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The Protectorate: A Phoenix Rises
Durham, North Carolina, 2012. When Detective Sofia Rodriguez is called in on her day off to find a plumber dead in his van—posed with Black-Eyed Susans and a Sylvia Plath verse cradled in his bloodied hands—she knows this is no ordinary murder. By the time a second body surfaces, then a third, Sofia and her partner Detective Jones are hunting a serial killer with a message, a method, and a symbol none of them can identify. That symbol belongs to The Protectorate — a century-old secret society of elite women that has quietly shaped American history from the shadows. When their emblem appears at a crime scene, the organization's leadership launches its own parallel investigation, desperate to contain the exposure before the FBI closes in.
Advance review copies available now via NetGalley.
Advance review copies available now via NetGalley.
- GenresMystery
452 pages, Unknown Binding
Published September 1, 2026
About the author
Samantha Sonnett
1 book13 followersI spent more than twenty years on the front lines of some of the most specialized law enforcement work in the country.
As a member of the NYPD's CBRNe Unit within the Counterterrorism Division, I trained over 6,000 specialized personnel annually in CBRNe threat response and helped develop curriculum adopted department-wide. Before counterterrorism, I served as a Domestic Violence Investigator in Manhattan's 19th Precinct, where I brought the first Felony Strangulation case under New York's new statute to Supreme Court — work recognized by the New York Times.
(link to NY Times article https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/17/ny...)
Today I'm a DHS contractor and Lead Instructor for Texas A&M's Engineering Extension Service, delivering WMD and hazmat training to DoD personnel and first responders across the United States. I also consult in the global security sector.
But the story of how I became an author begins in a hospital room.
In 2023, I was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition requiring a series of invasive brain and spinal surgeries. Facing long recoveries and an uncertain physical future, I turned to something I had always carried but never made time for—writing.
What began as an outlet became a passion. What began as a passion became The Protectorate.
I needed something I could do from anywhere. Something that didn't require a body that cooperated. Writing gave me that, and after years of scholarly writing, the creative freedom of a thriller gave me something I didn't expect…it was fun.
Drawing on two decades of operational experience—the crime scenes, the counterterrorism briefings, the victims I fought for, the institutions I watched from the inside — I wrote the thriller I always wanted to read. One with women who actually know what they're doing. One where justice means something complicated, as it often does.
I'm a Master's candidate in International Criminal Justice at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, a peer-reviewed author and the founder of Sonnett House Publishing.
The Protectorate: A Phoenix Rises is my debut novel — the first in a three-book series.
I live in New Jersey with my wife, two dogs, and a very ornery cat.
As a member of the NYPD's CBRNe Unit within the Counterterrorism Division, I trained over 6,000 specialized personnel annually in CBRNe threat response and helped develop curriculum adopted department-wide. Before counterterrorism, I served as a Domestic Violence Investigator in Manhattan's 19th Precinct, where I brought the first Felony Strangulation case under New York's new statute to Supreme Court — work recognized by the New York Times.
(link to NY Times article https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/17/ny...)
Today I'm a DHS contractor and Lead Instructor for Texas A&M's Engineering Extension Service, delivering WMD and hazmat training to DoD personnel and first responders across the United States. I also consult in the global security sector.
But the story of how I became an author begins in a hospital room.
In 2023, I was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition requiring a series of invasive brain and spinal surgeries. Facing long recoveries and an uncertain physical future, I turned to something I had always carried but never made time for—writing.
What began as an outlet became a passion. What began as a passion became The Protectorate.
I needed something I could do from anywhere. Something that didn't require a body that cooperated. Writing gave me that, and after years of scholarly writing, the creative freedom of a thriller gave me something I didn't expect…it was fun.
Drawing on two decades of operational experience—the crime scenes, the counterterrorism briefings, the victims I fought for, the institutions I watched from the inside — I wrote the thriller I always wanted to read. One with women who actually know what they're doing. One where justice means something complicated, as it often does.
I'm a Master's candidate in International Criminal Justice at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, a peer-reviewed author and the founder of Sonnett House Publishing.
The Protectorate: A Phoenix Rises is my debut novel — the first in a three-book series.
I live in New Jersey with my wife, two dogs, and a very ornery cat.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Review of advance copy
The Protectorate: A Phoenix Rises is a fast-paced criminal mystery thriller where women are firmly at the centre of the investigation and very much in charge. From the opening pages, a woman takes matters into her own hands and justice is served, setting a theme that continues throughout the novel.
The story follows the US justice system alongside a female-led secret society, whose members are equally determined to uncover the truth. As the investigation develops, they begin to question how their own organisation could be connected to a series of crimes. There are plenty of secrets to uncover, and the story keeps you guessing until the end.
One of the more unusual elements of the novel is the way Sylvia Plath’s poetry is woven into the crime scenes. Plath’s writing often explored themes of female rage and injustice, and provides a significant thread through the story. Flowers and lines from her poetry are deliberately left at crime scenes, and their meaning slowly becomes clearer as the investigation progresses. I enjoyed this element of the story, discovering Plath’s writing in the process, and thought it added something different to what could otherwise have been a more conventional crime thriller.
The pace is generally good, perhaps lagging a bit in the first third after the opening scene, but with enough twists to keep the story moving. I particularly liked the strong female characters and the fact that women are not simply supporting players but are driving both the investigation and the wider story.
This is the first book in a planned trilogy and is also the author’s debut novel. It certainly sets things up for the books that follow, and I would be interested to see where the characters and the story go next.
Overall, an engaging and different take on the crime thriller, with an interesting combination of police investigation, secret societies, female empowerment and literary references. I couldn't quite give it five stars, though, as I occasionally found some of the dialogue and language used by the characters grated on me. I suspect this is intended to reflect the US police force and may well be authentic, taking into consideration the author’s background, but it didn’t sit well with me.
Many thanks to the author and Reedsy Discovery for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
The story follows the US justice system alongside a female-led secret society, whose members are equally determined to uncover the truth. As the investigation develops, they begin to question how their own organisation could be connected to a series of crimes. There are plenty of secrets to uncover, and the story keeps you guessing until the end.
One of the more unusual elements of the novel is the way Sylvia Plath’s poetry is woven into the crime scenes. Plath’s writing often explored themes of female rage and injustice, and provides a significant thread through the story. Flowers and lines from her poetry are deliberately left at crime scenes, and their meaning slowly becomes clearer as the investigation progresses. I enjoyed this element of the story, discovering Plath’s writing in the process, and thought it added something different to what could otherwise have been a more conventional crime thriller.
The pace is generally good, perhaps lagging a bit in the first third after the opening scene, but with enough twists to keep the story moving. I particularly liked the strong female characters and the fact that women are not simply supporting players but are driving both the investigation and the wider story.
This is the first book in a planned trilogy and is also the author’s debut novel. It certainly sets things up for the books that follow, and I would be interested to see where the characters and the story go next.
Overall, an engaging and different take on the crime thriller, with an interesting combination of police investigation, secret societies, female empowerment and literary references. I couldn't quite give it five stars, though, as I occasionally found some of the dialogue and language used by the characters grated on me. I suspect this is intended to reflect the US police force and may well be authentic, taking into consideration the author’s background, but it didn’t sit well with me.
Many thanks to the author and Reedsy Discovery for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 23, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars - ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
This felt like James Patterson meets Dan Brown in the best way! A fast-paced murder investigation mixed with symbolism, secret societies and a found-family police team that made it incredibly easy to keep reading.
The pacing was probably my favourite part. The multiple POVs kept the story moving quickly, and while this definitely felt more plot-driven than character-driven, we were given enough backstory to understand the characters and how their individual stories fed into the wider investigation.
I particularly enjoyed the symbolism woven throughout the mystery and the way the different pieces gradually came together. I did manage to anticipate some of the bigger developments, so I would have loved one really unexpected, gut-punch twist to take the mystery to another level. There were still several satisfying reveals along the way, though, and I thought everything tied together well by the end.
Overall, this was a really entertaining thriller and a great-in-the-moment read. If you enjoy fast-paced murder investigations, secret societies, symbolism and a police team with a found-family dynamic, this is definitely one to try.
3.5 stars - ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
This felt like James Patterson meets Dan Brown in the best way! A fast-paced murder investigation mixed with symbolism, secret societies and a found-family police team that made it incredibly easy to keep reading.
The pacing was probably my favourite part. The multiple POVs kept the story moving quickly, and while this definitely felt more plot-driven than character-driven, we were given enough backstory to understand the characters and how their individual stories fed into the wider investigation.
I particularly enjoyed the symbolism woven throughout the mystery and the way the different pieces gradually came together. I did manage to anticipate some of the bigger developments, so I would have loved one really unexpected, gut-punch twist to take the mystery to another level. There were still several satisfying reveals along the way, though, and I thought everything tied together well by the end.
Overall, this was a really entertaining thriller and a great-in-the-moment read. If you enjoy fast-paced murder investigations, secret societies, symbolism and a police team with a found-family dynamic, this is definitely one to try.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book had me hooked from the very first page and checked every box for me.
Where do I even begin?
Women in power? Yes, please. Sylvia Plath references sprinkled throughout? Absolutely. Characters so relatable and beautifully written that I genuinely forgot I was reading a novel? Check.
This was a suspenseful thrill ride that kept me on an emotional rollercoaster from beginning to end. Just when I thought I had it figured out, it surprised me again. It wasn't just entertaining—it was thought-provoking and unexpectedly taught me so much about life, relationships, revenge... and flowers. Don't forget the flowers.
Original, intelligent, and impossible to put down. More than anything, I loved seeing women portrayed with the complexity, strength, and power they deserve. We don't see enough of that—not just in literature, but in life. This is a book I'll be thinking about for a long time, and one I won't hesitate to recommend.
Where do I even begin?
Women in power? Yes, please. Sylvia Plath references sprinkled throughout? Absolutely. Characters so relatable and beautifully written that I genuinely forgot I was reading a novel? Check.
This was a suspenseful thrill ride that kept me on an emotional rollercoaster from beginning to end. Just when I thought I had it figured out, it surprised me again. It wasn't just entertaining—it was thought-provoking and unexpectedly taught me so much about life, relationships, revenge... and flowers. Don't forget the flowers.
Original, intelligent, and impossible to put down. More than anything, I loved seeing women portrayed with the complexity, strength, and power they deserve. We don't see enough of that—not just in literature, but in life. This is a book I'll be thinking about for a long time, and one I won't hesitate to recommend.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC Review❣️
5 hearts for me ❤💞
I went into this expecting a serial killer thriller, but I ended up getting so much more. The Protectorate completely pulled me in with its blend of police procedural, literary clues, secret societies, and some of the strongest female characters I've read in a long time. Every time I thought I had the killer figured out, the story threw another twist at me and somehow it never felt like it was doing it just for shock value.
What really stayed with me wasn't just the mystery, it was the women. They're messy, powerful, vulnerable, and unapologetically complex. The Sylvia Plath references and the symbolism of the flowers gave the story an extra layer that made me slow down and actually think about what I was reading. This is one of those books that's thrilling on the surface but quietly says a lot about justice, loyalty, and the lengths people go to protect the ones they love. I already need book two.
5 hearts for me ❤💞
I went into this expecting a serial killer thriller, but I ended up getting so much more. The Protectorate completely pulled me in with its blend of police procedural, literary clues, secret societies, and some of the strongest female characters I've read in a long time. Every time I thought I had the killer figured out, the story threw another twist at me and somehow it never felt like it was doing it just for shock value.
What really stayed with me wasn't just the mystery, it was the women. They're messy, powerful, vulnerable, and unapologetically complex. The Sylvia Plath references and the symbolism of the flowers gave the story an extra layer that made me slow down and actually think about what I was reading. This is one of those books that's thrilling on the surface but quietly says a lot about justice, loyalty, and the lengths people go to protect the ones they love. I already need book two.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Stylish, utterly absorbing, and intoxicatingly original, The Protectorate weaves a gripping serial killer investigation with literary clues and a fascinating secret society that will keep readers guessing until the final page. It elegantly delivers everything I love in a police procedural: a vivid, gritty setting, sharp, realistic characters, and a dark, absorbing mystery. Samantha Sonnett is a fresh voice thriller fans won't want to miss.
I especially enjoyed the subtle nods to classic literature, which added a fascinating layer of intrigue. The mystery unfolds confidently, balancing a compelling procedural investigation with the mythology of the Protectorate, the secret society at the heart of the book.
Read if you like:
Serial killer thrillers
Badass Female MCs
Secret societies
Vigilantes
Police procedurals
I especially enjoyed the subtle nods to classic literature, which added a fascinating layer of intrigue. The mystery unfolds confidently, balancing a compelling procedural investigation with the mythology of the Protectorate, the secret society at the heart of the book.
Read if you like:
Serial killer thrillers
Badass Female MCs
Secret societies
Vigilantes
Police procedurals
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I stumbled across this book in NetGalley. I was immediately intrigued by the cover and by the description. I'm going to always put my nose in a book featuring strong women. It didn't take me long to become completely immersed and to fall in love with the story along with the characters. If, like me, you want a well-written character-driven tale with characters you enjoy spending time with, I love encourage picking up THE PROTECTORATE. Even better?! There's more coming. This is the first in a new series by a new author I look forward to following. I predict good things in the world of crime fiction for Samantha Sonnett.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An intriguing and original plot, with some nice turns and twists. The different viewpoints help with building suspense. Unfortunately, the writing style was somewhat flat, taking away some of that suspense and making the characters feel a bit one-dimensional.
I did enjoy the inclusion of the literary and musical soundtrack at the end of the book!
Thanks to Sonnett House Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this review copy.
I did enjoy the inclusion of the literary and musical soundtrack at the end of the book!
Thanks to Sonnett House Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book gripped me from the start!
A crime thriller that has such a unique premise! A secret society of women, Floriography(language of flowers), Sylvia Plath references that add a haunting literally undercurrent! I couldn't put the book down! I cannot wait for book 2 & 3! The characters are so memorable! I can easily see this book becoming a film! I would absolutely recommend this book to everyone!
A crime thriller that has such a unique premise! A secret society of women, Floriography(language of flowers), Sylvia Plath references that add a haunting literally undercurrent! I couldn't put the book down! I cannot wait for book 2 & 3! The characters are so memorable! I can easily see this book becoming a film! I would absolutely recommend this book to everyone!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I couldn't put this book down! What I loved most was that I genuinely had no idea what was going to happen next — every time I thought I had it figured out, the story took a turn I didn't see coming. Samantha Sonnett kept me guessing right up until the end. If you love a mystery/thriller that keeps you on your toes, this one's for you!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Power of women! I loved this book from the first few sentences I read. I love a book that can play out like a movie in my head as I read and this did just that. The character development was very good-excited to see how they evolve within this series. Original storyline which kept me hooked from start to finish. Really looking forward to the next book from this debut author!
September 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc copy.
3.5 ⭐️This story was interesting. The plot was fairly straightforward, but not necessarily predictable. I like the idea of the protectorate as a concept. Secret societies are always thrilling. This wasn’t my favorite story I’ve read this year, but I’ll likely read the next in the series because I’m curious.
3.5 ⭐️This story was interesting. The plot was fairly straightforward, but not necessarily predictable. I like the idea of the protectorate as a concept. Secret societies are always thrilling. This wasn’t my favorite story I’ve read this year, but I’ll likely read the next in the series because I’m curious.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Absolutely awesome reading…. Great characters, complex, action packed. I loved this book - we need book 2 and a film of book 1. Thank you to the author. Thanks to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Sonnett House Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of The Protectorate A Phoenix Rises by Samantha Sonnett
I enjoyed the whip-smart plotting and the multiple POV characters. The author’s background in law enforcement adds depth from her lived experiences
I enjoyed the whip-smart plotting and the multiple POV characters. The author’s background in law enforcement adds depth from her lived experiences
September 8, 2026
I could not put this book down. A thriller with a serial killer. 2 great detectives and a secret society. Strong amazing female characters. The ending had my jaw on the ground.
Can't wait for more books by this author.
Can't wait for more books by this author.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews