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Pernicious Pursuit
Snatched from a safe house in The Netherlands in the middle of the night, Howard Knight finds himself in the crosshairs of a vindictive crime boss relentlessly determined to even old scores.
His lover, Janet Weissel, barely escapes the grasp of the unwelcome intruders. Her daring getaway takes an unconventional path to another country, a clandestine outfit, and a new purpose.
With The Organization’s vast resources as a backdrop, Pernicious Pursuit is a tale of survival, cunning schemes and dogged determination with seemingly insurmountable odds—while surreptitiously fighting back against deep-seated misogyny, abuse and the degradation of women by the nefarious criminal element.
His lover, Janet Weissel, barely escapes the grasp of the unwelcome intruders. Her daring getaway takes an unconventional path to another country, a clandestine outfit, and a new purpose.
With The Organization’s vast resources as a backdrop, Pernicious Pursuit is a tale of survival, cunning schemes and dogged determination with seemingly insurmountable odds—while surreptitiously fighting back against deep-seated misogyny, abuse and the degradation of women by the nefarious criminal element.
294 pages, Paperback
Published April 4, 2020
3 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Gary D. McGugan
9 books156 followersAbout the author
I’m a former business leader, speaker and consultant who has always loved to read and tell stories.
I aim to write suspenseful and entertaining novels. I have seven published titles in a compelling series called The Multima Saga. Each plot is different, but each spins tales of the goings-on at senior levels of the fictional Multima Corporation.
Organized crime is another thread in all my stories. How criminal interests influence, infiltrate, and control many businesses around the globe has always fascinated me. My nefarious creation—The Organization—worms its way into all my novels.
Over the past fifty years, I’ve visited more than 50 countries and 650 cities on four continents, and when I left the corporate world, I had over 10,000 “contacts" from five different industries. So, I have no shortage of characters, stories, or life experiences when I write.
Join me as we travel the globe, peeking into the intriguing worlds of The Organization and Multima Corporation. I always recommend you start with Three Weeks Less a Day!
I’m a former business leader, speaker and consultant who has always loved to read and tell stories.
I aim to write suspenseful and entertaining novels. I have seven published titles in a compelling series called The Multima Saga. Each plot is different, but each spins tales of the goings-on at senior levels of the fictional Multima Corporation.
Organized crime is another thread in all my stories. How criminal interests influence, infiltrate, and control many businesses around the globe has always fascinated me. My nefarious creation—The Organization—worms its way into all my novels.
Over the past fifty years, I’ve visited more than 50 countries and 650 cities on four continents, and when I left the corporate world, I had over 10,000 “contacts" from five different industries. So, I have no shortage of characters, stories, or life experiences when I write.
Join me as we travel the globe, peeking into the intriguing worlds of The Organization and Multima Corporation. I always recommend you start with Three Weeks Less a Day!
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 25, 2020
It is an enjoyable experience reading each novel from Gary McGugan. After reading “Three Weeks Less A Day”, “The Multima Scheme”, “Unrelenting Peril” and now “Pernicious Pursuit”, it is very evident that Gary McGugan’s stories improve with each novel. Pernicious Pursuit is a fast pace adventurous thriller as it steers you through different parts of the globe. With the return of some characters from his previous stories, this is a story of strategic deception to avoid capture by “The Organization”, an underground criminal group. Gary McGugan has really honed in on character development. He has also really crafted the element of suspense, effectively drawing you deep into the novel as you find yourself lost in this world on the run. A fantastic read!
April 30, 2020
“Pernicious Pursuit: A Howard Knight Escapade” by Gary McGugan is an exhilarating whirlwind of adventure, thrills and suspense. The risks are great and the rewards are sweet in this high-speed race to stay alive – whatever the cost.
Howard Knight, former financial guru for The Organization is now in the witness protection program, safe from his nemesis, Giancarlo Mareno. Or is he? When his safe house is raided and he’s taken prisoner, Howard must do whatever it takes to escape from the men who would turn him over to the vicious crime lord. His lover, Janet Weissel, gets away undetected. Now on the run, Janet encounters her own set of challenges, but is given an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of women all over the world – if she’s up to the task. But there’s one final mission before she can begin her new life. Organized crime, murder, revenge, betrayal and the ultimate sacrifice, Howard and Janet face impossible odds against foes with unlimited resources who will stop at nothing in the pursuit of power and revenge.
I have been looking forward to this book ever since I finished McGugan’s last book, “Unrelenting Peril,” the third book in his Multima Trilogy of Corporate Intrigue. McGugan excels at many aspects of writing, which is why it’s such a pleasure to read his work. He’s precise, thorough, consistent and has an incredible imagination! He writes everything from the grisly to the sultry with the same finesse. The layers he weaves into his plot through conflict keeps readers guessing, the level of detail is unparalleled and I guarantee you won’t figure anything out that he doesn’t want you to know about ahead of time. It’s amazing to me how McGugan continues to take his stories up a notch book after book, each one better than the last.
What I missed most after finishing The Multima Trilogy was the characters and I was happy to participate in a reunion of sorts with a few of the returning players. Howard Knight was always one of my favorites and whether I liked him or not, he always got my attention. That is the key to McGugan’s characters – they have a tendency to grow and evolve into much more than you might ever expect, boldly shifting back and forth between the thin line separating good and evil. I love not knowing what to expect and it was exciting to see different sides of both Howard and Janet – what’s the expression – you’ve come a long way baby! There are also a couple of new female characters I hope to see more of, along with a major comeback of a fierce femme fatale.
“Pernicious Pursuit” hits many topics relative to the world we live in today and touches upon significant issues like human trafficking, a global pandemic, corporate greed, corruption, misogyny, etc. There’s no holding back and that’s just the way I like it. “Pernicious Pursuit” is a fast-paced, exciting read that will keep you on your toes from the first page to the very last sentence. I highly recommend “Pernicious Pursuit” and all of the other books by Gary McGugan – they are simply magnificent.
Howard Knight, former financial guru for The Organization is now in the witness protection program, safe from his nemesis, Giancarlo Mareno. Or is he? When his safe house is raided and he’s taken prisoner, Howard must do whatever it takes to escape from the men who would turn him over to the vicious crime lord. His lover, Janet Weissel, gets away undetected. Now on the run, Janet encounters her own set of challenges, but is given an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of women all over the world – if she’s up to the task. But there’s one final mission before she can begin her new life. Organized crime, murder, revenge, betrayal and the ultimate sacrifice, Howard and Janet face impossible odds against foes with unlimited resources who will stop at nothing in the pursuit of power and revenge.
I have been looking forward to this book ever since I finished McGugan’s last book, “Unrelenting Peril,” the third book in his Multima Trilogy of Corporate Intrigue. McGugan excels at many aspects of writing, which is why it’s such a pleasure to read his work. He’s precise, thorough, consistent and has an incredible imagination! He writes everything from the grisly to the sultry with the same finesse. The layers he weaves into his plot through conflict keeps readers guessing, the level of detail is unparalleled and I guarantee you won’t figure anything out that he doesn’t want you to know about ahead of time. It’s amazing to me how McGugan continues to take his stories up a notch book after book, each one better than the last.
What I missed most after finishing The Multima Trilogy was the characters and I was happy to participate in a reunion of sorts with a few of the returning players. Howard Knight was always one of my favorites and whether I liked him or not, he always got my attention. That is the key to McGugan’s characters – they have a tendency to grow and evolve into much more than you might ever expect, boldly shifting back and forth between the thin line separating good and evil. I love not knowing what to expect and it was exciting to see different sides of both Howard and Janet – what’s the expression – you’ve come a long way baby! There are also a couple of new female characters I hope to see more of, along with a major comeback of a fierce femme fatale.
“Pernicious Pursuit” hits many topics relative to the world we live in today and touches upon significant issues like human trafficking, a global pandemic, corporate greed, corruption, misogyny, etc. There’s no holding back and that’s just the way I like it. “Pernicious Pursuit” is a fast-paced, exciting read that will keep you on your toes from the first page to the very last sentence. I highly recommend “Pernicious Pursuit” and all of the other books by Gary McGugan – they are simply magnificent.
May 15, 2020
I loved this book! From the moment I picked it up is was very hard to put it down. From the first three novels, Three Weeks Less a Day, The Multima Scheme and Unrelenting Peril, I had definitely formed and opinion about Howard Knight and Janet Weissel. There had been no thought that my opinion could have changed. Reading about their challenges trying to escape the grips of the "Organization" absolutely changed my mind. The way the characters evolved was totally unexpected. As always, the thrill of reading about the different locations and the excellent descriptions made me feel like I was right there in the middle of everything. Everything about the book was totally realistic and completely challenged my mind to figure out how all of these events could actually happen so quickly. Even if you have not read the first three books, you will love Pernicious Persuit but only if you love a fast pace, action packed, multicultural and multilocational genre with on the edge of your seat anticipation for the next page!
I hope you all enjoy this book as much as I did. Can't wait for the next novel....
I hope you all enjoy this book as much as I did. Can't wait for the next novel....
May 15, 2020
Really enjoyed this book. Best one yet. Found this book suspenseful, exciting, and thrilling. You really wanted Howard to continue to dodge the organization. Can’t wait for the next book.
April 30, 2020
You'd probably be surprised if I didn't rate my international thriller with 5 stars. But I truly think this is my best novel so far.
You may remember Howard Knight as a character from each of my previous 3 novels that form the trilogy about Multima Corporation. (Three Weeks Less a Day, The Multima Scheme, and Unrelenting Peril) In each of those earlier suspense stories, I peeled back different layers of Howard's complex character. In Pernicious Pursuit, I think readers will laugh and cry as they follow his torrid escapade in a pursuit packed with action and intrigue.
Readers might also remember promiscuous Janet Weissel from earlier stories. Another complex character, Janet provides a glimpse into the vicious criminal underworld --particularly the way the likes of The Organization abuse women for profit. Pernicious Pursuit reveals some of the sordid ways organized crime controls and manipulates women, but also offers hope for a different future.
Like all my stories, my goal is to entertain and I urge you have more than a few minutes available when you first pick up the book. I'm confident you'll be hooked!
You may remember Howard Knight as a character from each of my previous 3 novels that form the trilogy about Multima Corporation. (Three Weeks Less a Day, The Multima Scheme, and Unrelenting Peril) In each of those earlier suspense stories, I peeled back different layers of Howard's complex character. In Pernicious Pursuit, I think readers will laugh and cry as they follow his torrid escapade in a pursuit packed with action and intrigue.
Readers might also remember promiscuous Janet Weissel from earlier stories. Another complex character, Janet provides a glimpse into the vicious criminal underworld --particularly the way the likes of The Organization abuse women for profit. Pernicious Pursuit reveals some of the sordid ways organized crime controls and manipulates women, but also offers hope for a different future.
Like all my stories, my goal is to entertain and I urge you have more than a few minutes available when you first pick up the book. I'm confident you'll be hooked!
February 27, 2021
It is an enjoyable experience reading each novel from Gary McGugan. After reading “Three Weeks Less A Day”, “The Multima Scheme”, “Unrelenting Peril” and now “Pernicious Pursuit”, it is very evident that Gary McGugan’s stories improve with each novel. Pernicious Pursuit is a fast pace adventurous thriller as it steers you through different parts of the globe. With the return of some characters from his previous stories, this is a story of strategic deception to avoid capture by “The Organization”, an underground criminal group. Gary McGugan has really honed in on character development. He has also really crafted the element of suspense, effectively drawing you deep into the novel as you find yourself lost in this world on the run. A fantastic read!
February 9, 2025
Very entertaining read with interesting premise and characters. and a lot of plot twists that definitely had me reading late into the night!
It’s got some explicit/salacious moments but I just skimmed those given it’s not my interest but it makes sense to the plot given the characters involvement in criminal organizations.
It’s got some explicit/salacious moments but I just skimmed those given it’s not my interest but it makes sense to the plot given the characters involvement in criminal organizations.
April 19, 2021
As with his previous three novels, author Gary D McGugan creates a captivating story from cover to cover. I particularly enjoyed the quick pace, international settings and subtle changes to the major characters. My favourite McGugan novel so far.
October 25, 2021
This was not my favourite of the series. Although the story was fast paced and interesting, I found some the content to be a little crude and too graphic for me.
June 27, 2021
Pernicious Pursuit is a fast-paced thriller. McGugan manages to keep your attention in a whirlwind of adventure and non-stop thrills. That being said, it took me quite a while to read this book because whenever I took a break, this was not the kind of book that pulled me back asap. So I found myself leaving the story unattended for days at a stretch. One major issue I had with this story is the way it was wrapped up. Characters that were once cautious and intelligent seem to abandon all reason as they approach the final chapter and I was left thoroughly unsatisfied. Another thing worth mentioning is that some passages from this novel would not be out of place on the r/menwritingwomen subreddit. It was a little weird to read, at times.
In closing, I would say that this is a decent thriller, but not a memorable one. I enjoyed the story as long as it lasted but I do not think I will re-read it.
I received a free copy of this book from the author.
In closing, I would say that this is a decent thriller, but not a memorable one. I enjoyed the story as long as it lasted but I do not think I will re-read it.
I received a free copy of this book from the author.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews