The Travelers Crime Thrillers
The Double Cross (A Travelers Prequel)
In 1989, where it all began…
. A con artist betrayed by his partners. A plot for revenge. Can he and his new partner outwit his old crew… and escape with the cash and their lives?
Paul Kendal, 26 years old, is a con artist in a robbery crew. When he has all the information necessary to disarm their targets’ alarm systems and empty their safes, his partners go to work. Originally, it seemed like a sweet plan, but as he begins to have doubts, his partners double-cross him. Now he wants payback. For that he needs a new partner.
Carol, 17 years old, uses her movie-star good looks to entice victims for her boyfriend to mug. But when her boyfriend lands in jail, Paul makes her an offer she can’t refuse…
The Double Cross is a novella-length dark crime thriller that tells the story of how the Travelers met. If you like fast moving action, unpredictable plot twists, and criminal chicanery, you’ll love this prequel to Michael P. King’s Travelers series.
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The Traveling Man (The Travelers Book 1)
“Husband and wife con artists must get back on their feet after a scheme goes spectacularly wrong in the criminally good debut by King…. Surrounding them is a cast of superbly sketched characters whose competing motives constantly trip up their plans…. With a story every bit as intricate and entertaining as the personalities who fill it, King’s uncommonly solid debut is a must-read.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Loved the story, loved the characters, loved the con, loved the feel of the crime. The Traveling Man is a great first novel. Michael P. King is a writer to watch.”—Charles L. P. Silet (author of Talking Murder)
In a life-and-death contest among criminals, even the most cunning may not survive…
The Traveling Man and his wife have built a life for themselves conning criminals and getting away scot-free. But when their latest scheme to sell contaminated land goes south, they find themselves in a cat-and-mouse game with the crime boss who’s turned the tables on them and the partners who’ve betrayed them.
Could you outsmart the double-crossers who’ve turned on you?
If you like pulse-pounding action, nail-biting plot twists, and criminal intrigue, then you’ll love The Traveling Man, the first book in the Travelers series of sizzling page-turners.
The Computer Heist (The Travelers Book 2)
“King’s (The Traveling Man, 2015) latest thriller picks up the trail of his married con artists as they descend on a software company. . . . After surviving their previous con in Seanboro, this ruthless, manipulative couple once again hopes to fleece a deserving mark. . . . Personal lives, however, tend to skew even the best-laid scams. . . . King returns in fine form with his devious creations in tow. . . . The violence here, though brief, is unexpected . . . the repercussions electrify the narrative. . . . King strikes another vein of modern noir gold. . . .”—Kirkus Reviews
“Five-plus stars to The Computer Heist. It’s a worthy addition to this excellent series of offbeat mysteries, spun by the talented mind of this prolific author. Can’t wait for Joe and Tess’ next adventure.”—Publishers Daily Reviews
Theft…Deception…Murder…
The Travelers, husband and wife con artists, agree to steal a newly developed data-mining program—a simple, lucrative job. Instead, they find they’ve been sucked into a poorly-planned scam where all the players have their own underhanded agendas.
Who’s really calling the shots? Their employer? Her boss? Or the local crime lord? It’s a maze of treachery and betrayal. Can the Travelers stay ahead of the competition and the cops long enough to escape with the loot?
The Computer Heist is a high-octane crime thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. If you like fast-paced action, surprising plot twists, and criminal mischief, then you’ll love the second installment of Michael P. King’s Travelers series.
The Blackmail Photos (The Travelers Book 3)
“In this third installment of his Travelers series, King’s (The Computer Heist, 2016, etc.) con-artist couple target a would-be politician. . . . As usual, King’s dialogue and secondary characters make for rich, pulpy reading; . . . he masterfully crafts the deadly tangle of interpersonal alliances and their fallout. . . . A tightly executed thriller, and the high point of a great series.”—Kirkus Reviews
“The best couple of con artists in contemporary fiction are back. . .”—Publisher Daily Reviews
Blackmail. A marriage on the rocks. When you fool yourself, all bets are off…
The Travelers, going by the names George and Roslyn Harrison, entrap a congressional candidate with photos of his extramarital affair. But just as they are hatching a ploy to increase their ill-gotten gains, the candidate’s wife uncovers the plot.
With their scheme careening sideways and the law closing in, an accident puts George and Roslyn at odds about what their next step should be. Has this golden blackmail opportunity turned into a horrible misstep that will end their partnership?
The Blackmail Photos is an addictive crime thriller that will keep you turning pages far into the night. If you like non-stop action, criminal intrigue, and can’t-figure-them-out plot twists, then you’ll love the third novel in the Travelers series.
The Freeport Robbery (The Travelers Book 4)
“King’s (The Blackmail Photos, 2016, etc.) fourth outing with the Travelers, a husband-and-wife con artist team, sees them chasing stolen artwork. . . . In this latest go-round . . . readers should already be accustomed to author King’s casual excellence, particularly when it comes to character development. . . . King delivers a solidly written, self-contained thriller that also sets the stage for his cons’ return. Another exceptional account of heart-of-gold con artistry.”—Kirkus Reviews.
Stolen art. A hijacked heist. Can the Travelers outmaneuver the FBI and a murder gang?
The Travelers, short on cash, break into a freeport vault to reclaim a stolen 16thcentury jewelry casket for return to a museum. But after they’re ambushed during the break-in, they’re on the run from the cops.
To keep their pictures off the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list, they must retrieve the jewelry casket. But when they finally catch up to it half way across the country, they find it has been delivered to a man who hasn’t a clue as to what he’s gotten himself into. Can they get the casket back and stay out of the crosshairs of the murder gang that wants it for themselves?
The Freeport Robbery is a chilling crime thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you like fast-moving action, hard-to-figure-out plot twists, and criminal machinations, you’ll love the fourth novel in the Travelers series.
The Kidnap Victim (The Travelers Book 5)
“For this latest Travelers outing, King . . . once again offers a lean, dialogue-driven blast of shifting alliances and action. . .. With minimal exposition, the author keeps his characters’ temperaments and decisions in the forefront of the story. . .. As always, King leaves his creations in intriguing new positions by the end, ensuring anticipation for the next high-stakes volume. This Travelers tale delivers another exceptional slice of gamesmanship, slippery morals, and emotional fallout.”—Kirkus Reviews
When the hard men come with their guns. . . and bundle you into the trunk of a car. . . who do you wish had your back?
The Traveling Man and a new partner have their eyes on a safe deposit box full of drug money when the new partner’s husband unexpectedly shows up, muddling up the score.
Meanwhile, the Traveling Man’s wife, who’s busy charming the daughter of her new boyfriend, is spotted by an old mark they previously swindled, a mark who’s looking for payback.
The Kidnap Victim is a gritty crime thriller with twist and turns galore. If you like fast-paced action, devious plot twists, and criminal mischief, you’ll love the fifth novel in the Travelers series.
The Murder Run (The Travelers Book 6)
“King maintains his svelte, addictive style…. There’s fresh tension here…. From the elegiac tone, readers may suspect disaster in the final pages…. The author alters the stakes in this entertaining con artist tale and brings his characters full circle.”—Kirkus Reviews
Never cheat a partner. Always get revenge. . .
The Traveling Man takes on a quick and easy safecracking job…easy until his partners are murdered and he’s on the run.
His wife is trying to settle into her new role as a rich man’s girlfriend, so she isn’t at his side.
Who are these killers who are after him? And how are they connected to the government agency that wants the envelope he took from the safe?
With the help of a new associate, he tracks the killers until he’s steered into a trap. They think he’s cornered, but he’s still got one ace up his sleeve. . .
The Murder Run is a gritty, hard-boiled crime thriller. If you like criminal intrigue, surprising plot twists, and high-speed action, you’ll love the sixth novel in the Travelers series.
The Casino Switcheroo (The Travelers Book 7)
“Another full-throttle installment that shows that this crime series has no intention of slowing down.”—Kirkus Reviews
Trust him at your peril…
When Koenig, the Traveling Man’s original mentor, shows up touting a casino heist—a once-in-a-lifetime, high-stakes robbery—all the Traveling Man can think about is stealing the score.
His wife thinks he’s crazy.
Koenig is a puppet master—a master manipulator who compartmentalizes the parts of a job so that only he knows all the details. What are they really going to steal? Who’s going to carry it out? How are they going to escape? And who’s going to be discarded to the opposition or the law?
The Travelers will have their hands full staying alive and staying free, and outthinking the other players, if they hope to steal Koenig’s loot right from under his nose.
The Casino Switcheroo is a no-holds-barred page turner. If you like can’t-figure-them-out plot twists, fast-paced action, and criminal mischief, you’ll love the seventh book in the Travelers series.
Thicker Than Thieves (The Travelers Book 8)
“King’s fans will relish this smoothly set up con that, like others in the series, has just enough complexity to allow unexpected chaos to occur….”—Kirkus Reviews
Mob diamonds, white nationalists, and Middle Eastern jihadis …
On the prowl to steal a crime cartel’s diamond shipment, the Travelers zero in on the smugglers—an Iranian American pair of brother and sister oriental carpet importers. They have twelve weeks to manipulate the smugglers, figure out the details of the diamond delivery, and escape with the diamonds without tipping off the cartel.
But Middle Eastern jihadis hoping to create chaos in the US and white nationalists intent on a terrorist act bigger than the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing also have plans for the smugglers.
And when the FBI gets wind of these plots, the Travelers’ plans are suddenly careening sideways….
Thicker Than Thieves is a roller-coaster ride through a mine field of danger and conspiracy. If you like mind-boggling suspense, unpredictable plot twists, and criminal intrigue, you’ll love the eighth novel in the Travelers series.
The Dark Web Scam (The Travelers Book 9)
“King’s smoothly executed and addictive series returns, offering cinematic action and a high body count.”—Kirkus Reviews
How could a little murder-for-hire scam go so wrong?
The Travelers and a computer hacker are operating a dark web con, taking cash from suckers who think they’re hiring contract killers. Easy money. And no one to complain to the police. But when an actual killer comes after them, they’re on the hunt for payback.
Who sent the assassin who killed their partner? And why is he stalking a newspaper reporter?
Once the Travelers figure out who they’re up against, they set a plan in motion to rob him and take revenge, but as the cat-and-mouse game progresses, and the police get involved, the Travelers find they’re moving through a quagmire of drugs, sex trafficking, and greed where any misstep could lead to the morgue.
The Dark Web Scam is a hard-charging crime thriller. If you like criminal machinations, fast-paced action, and devious plot twists, you’ll love the ninth novel in the Travelers series.
Grifters’ Hopscotch (The Travelers Book 10)
“A notably entertaining caper that will keep readers hooked on King’s books.” –Kirkus Reviews
It all started with a simple blackmail scheme.
The Travelers, con artists who specialize in stealing from criminals, find themselves short on cash and plan on making a quick $100,000 blackmailing a prosecuting attorney with a taste for call girls. Convincing a call girl to partner with them was easy, but they hadn’t counted on the dogged persistence of a rule-bending FBI agent and the maliciousness of the criminals whose help they need to make their escape.
Broke and on the run, they must outmaneuver the FBI while they set up an even riskier robbery to recoup their losses. And in the meantime, a criminal gang they’d scammed previously is back on their trail, seeking revenge.
Grifters’ Hopscotch is a fast-paced thriller that will keep you guessing. If you like criminal intrigue, ingenious suspense, and unpredictable plot twists, you’ll love the tenth novel in the Travelers series.