The Puppet Master
by Ronald S. Barak
Genre: Thriller, Suspense
What would YOU do if they took everything you had, your family, your home,
your business, your dignity, even—perhaps—your sanity?
S. Barak’s latest, The Puppet Master, prequel to The Amendment Killer,
and the second in the Brooks/Lotello Thriller Series, is a gripping
story of a political system gone awry—and those who feel compelled
to fix it.
“Have you ever killed anyone? I have. I’ll do it again. If I need to.”
Three prominent political leaders in Washington, D.C., murdered in as many days.
Not a plausible story premise? What about the real world
villain who recently mailed a series of pipe bombs to a number of
prominent political figures? Ripped from the headlines? Barak gives
new meaning to the word “timely.” The Puppet Master isn’t
ripped from the headlines; written first, it forecast the headlines
that followed!
The Puppet Master begins
with a bang. Literally. Three of them. Not a page wasted. Capitol
Hill panics. Who will be next? Others whisper that our political
leaders are only getting what they deserve. Anxious to see who will
be next. And why.
Crafty D.C. homicide detective Frank Lotello
is tasked to find the killer. Cliff Norman, a local businessman with
ample motive, is arrested. Politicians breathe a sigh of relief.
However, when Lotello discovers a disturbing White House connection,
he suspects Norman may not be what he appears to be. Things may not
be what they appear to be.
Norman’s trial commences in the
courtroom of savvy D.C. trial court judge Cyrus Brooks. An angry
nation rallies behind Norman. The jury debates whether Norman’s
actions may be legally justified by a rampant abuse of political
trust, and threatens to unravel the very fabric of our dysfunctional
government.
In an unprecedented and questionable manner that
may destroy their respective careers, Lotello quietly approaches
Brooks and they form a secret alliance to uncover the truth in this
classic whodunnit mystery. Before it’s too late.
Blurring fiction and reality, The Puppet Master will have you
dangling from the first page to the very last.
“One of the year’s best thrillers!”
–Best Thriller Magazine
“First The Amendment Killer, now The Puppet Master, whenever
Barak brings it, the result is always the same, tense, timely and terrific!”
–Lee Child, #1 New York Times Bestselling author of the Jack Reacher novels
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9aV5pMUKC8?feature=player_embedded]
Described by his readers as a cross between Agatha Christie, Lee Child, and
John Lescroart, bestselling author Ron Barak keeps his readers
flipping the pages into the wee hours of the night. While he mostly
lets his characters tell his stories, he does manage to get his licks in too.
Barak derives great satisfaction in knowing that his books not only
entertain but also stimulate others to think about how things might
be, how people can actually resolve real-world problems. In
particular, Barak tackles the country’s dysfunctional government
representatives–not just back-seat driving criticism for the sake of
being a back-seat driver, but truly framing practical remedies to the
political abuse and corruption adversely affecting too many people’s
lives today. Barak’s extensive legal background and insight allow him
to cleverly cross-pollinate his fiction and today’s sad state of
political reality.
Ron and his wife, Barbie, and the four-legged members of their family
reside in Pacific Palisades, California.
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