PERMANENT INTERESTS Reaches Top One-Half of One Percent of Kindle Sales

A frightening story that gets you thinking, what if . . . 
~ Tim Green, the New York Times bestselling author of thirteen highly successful suspense novels, on PERMANENT INTERESTS.

My mob-political thriller PERMANENT INTERESTS keeps climbing the Amazon Kindle sales chart.  It currently ranks in the top one-half of one percent of total Kindle book sales.  I drew on my past work as a journalist covering mob trials in New York as well as my diplomatic career in writing this thriller.  And I had great fun doing so.  Lest we forget, the U.S. contracted out tasks like assassinating Fidel Castro with the mafia in the early 1960s.  Who says it couldn't happen again?

From the book jacket:

    A self-centered, blue-blooded Secretary of State, an arrogant White House Chief of Staff and a smug, sexually vulnerable National Security Advisor sell out to the American and Russian mobs to re-elect a weak President Corgan at all costs. American ambassadors and KGB officers who get in the way are killed.
    Diplomat Bob Innes stumbles into this conspiracy of political intrigue and murder. He and a young aide to one of the slain ambassadors, Colleen McCoy, become the targets of hired assassins and Russian mafia hitmen. On the run, they seek to expose the deceit and cover-ups. And they fall in love. With Lydia, a beautiful Russian escort to powerful men, they work with the FBI to bring about the downfall of the President’s men and the destruction of the Russian mob’s Godfather. Al Malandrino, a colorful New York mob boss, becomes their unexpected ally. The quick-paced action takes place in Moscow, New York, Washington, San Francisco, New Orleans and Bangkok.
     The story climaxes with a plot to assassinate a popular presidential rival, known as the “Cajun Kennedy.” Written by a former insider, PERMANENT INTERESTS authentically captures political intrigue, greed and treachery in the highest levels of government. And shows how it all comes crashing down in the face of relentless pursuit of the truth by the system’s would-be victims…

Excerpts:


     Dennison sat with one arm over the next chair and with one leg crossed over the other, richly self-assured and unjustifiably fearless. He focused intently on Malandrino. Behind the icy blue eyes cold calculations were going on, like a missile's computer dispassionately selecting a target. After several moments of such reflection, Dennison leaned forward with both elbows planted on the table and his eyes locked onto Al's.
     "Al, you know that we both work in risky and dangerous environments. We're always having to protect our behind while, at the same time, moving forward and negotiating the shoals ahead. One slip and we're sunk. We've each got internal enemies as well as outside adversaries. You've got people in your organization to keep in line. So do I. You've got to contend with rival competitors within your own loose constellation of families. I've got Congress and other Federal agencies. You're constantly having to deal with outside gangs that want to diminish the power of the Italian-based network. I have to deal with foreign threats. We both have to fight the media as well. I think you'll agree with me that they constitute a serious menace to our respective work."
     Al had become more relaxed. He sat back taking in every word of Dennison's homily. The Secretary spoke the same language as Al. Indeed, they were both purveyors of power who used their power to safeguard essential interests.
     "And sometimes we do what we've gotta do to make sure things go in the right direction," Al offered. "Just like Uncle Sam went after Castro. We went after Joey Gallo. Bad apples."
     "Exactly."

     Al contemplated Dennison carefully. He had this man in his palm. He could make him do anything he wanted to. But his stomach churned queasily. Who said government was a license to steal? Also to kill. The Ollie Norths and John Ehrlichmans were boy scouts. Mere patsies and chumps set up for a fall. Dennison and his cohorts might also stumble and be exposed one day. But chances were better than even they wouldn't be. History had found out only a fraction of the nefarious deeds of our leaders. Politics was just another racket and the government just another gang to deal with.

Excerpted from PERMANENT INTERESTS by James Bruno Copyright © 2006 by James Bruno. Excerpted by permission.  All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.  Excerpts are provided solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.