Coup d’État! Political abduction. AI deep fake disinformation. Rampaging conspiracy militias. Ottawa in the near future is a harrowing concoction of fractious civil order, precarious democracy, and political conspiracy. Inside this seemingly hopeless morass, CSIS operative David Freemont catches wind of a bloodless coup that has abducted the Canadian Prime Minister and her husband, leaving Canada an American protectorate. He takes his information to the only organization large and dedicated enough to do something about it—the RHL, a well-financed rescue militia headed by billionaire Peter Thomas, a man dedicated to alleviating suffering in a dying human population. Who is allied with whom? What about Canada’s police and national military? Where is the Prime Minister, Charlie Nolan, being kept? Can she be rescued and returned to power to free Canada from her oppressors? With a critical eye on history snatched from today’s media headlines, Penultimatum, the new novel by Barry Grills, takes the reader on a wild ride through tomorrow's Canada in a last-ditch effort to save humankind from destruction. *** REVIEWS OF BOOKS BY BARRY GRILLS I And You, And Me And Her “Very well-drawn and believable” (Whistler Independent Book Awards) "Men in love with women they can't have ... very detailed and vivid" (BookLife Prize) Too Late The Hunter “A great read ... a very relatable novel” (Dr. Brian Burtch, Get That Freak: Homophobia and Transphobia in High Schools) "An enjoyable and fascinating novel . . . lyrical and fresh; and, at times, completely brilliant" (Whistler Independent Book Awards) "Psychological thriller... gave me goosebumps more than once... a bingeworthy novel!" (Marla J. Hayes, Cassidy’s Deadly Exit) “Lovely writing… naturally flowing narrative… integrating different perspectives over a wider and non-contiguous span of time” (Ric de Meulles, Ramasseur) Oblivion "The author writes well and is, like his protagonist, a good communicator... [with] tone and style" (Whistler Independent Book Awards) Roadkill Shortlisted for the 2018 Whistler Independent Book Awards; Finalist for the 2018 Next Generation Indie Book Awards "Set in a compelling dystopian future ... in fluid, lyrical sentences ... alluring descriptions... striking prose and an enticing premise allow this novel to stand out within the larger category of dystopian fiction" (BookLife Prize) "I absolutely loved Roadkill” (Donna Sinclair, Saving The Future) “A thinking person’s speculative fiction” (Erich Weingartner, editor of A Journey of Faith Across a Turbulent Century: Memoirs of a Refugee Pastor) “Highly imaginative and richly described … adventure, suspense, romance, and action … a masterful piece of dystopian storytelling … definitely a five-star read” (K. L. Davidson, Ten Thousand Fields) Every Wolf’s Howl “Poignant, exuberant, exhilarating journey … that celebrates the human need for wildness” (Merilyn Simonds, author of The Convict Lover) “Surprising, poignant, affectionate, and amusing memoir” (Prairie Fire Review of Books) “A moving story of friendship and transformation, and anyone who has ever longed to companionate with wild creatures will be transfixed” (Winnipeg Free Press) "An innovative story told backward ... a successful literary endeavour" (Stacey May Fowles, Quill & Quire) Cock-Eyed Voice: Stories The short story "A Game with Adonis" ... [is] "so successful the reader squirms in self-recognition" (Books in Canada) “Vintage gold… with a unique and pointed voice… A treat for readers” (Jennifer Rouse Barbeau, author of Dying Hour)
