Early ReviewersJohn Di Frances

PRETENSE, the first book of the IMBROGLIO TRILOGY, captures the rising wave of sentiment currently surging across Europe against increasing EU dominance and control. Europe is plunged into a spiral of events threatening the future of the free world. A political thriller, PRETENSE weaves a compelling tale of conspiracy and suspense, personality and wit, which will keep you coming back for the Imbroglio Trilogy books THE BAIT! and REVELATIONS. A dark cloud hangs over Europe after the brutal murders of two heads of state, just days apart. Growing civil unrest erupts across Europe threatening the stability of national governments. Tasked with finding the criminals, Interpol’s Marek Frakas, also known as “The Wolf,” joins forces with top police investigators of several nations. This cadre includes the lovely Adrianna Bartoszek, a young forensic weapons expert who has no problem holding her own on the male-dominated team. A tense game of ‘cat and mouse’ is soon underway as authorities move quickly to apprehend the three suspects. They track them from the Slovak Republic to Poland and on to Germany where another tragic event leads to more deaths. From there the story moves to the beautiful Greek island, Mykonos. Meanwhile, pressure mounts for the investigative team. When dubious information repeatedly thwarts their efforts, one fact becomes obvious. Behind these assassinations lies a sinister plot which appears to stretch westward to the United States, implicating the CIA. But do the facts reflect reality or is there an unseen mastermind working behind the scenes to destabilize Europe and NATO? As time begins to run out, Marek decides to trust his instincts and contact an old friend. As a result, help is offered from a most unlikely source. But frustration caused by past mistakes has planted seeds of distrust within the investigative team. They are at an impasse and differences must be resolved before moving forward. More action follows and as though lost in a maze of mirrors, the investigative team is blindsided once again. Can they uncover the truth before it’s too late? There are still more twists to come and an explosive cliffhanger ending. Book is Marked - ACR - NOT FOR RESALE Reviewers praise for PRETENSE: “Exotic locales, posh accommodations, handsome men and gorgeous women engaged in dangerous, often lethal behavior—these are things that often lure readers to international thrillers. Add plots that twist, agendas that may not be what they seem, plus revelations that shock—and voila, the genre’s literary cake is baked! Fortunately, PRETENSE is loaded with all of the above… Authenticity and credibility shine. The author’s technical mastery of weaponry, organizations, and processes has the feel of a Tom Clancy deep dive. His depictions of haute hotels, photogenic scenery, and foreigners and foreign places put one in mind of Robert Ludlum’s world.” Joe Kilgore, The US Review of Books “PRETENSE is a riveting … finely written political thriller … crafted with red herrings that enhance the suspense and make for a delightful reading experience. The plot is cunningly done, with twists that no one will see coming and suspense permeating every moment of the story. The crispiness and clarity in prose combine with natural-sounding dialogues to create the drama that makes for a cinematic experience. I felt as though I was riding alongside the characters because they are just so real.” Christian Sia, Readers' Favorite Book Review

PRETENSE, the first book of the IMBROGLIO TRILOGY, captures the rising wave of sentiment currently surging across Europe against increasing EU dominance and control. Europe is plunged into a spiral of events threatening the future of the free world. A political thriller, PRETENSE weaves a compelling tale of conspiracy and suspense, personality and wit, which will keep you coming back for the Imbroglio Trilogy books THE BAIT! and REVELATIONS. A dark cloud hangs over Europe after the brutal murders of two heads of state, just days apart. Growing civil unrest erupts across Europe threatening the stability of national governments. Tasked with finding the criminals, Interpol’s Marek Frakas, also known as “The Wolf,” joins forces with top police investigators of several nations. This cadre includes the lovely Adrianna Bartoszek, a young forensic weapons expert who has no problem holding her own on the male-dominated team. A tense game of ‘cat and mouse’ is soon underway as authorities move quickly to apprehend the three suspects. They track them from the Slovak Republic to Poland and on to Germany where another tragic event leads to more deaths. From there the story moves to the beautiful Greek island, Mykonos. Meanwhile, pressure mounts for the investigative team. When dubious information repeatedly thwarts their efforts, one fact becomes obvious. Behind these assassinations lies a sinister plot which appears to stretch westward to the United States, implicating the CIA. But do the facts reflect reality or is there an unseen mastermind working behind the scenes to destabilize Europe and NATO? As time begins to run out, Marek decides to trust his instincts and contact an old friend. As a result, help is offered from a most unlikely source. But frustration caused by past mistakes has planted seeds of distrust within the investigative team. They are at an impasse and differences must be resolved before moving forward. More action follows and as though lost in a maze of mirrors, the investigative team is blindsided once again. Can they uncover the truth before it’s too late? There are still more twists to come and an explosive cliffhanger ending. Reviewers praise for PRETENSE: “Exotic locales, posh accommodations, handsome men and gorgeous women engaged in dangerous, often lethal behavior—these are things that often lure readers to international thrillers. Add plots that twist, agendas that may not be what they seem, plus revelations that shock—and voila, the genre’s literary cake is baked! Fortunately, PRETENSE is loaded with all of the above… Authenticity and credibility shine. The author’s technical mastery of weaponry, organizations, and processes has the feel of a Tom Clancy deep dive. His depictions of haute hotels, photogenic scenery, and foreigners and foreign places put one in mind of Robert Ludlum’s world.” Joe Kilgore, The US Review of Books “PRETENSE is a riveting … finely written political thriller … crafted with red herrings that enhance the suspense and make for a delightful reading experience. The plot is cunningly done, with twists that no one will see coming and suspense permeating every moment of the story. The crispiness and clarity in prose combine with natural-sounding dialogues to create the drama that makes for a cinematic experience. I felt as though I was riding alongside the characters because they are just so real.” Christian Sia, Readers' Favorite Book Review

PRETENSE, the first book of the IMBROGLIO TRILOGY, captures the rising wave of sentiment currently surging across Europe against increasing EU dominance and control. Europe is plunged into a spiral of events threatening the future of the free world. A political thriller, PRETENSE weaves a compelling tale of conspiracy and suspense, personality and wit, which will keep you coming back for the Imbroglio Trilogy books THE BAIT! and REVELATIONS. A dark cloud hangs over Europe after the brutal murders of two heads of state, just days apart. Growing civil unrest erupts across Europe threatening the stability of national governments. Tasked with finding the criminals, Interpol’s Marek Frakas, also known as “The Wolf,” joins forces with top police investigators of several nations. This cadre includes the lovely Adrianna Bartoszek, a young forensic weapons expert who has no problem holding her own on the male-dominated team. A tense game of ‘cat and mouse’ is soon underway as authorities move quickly to apprehend the three suspects. They track them from the Slovak Republic to Poland and on to Germany where another tragic event leads to more deaths. From there the story moves to the beautiful Greek island, Mykonos. Meanwhile, pressure mounts for the investigative team. When dubious information repeatedly thwarts their efforts, one fact becomes obvious. Behind these assassinations lies a sinister plot which appears to stretch westward to the United States, implicating the CIA. But do the facts reflect reality or is there an unseen mastermind working behind the scenes to destabilize Europe and NATO? As time begins to run out, Marek decides to trust his instincts and contact an old friend. As a result, help is offered from a most unlikely source. But frustration caused by past mistakes has planted seeds of distrust within the investigative team. They are at an impasse and differences must be resolved before moving forward. More action follows and as though lost in a maze of mirrors, the investigative team is blindsided once again. Can they uncover the truth before it’s too late? There are still more twists to come and an explosive cliffhanger ending. Reviewers praise for PRETENSE: “Exotic locales, posh accommodations, handsome men and gorgeous women engaged in dangerous, often lethal behavior—these are things that often lure readers to international thrillers. Add plots that twist, agendas that may not be what they seem, plus revelations that shock—and voila, the genre’s literary cake is baked! Fortunately, PRETENSE is loaded with all of the above… Authenticity and credibility shine. The author’s technical mastery of weaponry, organizations, and processes has the feel of a Tom Clancy deep dive. His depictions of haute hotels, photogenic scenery, and foreigners and foreign places put one in mind of Robert Ludlum’s world.” Joe Kilgore, The US Review of Books “PRETENSE is a riveting … finely written political thriller … crafted with red herrings that enhance the suspense and make for a delightful reading experience. The plot is cunningly done, with twists that no one will see coming and suspense permeating every moment of the story. The crispiness and clarity in prose combine with natural-sounding dialogues to create the drama that makes for a cinematic experience. I felt as though I was riding alongside the characters because they are just so real.” Christian Sia, Readers' Favorite Book Review

PRETENSE, the first book of tHE IMBROGLIO TRILOGY, captures the rising wave of sentiment currently surging across Europe against increasing EU dominance and control. Europe is plunged into a spiral of events threatening the future of the free world. A political thriller, PRETENSE weaves a compelling tale of conspiracy and suspense, personality and wit, which will keep you coming back for the Imbroglio Trilogy books THE BAIT! and REVELATIONS. A dark cloud hangs over Europe after the brutal murders of two heads of state, just days apart. Growing civil unrest erupts across Europe threatening the stability of national governments. Tasked with finding the criminals, Interpol’s Marek Frakas, also known as “The Wolf,” joins forces with top police investigators of several nations. This cadre includes the lovely Adrianna Bartoszek, a young forensic weapons expert who has no problem holding her own on the male-dominated team. A tense game of ‘cat and mouse’ is soon underway as authorities move quickly to apprehend the three suspects. They track them from the Slovak Republic to Poland and on to Germany where another tragic event leads to more deaths. From there the story moves to the beautiful Greek island, Mykonos. Meanwhile, pressure mounts for the investigative team. When dubious information repeatedly thwarts their efforts, one fact becomes obvious. Behind these assassinations lies a sinister plot which appears to stretch westward to the United States, implicating the CIA. But do the facts reflect reality or is there an unseen mastermind working behind the scenes to destabilize Europe and NATO? As time begins to run out, Marek decides to trust his instincts and contact an old friend. As a result, help is offered from a most unlikely source. But frustration caused by past mistakes has planted seeds of distrust within the investigative team. They are at an impasse and differences must be resolved before moving forward. More action follows and as though lost in a maze of mirrors, the investigative team is blindsided once again. Can they uncover the truth before it’s too late? There are still more twists to come and an explosive cliffhanger ending. Book is Marked - ACR - NOT FOR RESALE Reviewers praise for PRETENSE: “Exotic locales, posh accommodations, handsome men and gorgeous women engaged in dangerous, often lethal behavior—these are things that often lure readers to international thrillers. Add plots that twist, agendas that may not be what they seem, plus revelations that shock—and voila, the genre’s literary cake is baked! Fortunately, PRETENSE is loaded with all of the above… Authenticity and credibility shine. The author’s technical mastery of weaponry, organizations, and processes has the feel of a Tom Clancy deep dive. His depictions of haute hotels, photogenic scenery, and foreigners and foreign places put one in mind of Robert Ludlum’s world.” Joe Kilgore, The US Review of Books “PRETENSE is a riveting … finely written political thriller … crafted with red herrings that enhance the suspense and make for a delightful reading experience. The plot is cunningly done, with twists that no one will see coming and suspense permeating every moment of the story. The crispiness and clarity in prose combine with natural-sounding dialogues to create the drama that makes for a cinematic experience. I felt as though I was riding alongside the characters because they are just so real.” Christian Sia, Readers' Favorite Book Review

PRETENSE, the first book of tHE IMBROGLIO TRILOGY, captures the rising wave of sentiment currently surging across Europe against increasing EU dominance and control. Europe is plunged into a spiral of events threatening the future of the free world. A political thriller, PRETENSE weaves a compelling tale of conspiracy and suspense, personality and wit, which will keep you coming back for the Imbroglio Trilogy books THE BAIT! and REVELATIONS. A dark cloud hangs over Europe after the brutal murders of two heads of state, just days apart. Growing civil unrest erupts across Europe threatening the stability of national governments. Tasked with finding the criminals, Interpol’s Marek Frakas, also known as “The Wolf,” joins forces with top police investigators of several nations. This cadre includes the lovely Adrianna Bartoszek, a young forensic weapons expert who has no problem holding her own on the male-dominated team. A tense game of ‘cat and mouse’ is soon underway as authorities move quickly to apprehend the three suspects. They track them from the Slovak Republic to Poland and on to Germany where another tragic event leads to more deaths. From there the story moves to the beautiful Greek island, Mykonos. Meanwhile, pressure mounts for the investigative team. When dubious information repeatedly thwarts their efforts, one fact becomes obvious. Behind these assassinations lies a sinister plot which appears to stretch westward to the United States, implicating the CIA. But do the facts reflect reality or is there an unseen mastermind working behind the scenes to destabilize Europe and NATO? As time begins to run out, Marek decides to trust his instincts and contact an old friend. As a result, help is offered from a most unlikely source. But frustration caused by past mistakes has planted seeds of distrust within the investigative team. They are at an impasse and differences must be resolved before moving forward. More action follows and as though lost in a maze of mirrors, the investigative team is blindsided once again. Can they uncover the truth before it’s too late? There are still more twists to come and an explosive cliffhanger ending. Reviewers praise for PRETENSE: “Exotic locales, posh accommodations, handsome men and gorgeous women engaged in dangerous, often lethal behavior—these are things that often lure readers to international thrillers. Add plots that twist, agendas that may not be what they seem, plus revelations that shock—and voila, the genre’s literary cake is baked! Fortunately, PRETENSE is loaded with all of the above… Authenticity and credibility shine. The author’s technical mastery of weaponry, organizations, and processes has the feel of a Tom Clancy deep dive. His depictions of haute hotels, photogenic scenery, and foreigners and foreign places put one in mind of Robert Ludlum’s world.” Joe Kilgore, The US Review of Books “PRETENSE is a riveting … finely written political thriller … crafted with red herrings that enhance the suspense and make for a delightful reading experience. The plot is cunningly done, with twists that no one will see coming and suspense permeating every moment of the story. The crispiness and clarity in prose combine with natural-sounding dialogues to create the drama that makes for a cinematic experience. I felt as though I was riding alongside the characters because they are just so real.” Christian Sia, Readers' Favorite Book Review

PDF / ePub PRETENSE, the first book of tHE IMBROGLIO TRILOGY, opens in the Slovak Republic and Poland, capturing the rising wave of sentiment currently surging across Europe against increasing EU dominance and control. Europe is plunged into a spiral of events threatening the future of the free world. A political thriller, PRETENSE weaves a compelling tale of conspiracy and suspense, personality and wit, which will keep you coming back for the Imbroglio Trilogy books THE BAIT! and REVELATIONS. A dark cloud hangs over Europe after the brutal murders of two heads of state, just days apart. Growing civil unrest erupts across Europe threatening the stability of national governments. Tasked with finding the criminals, Interpol’s Marek Frakas, also known as “The Wolf,” joins forces with top police investigators of several nations. This cadre includes the lovely Adrianna Bartoszek, a young forensic weapons expert who has no problem holding her own on the male-dominated team. A tense game of ‘cat and mouse’ is soon underway as authorities move quickly to apprehend the three suspects. They track them from the Slovak Republic to Poland and on to Germany where another tragic event leads to more deaths. From there the story moves to the beautiful Greek island, Mykonos. Meanwhile, pressure mounts for the investigative team. When dubious information repeatedly thwarts their efforts, one fact becomes obvious. Behind these assassinations lies a sinister plot which appears to stretch westward to the United States, implicating the CIA. But do the facts reflect reality or is there an unseen mastermind working behind the scenes to destabilize Europe and NATO? As time begins to run out, Marek decides to trust his instincts and contact an old friend. As a result, help is offered from a most unlikely source. But frustration caused by past mistakes has planted seeds of distrust within the investigative team. They are at an impasse and differences must be resolved before moving forward. More action follows and as though lost in a maze of mirrors, the investigative team is blindsided once again. Can they uncover the truth before it’s too late? There are still more twists to come and an explosive cliffhanger ending. Reviewers praise for PRETENSE: “Exotic locales, posh accommodations, handsome men and gorgeous women engaged in dangerous, often lethal behavior—these are things that often lure readers to international thrillers. Add plots that twist, agendas that may not be what they seem, plus revelations that shock—and voila, the genre’s literary cake is baked! Fortunately, PRETENSE is loaded with all of the above… Authenticity and credibility shine. The author’s technical mastery of weaponry, organizations, and processes has the feel of a Tom Clancy deep dive. His depictions of haute hotels, photogenic scenery, and foreigners and foreign places put one in mind of Robert Ludlum’s world.” Joe Kilgore, The US Review of Books “PRETENSE is a riveting … finely written political thriller … crafted with red herrings that enhance the suspense and make for a delightful reading experience. The plot is cunningly done, with twists that no one will see coming and suspense permeating every moment of the story. The crispiness and clarity in prose combine with natural-sounding dialogues to create the drama that makes for a cinematic experience. I felt as though I was riding alongside the characters because they are just so real.” Christian Sia, Readers' Favorite Book Review

PRETENSE, reads like a page torn from today’s newspaper, set amid the anti-EU sentiment currently sweeping across Europe. This first book of the IMBROGLIO TRILOGY opens in the Slovak Republic with the assassination of the Prime Minister. From there it moves to Poland with a second assassination only days later. However, the story is far more than just action. Characters are well developed and multi-dimensional. Although the assassins, two men, and a women, are clearly evil, they are also interesting and in many ways likable, each having his or her own unique personality quirks and each a back-story, which is developed throughout the course of the book. The investigators comprise a team from multiple countries and the national dynamic as well as that between the sexes, adds color and humor. PRETENSE is at its core a story about people. It also raises moral questions, such as the difference between revenge and retribution, when justice is unavailable. PRETENSE ends with a twist you will not see coming and sets the stage for THE BAIT! the second book in the trilogy. Amazon Kindle, Smashwords, .pdf, .mobi, and .epub