When the US Marshals Serial Crimes Tracking Unit comes knocking at Aislinn Cain's door, she is given a chance to use her past to save other people's futures. She has survived attacks by two different serial killers and devoted her life to studying the darker side of human history. A new killer is using medieval torture methods to slay his victims. She can give them a glimpse into his twisted world, but not without a cost. If she opens herself, she risks falling into the depths of her own darkness. Can she afford to help, knowing that the cost could be her own humanity?

It was only supposed to be a minor military expedition and Kenneth Phon was only supposed to be an observer. But when the ambitions of powerful men turn to betrayal and murder, the largest human war fleet ever assembled finds itself leaderless and lost, thousands of light-years deep in the territory of a hostile alien empire. With the fleet surrounded and on the point of surrender, Kenneth Phon takes charge and leads them in their fight home through hundreds of enemy systems. The underachieving son of a wealthy shipbuilder, Ken must fight off more experienced commanders trying to undermine his authority and fractious mercenary ship captains who'd rather fight each other or turn pirate than cooperate. If he fails, not only will the fleet be destroyed, but the defenseless Earth will be sterilized by aliens bent on revenge. (Based on a true story.)