Margins
The Tongue Trade book cover
The Tongue Trade
2024
First Published
4.12
Average Rating
224
Number of Pages

In a world where words are the ultimate currency, silence can be lethal. In the not-too-distant future, humanity's ability to communicate has fractured, creating a labyrinth of professional jargons so dense that only specialists like William Kirst, Private Interpreter, can navigate the chasms between. Kirst is a linchpin in a society where understanding is a luxury, and secrets are the norm. But when those secrets turn deadly, Kirst finds himself caught in a web of silence he cannot escape. William Kirst's routine existence is shattered when he becomes entangled in a murder investigation, a crime spoken in a language of bullets and blood. As an interpreter sworn to confidentiality, Kirst is bound by an oath that puts his life in jeopardy and his morals in shackles. The more he uncovers, the deeper he delves into a conspiracy where language is both a weapon and a prison. With each translation, Kirst edges closer to a truth that threatens to unravel not just his own life but the very fabric of society. As the stakes escalate, Kirst must make a uphold his oath and protect the sanctity of his profession, or break the silence to prevent further bloodshed. In a world where communication can kill, Kirst's decision could either save lives or destroy his own. The Tongue Trade is a riveting exploration of language, loyalty, and the lethal power of secrets. It questions the boundaries of ethical duty and the price of silence in a fragmented world.

Avg Rating
4.12
Number of Ratings
43
5 STARS
47%
4 STARS
30%
3 STARS
14%
2 STARS
7%
1 STARS
2%
goodreads

Author

Michael J. Martineck
Michael J. Martineck
Author · 6 books
I started writing stories when I was seven and never really stopped. Over the years, I’ve put out short stories, comic book scripts, articles and trio of novels. I’ve put countless other ventures in the drawer. The drawer is in my house on Grand Island, NY., a little cap of clay nestled between the US and Canada. This is also the location of my Ego Retention Program, whereby my beautiful wife and two lovely children continuously call out my various shortcomings, keeping me from becoming the screaming, self-centered artist I long to be. DC Comics published a couple of stories in the early 90s. Planetmag, Aphelion and a couple of other long-dead e-zines helped me out in 00s, along with The Misspellers and The Wrong Channel. Cinco de Mayo was released from EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy in 2010 and was short-listed for an Alberta Readers Choice Award. Very exciting, you know, for me. Its sequel, The Milkman, came out in 2014. And now, Untouchable, from Our little Secret Press
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