Kirjahaku

A high-stakes battle erupts over a game-changing cobalt deposit in small-town America."A cinematic globe-trotting roller coaster of a tale..." --Raymond Benson, New York Times bestselling authorWhen billionaire Max Fend and his hacker girlfriend Renee LeFrancois are enlisted by the FBI and CIA to search for a cobalt deposit in rural Pennsylvania, they're plunged into a race against time and international forces. Cobalt, the precious metal powering lithium-ion batteries, has the tech world scrambling for control, and the discovery of a new source ignites a frenzy. But as domestic and international stakeholders mobilize, the local community finds itself caught in the crossfire.As adversaries close in, a deadly contract killer, a former Philly cop, a single mom reclaiming her identity, and a band of vigilante townspeople join the fight. With secrets unraveling and danger mounting, Max and Renee must risk it all to protect a community and their nation from unbridled greed.In Cobalt, the quest for power and control collides with the will to protect, resulting in a thrilling, explosive showdown._________________Praise for Chris Bauer and Cobalt 2024 Winning Author of Thrillerfest Best First Sentence Award"With COBALT, Chris Bauer delivers a masterclass in thriller writing, weaving a complex tapestry of intrigue and action that's both sharp and compelling." --Andrew Watts, USA TODAY bestselling author"I was hooked from the first page. Take a look inside the world of Max Fend and how the need for precious resources sets up for a gripping thriller." --Mel Taylor, Emmy Award-winning reporter"Chris Bauer is in full Tom Clancy mode. Bauer has become a master of the classic international thriller." --Don Swaim, former host of CBS Radio's Book Beat_________________What readers are saying: ★★★★★ "A MUST READ "★★★★★ "...high intrigue level."★★★★★ "...gripping and timely..."★★★★★ "...Masterfully woven together."★★★★★ "...a story laced with hard facts and wild fiction."

PHILO TROUT: Retired Navy SEAL.Former bare-knuckles boxing champ.Current crime scene cleaner."Couldn't pry me away...Bauer writes with authenticity...A knockout original story, with a host of equally original characters. Certainly not your typical crime fiction, and that's a good thing." -David Swinson, author of Trigger._________________________________Philo Trout opted for a geographical fix for his checkered, violent career. His new life in Philadelphia as a crime scene cleaner is quiet-until he discovers some of his "clients" are coming up short on their organ count.While he tries to outrun his past, one of his coworkers can't remember his own: Patrick, found brutally beaten, is now an amnesiac. When the connection between Patrick's history and the missing human organs emerges, Philo is determined to solve the puzzle.The trail leads Philo into a dark conspiracy. A brutal organization will stop at nothing to protect their secret. Philo's past as a fighter might be his only route to the truth.If he can survive that long.__________________________________HIDING AMONG THE DEAD is a dark and action-packed thriller by Chris Bauer. If you enjoy Elmore Leonard and Breaking Bad, then you'll love this edgy, heart-stoppingly suspenseful book.__________________________________What readers are saying about Chris Bauer and HIDING AMONG THE DEAD: "This is a novel of remarkable characters" "Hiding Among the Dead is not your usual thriller. And that's a good thing." "Come for the thrills, stay for the compelling characters, gritty North Philly setting, and great dialog. " "The deft combination of quirky characters and dark humor with serious topics...makes the story and characters linger in the mind long after the last sentence." "This is tough, crisp, noir-ish writing that will take you to the underbelly of life and other places you haven't been before. It's a crazy romp that will satisfy and then do it again. Promise."Buy HIDING AMONG THE DEAD to start the explosive thriller today

Take a Hawaiian vacation, they told Philo.Relax. Maybe keep a runaway mob cleaner alive while you're there, they said.Try not to get killed while doing it, they said.". the action and intrigue begins on page one and doesn't let up until the end of Bauer's smartly constructed, white-knuckle thrill ride." -Steve Konkoly, WSJ and USA Today bestselling author of the Ryan Decker seriesThe Hawaiian mob isn't dead; they moved to Philly. And now one of their own has fled.Hawaiian mob fixer Kaipo Mawpaw is incognito somewhere in the South Pacific, and she wants to stay that way.A mobster wants her back and is willing to buy a small Hawaiian island that isn't for sale to make it happen: Miakamii, Kaipo's birthplace, where seashell jewelry made by the island's indigenous people are worth small fortunes, where there might be a cure for dementia, and where its inhabitants have been sheltered from outsiders since the 1860s.But the island's quiet native citizenry is now under siege as bodies of current and former inhabitants start piling up.Philo Trout, retired Navy SEAL, current crime scene cleaning business owner, and reluctant tourist, is about to get the vacation of a lifetime.________________________________Praise for ZERO ISLAND: ". more than a page-turner, it's a high-speed burner." -J.J. Hensley, author of Bolt Action Remedy and The Better of the Bad"...a multi-faceted thriller with a unique cast of characters, witty dialogue, and some serious dark humor that lightens up the world of crime-scene cleaners and mobsters." -J.D. Allen, Shamus-nominated author________________________________What readers are saying: "A real barn burner..." "Gritty action packed thriller..." "Hang on to your seat for this one " "...an amazing story that I loved reading." "Slick, fast-paced, and ultimately satisfying, but your heart will race to the last page." "A combination of non-stop action, gore, redemption, and snappy dialog. Learning about the organ black market and aggressive Hawaiian chickens was a bonus."

Philo Trout's past isn't coming back to haunt him...it's coming back to kill him.Former Navy SEAL Philo Trout has retired from the military and is now a crime scene cleaner in Philadelphia. When a series of vicious killings takes the city by storm, only his past can give him the clues to stop them.It starts with a grisly crime scene: three dead bodies in an armored car, one of them beheaded. Then several drummers are brutally slaughtered while practicing for the New Year's Day parade. Somebody is targeting the city's beloved Mummers string band performers-but when Philo discovers multiple victims were former Navy SEALs, he thinks he might be next on the hit list.The scale of damage at each crime scene points toward crime family involvement, and soon a full-blown mob war erupts in the streets of Philly. As the bodies pile up, Philo must dig through his past to track down the masterminds behind the massacres.unless they find him first.________________________________Praise for Chris Bauer and the Blessid Trauma Crime Scene Cleaners series: ". the action and intrigue begins on page one and doesn't let up until the end of Bauer's smartly constructed, white-knuckle thrill ride." -Steve Konkoly, WSJ and USA Today bestselling author of the Ryan Decker series". more than a page-turner, it's a high-speed burner." -J.J. Hensley, author of Bolt Action Remedy and The Better of the Bad"Couldn't pry me away...Bauer writes with authenticity...A knockout original story, with a host of equally original characters. Certainly not your typical crime fiction, and that's a good thing." -David Swinson, author of Trigger."...a multi-faceted thriller with a unique cast of characters, witty dialogue, and some serious dark humor that lightens up the world of crime-scene cleaners and mobsters." -J.D. Allen, Shamus-nominated author of 19 Souls________________________________What readers are saying: "Wow " "...action and murder and mayhem..." "...violent, razzmatazz, hold-your-breath finish." "...the suspense builds to a fever pitch and then explodes." "...a perfect encapsulation of Philly-resourceful, resilient, and as gritty as a certain Flyers mascot."

**National Indie Excellence Award Finalist**A FEMALE BOUNTY HUNTER TRACKS A SERIAL KILLER TO A RURAL MOUNTAIN TOWNA town with its own dark secret.After serial killer Randall Burton is diagnosed with a terminal disease, he decides to jump bail and go out in a blaze of glory.One woman stands in his way.Her name is Counsel Fungo, and she's an exceptionally talented bounty hunter, if a little eccentric. Officially, her two canine companions are therapy dogs. But she considers them partners. Counsel will do anything to stop criminals from preying on the vulnerable, and she's intent on stopping Randall Burton.Randall's trail leads to sleepy Rancor, Pennsylvania. Named one of the "Safest Towns in America," it's a quiet town tucked away in the Poconos. Its citizens are mostly widowers, bowlers, and bingo players.But there's a reason no one in Rancor has reported a major crime in the past 50 years.And neither Counsel nor the killer are quite ready for what this town has in store...Chris Bauer pens a gripping thriller filled with dark humor and clever twists. Recommended for fans of Stephen King and Elmore Leonard.___________________________What readers are saying about Chris Bauer and BINGE KILLER: "Brace yourself: the plot cold cocks the reader...with brass knuckles." "...bounty hunter Counsel Fungo is one of the best characters I've read lately." "I have read a lot of great exciting books in my day but I have to say this book is one of the best." "... a darkly cunning crime story with a compelling mix of characters and plot twists, packaged artfully in a surprise ending." "...memorable characters, witty and telling dialogue, and enough humor on the dark side to make the reader crack a smile even when all hell seems to be breaking loose."

Prayers sometimes land on the Devil's ears."Scars on the Face of God is a brilliant novel. Congratulations on hitting one out of the park." -Jonathan Maberry, NYT bestselling author and winner of multiple Bram Stoker AwardsThe year is 1964. A construction project in the town of Three Bridges, Pennsylvania unearths an ancient sewer. Inside is a mystery dating to the 19th century: the hidden skeletons of countless infants.As the secrets of Three Bridges begin to surface, an ancient codex is discovered in the attic of a local orphanage. A bible containing writings in Lucifer's own hand.The parish priest and a church handyman set out to discover the truth. But a series of strange visions and horrifying tragedies begin, and the darkest secret of all becomes clear: The town of Three Bridges is marked, and the Devil is coming out to play.For fans of Stephen King and Stranger Things.______________________________Praise for Chris Bauer and SCARS ON THE FACE OF GOD: "...Bauer writes with passion and intensity, tackling the mysteries of faith and fear. Hotter than the flames of hell." - Scott Nicholson, author of Scattered Ashes, They Hunger, The Red Church, The Harvest."These characters... are exquisitely drawn, fully-fleshed beings that leap from the page to engage you in the plot... The writing is pitch-perfect, from the language used to the intricate weaving of plot threads. This is a talented writer, a name I will expect to find on New York Times best-seller lists." -Kelly Jenkins, SF Crowsnest Review_______________________________What readers are saying: "...at once beautiful and terrifying." "Absolutely great book, well on par with anything Stephen King has written." "...one of the best horror novels I have read in a long time. It is truly frightening." "This is an excellent book. Well written, with a taut plot and well-defined likable characters." "Engaging theme, brilliant story, wonderfully written and a pleasure to get lost in. What an amazing tale " "The unexpected and delightful treats are the numerous "AHA " moments that make you think about who you are, what you are, and why you are."

Max Fend's expertise. One girl's fury. A universe on the brink.Max Fend's world orbits around the marvels of the stars above. As an integral cog in the imminent Artemis moon mission and the heartbeat of Fend Aerospace, he's accustomed to challenges that stretch beyond the Earth's atmosphere. Yet he's entirely unprepared for the force of nature that is Gus Gomez.Gus isn't just a brilliant Peruvian immigrant harboring an indigenous leather pouch steeped in mystery, she's a maelstrom of history, fleeing dark shadows while simultaneously careening toward a cosmic destiny. The pouch she carries contains a crucible of secrets, and it has the potential to upend humanity's understanding of its place in the universe.As a storm of ancient secrets and vendettas swirls, Max is thrust into the fray. But with Gus's fiery determination and enemies closing in, can Max navigate the dangers and keep the past's revelations from shattering the future?Chris Bauer's Cradle crafts a tale woven in the tapestry of borderland stories and punctuated by the promise of space in the latest adrenaline-packed installment of the Maximum Risk series._________________Praise for Chris Bauer and the Maximum Risk series: 2024 Winning Author of Thrillerfest Best First Sentence Award"Another whip-smart thriller from Chris Bauer. Fast paced and tightly plotted from the opening sequence until the last, CRADLE will have you hanging on for dear life. I can't recommend this book highly enough " --Bruce Robert Coffin, international bestselling coauthor of The Turner and Mosley Files"In Cradle, Chris Bauer blends a widely diverse set of characters and events into a punchy, crisp, and timely thriller. Bauer has become a leading practitioner of the genre--and Cradle is no exception." --Don Swaim, author of Jitterbuggin' with the Renaissance: A Jazz Age Epic and former host of CBS Radio Book Beat"With COBALT, Chris Bauer delivers a masterclass in thriller writing, weaving a complex tapestry of intrigue and action that's both sharp and compelling." --Andrew Watts, USA TODAY bestselling author"I was hooked from the first page. Take a look inside the world of Max Fend and how the need for precious resources sets up for a gripping thriller." --Mel Taylor, Emmy Award-winning reporter" Cradle] will immerse fans of drama and science fiction." --Reader's Favorite Five Star Review"An expansive thriller with epic implications" --The DBT Literary Awards Judges _________________What readers are saying: ★★★★★ "...fast-moving..."★★★★★ "...action-packed thriller."★★★★★ "...lots of suspense and intrigue..."★★★★★ "...ripped-from-the-headlines topicality..."★★★★★ "...takes the series to a whole new level..."

"Gritty, clever, intelligent, and shocking-all a reader could wish for in both a mystery and a thriller." -Lisa Regan, USA Today and WSJ bestselling authorCounsel Fungo, female bounty hunter, has art thief/forger/bail jumper Sebastian Leone in custody. She now owns his future. Leone pleads his way out of going to jail by dropping names of bigger fish, and Counsel hears one that interests her: Mercer Crawford, CEO of a large pro-gun activist group. Counsel disagrees with Crawford's gun politics and looks to exploit his affinity for stolen art and embarrass him and his organization. The stakes increase when she learns of his other sideline: brokering illegal arms sales, the kind that can topple governments.Aaron Pappas's murder convictions were just overturned. He identifies as a man but was born a woman, and he re-enters society after thirty years in prison and excessive solitary confinement. The DA who convicted him, now a senator, is running for US president. Too much prison solitary does things to a person, all of them bad. Aaron can't legally own a gun, but he can build one.Days count down to the presidential campaign's final debate. Counsel and her working dogs will be there. Crawford, his stolen art, and an eighteen-wheeler full of assault rifles will be nearby. Aaron will be there, and he will make history.A clever, twisty, timely, action-filled plot.