Pay to Play

by Jerri Williams

Special Agent Kari Wheeler may have made the worst decision of her life.

The deeper she digs into her new assignment, investigating corruption in the Philadelphia strip club industry, the more her work begins to threaten everything she values most--her FBI career, her marriage, even the closely held secrets of her painful past. Her new case has her gathering the evidence to prove that a corrupt city official is accepting bribes and breaking the same adult entertainment laws he's supposed to be enforcing. But when Kari enters the seductive world of high-end clubs and sleazy strip joints she finds herself facing temptations too difficult to resist. Before she becomes the star of a media scandal that could sidetrack the corruption investigation and trial, the married mother-of-three must devise a counter plan to protect all at risk of being destroyed. How far will she go?

PAY TO PLAY--an FBI crime novel about temptation, corruption, and redemption inspired by an actual true crime FBI case--is the first book in this Philadelphia FBI corruption squad series. It contains strong language and is for mature audiences.

Buy the Pay To Play today!

Jerri Williams, a retired FBI special agent, jokes that she writes crime fiction in an attempt to relive her glory days. After 26 years with the Bureau specializing in major economic fraud and corruption investigations, she called on her professional encounters with scams and schemers to write Pay To Play. You can find out more about Jerri at jerriwilliams.com. You can also connect with her on Twitter @jerriwilliams1 or Facebook at Jerri Williams Author.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction

314 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 17, 2019

About the author

Jerri Williams served 26 years as a Special Agent with the FBI. She often jokes that she is currently reliving her glory days by writing crime fiction full-time. Her debut novel – Pay to Play – features a female FBI agent investigating corruption in the Philadelphia strip club industry.

During her FBI career, Jerri specialized in cases targeting major economic crime and corruption. Jerri’s investigation of a $350 million Ponzi scheme perpetrated against unsuspecting nonprofit organizations, high profiled philanthropists and beneficiary donors resulted in a 12 year prison sentence and multiple forfeitures; the case she conducted on an international advance fee scam resulted in a 14 year prison sentence and the forfeiture of the subject’s residence; and her major investigation of business to business telemarketing fraud, which included a long-term undercover operation, resulted in 16 search warrants, 25 convictions and numerous multi-year prison terms. Jerri received numerous awards throughout her career including three United States Attorney Awards for Distinguished Service for her work on the cases noted. Being interviewed and appearing on the CNBC TV show American Greed was a highlight of Jerri’s career.

Toward the end of her federal law enforcement career, Jerri was appointed as the spokesperson for the Philadelphia Division of the FBI, taking on the responsibility of educating and informing the media and public about the Bureau. Post FBI retirement, Jerri served as the spokesperson and Director of Media Relations for SEPTA, Philadelphia’s public transportation provider.

Jerri's encounters with scams and schemers and her numerous media affiliations provide a broad platform from which she crafts and promotes her writing projects. She is also using her professional communication experience to host and produce a popular podcast—FBI Retired Case File Review—where she interviews retired FBI agents about their careers and high-profiled cases.

“During most of my Bureau career I worked major economic fraud investigations and was amazed at the schemes con-artist and corrupt corporate and public officials would devise to steal other people’s money. I’ve also had the opportunity to work bank robberies and drug investigations. The one thing I know for sure is… With a gun you can steal hundreds. With a pen you can steal millions.”
Jerri Williams

Reviews

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent crime fiction!

Excellent crime fiction with deep characters. I finished this book in just a few days, because it was so satisfying to read. I enjoyed the plot and the characters. I liked that the characters were real people with families, as opposed to single more Hollywood FBI type agents. I also liked the deep themes of how work can truly alter and disrupt a person's home life and morals. The partnerships featured were also very realistic.

[Bradey Kleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent first novel by Jerri Williams. Many unexpected twists but not unbelievable. Very easily could be start of a series with SA Kerri Wheeler. Could we get a series, only time and the author will tell. Recommended book if you like characters like Harry Bosch, Lucas Davenport, Virgil Flowers or Cab Bolton. I can't wait for next book from this author.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The author takes elements of her former FBI career and weaves a twisting story through city corruption, infidelity, blackmail and paternity and more. I found it compelling with a smart series of plots and characters to make you keep reading. Audio narration was great too with authentic character voices.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Jerri’s non-fiction book and listen to podcast and have learned a lot about the FBI to use in her own writing. I would guess some the story is based on her time with the FBI. The story is interesting, and the MC is flawed which makes her interesting and at times could cost her, her job and the case. I would call the writing a good freshman effort.

[Margarita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely public corruption procedural. Kari is a mother, a wife, and a kick-ass FBI agent. She has to balance her career and life. Her latest assignment involves investigating the office of licenses and inspection by interviewing strip club owners and customers in Philly. What could go wrong?

[Sandra Guzdek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Debut novel by this former FBI agent, regarding crimes of fraud and bribery with city officials and strip clubs in Philadelphia. Protagonist is a Black woman, which has it going for it, but is so clearly modeled after the author herself (Keri Wheeler). (Write what you know, I guess?) The partner she has through much of the book is a bit of a caricature of an upright man easily swayed to the dark side, then redeemed (I can't believe anyone so by-the-book would be so stupid as to make a call that jeopardizes the entire thing). I also tend to prefer prose that has a bit more spark to it—most of this, even with the titillation of strip clubs, feels a bit clinical. I bought it on a sale, and it was worth the sale price, anyway.

[Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard about this book on the author's podcast show. I enjoyed this book principally because I really appreciated that the author lets the characters suffer some consequences. Her characters are presented as real human beings who make mistakes. But she doesn't shield them from facing consequences. This means that the story twists and turns as the story unfolds! Love the chatacters and look forward to the next book.

[Vera Mottino · Rating 2 out of 5]

Flat writing and errors

I feel that I must explain the measly two stars when there are so many positive four stars in the reviews, but I was not able to continue reading this story.
The flat writing and vocabulary errors and gratuitous titillating details really
turned me off. I do hope that this book does NOT reflect the ways of the FBI !

[Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing white collar crime novel following investigator Kari working a case in the strip club milieu. The interesting thing about the book is the moral ambiguity of all characters on both sides of the investigation. Really liked the author's style.

[Hollie Smurthwaite · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a tense book! There's two storylines: the FBI case and the FBI agents personal lives. They were skillfully intertwined. I loved the complexity of the characters and how their choices make challenges for themselves. Read this addictively! Satisfying ending.

[Tom Bourgeois · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Ms. Williams first novel and I liked it. Its a bold and risqué look at a female FBI Agent who gets wrapped up in the sex industry and loses her way. Last few chapters were really compelling. Good book.

[Candace Smith-Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great storyline, characterization, scenes. Cant wait to read greedy givers.

[Rochelle Culbreath]

You already know! My life in words by someone who I know.

[Christian Hulsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding

Ms. Williams is quite the writer. Better than expected. Thank you for the great read! And onto her second book.