Category

Thriller

Fiction, Thriller, Writers on Writing

May 06: Brad Taylor on Shadow Strike: Assassins, Geopolitics, & Writing the World He Knows

Celebrating the 20th exciting Pike Logan mission

Shadow Strike – A Pike Logan Thriller with Brad Taylor

Brad Taylor has spent two decades writing thrillers that blend fiction with overseas intrigue, and real-life, boots on the ground action.

Shadow Strike – the 20th installment in Taylor’s Pike Logan series – begins when a rogue cell within Iran’s Revolutionary Guard orchestrates the escape of the world’s most dangerous assassin, a man known only as the Ghost. His mission, to kill the Israeli prime minister.

Brad shares how Shadow Strike came together, from the geopolitical fault lines that inspired it, to the research trips that took Brad from South America to the edge of the Antarctic. We talk about writing credible characters; what it’s like to watch real-world events catch up to a plot you finished months earlier. Hamas, Hezbollah, Patagonia, and Argentina. And, why Brad says we are sleepwalking our way to Armageddon.

Meet Brad Taylor

After more than 21 years, Brad Taylor retired from the army as a Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel. He held numerous Infantry and Special Forces positions, including eight years in 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta, where he commanded multiple troops and a squadron. He’s conducted operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other classified locations. Brad’s final assignment was the Assistant Professor of Military Science at The Citadel in Charleston, SC. When not writing, he serves as a security consultant on asymmetric threats for various agencies. 

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Fiction, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Apr 29: The Mediator with Bestselling Author Robert Bailey

A riveting legal thriller about a disgraced lawyer facing the legal battle of her life as she tries to redeem herself—and save her son

The Mediator with Robert Bailey

Robert Bailey joins us again, this time with the first book in his new Max Ringo legal thriller series, The Mediator.

Once a courtroom superstar at an elite law firm, a car accident left Max Ringo addicted to painkillers, and her life in shambles. Fresh out of rehab, Max has a chance to make a comeback as a mediator … until her son is kidnapped by a ruthless criminal who tries to sway the outcome of The Mediator.

Will Max risk everything to bring her son home safely? Would you?

Robert discusses the story that inspired his new series, how he developed his characters, and why he loves writing about the south. He also shares what to know if you ever need a mediator.

PreOrder now – The Mediator releases May 12, 2026.

Meet Robert Bailey

Robert Bailey is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Max Ringo series, THE BOOMERANG, the Jason Rich series, the McMurtrie and Drake legal thrillers, the Bocephus Haynes series, and the inspirational novel, THE GOLFER’S CAROL. Loved by readers around the world, Robert’s books are imbued with a keen sense of justice and a profound understanding of what drives people to commit the worst crimes and fight hardest for those they love, gained from his decades as a civil defense trial lawyer in his hometown of Huntsville, Alabama.

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Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Apr 01: New York Times Bestselling Author Kate White with I Came Back For You

When her daughter’s murderer makes a deathbed confession, a mother risks everything in search of truth and justice.

I Came Back For You with Kate White

“Bree will do anything to find justice for her daughter and finish this nightmare forever. The real killer could still be out there, and as Bree begins digging through her daughter Melanie’s past, she questions everything she was led to believe — about the crime, the killer, and Melanie.

Kate White joins us with her 19th novel, and new psychological thriller, I Came Back For You.

We discuss everything from the storyline and plot, and what it takes to keep a psychological thriller moving and suspenseful, to Kate White’s experience as editor-in-chief at Cosmopolitan, living in Uruguay, eco-tourism, and winning advice she received from other authors when she first began writing novels.

Meet Kate White

Kate White is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 19 novels of suspense: 11 standalone psychological thrillers, including the latest I Came Back for You and eight Bailey Weggins mysteries.

A former Glamour magazine Top Ten College Women Contest winner and cover girl, Kate had a long career in the media world, which included running five national magazines. For fourteen years she was the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan, which under her became the most successful magazine in single copy sales in the U.S. Though she loved her magazine career, she decided to leave twelve years ago to concentrate full-time on another passion: Writing suspense fiction.

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Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Mar 04: NYT Bestselling Author Caitlin Rother’s New Thriller – Hooked

His Case. Her Story. Their hearts on the line.

Hooked – A Thriller with Caitlin Rother

In Caitlin Rother‘s new thriller, Hooked, two biotech execs from a company developing a new drug turn up dead in the ritzy enclave of La Jolla, San Diego. Things don’t add up. But when journalist Kate Chopin and surfing homicide detective Ken Goode show up to investigate … well, sparks fly for more than one reason.

Caitlin Rother shares insights into: How she developed her storyline. How and why she wanted both lead characters to be “good” ethical people; how she kept them interesting and slightly flawed. Challenges of writing fiction.

We also discuss shared connections between protagonists Kate and Ken, and author Caitlin, of losing someone close to suicide. And Caitlin shares her nostalgia for the days of good old-fashioned newsrooms, when the truth came out, no matter what the cost.

Meet Caitlin Rother

Caitlin Rother is a New York Times bestselling author, Pulitzer-nominated investigative reporter, and the woman behind 16 true crime books — including Death on Ocean Boulevard, the haunting investigation into the mysterious death of Rebecca Zahau that’s now being developed as a TV series. She’s appeared on 20/20, Investigation Discovery, and Netflix. Caitlin Rother has a degree in psychology and a masters in journalism. Her first novel Naked Addiction introduced homicide detective, Ken Goode. Today he returns in Hooked.

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Fiction, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Feb 26: #1 International Bestselling Author Steve Berry with The Devil’s Bible

Steve Berry celebrates the 20th book in Cotton Malone thriller series

The Devil’s Bible, A Cotton Malone Novel with Steve Berry

Today we celebrate a milestone with Steve Berry that very few thriller writers reach. The Devil’s Bible is Berry’s 20th novel featuring the same hero — Cotton Malone.

Blending real-life history with a flair for creative license is Berry’s trademark. The Devil’s Bible blends conspiracies, loyalties, betrayals, countries at odds, and our familiar favorite characters along with breakneck pacing.

In this latest adventure, Cotton and Cassiopeia are back, and working together. We dig a little into their relationship and how these characters have grown over two decades of missions, close calls, and complicated feelings.

Steve discusses his research trip to Stockholm. And shares insight into one of history’s most unsettling, yet fascinating, artifacts: The Devil’s Bible.

Meet Steve Berry

Steve Berry is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of 26 novels, including The Devil’s Bible. His books have been translated into 41 languages with over 26,000,000 copies in 52 countries. They consistently appear in the top echelon of The New York Times, USA Today, and Indie bestseller lists. Somewhere in the world, every thirty seconds, one of his novels is sold.

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Fiction, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Jan 28: #1 NYT Bestelling Author Brad Meltzer with The Viper

Meltzer’s first thriller in four years … Zig & Nola explore deadly secrets

The Viper – A Zig & Nola Novel with Brad Meltzer

Brad Meltzer‘s two favorite characters are called to resolve a dark and deadly secret in The Viper, Brad’s third book in the Zig and Nola series.

As we expect from Brad Meltzer, the story is full of intrigue from Dover Air Force Base mysteries and witness protection, to veteran mental health, family secrets, and murder.

We discuss character development, some of the fascinating research Brad uncovered, writing across multiple genres, and how he chooses his next creative project. And while he thrills on the page with complex characters and unexpected plot twists, Brad leaves us with simple, yet powerful words of wisdom for today’s chaotic world.

Meet Brad Meltzer

Brad Meltzer is the Emmy-nominated, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lightning Rod, The Escape Artist, and 11 other bestselling thrillers. He also writes non-fiction books like The JFK Conspiracy, and the Ordinary People Change the World kids book series, which he does with Chris Eliopoulos. In addition to his fiction, Brad is one of the only authors to ever have books on the bestseller list for Non-Fiction (The Nazi Conspiracy), Advice (Heroes for My Son and Heroes for My Daughter), Children’s Books (I Am Amelia Earhart and I Am Abraham Lincoln) and even comic books (Justice League of America), for which he won the prestigious Eisner Award. As the host of Brad Meltzer’s Lost History and Brad Meltzer’s Decoded on the History Channel, Brad is responsible for helping find the missing 9/11 flag.

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Fiction, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Dec 10: TEQUILA – A Story of Success, Love, & Violence with Tim Reuben

Suspense novel introduces young lawyer Brian Youngam

Tequila A Story of Success, Love, and Violence with author Tim Reuben

What happens when ambition, love, and lethal violence collide in the high-stakes world of tequila production?

Author and legal entrepreneur Tim Reuben joins us to talk about his powerful debut novel TEQUILA: A Story of Success, Love, & Violence, an epic tale set against the real-world landscape of Mexico’s booming tequila industry. It’s a story of risk, loyalty, betrayal – and the cost of chasing greatness.

We discuss craft, character, culture, and the line between success and destruction. Who Tim’s favorite character is, and why he made his lead antagonist absolutely irredeemable.

Tim also shares why writing his first fiction book was like “climbing a mountain“, from the highs and the thrills to the lows; and how he pushed through self-doubt.

Meet Tim Reuben

Novelist, Tim Reuben, is a veteran civil litigation attorney, a mediator, and a temporary judge in the LA courts. He founded his own law firm more than 30 years ago, and still manages the practice, while publishing widely on topics of law and society. Inspired by his law and travel experiences, and an appreciation of spirits, Reuben introduces his first novel, TEQUILA: A Story of Success, Love, & Violence, and has plans for at least two more-family saga suspense novels featuring protagonist, Brian Youngman.

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Fiction, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Nov 19: Kiss Her Goodbye, A Novel with Lisa Gardner

Can Frankie Elkin Find a Young Afghan Refugee in Time?

Kiss Her Goodbye with author Lisa Gardner

It’s always a great conversation with Lisa Gardner. As one of America’s leading thriller writers, Lisa loves to discuss the craft of writing. She also shares unique and interesting stories gathered from the extensive research she does to make her stories authentic.

When Frankie Elkin sets out to save an entire family from its haunting past in Kiss Her Goodbye, every decision could lead to disaster, as love and loss collide.

We discuss the emotional and moral undercurrents of Lisa Gardner’s Kiss Her Goodbye and hear some of the stories behind the story. We also learn how the concept for Kiss Her Goodbye was sparked by a conversation with strangers, while she was on sabbatical. And, Lisa shares some of the research that left her astonished.

Meet Lisa Gardner

Lisa Gardner, a #1 New York Times bestselling thriller novelist, has transformed her interest in police procedure and criminal minds into a streak of internationally acclaimed novels, published across 30 countries. She’s also had four books become TV movies (At the Midnight Hour; The Perfect Husband; The Survivors Club; Hide). Lisa’s books have received awards from across the globe. Her novel, The Neighbor, won Best Hardcover Novel from the International Thriller Writers, and the Grand Prix des Lectrices de Elle in France. She was also recognized with the Daphne du Maurier Award in 2000 for The Other Daughter.

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Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Nov 05: The Girl From Devil’s Lake with NYT Bestselling Author J. A. Jance

Joanna Brady Hunts a Serial Killer Hiding in Plain Sight

J. A. Jance Author of The Girl From Devil’s Lake, A Brady Novel of Suspense

THE GIRL FROM DEVIL’S LAKE is J. A. Jance’s 21st Joanna Brady novel. And it’s Brady’s biggest, most challenging case yet. As she digs into the investigation of a body discovered in the Arizona desert, Joanna Brady realizes this murder is just one piece of a much bigger puzzle, involving crimes that span decades, and even countries.

We discuss the story, characters, and how J. A. Jance captures the mind of a serial killer. J. A. also shares some of the challenges of writing while dealing with real life. Just turned 81 years old, J. A. cares for her husband, walks 10,000 steps per day — and is writing a new novel while promoting THE GIRL FROM DEVIL’S LAKE, and waiting on Ali Reynolds’ edits to come back from her publisher in New York. All without an assistant. Whew!

Meet Bestselling Suspense Author J.A. Jance

J. A. JANCE is the New York Times bestselling author of the J. P. Beaumont series, the Joanna Brady series, the Ali Reynolds series, six thrillers about the Walker Family, and one volume of poetry. In total, she’s written 70 books. Born in South Dakota and brought up in Bisbee, Arizona, Jance lives with her husband around Seattle, Washington. THE GIRL FROM DEVIL’S LAKE.

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Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Oct 22: Joe Hart’s Novel Will Make You Question How Well You Know Your Lover

I Become Her — A Thriller

I Become Her with author Joe Hart

When Imogen Carmichael’s honeymoon shifts from bliss to a nightmare in the blink of an eye, paranoia builds and trust unravels. Is Imogen going crazy, or is something more sinister going on?

Master of psychological suspense, Joe Hart, joins us to discuss I Become Her.

We explore the story behind a honeymoon gone disastrously wrong. Joe shares how he developed the voice of a strong female protagonist, and some of the most challenging aspects of writing a thriller.

We also look at how memories — factual or dramatized — often shape how we see the truth. And, Joe shares insight into how he’s successfully crossed genres, something many authors struggle to do.

Meet Joe Hart

Joe Hart is an Edgar Award–winning and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of 17 novels, including Or Else, The River Is Dark, Obscura, and The Last Girl. He’s also written several novella’s and dozens of short stories. Known for his taut pacing and psychological depth, Hart crafts stories that keep readers on edge until the final page. He lives in Minnesota with his family and continues to explore the darker side of human nature through fiction.

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