Series Spotlight: The Bowers Files by Steven James

 Once upon a time, Crossings Book club existed. You could order Christian books that were discounted, and they were always - or usually - in hardback with dust covers. I ordered the Pawn, #1 in the Bowers Files from them. Not sure what year. The book came out in 2007, but my Goodreads review says 2012. I think I read it twice, and the 2012 review was the second time I read it. I didn't use Goodreads in 2007. If it even existed 😉

The main original series consists of 7 books, all but one the names of chess pieces:

#1 The Pawn

#2 The Rook

#3 The Knight

#4 The Bishop

#5 The Queen

#6 The King

#7 Checkmate

  The Series revolves around FBI agent Patrick Bowers, and is an excellent well written series that is very suspenseful. There really isn't much Christian content in the books, but they definitely have a Christian world view and a redemptive message. The books are completely clean, though they are a bit more descriptive at times of crime scenes and violence.

  After the series was completed, James did 4 prequels:

Opening Moves

Every Crooked Path

Every Deadly Kiss

Every Wicked Man

  A few things about the series: The first 5 books were published by Revell, one of the imprints of Baker Book House. I don't know why, but the King, Checkmate, and the prequels were all published by Berkley. And it drives me crazy to see the books on my shelf. The books published by Revell are all trade paperback. The ones by Berkley are mass market paperbacks. So there are 4 short little mass market books, then 5 trade paperbacks, and then two mass market. It looks weird 😊

James has other books:

The Jevin Banks Experience, which has two books. I started the first, but never finished it.

The Travis Brock Thriller Series. which has two books so far. I have not read those.

The Blur trilogy, a series for teens

And some non-fiction. I read Flirting With the Forbidden, which I recommend.

  Not discounting women liking the Patrick Bowers Series, it is definitely one I would call men's fiction.

Author bio:

Steven James's latest thriller, FATAL DOMAIN, is available now. This smart, wire-tight, and emotionally resonant thriller featuring Travis Brock is the next in the series, following last year's domestic espionage thriller BROKER OF LIES.

As a popular keynote speaker and in-demand storyteller, Steven is equipped with a unique master’s degree in storytelling and has taught writing and storytelling on five continents, speaking more than 2000 times at events spanning the globe. 

He is also the critically acclaimed author of eighteen novels, including the bestselling Bowers Files suspense series. His sci-fi novel, SYNAPSE, a near-future thriller, received starred reviews from both Publishers Weekly and Library Journal and was a finalist for an International Book Award. 

When Steven isn't writing or speaking, you'll find him playing basketball or hiking near his home in the Appalachian Highlands of eastern Tennessee. 

If you love stories and storytelling, check out his podcast, The Story Blender, on which Steven has interviewed nearly 200 of the world's top writers and storytellers. 

Check out his website: StevenJames.net