Dead Men's Dust

I had the privilege of meeting Matt at a library talk where we exchanged books, martial arts tales, literary tips and anecdotes from our shared `security industry' pasts. Aside from being a brilliant writer and a complete master of the `grit-lit' genre he is also an engaging, effervescent and authoritative public speaker; he had time for everybody in the audience, and each and every question, whether it came from a local OAP looking for a cup of tea and a natter, or a sharp-eyed and voracious student looking to get published, was answered with warmth, wit, humour - and most importantly of all - solid, practical advice. When you hear the man speak you can almost see those wonderful creative cogs that fuel such a vivid imagination sparking, whirring and bursting into life, such is his enthusiasm, love and respect for the craft of writing. I've been to a great many writer's workshops and delivered more than a few myself; I've yet to see one top Matt's. In Dead Men's Dust Matt has produced a story and a character that is truly unique, compelling, powerful, fascinating and utterly addictive in the extreme. And lest you think this gushing praise is for the superb and charismatic protagonist Joe Hunter then I must correct you: it's not - it's for one of the disturbing and iconic anti-hero's I've come across since Hannibal Lecter sliced his way into our collective psyches: the preternaturally demented genius Tubal Cain! This fantastically deranged villain, with as much grace, charm and sadistic mirth as anything Poe could have rustled up, is the true star of Dead Men's Dust. One of the joys of discovering a villain such as Cain is trying to figure out who could play him in a movie. Well I don't know who Matt had in mind when he created him but I just couldn't get the prolific and underrated actor Brian Dennehy (Sherriff Teale from First Blood) out of my head. Like Cain, he's got a powerful stature and presence that's underpinned by a sort of relaxed, cheerful, laconic and occasionally biting sarcasm. Cain torments his hapless captives with a mixture of soothing sympathy and scathing putdowns that lead the reader on an emotional roller-coaster of disgust, bemusement, hilarity and shock. To say he sticks in your mind would be an understatement... Matt writes in a brilliantly effective but highly unusual style of first-person narrative for the protagonist, and third-person for the rest of the story. I've never come across this mix before but it worked really well and marks out his style with razor-sharp distinction. There are definite signs of the great Robert E Howard's influence in Matt's work and he shares the same style of fast-paced, earthy, vital and `alive' prose. All of the characters and plot twists burst with an energy and relevance which keeps the reader wanting more; I can honestly say that there was never a dull moment where I yawned or found my concentration wandering. Matt writes in a deceptively simple and naturalistic style that grabs

Let us welcome Joe Hunter to the ranks of thriller fiction's action protagonists. Hunter is the creation of Matt Hilton, a man who brings to his writing table some considerable bona fides. Hilton has over two decades of experience in Great Britain as a crime fighter in both the private security and public law enforcement fields, and along the way has acquired skills in hand-to-hand-combat and martial arts. His background lends itself well to the credible establishment of Hunter's vigilante/rogue/enforcer persona in DEAD MAN'S DUST, his debut novel. Hunter is an interesting sympathetic character, a Special Forces counterterrorism soldier who is a very specialized bodyguard for hire, protecting women from abusive significant others. In many ways this job is personal. John Telfer, Hunter's half-brother, a ne'er-do-well inveterate gambler, left the U.K. three years ago with a girlfriend in tow, leaving his wife Jennifer with two children and an empty bag. A group of individuals are holding markers and seeking to collect from Telfer's jilted wife. They are warned off in a manner that nicely demonstrates Hunter's exquisitely honed skill sets and sets up readers' expectations for what comes later. Jennifer has received a letter from her husband's girlfriend, reporting that Telfer has gone missing from their home in Little Rock, Arkansas, and begging her to contact Hunter. Though estranged from Telfer, Hunter feels the tug of family ties and flies to the United States. He makes a short stop in Florida to pick up Rink, an enigmatic and very dangerous character who functions as Hunter's brother-in-arms. Then it is on to Little Rock, where Hunter learns that Telfer is not the victim of foul play, but is once again on the run, although for nothing so mundane as gambling debts. In this case, Telfer has stolen the wrong thing from the wrong people and is on his way to Southern California to sell the item to a third party. Telfer, clever though not necessarily smart, has a penchant for and a problem with misappropriation, which causes him to inadvertently make the acquaintance of the killer who calls himself Tubal Cain. Known to the public at large as The Harvestman, Cain fancies himself as the nation's number-one serial killer and as a natural successor to his de facto idol, Ted Bundy. Cain is a trophy taker, with his treasures ranging from a piece of shirt cloth to more, uh, grisly items. When, by happenstance, Cain sets his predator sights on Telfer, however, his potential victim leaves him holding nothing but a trick bag and bereft of one of his most prized possessions. Cain, with brilliant and frightening ingenuity, tracks down Telfer and retrieves his prize, but there is something about Telfer that inspires in The Harvestman a grudging measure of respect. So it is that when Telfer's pursuers finally catch up with him, he has an unexpected though not entirely altruistic ally in Cain. Hunter and Rink, meanwhile, follow an explosive and deadly trail to T

Matt Hilton's debut novel couldn't have been much better; if it was any better Hilton would have no reason to keep writing. This thriller is unlike any thriller I've ever come across, and for a jaded thriller reader like me that is easily bored when a thriller fails to fail, that's a good thing. Hilton throws convention out the window with this story's plot. What starts as a typical 'Ho-hum, my (insert relative/relationship) that works for (insert federal agency/crime syndicate/business) is missing, I need to find him/her' is thrown completely off-kilter when the missing person crosses path with one of the most original serial killers I've come across in years. The pacing is taut, the dialogue is believable, and there is lots of action with unexpected twists all over the place. Strongly recommended.

Matt Hilton's 325-page book Dead Men's Dust was an action packed novel with a great story line. It was really hard to put down and had me thinking about taking a vacation day from work to finish it in one night. It is hard to believe that this is Hilton's first novel. His skill at character development and descriptive action scenes are equal to the best I have ever read. John Tefler and Joe Hunter are half-brothers with different fathers. Joe's mother remarried after the death of his father. Both were raised in England. John was the favorite and developed a gambling problem that landed him in trouble with a bad crowd. Living in America things got worst and more dangerous by the minute for him. He left his wife and children and later his mistress without a trace on the run from thugs who wanted him dead. His troubles escalated when he crossed paths with and stole a psychopathic/sociopathic serial killer's car and prized bowie knife. Now being tracked by mobsters and a clever serial killer, Cain, his life was in great peril. At John's request, Joe's wife contacts John in England for help finding her husband. Joe's military and government agent background makes him a force to reckoned with. He and his equally dangerous friend, Rink, make it their mission to find Joe and save him while protecting his family and mistress. The story begins on the East Coast and ends on the deserts of California. If you like fast paced, action packed novels; you are going to love this one. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am happy to recommend it to late teens to mature adults who like this kind of genre. Buy it today! You'll love it.

Dead Men's Dust-5 Paws Matt Hilton William Morrow, 2009, 336 pages ISBN No. 978-0-06-171714-7 Joe Hunter spent fourteen years as a Special Forces counterterrorism agent hunting men and sometimes killing them. He is now retired and living in England but still uses his special skills to help those in need. When in trouble with dangerous men, Joe Hunter is the man to call. Joe's half brother, John Telfer, ran away to the United States with Louise, a woman he worked with, and left behind his wife, Jennifer and two children. Joe must go to Jennifer's rescue when local thugs are harassing her over a debt that John left unpaid. Jennifer shows him a letter she received from Louise stating that John had disappeared again and is requesting the help of Joe to locate him. Jennifer begs him to find John and bring him home. After easily taking care of the thugs that have been harassing Jennifer, John heads off to the U.S. in search of John. He begins his trip in Florida where he hooks up with his old buddy Jared Rington aka Rink and then they are off to Arkansas to meet Louise and begin their search. Rink and Joe have worked together in the past and are a formidable pair. John has a history of trouble, gambling and disappearing. Finding him will not be easy and it appears they are not the only ones searching for John. Their search will take them across country. Joe and Rink will have to faceoff with many dangerous men to try to locate John including a vicious serial killer named Tubal Cain. Dead Man's Dust is non-stop action. It is a page turner that one will want to read in one setting. I look forward to future books featuring Joe Hunter. Matt Hilton has created a character and his associates that mystery fans will love.