Thriller: NUKES

Sean Ryan Series, #1

**Julie & Sean meet for the first time to investigate ocean polluters in Alaska. **

An over the hill ex-narc, Sean Ryan drank himself into nearly being fired. But fortunately, a new department at the FBI, headed by Ana Gutierrez needs someone with skills and brawn to help them conduct dangerous environmental terrorists investigations.

Things couldn't be worse for Sean, who considers this a demotion, when he is teamed up with a naïve, rookie, Juliana Del Rio, a lab rat whose only skills are filing court papers and analyzing data. To boot, Julie is arrogant, and just as stubborn as Sean. She has been waiting for this chance all her life to catch the environmental crooks and thinks she knows it all.

Their first case annoys Sean no end. He is an ex-soldier with years of experience in the field. They are to pose as husband and wife on a cruise liner in Alaska to catch a crooked captain who is dumping toxic materials overboard for profit. Sean and Julie bicker constantly and Sean decides to have fun making passes her just to laugh at her exaggerated reactions.

But the FBI was wrong and this was not just an ocean dumping case. The couple stumbles on a nuclear traffic operation and dangerous terrorists who take no prisoners. The ocean is vast and their bodies might never be found. The couple has to start working together to figure a way to escape and survive certain death.

Published Reviews

★★★★★ "I enjoyed both of your books and think that you two have created what could be a marvelous franchise for a film and television property. Sean and Julie are strong characters. With Sean, you have an archetype that fits nicely into the hero's journey. He's a reluctant hero and Julie's younger character, a feisty Latina, spurs him into action. There's nice chemistry between these characters... they would be two meaty film roles." --Scott Petri, Hollywood Screen Writer, Disney

★★★★★ "Thank you for for your book " "... reminds us that safeguarding our nation's nuclear facilities from terrorist attacks is a key component of our homeland security" --Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, NY (She sent us this letter when we first published, and this was before 911 happened! )

★★★★★ "All the good stuff is here for a thrilling read. Frighteningly current and pertinent." --Book Reader, CA

★★★★★"I truly enjoyed the fast pace of this exciting story! The LoPintos drew on their combined experience as chemical engineers, knowing the weaknesses of petrochemical processing and transportation of chemicals. They studied at least six incidents, all believed to be "accidents" but no one knows how they happened..." --Ann Thomson, Rocky Ford Daily Gazette, Co

★★★★★"Authors Charles & Lidia LoPinto tell an exciting story that weaves together the worlds of environmental destruction, blackmail, and politics. " --Thomas Biblewski, Baker Street Dispatch.

★★★★★ "Poised to be the E-Files of the Environment, within the first few paragraphs the reader is caught up in the story's plot." --Mason Canyon, Chatooga Press.

★★★★★ "I wondered if this novel could possibly live up to being WORTH the asking price. I'm happy to report that if environmental stories are what you like, this new series is for you: if you are as new to them as I, let these authors make you a fan! A well written 'Cozy' with thought provoking information..." --Reviewed by Ottilee Bastgen of Concord, CA for the January issue of Cozies, Capers and Crimes Newsletter.

★★★★★"A griping, shocking and exciting novel that keeps the reader relentlessly turning pages until the end. Riveting and highly recommended." -- James Cox, The Midwest Book Review