Archive for the ‘thriller’ Category

 

Girl Lost by Kate Angelo Banner

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GIRL LOST
by Kate Angelo
September 22 – October 17, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

 

 

Synopsis:
The King Legacy

 

A LOST BABY

Luna Rosati found acceptance and comfort with her childhood foster family, but when she became pregnant at sixteen, she gave the baby up for adoption and left without a word. Now a CIA counterintelligence officer, Luna wants to reconcile her fractured sense of self by finding the only blood family she has–the teenage daughter she’s never met. As Luna closes in on learning the girl’s identity with the help of her mentor, Stryker, she prepares to meet him in her old neighborhood–the last place she wants to be. Then Stryker is captured.

AN INESCAPABLE PAST

Special Agent Corbin King changed his last name to escape the shadow of his convicted father serving a life sentence. When he runs into Luna, the object of his failed teenage romance, the two must put their pasts aside and work together to expose a secret that someone’s willing to kill for.

A DEADLY THREAT

But when they encounter a kidnapping, missing bodies, and murder, the secrets Corbin and Luna are keeping from one another are only the beginning of the threat they face with more than their own lives at stake.

A gripping Christian romantic suspense thriller with CIA intrigue, second chances, and found family. Perfect for fans of clean thrillers, faith-based fiction, and emotional page-turners by Lynette Eason, Colleen Coble, Jessica R. Patch, and Charles Martin.

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Praise for Kate Angelo:

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“Kate Angelo skillfully unveils the savagery of greed under the pretense of good.” ~ DIANN MILLS, bestselling writer

“An exciting story that will capture readers’ emotions while also taking them on a pulse-pounding, suspenseful roller coaster ride they won’t soon forget.” ~ NANCY MEHL, author of the Erin Delaney Mysteries

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Book Details:

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense Thriller

Published by: Revell Publication Date: September 23, 2025 Number of Pages: 336 pages, Paperback ISBN, Pbk: 9780800746636 (ISBN10: 0800746635) Series: The King Legacy, Book 1

Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | Baker Book House

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Enjoy this peek inside:

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From Chapter 1

“What are you doing here, Luna?” The honeyed tone he’d used on the waitress morphed to granite.

“Since when does the FDLE investigate missing persons?”

“Since when do you talk to Stryker? Or any of us, for that matter?”

“Why do you keep answering questions with another question?” Although she knew good and well she’d started it.

The squiggle of a blue vein bulged at Corbin’s temple, and she kind of enjoyed it. “Since we gave our baby up for adoption. Since you cut me out of your life.” His finger stabbed the table to punctuate each sentence. “Since you left town without a word and never looked back.” Another crack formed. His words knifed her heart. Images of a teen beggar girl on the streets of Pakistan played through her mind. The one with dark hair and eyes that mirrored her own. The girl’s striking resemblance to herself had brought Luna back to the time when she held a tiny life in her arms. The baby girl she’d given up—not because she wanted to, but because she refused to let her child suffer the life she’d had. The daughter she’d brought into being was somewhere out there in the world, and she needed Stryker to tell her where. The pang cut deep, but Luna gathered her composure and locked her emotional armor down tight. She wasn’t the only one who’d walked away. “You broke up with me, Corbin. You told me you didn’t want to be a father. You made that choice. I just made sure our daughter had a future.” The skin around his collar flushed crimson. She could see his neck straining. “I can’t believe you—” A sharp glint of light flashed through the storefront windows. Whatever Corbin was saying faded into nothingness. She watched Stryker emerge from his rusty old Jeep parked across the street. His hair, a blend of salt and pepper, hung in a knot at the nape of his neck. Aside from the silver strands, he looked like the same athletic man she’d known when she was a teenager. Years melted away. She saw the man who’d seen the good in her, even when she was a mess of anger and bad choices. The man who’d taken a lost and confused girl and forged her into something stronger, something more. He’d pulled her back from the edge, shown her a different path. And somehow, against all odds, the rebellious girl who’d once cursed every cop in sight had become a government agent. He’d challenged her, pushed her, never let her give up on herself. And she hadn’t. Would he still recognize that girl in the woman she’d become? A black SUV slammed to a halt outside. Doors flew open. Three dark figures jumped out, faces swallowed by masks, bodies muted by black tactical gear. Guns. They had guns. Luna was on her feet before she knew what was happening. Her brain put it together on the fly. Outside. Help Stryker. Corbin’s chair scraped back. Clattered over. He was on her heels. Stryker wouldn’t go down without a fight. With his reflexes, he could disarm a shooter and break a few bones faster than she could blink. His resistance would buy them the priceless seconds they needed to get outside. One man pointed a Taser at Stryker and squeezed the trigger. Two barbed probes shot through the air and embedded into the back of Stryker’s neck, sending fifty thousand volts of electricity screaming through his body. The other two men caught him under the arms before he hit the sidewalk and hauled his limp body into the back seat. Luna and Corbin burst outside. Shouts. A woman screamed. But Luna’s eyes were laser focused on the dark vehicle. The doors slammed shut. Corbin had his gun out. “Police! Stop or I’ll shoot!” The SUV’s engine roared. The vehicle lurched forward, tires shrieking, grabbing traction. It fishtailed, sideswiping two parked cars. Then it swerved back on course, speeding down the street. It blew through a stop sign and disappeared around the corner. Bits of red and yellow confetti littered the street and sidewalk. Luna crouched and used her fingernail to scrape up a few of the tiny round dots. Corbin sprinted half a block chasing after the vehicle before he stopped. Feet set shoulder width apart. Knees flexed. Arms extended and ready to fire. She marched over and slapped her palm on the muzzle of his gun to shove the barrel down. “Put that away. You can’t shoot into a busy street at a fleeing vehicle.” He was breathing hard. “No plates. They wore masks. Should be able to get surveillance footage and interview witnesses.” Like her, Corbin was already thinking of the next steps. She had her phone out, thumb hovering over the screen. The secret code used to send secure cables to the Agency wouldn’t work on this plain smartphone. The only person whose number was stored in this one had just been kidnapped. Corbin muttered something Luna couldn’t hear. He had a hand on his waist. The tail of his blazer was pushed back, showing the gun in its holster on his hip. He rattled his name, badge number, and their location into his phone. “I’m reporting a confirmed kidnapping in progress. Requesting immediate backup and notify detectives.” With Stryker gone, she had no reason to stay. Time to start searching for him. She did an about-­face and went back inside. Angie was on the phone in hysterics. It’d be a wonder if the dispatcher could make sense of the gibberish behind her sobs. Luna marched to the table and picked up her purse. Paused long enough to drain her lemonade and toss a twenty on the table before heading back outside. Corbin fell into step beside her, phone still pressed to his ear. “Where are you going?” She kept walking. “Hey, you can’t leave a crime scene.” He grabbed her shoulder and spun her around. She caught his hand in a wrist lock and rotated his forearm until his knees buckled. “You’ve gotten slow in your old age.” She flashed a thin smile and shoved him, releasing her hold. Corbin stumbled a few steps. The look on his face was almost worth the agony of seeing him again. She turned and headed for her car. The last person she’d ever wanted to see was Corbin King. Not here. Not now. Not ever. “Luna! You can’t just walk away. Luna!” Stryker was not only her mentor but a father figure. She wouldn’t stand by and let someone hurt him. Besides, he was the one who’d arranged the adoption. Handled everything himself, outside the system when she was too young and emotionally wrecked to question the details. Back then, she hadn’t wanted to know. Convinced it was better that way. But that had changed. Now, without Stryker, she had no way to find the only blood relative she had left. And after everything she’d lost in Pakistan, she could not afford to lose anything else. The weight of it all didn’t matter. She would save Stryker. She would find her daughter. And she would do it without Corbin King. *** Excerpt from Girl Lost by Kate Angelo. Copyright 2025 by Kate Angelo. Reproduced with permission from Kate Angelo. All rights reserved.

 

 

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About Author Kate Angelo:

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Kate Angelo

Kate Angelo is the Publishers Weekly bestselling author of Hunting the Witness, Selah Award winner of Deadly Holiday Hijack, and Amazon Top 100 Bestseller of Driving Force. Kate works alongside her husband championing stronger marriages and families. Her journey from foster care to bestselling author fuels her fast-paced romantic suspense, where flawed characters discover hope and healing through life’s fiercest trials and relationships. When she’s not putting fictional people through the wringer, she’s out creating real-life happily-ever-afters at conferences and events nationwide. .

Learn more about Kate Angelo:

KateAngelo.com Amazon Author Profile Goodreads – @kateangeloauthor BookBub – @kateangeloauthor Instagram – @kateangeloauthor X – @thekateangelo Facebook – @kateangeloauthor

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Girl Lost by Kate Angelo {book + gift card}

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Be careful what you wish for.
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The Rich Guy’s Wife

by Bonnie Traymore

Genre: Psychological Domestic Thriller

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When a struggling
young career woman gets swept off her feet by a wealthy, handsome guy, she
ignores the nagging feeling in her gut that it’s too good to be true. But when
she digs into his past, dark secrets emerge. And it might be more dangerous to
get out.

 

Be careful what you wish for.

Mother’s voice rings in my ears
as I stand perfectly still in the darkness, fearing that each breath I take
will be my last. I’m crouched down in the closet with blood on my hands,
my legs and back aching to move, even an inch.

But I can’t. One twitch, one cramp, and I’ll bang into a shelf and give myself
away.

When Stefan Zeigler swept me off my feet four months ago, I had to fight the
voice in my head telling me that my new boyfriend was too good to be true:
handsome, wealthy enough to own a home in the Hamptons…and totally into me.

Or was that Lucy’s voice, my gal pal attorney friend who doesn’t need a man to
live large? Or my mom’s voice, warning me of controlling prenups and the
dangerous secrets of the superrich?

I’d always dreamed of a better life, and working my way there wasn’t going so
well for me, with my pile of student loan debt, a rent-controlled apartment in
Manhattan I could barely afford, and a stable but low-paying PR job.

Is it so bad that I dared to believe in a fairy tale ending, even after I found
out about his felon brother? Or his nefarious business associate? Or the fact
that his last girlfriend looked a lot like me—and seems to have
vanished into thin air?

But now I see that fairy tales have a dark underbelly beneath the
glitter, just like my life right now. I’m Erin. I got what I wished for. I’m a
rich guy’s wife now.

And it just might be the death of me.

Rebecca meets The Boyfriend in this twisty,
unputdownable domestic thriller full of psychological suspense, perfect for
fans of Freida McFadden, Kaira Rouda, Emily Shiner, Daniel Hurst, and Liv
Constantine.

 

What readers are saying:

“If you like dark fairy tales with chilling secrets and gasp-worthy
twists, you’ll fly through this one like I did!” – NetGalley Reviewer,⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“With sharp writing, well-paced twists, and just the right amount of
tension, this was a true page-turner—I didn’t want to put it down! Be
careful what you wish for… ” – NetGalley Reviewer,⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“An unputdownable page-turner set in Manhattan and the Hamptons,
that ramped up to a great ending.” –
NetGalley Reviewer⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Such a good book. I finished it in less than 24 hours, which is
quick for a busy mom. The last few chapters flew by. Great book for a quick
mystery/suspense fan.” – NetGalley Reviewer,⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Rich Guy’s Wife is a gripping domestic
thriller. What starts as a fairy-tale romance quickly morphs into
a dangerous nightmare full of secrets, blood, suspense, and a chilling
question: did her dream come with a deadly price? Highly recommend if you love
suspenseful reads with multiple viewpoints and unexpected twists!” – @somethingunread,
Bookstagram

The Rich Guy’s Wife is so addictive that I couldn’t set it
down even if I wanted to. I devoured this thriller in two sittings.”
—Steph Nelson, Author of The Final Scene

“Bonnie Traymore is at the top of her game in this twisty thriller about
wealth, love, and the secrets we all keep. Beautifully plotted, it kept me up
reading until dawn!” – Leslie Lutz, Award winning author of Sweetest
Darkness

“Bonnie Traymore really nails it again in this deliciously twisty psychological
thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end.” R.G. Belsky,
Author of the award winning Clare Carlson series

 

Amazon
*
Bookbub *
Goodreads

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Bonnie Traymore is the Amazon bestselling author of ten
domestic/psychological thrillers. Her thrillers feature strong but relatable
female protagonists who peel back the layers of suburban American life and give
readers a peek inside. The plots explore difficult topics such as jealousy,
infidelity, murder, and the impact of psychological disorders, but she also
includes bits of romance and humor to lighten the mood from time to
time.

Bonnie loves Hitchcock movies, psychological thriller
novels, coffee, and dark chocolate, not necessarily in that order and sometimes
simultaneously. She has a doctorate in United States history and resides in
Honolulu with her family. She’s an active member of International Thriller
Writers and Mystery Writers of America.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $20 giveaway!

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The Rich Guy’s Wife

 

 

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THE GIRL IN THE MAZE by R. K. Jackson Banner

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THE GIRL IN THE MAZE
by R. K. Jackson
August 25 – September 19, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

 

 

Synopsis:
USA TODAY BESTSELLER • Perfect for fans of Alice Feeney, Megan Miranda, and Tana French, R. K. Jackson’s lyrical, twisty psychological thriller follows an aspiring journalist as she uncovers dark truths in a seaswept Southern town—aided by a mysterious outcast and pursued by a ruthless killer.

 

Now available for the first time as an audiobook, this lyrical novel comes alive in a tour de force performance by narrator Hillary Huber.

When Martha Covington moves to Amberleen, Georgia, after her release from a psychiatric ward, she thinks her breakdown is behind her. A small town with a rich history, Amberleen feels like a fresh start. Taking a summer internship with the local historical society, Martha is tasked with gathering the stories of the Geechee residents of nearby Shell Heap Island, the descendants of slaves who have lived by their own traditions for the last three hundred years.

As Martha delves into her work, the voices she thought she left behind start whispering again, and she begins to doubt her recovery. When a grisly murder occurs, Martha finds herself at the center of a perfect storm—and she’s the perfect suspect. Without a soul to vouch for her innocence or her sanity, Martha disappears into the wilderness, battling the pull of madness and struggling to piece together a supernatural puzzle of age-old resentments, broken promises, and cold-blooded murder. She finds an unexpected ally in a handsome young man fighting his own battles. With his help, Martha journeys through a terrifying labyrinth—to find the truth and clear her name, if she can survive to tell the tale.

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Praise for THE GIRL IN THE MAZE:

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“A juicy, twisty literary thriller so captivating you might want to take the long way to your destination… Hillary Huber[‘s] mastery of accents from the melodious Geechee dialect to the broad vowel drawl of Southern aristocracy is on point and music to this Southerner’s ears.” ~ The Atlanta Journal Constitution

“A Southern Gothic thriller with a twisty plot and echoes of Tana French.” ~ Dianne Emley, bestselling author of Killing Secrets

The Girl in the Maze has suspense, action, memorable characters and even a perfect storm.” ~ Savannah Morning News

“One of the best books I’ve read [this year] . . . The Girl in the Maze is a genre-crushing story that’s part mystery, part thriller, with elements of horror. The result is a terribly entertaining novel.” ~ Cemetery Dance

“Enthralling . . . a psycho-thriller of dark secrets in a small historic Georgian coastal town.” ~ Judith D. Collins, Must Read Books

“This scared the hell out of me.” ~ Laura Otis, MacArthur Fellow, author of Müller’s Lab

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Audio clip from The Girl in the Maze a psychological thriller narrated by Hillary Huber:

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Book Details:

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Published by: Audiobook: Paradise Press in Association with Fright Night Audio; Print & eBook: Penguin Random House Audiobook Publication Date: August 5, 2025 Number of Print Pages: 300 Audiobook ISBN: 979-8-218-70529-9 eBook Links: Kindle | Goodreads | BN | Apple | Penguin

Audiobook Links: Audible | BN | Apple | LibroFM | Chirp | AudiobooksNow | Spotify

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Enjoy this peek inside:

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Prologue

She wants to kill you.

Martha’s fingers tightened onto the Pentel No. 2 pencil, clutched in her lap like a secret talisman. Dr. Ellijay picked up the stack of test booklets, squared them on her desk with soft raps, and began handing them out. She walked slowly down the aisle, her heels popping on the linoleum.

Not today, Martha thought. Please, Lenny, not today.

Outside the casement windows, the campus was awash in gray, a silent movie, as it had been for days, suspended between fog and drizzle, the dull light suppressing shadows, flattening the neo-Gothic buildings of Ponce de Leon College like a plywood set. Only two o’clock, but outside looked more like dusk.

The quad was empty, except for a lone figure seated on a bench, a man in a tweed blazer taking notes in a composition book. He looked up in Martha’s direction, then down at the notebook, then toward her again. To escape his gaze, she looked elsewhere, beyond the campus buildings, above the crenellated rooflines. It was there again. She had seen it before, on bad days, and now it stretched across the buildings, high above the spires and turrets, gelatinous and nearly invisible except for a network of threadlike capillaries. It pulsed and it heaved, breathing, alive. Don’t look at it, Lovie. Lenny murmured in her ear, his voice moist and intimate. You know they don’t want you to see that, right? Just pretend you don’t see it. Today Lenny was only a voice, but on some days she could see him. He was tall and gaunt, his skin white and mottled, like the belly of a toad. Spiked hair. Blue jeans shiny with stains. Canvas sneakers, gray and frayed. Martha felt a touch on her shoulder, jerked around. “Relax, Martha.” Wade leaned forward in the desk behind her. “You look as tight as a piano wire. You’ll do great.” You won’t do great. You’ll die. Lenny hissed. S’truth. You’ll die if you even touch the paper. This was the first time Wade had spoken to her in months. In the early weeks of the semester, he had flirted with her, singled her out for special attention. For a while, the attraction had been mutual. She liked his pug nose, his subversive sense of humor. But that was before. Dr. Ellijay walked to the end of the next aisle, Martha’s aisle. Have a look out, Lovie. ’Ere it comes. Martha tried to concentrate, to review her mental notes. This was the final. Her grades had been floundering—that’s all part of the plan, innit?—but Martha had decided she would overcome the plan. She wouldn’t let them win. Don’t touch the paper, Lenny rasped. It’s printed with poison ink. It’s like them colorful frogs in Ecuador. We learned about that in Biology 101, remember? Beautiful, but lethal. If you touch the ink, you’ll die. Dr. Ellijay returned to her desk at the front of the room and glanced at her wristwatch. “All right, you have forty-five minutes,” she told the class. “You may begin now. Good luck.” Look at ’er. She’s watchin’ you. She wants to see you fail. Touch the frog poison, and you’ll die. Look out the window. The man on the bench, he’s watchin’, too. They’re all watchin’. They’ve all been waitin’ for this moment, doncha see? Martha stared at the page, paralyzed. She felt a drop of perspiration release from her armpit and crawl down her side. Around her, she heard the frantic scratching of her fellow students’ pens. They mingled with the sounds of the rats in the walls, the ones that chewed at the masonry with their sharp teeth, like yellow rice grains. The other students acted as if the rats weren’t there. She glanced at the clock. Six minutes gone already. She looked down at the paper and tried to focus, to form the answers in her mind. If you fall for it—don’t say I din’t warn you, Lovie. She wanted to cry, or to scream, but she was motionless except for the pounding of her heart. Don’t react. Don’t let ’em know. Don’t let ’em on to you, right? That’s the worst thing. She heard Dr. Ellijay’s footsteps approach and stop next to her desk. She didn’t look up. “Martha? It’s been ten minutes, and you haven’t even started. Are you all right?” A swarm of ghostly, amoeba shapes floated in front of Martha’s eyes, and she felt as if her head would explode. “Martha?” Dr. Ellijay placed a hand on her shoulder. Martha screamed and lunged out of her seat, pushing the desk over, causing books to tumble out. Run. It’s yer only chance—run like hellfire. She bounded up the aisle, reached the door, and flung it open with a bang. Run, Lovie. In the hallway, Martha collided with a student on his cellphone, texting. She turned the corner onto another hallway and spotted the door to the custodial closet. She tried the knob. It opened. She slipped inside, squeezed next to a plastic mop bucket with rubber wheels, pulled the door closed, and slid to the floor. In the darkness, she could smell ammonia. She heard the rats scurry around her. One brushed against her ankle, another along the back of her neck. Out in the hallway, footsteps approaching. Voices calling her name. But Martha remained silent, invisible. This is one thing we’re good at, hey, Lovie? Lenny said. We know how to vanish.

Chapter 1

Ten months later
Martha sat on an iron bench in front of the Wash-and-Fold and watched a column of ants as they marched away carrying crumbs from the smashed corner of a ham sandwich. She had made the walk from the Pritchett House to Tobias Avenue in only fifteen minutes, strolling past dew-damp lawns and sprinklers, reaching the business district early. Nothing to do now but wait and watch the town slowly wake up. The morning was hazy, already humid. The rising sun painted sharp, expanding triangles of yellow on the buildings and storefronts. Martha opened her leather satchel and unfolded the advertisement, the one Vince found on the bulletin board at the Gateway Center. She reread it for the hundredth time. EDITORIAL ASSISTANT The Historical Society of Amberleen, Georgia, seeks a full-time intern to assist with book project. Must be bright, organized, and detail-oriented, able to hit the ground running. Will transcribe/edit interviews, write introductions, assist with research. Three-month term with stipend. Assist with book project. Must be bright, organized, and detail-oriented, able to hit the ground running. Will transcribe/edit interviews, write introductions, assist with research. Three-month term with stipend. She felt restless, considered moving to the local diner for a cup of coffee, then scrapped the idea. Like so many things, caffeine was no longer admissible. She wished she’d brought a book to read, or maybe a newspaper. Anything to take her mind off the fluttery feeling in her gut, a sensation that took hold yesterday when the Trailways bus crossed the Intracoastal Waterway and rolled past that sign in the grass median:
Welcome to Amberleen. Spacious Oaks, Friendly Folks.
Martha held the leather satchel close to her face and sniffed. The smell calmed her. It reminded her of her father, who kept it bulging with papers as he shuttled between their house and the university. She tilted the satchel and heard a faint rattle from within, a secret sound. The part of herself she would keep hidden. A Lincoln Continental pulled up in front of the brick building across the street and parked. A tall woman with white hair and an old-fashioned, collared dress got out, unlocked the glass door to the building, and entered. Martha checked her watch—eight fifteen. She took out a mirror, freshened her lip gloss, and brushed a few strands of loose hair from her face. It was time. *** Excerpt from THE GIRL IN THE MAZE by R. K. Jackson. Copyright 2025 by R. K. Jackson. Reproduced with permission from R. K. Jackson. All rights reserved.

 

 

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About Author R.K. Jackson:

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R. K. Jackson

R.K. Jackson is a former CNN journalist who now works at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He is the author of two novels of psychological suspense: the USA Today bestseller The Girl in the Maze and its sequel, Kiss of the Sun, both originally published by Penguin Random House.

Catch Up With R. K. Jackson:

RandalJackson.com Amazon Author Profile Goodreads BookBub – @RKJackson Instagram – @randal.jackson1 Threads – @randal.jackson1 Facebook – @rkjacksonAuthor  

Tour Participants:

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Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and opportunities to WIN in the giveaway! Click here to view the Tour Schedule

 

 

Don’t Miss Out! Enter Now for Your Chance to Win!

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for R. K. Jackson. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

THE GIRL IN THE MAZE by R. K. Jackson

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Taming the Perilous Skies

 by Phil Marshall

 

Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 450 pages
Genre: Hard Sci Fi, Thriller, Political Thriller, Sci Fi Adventure
Publisher:  Phil Marshall
Release date:  Sep 12, 2025
Content Rating:  PG-13: There is one suicide (distantly witnessed), and there are F words, and 47 million people die, but very little gore and no graphic violence.

Book Description:

Everyone said the sky could never fall. They were wrong.

In the year 2076, anti-gravity has ushered in a new era of peace, prosperity, and worldwide collaboration. Powered by the scientific marvel known as Persistence, aerial vehicles now replace roads, energy comes from ambient particles, and the world’s nations are connected by open skies and their reverence for The Fabric — the timeless, interconnected thread of all particles, past and future, that not only powers anti-gravity but redefines humanity’s understanding of the presence of God.

But on an ordinary October morning, the impossible happens: passenger aerials start dropping/falling from the sky.

For Jack Woods, a national security official and devoted father, this tragedy is more than a historic anomaly. His son Erik was airborne when the world stopped. As aerials freeze mid-air across the globe like ticking timebombs and chaos erupts below/the death toll rises by the millions, Jack races to uncover what went wrong… and who may be responsible.

Meanwhile, Brian Medlock, the scientist who discovered anti gravity, prepares to leave this world only to be pulled into a political and spiritual firestorm threatening to unravel everything he built.

Blending science, political intrigue, and the primal human emotions that keep us grounded/connect us, Taming the Perilous Skies is a haunting look at a future world/ riveting journey through a world reliant/dependent on technology, and the people who must fight to save it/will stop at nothing to save it when it begins to unravel/falls apart. And how easily it can all fall apart.

Buy the Book:
Available for pre-order
release date: Sep 12, 2025

Amazon
add to Goodreads
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Meet Author Phil Marshall:

Phil Marshall is a physician, scientist, and AI technology entrepreneur. Taming the Perilous Skies is his debut novel centered on his theory of persistence and a passion for how technology can transform our lives, and how it can go terribly wrong.

connect with the author: website 


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A relentless thriller that explores the unbreakable bonds
that transcend time.
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What Goes Around

by Michael Wendroff

Genre: Thriller

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‘Relentless and gritty, Wendroff expertly weaves a narrative
that begs, “just one more page”.’ J.D.
Barker, New York Times bestselling author


EVIL HAS MANY FACES


Chilling murders terrorize a town and bring together two detectives to face
the hardest tasks of their lives. Jack Ludlum, who relies on his brawn to get
things done, is now paired with his archenemy, Jill Jarred, a brilliant
investigator with keen intuition. As they delve into the secret world of incels
and white supremacists, and conflict between local authorities and the FBI
rages, a media frenzy further complicates the mission.

Is there a serial killer on the loose? Or something entirely different? Will
the detectives’ clashing personalities be their undoing, or can they unite to
stop the killer before they kill each other?

What Goes Around is a
dynamic thriller that examines the intricacies of love, loss, and the
unbreakable bonds that transcend time. With its pulse-pounding pace,
captivating characters, and a revelatory twist that challenges the boundaries
of life and death, this novel will keep you hooked from the first page to the
last, and thinking long afterwards.


‘Starts off at a breakneck pace and doesn’t let up until it reaches its
unexpected conclusion.’ Lisa Black, New
York Times
 bestselling author of the Locard Institute thrillers


‘An adrenaline-fueled novel, the action breathlessly driven by two
detectives relentlessly pursuing the bloody trails left by a serial killer with
a dark sense of justice, deadly groups of white supremacists, and one lonely,
alienated boy caught up in the violence.’ Kathleen Kent, New York Times bestselling author

‘Fast-paced propulsive thriller that doesn’t let up – highly
recommended!’ Lori Brand, author

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**Paperback Paperback edition releases Oct 7, 2025 – PreOrder Now!**

 

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Michael Wendroff
is the author of What Goes Around, a
debut thriller published by Bloomsbury, which bestselling author Eric Rickstad
calls a “brilliant debut,” and bestselling author Lisa Black says, “starts off
at a breakneck pace and doesn’t let up until it reaches its unexpected
conclusion.” Plus, #1 bestselling author J.D. Black says, “Relentless and
gritty, Wendroff expertly weaves a narrative that begs, ‘just one more page…’”

The book was
inspired by what his mother said to him the second he was born: “Oh! How nice
to see you–Again!”

Michael has an MBA
in marketing from NYU, and was inducted into their Hall of Fame. He is a global
marketing consultant. He shares his time between New York City, Sarasota,
Florida, and Lake Garda, Italy. He is married and has three wonderful children.

His mother was an
editor (watching his mother scribbling in red ink on manuscript pages at home
on weekends prepared him for his own editor’s comments!). She remarried a
literary agent, so Michael was friendly with many authors, and even spent a
vacation with Robert Ludlum. Watching Ludlum hand-write his 450 page novels on
yellow legal pads didn’t dissuade Michael from trying to write a novel (though
he’s thankful for his PC).

What Goes Around was launched in the USA, UK, and Australia,
and foreign language rights have been sold in Italian, Japanese, and Hungarian.
The hardcover went through 3 printings, and now the trade paperback is
available (along with audio book and e-book).

Fun fact:
Michael’s great-grandfather was brought over by Thomas Edison from the
University of Copenhagen to work with him. He holds a number of patents,
including for plastic buttons. Michael proudly wears button- down shirts
whenever he can.

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Stalled Descent

by Kel O’Connor

 

(DAG Team Series, #4)
Publication date: August 25th 2025
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense, Thriller

A man forced to work for the enemy and a woman on the run from her past…

For years, ace pilot Archie McKinley has been living a double life. Now that his role as a mole within DAG has been exposed, he has one chance to make things right: take down Elliot Essa, the man who’s held him captive with threats and manipulation for over a decade.

To infiltrate the impenetrable Red Winter compound, Archie needs help from the team he deceived and the one person who truly knows him—Meret Shahid, his childhood partner-in-crime turned photographer. The girl who once earned the nickname “the Imp” in their small Iranian village might be his only shot at redemption. But Meret has her own demons from Red Winter, and returning to the organization she barely escaped could cost her everything.

As Archie grapples with guilt over his betrayal and his growing feelings for Meret, they must navigate new threats, uneasy alliances, and shocking revelations. The mission is clear: destroy Red Winter’s empire and free the innocent families trapped within it.

But the price of redemption may be higher than either of them is willing to pay.

This book is a full-length romance with a happy ending. It is part of a 4-book interconnected series where each book features a different couple.
This is a steamy romance for readers 18+

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Enjoy this peek inside:

The knock on her door had her glancing at the clock. Archie likely wanted her dinner order, even though it was a bit early. She opened the door before she considered her outfit. She’d changed into a tank top and loose shorts after lunch. For comfort. Which, of course, included ditching her bra.

Too late to turn back. She opened the door halfway and hid behind it as much as possible. Surprisingly, Archie walked a few steps into the room instead of remaining outside. When he turned to her, all the moisture in her mouth dried up.

Meret bit the inside of her cheek rather than moan out loud. Gray sweatpants hung so low on his hips, she saw the white elastic band of his underwear. A light dusting of dark hair curled across the top of his chest. There was none on his perfect abs and only a thin trail that began under his navel. The bruises from his recent fight were fading to a greenish yellow along the left side of his torso.

There were scars on his tanned skin, including a long strip across his shoulder, possibly from a knife. On his right bicep, there was a corner of a tattoo showing, but she couldn’t make out the design from this angle. Of course, he was still an agent, maintaining the top-shelf physical fitness that was required. Damn, he was beautiful.

Archie bit his lip, chagrin obvious on his face. He took a deep breath, shook his shoulders, and all the awkwardness fell away, replaced by steely determination. Meret swayed, mesmerized at the transformation. He held her gaze and this time, his voice was strong.

“What happened between us on the boat was good. But we can do much better.”

Shock held her muted. This was not what she’d expected, but oh, was it what she wanted. Her fingers flexed as electricity shot through her in anticipation. She tightened her mouth, loathe to say the wrong thing. Best to let him do the talking.

He continued, “I’m aware my experience and skills are lacking, but I’ve been studying.”

Her mouth fell open, and she managed a single word, “Studying?”

His slow grin was equally charming and sexual, even showing a hint of teeth. Her lungs shrank at least four sizes as she tried to breathe. What was happening? She was 90% sure she wasn’t dreaming. He was not only discussing her and sex, he had smiled.

His voice lowered, and she felt the vibration between her legs. “Yeah. Reading the sexy parts of romance books. I assumed it was better than watching porn made for men.”

Oh, dear God in heaven. Which books? Steamy, spicy, kinky? Okay, she’d gladly take any of the above, even if kinky was not her preference. Her nipples hardened until it was almost painful.

They both chuckled a bit, and he added, “Plus, there are actually helpful instructional websites. I only need someone to test my knowledge on.” His expression morphed to sincere. “Meret, you are the only person I want to touch me.”

Tears stung the back of her eyelids at his confession. What courage it took for him to lay it all out for her. She was honored, but mostly, she was aroused. His fiery gaze roamed all over her body, clad only in the thin tank top and short shorts. His growing erection became obvious under the loose sweats. She stood rooted to the spot in shock, so he moved closer.

He looked feral, reckless, slowly stalking towards her like a predator.

Why did she think he was reckless? Agents were never reckless. They always had a plan. And two backup plans, plus an “oh shit, everything has gone to hell” plan.

What was her plan? Meet him halfway, yank his head down for a kiss? Hold up a hand to stop him? Plot an escape? Oh, hell no.

Suddenly, she didn’t want a plan. It was time to live in the moment. He wouldn’t harm her as long as she held her heart back. Sparks sizzled along her skin, put there by the singular focus in his eyes. For this moment, she would join him in recklessness. Her anxiety broke free, and she waited for him to reach her.

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About Author Kel O’Connor:

Winner of the Pencraft Award and The Chill Award and a finalist for The Book Buyers Best Award, The Maggie Award for Excellence and The Carolyn Reader’s Choice Award, Kel lives with her family in the mountains of North Carolina. In addition to reading and writing, she loves coffee, loud rock music, subversive humor and the smell of old books. You can find her online on Instagram, Facebook and at keloconnor.com.

3 Random Facts about Kel:
* She will buy almost anything if it is a hot pink color
* She watches any and every show/movie about crime-fighting, spies, detective work or secret agents
* She and her husband once owned a humor store

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Ashes and Echoes

by Jo-Anne Van Gelder

 

Publication date: August 22nd 2025
Genres: Adult, Psychological Thriller

A missing friend. A locked estate. A note that says, I know what you did.

Three friends. One is missing. The truth won’t stay buried.

Mara hasn’t seen Elise in years—until a handwritten invitation pulls her back to the crumbling estate they swore they’d never return to.

But Elise isn’t there.
Her handbag is.
So is the daisy.
And a note that reads: I know what you did.

Now Mara and Jodie—the third in their fractured trio—are trapped. No cars. No signal. Nowhere to run.

The house is full of locked doors and old ghosts.
Every secret points back to that night.

Elise’s absence is only the beginning.

Some friendships end in silence.
Some secrets refuse to stay dead.

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PROLOGUE:

There were three rules.

One: Don’t ask questions.

Two: Don’t keep records.

Three: If something goes wrong, disappear.

Elise memorised them before she knew what they meant.

Before she understood what kind of house she lived in.

What kind of programme she had been born into.

What kind of silence the adults needed in order to survive.

They were never written down. Just repeated in whispers.

Embedded in routine. Hidden in the space between a closed

door and a too-long pause.

The files were kept in a box under Ian’s bed. Locked, of

course—but not well. She picked the clasp with a bobby pin

when she was twelve and didn’t breathe again until she was

fourteen.

Inside: incident reports, training forms, assessment notes.

Faces she didn’t know. Names she couldn’t place. Her own

wasn’t among them. That unsettled her more than if it had

been.

She never told Grace.

She told no one.

But she remembered.

Not everything. Just enough.

Just the names that seemed misfiled.

The dates that didn’t line up.

The symbols that kept reappearing—on files, in margins, on

lanyards and notebooks.

And once, scratched into the underside of a metal desk in the

old admin wing: a daisy. Faint, but deliberate.

She started drawing them, too.

On the inside of her sleeve. In the dust on her windowsill.

With steam on the bathroom mirror.

By the time she turned fifteen, she no longer trusted the

silence around her. She didn’t fear it, either. But she recognised

it for what it was—a tool.

On the night of her birthday, she wrote a single line inside

the fabric lining of her mattress, using the ink from a leaking

pen:

If something happens to me, it wasn’t random. And it wasn’t

right.

She drew a daisy beside it.

And smiled, like any other girl.

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About Author Jo-Anne Van Gelder:

Jo-Anne Van Gelder is the pen name of a Dutch novelist based in the Netherlands. Ashes and Echoes is Jo’s debut psychological thriller—a dark, emotionally layered novel about memory, guilt, and buried truths.

Jo lives with her partner, who is also an author, and their cat. She spends most days surrounded by books, coffee, and the quiet thrill of untold stories.

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Stranger Still

by George Ochoa

 

Publication date: August 19th 2025
Genres: Adult, Literary Fiction, Thriller

Paul Inster, a brilliant, insane Columbia college student majoring in English with an undisclosed minor in knives, is in love with graduate student, Tracy Iridio. Seeing her in the library every day, he mistakenly believes she is in love with him and that she is a goddess, Teresa. In fact, the two have never met, and she does not know who he is. When, for the first time, he sees her with her boyfriend, classical history professor Larry Post, Paul sets out to destroy Larry via a campaign of terror. As the campaign mounts, Larry, mystified, tries to figure out who is attacking him and why. Through a series of surprises and confusions, the campaign escalates to murder.

Stranger Still is both a thriller and a literary novel, combining suspense and violence with rich language, webs of cultural allusions, and themes of love and madness.

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Teresa and I often made love, though never in the flesh. To this day the psychiatrists will scrutinize such a statement as if it meant something other than what it plainly says, as if it were the telltale boil of some rare mental pox that might explain the blood spills photographed by the police. But these doctors do not understand love, optics, metaphysics, error, or even good taste. As far as flesh went, I never touched or even talked to Teresa, not until our moral decline had already begun. Before then, seeing the chaste tables that divided us in the Columbia library less than a decade ago, in the middle years of the 1990s, you might have thought Teresa and I were strangers, that she didn’t know I was alive.

I first saw her early in my junior year, a new female sitting several tables away in the Burgess-Carpenter reading room on the fourth floor of Butler Library. She seemed at first like any other of the pretty women on campus whom I liked to ogle and who regarded me as if I were invisible. But the more I stared at her, the more she particularly interested me. A pile of books rested near her elbow on the blond pine table, her head bent with rapt attention over her open book. Hazy September sunlight from the tall windows bathed her small breasts in her magenta top, made the white skin of her forearms glow. Her dark-brown hair was long and luxuriant, her neck long, her face shaped like that of a Raphael Madonna. But what captured me most were her eyes—large, sad eyes, ringed with mauve circles as if she hadn’t slept well. Why was she sad? Was there something I could do to make her happier?

We sat like that for a long time, she near the east end of a table in the back, never noticing me, while I shot frequent glances at her from near the west end of the second table from the door. About twenty feet diagonally divided us, too far for me to discern her eye color, though I tried. Finally, she got up, gathering her books into a white canvas tote bag and walking toward the door. As her gangly frame passed me, I gave her eyes a good look and saw they were hazel, flickering elusively under their long lashes from green to brown to gold.

The thought of her big, sad, long-lashed hazel eyes kept me happy for the rest of my day at Columbia. Even when I boarded the downtown Number One train, the first of the three trains that every evening buried me back in Jamaica, Queens, I was still thinking of those eyes. But an hour and fifteen minutes in the subways will discourage anyone. By the time I left the second leg, the D train, for the final and longest leg, the F, my thoughts were turning dark. The train was crowded with smelly, loam-colored laborers imported from faraway continents, and me just one of the horde.

Most students at Columbia boarded, but because my family was poorer than that of the standard Ivy Leaguer, I was a commuter. Combined with my natural tendency toward solitude, this meant I had no friends either on campus or anywhere else. I longed to make contact with someone, anyone, but did not know how. Sometimes I just wanted to pet them—the young secretary sitting before me on the subway in vinyl jacket and glittery eyeliner—to touch her shoulder, her pulsing throat, and say, “I am here. I am lonely. Help me.” Sometimes I wanted to hit them—the goon in the Yankees cap. When I felt particularly desperate, I wanted to stab them. I had knives that would have fit that purpose, but I never took them out of the house.

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About Author George Ochoa:

George Ochoa’s first novel is the thriller Stranger Still. In addition, he has written or cowritten thirty-five nonfiction books, including The Book of Answers, The Writer’s Guide to Creating a Science Fiction Universe, The American Film Institute Desk Reference, and Deformed and Destructive Beings: The Purpose of Horror Films. His short fiction has been published in North American Review, Eureka Literary Magazine, Eunoia Review, Bangalore Review, and elsewhere. He is also the author of published poems and essays.

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Embedded by John Lansing Banner

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EMBEDDED
by John Lansing
July 14 – August 29, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

   

Synopsis:
DAKOTA JUDD THRILLER SERIES

  Jailed Army Ranger Dakota Judd is offered a life-altering deal from Jean Steele, an ambitious and attractive Black FBI agent. Infiltrate a White Supremacist prison gang while he’s incarcerated, then embed himself into their militia on the outside. Become the eyes and ears of the FBI. If successful, his record will be expunged and he can live a normal life. If he fails, he’ll wind up dead.

Embedded, the first book in the new Dakota Judd thriller series, features John Lansing’s trademark propulsive, page-turning writing style, with a tough but sympathetic protagonist. Accompanying Dakota are two powerful women: Aunt Billie, his tough-as-nails wingman, a retired female detective who makes sure Dakota stays alive as he rotates back to civilian life where peril awaits, and Jean Steele, Dakota’s FBI handler, who must thwart her romantic impulses towards Dakota, as one false move can cost her a career in the male-dominated FBI.

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Praise for Embedded:

Embedded hooked me from the start and it never let up. It’s a thriller brimming with unexpected twists, convincing characters and dialogue that rings true. And Lansing created one absolutely badass protagonist in his hero Dakota Judd.” ~ Dietrich Kalteis, award-winning author of Dirty Little War

“John Lansing is the king of page-turning thrillers and his new novel, Embedded, is a crown jewel. The book should come with a warning: Don’t expect to sleep until you finish the last page. It’s that good!” ~ Steven Manchester, #1 bestselling author, Ashes

“Dakota Judd is a fantastic addition to the pantheon of thriller heroes. Smart, resourceful, and realistic, he’s also a man of ethics. Lansing writes action scenes as if he’s been there himself, and the plot is straight out of the headlines. I highly recommend Embedded for readers who like a clever, action-packed read.” ~ Terry Shames, Macavity Award-winning Author of Deep Dive, second in The Jessie Madison Series.

“With Embedded, John Lansing launches his new Dakota Judd thriller series like an Atlas rocket. The story takes off with a bang yet still manages to accelerate all the way to the nail-biting climax. The characters are fully fleshed and nuanced, and the wild ride has more twists than a licorice stick. A must read.” ~ Craig Faustus Buck, award-winning author of Go Down Hard

“John Lansing’s brilliant new thriller, Embedded, showcases his razor-sharp prose and masterful plotting in a tense crucible of trust and deception. Dakota Judd is a riveting new hero I’ll gladly follow through this new series.” ~ Lisa Towles, Award winning author of Specimen and other thrillers

Book Details:

Genre: Thriller

Published by: White Street Press Publication Date: July 8, 2025 Number of Pages: 317 Series: Dakota Judd Thriller Series, Book 1

Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple | Kobo | Goodreads | BookBub

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Enjoy this peek inside:

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Chapter 1

Dakota Judd wasn’t a man who questioned decisions once made. He’d had more than enough time to dissect every moment of the incursion. He could’ve turned a blind eye; after all, it was war. But reliving the raid, in fractured dreams that continued to insinuate themselves into his waking moments, was a burden he’d carry for life. His action sure as shit created an unexpected detour. But with disciplined daily pushups, chin-ups, and laps, his body was still intimidating. He lived by the Ranger credo, “Further, Faster, Harder.” That much he could control. Life behind bars, he took one day at a time. Rangers were trained to expect the unexpected, but nothing could prepare him for what was in store from the woman who sat across the metal table from Dakota.

Jean Steele was an African American FBI Agent with high cheek- bones, chestnut skin, shoulder-length brown hair, who wore a professional navy pantsuit. She was an attractive woman, something not lost on Dakota. They were in the Greeley Federal Penitentiary’s visiting room designated for cops and lawyers. No cameras or recorders allowed. Steele removed her sunglasses before starting the interview, revealing sharp, intelligent, brown eyes that locked on Dakota’s. “So, Mister Judd…you’ve served six years of a seven-year sentence,” she said, glancing up from her notes. Dakota picked up the light scent of J’adore. The perfume his ex- fiancé wore. “And three months before your early discharge, having been granted early release for exemplary compliance with institutional regulations, you blow it all by stabbing a Black inmate in the thigh, severing his deep femoral vein, leaving him to bleed out in the weight- room, almost killing him. Dakota…you don’t look like a foolish man.” “Is that a question, or an answer?” Dakota’s eyes creased into an easy smile. He hadn’t had a conversation with a good-looking woman for a very long time, and was intrigued by her visit and up to the challenge. “In this case, it was kill or be killed,” he said matter-of-factly. “The man was out of his league, and I had no choice.” “They didn’t find a weapon on the victim.” “I left it in his leg. I’m sure it’s all in your report.” “The Federal paperwork is in process to rescind your early release.” Dakota was aware they weren’t only going to rescind, they were going to add two years to his original sentence, bringing the life-killing number to nine. “Why are you here, Agent Steele?” Dakota asked, cutting to the chase. “What did I do to deserve a visit from the Feds?” Steele held his gaze. “The government needs your help.” “Why the interest?” “You’ve had no gang affiliations since your arrest and conviction. That couldn’t have been an easy ride.” Dakota leaned back in the metal chair and let her talk. “The OC Wolf Pack are an anti-government white supremacist militia operating out of Orange County. We’ve been picking up chatter on the dark web and social media. The Wolf Pack may have a link to California Senator Jack Bradley, who’s up for re-election. “Bradley’s constituency leans heavily to the extreme right. He hides their bias like a momma bear protects her cubs. The Wolf Pack are crude. And even though they share similar philosophies with the senator they are to be seen and not heard. That’s where Blackfox Elite Protection fits in. We think Blackfox is providing the money used to fund Bradley’s re-election and a growing list of homegrown militias.” “What’s their MO?” “Blackfox recruits ex-military, retired cops, FBI, and guns for hire. It’s an elite private security force that has no compunction employing known felons. They’re supported by a group of wealthy right-wing patriots…their description. Blackfox is getting fat on government contracts, assisted in part by the CEO’s tight relationship with the senator who’s the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, to the tune of forty-five million in the last quarter.” Agent Steele had definitely piqued his interest. “Aren’t you gonna ask where I stand?” “If I thought you stood with them, I wouldn’t be sitting here. Neither would you.” Dakota didn’t argue the point. “Where do I fit in?” “We need someone outside local law enforcement.” “And outside of the FBI,” Dakota intuited. Steele nodded. “A few of our retired agents still have friends in high places. We’re aware of leaks. We need to shore them up. You’ve got the bona fides. Your skill set, your attack on a commanding officer while serving in Afghanistan. Your exemplary record before the assault charges, your silver medal. That, and now, stabbing a Black inmate three months before your release, should make you a rock star with the skinheads in quadrant-D. “We need someone to cozy up to the supremacists who have ties to the Wolf Pack in Orange County and a probable link to Blackfox, our main target. Best-case scenario, you infiltrate Blackfox upon your release, and deliver their plans.” “Why?” “The Alt-right’s first armed insurrection on the U.S. Capital failed, but shook the world. We want to shut these militia groups down before there’s a second attempt that succeeds.” “Why would I sign on?” “That’s up to you. The Army is about to rescind your pardon and add time to your release date for attempted manslaughter. When you get out…you’ll be handed over to the United States Probation Office, where they’ll dog you with years of probation and a host of rules that if not followed, will stack on more prison time. You’ll be living in purgatory.” “I don’t respond to threats,” he said without attitude. “We’re offering you a lifeline.” “I’m sure you’ll understand, Agent Steele. I’ve got trust issues with the government.” “I understand, and Blackfox will understand. I’ll be your handler. You won’t have to deal with the suits.” “You’re wearing a suit.” “I’ll have your back. Infiltrate Blackfox. Become our eyes and ears, and you walk away a free man. Your conviction, expunged. Pension reinstated. You can work, vote, get married, have kids. A normal life.” Steele pulled a contract out of her attaché case and slid it across the table. “How do I explain you?” “I work at your law firm.” Steele hands him a contact card. It read, Jean Clarkson. Associate at Peluso, Costa, and Litto, Attorneys at Law. “It passes the sniff test.” Not the way Dakota thought his day was going to unfold. “Take some time,” she continued. “Read the fine print. I already had a conversation with your representative, Joseph Peluso, and sent him a copy of the contract. It guarantees your future for services rendered.” “What did he say?” “He was inclined to accept, but wouldn’t give me a definitive answer until we spoke. Said it was your call.” “Sounds like Peluso.” Dakota Judd lifted the paperwork, maintaining eye contact, trying to get a read on this federal agent before diving into the contract that might just be the answer to his prayers. He held the life-changing document in his hands, but his mind drifted on the scent of J’adore. The contract was fifteen pages of legalese that protected the government from any liability in the execution of said agreement. Shorthand for: If Dakota signed the contract, he was agreeing to risk his life in service to the government. If successful in the mission, he’d have his life back. He’d be a free man with no one looking over his shoulder. If he failed, well, he’d be back in the slammer, or he’d be dead. Dakota straightened the pages, looked deep into Steele’s eyes, and nodded his assent. Steele handed him a pen. Dakota signed on the dotted line. “Good,” Agent Steele said. She slid the contract into her attaché case and pushed away from the table. “I’ll be in touch.” Steele started toward the door and then turned on her heel. “And Dakota…try and stay alive for the next eight weeks.” *** Excerpt from Embedded by John Lansing. Copyright 2025 by John Lansing. Reproduced with permission from John Lansing. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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About Author John Lansing:

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John Lansing

John Lansing is the author of six thrillers featuring Jack Bertolino—The Devil’s Necktie, Blond Cargo, Dead Is Dead, The Fourth Gunman, 25 to Life, and MIA, the prequel—as well as the true-crime non-fiction book Good Cop Bad Money, written with former NYPD Inspector Glen Morisano. Embedded is John’s first thriller in the Dakota Judd series. He’s been a writer and supervising producer on network television, and the co-executive producer of the ABC series Scoundrels, and co-wrote two MOWs for CBS. The Devil’s Necktie is in development at Andria Litto’s Amuse Entertainment, with Barbara DeFina attached as a producer.

A native of Long Island, John now resides in Los Angeles.

Catch Up With John Lansing:

JohnLansing.com Amazon Author Profile Goodreads BookBub – @JohnLansing Instagram – @johnlansingauthor Threads – @johnlansingauthor Facebook – @devilsnecktie

 

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EMBEDDED by John Lansing

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Protopia

by John Calia

 

Publication date: May 15th 2025
Genres: Adult, Dystopian, Thriller

America’s cultural divide turns deadly.

When lifelong friends Olivia and Alexandra find themselves in opposing camps, the bonds of their friendship are tested like never before.

Olivia seeks solace in a socialist utopia that promises protection and belonging, but at what cost?

Meanwhile, Alexandra chases freedom. But can she survive in a community with few, if any, rules?

As their worlds collide and tensions escalate, secrets and lies threaten to destroy the foundation of their relationship.

Can they bridge the gap between them, or will their differences tear them apart forever?

In this gripping tale of loyalty, adventure, and human connection, the stakes are higher than ever. Protopia is a thought-provoking thrill ride that explores the power of friendship in a world on the brink.

If you devour the complex characters of Emily St. John Mandel or the visionary world-building of Octavia Butler, you’ll be captivated by this latest masterpiece by the author of the Amazon best-seller The Awakening of Artemis.

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Enjoy this peek inside:

As she gazed out at the ravaged landscape, Olivia Fletcher felt the weight of her exhaustion like a physical force dragging her down into the dusty earth. Five years of constant strife—of strategizing and problem-solving, of rising and failing—had all taken its toll. She longed for a life of quiet contemplation, of peaceful days spent in a garden or a library, free from the constant din of conflict. But that life seemed as distant as a dream. The struggle between Cygnus and Elyria showed no signs of abating, and Olivia’s skills as a mediator and leader were still desperately needed. She felt like a worn-out tool, perpetually called upon to fix the unfixable, to bridge the unbridgeable gaps between sworn enemies.

And yet, despite her fatigue, Olivia couldn’t shake the feeling of inadequacy that had haunted her for so long. Was she truly making a difference, or was she just a band-aid on a bullet wound? Did she have the strength and wisdom to bring peace to this shattered world, or was she just a fraud waiting to be exposed? The doubts swirled in her mind like a toxic fog, threatening to consume her at any moment.

As the war drums beat louder, Olivia knew she couldn’t afford to indulge in her uncertainty. She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and stepped forward into the fray once more. But the questions lingered, echoing in her mind like a whispered mantra: What if I’m not enough? What if I fail? What if…?

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About Author John Calia:

A Brooklyn-born, recovering businessman, John Calia has been a naval officer, banker, entrepreneur and consultant. He began writing his blog “Who Will Lead?” in 2010 attracting more than 115,000 readers. The five-star rating of his first book – a business fable titled “The Reluctant CEO: Succeeding Without Losing Your Soul” – inspired him to keep writing. His fascination with artificial intelligence and its impact on society inspired him to write “The Awakening of Artemis.”

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