Mark H. Downer
Discover richly woven plots, distinctive and unforgettable characters, prose that delivers immersive, fast-paced, action-packed thrill rides incorporating twists and turns that keep the reader turning pages until the shocking finales. Dive into a collection of novels crafted to engage, entertain and ignite the sense of adventure.
Stories That Stir the Imagination
Blessed…and cursed with the creative gene, Mark Downer has always found writing to come naturally, a trait inherited from his father, who he touts as a truly remarkable wordsmith. With a Journalism degree from the University of Kentucky, Mark embarked upon a 45 plus year career in sales, marketing, management, and the ultimate entrpreneurial coup de grace…business ownership.
Coupled with a life full of study and interest in history, particularly the military variety, and a reading library full of some of fiction’s greatest novelists, it only made sense that he pursue his passion drawing upon all of those inherent experiences, attended by a personal conviction that good always triumphs over evil.
Featured Novels
***WINNER OF THE 2026 INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD - GENERAL FICTION*** https://www.independentpressaward.com/2026-winners/9781938462504
Description
An action-packed World War II historical fiction thriller that takes the reader around the world and a peek into the underworld of international art dealing.
In the spring of 1945, on the eve of the Allied victory in war-torn Europe, an unmarked German transport plane crash lands deep in the rugged Swiss Alps, and with it is buried one of the greatest single collections of World War II stolen artwork never recovered. Lying undisturbed in its rocky tomb for over half a century, a family member’s deathbed disclosure and war memorabilia hold the key to the existence and dormant location of this incredible treasure. Subsequently, one man’s quest to locate the crash site is unwittingly exposed, and the race to recover the find of a lifetime becomes a fast-paced, action-packed adventure that weaves together an eclectic cast of characters in an international web of intrigue, murder, mystery, and surprise.
American advertising executive Matt Ferguson, determined to track down his great uncle’s mysterious legacy, enlists the help of a beautiful art expert, Courtney Lewis. They immediately become embroiled in a local murder investigation that draws them together to save not only a piece of history but ultimately their lives. Pursuing them is a cold-blooded killer and his henchmen, representing the past and present generations of the German Nazi party, and also gangsters dispatched by a multi-millionaire South American boss, whose passion is acquiring art by any means necessary. As Ferguson and Lewis struggle and maneuver to stay one step ahead of their pursuers, their relationship swells through ups and downs of trust, mistrust, mutual attraction, deception, and, finally, shared mission.
The dogged persistence of a city homicide detective determined to solve a triple murder, and his ability to knit together an international police effort as the scope of his investigation explodes, are the last component affecting the thrill of the chaotic chase and the excitement of the climax.
Publicity
***WINNER OF THE 2026 INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD - GENERAL FICTION*** https://www.independentpressaward.com/2026-winners/9781938462504
Press Release: "Old Stone Press Announces the Release of 'Ghosts of the Past' by Mark Downer"
Book signing dates to come
Reviews
The International Review of Books
"This is a thrilling story that is well-written with well-developed characters especially the interesting main characters. If you are a World War II fan or enjoy art this is a great read! Full of suspense and great history about a lost World War II art collection. Readers can feel they are part of the story with wonderful descriptions, that bring this historical adventure alive. This is one of many wonderful descriptions that will keep you focused on this page-turner,
'The paradox was almost comical. There were people everywhere. Dusting everything in sight, bagging anything that looks suspicious or related to the crime, photographs being snapped from every direction, and three people lying dead, that could easily be mistaken for furniture.'” [Page 95]
Forward Reviews
Kirkus Reviews
To purchase a copy of Ghosts of the Past in either print or eBook visit Amazon Books at https://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Past-Search-Collection-Killing/dp/1938462505/ Old Stone Press at https://oldstonepress.com/library/ghosts-of-the-past/, Barnes & Noble Books at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghosts-of-the-past-mark-downer/1138554879?ean=9781938462511, or through many of your local retailers.
Description
A Nightmare WWII Weapon Reappears
In the summer of 1945, on the eve of Japan’s surrender in World War II, converging Allied armies destroyed the infamous Japanese Unit 731 and its evil architect General Daichi Arakawa, whose ominous viral creation had exterminated thousands of Chinese in occupied Manchuria. Nearly twenty-five years later, however, atrocities in rural Cambodia during the Vietnam War hint of the possible resurrection of the insidious biological nightmare, and a culpable participant in those horrors then, foreshadows a potential return of the weapon of mass destruction today.
Armed with the knowledge of its probable existence in the hands of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Defense Ministry and Revolutionary Guard Corps, People’s Republic of China General Tzu Huang enlists the help of retired General Jake Woods, formerly of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, to help seek out and eliminate those with knowledge of the WMD virus and their attempts to weaponize it. Woods’ ability to cobble together a covert operational team from an eclectic background of elite male and female special ops, intelligence, military, and IT specialists, with help from a wealthy financier and old backchannel contacts in the U.S Department of Defense, produces a formidable stealth force out to tackle the problems our government cannot.
Their subsequent mission takes them on a perilous and deadly pursuit throughout the tyrannical and raging quagmires that are the Middle East, with the fate of the entire “Cradle of Civilization” dependent upon their success. From the explosive origins of the team’s quest and prosecution in Iran, deviating into the ravaged terrains of Iraq and Syria, the chase terminates in southern Lebanon, mission success eluding the "Co-Op team" in a string of near misses until the bitter and unforeseen ending in the mountains of northern Israel.
Publicity
Book signing dates to come
Reviews
Foreword Reviews
Readers' Favorite Review
To purchase a copy of Setareh Doctrine in either print or eBook visit Amazon Books at https://amzn.to/3qHfM4Q, Old Stone Press at https://oldstonepress.com/library/setareh-doctrine/, Barnes & Noble Books at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/setareh-doctrine-mark-downer/1139132635?ean=9781938462474, or through many of your local booksellers.
Your Questions,
Answered
What genres do you write?
Commercial thrillers with an emphasis on history, international intrigue and adventure, mature themes, complex geo-political landscapes, espionage, mystery, suspense, covert operations, and intense episodic action. Each project begins with extensive research and includes outside technical expertise to ensure authenticity and depth.
How can I get a copy of Ghosts of the Past or Setareh Doctrine?
You can purchase copies from Amazon Books, Barnes & Noble Books, Old Stone Press or at any of your local booksellers. Search by the author name or book title.
Are you working on anything new?
Yes. I recently completed Caracas Connection, the second book in the Themis Cooperative series. Visit with the same disitinctive cast from the inaugural novel, Setareh Doctrine, as they race to save the western hemisphere from a burgeonng missile crisis perpetrated by the evil axis of Venezuela, Iran and the Sinaloa cartel, and the unlikely emergence of an additional high-stakes terror threat to our own government institutions. Look for it to hit the book shelves in the summer of 2026.
Let’s Stay in Touch
Interested in exclusive excerpts, behind-the-scenes insights, or booking a consultation for your book club or event? Send a message today, and let’s explore how these stories—and future ones—can enrich your audience.
