Former combat Marine and current bow-hunting guide Belle Bannon faces her most dangerous challenge yet…
Belle’s persuaded to join an off-the-books government black-ops unit to find and terminate the world’s most lethal paid assassin, a killer who’s eluded world authorities for decades. Known as “The Claw,” the assassin slays his victims by ripping open their throats with a bear claw device.
The pursuit takes Belle to Italy’s Cinque Terre region where she learns that the Claw’s target is an aged Italian nun, and his client is a revered U.S. senator whose secret, vile past emerged from the ashes of Auschwitz.
Belle faces near insurmountable odds as she tries to protect the nun before the old woman falls prey to the assassin. But The Claw has plans for her as well…
And it involves him watching her breathe her last breath.
No matter what path thriller author Mike Pace has walked, it’s always been with a story to tell.One of Mike’s earliest memories is helping to write the fourth grade Christmas play at his Pittsburgh elementary school.
Born in Pittsburgh, Mike attended the University of Illinois on an art scholarship, and graduated with a BFA degree.
Mike has written for the stage and screen. The Washington Post called one of his plays “engaging … entertaining and … witty.” He wrote and directed a short film that was accepted into film festivals in Kansas City and Portland.
He’s a member of the International Thriller Writers and the Maryland Writers Association. He’s a strong believer in community responsibility, having served as president of his local school board.