The Joe Gall Mysteries Series

An operative heads to the steamy Caribbean and brings some heat of his own: “I admire Philip Atlee’s writing tremendously.” —Raymond Chandler Joe Gall is the kind of guy who gets called in when no one else can get the job done—a freelance operative with a CIA background who knows how to track down intel, hide in the shadows, find his quarry, and eliminate the threat. Now, a Caribbean island is having a problem with snakes—the kind only someone like Joe Gall can exterminate . . .   From an Edgar Award finalist called “the John D. MacDonald of espionage fiction,” this is a hard-hitting tale of action, danger, and international intrigue (Larry McMurtry, The New York Times).

With trouble brewing in Burma, it’s time to call in the agent of last resort, in this thriller by “the John D. MacDonald of espionage fiction” (Larry McMurtry, The New York Times).   In Washington, they call him the Nullifier—the man to hire when every diplomatic option has failed. Joe Gall is now on his way to Burma, where the government is at its wits’ end trying to expel a nationalist Chinese general and his army.   And if he needs backup, he has the ability to call in firepower from the famed Gurhka regiment, in this action-adventure thriller from the Edgar Award–nominated author.   “I admire Philip Atlee’s writing tremendously.” —Raymond Chandler

From the Edgar Award–nominated author:An agent for hire plays bodyguard to a titled beauty in Tenerife—and mixes partying with peril . . .   Joe Gall, freelance operative, is assigned to protect a beautiful baroness under threat—and solve the mystery of who is after her. That means heading to the Canary Islands—and playing the part of a rich, hard-drinking American in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it . . .   “[Philip Atlee is] the John D. MacDonald of espionage fiction.” —Larry McMurtry, The New York Times   “I admire Philip Atlee’s writing tremendously.” —Raymond Chandler

One man must stop separatists targeting a tourist destination on the US border in this thriller by “the John D. MacDonald of espionage fiction” (Larry McMurtry, The New York Times).   A movement is afoot in Canada’s majority French–speaking province, Quebec, to separate from the rest of the country, and the FLQ is the organization leading the way. But some supporters of the cause are impatient—and want to take the fight to another level.   Now ex–CIA agent John Gall is being called in to stop an armed splinter group—and an explosive terrorist attack at Niagara Falls—in this action-packed thriller by an Edgar Award–nominated author.

The “grand spy-chase novel . . . highly successful and realistic” that introduced the international operative with a lethal touch (Publishers Weekly). Secret agent Joe Gall has a puzzle to put together that stretches from the streets of Laredo, Texas, to the steamy island of Trinidad—and along the way, he must deal with a New Orleans nun with some surprising fighting skills as well as civil unrest in a small southern town . . .   As he battles bad guys using all the smarts and survival tactics he learned from the CIA, there are two beautiful women who may hold the answers—but Gall has to start asking the right questions—in the debut thriller of this action-packed series that would go on to earn an Edgar Award nomination. “I admire Philip Atlee’s writing tremendously.” —Raymond Chandler

An undercover operative heads to the island paradise of Tahiti to prevent a nuclear nightmare in this novel by  “the John D. MacDonald of espionage fiction” (Larry McMurtry, The New York Times).   Freelance agent Joe Gall is supposedly monitoring French atomic testing near the Pacific island of Tahiti. But that’s just a cover. His real assignment: disrupt the budding relationship between De Gaulle and the Red Chinese. The plan is to kidnap one of the leading French scientists, sabotage the test—and prevent annihilation . . .   “I admire Philip Atlee’s writing tremendously.” —Raymond Chandler

From the Edgar Award finalist: An operative tries to provide a shield between a target for murder and the madman who’s left behind a trail of corpses . . .   There have been multiple murder victims so far—and though the methods have varied, all the bodies were found with a small figure of a wolverine, carved from ivory, attached to their earlobes with baling wire. The true motive of the killer—or killers—may be a mystery, but freelance agent Joe Gall’s first priority is to protect a prominent resident of Vancouver who could be next . . . “I admire Philip Atlee’s writing tremendously.” —Raymond Chandler “[Philip Atlee is] the John D. MacDonald of espionage fiction.” — Larry McMurtry, The New York Times

A mining operation could lead to an international incident: “I admire Philip Atlee’s writing tremendously.” —Raymond Chandler Off the coast of Indonesia, the Japanese are harvesting an incredible amount of manganese, a mineral highly prized in the manufacturing community, from the ocean floor. The question is: how are they getting it—and how can the United States get a piece of it? The only man for the job is Joe Gall, but this seemingly simple assignment is about to go sideways . . .   This twist-filled adventure comes from the Edgar Award–nominated author who’s been called “the John D. MacDonald of espionage fiction” (Larry McMurtry, The New York Times).

A wild plot leads a covert operative around the globe—and into deadly trouble: “I admire Philip Atlee’s writing tremendously.” —Raymond Chandler Joe Gall’s current assignment involves escorting a sexy folk singer on an international journey—but as always for the ex–CIA operative, there’s more going on behind the scenes. Before this job is through, Gall will find himself untangling a mystery involving a toy manufacturer, an assassination plot, and a dictator’s goons—and trying desperately to make it out alive . . .   This classic series of action novels featuring the fearless freelancer comes from the Edgar Award–nominated author praised as “the John D. MacDonald of espionage fiction” (Larry McMurtry, The New York Times).

A hard-edged covert operative crosses into Mexico—and enters a dark, dangerous spiral—in this novel from “an able practitioner” of the thriller genre (Larry McMurtry, The New York Times). A freelancer specializing in covert ops, Joe Gall has been tasked with doing a background check on a millionaire—a job that will take him into the wild and gritty world of 1960s Mexico. Unfortunately, the assignment has already come to a bad end for two different agents before him. It will put Gall in the crosshairs of some very dangerous people—not to mention piranhas—as he goes deeper and deeper undercover, into the terrifying world of heroin addiction . . . From the Edgar Award–nominated author of The White Wolverine Contract, this is lighting-paced Cold War–era action at its best.

A freelance agent stalks a shadowy arms dealer in this novel of action and adventure by the Edgar Award finalist . . .   Rebellion is brewing in New Grenada—and the government of Cuba is only too happy to help the cause along. Now, freelance agent Joe Gall has been tasked with heading there to gather intel on Mike Bonner, an international salesman of arms and explosives. And when Gall untangles the truth about Bonner’s role in the simmering crisis, he must take all necessary action to prevent widespread bloodshed . . .   “[Philip Atlee is] the John D. MacDonald of espionage fiction.” —Larry McMurtry, The New York Times   “I admire Philip Atlee’s writing tremendously.” —Raymond Chandler

An agent goes undercover in a militant group in this wild action-adventure tale from an Edgar Award finalist.   Freelance operative Joe Gall has been asked to infiltrate the Republic of New Africa, a black militant group—not an easy assignment for a white guy. Using pills to change his skin tone, he goes undercover and joins the organization—with some unexpected results . . . “I admire Philip Atlee’s writing tremendously.” —Raymond Chandler “[Philip Atlee is] the John D. MacDonald of espionage fiction.” — Larry McMurtry, The New York Times

An agent poses as a rich playboy—and winds up with a target on his back—in this thriller by the Edgar Award–nominated author.   Oil baron Mike Donoghue is on a top-secret assignment for the US government. To protect the mission, someone needs to pose as a decoy—and that’s where freelance agent Joe Gall comes in.   Now, Gall must trade places with a man known for his wealthy, high-flying lifestyle and his love of drink and beautiful women. It’s a role the operative doesn’t mind stepping into—the only problem is someone wants the real Donoghue dead . . .   “[Philip Atlee is] the John D. MacDonald of espionage fiction.” —Larry McMurtry, The New York Times   “I admire Philip Atlee’s writing tremendously.” —Raymond Chandler

A dangerous hunt for African diamonds propels this thriller to a “rousing” finish (Don D’Ammassa, Hugo Award nominee).   In this international adventure by the Edgar Award–nominated author, freelance operative Joe Gall is on the hunt for a valuable cache of diamonds. But along the way he must break a man out of jail, cross a barren African desert, and fight his way through multiple double crosses . . .   “[Philip Atlee is] the John D. MacDonald of espionage fiction.” —Larry McMurtry, The New York Times “I admire Philip Atlee’s writing tremendously.” —Raymond Chandler

When a CIA agent needs rescuing in South America, it’s Joe Gall who gets the call, in this thriller from the Edgar Award–nominated author.   Joe Gall is on assignment in Sao Paulo, Brazil, living in a home with a housekeeper named Julietta—who happens to be a conduit to the South American country’s notorious October Eighth Movement. The group has abducted a legendary member of the CIA—and it’s up to Gall to get him back . . .   This tale of international intrigue and adventure comes from Philip Atlee, “the John D. Macdonald of espionage fiction” (Larry McMurtry, The New York Times). “I admire Philip Atlee’s writing tremendously.” —Raymond Chandler

The heat is rising in Indonesia in this action-packed adventure by “the John D. MacDonald of espionage fiction” (Larry McMurtry, The New York Times).   When Joe Gall heads to Indonesia on an assignment to acquire a fortune in precious metals, he finds himself in the midst of an attempted coup and a civil war, a bloody battle fought by the military and the Communists. Now he has to guard something even more valuable than gold and silver—his own life—in this gripping thriller by the Edgar Award finalist.  “I admire Philip Atlee’s writing tremendously.” —Raymond Chandler

Plutonium has gone missing—and one man must prevent an explosion—in this thriller by the Edgar Award–nominated author.   Freelancer Joe Gall has a new contract that sends him to South Korea, where stolen nuclear material must be recovered. Posing as a missionary—and assisted by a fervent believer determined to save his soul—Gall is caught among pursuers from both sides of the 38th parallel, as well as a rogue group intent on setting off World War III. He’ll have to stop them before things get radioactive . . .   “[Philip Atlee is] the John D. MacDonald of espionage fiction.” —Larry McMurtry, The New York Times “I admire Philip Atlee’s writing tremendously.” —Raymond Chandler

They trained him to kill—but now he’s gone rogue—in this action-adventure thriller by “the John D. MacDonald of espionage fiction” (Larry McMurtry, The New York Times).   The CIA didn’t mind when the army officer deserted his post in Vietnam and wound up killing a high-level Yemeni official. After all, that’s what they’d paid him for. But now it looks like he and his fellow assassins are going after targets of their own choosing—and it’s time for freelance operative Joe Gall to step in . . . “I admire Philip Atlee’s writing tremendously.” —Raymond Chandler

 In Turkey, a planned prisoner exchange goes dangerously awry, in this thriller from the Edgar Award–nominated author.   Joe Gall must travel to Turkey after three Americans are abducted by terrorists. The plan is to break one of their compatriots out of jail in order to make a trade for the hostages. But kidnappers aren’t known for keeping their promises—and before he knows it, the freelance operative is in deep danger . . .   “[Philip Atlee is] the John D. MacDonald of espionage fiction.” —Larry McMurtry, The New York Times “I admire Philip Atlee’s writing tremendously.” —Raymond Chandler

In Northern Ireland, it takes an assassin to catch one, in this thriller by “the John D. MacDonald of espionage fiction” (Larry McMurtry, The New York Times).   As the Troubles rage in Northern Ireland, a mysterious killer has been putting bullets in victims’ heads one by one—with no apparent pattern or logic. Now Joe Gall has been tasked with quietly looking into the matter by a high-ranking American cabinet official who fears his son may be involved. Gall sets out to find the boy and bring him home alive—if possible. But the story behind the murders may be more complicated than it seems . . .   “I admire Philip Atlee’s writing tremendously.” —Raymond Chandler

Operative Joe Gall heads to Hong Kong to identify a bizarre new weapon and the mysterious forces behind it in this thriller from the Edgar Award nominee.   What could’ve caused the sudden, multiple miscarriages among the ordinary, healthy women working at an innocuous Asian company? To solve the mystery, Joe Gall must head to Hong Kong—where he will tangle with a Taiwanese businessman and Soviet agents to uncover a complicated conspiracy . . .   “[Philip Atlee is] the John D. MacDonald of espionage fiction.” —Larry McMurtry, The New York Times “I admire Philip Atlee’s writing tremendously.” —Raymond Chandler

A freelance operative must smuggle three people out of an African country after a coup in “one of the best of the Gall novels” (Don D’Ammassa, Hugo Award nominee).   The dictator of Murundi has been deposed, and his only hope for getting out of the country safely is American operative Joe Gall. But it won’t be easy since the general who just took him down has agents on their tail—and their little entourage must count on Gall to protect them as they desperately try to make it across the border . . .   This fast-paced international adventure comes from the Edgar Award finalist who has been called “the John D. MacDonald of espionage fiction” (Larry McMurtry, The New York Times). “I admire Philip Atlee’s writing tremendously.” —Raymond Chandler

A moneymaking scheme in Burma proves more dangerous than the jungle itself in the first action novel featuring Joe Gall by the Edgar Award finalist.   Down on his luck in Rangoon, Joe Gall agrees to partner up with an old acquaintance named Varley for a chance to make millions in the jungles of war-torn Burma. Gall expected the scheme to involve fists and guns—but when he discovers Varley’s working both sides, it’s every man for himself . . .   Originally published under the name James Atlee Phillips, Pagoda marked the first appearance of Joe Gall, the fearless freelance operative whose many adventures would take him around the world—and straight into danger.   “[Philip Atlee is] the John D. MacDonald of espionage fiction.” —Larry McMurtry, The New York Times “I admire Philip Atlee’s writing tremendously.” —Raymond Chandler