Burned Bridges

by John Gilstrap

Overview

An electrifying new series featuring Irene Rivers (code name: Wolverine), the unforgettable FBI Director from New York Times bestselling author John Gilstrap’s blockbuster, award-winning Jonathan Grave thrillers. Fans of action-packed page-turners by Catherine Coulter, Patricia Cornwell, and Tess Gerritsen are in for a treat, as Irene escapes the treacherous power games of Washington—only to face a new and equally deadly enemy in a rural West Virginia town.

She thought the lovely farm in the heart of West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle would be the perfect refuge from DC politics. But this seemingly peaceful new home is anything but safe for former FBI director Rivers and her children.

After Irene’s 12-year-old nephew finds a body in a cave on her property, grim evidence points to a long-ago murder and cover-up. Soon Irene’s family is the target of the kinds of threats and intimidation she’s seen before . . . but this time, the enemy determined to tear them down is local, and the motive is personal.

Then comes the attack she most fears. Irene knows she won’t get any help from the local police force. And she’s burned too many bridges in Washington to get help from the feds. This time, Irene Rivers is on her own.

Her adversaries are in big trouble . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781496753625
Publisher:	Kensington
Publication date:	04/28/2026
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.00(d)

About the Author

John Gilstrap is the New York Times bestselling author of award-winning action novels including the Jonathan Grave Thrillers and the Victoria Emerson Thrillers. A master of action-driven suspense, he’s touted as one of the most accomplished writers on the planet and his books have been translated into more than 20 languages. He is the recipient of an International Thriller Writers’ Award for Against All Enemies and a two-time ITW Award finalist. He also won the ALA Alex Award for Nathan’s Run, which was optioned for film by Warner Bros. A nationally recognized weaponry and explosives safety expert, Gilstrap frequently speaks at conferences, events, clubs, youth programs, and military bases. He is a former firefighter and EMT with a master’s degree in safety from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree in history from the College of William and Mary in Virginia. He lives in Shepherdstown, WV and can be found online at JohnGilstrap.com.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for John Gilstrap:

“Gilstrap lives up to the promise of his daring, and chilling, premise. White Smoke is his most fully realized version of life in the new America, almost like “The Walking Dead” without the zombies but where the humans are even more monstrous. A one-sitting read if ever there was one.” —Providence Journal (Jon Land) on White Smoke

“Gilstrap has really hit it out of the park... Fans of the genre are sure to like Victoria Emerson, who is strong, smart, and unflappable. But the real key to this series working is the world in which the characters operate, and Gilstrap has established that brilliantly, laying out a universe that . . .well . .. doesn’t seem all that far-fetched sometimes these days.” —The Real Book Spy on White Smoke

“A John Gilstrap thriller, crammed with violence and testing of the soul, might be the perfect work of fiction to sink into in a tough time for the real world.” —New York Journal of Books on Blue Fire

“Gilstrap’s engrossing sequel to 2021’s Crimson Phoenix finds former U.S. Congresswoman Victoria Emerson continuing to organize…Power struggles among surviving U.S. government officials hunkered down in D.C.-area bunkers add to the drama. Fans of doomsday military thrillers will delight in the resilience of Gilstrap’s family of preppers and their quest for survival on their terms. Readers will eagerly await the next installment.” —Publishers Weekly on Blue Fire

“Crimson Phoenix ticks every box for big-book thrillerdom. We’re treated to political turmoil, military action, harrowing escape and relentless pursuit, and heart-warming—and heart-wrenching—scenes of family struggling against conflict, which Gilstrap pens like no other author. The novel seizes you on page one and never lets go—and I don’t mean just until the last page; this riveting book will stay with you long after you finish it. And to top it all off, he’s created one of the most singular and compelling heroines to come along in years.” —Jeffery Deaver, New York Times bestselling author on Crimson Phoenix

“A single mother’s smart, fierce determination to protect her sons turns this vivid day-after-tomorrow scenario into a gripping page-turner.” —Taylor Stevens, New York Times bestselling author of Liars’ Legacy Crimson Phoenix

“Gilstrap’s apocalyptic thriller about nuclear war and one family’s fight to survive in its aftermath weaves tradecraft and survival skills with themes of the nature of evil and the power of justice into an explosive story that keeps your mind churning and pulse racing while it locks you into your chair until the final page. Don't miss this powerful new series from a master thriller writer.” —Jamie Freveletti, international bestselling and award-winning author of Running from the Devil and Robert Ludlum’s The Janus Reprisal Crimson Phoenix

“John Gilstrap's Crimson Phoenix snaps with action from the very first page. It's certain to hit the 10-ring with old and new readers alike.” —Marc Cameron, New York Times bestselling author of Stone Cross and of Tom Clancy’s Code of Honor Crimson Phoenix

From the Publisher