Luke has a serious problem – he just doesn’t know it yet.

When Luke's world literally burned to the ground six months earlier - when he lost his mother in a fire and a friend to an overdose - he didn't think his life could get much worse. Of course, back then he didn't know what he'd see in Hell's Kitchen...


The moment he slid open the window to his bedroom and dropped into the alley behind his uncle’s building in Manhattan, the course of Luke's life changed forever.

Six months earlier and 5,500 kilometers away, a new drug called Rave-N stole the life of a friend. Days later, his London home was consumed by a fire that also claimed his mother’s life. Then an uncle who he’d never known appeared at his mother’s funeral and offered Luke a home in New York City—in Hell’s Kitchen.

But things are not what they seem in Hell’s Kitchen. As Luke’s friends start to disappear in London, he begins overhearing bits of strange conversation from his uncle—conversations that spur Luke into an action that spirals his world into an ever-widening hell that will consume friends and enemies alike …


Out of Hell's Kitchen has received both the Editor's Choice award and the Publisher's Choice award from the publisher. Pick up your own copy to see why...


Uh oh …

He clicked the trigger several times—nothing. The scooter had died, its internals flooded from a seal that had surrendered to temperatures it hadn’t been designed to withstand.

Trying to ignore the dire consequences the loss of the scooter foretold, Luke released his grip on the dead vehicle, the weights strapped to its sides quickly sinking it to the bottom.

He really was on his own now.

In the ensuing silence Luke realized the water was alive with a variety of odd noises and he paused, trying to make sense of them. A strange sensation suddenly pressed intensely on his inner ear.

A rumbling sensation seemed to run through his entire body, shaking him. The pressure in his ears sharply increased, and he tried in vain to equalize against it.

Now what?

The vibrations quickly grew into concentrated waves of force as Luke pressed his hands to his ears, his head pounding in agony.

The faint glow behind him suddenly increased in intensity, and as he looked back toward the sphere he noticed the pipe next to him appear to undulate—to leap.

Crack!

The water around him visibly jumped, and an ear-splitting spear of sound drilled into his head. He felt his body ripple as a concussive wall of energy hit him, the glow behind bursting into a brilliant ball of orange that rapidly began expanding.

Panic engulfed him.

He turned and kicked wildly at the dense water, propelling himself away from the approaching horror, his whole body writhing in pain from the increasingly concussive shockwaves that coursed by. Unconsciously, he observed a section of the pipe beside him split open, the surrounding water immediately erupting into a boiling frenzy.

He kept kicking, clawing at the superheated water, the camera banging at his side with every frantic stroke. He swam blindly through a world lit an eerie orange by the aquatic nova that pursued him through water that was pulsing with the energy of a subterranean eruption.

The pipe he still unwittingly followed suddenly disappeared into a solid wall of concrete, and Luke ploughed headfirst into the unyielding side of the pier.

Lights burst behind his eyes, and he felt consciousness sliding away as he fumbled for the inflator hose of his rebreather.

Then darkness descended and Luke’s world winked out.


Click here to browse Out Of Hell's Kitchen


The reviews are coming in - see what the pros have to say...
- Boston Globe

[Excerpt]

Aquarium diver hopes novel makes a splash

Myrtle isn't big on plotlines, but the 600-pound giant sea turtle appreciates a writerly touch whenever she can get it.

"She loves to get her shell scratched," says John H . Hanzl, diving safety officer at the New England Aquarium. Hanzl's first novel, "Out of Hell's Kitchen," was published in September.

"I'll go down near the bottom, and she'll wait for me to grab a conch shell and scratch her back," he says of one of his favorite underwater characters.

Hanzl is responsible for overseeing more than 4,000 underwater operations for the aquarium each year, meaning anything from feeding stingrays and sand tiger sharks at its downtown location to traveling as far as the Caribbean and the South Pacific to collect specimens for exhibits or to protect through conservation.

To read the entire article, including some photos of John at work at the New England Aquarium, go here

- Kay Trout of MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW writes:

Genre: Fiction/Adventure Mystery
Rating: Very Good


Out of Hell’s Kitchen is a story about a new pop drug on the scene–Rave N. What is this drug, what does it do, and who are the people who make and distribute it? Rave N is the key in this fast-paced ,intrigue-oriented, action adventure for Luke Hawthorn as his friends begin to disappear.

John Hanzl’s writing style and story are similar in some ways to Robert Ludlum’s earlier novels–a definite plus. John has an exciting style which draws you in and keeps you turning the pages. In addition he has a rich vocabulary and is masterful at description and depth which add a distinct richness for his readers. There’s lots of action and intrigue here, and the conclusion may surprise you.

Yes, I can highly recommend Out of Hells’ Kitchen to readers who enjoy mystery, action, intrigue and a well-written novel.

 

- Writer's Digest writes:

Mr. Hanzl does an excellent job of weaving several subplots around the main plot for a fast-paces, page-turning journey with characters who come to life almost immediately.

- Kirkus Discoveries writes:

The Hunt for Red October meets Patriot Games meets Jacob’s Ladder... Hanzl’s debt to genre-thrillers is evident, but this debut novel offers an interesting twist on the formula.

- Stephen Weir of Diver Magazine writes:

Whew! Fast paced isn’t a strong enough adjective.

Luke smashes uncontrollably through the plotline like a diver caught in a Cozumel rip current! The main character has all the tools of a Dirk Pitt in training.  He is a trick motorcycle rider, an urban mountaineer, a computer whiz, and, when investigating an uncharted erupting Caribbean island during a Force Five hurricane, learns how to be a rebreather diver after a night of study.

 “I formulated the rebreather sequence while diving in the shark tank”, Hanzl told Diver Magazine. “I am the Diving Safety Officer, which means I dive in the tank five times a day and feed the inhabitants, including the sharks (the largest which is over 2 meters long).”

Although much of the action takes place on land, the climax to the dive thriller takes place underwater...in the eye of an Ivan style blow.


Then read what people who have already read Out Of Hell's Kitchen are saying...
   
 

Move over Dan Brown!, March 21, 2007
I am so impressed with this book. It is super well researched and the author speaks with great authority on many different subjects. Plus his grasp of the English colloquialism's and the terrific accents (especially the Irish ones) is wonderful! It was a fab storyline too - very compelling, fast moving and twisting. Plus very believable. He also has a gift of being very efficient, eloquent and effective with his writing, describing characters, scenes and action in a rich and detailed way that is very flowing and totally compliments the pace of the book fantastically. I am super impressed and it is one of the best novels I have ever read - truly. The fact that I read it cover to cover with all the horrendous time constraints I have had recently is testimony to that.

   
 

This is a great read!, December 7, 2006
This book was a great read! It is a very fast paced novel with tremendous characters. I had trouble putting it down.

The book was very well researched. I was impressed with Mr. Hanzl's depth of knowledge on multiple topics. He covers some very technical explanations while still keeping it a very easy read.

My only complaint is having to wait to find out how my new friends in the book will make out! I can't wait for the next one!!

 

This one has it all!, November 17, 2006
This is an action thriller with a little science, mystery, and a hint of romance. This is a well crafted novel that keeps you wanting more. The character development is great. It is hard to tell where the story is going. Read it on my vacation. I couldn't have chosen better.
 

 

Addictive. A true suspense action thriller, November 16, 2006
This is not your run-of-the-mill action thriller. This is a true suspense novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat and guessing the whole way through. Every chapter leaves you wanting more. Expect the unexpected, for what you think is going to happen doesn't. This book brings you the excitement of not knowing what's going to happen next. The insight into the characters lives and the descriptive details puts you right there in the story with them. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it for anyone who's bored with reading the same old predictable action story. I can't wait for the next book!

A page turner for every chapter, October 5, 2006
This novel is a fast paced, well written, hard to put down, action suspense story. It reminds me of the early Ludlum books, where you could not stop reading at the end of a chapter, as you were compelled to read on to find out what happens next. The plot is well constructed and leads to a spell-binding conclusion. There are no lulls in this book and my interest was captured throughout. This seems to be the author's first novel and I can't wait for the sequel (first chapter included in this book) to be finished.

A MUST READ!, October 4, 2006
What a great book! Out of Hell's Kitchen is full of suspense and a real page turner. The only problem I had with it is that it kept me up so late each night because I couldn't put it down. I typically don't read action adventure novels but this one may change that for me. It was thoroughly researched and the character development was well done. It really made you care about Luke and his crew and want to know what was going to become of them all.

I thought it was great that this author included the first chapter of his next novel. Out of Hell's Kitchen shows excellent potential for the series to come...can't wait for the next book!


To purchase your own copy of Out Of Hell's Kitchen go here...


And last - but definitely not least - I would like to give a huge thanks to the following folks for their fantastic support.

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