King's X [Kindle Edition]

Stephen T. Harper (Author)

Book Description

A tough Los Angeles detective is the last hope for a runaway girl who believes that a relentless killer has pursued her across many lifetimes - from one incarnation to the next - dating all the way back to the time of the Crusades, when she first encountered the mysterious object she calls The King's X.  

Praise for King's X...

"...completely engaging from beginning to end.  WoW...just wow.  Harper really understands language."  

  -- NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Tamara Rose Blodgett 

"This is a 'stand up and take notice' story from a truly gifted writer.  The most original adventure I've seen in years.  "The Matrix" crossed with "The Da Vinci Code."  King's X is dark, beautiful, and very provocative.  I've had the story stuck in my head since the first time I read it." 

  -- Ken Miller, Film and TV Producer - "Charmed"

"King's X" belongs to that rare breed of books whose seemingly high-concept premise in fact shields a tightly crafted and deeply affecting story. Harper expertly balances character and conspiracy in a universe that will grab you from the very first chapter." -- Line Zero Magazine

"This book has grabbed me. ...really well written and I liked the author's style. Big thumbs up!" -- Booked Up

"...a very well thought-out book with lots of suspense, twists, and history. I give it 5 stars. If you love a good suspense/thriller, you'll love this book!" -- Paranormal Opinion

"King's X is a rare reader experience: an authentic thrill-ride that reads like literary fiction.  A must-read destined to become a classic!"
-- Laura Taylor, Author of "Honor Bound"

"Stephen T. Harper is a master of words.  I stayed awake all night to finish, heart pounding, eyes bulging with every new twist, and the ending almost killed me!" -- The Paperback Pursuer

"...starts out mid-action and doesn't seem to slow down even when the author is describing delicate women in quiet moments with the men they care for... Pick up King's X. You won't be sorry." -- Into The Morning Reads

"A good, possibly great book." -- Amazon UK Reader Review

"One of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE reads this year!  Maybe this DECADE!" -- Amazon US Reader Review

Editorial Reviews

Review

"King's X belongs to that rare breed of books whose seemingly high-concept premise in fact shields a tightly crafted and deeply affecting story. Harper expertly balances character and conspiracy in a universe that will grab you from the very first chapter."

--John Walsh IV 

Line Zero Magazine (linezero.org)

From the Author

I began with a plan to re-imagine "The Maltese Falcon" - the classic noir detective treasure hunt, where clever characters from the grey space  between heroes and villains clash over a fabled object (the black bird).  I wanted to combine all that greatness with a bigger and better myth.  I found one that crosses over many cultures and many great works, from the 1001 Nights (Tales of Arabian Nights), the histories of Josephus,  the operas of Wagner and the Norse myths he based them on, to the works of Tolkien.  All of these sources spoke of history and legend's ultimate struggle for a common lost treasure.

Imagine that it is not a normal femme fatale who walks into the life of Sam Spade with a strange tale to tell and danger on her heels... imagine that the object she needs his help to find is no mere jeweled falcon, but an honest-to-God ring of power.  Could it be that the legendary magic ring of King Solomon, said to be given to him by an angel, said to bear the mark of God himself, was no gift from heaven after all?  Could it have fallen so far through the mists of time?  Could it reach into our own world, to the hands of our own history's kings and treasure hunters?  Could it have fallen, hand to hand, all the way to a runaway teenager and a hard nosed L.A. cop?  What would this ring be like?  What power might it have over the unsuspecting, the uninitiated, the innocent, should they slip it on their finger?  

That's where the story of King's X really begins.  And you won't get a spoiler from me.  

I love stories that make you feel bigger than you thought you were before hearing them. The kind that stick with you, that you want to experience over and over.  The real myth-making,  Joseph Campbell stuff.  I still get pretty misty when Luke looks out over that double-sunset while the french horn plays his theme.  I'm sure a lot of people do.

  
I also like complex stories filled with intrigue and characters who are smarter than me.  "The Maltese Falcon" is both a great book and a drop-everything-to-watch movie whenever it shows up on TV.  This may sound strange, but my favorite part of that story is the spectacular chase through history that takes place only in snippets of conversation and never "on camera."  
 
I always wanted to write a book that gives the reader all the suspense, action, and intrigue of "The Maltese Falcon," but also really digs into an epic historical mystery - with faces, characters, romance, and many great and terrible deeds that lead from the distant past right to the door of the modern hero.  If I had known before hand how difficult it would be, I might have picked a different dream.  But once I started, I couldn't stop.  
 
The story I came up with to make that juxtaposition of past and present really work, turned out to be a deep, rich well of history, philosophy, and intrigue that lead me to a big story filled with heart, complexity, and characters who are smarter than me.  But even more than that, KING'S X feels like relevant myth-making for right now, for the nerve-wracking stew of spiritual seeking, religious doubt, and existential angst we all must soak in.  I'm not sure how, but I may have stumbled into some real Joseph Campbell stuff.  My favorite kind of story.

Product Details

• File Size: 619 KB
• Print Length: 422 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Novel Endeavor Books (October 17, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005R82BOI
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,768 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Tremendous Debut! Has it all; Terrific mixed-genre... November 28, 2011

By Tamara Rose Blodgett

Format:Kindle Edition

WoW...just wow. Harper really understands language. King of dialogue! I *believed* what all his characters were saying, both out loud and in their respective internal monologues. The men thought like men and he didn't do too bad with the chicks either (a few times I wanted to check the cover and make sure it was a male author; he had some uncanny insights into the feminine psyche.)

Like this for instance, which I highlighted in my Kindle like the book fanatic I am,: "Her life had been too safe to need courage, and too easy to develop resolve."

Book is a 1960's detective on the police force driven by integrity and some gritty past circumstances that have molded him into the man he's become. Ghosted by a haunting death in his past that he can't shake, and misunderstanding the root of it, it dogs him into adulthood. Despite challenging circumstances in his childhood, he rises above it magnificently. I was rooting for Wendell Book from the beginning; I dug who he was and thought he sounded pretty hot too! His life changes drastically when he meets Molly, a girl "awoken" to discover she is not who she believed she was. Pieces of her past fall together in a slow mudslide of chunks, with Book intricately entwined in the memories she possesses. I loved Book's POV, but the switch to the Christian Templar time told in third person from the perspectives of Broussard and Kahli were amazing as well. Steeped in history, the passages give a fascinating slice into life at that time,and the bravery and human motivation therein. It is the classic tale of good versus evil but it's never stale. Never. If you're a reader that digs fast paced action, intrigue, highly-detailed scene description, etc. This is the novel for you.

If you can survive the ending. Harper completely turned me upside down with his twist and I was pleased over the surprise of it. It made sense, it was complicated and gave me the "ah-huh" that I love to get nailed with at the end of a great read. Bravo!

A caveat: this is not a genre I'm usually nuts over. It's a thinker: dummies need not apply (joking...kinda). A novel like this keeps you on your toes, there's a lot going on that must be assimilated and connected by the reader, not the least of which is the history that is cleverly paced within the book. It's a full-meal-deal. If you're looking for dessert, skip this. It's too satisfying by far, completely engaging from beginning to end.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE reads this year! Maybe this DECADE! September 18, 2012

By Lauren

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I absolutely LOVE this book, and I know I'm going to have read it again, while I'm WAITING ON PINS AND NEEDLES for the sequel! (Hurry, please, Mr. H! I can't wait!)

This book has it all - adventure, romance, suspense, bad guys, good guys, twists and turns you'd never expect, great character development and unique and fascinating plot... and so much more! I love the way the author brings us back and forth in time, and slowly makes the connection between the two sets of characters - outstanding!

I read this book in just over two days - I read every time I had even a few spare minutes, because I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. VERY HIGHLY recommended!!

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An incredible book December 22, 2011

By M. Conover

Format:Kindle Edition

I have read hundreds of kindle books on Amazon. This will be the first one I've stopped to write a review for. The twists and turns in this novel will keep you guessing to the end. It really feels like you're in a movie. Download it and be prepared to have your mind blown.

More About the Author

Stephen T. Harper lives with his beautiful wife by the merely-pretty-in-comparison water in Marina Del Rey, California.

More KING'S X is coming soon!

CORSAIR is coming in June of 2013!

If you have any questions or comments about KING'S X or CORSAIR, or would like to know about future books, please feel free to contact me directly @

[e-mail]

In the meantime, thanks for reading! -- STH