If you’re looking for an engaging, fast-paced thriller that grabs you and never lets go, I’ve got the book for you.
Earlier this year, debut author Richard Ebert released Silentcide: The Art of Undetected Killing, the first book of a hard-hitting new series, one that’s very much unlike anything else in bookstores today. Now, he’s set to release the follow-up, Silentcide 2: Vengeance, which BookLife calls a “Gripping sequel with complex character development,” and thankfully, he agreed to go on the record for our Five Questions segment.
Billed as two likable sibling assassins squaring off against the very essence of evil, New York Times bestselling author (and friend of The Real Book Spy) William Kent Krueger says Richard Ebert’s second novel is “A globe-trotting, non-stop thriller-drama of a story,” and I could not agree more. I found Silentcide 2 to be a heart-thumping read full of suspense, perfect for fans of action and misdirection. What caught my eye right away, though, wasn’t anything to do with the story itself. Similar to the Easter Eggs that we’ve seen from Jason Matthews and other authors who offer a more interactive reading experience for their fans, Ebert’s novels come with scannable QR codes at the end of most chapters, which leads to photos of said chapter locations taken by the author himself, who has a website that offers free travel guides for almost 850 cities in over 80 countries. The unique project stems from Ebert’s past goal to visit, photograph, research, and document as much of the world as possible. As a result, readers can scan the QR codes to see over 120 images of locations within each book.
As a new fan of Ebert’s work, I was curious about his writing process and asked him about it, as well as everything from when he knew he wanted to become an author to how he came up with the story idea for this book. Read the full Q&A below, then make sure to order your copy of Silentcide 2: Vengeance today!
“What a thrill ride! Twisted plotline, a wonderfully villainous antagonist, and an oddly likeable cadre of assassins.” – William Kent Krueger, NY Times bestselling author
Kill or be killed while US senators die.
Siblings Chris Davis and Michelle Barton are atypical silent assassins. They are smart, introspective and caring. Their desperate goal is to escape decades of oppression from Irene Shaw. She is refined yet ruthless … the essence of evil.
The thrilling sequel starts with explosive gunfire at Chris and Anna Monteiro, a woman he was hired to kill yet now protects. Together with Michelle and their former foster brother, the underdogs outrun bullets in Canada and the US while seeking vengeance against their tyrannical archenemy. Their teamwork is crippled by fear and mistrust.
Meanwhile, US senators are poisoned one by one. Irene’s plot threatens to ignite a national crisis prior to a presidential election. Action sizzles as the four struggle to save senators in Denver and Washington, DC. The final showdown against Irene’s brutality is do or die.
The twisting, character-driven thriller includes heroism, deceit, betrayal, romance and compassion, plus battles of wits and bullets.
QR codes link to 145 online photos of action scenes in 22 cities and 4 countries.
TRBS: First and foremost, before we get into your new book, when did you know that you wanted to be an author, and what made you finally take the plunge and start writing?
Ebert: The first thing I recall writing was a paper on Sudan in grade school. I worked so hard on the project. When I got an A++ from the teacher and accolades from my parents, something was seared into my young brain to become an author. After that, I was constantly writing, for example a movie I produced in high school and industrial film scripts as an intern for a PR firm. In college, I took countless undergrad and grad writing classes. Many of the professors were brutal but encouraging. Next, while president of two advertising agencies, I learned how to communicate succinctly yet with impact. Then I wrote endless strategic plans while running a consulting firm for 25 years. In short, I spent decades polishing different writing skills.
In 1996, when holed up in a hotel room almost every weeknight while business traveling, I began my first novel about bank corruption. I’d joke that I served financial executives during the day then killed them off at night. A great stress reliver. Four additional novels followed in the 2000s, but I was too busy to try getting them published. The joy of being creative and honing the craft was sufficient satisfaction. Yet my bucket-list goal was to someday hold my printed book. Years after retiring, I wrote my debut novel Silentcide: The Art of Undetected Killing. When UPS delivered my first hardcover, I was ecstatic. I had finally realized my grade school dream.
TRBS: I read Silentcide 2 and thought it was fantastic! How did you come up with the story idea for this one?
Ebert: The initial concept for the Silentcide series was to upend every assassin trope. Instead of the musclebound, gun-toting superhero, my atypical assassins are a brother-sister team. The siblings were manipulated, controlled and trained to kill their targets so it appears they die of natural causes. Many reviewers call them likable assassins, which is what I hoped for. I also wanted a character who tried doing everything right in her life, but now everything is going horribly wrong, and a relatable protagonist who desperately tries to atone for everything he’s done wrong. That seemed like a recipe for gripping conflict.
Silentcide 2: Vengeance picks up where the first novel leaves off. The siblings, plus their protected target and former foster brother, outrun bullets in multiple cities while plotting to kill their nemesis of 28 years. I wanted them to be gripped with fear, failure and mistrust. Meanwhile, the villain is implementing her swan song: the mysterious deaths of US senators. The team is helpless to stop her.
Since writing Silentcide 2, I’ve learned as an author if you kill a dog, readers hate you. But, if you start bumping off politicians, people smile and ask how many? I’ll let you surmise what that says about our society’s priorities.
TRBS: You mention in the book’s synopsis that this is a “character-driven” story. I couldn’t agree more, but wonder, what do you think makes a good hero and/or villain, and which character of yours is your favorite to write?
Ebert: Too many thrillers have insufficient character development except maybe for the omnipotent hero. This adrenaline-driven action can quickly ring hollow. However, if the reader is emotionally invested in the key people – the hero, victims, supporting cast and even the villain – then the action stays engaging and impactful. So, I try making all my characters real people with checkered backstories, redeeming merits, aspirations, self-doubts, fears, regrets, irrational emotions and actions, plus lingering trauma after near-death events.
A standout character in Silentcide 2: Vengeance is Irene Shaw. She runs a major Philadelphia law firm and an international network of assassins. She is 72, prim and proper, rich, controlling plus cunning, and the essence of evil. Even my good churchgoing friends want Irene dead. I loved creating Irene. But during the weeks I was writing from her POV, my wife avoided me.
TRBS: What is your writing process like? Do you outline your books, or just sit back and make it up as you go?
Ebert: I often entertain plot premises for months until one grabs me. As the storyline emerges – and that’s a piecemeal process – I begin outlining the initial chapters. I also define key story elements, events, ARCs and the ending. Next, I create detailed character profiles. Only then do I start writing. The fun really happens once the characters are “alive” because they constantly contribute ideas … usually during my mundane activities like walking, showering or trying to sleep. I’m constantly scribbling on notepads and translating their ideas into an expanding outline. So, I guess you could say, yes, I outline, but the characters make it up as we go.
TRBS: Who are some of your favorite authors?
Ebert: My favorite authors have Minnesota roots and have influenced my writing aspirations.
Vince Flynn: I met Vince in 1997 shortly after he self-published Term Limits. He provided great feedback on my first unpublished novel. His best inspiration was the assurance I could overcome my dyslexia as an author like he had. Vince’s premature death in 2013 devasted fans and people who knew him. Thanks to Kyle Mills and now Don Bently for continuing his Mitch Rapp series.
John Sandford (Camp): I also met John in the late 1990s. He encouraged me to keep writing novels despite my time constraints of running a business and raising a family. He said someday, maybe when I retire, I could try getting published. That’s exactly what happened. I always enjoy reading his Prey novels.
William Kent Krueger: For 25 years, Kent has been a New York Times bestselling author and the most popular mystery writer in Minnesota. His Cork O’Connor series and stand-alones like This Tender Land and Ordinary Grace are great. He is also selfless in helping emerging authors like he did for me by reading Silentcide 2 and providing a wonderful cover quote. Kent’s marvelous as an author and mentor.
Brad Thor: If Brad ever moves to Minnesota, he will also make my list of favorite authors.
