<![CDATA[MICHAEL DYLAN - Blog]]>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 03:30:25 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Hicksy Has His Own Series. Yes, Really.]]>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 19:53:00 GMThttps://www.michaeldylanwrites.com/blog/hicksy-has-his-own-series-yes-reallyIf you've been reading the DI Wise books, you already know Roy Hicks. Loud, funny, the kind of man who walks into a room and immediately becomes the most interesting person in it. And you'll know exactly why I writing him.

So I did something about it.

Screw Up is the first Hicksy Brighton Crime Thriller — a standalone novella that puts Roy front and centre for the first time. No Wise. No team. No warrant card. No backup. Just Hicksy, in a city he barely knows, and a missing sixteen-year-old niece who needs him right now.

These novellas are designed to drop in the gaps between Wise books — shorter, faster, a little rougher around the edges. You don't need to have read the Wise series to enjoy them, but if you have, there's plenty here that'll feel familiar.
Screw Up is out on June 15th. I hope you love spending time with Hicksy as much as I do.
He's been waiting long enough.

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]]><![CDATA[First Reviews for Dead and Buried]]>Tue, 26 May 2026 14:31:13 GMThttps://www.michaeldylanwrites.com/blog/first-reviews-for-dead-and-buried
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I'm always nervous when a new book comes out so it's wonderful to see all the fabulous reviews and ratings come in for DEAD AND BURIED. It's presently rated 4.7 out of 5 on Amazon and 4.8 on Goodreads.

My favourite review (possibly of all time) is from Sylvia: "Wowzers! What a read, the best of the series so far. Apart from letting the dog in the garden, making a brew and visiting the bathroom I never put it down." ★★★★★ 

Thank you everybody! (and if you haven't picked it up yet - go grab it now!)
]]><![CDATA[BOOK 6 IS OUT NOW]]>Thu, 14 May 2026 17:16:24 GMThttps://www.michaeldylanwrites.com/blog/book-6-is-out-now
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DEAD AND BURIED, the latest DI Simon Wise crime thriller is out now at your nearest Amazon store. I had such a blast writing this and I hope that comes across on the page.

What's it about?

Some secrets won’t stay buried no matter how hard you try.

Twenty years ago, Suzy Latimer vanished without a trace. No body was ever found. No one was ever charged. Over time, her disappearance became just another cold case buried in the past.

Until now.

When Detective Inspector Simon Wise arrests the man behind a series of brutal murders, his team uncover a link to Suzy’s disappearance. Suddenly, a case that has haunted London for twenty years is back in the headlines.

As the pressure mounts and the media closes in, Wise and his team must untangle a web of lies stretching back decades. But the deeper they dig, the more uncertain the truth becomes.

Because whoever is behind this has been one step ahead from the very beginning.
And they're not finished yet.

There are some new faces on the team and some old favourites come back too. And, of course, Tom Wise continues to cause mayhem!
Order dead and buried today
]]><![CDATA[Dead and Buried coming soon]]>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:17:20 GMThttps://www.michaeldylanwrites.com/blog/dead-and-buried-coming-soon
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I've been making great progress on the new Wise crime thriller. I'm hoping to have it out in the relatively near future all being well. It starts the very next day after DROP DOWN DEAD and the pressure is on for Wise and the team. There's also lots going on for everyone's favourite villain, Tom Wise.

I've also written the opening few chapters to the next book as the scenes came to me while I was walking with Buddy. So much so, I had to rush back and write it all down before I forgot anything. 

Once I've finished both books 6 and 7, it's back to Jo Batten and THE OLD FOE. I've been so happy with how many people have enjoyed her first adventure. As a writer, it's wonderful to be able to work on two successful series. I'm really grateful for everyone's support and for making this possible.

In other news, I was interviewed about THE NEW SPY on one of my favourite podcasts, Spybrary. You can listen to it on your podcast app of choice or just click here.
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Hopefully I'll have audiobook news very soon for both Wise and Jo!
]]><![CDATA[DROP DOWN DEAD is out at last]]>Sun, 08 Feb 2026 00:03:58 GMThttps://www.michaeldylanwrites.com/blog/drop-down-dead-is-out-at-lastApologies for the delay in getting this one out but DROP DOWN DEAD is now available at your nearest Amazon store. It takes place over a frantic 24 hours. I hope you enjoy it!
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Order It Today
]]><![CDATA[THE NEW SPY 26.10.25]]>Wed, 20 Aug 2025 01:15:00 GMThttps://www.michaeldylanwrites.com/blog/the-new-spy-261025
I'm pleased to announce THE NEW SPY will be out on 26th September 2025. What's it about?

If Jo Batten fails, World War III starts.

Jo Batten has always wanted to be a spy. Now, after two years of hard training, she only has five days to go before her dream comes true.

She'll officially be an MI5 operative, fighting the good fight for King and Country.

But the UK’s enemies aren’t going to make it easy for her. Terrorists are planning deadly attacks across the country. If they succeed, tens of thousands of people will die.

Even for the experienced operatives around her, the stakes have never been higher. For a new spy like Jo, though, the mission seems impossible. And the odds get more stacked against her when she discovers there’s another, even deadlier threat lurking in the shadows: an old foe who wants to plunge the world into war.

With only an anonymous hacker and a retired spook to help her, can Jo stay alive long enough to stop the destruction of everything she holds dear? Or will her dream be over before it could even begin?

THE NEW SPY is a fast-paced spy thriller that’s perfect for fans of Stella Rimington, Ava Glass and Tom Bradby.

If you like nail-biting action, complex characters, and shocking twists, then you’ll love Michael Dylan’s razor-sharp espionage thriller.
Order it today
]]><![CDATA[The months ahead]]>Tue, 19 Aug 2025 19:44:47 GMThttps://www.michaeldylanwrites.com/blog/the-months-ahead
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]]><![CDATA[John Lennon was right ...]]>Sat, 02 Aug 2025 02:16:23 GMThttps://www.michaeldylanwrites.com/blog/john-lennon-was-rightJohn Lennon once said, ‘Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans.’

The last twelve months have proved that right. To say they've been very turbulent is an understatement.  I’ve had to prioritise looking after myself and my family while we navigate everything that’s gone on. Writing while in the middle of the storm was very difficult, if not impossible. As a result, there have been no new books for you to enjoy. Hopefully I can rectify that now things have settled into our new normal.

I'm hard at work on the new Wise thriller, DROP DOWN DEAD. It's another great test for Wise and his team and his brother, Tom, is going to see the consequences of his actions for once. I'm hoping to have it finished by the end of August and in your hands by October.
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I’ve also written the first book in a new series. THE NEW SPY is story of Jo Batten, a trainee with MI5. It’s the last week of her probation and all she has to do is stop World War Three from breaking out. As you’d expect from me, it’s a fast-paced, action-packed thrill ride from the first to the last page. I'm looking at a September release all being well.
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Sorry for the delay in getting new books to you but hopefully I can make up for lost time.

Take care!
]]><![CDATA[Writing update]]>Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:45:26 GMThttps://www.michaeldylanwrites.com/blog/writing-updateHi. I hope you're having a great year so far. Lots going on at home with me that has impacted my writing somewhat but making good progress on Wise 5 at last. I hope to have that out in the spring. There's lots going on. It starts the day after where INTO THE RIVER DEAD finishes with the team still gathering evidence on that book's killer when every parent's worst nightmare happens.

And Tom Wise is finally going to start seeing the consequences of his actions.

I also have another book that's being edited at the moment. It's called THE NEW SPY and features a young woman called Jo Batten in her first week working for MI5. The plan is to release that in the summer. I have secured one of the most amazing narrators to read the audiobook as well so starting to get really excited about it.
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]]><![CDATA[Into The River Dead audiobook is out now]]>Sat, 18 Jan 2025 19:35:52 GMThttps://www.michaeldylanwrites.com/blog/into-the-river-dead-audiobook-is-out-now
I'm super pleased to announce the audiobook for Into The River Dead is out now, read again by the amazing Colin Mace. I think this one is my favourite!
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