Marcus Sakey Books In Order
Book links take you to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn money from qualifying purchases.Publication Order of Brilliance Saga Books
Brilliance | (2013) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
A Better World | (2014) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Written in Fire | (2016) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
The Blade Itself | (2007) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
At the City's Edge | (2008) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Good People | (2008) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Amateurs | (2009) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
No Turning Back | (2010) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Two Deaths of Daniel Hayes | (2011) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Afterlife | (2017) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas
The Desert Here and the Desert Far Away | (2009) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Gravity and Need | (2010) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
As Breathing | (2010) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
No One | (2010) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Publication Order of Anthologies
With his crime novels, Marcus Sakey enjoys his success as an American author with plenty of awards to his name. He also hosts a TV show called ‘Hidden City’ which he’s done for a number of years now. Not only that, but he’s soon to enjoy Hollywood success as well after Ben Affleck brought the rights to his novel ‘The Blade Itself’ in 2008.
Early and Personal Life
Born in Flint, Michigan, Marcus Sakey has made himself a career out of writing crime novels with a focus on blue-collar life. Attending the University of Michigan from 1992 to 1996, he originally studied political science and communication, which he graduated from. That was before he went on to study creative writing at Columbia College in Chicago for one year, allowing him to pursue the career which was to eventually make his name.
Currently living in Chicago with his wife and daughter, he continues to write to this day, something which he’s well known for conducting in-depth research into. This has included shadowing special-forces during training whilst using arms and looking into gangs and their culture, along with SWAT and how they operate as well. He also writes and presents the show ‘Hidden City’; a travel show that delves into the darker criminal elements of American culture.
With a whole host of inspirations built into his writing career, he has become a well established and respected author. Evidence of this can be seen in both the critical and commercial success he has achieved over the years. Showing no signs of stopping any-time soon, he will continue to write into the future as well, as his audience grows day-by-day.
Writing Career
Marcus Sakey published his first book, ‘The Blade Itself’, in 2008 to which the film rights were quickly secured by Ben Affleck. Since then he’s written fourteen books and counting in the years that were to follow. The novels ‘Good People’ along with ‘At the City’s Edge’ came afterwards hot off the success of his début. These also enjoyed critical acclaim, as well as the film rights once again being secured. Sealing his status as one of Americas current most popular authors was his fourth book, ‘The Amateurs’, being released in 2009.
Not so much of a series writer as of yet, Sakey has stated that he may be interested in doing one in the future. For the time being though he likes to focus on creating standalone works looking at the darker elements of the criminal underworld. As an author he has enjoyed creating multiple and varied works before moving onto the next, so as to explore new themes and further possibilities. That’s not to say he doesn’t utilize some characters again in his subsequent works occasionally, but he doesn’t create any overall arcs running throughout.
Although he writes crime fiction, he prefers to consider himself a novelist that looks into the various issues of the day, rather than focusing on the violence and the action. As the acclaim and the attention grows, so to does his readership which is getting both national and international recognition. This will continue to be the case as his career carries on.
The Blade Itself
Published on January the 9th, 2007, this novel from Marcus Sakey is set in the south side of Chicago and it features Danny Carter as its main protagonist. Starting out life with his best friend Evan, he began on the wrong side of the tracks by robbing liquor stores and pawnshops. This life of crime wasn’t to last though after a job went horribly wrong and everything changed in one single gun shot.
Evan paid for this mistake by spending years in prison, becoming hardened and brutalized in the process, all the while not giving up Danny who goes free. Meanwhile Danny himself has managed to build himself a successful and legitimate career, with a loving partner and a happy life. That’s all to change though once Evan returns after his many years inside, as he feels that Danny owes him payback for what he’s done for him. Danny wants to leave this life behind him though and make sure that the past remains firmly in the past.
What ensues is a thrilling series of events that could cause Danny’s world to come crashing down around him leaving him with nothing back where he started, or worse. Will Danny be able to make amends before his time runs out or will his past finally catch-up with him? What is it that Evan wants from Danny and just how far will he go to get it? Could this cost Danny everything including his own life?
Good People
The second book from Marcus Sakey after his debut with ‘The Blade Itself’, this was initially published in August the 14th, 2008 to much critical and commercial success. Heading into thriller territory once again, Sakey this time draws his audience into the plight of a couple looking to have a baby at whatever cost. Left without hope after years of fertility treatments, it appears they don’t have the finances to go on and they begin to lose all hope. That’s when a miracle seems to come out of nowhere that looks to be the answer to all their troubles.
Downstairs from them a neighbor who appears to be a hermit is found dead. With no other friends or relatives the couple have nobody to contact when they come across $400,000 dollars in his flat. Feeling this must be fate they quickly take the money to help them in their quest to conceive. Unbeknownst to them though is the fact that the neighbor may not have been so hermit like as he first appeared, as it soon transpires he was actually a criminal. This then means that the money isn’t so easy as they initially felt it to be, as some highly dangerous people want it back. Having double-crossed those men during his lifetime, the criminals aren’t happy with the so-called hermit stealing the money, and are going to be even less happy if they find out who has it now.
Will they get the money back and what will become of the couple? Can the couple escape the criminals clutches and live the life of fantasy they’ve always dreamed of? Just who exactly are the good people amidst all this?
Book Series In Order » Authors »