Checkmate

Dr. Cameron Talbot has invented a breakthrough technology to defend against cruise missiles. But she needs support from skeptical company officers, funding from a reluctant Congress, and help from the White House to develop her life-saving project. Lt. Col. Hunt Daniels, detailed from the Pentagon to the White House National Security Council to investigate Dr. Talbot's work, sees the potential of the invention. The fact that he's attracted to the brilliant scientist adds one more dimension to his interest in her work. But disaster is brewing overseas as militants in the disputed Kashmir region of India steal a series of missiles from sympathizers in the Pakistani military and launch one against India. At the same time, they send one of their agents to Washington, D.C., to steal Dr. Talbot's technology so they can protect themselves when their enemies retaliate. The scientist and the NSC staffer find themselves enmeshed in terrorist plots and political wrangling at the highest levels. With scenes in the Oval Office, the Situation Room, Capitol Hill, Georgetown restaurants, and Washington dinner parties, as well as action in Kashmir, New Delhi, and at the Taj Mahal, the tension and intrigue escalate until two nuclear-armed countries stand at the brink of war.

Literature & Fiction

Bodman, Karna Small

United States

Forge Books

Karna Small Bodman’s first thriller, Checkmate, was praised for its compelling authenticity and page-turning plot. Now Bodman, a former director of the National Security Council, returns with another gripping thriller that reads like tomorrow’s headlines. American planes are being shot out of the sky, and no one knows how or why. Three commercial jets have gone up in flames. In each crash, nobody reported seeing anything in the sky and nothing showed up on the radar. No planes. No missiles. Dr. Cameron Talbot, a world-famous expert on missile-defense systems, believes that a new stealth technology is being used in these attacks. With the country in a panic and the economy taking a nosedive, the White House orders the beautiful young scientist to protect America’s endangered airways. The assignment places Cammy in mortal jeopardy as she finds herself stalked by nameless assassins. Who is behind the threat? Islamic jihadists? The big drug cartels? None of the usual suspects have claimed responsibility for the crashes. As Cammy races against time to develop a defense against the mystery weapon, she comes to suspect that the downed planes are only the opening gambit in an ambitious campaign of conquest that could change the world’s balance of power forever.

Gambit

Samantha Reid, the White House Deputy Director for Homeland Security, deals with national security threats on a daily basis. When a natural-gas pipeline explodes in America’s heartland, she senses pending disaster and tries to convince reluctant officials to take action. After several more explosions, Samantha teams up with Tripp Adams, Vice President of GeoGlobal Oil &amp; Gas, owner of the pipelines, to investigate. As they race to solve the mystery of the explosions and determine the motives of the shadowy group behind the havoc, Samantha and Tripp spend days . . . and nights . . . together, growing ever closer. Then Tripp is sent on a business trip to South America---and disappears. Now Samantha must deal with political intrigue at the highest levels, finesse international plots, and break all the White House rules as she races to find Tripp and stop the team of foreign agents before they carry out their final deadly scheme.

Final Finesse

Tor Books

Karna Small Bodman’s first thriller, Checkmate, was praised for its compelling authenticity and page-turning plot. Now Bodman, a former director of the National Security Council, returns with another gripping thriller that reads like tomorrow’s headlines.American planes are being shot out of the sky, and no one knows how or why. Three commercial jets have gone up in flames. In each crash, nobody reported seeing anything in the sky and nothing showed up on the radar. No planes. No missiles.Dr. Cameron Talbot, a world-famous expert on missile-defense systems, believes that a new stealth technology is being used in these attacks. With the country in a panic and the economy taking a nosedive, the White House orders the beautiful young scientist to protect America’s endangered airways. The assignment places Cammy in mortal jeopardy as she finds herself stalked by nameless assassins.Who is behind the threat? Islamic jihadists? The big drug cartels? None of the usual suspects have claimed responsibility for the crashes. As Cammy races against time to develop a defense against the mystery weapon, she comes to suspect that the downed planes are only the opening gambit in an ambitious campaign of conquest that could change the world’s balance of power forever.

Samantha Reid, the White House Deputy Director for Homeland Security, deals with national security threats on a daily basis. When a natural-gas pipeline explodes in America’s heartland, she senses pending disaster and tries to convince reluctant officials to take action.After several more explosions, Samantha teams up with Tripp Adams, Vice President of GeoGlobal Oil & Gas, owner of the pipelines, to investigate.As they race to solve the mystery of the explosions and determine the motives of the shadowy group behind the havoc, Samantha and Tripp spend days . . . and nights . . . together, growing ever closer. Then Tripp is sent on a business trip to South America---and disappears.Now Samantha must deal with political intrigue at the highest levels, finesse international plots, and break all the White House rules as she races to find Tripp and stop the team of foreign agents before they carry out their final deadly scheme.

"Bodman's hard-won information and sheer storytelling talent make this a book to remember.” —LEE CHILD, #1 worldwide bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series "Karna Bodman’s Trust But Verify is a riveting page-turner you won’t want to put down!" - CARLA NEGGERS, bestselling author of Imposter's Lure Samantha Reid, the brilliant Director of the White House Office of Homeland Security, is enjoying a rare evening away from Washington at a Florida charity ball when a bomb sends the well-heeled attendees stampeding into the night. Narrowly escaping the blast, Reid returns to the White House, where she has been trailing the massacres and illicit arms sales of a shadowy group of Russian oligarchs... all of whom want her dead. Caught in an ever-tightening spiral of lies and ruthless hitmen, Reid must race the clock against her assassins. But she's not alone. When FBI special agent Brett Keating discovers Samantha was the target of the Florida bomb, he resolves to protect her, while also unravelling a brazen plot that threatens the lives of international financial leaders and stock markets worldwide.

Trust But Verify

Regnery Fiction

The new, revised story of Checkmate, is the first in The White House National Security Series, and features young scientist, Dr. Cameron Talbot who invents a breakthrough technology to defend against cruise missiles. She needs support from skeptical company officers, funding from a reluctant Congress, and help from Lt. Col. Hunt Daniels, detailed to The White House NSC. With disaster brewing overseas, threats to New Delhi, the Taj Mahal, and to Cameron herself, she and Hunt find themselves enmeshed in terrorist plots and political wrangling at the highest levels.

“A truly frightening story with the crystal ring of truth and authenticity; well written, well plotted and as topical as a novel can get.” —Nelson DeMille, New York Times bestselling author “Not only does Bodman know the White House inside and out, she also knows how to tell a gripping, fast-paced tale of political intrigue filled with the kind of delicious insider detail most other novelists have to make up.” —Joseph Finder, New York Times bestselling author “A nail-biter…You will not turn out the lights until you have read through to the last page.” —The Washington Times “Bodman’s insider knowledge of government operations and the scary plausibility of the story line make this worth reading.” —Library Journal In this second book of the White House national security thriller series, Dr. Cameron Talbot, a famous expert on missile defense systems, returns to investigate how American airplanes could plummet from the sky—though nothing shows up on radar and none of the usual terrorist suspects have claimed responsibility. With the country in a panic and the economy taking a nose-dive, the beautiful scientist finds herself once again enmeshed in international plots as well as a romantic triangle in the highest levels of government.

“A first rate thriller packed with marvelous insider knowledge and richly drawn characters. I couldn’t put down this electrifying, authentic, and well-crafted novel.” —Douglas Preston, New York Times bestselling author  “Verisimilitude means the appearance of being true or real’ and Karna Small Bodman’s new novel has it in abundance. You will endure a good deal of nail-biting before you get to the end of this, not to mention the heart-stopping action surrounding the countdown. With this book and its predecessors, author Bodman has successfully created a new subgenre: The Washington high-tech thriller.” —The Washington Times  “Karna Small Bodman gives us an insider’s view of a frightening situation that seems all too real. Fast-paced and suspenseful, romantic and ultimately hopeful, Final Finesse is up-all-night reading at its best.” —Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author of Just Breathe  “Final Finesse is a political thrill ride with unpredictable, hair-raising roller-coaster turns, made even more spellbinding by the authentic White House details provided by Karna Small Bodman. A White House insider’s look at terrorism that will keep you up all night!” —Joan Johnston, New York Times bestselling author of A Stranger’s Game  Samantha Reid, the White House Deputy Director for Homeland Security, deals with national security threats on a daily basis. When a natural-gas pipeline explodes in America’s heartland, she senses pending disaster and tries to convince reluctant officials to take action.  After several more explosions, Samantha teams up with Tripp Adams, Vice President of GeoGlobal Oil & Gas, owner of the pipelines, to investigate.  As they race to solve the mystery of the explosions and determine the motives of the shadowy group behind the havoc, Samantha and Tripp spend days . . . and nights . . . together, growing ever closer. Then Tripp is sent on a business trip to South America---and disappears.  Now Samantha must deal with political intrigue at the highest levels, finesse international plots, and break all the White House rules as she races to find Tripp and stop the team of foreign agents before they carry out their final deadly scheme.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Bodman, Karna Small. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Bodman, Karna Small

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Bodman, Karna Small. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Checkmate

Gambit

Final Finesse

Checkmate

Gambit

Final Finesse

Trust But Verify

Checkmate

Gambit

Final Finesse