Parallax [Kindle Edition]

Jon F. Merz (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

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What happens when two professional assassins - one a Mafia hitman and the other a former German terrorist - kill at exactly the same moment in time? For Ernst Stahl and Frank Jolino the result is a psychic bond that slowly blossoms in each man's mind, enabling them to see into the other's world. Frank Jolino doesn't like what he sees, especially when he realizes that Stahl is headed to his home turf of Boston to kill a scientist who may hold the key to solving the world's deadliest diseases. But for Stahl, there's no other option. Virtually bankrupt and with his son in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant, he's got little choice but to take the assignment. Jolino has other ideas. On the run from his crime syndicate for refusing to kill his ex-girlfriend-turned-government-informant, Jolino sets a plan in motion that will bring the two men face-to-face and gun-to-gun...with no guarantees either will survive.

This novel + excerpt runs approximately 90,000 words. The author's website is http://www.jonfmerz.net

Praise for Jon F. Merz:

"Lawson is more like Jason Bourne than Dracula, making this a vampire mystery with broad appeal." --Booklist

"A powerful novel by a man who knows the turf already." -NYT Bestselling author Robert. B. Parker

"Jon F. Merz's novels move at a break-neck pace, twisting through a landscape of thrills and terror." -- Douglas Clegg, author of The Infinite and The Priest of Blood

"...a fine stalking session in vampire-noir land...a series and talented writer I'll be sticking with all the way." -- Mort Castle, author of The Strangers and On Writing Horror

Praise for Jon F. Merz's THE KENSEI (A Lawson vampire Novel #5):

"If James Bond, True Blood and Kill Bill created a mutant hybrid of a book, it would be The Kensei. A bullet train slice 'em, dice 'em mixture of action, suspense, and vampire ninjas. Did I mention vampire ninjas?"--Jason Pinter, bestselling author of The Fury and The Darkness

"The Kensei is an action novel with real bite. Vampires, Yakuza killers, crooks and animal-monster hyrbids. Jon F. Merz brings his A-game and then ratchets it up to a whole new level of supernatural action. Highly recommended!" --Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of The Dragon Factory and Patient Zero

"In The Kensei, Jon F. Merz seamlessly welds gritty detail with myth and legend to create a thrill ride into the shadow-world lurking beneath modern Japan. Lawson's fight against evil has bone-crunching authenticity. Plus, it has vampires, ninjas, and vampire ninjas. What more could anyone ask?"--Christopher Farnsworth, author or Blood Oath

About The Author:

Jon F. Merz is a writer with over a dozen published novels, a producer for New Ronin Entertainment and a trained black belt ninja. He has taught defensive tactics to civilian crime watch groups, police, military units, and agencies like the US Department of State, the Department of Justice, and the Bureau of Prisons. In his past, Jon served with the United States Air Force, worked for the US government, and handled executive protection for Fortune 500 clients. He lives with his wife and two sons in suburban Boston.

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 435 KB
• Print Length: 260 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0020HR7KW
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #254,916 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

More About the Author

My name is Jon F. Merz. I'm an entertainer. I give people an escape from their daily lives - whether it's for an hour, a few minutes, or days at a stretch.

Within the worlds that I've created over the course of more than two dozen novels, novellas, and countless short stories, you'll find yourself whisked away to places that defy the conventional, straddle the realms that we cannot always see, and highlight the violent struggles of good versus evil. When you choose to lose yourself in the stories that I write, you're buying a ticket on a nonstop thrill ride that lasts as long as you keep reading and then lingers for a long time afterward - or at least until you pick up my next book.

It's my job to deliver fun, thrills, excitement, suspense, and the kind of characters you always wanted to meet but never knew how. It's a job I love and one I take very seriously.

Because I love giving people an escape so much, I'm also producing my own television series with the help of one of my best friends, Jaime Hassett. Together, we've assembled a fantastic team of actors and crew and we'll be filming the first of many TV/film properties in the Fall of 2011. THE FIXER is our first project, based on my hardboiled supernatural espionage Lawson series. You'll definitely want to check that out. The official website is here: http://thefixer.tv

I also post news & info for writers under the hashtag #wintel out on Twitter.

THE LAWSON VAMPIRE SERIES

Let's face it: there are a LOT of vampire series out there. But none of them are like Lawson. My vampires aren't undead; they're a living race that has evolved in secret alongside humanity for generations. Lawson works as a Fixer - it's his job to keep the existence of his race a secret and he does this by eliminating anything or anyone that threatens to expose that secret. He's cynical, jaded, sarcastic, and conflicted. He's also extremely lethal. I happen to think you'll like him. A LOT. The series is always expanding, but for now, here are the adventures to-date: (blue covers are novels, green covers are novellas, and red covers are short stories)

OTHER NOVELS

Here are just a few of the other things I've written. Not shown here are the eleven installments I wrote in the international bestselling series ROGUE ANGEL for Harlequin/Gold Eagle. If you buy a Rogue Angel novel, check the copyright page and if says "Thanks to Jon F. Merz for his/her contribution to this work," it means I wrote the whole thing.

MY FANS

I'm a big ol' fan-o-phile. I love my readers - without you I wouldn't have a career and I make sure I talk to as many of you as I can. I'm not some recluse who spends all his time at the keyboard living in anonymity. I want to hear from you. I want to talk to you. I love answering questions. So below, you'll find a list of places that I hang out. Check me out there and say hello.

http://www.twitter.com/jonfmerz
http://www.facebook.com/jonfmerzfans
http://www.youtube.com/jonfmerz
http://gplus.to/jonfmerz

MY LIFE

In my past, I served with the US Air Force, did some government work, private sector protection stuff, and generally lived through some harrowing encounters. These days, I'm excited to be able to do what I love. I have a wonderful wife and two amazing sons. I'm also a lifelong martial artist with over 27 years of training in various styles including 20 years in my current style Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu/Ninjutsu. I'm fortunate to have one of the best teachers around - Mr. Mark Davis of the Boston Martial Arts Center and his instruction has saved my life numerous times.

That's about it in a nutshell. Make sure you sign up for my FREE newsletter at http://www.jonfmerz.net and I hope you have a great time reading my work. Don't forget to stay in touch!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling read!, July 28, 2010

By 

D. Williamson "Hooked on Kindle!" (Moncton, NB Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Parallax (Kindle Edition)

Just finished the book and I agree with everyone who gave Parallax a 5 Star rating - It was thrilling and a book I could not put down until I read the last page. Wonderful!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Winner From Jon F. Merz!, June 13, 2010

By 

David L. Mcafee - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Parallax (Kindle Edition)

I've been a fan of Jon F. Merz since I first read THE FIXER three or four years ago. When he first released PARALLAX, I wasn't sure about it. The premise sounded good, but I wanted more Lawson. Still, it was Merz, so I figured how bad could it be? I bought the PDF and started reading.

I was not disappointed at all. Merz writes fast-paced, heart racing thrillers and PARALLAX is no different. From the opening chapter when Frank and Stahl make their simultaneous hits to the inevitable meeting of the two, there is no point in the book that really lets you stop and take a breather. You just have to keep reading because you need to find out what happens next. Merz fans are used to this; we've come to expect it.

As always, Merz delivers effortless, hard-hitting prose and an action-filled story. A great read, and highly recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent thrill ride, May 3, 2010

By 

Voracious Reader Rae "A Writer's Dream blogspot" (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Parallax (Kindle Edition)

Wow! What an excellent thriller!

Parallax is my second fiction read by Jon F. Merz after I got a taste of his short story and I'm definitely hooked. This was an awesome thriller with lots of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. I love stories that take me off guard and deal with complex characters that don't seem as if they're who they are, only to turn your expectations of them right on the side.

The story deals with Frank Jolino and Ernst "Stahl", two expert assassins living on opposite sides of the globe in different lives until one fateful moment of mental interlinking brings them together. Soon each is allowed to view the other's experience as if they were perched on the other's shoulder. Their lives interconnect from jobs to love lives and betrayal while each have something in the balance. With Stahl, his son's life is at stake on the condition that he kills a scientist connected with the SARS disease. With Frank, he is sent to kill his old girlfriend, the long lost niece of his mafia boss who he still is in love with, on suspicion that she is connected with the feds.

This was one novel that was hard to put down. Merz excels at creating engaging characters wrapped in a fast paced read. One moment I was sympathizing with them and the other felt the complete opposite. Overall, my nose was in the pages all the way to the very satisfying end.

This is a late entry for the best of my 2009 reads and it goes right at the top. I hope Parallax makes it to the big screen like Merz's Fixer series is coming to television. I'd definitely grab a ticket!