BLOOD RED SQUARE Pat Mullan Genre: Suspense Format: Trade Paperback ISBN: 0-9773082-5-1 BUY THE BOOK This book is available at the following location(s): Amazon.com LBF Books From The Back Cover: From the highly praised author of The CIRCLE of SODOM and TRIBUNAL (DUBLIN NOIR) comes: BLOOD RED SQUARE , the story of the creation and redemption of a terrorist. It is also a story of revenge. UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold died in a plane crash in the Congo in 1961. Considered suspicious at the time, no evidence surfaced to show that it was anything other than an accident. Secret KGB documents pointing to collusion between Moscow and Washington in the death of Hammarskjold are liberated from KGB archives by Misha Kedrov,an enigmatic new Russian entrepreneur. Kedrov, consumed by revenge for the murder of his parents, plans to use the documents to seek vengeance. He is ably supported by Conor Brady, aka Eduardo Kelly Herrera, an Argentinian, on the run, turned terrorist from circumstance and not from ideology. Only one man can thwart Misha Kedrov, stop Conor Brady, and prevent the chaos they plan. That man is Owen MacDara, special envoy of the President of the United States, a man who moves with equal ease in the halls of power or on the dark killing fields of international intrique. The Buzz: "Pat Mullan shocks us into paying attention from word one, page one and does not let us go until he decides to release us! That is how compelling BLOOD RED SQUARE reads! Like a dynamo running ahead of itself." - novelist Robert W. Walker, The Instinct and Edge Series Praise for PAT MULLAN "Pat Mullan shocks us into paying attention from word one, page one and does not let us go until he decides to release us! That is how compelling BLOOD RED SQUARE reads! Like a dynamo running ahead of itself." --novelist Robert W. Walker, The Instinct and Edge Series Another misconception is that thrillers are not well written. Pat Mullan knocks that notion right out of the water. That he is a poet is immediately evident and when you think of that other fine poet, James Lee Burke, you'll know you are in the same creative territory. The quality of the writing raises the terrific story to new heights. Here is the future of the thriller and it's called PAT MULLAN. Glory be indeed! -Ken Bruen, 2004 SHAMUS Award winner for best novel for 'The Guards' and 2005 MACAVITY Award for ‘The Killing of the Tinkers’ Part Tom Clancy, part Michael Crichton, The CIRCLE of SODOM by Pat Mullan provides an entertaining and thrilling read of the first order … the chilling suspense will keep you restless !!! Mullan is ready with another MacDara thriller, BLOOD RED SQUARE. I have already booked my copy!! "Recommended, highly recommended !!!" - Narayan Radhakrishnan, NEW MYSTERY READER "Exciting action-packed thriller" - Harriet Klausner, Amazon No. 1 Reviewer, who gave PAT MULLAN’S The CIRCLE of SODOM 5 stars. Pat Mullan is a mature and knowledgeable writer who puts together a thriller with the best of them. "An excellent read! " - Shelley Glodowski, MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW "You know you're reading a good thriller when you start to cast it for the movie before you've even finished." ~Eithne Hannigan, Book Reviews, CONNEMARA LIFE magazine "a rollicking ride…….a great new book in the thriller genre!" Well, this was a rollicking ride. Read The CIRCLE of SODOM, and you'll get to follow Owen MacDara on his odyssey from New York to the Atlantic Ocean, from Palm Springs to the backwoods hills of Tennessee, all in the name of love and daring-do. There's a lot of action packed in these 300+ pages, action dealing with terrorism, spying, attempted coups, and religious fanaticism. Good, tight writing, clean prose that just zips along, and characters that are engaging and memorable all contribute to a great new book in the thriller genre. ~ Peggy Vincent, Oakland, California, February 12, 2004 (Peggy Vincent is the author of Baby Catcher….film rights have been optioned by Elliot Gould's production studio and the screenplay has been assigned) "Pat Mullan writes an exciting and fast-moving tale … a timely read" Author Pat Mullan writes an exciting and fast-moving tale. From almost the first page, Owen MacDara finds himself in danger and confronting men who believe that God has called on them to bring about the end times. The use of computer warfare and cyberterrorism to undermine the economy, discussions of antiterrorism tactics, and the modern militia movement all are well researched and seamlessly incorporated into the adventure. Mullan's strong story-telling provides a completely enjoyable reading experience - Rob Preece, Book Reviews Editor, BooksForABuck.com THE CIRCLE OF SODOM by Pat Mullan, is compelling. It's a political thriller that happens to be timely. And timeless. This book is an even mix of Crichton and Clancy and written equally as well. It's a classic page-turner and almost comes across as though it had been adapted from a screenplay... "Who am I? . . .I am an author and teacher, in that order (for now.) My debut novel (which debuted in the midlist) was released by Penguin Putnam in 2004 and my second novel will be released later this year. "   Blood Red Square by Pat Mullan Publishers: LBF Books, 2006  ISBN:   0977308251 Reviewed by Narayan Radhakrishnan, New Mystery Reader “…. blurb informs us that Mullan is ready with another MacDara thriller Who Killed Hammarskjold? I have already booked my copy!! Recommended, highly recommended.” This is how I ended my review of THE CIRCLE OF SODOM by Pat Mullan in 2003. And I was WRONG. The new MacDara thriller is out, but the title has been changed to BLOOD RED SQUARE.  And readers who expect the suspense, thrill and chill of THE CIRCLE OF SODOM are in store for a shock….for the suspense, thrill and chill are double in tone and content in BLOOD RED SQUARE- and its one hellovva read. This time around former MASH Commanding Officer- turned- multimillionaire – turned Special envoy of the President of United States is called for duty .. international duty…. It all starts with the surfacing up of certain secret documents which shed light on the true story behind the death of Dag Hammarskjold. For those weak in history, here is the story- Dag Hammarskjold was the UN Secretary General during the late Fifties – y’know doing the same job our Kofi Annan does now. He died in mysterious circumstances, supposedly in an air crash in the Congo in 1961. though rumors were afloat that it was a murder, investigations drew a blank, and the death was considered as an accident. But now certain documents which throw light on the death of Dag Hammarskjold have reached the wrong hands, in particular one Misha Kedrow and a terrorist named Eduardo Kelly Herrara aka Conor Brady. If the documents, reaches the general public, and if a new twist is given to the same, it might simply mean a new world crisis, a new cold war…. A not so cold a war. Chaos is the verdict, and only one man can stop them, and that someone is our own Owen MacDara. How MacDara solves the problem, and how he prevents world chaos forms the theme of the work. Pat Mullan is no one-book wonder. Each book is heavily researched and authenticated by factual reality and with some literary license, his books are not ‘fiction’ but ‘fact-ions’. The idea of taking a page from history, giving a fictional twist to it, has been used by many an author, in particular by Ken Follett (Eye of the Needle) and Jack Higgins (Eagle has Landed). These books were grand reads, and it was difficult to distinguish where reality ended and fiction started. Likewise herein, BLOOD RED SQUARE also provides a grand read, and as already said it’s a thrilling chilling read. The blurb again informs us that the author is ready with another thriller TRIBUNAL: DUBLIN NOIR, and I for one have already booked my copy. With THE CIRCLE OF SODOM, Mullan had challenged Tom Clancy and Michael Crichton, and with BLOOD RED SQUARE he has challenged Ken Follett and Jack Higgins. One thing is for sure, Mullan is a force to be reckoned with. __________________________________________________ BLOOD RED SQUARE Pat Mullan LBF Books, December 2005, $14.95, 266 pp. ISBN 0-9773082-5-1 BLOOD RED SQUARE begins with a tantilizing question. Who killed Dag Hammarskjold? Mullan answers this by leading us through a maze of deception, and intrigue-served with a cold dash of reality. Before the Kennedy assasination, the death of UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold was the headline of the day. Like the Kennedy assasination, conspiracy theories surrounded the suspicious plane crash that took Hammarksjold's life. Flash forward to 1997. Secret KGB documents are unearthed, suggesting collusion between Moscow and the U.S. in the death of Hammarskjold. Misha Kedrov, a new breed of Russian businessman, takes the files from the KGB's archives. He enlists the aid of Conor Brady, aka Eduardo Kelly Herrera-a known terrorist, to help exact his revenge for the murder of his parents. Only one man can stop them from creating a new cold war. Owen MacDara, special envoy of the President of the United States. MacDara moves easily within the international houses of power and just as easily through the murky world of espionage. I like how Mullan turns his characters inside out for the reader. The style reminds me of Bob Ludlum, or Jack Higgins, yet with a distinctive flavor smoother than the finest Irish whiskey. BLOOD RED SQUARE, is a gripping little dance of shadows readers shouldn't miss. Cerri Ellis - MOSTLY MYSTERY REVIEWS Meet The Author: Pat Mullan was born in Ireland and has lived in England, Canada and the USA. He spent two years with the US Army in Japan and Korea. He is a graduate of Northwestern University and the State University of New York where he studied creative writing. Formerly a banker, he now lives in Connemara, in the west of Ireland. His novel, The CIRCLE of SODOM, is available on all the on-line stores. He has just completed a second novel, BLOOD RED SQUARE, which has been published by LBF Books. His story Tribunal will appear in 2005 in Akashic Books' DUBLIN NOIR. Tribunal is part of his current novel in progress; set mainly in Ireland, it will introduce Ed Burke. You can visit Pat at www.patmullan.com Book Excerpt ~ Part One: Leopoldville, The Congo 1961 The Russian paced back and forth past the grimy little window, peering out into the dusk and stopping frequently to listen.  The American lit another Chesterfield from the dying butt between his lips.  Two men waiting uneasily in a shabby office stuck to the side of the empty hangar.  The airfield had been abandoned months before, its pockmarked runway testimony to the fierce fighting that had taken place. The American heard it first.  He stubbed out his Chesterfield in an overflowing ashtray, pushed the chair out of his way and took two long strides to the window.  At this the Russian stopped pacing.  Now both stood at the window, side by side, ears straining. "Yup! That's it. Listen," said Kearns. "Da! Da! Now I hear," answered Zhukov. The faint rumble grew louder turning into the steady throb of a jeep's engine.  Two dim lights in the distance became brighter until the jeep stopped a hundred yards from the hangar.  A figure emerged moving towards them in a loping gait.  Zhukov held the door ajar for the late arrival.  Light from the naked bulb in the ceiling struck a big man, over six feet, wiry and lean, his waterproof overcoat opened on combat fatigues beneath and the insignia of a Major in the mercenary command of Colonel 'Mad Mike' Hoare. "How did it go?" asked Kearns. "Easy as pie, old boy," answered the Major in an accent more Anglo-Irish than English. "You will be successful, yes?" Zhukov asked. "Do you doubt me, Comrade?" asked the Major. "Nyet! Nyet!" said Zhukov," we are anxious, that's all." "There's a lot riding on your success, Major," said Kearns. The Major strode further into the office, removed his overcoat and sat on the edge of the desk.  He helped himself to one of the American's Chesterfields.  Then he stood up again and took a pen from the pocket of his fatigue jacket.  Telescoping it into a pointer, he walked over to the aging map of the Congo that hung from the office wall. Taking a mouthful of smoke deep into his lungs, he began."He'll land here, at Kamina.  Then he'll travel overland to his meeting with Mobutu.  Three hours later he will return by a different route.  This one.  Precaution.  For his safety.  The plane will be refuelled and prepared for his flight to Ndola to meet Tshombe.  But he will never reach Ndola!" The Major returned the pointer to his pocket, stubbed out the remainder of the Chesterfield, picked up his overcoat, and said,"Gentlemen, I believe you owe me something." Kearns already had the envelope in his hand. "Major, a deposit to your account.  As agreed.  50% now and 50% when the job is done.... I know.... You'll just have to trust us on that.  Just as we trust you now." "Thank you, Gentlemen," said the Major, "we will not see each other again." Standing together at the window, they watched the Major's loping gait merge with the dark silhouette of the jeep, listened to the engine come alive, and saw the red taillights recede into the dusk of early evening. Three days later the plane carrying UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold and his entourage crashed, killing all on board. Book Excerpt ~ Part Two: Moscow, Prospekt Mira 2000   Conor Brady had chewed his fingernails to the quick a long time ago.  With nothing now left to chew, he did his best to eat the rag-nails until the blood appeared.  A strange affliction, it demonstrated a contradiction in an otherwise extremely cool and imperturbable person under pressure.  And Conor was under pressure now.  He'd been at his position for an hour and a half and the cold began penetrating deep inside his body, his thermal gloves tested to the limit.  Even if his feet were frostbitten, his hands must remain warm.  His hands and his eyes were his tools, his instruments of precision.   From his vantage point on the roof he could see the entire length of Prospekt Mira.  Near empty, the street saw an occasional vehicle, some cyclists and the odd native or two, well muffled up and scurrying along to get out of the cold.  It wasn't an evening for lingering. Not a soul had entered or left the Imperial Hotel since Conor Brady had arrived.  The concierge showed himself once in a while, epaulets shining and the collar of his greatcoat pulled up around his ears.  The big Russian would step outside once every fifteen or twenty minutes, take a hasty look up and down the street, grab a smoke, then rush back inside again, leaving lingering wisps of his breath and smoke suspended in mid-air.   Conor moved back into the shadows and checked his equipment once again, never failing to keep a wary eye on the street below.  The sniper rifle, fixed on its tripod on the parapet wall adjacent to the chimney stack, gave him the optimum position both to execute his task and shelter him from view.  Satisfied, he lingered a while, caressing the stock and scope, feeling the passion arise in him.    He'd just finished his checkout when the car entered the end of the street.  As he watched it approach, he noted it had the size and distinctive profile of a Mercedes saloon.  When it slowed down before the Imperial Hotel, Brady felt certain that his target had finally arrived.   Positioned behind the scope, he could see the hair growing out of the concierge's nostrils as he emerged to greet the occupant of the Mercedes which had now come to a full stop.   The big concierge moved briskly to the car, opened the door, and held it as his guest rose into view and turned to thank him.  The face in the scope and the rotund profile proved unmistakable.  Conor coordinated his hands in precise unison with his eyes.  He had stopped breathing entirely.  As if independent of him, Conor's right index finger squeezed the trigger.  Gently.  Expertly.   Conor didn't bother to confirm the kill.  He never did.  He never missed.  In thirty seconds he'd returned his weapon to the sheath slung inside his greatcoat and left the roof. In a minute he had left the building.  In three minutes he had left Prospekt Mira. Interview: Pat, can you answer the $64,000 question for me.  Why do you write? That’s a good one!  I always wanted to know how someone came to write, what motivated them to 'hang in', often against all the odds. I suppose it’s a different experience for each writer.  This is mine. I have always had a desire to write. Putting words together seems to be an innate ability. Over the years I exercised that (or maybe I should say, 'exorcised') in my business life by writing business papers and other creative documents - while my scribbled poems ended up in the 'sock drawer'.  Many of those poems are now available in my collection, Childhood Hills.   Some years ago I left a senior position in finance in the US and returned to live in Connemara in the west of Ireland. I had always wanted to write but I had never had the time. Of course, that was a convenient excuse. I was afraid that, if I ever sat down to write, I'd discover that I couldn't. Now that may seem to be a contradiction to you if I always had an innate ability to put words together. Contradiction or not, that's what I felt. Thanks, Pat.  Great  getting  to know you.  Can you tell us a little about your writing?   Are you a morning person, an evening person?  Or do you write when the mood hits you ? I’m a morning person so I do try to write every morning – even if it’s just scribbled thoughts for my next poem. I do find that I’m more driven when I’m half way into a novel. The story and the characters take over and, if other matters permit, I just lose the sense of time. When that happens, I can write just as readily in the middle of the day or in the evening as I can in the morning. But, in a sense, I’m always writing in my head even when I’m gardening or mowing the lawn. … and some of my best novel setpieces come right out of my dreams. I always keep a notebook on my bedside table for those special dream segments that I happen to remember upon waking. In many ways one must be disciplined and set a writing schedule but one shouldn’t be deluded into thinking that that will produce the best or most creative output. Less structure and more development of the writerly mind creates a consciousness that is pervasive. Then writing in all its manifestation covers the entire day. I’m curious.  It seems that Ireland produces a lot of good writers for such a small country. What’s your thoughts on that? There's no way that one can grow up in Ireland without being surrounded by writers. Everybody writes! And, if they don't, they tell stories. The Celtic oral tradition is alive and well. When I was a little boy in our country farmhouse home, people (neighbors, friends, strangers) would come in of an evening, sit around the fire, and tell stories till the 'wee hours' of the morning. Later Irish writers: James Joyce, John McGahern, Brian Moore, Brendan Behan, Oscar Wilde, Sean O'Casey - and today there's so many, starting with my old schoolmate, Seamus Heaney, and others such as Roddy Doyle. Of course my favorite read is the thriller and I love Irish thriller writers such as Jack Higgins and Victor O'Reilly.But I must not leave out my favorite American writers and there are so many of them: Hemingway, Steinbeck, O'Connor, Clancy, James T. Farrell, and many more. I've been scared by Dean Koontz and by Stephen King and Evan Kingsbury ( whom you may know better as Robert W. Walker, author of the INSTINCT and the EDGE series ) and I've laughed out loud in bed reading Carl Hiaasen. Lately I've been reading my favorite Irish author, Ken Bruen. At College I read the great Russian writers, such as Turgenev and Tolstoy and began a whole new love affair. I suppose every writer that I read has influenced me. I believe that if one wants to (has to) write, one must read, read, read ... ..but I’m wandering, aren’t I?  I feel that I didn’t really answer your question.  But you know, there are just some questions for which there are no answers.  Don’t you think so? What are you working on at the moment? I am in the midst of  a new novel, TRIBUNAL.  My previous novels could be described as ‘International Suspense Thrillers’  but this one is set mostly in Ireland, the land of ‘The Celtic Tiger’.  We are fast becoming one of the wealthiest countries in the world. That’s a far cry from a century ago when our exports were mostly people crowded into famine ships.  With wealth comes all the evils of the modern world: corruption, greed and avarice, murder.  All I have to do is pick up my newspaper ever day and read the headlines.  When DUBLIN NOIR comes out in March, get it.  You can read the first chapters of TRIBUNAL there. I am also writing a science fiction novel.  I love science fiction and this is an especially pleasurable indulgence for me. Have you done, or are you planning to do any appearances or book signings? Seeing that my books are published in the US at present and I am here in Ireland, it’s kind of impossible to do signings.  But I compensate by attending conferences and dropping in to bookstores in the States when I visit.  I usually manage to get back to my ‘second home’ every year. My latest foray into the marketplace was my recent attendance at the LOVE IS MURDER conference in Chicago on February 4 – 6 of this year, where I was a guest and panellist.   I’ll be attending the  LEFT COAST CRIME  convention in Bristol, England, in March.  And I’ll be back in the States next year at the INTERNATIONAL THRILLER WRITERS convention, ThrillerFest,  in Phoenix at the end of June next year. Thank you so much Pat for taking the time to talk to us.  It’s been great getting to know you! You’re most welcome.  I enjoyed it.  Drop in to my website from time to time to keep up with the latest news about me.

"With BLOOD RED SQUARE he has challenged Ken Follett and Jack Higgins. One thing is for sure, Mullan is a force to be reckoned with. "   Narayan Radhakrishnan, New Mystery Reader "An excellent read! " - Shelley Glodowski, MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW    "a rollicking ride...a great new book in the thriller genre!"   Peggy Vincent, author of Baby Catcher -  film rights have been optioned by Elliot Gould's production studio and the screenplay has been assigned    ::: I found this book of poetry to be beautiful, touching, and approachable. It had me in tears, and laughing, all within the space of a few lines. It covers childhood, early working years, family, social-consciousness, etc. all from a Northern Irish perspective - but highly applicable to any life, anywhere. I highly recommend it!! -  Dan Masterson, Poet "Pat Mullan's latest, TRIBUNAL, is a razor blade down the spine. So fast-paced, expect whiplash.  This is Irish noir with a hero whom you'll want at your back in any gunfight. Grab a copy and clear your schedule!"   JAMES ROLLINS,  New York Times bestselling author of BLACK ORDER “TRIBUNAL bristles with ingenuity, and a plot to kill for …this is a thriller of such high caliber that it transcends all genres…has all the Irish gifts: dizzy narrative, sly humour, and marvelous readability.  It rocks!”    Ken Bruen, Edgar and Macavity Award winning author of THE GUARDS. "A high-powered legal thriller chocked full of betrayal, deceit, corruption, and murder. Mullan is Ireland's answer to John Grisham, with a smattering of Ross MacDonald thrown in. TRIBUNAL will make your head spin." JA Konrath, author of RUSTY NAIL. "Pat Mullan is a natural born storyteller with a gripping, engaging style. He may just be the next big thing in Irish crime fiction."   JASON STARR, author of LIGHTS OUT   "TRIBUNAL is a tight, intelligent thriller. Author Pat Mullan blends political intrigue and murder with a unique Irish flavor that goes down smooth.  His hero, Ed Burke, is striking - almost an anti-hero in some respects.  To unravel the deception and save himself, Burke must test old friendships, and determine who to trust in an Ireland changed by the Celtic Tiger.  Mullan writes suspense with an edge reminiscent of Bob Ludlum. An author to watch." - CERRI ELLIS - MOSTLY MYSTERY REVIEWS ***************************** Read the opening chapters of TRIBUNAL in DUBLIN NOIR - in your bookstores in the US, Ireland, and the UK -  NOW!!!