Bestselling author Richard McMaster has announced the ebook version of his thriller novel 'The Attic' will be available at no charge on February 4 and 5, 2026 through Amazon. The novel has achieved bestseller status in both contemporary fiction and psychological thriller categories, with its intricate plot and character development making it particularly suitable for book club discussions.
The psychological thriller follows Byron Kelly, who becomes a whistleblower after discovering his CEO has embezzled over 26 million dollars from an international investment banking company. While on the run from the FBI, Byron hides in the attic of Henry Steel, a dying old man estranged from his daughter over family secrets. One of the principal characters, Sybie, was fashioned after a real high school classmate of the author who suffered from a rare genetic disorder.
In a story about McMaster printed by The Hudson Weekly, Dennis Keller noted that the author "never falls into the trap of presenting his characters as simplistic archetypes or caricatures, instead allowing them to emerge as fully-formed individuals with their unique voices and perspectives." Keller continued that McMaster is "a master of plot and pacing" whose writing is "often described as 'page-turning' or 'gripping,' but it is also imbued with a sense of thoughtfulness and depth that elevates his work beyond mere genre fiction."
Reviewers have praised the novel's emotional depth and unconventional storytelling. One reviewer commented, "You wrote a novel about a man with a past so messy, he literally hides in a stranger's attic while trying to do the right thing. It's emotional. Unconventional. Thoughtful. There's rare disease rep, ethical drama, and a wildly underrated whistleblower story wrapped in quiet literary suspense." Another said, "Absolutely loved this book. I don't want to give anything away, but this was the best book I have read in a long time."
McMaster's other works include the bestselling historical fiction novel 'Aaron's War,' which details a Jewish soldier's experience in WWII and explores themes of antisemitism, forbidden marriage, PTSD, and substance abuse. USA Today bestselling author Holly Roberts called it "A coming of age story that grips your soul and takes you on a thought-provoking journey."
His novel 'Voyage of Life' explores overcoming obstacles through the lens of the "Baby Boomer" generation, using Thomas Cole's Voyage of Life paintings as a metaphor for the protagonist's life stages. McMaster considers this one of his signature works, with one reader noting, "While reading, you will smile, you will hesitate thinking, oh no, and you will cry, but there is a surprise toward the end."
Another work, 'A Love Divided By Time,' has been described as "one part The Notebook, one part suspenseful psychopath story, and one part Somewhere in Time." More information about the author and his works is available at his website https://richard-mcmaster.com/. All of his books are available at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/stores/Richard-McMaster/author/B01LDIJ2QU?.
The free availability of 'The Attic' represents an opportunity for both established fans and new readers to engage with McMaster's work during the promotional period. The novel's complex character development and ethical dilemmas provide material for meaningful discussion, while its psychological thriller elements deliver the suspense and tension characteristic of the genre. This limited-time offer allows broader access to a work that has already demonstrated significant commercial and critical success in the publishing marketplace.
