All the Wrong Moves »

A retired Air Force officer, Merline Lovelace served at bases all over the world, including tours in Taiwan, Vietnam, and at the Pentagon. When she hung up her uniform for the last time, she decided to combine her love of adventure with a flare for storytelling, basing many of her tales on her experiences in the service. Since then, she's produced more than seventy-five action-packed novels, many of which have made USA Today and Waldenbooks bestseller lists. Over ten million copies of her works are in print in 30 countries. Named Oklahoma's Writer of the Year and the Oklahoma Female Veteran of the Year, Merline is also a recipient of Romance Writers of America's prestigious Rita Award.

USAF Lieutenant Samantha Spade and her techies try out the latest gizmos for the military. On a test run with the Ergonomic Exoskeletal Extension (EEEK), Sam stumbles over two dead bodies in the desert. With the help of handsome Border Patrol Agent Jeff Mitchell, Sam must unravel a cover-up involving an illegal arms deal.

Publishers Weekly

The first in prolific author Lovelace's Samantha Spade mystery series draws on the author's former career as a U.S.A.F. colonel. Samantha, a smart-mouthed air force lieutenant, tests gadgets for the military at a Texas desert facility. On an early morning hike, Samantha finds two badly decomposed bodies, soon identified as a weapons dealer and a smuggler of illegal aliens. After an arsonist burns her test lab, Samantha ratchets up her involvement in the investigation, with handsome border patrol agent Jeff “Mitch” Mitchell keeping her heart racing as they search for the killer. Well paced, this chatty first-person narrative develops the character of the not-so-military-type heroine who doesn't deal well with authority figures but does the best she can because she knows her job's important. Crime fans will look forward to Lt. Spade's next adventure. (Nov.)