Otello's Oil: A Saga of Blood & Oil

(Paperback)

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Description

Elliot Jones is a cross between Sam Spade and Jack Ryan. He's a no-nonsense Special Agent with the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service who won medals for shooting at the Summer Olympics.

The U.S. Secretary of State is in a loveless marriage. She has invited the Oil Minister of Kuwait to dinner in Georgetown followed by opera at the Kennedy Center. In Act III of Giuseppe Verdi's Otello, a shot is fired, but no one hears a thing. The Minister slumps in his seat. Blood oozes from his chest. The Secretary is only inches away. Was she the target Was she in love with her guest

Jones is tasked with leading the investigation. He soon discovers that the Oil Minister was in the crosshairs of a global battle among the super powers for energy.

Reviews

"Layton's meticulous political thriller masterfully balances global threats with personal stakes, creating an immersive and fluid read filled with well-drawn characters, moral ambiguities, and a steady, captivating pace. Perfect for fans of intelligent cloak-and-dagger tales. Otello's Oil is a standout in the genre."
-- Readers' Favorite

"Espionage, politics, and intimate relationships become intertwined in Otello's Oil, a richly imagined novel about a government agent facing off against the corruptions of a not-so-distant future."
-- Independent Book Review

"I'd definitely recommend this book to any people who enjoy a unique, fast-paced thriller, this book has excellent descriptions and characters throughout, and enjoyable writing style, that's easy to follow."
-- Literary Titan Book Review

"An intriguing ... tale of global espionage and illicit affairs."
-- Kirkus Reviews

"D.W. Layton's Otello's Oil will have espionage and conspiracy thriller aficionados hooked and turning page after page."
-- Readers' Favorite

"A fast-paced story of mystery and intrigue at the highest levels of the global diplomatic world. The settings are vivid and accurate, and the characters behave in ways that are believable, but still surprising. Absolute page-turner. Riveting."
-- Amb. John Schmidt, former Associate US Attorney General and Chief US Negotiator Uruguay Round Global Trade Talks

"Layton delivers a cleverly crafted plot full of twists and turns set against the backdrop of a future where energy markets are stretched to the breaking point. I can't wait to read the sequel."
-- John Gartman, former Senior VP, Hess Corporation

Author Bio

As a young man Layton was greatly influenced by James Michener's The Drifters. Thus, after graduating from college he traveled the world. A vagabond. He ran with the bulls in Pamplona. He stomped grapes with his feet in Greece. He pulled giant crab pots off the floor of the Bering Sea.

After law school he attended Cambridge University in England where he obtained an advance degree in international law. After Cambridge he moved to Washington, D.C. where he worked in and out of government for over 35 years. During his career he practiced international law all over the world; often representing governments in disputes with other governments before the World Trade Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.

Layton has always been interested in the arts, appearing in two operas at the Kennedy Center as a supernumerary, while also raising three sons.

He and his wife split their time between homes in Florida and the South of France.