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THE VIOLIN MAN’S LEGACY (Jack Calder Crime Series #2 Book 1) Kindle Edition

by seumas gallacher (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 158 ratings
Thriller with bloody twists and turns as ruthless killers meet their match in a former SAS hit squad.

Jack Calder is an ex-SAS soldier working with former colleagues at ISP, a specialist security firm. He is sent to investigate a murderous diamond heist in Holland, but swiftly learns that there is a very strong Far East connection. He then travels to Hong Kong where he meets the glamorous chief of ISP's local bureau, May-Ling.

Together they begin to unravel a complex web of corruption. The twin spiders at the centre of this web are the Chan brothers, leaders of one of Hong Kong's most ruthless and powerful triad gangs.

The trail of death and mayhem coils across Europe, Hong Kong and South America until all the scores are settled.

A Jack Calder Novel
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    Jack Calder Crime Series #2
  2. Print length
    236 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    July 17, 2011
  5. File size
    909 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Immediately likeable and genuine, the main protagonist Jack Calder is ex SAS who now works, with a team of former colleagues, for ISP, an international security company run by their former commander, Jules Townsend. Their task is to investigate deadly robberies involving shipments of precious gems from a Dutch diamond merchant. It gets personal for Jack when a friend and former comrade is a victim of the first attack.

It's soon apparent to Jack these are extremely well organised and executed raids. The resulting investigations in Amsterdam lead the team to the ISP headquarters in Hong Kong and much to Jack's delight, the chief of that division is the beautiful May-Ling. The evidence they uncover points to a powerful organised crime ring based in Hong Kong and masterminded by the callous and powerful 'Half Moon Twins' twins, Jimmie and Jonnie Chan. Their corrupt network reaches far and wide, across Europe, Hong Kong and South America.

There's a lot of interesting information and details about the Triad gangs and the process of shipping gems. The security team take no prisoners and get the job done with their own brand of justice and morality. I don't know how true to life that aspect is but it's certainly very conceivable. Jack and his team bring expertise to the job from their years as professional soldiers with the Special Air Service. I love the comradeship they share and the way they interact with each other. It brings a lot to a well thought out and plotted story.

All the characters are well written and Jack's heartbreaking back story gives him extra dimension and is the catalyst that sets him on his career path. The location descriptions are rich and evocative, the action virtually non stop, beginning immediately with a Triad execution and an attack on armoured vehicles carrying gold bullion which is vicious but highlights how ruthless the bad guys are. The pace is good and escalates a lot in the second half of the book with the heightening of the action. I like that everything ties up neatly at the end and all the bad guys get their due.

This is a well written book with a great early hook. From its strong start it continued to be a page turner. The narrative pace was excellent and fast; just how I like my crime thrillers to be. I thought the plot well constructed and alongside Jack, enjoyed working out who the baddies were and bringing them down. Scenes, whether action-packed killings or emotional, were visual/believable. I especially liked the 'lump-in-the-throat' inducing moments depicting the father/son relationship and again later with Annie, Roddie's widow. My preference is always for unflinching tough guys (and gals in this, I'm happy to add), but they must be sensitive too. Despite wanting a little more wordage on the romance/love front, I still unreservedly recommend this novel to anyone who likes their reading filled with busy, well-rounded characters, believable geographical locations and lots of action. Already having the second book in this series in my possession, I'm a very happy reader.

About the Author

SEUMAS GALLACHER escaped from the world of finance eight years ago, after a career spanning three continents and five decades. 

As the self-professed 'oldest computer Jurassic on the planet' his headlong immersion into the dizzy world of eBook publishing opened his eyes, mind, and pleasure to the joys of self-publishing. As a former businessman, he rapidly understood the concept of a writer's need to 'build the platform', and from a standing start began to develop a social networking outreach, which now tops 30,000 direct contacts. 

His first four crime-thrillers, in what has become the 'Jack Calder' series, THE VIOLIN MAN'S LEGACY, VENGEANCE WEARS BLACK, SAVAGE PAYBACK and KILLER CITY have blown his mind with more than 90,000 e-link downloads to date. The fifth in the series, DEADLY IMPASSE, is due for launch in the third quarter 2016. When he reaches the 100,000 sales/downloads mark he may indulge an extra Fried Mars Bar to celebrate.

He started a humorous, informative, self-publishers blog, never having heard of a 'blog' prior to that, was voted 'Blogger of the Year 2013' and now has a loyal blog following on his networks. He says the novels contain his 'Author's Voice', while the blog carries his 'Author's Brand'. And he's still LUVVIN IT!

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B005D7JNCQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Self Publishing as SGC Publishing (July 17, 2011)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 17, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 909 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 236 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 158 ratings

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seumas gallacher

seumas gallacher

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SEUMAS GALLACHER escaped from the world of finance twelve years ago, after a career spanning three continents and five decades.

As the self-professed 'oldest computer Jurassic on the planet' his headlong immersion into the dizzy world of eBook publishing opened his eyes, mind, and pleasure to the joys of self-publishing. As a former businessman, he rapidly understood the concept of a writer's need to 'build the platform', and from a standing start began to develop a social networking outreach, which now tops 60,000 direct contacts.

His first five crime-thrillers, in what has become the 'Jack Calder' series, THE VIOLIN MAN'S LEGACY; VENGEANCE WEARS BLACK; SAVAGE PAYBACK; KILLER CITY; and DEADLY IMPASSE have blown his mind with more than 100,000 e-link downloads to date. He celebrated that landmark with a Fried Mars Bar and a glass of Irn Bru.

As a professional ghostwriter for other people's autobiographies, he decided to write his own life story, 'STRANGELY, I'M STILL HERE', which has garnered much praise from his loyal readership, and he is immensely grateful for their support.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
158 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a well-paced thriller with engaging plot and action. The writing quality receives positive feedback, with one customer highlighting the detailed descriptions of Hong Kong. Customers appreciate the well-rounded characters and consider it a highly enjoyable part of the novel.

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21 customers mention "Plot"17 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the plot of the book, describing it as a well-paced thriller with plenty of action.

"...with a nice cadence and few wasted words, resulting in a story that moves along at a good, solid pace and builds into a strong climax and denouement...." Read more

"...There's intrigue and violence with just a touch of romance and sex to round the story out...." Read more

"...The Violin man’s legacy is fast paced and exciting. There is a lot of action and a bit of romance...." Read more

"...While fast-paced and exciting, it isn't filled with death-defying acts left and right that the main guy keeps surviving against all odds...those are..." Read more

16 customers mention "Writing quality"13 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book, with one customer noting the detailed and flavorful descriptions of Hong Kong, while another mentions the extensive use of dialog and exposition.

"...be a slow reader, deliberately so, one who takes his time and enjoys the written word, especially when it’s well done as it is here...." Read more

"...They're well-rounded characters brought to life with a miminum of description. I like that...." Read more

"...This was a well-written, well-planned, well-paced, well executed plot from page 1...." Read more

"...It contains a lot of dialog and exposition related to all the characters congratulating themselves and each other over their pasts, their..." Read more

15 customers mention "Readability"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable and enjoyable, with one customer noting it keeps them wondering throughout.

"...This novel is the result of obviously good research. It’s well plotted and in my view ticks all the boxes in the action thriller genre. Flaws?..." Read more

"...They're at the top of their game, they act honourably to those who deserve it, and they care...." Read more

"...It held my interest and kept me thinking - I didn't do a "well this is the secret bad guy" thing I can sometimes do - & don't enjoy - I want..." Read more

"...The authenticity of the local detail was another highly enjoyable part of the novel...." Read more

11 customers mention "Pacing"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book well-paced, with one customer noting that the reader develops an immediate connection, while another mentions it makes them want to keep turning pages.

"...few wasted words, resulting in a story that moves along at a good, solid pace and builds into a strong climax and denouement...." Read more

"...The narration pace is very fast at times, slowing slightly during exposition but never coming to a halt...." Read more

"...The Violin man’s legacy is fast paced and exciting. There is a lot of action and a bit of romance...." Read more

"...While fast-paced and exciting, it isn't filled with death-defying acts left and right that the main guy keeps surviving against all odds...those are..." Read more

7 customers mention "Character development"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the well-rounded characters in the book.

"...They're well-rounded characters brought to life with a miminum of description. I like that...." Read more

"...The main characters are solitary individuals, often with a personal tragedy in their baggage...." Read more

"...The characters are well built and sturdy enough to bring the reader back for a second read and a sequel or two!..." Read more

"...stories and the reader develops an immediate and lasting affection for his characters...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Anthony Mcmanus
    5.0 out of 5 stars An Exciting, Well Written Action Thriller
    Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    The is the first novel in a series featuring Jack Calder, Scottish ex-SAS soldier and hard man. Calder, born in a tough, working class region of Glasgow, is now using his Special Forces skills as an operative with International Security Partners (ISP) a top flight security enterprise founded by ex-SAS Major Jules Townsend, an old and close buddy of Calder.
    The story opens in Kowloon with a chilling description of how Chinese Triads mete out their justice, putting the reader on notice for the action ahead. We then move to Amsterdam where a gold bullion robbery is quickly followed by a successful diamond robbery; both heists under arms and violent. And as one of the slain security men happens to be an old SAS friend and compatriot of Townsend and Calder, this brings in ISP to investigate the crimes, and adds a personal note; retribution is called for.
    The boys from ISP quickly determine that the crimes were inside jobs, with a narcotics and Triad connection, and search for the culprits is on. I won’t disclose the plot. But it’s involved and exciting, the hunt taking us from Europe to Hong Kong and the wilds of Chile and Bolivia, involving drug routes, ruthless Triads and peppered with brutal vigilant justice coming out of the barrels of Kalashnikovs, Uzis and MP5s. And that high performance explosive, Semtex, also gets to feature and is nicely used. Yes, the villains get theirs and scores are settled in the most satisfying way.
    I don’t like the term “page turner” as it implies a reader in a hurry, one who skips paragraphs and even whole sections. I’m pleased to be a slow reader, deliberately so, one who takes his time and enjoys the written word, especially when it’s well done as it is here. This novel is the result of obviously good research. It’s well plotted and in my view ticks all the boxes in the action thriller genre. Flaws? Too few to mention other than I would have liked more tenderness in the romantic encounters between Jack and the lovely May Ling.
    The narrative is tight, spare and punchy, coming straight from the shoulder with a nice cadence and few wasted words, resulting in a story that moves along at a good, solid pace and builds into a strong climax and denouement. And in today’s crazy world it’s also credible. Mr. Gallacher has done his homework. I should add that it’s a “properly published” work with a publishing house behind it which explains the sound editing. I now look forward to reading #2 in this series: Vengeance Wears Black, already on my Kindle.
    If adventure thrillers are your thing, you’ll not be disappointed. I recommend it highly.
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  • Alana Woods
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Well-paced thriller
    Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This is a well-paced thriller packed with lots to keep an action reader happy. There's intrigue and violence with just a touch of romance and sex to round the story out.

    Jack Calder is ex-SAS now working for a security firm contracted to keep a Dutch diamond merchant's goods safe from a Hong Kong triad doing its best to relieve the merchant of them. The triad isn't particular who gets hurt or killed along the way. Jack and his colleagues, also ex-SAS, thought they'd left the risky life behind when they demobbed. Going up against the triads soon disabuses them of that idea.

    Why I haven't given a five star rating: Firstly, the opening is violent, setting the scene no doubt for what is to come, but it hung in the air for me. It wasn't until well into the story that it fell into place with another act of violence by the same group. I felt the second incident was enough to illustrate the callousness of the group, the first was not needed.

    Secondly is minor criticism about the language and dialogue occasionally becoming awkward. When it occurred it jumped out at me in what was otherwise top-notch storytelling.

    What I liked about the story: There's lots of shooting and killing but it's put into context with excellent back stories on the main characters. It's so good you can forgive yourself for agreeing with them that how they deal with the baddies is justified!

    I also liked the characters. As far as I know--and you would think you'd know if you had--I've never met any SAS types, so I can't say if these are portrayed as more skilful than those in real life. I'd say not, given the deft meting out of information by the author. They're at the top of their game, they act honourably to those who deserve it, and they care. They're well-rounded characters brought to life with a miminum of description. I like that.

    And except for those minor lapses the story is well told. The narration pace is very fast at times, slowing slightly during exposition but never coming to a halt.

    I'll be looking for more by Gallacher.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Mrs. J
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Fast-Moving and Exciting Ride!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 22, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    From the very beginning the reader is hooked, even though the first chapter contains a brutal execution but it shows that the adversary is going to be tough. The main character, Jack Calder, is also tough but with a hidden, soft interior and his coming into business contact with half-English, half-Chinese woman, May-Ling helps to ease the pain within the man. We come to an understanding of what is within Jack on the account of the death of his father, something that will haunt the boy, then the man. However, Jack doesn’t let that haunting disrupt his work which he carries out determinedly and expertly, along with his boss, Jules and other counterparts.

    This is a well-researched story with detail-perfect information, spanning the world from The Netherlands to Hong Kong and from there to South America, not to mention Hereford (one of my favourite places!) which is the home of the famed SAS from which these tough guys have sprung. The author has good knowledge of how SAS- trained people work which could even impress the SAS!

    I have to say that this kind of book was never the type of story that I would choose to read, mostly I prefer to watch crime thrillers rather than read them. However, I was grabbed from the start and this morning I stayed in bed much longer than I should have in order to not stop reading. That, I
    feel, is a good tribute to Seumas’s writing; it’s easy to read and, in my opinion, very skilled. I feel I have been converted because I will indeed be reading more of Seumas’s books about Jack Calder. Jeanette Taylor Ford, Author.
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  • OlgaNM
    4.0 out of 5 stars If you enjoy well-researched international thrillers and love team-spirit, don’t miss this one.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 12, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I had read Gallacher’s Self-Publishing Steps to Successful Sales a while back and had several of his books waiting to be read but had not managed yet. But when his first novel, The Violin Man’s Legacy became available in audiobook format, I knew I had no excuse.
    Although I tend to use the text-to-speech facility on my e-reader, I haven’t listened to many audiobooks (mostly my own) so I was intrigued by the experience. I found the narrator, C.C. Hogan, engaging, able to hold my attention, and very good at keeping the characters separate (and there are quite a few!) and individual. He is also very good at accents and managed the international locations and names without faltering. Unfortunately, my Kindle is quite old by now and could not accommodate the Whispersync option, that would have made it easier to check some things (like names and details), as I also had a copy of the Kindle version of the book.
    I’m not a huge reader of spy novels, and although this book is classified within the crime and suspense thriller category, this international action-thriller reminded me in style of many spy/international conspiracy novel, although with a more European feel, and less frantic in pace than many American spy thrillers. There is plenty of action, and even some sex (and yes, the main character is incredibly skilled, can fight like the best of them, and outwit his opponents, although the brains behind the operation is his boss), but there are also slower moments when we learn the back story, not only of the main characters, like Jack and his teammates, but also of some of the people they collaborate with, and even some of their enemies. This allows us to get to know more about the players and to understand how they got to where they are. (The story behind the title and the way it relates to Jack’s past is particularly touching).
    The book is narrated in the third person, from a variety of points of view. We mostly follow Jack Calder (as it should be, as this is his series), but we also are party to the thoughts of many other characters, although there is no confusing head-hopping, and even in the narrated version, it is clear which point of view we are being privy to at any given moment. This helps create a more complex story, with layers of information and to get a better grasp of what the different players have at stake. There are those who are only interested in money, others involved in power games and politics, and others for whom reputation and loyalty are the main objects.
    The story takes us from London to Amsterdam, Hong-Kong, and South America, and the author is meticulous and well-informed, providing credible settings and a detailed exposition of the procedures and operations that brings to mind the best police procedural novels. But although we follow each detail of the investigations and the operations, there are always surprises to keep us on our toes.
    Jack Calder, the central character, is a breath of fresh air in a genre where heroes are almost superhuman and can fight entire wars single-handedly. Although Jack, an ex-SAS captain, is indeed great at his job, he is traumatised by a family tragedy; he is self-deprecating and knows when to give credit where credit is due. He can follow orders and acknowledges his bosses’ superior planning skills. He is also a friend of his friends, and a loyal team-player and the novel highlights how important good relationships and contacts are in the world of international security firms and businesses.
    I loved the fact that the characters talk like real people talk (yes, they use clichés sometimes, make bad jokes, and sometimes are lost for words), and, although there is violence and terrible things happen (justice and law are not always on the same side of the divide), there are also very funny moments.
    The writing style is fluid and the pace ebbs and flows, with moments that are fast-paced and others that allow us to catch a breath and learn more about the ins and outs of the businesses and the characters involved. Readers need to remain alert, as there are many characters, locations, and plot threads, and, it is important to pay attention to the details.
    I recommend this book to those who love spy and international intrigue thrillers, especially to readers who like complex situations and stories with plenty of twists and turns, but who don’t mind stopping to take a breath every so often. A great first book in the series and many great characters I hope to meet again.
    Report
  • Robyn Cain
    5.0 out of 5 stars A very happy reader
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 11, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This is a well written book with a great early hook. From its strong start it continued to be a page turner. The narrative pace was excellent and fast; just how I like my crime thrillers to be. I thought the plot well constructed and alongside Jack, enjoyed working out who the baddies were and bringing them down. Scenes, whether action-packed killings or emotional, were visual/believable. I especially liked the ‘lump-in-the-throat’ inducing moments depicting the father/son relationship and again later with Annie, Roddie’s widow. My preference is always for unflinching tough guys (and gals in this, I’m happy to add), but they must be sensitive too. Despite wanting a little more wordage on the romance/love front, I still unreservedly recommend this novel to anyone who likes their reading filled with busy, well-rounded characters, believable geographical locations and lots of action. Already having the second book in this series in my possession, I’m a very happy reader.
    Report
  • GraemeCumming
    3.0 out of 5 stars Go Read Me
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 29, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Every now and then I like to settle down with a beer, snacks and a movie that isn’t going to take a lot of thinking about. You know the kind of thing I mean: an action thriller with Bruce Willis or Arnie – mindless violence, car chases and stunts. The plot isn’t important, it’s the pace and energy that allows you to put your brain into neutral and let the spectacle wash over you. That’s not so easy to achieve with a book, but there are some that come close.
    First impressions of The Violin Man’s Legacy are that it falls into that category. There’s action and violence pretty much from the off, and the pace was slick. The concept was good as well, with armed robberies, corruption and Triads combined with forays into Europe, the Far East and South America. So all the ingredients were there.
    After the initial burst of action, though, the pace slackened off, largely down to a lot of explanation. From this reader’s point of view, this seemed to be a symptom of the intricate plot and, arguably, an excess of characters. It may have been better to either trim down some of the layers or make the book longer so all the elements could have been shown rather than told about.
    In spite of these observations, I did enjoy the story, and will try another. It is the first in a series, and they all seem to have good reviews. My suspicion is that, as the central characters have now been established, the subsequent books will move along more easily.
    Report
  • Cathy
    4.0 out of 5 stars Action packed thriller
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 2, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    4.5 stars

    Immediately likeable and genuine, the main protagonist Jack Calder is ex SAS who now works, with a team of former colleagues, for ISP, an international security company run by their former commander, Jules Townsend. Their task is to investigate deadly robberies involving shipments of precious gems from a Dutch diamond merchant. It gets personal for Jack when a friend and former comrade is a victim of the first attack.

    It’s soon apparent to Jack these are extremely well organised and executed raids. The resulting investigations in Amsterdam lead the team to the ISP headquarters in Hong Kong and much to Jack’s delight, the chief of that division is the beautiful May-Ling. The evidence they uncover points to a powerful organised crime ring based in Hong Kong and masterminded by the callous and powerful ‘Half Moon Twins’ twins, Jimmie and Jonnie Chan. Their corrupt network reaches far and wide, across Europe, Hong Kong and South America.

    There’s a lot of interesting information and details about the Triad gangs and the process of shipping gems. The security team take no prisoners and get the job done with their own brand of justice and morality. I don’t know how true to life that aspect is but it’s certainly very conceivable. Jack and his team bring expertise to the job from their years as professional soldiers with the Special Air Service. I love the comradeship they share and the way they interact with each other. It brings a lot to a well thought out and plotted story.

    All the characters are well written and Jack’s heartbreaking back story gives him extra dimension and is the catalyst that sets him on his career path. The location descriptions are rich and evocative, the action virtually non stop, beginning immediately with a Triad execution and an attack on armoured vehicles carrying gold bullion which is vicious but highlights how ruthless the bad guys are. The pace is good and escalates a lot in the second half of the book with the heightening of the action. I like that everything ties up neatly at the end and all the bad guys get their due.
    Report

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