About
Barry Finlay is a fiction and non-fiction author. In his previous life, he had an extensive career in financial management before retiring in 2004 after thirty two years with the Canadian federal government. Since retiring, he has divided his time between writing, working as a consultant on financial policy matters, travel, playing golf, climbing mountains, philanthropy and enjoying his three grandchildren.
In 2009, Barry got off the couch and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with his son, Chris. The experience of climbing Africa's highest mountain at age 60 with one of his sons, and discovering the satisfaction of reaching a goal and giving others the opportunity to achieve theirs, was a non-fiction book waiting to be written. The travel memoir and inspirational Kilimanjaro and Beyond has won numerous awards and Barry is featured in the Authors Show book, "50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading."
His 2nd book, a travel memoir called I Guess We Missed The Boat, also non-fiction, received the 2013/14 Reader Views Literary Award in the Travel category and reached Amazon Kindle Bestseller status.
In 2014, Barry started working on the Marcie Kane Thriller Collection. The first in the series, The Vanishing Wife, was released that year. On the merits of The Vanishing Wife, Barry was named as a winner of a Canada Book Award for his accomplishment and contribution to the publishing world. It was also named the best e-book in the Thriller/Mystery category by New Apple Literary Awards and also reached Amazon Kindle Bestseller status.
That was followed by A Perilous Question, which received an award for the best Thriller/Suspense in the New Apple Literary Awards e-book category, and was named Official Selection in the 2016 New Apple Book Awards: Suspense / Thriller (paperback) and as a Finalist in the Eric Hoffer Book Awards.
His contemporary political thriller, Remote Access, was released in 2018 and has received acclaim from a variety of reviewers. In 2019, he released a novella called Never So Alone, which expands on the background of one of his central characters. His next in the series, The Burden of Darkness, was released in May 2020.
Barry is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee medal for philanthropy.
A portion of the proceeds from the books will go towards helping young women and youth in Africa.
Description
<p><strong><em>A tragic warrior lost in two worlds... Which one will he choose?</em></strong></p><p>The war in Iraq ended for Freddie when an IED explosion left his mind and body shattered. Once a skilled gamer as well as a capable soldier, he's now a broken warrior, emerging from a medically induced coma to discover he's inhabiting two separate realities.</p><p>The first is his waking world of pain, family trials, and remorse—and slow rehabilitation through the tender care of Becky, his physical therapist. The second is a dark fantasy realm of quests, demons, and magic, which Freddie enters when he sleeps. The lines soon blur for Freddie, not just caught between two worlds, but lost within himself.</p><p>Is he Lieutenant Freddie Williams, a leader of men, a proud officer in the US Army who has suffered such egregious injury and loss? Or is he Frederick, Prince of Stormwind, who must make sense of his horrific visions in order to save his embattled kingdom from the monstrous Horde, his only solace the beautiful gardener, Rebecca, whose gentle words calm the storms in his soul.</p><p>In the conscious world, the severely wounded vet faces a strangely similar and equally perilous mission to that of the prince—a journey along a dark road, haunted by demons of guilt and memory. Can he let patient, loving Becky into his damaged and shuttered heart? It may be his only way back from Hell.</p>
Story Behind The Book
While in Tanzania, Africa visiting a dormitory with a child-focused charitable organization, I was asked by a teenage girl, "When are you taking me to Canada?" I wondered what would happen to her if she asked the wrong person. The character in the book, Shoni Batanga, does ask the wrong person and the consequences are disastrous.
Reviews
<div style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);">"A Perilous Question sizzles with international intrigue as the tension and suspense mount to a compelling pitch. Barry Finlay will keep you turning the pages." - Rick Mofina, Bestselling Author of <b><i>FREE FALL</i></b>.</div>
<div style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);"> </div>
<div style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);">"A Perilous Question is a masterfully written crime novel that will find a home in the hearts of many readers." - Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite</div>
<div style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);">"A high octane thriller laced with insightful social commentary. A Perilous Question hits all the right notes and leaves you wanting for more. It is highly recommended." - Book Viral</div>
<div style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);">"I finished the new book and well done - a good read and you have a character to keep running with." - Terry - Chapters Indigo reader</div>
<div style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);">"Far from being your archetypical thriller it combines action and suspense whilst leaving you much to think about which the hallmark of a good book." - Karen E. Proctor, Amazon.UK</div>
<div style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);">"An excellent read with action and excitement to keep you going until after you should be asleep." - Amazon Canada customer</div>
