What's Matt Up To? Lots.

There are quite a lot of Matt Hilton books hitting the shelves of late, or are imminent, and I thought a quick review of all that's on the go may be helpful to those of you interested in my output.


First up is the paperback edition of Dead Men's Harvest which goes on sale in the UK on 5th January 2012 but is already available from Amazon here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Mens-Harvest-Joe-Hunter/dp/1444712667/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1291725685&sr=1-2


And on the 19th January 2012 Joe Hunter: Six of the Best an eBook anthology of Joe Hunter short stories will be available on Kindle (but can be ordered now): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Joe-Hunter-Short-Stories-ebook/dp/B006HAMCPI/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_t_4


Joe Hunter's next adventure - No Going Back - will then go on sale in hardback in the UK from 16th February 2012, and can be pre-ordered now here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Going-Back-Joe-Hunter/dp/1444712683/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324661645&sr=1-1


Away from Joe Hunter for a moment, there are also three new eBooks available from Matt Hilton and all are available on all Amazon platforms.


Dominion is an apocalyptic thriller reminiscent of the movies '28 Days Later' meets 'Aliens' and can be downloaded here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dominion-ebook/dp/B006GT3NPI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1324664758&sr=1-1


Darkest Hour is an historical horror thriller set against the Fall of France in WW2 and is reminscent of the movies 'Saving Private Ryan' meets 'Van Helsing'. This is Matt's latest standalone horror book and can be downloaded here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Darkest-Hour-ebook/dp/B006P2BHAE/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_t_3


Also from Matt Hilton but under the pen name J A Norton, there's a YA horror adventure called Deliver Us From Evil and it can be downloaded here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Deliver-Us-From-Evil-ebook/dp/B006C752U8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1324664985&sr=1-1




Also, a short story, 'The Skin We're In' is included in The Mammoth Book of Best British Crime 9 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mammoth-Book-British-Crime-Books/dp/1780330944/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324665106&sr=1-1


Another Matt Hilton short story 'Apocalypse Noo' appears in Wild Wold Publishing's 'Holiday of the Dead' under the pen name Vallon Jackson: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Holiday-Dead-John-Russo/dp/1907954058/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324665214&sr=1-2


While in the USA, both Slash and Burn (Joe Hunter 3) and Cut and Run (Joe Hunter 4) have just gone on sale too: http://www.amazon.com/Slash-Burn-Matt-Hilton/dp/0061718475/ref=pd_sim_b_5  and http://www.amazon.com/Cut-Run-Hunter-Matt-Hilton/dp/0062079948/ref=pd_sim_b_1 respectively.

FINALLY!

Finally after eighteen months or so since Judgment and Wrath graced the shelves of US bookshops, book three in the Joe Hunter thriller series has been published as a mass market paperback. Yes, SLASH and BURN is finally available from William Morrow and Company (Harper Collins) and is earning good reviews. The book has been released in much higher numbers than Joe's previous outings, and I'm hopeful of him winning the audience he deserves across the pond. Because some readers will be coming on to Joe Hunter for the first time, I wrote an extra introductory chapter to this edition, giving new readers a taste of Joe not seen in the UK edition (Hodder and Stoughton).

Here's the best news though. In little more than three weeks, book four, CUT and RUN, will also go on sale, hopefully adding to the buzz as both Joe Hunter and Matt Hilton's names begin to appear in heretofore unknown corners. I'm stoked about the possibilities, but also trying to remain cool, calm and collected as I also keep my fingers firmly crossed in hope that the books are a success.

It's my understanding that the paperback of Judgment and Wrath (still as yet unpublished) will be out early next spring - but I guess this is down to the relative successes of SAB and CAR. Here's hoping.

USA covers

Coming December 2011

Coming November 2011

These are mock ups for the paperback editions of Slash and Burn (JH3) and Cut and Run (JH4) due for mass market paperback release in the USA this coming November and December. The type will be in flashy embossed foil, but this gives you some idea of what to look out for on the bookshop shelves. I like these covers: very evocative looking, and I hope you do to.

Slash and Burn gets the Bury treatment

It was really nice to see that Slash and Burn (Joe Hunter 3) made it to the list of Col Bury's crime fiction choices. Some people might point out that Col has become a good writing buddy of mine - and he has - but he is also truthful and insightful in his book reviews, and has always delivered reviews of my work unsolicited. I really appreciate it, man. I'd also like to say a huge thanks to those who left comments, and for the great feedback and support the writers of the blogosphere have given me (both at Col's blog and elsewhere).

To read Col's crime fiction choices, double digit here:


http://colburysnewcrimefiction.blogspot.com

'Choose and Book' chooses Slash and Burn

http://chooseandbook.blogspot.com/2010/09/slash-and-burn-new-joe-hunter-thriller.html

I was very pleased to come across the unsolicited review of Slash and Burn above. It's a very genuine, from-the-heart-review that left me smiling with pride.
I don't know the name of the reviewer, but would like to say thanks anyway. So if you read this...thank you.

Out Now - Slash and Burn

Out Today (Thursday 22nd July 2010) In the UK.

The third Joe Hunter thriller

SLASH AND BURN

Sneaky Peek at Blood and Ashes - Joe Hunter 5

I've been playing Cecil B. DeMille again and have come up with this promo video for the fifth Joe Hunter thriller - BLOOD AND ASHES - which should be on sale in the UK around February/March next year. This is a preview for my readers and is not to be found anywhere else on the net yet. Hope you enjoy it and look forward to the book. In the meantime, remember that Slash and Burn is out tomorrow in paperback, and you've only a few weeks to wait until Cut and Run goes on general sale in hardback (August 19th to be exact), and if you're in the USA, Judgment and Wrath hits the stands in hardback on 17th August. Lots of good stuff in the pipeline for Joe Hunter fans

New cover for Slash and Burn

Some of my regular readers will notice that Slash and Burn sports a distinctive new cover for when it is released in mass market paperback on 22nd July 2010 (not long now for those of you who have been waiting).

You'll notice that the helicopter and stormtrooper figure are missing that adorned the hardback edition. I'd like to hear what my regular readers think. Do you prefer the topographical type covers better than the ones that depict action/adventure. I'd particularly like to hear from my female readers. Do images depicting helicopters, speedboats, fast cars etc put you off picking up a novel in the first place?

I like this new cover - enigmatic, powerful, and the colours are very vivid when seen on the printed book.

'Off The Wall' (and into the pages of history)

For an 'off the wall' interview with me, as well as his singular take on Joe Hunter 3 - Slash and Burn - nip on over to Lee Hughes' blog where I promise you'll have a chuckle and come away from it glad that you visited. While you're there, you might want to check out some of Lee's other stuff. He's a top writer in the horror, crime and sci-fi field and, I predict, a big name for the future.

To read the interview and book review double tap here: http://leehugheswrites.blogspot.com/2010/06/second-review-matt-hiltons-slash-burn.html

Turning up the HEAT

"If you like the Jack Reacher books, you'll love Hilton's series... Action-packed from start to finish."

So sayeth Boyd Hilton (no relation) of SLASH and BURN in his roundup of 'The Top New Thrillers Out At The Moment' in this weeks HEAT Magazine (dated 5 - 11 June 2010). He also says a bit more, but I'd infringe copyright if I pasted the full review. If you're a HEAT Magazine reader you can see the review on page 125 (or you can sneak a look at your mum's, sister's, wife's, girlfriend's copy if you're not).

Slash and Burn keeps on keeping on

http://www.book-views.com/articles/486/1/Slash-and-Burn-by-Matt-Hilton/Page1.html

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7965017-slash-and-burn

http://book-critique.com/

Some people who have been huge supporters and fans of Joe Hunter since his inception in Dead Men's Dust are Patricia Reid and Gina Metz, both of whom live in the USA but are such great supporters that they get the UK edition of Joe's latest adventure as soon as it is published. I am indebted to both Pat and Gina for their enthusiasm and willingness to review my books.

The links above will take you to Pat's most recent review, this time for Slash and Burn (it's the same review at three different sites) if you'd like to see what she thinks of the latest book.

Five Magnifying Glasses....

http://www.crimesquad.com/reviews.asp

Crimesquad.com is fast becoming one of 'The' top crime fiction based sites on the internet and to say that I am thrilled that SLASH and BURN has been given a 'five magnifying glass' rating would be a huge understatement.

I admit to having met reviewer Graham Smith way back last year at the Theakstone's Ol' Peculier Crime Writing festival at Harrogate, but at the time Graham probably didn't know too much about Matt Hilton or Joe Hunter, so this review came straight from his heart. Having already penned this review and submitted it to Editor Chris Simmons at Crimesquad.com beforehand, Graham came along and joined in the launch of Slash and Burn on 31st March 2009 where we were able to discuss in a little more detail the motivation of Joe Hunter and the 'true' meaning behind the inclusion of the Bolan twins. I won't go into it here - for spoilers sake - but I had personal reasons for including the giant twins, and wanted to investigate the morality of Joe's actions through that of someone who truly loves his sibling. Hope my readers get the message, too.

Many, many thanks to Graham for an awesome review. I am well-chuffed.

"Joe Hunter is fast becoming a serious rival to Jack Reacher in the action stakes."  Graham Smith at Crimesquad.com

Joe has permission to kill.

Over at the superb spy webzine, Permission To Kill, editor David Foster offers a fascinating insight into the sub-genres of the spy fiction field (books, movies and TV), and attempts to categorise where Joe Hunter sits into the wider scheme with a breakdown and investigation into Joe's latest adventure in Slash and Burn.

Reading the article made me question Joe myself, and to try to decide where/if I felt Joe resides in the world of spy-fic. I'm not going to give you my conclusions at this time, but would rather hear what your conclusions are. Do you agree with David, or do you have a singular take on Joe Hunter that you'd like to share?

Take a read of the article here http://permissiontokill.com/2010/04/slash-and-burn/ and you won't be disappointed. In fact, I'm sure you'll learn something and perhaps go back and question your own characters (if you're a writer) or those characters you love to read about. Then, as per normal, you can leave me your findings in the comments below.

Thanks to David for a superb article and review.

Matt

For the (Daily) Record...

http://blogs.dailyrecord.co.uk/sharilow/

Shari Low of the Daily Record says of Slash and Burn:

"Three books into the Joe Hunter series and Matt Hilton delivers another hardcore, action-packed gritfest featuring a cold-blooded killer with a heart of gold."

For the full review, click the link above.

Thanks Shari.

'A Steven Seagal Movie in Book form'

http://sonsofspade.blogspot.com/2010/04/slash-and-burn-joe-hunter-by-matt.html

Over at JV Steens superb blog Sons Of Spade, he gives his review of Slash and Burn. Why not take a look over there, and also have a look around while there.

JV is also the author of the Noah Milano PI books and his book White Knight Syndrome is for now out on sale.

SLASH AND BURN - Joe Hunter three - the blurb

The new Joe Hunter Thriller by MATT HILTON

‘A sparkling new talent’ Peter James

SLASH AND BURN

‘Some may call me a vigilante. I think I’ve just got problems to fix.’

Joe Hunter is always ready to help a lady in distress. Particularly when Kate, the lady in question, is the sister of a dead Special Forces mate.

Robert Huffman pretends to be a respectable businessman. But the psychopathic Bolan twins he uses as his enforcers give the lie to that. Huffman is a player in the murky world of organised crime and needs Kate as bait for one of his schemes.

Joe is way outnumbered by the bad guys, but since when did that stop him? He’ll rescue Kate if he has to slash and burn to get her …

SLASH AND BURN BOOK LAUNCH 31/03/2010

Hi all,
I can now confirm that the official launch of Joe Hunter 3 - SLASH AND BURN - is scheduled for Wednesday 31st March 2010, at Waterstone's book shop, Scotch Street, Carlisle, Cumbria, and I extend an open invitation to all who want to attend.

This is your opportunity to get your first edition copies personally signed by yours truly, a day before the books go on general sale.

The more the merrier folks, tell all your friends

Matt

Short story competition update

So the stories have started to come in, and I'm having great fun reading people's forays into the high-voltage world that Joe Hunter travels through.

Keep 'em coming. Remember, there's a signed first edition copy of SLASH AND BURN up for grabs for the winner.

You want more details, I hear you say. Click on the book cover in the sidebar and it will take you through to the competition rules.

Win a Signed 'First Edition' Hardback copy of SLASH AND BURN ***Short Story Competition

OK, so here's how you can be the lucky winner of a signed 'First Edition' hardback copy of Joe Hunter 3 - SLASH AND BURN - while exercising your imagination and writing skills.

SLASH AND BURN will be published in the UK on 1st April 2010 by Hodder and Stoughton with a cover price of £12.99. However, for your chance to get a signed and dated edition (which will make it worth more to collectors) all I want you to do is write a story in the style of a Joe Hunter thriller, with a maximum count of 2,000 words (but will consider any that are just a tad over). The reason I've set a word max is because I'm going to have to fit reading them in around my own writing, so go along with me here, please.

If you are new to Joe Hunter, go buy, borrow, or beg a copy of either Dead Men's Dust or Judgement and Wrath, but please NO shoplifting. (No purchase is necessary, but I sure would appreciate your support). Have a read and take note of the style and scenarios to get an idea of what I'm looking for, and then come up with something original but along those same lines - i.e. all-action, crime thrillers.

Please, no pastiches/fan-fiction of Joe himself, or of any other literary creation, unless of course you own the copyright.

I will read each entry and make a final judgement on MY favourite 3 stories. I will be fair and judge each story on its merits, not on the name of the submitting author. TRUST ME. I will then post all three stories here on my blog (anonymously) and at my sister blog at Thrillers, Killers 'n' Chillers and invite a straw poll of my readers to decide on the best of the bunch.

In the unlikely event that I recieve less than 3 entries (i.e. 2) then I'll only post 2 or...uh...1. But then that would be the winner. Come on, don't let that happen.

Closing date for entries is Friday 12th March 2010 Midnight GMT, so you'd better get a move on.

I will then post the 3 shortlisted stories and invite votes, and the closing date for votes will be on Wednesday 31st March 2010 Midnight GMT.

The winning entry will win the prize as described above.

The winner will be announced on publication day, Thursday 1st April 2010.

EMAIL ENTRIES ONLY to matthiltonbooks@live.co.uk

Your story should be embedded in the body of your mail and type the words JOE HUNTER SHORT STORY COMP in the subject line.

The author of the winning entry will be contacted to arrange delivery of the prize.

No substitute prizes or cash value will be offered.

Copyright remains the property of the author.

Open worldwide, but stories should be written in ENGLISH.

The winning judgement is final.

This is for fun, so enjoy yourselves. If you don't win, at least you'd have had a little buzz.

So, go on. Give it a blast. Literally.

Matt

* NOTE* Please do link to this blog to send your readers to the selected stories or to enter the competition.
*ANOTHER NOTE* I have made a small adjustement to the word count limit - please see above in main text.
*YET ANOTHER NOTE* The question was asked, what's the difference between a pastiche and a 'in-the-style-of' story. Well, in this case, what I meant was I don't want a load of 'Joe Hunter, 'Jack Reacher', 'Joe Pike' fan-fiction submissions. Original creations only, thanks.

SLASH AND BURN - Joe Hunter three

When your book covers become available on Amazon (thanks to Sean Black for the head's up) you know that you're safe to share them with the world. So here it its; the first look at the cover of SLASH AND BURN, the third in the Joe Hunter series. On sale first week in April 2010.

If anyone would like to pre-order a copy, then here's the link:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Slash-Burn-Matt-Hilton/dp/0340978279/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258474117&sr=1-2