None can see like the Blind…
Ryan Lorimar and Jessica Werner have a special gift: they can see ‘fallen angel’ apparitions within other people. But as the fallen angels in turn know that they’ve been ‘viewed’, it’s a gift that will get him killed. They need protection. They need to enter ‘Blind School’.
Their only hope is Ellis Kendell and his team of agents. Day in, day out, Kendell’s team trawl through street-cam images from across the nation to pick up that tell-tale eye light-refraction of ‘viewers’. Can Kendell’s team get to the viewers before the fallen angels and get them to safety in ‘Blind School’? But there’s also an added agenda: Kendell’s department want the ‘viewers’ help in tracking down more ‘fallen angels’.
Yet is Kendell deluding himself? Setting this small group of teens against a legion fifty-times their number of the most cunning and vicious murderers and criminal masterminds the nation has to offer – is he simply throwing them to the wolves? Fated to watch them one-by-one die. The odds are against them.
............
Blind School reviews:
'An adrenalin-rush, one day read. If you’ve ever wondered what might make mass-murderers and megalomaniacs tick, now you know. Never has the ongoing fight between good and evil been so much fun, or so frighteningly real.’
- Wendy Mellor, Simply Scripts.
‘Harry Potter with attitude. Plumbs into the teen readership that has made Harry Potter and Twilight so popular, but with a wry slant that would also make it appeal to adults. Has ‘kidult’ written all over it.’
- Tom McIntyre, Xanadu Productions.
John Matthews reviews:
‘Matthews maintains the suspense... an engrossing odyssey into the seamy side of a world that is so near, yet sometimes seems so far. Compulsive reading.'
- The Times
'One of the most compelling novels I've read... an ambitious and big novel which will keep you enthralled to its last page.'
- Cork Examiner
'A classy, well-written and unusual thriller.'
- Yorkshire Post
'Matthews delivers one of the best debut thrillers in years, brave, ambitious and remorselessly entertaining. Past Imperfect is a stormer.'
- Dublin Evening Herald
'Move over Grisham, your reign is over! Reminiscent of vintage Grisham, but Matthews has his own distinctive style. Strong, believable characters and a plot that grips from page one and won't let go, twisting and turning its way towards a nail-biting climax - they don't come much better than this. One of the best and most memorable thrillers I've read in years. A winner all the way.'
- Bob Burke. Mystery Readers International.
Distinctively written… all the forceful energy of the best thrillers.
- Kirkus UK.
‘A clever premise for an epic page-turner written with wit, compassion (and) highly evolved characters.
- Daily Telegraph.
‘… A chilling and thrilling novel, one in which real people start to wonder if they are insane, and have to come to terms with a terrifying reality that threatens their own life. Mesmerising.
- Books Monthly
.......
Author's note:
This is a fairly new excursion for me: a YA/urban fantasy adventure that started life as a film script. I was in the middle of a film adaptation for Past Imperfect at the time when a Hollywood Producer showed interest in the concept - so that was the form it first saw life in. So, yes, expect it to see life on the big screen some time 'soon' (see Douglas Adams' ref about 'baking cakes in Hollywood' for that one).
It also might only see limited life as a kindle direct book as it will soon start doing the rounds of publishers through my agent. So look upon this as mainly an ARC opportunity before it gets snapped up as the next Harry Potter or Twilight! :) Then it will disappear for a year before being seen again.
Ryan Lorimar and Jessica Werner have a special gift: they can see ‘fallen angel’ apparitions within other people. But as the fallen angels in turn know that they’ve been ‘viewed’, it’s a gift that will get him killed. They need protection. They need to enter ‘Blind School’.
Their only hope is Ellis Kendell and his team of agents. Day in, day out, Kendell’s team trawl through street-cam images from across the nation to pick up that tell-tale eye light-refraction of ‘viewers’. Can Kendell’s team get to the viewers before the fallen angels and get them to safety in ‘Blind School’? But there’s also an added agenda: Kendell’s department want the ‘viewers’ help in tracking down more ‘fallen angels’.
Yet is Kendell deluding himself? Setting this small group of teens against a legion fifty-times their number of the most cunning and vicious murderers and criminal masterminds the nation has to offer – is he simply throwing them to the wolves? Fated to watch them one-by-one die. The odds are against them.
............
Blind School reviews:
'An adrenalin-rush, one day read. If you’ve ever wondered what might make mass-murderers and megalomaniacs tick, now you know. Never has the ongoing fight between good and evil been so much fun, or so frighteningly real.’
- Wendy Mellor, Simply Scripts.
‘Harry Potter with attitude. Plumbs into the teen readership that has made Harry Potter and Twilight so popular, but with a wry slant that would also make it appeal to adults. Has ‘kidult’ written all over it.’
- Tom McIntyre, Xanadu Productions.
John Matthews reviews:
‘Matthews maintains the suspense... an engrossing odyssey into the seamy side of a world that is so near, yet sometimes seems so far. Compulsive reading.'
- The Times
'One of the most compelling novels I've read... an ambitious and big novel which will keep you enthralled to its last page.'
- Cork Examiner
'A classy, well-written and unusual thriller.'
- Yorkshire Post
'Matthews delivers one of the best debut thrillers in years, brave, ambitious and remorselessly entertaining. Past Imperfect is a stormer.'
- Dublin Evening Herald
'Move over Grisham, your reign is over! Reminiscent of vintage Grisham, but Matthews has his own distinctive style. Strong, believable characters and a plot that grips from page one and won't let go, twisting and turning its way towards a nail-biting climax - they don't come much better than this. One of the best and most memorable thrillers I've read in years. A winner all the way.'
- Bob Burke. Mystery Readers International.
Distinctively written… all the forceful energy of the best thrillers.
- Kirkus UK.
‘A clever premise for an epic page-turner written with wit, compassion (and) highly evolved characters.
- Daily Telegraph.
‘… A chilling and thrilling novel, one in which real people start to wonder if they are insane, and have to come to terms with a terrifying reality that threatens their own life. Mesmerising.
- Books Monthly
.......
Author's note:
This is a fairly new excursion for me: a YA/urban fantasy adventure that started life as a film script. I was in the middle of a film adaptation for Past Imperfect at the time when a Hollywood Producer showed interest in the concept - so that was the form it first saw life in. So, yes, expect it to see life on the big screen some time 'soon' (see Douglas Adams' ref about 'baking cakes in Hollywood' for that one).
It also might only see limited life as a kindle direct book as it will soon start doing the rounds of publishers through my agent. So look upon this as mainly an ARC opportunity before it gets snapped up as the next Harry Potter or Twilight! :) Then it will disappear for a year before being seen again.
