EMBEDDED
by John Lansing
July 14 – August 29, 2025 Virtual Book Tour
Synopsis:
DAKOTA JUDD THRILLER SERIES
Jailed Army Ranger Dakota Judd is offered a life-altering deal from Jean Steele, an ambitious and attractive Black FBI agent. Infiltrate a White Supremacist prison gang while he’s incarcerated, then embed himself into their militia on the outside. Become the eyes and ears of the FBI. If successful, his record will be expunged and he can live a normal life. If he fails, he’ll wind up dead.
Embedded, the first book in the new Dakota Judd thriller series, features John Lansing’s trademark propulsive, page-turning writing style, with a tough but sympathetic protagonist. Accompanying Dakota are two powerful women: Aunt Billie, his tough-as-nails wingman, a retired female detective who makes sure Dakota stays alive as he rotates back to civilian life where peril awaits, and Jean Steele, Dakota’s FBI handler, who must thwart her romantic impulses towards Dakota, as one false move can cost her a career in the male-dominated FBI.
Praise for Embedded:
“Lansing’s thriller is brisk and relentlessly suspenseful, and wastes no time; it effectively grabs readers’ attention from the very first page and doesn’t let go. Overall, readers will find this to be a gripping and highly readable tale of redemption, deception, and the high cost of going undercover… A fast-paced crime drama with engaging characters.”
~ Kirkus Reviews
“Embedded hooked me from the start and it never let up. It’s a thriller brimming with unexpected twists, convincing characters and dialogue that rings true. And Lansing created one absolutely badass protagonist in his hero Dakota Judd.”
~ Dietrich Kalteis, award-winning author of Dirty Little War
“John Lansing is the king of page-turning thrillers and his new novel, Embedded, is a crown jewel. The book should come with a warning: Don’t expect to sleep until you finish the last page. It’s that good!”
~ Steven Manchester, #1 bestselling author, Ashes
“Dakota Judd is a fantastic addition to the pantheon of thriller heroes. Smart, resourceful, and realistic, he’s also a man of ethics. Lansing writes action scenes as if he’s been there himself, and the plot is straight out of the headlines. I highly recommend Embedded for readers who like a clever, action-packed read.”
~ Terry Shames, Macavity Award-winning Author of Deep Dive, second in The Jessie Madison Series.
“With Embedded, John Lansing launches his new Dakota Judd thriller series like an Atlas rocket. The story takes off with a bang yet still manages to accelerate all the way to the nail-biting climax. The characters are fully fleshed and nuanced, and the wild ride has more twists than a licorice stick. A must read.”
~ Craig Faustus Buck, award-winning author of Go Down Hard
“John Lansing’s brilliant new thriller, Embedded, showcases his razor-sharp prose and masterful plotting in a tense crucible of trust and deception. Dakota Judd is a riveting new hero I’ll gladly follow through this new series.”
~ Lisa Towles, Award winning author of Specimen and other thrillers
Book Details:
Genre: Thriller
Published by: White Street Press
Publication Date: July 8, 2025
Number of Pages: 317
Series: Dakota Judd Thriller Series, Book 1
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple | Kobo | Goodreads | BookBub
Read an excerpt:
Chapter 1
Dakota Judd wasn’t a man who questioned decisions once made. He’d had more than enough time to dissect every moment of the incursion. He could’ve turned a blind eye; after all, it was war. But reliving the raid, in fractured dreams that continued to insinuate themselves into his waking moments, was a burden he’d carry for life. His action sure as shit created an unexpected detour. But with disciplined daily pushups, chin-ups, and laps, his body was still intimidating. He lived by the Ranger credo, “Further, Faster, Harder.” That much he could control. Life behind bars, he took one day at a time. Rangers were trained to expect the unexpected, but nothing could prepare him for what was in store from the woman who sat across the metal table from Dakota.
Jean Steele was an African American FBI Agent with high cheek- bones, chestnut skin, shoulder-length brown hair, who wore a professional navy pantsuit. She was an attractive woman, something not lost on Dakota.
They were in the Greeley Federal Penitentiary’s visiting room designated for cops and lawyers. No cameras or recorders allowed. Steele removed her sunglasses before starting the interview, revealing sharp, intelligent, brown eyes that locked on Dakota’s.
“So, Mister Judd…you’ve served six years of a seven-year sentence,” she said, glancing up from her notes.
Dakota picked up the light scent of J’adore. The perfume his ex- fiancé wore.
“And three months before your early discharge, having been granted early release for exemplary compliance with institutional regulations, you blow it all by stabbing a Black inmate in the thigh, severing his deep femoral vein, leaving him to bleed out in the weight- room, almost killing him. Dakota…you don’t look like a foolish man.” “Is that a question, or an answer?” Dakota’s eyes creased into an easy smile. He hadn’t had a conversation with a good-looking woman for a very long time, and was intrigued by her visit and up to the challenge.
“In this case, it was kill or be killed,” he said matter-of-factly. “The man was out of his league, and I had no choice.”
“They didn’t find a weapon on the victim.”
“I left it in his leg. I’m sure it’s all in your report.”
“The Federal paperwork is in process to rescind your early release.” Dakota was aware they weren’t only going to rescind, they were going to add two years to his original sentence, bringing the life-killing number to nine.
“Why are you here, Agent Steele?” Dakota asked, cutting to the chase. “What did I do to deserve a visit from the Feds?”
Steele held his gaze. “The government needs your help.”
“Why the interest?”
“You’ve had no gang affiliations since your arrest and conviction. That couldn’t have been an easy ride.”
Dakota leaned back in the metal chair and let her talk.
“The OC Wolf Pack are an anti-government white supremacist militia operating out of Orange County. We’ve been picking up chatter on the dark web and social media. The Wolf Pack may have a link to California Senator Jack Bradley, who’s up for re-election.
“Bradley’s constituency leans heavily to the extreme right. He hides their bias like a momma bear protects her cubs. The Wolf Pack are crude. And even though they share similar philosophies with the senator they are to be seen and not heard. That’s where Blackfox Elite Protection fits in. We think Blackfox is providing the money used to fund Bradley’s re-election and a growing list of homegrown militias.”
“What’s their MO?”
“Blackfox recruits ex-military, retired cops, FBI, and guns for hire. It’s an elite private security force that has no compunction employing known felons. They’re supported by a group of wealthy right-wing patriots…their description. Blackfox is getting fat on government contracts, assisted in part by the CEO’s tight relationship with the senator who’s the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, to the tune of forty-five million in the last quarter.”
Agent Steele had definitely piqued his interest.
“Aren’t you gonna ask where I stand?”
“If I thought you stood with them, I wouldn’t be sitting here. Neither would you.”
Dakota didn’t argue the point. “Where do I fit in?”
“We need someone outside local law enforcement.”
“And outside of the FBI,” Dakota intuited.
Steele nodded. “A few of our retired agents still have friends in high places. We’re aware of leaks. We need to shore them up. You’ve got the bona fides. Your skill set, your attack on a commanding officer while serving in Afghanistan. Your exemplary record before the assault charges, your silver medal. That, and now, stabbing a Black inmate three months before your release, should make you a rock star with the skinheads in quadrant-D.
“We need someone to cozy up to the supremacists who have ties to the Wolf Pack in Orange County and a probable link to Blackfox, our main target. Best-case scenario, you infiltrate Blackfox upon your release, and deliver their plans.”
“Why?”
“The Alt-right’s first armed insurrection on the U.S. Capital failed, but shook the world. We want to shut these militia groups down before there’s a second attempt that succeeds.”
“Why would I sign on?”
“That’s up to you. The Army is about to rescind your pardon and add time to your release date for attempted manslaughter. When you get out…you’ll be handed over to the United States Probation Office, where they’ll dog you with years of probation and a host of rules that if not followed, will stack on more prison time. You’ll be living in purgatory.”
“I don’t respond to threats,” he said without attitude.
“We’re offering you a lifeline.”
“I’m sure you’ll understand, Agent Steele. I’ve got trust issues with the government.”
“I understand, and Blackfox will understand. I’ll be your handler. You won’t have to deal with the suits.”
“You’re wearing a suit.”
“I’ll have your back. Infiltrate Blackfox. Become our eyes and ears, and you walk away a free man. Your conviction, expunged. Pension reinstated. You can work, vote, get married, have kids. A normal life.” Steele pulled a contract out of her attaché case and slid it across the table.
“How do I explain you?”
“I work at your law firm.” Steele hands him a contact card. It read, Jean Clarkson. Associate at Peluso, Costa, and Litto, Attorneys at Law. “It passes the sniff test.”
Not the way Dakota thought his day was going to unfold.
“Take some time,” she continued. “Read the fine print. I already had a conversation with your representative, Joseph Peluso, and sent him a copy of the contract. It guarantees your future for services rendered.”
“What did he say?”
“He was inclined to accept, but wouldn’t give me a definitive answer until we spoke. Said it was your call.”
“Sounds like Peluso.” Dakota Judd lifted the paperwork, maintaining eye contact, trying to get a read on this federal agent before diving into the contract that might just be the answer to his prayers. He held the life-changing document in his hands, but his mind drifted on the scent of J’adore. The contract was fifteen pages of legalese that protected the government from any liability in the execution of said agreement. Shorthand for: If Dakota signed the contract, he was agreeing to risk his life in service to the government. If successful in the mission, he’d have his life back. He’d be a free man with no one looking over his shoulder. If he failed, well, he’d be back in the slammer, or he’d be dead. Dakota straightened the pages, looked deep into Steele’s eyes, and nodded his assent.
Steele handed him a pen.
Dakota signed on the dotted line.
“Good,” Agent Steele said. She slid the contract into her attaché case and pushed away from the table. “I’ll be in touch.” Steele started toward the door and then turned on her heel.
“And Dakota…try and stay alive for the next eight weeks.”
***
Excerpt from Embedded by John Lansing. Copyright 2025 by John Lansing. Reproduced with permission from John Lansing. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
John Lansing is the author of six thrillers featuring Jack Bertolino—The Devil’s Necktie, Blond Cargo, Dead Is Dead, The Fourth Gunman, 25 to Life, and MIA, the prequel—as well as the true-crime non-fiction book Good Cop Bad Money, written with former NYPD Inspector Glen Morisano. Embedded is John’s first thriller in the Dakota Judd series. He’s been a writer and supervising producer on network television, and the co-executive producer of the ABC series Scoundrels, and co-wrote two MOWs for CBS. The Devil’s Necktie is in development at Andria Litto’s Amuse Entertainment, with Barbara DeFina attached as a producer. A native of Long Island, John now resides in Los Angeles.
Catch Up With John Lansing:
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