What do you think?
Rate this book
Tierra Campos Thrillers #2
Devious Measures
Politics is a pitched battle whose first casualty is the truth.
Journalist Tierra Campos and FBI Special Agent Victoria Larsen team up again in the sequel to the multiple award-winning thriller Justifiable Deceit.
In the turbulent wakes of uncertain career trajectories, the two women risk their futures to foil one of the most dastardly plots in American political history. The race is on to uncover the truth, and the stakes couldn’t be higher: fail, and the American people will lose all confidence in the electoral process. As the clock winds down to the New Hampshire primary, will the conspiracy unravel, or will the nation succumb to the mastermind’s Devious Measures?
Election rigging. Hacking. Ruthless campaign tactics. Is it fiction or today's reality?
Election year politics is an ugly game that gets dirtier every two years. When the campaign of a rising candidate is
targeted with intimidation, arson, and cyberattacks, attention immediately turns to his chief opponent in the primaries as the instigator: Senator Alicia Standish.
Drawn to inconsistencies in the suicide of a political mega-donor a month earlier, FBI Special Agent Victoria Larsen finds herself trapped in a quagmire of internal politics. With no other place to turn when the state becomes a political battlefield, she enlists the help of journalist Tierra Campos to track down a series of leads that could provide answers. Little does she know that Tierra has her own problems.
Since unraveling the conspiracy behind the Brockhampton massacre, Tierra has become a media superstar. Her imminent departure from the online news organization Front Burner has created a rift with her editor that has become impossible to bridge. Forced to operate outside of their normal channels, Tierra and Victoria must put all the pieces together to catch the conspirators manipulating America’s first primary. As assumptions lead to shocking conclusions, they must make a bold move before the presidential race is altered forever.
DEVIOUS MEASURES is a fast-paced political suspense thriller with twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the final chapter. Download it now!
Journalist Tierra Campos and FBI Special Agent Victoria Larsen team up again in the sequel to the multiple award-winning thriller Justifiable Deceit.
In the turbulent wakes of uncertain career trajectories, the two women risk their futures to foil one of the most dastardly plots in American political history. The race is on to uncover the truth, and the stakes couldn’t be higher: fail, and the American people will lose all confidence in the electoral process. As the clock winds down to the New Hampshire primary, will the conspiracy unravel, or will the nation succumb to the mastermind’s Devious Measures?
Election rigging. Hacking. Ruthless campaign tactics. Is it fiction or today's reality?
Election year politics is an ugly game that gets dirtier every two years. When the campaign of a rising candidate is
targeted with intimidation, arson, and cyberattacks, attention immediately turns to his chief opponent in the primaries as the instigator: Senator Alicia Standish.
Drawn to inconsistencies in the suicide of a political mega-donor a month earlier, FBI Special Agent Victoria Larsen finds herself trapped in a quagmire of internal politics. With no other place to turn when the state becomes a political battlefield, she enlists the help of journalist Tierra Campos to track down a series of leads that could provide answers. Little does she know that Tierra has her own problems.
Since unraveling the conspiracy behind the Brockhampton massacre, Tierra has become a media superstar. Her imminent departure from the online news organization Front Burner has created a rift with her editor that has become impossible to bridge. Forced to operate outside of their normal channels, Tierra and Victoria must put all the pieces together to catch the conspirators manipulating America’s first primary. As assumptions lead to shocking conclusions, they must make a bold move before the presidential race is altered forever.
DEVIOUS MEASURES is a fast-paced political suspense thriller with twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the final chapter. Download it now!
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2020
85 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Mikael Carlson
33 books85 followersMikael Carlson is an award-winning political fiction author, including a silver medal from Readers' Favorite and National Indie Excellence, Lyra, and Global E-book Awards.
Mikael is a proud U.S. Army Paratrooper and retired Army National Guardsman. He graduated with a Master of Arts in American History in 2010 and with a B.S. in International Business from Marist College in 1996.
An avid traveler and unabashed political junkie, he is the author of the Politics as Unusual blog You can find him at www.mikaelcarlson.com.
Mikael is a proud U.S. Army Paratrooper and retired Army National Guardsman. He graduated with a Master of Arts in American History in 2010 and with a B.S. in International Business from Marist College in 1996.
An avid traveler and unabashed political junkie, he is the author of the Politics as Unusual blog You can find him at www.mikaelcarlson.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 18, 2025
Eager to read a political thriller series that once more has parallels to the present US situation, I turned to the second novel in this collection by Mikael Carlson. As Election Season heats up, the deception kicks into high gear. After the apparent suicide of a political mega-donor, everyone knows that this is anyone’s race and support could come from any untapped resource. An up-and-coming candidate for Democratic presidential nomination sees his campaign targeted by intimidation cyberattacks, and even arson. As the smoke settles, it appears that his chief opponent, Democratic front runner Alicia Standish, and her team might be responsible. Tierra Campos has been earning a great deal of respect with her investigative journalism and keeps her focus on these recent attacks. Working alongside former FBI Special Agent Victoria Larsen, they try to peel back truths and red herrings related to the attacks and the ongoing media depiction of events. Something seems off and too ‘easy’, but without evidence, primary voters in Iowa and New Hampshire keep Standish in their sights a short time before major votes to start the year. Forging ahead, even without inherent benefit, Tierra and Victoria push for answers and uncover something significant that could turn the Democratic primary season into something highly scandalous. There is no time to waste in putting together the piece, as Election Day inches closer. Mikael Carlson impresses with this novel and ensures the series has wonderful momentum going into the third book.
Mikael Carlson is an author whose political thrillers I have read before. He knows the need for a strong foundation tha engages the reader. The story lays the groundwork with political themes and builds from there at a wonderful pace. The momentum reaches its climax with electoral antics, as candidates vie for control of the electorate, though there are wonderfully deceptive moments woven into the larger story. Multiple perspectives offer views that ensure a complete snapshot as the story’s ideas emerge, while never revealing too much. Short chapters push things along and make sure the reader finds themselves in a position that they must ‘keep reading’ in order to make sense of what is happening. The attentive and patient reader will enjoy this form if storytelling, as Carlson links the series debut with this piece and keeps the reader guessing. Adding some dangling threads that are still left untied, there is a hook that pulls the reader forward. There is a great deal of education and entertainment for the attentive reader, something Mikael Carlson has done effectively in the past.
Characters emerge and impact the piece in their own ways. Carlson returns with various perspectives and characters, many of whom have played a role in the debut novel. There is a great deal of development, as well as a tiny slice of backstory for the reader to synthesise as they use this to flavour the larger story here. The political battles are complemented by the different politicians whose roles become apparent, helping Carlson depict the combative nature of electoral politics. I enjoyed much of the contrast, which paved the way for a stunning reveal and cliffhanger in the epilogue.
Surprises and political development are core in a thriller of this nature. Mikael Carlson plants wonderful seeds to germinate in the series. He possesses the strength to twist things at the right moment, leaving the reader to wonder what awaits them. With a full series ahead, Carlson offers crumbs as he leads the reader down this political path, with a great deal of time yet to elapse in an election that could mean the difference between an America that is set in its ways and one that seeks new direction. I am eager to see what Mikael Carlson has in store, using strong protagonists to guide the reader through anything that might transpire.
Kudos, Mr. Carlson, for a gripping political thriller.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Mikael Carlson is an author whose political thrillers I have read before. He knows the need for a strong foundation tha engages the reader. The story lays the groundwork with political themes and builds from there at a wonderful pace. The momentum reaches its climax with electoral antics, as candidates vie for control of the electorate, though there are wonderfully deceptive moments woven into the larger story. Multiple perspectives offer views that ensure a complete snapshot as the story’s ideas emerge, while never revealing too much. Short chapters push things along and make sure the reader finds themselves in a position that they must ‘keep reading’ in order to make sense of what is happening. The attentive and patient reader will enjoy this form if storytelling, as Carlson links the series debut with this piece and keeps the reader guessing. Adding some dangling threads that are still left untied, there is a hook that pulls the reader forward. There is a great deal of education and entertainment for the attentive reader, something Mikael Carlson has done effectively in the past.
Characters emerge and impact the piece in their own ways. Carlson returns with various perspectives and characters, many of whom have played a role in the debut novel. There is a great deal of development, as well as a tiny slice of backstory for the reader to synthesise as they use this to flavour the larger story here. The political battles are complemented by the different politicians whose roles become apparent, helping Carlson depict the combative nature of electoral politics. I enjoyed much of the contrast, which paved the way for a stunning reveal and cliffhanger in the epilogue.
Surprises and political development are core in a thriller of this nature. Mikael Carlson plants wonderful seeds to germinate in the series. He possesses the strength to twist things at the right moment, leaving the reader to wonder what awaits them. With a full series ahead, Carlson offers crumbs as he leads the reader down this political path, with a great deal of time yet to elapse in an election that could mean the difference between an America that is set in its ways and one that seeks new direction. I am eager to see what Mikael Carlson has in store, using strong protagonists to guide the reader through anything that might transpire.
Kudos, Mr. Carlson, for a gripping political thriller.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
November 1, 2020
This is book two of the Tierra Campos series and follows journalist Tierra Campos and FBI Special Agent Victoria Larsen into their next case together. The events in the previous book, Justifiable Deceit, has made Campos into a media superstar and Larsen into a step up with more respect and the chance to freelance somewhat. Now they are going up against some more powerful people who are trying to ensure that the next presidential election goes their way. The book starts with a man being forced to his death, months before the vital New Hampshire primary. Senator Burgess is going up against Senator Alicia Standish for New Hampshire and she really needs to win, as Burgess has Iowa wrapped up. Stories start to mount about threats made to low level voting support organisers at grass root levels in various universities, Senator Burgess’ campaign website gets hacked and many more incidents start to gain traction.
Senator Standish has problems from the backlash of her campaign for a new law the previous year and the fact it was ambushed and taken over for the political wishes of those behind the school shooting, harmed her reputation and had her closely linked to the people responsible.
Campos is sent to investigate the incidents at the universities, with her team from Front Burner, but only after being ignored by her boss Austin, after her time off to work on the TV news programme Crime Beat. He knows she has been offered a job at Crime Beat, when the presenter retires later in the year, and he is not exactly happy with her presumed traitorous actions. Larsen is sent to Manchester after four of Senator Burgess’ campaign offices are hit by arson attacks, with one dead man found in one of them, probably killed before the office was set on fire! She already has some of her tingly senses prickling after an apparent suicide of a multi-billionaire and political mega-donor on some railway tracks. Oddly enough, the man was on his phone for some nineteen minutes before his death, to a burner phone and was also sent a link to a dark website only minutes beforehand.
The two will have to work outside of their normal method and resources, as the number of pieces in this conspiracy begin to mount. If they don’t succeed in putting all the clues together in time, then the American people will lose all confidence in the election process and the race for the American presidency could be tainted and altered forever.
The people behind all of these moves, are extremely wealthy, powerful and evil. They are willing to threaten and kill anyone to meet their aims and they have a virtual army behind them, well trained and effective, to carry out any of their orders with military precision. A lot of planning and thought has gone into this scheme and they will let no one get in their way. Especially the two women who found out the truth behind the Brockhampton school shooting. People will be blamed and some taken out of the race, but this will just be following the long term plans of those in charge. They will get rid of the competition, all for their own ultimate conspiracy. Another great political battle, with a dogged journalist and an FBI agent who both defy their bosses, in an attempt to get to the truth. Someone will be placed in the frame as a patsy, but part of the truth will come out, yet there is still a lot more to come for both Campos and Larsen. I look forward to the next book in this series. It may be heavy on the political side, but there is plenty of investigation and action taking place to make this feel very realistic and reflect a lot of what is happening in the world we all know today. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Senator Standish has problems from the backlash of her campaign for a new law the previous year and the fact it was ambushed and taken over for the political wishes of those behind the school shooting, harmed her reputation and had her closely linked to the people responsible.
Campos is sent to investigate the incidents at the universities, with her team from Front Burner, but only after being ignored by her boss Austin, after her time off to work on the TV news programme Crime Beat. He knows she has been offered a job at Crime Beat, when the presenter retires later in the year, and he is not exactly happy with her presumed traitorous actions. Larsen is sent to Manchester after four of Senator Burgess’ campaign offices are hit by arson attacks, with one dead man found in one of them, probably killed before the office was set on fire! She already has some of her tingly senses prickling after an apparent suicide of a multi-billionaire and political mega-donor on some railway tracks. Oddly enough, the man was on his phone for some nineteen minutes before his death, to a burner phone and was also sent a link to a dark website only minutes beforehand.
The two will have to work outside of their normal method and resources, as the number of pieces in this conspiracy begin to mount. If they don’t succeed in putting all the clues together in time, then the American people will lose all confidence in the election process and the race for the American presidency could be tainted and altered forever.
The people behind all of these moves, are extremely wealthy, powerful and evil. They are willing to threaten and kill anyone to meet their aims and they have a virtual army behind them, well trained and effective, to carry out any of their orders with military precision. A lot of planning and thought has gone into this scheme and they will let no one get in their way. Especially the two women who found out the truth behind the Brockhampton school shooting. People will be blamed and some taken out of the race, but this will just be following the long term plans of those in charge. They will get rid of the competition, all for their own ultimate conspiracy. Another great political battle, with a dogged journalist and an FBI agent who both defy their bosses, in an attempt to get to the truth. Someone will be placed in the frame as a patsy, but part of the truth will come out, yet there is still a lot more to come for both Campos and Larsen. I look forward to the next book in this series. It may be heavy on the political side, but there is plenty of investigation and action taking place to make this feel very realistic and reflect a lot of what is happening in the world we all know today. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
March 29, 2023
It keeps on keeping on~
Can't help but really liking the way the this author writes. He is right up there with 2 of my other favorite authors Brad Thor, and James Patterson. His writing grips my interest from the beginning to the end. I'm ready for the next book in the series. And off I go to Fetch it!!
Can't help but really liking the way the this author writes. He is right up there with 2 of my other favorite authors Brad Thor, and James Patterson. His writing grips my interest from the beginning to the end. I'm ready for the next book in the series. And off I go to Fetch it!!
June 9, 2021
Another winner
This is a continuation of his first book. Tierra and Victoria are again going against all odds to find out about SOF. What does it really mean? The ending gives a surprising twist and hooks you into the next book.
This is a continuation of his first book. Tierra and Victoria are again going against all odds to find out about SOF. What does it really mean? The ending gives a surprising twist and hooks you into the next book.
December 27, 2021
A SLOW, DIFFICULT READ
Hard to follow. A slow, struggle trying to keep characters straight. Redeeming value, what held my interest to struggle through to the unclear end, was it's relevance to the chaotic, deteriorating political \ social environment today.
Hard to follow. A slow, struggle trying to keep characters straight. Redeeming value, what held my interest to struggle through to the unclear end, was it's relevance to the chaotic, deteriorating political \ social environment today.
September 14, 2022
Excellent follow-up to tell first in the Tierra Campos series!!
Can hardly wait for the next edition of Miss Campos. Great character with the right mix of tension and touch of real current politics.
Can hardly wait for the next edition of Miss Campos. Great character with the right mix of tension and touch of real current politics.
Read
May 24, 2023Conspiracy theorists unite!!!
There are so many circles not connecting it makes chaos theory almost believable. Every legal agency is scrambling for answers and only one rogue agent steps up!
There are so many circles not connecting it makes chaos theory almost believable. Every legal agency is scrambling for answers and only one rogue agent steps up!
July 23, 2021
Fascinating plot and development
SOF was the core and two women took a chance to uncover is meeting while their organization dragged alone to nowhere.
SOF was the core and two women took a chance to uncover is meeting while their organization dragged alone to nowhere.
January 3, 2021
No doubt about it, Mikael Carlson is a gifted writer. Through this 2 book series, and the iCandidate series, I have enormously enjoyed reading really high quality work.
Savoring characters, plotlines, smooth transitions, it's got all I lock into. Don't know what else to say, except you will not be disappointed... au contraire, you will feel fulfilled. I truly feel this about his work.
Savoring characters, plotlines, smooth transitions, it's got all I lock into. Don't know what else to say, except you will not be disappointed... au contraire, you will feel fulfilled. I truly feel this about his work.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews