After a decade of Book Spying, I’m finally ready to pull the curtain back and help give readers an even more in-depth look into the worlds of mysteries and thrillers.
To be clear, this website, The Real Book Spy, isn’t going anywhere.
Think of this—my new Substack—as an extension of TRBS, where I will be offering a deeper analysis on various topics, along with exclusive content, reviews, interviews, giveaways, and more. Basically, anything that doesn’t quite fit what I’m already doing on The Real Book Spy or goes deeper than surface-level opinions I’m comfortable sharing here. In truth, my Substack isn’t geared towards a general audience, but rather, it’s for diehard fans of mysteries and thrillers and readers who want more insider access and coverage and who crave discussion.
For example, my first two posts explain why I think M.P. Woodward has the near-impossible job of taking over Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan Junior books (read that here) and all my thoughts on Don Bentley taking over Vince Flynn’s Mitch Rapp series (read that here). Those articles aren’t quite right for the general audience of casual readers who might stumble across TRBS, and yet, I’ve always wanted a space to post those types of write-ups.
When offering thoughts on M.P. Woodward taking over the Jack Ryan Junior books, I’m writing that from the perspective of a critic, sure, but also as an author who now has experience writing estate books. I have an idea of the pressure and stress Woodward no doubt felt as he was writing, and I wanted to touch on that before offering my thoughts on his book. It’s a different type of analysis, frankly. Same with my take on Don Bentley. That one, I wrote from the POV of the biggest Mitch Rapp fan on the planet and someone who knows Don Bentley.
Again, these things aren’t right for what I’ve done here for the last decade, but over the years, I’ve banked a lot of stories, and I’m finally ready to start sharing some of them. So, if you’re a huge fan of the mystery and thriller genre, please come check out my Substack.
My first post, explaining what sort of content you can expect on my Substack, along with why I thought now was the right time to branch out, is free and can be read here. Additionally, you can sign up and become a member on a month-to-month basis as you please. Currently, Substack is allowing people to become “Founding Members,” something that will only be available for a short time. Those who sign up to be Founding Members will not only have that status moving forward but will also receive a letter and signed book from me, personalized to whoever or however you’d like!
(Note: Everyone who signs up to be a founding member will get an email from me so you can tell me where to send your book and what to write in it.)
I have big plans for The Real Book Spy and The Real Book Spy Substack, so thank you for tuning in wherever you follow me. As always…
Happy Reading!
Praised as “One of the hardest working, most thoughtful, and fairest reviewers out there” by New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline, Ryan Steck has “quickly established himself as the authority on mysteries and thrillers” (Author A.J. Tata). Steck also works full-time as a freelance editor in addition to running TRBS. He is the author of FIELDS OF FIRE, which #1 New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr says “will leave you speechless and begging for more,” LETHAL RANGE, OUT FOR BLOOD, and TED BELL’S MONARCH. For more information, follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and BookBub. To interact with other readers and talk about your favorite books and authors, join The Real Book Spy’s Discord server.