Kiss All Your Thank-You's Goodbye

In his first story about Randall Betts, Opposite of Collision introduced the reader to the world of counterterrorism and espionage, a believable and meaningful tribute to those who serve quietly to keep this country safe. Richard Timberlake used his extensive career to paint a picture of action and intrigue during the mid-1990's.

In Kiss All Your Thank-Yous Goodbye, the former marine and Iraq War hero Betts gets embroiled between the CIA and a decades-old treason that goes to the top of the NSA, which kills his father and sets him on a quest for justice and revenge. An honorable man in agony from injury, loss, and post-traumatic stress, Betts faces an unseen and powerful enemy who will stop at nothing to hide his treasonous acts from the world. From the deepest parts of our nation's capitol to the vibrant green hills of Tennessee, this twisting plot comes to a complex and violent climax when a ruthless traitor comes out of hiding to take out the one man who can expose him, Randall Betts.

This complex, textured thriller plunges the reader into a labyrinth of internecine struggles among powerful national security interests in the years just after 9/11. While deeply embedding a gripping story in the technology, language, politics, and protocols of military, government, and espionage, the novel emphasizes the lack of respect and appreciation for soldiers and special agents, whether it comes from their own bureaucracies or the general public. Juxtaposing intense action with scenes of descriptive beauty and sensitive reflection, the book is a capacious, credible, and knowledgeable portrait of the War on Terror at its highest pitch.

Dedicated to the minority of the US population who have chosen to serve and sacrifice for the protection of the nation, this book is a complex but complete story describing the nation's capital and rural Tennessee. Many who have experience with the world of espionage and uniformed service will identify with the well-developed characters and the perils of unconditional commitment to duty.