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Embedded: a Dakota Judd Novel

Embedded by John Lansing

 

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Embedded


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.

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

Read an excerpt of Embedded:

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.

 

Author of Embedded 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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The Astrology House: Debut Suspense

The Astrology House, by Carinn Jade

Author Interview + Book & Author Info + Author Pet Corner!Don’t miss any ITW Debut Author interviews! Click the link here.The Astrology House

A group of wealthy Manhattanites visit an astrology-themed hotel, where simmering resentments and long-held secrets lead to a shocking death in this fresh, twisty, and suspenseful debut that “welcomes an incredible new talent to the world of domestic suspense” (Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author).

Margot needs a minute. She’s been working eighty-hour weeks as a newly minted partner at her law firm. She’s disconnected from her brother, the only family she has left. And she’s still not pregnant after years of trying.

Stars Harbor Astrological Retreat promises rest, relaxation, and wisdom for Margot and her friends. With Instagram-worthy views and nightly astrology readings in an impeccably restored waterfront Victorian house, this resort should be the ultimate getaway.

For Margot’s brother, Adam, it’s the perfect opportunity to invigorate his romantic life and inspire his writing. But his wife, Aimee, hides the darkness of her past with a beautiful social media feed. Their friend, Farah, is a successful doctor who cannot admit that she’s losing control.

Yet no one holds a greater secret than their astrologer host, Rini. She has a plan for her guests, and one of them won’t be leaving Stars Harbor alive.

Deliciously twisty, The Astrology House is “a page-turning story of redemption, secrets, and seeking the answers we need in the space between right and wrong” (Ashley Audrain, New York Times bestselling author).

 

Purchase your copy of Carinn Jade’s debut novel at: Simon & Schuster.The Astrology House Author Interview with Carinn JadeThe Astrology House focuses on a group of wealthy Manhattanites. You also live in New York City. What is your NYC like? What do you love/hate/find fascinating about that remarkable, but challenging place: 

What a fantastic description of New York City!

And that’s what I love/hate/find fascinating — NYC is everything all wrapped into one. I love how you can walk a mile and cross through three completely distinct areas with their own flavor and feel. It’s a wild place, but it’s home to me!

 

The Astrology House takes place in an astrology-themed hotel. Where did the idea for that setting come from?

I had an idea for an astrologer who is seeking revenge, but I couldn’t conceive how she could keep her client trapped before and after a reading. Separately, I had the idea for a brother and sister going away on vacation together to honor the anniversary of their parents deaths. Somehow, the two threads came together and the story took off!

 

Tell us about the road to publication for The Astrology House:

The road to publication was a long one for me. When my daughter was born, she came with a panicked feeling that I wasn’t living my life in the way I wanted — which was as a writer. So with two small children and a full-time job, I wrote a rom-drama. I queried and got an agent, but no editors bought the manuscript. I had no idea that was possible! I thought it meant I was not meant for publishing so I gave up. I gave up pursuing publishing quite a lot in ten years, but I could never stop writing. 

 

The characters in The Astrology House interact with social media. What do you enjoy and not enjoy about social media? How do you feel about it overall?

What a great question! Aimee is an mom-influencer and she uses social media as a filter to show only the best parts of her life. That fantasy bleeds into her real life and she develops a huge blind spot for the things that are happening — good and bad — in front of her face.

I enjoy scrolling through social media, seeing beautiful things and having a laugh, but I hate the way it can rob me of time. 

 

You are also a lawyer and cohost of the Pop Fiction Women podcast and author of essays. How do all those pieces fit together for you? Do they inform each other?

I am not currently practicing law, but I can’t seem to stop writing characters who are miserable lawyers!

As for the podcast, I am obsessed with writers and women centered entertainment and I knew I could talk about them for years, week after week. It serves as a great bridge for me to hone what I want to say in my novels. 

 

What are you working on now?

I recently finished edits on Book 2 which will be out next summer!! It’s another vacation suspense, this time featuring a famous actress, a lawyer grappling with motherhood, and an island with secrets.

 

Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:

It takes a lot of courage to make your dreams come true.

Author Pet Corner!

 

 

 

 

The Astrology House Author Carinn Jade

Carinn Jade is a lawyer, writer, and cohost of the Pop Fiction Women podcast.

Her essays have been published in The New York Times, DailyWorth, and Motherwell.

She has attended the GrubStreet Novel Generator, Yale Writers’ Conference, and the Northern California Writers’ Retreat.

Carinn grew up on the North Fork of Long Island and lives with her family in New York City. The Astrology House is her first novel.

Follow her author journey on Instagram.Elena Hartwell/Elena Taylor

Header image from Pixabay

 

 

 

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Like Driftwood On The Salish Sea

Like Driftwood On The Salish Sea by Richard I Levine

 

 
Author Guest Post + Book & Author Info + An Excerpt!
 
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Like Driftwood On The Salish Sea

A story of undying love, forgiveness, and second chances…

When they met in the fourth grade, it was love at first sight for Mitchell Brody and Jessica Ramirez. He was the freckle-faced kid who stood up for her honor when he silenced the class bully who’d been teasing her because of her accent. She was the new kid whose family moved to San Juan Island, Washington, from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and whom Mitch had thought was the most beautiful girl in the world.

She was his salvation from a strict upbringing. He was her knight in shining armor who had always looked out for her. Through the many years of porch-swinging, cotton-candied summer nights, autumn harvest festivals, and hand-in-hand walks planning for the ideal life together, they were inseparable…until 9/11, when the real world interrupted their Rockwell-esque small town life, and Mitch had joined the Marine Corps.

This is not just the story of a wounded warrior finally coming home to search for the love, and the world he abandoned twenty years before. It is also the story of a man who is seeking forgiveness and a way to ease the pain caused by every bad decision he’d ever made. It’s the story of a woman who, with strength and determination, rose up from the ashes of a shattered dream; but who never gave up hope that her one true love would return to her. As she once told an old friend: “Even before we met all those years ago, we were destined to be together in this life, and we will be together again, because even today we’re connected in a way that’s very special, and he needs to know about it before one of us leaves this earth.”

Praise for Like Driftwood On The Salish Sea:

“Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea is a powerful, emotional rollercoaster that captures readers from the beginning and takes them on a journey of love, loss, and redemption. This may only be author Richard I. Levine’s second foray into the romance genre, but he has a remarkable talent for evoking story arcs and emotional dramas that will tug at readers’ heartstrings… I love discovering talented authors, and I will definitely be checking out more of this author’s work. This is a fantastic read and one I highly recommend.”
~ Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers’ Favorite 5-STARS!

“It isn’t easy to edit when you’re crying, let me tell you! But I’m not complaining! This was so beautiful and emotional. It really struck a deep chord in me. It’s an impressive book, and I truly enjoyed it. Thank you so much for the opportunity (to have been your editor)”
~ Bryn Donovan

“Richard I. Levine’s Like Driftwood On The Salish Sea is a romance that goes way beyond the usual stuff and really hits you right in the heart. Forget just another small-town love tale—this one dives deep into fate, sacrifice, and how first love sticks with you forever. Levine’s writing is so spot-on that San Juan Island feels alive; you can practically smell the salty ocean air and soak in that Pacific Northwest vibe.”
~ Piaras, Amazon Review

“Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea by Richard I. Levine is well-written and engaging right from the start. It’s descriptive and pulls you in. It isn’t just a love story—it’s a contemplation on memory, time, and the resilience of the human heart.”
~ V.E., Amazon Review

Book Details:

Genre: Romance, Literary Fiction
Published by: Indie
Publication Date: June 1, 2025
Number of Pages: 396

Get your copy at: Amazon | Goodreads

Read an excerpt of Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea:

Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea

Seattle, Autumn 2021

Mitch watched the I-5 traffic stream by like duty-bound ants marching in neat columns on their way to another conquest. He had wanted to open the window, covered with many months of dirt and grime, but it would have taken a half-dozen requisitions and just as many months before the maintenance department would have tended to it. He didn’t care about gaining a better view of the endless procession of late afternoon commuters; he was hoping to get a better view of the sun setting over the Olympic Mountains from the vantage point of the eleventh floor doctor’s office downtown.

Whether it was from an office building or from the decks of a ferry plying the waters of Puget Sound, it didn’t matter to him. Simply seeing the sun wash over the evergreens once again eased his anxiety faster than the strongest pharmaceutical he’d ever been prescribed. And over the course of the past few years, he’d been prescribed more pills for more reasons than he cared to count. But he wasn’t concerned about any of that now. He was focused on finally getting home.

At times, he questioned the life-altering choices he had made or the ghosts he had been avoiding for so long. At times, he even wondered why they had that much power over his better judgement, or if, in the end, he had avoided them at all.

It had been many years since he had last visited Seattle. The city seemed so foreign to him now. The places he enjoyed on his rare visits: a University District music store he had loved for their extensive inventory of compact discs, a Pioneer Square sports bar within walking distance of the football stadium, and a waterfront seafood restaurant he had listed among his favorite places, were all long gone. Except for the Space Needle, the skyline was not how he had remembered. A decade or more of gentrification that had given birth to a collection of glittering glass-on-steel architectural masterpieces, could only distantly hide the once-vibrant intersection of First Avenue and Pike Street. No longer decorated with flower baskets filled with a colorful bounty, or teaming with hungry buskers distracting eager tourists heading toward the Pike Place Market, this, as with other downtown boulevards once bursting with a vibrance representative of all the city had been known for, now seemed soulless. Empty paper coffee cups danced across the pavement like tumbleweeds, while lifeless eyes peered from wind-tattered tents that shared the sidewalks with empty storefronts and growing mounds of trash. Save for a recollection of a few clandestine excursions, Mitch no longer had any interest in this place. He wanted to conclude his business and be on his way back to a world that was also nothing more than a distant memory: a world filled with blackberry, apple, and pumpkin pies cooling on windowsills in the warmth of a late summer morning, the Memorial Day parades led by a high school band, the volunteer fire department, and a collection of potbellied members from the local VFW, and the potpourri of Fourth of July barbecues, sack races, and firework displays lighting up the skies over a Rockwell-esque Friday Harbor. It was a place he had wrapped around his insecurities as if it were a goose-down comforter used to keep warm during a snow-driven winter storm, and it was the place he had avoided. Maybe going back and facing the ghosts of his past would be more painful and life-threatening than the physical wounds and emotional scars he’d sustained during his multiple tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet here he was, as if a few more tests and one more opinion might have produced the silver bullet that would have magically reversed every bad decision he made over the past twenty years during a self-inflicted exile.

For the tenth time in as many minutes, he glanced at his watch, then up at the wall clock for confirmation. He’s late again, he thought before becoming aware of the clock’s relentless ticking and noticing the long shadows cast upon the opposite wall. To him, those shadows resembled a life slipping away—a life he felt no more able to grasp and hold on to no more than he could grab and hold on to any one of those shadows—and it abruptly reminded him of one of the last times he saw Alex.

* * *

Iraq 2004

“Is that who I think it is?”

Mitch reflexively cringed then turned toward the sound of the familiar voice. “Alex! I mean, Captain,” he quickly corrected himself, in front of the squad of men in his charge.

“Holy cow, Mitch, what the hell! What brings you to Baghdad?”

“Besides an all-expense paid luxury vacation, courtesy of Uncle Sam?” He forced a smile, then dismissed his men before continuing. “My unit was moved over here in oh-three from Afghanistan…for the invasion. We’ve been doing a lot of probing for, you know,” he lowered his voice, “retaking Fallujah. I don’t suppose you have anything to do with planning that, sir?”

Alex surveyed his immediate surroundings before responding. “No one’s within earshot now. Even if they were, you can drop the captain and the sir nonsense.”

“I’ll take that as a yes…sir.”

“C’mon, Mitch, let’s not do this here.”

“Fair enough, Alex. You were saying.”

“I pulled a few strings to get some of the best recon units for a little fun I’ve got planned before we launch the main operation. And yes,” he winked and attempted a little levity, “I even asked for you.”

“Very funny. Let it be known that even over here, you’re trying to get me to do your heavy lifting. When are you ever gonna admit that if it wasn’t for my size, speed, and blocking ability, you would’ve never scored all those touchdowns in high school?”

“That was you?” He smirked. “I did pretty well in college without you by the way.”

“Yes, I’ve heard…constantly. No offers from the pros, huh?”

“I had more important business to attend to.” Alex patted his sidearm.

“Yes, I’m well aware of that too.”

“What, you think you’re the only patriot?”

“So, that’s what you call it!”

“Mitch, please. There’s a lot you need to know. There’s a lot we really need to discuss. Not here, though. This isn’t the time or the place.”

“I’ll give you that. So, moving right along, when did you get here?”

“I’ve been in country for about two months now.”

Mitch smiled. “That’s hardly enough time to get your utilities dirty.”

Alex ignored the dig. “Truth be told, it seems like I’ve been here forever. Anyway, I’ve been here long enough to have that kid over there waiting to do errands for me every day.” He laughed and pointed to a ten-year-old Iraqi boy waiting nervously at his tent. “Showed up one day outta nowhere and now he’s like my shadow. You’ve been up to your neck in this for how long now?”

“Since summer of oh-two. Afghanistan and now here. So, who is this kid, like your food taster or your house boy?” He studied the child with suspicion.

“Food taster?” Alex laughed. “He cleans up the tent, does my laundry…provides a little intel now and then. I pay him in MREs, which I’m sure he sells on the black market.”

“Smart little guy. Just don’t eat anything he brings you,” Mitch warned. “I don’t trust the locals.”

“You don’t trust anyone, especially me.”

“Well, it’s not as if you didn’t earn it.”

“I guess in your mind, at least until we have a chance to talk, I deserve that.”

“You do, but I’m serious about not trusting the locals, Alex. You never know who’s an insurgent or who’s been compromised.”

“Don’t worry, I checked him out. He’s a good kid.”

“Famous last words. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Well, anyway, you’re an intelligence officer, so I guess you know what you’re doing. After all, you made it through ROTC and all that other fancy training with your boyish good looks intact. I’ll bet the folks back home are proud of you as you rise through the ranks like a rocket.”

“Jealous?”

“Not one bit.” Mitch said defensively.

“Keep this to yourself…the real damage is on the inside.” Alex pointed to his head.

“I had heard that about you intel officers.”

“And look at you! Three stripes! That didn’t take you as long as I thought it would, Marine. At the rate you’re going—”

“Not me, brother. Except for burn-pit duty and having to get all those booster shots, I was happy just being a grunt. Only now I’ve got responsibilities like leading a squad on patrols. And on top of everything, I’ve got these guys who are just a couple years younger than us calling me ‘Pops,’ of all things.”

“Burn-pit duty, huh? I didn’t know they gave out Purple Hearts for sucking down toxic smoke. Does that stuff really get you stoned?”

“I almost wish it did. Sometimes that stuff made me puke up my guts like there was no tomorrow. I should’ve gotten those medals for that instead of playing dodgeball with bullets.”

“Yeah, I’m told everybody heard about that…front page of the paper back home.”

“Didn’t mean to steal your thunder.”

Again, Alex ignored the dig. “Next time you should duck and dodge a little faster.”

“Honestly, it was nothing. A couple grazed me, is all. Here…” He pointed. “Here, and over here. It’s no big deal. Anyway, how’d you hear about it?”

“It was in Jess’s last letter. She included the article. I hear you two have been corresponding.” Alex said, then looked for a reaction from Mitch. There was none.

“She wrote once. It was the first time I had heard from her since…anyway, she didn’t have much to say other than you were on your way over here. She asked if I could keep an eye out for you. It was only right that I respond. I told her I would. Nothing more.”

“That’s all anyone could expect.”

“Uh huh…by the way, how’s your little boy? Mateo, isn’t it? He must be getting big.”

“Like I said, we’ll talk…anyway, Mitch, I had already read up on your exploits.”

“You’ve been reviewing my personnel file? If I didn’t know any better, Alex, I’d say you really do have something planned and you’re gonna want me to carry it out for you.”

* * *

Doctor Lenkovich’s Office
The Present

“Did you hear me, Mitch? Mitch? Master Gunnery Sergeant Brody?”

Startled, Mitch hadn’t heard the doctor enter the room. “Sorry, doc, it’s been a long day…it’s been a long week.”

“Not a problem.” The doctor took a seat. “When I came in, you were talking to yourself. Can I ask what you were thinking about?”

“Nothing really…actually, that’s not true. I was thinking about everything you guys put me through the past couple months. Not just you or this place, but you know, all the tests, the paperwork, going through the process. I was thinking about getting out of here and finally getting back home.”

“How long has it been?”

“Far too long. I would’ve been there several weeks ago if I hadn’t been detoured to Bethesda and then Pendleton before ending up here.”

“You do know it was a suggestion to come here, right? A strong suggestion, perhaps, but it wasn’t an order. After all, your retirement came through and you were discharged. Don’t forget, you’re a civilian now, and I think it’s important for you to get established with a doc. It just makes sense, considering.”

“I know. Everybody here keeps reminding me. Did I tell you it wasn’t my choice to retire?”

“No, you didn’t. Was separating hard for you?” the doctor asked.

“Nah. I’ve had more than my share. It was time…I’m just trying to get used to it…” Mitch trailed off as the wall shadows once again stole his thoughts.

“Anyway,” Doctor Lenkovich said, “it’s just the corps’ way of taking care of one of its highly decorated heroes.”

“By forcing me out?” He snapped back as the flip of a light switch washed away the distraction. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to…anyway, I don’t think of myself as a hero.”

“Forcing you out? Come on, it’s a medical discharge. What choice did they have? Anyway, you’ll be happy to know they finally sent the rest of your medical records. You’d think that after all these years I’d be used to the red tape and inefficiency that’s inherent…I’m rambling, sorry. All those tests we ended up duplicating since you arrived here…let’s just say, in case there was any doubt…well, let’s just think of the whole thing as one more confirmation. Which is what you wanted, and what you rightfully deserved. I hope the past week with us hadn’t been an inconvenience.”

“An inconvenience?” He chuckled. “From being constantly poked and prodded, or having the unwanted attention because I’m some highly decorated…?”

“Both. Are you saying you didn’t want all that special attention?”

“Don’t get me wrong, I appreciated the above-and-beyond from you and the staff. Even got a couple of names and numbers of some very nice nurses. Even so, I’ve never been one for medals, parades, accolades, etcetera. No, not me. That was Alex’s thing. In all honesty, I hate the attention. It’s embarrassing and it makes me uncomfortable. Especially when so many others here don’t get half of what they deserve.”

Their eyes locked in an uncomfortable moment of silence.

“Luckily for you,” Doctor Lenkovich continued while jotting Alex’s name in Mitch’s chart, “there may be one more parade and then you can pack the uniforms, the medals, and hopefully the bad memories, and put them all into mothballs.”

“What?” Mitch looked confused.

“Mothballs…I guess people don’t use those anymore.”

“I know what mothballs are. What parade?” Mitch asked. “Whaddya talking about?”

“Didn’t anyone from your hometown contact you?”

“I didn’t tell anybody I was coming…well, that’s not totally true. I left a voicemail for one guy to meet me, but he knows not to say anything to anyone. So, I’m in the dark here, Doc.”

“Hold on a sec.” He skimmed through Mitch’s file. “Where’s that note? Here it is. Someone from the San Juan Island VFW post contacted the Pendleton base commander right after the news ran a story on you.”

“Recently?”

“Several weeks back. They mentioned that you were coming home and that you were being considered for the Congressional Medal. Is that true?”

“It’s news to me.”

“Anyway, they want to throw you a homecoming parade…wanted to do it the day you got back there. So, I guess that’s why this guy wanted a heads up on an exact day. I’ve got a number right here. Do you want to call them?”

“No…no, I can’t.” He shook his head. “And they can’t do anything if they don’t know when I’m coming. They don’t know I’m coming, right? You didn’t call them?”

“Why would I? It’s not my responsibility. Although if you ask me, a welcome home like that might be good for you.”

“It’s been a long twenty years, Doc, and I’m tired in more ways than one. I don’t want the attention. And before you ask, I don’t wanna talk about why, and I don’t wanna talk to the shrink about it. I’ve talked to enough shrinks. Hell, I don’t even wanna think about it.”

“Understood.” He continued to flip through the chart, stopping to review one page. “Mitch, if I may…I’m still curious. I suspect you weren’t thinking about home just now when I walked in because I overheard some of what you were saying. The duty nurse told me you had another restless night. You were talking in your sleep again. What were you really thinking about? If not home, then what? Who? Your friend?”

“My friend?”

“Alex? You’ve mentioned him a number of times.”

“Who, Alex? My friend? He wasn’t my…no, I wasn’t thinking about him.” Remembering the shadows, Mitch stared back at the wall. “Why?”

“Because I’m told you’ve had conversations with him, with this ‘Alex,’ when you’re alone, and you’ve yelled out his name in your sleep more than a few times, and…and I’m told one night it was as if you were trying to warn him about something. Mitch, I heard you mumble his name just now when I walked into the room. It’s okay to admit you were thinking about him.”

“Just as long as I don’t think he’s sitting right here?” Mitch winked and smiled at the empty chair next to him to see the doctor’s reaction.

“I did see that in your file too. It says here you’ve been told PTSD manifests in many ways. I do know from experience with other patients, any deep-seated guilt over the death of a friend can make a person believe the deceased continues to hang around. So, tell me,” the doctor looked up from the file, “has that been happening? Are you seeing him? Talking to him? You can tell me.”

“I was only joking, Doc…no, it hasn’t happened, and it never did happen, and it’s not happening now, so, I don’t know what the duty nurse thought she heard. And for the record, I was joking with the doc at Bethesda too. That was my mistake. She was one of those uptight types. I was only trying to give her a rise, lighten the mood. I can’t believe she put that in my chart.”

“A couple of times. I wouldn’t worry about it, though. If you say it didn’t happen—”

“It didn’t!”

“I’ll make a note of that. Okay, moving right along…”

“Yes, let’s. About those last few tests…you said there’s nothing new to report, right?” Mitch asked.

“Do you have anything new to report to me? Headaches the same?”

“No better, no worse.”

“Any more episodes of nausea?”

“Just the one time this past week. I think it was from the sausages. They smelled a little funny, now that I think of it. I actually thought I saw one move. Other than that, the food here is pretty decent.”

“You’re joking, of course, yes?” Lenkovich asked

“About it being pretty decent?”

“Moving on…any confusion? Memory loss?”

“No confusion. However, I do have some memories I’d like to get rid of.”

“Any visual disturbances, slurring of speech, issues with balance or muscle weakness?”

“No, no, no, and no.” Mitch said.

“Okay, then. The latest tests show everything’s the same: the blood work, the scans, your sense of humor, no changes…for now, anyway. However, if you start to notice anything different, like if you actually become funny, you let me know.”

“So…then…we’re all good, right? We’re all done then.”

“Mitch, we could do more here, you know? The rate that this thing…it’s unpredictable. There’s a procedure we can do, it’s relatively new and—”

“I know, Doc, you’ve told me already. I’m not interested, sorry.”

“Look, I can arrange—”

“Thanks, but I think we’re all done here. Trust me, I’ll continue to take all my meds as directed, I’ll call when I need refills. I’ll call you if anything changes, I promise.”

“In that case, please do me a favor? After you get home, after you get unpacked and settled in, had some time to yourself, looked up old friends, I’d like to have you come back here in a couple months and—”

He shook his head. “Not gonna happen. I’m really not interested.”

“Listen Mitch—”

“Please, Doc, I’m finished listening. It’s nothing against you. You’ve actually been the most understanding, the easiest person to work with. I just don’t wanna do any more…I can’t do any more. All my years in the Corps I’ve had people telling me how to live my life, when to get out of bed, when to eat, who and how many to kill, I’m finished with all of it. I’ve got a small farm and a small hardware store waiting for me up on San Juan Island. For far too long now, I’ve been…I’ve been dreaming about waking up to a rooster’s cry, frying up bacon and some fresh-laid eggs in a cast iron skillet for breakfast, and topping off my coffee with warm milk straight from the teat before heading in to town to help some poor do-it-yourselfer find an odd sized doohickey for his hot water heater; all the things I detested growing up, which I’ve been missing for more days than I can count. I wanna get my hair cut at Freddie’s barbershop on Spring Street, where old men in suspenders still read newspapers, smoke cigars, and solve the world’s problems over a game of checkers.”

“Sounds wonderful.”

“Wanna know what’s really wonderful? Sitting by the big stone fireplace in Jentzen’s Café on a winter afternoon, drinking Irish coffee with a hunk of hot beer bread slathered in strawberry jam. And all the while, breathing in the heavy scent of fresh cut spruce and fir draped all across the windows as snow flurries dust the sidewalks and people rush by to get their Christmas packages to the post office before closing time. Now, that’s wonderful.”

“It sounds like a wonderful life in Bedford Falls.” Doctor Lenkovich quipped in his best George Bailey imitation.

“What?”

“Bedford Falls? It’s a Wonderful Life? The movie…never mind. It sounds like a wonderful life, Mitch, and I can see I’ll have a hard time convincing you to come back here for any follow-ups.”

“I was away for a long time, a lifetime, and now time is my enemy. So, once I set foot off that ferry I am not coming back to Seattle.”

***

Excerpt from Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea by Richard I Levine. Copyright 2025 by Richard I Levine. Reproduced with permission from Richard I Levine. All rights reserved.

 

Guest Post from Author Richard I Levine

How The Story Comes To Me

 

I’m often asked how the concept of a story comes to me. Would you believe me if I told you that they simply come to me? It’s true. However, for me, there always needs to be something that opens the door to my imagination, and they always come in this order: The first is music. But not just any kind of music. It has to be music that vibrates at the same energy level. How do you know what kind of music vibrates at the same level as you? That’s easy. It’s the music that stimulates your imagination. It’s the music that takes you to places you’ve never been before. It’s the tune, the arrangement, the combination of instruments and the speed of the movement that stirs emotions from within you that you do not normally experience. It allows your mind to wander without reservations and without limitations.

For my newest work—which, by the way, never felt like work until the editing process started, (he said, then rolled his eyes), I was listening to a movie soundtrack when protagonist Mitch Brody, his situation, and the final outcome was instantly born. And each time I played a specific song from that soundtrack, Mitch’s personality and the details of his life developed. The same can be said for his lifelong soulmate Jess Ramirez, the town where they lived, and the life they lived together. She, of course, had her own music. And yes, there was even some wonderful scores that helped give rise to their lives as a couple. Music is magic. And like us, it vibrates and has energy.

The second is physical movement. For me that means walking. When I’m out walking, my mind is open and clear. I’ve walked for miles with no intention other than to get fresh air, sunshine, unplug from the grid, and to get my heart, lungs and every muscle possible working as they were meant to be. And while in the middle of a good three- or four-mile walk, the endorphins begin to flow, the intentional mind is on hiatus and the imagination goes into overdrive. My characters come to life. They reveal things about themselves that I would have never been able to consciously do. Secondary characters begin to introduce themselves and explain why they want to be cast in the story. LOL, they are literally auditioning for a part and guess what? Some don’t get a call back, but I do keep them in mind for another production. And, all this happens while walking.

But there are so many more benefits to walking then allowing your imagination to roam, such as: Gradually increasing lean muscle mass, burning calories, assisting with weight loss, increases heart and lung capacity, lowers stress levels, lowers blood pressure, Improves balance and coordination…I could go on and on. And with that said, it’s time for me to put on my headphones, log some miles, and who knows, the idea for the next novel may occur this afternoon.

Like Driftwood On The Salish Sea Author Richard I Levine

Richard I Levine is a native New Yorker raised in the shadows of Yankee Stadium. After dabbling in several occupations and a one-year coast-to-coast wanderlust trip, This one-time auxiliary police officer, volunteer fireman, bartender, and store manager returned to school to become a chiropractor. A twenty-five-year cancer survivor, he’s a strong advocate for the natural healing arts.

In 2006 he wrote, produced, and was on-air personality of The Dr. Rich Levine Show on Seattle’s KKNW 1150AM and after a twenty-five-year chiropractic practice in Bellevue, Washington, he closed up shop at the end of 2016 and moved to Oahu to pursue a dream of acting and being on Hawaii 5-O.

While briefly working as a ghostwriter/community liaison for a Honolulu City Councilmember, a Hawaii State Senator, and volunteering as an advisory board member of USVETS Barbers Point, he appeared as a background actor in over twenty-seven 5-Os, Magnum P.I.s, NCIS-Hawaii, and several Hallmark movies. In 2020, he had a co-star role in the third season episode of Magnum PI called “Easy Money.”

While he no longer lives in Hawaii, he says he will always cherish and be grateful for those seven years and all the wonderful people he’s met. His 5th novel, To Catch the Setting Sun, was inspired by his time in Hawaii. Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea is Levine’s first foray into the romance genre.

Catch Up With Richard I Levine:

www.DocRichLevine.com
Amazon Author Profile
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Winter’s Season: Cover Reveal

Winter’s Season by R.J. Koreto

Cover Reveal + Book & Author Info + A Giveaway!

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Winter’s Season



In 1817 London, Before the Police, There Was Captain Winter.

London, 1817. A city teeming with life, yet lacking a professional police force. When a wealthy young woman is brutally murdered in an alley frequented by prostitutes, a shadowy government bureau in Whitehall dispatches its “special emissary”―Captain Winter. A veteran of the Napoleonic Wars and a gentleman forged by chance and conflict, Winter is uniquely equipped to navigate the treacherous currents of London society, from aristocratic drawing rooms to the city’s grimmest taverns.

Without an army of officers or the aid of forensic science, Winter must rely on his wits and a network of unconventional allies. His childhood friend, a nobleman, opens doors in high society, while a wise Jewish physician uncovers secrets the dead cannot hide.

But Winter’s most intriguing, and potentially dangerous, asset is Barbara Lightwood. Shrewd, beautiful, and operating as a discreet intermediary among the elite, Barbara shares a past with Winter from the war years. Their rekindled affair is fraught with wariness; she offers intimate information crucial to his investigation, but guards her own secrets fiercely. Like Winter, she is both cunning and capable of danger.

From grand houses to dimly lit streets, death stalks Captain Winter. He must tread carefully to unmask a killer, navigate a web of secrets and lies, and perhaps, in the process, save his own soul.

Book Details:

Genre: Historical Mystery
Published by: Histria Books
Planned Publication Date: January 20, 2026
Number of Pages: 300
ISBN: 978-1592116898

Purchase your copy of Winter’s Season at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads

Winter’s Season Author R.J. Koreto

R.J. Koreto is the author of the Historic Home mystery series, set in modern New York City; the Lady Frances Ffolkes mystery series, set in Edwardian England; and the Alice Roosevelt mystery series, set in turn-of-the-century New York. His short stories have been published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, as well as various anthologies.

Most recently, he is the author of “Winter’s Season,” which takes place on the dark streets and glittering ballrooms of Regency-era London.

In his day job, he works as a business and financial journalist. Over the years, he’s been a magazine writer and editor, website manager, PR consultant, book author, and seaman in the U.S. Merchant Marine. Like his heroine, Lady Frances Ffolkes, he’s a graduate of Vassar College.

He and his wife have two grown daughters, and divide their time between Paris and Martha’s Vineyard.

To learn more about R.J., click any of the following links:

www.RJKoreto.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub
Instagram – @rjkoreto
Threads – @rjkoreto
Facebook – @rjkoreto

 

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WINTER’S SEASON by R.J. Koreto (Gift Card)

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Shadowed Witness: Romantic Suspense

Shadowed Witness, new romantic suspense by Angela Carlisle

Book & Author Info + an Excerpt!Don’t miss any blog tour posts! Click the link here.Shadowed Witness

THE SECRETS OF KINCAID

 

A haunting attack. A killer in the shadows. A protective love.

Murder–that’s what photographer Allye Jessup knows she witnessed as she departed her studio one evening. Waking with bruises on her neck and a foggy memory, she believes she survived an attack, but everyone seems to think she simply sustained a head injury from falling down the stairs outside her studio. Plagued by an undiagnosed health condition, she is torn between the haunting reality of what she may have seen and the possibility that her mind is playing tricks on her.

Without proof the other victim ever existed, Detective Eric Thornton can hardly declare the area a murder scene. Still, he adds Allye’s report to his already full caseload. But when new evidence surfaces to support her claims, Eric must stay one step ahead of a ruthless killer and uncover the truth before the suspect closes in on Allye again.

Praise for Angela Carlisle:

“Fans of romantic suspense, add Angela Carlisle to your must-read list!”
~ Lynn H. Blackburn, bestselling and award-winning author

“Make room on your shelves–this is a keeper!”
~ Jaime Jo Wright, bestselling author on Secondary Target

“Surprising twists and unfolding mysteries kept me turning pages until the end.”
~ Jerusha Agen author of the Guardians Unleashed series on Secondary Target

Book Details:

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Published by: Bethany House Publishers
Publication Date: July 1, 2025
Number of Pages: 336
ISBN: 9780764242519 (ISBN10: 0764242512)
Series: The Secrets of Kincaid, Book 2 (Amazon | Goodreads)

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

 

Click the Link to Read an Excerpt of Shadowed Witness Shadowed Witness Author Angela Carlisle

Angela Carlisle resides in the hills of northern Kentucky and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and The Christian PEN.

Angela’s debut novel, Secondary Target, was a Parable Weekly top seller and was included in the Library Journal Stars So Far listing.

Angela is an editor by day and prefers to spend her free time reading, baking, and drinking ridiculous quantities of hot tea.

To learn more about Angela, click any of the following links:AngelaCarlisle.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub – @AngelaCarlisle
Instagram – @angelacarlislewriter
Facebook – @AngelaCarlisle.Writer

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Fire Mountain: Romantic Suspense

Fire Mountain by Dana Mentink [image error]

 
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Fire Mountain


Elements of Danger

 

Fire rains from above as they fight to discover the truth and stay alive.

In the shadow of a threatening volcano, long-haul trucker Kit Garrido wakes up in her crashed big rig, unable to recall what happened or why she’s suddenly in possession of someone’s baby. Fiercely independent, she has to admit that perhaps this time she could use a little help.

As the threat of eruption grows, former cop Cullen Landry refuses to leave his cabin in the evacuation area, which is why he’s the only one left who can help Kit escape the crumpled cab of her truck. He doesn’t want to get tangled up in the mystery of the beautiful woman with an abandoned infant, but when he sees the bullet hole in the windshield and the bloody handprint on the interior, he realizes that he’s in this thing, like it or not.

When two armed men with ill intent approach, the race is on to stay alive, discover the truth, and find the baby’s missing mother–all while a deadly mountain rains fire from above.

Praise for Fire Mountain:

“Fire Mountain comes in hot! An eruption of taut suspense and a crackling romance that Mentink’s fans will devour. A real stay-up-all-night read!”
~ Jessica R. Patch, bestselling author of the FBI: Strange Crimes Unit series

“A masterful blend of high-octane suspense and heart-pounding mystery. Mentink delivers an explosive thriller where danger lurks on every page, with a volcanic backdrop that mirrors the simmering tension of this unforgettable story. Clear your schedule—you won’t be able to put this one down.”
~ Lynette Eason, bestselling, award-winning author of the Lake City Heroes series

“Dana Mentink is at the top of her game in this heart-pounding thrill ride. Danger explodes onto the page as Kit and Cullen fight to survive a volcanic eruption while relentless killers pursue them. An action-packed, gripping suspense, Fire Mountain will keep readers riveted until the end!”
~ Elizabeth Goddard, award-winning author of Storm Warning

Book Details:

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense
Published by: Revell
Publication Date: July 1, 2025
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 9780800746520 (ISBN10: 080074652X)
Series: Elements of Danger, Book 1 || Amazon | Goodreads

Get your copy of Fire Mountain at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | Baker Book House

Read an excerpt of Fire Mountain:

 

Fire Mountain Author Dana Mentink

 

Dana Mentink is a USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author. She’s written more than 50 mystery and suspense novels for Love Inspired Suspense, Harvest House, and Poisoned Pen Press.

Winner of two ACFW Carol Awards, a Holt Medallion Award, and a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award, Dana lives in Northern California with her husband.

 

Learn more at:

DanaMentink.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub – @DanaMentink
Instagram – @dana_mentink
Threads – @dana_mentink
Facebook – @dana.mentink

 

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Whiz Kid: Historical Fiction

Whiz Kid by the father and son writing team of Joel and David S. Burcat

Book Blitz!Book & Author Info!

 

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WHIZ KID, by Joel Burcat and David S. Burcat, transports readers to 1950 Philadelphia, where Ben Green, a decorated World War II veteran from Camden, NJ, is completing his senior year at the University of Pennsylvania. A gifted writer, Ben dreams of becoming a novelist, but the weight of responsibility looms large. His closest friend and war buddy, Stan Ledyard, urges him to join his father’s powerful advertising firm in Center City. At home, Ben’s wife, Debby, hopes he will choose the security of that job—especially with their first child on the way—and leave behind their cramped apartment above her father’s button shop in South Philly’s bustling Jewish market, “The Zibbiter.”

While committed to finishing his novel, Ben becomes entangled with Ilene Van Cleve, a wealthy and charismatic classmate who tempts him with a life far from his working-class, Jewish upbringing. As Ben navigates this crossroads, he encounters both blatant antisemitism and the subtler prejudices of Philadelphia’s Main Line elite, as well as the harsh realities of racial injustice.

A comfortable future in advertising, complete with Main Line mansions and country clubs, lies within his grasp. Yet, his in-laws quietly nudge him toward a more traditional Jewish life, rooted in family and community.

Set against the electrifying backdrop of the Philadelphia Phillies’ underdog run to the 1950 World Series, Ben’s journey mirrors the broader struggles of a changing city and generation. WHIZ KID is a stirring coming-of-age story about ambition, loyalty, identity, personal sacrifice—and the price of following one’s dreams.

“Strong in mind and spirit, this one is an entertaining nugget, a tempest of emotion, worth every second of your time.” —Steve Berry, NY Times Best-Selling Author

“Whiz Kid is a heartfelt historical novel about identity and ambition that recreates in vivid detail post-war Philadelphia, particularly post-war Jewish Philadelphia and Camden. In this remarkable homage to his father Joel Burcat has fashioned a beautiful setting into which he has set the sparkling gem, the manuscript of a novel that his father had left him…[A] loving, beautiful work by his son.” —Howard Langer, winner of the 2025 National Jewish Book Award (Book Clubs)

“Father-and-son writing team Joel and the late David Burcat have crafted a novel rich with Philadelphia history and a heavy dose of baseball…A fresh, heartfelt take on the American dream and the golden era of the national pastime.” —KIRKUS Reviews

Whiz Kid is available at Sunbury Press.Whiz Kid Author Joel Burcat

Joel Burcat is a master storyteller, delivering unforgettable novels driven by authenticity, intensity, and depth. John Lescroart (author of The 13th Juror) has said about Strange Fire that it “is complex and intelligent, deftly plotted and character rich.” William Landay (author of Defending Jacob) has said, “Burcat writes with an insider’s edge…A treat for thriller fans.”

His published shorter works range from thrillers about “the best beer I’ve ever had” to a middle-aged lawyer running off to Italy, jeopardizing the lives and careers of his young associates.

Burcat’s writings explore many facets of life, although he has a true fascination with unexpected twists. His characters’ reasons for doing things are as important as their actions. From the person lying in bed next to you to psychopathic strip mine operators, each has an underlying motive to be explored and revealed.

Five of Burcat’s novels have been published. DRINK TO EVERY BEAST, AMID RAGE, STRANGE FIRE (published by Headline Books), REAP THE WIND (published by Sunbury Books, Inc.) , and WHIZ KID: A NOVEL (published by Sunbury Books, Inc). They are available at bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble in paperback and electronic formats.

In addition to his fiction, Joel has co-edited the two pre-eminent books on environmental and oil and gas law in Pennsylvania. He co-edited  seven editions of PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL LAW & PRACTICE (Pa. Bar Institute Press). In 1999, the second edition won the Outstanding Achievement Award in the Best Publication Category in the annual contest sponsored by the International Association for Continuing Legal Education (ACLE).

He also co-edited the first two editions of THE LAW OF OIL AND GAS IN PENNSYLVANIA (Pa. Bar Institute Press). In 2015, the first edition won the Award of Outstanding Achievement in Publications in the annual contest sponsored by the ACLE.

Burcat grew up in Philadelphia. He lives with his wife in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the place that provides the setting for many of his stories.

Find out more on his Website.Whiz Kid Author David S. Burcat

David S. Burcat was a Navy corpsman in World War II, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (English Literature and Dentistry), and a proud son of Camden NJ and his adopted town of Philadelphia. He worked in advertising in the 1950s before returning to Penn to study dentistry. From the 1960s until his retirement, he practiced dentistry in Lansdowne, Pa. He wrote Match Point, the novella within the novel, in about 1950. He was a Renaissance Man and loved working on cars, reading, Philly sports, classical music, playing the piano, and his wife (Joel’s Mom) Jessie. His favorite drink was a Bombay Saphire martini with olives, extra dry, shaken, with the rocks on the side. He died in 1998. Whiz Kid- A Novel is his first published book. Dave was the father of co-author, Joel Burcat.

Elena Hartwell/Elena Taylor

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Murder She Wrote: A Body in Boston

Murder She Wrote: A Body in Boston by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran

Guest Post + Book and Author InfoDon’t miss any blog tours! Click the link here.Murder She Wrote: A Body in Boston

Jessica Fletcher has dinner with her old pal Harry McGraw and gets pulled into a puzzling murder case.

Invited to deliver a lecture at the Boston Public Library, Jessica Fletcher excitedly makes plans to see local friends. Naturally that includes dinner at Gilhooley’s with PI Harry McGraw. Harry excitedly talks about his latest client, the CEO of Cure All Pharmaceuticals, who’s received anonymous blackmail demands and wants Harry to identify the culprit.

Cookie, Gilhooley’s longtime bartender, also has something he wants to tell Jessica: he asked Harry to investigate his daughter Aileen’s boyfriend, who Cookie thinks is too slick by half, but now Harry is too wrapped up in this new case. While Jessica wonders how best to approach Aileen, the young woman stumbles into Gilhooley’s covered in blood.

She just discovered her boyfriend’s corpse — and quickly becomes the chief suspect in his murder!

Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston
Cozy Mystery
61st in Series
Setting – Boston, Massachusetts
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley (July 1, 2025)
Paperback Print length ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593820193
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593820193
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DHWR568QTo Purchase your copy of A Body in Boston, click any of the following links: Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Bookshop.org – PenguinRandomHouse The Joy of Writing Murder, She Wrote books by Terrie Farley Moran

 

Hi All, I am Terrie Farley Moran and I am one of the two current writers of the Murder, She Wrote series. The other is Barbara Early and if you have not yet had a chance to read her book, Murder, She Wrote Snowy with a Chance of Murder, I warn you not to miss out. It is great fun!

I have to give my parents credit for my love of reading which I suppose led to my desire to write. Books were a staple in my house growing up. I had a library card as soon as I could print my name. And the library was like a second home. I should give special credit to the librarians of the Fordham branch of the New York Public Library. They kept a lot of street kids (including me) out of trouble by taking the time to find books that would interest us.

As a youngster I found my love of mysteries through the books of the Golden Age writers: Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, John Dickson Carr, Ngaio Marsh, Mary Roberts Rinehart, etc. I think that the lack of gratuitous violence, bad language, and overt sex in those mysteries made them comfortable for me. With that reading background, it was natural that I became a fan of Jessica Fletcher the minute I watched the first televised episode of Murder She Wrote in 1984. And when Don Bain began writing the Murder, She Wrote books in the early 1990s, while the show was still in prime time, it gave me even more time to spend with Jessica.

You can imagine how elated I was in 2020 when the offer came for me to pick up writing the series at book number fifty three, Murder, She Wrote Killing in a Koi Pond. Although I had been a huge fan for all these decades, I wanted to be sure I got it right. I admire Jessica Fletcher for her strength of character and her clear sense of right and wrong. A strong need to discover the truth is central to her personality. It was so important to me to get her personality accurate.

Then there are her friends such as Doctor Seth Hazlitt, Sheriff Mort Metzger, the ladies in Loretta’s Beauty Parlor and so on. These and the other personal relationships developed along the way are core to Jessica’s life. They often may be helpful when a murder is committed and something one of them says leads Jessica to a solution.

One other thing I love about Jessica is she never ages. She remains completely timeless, while not falling behind. You will have noticed in the television show she moved from a typewriter to a computer and from a land line to a cordless phone. More recently in the books she uses a cell phone, and as a non-driver I am sure she has the app for Lyft and Uber. It also wouldn’t surprise me to find out she does video conferencing. Jessica keeps up with the times.

And I am delighted to tell you that in Murder, She Wrote A Body in Boston, Jessica travels to Boston to do a presentation at the Central Library on Copley Square. Her friend Seth Hazlitt comes along to hear a medical colleague of his present a paper at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. And part of Jessica’s plan is to meet up with old friend Harry McGraw at his favorite Boston hangout, Gilhooley’s. And all goes well—until it doesn’t.

 

Meet the Authors: Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley MoranTerrie Farley Moran

Terrie Farley Moran is the bestselling author of the Read ‘Em and Eat cozy mystery series, including the Agatha Award-winning Well Read, Then Dead. Along with Jessica Fletcher, she co-writes the Murder She Wrote mystery series. She also co-writes the Scrapbooking Mysteries with Laura Childs.

Terrie’s short mystery fiction has been published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Mystery Weekly, and numerous anthologies. “A Killing at the Beausoleil” was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Short Story. “Inquiry and Assistance” received the Derringer Award for Best Novelette.

Find out more about the authors:  Webpage, Facebook Visit all the Stops on the Tour!

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

June 30 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

June 30 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

July 1 – Infinite House of Books – SPOTLIGHT

July 2 – The Mystery of Writing – AUTHOR GUEST POST

July 3 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

July 5 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

July 5 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

July 6 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

July 7 – Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW

July 7 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR GUEST POST

July 8 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

July 9 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

July 9 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

July 10 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

July 11 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

July 11 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW  

July 12 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

July 12 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

July 13 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

July 13 – Bigreadersite – REVIEW

July 14 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

Elena Hartwell/Elena Taylor

The post Murder She Wrote: A Body in Boston appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

Party of Liars: A Debut Thriller

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox

Author Interview + Book & Author Info + Author Pet Corner!Don’t miss any ITW Debut Author interviews! Click the link here.Party of Liars

A lavish, Texas-sized Sweet Sixteen turns deadly in this twisty, pulse-pounding new novel ― serving up a fresh take on a classic locked-room whodunnit. Let the festivities begin…

Today is Sophie Matthews’s sixteenth birthday party, an exclusive black-tie bash in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, where secrets are as deep-rooted as the sprawling live oaks. Sophie’s dad has spared no expense, and his renovated cliffside mansion―once thought haunted and shuttered for years from outsiders―is now hosting the event of the season. Then, just before the candles on the three-tiered red velvet cake are blown out, a body falls from the balcony onto the starlit dance floor below.

It’s a killer guest list . . .

DANI: Sophie’s new stepmother who’s been plagued by self-doubt ever since the birth of her own baby girl

ÓRLAITH: the superstitious Irish nanny who senses a looming danger in this cavernous house

MIKAYLA: the birthday girl’s best friend who is not nearly as meek as the popular kids assume

KIM: the cunning ex-wife who has a grudge she can’t let go of . . .

Everyone is invited in. Not everyone will get out alive.

“My favorite kind of thriller – fun, twisty, fast-paced, and populated by characters who feel so real you’ll want to invite them (well, some of them) to your next party.” – New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins

“I couldn’t put it down!” – New York Times bestselling author Nina Simon

“Explodes from page one.” – Bestselling author Amanda Eyre Ward

“This is the thriller of the summer.” – Bestselling author Katie Gutierrez

Find all of the purchase links for Party of Liars here.Interview with Party of Liars Author Kelsey Cox

Party of Liars is set in the Texas Hill Country. Tell us about that environment and the role it plays in the novel.

Yes, Party of Liars is set in Bulverde, which is the small town outside San Antonio, where I live and a place that is very close to my heart.

The landscape of the Texas Hill Country is beautiful, hills rising in the distance, dotted with giant homes that spark the imagination (what would it be like to live so high up there?). Roads cut dramatically through solid limestone, forming these sharp cliffsides. But there is also a hint of the wild and the dark that feels very Gothic to me, the twisting live oaks, the scrubby cedars, the wild deer and armadillos, who look almost pre-historic, the sounds of chirping insects and frogs, and the scorpions no one can seem to fully keep out of their homes.

For me, it was the perfect setting for a locked-room whodunnit: the balance of the beautiful with an undercurrent of dread. 

 

Party of Liars centers on a sweet sixteen birthday party, where things go very awry. What made you choose that life event to launch this story?

Party of Liars is told from the perspective of four women in different stages of life: a lovesick teenage girl, a new mother with postpartum anxieties, a bitter ex-wife, and an elderly superstitious nanny.

They came to me first. I knew who they were, what their secrets and grudges and fears and desires were, and I knew how their lives intertwined. I also knew I wanted to write the book at a single event, a single party. So, really, the Sweet Sixteen was a practical choice. It made the most sense as the event necessary to get these particular characters in the same room.

But there is also something so fun and over-the-top about a lavish Sweet Sixteen that I knew would be fun to write (and hopefully just as fun to read). 

 

Party of Liars incorporates wealthy characters and murder, what let you to write about that socio-economic stratum for your debut novel?

Who doesn’t love to read about rich people behaving badly? It’s why we devour Real Housewives-type reality shows, why tabloids are in every grocery store check-out stand, why White Lotus is so popular.

I think part of it is voyeurism and escape. We want to peek behind the curtain (or use our binoculars to peer up through the windows of that mansion on the cliffside), and we want to feel what it is like to have all that wealth. It’s fun and it’s sparkly.

But also, behind any closed door, I believe people are human. They deal with the same problems, and there is something satisfying in that equaling. Also, not all of the characters in Party of Liars are wealthy. There’s a bit of Upstairs, Downstairs to it, and that dynamic creates tension.

Lastly, the more a person has to lose, the higher the stakes are, and the more dangerous they can become. 

 

You have an MFA in fiction from Purdue University. How did that program assist in writing your first novel and navigating the publishing industry? (or not!)

Party of Liars is my publishing debut, but it isn’t the first book I’ve written. I wrote my first full novel back in high school (a million years ago).

The novel I wrote for my MFA thesis was the first one I queried, but it wasn’t the book that landed the agent. So, I don’t think my MFA helped me to get published, at least not in a direct sense, and I don’t think an MFA is in any way a pre-requisite for publication.

In fact, I needed to un-learn a bit of what I had learned in my MFA program, which focused so much on the literary genre and the short story form. I needed to learn about the thriller genre by reading, and learn how to write novels by writing them.

But I will always be grateful to my MFA program because it widened and elevated my taste. I was exposed to writers and novels that I wouldn’t have otherwise been, and I learned from professors who are brilliant writers themselves, and it taught me a lot about character-driven writing and sharp prose. The authors that I love to read blend genre fiction with literary prose, and I hope to follow in their footsteps. I believe my time at Purdue helped to put me on that path. 

 

What are you reading right now?

I’m always reading two things (a physical book and an audiobook). Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier. I’m a huge Rebecca fan, and I’m trying to get through her entire catalogue.

And Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent, because I read one Liz Nugent book last year, and now I need to devour them all. 

 

What are you working on now?

Book Two! And I’m under deadline, which is a whole new experience.

I recently turned in my first draft and am now in the middle of re-writes. I don’t know how much I’m allowed to say, but I will say that it is another glamorous locked-room thriller set in the Texas Hill Country with plenty of sequins, secrets, and complicated women. 

 

Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers:

Write the book you absolutely want to read, the one that would keep you turning pages at night, that would make you laugh or cry or shatter into a million pieces.

Then be honest with yourself in revision. If you picked up this book, what would you think? Would you find the pacing slow? Would you think the prose was lacking? Would you care about the characters? Then work on those things until it would be your five-star book. And most importantly, make time for it every day (or nearly).

Show up, even when the words feel like pulling teeth. Show up, even when you produce nothing. Just keep showing up. 

Great Advice!

 

Author Pet Corner!Kirby!

Kirby is named after Jack Kirby, the influential comic book artist, and he loves lying in different spots around the house and going on long meandering walks around the neighborhood while I solve plot holes in my head.

 

 

 

 

 

Party of Liars Author Kelsey Cox

Kelsey Cox received her MFA in fiction from Purdue University and works from home in the Texas Hill Country.

You can often find her writing at the Mammen Family Public Library, chasing around her two young daughters, or watching British mysteries with her mom and aunts.

On nights when bedtime goes as planned, she enjoys curling up on the sofa, glass of wine in one hand and a book with complicated characters and a killer twist in her lap.

Follow Kelsey’s author journey: Facebook and Instagram.

 

 

Elena Hartwell/Elena Taylor

 

The post Party of Liars: A Debut Thriller appeared first on The Mystery of Writing.

Burying Ben: A Dot Meyerhoff Mystery

Burying Ben, A Dot Meyerhoff Mystery by Ellen Kirschman[image error]

 
Book & Author Info + A Giveaway + An Excerpt!
 
Don’t miss any blog tour posts! Click the link here.

Burying Ben


The Dot Meyerhoff Mystery Series

As her police department’s newest hire, police psychologist Dot Meyerhoff has much to prove. No one on the force sees any reason to have a shrink on staff. When a rookie cop commits suicide, everyone blames Dot—even Dot herself. How had she missed the signs that he was at the end of his rope?

With her reputation on the line, Dot searches for answers. What she discovers is the dark underbelly of a police force that has no patience for a woman who asks too many questions. Determined to get to the truth behind the young officer’s tragic death, Dot risks losing both her job and her life. . .

Burying Ben is on Sale, June 23-29! Click Here and Start Reading the Series Today!

Praise for Burying Ben:

“A deftly crafted novel of compelling complexity,” this first book in the mystery series featuring cop therapist Dr. Dot Meyerhoff is “absorbing”.
~ Midwest Book Review

“Riveting, compelling and authentic! Ellen Kirschman’s been-there done-that experience makes this a real standout.”
~ Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today-bestselling author of The House Guest

“Psychological thriller writing at its finest.”
~ D.P. Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly series

“Highly satisfying . . . Perceptively treats complex racial, feminist, personal, and political issues while providing intimate knowledge of cops’ shop procedure.”
~ Publishers Weekly

“Gutsy and emotionally anchored in real life.”
~ Hallie Ephron, New York Times–bestselling author of Careful What You Wish For

“Ellen Kirschman is one to watch.”
~ Bookreporter.com

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery, Psychological Suspense, Domestic Suspense, Amateur Sleuth, Woman Sleuth, Police Procedural
Published by: Open Road Media
Publication Date: April 23, 2024
Number of Pages: 280
ISBN: 9781504094160 (ISBN10: 1504094166)

To purchase your copy of Burying Ben click any of the following links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | Open Road
Start the series here The Dot Meyerhoff Mystery Series, Book 1
The Rest of The Dot Meyerhoff Mystery Series




The Right Wrong Thing, #2
 

The Fifth Reflection, #3
 

The Answer to His Prayers, #4
 

Call Me Carmela, #5




Read an excerpt of Burying Ben:

From Chapter 1

It is a day of firsts. My first day on the job and my first dead body. Chief Baxter wants me to see it. His whole face is concentrated with the effort to make his point, as though he were explaining blood spatter analysis or the biomechanics of tasers. He is wearing gold cufflinks shaped like barbells. Short and barrel chested, he looks like a well-dressed fireplug. I can imagine him as a street cop, pugnacious and badge heavy.

“Don’t sit around your office and wait for cops to come to you. That’s why I’m giving you a car and a scanner. Get out in the field.”

He speaks in short staccato bursts as though he is transmitting over the radio, dropping any unessential words. A slight spray of saliva leaves shiny droplets on his desktop. He walks around the desk and stands close to me. I smell his pine-scented aftershave and mouthwash.

“This is why I have credibility. I make it my business to suit up and get out on the street once a month. I stay in shape. And I always carry.” He opens his jacket and shows me his shoulder holster. He is wearing “a custom fitted dress shirt that shows off the inverted triangle made by his broad shoulders and narrow waist. “Street cops are the lifeblood of this organization. The street is where I started. I’ve never forgotten that and I don’t want anyone else to.”

He leans against the edge of his desk, his arms folded over his chest. “I have a rookie on scene at a suicide. Ben Gomez. He’s been having trouble. Talk to his field training officer. See what you can do to help him. I’ve met the kid. Not my best hire, but I think he’s salvageable.” He lifts his index finger. “I’m putting a lot of faith in you, Dot. I’ve had a lot of trouble in my organization since I took over as chief. Some days I feel like Typhoid Mary. I’ve got four officers on stress leave and three on admin leave under investigation. No telling when any of them will come back to work. I have a small organization—seventy-five officers. I can’t afford to lose this rookie, too. It’s bad for morale plus my overtime budget is off the charts.”

He extends his hand to me. “It’s one thing to study us and write books about us. It’s another thing to hit the streets with us. You come highly recommended by Mark Edison. That says a lot. Most men don’t have much good to say about their former wives.”

He laughs a little too loudly. I wonder if he has an ex and, if he does, what she was like.

“So, welcome aboard. I know this is a tall order, but Dr. Edison said you’re the one for the job. Don’t disappoint me or him. Now, get in your car and get out in the field.” He opens the door to his office and shows me out.

As the new department psychologist, I am in no position to protest or to tell him that I’m scared to death because I’ve never seen a dead body before. Not even my father’s. What if I embarrass myself, faint or, God forbid, get sick to my stomach? I wonder how he expects me to suit up. Maybe I should put wheels on my “couch and tow it behind my car?

The radio traffic on my scanner crackles briskly, drowning out my thumping heart. Listening to it is a guilty pleasure, like eavesdropping. This is the best of two possible worlds, close to the action but at a safe remove– the unobserved observer listening to the breathlessness of the chase, the escalating octaves that betray fear, the barked commands, the unnatural calm of the dispatcher, and the final “Code 4” signaling that the short reign of terror has given way to hours of report writing and investigation.

I drive under a cool green canopy of old oaks. Light filters through the leaves dappling the street. Fifty years ago this old northern California neighborhood was considered the ultimate in affordable, architect-designed family houses. Now the current selling prices are beyond my reach and the reach of any Kenilworth cop, firefighter or schoolteacher. Neighbors are congregating in small worried clusters on the sidewalk in front of a uniquely shabby one story home. They watch as I park my car. I take ten slow deep breaths and step to the sidewalk. Spindly trees flank the walk that leads to the front door. The grass on either side of the cracked concrete path is brown and freckled with splotches of hard, dry dirt. The front door is open. I grit my teeth and walk in.

***

Excerpt from Burying Ben by Ellen Kirschman. Copyright 2013 & 2024 by Ellen Kirschman. Reproduced with permission from Ellen Kirschman. All rights reserved.

 

Author of Burying Ben Ellen Kirschman

Ellen Kirschman, Ph.D. is a police psychologist. and clinician at the First Responders Support Network. She is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, The American Psychological Association, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and the Public Safety Writers Association.

She is the recipient of the California Psychological Association’s award for distinguished contribution to psychology as well as the American Psychological Association’s award for outstanding contribution to the practice of police and public safety psychology. Ellen brings her expertise and decades-long experience to both fiction and non-fiction. She is the author of three non-fiction books and a five-book mystery series featuring police psychologist Dot Meyerhoff.

Catch Up With Ellen Kirschman:

EllenKirschman.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub – @EllenKirschman
Instagram – @ellen.kirschman.copdoc
Facebook – @ellen.kirschman

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