“Authentic as today’s dispatches from the 21st century battleground of cyber warfare, chilling and funny and brilliantly observed. A tour de force, infused with the carousing spirits of dreamy Irish rebels.

Brendan Behan would be proud.”

~ Kristine Rosemary ~ Author of The War Against Gravity

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“To begin a review of a book of this quality requires a long pause for breath. Quite simply, staggering would be an understatement when attempting to describe what could possibly be the best debut novel of the new millennia.

Dancing on the Brink of the World weaves a complex web of multilayered plot lines accessible on multiple levels. Think of this novel as a four dimensional entity, formed from historical, conspiratorial, mechanical & mathematical components. Subtext abounds, just waiting for the reader with the right keys to unlock it. The sheer depth of this novel is a rare find in today’s world of disposable media.

The novel is composed of three distinct sections: ~ The Dance, The Brink & The World:

During The Dance the reader is introduced to the main protagonists of the novel & also to a host of secondary characters who are vital to the events in the later sections of the book. The author goes to great lengths to construct convincing, fleshed out characters, meticulously building the complex relationships which it is hinted will come to grisly fruition later in the novel. It's about getting into the skin of the characters, sharing realisations both about and with them which make the reader closely bound to the outcomes which will affect them. The level of detail gives an immersive experience & also an opportunity to find a dialogue with the character or characters one can most identify with.

The Brink sets up for the main event of the novel ~ a plot to defraud the world’s largest credit card company of close to a trillion dollars. Fans of technical fiction will really appreciate the depth of detail the author goes into about the means which the main character has devised to pull off the biggest robbery in history. A canny mix of near science fiction combined with technologies we all hear about every day on the TV gives this section a convincing edge of realism. The goal is large but the plan is sound. The reader cannot help but reach the same conclusions as the anticipation is cleverly built for the final section.

The World is the final, & most dramatic section of the novel. A conspiracy theorist’s feast. From freemasons to financiers, shadowy agents to spin doctors, the concluding section of the book simply leaves one gasping for breath.

There are a staggering amount of influences here just waiting to be discovered; a veritable gold mine of popular culture: internet conspiracy, history, spirituality and good old action by the bucket load. It literally picks up the reader and sweeps them along with the storyline.

Pivotal moments are in my opinion what make a good story, the sudden realisation for both character and reader of a moment of shared clarity of plot - serendipity. Dancing on the Brink of the World has these moments of clarity. Sudden realisations of deeper motivations of both plot and character. This book could be made into a Hollywood action movie and yet at the same time be an academic deconstructionalist’s dream.

This novel will reward you for what you take with you when you read it. It can be read on the level of a crime action story which will have wide popular appeal or it can be seen as a warning of the darker trends within our current society with a subtle tint of Orwell & Number 6. It reflects a depth and accuracy of research which is a credit to the skills of the author & yet is also a human story at the same time.

I highly recommend this book.”

~ Martin Taylor ~ Freelance journalist, film and game critic

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“... I finished this soul-disturbing incredible book.

The writer displays a command of so many areas, it is staggering and intimidating! At times scraping the bottom of life's barrel, while at other times soaring into the supreme ether of religion, philosophy, high tech, mythology, metaphysics and the meaning of life etc.

... when I called it 'soul-disturbing', I meant that as I read, the many things so vitally meaningful to me were subtly weaved throughout this book, and it tapped into my very being. And I kept marveling at the author’s genius also. I am serious, it did give me chills.

Incredible suspense-filled action forces one to become involved and absorbed!

So minutely detailed in it's descriptive expertise, yet the story overall would be a stunning movie!”

~ EJD, Maryland, USA

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“This is a book crafted with artistry and intelligence. Furthermore, the author assumes his readers are equally intelligent and discerning.

It's hard to believe that this is a first novel, as it's better crafted than most best sellers on the market today. The writing is elegant and the story line is brilliant and shows an insider's knowledge of the bank card industry. The character development is superb; I found myself really identifying with the main characters and rooting for them while wishing devoutly for the downfall of some of the others.

It's a story rife with humor, heartbreak, idealism, and deception and has enough action to hold the attention of even the most addicted action junkie. It had me from page one. And it has many layers - conspiracy theorists will love it. Those who have studied metaphysics will find even more in it. But above all, it's an excellent read for everyone.

I highly recommend this book. Don't let the length discourage you; by the end I was wishing for more.”

~ Linda L. DeCloedt, Oregon, USA

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“Stunning, masterful - and so impressive.

I got around a hundred pages not noticing anything except how sophisticated this author's style is and how much I am liking this book ~!

His way of writing reminds me of some very experienced novelists. How do I describe this - just the precise combination of casual and erudite, cool and breezy and serious stuff all in one story.

Andrew Rowland is up there with the best writers now. I think his talent is just stunning and so impressive.

I should be better at expressing myself than this, but this is very advanced, masterful writing work.”

~ A reader from Maidenhead, Berkshire, United Kingdom

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Masterfully crafted, a layer cake full of gems on multidimensional levels. This diamond moves at an incredible pace, the amazing details provide a running film for the mind. Dancing on the Brink of the World touches all the senses, leaving the reader longing for more from Mr. Rowland and an uncanny suspicion that many rereads will deliver missed carats. Brilliant!

~ Sandra Bourne, Florida, USA

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“Prepare to exercise your little grey cells!

If you like your thrillers formulaic give this one a miss!! I am a voracious reader of thrillers/crime novels and this was a real breath of fresh air. A challenging read which stretches your mind as you absorb the different themes of the paranormal, metaphysics and mathematics all interwoven with a fast paced thriller. It is difficult to believe this is a first novel and I can't wait for his next. Be warned it is a long book and once you get into it you won't be able to put it down - I stayed up to 3am to finish it!!”

~ A reader from Englefield Green, Surrey, United Kingdom

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This is a fascinating idea for a book and Andrew Rowland's real life
experiences make him the perfect person to pull this off. For thousands
of years people have found beauty in math; Andrew makes that clear in
the opening chapter of his book. Rarely are numbers talked about so
eloquently. This book isn't a light read: it requires the reader's
attention and additional thought. And this is good. Often so-called
literary novels are based only on character development. Andrew's novel
is both literary and plot-driven. Rarely does a page-turner accomplish
so much. Andrew's nailed his plot. It's a good premise and allows for a
rich, thick book full of mystery coming from deep in the past and into
the future. He also does a nice job of scene setting as the reader finds
himself traversing both San Francisco and London. It's modern - I
foresee similar 'cyber war' novels being published in the future. Good
for the author to have the foresight to see its need now. Also, nice
website. Andrew has a keen understanding of what's needed to sell a book
in today's marketplace.

~ Writer’s Digest Magazine, New York City, USA