I’m a real fan of thrillers and have been hearing such good things about thriller writer Tom Bale from other bloggers that I simply had to ask Tom to stay in with me to tell me about his latest book.

Let’s see what happened:

Staying in with Tom Bale

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Tom, and thank you for agreeing to stay in with me.

It’s very kind of you to invite me, Linda. Thank you!

My pleasure. Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

I’m bringing my latest novel, SURVIVE, because it’s been described as the perfect summer read. Okay, I’d originally envisaged it as a book to be read by the pool or on the beach in some exotic sun-drenched resort, but with the recent heatwaves in the UK I’m sure that a garden or patio will do just as well!

I’m sure it will. And with all that’s going on, a book that we can escape into whilst still at home sounds exactly what we need right now!

What can we expect from an evening in with SURVIVE?

SURVIVE is the story of Sam and Jody and their young children, taking their first ever holiday abroad. What should be a relaxing all-inclusive break turns into a life-threatening ordeal. It’s a slightly different kind of book from my others, though still very much a thriller.

Intriguing. Tell me more.

My initial inspiration for a novel is usually a character or a situation, sometimes a place, but with SURVIVE it was a theme: the growing power of the super rich, and the fact that such people can seemingly do whatever they like and face no consequences (as my poor family are to discover!) I drew inspiration from a Graham Greene novel, Dr Fischer of Geneva, which has a similar theme. Other influences included Stephen King’s MISERY and The Magus by John Fowles, stories where the main characters find themselves as pawns in a game, and also the movie Castaway.

SURVIVE sounds fabulous and with recent events I can see that your theme is incredibly pertinent. How have readers responded to it?

Because it is a bit different, I was even more apprehensive than usual prior to publication, but I’ve been stunned by the passionate response I’ve had from readers. You know a book has worked the way you hoped when people are messaging to say they’ve gone without sleep to finish it. The review headings on Amazon have included phrases such as: “Gripping, terrifying and absolutely brilliant!” “A real nailbiter!” “A riveting read.” “Could not put this down!” “Best book of the year!” “Edge of the seat thriller.”So I couldn’t be happier about the reception it’s had.

Crikey! No wonder you’re happy with those comments. I must get SURVIVE onto my TBR immediately after this evening Tom.

What else have you brought along and why?

I’ve got a couple of cold beers to drink as we sit and chat in the garden. I also have some pictures of Shoreham upon Sea, a town just along the coast from Brighton. It was in a couple of the cafes here that most of SURVIVE was written, and after a few hours immersed in Sam and Jody’s world there was nothing I liked more than a swim in the sea before cycling home.

Those photos look wonderful. Next time you head for a swim give me a call and I’ll come too! Thanks so much for staying in with me to chat all about SURVIVE Tom. You pour us a beer and I’ll give readers some more information. 

Survive

From a bestselling author comes THE ultimate summer thriller.

Paradise is about to become hell…

On a remote island in the Adriatic, an enigmatic billionaire hosts a twisted form of entertainment to satisfy the jaded appetites of his exclusive guests. And for one unsuspecting family, the holiday of a lifetime is about to become a desperate battle for survival.

As young parents, Sam and Jody have managed to defy the odds once before. But years of struggle have taken their toll, and Sam’s demons return to haunt him at the worst possible time.

Caught up in a sick game of cat and mouse, can they put their differences aside and work under intolerable pressure to save themselves and their children?

Live or die. It’s the only choice they have.

Published by Bloodhound, SURVIVE is available for purchase here.

About Tom Bale

Tom Bale had a variety of jobs before realising his lifelong ambition to be a full-time writer. He is the author of eleven novels, including the best sellers SEE HOW THEY RUN, ALL FALL DOWN and SKIN AND BONES. His latest book is SURVIVE, described as ‘the ultimate summer thriller!’ A keen cyclist and swimmer, he lives by the sea in Brighton.

For more information, follow Tom on Twitter @t0mbale or visit his website. You’ll also find Tom on Facebook. All Tom’s books can be found here.