John W. Mefford

In Defiance (an Ivy Nash Thriller, Book 1)

At Once

Eyes are the window to the soul...unless there isn't a soul to be found. A little boy makes his first kill-and he likes it. He is cunning, charming, and without remorse. He is a sociopath. As boy turns to man, what lies inside takes root. He will make a mark on Boston unlike any other, and FBI Special Agent Alex Troutt must figure out how to stop him. But when she and her close-knit team move in closer, the stakes become much higher as the case takes on a more personal tone. It's a frantic race to stop a manipulative killer before his web of deceit and destruction escalates into a blood bath of haunting proportions."

At Dusk (an Alex Troutt Thriller, Book 5)

A mystery client. A professional hit. A ruthless man who asserts his will on anyone in his path. You believe your life is captured in moments...the ones you cherish, the ones you share. But in the blink of an eye, you lose every moment that holds special meaning. A respected law career. A larger-than-life father. The love of your life. Twenty-eight-year-old Ozzie Novak, while shaken to the core, refuses to acknowledge his father's death as accidental. And while his wife's bizarre transformation has rocked his very foundation, he only knows one way to move forward: he must find out who killed his father and why. As the weight of the world converges into a combustible ball of fire destined to destroy everything, Ozzie is tested like never before. Will one remaining thread of trust be enough to save the one he holds dearest to his heart?

On Edge (an Ozzie Novak Thriller, Book 1)

IN Doubt

A new breed of killer has hit Dallas. The victims? They bleed blue. And the brotherhood is calling in the cavalry: one Booker T. Adams, PI.Excommunicated from the Dallas Police Department for refusing to overlook conduct unbefitting an officer, Booker has every reason to slam the door shut when the chief pleads for his assistance. But Booker can't turn his back on the community he's always felt drawn to protect, even if it means getting in bed with someone who tried to ruin his life.As pandemonium floods the city from the inside out, Booker chases an invisible plague. He can't stop what he can't see. And then the unthinkable happens. Another killing...and this one guts him.Driven by an eternal camaraderie he'd once shared with his long-time partner, Booker shifts into overdrive to end this sinister game, some sort of sick vigilante justice.A vengeful fury of his own takes hold. And the damned can hear him coming.

Dead Heat

"If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything." FBI Agent Alex Troutt has no intentions of falling for anything. Apparently, neither do the bad guys, as the Boston area is once again targeted by extremists. Boston Strong of just a few years ago is now Boston on Edge. And this time, the targets are men of the cloth-priests. At least that's how it looks at first. As investigators struggle to make sense of the bombings, Alex is thrown for a loop when the FBI assistant director asks her to investigate one of their own-a colleague and friend who is suspected of having ties to a known terrorist. Torn between her values of friendship and the oath she gave when she accepted her FBI credentials, Alex must now lead two investigations simultaneously. The bombings don't stop, and panic sets in as the carnage spreads beyond the realm of the original targets. Bloody Sunday. The IRA. The movement toward peace. Wounds of decades ago have reopened, bleeding all over Boston. As she pieces together the puzzle, Alex begins to wonder just how innocent her colleague really is. It's almost too much for her to fathom. Just how far will someone go to make a stand?

At Once (an Alex Troutt Thriller, Book 3)

Alexandra Giordano never knew she had it so good. Until it was all gone in an instant. As she begins her daunting quest to uncover the black spots on her memory, what she finds isn't sweet or charming or even pleasant. And that's when she begins to question everything, including herself. Her work as a Special Agent for the FBI is only a distraction, serving as a mental metronome...anything to crank the gears of her feeble mind. And then it happens-a bizarre, ritualistic murder. She loses herself in her work, fully immersed in the investigation. Unable to recall even her own kids, she's somehow able to formulate coherent theories on what type of person could pull off such a sickening act. As her mind slowly plugs a few memory gaps, her emotions are scrambled by the reality of her worlds colliding. And the resulting explosion tears her in two. Can she pick up all the incendiary fragments to solve the twisted crime while she clings to some semblance of sanity? One woman can only keep so much...AT Bay.

At Bay (an Alex Troutt Thriller, Book 1)

Break in (an Ivy Nash Thriller, Book 4)

In Control (an Ivy Nash Thriller, Book 5)

In the End (an Ivy Nash Thriller, Book 6)

The slayings are calculated and cold-blooded... ...but it's deceit that has Alex staring at the face of death. Extortion, bombings, and assassinations have created fear inside and outside of the beltway -- all while being nearly invisible. Alex goes off the books to try to stop a group that has re-defined modern-day terrorism. Alex has no choice but to pull in Ozzie -- they only find more death. A young woman with so much hope...two bullets in the back of her head. How does she connect to all the other deaths in cities across the world? Alex can only see one common thread: a blood-thirsty quest to obtain control. And that control will kill hundreds of thousands to pad the pockets of the group's leadership. Shots fly. Alex and Ozzie try to escape death. But how do all the pieces fit together? They can't. Not unless there's a betrayal that will turn Alex's world upside down -- just before she's shot in the face. You think you'll identify the Judas. But no one can predict how treacherous the mind becomes. Is this the last day of Alex's life? Get AT Any Cost now!

(an Alex Troutt Thriller, Book 8)

At Any Cost

At Every Turn (an Alex Troutt Thriller, Book 10)

His heart beats. Barely. Each thump pounds his mind deeper into oblivion. And he wonders -- How did I get here? A father goes missing. Not just any father. But a person once worshipped for his world-class talent. Enter the most unconventional team around: Willow Ball and Cooper Chain. As a nurse at the community clinic, Willow has seen the painful effects of heroin addiction. But now she's compelled to help a grieving wife and mother.Dodging the mob at every turn. Cooper has a plan to bring them down while getting traction on his upstart career. Is he marching into a trap? With their relationship bordering the "friends with benefits" stage, Willow and Cooper team up to find the missing person. But it's not that simple. Nothing with them is ever simple. The hunt corkscrews into an impossible maze of events -- their lives threatened by a swarm of twisted deviants and social misfits. Emotions run rampant, stoking one savage response after another. A spark ignites the hate, but what is the real fuel for this wave of brutal crimes? Ultimately, can Willow and Cooper save a family from the torment before it's too late? Only if they can overcome their own...fear. Get FEAR now! If you're a fan of Michael Connelly's Ballard and Bosch, David Baldacci's King and Maxwell, Tess Gerritsen's Rizzoli and Isles, or the TV show "Castle," you'll be enthralled by this gut-busting Ball & Chain thriller. *Warning: The Ball & Chain Thrillers are full of white-knuckle suspense and sarcastic sass. Proceed with caution. The Ball & Chain Thrillers: MERCY (Book 1) FEAR (Book 2) BURY (Book 3) LURE (Book 4)

Fear

Air pumps into the dark night sky. The blade of the shovel digs deeper and deeper. And the cries from below are slowly devoured by the howl of a coyote. Willow Ball and Cooper Chain are tied at the hip -- on some days that's a fantasy, other days a curse. But there's one thing they agree on: if they hope to outsmart a ruthless crime boss, luck will have to fall their way. But that's only part of their perilous imbroglio. Life slips off the rails in a hurry . . . and the implications could be deadly. A shallow grave is uncovered... and it's the unthinkable. With little evidence, authorities have no suspects. But could this be connected to a similar killing more than two decades earlier? When another girl goes missing, their world stops down. How is Cooper's daughter caught up in the web? Every path seems blocked, because every person wants something buried. Does that include what Willow and Cooper feel for each other? Cops are gunned down, friends are framed and murdered -- how can Willow and Cooper make sense of it all to finally end the mayhem? But when one more person goes missing, it shreds Cooper's heart. What will Cooper and Willow sacrifice to save his daughter? Get BURY now! You will devour this book if you're a fan of the Fox & O'Hare novels by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, Michael Connelly's Ballard and Bosch, David Baldacci's King and Maxwell, Tess Gerritsen's Rizzoli and Isles, or the TV show "Castle." The Ball & Chain Thrillers: MERCY (Book 1) FEAR (Book 2) BURY (Book 3) LURE (Book 4)

Bury

Streets of Mayhem

Cooper's running from the mob... Willow's running from her past... Can they put up with each other long enough to stop a killer? Imagine a mashup of BALLARD & BOSCH with BECKETT & CASTLE. _____________________________ "Part mystery, part laughs, 100% riveting thriller!" _____________________________ Through fate -- or a temporary misalignment of the stars -- Willow Ball and Cooper Chain cross paths for the first time since college. Sparks fly, but not for the right reasons. The ex-lovers stumble over a dead body. The discovery fractures a family, but it's the killer's calling card that leaves everyone chilled to the bone. The cops are baffled, unable to connect the dots, forcing Willow and Cooper to step in. Attacks ensue, chaos ruptures wedding plans . . . Through it all, how can the ex-lovers make sense of the puzzle? But it's not over. As the bodies pile up, a pattern slowly develops. At least that's how Ball & Chain see it. And then someone emerges from Willow's past -- and it rocks her to the core. Could he be connected to this string of murders? It's been 18 years, 7 months, and 21 days. The torment can last only so long. The past might provide the breadcrumbs to end this nightmare, but Willow and Cooper may not live long enough to see it through. Can the snarky crime-fighting duo stop the killing in the name of mercy? Or will they be the final victims? Get MERCY now! John W. Mefford's Ball & Chain Thrillers are right up your reading alley if you're a fan of the Fox & O'Hare novels by Janet Evanovich, Michael Connelly's Ballard and Bosch, Harlan Coben's Myron Bolitar, David Baldacci's King and Maxwell, Tess Gerritsen's Rizzoli and Isles, or the TV show "Castle." ______________________________ Dear Reader, If you love to bury yourself in a book that's part laughs, part mystery, and one hundred percent riveting adventure, then Ball & Chain are right up your alley. Readers say they love the relatable but quirky characters, the snarky tension between Ball & Chain, and the heart-pounding suspense. I hope you give Ball & Chain a read. I think you might get hooked like thousands of other readers across the globe. Cheers, John ______________________________ Follow all of the misadventures of Cooper and Willow in The Ball & Chain Thrillers: MERCY (Book 1) FEAR (Book 2) BURY (Book 3) LURE (Book 4) PREY (Book 5) VANISH (Book 6) ESCAPE (Book 7) *Warning: The Ball & Chain novels are an addictive thrill ride full of white-knuckle suspense and snarky wit. Mystery-thrillers with a slice of humor and a dash of romance. Proceed with caution.

Mercy

A painting. A memory. A death. Can safe refuge ever be found? Mindi Mendrano was a golden goddess with a tennis prowess few had ever seen. And then she vanished. Who had the greatest motive to kill her? Before Cooper Chain can finally get the green light to pen his first book -- a biography on a once-famous tennis phenom -- he must find her. If she's still alive. Can secrets kill? A man disappears into the bowels underneath the city of Dallas, and Willow Ball can't make sense of it or the odd people she befriends. Does at least one man have an ulterior motive? Two die the hard way, leaving Willow and Cooper scrambling to see the truth through a haze of lies. Can secrets kill? Retracing every aspect of Mindi's former life, team Ball & Chain uncover a key to her past. But will it unlock memories that create the ultimate time bomb? The very existence of a hidden society is on the line -- and one man will either force their loyalty or recreate one of the deadliest events in modern history. Can secrets kill? Cooper and Willow have one chance to stop the killing and save a life. But will they be too late? Get LURE now! You'll love this Ball & Chain thriller if you're a fan of the Fox & O'Hare novels by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, Michael Connelly's Ballard and Bosch, David Baldacci's King and Maxwell, Tess Gerritsen's Rizzoli and Isles, or the TV show "Castle." Don't miss out on all the Ball & Chain Thrillers: MERCY - Book 1 FEAR - Book 2 BURY - Book 3 LURE - Book 4 PREY - Book 5

Lure

Observation is just the first step. Then comes the action. And these actions will speak louder than any words. Someone is watching. Scrutinizing every flip of the hair, change of expression, and spoken word. How long until they come for you? For Cooper Chain and Willow Ball, it was a normal weekday morning. Until the moment Cooper opens the back door and... Was it just an accident? Or is an invisible force trying to eliminate Ball & Chain off the face of the Earth? Unable to let go of the memory of her father, Willow takes the lure of learning more information. But a meeting goes horribly wrong, and death is knocking on her door. Sucked into a vortex of bizarre, deathly events, Willow and Cooper struggle to fight off a never-ending series of attacks. They take one step, but someone else is always a step ahead. How can they defeat what they cannot see? But when the gauntlet is thrown down, survival takes on a whole new meaning. And that's when Willow and Cooper come face-to-face with a force that could bury them for good. How many shapes can evil take? Get PREY now! You will devour this book if you're a fan of Michael Connelly's Ballard and Bosch, David Baldacci's King and Maxwell, Tess Gerritsen's Rizzoli and Isles, Janet Evanovich's Fox and O'Hare, Stuart Woods, or the TV show "Castle." *Warning: The Ball & Chain Thrillers are an addictive thrill ride full of white-knuckle suspense and sarcastic sass. A mystery-thriller with a slice of humor. Go figure. Proceed with caution. The Ball & Chain Thrillers: MERCY (Book 1) FEAR (Book 2) BURY (Book 3) LURE (Book 4) PREY (Book 5) VANISH (Book 6)

Prey

Cooper Chain can't sleep. He doesn't want to believe it. And he can't stop singing the lyrics from an old Hall & Oates song, "She's gone."Stuck in Miami to drop off his daughter, Cooper's world goes from bad to worse. But is there a clue on a dead body that could lead him to Willow?On the run from the cops and aided by a woman with skills akin to the Black Widow, Cooper's quest to find Willow is met with one death threat after another. Who can he really trust?Ten years ago a little boy was murdered in a hilly Alabama forest. Is it possible that a re-connection of Ball & Chain is tied to uncovering the killer?There's a dark shadow looming over one county in the deep south. And a black hole might just devour Ball & Chain...unless they're to trust a clan of misfits. It might just be too crazy to work.With the clock about to run out, can Cooper, Willow, and their new friends solve a cold case and out-run, out-think a legion of ruthless mercenaries before they're buried for good?You'll bust a gut at the wild cast of characters that ride shotgun in this heart-pounding Ball & Chain adventure.

John W. Mefford

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