The Puppet Master

by Jan Coffey

Four seemingly disparate lives are beginning to unravel... and one person is holding the strings. The Rocket Scientist On the eve of a new satellite launch, the fiancé of NASA Project Manager Alanna Mendes is killed in a fishing accident…only to be spotted six months later in Silicon Valley. The Computer Genius Four years after being caught by Homeland Security hacking into NASA's mainframe computer, Jay Alexi is still blacklisted from the top colleges and computer companies. Now a changed man with a pregnant wife, he is desperate for a second chance. The Financial Wizard Once a successful international banking CFO, today David Collier is a broken man who can't afford the expensive treatment for his daughter's rare kidney disorder. The American Dream When a terrorist group abducts the son of rags-to-riches Steven Galvin, the billionaire is trapped in a nightmare where no amount of money can help him. One person ties them together... THE PUPPET MASTER.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Mystery

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 25, 2008

About the author

Jan Coffey, Nik James, and May McGoldrick are pen names for USA Today bestselling authors Nikoo Kafi and Jim McGoldrick. Together, they have crafted over fifty fast-paced, conflict-filled historical, contemporary, and Western novels, and two works of nonfiction.

Nikoo’s education and training was in engineering. She worked in robotics and submarine shipbuilding. Before earning a PhD in sixteenth-century Scottish and English literature, Jim pursued a hundred and one jobs, including a decade in submarine construction.

Storytellers at heart, Nikoo and Jim were always searching for careers that gave them time for both family and writing. Then, after thirteen years of marriage, they recognized each other’s creative strengths. Nikoo is all about characters and feeling. Jim is about action and sense of place. Their first attempt in writing fiction together produced their award-winning novel, The Thistle and the Rose. Since then, their stories have touched the hearts and minds of millions of readers all over the world. Their work has been translated into over a dozen languages and counting.

Nikoo and Jim are four-time Rita Finalists and the winners of numerous awards for their writing, including the Daphne DeMaurier Award for Excellence, the Romantic Times Magazine Reviewers’ Choice Award, three NJRW Golden Leaf Awards, two Holt Medallions, and the Connecticut Press Club Award for Best Fiction.

The authors make their home in California.

Here is a complete catalogue of May McGoldrick, Nik James and Jan Coffey’s work, in chronological order.
Each book stands on its own.

MAY McGOLDRICK

Macpherson Clan Series
The Thistle and the Rose
A Midsummer Wedding (novella)
Angel of Skye
Heart of Gold
Beauty of the Mist

The Intended
Flame
Tess and the Highlander
The Dreamer (Highland Treasure)
The Enchantress (Highland Treasure)
The Firebrand (Highland Treasure)

Much Ado About Highlanders (Scottish Relic)
Taming the Highlander (Scottish Relic)
Tempest in the Highlands (Scottish Relic)

Arsenic and Old Armor
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Pennington Family Series
The Promise
The Rebel
Borrowed Dreams
Captured Dreams
Dreams of Destiny
Romancing the Scot
It Happened in the Highlands
Sweet Home Highland Christmas (novella)
Sleepless in Scotland
Dearest Millie (novella)
How to Ditch a Duke (novella)
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Royal Highlander Series
Highland Crown
Highland Jewel
Highland Sword
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A Prince in the Pantry (novella)
Ghost of the Thames
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Made in Heaven
Thanksgiving in Connecticut (novella)


NIK JAMES
The Winter Road (novella)
High Country Justice
Bullets and Silver
Silver Trail Christmas

JAN COFFEY
Trust Me Once
Twice Burned
Triple Threat
Fourth Victim
Five in a Row
Silent Waters
Cross Wired
The Janus Effect
The Puppet Master
Blind Eye
Road Kill
Mercy (novella)
Tropical Kiss
Aquarian
When the Mirror Cracks

NONFICTION

Marriage of Minds: Collaborative Fiction Writing
Step Write Up: Writing Exercises for 21st Century

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Sign up for the May McGoldrick, Nik James, Jan Coffey Newsletter
https://www.maymcgoldrick.com/contact-us
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Visit their author websites
www.MayMcGoldrick.com
www.NikJamesAuthor.com
www.JanCoffey.com

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good suspense but not riveting. The part I liked the most was David Collier's story and following that thread.

[Patt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent story that had you stymied until all the characters started coming together. What can Alanna, a rocket scientist, Jay, a young computer hacker, and David, a former international banking executive, possibly have in common? Steven, a billionaire with a score to settle, brings them all together for a chance at revenge. Excellent read.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining. I am tired of reading about fabulously rich people being able to enact revenge on others through the use of their huge fortunes. Maybe I need to read some other type of fiction for a change of pace.

[Jacquelyn Arseneau · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was so good in the beginning then it got dull. Pretty boring overall to be honest

[Lois Mecord · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book views by this author. Took me three starts to get to it, but I'm not one to give up on a book. I am very glad I kept going this time. Though the settings of each character and back stories were detailed and confusing, when they started gelling the suspense began to really build. I finally got to the great place where I had not put it down...even when my eyes crossed. As frightening a book as the cover picture suggests.

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alanna, is a rocket scientist, Jays, a newly married computer hacker, and David, a former international banking executive with a child who is in kidney failure. What do they have in common and why are they brought to the Bahamas to meet a billionaire?, Its an easy fast paced read.

[Autumn Jordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. Seriously. Every chapter entrenches you into the lives of the characters. I had to keep reading to learn what happens next and who the puppet master is and why? It will leave feeling so many emotions.

Read it. You won’t be sorry.

[Amanda Sexton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspense filled, the ending was a little choppy. Each character's story is individually told, interwoven until it is all brought together.

[Sinan Can · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her bölümde farklı bir kıyı anlatıyor ve bölümlerin arası kısa bu yüzden bazen kafam karışsa da kitap çok hoşuma gitti

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow start with a lot of character building
Last 150 pages were pretty good.
Over all great read.

[Juanita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that I have finished the book I can say the book was a mystery thriller. With four different stories in the first half of the book that were mysteriously not connected made me want to read more, thriving for answers. One story about a college student being kidnapped in Turkey, another about a child dying, and sent to Germany waiting for a kidney transplant, the next is a man who is in the witness protection program (USA) and is suppose to be dead than comes out of hiding to talk to his girlfriend who also thought he was dead.....the last a crime suspect of hacking Homeland Security and not being able to support his wife who is now being rushed to the hospital in labor.....then eventually the connection started building little by little...I couldn't put the book down...I wanted more information and answers......it took half the book for the Author to summarize the facinating stories of these people's lives, which I really enjoyed. However, the second half is were the puppet master arrives and pulls his strings. The connection and destination were in the works. I thought it was a good book. To be honest , I thought about the book after I finished and came to the conclusion the first half of the book was better then the second half.....Has that ever happened to anyone else? The story was based on revenge.......Banjo

[Mackenzie RM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since this summer, I've been dying to read this book. I saw it several times in the local used bookstore, but had already completed my purchase so decided to wait until my next trip to get it. Unfortunately, the next time I went to the bookstore, someone had purchased it. So, I ordered it from the public library, as they didn't yet have it. It finally came in, and I had first dibs on it. :)

It was really intriguing the whole way through. I loved the way in "Book 1", each chapter was about a different character. I finished over half of the novel in one day as it was just so hard for me to put down. I really loved how the novel tied together, but I was a little disappointed by the ending. I felt like it was lacking something.

Despite the ending.. which wasn't how I expected it to end, I still feel the book deserves a 5 star rating. I really loved the characters. I found they were all really easy to relate to, as most of their motives were based on normal emotions: jealousy, revenge, love, etc.

All in all a good read :)

[Denise Whelan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good book! All these lives intertwined until later when they meet each other! I could not put this book down, that is how this book is great! Each of these people come from different backgrounds, ages, and genders. They each have something different to offer "The Puppet Master," even when you hear the heartbreaking details. I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone who is looking for a good read, but that will also blow your mind and leave you on the edge of your seat!

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an amazing example of the quality artistry that is Jan Coffey's work! It is very much a journey through the mind of mastermind. It was as I expect from Ms.Coffey well written and developed characters and plots that are true to life experiences. I have hence read this one three more times since my first read and still love it! It is four lives in balance and struggle of good and evil it very much a theme on this one. It show how quickly lives can be pulled together by one person for any reason in this case to do harm and play a nightmare based game of chest. Let the games begin!

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly well written thriller, that keeps you guessing in the first part how all those people fit together. The second part is then when the real action starts, showing that vengenance isn't always fulfilling.

[Elif · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bir finans müdürü,roket bilimci ve bilgisayar dahisinden oluşan muhteşem ekibiyle Steven Galvin oğlunun ölümünden sorumluları cezalandırmak için işe koyulur.Adama hak verdim okurken.olay biraz aceleye getirilmiş gibiydi.daha güzel olabilirdi..

[Chris Aquila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely give 5 stars to a book but this book deserves it. I just stumbled across this book and started reading and didn't put it down untill it was done. Its been a long time since that happened. It made me remember how fun reading is.

[Praeo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was awesome. I really liked it.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Puppet Master by Jan Coffey (2008)

[Joyce Hahnenkratt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kept me guessing until the end. will add her to my list of books to be read.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read the twelve books they have written and am always amazed at the stories they weave.

[SherryMarch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the way the different characters were introduced to the story and watching as thier lives intertwine.

[Cyndy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable summer thriller/intrigue read. Ending nicely thought out, good characters Definitely worth the time.

[Lou Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good, unique, fast moving story with a good surprise ending.

[Ashley Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed how the characters intertwined.

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was quick, engaging, and a good airplane read, but pretty so so. There was no "there" there.

[Kalia B]

One conflict in this book is character vs character. It is the billionaire Steve Galvin against senator Paul Hersey. Steve’s son got kidnapped by terrorists who thought he was someone else and Paul knew that they were going to kill him and let it happen. That is why Steve wanted to get revenge on the terrorist group by making them bankrupt and by putting some of the money into Paul's account to make him look like he was involved with the terrorists. Another conflict in this book is character vs nature. David Collier who was recruited to get revenge has a daughter named Leah. His daughter has a kidney disorder so there was a risk of her dying unless she got another kidney.