The Unlikely Spy
(Adventures of Grant Scotland, Volume One)
Book Description:
Book Description:
The
Adventures of Grant Scotland series is an entertaining mix of fantasy,
mystery and espionage featuring a hero whose many faults provide almost
as much challenge to him as the formidable obstacles he must face as he
attempts to impose sanity upon a world rapidly descending into chaos.
Collected in this volume are the first three books in the series: Spy
for a Dead Empire, Spy for a Troubled King and Spy for a Wayward
Daughter.
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Spy for a Dead Empire
(Adventures of Grant Scotland, Book One)
Book Description:
AELFA, THE GRAND CAPITAL of the once mighty Aelfan Empire, has fallen. Barbarian war parties and nomadic tribes harass the retreating and broken legions that once overawed them. All that stands against them now is the city of Zyren, the last bastion of Aelfan rule.
Acting as a spy for Zyren is Grant Scotland, a man leading a double life because his own had been taken away from him by the very people he serves. An unwilling recruit into the business of clandestine missions and deceit, he searches for anything real to cling to as the world around him devolves into insanity. And when an old friend shows up asking him to help save his family by delivering a mysterious book to a shadowy figure, Grant's two lives collide and he is thrust into an even stranger world than he had known; one where ancient magic is wielded by deadly players who compete against one another for a prize greater than simply the rotting carcass of a dead empire.
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EXCERPT
Everything that ever happened to me since I was a kid played out in my mind and I was eagerly explaining every moment and why it was important to the foot of the table near my head as I regained consciousness. Unfortunately, my mouth wasn't cooperating, so I'm fairly sure the only sound that came out was "Mmurfermumf?" The foot of the table had no response. I didn't blame it. I'm the same way. I get embarrassed when I'm around people who talk about themselves too much, too.
I tried to get my hands up under me and push to get up, but I didn't even get half of that done before I decided to knock off and maybe try again tomorrow. My head felt like a lead weight and a constant ringing was filling my ears. After a few minutes passed I decided I could maybe twist around a bit and get on my back, which I managed to do with all the speed of a garden slug.
My vision was slowly clearing and sharpening and I could tell I was in a dark room somewhere with dim light coming from partially shuttered windows. Suddenly I remembered the horse and the rain and the door and looked around quickly to see if my assailant was nearby.
I deeply regretted that action as blood roared in my ears and a wave of nausea almost overwhelmed me. I choked and screwed my eyes shut and stayed perfectly still and after a time I was able to breathe and open my eyes again. Good thing whoever hit me wasn't still around. If they were, I'd have given them what for by throwing up all over their shoes.
Spy for a Troubled King
(Adventures of Grant Scotland, Book Two)
Book Description:
AMONG THE ASHES of the mighty Aelfan Empire, the House of Gregyan seeks to forge a new kingdom—one where both Huthan and Aelfan alike can prosper. But old prejudices and ancient traditions and an exiled enemy threaten the peace. Caught between compassion for his home and allegiance to his fallen empire, Grant Scotland finds himself trapped in the turbulent machinations of enemies and friends. As he works to uncover mysteries about his father’s treachery and confront new threats to his future, he moves perilously close to revealing his identity and losing everything.
I tried to get my hands up under me and push to get up, but I didn't even get half of that done before I decided to knock off and maybe try again tomorrow. My head felt like a lead weight and a constant ringing was filling my ears. After a few minutes passed I decided I could maybe twist around a bit and get on my back, which I managed to do with all the speed of a garden slug.
My vision was slowly clearing and sharpening and I could tell I was in a dark room somewhere with dim light coming from partially shuttered windows. Suddenly I remembered the horse and the rain and the door and looked around quickly to see if my assailant was nearby.
I deeply regretted that action as blood roared in my ears and a wave of nausea almost overwhelmed me. I choked and screwed my eyes shut and stayed perfectly still and after a time I was able to breathe and open my eyes again. Good thing whoever hit me wasn't still around. If they were, I'd have given them what for by throwing up all over their shoes.
(Adventures of Grant Scotland, Book Two)
Book Description:
AMONG THE ASHES of the mighty Aelfan Empire, the House of Gregyan seeks to forge a new kingdom—one where both Huthan and Aelfan alike can prosper. But old prejudices and ancient traditions and an exiled enemy threaten the peace. Caught between compassion for his home and allegiance to his fallen empire, Grant Scotland finds himself trapped in the turbulent machinations of enemies and friends. As he works to uncover mysteries about his father’s treachery and confront new threats to his future, he moves perilously close to revealing his identity and losing everything.
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1/18 - 1/21 @ $0.99
1/21 - 1/25 @ $1.99
1/18 - 1/21 @ $0.99
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EXCERPT
"All right. We don't have to talk here. How about I bring you down to the Punish House and we can talk some place private."
"By what right—"
"Mine." Garon advanced on me and brought his face uncomfortably close to mine. His eyes still held the searching look they had earlier. I wasn't concerned. Searching looks I can handle. When the looks turn angry or determined and the hands get grabby is when I get a little worried. "You don't have rights, Aelfan. You are a subject, not a citizen."
"Easy there, Garon. You try to intimidate me anymore, I might just faint."
"I warn you—"
"Yeah, I got it the first time. If I'm hiding anything, I'll wish I'd never been born. Are we finished here? Because correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't have any of your boys with you. You go ahead and try to slap chains on me all by yourself out here in the middle of the street. I think I like my chances."
Garon leaned back just slightly. I nodded at him and gave him a little salute.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm late for lunch. If I go too long without food, I get a little cranky. Hey, maybe you get like that too, huh?" Garon didn't respond. I turned and started down the hill toward my part of town.
"Twice I've found clues that have your face all over them, Scotland," Garon said flatly to my back as I walked away. "You don't want to find out what happens if there's a third time."
"Well, I'm sorry to hear that. It's true that I know Aarilon, but shouldn't finding him be something the Wardmur or the City Watch would do? I'm sure they have more than enough resources to do it."
"As am I, Grant," the king muttered as he turned away and walked back to the table. "I'm sure they will find him. But I need you to find him first."
"Why?"
The king poured himself another cup of beer from the pitcher and then faced me again. He paused before taking a drink and said, "Because if you don't, he's going to die."
"By what right—"
"Mine." Garon advanced on me and brought his face uncomfortably close to mine. His eyes still held the searching look they had earlier. I wasn't concerned. Searching looks I can handle. When the looks turn angry or determined and the hands get grabby is when I get a little worried. "You don't have rights, Aelfan. You are a subject, not a citizen."
"Easy there, Garon. You try to intimidate me anymore, I might just faint."
"I warn you—"
"Yeah, I got it the first time. If I'm hiding anything, I'll wish I'd never been born. Are we finished here? Because correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't have any of your boys with you. You go ahead and try to slap chains on me all by yourself out here in the middle of the street. I think I like my chances."
Garon leaned back just slightly. I nodded at him and gave him a little salute.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm late for lunch. If I go too long without food, I get a little cranky. Hey, maybe you get like that too, huh?" Garon didn't respond. I turned and started down the hill toward my part of town.
"Twice I've found clues that have your face all over them, Scotland," Garon said flatly to my back as I walked away. "You don't want to find out what happens if there's a third time."
"Well, I'm sorry to hear that. It's true that I know Aarilon, but shouldn't finding him be something the Wardmur or the City Watch would do? I'm sure they have more than enough resources to do it."
"As am I, Grant," the king muttered as he turned away and walked back to the table. "I'm sure they will find him. But I need you to find him first."
"Why?"
The king poured himself another cup of beer from the pitcher and then faced me again. He paused before taking a drink and said, "Because if you don't, he's going to die."
Spy for a Wayward Daughter
(Adventures of Grant Scotland, Book Three)
Book Description:
Book Description:
AS THE GREGYANS MARCH TO WAR and his handler takes a trip to Zyren, Grant Scotland, spy errant of the Aelfan Empire, gets ready to pursue a lead on finding a man who might be able to tell him the truth about his father's treason. Old friends, new enemies and hidden dangers soon confront him on his quest, but when he enters the dark world of another family's intrigue, he finds that not even the frontiers of the Aelfan Empire are far enough away to escape the dangers of fortune and fate.
Spy for a Greedy Villain
(Adventures of Grant Scotland, Book Four)
Book Description:
RACIAL TENSIONS IN AELFA simmer and threaten to boil over when the harbormaster is found dead and the Huthan oppressors threaten to crack down in the Lower Docks. As Grant Scotland finds more questions than answers in the journals of Berthul Magnussen about his father’s treachery, he is drawn into a murder investigation, a kidnapping plot and the nefarious machinations of the city’s biggest crime lord—Mr. Quinn. In order to stop Quinn’s plans and save the city from being thrown into open revolt, Grant prepares to take his biggest gamble yet.
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EXCERPT
Her cool gray blue eyes studied me and I might have sucked in my gut, but I couldn't be sure. I was too busy trying to remember how to form complete sentences.
"Good afternoon . . . Uh, I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage," I finally managed to say.
"Marissa. Marissa Magnussen. Berthul is my husband." Her voice matched her dress: smooth and inviting.
"Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Magnussen."
"Please, call me Marissa. Won't you sit down?" She gestured at a nearby divan and I dutifully sat on it. "Would you like a drink?"
"I suppose I would. Yes."
"I think Bertie has some Macforth Glyn here," she said as she pushed away from the desk and walked across the room to a sideboard and began fixing drinks. The drink cabinet was on the opposite side of the room from where I was sitting and I was treated to a nice view of Marissa's backside. The dress was backless, but Marissa's body certainly wasn't. I spent so much time contemplating how the curves that met at the base of her spine warranted closer inspection that she had to ask me twice if whiskey was acceptable. I think I answered yes, but I'm not sure in what language.
A smile briefly played across her lips as she brought the drinks over, handed me one and then sat next to me on the sofa. When she crossed her legs, I began to feel tense, but not in an altogether unpleasant way.
"So . . . Is Mr. Magnussen here?" My voice didn't quaver at all. I was becoming a man at last.
"Good afternoon . . . Uh, I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage," I finally managed to say.
"Marissa. Marissa Magnussen. Berthul is my husband." Her voice matched her dress: smooth and inviting.
"Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Magnussen."
"Please, call me Marissa. Won't you sit down?" She gestured at a nearby divan and I dutifully sat on it. "Would you like a drink?"
"I suppose I would. Yes."
"I think Bertie has some Macforth Glyn here," she said as she pushed away from the desk and walked across the room to a sideboard and began fixing drinks. The drink cabinet was on the opposite side of the room from where I was sitting and I was treated to a nice view of Marissa's backside. The dress was backless, but Marissa's body certainly wasn't. I spent so much time contemplating how the curves that met at the base of her spine warranted closer inspection that she had to ask me twice if whiskey was acceptable. I think I answered yes, but I'm not sure in what language.
A smile briefly played across her lips as she brought the drinks over, handed me one and then sat next to me on the sofa. When she crossed her legs, I began to feel tense, but not in an altogether unpleasant way.
"So . . . Is Mr. Magnussen here?" My voice didn't quaver at all. I was becoming a man at last.
(Adventures of Grant Scotland, Book Four)
Book Description:
RACIAL TENSIONS IN AELFA simmer and threaten to boil over when the harbormaster is found dead and the Huthan oppressors threaten to crack down in the Lower Docks. As Grant Scotland finds more questions than answers in the journals of Berthul Magnussen about his father’s treachery, he is drawn into a murder investigation, a kidnapping plot and the nefarious machinations of the city’s biggest crime lord—Mr. Quinn. In order to stop Quinn’s plans and save the city from being thrown into open revolt, Grant prepares to take his biggest gamble yet.
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1/4 - 1/7 @ $0.99
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EXCERPT
I gave him a brief recap of my espionage activities over the past few months, which included reports on the growth and temperament of the One God followers, the coming and going of any Huthan notables and the operations of Doogan and Quinn. At last I followed up with a summary of the harbormaster investigation and finished with the discovery of a ghost in the Lower Docks.
“There’s no such things as ghosts, Scotland.”
“I know, but I haven’t worked up a better nickname for him yet.”
“I’m sure you’ll think of something. I have every confidence in your ability to accomplish inane tasks of trivial importance.”
“Everybody has to be good at something.”
“And while your limited mental capabilities will no doubt be severely taxed in that endeavor, I’ll do some checking into what could make a man entirely concealed in plain sight.”
“You mean invisible. You can just say invisible.”
“Were I interested in being as lacking in attention to details as you, I could use the word invisible, but luckily for the both of us I am not. Complete invisibility is impossible. Not even the greatest Aelfan wizards were ever able to accomplish such a feat. But, there are several ways a man can remain unnoticed. Take me for instance. For the eleventh time in a row you failed to spot me before I spotted you.”
“How am I not surprised you’ve been keeping score? At any rate, he didn’t sneak up on me, I’m telling you I looked right through him.”
“Except his boots. Unless in addition to invisibility you also believe in the existence of a sentient pair of boots?”
“There’s no such things as ghosts, Scotland.”
“I know, but I haven’t worked up a better nickname for him yet.”
“I’m sure you’ll think of something. I have every confidence in your ability to accomplish inane tasks of trivial importance.”
“Everybody has to be good at something.”
“And while your limited mental capabilities will no doubt be severely taxed in that endeavor, I’ll do some checking into what could make a man entirely concealed in plain sight.”
“You mean invisible. You can just say invisible.”
“Were I interested in being as lacking in attention to details as you, I could use the word invisible, but luckily for the both of us I am not. Complete invisibility is impossible. Not even the greatest Aelfan wizards were ever able to accomplish such a feat. But, there are several ways a man can remain unnoticed. Take me for instance. For the eleventh time in a row you failed to spot me before I spotted you.”
“How am I not surprised you’ve been keeping score? At any rate, he didn’t sneak up on me, I’m telling you I looked right through him.”
“Except his boots. Unless in addition to invisibility you also believe in the existence of a sentient pair of boots?”
About the Author
Writing stories infused with the smoky charisma of classic film noir mixed with the pulse-pounding excitement of adventure fantasy and the cagey class of suspenseful espionage, Dan McClure brought the best parts of all of our most cherished pulp together and added his own signature brand of wit. He currently lives, writes and works in and around beautiful and historic Arlington, Massachusetts.
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***GIVEAWAY***
congrats on the tour and thanks for the chance to win :0)
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ReplyDelete--Trix
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