Best Selling Books by Russell Blake

Lucas embarks on a cross-country journey for what''s supposed to be a simple vaccine delivery mission, but which quickly devolves into a battle to survive when he and his team become embroiled in a conspiracy so massive it will change the fate of America.

JET - Ops Files, Terror Alert picks up the story of Maya, the operative who would become Jet, on her first mission in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where she must race the clock to stop a terror attack that would change the world order. Spanning the globe, from Israel to Bangladesh to Europe to the UK, Maya must risk it all to save thousands of innocents from an atrocity too horrifying to contemplate.

Twenty-eight year old Jet, the former Mossad operative from the eponymous novel JET, must battle insurmountable odds to protect those she loves in a deadly race that stretches from the heartland of Nebraska to the corridors of power in Washington, D.C., from the lurid streets of Bangkok to the deadly jungles of Laos and Myanmar. Fans of Kill Bill, the Bourne trilogy, and 24 will be delighted by this roller-coaster of action, intrigue and suspense.

In the eighteenth installment in the JET series, Jet''s world is turned upside down when violent attacks force her to abandon her family in order to save them.

After months on the run, JET settles down, only to be delivered an unthinkable ultimatum she can''t refuse: risk her life, or her family''s. Spanning the globe, from Hungary to Israel to Azerbaijan, Jet must use every ounce of her skill if she is to survive. Another breathtaking installment in the JET series by a NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author.

Includes an excerpt from Book two in the Fatal series: Fatal deception.

Investigative journalist Leah Mason has returned home to El Paso with her career in flames and her romantic life in tatters. Despondent over life''s body blows, her prospects and her future change overnight with a phone call from a stranger that immerses her in a deadly international conspiracy, putting her on the dangerous trail of a brutal killer who will stop at nothing to keep the past buried.

"Night of the Assassin is the gritty, edge-of-your seat prequel to King of Swords. A no-holds-barred, breakneck-paced thriller, Night charts the early years of El Rey -- known as the King of Swords -- a super-assassin responsible for some of the world''s most spectacular and daring executions. Framed against the backdrop of present-day Mexico''s brutal narco-trafficking violence, Night of the Assassin chronicles the making of a monster -- a cold-blooded, ruthless killing machine. Raw, disturbing, edgy and unflinching, this epic saga defies convention to create a roller-coaster of intrigue, suspense and thrills that will leave even the most jaded thriller aficionados gasping for breath."--Back cover.

"Legacy is the fifth installment in the bestselling Jet series, which follows the saga of the Mossad''s deadliest ex-operative, who faked her own death to escape her past. In this novel, Jet is called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to keep the ones she loves, and the world, safe" -- back cover.

When Artemus Black is hired to investigate a series of suspicious accidents at LA''s most prestigious modeling agency, he quickly discovers that brooding pouts and mascara can be as dangerous as guns or bombs. From LA to Mexico to Tahoe to NY, the story pokes fun at the world of high fashion as Black races to discover who''s killing the models...

Return of the Assassin is the shocking continuation of the saga of El Rey, the notorious Mexican cartel super-assassin whose legacy of impossible kills has earned him the reputation as the most lethally effective hit man in the world. Faced with impossible choices as he races against time, El Rey must return to a cartel underworld where the smallest slip means instant death, on a suicide mission to save the life of a young woman whose escape and survival is inexorably linked to his own.

Conflicting imperatives tear Lucas in different directions as a mounting threat to Shangri-La''s survival looms large. In this eighth installment in the bestselling Day After Never series, Lucas faces more ominous challenges than ever before and must risk everything if he, and those he loves, are to survive.

"Reckoning pits Jet against the deadliest threat yet - an enemy with endless resources who will stop at nothing to destroy her. From the mountains of Indonesia to the streets of Washington, Jet discovers in a break-neck paced roller-coaster of action that danger lurks in the unlikeliest of places and nothing is as it seems."--Page 4 of cover.

A controversial, frightening bio-thriller that blurs the line between truth and fiction, Upon A Pale Horse raises disturbing questions about the man-made origin of nightmare epidemics, and posits a conspiracy so plausible that it will linger long after the novel''s shocking conclusion. When young attorney Jeffrey Rutherford''s brother is killed in a plane crash minutes after takeoff from JFK, his life is turned upside down - especially when he discovers that his brother''s career wasn''t what it seemed. Jeffrey''s staid existence is upended as he races to unravel a Gordian knot of deceit and betrayal, and ultimately must battle an unstoppable adversary bent on systematic global genocide.

When a sacred relic is stolen from its subterranean guarded vault, Dr. Steven Cross, amateur cryptographer, becomes embroiled in a deadly quest to decipher one of history''s most enigmatic documents - a 15th century parchment written entirely in unbreakable code; The Voynich Manuscript. Stalked by secret societies, and aided by the daughter of a murdered colleague, a trail of riddles catapults Cross from England to Italy to the Middle East, where a Byzantine web of ancient secrets leads him to a revelation so profound it will change the world order.

A stunning secret from Jet''s past plunges her headlong into a dangerous operation that could well be her last. Immersed in a world of deceit and brutality, only her training and skills stand between her and disaster in a war-torn nation on the brink.

"Vengeance finds Jet settled down, trying to return to a somewhat normal life of stability and safety. But fate has other plans for her when she becomes embroiled in a terrifying terrorism plot involving figures from her past, whose thirst for revenge forces her back into the kill-or-be-killed world she''d hoped to have put behind her forever"--Page 4 of cover.

In the final installment in the bestselling Assassin series, El Rey and Captain Romero Cruz race the clock to stop a terrorist threat to Mexico City and save thousands of lives. Gritty, unflinching, with a plot drawn from today''s headlines, Rage of the Assassin concludes the saga that began with King of Swords.

The tenth installment in the international bestselling Day After Never series follows Lucas'' trek to Houston at the helm of the Freedom Army - but nothing could have prepared him for the deadly obstacles he and those he loves encounters, or an enemy so deadly that the slightest miscalculation could cost him everything.

In Requiem for the Assassin, El Rey, the world''s deadliest assassin, is called into the field to terminate a list of seemingly unrelated targets on behalf of CISEN, the Mexican Intelligence Agency. But things are never as they seem in the murky world of intrigue, and he quickly goes from being the hunter to the prey.

Artemus Black. Perennially down-on-his-luck Hollywood PI whose Bogie fixation is as dated as his wardrobe. With an assistant who mocks him relentlessly, an obese cat that loathes him, a romantic life that''s deader than Elvis, money problems, booze, nicotine, and anger management issues, how much worse can it get? When he takes a case that''s supposed to be easy money working for a celebrity whose colleagues and surrounding paparazzi are dropping faster than interest in the star''s big comeback, the cakewalk turns ugly and Black finds himself in a web of deceit, betrayal, and murder - and bad hair days.The first in a new series from bestselling author Russell Blake, Black is a detective mystery with a difference that fans of the genre are sure to enjoy.+++Q&A with Russell BlakeQ: Why delve into detective mystery? You''re an action/adventure thriller author.RB: I''ve always loved books by authors like Michael Connelly, Elmore Leonard and the rest. The resolute PI up against crime, danger, and beautiful dames. I got this idea about six months ago for a Hollywood PI who''s down on his luck, barely hanging on, dealing with personal issues, tormented by everyone around him...but all of it colored with a really dark sense of humor. I wanted a kind of black cynicism that scathingly comments on the show biz lifestyle, a la Get Shorty, but fresh - something that hadn''t been done before. So I gave it whirl, and enjoyed the characters and the plotting so much that I''ve written the second in the series already, and am finishing the third.Q: Tell us about Black. What makes him tick?RB: He''s kind of a loser. He''s got anger management issues he''s in therapy for, but it''s questionable how well that''s going. His therapist is a hack, and somewhat mean spirited, so that''s not helping. He got screwed over by his young wife back in the day when they were both in a band that went huge - only Black got into a bar fight the week before the beginning of the big tour and broke his hand, so they replaced him. And then his wife had an affair with the attorney who wound up handling the divorce, as well as doing him out of most of his royalties. So he''s a bitter guy. A string of loser entrepreneurial disasters took the rest of his money, leaving him struggling, and a PI as a last resort career. Watching a character go through the day, where the world is against him, is just...funny. In kind of an evil way. Those with a similar sense of humor to mine will find it a hoot. Others will probably think I''ve lost my mind. They''re probably both right, but that''s a different story...Q: Talk about the supporting cast.RB: Let''s see. We have Roxie, who is the assistant from hell. Her sense of humor is extremely dry and deadpan, and she gives Black unending crap whenever she can. She''s hot, a singer in an art rock band, mid-twenties (so about 17 years younger than him), and delights in tormenting him about everything from his smoking to his wardrobe. There''s Mugsy, who''s an obese stray cat that adopted Black, and who barely tolerates him - but loves Roxie. And the parents, who are filthy rich hippies whose harebrained business enterprises wound up making them ten fortunes while Black scratches out a living. They''re all about peace and love and positive energy and the Summer of Love, and drive him batty - and of course, further enrage him with their success, which he views as a personal sleight from a universe that hates him. His LAPD detective buddy, Stan, is even more cynical and bitter than he is, and their interactions are some of my favorite bits in the books. And of course, there''s a cast of characters that can only happen in L.A., which seasons the whole story in a way that''s distinct to the place.

Roads end. They begin somewhere, too. In between, all manner of things happen: friendship, betrayal, horror and maybe even joy. For some, the End of the Road brings love and happiness, for others agony and suffering, and for a precious few, sorrow may lead to something revelatory. The potholes and pitfalls found in this anthology are many, but for every character, there is an end of the road. This road ends in a collection of short stories by 31 of the most gifted writers of our time, with stories from action and mystery superstars Russell Blake, Traci Tyne Hilton and Mike Meyer; romance stars Jeanette Raleigh, C A Newsome, Suzie O''Connell, Kathleen Steed and Anna J.McIntyre; and from cutting edge science fiction and fantasy authors Saxon Andrew, Stephen Arseneault, John Daulton, and JRC Salter; post-apocalyptic and dystopian authors Brandon Hale, Scott Langrel, Dale Roberts and Jess Mountifield. Intended for lovers of short fiction everywhere, the End of the Road is a must read for anyone intent on keeping current with the literary scene.Contributing authors:Brandon HaleRobert ThomasSaxon AndrewRussell BlakeJames RozoffAnna J. McIntyreDonna B. McNicolDale RobertsRandall MorrisJames RozoffAlison BlakeStephen ArseneaultJeanette RaleighL. S. BurtonJess MountifieldShirley BourgetC. A. NewsomeJ R C SalterMichael MeyerE. B. BoggsDavid A. CubanScott LangrelTraci Tyne HiltonJohn DaultonKathleen SteedChris WardJacques AntoineSuzie O''ConnellSherrie GiddensThomas JennerAngeline Perkins

Drake, Allie, and Spencer reunite in Emerald Buddha, the second Drake Ramsey adventure - a quest to locate the lost treasure of the Khmer Empire, secreted away in a hidden temple somewhere in Myanmar. But nothing is as it seems, and their archaeological expedition soon turns deadly when desperate factions target them in order to keep a secret that could topple the U.S. government.

The first of the Assassin novels, King of Swords is an epic assassination thriller framed against a gritty backdrop of brutal drug cartel violence in modern Mexico.The G-20 Financial Summit is planned for San Jose Del Cabo. The world''s pre-eminent finance ministers will attend, along with the presidents of the U.S. and Mexico.Captain Romero Cruz of the Mexican Federal Police uncovers an assassination plot against the attendees. In a rollercoaster race against the clock, Cruz must track and stop El Rey, the "King of Swords" 0́3 a faceless super-assassin responsible for a string of the world''s most spectacular killings, before he turns the G-20 into a slaughterhouse.King of Swords is an intelligent, rule-breaking rush that shatters convention to create a richly-drawn story that''s sure to shock and delight even the most jaded intrigue/adventure thriller fans.

The third in the series of novels chronicling the saga of El Rey, the King of Swords - the legendary, cold-blooded Mexican cartel assassin whose exploits have branded him as the most dangerous hired killer in the world.

Jet must risk everything to foil a kidnapping that threatens a diplomat''s daughter in the wilds of Africa.

Lucas must choose between commitment and honor in the ninth installment of the series. With the enemy force defeated and a safe haven for his new home, Lucas is convinced his life will finally return to some sort of normalcy with Sierra. But an unexpected trauma turns his world upside down, and he''s faced with two impossible roads forward. With enemies closing in and danger around every bend in the trail, can he survive against an adversary who will stop at nothing to see him, and those he loves most, dead?

From Israel to China to Jakarta to North Korea, Jet tackles her most demanding assignment yet, pitted against a terrorist with a master plan to destroy her country, and hunted by a triad killer bent on revenge.

For the first time ever in print, comes a collection of Extinction Cycle short stories that explore the human spirit and the fight for survival in the face of overwhelming odds from some of the leading voices in the postapocalyptic genre.

When Drake Ramsey gets an invitation he can''t refuse to embark on a treasure hunt in India, little does he know that it will be a headlong rush into danger that will require all his wits to survive.A breakout novel in the tradition of Raise the Titanic and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Adventure listeners are sure to enjoy the third volume in the adventures of Drake Ramsey, written by a NY Times and USA Today best seller.

Expansive clays are common throughout the world and are responsible for significant damage to pavements and other lightly loaded structures. While many of the fundamental properties of clay minerals are well-known, several challenges still exist in the characterization of laboratory swelling and field moisture content, in addition to the expense of mitigation once a swelling problem has been identified. While soil index properties play an important role in cost-effective identification of a swelling problem, traditional swell test methods have historically been time-consuming to complete properly, making it difficult to obtain ample data, especially in large projects spanning multiple soil types. In addition, the result of a swelling test is a strain referenced to the initial density conditions of testing, and because the density itself depends on moisture, a swell test may only be as applicable as the initial moisture content was representative of the critical field case. Furthermore, field validations of structural distress caused by swelling clays necessarily require measurements of the moisture regime contributing to the volume change if lessons are to be drawn between the causes and effects of swelling. The challenge with accurate electronic moisture measurements in highly plastic clay soils is a thermodynamic one, and temperature effects can completely dominate the measurement. Finally, swelling mitigation strategies must comprehend the swelling strains expected with the treatment if a cost-effective design is to be produced. This dissertation treats each of these issues in order. First, the fundamental link between swelling and water content will be framed as a volumetric response to an effective confining stress, with the soil suction playing a critical role in the initial effective stress. Second, the temperature dependence observed in electrical time-domain reflectometry measurements will also be shown to be fundamentally related the soil suction. Third, the impact of lime treatment on clay swelling will be shown to correspond to the suppression of the diffuse double layer surrounding the clay particles