Release day for SUMMIT'S EDGE, plus LOCKDOWN is on sale!

/

It's release day for SUMMIT'S EDGE! **throws confetti** I'm happy this book is now out in the world as I know many of you have been eagerly waiting for Meg and Hawk's next adventure.

Meg and Hawk are deployed to Colorado with Brian and Lacey to team up with local FBI agents and Mountain Rescue Aspen to search for a downed, hijacked plane in hopes of not only finding innocent survivors, but also of finding the man responsible for the crisis. Fan favourites Todd Webb and Clay McCord lend their help remotely—Todd sharing his medical experience to save lives; McCord hot on the investigative trail to figure out the motive behind the hijacking—all while the on-site teams try to navigate the fatal dangers of scaling a 14,000-foot mountain. It's an understatement to say this deployment is terrifying for Meg, who has to battle her fear of heights from the moment they set foot in Colorado. Not to mention that behind the deployment is a ticking clock—can Meg make it back to DC in time for her imminent wedding to Todd?

Early readers have raved about SUMMIT'S EDGE:
Mystery and Suspense Magazine: “Fantastic and suspenseful, this tense, engaging, suspenseful, and tragic mystery gripped me from the beginning. It was difficult to put down.”
Red Book Reviews: “An amazing read with suspense, teamwork, K-9s and so much more. I loved this book a lot and would recommend it to any reader especially if you love a good mystery or suspense book.”
Author Kim Davis: "With a fast pace that kept me engaged, I couldn’t put the book down until I’d read to the very end. If you enjoy tense, suspenseful books with a strong female protagonist and DOGS, do yourself a favor and read this one!"
Aunt Agatha’s: “Sara Driscoll writes in such a way that readers won’t be able to put the book down until they know Meg, Hawk, and any survivors there may be are all home safe and sound, and if the hijacker is brought to justice.”

SUMMIT'S EDGE is now out and available for yourself or as a holiday gift for your favourite thriller or dog lover: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Apple | Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | Bookshop.org Support Independent Bookstores | Google | Hudson Booksellers | Indigo | Target | Walmart

NYPD Negotiators #3,  LOCKDOWN, is now on sale as part of Amazon.com's Black Friday deals! This is the first time the paperback has gone on sale, so it's a great opportunity to get your copy if you prefer physical books. You can find LOCKDOWN on sale here until December 2nd: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1496751884/

Speaking of the NYPD Negotiators, TERMINAL IMPASSE, the fourth book in the series, is now available for pre-order! This is a pivotal book in the series you won't want to miss.

Normally, Gemma Capello negotiates for the freedom of hostages from outside a situation while Sean Logan is the among the first to enter a dangerous scenario as part of the NYPD's tactical team. But this time, Gemma and Logan are unexpectedly caught when gunmen storm Grand Central Terminal and take hostages, including the two NYPD detectives who were on their way to dinner together at a nearby pub. Now their challenge is to find a way to arrange for Gemma to speak for the group so she's secretly communicating with her own hostage negotiation teammates, while Logan plots their escape without getting himself or anyone else killed. But they have to do it all without the hostage takers realizing they have officers in their midst or their deaths will be a certainty.

SUMMIT'S EDGE Sneak Peek and a Cover Reveal for SHADOW PLAY!

/

Here we are, just a little over a week away from the release of FBI K-9s #9, SUMMIT'S EDGE and I have some real goodies for you all.

First up... SUMMIT'S EDGE. When we last left Meg and Todd at the end of THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE, they were in the middle of wedding planning. Now, a few months later, their wedding is in only two weeks. But that doesn't mean Meg can't be sent thousands of miles away for an extremely dangerous deployment. That's exactly what happens when a private jet is hijacked and goes down on a towering Colorado mountain. Meg, Brian, and their dogs, Hawk and Lacey, are sent west with the high-pressure task of finding a downed plane in treacherous conditions, saving any survivors, bringing the person responsible to justice... and making it back to D.C. on time and in one piece for Meg to be the bride and for Brian to officiate the ceremony.

Dive into Chapter 1 of SUMMIT'S EDGE for a taste of what's to come on November 26th: SUMMIT'S EDGE - Chapter 1

A reminder that my usual pre-order offer is open for SUMMIT'S EDGE. For anyone who pre-orders the hard copy (available now at these fine retailers: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | Bookshop.org Support Independent Bookstores | Hudson Booksellers | Indigo | Target | Walmart), and sends a copy of their order and their street address to jenjdanna@gmail.com, I'd be happy to mail you a personalized and signed bookplate as well as a custom bookmark. Offer open until November 25th, worldwide. US readers who have already contacted me, I'm coming to NY state next week and will get your bookplates in the mail then.

Next, I'm excited to show you the brand new cover and copy for SHADOW PLAY, next August's standalone thriller. I'd like to introduce you all to Krista Evans, who, with her best friend Hailey Swanson, hosts a Twitch advice stream called A Word From The Wise. But when a stalker shows up in their community chat, things go seriously off the rails...

In this timely and terrifying thriller from the author of the popular FBI K-9 novels, a woman with a side gig offering relationship advice on Twitch learns just how dangerous online anonymity can be . . .
 
Chicago physical therapist Krista Evans finds that her clients rely on her life and love advice just as much as on her hands-on work, so why not share it on the live-streaming platform Twitch? Her friend Hailey Swanson, an inveterate gamer, is willing to help Krista build her presence and cohost a biweekly show. A Word From The Wise is born . . .
 
Taking real-time questions from chat participants proves more popular than Krista thought possible, and their follower count—and income—grow. But not all attention is wanted, as she soon discovers. An account with the username Chase547 becomes enraged when Krista and Hailey suggest he stop pursuing a woman who constantly rebuffs him. He amps up his efforts, even when he’s piled on by other followers, throwing their chats into chaos.
 
Unnerved by Chase547’s obsession, Krista turns to law enforcement, but the little information she’s able to give the Chicago PD isn’t enough to start an investigation.
 
Soon, Krista notices things missing at home and feels as if she’s being watched. And when Chase547 begins to leave clues in real life proving he’s capable of murder, she begins to fear for her safety. Chase547 has more than one way to make his presence known—and this time it won’t be from behind a screen . . .

I can't wait to bring this one to you next summer! What do you think of that cover? I really love it; it's so eye-catching, and incorporates the community chat environment that's the basis of the story, all while conveying the burden of Krista's terror as she's trapped under a stalker's gaze.

Release Day for ECHOES OF MEMORY!

/

ECHOES OF MEMORY is out in the world today! I'm so excited to introduce you all to Quinn Fleming. Post-traumatic amnesia is already a significant challenge, but is only made worse when Quinn is the sole witness to a brutal murder. Can she stay safe while trying to coax the memory into the light using her artistic skills?

A thrilling standalone mystery featuring a San Diego florist grappling with post-traumatic amnesia. The only witness to a murder she can’t remember, her handwritten notes and razor-sharp wits are all she has to solve the crime – and save her life.

After surviving a terrible attack, Quinn Fleming has recovered in every way but one—her ability to retain new memories. Now, months later, it appears to the outside world as if the San Diego florist’s life is back to normal. But Quinn is barely holding on, relying on a notebook she carries with her at all times, a record of her entire existence since the assault. So when she witnesses a murder in the shadowy alley behind the florist shop, Quinn immediately writes down every terrifying detail of the incident before her amnesia wipes it away.

By the time the police arrive, there’s no body, no crime scene, and no clues. The killing seems as erased from reality as it is from Quinn’s mind . . . until the flashbacks begin. Suddenly, fragments of memories are surfacing—mere glimpses of that horrible night, but enough to convince Quinn that somewhere, locked in her subconscious, is the key to solving the case . . . and she’s not the only one who knows. Somebody else has realized Quinn is a threat that needs to be eliminated. Now, with her life on the line and only her notes to guide her, Quinn sets out to find a killer she doesn’t remember, but can’t forget . . .

ECHOES OF MEMORY is available now at these fine retailers! Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Apple | Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | Bookshop.org Support Independent Bookstores | Hudson Booksellers | Indigo | Target | Walmart

Local GTA peeps, I'm having a party on Saturday and would love to see you! Please join me if you're able. It's going to be a lovely day and I think we're going to be able to hold the launch outside to give us more room (not that cramming into a great bookstore is ever a bad thing!). Hope to see you there!

Early reader copies of SUMMIT'S EDGE, the ninth book in the FBI K-9s, will be coming soon! Watch this space for giveaways of physical ARCs as soon as they arrive on my doorstep...

One Week to ECHOES OF MEMORY and a Sneak Peek

/

We're only a week away from the launch of ECHOES OF MEMORY! In anticipation, I have a special sneak peek of Chapters One and Two of the novel for you today to give you a taste of what's to come. And to make it super easy, I have two formats for you—a PDF of the novel itself or a link to an interactive flip book:

ECHOES OF MEMORY Chapters One and Two PDF

ECHOES OF MEMORY Chapters One and Two Interactive Flip Book

However you dive in, I hope you enjoy it. ECHOES OF MEMORY comes to you in full on July 23rd!

A thrilling standalone mystery featuring a San Diego florist grappling with post-traumatic amnesia. The only witness to a murder she can’t remember, her handwritten notes and razor-sharp wits are all she has to solve the crime – and save her life.

After surviving a terrible attack, Quinn Fleming has recovered in every way but one—her ability to retain new memories. Now, months later, it appears to the outside world as if the San Diego florist’s life is back to normal. But Quinn is barely holding on, relying on a notebook she carries with her at all times, a record of her entire existence since the assault. So when she witnesses a murder in the shadowy alley behind the florist shop, Quinn immediately writes down every terrifying detail of the incident before her amnesia wipes it away.

By the time the police arrive, there’s no body, no crime scene, and no clues. The killing seems as erased from reality as it is from Quinn’s mind . . . until the flashbacks begin. Suddenly, fragments of memories are surfacing—mere glimpses of that horrible night, but enough to convince Quinn that somewhere, locked in her subconscious, is the key to solving the case . . . and she’s not the only one who knows. Somebody else has realized Quinn is a threat that needs to be eliminated. Now, with her life on the line and only her notes to guide her, Quinn sets out to find a killer she doesn’t remember, but can’t forget . . .

A reminder that ECHOES OF MEMORY is available for pre-order at the following fine retailers: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Apple | Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | Bookshop.org Support Independent Bookstores | Hudson Booksellers | Indigo | Target

Pre-orders are extremely important in showing the pub house that readers are invested and would like to see more books, so many thanks in advance to everyone who pre-orders any of my books.

A reminder that for all physical pre-orders, I'll send you a personalized signed bookplate and a custom bookmark for free! Just send a copy of your invoice (feel free to remove all personal payment info) to jenjdanna@gmail.com, and I'll get them out to you on release day next week!

FBI K-9s books 6 and 7 have now been released in trade paperback with these fantastic new covers! So that's all the backlist K-9 books for now, but THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE will also get a new cover treatment for a trade paperback edition later this year. I don't know the exact timing, but I anticipate it coming before the release of SUMMIT'S EDGE on November 26th.

Speaking of the FBI K-9s, a reminder that this series is on both Kindle Unlimited and Kobo Plus, so if you're a member and haven't had a chance to give the series a try, now's your chance to do it for free! The NYPD Negotiators is not on either membership platform at this point, but that's a topic for discussion shortly with my editor.

LOCKDOWN Releases Today! Plus Two 100-Copy Paperback Book Giveaways!

/

NYPD Negotiators book #3, LOCKDOWN, is out in the world today!

It feels like this book has been a long time coming. And it has, as it's been three years since SHOT CALLER came out and I thought the series might be over. And now, here we are, with the series rebranded, LOCKDOWN launched, and TERMINAL IMPASSE completed to follow next May. I'm ever so grateful to Kensington editor James Abbate for advocating for this book after freelance editing it when I was going to self-publish. Right from the start, he said he was sorry Kensington wasn't going to produce this book. Then the moment the tide turned with the rebrand, he was instrumental in bringing LOCKDOWN to the team as a next book option. And suddenly, the Negotiators series was back in the Kensington fold, where it belongs, IMHO. Thank you, James!

Now Gemma Capello and Sean Logan are back!

When a horrific school shooting turns into a hostage situation, only Gemma Capello, the NYPD’s most skilled negotiator, has a chance to save innocent lives and end the crisis.

It’s every parent’s nightmare—getting a call during the school day from their teenager, huddled in a classroom as the sound of bullets echo in the background. When gunmen invade a Brooklyn school, that nightmare becomes a horrific reality.

Talking a suspect into sending his hostages out alive is NYPD Detective Gemma Capello’s specialty. Alerted to a school shooting at her nephew’s high school, she is one of the first officers on-scene. Detective Sean Logan and the Apprehension Tactical Team arrive next and immediately enter the school to apprehend the two shooters, while Gemma remains outside to help students evacuate. But as time stretches on, and there is no word of her nephew, her fear builds that he is one of the lost.

Instead of a quickly-resolved mass shooting, one of the two shooters holes up with a group of students and their teacher as hostages, and Gemma steps in to negotiate for their survival. Floors away and armed with only her wits and the sound of her voice to convince him, Gemma fights for control of the situation even as tactical leadership pressures her for a more aggressive strategy. But for Gemma, it’s not about a quick solution. It’s about moving heaven and earth to bring everyone in that classroom home. And she’ll do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.

I'm really excited my readers have a chance to jump back into the world of the NYPD Negotiators!

LOCKDOWN is available at these fine retailers: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Apple | Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | Bookshop.org Support Independent Bookstores | Google | Hudson Booksellers | Indigo | Target | Walmart
 

Some book giveaway goodness! Kensington is currently holding two giveaways on Goodreads for US readers:

LOCKDOWN - Enter here for your chance to win 1 of 100 final trade paperback copies: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/389144-lockdown. Giveaway closes May 27th.

ECHOES OF MEMORY - Enter here for your chance to win 1 of 100 trade paperback ARCs with those really gorgeous illustrated covers I showed off in a previous newsletter: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/389189-echoes-of-memory. Giveaway closes May 30th.

Good luck!

Last, but certainly not least, the first professional review is in for ECHOES OF MEMORY. And from Kirkus, no less, a group known for being really tough reviewers. Needless to say, I'm thrilled! You can find the full review here (be warned, there are spoilers): https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/sara-driscoll/echoes-of-memory-2/

 

ECHOES OF MEMORY is available for pre-order in hardcover, ebook, and audio: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Apple | Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | Bookshop.org Support Independent Bookstores | Hudson Booksellers | Indigo | Target

A reminder that my pre-order bookplate offer is open for ECHOES (and the next FBI K-9s novel, SUMMIT'S EDGE, out in November). If you pre-order a physical copy of the book and send a copy of your bill to jenjdanna@gmail.com (feel free to redact any credit card info), I'll send a personalized bookplate to your home mailing address when the book releases.

TERMINAL IMPASSE Cover and Copy Reveal and a LOCKDOWN Sneak Peek

/

Lots of Gemma and Logan content for you today, from how their teamwork makes the crucial difference when hostages are taken during a high school shooting, to what happens to them only weeks later when they are caught in Grand Central Terminal as gunmen attack...

Let's start with book #3, LOCKDOWN...

We first met Gemma and her NYPD family in EXIT STRATEGY: Gemma, a member of the Hostage Negotiation Team, her brothers—Gang Squad Lieutenant Joe Capello, Precinct 5 Sergeant Mark Capello, and IAB Detective Alex Capello—and her father, Chief of Special Operations Tony Capello (and let's not forget her last brother, FDNY Firefighter Teo Capello). We also met members of the NYPD Apprehension Tactical Team—better known as the A-Team—specifically Detective Sean Logan, one of the team's crack tactical officers who has a long-standing personal history with Gemma. Gemma and Logan have had some rocky times lately, but recently called a truce. In the end, it's their familiarity and history that allows them to work together on a different level to save lives.

It's a nightmare situation for the entire family as Joe's oldest son is locked down with the rest of his high school when two intruders enter the building and start shooting. Gemma is in the area and redirects immediately to find her nephew, but is blocked by a barrage of bullets. Fortunately, Logan and his A-Team officers arrive and enter the school to confront the shooters. However, when one of the shooters takes shelter in a classroom and holds the teacher and students hostage, Gemma is ready to negotiate. Only with Logan's help is there a chance that together they can save the twenty-four lives trapped with the shooter.

LOCKDOWN releases on May 21st!

Here's an exclusive sneak peek of the first chapter of the book as Gemma learns of her nephew's danger and scrambles to the scene of the shooting: LOCKDOWN Chapter One

LOCKDOWN is vailable for pre-order at your favourite retailers: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Apple | Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | Bookshop.org Support Independent Bookstores | Google | Hudson Booksellers | Indigo | Target | Walmart

A pre-order reminder! Buying a physical copy and would like it signed? For all physical copy pre-orders, if you'd like a free personalized or simply signed bookplate, I'd be happy to send you one in the mail. Email me at jenjdanna@gmail.com with a copy of your order, your snail mail address, and your bookplate preference, and I'll get one in the mail to you when book releases in just a few weeks. Also, I think I'll have some special custom bookmarks in hand at that point and will include one of those as well.

Now onto book #4 in the series, TERMINAL IMPASSE.

I recently completed the first draft of TERMINAL IMPASSE and am now working on edits following the amazing efforts of my critique team. That book is due to my editor in just a couple of weeks, but I'm now able to show off the book's cover and copy.

I love this cover! Grand Central Terminal is such an iconic location and I knew right from the start this was the image we needed. As always Kensington did an amazing job. And check out the back cover copy for this novel. Let me tell you, this is an exciting installment!

When domestic terrorists seize hostages at one of New York’s busiest commuter stations, they also capture Gemma Capello, an expert police negotiator determined to protect the innocent civilians . . .
 
NYPD detectives Gemma Capello and Sean Logan are cutting through Grand Central Terminal on their way to a nearby pub when all hell breaks loose. Masked men gun down police officers and round up a group of commuters—including Gemma and Logan—taking their cell phones and binding them hand and foot in zip ties. They are members of the paramilitary group known as Sinister 13, seeking the release of their imprisoned soldiers. Their leader wears a vest covered with C-4 plastic explosives, threatening to detonate it if their demands are not met.
 
To save the hostages, Gemma persuades their captors to allow her to negotiate with law enforcement on their behalf without revealing her identity. As she earns their trust, Logan plots to free himself to take on the gunmen. But time is running out. The abductors are growing more impatient and violent with every passing moment. With their NYPD colleagues on the outside, Gemma and Logan must use all their negotiation experience and tactical skills to prevent the situation from escalating into a bloodbath . . .

TERMINAL IMPASSE releases May 20, 2025! I'll post pre-order links when they go up in a few months...

Cover Reveal for SUMMIT'S EDGE!

/

Happy New Year! All my best wishes to you and your family for a joyful, satisfying, and peaceful 2024.

It is definitely going to be a busy year for me:


Book releases:

May 21 - NYPD Negotiators #3, LOCKDOWN, where Detectives Gemma Capello and Sean Logan tackle the horror of a high school shooting rampage, working together in their roles in the Hostage Negotiation Team and the A-Team (NYPD's SWAT team).

July 23 - standalone thriller #1, ECHOES OF MEMORY, where florist Quinn Fleming, who suffers from a traumatic brain injury that affects her being able to remember anything for more than about an hour, witnesses a murder, but then can't remember it clearly enough to fully report it to the police, so takes it upon herself to find justice for the murdered man.

November 26 - FBI K-9s #9, SUMMIT'S EDGE... details coming a little further down...

Editor Book deadlines:

February 1 - SUMMIT'S EDGE, currently with my critique team who are (hopefully) gleefully ripping it apart.

May 20 - NYPD Negotiators #4, TERMINAL IMPASSE, where Gemma and Logan are out for a social evening when they get caught in a hostage event taking place in Grand Central Terminal. Gemma, with Logan's help, will have to save the lives of all the hostages, for the first time from inside a hostage situation, instead of being safely on the outside.

August 1st - standalone thriller #2.... storyline already set, but I'm keeping that under wraps for a little longer because it's such a current topic.


Conference:

August 28 - September 1 - Bouchercon in Nashville, TN. Hoping to see some of you there!

But now onto the main attraction! It feels like THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE is only barely out in the world, but I already have early details for you for the next book in the series, SUMMIT'S EDGE. Welcome to publishing, where everything is roughly a year ahead.

As always, Kensington's art department has done an amazing job. I keep giving them challenging scenarios, and, every time, they nail it. Take a look at this cover!

FBI handler Meg Jennings and her K-9 partner, Hawk, vie to rescue plane crash survivors from a Colorado mountain—and contend with a hijacker determined to stop them.

As long as there’s hope of finding life, no mission is too dangerous for Meg Jennings and her colleagues in the FBI K-9 unit. But locating the wreckage of a hijacked private plane high in the Elk Mountains of Colorado is treacherous in a multitude of ways—some of them impossible for even a seasoned team to predict.

The plane, carrying the board of directors of Barron Pharmaceuticals, crashed on a rocky peak and was cleaved in two. Perilous weather means the rescuers have to ascend on foot, with their dogs unleashed in case of falls. It takes hours to locate the wreckage, but miraculously, Meg and Hawk find half a dozen passengers and crew still alive. The hijacker also survived, and has fled into the wilderness with the CEO’s son in pursuit.

As soon as day breaks, the K-9 teams set out to find both men, and the dogs quickly pick up a scent trail. Meg has used her connections with an investigative reporter to learn as much as she can about the hijacker, hoping to use it when they apprehend him. But first, they must contend with the mountain’s savage fury, and an adversary who will destroy as many lives as possible rather than face justice . . .

Pre-order links to come soon!

Release Day for THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE!

/

THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE is now out in the world! It feels like it's been a long time coming, but it finally hit the shelves today.

This book marks the passing of the baton for me. It's the first FBI K-9 book written entirely by me following Ann's passing 16 months ago. But to me, she's still present in the book—the title was her final contribution to the series and the book is dedicated in her memory. As well, her past efforts in teaching me everything she knew about canine nose work continues to fill the book. I think she'd be proud of this book as she passes me that baton to carry for both of us from now on.

Perhaps you've pre-ordered and the ebook is already on your e-reader, or the book is arriving in your mailbox today (and I know some readers got their copies yesterday!). Or perhaps you'll be making a purchase for yourself or as a gift for the holiday season for the mystery/thriller/dog lover in your life. Or maybe you're running out to reserve the book or request it for purchase at your local library. Whatever your preferred method, many, many thanks for gifting me with your time and attention as you join Meg and Hawk on their next adventure. I wish you many happy hours reading and I hope you enjoy THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE.

FBI handler Meg Jennings and her search-and-rescue K-9 partner, Hawk, race to find survivors after a building collapses, and find that the stakes are higher than ever before.
 
There are situations that fill even the most seasoned FBI K-9 handlers with shock and horror. Meg Jennings is preparing for another work day when she gets words of a catastrophic scene in downtown Washington, D.C. Part of a twelve-story condo building has collapsed, and the rest of the structure could soon follow. Every search-and-rescue worker and K-9 team is needed on-site immediately to find survivors—and assess the casualties.
 
Putting aside her fears for her firefighter fiancé, who’s already inside the unstable building, Meg turns to the task at hand. If anyone is still alive within the rubble, she and Hawk, working alongside other K-9 teams, must find them. Every hour, every moment counts—and a wrong move could trigger a deadly chain reaction for those buried beneath. But beyond the present danger is a deeper threat, as evidence indicates that this wasn’t a random tragedy, but an act of domestic terrorism. And identifying the culprit and motivation, in time to stop another attack, means taking on an enemy with terrifying skills—and nothing left to lose.

THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE is now available in hardcover, ebook, and audio at these fine retailers: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Apple | Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | Bookshop.org Support Independent Bookstores | Google | Hudson Booksellers | Indigo | Target | Walmart

A reminder for local Southern Ontario readers about my in-person launch on December 9th:

I have some street team spots opening up! Kensington has been kind enough to give me 50 eARCs to share with readers who want to help me promote upcoming books. New members will first be able to catch up on NYPD Negotiators #3, LOCKDOWN. After that, it's the big new thriller release, ECHOES OF MEMORY, which comes out in July, but eARCs will be available within the next 4 - 6 weeks. And then, FBI K-9s #9, SUMMIT'S EDGE, will be available for early readers by the summer. In 2025, at least two books are already scheduled, and I'm hoping for a third.

Interested in joining my street team? If you are, email me at jenjdanna@gmail.com to let me know you'd like to join the existing team members who sign on to read and review on Goodreads before the book's release, and then use that same review on Amazon on release day. I'll let you know later in December if you make the list!

A Sneak Peak of THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE!

/

It's about two and a half weeks until FBI K-9s #8, THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE releases, and I have a several things for you today, including a sneak peek of the beginning of the novel.

But first...

Come join me on Monday night to discuss THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE! Tewksbury Public Library in Tewksbury, Massachusetts is hosting a virtual event open to readers everywhere. We'll be discussing the novel and I'll be taking questions from readers in the Zoom chat, so bring on your burning questions and get some insider insight about the novel two weeks before it releases. How does the collapsed building affect our group? Is it possible to survive such a disaster? How are the wedding plans coming along? (It can't all be doom and gloom, after all!). Stop by for a fun time at 7pm EST, November 13th. To attend, register here: https://tewksburypl.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/virtual-mystery-author-sarah-driscoll-discusses-that-others-may-live/. Hope to see you there!

I know July 23, 2024 feels like a long time away, but ECHOES OF MEMORY's launch is really starting to roll. Kensington is really excited about this book and we've already talked about a pre-order promo (more on that below), book tie-ins, and ECHOES related prize packs. This feels like a big release to me and I'm pumped! I'll be getting galley pages next week and, based on the current production schedule, advanced reading copies will be ready to go by mid-January at the latest. I can't wait to bring Quinn Fleming to you all. Her inability to remember anything for more than about an hour is a serious challenge, so how will she work through the terror of witnessing a murder, especially one that leaves not a single physical trace? For now, you'll have to wait and see.

ECHOES OF MEMORY is now listed on Goodreads! You can add it to your Want To Read list here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200488144-echoes-of-memory

Buy links just went live on this release. As a reminder, pre-orders lets a publisher know that you're excited for a book and that makes them interested in more from that author. Many of these retailers guarantee pre-order pricing—if the price drops between now and the time of release, you'll pay the lowest price, so check for that.

You can pre-order ECHOES OF MEMORY here:  Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Apple | Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | Bookshop.org Support Independent Bookstores | Hudson Booksellers | Indigo | Target

A pre-order promo for my upcoming books! It all started with THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE, but I'm going to extend this offer to LOCKDOWN and ECHOES OF MEMORY as well. Purchase the hardcover (THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE or ECHOES OF MEMORY) or trade paperback (LOCKDOWN) formats up to the day before release, send a copy of your bill to jenjdanna@gmail.com, and I'll send you a personalized bookplate around the time of the book's release (open to residents of the US and Canada).

To qualify, these are the dates to keep in mind:
THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE: November 27, 2023
LOCKDOWN: May 20, 2024
ECHOES OF MEMORY: July 22, 2024

I already have pre-orders coming in for everything up to ECHOES OF MEMORY, so feel free to send those receipts ahead of time so you don't forget to take advantage of this offer. Please include your snail mail address and any personalization you'd like on the bookplate (name etc., or if you're prefer a signature only). It will be like I was with you to sign your book in person!

Speaking of LOCKDOWN, buy links are also starting to go live for this book as well. So far, the ebook links are up, but the trade paperback links have yet to arrive. I know many of you have been waiting a long time for this one after a couple of delays while Kensington and I were doing the rebrand, so I wanted to bring those links to you now. More to be added as we get closer to May 28th. You can pre-order here: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Apple | Barnes and Noble

And on the note of the NYPD Negotiators, my husband and I are recently back from four jam-packed days in New York City doing research for book #4 in the series, TERMINAL IMPASSE. As you can see from the picture above, I'm giving Gemma Capello a real challenge this time, tossing her into a hostage situation in Grand Central Terminal. And when I say into, I mean INTO. Luckily, she'll have Sean Logan by her side and, together, they'll do whatever it takes to save the hostages and themselves. Can't wait to dig into this one in a few months once SUMMIT'S EDGE is drafted.

What's a book release without a launch party! For the first time since 2019, I'm holding an in-person launch again at my favourite local indie bookshop. Local Southern Ontario peeps, it will be held at A Different Drummer Books, 513 Locust St, Burlington, Ontario at 4pm on December 9th. Just in time for your holiday shopping (not just for my books... it's a really great bookshop)! Please join me for a reading, refreshments, to get an actual signed copy of the book, and to support a really amazing and hardworking indie bookshop which is one of the pillars of the community. I'm looking forward to the event!

Last, but definitely not least, I have a sneak peek at THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE. We start at the very beginning, as the call for help goes out the moment a condo building falls in Washington, DC. Meg Jennings and Brian Foster with Hawk and Lacey, as well as Todd Webb as part of DCFEMS, and Washington Post investigative reporter, Clay McCord, are some of the first people on scene, arriving to the chaos of a fresh emergency. Together they will bring order to that chaos, but it will take a massive, multi-team effort. It all starts here: THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE - Chapter One.

More to come on November 28th!

Relaunch of the NYPD Negotiators Series

/

Today is the official relaunch of the NYPD Negotiators series, with the full rebranding of EXIT STRATEGY and SHOT CALLER from Jen J. Danna to Sara Driscoll because... well, really... they're both me!

Just look at those great covers! Love the Driscoll FBI K-9s series but haven't given the NYPD Negotiators a try? Now is your chance with this brand new trade paperback format (ebooks will also be rebranded). You can find them here:
EXIT STRATEGY: https://www.amazon.com/Exit-Strategy-NYPD-Negotiators-Driscoll/dp/1496750942/
SHOT CALLER: https://www.amazon.com/Shot-Caller-NYPD-Negotiators-Driscoll/dp/1496750950/

This is all leading up to the release of book #3, LOCKDOWN this coming May.
 

When a horrific school shooting turns into a hostage situation, only Gemma Capello, the NYPD’s most skilled negotiator, has a chance to save innocent lives and end the crisis . . .

Talking a suspect into sending his hostages out alive is NYPD Detective Gemma Capello’s specialty. Alerted to a school shooting at her nephew’s Brooklyn high school, she is one of the first officers on-scene. Detective Sean Logan and the Apprehension Tactical Team arrive next and immediately enter the school to apprehend the two shooters, while Gemma remains outside to help students evacuate. But as time stretches on, and there is no word of her nephew, her fear builds that he is one of the lost.

One of the two shooters has holed up with a group of students and their teacher as hostages. Gemma steps in to negotiate for their survival. Floors away and armed with only her wits and the sound of her voice to convince him, Gemma fights for control of the situation even as tactical leadership pressures her for a more aggressive strategy. But for Gemma, it’s not about a quick solution. It’s about moving heaven and earth to bring everyone in that classroom home. And she’ll do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.
 

Early reader reviews are already coming in on Goodreads and they're spectacular:

"This book was...wow. I literally could not put it down. I walked all over my house, through dinner, everywhere with my kindle in one hand, and my eyes glued to the screen. It was so intense. And emotional."

"Absolutely gripping and also devastating in the realistic portrayal of school shootings. Sara Driscoll is a gifted author and brilliant at suspense."

"This book was a roller coaster ride. It was so intense. The writing is just phenomenal. I loved this book."

My husband and I leave for New York City in a few weeks to do research on book #4, TERMINAL IMPASSE. So what's that one about? I'll just leave you with this clue...


NYPD Negotiators Announcement and a LOCKDOWN Update

/

So... a funny thing happened on the way to LOCKDOWN's August 22nd release day...

Kensington Books published EXIT STRATEGY and SHOT CALLER under Jen J. Danna, but circumstances around the pandemic made it a challenging launch. However, now that I can brand the books as Sara Driscoll, they're entirely on board with the series, starting with the rebranding of EXIT STRATEGY and SHOT CALLER, and their amazing new covers that I told you about earlier this week:

Kensington knew about LOCKDOWN. My own kick-ass editor, James Abbate, came on board to edit it, so it was a polished, professional final self-published product at the same level as its Kensington predecessors. James loved the book, but while he had not been my editor at the time Kensington decided not to continue the series, he understood the reasoning. Publishing is a business, and if those companies can't turn a profit, they can't pay their own people. It's entirely reasonable.

But Ann's unfortunate passing and her son's gracious agreement that I should use the name solo from now on changed everything. I'm grateful to Ann for so many things—years of friendship and camaraderie, sharing her boundless knowledge about dogs, her amazing research skills, and razor sharp editor's pen—including her partnership in the Driscoll name. And now that I can continue to use the name, new doors have opened.

But it was a surprise when James contacted my agent and I yesterday with a Kensington deal for LOCKDOWN and book #4 in the NYPD Negotiators series in trade paperback, ebook, and audio. Needless to say, I'm thrilled. I always wanted to keep the series with Kensington, and now, here we are again. And book #4? AMAZING!

But that means a change in schedule for LOCKDOWN and a cancellation of the August 22nd self-publishing release. I'm so grateful to all who ran out and pre-ordered it on Wednesday after the link went live (how's that for timing?). I'll be cancelling that release later today and you'll get notification of it.

There is no hard and fast release date for LOCKDOWN because this deal is so new there's no official contract yet (I'm announcing on the deal memo, something I'd normally never do, but have James's approval because he understands we have to delay the release and you all deserve to know why), but Kensington will be aiming for early 2024. With THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE in November 2023, ECHOES of MEMORY in July 2024, and SUMMIT'S EDGE in November 2024, they want to drop LOCKDOWN in the space between THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE and ECHOES OF MEMORY. When I know the exact date and have new links, I'll let you know.

While I know this delay is disappointing to those who have already waited so long, the best part of this is that book #4 is now guaranteed to happen. I have that book in mind already, but being able to write it was going to be 100% dependent on LOCKDOWN doing well as a self-published title. And, in my experience, traditional sales are SIGNIFICANTLY superior to self-publishing sales, so I knew that book could be very much in question. And now it's not. If the storyline I have planned is approved by Kensington, this is going to be an extremely Gemma Capello and Sean Logan-centric story with huge stakes and tension. I'm looking forward to writing it!

While I'm sorry there will be a delay in the series, I'm excited that it will now be continuing for sure. Lots more Gemma and Logan to come! And, in the meantime, we still have the emotional journey that Meg, Hawk, and company will take in THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE in November. Can't wait to bring that one to you all!

LOCKDOWN Cover Reveal and NYPD Negotiators Rebranding

/

The third book in the NYPD Negotiators is finally nearly here. It's been a super long time in coming, but Gemma Capello and Sean Logan's next adventure is coming to you on August 22nd! And I finally have the cover for you... with one significant change. Can you spot it?

When a horrific school shooting turns into a hostage situation, only Gemma Capello, the NYPD’s most skilled negotiator, has a chance to save innocent lives and end the crisis.

It’s every parent’s nightmare—getting a call during the school day from their teenager, huddled in a classroom as the sound of bullets echo in the background. When gunmen invade a Brooklyn school, that nightmare becomes a horrific reality.

Talking a suspect into sending his hostages out alive is NYPD Detective Gemma Capello’s specialty. Alerted to a school shooting at her nephew’s high school, she is one of the first officers on-scene. Detective Sean Logan and the Apprehension Tactical Team arrive next and immediately enter the school to apprehend the two shooters, while Gemma remains outside to help students evacuate. But as time stretches on, and there is no word of her nephew, her fear builds that he is one of the lost.

Instead of a quickly-resolved mass shooting, one of the two shooters holes up with a group of students and their teacher as hostages, and Gemma steps in to negotiate for their survival. Floors away and armed with only her wits and the sound of her voice to convince him, Gemma fights for control of the situation even as tactical leadership pressures her for a more aggressive strategy. But for Gemma, it’s not about a quick solution. It’s about moving heaven and earth to bring everyone in that classroom home. And she’ll do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.
 

I'm sure those of you with eagle eyes spotted the name change. The NYPD Negotiators series is going to be under Sara Driscoll from now on. Let's face it, Jen and Sara are both me, but more readers recognize the Driscoll name, so Kensington Books has done an entire series rebrand. More on that below...

To match the existing formats of EXIT STRATEGY and SHOT CALLER as closely as possible for those who like their books to all be the same size/format, LOCKDOWN will be released in a 6 x 9" trade paperback (same size as the Kensington hardcovers of the first two books) and the 4.75 x 7.5" mass max size to match the mass max formats of the first two books. It will also be available in ebook and in audio from Dreamscape media.

Pre-order links for the ebook of LOCKDOWN are now live at Amazon for auto-delivery on August 22nd: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk. Both paperback formats will be available on release day. Sorry about that... I don't make the rules. I'll have those live links for you then.

As I mentioned above, Kensington Books is relaunching the NYPD Negotiators series under Sara Driscoll. EXIT STRATEGY had some challenges when it first came out, launching in the opening months of the pandemic when bookstores were closed and people were having trouble reading because it felt like the world was on fire. So there are lots of readers who love the FBI K-9s and who are looking forward to ECHOES OF MEMORY next summer, but who aren't familiar with the Negotiators series. So Kensington has given the series a face lift. The original print copies still exist, but from now on the ebook and a brand new trade paperback format will have the new name and covers. The covers are updated to the understated trend popular with thrillers currently highlighting minimalist architectural design. So here are the new versions of EXIT STRATEGY and SHOT CALLER. Along with LOCKDOWN, they make a great trilogy. I love the moody vibe!

A little bit up upcoming release news...

ECHOES OF MEMORY is now complete and will be going to my editor in about three weeks after a last round of edits following my critique team's comments.  Watch for that on July 30, 2024. Cover reveal to come...

FBI K-9s #9, now has a name—SUMMIT'S EDGE! It's way too early for details, but yes, there is a mountain involved. I've already seen the cover—it's a banger—but I'll have to wait to release that one once Kensington gives me the all clear to release the cover and jacket copy to you all. SUMMIT'S EDGE comes to you all on November 26, 2024.

THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE Cover Reveal!

/

Happy New Year, reader friends! Wishing you and your families all the best in 2023!

I'm thrilled to be able to share with you the hot-off-the-presses cover for FBI K-9s #8, THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE, as well as the back cover copy for the book. Been dying to know what Meg, Webb, McCord, and, of course, Hawk, are up to in their next adventure? Well, here you go...

FBI handler Meg Jennings and her search-and-rescue K-9 partner, Hawk, race to find survivors after a building collapses, and find that the stakes are higher than ever before.
 
There are situations that fill even the most seasoned FBI K-9 handlers with shock and horror. Meg Jennings is preparing for another work day when she gets words of a catastrophic scene in downtown Washington, D.C. Part of a twelve-story condo building has collapsed, and the rest of the structure could soon follow. Every search-and-rescue worker and K-9 team is needed on-site immediately to find survivors—and assess the casualties.
 
Putting aside her fears for her firefighter fiancé, who’s already inside the unstable building, Meg turns to the task at hand. If anyone is still alive within the rubble, she and Hawk, working alongside other K-9 teams, must find them. Every hour, every moment counts—and a wrong move could trigger a deadly chain reaction for those buried beneath. But beyond the present danger is a deeper threat, as evidence indicates that this wasn’t a random tragedy, but an act of domestic terrorism. And identifying the culprit and motivation, in time to stop another attack, means taking on an enemy with terrifying skills—and nothing left to lose.


Didn't Kensington do an amazing job on the cover? Their art department is once again on point! I knew this one would be tough because of the subject matter, but they really came through.

For everyone who makes the logical leap to the collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida, yes, that was the inspiration for this book. Not to take advantage of a tragic situation, never that, but because, following the collapse, I watched the rescue crews respond, especially those with dogs. It was a situation that absolutely put their lives at risk, but they jumped in with everything they had, putting it all on the line for the slim chance of saving just one more life. It was an incredible display of courage and skill, and I wanted to highlight that aspect of rescue life. So this is a story told strictly from the POV of the first responders—Meg, Brian, and the dogs on the pile, Webb inside the standing structure, McCord trying to figure out what caused the collapse, Cara and her therapy dog, Saki, trying to comfort families and first responders alike. It's an all-hands-on-deck kind of book.

THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE comes to you on November 28, 2023, and pre-order links will go live in the next few weeks.

STILL WATERS Release Day!

/

It's release day for FBI K-9s #7, STILL WATERS, and I'm so excited to bring this one to you all. It's an outdoorsy, dog-oriented take on a classic English locked door mystery, with a large cast of characters, including a number of series returning favourites.

What's the advance buzz on STILL WATERS? Professional review journals have great things to say about it:

Publishers Weekly: “Driscoll’s entertaining seventh FBI K-9 novel touches a chord with those who deeply love and respect their pets. A happy personal development for Meg will delight series fans.”

Library Journal: “VERDICT: Fans of the series will enjoy this entry, which includes fascinating details about search dogs and their work as well as a unique settings and a colorful cast of recurring characters.”

Bloggers also loved the book:
The Reading Room: "Every time I read a book in Sara Driscoll’s F.B.I. K-9 series I fall completely into the world of its story. I am all in, trying to keep pace in a high action story where danger is never far away. The combination of human handlers and their canine partners is thrilling to see, or read about, in how it works."

Rose Point Publishing: “A new, unique storyline; the conclusion swept the narrative into a climactic and dramatic operation that included both dogs and law enforcement and provided a satisfying closure to all open threads.”

Books of My Heart: "I really appreciate the blend of smart police work, the supportive circle of family and friends, the K9 culture and a romance in the foundation. The mystery and investigation are the primary focus but the rest is there in every page."

A training session in the Minnesota wilderness becomes a fight for survival for FBI handler Meg Jennings and her K-9 partner...

Keeping their search-and-rescue skills honed isn’t just a job requirement for FBI handler Meg Jennings and her Labrador, Hawk—it’s essential to saving lives. A water search training weekend in the Boundary Waters area of Minnesota has attracted participants from all levels of law enforcement, each vying to win. The races are challenging, the rivalry is intense, and Meg is already under pressure when Hawk alerts to a scent in the water—and discovers the fresh body of one of Meg’s fellow competitors.

The contest is called off, but Meg’s still feeling the heat. The victim had made an unfounded complaint about her, one that could cost Meg her job and see Hawk removed from her care. The field of suspects is daunting, and all of them are experts in throwing others off the trail. And though Meg’s team flies out to Minnesota to help uncover the truth, they’re on unfamiliar territory, pitted against a killer with the skills, and the motivation, to stay hidden in plain sight...

_____________

STILL WATERS is available now at these fine retailers:
Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Apple | Audible | Barnes and Noble
Google | Hudson Booksellers | IndieBound | Indigo | Target | Walmart

It's party time! Kensington's authors are getting together tonight to celebrate their new releases once again, and you are invited! We'll be on Facebook from 7:30 - 9:30pm EST to chat with readers, talk about our new books, and, of course, hold giveaways. Additionally, Kensington Books will once again be providing a grand prize of a copy of each author's book to one lucky winner. You won't want to miss this!

You can stop by this link to sign up or just follow it directly to join us tonight: https://www.facebook.com/events/802924204278783/. Can't make the whole party or are busy that night? No worries, we have you covered. All posts and giveaways are open until 7:30pm EST tomorrow.

Can't wait to see you there tonight!

STILL WATERS Sneak Peak and a Party Invitation

/

We're a week out from the release of FBI K-9s #7, STILL WATERS, on November 29th. And I have a sneak preview for you today.

A training session in the Minnesota wilderness becomes a fight for survival for FBI handler Meg Jennings and her K-9 partner...

Keeping their search-and-rescue skills honed isn’t just a job requirement for FBI handler Meg Jennings and her Labrador, Hawk—it’s essential to saving lives. A water search training weekend in the Boundary Waters area of Minnesota has attracted participants from all levels of law enforcement, each vying to win. The races are challenging, the rivalry is intense, and Meg is already under pressure when Hawk alerts to a scent in the water—and discovers the fresh body of one of Meg’s fellow competitors.

The contest is called off, but Meg’s still feeling the heat. The victim had made an unfounded complaint about her, one that could cost Meg her job and see Hawk removed from her care. The field of suspects is daunting, and all of them are experts in throwing others off the trail. And though Meg’s team flies out to Minnesota to help uncover the truth, they’re on unfamiliar territory, pitted against a killer with the skills, and the motivation, to stay hidden in plain sight...

_____________

Today, I have the first three chapters of STILL WATERS for you. In it, we get to see Meg and Hawk in their first water recovery training session. This team is greased lightning on land, but their searches stop at any body of water, and Meg is determined to change that. And then we'll see them on the first course of the competition. You can dive into this special preview below.

STILL WATERS - Chapters One to Three

STILL WATERS is available for pre-order at these fine retailers:
Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Apple | Audible | Barnes and Noble
Google | Hudson Booksellers | IndieBound | Indigo | Target | Walmart

It's party time! Kensington's authors are getting together to celebrate their new releases once again, and you are invited! We'll be on Facebook on November 29th, the day of our releases, from 7:30 - 9:30pm EST to chat with readers, talk about our new books, and, of course, hold giveaways. Additionally, Kensington Books will once again be providing a grand prize of a copy of each author's book to one lucky winner. You won't want to miss this!

Stop by right here to to sign up so you don't miss any of the party: https://www.facebook.com/events/802924204278783/. Can't make the whole party or are busy that night? No worries, we have you covered. All posts and giveaways are open until 7pm EST on November 30th, so stop by the next day to enter.

Can't wait to see you there that night!

STILL WATERS Cover Reveal

/

Today I'm excited to share with you the brand new cover for FBI K-9s #7, STILL WATERS, which releases on November 29, 2022. Take a look at this stunner!

Once again, Kensington's art department has done a fantastic job, really capturing the beauty and the isolation of the book's setting. And, as a Canadian, the familiar sight of our geese is a nice touch!

So, what are Meg and Hawk up to in this installment?

A training session in the Minnesota wilderness becomes a fight for survival for FBI handler Meg Jennings and her K-9 partner . . .

Keeping their search-and-rescue skills honed isn’t just a job requirement for FBI handler Meg Jennings and her Labrador, Hawk—it’s essential to saving lives. A water search training weekend in the Boundary Waters area of Minnesota has attracted participants from all levels of law enforcement, each vying to win. The races are challenging, the rivalry is intense, and Meg is already under pressure when Hawk alerts to a scent in the water—and discovers the fresh body of one of Meg’s fellow competitors.

The contest is called off, but Meg’s still feeling the heat. The victim had made an unfounded complaint about her, one that could cost Meg her job and see Hawk removed from her care. The field of suspects is daunting, and all of them are experts in throwing others off the trail. And though Meg’s team flies out to Minnesota to help uncover the truth, they’re on unfamiliar territory, pitted against a killer with the skills, and the motivation, to stay hidden in plain sight . . .


I'm also happy to announce that STILL WATERS is now available for pre-order at these fine retailers: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, Barnes and Noble, Hudson Booksellers, IndieBound, Indigo, and Target. Advance orders are so important for the continuing life of an ongoing series, so for all who are able and eager to pre-order their copy, many, many thanks!


Much more to come, including giveaways and sneak previews, as we get closer to release day on November 29th. Stay tuned!

UNDER PRESSURE is Now Available!

/

It's release day for FBI K-9s #6, UNDER PRESSURE! **throws confetti** I'm really thrilled to bring you this next adventure starring Meg Jennings, and her black Lab, Hawk. And there will be other familiar faces as well with the return of Brian Foster and Lacey, Todd Webb, Clay McCord, and Cara Jennings.

There has been some amazing advanced buzz for UNDER PRESSURE:

“Driscoll’s niche—think Margaret Truman meets the mob—is all her own.” - Kirkus Reviews

"Nonstop and adrenaline-infused, UNDER PRESSURE has both bark and bite as this K-9 team goes up against the mob." - Mystery Scene Magazine

"The plot, the pacing, and the characters (both human and animal) work seamlessly together to keep the reader reading just a little bit more and then a little bit more. Under Pressure is another unmitigated success in this series of brilliant storytelling." - The Reading Room

"The novel never flags, slows down, no sags in the middle. There are action packed scenes, the dogs are in the thick of it, and the tension ramps up as further discoveries are made and pieces come together. The conclusion, gritty and gripping, is satisfying. The novel is an easy one to fly through—you don’t want to put it down!" - Rosepoint Publishing

If you missed it before and would still like a sneak peek, you can read Chapter One here.

FBI handler Meg Jennings and her K-9 partner, Hawk, are drawn into a case that involves a fortune in uncut gems, and an enemy whose power and ruthlessness know no bounds...

Diamonds are no one’s best friend when the jewels in question are smuggled conflict gems. Meg Jennings and her Labrador, Hawk, have undertaken many search-and-rescue missions, but this case has an unusual twist. A Philadelphia syndicate is importing diamonds from war-torn African nations and selling them with fake certificates to Stateside dealers. Agent Finn Pierce of the Organized Crime Program is embedded with the syndicate, but being caught with a wire or tracking device would mean instant execution. If Meg, her partner Brian Foster, and their dogs can track Pierce to a deal location, they can break the smuggling chain while maintaining Pierce’s cover.

With the syndicate monitoring every move, it’s a risky operation with more players than Meg and Brian first assumed—on both sides of the law. And when one of their own gets caught in the line of fire, the team embarks on a desperate rescue mission, knowing that mere seconds are all that separate life and death...

Available at: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, Bookshop.org, Hudson Booksellers, IndieBound, Indigo, Target, and Walmart.

A reminder that tonight is the big Kensington November 2021 Mystery and Thriller launch party. Pease join us this evening from 7 - 10pm EST right here: https://www.facebook.com/events/520849522331300. If you can't stay the whole evening, or can't make that time frame at all, no problem! All giveaways are open until 7pm EST the next evening, so you can catch up the next morning or afternoon, if you like. And you really won't want to miss the prizes that are being given away, including the prize below from Kensington Books that will go to one lucky winner. Hope to see you tonight!

UNDER PRESSURE Sneak Peek and Launch Party Details

/

We're a week away from the launch of FBI K-9s #6, UNDER PRESSURE, and I have a special sneak peek exclusively for newsletter readers—Chapter One in its entirety to give you a taste of what's to come.

You can find Chapter One right here: UNDER PRESSURE - Chapter One

Coming to you on November 30th!

FBI handler Meg Jennings and her K-9 partner, Hawk, are drawn into a case that involves a fortune in uncut gems, and an enemy whose power and ruthlessness know no bounds...

Diamonds are no one’s best friend when the jewels in question are smuggled conflict gems. Meg Jennings and her Labrador, Hawk, have undertaken many search-and-rescue missions, but this case has an unusual twist. A Philadelphia syndicate is importing diamonds from war-torn African nations and selling them with fake certificates to Stateside dealers. Agent Finn Pierce of the Organized Crime Program is embedded with the syndicate, but being caught with a wire or tracking device would mean instant execution. If Meg, her partner Brian Foster, and their dogs can track Pierce to a deal location, they can break the smuggling chain while maintaining Pierce’s cover.

With the syndicate monitoring every move, it’s a risky operation with more players than Meg and Brian first assumed—on both sides of the law. And when one of their own gets caught in the line of fire, the team embarks on a desperate rescue mission, knowing that mere seconds are all that separate life and death...

Available for pre-order at: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, Bookshop.org, Hudson Booksellers, IndieBound, Indigo, Target, and Walmart.

Long time blog readers will know that a book launch means a launch party, and this book is no exception!

Once again, I'm teaming up with a stellar lineup of Kensington authors to celebrate our new releases on November 30th on Facebook. Check out this amazing group of authors and their new books:

Winnie Archer - A MURDER YULE REGRET
V.M. Burns - KILLER WORDS
M.V. Byrne - ISABEL PUDDLES INVESTIGATES
Kate Collins - BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE GREEKTOWN
Maddie Day - MURDER AT THE LOBSTAH SHACK
Jen J. Danna as Sara Driscoll - UNDER PRESSURE
Amanda Flower - MARRIAGE CAN BE MISCHIEF
Sarah Fox - CLARET AND PRESENT DANGER
Lee Hollis - MURDER AT THE BAKE SALE
Meg Macy - BEAR A WEE GRUDGE
Rosemarie Ross - CHRISTMAS CANDY CORPSE
Darcie Wilde - A COUNTERFEIT SUITOR

We would love to see you there, so please join us that evening from 7 - 10pm EST. If you can't stay the whole evening, or can't make that time frame at all, no problem! All giveaways are open until 7pm the next evening, so you can catch up the next morning or afternoon, if you like. You can sign up as Going or Interested to stay in the loop right here on the event site: https://www.facebook.com/events/520849522331300. Many of the prizes are already being previewed on the discussion tab, so stop by to see what you could win. Seriously... so many prizes! And, once again, there will be a Kensington grand prize that you guys will not want to miss!

Many of you have attended in the past and know what a blast these launch parties are. Hope to see you there!!

SHOT CALLER Release Day!

/
SHOT CALLER Launch Day FB Post.png

I'm happy to announce that NYPD Negotiators #2, SHOT CALLER, releases today!

In SHOT CALLER, NYPD Detective Gemma Capello and her fellow hostage negotiators are given a particularly difficult situation when a riot in one of the enhanced security units on Rikers Island ends with eight correction officers being held hostage. It’s a challenge—how do you negotiate with someone who already lives under the weight of a life sentence? What retribution within Gemma’s power to grant could possibly be worse than what already lies ahead of those inmates? It makes for an extremely tense situation where everyone from the Department of Corrections administration, NYPD commanders, the tactical team, and the mayor of New York City all have an opinion and an agenda:

In Jen J. Danna’s gripping suspense series, NYPD detective Gemma Capello is called to Rikers Island, where a prison riot threatens to become a bloodbath . . .

On Rikers Island, tensions always run high, especially in the Enhanced Supervision Housing unit. The ESH is home to Rikers’ most dangerous offenders, many of them members of rival street gangs. When Gemma Capello and her team get word of an uprising at the ESH, they know how much is at stake. Gemma also has her own unresolved feelings to deal with—this is the first case she and Detective Sean Logan have worked together since a siege at City Hall that ended with the hostage taker’s death.

Built to hinder escape, prisons are also especially difficult for a tactical team to invade. That’s a last resort for Gemma, but the longer the inmates remain in control, holding corrections officers hostage, the greater the risk. Gemma begins negotiating with Kill Switch, a young, aggressive member of the Filero Kings gang and the inmates’ spokesman. She can tell the stress level is escalating inside. That may give her team some advantages, but it soon leads to a brutal act of retribution—and threats of more to come.

Navigating assumptions on all sides, Gemma desperately tries to stop the body count from rising. But with disagreements and volatility increasing all around, the only certainty is that the next misstep may be a fatal one . . .

Publishers Weekly described SHOT CALLER as "A solid sequel to 2020’s EXIT STRATEGY. Danna’s convincing portrayal of the hostage negotiating process and life at Rikers keep the pages turning. Readers will look forward to Gemma’s next outing."

SHOT CALLER is available now from these fine retailers: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, Audible, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, Bookshop.org, Hudson Booksellers, IndieBound, Indigo, Target, and Walmart.

And a book release means it's party time!

August 2021 Kensington Launch FB Post - 12 books.png

Please join us tonight from 7 - 10pm EDT for a mass Kensington launch party. You'll find the event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/849446682324828. Many of the prizes being offered this evening are already up for preview in the discussion tab, including the grand prize from Kensington - one of each of the twelve books highlighted at tonight's party to one lucky winner! All giveaways are open for twenty-four hours, so if you can't make it tonight, you can still catch up tomorrow and get your name into the prize draws. Personally, I'll be giving away three copies of SHOT CALLER, an audio CD set of EXIT STRATEGY, and five ARCS of my upcoming FBI K-9s novel, UNDER PRESSURE.

Jen J Danna - UNDER PRESSURE giveaway.jpg

Hope to see you there, and good luck in all the draws!

SHOT CALLER Sneak Peek and Launch Party Details

/
20210811_101554_cropped.jpg

We're a little over a week away from the launch of NYPD Negotiators #2, SHOT CALLER, and I have a special sneak peek for you—Chapter One in its entirety to give you a taste of what's to come.

You can find Chapter One right here: SHOT CALLER - Chapter One

In Jen J. Danna’s gripping suspense series, NYPD detective Gemma Capello is called to Rikers Island, where a prison riot threatens to become a bloodbath…

On Rikers Island, tensions always run high, especially in the Enhanced Supervision Housing unit. The ESH is home to Rikers’ most dangerous offenders, many of them members of rival street gangs. When Gemma Capello and her team get word of an uprising at the ESH, they know how much is at stake. Gemma also has her own unresolved feelings to deal with—this is the first case she and Detective Sean Logan have worked together since a siege at City Hall that ended with the hostage taker’s death.

Built to hinder escape, prisons are also especially difficult for a tactical team to invade. That’s a last resort for Gemma, but the longer the inmates remain in control, holding corrections officers hostage, the greater the risk. Gemma begins negotiating with Kill Switch, a young, aggressive member of the Filero Kings gang and the inmates’ spokesman. She can tell the stress level is escalating inside. That may give her team some advantages, but it soon leads to a brutal act of retribution—and threats of more to come.

Navigating assumptions on all sides, Gemma desperately tries to stop the body count from rising. But with disagreements and volatility increasing all around, the only certainty is that the next misstep may be a fatal one . . .

For all those who have already pre-ordered, huge thanks. And for those who are interested in ordering early so SHOT CALLER is available immediately upon release, it's carried by these fine retailers: Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, Bookshop.org, Hudson Booksellers, IndieBound, Indigo, Target, and Walmart. Thank you to you as well!

In more NYPD Negotiator news, Gemma Capello, Sean Logan, and the whole Capelllo family will return in book #3, LOCKDOWN. Newly completed, LOCKDOWN takes Gemma and Logan into the horror of a Brooklyn high school shooting that evolves into a hostage situation. But the incident becomes even more terrifying for the Capellos when Gemma's nephew, who attends the imperiled school, is not among the evacuated students and cannot be contacted. Coming in 2022...

Jen J Danna - UNDER PRESSURE giveaway.jpg

Speaking of upcoming releases, FBI K-9s #6, UNDER PRESSURE, releases on November 30th, and I have paperback advanced reader copies! So watch this space for giveaway information in a few weeks. But, if you are interested in winning a copy sooner, then you'll want to come out on August 31st...

August 2021 Kensington Launch FB Post - 12 books.png

It's launch party time again! Once again, I'm teaming up with a stellar lineup of Kensington authors to celebrate our new releases on August 31st on Facebook. Check out this amazing group of authors and their new books:

Suzanne Chazin - THE FRAGILE EDGE
Jen J. Danna - SHOT CALLER
Maddie Day - NO GRATER CRIME
Devon Delaney - DOUBLE CHOCOLATE COOKIE MURDER
JC Eaton - RAILROADED 4 MURDER
Alex Erickson - DIAL M FOR MAINE COON
Lee Hollis - HALLOWEEN PARTY MURDER
Anna Lee Huber - MURDER MOST FAIR
Victoria Laurie - COACHED IN THE ACT
Alyssa Maxwell - MURDER AT WAKEHURST
Barbara Ross - HALLOWEEN PARTY MURDER
Karen Rose Smith - MURDER WITH ORANGE PEKOE TEA
Traci Wilton - MRS. MORRIS AND THE VAMPIRE

We would love to see you there, so please join us that evening from 7 - 10pm EDT. If you can't stay the whole evening, or can't make that time frame at all, no problem! All giveaways are open for 24 hours before a winner is selected, so you can catch up the next morning or afternoon, if you like. You can sign up as Going or Interested to stay in the loop: https://www.facebook.com/events/849446682324828. Many of the prizes are already being previewed on the discussion tab, so stop by to see what you could win. Seriously... so many prizes (including copies of UNDER PRESSURE)! And, for the first time, there will be a Kensington grand prize this year that will be revealed in the coming days.

Many of you have attended in the past and know what a blast these launch parties are. Hope to see you there!!