TERMINAL IMPASSE is out in the world today!

This book will always be special to me because it's the book I thought I'd never get to write. When the pandemic stomped all over the launch of the NYPD Negotiators, I took a chance and wrote LOCKDOWN, the third book in the series, hoping Kensington would renew the series and contract it. Then they didn't. I was disappointed, but publishing is a business, and I understood. I already had LOCKDOWN written, so I decided to self-publish, and hired my Kensington editor to professionally edit it. James said right off the bat he was sorry Kensington didn't take it because he really liked it. But then the whole Jen J. Danna to Sara Driscoll name change happened for the series, and James saw the opportunity to sell LOCKDOWN to Kensington. He took it to acquisitions himself, and before I knew it, they wanted books 3 and 4, which I already had in mind.

You never want books to be too similar. It's hard with hostage negotiations because all negotiations follow certain rules and there are only a limited number of outcomes. We'd seen a range of situations and outcomes in the first three books, but I wanted to shake book 4 up by putting Gemma Capello in the middle of the situation instead of being on the outside. How would she handle it? How could she use her skills without letting the hostage takers know that she was a) a cop and b) a negotiator? For them to know would be a death sentence, for sure.

And then there Sean Logan, and the way he and Gemma had danced around each other since the series began. I set up the dinner date that starts TERMINAL IMPASSE at the end of LOCKDOWN, never knowing if I'd be able to actually write it. It turned into the perfect scenario—Gemma and Logan finally seeing if they could take their friendship to the next level, and getting caught in a hostage standoff in the process. And what better partner could Gemma have than Logan, a highly trained tactical officer.

From the moment these characters walk into Grand Central Terminal, TERMINAL IMPASSE is a wild ride: drama, terror, the love and support of family, teamwork, the bonds of friendship, and a long-time will they/won't they resolution. I hope you enjoying reading this book as much as I enjoyed finally getting the chance to write it.

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 . .

The NYPD Negotiators series continues! I completed, COUNTDOWN, the fifth book in the series yesterday, and will be diving into edits today as my critique team expects it sometime on Friday. The cover and copy will be revealed in the coming months, but I'll just leave you with this: New Year's Eve is an iconic party time in New York City. But what happens when a luxury yacht of socialites and captains of industry are taken hostage in the middle of New York Harbor with a deadline of midnight for a $50,000,000 cryptocurrency ransom? It's Gemma and Logan's first incident working together since the events in TERMINAL IMPASSE, and it's going to be one heck of a New Year's Eve for them!

Watch for COUNTDOWN in May of 2026!

It's time for my final SHADOW PLAY ARC giveaway!

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'm giving away my last 10 paperback copies (don't let the picture above fool you!). To enter, simply follow the Rafflecopter link below. Unlike previous giveaways, this won't have daily entry chances, but will have six ways to enter—an easy click, subscribing to my newsletter, and following me on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and Threads. Already subscribe or follow me? That works too, so claim that entry.

A note—I was in a rush to mail out the last copies because of the risk of a potential Canada Post strike. That deadline has come and gone, and there's no full strike yet. So I'm hopeful there won't be. There is a chance that a strike will hit during the giveaway or after the books have been mailed. Please know that I will get the book to you as fast as I can. Sadly, there is no safe option to cross the border and mail from the US anymore, so it has to come from here. Many thanks for your patience if there is a delay, but if you win, you will get the book before it releases on August 26th.

Enter here: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/76d0650530/?

Contest open to residents of the US and Canada, and closes at 11:59PM on June 8th. If you are a winner, I'll contact you via the email you used to enter. Good luck!

A reminder that SHADOW PLAY is also available for early readers through NetGalley. If you like to read and review, you can apply to Kensington to read the eARC here: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/586871

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It's release day For TERMINAL IMPASSE and a last SHADOW PLAY ARC giveaway!

Jen J. Danna/Sara Driscoll - Mystery and Thriller Author