Jay Waitkus

Tainted Monarch (novel)

Synopsis
With its straight-shooting detective, Nolan Sand, and shady antagonist, Russ Morrison, Jay Waitkus' debut effort fuses classic elements of hard-boiled crime fiction with modern-day storytelling. Short chapters, conflicted characters, and plenty of duplicity keep the pot boiling, and the ending will change what readers think they know.

"Tainted Monarch is a tightly-wound, fast-moving, ever-changing novella….[A] good, short read." ― Charles Kleinpeter II, The (MS) Gulf Coast Writers Association 

"Coldhearted billionaire Russ Morrison…is suspected of killing a business rival…It’s up to police detective Nolan Sand to solve the case." ― The South Florida Sun-Sentinel

"This book represents many of the influences in [Waitkus'] life. Mystery writers Raymond Chandler and Mickey Spillane were major influences." ― The Boynton Times

"A fast-paced mystery....Waitkus uses his background in newspaper reporting to craft a tightly-woven story." ― Authorship

In the Depths of Shadows (novel)

Synopsis
Jay Waitkus' study of evil is everything a topnotch crime thriller is supposed to be: engrossing, gritty, and smart. Intriguing characters, high-stakes conflict, and plenty of duplicity provide the fuel for the story – and will keep readers turning pages at a breakneck pace.

"A police detective investigates the slaying of a corporate executive and a serial killer with a stunning motive." ― Publishers Weekly

"The longest month in the life of unflappable police detective Nolan Sand is about to take him on a perilous odyssey." ― Advance

"The debut mystery novel of former journalist Jay Waitkus, In the Depths of Shadows is a brutal suspense story of a…police detective racing to stop a brutal serial killer. An intricate and deftly woven story of morbid torture and vicious murder, a woman with a hidden past, and the hideous darkness of the human spirit at its worst, In the Depths of Shadows is a superbly crafted, vividly written, riveting read from beginning to end." ― Midwest Book Review  

The Session (short story)

Synopsis
A serial killer recounts his life to a psychiatrist in a disturbing tale of psychological horror.

"A quick read that will leave you with more questions than answers." ― Firstprint, Featured Book

"Recommend[ed]." ― MightyWords.com, starred review

Dividing Line (novel)

Synopsis
Combining elements of classic pulp with razor-sharp dialogue and breakneck pacing, Jay Waitkus' latest novel is a pulse-pounding, adrenaline-charged thriller filled with intrigue, suspense, and complex, memorable characters. Cutting a swath of violent action leading into a slam-bang, jaw-dropping finale, Dividing Line is a first-rate adventure from an author who knows how to deliver.

"A covert government operative ignites a war between two criminal empires." ― Publishers Weekly

"Jay Waitkus releases his second thriller with Dividing Line (National Writers Press) this month. In this novel, the hero is mercenary Jack Skye, on assignment from a black ops unit sanctioned by the U.S. to remove a ruthless dictator from power." ― The South Florida Sun-Sentinel

"Mercenary Jack Skye and his girlfriend Lia Constantin find themselves in the crosshairs of...the most powerful underworld cartel on the Eastern Seaboard.” ― Advance

"Written by journalist Jay Waitkus, Dividing Line is a suspenseful, action-packed novel about Jack Skye, a one-eyed mercenary whose dangerous work hunting murderers and terrorists comes back to haunt his personal life. He and his girlfriend become dragged into a ruthless war of attrition with a powerful underworld mob, and a seven-figure bounty is placed on his head, a figure so high that it catches the intrigue of an international assassin eager to test his skills to the limit. Meanwhile, a rival military strongman and master of a multibillion cocaine empire plunges into his own fray with the mob, planting Jack squarely in the middle of an internecine war. An explosive thriller from cover to cover." ― Midwest Book Review 

The Guarantor (short story)

Synopsis
A boxer's manager promises him that he will win his next fight in a compelling story delving into competing interests and the pursuit of greatness. 

"What the manager does parallels his nonfiction counterparts in…the extent that one may go in order to secure victory."  ― Saddo Boxing

Brood of Thieves (novel)

Synopsis
The latest entry in the Nolan Sand franchise sees the intrepid detective pushed to his limits amid a bevy of mysterious crimes. Fortunately for Sand, he has plenty of backup with new partner Talia Draper in tow. With rapid pacing and crisp dialogue, Jay Waitkus delivers another first-rate mystery novel.  

"Detectives Nolan Sand and Talia Draper navigate a web of crime and deception in Brood of Thieves, a gripping thriller that plunges readers into the heart of a dangerous underworld."― NewInBooks.com