DEVIOUS THINKING: Misadventures in getting even
While Rome may be the fabled locale where people travel in search of romance, American beauties Monty Harrison and Dana Zimmer discover that The Eternal City is a miserable place to have your heart broken. Their suffering becomes even more painful when their bruised egos collide in a neighborhood bar, resulting in jail time for disorderly conduct and assault.
With little in common beyond their crushed spirits, Monty and Dana set their differences aside to team up for revenge on the men who unceremoniously dumped them. They hatch a devious plan using their feminine wiles and the intimate information that only former lovers would know. But in the process, they find that getting even is a lot more complicated than they thought.
What The Critics Say ABOUT DEVIOUS THINKING
“Each chapter leaves you wanting more as you get pulled into the twists and turns of this diabolical revenge comedy.”
- Roger Badesch, WGN Radio
Author of “The Unplanned Life"
“... a fun ride on the wild side. Just what we all need right now!”
- Bella Shaw
Former CNN Anchor and TV Host
what the readers say ABOUT DEVIOUS THINKING
"I just finished reading DEVIOUS THINKING. WOW! This is a wonderful, entertaining story. The writing hooked me right away. It was filled with humor, excitement, intrigue, and surprise. As the story progressed and got more complicated, I was amazed at how it all pulled together. I enjoyed every aspect of this book."
"I could not put it down -- DEVIOUS THINKING is thoroughly entertaining!"
"A delightful story! I especially enjoyed the hilarious banter between the two main characters, Monty and Dana. Really, really fun!"
"OMG!! Another incredible masterpiece!!! I was up all night reading this wonderful work of art! I couldn’t put it down!"
"What a great writer!"
"I could hardly wait for Tom Blomquist's next book, and I was certainly not disappointed when it finally arrived in the mail. DEVIOUS THINKING is wonderfully mischievous and original!"
"DEVIOUS THINKING is so much fun -- I laughed out loud! Really clever and well done!"
"Okay, Tom Blomquist... how is it that you know how my girlfriends and I talk when nobody else is around? I may need to meet you in person to make sure that you're not really a woman, because this is freaking me out a little bit!"
"I just finished reading DEVIOUS THINKING and it was GREAT! Lots of surprising twists and turns, and lots of "devious" schemes that had me on the edge of my seat the whole time."
"This book was so much fun!!! It would make such a good movie!"
"The author obviously did lots of research into the city of Rome, which I appreciated because I used to live there. DEVIOUS THINKING made me want to go back! It was clear that Tom Blomquist had a blast writing this."
"I enjoyed DEVIOUS THINKING and the way it went in so many unexpected directions. It is exactly the type of story that would appeal to a wide variety of people. It has romance, heartbreak, action, revenge, good looking people and world travel."
Also by Tom Blomquist: SILENT PARTNERS
SOMETIMES LOVE IS DEADLY...
Zack Raskin is a carefree UCLA medical student who has
the night of his dreams with beautiful pop star Nicole Branson after her concert in Hollywood. It is a dramatic encounter that changes his life in ways that he could have never imagined. When tragedy suddenly strikes, Zack is thrust into a mystery that not only threatens his personal safety, but his mental stability.
SILENT PARTNERS is a genre-bending forensic mystery and love story for mature readers.
Print and Kindle versions available at Amazon. Audiobook available at Amazon, Audible.com & iTunes
WHAT THE CRITICS SAY ABOUT SILENT PARTNERS
“Tom Blomquist’s SILENT PARTNERS is a masterpiece of a thriller with a rich fabric woven from many strands. There’s the black thread of noir that is braided with silver thread of contemporary pop culture. There’s the occult thread that can be traced back to exorcism. There’s the Hitchcock thread with its Freudian filaments. There’s the medical thread that displays Blomquist’s knowledge of medical terms and procedures in incredible detail. Out of these threads Blomquist creates a tapestry punctuated with the sites and sounds of Los Angeles. Popping out of this tapestry are his carefully honed characters, each richly detailed and as authentic as their dialogue.
Blomquist’s deft touch makes the reading go quickly and, once you are on track with the hero, you are drawn inexorably to read to the end. When I finished, I was totally exhausted but supremely satisfied. And then it hit me, this novel cries out to be made into a film. Well played, Mr. Blomquist, well played.”
Craig Smith, Ph.D.
Educator and Author of Herod From Hell and Confessions of a Presidential Speechwriter
"Wow! What a page turner. Adventure and surprise throughout the book! Once you start reading, it is difficult to put down. Blomquist is an excellent writer and this is an excellent read!"
Sam L. Amirante
Criminal Defense Attorney , Former Judge and Author of John Wayne Gacy: Defending A Monster
"The warm celebrity spotlight soon turns cold in Tom Blomquist's chilly thriller, SILENT PARTNERS. Set against the backdrop of a perfectly described LA, Blomquist takes us on a journey like no other: a kaleidoscopic work of celebrity, crime, and controversy swirling around pop culture, social media, and the way they intertwine. Dark alleys, drugs, crime, rock and roll ... throw a mega celebrity into the mix and you have the makings of a "can't put it down" summer read! Congratulations Tom Blomquist!"
Bella Shaw
Former CNN Anchor and TV Host
"A fantastic novel. Loved every page! Great characters and great twists. Very well done. Can’t wait for the next one.”
James Carroll Jordan
Author of The God Squad, The Adventures of Harry East,
and Mark Twain Out West
“Tom Blomquist has crafted a wonderfully engaging story, a fantastic maze of murder, mystery, deception, illusion and madness. There’s no way to get ahead of the curve in this story. The moment you think you have it figured out, another dark turn twists you around. The fulfillment of a young man’s fantasy sends him pell mell into a world that soon spirals outside the bounds of reality. The adventure soon turns inward as he battles not just the people trying to kill him, but the demons that run free in his own mind. He could step away from it at any moment if it weren’t for his conviction that true love is worth facing death. And beyond, if necessary. SILENT PARTNERS is compelling binge reading material. You won’t need a bookmark; you won’t be putting it down.”
Steven L. Sears
Screenwriter-Producer and Author of Stalag X, Xena-Warrior Princess, and The Non-User-Friendly Guide For Aspiring TV Writers
“Wow, what a great read SILENT PARTNERS is. A real digital page-turner!”
Jean Ashton
TV Host & Media Critic, Author of Fuzzy Warm Sleep Dorm
"SILENT PARTNERS is a riveting tale that swiftly pulls you into the maverick mind of Zack, a brilliant yet fearless protagonist. Then -- just a few pages in, you’re totally immersed, reading at a fast pace, turning page after page without delay. Each chapter reveals a surprising twist that compels you to keep reading to unveil the next clue.
Tom Blomquist is a master storyteller with an exceptional gift of weaving his unequivocal research throughout the pages to provide essential insight into the characters’ actions. Zack’s struggles with reality held my unwavering attention until my own sad reality revealed there were no more pages to turn."
Patricia Ann Ledford
Author of Strings: The Story of Hope
“Was Zack a complete nut job or just the cleverest of mystery heroes? SILENT PARTNERS is a captivating read, first page to last. With delicious twists and turns along the way, and a major bombshell ending, the story of Zack and Nicole unfolds at an unparalleled pace. A different kind of mystery, with unique style and rich craftsmanship. The L.A. community knows Tom Blomquist from movies and television, but this is his first novel, and it's a beauty."
Leo Gher
Art Critic and Author of Fire & Wind and Moynihan's Journey: And the Clash of Civilizations
“Hollywood’s celebrity music scene is the detailed backdrop for Tom Blomquist’s compelling mystery novel SILENT PARTNERS. A young medical student’s romance with a pop superstar launches the story into a labyrinth of twists and turns that take us to some most unexpected places. Add to that a predatory national media that perfectly reflects the tabloid-driven “Fake News” era in which we live, and you have a book that will engage you on every level.”
Bruce Scafe
Co-Creator and Former Director of Austin City Limits
“Tom Blomquist's SILENT PARTNERS is a great read. It moves at breakneck speed that never lets up and never allows the reader to get bored. Plot twists abound and just when you think the story is going in one direction it switches and you're going completely in another. The ending at the Century Plaza hotel was a page turner that kept me on the edge of my seat. I can't wait for Blomquist's next novel.”
Jack Tucker
Editor of Shogun and Winds of War,
Author of Twilight for the Gods
"As a 20-year licensed private detective, SILENT PARTNERS held my interest start to stunning plot twist finish. Rich color and vivid detail added both depth and dimension to character and situational authenticity. I truly enjoyed it!”
Paul A Schroeder, Jr.
Private Investigator
“Tom Blomquist’s experience as the writer of popular network television drama series is apparent throughout his novel SILENT PARTNERS. His engaging lead character takes the reader on a roller coaster ride of intense emotions and unexpected plot twists. The resulting forensic mystery is highly satisfying!”
Armin Shimerman
Author of The 34th Rule, Capitol Offense, The Merchant Prince, Outrageous Fortune
"Prose reminiscent of Dean Koontz. A plot to rival the best of Stephen King's. And a twist ending that you'd expect from Paula Hawkins. Put all this together between a cover and a backflap, and you have SILENT PARTNERS -- a killer first novel that is pure Tom Blomquist. Could not put it down."
J. Buckner Ford
Author of River Of No Return
"A great first novel!! Great crime drama!!"
Roger Badesch
WGN Radio, Chicago
“I just finished reading SILENT PARTNERS. It was thoroughly exciting and spellbinding. I congratulate you on this book. I know it will be a great success.”
Nicholas T. Pomaro
Former Prosecutor and Judge
“I always sensed that Tom had a novel inside of him ready to explode and now it’s here: SILENT PARTNERS, an original, tense, gripping mystery and love story. A real cliffhanger! So, if I were you I’d cozy down, pour a stiff one (you’re going to need it) and treat yourself to Tom Blomquist’s SILENT PARTNERS.”
Jim Byrnes
Screenwriter & Producer of Shadow Riders, The Gambler, How The West Was Won, The Sackets, and Author of Heller
"Grief in novels can be so impersonal. In SILENT PARTNERS Tom Blomquist shows Zack’s grief in a very unique light and it’s totally believable. I’ve seen loss in my work but because I’m a closet romantic, I adore Zack’s journey in the book from being a medical student/EMT firmly entrenched in medicine to a man increasingly unable to let go of the woman he loves. In the process Blomquist got the medical and psychological details of his story exactly right, which I appreciate. A great novel."
Paula Belfield
Paramedic
“SILENT PARTNERS is absolutely riveting. Zach and Nicole’s story seemed as though it was historical fact, as Tom Blomquist weaves in real places and people with such dexterity that can only come from someone who’s lived and worked in L.A. for as long as he has. At first I had to remind myself that this was a novel. The news releases and TV reports throughout the course of Zach’s relentless, harrowing, nightmarish ordeal created even more realism. I was drawn into Zach’s head and I was moving through that experience right there with him. I could NOT put it down.“
Karen Bloom
Radio Personality (Formerly of WBAP, KLUV, KLIF and KSCS Dallas)
“Tom Blomquist has added another notch to his belt: After a successful career as a screenwriter, producer and director, followed by a fulfilling educational career, he’s now grabbed the art of the crime novel by the throat and body slammed it into yet another success. SILENT PARTNERS is an original hybrid of violent crime, suspense, and psychotic mind-twisting. Steeped in the sexy, shadowy side of Los Angeles’ glitz, Blomquist utilizes his experienced screenwriter's penchant for crisp dialogue and idiosyncratic characterization to whip up a concoction that's sure to intrigue and to keep the reader off balance until the last page.”
Lisa Di Vita
Author of Shattered Peacock
“SILENT PARTNERS is a contemporary LA Noir mystery filled with rich characters and absorbing emotional content. Tom Blomquist deftly weaves an unusual love story through a riveting psychological landscape that somehow manages to draw a new line separating our concept of sanity and insanity.”
W. Reed Moran
Educator and Author of Why Plot Never Matters: Telling The Screen Stories In Your Heart
"SILENT PARTNERS by Tom Blomquist has at its core an intriguing combination of mortal danger and magical innocence only the young in this well-executed novel can experience equally at the same time. Blomquist knows LA well enough to reveal this odd tilted world where some worship fame like a god. He captures LA's ephemeral beauty as well as showing us the truth of the 'end of the world' where Santa Monica Boulevard leads west to the Pacific Ocean and nothing beyond. His characters live at a fevered pitch like the young do who are obsessed with music as well as the meaning of their own lives.”
Richard Vetere
Author of Champagne, The Writers Afterlife,Cocaine, The Third Miracle
“Combine deft writing with an insider's knowledge of LA's media landscape and you have SILENT PARTNERS. A treat for mystery fans of all stripes.”
Dennis Palumbo
Author of The Daniel Rinaldi Mysteries
"Right out of the gate, Tom Blomquist proves to be a master of genre-bending fiction. Move over Carl Hiaasen, there's a new game in town!"
Brennan Klein
Scream 101 Podcast (Formerly of Blumhouse & Arrow In The Head)
“Sunset isn’t complete without wine and a good murder mystery. Tom Blomquist thanks for the amazing read.”
Ashley Carattini
Author of You Can’t Pee On That!
“SILENT PARTNERS is a gritty, fast-paced novel about
a mystery that will keep you guessing and a love story
that will occupy my thoughts for quite some time.”
Saskia Fuckert
Craving Stories
About The Author
In addition to his career as a novelist and textbook author, Tom Blomquist is an award-winning educator and filmmaker who has been associated with some of America’s most popular television programs. He was named Most Valued Professor in the College of the Arts at California State University Long Beach in 2018 and retired at the rank of Professor Emeritus. Upon relocating to Charleston, South Carolina, he joined the Board of Directors of the Footlight Players at the historic Queen Street Theatre.
OTHER PUBLICATIONS BY TOM BLOMQUIST:
EYE OF THE STORM: Directing For Film, Television & Emerging Media
Written with Maria Viera, Ph.D. for Kendall Hunt Publishing
https://he.kendallhunt.com/product/eye-storm-directing-film-television-and-emerging-media
TEACHING
As a college educator Tom Blomquist has taught screenwriting and film production at universities in the United States and Europe.
FILM, TELEVISION & THEATRE
These are some of the many productions on which Tom Blomquist has served as writer, producer, director, or creative executive.
