The start of the book is a spin-off from his previous book, 'The Solar Murder'. So if you haven't read it yet, I would suggest reading that first. Or, skip a couple chapters and start reading where Anthony's story starts, which is the main part of the book.
Although I wasn't overly interested in Elizabeth's story, I really enjoyed Anthony's story and there were a number of shocks in the book which I didn't expect. It's quite a sad story at points and some of the content is for an older audience, so I wouldn't recommend it for children. Brilliantly written, I honestly couldn't put the book down!
Elizabeth McKenzie gave up her position as a top-level personal assistant at a law firm in San Francisco, and moved to a small cabin on the outskirts of Alpine Meadows NV. Why had her late-former boss left her this cabin in the wood? What events would bring her to the decision to write a novel?
In an attempt to gain the attention of his father, young Anthony turned his attention to setting fires in his small town. What would be his ultimate target? Would he succeed? Who was the young red headed girl from his home town that would have such an impact on his life?
Anthony finally finds some warmth and love whilst in the employment of Big Gus, but this is threatened by the return of the treacherous Snake.
Tony Macey reached the pinnacle of success in the music industry, but then after he married Kathleen his life began to fall apart. Setting fires seemed to be the only way out.
Tony was on a mission to find the truth. Truth that he might not want to hear. When purchasing a novel in a bookstore, he is unaware of the significance of this acquisition that might just change his life. If only he had looked more carefully at that photograph…
This book is a spin-off from The Solar Murder by Stan Daneman.
By Bob Little
“I was thrilled to be asked by Stan, my good friend of many years, to edit his latest book, ‘Phoenix Rising’.
I found myself anxious to get my hands on every chapter as he wove a well-designed and well-developed plot… teasing with every twist and turn as he tantalizingly edged towards an unexpected ending.
Well done Stan. A great read. You are on the threshold of joining the great writers of thrillers.
I would love to see it adopted for a mini series on the small screen – the potential is there.”
John Hourigan,
Sydney, Australia
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"A spin-off from Stan Daneman’s ‘The Solar Murder’ (ISBN: 978-1-908941-36-7), ‘Phoenix Rising’ explores such issues as growing up alone, becoming – and trying to deal with being - ostensibly rich and successful, embracing drug culture, gaining a criminal record and then trying to find redemption and peace.
Obviously, then, this isn’t Stan Daneman’s first attempt at the crime thriller genre. Unsurprisingly, while still displaying his characteristic style of writing, ‘Phoenix Rising’ shows Daneman maturing as a fiction writer.
In this second work, Daneman has become more daring. For one thing, he weaves a more complex plot, introduces characters from a variety of backgrounds and, consequently sets himself some tough challenges in dialogue as these characters interact with each other. There are also challenges for him in accurately portraying the widely differing cultures and lifestyles of the book’s characters.
Daneman shows that he’s up for these challenges and, by and large, copes well.
The plot of Phoenix Rising focuses on Anthony McKinzie. As an adolescent, having attempted arson in a naïve attempt to gain his father’s attention, Anthony leaves home. After a series of disturbing setbacks, he gets a job at a diner and truck stop in a remote part of Oregon. One night, by chance, Anthony receives an opportunity to gain revenge over an old enemy.
Later, influenced by his life’s experiences, Anthony becomes a singer – under the stage name of Tony Macey - and embarks on a successful career. When his wife dies in a fire, Tony's life is tipped upside down.
Anthony embarks on a search for his past. In the process, he tries to find not just his true self but also meaning to his life, along with peace and redemption.
Phoenix Rising’s well-paced, easy-to-read, page-turning style should delight not only Daneman’s growing fan base but also attract, as new followers, readers who want a boldly imagined book that, at times, crackles with suspense. Strangely compelling and oddly haunting, this book is ambitious, arresting and absorbing."
By Bob Little
“I was thrilled to be asked by Stan, my good friend of many years, to edit his latest book, ‘Phoenix Rising’.
I found myself anxious to get my hands on every chapter as he wove a well-designed and well-developed plot… teasing with every twist and turn as he tantalizingly edged towards an unexpected ending.
Well done Stan. A great read. You are on the threshold of joining the great writers of thrillers.
I would love to see it adopted for a mini series on the small screen – the potential is there.”
John Hourigan,
Sydney, Australia
The start of the book is a spin-off from his previous book, 'The Solar Murder'. So if you haven't read it yet, I would suggest reading that first. Or, skip a couple chapters and start reading where Anthony's story starts, which is the main part of the book.
Although I wasn't overly interested in Elizabeth's story, I really enjoyed Anthony's story and there were a number of shocks in the book which I didn't expect. It's quite a sad story at points and some of the content is for an older audience, so I wouldn't recommend it for children. Brilliantly written, I honestly couldn't put the book down!