Protecting Jess Hardcover – March 11, 2025

"You’re there the whole way, amidst the action, feeling, hearing, even smelling the tension. . . You’re going to love this story."—Steve Berry, Internationally Bestselling author of The Medici ReturnIn the Shadows of Brazil, Where Wealth and Crime Collide, Unfolds a Gripping Tale of Intrigue and Survival White House economist Jessica Tanner is a rising star—young, brilliant, and beautiful. When her boss falls ill, she is sent to Brazil on his behalf to speak at an international conference. What begins as a glamorous work trip, with visions of sun-drenched beaches, quickly spirals into a nightmare of danger and intrigue. Assigned to accompany her is Bill Black, a stoic State Department official tasked with keeping her out of trouble. However, Bill is hiding a secret—he's a CIA agent with a long history in Brazil where his very life is in jeopardy.  A year earlier, Black was part of a covert operation to intercept a massive drug shipment in Brazil. When the operation went awry, the drug kingpin’s brother was killed, and Bill was blamed. Now, the kingpin is hunting for revenge. Bill knows that returning to Brazil could cost him everything—but with a powerful enemy closing in, he must protect Jess while staying one step ahead of those who want him dead.Protecting Jess is a gripping thriller of political intrigue, danger, and high-stakes diplomacy—written by a national security insider who knows the world of espionage and betrayal like no one else.   Read more