American Renaissance Book 1
Missions Dangerous
by Amory Patrick Blaine
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Pub Date Dec 10 2024 | Archive Date Jan 28 2025
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Description
Taken from the highly classified government cables and confiscated journals of an undercover young American soldier-spy and aspiring poet in 1990s Paris, this heart-rending testimony (only recently discovered and leaked from a series of government files found at Mar-a-Lago), is at once the story of an infamous artist’s most devoted disciple, and a vital public record of his harrowing experience as the sole survivor of a mission of unspeakable evil and secrecy.
When, days after a violent explosion in the City of Light, a former veteran of the First Gulf War wakens from a coma to discover that three of his platoon mates are dead and receives shocking orders from his new commanding officer, facing him with a cruel choice: to either kill his best friend or the woman he loves.
Did the artist, Sean Dorian Knight, truly live? Who was he and why did he disappear - and why did his body of work in the midst of his celebrated Paris debut become erased from the historical record? Part spy novel, part biographical murder mystery, it is a haunting question that leads the reader into what perhaps could be the greatest true conspiracy of all time rooted in the enigmatic role played by the CIA in the founding of Modern art.
So, we are led through the eyes of an embedded informant on the mind-bending tale and cryptic path of art history, espionage, and government secrets: On the hunt for a mysterious enemy, one whose anonymous identity and prophesied rise – till this day – the government will use any amount of deadly force to keep hidden and destroy.
Advance Praise
From International Review of Books
General Thoughts on the Novel:
In this captivating first installment of a bold and ambitious trilogy, the author takes readers on a high-octane journey into the world of art, politics, and espionage. Set in the vibrant yet turbulent landscape of Paris at the turn of the millennium, the story follows the rise of a revolutionary young artist whose radical theory on art history ignites a global firestorm. ... The novel deftly explores the collision of creativity and ideology, raising questions about the power of art and the unintended consequences of revolutionary ideas."
"This gripping spy thriller and murder mystery unfolds with relentless tension, as layers of deception and danger are unraveled. The author masterfully captures the tension and complexity of a world in which contemporary artists are caught in the crossfire of political forces seeking to exploit their work for ideological gain. The portrayal of the postmodern art scene in 1990s Paris serves as both a backdrop and a critique, providing a rich, textured setting for the unfolding drama."
"A complex, multilayered plot challenges readers to engage deeply with the narrative, as the story’s many ramifications are revealed. Combining art history, political intrigue, and fast-paced action, this novel is a thought-provoking exploration of the intersection of creativity and power. Readers who appreciate high-stakes international thrillers with intellectual depth will find this book impossible to put down.
Perfect for fans of espionage, art history, and intricate narratives, this first entry sets the stage for a trilogy that promises to be as thought-provoking as it is thrilling."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
From BOOKLIfe: (Editor’s Pick)
..a “Doomsday painting,” rumors of an antichrist figure, and the rise of a murderous Dorian cult destroying history’s great artworks. Sharp, heady dialogue and themes of creation/destruction, art/finance, and revolution/terrorism all fascinate.."
A "Searching, Swaggeringly Ambitious debut...
A Hugely ambitious Philosophical Thriller of art, finance, and revolution". - BookLife Reviews, Editor's Pick
Comparable Titles: Peter Weiss’s The Aesthetics of the Resistance, Rachel Kushner’s The Flamethrowers. (A 2013 Finalist for the National Book Award.)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"In Blaine’s mystery-thriller, a veteran of the first U.S.-Iraq war is recruited to spy on a Paris-based artist’s cult. It’s the 1990s, and Amadeo Effscott—not his real name—is a 20-something informant for the United States government, which is investigating the possible terrorist activities of charismatic artist Sean Dorian Knight. The novel is presented as a series of classified documents allegedly recovered in the real-life 2022 FBI search of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort… A spy tale with an intriguing premise…” — Kirkus Reviews
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9781960142337 |
| PRICE | $5.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 423 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Kathryn M, Reviewer
This was a strong start to this series, it had that mystery element that I wanted and was a great opening chapter to this series. The characters were everything that I wanted and enjoyed the overall feel of this. It left me wanting to read more in this series and enjoyed how good Amory Patrick Blaine wrote this.
Jan T, Reviewer
alternate-history, international-crime-and-mystery, international-espionage, international-politics, investigations, murders, political-intrigue, politicians, spy-thriller, suspense, 1990s, art-critic, art-detective, art-history, classified-materials, combat-veteran, espionage, fiction, gripping*****
The publisher's blurb caught my interest with the notation that it is inspired by true events. This complex beginning to a series is not exactly the kind of thing that is in my wheelhouse, but several friends and family want to know when and where they can get a real copy for them to read. I liked it but got lost too often. Going to go ahead with a five star because of the responses of those who hung over my shoulder to read snippets.
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected ebook proof from BooksGoSocial via NetGalley.
Avail Dec 10, 2024 #AmericanRenaissanceBook1 by Amory Patrick Blaine @booksgosocialgroup @newbooksplease #NetGalley #ManhattanBookGroup
Riley W, Reviewer
Taken from the confidential government cables and confiscated journals of a young American soldier/spy and aspiring poet stranded in Paris at the time, the 1st person testimony is at once the story of one of the artist’s closest and most loving disciples, and an important public record of the narrator’s harrowing experience as the sole survivor of a mission of unspeakable evil and secrecy. Beginning sometime after a violent explosion in the City of Light, when having passed several days in a coma, he awakens only to discover that three of his platoon mates are dead. At the same time, he receives his shocking lethal orders from his new commanding officer and is ultimately faced with the cruel choice of having to either kill his best friend or the woman that he loves.
So, we are led through the eyes of an embedded informant on the mind-bending tale and cryptic path of art history, espionage, and government On the hunt for a mysterious enemy, one whose anonymous identity and prophesied rise – till this day - the government will use any amount of deadly force to keep hidden and destroy.
Part spy novel, part murder mystery, and a critique of the Post-Modern art scene in 1990s Paris, American Renaissance is an action-driven international thriller about the plight of modern-day artists living in the spiritual and political vortex during a paradigm shift of the new millennium. The full story is best experienced in numerical order.
Loved it. Cannot wait to read more. Will recommend to others.
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