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Mike Wells ...

Best Selling Author of "Unputdownable" Thrillers, Suspense and Clean Teen Novels 

Mike Wells is an American bestselling author of over 20 "unputdownable" thriller and suspense novels, including Lust, Money & Murder and Passion, Power & Sin.  He is also known for his young adult books, such as The Mysterious Disappearance of Kurt Kramer, The Wrong Side of the Tracks, and  Wild Child, which are used by English teachers in high schools and colleges worldwide.  Formerly a screenwriter, Wells has a fast-paced, cinematic writing style.  His work is often compared to that of the late Sidney Sheldon, with strong and inspiring female heroes, tightly-written scenes, engaging action/dialogue, and numerous plot twists.  He currently lives in Europe and teaches part-time in the Creative Writing program at the University of Oxford. He has just launched a new phase of his writing, partnering with other authors, and With Mother's Approval is his first co-authored book.

PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERS/SUSPENSE: 


Lust, Money & Murder - Book 7 - Off the Grid

From Amazon: This book is the 7th in the Lust, Money & Murder series and begins the 3rd trilogy. When Elaine Brogan and Nick LaGrange are called to meet with Raj Malik at the American Embassy in Paris, it kicks off a treacherous adventure that neither of them could have ever imagined. Join Elaine, Nick, Luna Faye, Tony, Dimitriy, and more familiar characters from the best selling series in another Mike Wells "unputdownable" crime thriller. 

Review by Sandy Penny, SweetMysteryBooks.blogspot.com: I've been reading this series from the beginning, and it is a non-stop roller coaster that always ends with a cliff-hanger. Our favorite spy team is in for a rough ride this time, and no one knows where they are, and they are separated and neither knows if the other is alive. Who knows where help might come from? But Nick is a trained extractor, so there is always hope if they can just survive. As always, suspense, intense, and immensely readable. 

 Lust, Money & Murder - Book 6 - The Extraction

Completes the second trilogy in the series (Books 4, 5 & 6)  - When Secret Service agent Elaine Brogan fails to capture Giorgio Cattoretti yet again, the Italian criminal mastermind conceives a devious plan to capture her. Join Elaine, Giorgio, Nick, Tony, Luna, Dmitry and Lexy on another "unputdownable" Lust, Money & Murder adventure!


Lust, Money & Murder, Book 5, On Russian Soil 

Here we go again. After Elaine Brogan's arch nemesis, the brutal villain Georgio Catoretti returns from the dead and steals a fortune in art from the Hermitage, Elaine is dragged away from her home and children to go undercover as an art theft expert and capture him. He has knowledge the U.S. government wants, and the art is secondary. If the Russians capture him, the U.S. may never get the information they seek. But, Catoretti is brilliantly devious, and it's not so easy for anyone to get a step ahead of him. He seems to think of everything. This is an extreme game of cat and mouse, and we're not sure who is the cat and who is the mouse. Mike Wells deposits us on a roller coaster ride that lasts until the last moment of the book. I've read every book in the series, and I can hardly wait for the next installment. Mike is the master of cliffhangers and in-depth character portraits. 

~Review by Sandy Penny, SweetMysteryBooks.blogspot.com ***** Five Stars


Lust, Money & Murder, Book 4, Cattoretti's Return

Cattoretti is an abusive monster who deserved to be pushed over a cliff, but like a cat, he has many lives. Mike Wells is fantastic at character portraits, and even if we hate his villains, we are seduced and intrigued by them. His greed, vengeance and ability to justify his irrational actions is exceeded only by his brilliant strategic planning to achieve his devious plans. Book 4 sets the stage for him to reengage the woman who threw him off that cliff, the brilliant Elaine Brogan, his Secret Service nemesis who destroyed his counterfeiting empire. But, we'll have to wait for Book 5 for that to play out, and I am excited to see what it will look like. Another great read from this author who is the master of cliff hangers. Lots of interesting plot points and surprises that shock and amaze the reader. Good job again, Mike. 

~Review by Sandy Penny, SweetMysteryBooks.blogspot.com  ***** Five Stars


Lust, Money & Murder - Books 1-3

Complex, Compelling and Well Written, December 4, 2013

What a great read. Review by Sandy Penny, Founder of SweetMysteryBooks.com 

Mike Wells lets us know his characters intimately and builds the reader relationships with care and depth. The story is compelling and evolves and gets more interesting as it continues. A strong female lead moves through her challenges revealing her motivation and growing stronger and more interesting as you get to know her better. The author's style is easy to read, keeps the story moving and never misses a beat while adding characters and changing venues.

I read the first of these three books, and I was completely hooked and had to see how it all played out. The fast paced action and and compelling well-written story kept unfolding layer by layer. I like that, although there is violence, it is not graphic blood and gore. To me, that's the hallmark of a good story-teller, to seduce the reader into the world of the characters without having to shock them into it. As the naive heroine is pitted against a master criminal, she continues to show how smart and innovative she can be under pressure. Reminds me of Annie in Covert Affairs. I would like to have gotten to know Nick more intimately the way we got to know the other characters. Perhaps that will happen in the future. All the loose ends were neatly tied up after quite a few twists and turns along the way. I highly recommend this author and this series. Looking forward to exploring more of his work.

He has serialized several stories so you can get to know his work a little or a lot. Love his work and love his serial marketing strategy. Definitely one of my new favorites.


Now Available
on Amazon!

Robert Rand -
Co-Author with 
Mike Wells 

With Mother's Approval 
by Mike Wells and Robert Rand

Review by Sandy Penny, SweetMysteryBooks.com 

Professional Women are being brutally raped and murdered, and their only connection is a Professional Dating Site. The police are having no luck solving the crime, so Allie and Jeremy Branson, a husband and wife investigative team, are called in, due to their high success rate. They quickly eliminate and track down the suspect, and then things go awry.

This is the first of the collaborative series between Mike Wells and Robert Rand. Although it is much more graphic than Mike Wells' usual style, it's a good story with plenty of suspense and action. It includes several graphic brutal sex scenes.

I look forward to more stories involving Allie and Jeremy Branson, a husband and wife investigative team. I felt their character development was a little thin. I have always liked how Mike Wells goes in-depth into his characters, and we feel like we know them well. In this book, we are kept pretty much on the surface of the two main heroes. If we are to care about the protagonists, we need to know them better.

The character of the villains are better developed, and totally unlikable, as they should be. Too much graphic sexual violence for my taste. It lacks the psychological sophistication Mike Wells usually exhibits.

The story does have an interesting twist in it, and I won't spoil that. But, I don't understand why the convicted suspect didn't mount a greater protest on his own behalf when facing a death sentence, and I don't think that is made clear. Still, it was a compelling read and sets the stage for more possible books with this investigative couple. **** (4 Stars)


Passion, Power & Sin, Books 1-5

Sexy, Gripping, Exciting

Passion, Power & Sin is the second of Mike Wells series that I have read. I was seduced by his free Book 1 and had to finish the series. I finished it in two days. The author is great at seducing the reader while seducing the characters. I love how he leads us through a series of events that shape the character of the protagonist and create situations that make you ask, what would I do in this quandary?

This is a great blend of mystery, suspense and romance and just edgy enough to keep you reading through hunger, sleep deprivation and postponed chores. I read a lot of mysteries, and I am always grateful to see another one by Mike Wells. He spins a good yarn in exciting locations, not the same ole thing, ever. I have an urge to stand on the corner with his books and yell, get em while they're hot. Loved it. Five stars* * * * * ~ Sandy Penny . WritingMuse


The Drive-By Wife, Books 1-3

Terrifying, Menacing, Traumatic  (*****Five Stars)

Review by Sandy Penny, Founder of  SweetMysteryBooks.blogspot.com

Mike Wells is truly a master of the psychological thriller. He gets into the heads of the victims, the killers and the readers. He tells a gripping story of being stalked by a brutal gun-toting stranger who knows a terrible family secret and uses it to terrorize and have his way with an innocent woman. Lots of twists and turns with hope repeatedly melting into despair as one devastating mistake transforms a once-happy couple's life into a nightmare. How easy it would be to end up in this rat's maze of a predicament. Lots of breath-holding moments and heart thumping action. I could not stop listening to this gripping tale of being terrorized in your own home. I must confess, the title made me think the wife was going to be a drive-by shooter of some sort. 

Reminded me of the movies, The Talented Mr. Ripley meets Pacific Heights. Mr. Ripley takes over the life of someone who he envies and sets out to become that person. In Pacific Heights, a man who rents a couple's house proceeds to destroy it, similar to how the perpetrator in The Drive By Wife tries to take over the lives of this couple. It's a very unique story unfolding and unraveling like a Sherlock Holmes novel.

It made my stomach tighten up in knots while I checked all my doors and windows before bed. If you like psychological thrillers, this is a really good one. I'll read anything Mike Wells writes. As I've said before, the next Stephen King. He's my current favorite mystery author.


Get the first book free and check it out. You'll definitely want to rest of the story. 

 Baby Talk by Mike Wells

Creepy, Frightening & Hysterical (not the funny kind of hysterical)

One thrill ride after another, a gradual descent into madness. 

The baby did it - or did she?

The audio just came out on Audible.com with a fantastic voice-over reader who keeps all the voices separate and makes the story more real. Karin Allers’s performance reading this novel was awesome. Her reading style and different voices made the story even creepier and more chilling. I love audio books, and with readers this good, I may never read another book.

This is the story of a man who thinks his five-month-old daughter can talk, walk, make phone calls, move things around and kill people. He thinks she's out to  get him, and after his wife has an accident seemingly the fault of his daughter, he breaks down, and murders are committed, but did he commit them? Was he hallucinating, or is his baby truly the evil minion of Satan? Very visual and graphic.

I would recommend this book to friends who like creepy horror-based psychological thrillers. It's very well done, even though it's not a genre that usually attracts me. It gives me bad dreams. Mike Wells is a fantastic author. I think he's the next Stephen King after reading/listening to this book.

I think this must be what women who have severe post-partum depression experience when they think their babies are evil. To see a man experience it was a very interesting flip-flop. Totally worth a read.


PSYCHOLOGICAL ROMANCE: 


Secrets of The Elusive Lover - Books 1 & 2: 

The Personal Journal of a Playboy 

Review by Sandy Penny, Founder of SweetMysteryBooks.blogspot.com 

I can't stop thinking about Bethany and Adam. I really don't like Adam. He's a womanizing cad in so many ways, a polished user, but I can see why women fall for him. He's charming and sexy and smart. I've known a few like him, especially those who use metaphysical talents to seduce women. The character portraits are excellent, and that's Mike Well's strength as an author, all his characters seem to inhabit your mind. I would call this a romance novel for men. I think Mike gives us a look into the mind of a guy we all know. Most men would like to be him. Most women would like to settle him down to one woman. What does Adam really want? What will Adam do when his women start drifting away? After all he's 38, or is it 33? He's a narcissistic liar who really believes he's a good guy, so that's how women see him. And Bethany has the bad luck to be his type and to fall truly in love with him. Will she just be a part of his weekly roster? Will she take a stand and demand something different from him or walk away? This definitely needs a third book to answer some of these questions. As always, Mike has left us wondering and waiting and wanting more.

TEEN FICTION (AS COMPELLING AS HIS THRILLERS):


The Wrong Side of the Tracks

Review by Sandy Penny, Founder of SweetMysteryBooks.blogspot.com

The Wrong Side of the Tracks is reminiscent of "Stand By Me." (Some bad language.) I often compare Mike Wells to Stephen King, and it's because he has a range in his writing that is not restricted by genre. He sets out to tell a good story, and he follows it wherever it takes him. This is a coming of age story of a teen boy learning to find his strength and define who he is going to be in this world. It is a story of friendship that transcends the boundaries of societal judgments. It has deep emotions hidden in day-to-day circumstances. Mike successfully captures the teenage boys' angst and their challenges with bullies and girls and plans for the future. As always, Mike has told a great story and managed to make us think and remember what it was like in our teens. I love that his Young Adult novel is just as compelling as any of his thrillers. Good job, Mike.



The Mysterious Disappearance of Kurt Kramer 

Review by Sandy Penny, Founder of SweetMysteryBooks.com

On Kurt's birthday, he and the three friends his parents allowed to come along for a summer trip see something in the sky. They have to go check it out. What seems like a solid piece of metal suddenly opens and sucks the birthday boy in. The rest of the story is about his friends, family and the government trying find out what happened to him. There are elements of mysticism, magical reality and psychic abilities as the mystery unfolds. Young or old, this is a great story with some great messages, and lots to think about. This is a story of staying in your center when everyone thinks you're crazy and bravery when trying to save a friend. Mike Wells has a strange and mysterious mind, and it is so much fun to watch it ruminate on subjects many authors are afraid to tackle. He's not afraid to leave a few unanswered questions in his pursuit of the magical. He can always write a sequel when he finds some answers. 





WIld Child - Books 1-3 (A teenage sci-fi conspiracy thriller)

Review by Sandy Penny, Founder of SweetMysteryBooks.blogspot.com

This is the book that wouldn't die. When Mike Wells moved to England, he left the books with his parents. When they needed to get rid of them, he sadly paid to have them hauled to the dump. Sometime later, they showed up being sold on Amazon, and not by him. He reprinted the book, listed it on Amazon, and it showed that it had a life of its own, becoming a best selling clean teen novel.

Wild Child is a work of magical realism. It's hard to determine where real life ends and this story begins. All kinds of questions arise when Brie, the wild child heroine of the story is run over by a boat. Did she really die, and is this just the dream she's having as she languishes in a coma? Is this another dimension she enters? Is there really an amazing spring inside a cave that can magically heal physical wounds? Does this world offer us hidden rabbit holes when we stand on the edge of the abyss? And for those who love these crazy people, will life ever be the same again? For the questions we ask, are there really any acceptable answers? This has the feel of the 1980s movie, "Resurrection." It raises more questions than it answers. We can only go along on the journey and see where it takes us.

As the story continues in "Book 2 - Lilith," and gets more complicated, the young adult heroes, Kyle and Brie are pursued by those who want to keep those answers secret, or who want to exploit them for their own purposes. Who is Lilith, and is she on their side or on the side of the pursuers? What's really going on with the water in the cave? Is the water evil and controlling, or amazing and vitalizing? Is it a drug that takes over your life and obscures the possibility of ever having a normal life again? And, who are the men who will brutally kill to get their hands on the secrets of the water? So many are hiding secrets, it's difficult to know who to trust. And, you want to keep reading until any of those questions are answered, to see what it's all leading up to. And, as always with Mike Wells, it leads us to a cliffhanger that begs for more. I can hardly wait to see where this story goes.

Book 3 wraps up a lot of details and introduces some twists you may not expect. The dark side of paradise is revealed, and with their addictive need for the water, what can they do about it? It's a chilling end and hopefully a new beginning for those who survive.



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