Recent Reviews for Derek Armstrong
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Drew Peterson Exposed (Book) - 10/5/2008 8:01:58 AM
Comment: Sounds like true crime is alive and well! Alas, don't we wish it were fiction...
The Game (Book) - 12/13/2006 2:05:27 PM
5/5 Stars! April 2007 Release
The Game is a Mix of ‘Survivor’, ‘Fear Factor’ and ‘House on Haunted Hill’
Derek Armstrong, author of his debut thriller The Game, knows how to tell a story. His narrative is dead-on, his dialogue snaps with authenticity and his main protagonist is entertaining and memorable. The shorter chapters make for a briskly paced read, while he delves into subplots and characterizations that keep you up to speed.
The story starts off with Detective Alban Bane pushing his way past prison protestors so he can witness the execution of serial killer Tyler Hayden. Just before the psychopath’s death, he says that he knows who killed Bane’s wife. And that admission sparks an intriguing subplot. With skill, Armstrong draws out Bane’s personal issues and his fears.
Bane’s sidekicks are Justine Kipfer—aka Kip—and his trusty pal Armitage Saulnier, or Arm. And Bane’s two daughters also play a small role. Not only are these characters important to the story, they are used to show the depth and emotion of Alban Bane, who otherwise might just come across as a wisecracking ass. But he doesn’t. In fact, his sarcastic humor and his obvious love for family and friends are what make this novel so appealing.
Also appealing is the novel’s setting. An old mansion, once owned by Mordecai Mason, the ‘bogeyman’ of Vermont and a famous mass murderer who slaughtered his entire family. The mansion is now host to a new and deadly reality game show where one contestant will walk home with a million dollars—if they make it out alive. Someone is killing off people involved with the show.
Enter, Abbey Chase, the show’s producer, who reminded me of a blond Susan Lucci. She is arrogant, all business and gets what she wants. Most of the time. Her ‘charms’ seem lost, mostly, on Alban Bane. Along with Chase, there is a multicultural buffet of contestants who provide for an interesting mix. It certainly makes it easier to keep all the characters straight. Normally, a novel that deals with too many would turn me off. But Armstrong is a master at creating unique characters and giving them individual traits that set them apart.
And the author always keeps you guessing. He leads you down paths that twist and turn, like the secret pathways in the walls of the old mansion. And just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, Armstrong throws another curve ball and sets your head spinning. Thoroughly gripping and an easy read with enjoyable characters, this is one thriller you won’t put down until you’ve read the final page!
Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author of The River, Divine Intervention and Whale Song (ISBN: 1-60164-007-2 available April 2007 from Kunati Books)
The Persona Principle (Book) - 9/26/2006 8:31:06 PM
The Persona Principle Personifies Success!
Authors Derek Armstrong and Kam Wai Yu have penned a brilliant ‘must-have’ book that will change the way business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals do business. Expertly researched with numerous examples and stories, this incisive book is an easy read.
The Persona Principle: How to Succeed in Business with Image-Marketing shows you how to create and build a customized visible image, one that will be remembered. It succinctly puts into words the theories that I have been practicing the past few years—and then some! “The biggest obstacle to your success is invisibility,” the authors say. Armstrong and Yu teach practical solutions that, if followed, ensures your visibility. What I liked most is that, unlike other marketing books, this one actually shows you how to do it in a smart, savvy and inexpensive way.
This book is not just for business owners, but also for anyone who wants to create a better, bigger, stronger, more successful image. The imaging techniques taught are a smorgasbord of valuable tips that will provoke you to identify what is hindering your success in your business and make changes accordingly. I was also impressed with the simple language used, instead of the technical and confusing jargon that is commonplace in most books of this type. You will understand this book!
As an avid fan of such visionary masters or marketing gurus like Stephen R. Covey, Dale Carnegie, Zig Ziglar, T. Harv Eker, Napoleon Hill and Og Mandino, I highly recommend that every business owner, professional or author like myself read this book. Derek Armstrong and Kam Wai Yu’s book The Persona Principle: How to Succeed in Business with Image-Marketing belongs on a shelf next to any of these authors’ works. If this book doesn’t change your business for the better, I don’t know what will. It's one of the BEST marketing books I've ever read!
~ Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author of Whale Song (2007 Kunati Books) http://www.kunati.com/catalog_whale_song.html
Addicted to Sex and God-Killing (Article) - 9/26/2007 5:06:27 PM
fabulous!
Addicted to Sex and God-Killing (Article) - 12/23/2006 9:01:18 AM
An interesting piece...and a realistic view of the times...
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