Zero Drop

An AJ Docker and Banshee Thriller #7

by Gary Gerlacher

"The people who did this are dead men walking."

ER doctor AJ Docker wanted a quiet day on the water. Instead, he and his retired police dog, Banshee, become first responders when a nearby boat explodes off the coast of San Diego. Two dead Navy SEALs and one mysterious female survivor turn an ordinary rescue into a murder investigation with national-security stakes.

The survivor vanishes before police can question her, and AJ soon finds himself caught between detectives, covert operators, and a growing terrorist threat. As the body count rises, AJ and his friend Rick are drawn deeper into a labyrinth of classified missions, revenge, and betrayal. The truth behind the killings reaches far beyond the marina, and Doc and Banshee won't rest until they stop the killer.

Fast, sharp, and packed with tactical action, medical realism, and canine heroics, Zero Drop throws AJ and Banshee into one of their most explosive cases yet.

268 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication December 3, 2026

Reviews

[Karen K Brees]

A.J. Docker and Banshee are back, and this time, along with the local police, they’ve managed to include the Navy Seals, the FBI, a congressman intent on career advancement, a young woman who seems to be on the run, and, oh yes, a new Jihadist movement to sweeten the pot. The story begins with a bang. Literally. What starts out as a normal fishing trip goes sideways when another boat explodes and it turns out the bodies pulled from the sea didn’t drown or get blown to smithereens in the explosion. No. This is Docker we’re talking about. The men were shot. And they weren’t just ordinary men. These guys were SEALS, and that makes things personal. It’s a wild romp of a tale, and when the body count increases, Docker decides to do some sleuthing on his own. If there’s trouble to be gotten into, Docker will find it, and what he learns may cost him his life.



Karen K. Brees, Amazon #1 best-selling author of The WWII Adventures of MI6 Agent Katrin Nissen series and The Esposito Family Chronicles.

[Gail Olmsted]

I was thrilled to read an advance copy of ZERO DROP: an AJ Docker and Banshee Thriller. Having loved the first six books in the series, I was very familiar with the main characters. That being said, Gerlacher managed to keep the characters fresh with page-turning adventures, and an awesome mix of medical drama, crime fiction, and an authentic military storyline. A couple of new characters added intrigue, especially Lexie, a multi-faceted woman with a checkered past. Oh, and the San Diego setting was superb!

[Lucille Guarino]

In the AJ Docker series, readers expect immediate immersion into the story, and Zero Drop does not disappoint. This story takes place in San Diego, a key area in the SEALS' operations, and the setting for the unfolding plot to assassinate them.

I loved the story's layers and details, which made it interesting to learn about the different medical crises ER doctors face, alongside the intricate plot.

The series gains even more heart with the exceptional Banshee and newcomer Zero—a truly fascinating K-9 duo. Don’t miss this one!

[Christy Cooper-Burnett]

Zero Drop is another great installment in the AJ Docker and Banshee series by Gary Gerlacher.
Banshee finds a new friend as Doc pursues killers with their sights on a group of Navy Seals.

As always, great characters and a fast-paced storyline make this an exciting read. Zero Drop is a quick, easy read with enough action to keep you engaged. another highly recommended read from this author.