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The Right Side of Wrong: A Butnari and Hill Crime Thriller
FBI Special Agents Butnari and Hill must preserve critical agency secrets from the past as they find a way to stop vicious criminals willing to stop at nothing to achieve an evil goal.
An intruder caught trespassing on a Caribbean banana plantation leads to an emergency call to a high-ranking FBI official. Within hours, Reno-based special agents, Marina Butnari and Doug Hill, are assigned a top-secret mission originating in the Bahamas.
Yet this is no simple attempted burglary. The crime ties to a multi-billion-dollar case of corporate espionage, and the intended victim is a mysterious agency resource with an identity known to few.
From shark-infested waters to criminal-infested boardrooms, the agents take a roller-coaster ride through the depravities created by greed. They discover that in this imperfect life, sometimes the best you can do is stay on ‘The Right Side of Wrong.’
EVOLVED PUBLISHING PRESENTS a crime fiction adventure featuring beloved characters from some of the other multiple award-winning books by E. A. Coe.
An intruder caught trespassing on a Caribbean banana plantation leads to an emergency call to a high-ranking FBI official. Within hours, Reno-based special agents, Marina Butnari and Doug Hill, are assigned a top-secret mission originating in the Bahamas.
Yet this is no simple attempted burglary. The crime ties to a multi-billion-dollar case of corporate espionage, and the intended victim is a mysterious agency resource with an identity known to few.
From shark-infested waters to criminal-infested boardrooms, the agents take a roller-coaster ride through the depravities created by greed. They discover that in this imperfect life, sometimes the best you can do is stay on ‘The Right Side of Wrong.’
EVOLVED PUBLISHING PRESENTS a crime fiction adventure featuring beloved characters from some of the other multiple award-winning books by E. A. Coe.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 16, 2025
3 people are currently reading
2 people want to read
About the author
E.A. Coe
9 books16 followersAward-winning author, E. A. Coe … is F. Coe Sherrard, a former United States Naval aviator and career businessman, who is retired and lives in Edinburg, Virginia. A graduate of Western Maryland College (now called McDaniel College), he was a senior executive in two entertainment companies, including Spirit Cruises and Herschend Family Entertainment (manager of the Dollywood Theme Park). Married to Jean since 1971, Coe has three children and seven grandchildren.
Coe won a gold medal in the 2023 International Readers Favorite Book competition in the Crime Fiction genre for Pedaling West.
Coe won a gold medal in the 2023 International Readers Favorite Book competition in the Crime Fiction genre for Pedaling West.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 9, 2025
The Right Side of Wrong is a sharp, high-stakes FBI thriller that kicks off with the mysterious massacre of a cargo ship crew in Baltimore and spirals into a tense web of espionage, corporate greed, and justice. We follow Teddy Jay, an ex-operative turned banana plantation owner, as he tries to uncover the powerful players behind a brutal crime tied to a pharmaceutical heist. The story spins through the Caribbean islands, FBI offices, and secret deals, while introducing gritty, memorable characters like Special Agents Marina Butnari and Doug Hill. It’s a fast, layered read, packed with tension, heart, and a touch of moral soul-searching.
What really grabbed me from the start was the pacing and how naturally E.A. Coe sets the hook. Right out of the gate, the prologue detailing the Butterfly cargo ship murders feels ripped from the headlines. There’s a gritty realism to the newspaper-style report that doesn’t feel forced; it feels downright chilling. Coe doesn't waste time with slow build-ups; he knows readers today want to be thrown into the fire, and that’s exactly what he does. That opening scene made me genuinely uneasy, in a good way, the kind of page-turning discomfort you expect from a thriller but don’t always get.
The characters, though, are where Coe shines brightest. Teddy Jay is a brilliant lead, a guy who’s tough but full of hidden scars. I loved the little details, like him lifting fingerprints off a water glass, showing he’s never really left his shadowy past behind. But the real star for me was Samantha Jenkins, aka "No Te Metas," whose fierce, almost mythic reputation adds such a cool, dangerous energy to the story. The moment when Harold Stinson learns what "No Te Metas" means was priceless; you could feel his stomach dropping through the page. Coe writes these tough, layered characters without making them cartoons, and that kept me caring even when the plot got wild.
In the middle chapters, the book does lean a bit more heavily on exposition, especially during the sections about the banana plantations, Tiburon Cay, and Teddy’s backstory. These slower moments contrast with the faster-paced, action-driven scenes I loved, and I did catch myself eagerly anticipating the next ambush or interrogation. That said, even the more deliberate sections added rich layers to the world, creating a lived-in atmosphere that's often missing from quick-paced thrillers.
The Right Side of Wrong was an intense ride with just the right blend of action, mystery, and heart. I finished it in two long sittings because I had to know how it would all crash together. If you love stories where the line between right and wrong gets blurred, where good people sometimes do bad things for the right reasons, you’ll eat this one up. I’d recommend it to readers looking for a thriller that respects your intelligence while still kicking your adrenaline into overdrive.
What really grabbed me from the start was the pacing and how naturally E.A. Coe sets the hook. Right out of the gate, the prologue detailing the Butterfly cargo ship murders feels ripped from the headlines. There’s a gritty realism to the newspaper-style report that doesn’t feel forced; it feels downright chilling. Coe doesn't waste time with slow build-ups; he knows readers today want to be thrown into the fire, and that’s exactly what he does. That opening scene made me genuinely uneasy, in a good way, the kind of page-turning discomfort you expect from a thriller but don’t always get.
The characters, though, are where Coe shines brightest. Teddy Jay is a brilliant lead, a guy who’s tough but full of hidden scars. I loved the little details, like him lifting fingerprints off a water glass, showing he’s never really left his shadowy past behind. But the real star for me was Samantha Jenkins, aka "No Te Metas," whose fierce, almost mythic reputation adds such a cool, dangerous energy to the story. The moment when Harold Stinson learns what "No Te Metas" means was priceless; you could feel his stomach dropping through the page. Coe writes these tough, layered characters without making them cartoons, and that kept me caring even when the plot got wild.
In the middle chapters, the book does lean a bit more heavily on exposition, especially during the sections about the banana plantations, Tiburon Cay, and Teddy’s backstory. These slower moments contrast with the faster-paced, action-driven scenes I loved, and I did catch myself eagerly anticipating the next ambush or interrogation. That said, even the more deliberate sections added rich layers to the world, creating a lived-in atmosphere that's often missing from quick-paced thrillers.
The Right Side of Wrong was an intense ride with just the right blend of action, mystery, and heart. I finished it in two long sittings because I had to know how it would all crash together. If you love stories where the line between right and wrong gets blurred, where good people sometimes do bad things for the right reasons, you’ll eat this one up. I’d recommend it to readers looking for a thriller that respects your intelligence while still kicking your adrenaline into overdrive.
May 9, 2025
E. A. Coe has done it again with The Right Side of Wrong! This latest installment in the Butnari and Hill FBI thriller series is a taut, suspenseful ride from beginning to end. A mysterious break-in on a Caribbean banana plantation quickly escalates into a multi-layered case of corporate espionage, murder, and moral complexity.
FBI agents Marina Butnari and Doug Hill are compelling protagonists—smart, principled, and refreshingly human. Their partnership brings both grit and grace to a dangerous mission that crosses borders and ethical boundaries. Coe's storytelling weaves high-stakes action with sharp dialogue and evocative scenes, from shark-infested waters to high-rise boardrooms pulsing with greed.
But even more than giving us another great story, Coe introduces moments of warmth, justice, and loyalty woven seamlessly into the midst of criminal chaos. The character of Teddy Jay, especially, adds unexpected depth and resonance.
This is not just a page-turner—it’s a smart, satisfying read that respects its readers and its characters. Whether you're already a fan of the series or diving in for the first time, The Right Side of Wrong delivers a heart-pumping reading experience.
FBI agents Marina Butnari and Doug Hill are compelling protagonists—smart, principled, and refreshingly human. Their partnership brings both grit and grace to a dangerous mission that crosses borders and ethical boundaries. Coe's storytelling weaves high-stakes action with sharp dialogue and evocative scenes, from shark-infested waters to high-rise boardrooms pulsing with greed.
But even more than giving us another great story, Coe introduces moments of warmth, justice, and loyalty woven seamlessly into the midst of criminal chaos. The character of Teddy Jay, especially, adds unexpected depth and resonance.
This is not just a page-turner—it’s a smart, satisfying read that respects its readers and its characters. Whether you're already a fan of the series or diving in for the first time, The Right Side of Wrong delivers a heart-pumping reading experience.
June 12, 2025
A Smart, High-Stakes Thriller with a Heartbeat
The Right Side of Wrong by E. A. Coe
E. A. Coe’s The Right Side of Wrong delivers a riveting blend of corporate suspense, moral complexity, and richly textured storytelling. At the center is a reformed drug kingpin turned banana plantation owner, whose unlikely path to redemption unfolds on an island where a rare plant compound—critical to a breakthrough Alzheimer’s drug—is quietly cultivated.
When ruthless pharmaceutical giants resort to violence to seize control of the ingredient, our protagonist must choose sides. In a gripping twist of fate, he partners with the FBI, leveraging his past to help bring the real criminals to justice.
With taut pacing, unforgettable characters, and a setting that pulses with life, The Right Side of Wrong explores the tangled intersection of power, profit, and conscience. It’s a fast, smart, and deeply satisfying read that’s hard to put down—and even harder to forget.
E. A. Coe’s The Right Side of Wrong delivers a riveting blend of corporate suspense, moral complexity, and richly textured storytelling. At the center is a reformed drug kingpin turned banana plantation owner, whose unlikely path to redemption unfolds on an island where a rare plant compound—critical to a breakthrough Alzheimer’s drug—is quietly cultivated.
When ruthless pharmaceutical giants resort to violence to seize control of the ingredient, our protagonist must choose sides. In a gripping twist of fate, he partners with the FBI, leveraging his past to help bring the real criminals to justice.
With taut pacing, unforgettable characters, and a setting that pulses with life, The Right Side of Wrong explores the tangled intersection of power, profit, and conscience. It’s a fast, smart, and deeply satisfying read that’s hard to put down—and even harder to forget.
July 9, 2025
As E.A. Coe’s intriguing characters come to life again in The Right Side of Wrong, we are given a compelling story that rides the thin line of judging our actions as right or wrong. Sometimes we do the right thing for the wrong reason and then again, we may do the wrong thing for the right reason. Two sides of the same coin? The Right Side of Wrong seems to ask this question, but what we come away with is the reality that human behavior is far more complex than the two sides of a coin. Coe blends right and wrong into the gray melting pot of life, and creatively examines motives on all sides of the law and the lawless. Without excuse, Coe delivers on his promise of a thriller with Special Agents Butnari and Hill, characters we want see again! A great, well written story, and extremely entertaining.
Brandon Currence
Author of The Bank
Brandon Currence
Author of The Bank
April 18, 2025
I really enjoyed the book. E. A. Coe gets better with every novel.
The beginning of the book was hard for me being so reminiscent of the Key Bridge collapse. That hit close to home. But, it certainly fit the story.
Good job E. A. Coe. I look forward to the next adventure.
The beginning of the book was hard for me being so reminiscent of the Key Bridge collapse. That hit close to home. But, it certainly fit the story.
Good job E. A. Coe. I look forward to the next adventure.
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September 1, 2025DNF. There is definitely an audience for this kind of writing but I not a member of that audience.
August 11, 2025
An accomplished author, E.A. Coe has charmed me with his style, thrilled me with his story of adventure, courage, and integrity, and left me wanting more. It is a joy to follow the story, but it is a thrill to follow the heart of Coe and his protagonists. Bravo - more!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews