Blackwell Ops Series

Melanie Sloan is young, but accomplished. She is also a force to be reckoned with. Or one that will reckon with you. As a former member of the Israeli Defense Forces, she attained a black belt in Krav Maga, a form of martial arts that is more martial than art, less for competition and more for dealing death swiftly and surely. She's also a former runway model, all the attributes of which she still has at her disposal. From her home on the French Riviera, she flies around the world on behalf of her employer, Blackwell Ops, and her need for her next adrenaline rush.   This is part of Melanie's story, as told to the author. As always, only the more sensitive parts of Ms. Sloan's story are fictionalized. Everything else is true.

Georgette Tilden, wife of Blackwell Ops operative Jack Tilden and an operative in her own right, returns to tell her own unique story. A deadly combination of charm, looks, and skills, Georgette will disarm, disable and drop you —   you won't have a chance to blink. TJ Blackwell, the owner of Blackwell Ops, has always encouraged his operatives to work solo. In fact, most of them don't even know who the other operatives are. Way back in Book 1, TJ decided to take a chance. He encouraged and even orchestrated Georgette's marriage to Jack, but at least partly for an ulterior motive. Now TJ can send the two of them on assignments better suited to a team than a lone wolf. In Book 5, Georgie recounts some of her own solo assignments as well as a few assignments with her new husband. But she doesn't stop there. When TJ sends down an assignment that results in Georgie teaming up with not one, but two other operatives, both female, the result is more intense than she could have imagined. And it leads to bigger and better things. Also in this book, we revisit the skills and wiles of two other operatives: Marie Arceneaux and Melanie Sloan (from Books 3 and 4). Need I say fireworks ensue?      As always, this is only part of Georgette's story, as told to the author. And as always, only the more sensitive parts of Georgie's story are fictionalized. Everything else is true.

Sometimes being who you are is no excuse. Charles Claymore "Charlie" Task is a self-described professional psychopath. Because of what Charlie believes of himself, he has a special skillset that TJ Blackwell of Blackwell Ops finds of use. ▪ From taking a peculiar kind of mercy on a man in Boston ▪ to dispensing unspeakable torture on behalf of an imam ▪ to helping a friend square a contract for his woman-friend, and more, Charlie always carries out his assignments to the letter. But there's a great deal more to Charlie than meets the emotional dicsonnect, as he himself is soon to learn. This is yet another part of his story, as told to the author. As always, only the more sensitive parts of Mr. Task's story are fictionalized. Everything else is true.

One ad in the magazine for adventurers was different than the others. There was no flash or bluster, no promises of adventure or big money. Only four line of text followed by a toll-free phone number: Do you have special abilities? Want to put them to use? Give us a call. Blackwell Ops Something about the ad was too intriguing to pass up. At least for the former Marine who was about to become Jack Tilden. Blackwell Ops is a special, very secretive organization. Its operatives conduct specialized surgical strikes on persons and organizations around the world. Jack Tilden is one of those operatives. This is part of his story, as told to the author. Only the more sensitive parts of Mr. Tilden's story are fictionalized. Everything else is true.

Sometimes being who you are makes it easier to do what you have to do. Charles Claymore "Charlie" Task is a self-described professional psychopath. Having freelanced all his life, now he's joined the team at Blackwell Ops. Blackwell Ops is an organization owned and managed by Thomas Jefferson Blackwell. Through the operatives in his company — and for a fee — TJ works discreetly on behalf of governments, entities, and individuals to bring about desired results. Usually those results require surgical strikes on person and organizations around the world. Now Charlie Task is one of those operatives. This is part of his story, as told to the author. As always, only the more sensitive parts of Mr. Task's story are fictionalized. Everything else is true.

Solana "Soleada" Garcia de Mendoza is a vivacious but unassuming young woman of Mayan ancestry. Despite her diminutive size, her disarming nickname—which translates as "Sunny"—and her unusually calm demeanor, she is also among the best operatives in TJ Blackwell's network of assassins. In the beginning of this origin story, Soleada is a 19 year old college student. So how did she come to join Blackwell Ops? And what did she have to endure? Assassins are not born, they are made. And they have to learn on the job. What was her first assignment like? And her second? And her third? And what lessons did she learn along the way? Come along and find out. As Soleada would say through a smile, she would tell you herself, but then she would have to kill you.

Jeremy Stiles, the readily recognizable Hollywood star and host of the popular television game show The Way Things Go also has an avocation.   But his avocation is considerably more than a hobby. And it also pays a great deal more in both money and peace of mind than his more traditional Hollywood gig.   He's perfectly happy with what he sees as a balanced life. Taping the show a few months each year, then pursing his career as an operative for TJ Blackwell the rest of the time.   But are some Blackwell Ops assignments over the line of Jeremy's personal sense of morality? Are some far under the line, maybe to the point they're long overdue?   And will the love of a very special woman change any of that for Jeremy? With his avocation, is that even a possibility?   Come along to the glitter of Hollywood and plunge with Jeremy Stiles into the more varied thrill ride that is his other life.

Dynamite comes in small packages. Marie Arceneaux is on of them. Don't be on her list. Marie is a Cajun, born and bred near Lafayette, Louisiana. She lives in Cassis, France, on the French Riviera now. Her sister Addy moved in with her a couple of years ago. Marie is ostensibly a sales rep for an international company with a global reach. So her sister never questions why Marie occasionally has to fly out at a moment's notice for a meeting or presentation. But Marie actually puts her small-arms and martial arts knowledge to use as an operative for Blackwell Ops. Blackwell Ops is another international company with a global reach. But their reach delivers much different results. This is part of Marie's story, as told to the author. As always, only the more sensitive parts of Ms. Arceneaux's story are fictionalized. Everything else is true.

The man with whom he has the most in common and would most like to befriend is also an accomplished investigator and retired law enforcement officer.   And Nick is an an operative for a worldwide network of assassins: Blackwell Ops.   Fortunately, Nick is unattached from a sense of permanence. Due to both his personality and his occupation, he can relocate at a whim and never miss a beat.   But why does he feel compelled to relocate? And where will he end up?   This accounting of Nick's life begins with a bang.   If you enjoy high-tension, page-turning stories, plunge into this thrill ride.   You'll experience the sheer joy (horror?) of watching Nick work without being a target yourself. You won't regret it.

Is love all-encompassing? Or does business sometimes get in the way? Cameron Stance is one hell of an operative for TJ Blackwell. He has been for almost two decades. But when he takes a vacation at his beach home in Ecuador, he gets a great deal more than a vacation, and it's not all good. It seems that not everybody is what they seem. Even after strenuous research and planning.

Solana "Soleada" Garcia de Mendoza is a vivacious but unassuming young woman of Mayan ancestry. She is dimunutive in stature, has a disarming nickname, and an unusually calm demeanor. Most of the time. She is also among the best operatives in TJ Blackwell's network of assassins. And in the story that precedes this one, she experienced some trying times. Things seldom work out the way you think they will. Nothing is permanent except the past. And sometimes the past lurks in your future., In Into the Future, Soleada continues to ply her trade, and is faced with some new experiences and new considerations. She has developed confidence in herself, and she is certain about some of the bigger concepts she has considered. But the future has a way of dashing and rebuilding those concepts. 

Solana "Soleada" Garcia de Mendoza is a vivacious but unassuming young woman of Mayan ancestry. Despite her diminutive size, her disarming nickname—which translates as "Sunny"—and her unusually calm demeanor, she is also among the best operatives in TJ Blackwell's network of assassins. Assassins are not born, they are made. But they are also very human. Soleada has learned her job well, and she has adapted to many situations both physically and emotionally. But as we all do, she also encounters situations from which she might never fully recover. Situations from which she can only learn to adapt further. Or die. Come along and witness her endeavors first hand.

Sometimes what might have been gets in the way of what is. Philip Dunstan is in the midst of a career as a hit man, and it suits his nature to a T. Until it suddenly doesn't. Odd how a split-second look on a woman's face can change a life forever. Can his boss, TJ Blackwell really be as omnipotent and all-knowing as he seems? Is he a demon, a god, or only human? In the first Blackwell Ops book, Jack Tilden showed us how difficult it is to get into Blackwell Ops. But how hard is it to get out? This is part one of Philip Dunstan's story, as told to the author. As always, only the more sensitive parts of this story are fictionalized. Everything else is true.

Solana "Soleada" Garcia in a vivacious but unassuming young woman of Mayan ancestry. She lives in Mazatlán where she works out of her small apartment—as a professional assassin for TJ Blackwell and Blackwell Ops. Despite her diminutive size, her disarming nickname—which translates as "Sunny"—and her unusually calm demeanor, she is also among TJ's best. And now he has hand-picked her to go after fellow operative Charles Claymore "Charlie" Task, who has had enough and gone off the reservation. But Charlie has disappeared into a time long before either he or Soleada Garcia were born. Soleada is also only the second operative with whom TJ has shared the location of the time portal through which Charlie escaped the 21st century. Will she find Charlie Task all the way back in the 1940s or 1950s? And if she does, what will happen? This exciting ride, at first a crime-thriller and action-adventure novel, also delves into science fiction with time travel, and into magic realism with — well, everything that occurs around the edges of normal life in that place where reality folds into imagination.

Jeremy Stiles balances his life with an avocation.   When he isn't taping the popular television game show The Way Things Go, he's an operative for TJ Blackwell and Blackwell Ops.   And with taping not set to resume for months, he's at it again.   This accounting of Jeremy's life begins with a bang. Well, several bangs over a period of several weeks.   Including one he might never walk away from.   If you enjoy high-tension, page-turning stories, plunge into this thrill ride.   You'll experience the sheer joy (horror?) of watching Jeremy work without being a target yourself. You won't regret it.

Sometimes you have to take a chance. And sometimes, one chance is not enough.   Philip Dunstan has seriously considered leaving the life of a professional assassin. Well, if his boss, TJ Blackwell, will allow it.   Then things change. Sometimes people are much more than you thought they were. And sometimes you don't realize what your life was missing until it shows up on your doorstep.   Or catches you in the act.   Will Philip Dunstan still want out? Or will he maybe risk everything to bring someone else in?   This is part two of Philip Dunstan's story, as told to the author. As always, only the more sensitive parts of this story are fictionalized. Everything else is true.

Solana "Soleada" Garcia de Mendoza is a vivacious but unassuming young woman of Mayan ancestry. She is dimunutive in stature, has a disarming nickname, and an unusually calm demeanor. Most of the time. She is also among the best operatives in TJ Blackwell's network of assassins. And in the story that precedes this one, she thought she was settled. But things don't always work out the way you think they will. Nothing is permanent, and as it turns out, sometimes some things—and some people—are not what they seem. In Trying Times, Soleada continues to learn her trade, and she continues to sort through her feelings at the same time. Unfortunately, part of her trade is learning—and learning to handle—the despair and the results of having to figure out everything on her own.

Jenna Crowley is beautiful, mild-mannered, and descended from a hero. She has inherited her looks and even temperament from her three-times great-grandmother, Coralín, and her sense of justice from her three-times great-grandfather, Wes Crowley, a Texas Ranger in the 1880s.   And she is an operative for a worldwide network of assassins: Blackwell Ops.   Like the other books in the Blackwell Ops series, this one begins with a bang.   But can she play any role necessary to fulfill the missions she receives from TJ Blackwell?   But why does she feel compelled to move? And where will she end up?   Can she pull the trigger on a man she deems undeserving even though he is the target of a contract?   Will she go above and beyond to dispense justice or will her personal feelings get in the way of her profession?   If you enjoy high-tension, page-turning stories, plunge into this thrill ride.   You'll experience the sheer joy (horror?) of watching Jenna work without being a target yourself. And you won't regret it.

Buck Jackson hales from the small town of Sayre, Oklahoma. And he's a really good guy. You know, aside from his job as a top operative for Blackwell Ops. You know, aside from his job as a top operative for Blackwell Ops. But hey, everybody's gotta make a living, am I right? And Buck leads a balanced life between traveling to do his job—but never by air—actually doing his job, and getting back to his little house near Sayre and his witty, quick, and overly curious schoolteacher girlfriend, Maryann. Both of these main characters are smitten, and only one thing keeps them from tying the knot. You'll be amazed at what that one thing is. As you read this short, fast-paced, action-packed novel, you'll run the gamut of emotion from laughter to tears and heart-stopping tension, both as Buck does his job and as he tries to manage his relationship with Maryann. Come along for the laughter and tears, hang around for the tension, and see if you can guess the ending. And the upshot of that ending.

John Mercer is an easy-going street guy from Brooklyn. But hey, sometimes accidents happen. And sometimes a guy knows a guy who knows a guy and what was only a tragic accident combines with fate. And sometimes that lead us to new experiences we couldn't have imagined before the accident happenened.   That's what happened to John Mercer on a street corner in Brooklyn one day. And now he's the newest operative for Blackwell Ops. As an operative, Mercer embarks on a twisted tale of intrigue, psychological suspense and old classmates learns a new and treacherous skill, and finds romance. Or does he? Come along and find out. But watch out for the twist at the end.  

Tailor Moses is a young but already accomplished operative for Blackwell Ops. He's also a chameleon, able to blend in or stand out. He slips into roles as necessary at a moment's notice When necessary he's straight outta the hood. When necessary he's suave and debonair. When necessary he's talking his way past a gatekeeper secretary with a look that's filled with meaning—and voice that carries a particularly threatening undertone. He can be the man from Ipanema or a gangsta without the rap. He can also be a guy in a slick suit, implying that he's recently arrived from the new Outfit in Chicago to meet with a corporate type—who will most definitely want to see him, meetings or no meetings. But he's also just a man, and he's just as subject as any other man to the wishes and whims and perceived signals of a woman he finds particularly attractive. Come along and see the transformations for yourself. But don't slip onto his radar.

Ralph Christian "Rafe" Andersen is an adrenaline junkie. He's also a young but accomplished operative for Blackwell Ops. Based in Wyoming, he drives to most of his assignments, but the first time he flies and must deal with a Blackwell Ops contact, he gets a great deal more than he bargained for. Sheryl Cherie Clark nee LeBlanc, a dyed-in-the-wool Cajun, is that contact. She's also a more than legitimate force of nature. In Blackwell Ops 25, Rafe recounts several of his juicier assignments, all the while trying to balance his need for speed and a soft place to land. Come along for an exciting thrill ride mixed with psychological suspence and more than a little romance. Will Rafe hold it all together or will he slip up and pay the highest possible price?

Charles Claymore "Charlie" Task used to work for TJ Blackwell and Blackwell Ops. But after a sticky time-travel assignment to Mexico in the 1940s and 1950s, he skipped the country—and the 21st century. Now he's Charlie Tarea. Solana "Soleada" Garcia is a vivacious but unassuming young woman of Mayan ancestry. She also was a Blackwell Ops agent, and TJ sent her to Terminate With Prejudice one Charlie Task. That was all well and good—until they met. What would a "meet-cute" between two assassins look like? Soleada has also decided she will not go back to the 21st century. Instead, she and the newly minted Charlie Tarea will form Tarea-Garcia. They plan to use their various special skills to take vengeance on deserving types. But who gets to define who is deserving and who is not? Plus, can you simply walk off the job when you work for TJ Blackwell? It's complicated. TJ has allowed other operatives to quit before, though not often. They know too much. Not to mention he might be miffed these two have skipped out on him. Will he dispatch others like them—or even decidedly not like them—to terminate them as well? Come along and find out. Tarea-Garcia dare you.

Thomas Jefferson "TJ" Blackwell runs his namesake company, a worldwide network of paid professional assassins. He has operatives and "sensors"—his personal eyes and ears—on every continent and in almost every nation. You've read many stories related by his operatives. This is the story of the man himself. In The Origin Story, he candidly conveys how, where, and when he started and how Blackwell Ops came into being. The birth of Blackwell Ops was not an easy one. A seed planted in 1954 becomes a seedling nurtured through TJ's college and law school years. Finally his destiny is brought to fruition through one particular trial and the love of a beautiful woman. Come along as TJ learns and grows into the job, first as an attorney, later as an operative for what would become Blackwell Ops, and finally as the owner. Blackwell Ops: Real-Time Solutions for Real-World Problems

Charles Claymore "Charlie" Task is a self-described professional psychopath. He is also an accomplished operative for the worldwide network of specialized assassins: Blackwell Ops. This is Charlie's third account in the series, and one with a twist. Is time travel even possible? Charlie doesn't think so. And he would love nothing better than to prove his boss, TJ Blackwell, wrong. But is TJ wrong? Or is he horribly (or maybe pleasantly) right? Come along and find out. This action-adventure crime-thriller has a dash of science fantasy and a splash of magic realism. If you enjoy high-tension, page-turning stories, plunge into this thrill ride. At a minimum, you'll experience the icy, sheer joy (or horror) of watching Charlie work without becoming a target yourself. And you won't regret it.

Buck Jackson originally haled from the small town of Sayre, Oklahoma. But ever since his fiancé was murdered, he's lived in Bakersfield, California. He doesn't mind. Buck is a top operative for Blackwell Ops and he has to travel for his job anyway. How much would he love to get the nod to travel back to Sayre to set things right for his murdered love? But will he get the assignment? Take a road trip with Buck. This short, fast-paced, action-packed novel is filled with accounts of assignments Buck has accepted and hits he's made. Again you'll run the gamut of emotion from laughter to tears and heart-stopping tension, both as Buck does his job and as he tries to manage his personal life. Or what little of a personal life he has. Come along for the laughter and tears, hang around for the tension, and see if you can guess the ending.

Sam Gentry is not your run-of-the-mill operative. For one thing, he didn't sign on with the company until... well, later than most. But he had tons of experience long before he saw the Blackwell Ops ad. Many operatives worry about blending in. Sam doesn't have that problem. He's all but invisible. After you reach a certain age people don't notice you even when you're talking to them. Equally adept domestically or on foreign territory, he is also equally talented on land or on water. But he's a genuinely good guy whose work ethic puts him head and shoulders above the crowd. Men want to be like him. Women want to be with him.

In Blackwell Ops 31: Jack Temple, my publisher introduced Jack to the world. Temple's Way is the first installment in the rest of the story, as told to the author. As always, only the more sensitive parts of the story are fictionalized. Everything else is true. As an ace operative for TJ Blackwell and Blackwell Ops, Jack Temple's favorite bit of self-deception is, "Hey, I don't pick which nails to hit. I'm only the hammer." But since Jack's first appearance in Blackwell Ops 31, Jack's life has changed. Drastically. Traumatically. As a result, Jack is considering taking his life in a different direction, albeit one still particularly suited to his unique skill set. Will he find a new carpenter to wield the hammer? You needn't fear Jack Temple. He's nice enough and easy enough to get along with if you don't come up on TJ's radar. And if you don't do something stupid and incur Jack's wrath directly. If you don't believe me, ask the members of the Betelmann Group, and—Oh. No, you'd better not. Jack might misread any contact to mean you're part of the group. That would be a mistake.   Come along on this real-life thrill ride. Can you keep up with Jack Temple? Or in the alternative, can you avoid him?

Jack Temple is not a place of worship. He's an operative for Blackwell Ops. His favorite bit of self-deception is, "Hey, I don't pick which nails to hit. I'm only the hammer." In Blackwell Ops 31: Jack Temple, my publisher introduced Jack to the world. In Blackwell Ops 33: Temple's Way, tragedy struck and Jack's life changed traumatically. He considered taking his life in a new direction. In Blackwell Ops 36: Temple's Dream, what if that tragedy had never happened? Or what if it had turned out differently? This alternate history answers those questions in a mind-twisting dramatic fashion. Still, a tragedy can seldom be set aside without another one taking its place. Now, in Blackwell Ops 37: Temple-Schiff, Jack's story finally comes to a close. Or does it? As always, only the more sensitive parts of the story are fictionalized. Everything else is true.  

We all lead different lives and have different versions of 'normal.' John Quick, alias JP Sloan, is exactly what he seems at first glance: a combat-hardened tough guy and biker dude. But he is neither rude nor unrefined. A young retired US Marine, he wants to fit in to everyday civilian life. And he looks friendly enough when he smiles and utters a greeting to passersby. But most people interrupt their response to his greeting or don't respond at all. Most even avert their gaze as they go on their way. Without realizing he's doing so, John also exudes a special something—his personality—in much the way some people exude pheromones. On the advice of a true friend and unable to hold down what most think of as a 'normal' job, he eventually returns to a different version of the life he led before he retired. Believe me, he has found his perfect niche. Come along on this real-life thrill ride. Can you keep up with John Quick?