aviation thriller Archives

Congratulations to Tony Rea!

Congratulations to Tony Rea, whose gripping military adventure, Bouncer’s Bomber, is out now!

Bouncer’s Bomber is the fourth book in the Gus Beaumont Aviation Thrillers series.

September, 1942

SOE pilot Gus ‘Bouncer’ Beaumont is beginning to feel the effects of an exhausting war. After making a bad navigational error he is taken off piloting duties and posted as liaison officer to a Free French bomber squadron.

But the pressure on him continues to build.

First there is the moral dilemma of bombing civilians, then the suicide of a comrade. And, to top off everything, he is accused of murdering a fellow RAF officer.

The murder investigation is dropped, but a cloud of suspicion hangs over Gus and the only way to clear his name is by tracking down the real killer.

Can Gus clear his name and mend his reputation? Will he return to fight in the skies?

Or will the stresses of war push him too far…?

The Fire Maidens is Published Today

Congratulations to D. R. Bailey, whose heart-pounding military adventure, The Fire Maidens, is out now!

The Fire Maidens is the third book in the Secret Sirens Aviation Thrillers, set during the Second World War.

Autumn, 1943

Sisters Anna and Jennifer Nightingale have been flying in top missions with the Secret Sirens all-female RAF unit for nearly a year.

Their squadron of twelve Mosquitos stages a raid on Rouen to divert the enemy’s attention from the Lancasters which are coming in to bomb the marshalling yards and port.

But while Jennifer makes it through the mission safely, Anna and her navigator, Maria, are forced to ditch into the Channel.

Luckily they are picked up by a British Destroyer. And on board is none other than Winston Churchill himself.

Impressed by the skill-level and bravery of the female pilots, Churchill is keen to learn more about their training.

He escorts them back to base where they are given a new mission: to attack the Nazi-occupied Mimoyecques Fortress.

The Allies know that the Fortress is being armed with high calibre guns capable of reaching London in a massive, unending bombardment. The Sirens need to drop bombs into the railway tunnel entrance of the Fortress as soon as possible before the unthinkable happens.

But with very little time to train, will the Sirens be able to pull off the task? Can they reach the Fortress unscathed?

Or will these Fire Maidens join the many thousands who have already lost their lives in this brutal war…?

Spitfires Rising is Published Today

Congratulations to David Mackenzie, whose wartime aviation thriller, Spitfires Rising, is published today.

Spitfires Rising is the first book in the John Noble Fighter Ace Thrillers: action-packed military adventures following an RAF pilot during the Second World War.

1938

Having been raised on a farm, young New Zealander John Noble longs for an adventure away from his family’s homestead.

Enthralled by the sight of a Tiger Moth flying overhead, he decides to pursue a career as an RAF pilot and travels to the United Kingdom to complete his training.

After receiving his Wings, John is sent to RAF Catterick, where he finds himself flying the formidable Spitfire.

When tensions in Europe reach breaking point and Britain declares war on Germany, John’s training and courage are put to the ultimate test.

As the squadron prepares to face the Luftwaffe, John starts to question the effectiveness of their tactics, leading to clashes with senior officers.

And as his missions grow ever more dangerous, John begins to wonder just how far he will go to survive the war…

Is John ready for battle? Will he be able to follow orders while preserving his life?

Or is he destined to become a casualty of war…?

The Night Angels is Published Today

Congratulations to D. R. Bailey, whose thrilling aviation novel, The Night Angels, is published today!

The Night Angels is the second novel in the Secret Sirens Aviation Thrillers Series, heart-pounding Second World War escapades with strong female leads.

1943

Sisters Anna and Jennifer Nightingale are recruits in the top-secret Siren Squadron: a group of women trained in the RAF to fight against the enemy.

The Sirens are tasked with flying a series of night stealth missions as part of Operation Scorpion. The first mission is successful, and on returning to base they are told that new members will be joining their ranks.

Hopeful that this means the all-female squadron has been deemed a success, the sisters welcome the new recruits and start training them on the Mosquitos.

They head out on another night mission. But this time not everyone returns.

With a downed plane found empty off the English coast, fears grow that one of the Sirens hasn’t survived.

But the show must go on. And Anna Nightingale has to destroy the crashed plane so the Sirens can remain classified.

As their night missions continue, increased skirmishes with enemy pilots suggest someone may be leaking information to the Germans.

Have the Sirens been compromised? Can they find the mole?

Or will these daring female agents be forced out of the war…?

Sisters For Victory is Published Today

Congratulations to D. R. Bailey, whose thrilling aviation novel, Sisters For Victory, is published today!

Sisters For Victory is the first military adventure novel in the Secret Sirens Aviation Thrillers Series, heart-pounding Second World War escapades with strong female leads.

Autumn, 1942

With the reserves of male pilots ready for combat rapidly dwindling, England’s secret service decide to try something revolutionary. They are going to send female pilots into combat.

MI6 put Wing Commander James Donovan in charge of the ‘Sirens’. Outwardly, the women chosen appear to be assisting in the transporting of planes, but this is just a cover. In reality, they will be flying secret RAF combat missions into enemy territory.

Sisters Anna and Jennifer Nightingale are two of the early recruits into the Siren Squadron. They have grown up flying Tiger Moths as part of their father’s aerial display team, and now they need to get to grips with battle-ready Mosquitos.

Once trained, the Sirens are sent out on their first mission. But it soon becomes clear someone is sabotaging their aircraft.

Can the Nightingale sisters prove they deserve to fight alongside their male counterparts? Will they lead the way for women at war?

Or will the odds be too heavily stacked against them…?

Congratulations to Patrick Larsimont!

Congratulations to Patrick Larsimont, whose thrilling wartime adventure, The Vulcan and the Straits, is out now!

The Vulcan and the Straits is the fourth book in the Jox McNabb Aviation Thrillers series: action-packed, authentic historical adventures following a young RAF pilot during the Second World War.

Autumn, 1942

Fighter pilot, Jox McNabb has survived the desert and the second battle of El Alamein, but now No. 111 Squadron is heading into a fresh new storm.

They embark on Operation Torch, the invasion of Vichy North Africa, but adverse weather conditions make flying almost impossible.

And their Commanding Officer, Tony Bartley is losing control as he becomes more and more dependent on alcohol.

After a rocky few months, and a final disastrous mission, it is decided that Jox should step up to Squadron Leader.

But as the North African campaign worsens and Bartley becomes increasingly erratic, Jox finds himself fighting an uphill battle.

Is Jox up for the challenge of command? Can he lead his men to victory?

Or are circumstances too stacked against him…?

Tides of Change is Out Now

Congratulations to D. R. Bailey, whose exciting wartime thriller, Tides of Change, is out now!

Tides of Change is the fifth book in the Spitfire Mavericks Thrillers series: action-packed aviation adventures set during the second world war and featuring a team of vigilante pilots.

December, 1941

After a tense encounter with attacking Focke-Wulfs, Flying Officer Angus Mackennelly returns to base to find Squadron Leader Bentley announcing the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

US forces are being drafted in as war is declared on Japan and an American airbase is to be established next to the RAF Banley base used by the Maverick Squadron.

Angus is promoted to Flight Lieutenant and is given orders to lead a squadron escorting the American bombers on short-range missions until they have their own escort fighters.

But after the US bombers have landed, the Germans stage an attack on the airbase and rumours start to circulate that there may be an enemy spy on base.

As Angus and the Mavericks prepare for more intense air battles over Europe, suspicion between the team grows.

Is there a spy? Are they only targeting the Americans?

And can Maverick Squadron prepare their new allies for the realities of war…?

Happy Publication Day to Patrick Larsimont!

Congratulations to Patrick Larsimont, whose gripping aviation adventure, The Maple and the Blue, is published today!

The Maple and the Blue is the third book in the Jox McNabb Aviation Thrillers series: action-packed, authentic historical adventures following a young RAF pilot during the Second World War.

Spring, 1942

The Allies and Fighter Command have gone on the offensive. The French town of Dieppe is selected for the first major assault on the European continent.

But Jox McNabb and No.111 Squadron start to feel like they are being lured into a trap.

And their new leader is acting unpredictably, making them worried that he can’t be trusted.

As the largest air armada since the Battle of Britain prepares for the operation, Jox suspects their squadron leader is using the men for his own vanity and ambition.

And if the Dieppe raid goes wrong could it prove to be a devastating sacrifice.

Can Jox lead his men to victory? Will the ambitious operation be a success? Or will the squadron face disaster…?

Happy Publication Day to D. R. Bailey!

Congratulations to D. R. Bailey, whose page-turning World War II adventure, A Fool’s Errand, is published today!

A Fool’s Errand is the second book in the Spitfire Mavericks Thrillers series: action-packed aviation adventures set during the second world war and featuring a team of vigilante pilots.

1941

The Battle of Britain is over, and RAF Fighter Command turns its attention to France.

Flying Officer Angus Mackennelly and the rest of ‘Maverick’ Squadron 696 are engaged in tactics to lure the Luftwaffe into battle.

But Angus has grave misgivings about the orders he has been given, which are justified when he loses a brand-new pilot on their first incursion.

And the squadron is dealt another blow when one of their pilot officers is discovered dead in the hangar.

The inquest rules the death a suicide, but Angus is certain something more sinister has happened.

In between bouts of furious dogfights in the skies, Angus and his good friend Flying Officer Tomas Jezek work tirelessly to investigate the murder.

While they risk their lives fighting a deadly foe, could the real threat be coming from an enemy within? Are the Spitfire Mavericks being targeted by someone who is supposed to be on their side…?

Dawn of Hope is Out Now

Congratulations to D. R. Bailey, whose gripping military adventure, Dawn of Hope, is out now!

Dawn of Hope is the first book in the Spitfire Mavericks Thrillers series: action-packed aviation adventures set during the Second World War and featuring a team of vigilante pilots.

1940, England

After a series of run-ins with his superiors, Flying Officer Angus Mackennelly is posted to Squadron 696 – the Maverick unit full of misfits and outsiders.

Angus has just returned from gunning down enemy aircraft when he is given a shocking top-secret mission.

A spy is in their midst, feeding information to the Germans, and Angus is tasked with exposing him.

MI6 pin their suspicions on one of the squadron’s foreign pilots, but Angus is not convinced. He needs to get closer to the men in his unit to try and unravel their secrets.

As the fight in the skies intensifies, it is clear the Germans are anticipating their every move, putting the lives of the pilots in the Maverick squadron at a deadly risk.

Can Angus unmask the traitor? Will he save the men in his squadron?

Or will the enemy remain one step ahead…?

Winners of the Sapere Books Writing Competition Announced!

We are thrilled to announce that we have awarded winners in all six of the writing competition briefs that we set last year.

*Top row: Richard Kurti, Laura Martin, Neil Denby. Bottom row: Patrick Larsimont, Bob Robertson, Rachel McDonough.*

Each chosen author has won a five-book contract to work on the series they submitted for.

Screenwriter Richard Kurti has won The Medici Murder Mystery series brief.

The Second World War Aviation Thriller series brief was won by debut author Patrick Larsimont.

Established romance author Laura Martin scooped the Jane Austen Detective series brief.

Ghost-writer Bob Robertson snapped up the Age of Sail brief.

Academic author Neil Denby scooped the Ancient Rome Historical thriller brief.

And American author Rachel McDonough won the Tudor Maid Diaries series brief.

The quality of the entries were so strong that we have also awarded honourable mentions in nearly all of the categories and we are speaking to the shortlisted authors about writing other historical series for us based in the time period of their submission.

The shortlisted authors are:

Donna Gowland and Leann McKinley for the Jane Austen brief.

Daniel Colter and Ava McKevitt for the Ancient Rome brief.

David Bailey, David Mackenzie, Tony Rea and Suzanne Parsons for the WWII brief.

Kate MacCarthy for the Medici brief.

Alice Campbell, Angela Ranson, Katharine Edgar, Valerie Boyd and Maria Hoey for the Tudor brief.

Following the success of the first competition we are hoping to run the competition again later this year with a fresh set of writing prompts.