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Criminal Elements
Secrets of the Shield is a collection of raw, pulse-pounding crime thriller stories rooted deep in real-world law enforcement, and told through the lens of a seasoned cop. Where did the idea for this novel come from and how did it develop over time?
The genesis of Secrets of the Shield stems from my twenty years of frontline experience investigating cases that few civilians ever witness. Throughout my career in specialized investigation units, I documented harrowing encounters with ruthless cartel operations involving human trafficking, drug distribution networks that spanned continents, execution-style homicides, and systematic extortion. My notebooks captured the chaos of the LA riots from inside the police perimeter, the tense negotiations of high-profile kidnappings where lives hung in the balance, and government corruption cases that revealed shocking betrayals of public trust. These weren’t distant news stories—they were realities I lived through daily, meticulously recording details that accumulated in field notebooks over two decades.
Among these cases was a seemingly routine undercover assignment in North Hollywood where I arrested suspects targeting grocery stores throughout LA for high-end merchandise. One of these suspects was Ricardo Ramirez, aka The Night Stalker, 5 years before his murder spree began. I took a Polaroid photo on the date of his arrest that I still have today and included in the book. The fingerprints and booking photo from his arrest at North Hollywood LAPD eventually identified him as Richard Ramirez. I found this photo well after his arrest and decided to tell the untold story that no one had documented in the news media, movies, or docuseries, including the Polaroid that had never been released to the public. This unexpected historical connection became one compelling element in my larger mission to document the hidden criminal landscape I navigated throughout my career.
What brings a smile to my face is that my wife Debbie deserves full credit for inspiring this book. She took one look at my growing collection of storage bins overflowing with case notes and said, “Either those notebooks become a book, or they’re moving into their own house—our garage needs breathing room!” That gentle nudge was all it took to transform decades of field notes into my first published work.
What was the most challenging part of writing Secrets of the Shield, and what was the most rewarding?
The most challenging aspect of compiling this book was exercising extreme caution regarding what information I could disclose. I needed to protect the integrity of the cases while, most importantly, safeguarding the victims and their families who were violently impacted by these predators who forever altered their lives.
The most rewarding outcome has been sharing these stories with readers to reveal the truth about criminal elements lurking in plain sight—predators waiting for their next helpless victims, completely devoid of empathy for the devastation they cause not only to their immediate victims but also to families and associates. These cases exist only in the memories of my fellow investigators and special agents who lived through them, and I felt compelled to help the public understand what transpires around them daily—incidents that often never receive media attention.
How did you decide what to include and leave out in your book?
My decisions about content were primarily guided by the protection of victims and their families, alongside maintaining both the criminal and civil integrity of these cases. Throughout the project, I sought professional legal counsel to ensure these objectives were met.
Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?
Yes, I have two sequels launching toward the end of this year: Encrypted Patriot and The Coin Collector. These works elevate Secrets of the Shield into heightened crime thrillers with incredible action and government espionage drama that extends to other parts of the world. Many characters from the first book continue their journeys into covert government agencies, operating at the highest—sometimes officially nonexistent—security levels.
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The truth has been buried—until now.
Los Angeles County: a sprawling metropolis where power, corruption, and violence collide in the shadows. For decades, the public has only seen the surface. Now, a retired veteran police investigative sergeant rips the veil off the city’s darkest secrets.
From the arrest of Richard Ramirez, the Night Stalker—five years before his reign of terror began—to the chaos of the Los Angeles riots, from covert operations dismantling cartel murder networks to exposing corrupt government officials, these are the cases that were sealed away. Until now.
What you’re about to read has never been disclosed to the public, including a single Polaroid photograph within these pages that tells a story of its own. This book reveals how a routine arrest led to the early identification of one of history’s most infamous serial killers. It uncovers the untold truth of the Los Angeles riots—what really happened in the streets and behind closed doors. It takes you deep inside covert missions that infiltrated the cartels’ blood-soaked empires and into the silent war against public official corruption.
These aren’t just stories. They are confessions from the front lines. Each chapter is a pulse-pounding descent into a world where monsters don’t hide in the shadows—they walk among us. Where justice isn’t always served, and the truth is more terrifying than fiction.
Once you step into this world, you won’t emerge unchanged. Buckle up. You’ve been warned.
Fans of Mindhunter, American Predator, and Don Winslow’s The Cartel will be drawn to this gripping, unfiltered account of crime and corruption. Based on real cases. Written by the man who lived them.
“Get your copy of Secrets of the Shield today and uncover the truth for yourself.”
Femme Fatale: Shades of Retribution
Italia Tornabene’s Femme Fatale: Shades of Retribution is a gritty, heart-wrenching, and fiercely personal journey into the life of Italia Rossi, a dancer, single mother, sister, and survivor. Set against the neon-soaked backdrop of a strip club called The Velvet Viper, the story follows Italia as she battles poverty, motherhood, addiction (not hers but a friend’s), and the ghosts of a troubled past while plotting her quiet war for justice. It’s not just a tale of survival, it’s a slow-burning revenge story soaked in love, grief, and raw grit.
One of the strongest things about this book is its emotional honesty. The relationship between Italia and her best friend Olive hit me the hardest. There’s a real tenderness in the way they care for each other, especially in scenes like the one where Olive collapses in Italia’s arms, confessing her descent into addiction. It didn’t feel like fiction. It felt like something I had seen, or could’ve seen, in the real world. The slow unraveling of Olive’s spirit, and Italia’s growing sense of helplessness, was painful in a way that didn’t let me look away.
Tornabene’s writing is rich with atmosphere. She turns the club into a character of its own, dangerous, seductive, brutal. The opening chapters, where Italia and Olive perform together, are electric. Not because they’re flashy, but because they show power, women taking control in a world that wants to strip it from them. There’s this moment where Italia thinks, “They’re eating out of our hands,” and it’s not about ego. It’s about survival. About making the most of a broken system. There’s real complexity in how power is handled here.
The pacing can be a bit uneven, especially in the middle, where the narrative shifts toward Italia’s undercover attempts to infiltrate the drug world. Some of that felt a little rushed or too smooth, like she transitioned from grieving mother to spy a bit too easily. The story needed momentum, and the emotional stakes never went away. What redeems these sections is Italia’s constant return to her core motivation: Dominic, her son. Every risk she takes, every mask she wears, it all circles back to him. There’s this beautiful moment where she says, “He deserves the sun.” That line is so simple yet so powerful.
In the end, this book is for readers who want more than just plot. It’s for people who want to feel something deep and maybe a little uncomfortable. If you’ve ever lost someone, if you’ve ever had to fight harder than you should’ve had to, Femme Fatale will speak to you. It’s raw, it’s honest, and it doesn’t pretend to have all the answers.
Pages: 364 | ASIN: B0DS1JF9VZ
Always Bet on Death: The Griffin Knight Rises
Always Bet on Death: The Griffin Knight Rises kicks off with a bloody murder in a half-renovated casino and doesn’t slow down from there. The book follows Griffin Knight, a sharp new detective transferred from Chicago to Long Island, as he’s thrown into a tangled web of casino politics, shady business deals, and buried secrets. With his grizzled partner, Trenton Barnes, by his side, Griffin unravels a death that’s anything but accidental. The deeper they dig, the more corruption bubbles to the surface, and nobody, not even the casino’s power players, nor Griffin himself, is safe from suspicion.
What immediately stood out to me was the tone of the writing. It is sharp, cinematic, and highly effective, particularly in the prologue. The opening scene, depicting a woman fleeing barefoot through an unfinished construction floor, wounded and pursued by a masked assailant, is gripping and visceral. It evokes the urgency and tension of a Bond film, though with a darker, more grounded edge. The atmosphere is palpable; the blood on the concrete and the fear driving the woman’s flight are rendered with striking clarity. Miguel Angel Hernandez Jr. wastes no time establishing momentum, and his ability to craft intense, visually charged moments speaks to a strong command of narrative pacing and mood.
Where the book shines brightest is in the banter between Griffin and Trenton. Their chemistry is hilarious and tense in equal parts. Take the early scene at the crime scene, where Trenton disarms the smug casino head of security with sarcastic wit and a fake Pop-Tart emergency. It’s ridiculous and perfect. These moments give the book heart, making it more than just a gritty mystery. It’s not all laughs, though. Trenton shares a heartbreaking story about a former partner ruined by a corrupt elite. It gave weight to the whole investigation. The book’s got teeth, and it bites when you least expect it.
That said, the plot is rich with twists and turns, offering a complex web of intrigue that rewards close attention. Particularly in the middle chapters, the narrative demands an engaged reader, as layers of deception unfold and motivations shift. While some of the secondary characters serve more as moving parts within the broader mystery, they contribute to the sense of a larger, bustling world surrounding the central investigation. Jennifer Grimwald, the shady executive, is a standout, though cold, clever, and clearly hiding something from the moment she dumps a suspicious trash bag into the Long Island Sound. Her scenes added a delicious layer of villainy that kept me turning pages, but I wish a few of the others were drawn with the same flair.
If you appreciate crime fiction that blends the sharp wit of Knives Out, the gritty energy of Lethal Weapon, and the atmospheric depth of L.A. Confidential, Always Bet on Death: The Griffin Knight Rises will likely resonate with you. It offers a compelling mix of suspense, moral ambiguity, dark humor, and emotional weight. This novel is particularly well-suited for readers who enjoy noir-inflected detective stories with brisk pacing and vividly drawn characters. The setting, an opulent casino shadowed by violence, adds an irresistible layer of intrigue. Be advised, however: once you begin, it becomes remarkably difficult to put down.
Pages: 105 | ASIN : B0DMJQB746
Omega Book Series
Every day, hundreds vanish… men, women, and children… ripped from their lives and thrown into a world of forced labor, exploitation, and terror. But in the shadows, a team rises to fight back. The Omega Group hunts the predators who traffic in human lives. Relentless. Unseen. Justice-driven. From the depths of darkness, they rescue the innocent… or risk being lost themselves. The Omega Book Series is a heart-pounding journey through the brutal world of human trafficking… and the heroes who refuse to look away. Hope has a name. Justice has a team. The Omega Group is coming.
We’ve Had Unusual Occupations
Warrior Pose follows a gritty intelligence operative juggling perilous missions, personal demons, and a complicated relationship with his partner, who seems to attract danger at every turn, and is trying to protect those who are important to him. What was your inspiration for the wild journey you take readers on in this novel?
We’re the first to admit we’ve had unusual occupations. Make that sometimes weird.
Early on, Susan trained military personnel how to shoot straight. She wanted to be a writer since age six, but took a detour becoming a commissioned naval officer. As a marine inspector, she boarded ships at sea, jumping onto narrow Jacobs ladders, while ocean waves crashed below.
Together with John, Susan orchestrated sting operations against rogue vessels. She switched to battling natural disasters in New Zealand. And when posted in Abu Dhabi, she decided saving lives included health and safety on billion dollar building projects. In her spare time, she wrenched a Presidential yacht—The USS Potomac—from its watery grave, transforming it to a museum.
John is a hazardous materials Superman. Designated as a law enforcement and naval officer, he had a few special powers. While beginning his career as a biologist, he changed outfits to an environmental emergency specialist. He’s been on every continent including Antarctica. At a moment’s notice, he can snuff out chemical and refinery plant explosions, deal with rocket fuel plant meltdowns and dismantle illegal drug labs.
With Susan, John dished out solutions for combatting international security and anti-terrorism for ports in the Pacific. John switched careers to chase pirates and duel with a con artist extraordinaire, while on a remote South Pacific island. In between, he organised jungle expeditions and deep-sea scuba diving.
So, when it comes to writing, we just dig down into our backgrounds. Likely one or even both of us have some real-life experience that helps make everything we write seem real … because usually it is.
I enjoyed the depth of the main characters, Ric and Elaina. What was your process to bring these characters to life?
Do we have to admit this? We don’t think of our characters as imaginary on a page or as digital words on a computer. To us, they are real. We think, breathe, and act out Ric and Elaina … as well as all the bad guys.
We put ourselves into the shoes of our main characters Ric and Elaina. So they become real people in the sense of their values, beliefs, loves, fears, delights and most importantly their passion.
Ric and Elaina seem to be part of OUR DNA. Though we’ve created detailed biographies and descriptions of their lives documenting their histories and backgrounds, Susan’s crazy relatives and John’s work associates often show up in the stories as well.
We are classic plotters. Read that as: we follow Aristotle and his theories on drama. Thus, in each of the books one of the two main characters will always be working on a flaw. We started this in Book 1 and 2 with Elaina. And Book 3 and 4 with Ric. We have an intricate pathway they follow to keep the reader interested.
But let’s be honest. Our characters come to life because of how they would react to the situations and challenges they are confronted with.
They adapt, adjust and hopefully change when new things happen. They grow as characters, as any human would overcoming their flaw.
And we also act our difficult scenes out to ensure we have the tension right.
Once, we were acting out a scene and Susan was wearing a bullet proof vest and John had two kitchen knives. Imagine answering the front door in our ‘book attire’.
Did you find anything in your research of this story that surprised you?
Ans: In one of our jobs, we were asked to clean up a toxic chemical site on the South Island of New Zealand. At first it seemed like just another day’s work.
Until we dug into it … literally. A defunct chemical manufacturing company had produced a colourful array of products for the architectural industry. They didn’t stop there. They also manufactured Agent Orange and bright pink and purple toxic chemicals as part of their production list. A bad day for them was a failed product which meant a quick burial at the plant site. Running out of space, they buried failed products on nearby farms or backfilled it into an estuary.
During the extensive digging, an excavator tipped over contaminated soil from site. A glimmer of rounded white bone appeared. It was a human skull. John and Susan stopped the excavation. The soil was carefully brushed away revealing it wasn’t an ancient artifact. It was an unexpected and more recent burial of human remains.
The police determined the skull was 30 to 40 years old but after a search was finally labelled as an ‘unknown person’.
We were asked to find a suitable burial site. For us, it was important to provide for a proper burial. We obtained permission to create a ‘natural’ memorial as a final resting place for the person that was never identified.
Fast forward 20 years. We are now full-fledged mystery writers with four eBooks and three Audiobooks.
Dead Man’s Pose, Cobra Pose, Tree Pose were all focused on Australia. We shifted gears with Warrior Pose set in New Zealand. Kicking around ideas, we decided to integrate a fictional version of a cleanup and the discovery of a human skull.
We now have developed a backstory and history for a skull found on an imagined cleanup site. Importantly we dedicated the book: To the unknown person we found and the story we never knew.
And it should be noted that worldwide, there are unknown bodies and even skills that are dug up year after year. Some of those bodies and skulls are ancient, but then again some are surprisingly recent. We discovered in our research, it’s definitely not a rare occurrence.
So just be mindful when you are digging into your garden trying to plant those carrots in deep soil!
Can you tell us more about what’s in store for Ric and Elaina, as well as the direction of the next book?
Ans: Whooeee. We have so much packed in for Ric and Elaina, they are going to be very busy for the next five years. Fortunately, they have kindly cleared their calendars for us. (Thank goodness!)
We have drafts of 4 plus++ of these new book storylines in various stages of development. Ric and Elaina will be traveling to new locations in the next book titled Half Moon Pose. They will be turning up in the South of France. What starts as a simple research project into the past rapidly explodes into a desperate search from Avignon to Nice to Paris.
Complications do arise with some old enemies returning and new friends found.
Writing a series means you are always thinking 3 – 5 books ahead even though you are busy writing the current one. And of course you just happen to drop a clue or two along the way in all the storylines. Given our careers forward thinking is what we do best.
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His life at a crossroads, Ric Peters is torn between his perilous job and dreams of a future with Elaina. But their trip to New Zealand throws them into chaos as they are swept up in a whirlwind of danger and dark family secrets.
As Ric grapples with accusations of murder back in Indonesia, the discovery of a mysterious skull at a toxic waste site near his family’s home deepens the mystery. Bodies appear, old wounds reopen, and Ric’s strained relationship with his father is tested by shadows of the past. An old friend’s disappearance and deadly secrets unearthed at a chemical plant threaten to expose more than just the environmental sins of the region.
When a woman’s body is found in the local hills, her face a mask of terror, the danger becomes deadly personal. With Ric’s parents drawn into the fray and Elaina targeted by shadowy foes, the stakes soar. Meanwhile, Ric’s friends back in Indonesia desperately need his help to evade police and a potential firing squad, relying on him from thousands of miles away.
From high-speed chases across mountainous terrain to close encounters with New Zealand’s breathtaking landscapes and quirky characters, Warrior Pose is a relentless ride through betrayal, love, and survival. Join Ric and Elaina as they navigate a labyrinth of intrigue and danger in this explosive installment of the Yoga Mat Mysteries.
Dive into another thrilling chapter of the Yoga Mat Mysteries, where secrets run as deep as the tides and trust is as fleeting as the shifting sands.
Switch
Lisa Towles’ Switch is a breakneck techno-thriller that dives headfirst into the world of private investigations, buried family secrets, and high-stakes covert operations. At the center is Marissa Ellwyn—a sharp, seasoned former CIA operative turned private investigator—who’s recovering from a hit-and-run attack that lands her in the middle of an investigation laced with mystery, betrayal, and emotional landmines. As she navigates through the murky entanglements of a multi-million-dollar heist, her missing mother, a mysterious John Doe, and a midnight visit from a coroner, the layers of plot unravel in a satisfying tangle of danger and introspection.
I found the writing electrifying and, at times, deeply poignant. Towles excels at keeping the tension high without sacrificing emotional depth. Her dialogue crackles. It’s smart, biting, and authentic, and the first-person narrative gives us raw access to Marissa’s inner world. The pacing is intense. Scenes leap from intimate reflections to explosive action, and it works because Marissa is such a magnetic narrator. That said, the rapid switches in location and the density of subplots made me double back more than once. But honestly, I didn’t mind. The richness of detail, particularly in how Marissa analyzes people and situations, kept me anchored even when the plot went labyrinthine.
What I enjoyed most was the emotional honesty behind all the spy games and shootouts. Marissa’s relationship with her elusive and emotionally detached father resonated with me because it felt real and messy. The themes of abandonment, trust, and resilience ground the story in something human. And the dog, Trevor, was a total scene-stealer. I would’ve liked a touch more clarity around some of the secondary characters, who sometimes blurred together in the thick of the action. Still, this wasn’t a dealbreaker. I appreciated how the book never spoon-fed answers; it trusted me to keep up, and that felt refreshing.
Switch is for readers who crave a smart and emotionally charged thriller with an awesome female lead and just enough espionage spice to keep things edgy. If you love Karin Slaughter, Robert Dugoni, or early Patricia Cornwell, you’ll devour this. It’s not a beach read—it’s a bunker-down, turn-off-your-phone, and hang-on-tight read. And I loved it.
Pages: 372
LITERARY TITAN 