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Scorched Earth

Paperback
$18.95 US
5-1/2"W x 8-1/4"H (14.0 x 21.0 cm) | 13 oz (369 g) | 24 per carton
On sale Feb 24, 2026 | 368 Pages | 9780786051830
Sales rights: World

Vengeance, murder, and violent political games are on a collision course in a propulsive Jonathan Grave thriller by New York Times bestselling author John Gilstrap.

Jonathan Grave has been on hit lists in the past. But never before has he faced a tougher threat. Disgraced U.S. President Darmond has been ousted from office, thanks to evidence of corruption collected by a brave group of off-the-record sources. Now the people on that secret list are being killed, one by one. And Jonathan—and his Security Solutions team—are the next targets.

Identifying the killer won’t be easy. Finding out who hired him will be even harder. But the toughest challenge will be to avert the devastation that’s the real objective of the bloodshed. In this showdown, the winner will take all.
Praise for John Gilstrap’s Thrillers

“Gilstrap’s dazzling creativity is on full display in this intense, tightly focused thriller; the books just keep getting better and better.” Mystery Scene

“Rocket-paced suspense.” —Jeffery Deaver

“Gilstrap will leave you breathless.” —Harlan Coben

“When you pick up a Gilstrap novel, one thing is always true—you are going to be entertained at a high rate of speed.” —Suspense Magazine on Final Target

“Propulsive…Not everyone survives the final confrontation, but series fans can rest assured that Grave will fight again. Straightforward plotting, amped-up action, and amusing banter keep the pages turning.” —Publishers Weekly on Total Mayhem

“In the scintillating Scorpion Strike, the ever-reliable John Gilstrap may well have fashioned the best Die Hard-esque tale ever not starring Bruce Willis…Scorpion Strike reads like an 1980s action movie unspooling in our imaginations. Relentlessly paced as well as brilliantly told and constructed, this is as good as thrillers get.” —The Providence Journal

“John Gilstrap has been on a roll the past few years, delivering action-packed thrillers that stand out for a number of reasons. Gilstrap seems to zig when everyone else zags. While other writers are focusing on beating headlines and having their series protagonists face off with Russia and/or North Korea, Gilstrap has kept his storylines fresh and unique.” —The Real Book Spy on Total Mayhem

“The series deserves attention from anyone who enjoys plot-driven thrillers…the stories are first rate and the action is thrilling.” —Booklist on Scorpion Strike

“If you like Vince Flynn and Brad Thor, you’ll love John Gilstrap.” —Gayle Lynds

“A nonstop roller coaster of suspense! Crimson Phoenix ticks every box for big-book thrillerdom. We’re treated to political turmoil, military action, harrowing escape and relentless pursuit, and heart-warming--and heart-wrenching—scenes of family struggling against conflict, which Gilstrap pens like no other author. The novel seizes you on page one and never lets go—and I don’t mean just until the last page; this riveting book will stay with you long after you finish it. And to top it all off, he’s created one of the most singular and compelling heroines to come along in years.” —Jeffery Deaver on Crimson Phoenix

“A single mother’s smart, fierce determination to protect her sons turns this vivid day-after-tomorrow scenario into a gripping page-turner.” —Taylor Stevens, New York Times bestselling author of Liars’ Legacy on Crimson Phoenix

“Gilstrap’s apocalyptic thriller about nuclear war and one family’s fight to survive in its aftermath weaves tradecraft and survival skills with themes of the nature of evil and the power of justice into an explosive story that keeps your mind churning and pulse racing while it locks you into your chair until the final page. Don't miss this powerful new series from a master thriller writer.” —Jamie Freveletti, international bestselling and award-winning author of Running from the Devil and Robert Ludlum’s The Janus Reprisal on Crimson Phoenix

“John Gilstrap's Crimson Phoenix snaps with action from the very first page. It's certain to hit the 10-ring* with old and new readers alike.” —Marc Cameron, New York Times bestselling author of Stone Cross and of Tom Clancy’s Code of Honor on Crimson Phoenix
John Gilstrap is the New York Times bestselling author of the Jonathan Grave thriller series and other fiction and nonfiction. His novel Against All Enemies won the award for best paperback original of 2015 given by the International Thriller Writers. His books have been translated into more than twenty languages. An explosives safety expert and former firefighter, he holds a master’s degree from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary in Virginia. He lives in Fairfax, Virginia. Please visit him on Facebook or at www.johngilstrap.com. View titles by John Gilstrap
Available for sale exclusive:
•     Afghanistan
•     Aland Islands
•     Albania
•     Algeria
•     Andorra
•     Angola
•     Anguilla
•     Antarctica
•     Antigua/Barbuda
•     Argentina
•     Armenia
•     Aruba
•     Australia
•     Austria
•     Azerbaijan
•     Bahamas
•     Bahrain
•     Bangladesh
•     Barbados
•     Belarus
•     Belgium
•     Belize
•     Benin
•     Bermuda
•     Bhutan
•     Bolivia
•     Bonaire, Saba
•     Bosnia Herzeg.
•     Botswana
•     Bouvet Island
•     Brazil
•     Brit.Ind.Oc.Ter
•     Brit.Virgin Is.
•     Brunei
•     Bulgaria
•     Burkina Faso
•     Burundi
•     Cambodia
•     Cameroon
•     Canada
•     Cape Verde
•     Cayman Islands
•     Centr.Afr.Rep.
•     Chad
•     Chile
•     China
•     Christmas Islnd
•     Cocos Islands
•     Colombia
•     Comoro Is.
•     Congo
•     Cook Islands
•     Costa Rica
•     Croatia
•     Cuba
•     Curacao
•     Cyprus
•     Czech Republic
•     Dem. Rep. Congo
•     Denmark
•     Djibouti
•     Dominica
•     Dominican Rep.
•     Ecuador
•     Egypt
•     El Salvador
•     Equatorial Gui.
•     Eritrea
•     Estonia
•     Ethiopia
•     Falkland Islnds
•     Faroe Islands
•     Fiji
•     Finland
•     France
•     Fren.Polynesia
•     French Guinea
•     Gabon
•     Gambia
•     Georgia
•     Germany
•     Ghana
•     Gibraltar
•     Greece
•     Greenland
•     Grenada
•     Guadeloupe
•     Guam
•     Guatemala
•     Guernsey
•     Guinea Republic
•     Guinea-Bissau
•     Guyana
•     Haiti
•     Heard/McDon.Isl
•     Honduras
•     Hong Kong
•     Hungary
•     Iceland
•     India
•     Indonesia
•     Iran
•     Iraq
•     Ireland
•     Isle of Man
•     Israel
•     Italy
•     Ivory Coast
•     Jamaica
•     Japan
•     Jersey
•     Jordan
•     Kazakhstan
•     Kenya
•     Kiribati
•     Kuwait
•     Kyrgyzstan
•     Laos
•     Latvia
•     Lebanon
•     Lesotho
•     Liberia
•     Libya
•     Liechtenstein
•     Lithuania
•     Luxembourg
•     Macau
•     Macedonia
•     Madagascar
•     Malawi
•     Malaysia
•     Maldives
•     Mali
•     Malta
•     Marshall island
•     Martinique
•     Mauritania
•     Mauritius
•     Mayotte
•     Mexico
•     Micronesia
•     Minor Outl.Ins.
•     Moldavia
•     Monaco
•     Mongolia
•     Montenegro
•     Montserrat
•     Morocco
•     Mozambique
•     Myanmar
•     Namibia
•     Nauru
•     Nepal
•     Netherlands
•     New Caledonia
•     New Zealand
•     Nicaragua
•     Niger
•     Nigeria
•     Niue
•     Norfolk Island
•     North Korea
•     North Mariana
•     Norway
•     Oman
•     Pakistan
•     Palau
•     Palestinian Ter
•     Panama
•     PapuaNewGuinea
•     Paraguay
•     Peru
•     Philippines
•     Pitcairn Islnds
•     Poland
•     Portugal
•     Puerto Rico
•     Qatar
•     Reunion Island
•     Romania
•     Russian Fed.
•     Rwanda
•     S. Sandwich Ins
•     Saint Martin
•     Samoa,American
•     San Marino
•     SaoTome Princip
•     Saudi Arabia
•     Senegal
•     Serbia
•     Seychelles
•     Sierra Leone
•     Singapore
•     Sint Maarten
•     Slovakia
•     Slovenia
•     Solomon Islands
•     Somalia
•     South Africa
•     South Korea
•     South Sudan
•     Spain
•     Sri Lanka
•     St Barthelemy
•     St. Helena
•     St. Lucia
•     St. Vincent
•     St.Chr.,Nevis
•     St.Pier,Miquel.
•     Sth Terr. Franc
•     Sudan
•     Suriname
•     Svalbard
•     Swaziland
•     Sweden
•     Switzerland
•     Syria
•     Tadschikistan
•     Taiwan
•     Tanzania
•     Thailand
•     Timor-Leste
•     Togo
•     Tokelau Islands
•     Tonga
•     Trinidad,Tobago
•     Tunisia
•     Turkey
•     Turkmenistan
•     Turks&Caicos Is
•     Tuvalu
•     US Virgin Is.
•     USA
•     Uganda
•     Ukraine
•     Unit.Arab Emir.
•     United Kingdom
•     Uruguay
•     Uzbekistan
•     Vanuatu
•     Vatican City
•     Venezuela
•     Vietnam
•     Wallis,Futuna
•     West Saharan
•     Western Samoa
•     Yemen
•     Zambia
•     Zimbabwe

About

Vengeance, murder, and violent political games are on a collision course in a propulsive Jonathan Grave thriller by New York Times bestselling author John Gilstrap.

Jonathan Grave has been on hit lists in the past. But never before has he faced a tougher threat. Disgraced U.S. President Darmond has been ousted from office, thanks to evidence of corruption collected by a brave group of off-the-record sources. Now the people on that secret list are being killed, one by one. And Jonathan—and his Security Solutions team—are the next targets.

Identifying the killer won’t be easy. Finding out who hired him will be even harder. But the toughest challenge will be to avert the devastation that’s the real objective of the bloodshed. In this showdown, the winner will take all.

Praise

Praise for John Gilstrap’s Thrillers

“Gilstrap’s dazzling creativity is on full display in this intense, tightly focused thriller; the books just keep getting better and better.” Mystery Scene

“Rocket-paced suspense.” —Jeffery Deaver

“Gilstrap will leave you breathless.” —Harlan Coben

“When you pick up a Gilstrap novel, one thing is always true—you are going to be entertained at a high rate of speed.” —Suspense Magazine on Final Target

“Propulsive…Not everyone survives the final confrontation, but series fans can rest assured that Grave will fight again. Straightforward plotting, amped-up action, and amusing banter keep the pages turning.” —Publishers Weekly on Total Mayhem

“In the scintillating Scorpion Strike, the ever-reliable John Gilstrap may well have fashioned the best Die Hard-esque tale ever not starring Bruce Willis…Scorpion Strike reads like an 1980s action movie unspooling in our imaginations. Relentlessly paced as well as brilliantly told and constructed, this is as good as thrillers get.” —The Providence Journal

“John Gilstrap has been on a roll the past few years, delivering action-packed thrillers that stand out for a number of reasons. Gilstrap seems to zig when everyone else zags. While other writers are focusing on beating headlines and having their series protagonists face off with Russia and/or North Korea, Gilstrap has kept his storylines fresh and unique.” —The Real Book Spy on Total Mayhem

“The series deserves attention from anyone who enjoys plot-driven thrillers…the stories are first rate and the action is thrilling.” —Booklist on Scorpion Strike

“If you like Vince Flynn and Brad Thor, you’ll love John Gilstrap.” —Gayle Lynds

“A nonstop roller coaster of suspense! Crimson Phoenix ticks every box for big-book thrillerdom. We’re treated to political turmoil, military action, harrowing escape and relentless pursuit, and heart-warming--and heart-wrenching—scenes of family struggling against conflict, which Gilstrap pens like no other author. The novel seizes you on page one and never lets go—and I don’t mean just until the last page; this riveting book will stay with you long after you finish it. And to top it all off, he’s created one of the most singular and compelling heroines to come along in years.” —Jeffery Deaver on Crimson Phoenix

“A single mother’s smart, fierce determination to protect her sons turns this vivid day-after-tomorrow scenario into a gripping page-turner.” —Taylor Stevens, New York Times bestselling author of Liars’ Legacy on Crimson Phoenix

“Gilstrap’s apocalyptic thriller about nuclear war and one family’s fight to survive in its aftermath weaves tradecraft and survival skills with themes of the nature of evil and the power of justice into an explosive story that keeps your mind churning and pulse racing while it locks you into your chair until the final page. Don't miss this powerful new series from a master thriller writer.” —Jamie Freveletti, international bestselling and award-winning author of Running from the Devil and Robert Ludlum’s The Janus Reprisal on Crimson Phoenix

“John Gilstrap's Crimson Phoenix snaps with action from the very first page. It's certain to hit the 10-ring* with old and new readers alike.” —Marc Cameron, New York Times bestselling author of Stone Cross and of Tom Clancy’s Code of Honor on Crimson Phoenix

Author

John Gilstrap is the New York Times bestselling author of the Jonathan Grave thriller series and other fiction and nonfiction. His novel Against All Enemies won the award for best paperback original of 2015 given by the International Thriller Writers. His books have been translated into more than twenty languages. An explosives safety expert and former firefighter, he holds a master’s degree from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary in Virginia. He lives in Fairfax, Virginia. Please visit him on Facebook or at www.johngilstrap.com. View titles by John Gilstrap

Rights

Available for sale exclusive:
•     Afghanistan
•     Aland Islands
•     Albania
•     Algeria
•     Andorra
•     Angola
•     Anguilla
•     Antarctica
•     Antigua/Barbuda
•     Argentina
•     Armenia
•     Aruba
•     Australia
•     Austria
•     Azerbaijan
•     Bahamas
•     Bahrain
•     Bangladesh
•     Barbados
•     Belarus
•     Belgium
•     Belize
•     Benin
•     Bermuda
•     Bhutan
•     Bolivia
•     Bonaire, Saba
•     Bosnia Herzeg.
•     Botswana
•     Bouvet Island
•     Brazil
•     Brit.Ind.Oc.Ter
•     Brit.Virgin Is.
•     Brunei
•     Bulgaria
•     Burkina Faso
•     Burundi
•     Cambodia
•     Cameroon
•     Canada
•     Cape Verde
•     Cayman Islands
•     Centr.Afr.Rep.
•     Chad
•     Chile
•     China
•     Christmas Islnd
•     Cocos Islands
•     Colombia
•     Comoro Is.
•     Congo
•     Cook Islands
•     Costa Rica
•     Croatia
•     Cuba
•     Curacao
•     Cyprus
•     Czech Republic
•     Dem. Rep. Congo
•     Denmark
•     Djibouti
•     Dominica
•     Dominican Rep.
•     Ecuador
•     Egypt
•     El Salvador
•     Equatorial Gui.
•     Eritrea
•     Estonia
•     Ethiopia
•     Falkland Islnds
•     Faroe Islands
•     Fiji
•     Finland
•     France
•     Fren.Polynesia
•     French Guinea
•     Gabon
•     Gambia
•     Georgia
•     Germany
•     Ghana
•     Gibraltar
•     Greece
•     Greenland
•     Grenada
•     Guadeloupe
•     Guam
•     Guatemala
•     Guernsey
•     Guinea Republic
•     Guinea-Bissau
•     Guyana
•     Haiti
•     Heard/McDon.Isl
•     Honduras
•     Hong Kong
•     Hungary
•     Iceland
•     India
•     Indonesia
•     Iran
•     Iraq
•     Ireland
•     Isle of Man
•     Israel
•     Italy
•     Ivory Coast
•     Jamaica
•     Japan
•     Jersey
•     Jordan
•     Kazakhstan
•     Kenya
•     Kiribati
•     Kuwait
•     Kyrgyzstan
•     Laos
•     Latvia
•     Lebanon
•     Lesotho
•     Liberia
•     Libya
•     Liechtenstein
•     Lithuania
•     Luxembourg
•     Macau
•     Macedonia
•     Madagascar
•     Malawi
•     Malaysia
•     Maldives
•     Mali
•     Malta
•     Marshall island
•     Martinique
•     Mauritania
•     Mauritius
•     Mayotte
•     Mexico
•     Micronesia
•     Minor Outl.Ins.
•     Moldavia
•     Monaco
•     Mongolia
•     Montenegro
•     Montserrat
•     Morocco
•     Mozambique
•     Myanmar
•     Namibia
•     Nauru
•     Nepal
•     Netherlands
•     New Caledonia
•     New Zealand
•     Nicaragua
•     Niger
•     Nigeria
•     Niue
•     Norfolk Island
•     North Korea
•     North Mariana
•     Norway
•     Oman
•     Pakistan
•     Palau
•     Palestinian Ter
•     Panama
•     PapuaNewGuinea
•     Paraguay
•     Peru
•     Philippines
•     Pitcairn Islnds
•     Poland
•     Portugal
•     Puerto Rico
•     Qatar
•     Reunion Island
•     Romania
•     Russian Fed.
•     Rwanda
•     S. Sandwich Ins
•     Saint Martin
•     Samoa,American
•     San Marino
•     SaoTome Princip
•     Saudi Arabia
•     Senegal
•     Serbia
•     Seychelles
•     Sierra Leone
•     Singapore
•     Sint Maarten
•     Slovakia
•     Slovenia
•     Solomon Islands
•     Somalia
•     South Africa
•     South Korea
•     South Sudan
•     Spain
•     Sri Lanka
•     St Barthelemy
•     St. Helena
•     St. Lucia
•     St. Vincent
•     St.Chr.,Nevis
•     St.Pier,Miquel.
•     Sth Terr. Franc
•     Sudan
•     Suriname
•     Svalbard
•     Swaziland
•     Sweden
•     Switzerland
•     Syria
•     Tadschikistan
•     Taiwan
•     Tanzania
•     Thailand
•     Timor-Leste
•     Togo
•     Tokelau Islands
•     Tonga
•     Trinidad,Tobago
•     Tunisia
•     Turkey
•     Turkmenistan
•     Turks&Caicos Is
•     Tuvalu
•     US Virgin Is.
•     USA
•     Uganda
•     Ukraine
•     Unit.Arab Emir.
•     United Kingdom
•     Uruguay
•     Uzbekistan
•     Vanuatu
•     Vatican City
•     Venezuela
•     Vietnam
•     Wallis,Futuna
•     West Saharan
•     Western Samoa
•     Yemen
•     Zambia
•     Zimbabwe