Covert Ops

What happens when the skills that once kept you alive become the only thing holding your life together?

Covert Ops: Danger in Paradise — Book 1 launches Steve Barker’s explosive military thriller series, blending covert operations, veteran grit, tactical realism, dark barrack-room humour and brutal Caribbean action.

Former British soldier Steve Barker may have left the battlefield, but the battlefield never left him. Chronic PTSD, nightmares, anger and mounting debt are tearing his civilian life apart. Then Simon, an old military mate, offers him something Steve understands far better than ordinary life: a mission.

Wealthy landowner Henry needs a problem removed from his vineyard on the Caribbean island of St Halb. Armed men have driven out the staff and seized the estate. The local police cannot be trusted. Henry wants his property back before an important anniversary celebration—and he wants the job completed quietly.

The money is impossible to ignore.

Steve, Simon and George travel separately, posing as tourists while conducting surveillance, assessing routes and building contingency plans. But once boots hit St Halb, this supposed private-security job begins to resemble a full-scale covert operation. Armed guards control the estate. Attack dogs protect the approaches. Dense terrain restricts movement. One vulnerable road could turn their escape into an ambush.

Then Steve discovers the truth.

The vineyard is concealing a drug-smuggling operation, with marijuana hidden inside wine barrels and moved through legitimate commercial channels. Ruthless gang leader Hadley controls the ground, while Sam—the trusted ex-military contact meant to help Steve’s team—is playing both sides.

Now surveillance becomes direct action.

With Abbie caught inside the conspiracy and their escape routes closing, Steve and his team must rely on military training, fieldcraft, tactical planning and each other as paradise erupts into violence.

Danger in Paradise is a fast-paced British military thriller packed with special forces-style action, covert missions, tactical suspense, organised crime, betrayal and veteran characters.

If you enjoy hard-edged military action thrillers, realistic operational planning and heroes carrying scars long after the shooting stops, join Steve Barker and the Covert Ops team.

The mission starts here.