Once again I’m linking up again with Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea who hosts a post every Tuesday for people to share the first chapter / paragraph of the book they are reading, or thinking of reading soon. In really enjoy these tasters when I read them on other blogs so wanted to join in.
This week I am reading Driven by one of my favourite authors, James Sallis. It’s a follow up to Drive, which I loved so I have high hopes for this. Here’s what it’s about…
Seven years have passed since Driver ended his campaign against those who double-crossed him. He has left the old life, become Paul West and founded a successful business back in Phoenix. But walking down the street one day, he and his fiancee are attacked by two men and, while Driver dispatches both, his fiancee is killed. Sinking back into anonymity, aided by his friend Felix, an ex-gangbanger and Desert Storm vet, Driver realises that his past stalks him – and will not stop. He has to turn and face it
And here’s how it starts
Chapter 1
They came for him just after 11: 00 on a Saturday morning, two of them. It was hot going hotter; sunlight caught in the fine sheen of sweat on Elsa’s forehead. A hint of movement in the side of his eye as they passed a short side street—and the first one was there. He spun, slamming his foot and the whole of his body weight against the outside of the man’s right knee, and heard it give. By the time the man was down, that same foot hit his throat. He shuddered twice, trying to pull in air through the shattered windpipe, and was still. The second had come up behind by then, but Driver was down, rolling, and behind him, left arm clamped around his neck, right elbow locked over the wrist.
It was all over in minutes. He understood then what had delayed the second man’s attack. Elsa lay against the wall of an abandoned café, blood pumping from the wound beneath her breast.
She had been trying to smile up at him as the light went out of her eyes.
And that’s the whole chapter – he is not a man of many words. What do you think? Would you keep reading?
Regards
Emma
Buy now: Amazon UK / Amazon US
One Readers Thoughts 
Sounds kind of interesting, hope you like it! 🙂
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I’m sure I will (I think I am predisposed)
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Intense! I am now very curious…plus, I love short chapters! Thanks for sharing, and here’s mine: “ONE PERFECT LIE”
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Very. Short chapters, short books. His are more like novellas – 150 pages or so but so much too them.
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Yes, I’d read more, the intro grabbed me.
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I want to read the first book now too!
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Oh you should I love it. Read it a few times.
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I haven’t read anything by James Sallis, but I am going to need to check out this book! It sounds like it has a lot of suspense! Good luck reading it!
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I’m a huge fan. They are very noir I guess. Dark, few words, not one wasted and constant action.
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What a heartbreaking scene! This sounds like an intense read. You’ve got me curious about the series now.
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It is, especially having read the first one no seeing how they got together and Driver turned his life around.
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Well that is a heart-stopping opener! Yes I’m definitely keen to know more.
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Isn’t it. His usually are.
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Wow! That’s a seriously intense and sad intro! I’d definitely keep reading. I do love a thriller with short chapters. I’m reading one like that now.
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The whole book is intense…and short at 155 pages.
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Wow Emma, this series sounds good. I’d like to read it. Enjoy.
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They are…and I did (all read!)
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Oh my goodness – that’s a desperately sad start:(. I’d have to be in a particular frame of mind to read this one…
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It is but the book strangely is uplifting. I just love the darkness of the books but the also people being themselves. Something I thin we struggle to do…just be us.
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And it is a quality that is very hard to write completely successfully, so I’m delighted it worked so well.
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[…] Tuesday I introduced my latest read, Driven by James Sallis, the follow up to one of my favourite books (Drive) by one of my favourite authors. It was a […]
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