Friday, November 15, 2013

CHARLES STUBBS ON THE ANATOMY OF A MYSTERY THRILLER










By Charles R. Stubbs – Author of the Travis #WebOfDeceit series of Mystery Thrillers
When I think about what inspired me to write my second novel, ‘Retribution’, it centres round how today’s media control and influence what we believe to be true. The news channels and papers provide a running commentary on events, often interpreting information in a way that suits a particular agenda. Sometimes the stories they peddle and publish turn out simply to be untrue, but that doesn’t stop people believing them.
In the UK during the early years of this century, certain newspapers pushed press intrusion beyond the boundaries of what most people would consider acceptable. It was not only celebrities and politicians they set their sights on. Ordinary members of the public found themselves the subject of innuendo, supposition and hypothesis. If an individual’s private life could be linked by journalists to a story, then that person was considered to be ‘fair game’. Some of the techniques used to obtain information were actually illegal.
Concern was raised, in particular, about the practice of ‘phone hacking’: listening to a person’s stored voicemails on their mobile (cell) phone account. The UK newspaper industry’s watchdog, the Press Complaints Commission, investigated on several occasions, and each time concluded that such activity was confined to a handful of ‘rogue’ reporters and private investigators. However, when an external inquiry was eventually set up, it found that the practice was widespread across the industry.




‘Retribution’ sets out to take the reader on a journey through a haphazard and sometimes conflicting series of events, guided only by ‘snippets of information’. This is what happens in real life. When a story first breaks, generally facts are hard to come by, so news organisations and the public alike are obliged to speculate on what might have happened. If the story sells well, a frantic scramble ensues for more information. Every news outlet and title wants to be first with the next development, insight or new angle. Frequently in this ‘race to be first’, corners are cut, facts are not checked: the result can be confusion and chaos.
The readers of ‘Retribution’ experience this at first hand, being invited at every turn and twist in the story to postulate what might actually be going on, based on the information presented to them. By halfway through the novel I want the reader to feel overwhelmed, floundering even, in a state of confusion; yet fascinated enough by the characters and what is happening to them to want to know more. I recognise that some readers will feel frustrated by this approach. But my message is that those who do persevere to the end are rewarded by revelations that I hope will prompt them to seriously question and challenge what they are presented with on a day-to-day basis by the media in their ‘real world’.









You can buy mystery thriller ‘Retribution’ as a Kindle eBook on Amazon for just $2.99/£1.99. Search for ‘retribution stubbs’, or click this link: http://viewBook.at/Retribution.
Early readers/reviewers described ‘Retribution’ as “Amazing!” and a “Masterpiece of suspense”.
Charles’s website is at: http://webofdeceit.org. His blog, which examines how the modern media control and influence our lives, is at http://webofdeceit.org/blogs. You can follow him on Twitter: @charlesrstubbs.


17 comments:

  1. Dear Charles, it is high time that we confront the inequities of the press and the concomitant damages resulting from such recklessness. I look forward to a good read and wish you great success!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Shari! If you could find time to post a review after you've finished reading 'Retribution', I'd really appreciate it. Charles

      Delete
  2. Posting for Ana Rubio, who was unable to enter her comment:

    Sure, reality is the best source of inspiration, but not easy to find out the truth. "Retribution" seems an interesting book to be read. Thanks Marta and Charles.

    ReplyDelete
  3. What an interesting approach! And so true - I think it is quite wonderful to read this kind of book - one that casts contemporary society in such an interesting light, and no doubt will present all kinds of perspectives that make me look at the world slightly differently. Thanks for a great posting Charles, and Marta for hosting it - it sounds like a great book!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Another interesting look at other authors and their works. Thank you Charles and Marta.
    Cheers
    Laurie.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're very welcome Laurie. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.

      Delete
  5. Hi,
    I like your title, Retribution. It makes you think about what is going to happen within the pages of the book. Your brief synopsis that you have given here also lets me know that the book is very timely. Even though fiction, it deals with some issues that are happening today.

    I personally believe that 90 percent of the people in the world do not form their own opinions about events that are taking place in the world. They refuse to think. Instead, they read the newspaper and let the newspaper tell them how they should think and react.

    So, I'll definitely invest in your book if it is available on Amazon Germany, and I look forward to reading it. You have definitely caught my interest.

    All the best.
    Shalom,
    Patti

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Pat. You are quite right, but I think the proportion of people who do not form their own opinions is closer to 95%!! Ultimately we are all forced to make up our minds based upon the information we receive. If we are lazy, we choose to receive all our information from sources that make us feel comfortable, rather than making an effort to find out what is really going on. 'Retribution' is a Kindle eBook and available from all Amazon online Kindle stores. Search for 'retribution stubbs' to find it. Thank you for your interest.

      Delete
  6. Mark...

    Interesting and quite appropriate, considering the grossly apparent deceptions by the mainstream media these days. Innuendo, half-truths, and speculation without grounds, seems to be the norm when reporting events. Your work sounds very intriguing and timely. Sounds like a fascinating read. Thanks for sharing. All the best to you.

    Marta...as always, a wonderful introduction to another great writer. Thank you sister!

    ~Taylor

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Many thanks for your comment Taylor. Much appreciated.

      Delete
  7. Wonderful article, Charles, and so very timely. "Retribution" is destined to be a bestseller as it is certain to captivate the reader with the unpleasant side of journalism. Marta, Thanks for hosting such an interesting author and his fascinating book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so glad you liked the article. Thank you for taking the time to comment and for your encouraging prediction about the book's future success :-)

      Delete
  8. Wonderful Charles! Thoroughly enjoyed your blogpost - thank you for sharing it with us. There is also great dramatic potential in the current usage/technology of drones and their ability to be compromised/hijacked. Your novel sounds most intriguing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds to me, PJ, as though you have a great idea for a novel emerging ...!!! Many thanks for commenting. I'm glad you enjoyed the post.

      Delete
  9. I've been a traveling author for more than 13 years, visiting many conflict-ridden countries. I learned that "the truth" as a set of defined parameters doesn't exist. We all - individually and in groups - create our own 'reality' based on who we are and what we want to achieve. We think we're organised and scientific, but life is chaos and we tend to be the prisoners of the machinations of our own minds. So, Mr. Stubbs, you've touched a very delicate and fascinating subject in Retribution....And not an easy one, either. Success!

    ReplyDelete