Desert Protocol: A Jonathan Hunt Thriller Book 2

Jonathan Hunt #2

by Georgia Wagner, Scott Cook

They call it "Antioquia"—the lost fortune of the Medellin Cartel, buried deep in the Texas dirt. A billion dollars in emeralds and cash that was supposed to stay lost forever.

Jonathan Hunt moved to the High Lonesome ranch of West Texas to let his ghosts rest. An ex-CIA operative, he spends his days dodging memories of the Sandbox and keeping a low profile. But when he intervenes to save a local kid named Silas Blackwater from a professional hit squad, Hunt stumbles onto a conspiracy that makes his old life look simple.

The killers aren't cartel thugs. They work for StrataTerra, a geological survey company run by Roman Vargo, a tech-mogul-turned-warlord with a god complex. On the surface, Vargo is drilling for oil. In reality, he’s using seismic data to hunt for the "Antioquia" stash.

Vargo has a private army, thermal drones, and a ruthless fixer known only as The Scarecrow. Hunt has a compound bow, a 1990s Ford Taurus, and a very short temper. Vargo thinks he’s digging for treasure. He’s about to find out that in Hunt’s desert, the only thing you dig is a grave.

463 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2026

About the author

Having worked on projects with New York Times Bestsellers and USA Today bestsellers, Georgia Wagner recently hit #1 bestseller with her newest series. Location and character are two big factors for Georgia, and getting those right allows the story to flow seamlessly onto the page. And flow it does, because Georgia is so prolific a new term is required to describe the rate at which nerve-tingling stories find their way into print.

When not found attached to a laptop, Georgia likes spending time in local arboretums, among the trees and ponds. An avid cultivator of orchids, begonias, and all things floral, Georgia also has a strong penchant for art, paintings, and sculptures. A many-decades-long passion for mystery novels and years of chess tournament experience makes Georgia the perfect person to pen the Artemis Blythe series. That's where it all started, but the drive to craft thrilling mystery tales soon demanded new characters in new locations.

Where will she take us next?

Reviews

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

good read

[Dr. Brent · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding book!!!

Wow…I loving this series, and I have only read these 2 books so far. It was an incredible tale of a man who knows how to read people and situations for the betterment of the “good people.” Definitely, he is a sheepdog, looking out for people who need help. An excellent story! Kudos to Ms. and Mr. Cook. Well done.

[Daniel Fedko · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoying the series

I'm amazed that this author can write so many fantastic novels, I hope that she never stops writing. Her books are some of the best Entertainment  I have read and worth the time to read them. Thank you for a very fun entertaining read.

[Ima G. Millender · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving the duo

Another great book, really enjoying them been laid up with surgery this helps a lot. Thank you! Hope there's more to come.

[Kevin P Greenan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another strong installment. Hunt is a wrecking ball of a protagonist and he rolls through another episode with his blend of skill, intelligence, determination and a moral code.

[Mia Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do like an action hero and Johnathan is one. Sit back and enjoy the ride

[Barclay S. Wales · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read with lots of action though some of it from the hero seems a bit far fetched but enjoyable nonetheless.