigation using what she knows, myths and antiquities. A.J. Hartley provides a fabulous whodunit made fresh by its deep historical and archeological base and an endearing heroine."

Harriet Klausner for casamysterioso.com

 

"A Mycenaean death mask looted by the Nazis is stolen from an obscure museum, leading curator Deborah Miller on a thrilling chase to retrieve it before it falls into the wrong hands. A suspenseful debut." Clues Unlimited (a "particularly recommended" selection)
 

 

"This is exactly the kind of archaeological thriller I love--from its gripping opening on a battlefield in the waning days of World War II to its roaring finish. The Mask of Atreus is rich and dramatic -- a compelling novel that will grip you in its swift, dark currents and sweep you over the falls. My compliments to A.J. Hartley for an outstanding novel."
Douglas Preston, author of The Codex and Tyrannosaur Canyon, and co-author with Lincoln Child of The Cabinet of Curiosities and others.

 

"Intriguing.  A labyrinth of history and mystery." Steve Berry New York Times  bestselling author of The Templar Legacy



"The Mask of Atreus is the perfect debut--a high octane thriller crammed full of long buried secrets, treacherous betrayals, jaw-dropping twists, and a healthy dash of romance. Deborah Miller is an engaging, sympathetic heroine, who you can't help but root for. Move over Michael Crichton---A.J.
Hartley is right at your heels." J.A. Konrath (Whiskey Sour, Bloody Mary)

 

 

"An exhilarating thriller rooted in the dark side of history and myth. Enormously entertaining...reading THE MASK OF ATREUS is like looking down a very dark and very scary tunnel--you have no idea what's looking back, waiting to pounce. Hartley is one terrific writer." Jeff Long (The Wall, The Reckoning, The Descent and other novels)
 

 

"I find The Mask of Atreus engaging because it's a rare accomplishment: a genuinely thrilling thriller that's also intelligent and brilliantly written. They said it couldn't be done." Phillip DePoy (The Fever Devilin Mysteries)

 

"Compulsively readable…the terrible beauty of ancient Greece collides with the merciless obsessions of the twentieth century. In a race to discover ancient secrets hiding behind the masks of the dead – and the living – the only winner is the reader." New York Times bestselling author, Eloisa James


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