Table of Contents
Title Page
Dedication
SUNDAY
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
MONDAY
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
TUESDAY
CHAPTER 38
CHAPTER 39
CHAPTER 40
CHAPTER 41
CHAPTER 42
CHAPTER 43
CHAPTER 44
CHAPTER 45
CHAPTER 46
CHAPTER 47
CHAPTER 48
CHAPTER 49
CHAPTER 50
CHAPTER 51
CHAPTER 52
CHAPTER 53
CHAPTER 54
CHAPTER 55
CHAPTER 56
WEDNESDAY
CHAPTER 57
CHAPTER 58
CHAPTER 59
CHAPTER 60
CHAPTER 61
CHAPTER 62
CHAPTER 63
CHAPTER 64
CHAPTER 65
THURSDAY
CHAPTER 66
CHAPTER 67
CHAPTER 68
CHAPTER 69
CHAPTER 70
CHAPTER 71
CHAPTER 72
CHAPTER 73
CHAPTER 74
CHAPTER 75
CHAPTER 76
CHAPTER 77
CHAPTER 78
CHAPTER 79
CHAPTER 80
CHAPTER 81
CHAPTER 82
CHAPTER 83
CHAPTER 84
CHAPTER 85
CHAPTER 86
CHAPTER 87
CHAPTER 88
CHAPTER 90
CHAPTER 91
CHAPTER 92
CHAPTER 93
FRIDAY
CHAPTER 94
CHAPTER 95
CHAPTER 96
CHAPTER 97
CHAPTER 98
CHAPTER 99
CHAPTER 100
CHAPTER 101
CHAPTER 102
CHAPTER 103
CHAPTER 104
CHAPTER 105
CHAPTER 106
CHAPTER 107
CHAPTER 108
CHAPTER 109
CHAPTER 110
CHAPTER 111
CHAPTER 112
CHAPTER 113
CHAPTER 114
CHAPTER 115
CHAPTER 116
CHAPTER 117
CHAPTER 118
CHAPTER 119
CHAPTER 120
CHAPTER 121
CHAPTER 122
CHAPTER 123
CHAPTER 124
SATURDAY
CHAPTER 125
CHAPTER 126
CHAPTER 127
CHAPTER 128
CHAPTER 129
CHAPTER 130
CHAPTER 131
CHAPTER 132
CHAPTER 133
CHAPTER 134
CHAPTER 135
CHAPTER 136
CHAPTER 137
CHAPTER 138
CHAPTER 139
CHAPTER 140
CHAPTER 141
CHAPTER 142
CHAPTER 143
CHAPTER 144
CHAPTER 145
CHAPTER 146
EPILOGUE
AUTHOR’S NOTE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ABOUT BESTSELLING, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR SAMUEL MARQUIS AND FORTHCOMING TITLES
THE COALITION
A NOVEL OF SUSPENSE
From the fiftieth floor of an office building in Denver, Colorado, a long-range assassin calmly watches a procession of black Lincolns. When the motorcade pulls to the curb in Civic Center Plaza, a prominent leader steps from one of the vehicles and takes the stage to make an important speech. Moments later, a loud BOOM echoes through the Plaza and the man slumps to the platform like a stringless marionette. The mysterious sniper, whose very existence is unknown to the international law enforcement community, has just assassinated U.S. President-elect William Ambrose Kieger.
In the aftermath of the shocking political crime, the shooter escapes and a Task Force is swiftly assembled, headed up by Special Agent Kenneth Patton of the FBI’s Denver Field Office. A ten year vet in Domestic Terrorism, the unconventional Ken is driven to solve the crime by both professional and personal motives. His search leads him to a secret society whose diabolical and far-reaching plot threatens the very highest levels of the U.S. government. Yet the group’s motives, secret membership, and ambitious plans remain elusive. Can Ken and his team uncover the plot in time to save the day? Can they beat the countdown on the clock and catch the assassin and the shadowy group in the background pulling the strings? Or will time run out?
Praise for Bestselling, Award-Winning
Author Samuel Marquis
“A promising thriller writer with a fine hero, great research, and a high level of authenticity.”
—Donald Maass, Author of Writing 21st Century Fiction (for The Coalition )
“Marquis is brilliant and bold…It’s hard not to think, ‘What’s he going to come up with next?’”
—SP Review - 4.5-Star Review (for The Slush Pile Brigade )
“With Blind Thrust and his other works, Samuel Marquis has written true breakout novels that compare favorably with—and even exceed—recent thrillers on the New York Times Bestseller List.”
—Pat LoBrutto, Former Editor for Stephen King and Eric Van Lustbader (Bourne Series)
Praise for The Coalition
Winner Beverly Hills Book Awards – Political Thriller
“The Coalition has a lot of good action and suspense, an unusual female assassin, and the potential to be another The Day After Tomorrow [the runaway bestseller by Allan Folsom].”
—James Patterson, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
“ This ambitious thriller starts with a bang, revs up its engines, and never stops until the explosive ending…Perfect for fans of James Patterson, David Baldacci, and Vince Flynn, The Coalition is a standout thriller from an up-and-coming writer.”
—Foreword Reviews – Four-Star Review
“An entertaining thriller about a ruthless political assassination...Marquis has woven a tight plot with genuine suspense.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“The Coalition by Samuel Marquis is a riveting novel by an uncommonly gifted writer. This is the stuff from which blockbuster movies are made! Very highly recommended.”
—Midwest Book Review - The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
“Reminiscent of The Day of the Jackal …with a high level of authentic detail. Skyler is a convincing sniper, and also a nicely conflicted one.”
—Donald Maass, Author of Writing 21st Century Fiction
“Author of 2015’s The Slush Pile Brigade and Blind Thru
st , novelist Samuel Marquis has accomplished something rather rare. In The Coalition , Marquis has injected fresh air into the often threadbare genre of political conspiracy and assassination thrillers.”
—Dr. Wesley Britton, Bookpleasures.com (Crime & Mystery)
“Marquis knows his stuff: [his] conspiracy is prescient and plausible, and well-drawn. Each one of his characters has uniquely interesting motivations. If you’re in the mood for an engrossing assassination thriller with a unique twist, The Coalition is a very good place to start.”
—SP Review – 4.5-Star Review
“The Coalition is an entertaining conspiracy story driven by the diverse motives of a varied and complicated cast of characters.”
—IndieReader Book Review
Praise for The Slush Pile Brigade
#1 Denver Post Bestselling Novel
Award-Winning Finalist Beverly Hills Book Awards
“This high-energy, rollicking misadventure will change the way you look at the publishing industry forever. The plot is unpredictable…twists and turns and counterturns abound. So, too, does the humor…The dialogue is superb…Marquis laid the groundwork as a thriller writer with The Slush Pile Brigade and hopefully his following novels build up a James Patterson-esque empire.”
—Foreword Reviews – Five-Star Review
“There’s a lot going on in Marquis’ book, as the author smartly builds off a solid premise…A fresh concept and protagonist that breathe life into a conventional but exciting actioner.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“The Slush Pile Brigade , by Samuel Marquis, is a hilarious and exciting read filled with one crazy turn after another…The author slams on the accelerator early in the story and doesn’t let up, forcing the reader to flip the pages frantically. And once it’s over, it’s still hard to catch one’s breath.”
—SP Review - 4.5-Star Review
“Twists, turns and double crosses in literary theft quickly expand to threaten the globe in The Slush Pile Brigade , a promising debut from an up-and-coming thriller writer.”
—IndieReader Book Review - 4.5-Star Review
“Marquis makes the whole bewildering journey entertaining with his quirky friends who accompany Nick on his mission. The fact that Marquis himself wrote a novel called Blind Thrust , bring out the book-within-a-book theme, and the New York City scenes and dialogue feel authentic throughout. Read The Slush Pile Brigade …for the enjoyable romp that it is.”
—BlueInk Book Review
Praise for Blind Thrust
#1 Denver Post Bestselling Novel
Winner Next Generation Indie Book Awards
Award-Winning Finalist USA Best Book Awards
Award Finalist Foreword Reviews ’ Book of the Year
Award-Winning Finalist Beverly Hills Book Awards
“Blind Thrust kept me up until 1 a.m. two nights in a row. I could not put it down. An intriguing mystery that intertwined geology, fracking, and places in Colorado that I know well. Great fun.”
—Roy R. Romer, 39th Governor of Colorado
“Mr. Marquis infuses passion and authenticity into every page of the novel, as he is a practicing geologist and paleontology/Western history buff who is an expert on what he writes.” —Pat LoBrutto, Former Editor for Stephen King and Eric Van Lustbader (Bourne Series)
“With believable, intelligent characters, there is a fine thriller on these pages that could shake things up.”
—Foreword Reviews – Four-Star Review
“The science of earthquakes is truly fascinating, and Marquis has captured this science and packaged it into a really fine thriller ‘against the clock’ style for almost anyone to pick up and enjoy, and readers will no doubt want more from Higheagle and his intrepid grandfather once they have devoured this installment.” —SP Review – Four-Star Review
“Blind Thrust makes good use of Marquis’ background as a professional geologist. It is the novel’s characters, however, that really stand out. For suspense fans who enjoy science mixed with their thrills, the novel offers page-turning pleasures.” —BlueInk Review
“Blind Thrust spins a thrilling tale of what can happen when humans mess with Mother Nature…For those interested in earthquakes or environmental issues, Marquis has created an action-packed novel filled with danger and conflict.” —IndieReader Book Review
“A mostly engaging novel by an experienced hydrogeologist who brings a lot of verisimilitude to his tale of earthquake devastation.”
—Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Bodyguard of Deception
“Bodyguard of Deception grabbed my attention right from the beginning and never let go. The character development is excellent. Samuel Marquis has a knack for using historic details and events to create captivating and fun to read tales.”
—Roy R. Romer, 39th Governor of Colorado
“Readers looking for an unapologetic historical action book should tear through this volume.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“As usual, Marquis’s descriptions are vivid, believable, and true to the time period...Bodyguard of Deception is an intriguing launch to his new trilogy. Warmly recommended.”
—Dr. Wesley Britton, Bookpleasures.com (Crime & Mystery)
“Old-time spy buffs will appreciate the tradecraft and attention to detail, while adventure enthusiasts will enjoy the unique perspective and setting for a WWII story. A combination of The Great Escape , Public Enemies , a genuine old-time Western, and a John Le Carré novel.”
—Blueink Review
“The world hangs in a delicate balance in the heart-pounding World War Two Trilogy opener, Bodyguard of Deception by Samuel Marquis. Put together with an intricate plot to follow and a commitment to realistic detail, there’s a lot going for the read...a wonderfully nail-biting experience with good characters and solid intrigue.”
—SP Review – Four-Star Review
“A fast-paced, riveting WWII espionage thriller. Bodyguard of Deception is as good as the best of Daniel Silva, Ken Follett, Alan Furst, and David Baldacci and brings back fond memories of the classic movie The Great Escape and Silva’s finest novel, The Unlikely Spy .”
—Fred Taylor, President/Co-Founder Northstar Investment Advisors and Espionage Novel Aficionado
“Bodyguard of Deception is a unique and ambitious spy thriller complete with historical figures, exciting action, and a dastardly villain. Fans of prison-break plots will enjoy this story of a loyal German struggling to save his homeland.”
—Foreword Reviews
By Samuel Marquis
THE SLUSH PILE BRIGADE
BLIND THRUST
THE COALITION
BODYGUARD OF DECEPTION
THE COALITION
A NOVEL OF SUSPENSE
SAMUEL MARQUIS
MOUNT SOPRIS PUBLISHING
Kindle Edition
THE COALITION
Copyright © 2016 by Samuel Marquis
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, government entities, religious and political organizations, corporations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, businesses, companies, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
MOUNT SOPRIS PUBLISHING
Trade paper: ISBN 978-1-943593-08-8
Kindle: ISBN 978-1-943593-09-5
ePub: ISBN 978-1-943593-10-1
PDF: ISBN 978-1-943593-11-8
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mailto:[email protected] .
Second Mount Sopris Publishing, premium printing: May 2016
Cover Design: George Foster (www.fostercovers.com )
Formatting: Rik Hall (www.WildSeasFormatting.com )
Printed in the United States of America
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Dedication
For my mom, Anne, and my wife, Christine, and our children, Sam, Clapton, and Cassidy, whom I cherish.
The Coalition
A Novel of Suspense
Let us not despair but act. Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past—let us accept our own responsibility for the future.
—John F. Kennedy
Sniping is poetry in slow motion, up until you pull the trigger.
—Unknown
SUNDAY
CHAPTER 1
THE MOTORCADE SWEPT IN FROM THE WEST. Five equally spaced Lincolns, each the same: sleek, jet-black, with U.S. government tags, bullet-proof windows, and tinted glass to conceal the identity of the occupants. The caravan stretched nearly a full city block as it rolled up Colfax Avenue, police escort fore and aft. In the third vehicle sat an august-looking gentleman donning an English-cut, double-breasted suit. He was scheduled to give a speech in the Civic Center Plaza in sixteen minutes.
The Coalition: A Novel of Suspense Page 1