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Alex Vane #1
The Anonymous Source
FIND THE SOURCE. BREAK THE STORY. STAY ALIVE.
ONE YEAR AFTER the 9/11 attacks, Alex Vane--a brilliant, fitness-obsessed reporter for The New York Standard--wants nothing more than to break into the flashy world of TV news. But when he uncovers the scoop of a lifetime, his tightly controlled world is rocked: his editor buries his story, a source turns up dead, and Alex finds himself at the center of a violent media conspiracy.
AS HE RECEIVES TIPS from a mysterious source, Alex enlists the help of a captivating professor, Camila Gray. Aided by an Internet genius, a billionaire's sexy widow, and a washed-up sports reporter, Alex and Camila discover a $500-million secret that could derail the largest media merger in history.
IT'S A SECRET THAT unearths dark memories from Alex's past. It's a secret that leads back to the morning of 9/11. And it's a secret that could get them both killed.
IN HIS DEBUT MEDIA THRILLER, A.C. Fuller brings you a young journalist chasing the biggest story of his career--from the courtrooms of New York City to the beaches of Hawaii, from a crowded newsroom to a lavish boardroom at the top of a media empire.
ONE YEAR AFTER the 9/11 attacks, Alex Vane--a brilliant, fitness-obsessed reporter for The New York Standard--wants nothing more than to break into the flashy world of TV news. But when he uncovers the scoop of a lifetime, his tightly controlled world is rocked: his editor buries his story, a source turns up dead, and Alex finds himself at the center of a violent media conspiracy.
AS HE RECEIVES TIPS from a mysterious source, Alex enlists the help of a captivating professor, Camila Gray. Aided by an Internet genius, a billionaire's sexy widow, and a washed-up sports reporter, Alex and Camila discover a $500-million secret that could derail the largest media merger in history.
IT'S A SECRET THAT unearths dark memories from Alex's past. It's a secret that leads back to the morning of 9/11. And it's a secret that could get them both killed.
IN HIS DEBUT MEDIA THRILLER, A.C. Fuller brings you a young journalist chasing the biggest story of his career--from the courtrooms of New York City to the beaches of Hawaii, from a crowded newsroom to a lavish boardroom at the top of a media empire.
358 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 12, 2015
3150 people are currently reading
3001 people want to read
About the author
A.C. Fuller
31 books138 followersOnce a journalist in New York, A.C. Fuller now writes stories at the intersection of media, politics, and technology. Before he began writing full time, he was an adjunct professor of journalism at NYU and an English teacher at Northwest Indian College.
He lives with his wife, two children, and two dogs near Seattle. For a free copy of one of A.C.'s books, check out: http://www.acfuller.com/readerclub/
He lives with his wife, two children, and two dogs near Seattle. For a free copy of one of A.C.'s books, check out: http://www.acfuller.com/readerclub/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews
January 19, 2017
This book is so filled with clues, misdirection, confusion, and amazing conclusions. The story takes place in the weeks surrounding 9-11. The building being hit by the planes were just one event of the morning that day and there is one reporter that starts looking into seemingly unconnected events.
The characters are well formed, they are real people with fears, flaws, and personalities.
A great first book and I now can not wait until the next book in the series comes out. I am totally hooked on Alex Vane.
See my full review on February 15, 2017, on The Page Turner during Mystery thriller Week.
The characters are well formed, they are real people with fears, flaws, and personalities.
A great first book and I now can not wait until the next book in the series comes out. I am totally hooked on Alex Vane.
See my full review on February 15, 2017, on The Page Turner during Mystery thriller Week.
March 29, 2018
Good plot.
Big four or five media companies buying local newspapers and TV stations, and controlling what should be written or what should be said in their newscasts. But author didn't stay with this, murder trial of innocent person and after coming down from 99th floor on 9/11 billionaire was killed. Going to skip the next book, but planning to read third one in this series.
Big four or five media companies buying local newspapers and TV stations, and controlling what should be written or what should be said in their newscasts. But author didn't stay with this, murder trial of innocent person and after coming down from 99th floor on 9/11 billionaire was killed. Going to skip the next book, but planning to read third one in this series.
December 28, 2017
Brilliant Book, I loved it!! There were so many things I enjoyed about the story, especially the detail and background that the Author has put into each of the characters. The plot is quite elaborate, and I like the twist and turns throughout the story. Alex Vane and Camila Gray, two of the main characters bounce off each other really well. I know I’m enjoying a book, when all I want to do is read it, and do absolutely nothing else, and this is certainly one of those books.
Alex Vane had no idea how big a story the murder trial of Eric Santiago was going to be, when he sat in court on day one of the trial. Mind you it wasn’t a normal occurrence to receive an anonymous tip off, that the accused was innocent of murder. It was pretty convenient for the police to pin the murder of Professor John Martin on Santiago, just because he was walking past the Professor in the park at the time of him falling down dead. Alex wasn’t used to roadblocks when it came to submitting a story to be published, however that’s exactly what happened when he started to question Santiago’s innocence. There were those in the city that didn’t want the real murder to come to light, and if Alex wasn’t careful, he could find himself and those around him in very real danger. Do yourself a favour and read this book, it really is that good.
Alex Vane had no idea how big a story the murder trial of Eric Santiago was going to be, when he sat in court on day one of the trial. Mind you it wasn’t a normal occurrence to receive an anonymous tip off, that the accused was innocent of murder. It was pretty convenient for the police to pin the murder of Professor John Martin on Santiago, just because he was walking past the Professor in the park at the time of him falling down dead. Alex wasn’t used to roadblocks when it came to submitting a story to be published, however that’s exactly what happened when he started to question Santiago’s innocence. There were those in the city that didn’t want the real murder to come to light, and if Alex wasn’t careful, he could find himself and those around him in very real danger. Do yourself a favour and read this book, it really is that good.
October 26, 2022
A year after 9/11, a professor is murdered and for some reason it becomes a huge case, big trial, central to the DA’s political ambitions, with a young reporter, Alex, front and center. Silly setup because the facts of the case wouldn’t have made it as newsworthy as depicted. If the professor had been killed by a student he was sleeping with, maybe, but there is nothing remotely so melodramatic here.
The reporter starts investigating together with the professor’s ex-girlfriend, Marta. They spend a lot of time teasing or complimenting each other on how deep or interesting or quirky they are. Alex is a health nut possibly because he wants to prevent body fat and keep a good physique. There’s a lot about 9/11 in here too—as in the events of that day itself immediately after the planes struck. It all seemed a bit random and the elements too disparate to connect.
Also, Alex didn’t seem to be that enterprising a reporter. A lot of characters just seem to give him information without solid motives for doing so and without him working very hard for it. The one exception is that it’s implied that he has a threesome with a 9/11 widow and her personal trainer in exchange for information, even though the two of them had already given him a fair amount of intel.
Oh, and when Alex and Marta realize that a hitman after them is on the same island in Hawaii where they are staying, do they tell the cops? Do they counter-attack the hitman? Do they flee the island? No. They stay in the hotel overnight. How stupid!
If this sounds like a mess to you, skip it.
The reporter starts investigating together with the professor’s ex-girlfriend, Marta. They spend a lot of time teasing or complimenting each other on how deep or interesting or quirky they are. Alex is a health nut possibly because he wants to prevent body fat and keep a good physique. There’s a lot about 9/11 in here too—as in the events of that day itself immediately after the planes struck. It all seemed a bit random and the elements too disparate to connect.
Also, Alex didn’t seem to be that enterprising a reporter. A lot of characters just seem to give him information without solid motives for doing so and without him working very hard for it. The one exception is that it’s implied that he has a threesome with a 9/11 widow and her personal trainer in exchange for information, even though the two of them had already given him a fair amount of intel.
Oh, and when Alex and Marta realize that a hitman after them is on the same island in Hawaii where they are staying, do they tell the cops? Do they counter-attack the hitman? Do they flee the island? No. They stay in the hotel overnight. How stupid!
If this sounds like a mess to you, skip it.
June 24, 2015
Wow. I'm blown away. Full disclosure, suspenseful thrillers are not my genre, but this book was amazing. It caught and held my attention because it was the perfect blend of plot complexity, tight writing, layered and textured characters, all set against an extremely authentic-feeling backdrop. I FELT like I was in NYC without being bogged in details (or Hawaii, which was a lovely counterbalance to the urban hustle), in the same way that I FELT the authenticity of the journalistic world our hero, Alex Vane, operates in. I was steeped, and I loved it.
Alex Vane is a fun character to follow, (the kind of guy who keeps a king-sized bed in an NYC studio apartment, so that tells you a lot right there). He's obsessed with his physique, maybe a bit of a playboy, but with a heart of gold. But it was Camila, his erstwhile partner, who really captivated me. Emotionally attuned, witty, and smart, I loved this character. She was not just a foil for Alex as they seek to unravel who killed her professor ex-lover, but his equal, with an almost uncanny ability to read people and situations. I loved this line about her as she contemplated her family: "Generations of congealed suffering moved through her."
And that brings me to the prose. AC Fuller's writing style is a joy to read. Not stiff in the slightest (as I sort of imagined--unfairly perhaps--was the norm for this genre), he layers in beautiful but spare detail, keeps the prose tight, the plot moving, without ever sacrificing style or voice or atmosphere, and with a healthy dose of humor peppered in for good measure.
As if that weren't enough, this novel is set just after the events of 9/11, and Fuller has managed to capture the aftermath of that reality, the shifting changes in news and how we perceive and receive it. The amount of work that went into this book is evident in the effortlessness in which I was able to absorb it.
A five star read in every way.
Alex Vane is a fun character to follow, (the kind of guy who keeps a king-sized bed in an NYC studio apartment, so that tells you a lot right there). He's obsessed with his physique, maybe a bit of a playboy, but with a heart of gold. But it was Camila, his erstwhile partner, who really captivated me. Emotionally attuned, witty, and smart, I loved this character. She was not just a foil for Alex as they seek to unravel who killed her professor ex-lover, but his equal, with an almost uncanny ability to read people and situations. I loved this line about her as she contemplated her family: "Generations of congealed suffering moved through her."
And that brings me to the prose. AC Fuller's writing style is a joy to read. Not stiff in the slightest (as I sort of imagined--unfairly perhaps--was the norm for this genre), he layers in beautiful but spare detail, keeps the prose tight, the plot moving, without ever sacrificing style or voice or atmosphere, and with a healthy dose of humor peppered in for good measure.
As if that weren't enough, this novel is set just after the events of 9/11, and Fuller has managed to capture the aftermath of that reality, the shifting changes in news and how we perceive and receive it. The amount of work that went into this book is evident in the effortlessness in which I was able to absorb it.
A five star read in every way.
June 25, 2015
This book is a MUST read! I am a mystery/thriller fan, but AC Fuller is one I have added to my new favorites list! The Anonymous Source kept me turning pages well into the night when so many other things needed to be done! I was drawn into this book instantly with the fast-paced plot filled with mystery and intrigue right from the start. With every page there was a new dimension of suspense that kept me wanting more! Even if you are not into this genre of books, you need to read The Anonymous Source! Exceptionally written and worth the read! Cannot wait for the next book.
February 4, 2017
In "The Anonymous Source," A.C. Fuller gives us the antagonist right up front. The bad guy is taking full advantage of mayhem and misery of 9-11 to take out an enemy for reasons we are not yet told. Something about a merger. Something about a deal. Something about a newspaper. And something about a threat via voice mail.
After the prologue, we leap ahead twelve months and meet newspaper reporter Alex Vane, who is hopping out of an unfamiliar bed where he'd been sleeping with an unfamiliar woman. It takes a yoga mat and an empty bottle of sake to remind him where he is. He does thirty push-ups on the porch of the woman's brownstone in the West Village before grabbing a copy of a newspaper--his newspaper--form the corner cart. Vane is dismayed at the cutting of his latest story, but not the placement "above the fold" on page one. Vane, who really wants to work in television news, is covering the start of a trial of an NYU student accused of murdering a professor.
But Vane also reads a story in the same edition about the pending merger between the media conglomerate that owns his newspaper and a company that is a top internet service and cable provider.
Getting ready for the day's courtroom proceedings, Vane gets a call. The voice is scrambled and references the bible but is quite certain that the NYU student is not the professor's killer. Inside the courtroom, there’s a “mystery woman” who so captivates Alex Vane he follows her out at the lunch break, down the street and into the subway.
And, as they say, we're off.
The mystery woman turns out to be a professor named Camila and she’s got expertise in media and communications. Told from multiple perspectives, The Anonymous Source captures a wide sweep of issues as Alex and Camila start to put the pieces together, from New York to Hawaii and back.
I’ve seen other references to this novel as a page-turner, suggesting the pace is rip-roaring. I don’t think that was Fuller’s goal. There are long Alex-Camila walks on the beach and lots of nitty-gritty figuring-things-out, down to the New York Yankees’ schedule a month before 9-11. (Yes, it’s relevant.) Some of the fuel is supplied by the anonymous source. Some is found by Camila and Alex through digging and determination.
"The Anonymous Source" is part thriller and part amateur-sleuth reporter procedural. It’s big-picture stuff. We know who did it. The question is, how is Alex Vane going to figure it all out?
Final note: I listened to this on Audible and the narration by Jeff Hays is excellent.
After the prologue, we leap ahead twelve months and meet newspaper reporter Alex Vane, who is hopping out of an unfamiliar bed where he'd been sleeping with an unfamiliar woman. It takes a yoga mat and an empty bottle of sake to remind him where he is. He does thirty push-ups on the porch of the woman's brownstone in the West Village before grabbing a copy of a newspaper--his newspaper--form the corner cart. Vane is dismayed at the cutting of his latest story, but not the placement "above the fold" on page one. Vane, who really wants to work in television news, is covering the start of a trial of an NYU student accused of murdering a professor.
But Vane also reads a story in the same edition about the pending merger between the media conglomerate that owns his newspaper and a company that is a top internet service and cable provider.
Getting ready for the day's courtroom proceedings, Vane gets a call. The voice is scrambled and references the bible but is quite certain that the NYU student is not the professor's killer. Inside the courtroom, there’s a “mystery woman” who so captivates Alex Vane he follows her out at the lunch break, down the street and into the subway.
And, as they say, we're off.
The mystery woman turns out to be a professor named Camila and she’s got expertise in media and communications. Told from multiple perspectives, The Anonymous Source captures a wide sweep of issues as Alex and Camila start to put the pieces together, from New York to Hawaii and back.
I’ve seen other references to this novel as a page-turner, suggesting the pace is rip-roaring. I don’t think that was Fuller’s goal. There are long Alex-Camila walks on the beach and lots of nitty-gritty figuring-things-out, down to the New York Yankees’ schedule a month before 9-11. (Yes, it’s relevant.) Some of the fuel is supplied by the anonymous source. Some is found by Camila and Alex through digging and determination.
"The Anonymous Source" is part thriller and part amateur-sleuth reporter procedural. It’s big-picture stuff. We know who did it. The question is, how is Alex Vane going to figure it all out?
Final note: I listened to this on Audible and the narration by Jeff Hays is excellent.
June 24, 2015
The Anonymous Source is a suspenseful, fast paced, keep you guessing thriller that truly surprised EiR. The main characters, cocky but complex Alex Vane and the deeply intuitive Camilla, capture the reader. The ways in which the characters engage one another and use their complimentary skills to investigate a devastating crime, with a motive worth millions of dollars, is truly fascinating. A keep reading until your eyes hurt book, each chapter is more intriguing than the last. The undertones of human interactions, however, is what makes the book not just a suspenseful mystery, but a touching read. A.C. Fuller takes time to craft his characters, even minor co-workers, developing their stories and making you care about what happens to them: whether they live, die, succeed, find closure, fall in love, say goodbye. This book does not read like a "crime scene" cliche tv mystery. It has feeling, depth and is extremely well researched. The time, place and vivid detail of post 9/11 New York is drawn with care, and carefully treated. Mystery, thrillers and suspense are not the EiR fallback book, not usually even in the top 10 genres of books this reader enjoys. But A.C. Fuller has changed that. This, readers, is an Elite Indie Read. A highly recommended book that is sure to kick-start Fuller's authorial success. EiR anticipates that Fuller will soon be a household name.
January 31, 2017
Enjoyed most of the story, but plot was difficult to follow in much of the book.
June 26, 2015
There is much to like about Anonymous source. Fuller has laid out a multi-layered and convoluted conspiracy as the underpinnings of his new novel with ample hints at deeper surprises waiting in the wings for future books. He has provided a thought provoking look at the economics of media and the realities of chasing a story, but at times, the tension seemed more contrived than organic. Fuller seeks to give his characters a literary feels, but again some of it seemed to be designed to conveniently position characters for exits and entrances rather than driving the story forward. In some instances the author has missed opportunities or mishandled action, for example, Alec and Camilla have been waiting for a package of papers that may contain an important link for the story. Yet, when the hotel desk calls to inform them of its arrival, instead of trotting downstairs and getting it, (they don't have to drive across town or wait for the post office to open, the package is just downstairs!) they sit down and have some breakfast.
I hope issues I had will be reconciled in the follow-up books that are promised and will look for them. Overall not bad.
(read as an arc from the author)
I hope issues I had will be reconciled in the follow-up books that are promised and will look for them. Overall not bad.
(read as an arc from the author)
April 25, 2017
This was the first time I read one of his stories and I am glad I did it was time well spent. I thought the story had a good pace to it and it was a good thriller. I was glad that the ending of every chapter did not have to be a cliff hanger. That gets a little tiring in other novels. I just wished that maybe the main character Alex was not such a scared all the time in dangerous situations. . It is a good novel and I will read the next one cheers. I do not give out 5 stars easily this one would get 4.25
August 18, 2022
The first of the Alex Vane Media Thriller series was more than I was expecting. I read the third book a while back and enjoyed it so I decided to give the first a whirl. In this book we find Alex as a journalist covering one of the largest court cases of the year.
However, when Alex receives a call from an anonymous source that says Santiago, a college kid on trial for the murder of Professor Martin, is innocent, Alex finds himself searching for the truth with a hired killer on his heels.
Enter Camilla, Professor Martin's ex-girlfriend who decides to help Alex search for the truth while fighting generational trauma from her father who is on his deathbed.
This novel is set in the years following the 9/11 terrorist attacks and they feature heavily into the conspiracy into the book.
I really enjoyed this book. It was well-written and truly shows how journalism doesn't always tell the truth, how internet changed journalism forever, and how our own personal traumas shape us as people.
Fuller writes excellently, balancing action with dialogue that keeps the story moving. His characters are easy to empathize with. From Alex, newspaper journalist who wants more, to James, computer nerd who wants to help, each character brings something different to the table.
Even Bice, our villain of the story, can be understood because he was formed by the abuse of his father.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers!
--------------------
Y'all, I am loving this book so far, I just need about 5 extra hours in my day to just read because this week has been so busy.
Review to come
However, when Alex receives a call from an anonymous source that says Santiago, a college kid on trial for the murder of Professor Martin, is innocent, Alex finds himself searching for the truth with a hired killer on his heels.
Enter Camilla, Professor Martin's ex-girlfriend who decides to help Alex search for the truth while fighting generational trauma from her father who is on his deathbed.
This novel is set in the years following the 9/11 terrorist attacks and they feature heavily into the conspiracy into the book.
I really enjoyed this book. It was well-written and truly shows how journalism doesn't always tell the truth, how internet changed journalism forever, and how our own personal traumas shape us as people.
Fuller writes excellently, balancing action with dialogue that keeps the story moving. His characters are easy to empathize with. From Alex, newspaper journalist who wants more, to James, computer nerd who wants to help, each character brings something different to the table.
Even Bice, our villain of the story, can be understood because he was formed by the abuse of his father.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers!
--------------------
Y'all, I am loving this book so far, I just need about 5 extra hours in my day to just read because this week has been so busy.
Review to come
August 23, 2019
Well, this is a great start to a new series. I really enjoyed it and I've only knocked one star off as I wasn't a fan of the "airy-fairy" stuff that Camila tends to bring along with her. I liked HER, just not all that mindfulness nonsense. I found myself glazing over at all that stuff, and the story really didn't need it, I don't think. I liked Alex and the little team he now works with as well, so I'm looking forward to the next instalment in this series.
Since it was partly set on 9/11, it does make you wonder how many just did some pretty rapid thinking and bumped someone off or disappeared and started a new life in the midst of all that carnage....the author made a remark about 9/11 ending the popularity of boybands which went right over my head ??
Another thing he does, which did start to irritate, is to go into every single morsel either Camila or Alex ate, the whole way through !!
There are a couple of real shockers near the end !! So it's well worth sticking with this. The only mistake all the way through was almost on the last page where one fullstop was dropped, so that deserves a massive round of applause, too. It's not often I get to see this, trust me.
Since it was partly set on 9/11, it does make you wonder how many just did some pretty rapid thinking and bumped someone off or disappeared and started a new life in the midst of all that carnage....the author made a remark about 9/11 ending the popularity of boybands which went right over my head ??
Another thing he does, which did start to irritate, is to go into every single morsel either Camila or Alex ate, the whole way through !!
There are a couple of real shockers near the end !! So it's well worth sticking with this. The only mistake all the way through was almost on the last page where one fullstop was dropped, so that deserves a massive round of applause, too. It's not often I get to see this, trust me.
April 3, 2020
Lights, Camera, Action
A story full of intrigue, who is after Alex, did his parents really have an accident or was it deliberate. Alex and Camila run for their lives, will they find the truth about the death of Martin before manage to free the person that has been set up for it, or has he?
It’s exciting, full of action and will keep you gripped to the end.
Excellently written, great plot and easily identifiable characters.
Book two here I come.
A story full of intrigue, who is after Alex, did his parents really have an accident or was it deliberate. Alex and Camila run for their lives, will they find the truth about the death of Martin before manage to free the person that has been set up for it, or has he?
It’s exciting, full of action and will keep you gripped to the end.
Excellently written, great plot and easily identifiable characters.
Book two here I come.
February 27, 2025
It’s been a while since I read anything about a reporter digging into a real story. It was very well done. I found Alex and Camilla to be very interesting characters who were slowly dealing with deep seated issues while on the run for their lives. The supporting cast was quite interesting as well. I also enjoyed the digs at media after we have all been gaslit for years by mainstream media. I will definitely continue this series.
November 15, 2018
Really enjoyed this book. A must read for fans of Baldacci. Really looking forward to reading more tale with the protagonist Alex Vane
August 23, 2019
I got a free copy from Amazon. Love the book' and I think I am going to be hooked to A. C. Fuller. Love the main character, and the way the conspiracy story was told. Fast, Twists, a little bit of romance.
September 6, 2019
Good story, likeable characters and good narration - sometimes too good.
October 23, 2023
Fast-paced suspense with surprising plot twists. Characters with intriguing back stories.
August 29, 2019
3.5 stars
This is the first book in the series and is set against the backdrop of 9/11
Alex Vane is following up on a trial case involving the murder of a professor 👨🏫. It almost costs him his life having lost his job earlier and putting his colleague James Stacy’s in the same predicament. I’m glad how things turned out for James and by extension, Alex. Hope to see more of them together in the next series. Camilla was my least favorite character. Her background was more of a filler and had no connection to the case. Alex is still a charmer 😊 The identity of the source is still unknown. Perhaps it will be revealed in the next book.
Overall the book was well written, fast-paced. Though the suspense element was somewhat light. Will definitely read the next book.
This is the first book in the series and is set against the backdrop of 9/11
Alex Vane is following up on a trial case involving the murder of a professor 👨🏫. It almost costs him his life having lost his job earlier and putting his colleague James Stacy’s in the same predicament. I’m glad how things turned out for James and by extension, Alex. Hope to see more of them together in the next series. Camilla was my least favorite character. Her background was more of a filler and had no connection to the case. Alex is still a charmer 😊 The identity of the source is still unknown. Perhaps it will be revealed in the next book.
Overall the book was well written, fast-paced. Though the suspense element was somewhat light. Will definitely read the next book.
November 18, 2015
This media thriller engages you from its very beginning, which is 9/11. When the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center, Macintosh Hollinger was in his executive offices on the 99th floor of the South Tower. What happens to him that day is not what his loved ones believed. A. C. Fuller skillfully reveals a story of intrigue that whirls around a fast changing media business, and also around a cast of characters, each with passions that boil so close to the surface.
A year after the attacks, a young newspaper reporter in New York is seeking excitement and a fast break into flashy television news. He’d been disappointed by his assignment to a bland court circuit, until now with the beginning of the Santiago trial. He knows this media-circus story will finally land him on the front page and will keep him there for weeks. What he doesn’t know is that he’s about to start down a trail where he’ll uncover the scoop of a lifetime. So why then does his editor bury the story? And it can’t be some coincidence that his source turns up dead. What ensues will test this reporter’s courage and integrity.
Now Alex Vane is a reporter in the midst of a violent media conspiracy. He needs to solve the mystery before more people end up dead, before he could end up dead. Who is the anonymous source that seems to be helping Alex? What is motivating this anonymous source? Is he really helping Alex? And how does any of this relate to Macintosh Hollinger? You’ll be eagerly analyzing along with Alex as he tracks down facts, interviews people, and investigates clues using the newly emerging internet and other turn of the 21st century technology. In the end, it’s a mix of reporter’s intuition and some old fashioned common sense that puts it together and reveals a secret that leads back to the tragic morning of 9/11.
This author has been an observant witness to the unprecedented media reporting changes of this timeframe. A. C. was a freelance reporter, and previously taught Journalism at New York University. He’s currently an English teacher at Northwest Indian College on the Olympic Peninsula, and fortunately for readers he’s also now a published author.
A year after the attacks, a young newspaper reporter in New York is seeking excitement and a fast break into flashy television news. He’d been disappointed by his assignment to a bland court circuit, until now with the beginning of the Santiago trial. He knows this media-circus story will finally land him on the front page and will keep him there for weeks. What he doesn’t know is that he’s about to start down a trail where he’ll uncover the scoop of a lifetime. So why then does his editor bury the story? And it can’t be some coincidence that his source turns up dead. What ensues will test this reporter’s courage and integrity.
Now Alex Vane is a reporter in the midst of a violent media conspiracy. He needs to solve the mystery before more people end up dead, before he could end up dead. Who is the anonymous source that seems to be helping Alex? What is motivating this anonymous source? Is he really helping Alex? And how does any of this relate to Macintosh Hollinger? You’ll be eagerly analyzing along with Alex as he tracks down facts, interviews people, and investigates clues using the newly emerging internet and other turn of the 21st century technology. In the end, it’s a mix of reporter’s intuition and some old fashioned common sense that puts it together and reveals a secret that leads back to the tragic morning of 9/11.
This author has been an observant witness to the unprecedented media reporting changes of this timeframe. A. C. was a freelance reporter, and previously taught Journalism at New York University. He’s currently an English teacher at Northwest Indian College on the Olympic Peninsula, and fortunately for readers he’s also now a published author.
August 19, 2015
Everyone has something to lose and in A.C. Fuller’s The Anonymous Source, the threat of loss is the driving force that pulls main character Alex Vane into a web of lies, deceit, cover-ups and intrigue.
We meet Alex Vane a year after the tragedies of 9/11. Alex has his sights set on leaving court reporting behind to break into the glitz & glamour of television reporting. But Alex gets more than he bargained for when a story that could make his career lands in his lap.
Characters run the gamut from your average Joe to high-powered executives, millionaires, and cops, disparate worlds colliding, with each group struggling to keep secrets from coming to light.
WHAT I LIKED
With such an in-depth plot and compelling action, it’s easy to imagine this as the plot to a blockbuster movie.
Money, power, love and lust - all the markers of a fast-paced thriller, and A.C. Fuller brings it all to life with his engaging voice and tight plot.
THINGS TO CONSIDER
While I found the writing rich and layered, there were some times where the banter between characters took me out of the story. Conversations within other conversations sometimes made me lose focus, but luckily that wasn’t for long.
There was a lot of sleuthing throughout but I felt it did take some time to get to the action. But when it arrived, I was flipping pages quickly as the intricate web A.C. Fuller wove came together before my eyes.
I also loved that he gave me an ending I didn’t expect, masterfully revealed in a way that makes it a necessity for me to pick up the next book to see how the revelation plays out.
FINAL THOUGHTS
All in all, I enjoyed the book and I can’t help but wonder what’s next for Alex Vane and how he will handle the next battle in this war he unwittingly sought out and is now fully embroiled in.
With an intricate plot, many high-powered players and an ending that I didn’t see coming, The Anonymous Source was a compelling read, one that I highly recommend.
We meet Alex Vane a year after the tragedies of 9/11. Alex has his sights set on leaving court reporting behind to break into the glitz & glamour of television reporting. But Alex gets more than he bargained for when a story that could make his career lands in his lap.
Characters run the gamut from your average Joe to high-powered executives, millionaires, and cops, disparate worlds colliding, with each group struggling to keep secrets from coming to light.
WHAT I LIKED
With such an in-depth plot and compelling action, it’s easy to imagine this as the plot to a blockbuster movie.
Money, power, love and lust - all the markers of a fast-paced thriller, and A.C. Fuller brings it all to life with his engaging voice and tight plot.
THINGS TO CONSIDER
While I found the writing rich and layered, there were some times where the banter between characters took me out of the story. Conversations within other conversations sometimes made me lose focus, but luckily that wasn’t for long.
There was a lot of sleuthing throughout but I felt it did take some time to get to the action. But when it arrived, I was flipping pages quickly as the intricate web A.C. Fuller wove came together before my eyes.
I also loved that he gave me an ending I didn’t expect, masterfully revealed in a way that makes it a necessity for me to pick up the next book to see how the revelation plays out.
FINAL THOUGHTS
All in all, I enjoyed the book and I can’t help but wonder what’s next for Alex Vane and how he will handle the next battle in this war he unwittingly sought out and is now fully embroiled in.
With an intricate plot, many high-powered players and an ending that I didn’t see coming, The Anonymous Source was a compelling read, one that I highly recommend.
September 9, 2015
...There are some differences from what I normally expect in a thriller, but not enough to offend readers of the genre. There is a bit of a mystical touch and he delves perhaps a little more deeply into the personal issues of the characters than is normal in a thriller (at least the ones I've read apart from the aforementioned Le Carré).
...
I don't know if this is going to be a signature of Fuller's work but food is something that figures prominently in the book. Meals are often described in loving detail, and Fuller seems to find amusement in underscoring the differences in eating habits between Alex and Camila, a lady who finds herself more involved in his investigation than she would perhaps wish. Don't read this book while hungry or you could find yourself snacking more than you should... ;o)
Fuller leaves us hanging on a number of details, which would normally be a fault, but seeing as this is not meant to be a standalone book, we can hope that they will be resolved in a future episode. While the story does resolve in a satisfactory way, Alex still doesn't have all his answers, and somebody still wants to pull his strings. And I personally want to know about the sense of shame that Alex feels on occasion. He's not sure where it's coming from and I do hope we will find out before the series (?) is over.
All in all, I would recommend this book to thriller lovers. I don't think you will be disappointed.
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Complete review here
...
I don't know if this is going to be a signature of Fuller's work but food is something that figures prominently in the book. Meals are often described in loving detail, and Fuller seems to find amusement in underscoring the differences in eating habits between Alex and Camila, a lady who finds herself more involved in his investigation than she would perhaps wish. Don't read this book while hungry or you could find yourself snacking more than you should... ;o)
Fuller leaves us hanging on a number of details, which would normally be a fault, but seeing as this is not meant to be a standalone book, we can hope that they will be resolved in a future episode. While the story does resolve in a satisfactory way, Alex still doesn't have all his answers, and somebody still wants to pull his strings. And I personally want to know about the sense of shame that Alex feels on occasion. He's not sure where it's coming from and I do hope we will find out before the series (?) is over.
All in all, I would recommend this book to thriller lovers. I don't think you will be disappointed.
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Complete review here
June 25, 2015
This is a fun read, fun with depth and intrigue. I'm a long-time mystery novel addict (Chandler, Parker, Connelly, Ludlum, Clancy, Grisham, Cornwell, and Burke to name a few) and I'm letting all my friends know that A.C. Fuller’s The Anonymous Source is, for me, the best read of the year.
Fast-paced and insightful, this is a thriller with a sense of humor. I loved Fuller's depth of characters -- the complex Alex Vane and the intuitive Camilla -- while keeping me on the edge-of-my-seat with a twisting plot that kept me up until 1am because I couldn't put it down until I found out -- well, I'm not going to let the cat out of the bag, but I literally couldn't go to sleep until I had read through to the last page. It’s not just a good mystery novel, The Anonymous Source is a great read.
While I eagerly await the sequel, which apparently Fuller is working on now, The Anonymous Source has a permanent place on my bookshelf alongside the "best of the best.” Kudos to Fuller on his inaugural thriller and hopes for a speedy sequel.
Fast-paced and insightful, this is a thriller with a sense of humor. I loved Fuller's depth of characters -- the complex Alex Vane and the intuitive Camilla -- while keeping me on the edge-of-my-seat with a twisting plot that kept me up until 1am because I couldn't put it down until I found out -- well, I'm not going to let the cat out of the bag, but I literally couldn't go to sleep until I had read through to the last page. It’s not just a good mystery novel, The Anonymous Source is a great read.
While I eagerly await the sequel, which apparently Fuller is working on now, The Anonymous Source has a permanent place on my bookshelf alongside the "best of the best.” Kudos to Fuller on his inaugural thriller and hopes for a speedy sequel.
June 25, 2015
My favorite kind of guilty pleasure binge read. The Anonymous source is a modern and fun mystery with bright, creative and sexy characters.
A. C. has a real gift for zooming in on a scene and capturing the physical experience of being there. The book is set in post 911 New York City and his characters embody the struggle, scramble and identity crisis of the times. The main character Alex Vane is drifting after the death of his parents and he becomes obsessed by health food and exercising. He falls for Camila Gray, a moody professor at NYU who spends her evenings in an empty apartment meditating on the heaviness of her childhood. Their relationship opens up his world to his own past and his intuition. Together they escape a murderer and embark on a quest that takes them from the bustle of New York to a tropical beach on Kona. I was constantly surprised and delighted by this story. It was a real pleasure to read and I can’t wait for the sequel!!!
A. C. has a real gift for zooming in on a scene and capturing the physical experience of being there. The book is set in post 911 New York City and his characters embody the struggle, scramble and identity crisis of the times. The main character Alex Vane is drifting after the death of his parents and he becomes obsessed by health food and exercising. He falls for Camila Gray, a moody professor at NYU who spends her evenings in an empty apartment meditating on the heaviness of her childhood. Their relationship opens up his world to his own past and his intuition. Together they escape a murderer and embark on a quest that takes them from the bustle of New York to a tropical beach on Kona. I was constantly surprised and delighted by this story. It was a real pleasure to read and I can’t wait for the sequel!!!
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August 15, 2015Review by Zach, Originally posted on Live Laugh & Love Books
The Anonymous Source is an amazing book from beginning to end. I really liked how the book flowed and how A.C Fuller describes the characters and the places it’s like you are taking the journey with Alex Van. I really liked how there are two murders and you know who killed them, but you are trying to figure out who the source is that is helping Alex piece together the article to take down Denver Bice. I love how Fuller uses New York on September 11, 2001 as a place to start to set the stage for and incredible mystery. I really can’t wait to read the second book The Inverted Pyramid which comes out in summer 2016.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
August 7, 2015
I was blown away. It made me feel that I was in NYC without being bogged in details. Especially great since I will be going there in September. in the same way that I FELT the authenticity of the journalistic world our hero, Alex Vane, operates in the book and how i think he would in the real world.
Alex Vane is the kind character of a guy who is obsessed with his physique, maybe a bit of a playboy, but also has a heart of gold. But it was Camila is his partner and she had me interested. I loved her character. She was not just going to fall for Alex as they seek to unravel who killed her professor/ex-lover.
I really enjoyed this book. I hope you read it.
Alex Vane is the kind character of a guy who is obsessed with his physique, maybe a bit of a playboy, but also has a heart of gold. But it was Camila is his partner and she had me interested. I loved her character. She was not just going to fall for Alex as they seek to unravel who killed her professor/ex-lover.
I really enjoyed this book. I hope you read it.
July 15, 2016
Note: In exchange for an unbiased review, the author, publisher, and/or narrator were kind enough to provide an audio version of this book at no charge via AudiobookBlast.
This was my first exposure to author A.C. Fuller and narrator Jeff Hays and wow - I was blown away. The story was well-crafted and it played out smoothly without giving me any sense of boredom or wishing things would hurry up. Great pacing, interesting characters, and excellent narration. I don't know how Hays pulled off some of what he did, but I am thoroughly impressed and look forward to listening to more of his work in the future.
This was my first exposure to author A.C. Fuller and narrator Jeff Hays and wow - I was blown away. The story was well-crafted and it played out smoothly without giving me any sense of boredom or wishing things would hurry up. Great pacing, interesting characters, and excellent narration. I don't know how Hays pulled off some of what he did, but I am thoroughly impressed and look forward to listening to more of his work in the future.
June 25, 2015
There is so much I love about this book I don't know where to start. I must confess this is not the genre I typically read, however I enjoyed it cover to cover so much I'm reading it again.
The opening scene brought me back to High School. We all gathered around the TV trying to figure out what was going on. It was chaotic.
Where the chaos ends the genius of this author begins to take your mind on a twisted journey of insatiable suspense. AC Fuller hit it out of the park with Anonymous Source!
The opening scene brought me back to High School. We all gathered around the TV trying to figure out what was going on. It was chaotic.
Where the chaos ends the genius of this author begins to take your mind on a twisted journey of insatiable suspense. AC Fuller hit it out of the park with Anonymous Source!
October 5, 2015
Great fun!! A thriller for thriller lovers: action (lots of action), our hero's search for truth and justice (and of course love), memorable supporting characters both nasty and nice, super settings, especially New York on 9/11 and the year after. I was especially interested in the author's insights into the rapacious nature of media conglomerates and their management of what news we receive. A cautionary tale for all of us who blithely believe in what we hear from the big boys. Definitely a must read and I look forward to the sequel.
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