The Russian

In the harsh Chihuahua Desert along the U.S.-Mexico border, New Mexico State Trooper Enrique "Ricky" Basurto joins an elite multi-agency task force combating drug and human trafficking. When a decomposing body is discovered in a remote desert ravine, carrying a rare Russian assassination weapon, Ricky is pulled into a deadly web connecting Russian organized crime to Mexican cartels.

The investigation leads him from the desolate borderlands to upscale Tucson neighborhoods, where the murder of an elderly Russian émigré reveals a trail of corruption and violence spanning continents. As Ricky pursues connections between the victims, he uncovers a young Mexican woman caught in the cartels' grip, forced to participate in their brutal operations.

With assistance from his DEA partner Anna Fernandez and FBI collaborators, Ricky navigates a dangerous landscape where loyalty is fleeting, corruption reaches into law enforcement, and cartel vengeance is swift. When a high-stakes money laundering operation offers the chance to bring down key players, Ricky must act quickly before more lives are lost and evidence disappears into the unforgiving desert.

Vivid and unflinching, "The Russian" exposes the brutal reality of border conflicts where lives are disposable in the pursuit of power and profit. If you enjoyed "The Power of the Dog," "The Cartel," and "Breaking Creed," you'll love "The Russian."

© 2022 Defiance Press and Publishing (Ebook): 9781955937139

Release date

Ebook: March 23, 2022