NBtM Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway: The Black Hand by Jonathan Dunne

Welcome to my stop on the NBtM Virtual Book Tour for The Black Hand by Jonathan Dunne. This tour was organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. On my stop, I have an excerpt for you as well as a fun guest post. There's also a tour wide giveaway. Be sure to visit the other stops on the tour for more excerpts, guest posts, interviews, and more. Enjoy!

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Title: The Black Hand
Author: Jonathan Dunne
Publication Date: May 9th 2018
Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller

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In the aftermath of Ireland’s most deadly gang war, Dublin’s ruling family has scattered to the wind.

Into the void steps a criminal genius known only as The Black Hand. His organisation’s powerful grip is ruthless, bloody and barbaric.

With Europe’s biggest crime in play, The Devil needs a distraction. And The Black Hand needs Jacob Boylan to return to Irish shores. He will stop at nothing to provoke Dublin’s most lethal criminal out of hiding.

But has the wily genius misstepped? As all eyes are on Jacob, the Dublin exile carefully plans a gangland wipeout, for he is nobody’s pawn.

**The eBook is on sale for $0.99!**

Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * iBooks * Kobo * Smashwords

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EXCERPT:

The white Isuzu’s exterior was emblazoned with Green’s Painters and Decorators. It chugged slowly out of London. Jacob drove, as the two youngsters stared hungrily at the cash bags.

Slowly, they drove into a lonely lane, where an abandoned bungalow awaited. They showered under a rusty water pipe before changing into new clothes. The old clothes were placed in a blazing stove and burned.

It took just under two hours to count the money, which totalled £146,400. It had been a good day. Split three ways, after expenses, they bagged £47,500 each.

Jacob shook hands with his two protégés as he watched the bungalow and the van burst into flames. Eventually, all three walked through a narrow-wooded walkway and into a dimly lit car park. It was here they spoke freely.

‘Have you the lodgements separated?’ asked Jacob.

‘Yes,’ replied Donny.

Vincent nodded. Jacob scrutinised the youngsters. ‘There’s no happy ending if you play the gangster. Do you understand?’ They looked at each other. This was old ground.

‘We’ll be careful, boss,’ said Vincent.

‘Lodge it in small amounts to all accounts. Nobody minds £5,000. They do mind £50,000.’

‘Not a problem,’ said Donny.

Jacob read their faces. They were good lads, quiet and careful in their deliberations. That was rare.

‘Well done, boys. You were very professional today.’ They beamed at his words.

When they left, Jacob scanned the CCTV in the car park. It had been disabled. He opened the door to his car and drove towards Essex.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jonathan Dunne is a native of Dublin's north inner city. The Black Hand is his second novel in the crime genre. The Takeover - his first crime novel went on to wide acclaim and regularly featured in Amazon's bestseller lists.

He is also an avid MMA journalist who has penned articles for some of Ireland's biggest publications. He holds a Degree from the Dublin Institute of Technology and is a strong advocate of lifelong learning and education. After returning to complete his leaving certificate as an adult in Jonathan has went on to have four novels published.

Website * Amazon * Facebook * Goodreads

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GUEST POST:
Do you think it would be more fun being the villain or the hero? Why?

Well, now, here’s a pickle! My heroes are all villains. So, I’ll have to choose villain.

From a writer’s point of view, the mental construction of a villain can be great fun. And it starts with a stripping. (Steady on now!) You shred the character of empathy, human warmth, poverty and civility. Make them powerful because we detest those in power. And if your powerful – sorry – take comfort in a bathtub full of money. (I do, all the time. It’s wonderful. Watch out for cold coins)

An important ingredient is cruelty. If the villain doesn’t love cruelty, they’re about as useful as a paper umbrella. The villain has to display depravity we cannot grasp. In that depravity we lose our connection to the character; into the void will step hatred. Meanwhile if we have a connection to the character they’re torturing, or persecuting or boiling in tar…you’ve struck gold.

Of late I’ve started to omit the back story of my villains. Why? Because who cares? They’re villains and they’re powerful and they’re really awful and we hate them. They’ve just butchered a hero we spent 100 pages falling in love with.

As a crime novelist, I focus on gangland sagas. My job is to make a villain likeable. To do that, I need to instil humanity into the soul of the character.

So, I hear you ask, are they not just heroes?

Of course they are, it’s the neighbourhood…stupid.

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GIVEAWAY:

Jonathan Dunne will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter after the tour. Be sure to leave a comment at a different stop on the tour each day to increase your chance of winning. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway