“I hadn’t planned to jump off the roof of a three-story building. That’s not the sort of thing you plan. They say your life flashes before your eyes in moments like that, but mine didn’t. There was no time for it. The truth is, I barely had enough time to regret how I got there.”
Thomas Vale was a math prodigy, expert gambler, and promising CIA recruit. And his act was nearly flawless. But when his secret was revealed – that he’d been masking high-functioning autism – his career in clandestine operations was over before it began.
Or so he thought.
Years later, when a former mentor resurfaces with a hand-tailored mission, Thom seizes the chance to finally prove himself. He teams up with “Sondra,” a mysterious and tough-as-nails spy, to investigate a suspected terrorist financier. They uncover a broader criminal scheme than they could have imagined, and soon the walls start closing in.
Outnumbered, outgunned, and overwhelmed by his senses, Thom is pushed to his limits and beyond. And even if he survives … can he ever go home again?
This is the first book in a series of high-octane thrillers featuring an autistic protagonist. This series proudly portrays high-masking autism with authenticity, and includes co-protagonists from a number of underrepresented backgrounds including LGBTQ+, BIPOC, neurodiversity, and physical disability. There is an emphasis on realistic portrayals of science, technology, and espionage tradecraft.
A shadow seemed to fall across her face. Was it a trick of the light, or a lifetime of pain? Backlit by sun through the window behind her, the blonde hair of her wig glowed like a halo. I’d never before had someone stand before me as strong or as vulnerable.
“Did you know I grew up on a Seneca Indian reservation?” I asked. “Where I’m from, they would say you have two souls. ‘Two-souled’ people make the best medicine men, or so I’ve been told.”
“Yeah? Well…they had different things to say about me where I grew up. I’m no medicine man, or whatever. Honestly, I’m really not sure who I am.”
A sense of peace and clarity washed over me, and made my head feel light.
“You’re a warrior, and you’re my friend,” I said. “That’s who you are.”
