ABOUT THE BOOK
Years in the Making
Summary:
Imagine a young woman, not long out of college, with no field experience, standing alone on an empty road at night in Istanbul. A newly minted CIA officer, under strict orders not to engage anybody, she has just made a pick-up.….and killed the head of security for the Bulgarian mission. She has gone rogue to save the life of the Prime Minister of Britain and must defeat Cabal, a most feared assassin. But she disobeyed a direct order and will forfeit her position with the CIA.
Thus begins our Prologue. Many readers do not like them but this one, particularly considering character definition, is essential. Please do not skip it.
Fifteen years later we find that the same ruthless assassin and broker of murder, has been called out of retirement as a trigger to hunt down a society of twelve patriots who have kept the leaders of the free world safe during a period of unprecedented terrorist activity after 9/11.
Meet Garrett Caden, a ferocious demon who would stop at nothing to fulfill his bloodlust. Also known as Cabal, he is a former hitman who now arranges assassinations as a broker. But he will be called out of retirement as a trigger to personally assassinate twelve people who, since 9/11, have ensured the safety of the western world’s elected leaders and the democracies over which they have charge.
Garrett Caden will be offered a staggering amount of money. However, to receive the money, he and only he must pull the trigger. He will become an assassin once again, and he will be feared. But Garrett Caden has a problem. He obsesses over the young CIA agent who beat him fifteen years ago, his only defeat.
"I will have my revenge. You have eluded me, but I will find you. I will chase you. I will cast myself upon you and make you wish you were never born."
Two women, Veronica (who defeated him fifteen years ago) and Mariah, stepmother and stepdaughter, with secrets so dark and silent, sit on the edge of a world that will fall into chaos if Cabal is successful.
You cannot help but be in awe of this incredible woman who vanquished such a loathsome individual. After the Prologue, you will meet Veronica Bishop in the second chapter, a woman with a live-in boyfriend Jason. But she suffers a severe memory loss and is no longer working for the CIA. Veronica is set to take on an even greater responsibility: raising a teenage girl, Mariah, who has been diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder. Unfortunately, both women have secret pasts so dark that neither remembers anything of their terror.
High Concept Novel
Question. How is it possible that, since September 11, 2001, in an environment of the highest terrorist activity ever known, there has never been an assassination of a single western leader-not even an attempt?
We answer that question here. And forces that understand the importance of a team of twelve patriots want them moved out of the way. They have hired Cabal, the most feared assassin on the planet, to bring about an end to the security the leaders of western demmocracies have known. He will be paid an extraordinary amount of money to perform this task. But in order to collect he must leave his business as a broker of assassinations and become an assassin once again. He must pull the trigger.
REVIEWS
To all the people who have found their way to the website.
At this writing the manuscript has recently been available as an advanced reader copy. We opened an early published date in order to obtain beta reader input. Our purpose of the first draft in 2020 and all subsequent versions was to obtain comments for manuscript upgrade. Our final editing has concluded. We will now commence our third-party marketing to begin 2024.
The reviews printed here represent those of these early readers (and two professional editors) who helped in the development of the novel. These readers, whom we call beta readers, offered me comments and praise where it was necessary and helpful.
Because of all the privacy issues I cannot attach their names to the reviews. Also, spending the time to get every person’s OK to print would be time consuming.
So all I can ask is that you use the reviews to give you a flavour for the book. The reviews are true and all comments were relayed verbally and through email.
One important note: I used two professional editors. I could not mention either by name. They would have no idea how I used comments to rewrite Part 1. I contracted one editor who reviewed about fifty pages. Her comments were crucial as it was during the initial writing. She helped keep me on track and on focus. The plot development at this stage was key.
My second professional editor read only about two thirds of the book (Part 1 only). But this is most important: I have embedded most of her comments within the first part and consistently used both editors’ comments within the framework of Part 2. All the courses I have taken cannot even begin to touch what I have learned from them. They were my editors and, in effect, mentors throughout the entire book.
Lastly, my lovely Muse helped (technically and grammatically) guide me through the entire book. There is no other person I trusted with the entire manuscript. My Muse helped me (in both parts) to lay out the strength of my message. The twist and turns were so important to me that I would not let another set her or his eyes upon it. The coming together of the ultimate, near demonic, terror, along with the conclusive joining of the two women in a most beautiful and captivating love story is told here.
And once again I plead, as you read the book, to not reveal anything from Part 2.
Beta reader reviews:
First beta reader:
“A triumph of excitement. Two separate plots that were relatively easy to follow. You kind of knew where they were going but I had no idea how it would finally end up. You asked me for help on grammatical errors, but I could not find any (left a couple of suggestions). I think this may have been due to the swift movement of the flow of the action. It was a little too exciting for me to spend serious work on the grammar. Inventive plotting (not the same old stuff) with alive characters. Hope this helps.”
Second beta reader:
“I was captivated. What a wonderful message. Rather than politicizing, you are trying to change hearts, to get the true message and feeling. I loved that. But I was mostly taken by the story of the two women. Two people, with nothing to bind them, suddenly find they are left together alone to fend for themselves. Yet their love builds until . . ." (author’s note: had to leave out the rest-spoiler thoughts).
Other beta reader comments:
"This was exciting. One of the most exciting I have read. You could read this in two days. I was hoping for more of a romance between . . . (spoiler) . . . but the relationship between the two women, stepmother and stepdaughter was precious . . . so well done."
"Fast paced movement. Quick with spine chilling excitement. Easy to follow."
"I couldn’t put the book down. It went fast. Did not feel like I read 13,000 words."
Note: There are many more reviews listed on Amazon
Editors’ comments:
“What a ride!”
(author: this was my favorite comment. It encompasses the story line, the love relationship, and the climax even though she only references Part 1). I consider my editors, as well as my Muse, to be brilliant. I learned and put into use so much. It is an editor’s mission to help, often through criticism.
For example:
Garrett Caden was certainly your most interesting and gruesome character. But don’t reveal so much of him in the beginning. You should hold something for the end.
I would not put all their comments here for your perusal. Some (as with most editors) were quite blunt. But I believe they loved the story and enjoyed the characters and plot development. The comments of both editors and my Muse involved straight-forward dialogue, consistency of character and credibility of their actions. One editor commented “nobody would believe that.” They noted the ancillary material that diluted the plot. As a result, much wording and a significant number of chapters were either totally omitted or compacted.
For example, one noted “nobody would believe that” on more than one occasion.
One time she stated “A great description of the impact of an historically brutal time. But you need to make more succinct. Include only that which was important for the character development of the relationship between the two boys.” Three chapters were removed.
Actually, many chapters were removed, some reluctantly.
But what you are left with is a fast-paced, exciting and beautiful story of two women forced to make a life together all the while dealing with their secret pasts. Join us as they battle the dark force that comes to devour them and stab at democracy and the way of the free world.
Once again, I want to thank my Muse, my beta readers, my editors and all those who so willingly gave of their time to help in my untiring research and in the construction of this novel.