LOUISIANA – Mel Harrison’s news standalone novel in his award-winning Alex Boyd spy series, “Crescent City Carnage” (October 22, 2024) by Mel Harrison, takes special agent Alex Boyd and his wife Rachel Smith on another thrilling hunt after only a day into their long-awaited vacation to New Orleans. When the couple goes to join their good friend and colleague, Simone Ardoin, they discover she was brutally murdered. Simone’s well-connected parents, longtime residents of New Orleans, are devastated by the tragedy and implore both Alex and Rachel to work with the New Orleans police to find her killer.
The city is infamous for its laissez-faire attitude, as well as its corruption. Nevertheless, Alex must work with the city’s cops to break the case. He draws immense support from the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Office in New Orleans. Identifying the killer is one thing, but locating him proves more complicated than anticipated. Is the killer just lucky? Or does he have an inside source who is helping him stay one step ahead of the cops?
The more Alex and Rachel delve deeply into the case, the more they discover that New Orleans is a unique city full of its own traditions, family ties, and way of life. But the clock is ticking. They need to capture the killer before he disappears forever.
“Crescent City Carnage”
Mel Harrison | October 22, 2024 | Self-Published | Thriller
Paperback | 979-8-9902822-1-6 | $16.99
Ebook | $4.99
“Death in Pakistan” (Book 1)
Paperback, 978-1689118415, 12.99 | Ebook, B07ZTQ3B3L, $3.99
When you go to Pakistan, no one promises you’ll return alive. In the early 90s when America changed course and supported military and economic assistance to India at Pakistan’s expense, deputy regional security officer Alex Boyd must defend the US Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Fighting against vicious, heavily armed, fanatical terrorists who are supported by a rogue element within Pakistan’s military intelligence service (ISI), Alex and his team fight for their lives. Before the battle even begins, however, Alex must overcome the staid traditionalists within the Foreign Service, itself, who believe nothing should be done to aggravate the locals even in self-defense. The new Embassy press officer, Rachel Smith, an accomplished athlete and intellectual powerhouse, intimately bonds with Alex.
“The Ambassador is Missing” (Book 2)
Paperback, 978-1951188078, $15.99 | Ebook, B089X6FC99 $3.99
After the terrorist violence in Pakistan where he almost lost his life, Regional Security Officer Alex Boyd is expecting a comfortable assignment at the US Embassy in Rome.
But with his new Embassy boss despising him for an old grievance, his girlfriend running hot and cold, and terrorists targeting the Ambassador and his wife, Alex swings into full-on action He must maneuver through a maze of State Department bureaucratic incompetence, interference from the FBI, dodge bullets during police raids, and confront lying officials within the Embassy staff. After two weeks of being held in a filthy basement, the Ambassador is ill and running out of lifesaving medicine. With the FBI and State Department arguing with the Italians over how to deal with the crisis, Alex leads the way with the Italian police in a bold attempt to rescue the Ambassador and his wife while they are still alive.
“Moving Target” (Book 3)
Paperback, 978-1736206102, $14.99 | Ebook, B08QV2HCKH, $3.99
Alex Boyd, restless at a desk job in Washington, D.C., hates bureaucracy and misses the excitement of an overseas assignment. When unexpected opportunities arise, he and Rachel Smith, his new wife, jump at the chance to work in Paris! But nothing goes as planned.Soon their lives are at risk from a vicious Sicilian Mafia leader; their new bosses, Henri and Giselle Ducat, have disappeared. Were they kidnapped? Or did they run?
“Terror in Cairo” (Book 4)
Paperback,978-1736206171, $13.99 | Ebook, B09MSMRMLF, $3.99
Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ), a vicious terrorist organization determined to thwart peace with Israel, attacks a vital peace conference in Cairo, attempting to stop any chance of a successful conference.
As special agent with the State Department Diplomatic Security Service (DS), Alex is responsible for the overall protection of U.S. delegates, including the Secretary of State and several senior senators and congressmen attending the conference.Along with the Egyptian police, Alex Boyd and his Diplomatic Service colleagues attempt to stop waves of bloody attacks.When it appears the peace conference may be resurrected, the terrorists seek to inflict a mortal wound against America with an unprecedented target. With superb Arabic language skills and military experience, Alex is tasked with identifying the leaders of EIJ before they strike again.Questions remain whether Alex, and his colleagues, can win this life and death struggle. Even more important, who is arming the terrorists?
“Spies Among Us” (Book 5)
Paperback,979-8987222614,$16.10 |Ebook, B0BSDNCHFF, $3.99
This next installment to the Alex Boyd series will have readers guessing at every turn. Assigned to London, Alex Boyd and his wife Rachel Smith, a political officer for the Department of State, step into a spider’s web of intrigue at the US Embassy.
But as stories appear inconsistent and anomalies occur, Alex and Rachel begin to suspect an insider is responsible for passing on highly classified information to a deep cover Russian spy. With the help of the Embassy, CIA Station Chief Anna Battles, Scotland Yard’s Special Branch, and British Intelligence Services, they work closely together to sort out the lies.But the Russians have more than one ace up their sleeve.Alex and Rachel soon realize American secrets are still being lost to the other side and that it will take the combined efforts of the CIA and the FBI to figure out who else is trading secrets before the damage is beyond repair. Will they be able to find the spy among them?
2024 IRDAs
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Winner!
“Mel Harrison obviously knows his stuff! His writing reverberates authenticity.” —LitPick Reviews
“Loved , loved, loved this book. I am so invested in the characters who along with their careers and relationships are moving at a rapid pace.” —Opera Lover, reviewer
MEL HARRISON: After graduating from the University of Maryland with a degree in Economics, Mel Harrison joined the US Department 
of State Foreign Service, spending the majority of his career in the Diplomatic Security Service. Over the next 28 years, he served in American embassies as either a Special Agent/Regional Security officer or Economic Officer in Saigon, Quito, Rome, London (twice), Islamabad, and Seoul. While in Islamabad, as the Senior Regional Security Officer, he won both the State Department Award for Valor, and its worldwide Regional Security Officer of the Year Award. Following government retirement, Mel spent ten years in corporate security and consulting work with assignments often taking him throughout Latin America and the Middle East. Mel met his wife, Irene, while both served in Quito. Irene, a Foreign Service Management Specialist, and Mel married in Rome, beginning their lifelong love of travel and all things Italian. They now reside in Florida.
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In an interview, Mel Harrison can discuss:
- His experiences working for the US Department of State Foreign Service and how he integrates them into his writing
- Why he decided to writes a series inspired by his real life experiences
- His international and local research for the Alex Boyd series
- Why he chose to set “Crescent City Carnage” in New Orleans when most of the books have international settings
- What is next for the him as a writer
A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.
Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.
