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DEFCON

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Compared to James Patterson and a name to watch, Packard was recently awarded " A Matti Baker Thriller is one of the year's best Medical Thrillers." - BestThrillers

Buckle your seat belt and get ready for another rocket-fast thriller!

America’s top operative, Matti Baker, is launching an all out war .

There is one quality that is unique to the human species…GREED.

Enlisting the help of the President and her team, Matti Baker fights to defend the hope for a world without chronic illness. No more cancer, no more diabetes…if only she can stay alive long enough to reproduce her genesis. But working against her is greed in every form. While conspiracies abound, and time is short, the crosshairs are on her.

Baker is sacrificing all and doing what others are unwilling to do. She’s serving justice.

Freedom comes at a cost. And Matti Baker is ready to pay the price as she launches her own version of DEFCON.

The countdown has started.

DEFCON is a multi-layered, heart-pounding, thought-provoking, realistic thriller in the ongoing AESOP series. BUY NOW!

196 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 7, 2023

5 people are currently reading
14 people want to read

About the author

Michele Packard

10 books86 followers
Michele Packard, an award-winning author, draws inspiration from her military upbringing and her career as a cable TV executive in her captivating literary works. After dedicating herself to raising her three children, Packard embarked on a remarkable writing journey that spans both fiction and non-fiction genres.

Growing up in a household where her father devoured the works of acclaimed authors like Patterson, Child, Flynn, Clancy, and Woods, Packard developed an affinity for conspiracy theories and stories featuring resilient protagonists in psychological, political, and military thrillers. With a masterful blend of sarcasm and intricate plotlines, she seamlessly intertwines current and historical events, crafting thought-provoking stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Acknowledged as one of the top political thriller authors of the year, Packard's literary prowess has garnered her widespread recognition and positioned her as an author to watch closely. Embracing every moment of her literary journey, she revels in the acclaim and the joy of sharing her compelling narratives with a growing audience.

When she's not immersed in the world of writing, Packard indulges her passion for exploration as a frequent traveler alongside her husband. Additionally, she lovingly tends to her family's beloved two labs, assuming the role of their primary caretaker.

For more updates on sales and new releases, be sure to follow Michele on Bookbub at https://www.bookbub.com/authors/miche.... To delve deeper into her captivating works and stay connected, visit her website at www.michelepackard.com. You can also catch a glimpse into her world on Instagram, where she shares captivating stories under the handle @aesopstories.

Packard's literary achievements include a remarkable list of accolades:
• Finalist, American Book Festival (2019)
• Finalist, Independent Author Awards (2019)
• 1st Place, Pencraft Awards (2020)
• Finalist, Eric Hoffer Awards (2020)
• Honorable Mention, Writer's Digest (2021)
• Finalist, BestThrillers.com (2022)

With her unique storytelling abilities and a growing collection of prestigious awards, Michele Packard continues to captivate readers worldwide with her enthralling narratives and thought-provoking tales.

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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Profile Image for Sherry.
40 reviews
April 7, 2023
DEFCON: A THRILLER (AESOP)
I received an advance reader copy of this book for an honest review.
DEFCON is Michele Packard's next installment in the AESOP series. I could not put this book down! It has everything you want in a thriller. Matti Baker is the main character, and she does not disappoint. She is a strong, intelligent, skilled, and gifted leader. She can handily manage tough situations and easily dispatches enemies from every angle. You will love Matti's role as a powerful female in the world of espionage, counterintelligence, special operations, and politics. Matti also shows a softer and more personal side of herself regarding her family, friends, and members of her team. She has a great sense of humor as well, and she frequently quotes iconic music and movies from the past. The reader will enjoy the many references to pop culture. They are also well timed. This makes Matti exciting, fun, and very relatable to readers. You will sit on the edge of your seat through each chapter. The novel is a fast-paced and an exhilarating thrill ride. The reader will enjoy the plot and its references to modern day calamities and controversies. The similarities are uncanny. Matti and her team encounter danger, mishaps, and frequent changes in strategy. The story captures your attention immediately. You will be instantly invested in the characters and the story itself. The reader will also enjoy getting to know Matti's team and family. Each character has a unique role, and they bring depth to this psychological, political, and suspenseful thriller. I loved this novel and cannot wait to read the entire series! The author has done an outstanding job creating this exciting selection. I easily give this novel 5 stars.
Profile Image for Damien Larkin.
Author 8 books50 followers
April 7, 2023
All American badass Matti Baker is back with a vengeance in this fast paced political thriller. Hunted by corrupt officials and ensnared in an international conspiracy, Matti finds herself in a race against time to track down her long-lost brothers. While corruption eats away at the heart of American democracy, Matti puts everything on the line to protect her family, her way of life, and her country.

Just like the other books in the series, this is a fast-paced, action-packed adventure, driven my Matti’s fascinating take on the world and her unstoppable tenacity to do the right thing. An excellent series overall and I can’t wait for the next book!
Profile Image for Tam.
Author 28 books295 followers
April 4, 2023
Matti Baker is at it again!

This time, she has quite possibly pissed off the whole world—the Mafia, the Israelis, the Russians, the Chinese, and Big Pharma just for starters. In Michele Packard’s DEFCON, shadow operatives in the CIA, FBI, and the President’s office have nefarious intentions as well when it comes to the ever-inventive Miss Baker, and it seems everyone but Matti and her team is on the take.

The ticking time-bomb—a virus Matti and her long-lost brothers carry—is intensifying their physical powers for healing. The pharmaceutical industry making money off the sick and dying and the governments relying on that money must neutralize the threat of the virus “infecting” the general population, creating a super race capable of living well without industrialized medicine. The trouble is, Matti is able to remain one step ahead of them—until they target her family.

Wise-cracking, movie quoting, song-singing Matti Baker is one badass operative who has Defense readiness Conditions down to a fine science. Though she would rather stay home, drink wine with her husband, and play with her dogs, a vast conspiracy wants her dead. The stakes are high, the danger higher. Right when you think Packard is going to give you a little breather, someone runs Matti’s foster parents’ car off a cliff, takes a shot at her husband with a long-range rifle, or shoots Matti’s plane out of the sky. DEFCON is a non-stop thrill ride. Once you pick up this book, don’t make other plans because you won’t put it down until the end. Five stars.

(I received an ARC of this book and leave this review voluntarily.)
Profile Image for Bill Riley.
Author 3 books7 followers
April 11, 2023
A fast-paced, explosive action thriller.

When they come for you and your family, what will you do? Time is ticking down. The greed of a powerful few has created a profitable global havoc, making them untouchable. Now they want even more of what they couldn’t and shouldn’t have.

Matti Baker is a genetically engineered ghost operative with more grit and conscience than the government that created her. Part imaginative problem-solver and part snarky guardian angel, Matti is a stone-cold mama-bear on a mission.
They came for her and her family, and that was a big mistake. Now Matti must crush assassins, stop their masters, protect her children, and find the brothers separated from her at birth, before the clock strikes Armageddon.

Matti is the new and improved Captain America with the flexibility and authority to do what needs to be done, decisively, with aplomb, and with more than a touch of tongue-in-cheek humor. The difference between Matti and “Captain A” is that Matti can actually lead a team, and she doesn’t need a shield.

If you like fast moving, kick butt, take names justice in a world chilling like our own, you’ll enjoy this ride.
21 reviews1 follower
May 13, 2023
The common thread is GREED--and it knows no boundaries.

Another unputdownable book by author Michele Packard! In DEFCON, Ms. Packard applies her extensive military knowledge, current affairs, and humor to weave a brilliant high-speed battle against chaos, corruption, and evil. In this fifth book, Matti Baker is smarter, tougher, and surprisingly a tiny bit more sentimental with age while she continues to steer the reader at warp speed. Also, Bethany might just be the coolest sidekick out there. Easy to visualize the two together on the big screen--just saying.


Profile Image for Nannette Kreitzman.
Author 45 books54 followers
July 26, 2023
Another fast ride!

Packard’s books make me uncomfortable. Why? I never know how many (or which) of their disturbing revelations may be true! DEFCON, the fifth installment of the Aesop series, continues Matti Baker’s fight against a twisted and complicated conspiracy which, as usual, is far too easy to believe. New to the series? Start with Aesop and buckle up for high-octane action tempered with meaningful relationships and endless pop culture.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews

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