COLOMBIAN BETRAYAL
Bruce and Smith Thriller, #1
by Randall Krzak
March 30th 2020
Publisher: Randall Krzak Books
Genre: Action-Adventure, Political Thriller Suspense,
Thriller
ISBN: 0978944100
ISBN-13: 978-0978944100
ASIN: B0854CFJTV
Number of pages: 330
Word Count: 82,039
Tagline: Colombian Betrayal exposes the death and violence behind the entangled interactions between governments, revolutionaries, terrorists, and drug lords.
BLURB
Colombian Betrayal tears the cover off the drug trade and exposes the death, and violence behind the twisted connections between governments, revolutionaries, terrorists, and drug lords.
Watch as an unholy alliance is formed when the profits of a Columbian drug lord Olivia Moreno, begin disappearing and deadly new international competitors appear on the horizon.
Moreno, head of the Barranquilla Cartel, strikes a deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Little does she know she is signing her own death warrant! FARC has a group wanting a foothold in South America—the Islamic State, and she is in the way.
On the run, Moreno is captured by a CIA team. She spins a tale to use her money and manpower to destroy ISIS in an effort to save herself. Laws and rules of engagement are meaningless to Moreno, her life and her family are her only concern. Will the CIA leader fall for her offer?
Will team leader AJ Bruce strike a deal to turn the tables on Islamic State? Can she stop them from launching an attack on the United States? Or will she be too late?
Is it worth trading control of Afghanistan’s poppy fields with Moreno as a reward for her cooperation? Or is Bruce playing her in an attempt to double-cross her and kill two birds with one stone?
Get your copy today, and watch this high stakes game of kill or be killed.
Excerpt
AJ Bruce weaved
through heavy traffic on the Capital Beltway. She alternated between leaning on
the horn and cursing at slower motorists.
“Late again. I
don’t need this!” She slammed a hand on the steering wheel of her gunmetal gray
Honda Pilot. “Boss is gonna kill me.”
She slipped to
the right around a banged-up clunker, her vehicle bouncing on the rough
shoulder. AJ spotted her exit and sped along the edge of the freeway and flew
down the ramp. She raced through a red light and whipped her vehicle toward the
security checkpoint at the CIA facility in Langley, skidding to a halt at the
end of a line of cars waiting for access.
“C’mon, c’mon!”
AJ urged the cars in front to move faster. At last, her turn came. She flashed
her badge at the sensor and shot past the barricade. She grabbed a pass from
the console, flung the placard on the dash, jumped out of her car, and raced
inside.
Once through the
turnstile, she rushed to the elevator, the one-inch heels of her black leather
shoes clicking on the tiled floor. Two minutes later, AJ waltzed into her
section and made her way to the boss’s office, stopping at a kiosk on the way
for a cup of black coffee.
“AJ, so glad you
could join us today.” Robert Lintstone, head of the counter-terrorism division
responsible for tracking terrorists in Latin America, sneered as he half-bowed
and waved her to a seat. “What’s your excuse this time?”
Prick. As if I’d
tell him in front of others. He’s always talking about the need to know.
Staying out all night after the class reunion is my own business. Flicking her
long, brown hair, AJ slid into a chair and glanced around the table. Four of
her staff occupied seats, with empty coffee mugs in front of them. Within easy
reach, notepads were covered with several lines of writing. Damn! I’m really
late—wonder what they already covered? She tried to sneak a peek at the pad
nearest her. The person smiled and turned it so she could read.
A stranger with
black hair in a military cut, piercing green eyes, and olive complexion sat
opposite her. Silver eagles of a full colonel adorned the epaulets of his
uniform. His nametag read Smith.
Lintstone rubbed
a hand through his thinning gray hair and cleared his throat. “There are
indications the Islamic State is attempting to gain a foothold in our
territory. They’ve already infiltrated a number of countries around the world.
We’re trying to ascertain the validity of the intel before we make a move.”
“What’s the
source?” AJ scribbled on a notepad while her boss spoke.
“Two sensitive
contacts, both unconfirmed. One reported Islamic State purchased an old
freighter from an Iranian corporation through a cutout. They’re using the
Liberian-flagged ship as a floating command post. The other stated IS training
camps are being set up in Colombia and Panama.” He shook his head before
peering at them through thick glasses. “It might be a smart move on their part
since no one would believe they had willing conscripts in these countries.”
Lintstone pounded
a fist on his desk. The civilians flinched. “Dammit, people! We need
collaborative intel. Fast! Someone check with NSA and Homeland Security. Find
out if they can help. Call State as well, but I doubt they’ll be of any use.”
A tall, thin man
with receding gray hair vaulted from his chair. “On it, sir.” He hurried from
the room before Lintstone added any further instructions.
“Contact the
British and the Canadians, too. Perhaps they’ll share with us, although
there’ll be a quid pro quo.”
A bald man, on
the heavy side, lumbered to his feet with the use of a cane. “Will do, chief.”
“Don’t offer any
more than necessary.”
“Yes, sir.” The
man limped through the doorway, banging the door shut behind him.
Lintstone glared
at two women sitting at the end of the table. “Well, what are you waiting for?
An invitation? Back to your computers and analyze. Contact NGA—see if the
geospatial folks know more than they’ve shared. Find me something—anything to
point us in the right direction.”
The women nodded
and left.
“What about us,
boss?” AJ gestured toward the colonel to include him in her question.
“This is Colonel
Javier Smith, First Special Forces Operational Detachment. He’s here as an
advisor. Colonel, meet AJ Bruce, my troubleshooter.”
AJ gazed at the
colonel. “So you’re Delta Force?”
“Yes, but I’m
not just here to advise.” He glanced at Lintstone. “This will be my last time
in the field before taking up a new assignment at the Pentagon. That’s why I’m
in uniform today. I met with my new commander earlier, and he’s a stickler for
proper military etiquette and attire. Didn’t have time to change before this
meeting.”
Both stood and
walked around the table to shake hands. The colonel dwarfed AJ’s
five-foot-ten-inch frame by six inches. AJ noted a thin scar running from his
left ear to his chin. After a firm squeeze, both returned to their seats.
“You’ll be
working togeth—”
AJ pursed her
lips. “Sir, I work alone.” Oh great. Just what I need—a special forces
guerrilla tagging along. But, least he’s cute.
“Not this time.
Orders from above.”
“Don’t worry,
AJ, you won’t slow me down.” His bass voice resonating, Colonel Smith smiled.
“Excuse me,
Colonel, I don’t want you to be in my way.” AJ crossed her arms. A frown etched
her face.
“You two
finished?” Lintstone glanced at both of them. “Good. You’re working together—no
debate.”
“Yes, boss.” AJ
dragged the words out.
Author Info
Randall Krzak is a U.S. Army veteran and retired senior civil servant, spending thirty years in Europe, Africa, Central America, and the Middle East. His residency abroad qualifies him to build rich worlds in his action-adventure novels and short stories. Familiar with customs, laws, and social norms, he promotes these to create authentic characters and scenery.
His first novel, The Kurdish Connection, was published in 2017, and the sequel, Dangerous Alliance, was released in November2018. Both placed in the 2018 Global Thriller Book Awards sponsored by Chanticleer International Book Awards, with The Kurdish Connection finishing as a semi-finalist and Dangerous Alliance being selected as one of seven first in category winners. The third novel in the series, Carnage in Singapore, was released in August 2019, and is currently a semi-finalist in the 2019 Chanticleer International Book Awards. He also penned "A Dangerous Occupation," a winning entry in the August 2016Wild Sound Writing and Film Festival Review short story category.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland and a general Master in Business Administration (MBA) and a MBA with an emphasis in Strategic Focus, both from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland. He currently resides with his wife, Sylvia, and six cats in Dunfermline, Scotland. He's originally from Michigan, while Sylvia is a proud Scot. In addition to writing, he enjoys hiking, reading, candle making, pyrography, and sightseeing.
The Book Junkie Reads . . . Interview with Randall Krzak . . .
How would you describe your style of writing to someone that has never read your work? I use a minimalist style, inasmuch I try not to overdo narrative sections of my novels so the stories are told through the characters’ dialogue. Since I write action-adventure, this keeps the stories fast-paced. It seems to be working based on the results for my novels in The Chanticleer International Book Awards in their Global Thrillers category. They finished as:2018 semi-finalist: The Kurdish Connection
2018 one of seven First in Category winners: Dangerous Alliance
2019 semi-finalist (so far): Carnage in Singapore. The final 2019 positions are supposed to be revealed in early May 2020.
Colombian Betrayal has been submitted in the 2020 competition, but it will be at least the end of the year before I know whether it’s moved from the slush pile, the long list, etc.
Do you feel that writing is an ingrained process or just something that flows naturally for you? Throughout my working life, expository writing began as an ingrained process, but eventually seems to flow naturally. Perhaps that’s why a long-time friend and work colleague suggested I try writing a novel. My initial foray came out more like an exposition than a fictional story, but now it seems to be a natural flow.
What mindset or routine do you feel the need to set when preparing to write (in general whether you are working on a project or just free writing)? This is something which has never been a problem for me—I just push back my sleeves and get started. I remember a college professor once informing the class after a mid-term exam about his observations of the students. Some stared out the window, some gazed at the ceiling, while others apparently appeared totally lost. He said I was the only one who immediately began reading the questions and writing. To this day, I can still sit in front of the computer and begin composing.
Can you share your next creative project(s)? If yes, can you give a few details? I just finished chapter 14 of Xavier Sear: Angola and posted it to the two subscription writing sites mention above. To date, the story has received 128 chapter reviews.
I’m also working on Ultimate Escalation, the fourth novel in my Bedlam series, and follows Carnage in Singapore. I’ve completed seven chapters so far.
Being a plotter vice a pantser (I think the terms are self-explanatory), I have plenty of additional projects planned. There will be at least one more book to follow Ultimate Escalation, which will be called Frozen Conquest. I’ve already written the synopsis for it.
Colombian Betrayal is the first in A Bruce & Smith Thriller series, which will have 6-10 novels. I’ve already given titles to the next five and written the synopses. The next in the series will be called Revenge.
Xavier Sear: Angola is the first in my Xavier Sear series. I have a total of seven planned for this series. The countries have already been selected, but I haven’t started on the synopses yet.
I’m also working on a three-book series. The first one is called New World Revolution: A New Home. I’ve written four chapters so far and have the ideas sorted out for the other two.
What are some of your writing/publishing goals for this year? I hope to have Xavier Sear: Angola published by the end of the year. My goal is to submit Ultimate Escalation to my publisher about a year from now.
Website: www.randallkrzak.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rjkrzak
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