Book Nook - First Line of Defense

Jackson Blaine, the President of the United States and a former defense lawyer, shocks his estranged son Brian and the entire world when he decides to personally go to court to help defend the young man after he’s arrested for murdering his best friend and college dormmate.

This is the compellingly unique premise of First Line of Defense, a political/legal thriller and murder mystery available in print and e-book (http://www.ingramelliott.com/first_line_defense.html).    

Tinged with action, suspense, romance, humor and more than a few unexpected twists, the new novel takes its 21-year-old lead protagonist, Brian Blaine, on a life-altering adventure that will dramatically change his relationship with his father and alter the course of his entire personal and professional life forever.

First Line of Defense marks award-winning author Peter Berk’s third novel with IngramElliott, following the recent publication of TimeLock and TimeLock 2: The Kyoto Conspiracy, the first two entries in an imaginative series of sci-fi and action novels co-authored by Peter’s father, Columbo and Mission: Impossible writer Howard Berk.

Copies of First Line of Defense can be pre-ordered now through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, Apple iTunes, and – as of October 1 – may be purchased in select bookstores nationwide. 

A Murder Nobody Else Could Have Committed…                                                                                                                   

When college student Ben Porter is murdered at point black range in his apartment near the University of Maryland, all evidence points directly to his best friend and roommate, Brian Blaine—the son of Jackson Blaine, the President of the United States. Despite Brian’s estranged relationship with his father, Brian has no choice but to await trial in the house that was never a home—1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

These staggering events exacerbate the young man’s rocky relationship with his demanding father and might very well end his budding romance with a beautiful pre-med student. But then, to the utter shock of the entire nation and especially his son, President Jackson Blaine, a former defense lawyer, does the unthinkable—he decides to represent Brian in court himself.

Will Brian and his father discover the truth about Ben’s murder before it’s too late?  

“Working with the hugely talented team at IngramElliott continues to be the greatest source of fulfillment I’ve ever experienced in my professional life,” commented Peter Berk. “With the publication of the ongoing TimeLock series, I’ve been given the opportunity to once again ‘collaborate’ with my late father, Howard, and now to have IngramElliott publish my first legal thriller and murder mystery is more rewarding than even the finest author in the world could ever properly express in words.”

“We absolutely love working with such a talented writer as Peter,” notes publisher P.E. Calvert. “His imagination never fails to impress us and his keen understanding of writing for a film audience brings a fresh perspective and pace to his novels.”

In this regard, the company will soon be actively exploring opportunities to develop First Line of Defense – which author Peter Berk has already written as a screenplay – into a theatrical movie or television film.

About The Author                                                                                                                                                           

Peter Berk has written six novels, three TV pilots and a dozen screenplays, including several with his father which became the basis for the TimeLock series of novels. The original TimeLock novel was named as a Distinguished Favorite in the TechnoThriller category of the 2024 Independent Press Award and was a Finalist in the 2023 Chanticleer International Book Awards for Science Fiction, Mystery, and Global Thrillers. TimeLock 2: The Kyoto Conspiracy was published in 2023 and the third book in the series, TimeLock 3: The Millennium Paradox, will be published in Spring 2025 by IngramElliott. Peter and his family live in Southern California.

Connect with Peter on Facebook and Instagram @peterberk_author.

About IngramElliott Publishing                                                                                                                               

IngramElliott is an award-winning independent publisher with a mission to bring great stories to light in print and on-screen. For more information, please visit www.ingramelliott.com.