Synopsis:

A TASK FORCE RAVEN THRILLER

In the aftermath of a devastating terrorist attack on a U.S. Border Patrol station in McAllen, Texas, Major Jake Baylor faces his most personal mission yet. When a VBIED explosion and mortar attack kills dozens, including his best friend Clint McNamara, Baylor and his elite Task Force Raven spring into action.

What appears to be a brutal cartel assault is actually something far more sinister—a coordinated diversion allowing ISIS operative Abu Waleed Hassan, known as “The Reaper,” and his team of jihadists to slip across the border undetected. As Baylor and his team of Texas Rangers with special operations backgrounds race to track down the terrorists, they find themselves operating in the shadows of bureaucracy, caught between political agendas and the urgent need to prevent another attack.

From interrogating a high-level cartel operative in a remote Texas ranch to conducting off-the-books operations in Mexico, Task Force Raven follows the trail of breadcrumbs leading to Hassan’s deadly plot. When suicide bombers strike San Antonio’s Riverwalk, killing hundreds, the clock starts ticking on an even more catastrophic attack aimed at Houston’s petrochemical infrastructure.

In this high-stakes thriller that blends military action with law enforcement tactics, Baylor must confront not only the external threat but also his own grief and rage. As federal agencies squabble over jurisdictional authority and media narratives, Task Force Raven operates with a simple directive from Texas Governor Robert Williamson: “Find them, and make sure they can never hit us again.”

With time running out and lives on the line, Baylor will need every skill he’s honed from years with both the Texas Rangers and Special Forces to bring the terrorists to justice—or stop them permanently.

Hott Interview:

I recently got to chat with Sam Stone and asked him to share an event he remembers when asked for a humorous story. You’ll want to read his response!!

Honestly, picking just one is impossible—I’ve got a lifetime’s worth of stories from high school, college, family, and nearly three decades in law enforcement. Most are absolutely not safe for work. But here’s one I can share (sort of):

We’re riding in a raid van, all geared up, full tac team ready to hit a house. The guy driving—solid dude, total pro—starts laughing at something someone said. And keeps laughing. Then suddenly, he passes out at the wheel. Just slumps over mid-intersection. We start yelling, punching him—again, rough crowd—and he snaps back awake right as the smell hits us. A powerful smell. He just looks at us and says, dead serious:

“Sometimes when I laugh too hard, I pass out. Oh… and crap my pants.”

So now we’re sitting there in a raid van that smells like death, driven by a guy with a self-destruct button built into his funny bone. It’s hilarious now. At the time? Not so much. But hey, that’s team life—full of surprises, sketchy drivers, and a whole lot of Febreze.

Book Details:

Genre: Political Thriller
Published by: Indie
Publication Date: June 1, 2025
Number of Pages: 644 PBK
ISBN: 979-8316987726 PBK
Series: A Task Force Raven Thriller, Book1
Book Links: Amazon | Kindle Unlimited | Goodreads | BookBub

Read an excerpt:

Author Bio:

When the action starts, you know it’s real. A fifth-generation Texan with a cowboy spirit, Sam Stone spent over 30 years as a Texas Police Officer, retiring as the Commander of Special Operations, leading in high-stakes situations where failure wasn’t an option. Coming from a proud, patriotic military family, he writes with an authenticity that can only come from lived experience. Now, he calls the Texas Hill Country home, where he lives with his wife—his love in this life and all others—and their two loyal dogs. Get ready for a pulse-pounding ride—check out his latest book today!

Catch Up With Sam Stone:

SamStoneAuthor.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
Instagram – @sam_stone_author
Threads – @sam_stone_author
X – @crash4895
Facebook – @SamStoneAuthor
YouTube – @RavenActual-SamStone

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