Bad Shepherd: A Cade Taylor Novel

by Michael Hearns

The heart-stopping novel Bad Shepherd hurls South Florida's Vice Intelligence and Narcotics (VIN) detective Cade Taylor into a treacherous conspiracy poised to subvert a foreign election. Uncovering a gang of lethal assassins within a vicious transnational crime syndicate, Cade is swept into a relentless storm of violence. This shadowy network, bound by fierce loyalty and seething with bloodthirsty menace, eliminates anyone who threatens their empire. Marked as their prime target, Cade faces merciless killers who will stop at nothing to safeguard their criminal agendas. As the body count rises and time slips away, Cade must unravel their operation before they kill him next. With the treacherous intensity blazing at a fever pitch, Cade's razor-sharp instincts and dogged grit are pushed to the limit in a breakneck race to survive. His deadliest mission yet begs the will he deliver justice, or vanish as the violent syndicate's next victim? 

Charged with explosive action, drenched in Miami's sizzling heat, and pulsing with unyielding suspense, Bad Shepherd  plunges readers deep into Cade's critical battle. This electrifying thriller roars through every chapter, weaving intrigue with gut wrenching stakes. Fans of Cade Taylor's debut, Trust No One, will be gripped by this scorching next adventure. Bad Shepherd delivers a pulse-racing ride that holds readers captive until its jaw-dropping finale.

327 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 14, 2025

About the author

Michael Hearns is a Miami native and a former 27-year veteran South Florida police officer and detective. He spent a decade undercover investigating large scale cocaine trafficking and high volume money laundering cases. Aside from working multiple drug trafficking and money laundering cases, he has a Master's Degree in Investigative Criminal Psychology and has worked and consulted on multiple serial homicide cases. His experience and knowledge has been valued as a technical advisor for motion pictures and television.