Ongoing/Upcoming Projects
Ongoing Projects
Scimitar Strike
Inspiration:
Twenty-six years as an active-duty Marine exposed me to a large portion of the threat domain. That experience has guided my approach to creating and teaching intelligence analytics courses these past sixteen years and inspired me to write. Scimitar Strike was further inspired by true events (the Iranian plot to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador (2011) and, more recently, the death of Qasem Soleimani (2020).
Book Quote:
“You must know”, said the general, leaning forward. “The man I sent to find you, the one that brought you to Mexico City—is a descendant of the Medieval warriors of Alamut. His ancestors were the Nizari Ismaili—the Hashshasin. In today’s parlance, they would be called assassins.”
Upcoming Projects
Soon to be released book
The Assassin’s Mace
The Assassin’s Mace is the second of a five-book series featuring FBI Special Agent Sean Roberts and the companion to Scimitar Strike. As the recently appointed deputy is acclimating to his new position, the FBI’s Joint Terrorist Task Force (JTTF) is responding to back-to-back attacks on the Nation’s capital. The threat horizon is about to expand exponentially.
Following the death of Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani, the Supreme Council for National Security of the Islamic Republic of Iran declared:
“We will hold the United States responsible for the consequences of their criminal adventurism. The U.S. shall learn the criminal attack against our beloved brother was the largest strategic mistake they could make. The consequences of this miscalculation will be devastating.”
The declaration referred to 13 revenge scenarios intended to avenge the death of the Quds Force general at the hands of the Americans. The dust had yet to settle from an assassination attempt against the Saudi Ambassador when Washington, DC, was again rocked by terrorism. An attack on the D.C. Metro has shut down the D.C. transportation system and shattered the confidence of the intelligence community. Meanwhile, Roberts and members of the JTTF are in a race against the clock to head off the most devastating of the scenarios—the Assassin’s Mace.
Next Book heading to the publisher in November 2024:
The Cruise Book
With an anticipated publish date of August 2025
25 October 2023 marked the fortieth anniversary of Operation Urgent Fury—the liberation of the island of Grenada. The Cruise Book commemorates the heroics of those who participated. The current-day narrative follows the Marines and sailors of the 22 Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) who deploy on the inaugural voyage of the USS John P. Giguere (a fictional navy ship), named after a pilot who sacrificed his life so that others could live.
The Cruise Book represents a running commentary of Marine aviator Major, Micheal Mitchell, as his squadron, VMM-261 (the successor to HMM-261 that fought during Urgent Fury) prepares for and embarks on the maiden voyage of the USS John P Giguere, across the Mediterranean, through the Suez Canal and into the Gulf of Aden, where VMM-261 and the 22nd MEU are called into action.
Much of the background is drawn from first-hand accounts by Urgent Fury participants and family, who are brought together and give testimony during the christening ceremony of our fictitious ship. The accompanying story reflects current geopolitical conditions, up-to-date military tactics, equipment, and force structure with many parallels to the events of October 1983.
The Cruise Book is a naval tradition that first emerged during the Spanish-American War. Cruise books captured the daily life and experiences of a ship’s crew. Navy squadrons adopted the practice with the advent of carrier aviation—Marine Corps squadrons followed. Cruise Books are informal publications assembled by the officers and enlisted members of the unit.
What’s next?
The Operation Lost Talent Trilogy
Will be sent to the publisher in June, 2025 for a release date in early 2026.
The year is 1985–The Year of the Spy. “Operation MECTO” was the code name given to the repatriation of KGB Mole, code name “ACOLYTE,” who had been operating from within the US intelligence services for several years, when FBI spy-hunter Robert James Thompson went missing. The FBI conducted a hasty investigation and dubbed Thompson as the ACOLYTE. Thirty-seven years later a new intelligence picture emerges, throwing doubt on the FBI’s Turnstile investigation. FBI Deputy Director, Phillip Restons Simms, who always doubted the Turnstile findings, orders the Thompson case reopened–except the new investigation has to take place away from the FBI and the gray beards, who have long held Thompson in contempt. KGB.” Supervisory Special Agent and Russiaphile, Sean Roberts is tasked with leading the Thompson re-investigation. Roberts’s hand-picked investigators are twelve newly minted FBI agents. The series begins with the repatriation of Robert James Thompson–takes a slight detour in the middle when the “Group of Twelve” is called off the case to assist with a series of emerging national security threats–and ends with…an ending you will need to read to find out.