Samaritan

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After a youth marked by the death of his parents and a childhood spent with his shaman grandfather on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation, Kevin "Hatch" Easter has found a job he believes in -- tracker for the CIA -- and a wife, Karen, he cherishes. But his life is shattered on a hot August night in New York City when a mob collection gone wrong leaves three people dead, Karen Easter among them. Just a few days later, police find the gunman dead, the murder weapon on him, and the criminal case is all but closed. Except someone doesn't buy it. Someone thinks the guilty parties are still out there. And that someone wants revenge. Now, a highly professional hunter stalks the streets of New York City, taking out anyone who may have had a hand in the murders. Is it Kevin Easter the hunter And if he is, is it the CIA's job to save him -- or to kill him The Samaritan is a chilling, pulse-pounding novel -- a powerful story of love, death, and the terrible repercussions of both. As a kid, Kevin "Hatch" Easter never had it easy, growing up half Seneca Indian in a mostly white society. Following the tragic death of his parents when he was only nine, Hatch found himself living on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation with his shaman grandfather. But as an adult, he's found a job he believes in -- tracker for the Central Intelligence Agency -- and a wife, Karen, he cherishes. That life is shattered on a hot August night in New York City when a mob collection gone wrong leaves three people dead, Karen Easter among them. Just a few days later, police find the gunman dead, the murder weapon on him, and the criminal case is all but closed. Except someone doesn't buy it. Someone thinks the guilty parties are still out there. And that someone wants revenge. Now, a highly professional hunter stalks the streets of New York City, taking out anyone who may have had a hand in the murders, from mafia foot soldiers to the untouchable don himself, Anthony DiFilippo IV, to gangs like the Arkho Pinoy and even New York drug lord Lawrence Luther Wright. As the city threatens to descend into all-out war, one question is paramount: Who is the hunter killing the killers, and how can he be stopped Police detectives Katherine Montroy and Matthew Philips desperately want to know. If they can't solve the case, they could be caught in the bloodshed. The media want to know. New York Post reporter B. J. Butera sees the murders as his path to journalistic superstardom, and with the help of an inside source, he's well on his way to the scoop of the decade. And the CIA wants to know. Deputy Director of Intelligence Jack Slattery puts top field agent Gray Taylor on the job. He has to. It's the only way to prepare for the worst-case scenario: that the killer might well be Kevin Easter himself. What happens to a good man when his world is pulled out from under him What if a gifted CIA agent, one of the world's best trackers, has gone rogue Would it be the CIA's job to save him -- or to kill him The Samaritan is a chilling, pulse-pounding novel -- a powerful story of love, death, and the terrible repercussions of both. An absolutely electrifying read, Steve Besecker's outstanding debut is a must for any thriller fan.

Reviews

A real treat to read. Steve Besecker has written a great thrillerintelligent, twisty, a wonderful mix between character and action, just an all-around absorbing book you cant put down. Steve has a gift.Brian Haig, New York Times bestselling author of The Presidents Assassin and The Capitol Game A well-plotted, muscular debut with wall-to-wall action, The Samaritan is a thrill-ride into the dark world of vigilante violence. Native American Kevin Hatch Easter is a different kind of herohighly-trained, deadly, and driven by a vengeance of his own. I have no doubt well be hearing from author Steve Besecker for years to come.Gregg Hurwitz, New York Times bestselling author of Theyre Watching and Trust No One, and writer and producer of ABCs V As thought-provoking as it is entertaining, The Samaritan will keep you turning pages well into the night. A terrific read.James Grippando, New York Times bestselling author of A Kings Ransom and Beyond Suspicion As intense as a killers finger resting on the trigger, Steve Beseckers The Samaritan rocks with nonstop action, believable scenarios, and deftly drawn characters that seem to jump off the page.Andrew Gross, New York Times bestselling author of The Blue Zone and co-author of six #1 thrillers with James Patterson Stephen Beseckers The Samaritan is an enthralling, ambitious, multi-layered thriller that will keep you on edge (and uncertain) until the very last act.Andy Harp, author of A Northern Thunder and founder of the USOs Operation Thriller Every great series needs a springboard, and from what I see, this one is sure to fly high.George Ebey, author, Broken Clock; Dimensions: Tales of Suspense; The Red Bag; and Widowfield The first times certainly a charm for first-time author Besecker. The Samaritan keeps the reader thinking while trying to figure out whodunit. And, as all cherished mysteries do, The Samaritan builds the suspense before unleashing the surprise ending.Lee Coppola, Dean, Journalism Department, St. Bonaventure University

Author Bio

Steve Besecker is a graduate of Orchard Park High School (Orchard Park, NY) and St. Bonaventure University (near Olean, NY). He was born in Somersworth, NH, grew up in East Aurora, NY, and lived briefly in Palos Park, Illinois, before his family settled south of Buffalo. Like many young boys growing up in Western New York, Steve had every intention of becoming a professional hockey player, setting his sights on the National Hockey League and the Buffalo Sabres. Nevertheless, at the ripe young age of fifteen, Steve realized that his hockey talent did not measure up to his passion for the sport, and he began rethinking his future. The professors and Franciscan community at St. Bonaventure University opened Steve's eyes to philosophy, business marketing, and creative writing. He earned a St. Bonaventure degree in Marketing Management, while also earning the distinction of being assistant captain of St. Bonaventure's varsity hockey team. With the help of various creative writing teachers, and the guidance and tough love of retired Doubleday editor Bill Thompson, who worked with Stephen King, John Grisham, Pat Conroy, Peter Straub, and many commercially successful authors early in their careers, Steve developed the character of Native American Kevin "Little Crow" Easter, the CIA hunter and protagonist of The Samaritan and subsequent planned thrillers. An avid fly-fisherman, skier, hockey player, and youth soccer coach, Steve Besecker also enjoys skiing, hiking, snow shoeing, biking, and mini-triathlons. Steve's an active member of both the International Thriller Writers, Inc., and the American Society of Journalists and Authors. Steve lives in Western New York and is presently writing another thriller that includes Kevin "Hatch" Easter, Gray Taylor, and many of the characters from The Samaritan.