Steel Breeze

By Douglas Wynne

A BLACK WIND BLOWS AND A LIFE HANGS IN THE BALANCE.   It’s been a year since novelist Desmond Carmichael's wife Sandy was brutally murdered. Now, with someone stalking him and his four-year-old son, he fears that the wrong man has been imprisoned for the crime. Sandy’s parents and Detective Chuck Fournier have a different fear: that Desmond, despondent over Sandy’s death, has become too unstable to raise his own son. To prove them wrong, Desmond must work outside the law to defeat a threat born in the dust of an American wasteland, baptized by fire, and hellbent on riding the winds of karma.

• Language: English
• Publisher: JournalStone
• Release date: Jul 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9781936564941

Book preview

Reviews for Steel Breeze

[dolly22_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What a gripping tale, very enjoyable and recommended

[wolffaerie17 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Desmond Carmichael's wife was brutally murdered just over a year ago. He's now raising his four year old son Lucas as single parent. Recently strange things have been happening around Desmond that make him believe that his wife's killer is still on the loose. As these events continue to mount, Desmond goes on a fact finding mission to prove that the wrong man is in prison for his wife's death. The police believe that Desmond is making things up and move to take his son away. It appears that the killer is working his way to kill those he believes are responsible for his family's death. Will Desmond be proven right? Who is the real killer? Your answers await you in Steel Breeze.Steel Breeze is an interesting mix of Japanese culture and murder. I love the story and characters! This book is what I call a page turner from first to last page couldn't wait to see what happens next. Definitely read more of this author's work in the future.

[txyanky-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very good book. I really enjoyed reading this and will look for more from this author.

[romonko · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received this book from the publisher as an early-reviewer book, but didn't get to it right away. I do wish I had read it sooner though. It's an excellent thriller- taut and tightly-paced. Desmond Carmichael is an unlikely hero-a bookish, slightly overweight single father of a four year old boy. His wife had been brutally murdered about a year before the timing of this book. He determines that he and his son are in danger of being murdered as well. Desmond gets lots of warnings of this danger, but unfortunately the police don't believe him when he tells them of things that have happened. And even though the man who was convicted of the murder of his wife is in jail, the police are convinced that Desmond did it himself. So Desmond goes to extra-ordinary lengths to keep he and his son safe. When the FBI are called in to work a series of inter-state murders, Desmond finally finds someone who believes him. The action moves very quickly in this book and the tension is maintained throughout. This was a very enjoyable book.

[katyas_26 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Book Info: Genre: Suspense/ThrillerReading Level: AdultRecommended for: EveryoneTrigger Warnings: murder, kidnapping, themes relating to Japanese interment during WWII and the bombing of Hiroshima, revengeMy Thoughts: This is Douglas Wynne's second novel, following the “rock'n'roll horror” novel “The Devil of Echo Lake” (review linked here). I'm astonished by this author's versatility. His first novel has fantastical themes, while this one is limited to reality; his first novel is defined as horror (although I felt it was more dark fantasy), while this one is suspense/thriller. In both cases, the characters, the descriptions, the fast-paced action keep the reader flipping the pages as fast as possible. It's wonderful to see an author willing to experiment and try different things and succeed at it so well.I felt Desmond was a really good character, nicely developed with realistic reactions and motivations. Fournier felt a bit less developed to me, but we still were aware of his motivations and why he was doing what he did. The ending was bittersweet and felt just right. Again, I highly recommend you read the books by this talented new(ish) writer. They're well worth the time.Disclosure: I received a copy of this e-book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.Synopsis: It’s been a year since novelist Desmond Carmichael's wife Sandy was brutally murdered. Now, with someone stalking him and his four-year-old son, he fears that the wrong man has been imprisoned for the crime. Sandy’s parents and Detective Chuck Fournier have a different fear: that Desmond, despondent over Sandy’s death, has become too unstable to raise his own son.To prove them wrong, Desmond must work outside the law to defeat a threat born in the dust of an American wasteland, baptized by fire, and hellbent on riding the winds of karma.

[jurai2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Warning! This is a gruesome and gory book. It's a great book, full of suspense, with characters you'll want to punch, but if graphic descriptions of mutilation make you sick, you should probably skip this one. Desmond is a single father, a widower trying to raise his four year old son Lucas. After Lucas is nearly kidnapped and a cryptic haiku is found on Desmond's laptop Desmond calls the officer involved in his late wife's case. This proves to be a mistake, as Desmond is declared an unfit parent and has to fight for both the custody of his son and to be taken serious that there's a stalker on the loose. When Lucas is kidnapped from his "foster parents" of sorts, Desmond will stop at nothing to save his son's life.

[iadam-2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow! what a thriller. I received a free copy of Steel Breeze through LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review. The story is about a serial killer out for revenge who wants to avenge the atrocities and horrors that his ancestors suffered in the past. Steel Breeze is a well written book that was was carefully and accurately researched. This book was a fast read and an excellent crime thriller.

[britt84 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great book, a real pageturner, I couldn't put it down.In the book we follow a writer whose wife has been murdered; though the supposed murderer has been arrested, he finds that he and his son are still under threat. He tries to protect his son while struggling with an uncooperative police force and suspicious parents-in-law. The story is interspersed with episodes from the murderer's experiences and the story of the police investigators handling the case.I really like the way Wynne shows us different points of view throughout the book. While of course the murderers are the 'bad guys', he is compassionate about them and also gives us some insight into their backgrounds, which helps us to understand why they are committing these murders. The different characters are worked out very well and are very well-rounded, all of them having good and bad sides. The story is thought out very well and develops in a plausible way, and it keeps you on your toes right up to the final chapter.Something I personally also liked was the tiny bit of history thrown in. I think it's good to remember how the past can influence all our lives, and I appreciate the attention Wynne pays to Japanese history and culture.

[kellyreeder · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is an Early Review for LibraryThing. I started this book several months ago, and had to put it down for lack of interest. I couldn't quite tell why I wasn't interested, so I chose to pick it up again. My issues with the story are few, but probably the reasons I had trouble staying interested. First, the believability of the killer's motive I question. Secondly, there seemed to be a lot of focus on the killer's rituals and ceremonies. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, and the last quarter of the book, I could not put down. I would read another book by Douglas Wynne.

[isisunit · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I would like to thank Goodreads & JournalStone for the chance to win an ARC of this book and allow me the opportunity to read it in exchange for an honest review. My review was in no way influenced by the fact that I received this book for free.Back Jacket Blurb:A black wind blows and life hangs in the balance.It's been a year since novelist Desmond Charmichael's wife Sandy was brutally murdered. Now, with someone stalking him and his four-year-old son, he fears that the wrong man has been imprisoned for the crime. Sandy's parents and Detective Chuck Fournier have a different fear: that Desmond, despondent over Sandy's death, has become too unstable to raise his own son. To prove them wrong, Desmond must work outside the law to defeat a threat born in the dust of an American wasteland, baptized by fire, and hellbent on riding the winds of karma.When this book arrived in the mail I really had no clue what to make of it. The cover visuals didn't make much sense, particularly as I kept focusing on what looked like barbed wire and missing the other clues. But after reading the book the cover makes perfect sense, in a very gratifying way.Mr. Wynne has a definite talent and I will most certainly be keeping an eye open for his name in the publishing circles. He has a tremendous gift for creating his characters in such a way that you know each of them. They could be people from your life but for the circumstances; some you care dearly for and others you can't stand. Yet they are all integral to the story.The slow start to Desmond's desperation is so very convincing, then, as it rapidly gains traction it takes on a life of its own. Anyone with children or family that they love will be able to step into Desmond's shoes and feel just as terrified and violated as he does. Even the gruff and antagonistic Fournier is someone that pulls the emotional strings - as crass and obstinate as he is, most of the time his heart is in the right place, you just have to peel back the layers to figure out his motivation. And his motives are pretty clear from the start, though not truly confirmed until almost the very end.Lucas is the epitome of a three-year-old boy, and Wynne writes him to perfection. Just the same way he paints the vividly realistic images of Lucas as seen through Desmond's eyes. A prime example can be found in this simple observation on Desmond's part,""Don't forget dump, Daddy!" Lucas yelled, and Desmond could practically see the exclamation point in the air. For a four-year-old boy, if a thing is worth saying, it's worth exclaiming, and if a place is worth going to, it's worth running to." The book is replete with Wynne's spot-on observations of people and daily events, things so ordinary we never notice them, yet when he comments on them they are suddenly illuminated as never before.Even the antagonists of the story are so well written that it becomes difficult not to sympathize with them at times. The more their motives are revealed the easier it is to understand what drives them, though their reasons are exceptionally diverse. Of course this is not to say they aren't villainous enough to despise; simply that we are allowed to see enough of the chinks in their armor to allow for some compassion for them as well.Characters aren't the only area where Wynne shines. His pacing of the story is excellent, never making scenes feel forced or abbreviated. As each of the characters travel their own personal path their combined actions drive the collective arc of the story, creating a trajectory that gradually becomes steeper and more intense until you reach the climatic conclusion. Mr. Wynne has written a book that you will feel compelled to read in one sitting, all the while trying to slow yourself down to make the story last as long as possible.

[dlga_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is a private preliminary thoughts review, having received the book from the library thing website early reviewer programme.The author has sent me a kindle download format of their book which is much appreciated since I have a kindle fire only.

[glichman_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Desmond Carmichael had some baggage. He wife was brutally murdered; beheaded by a Japanese Samurai sword that he owned. He drank too much. He was fired from his teaching job. And he had a four year old Lucas to take care of. But he was doing his best, and getting better. He quit drinking and was working on getting a second book published. He was paying the bills and keeping his head above water. Until Desmond found Lucas being led into the woods by a man in a Samurai mask; a beheaded doll next to his toy truck in the sandbox; and a mystery haiku on his laptop computer. The local police wouldn't help, the Detective instead believing that Desmond was making it up for attention, or worse, had killed his wife a year earlier. Douglas Wynne's first novel, The Devil of Echo Lake, was the first place winner of the 2012 JournalStone Horror Fiction contest. Steel Breeze, a crime thriller, is his second, but no less deserving of high praise. The book had a little of almost everything a good thriller should: good cops and bad cops, leads and misleads, suspense and action, heroes and villains, vengeance, jealousy, even kidnapping. And of course, murder. Cold blooded. Unsuspected. Murder. All of which culminated in a climactic and page turning ending that left me satisfied. And Steel Breeze went a little deeper. The characters were a little more dynamic, facing choices that could take them from villain to hero in a second; from purposed, principled, disciplined to nothing but mass murderers; a bad cop who made bad decisions to a hero who sacrificed himself to save another; a father who was weak and beaten by circumstance or a father who gave it all to save the people he loved. There was potential from many of the characters, some met it and some didn't. Even though the characters were dynamic and the story complex, there were some misses, too. Consider this dialogue between four year old Lucas and one of the antagonists:"I don't like it here. I want to go home.""Just rest, okay? Here, have some water."Lucas shook his head. "Are you a bad guy?"Bell considered the question..."I don't know.""My Daddy says bad guys usually think they're the good guys."Although short, it is one of my favorite exchanges in the book. It implies so much about what could have been explored, that good and bad are not always exclusive; that even murder and murderers are complex. Lots of stories have been told from the point of view of a righteous killer or outlaw. Fewer have told a story from both perspectives, leaving readers torn between who should succeed. That opportunity could have been realized. Instead, the passage quoted above was just a glimpse of what could have taken Steel Breeze from a good to great thriller.

[momweaver · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book! It was a real page turner. The characters were believable and the plot was compelling. I will definitely look for more books by this author.

[mrsbaty · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This has everything I want in a thriller. Believable characters, real emotions, an interesting backstory, some historical context and lots of action!Fantasy writer Desmond Carmichael lost his wife a year ago when she was murdered letting the dog out at night. He's struggled since then to raise his 4 year old son and keep their life reasonably stable while mourning the devastating loss.Circumstances are leading him to believe that maybe the wrong guy was convicted. The disappearance of his son for a few minutes at the park confirm that there is more at play here than what the police found. The use of a katana and the introduction of a mysterious haiku and origami sculptures point toward someone other than the drifter they have incarcerated for the murder.The action heats up quickly. One of the things I liked most about this book is that every scene was important. There were no extraneous characters, no superfluous scenes, no padding. Every word mattered. In a world where there are so many new books that one wants to read, I love a book that doesn't waste my time.I received this book through Goodreads Giveaway and I appreciate the opportunity to read and review it.

[kerrymarsh · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow what a story. This one has you in it's grip from the very beginning and just when you feel you are coming up for air, it twists and turns and you're off on the ride again. A psychological thriller that is intelligently written to keep you invested all the way. No spoilers here, you'll have to read the book - and you wont regret it.

[lyhansen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was very entertained by this book! It definitely was different then what I was expecting, which was a great surprise! I liked how the author drew me in to the story and I found myself many times in Desmond's shoes and felt his worries! I liked the way this book made me feel uneasy and on the edge because of how the plot unveiled! I haven't yet read Mr. Wynne's previous novel the Devil of Echo Lake but will definitely be adding it to my must read list! Overall a very solid novel with lots to keep you entertained! I look forward to more novels from Mr. Wynne!

[chatty_cathie-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I won a copy of this book through Librarything's Early reviewer program. Just finished reading an eBook entitled “Steel Breeze” by Douglas Wynne – great story!The main story builds on the previous year’s gruesome murder of Desmond Carmichael’s wife, Sandy. As one might expect, Desmond was considered the primary suspect at the time of this murder by virtue of being “the husband”. In this case, however, the predictable perception of the guilty spouse was based on far more than just the fact that he was married to the murder victim, yet, no charges were ever able to be brought against Desmond or anyone else.As the story continues, Desmond becomes increasingly alarmed for both his and his 4 year old son Lucas’s safety after a series of bizarre events. Meanwhile, there are those that still believe that Desmond has not only gotten away with murdering his wife, but that he is also behind all of the bizarre events that he says has been happening. Is he a cold-blooded killer with an unfinished agenda or a despondent husband still mourning the horrific death of his wife and losing his grip on reality? I will leave those that read this review to answer that question for themselves, so I don’t give anything away.I found the story a quick, enjoyable read, with an interesting plot, that made me want to keep reading, however, I have to admit the plot did seem a little far-fetched for me-but that’s why they call it fiction, right?

[jeff123321 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I received this book through Library Thing early reviewer program. It was a very good book different then what I usually read.

[viennamax-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Won't say too much about the plot, just mention that it is not the usual uniform 'serial-killer-scheme'.The author describes in it not only the intented revenge of a Japanese samurai who was inprisoned during WWII. He gives an excellent picture about the 'philopsophy of the sword'.Sure, at some passages it is quite gruesome, atrociously. But I hat to read it in one and a half days: Very thrilling stuff!

[davidvoz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a great thriller. Somewhat different than I normal read but it grabbed my attention and held it through the book. Great character development and realism.

[randal37 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have been reading a few books lately that the prologue of the book is really bad and could have been left off. This kept that trend going. I am happy I kept reading the book. This book was a very fresh thriller/mystery that had a very fresh feeling compared to most of the books you will read. It never fell into a rut and will be reading another book from Douglas Wynne some time soon.

[hjvanderklis_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It's been a year since fantasy writer Desmond Carmichael lost his wife Sandy. A blind drunk was caught and sent to prison for murdering her. Now, someone is stalking Desmond and his 4-year old son Lucas with enigmatic Japanese words. With a samurai in his home, Carmichael is one of the main suspects for detective Chuck Fournier. When his golf mate and boss is decapitated by a sword fighter, Chuck jumps to conclusions. But then, in another state young girls are slaughtered, while Desmond's is held in custody. Is there a serial killer? Only one? And what's the motive? When Fournier illegally gets a hold of Lucas, but his wife actually looses the boy in a playground, all alarms are off. Suggested targets are the decendents of the A-bomb deliverer in 1945. Will bombs, swords or the author's pen have the latest word?Douglas Wynne penned Steel Breeze as a captivating serial killer whodunnit, dipped in Japanese traditional samurai techniques, war history and the father's love for his only son. Great, great horror novel / thriller stuff!

[frankerrington · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

5 of 5 Stars Review copyFirst, I love the wrap-around cover, from artist Jeff Miller, which does a very nice job of capturing several key elements of Steel Breeze.Last year, I had the privilege of reading Douglas Wynne's excellent rock 'n' roll horror novel The Devil of Echo Lake (get it and read it, if you haven't already). So when I saw his new book available as an ARC through LibraryThing.com, I immediately signed up and was fortunate enough to snag a copy. Steel Breeze takes the reader in an entirely new direction and is every bit as good.Desmond Carmichael writes Fantasy novels, the kind with swords and sorcerers. That's why, when his wife was murdered by a Japanese sword, kept over his desk, Des was a person of interest. However, police later found the murder weapon in the possession of a local vagrant who confessed to the crime and is currently in prison.Desmond starts having doubts about the man's guilt when a series of incidents leads him to be concerned for the safety of his three year old son, Lucas. Now he believes the people responsible for his wife's death are after his son.What follows is a non-stop, high intensity, thrill ride. It's a masterfully crafted story that is fast-paced and rich with wonderful prose, a tale that gets under your skin, gets your adrenaline flowing, and just barely lets you come up for air before repeating the process again and again. And just when you think the worst is over...it's NOT!Steel Breeze is another wonderful book from the people at Journalstone Publishing who have a keen eye for talent and are skilled at producing a very readable product. The official release date for Steel Breeze is Friday, July 19th, and it will be available in both paperback and a variety of electronic formats.Highly recommended.

[debdebtig · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Douglas Wynne's second novel ranks right up there with one of the best thrillers I have read. I loved The Devil of Echo Lake and was looking forward to his next book. I was not disappointed. Steel Breeze is about a widower with a young son who thinks his wife's killer may have come back to finish the job by killing his son. Is he losing his mind like everyone thinks or is there really someone after them? The story will keep you wondering right up until the end. If you enjoy a good thriller or enjoyed The Devil of Echo Lake you will definitely enjoy Steel Breeze. Disclaimer: I received Steel Breeze as an early review copy from LibraryThing.

[saginawhorror · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I found this quite interesting. I read this book in a day. I would have read it in one sitting but I had to go to work. I don't like I've read many crime novels where the killer uses a sword.

[sareiner · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I won a copy of this book through Librarything's Early reviewer program. Prologue of this book was VERY BORING. I almost did not read the book because of it.This book is about Desmond and his four year old son Lucas. Desmond is a writer who had just lost his wife to the most god-awful murder ever. His wife was be-headed in his backyard along with his dog. Yes, they beheaded the dog too. This makes major news and also makes Desmond the center of attention in town. Desperate to get some work done on his new book, Desmond starts taking Lucas to the playground to play while he sits and works on his laptop nearby. Lucas wonders off with a stranger, which made Desmond go to a different park that was closer to home so he would not have the same problem. Only 5 minutes into Lucas playing in the sandbox does Desmond look up and find his son missing again! He desperately looks around the park and cannot find him. He hears some noises and follows the sound through a bush to a stream where he finds Lucas standing next to a stranger looking at a duck in the stream. When Desmond yells at the stranger the stranger takes off running and never looks back.When Lucas is questioned about the stranger all he said was that he had a mean face that looked like a mask and he was scared. When Desmond goes back to the sandbox to pick up Lucas toy dump truck he left behind he find a be-headed doll next to the toy. Now he feels that this stranger is somehow related to his wife's murder. But how?! The next morning when Desmond starts to work on his book before Lucas wakes up he finds words written on his computer that were not there before. He feels that someone broke into the house. Lucas wakes up crying because the toy he has had been be-headed also. Desmond packs them up and heads to the detective's office that worked on his wife's murder and also was his wife's ex-lover. The detective thinks that Desmond is crazy and making everything up. He is still convinced that Desmond killed his wife. The in-laws where called that now they are starting the procedure to get custody of Lucas because of how un-fit Desmond is. Is Desmond crazy? Is he making this all up? Did he really kill his wife? Is the wrong person in jail for his wife's murder? You will you have to read and find out.This book has many mysteries and kept you guessing. You will not be disappointed with your choice of this book.

[draak_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Steel Breeze is about a writer whose wife was brutally murdered. A year later he believes the man in prison for it is really innocent and the real killer is back. But no one will believe him. What you have is a fast paced read full of action and suspense with well written characters. I really liked Desmond with his son Lucas. The more you read the more involved you become with the story. I couldn't wait to find out how it ended and was not disappointed. I received this from LibraryThing Early Reviewer and I highly recommend this book. I will certainly be watching out for the next Douglas Wynne book to come out.

[jmach226 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Wow, this book took me by surprise! It was a good mix of edge of your seat suspense and slow sections to help your heart rate return to normal. If you like books that involve japanese culture and thrillers/horror, this is a great book to read!

[mirrordance · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Well written, the plot makes you want to go on reading to discover what's going to happen next. It makes you think if it would be possible to find a biased officer and such slack ways of facing an investigation. The first part of the book is better than the ending, somehow it just rolls down to a "fast" "happy" resolution even if with many victims and lots of blood, but the "hero" is safe.

[bobfitzconner · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The prologue to Steel Breeze shows that Douglas Wynne is a polished and economical writer. The body of this accomplished thriller demonstrates Wynne applying his writing skills to craft a deft and satisfying journey into every families nightmare - being targeted by a determined and merciless murderer.Some contemporary thrillers read like mere reportage. Wynne shows that he understands the creative role of conflict and confrontation in developing character. And he is also fastidious in explaining the motivation of the liberal writer's treatment of horrific criminal actions.An exceptional new writing talent in the thriller genre.