“A Lion in the Grass has strong historical hints, a story with realistic characters, and elements of style that deepen the suspense and the overall entertaining quality of the story.” —Readers' Favorite

“Fans of Ludlum, Clancy, and other writers who hold the ability to craft high-impact spy scenarios within the broader scope of world events and interpersonal relationships will relish the attention to detail and the realistic action and perceptions cultivated in A Lion in the Grass.” —Midwest Book Review

Set over the course of six decades, A Lion in the Grass documents the despair and hope of a spy who suffers the murder of friends and enjoys the success of mentoring protégés.

The story is told through alternative viewpoints of Raymond, his protégés, and the French villain. The novel digs deeply into questions of love, self-doubt and hatred, all foisted upon Raymond during a career from which, he discovers, it is impossible to retire.

An octogenarian at the end, Raymond learns that the Frenchman is planning to kill again. To thwart the Frenchman's plot, the old spy and his protégés must engage in one last mission.

Author Bio:

Mark Zvonkovic is a novelist and recovering lawyer who lives in Baja, California with his wife Nancy and their two dogs, Finn and Cooper.

Shop The Raymond Hatcher Stories 

“A spy thriller meets legal fiction meets romance novel.” —Kirkus Reviews

Set in the conference rooms of a white-shoe Houston law firm and the stunning coastline of Baja California, Belinda is the story of a woman's bravery and resourcefulness at the end of her brilliant career. Her decision to fight her firm's men in suits who demand her retirement is called into question when a man once her lover appears after a long unexplained absence. Against a backdrop of romance and legal drama, the novel explores questions about love, the law, and the anxious precipice of life change. Is it ever too late to be swept away by romance? Can true justice ever be attained when the law's practitioners are corrupt? And when your work is what defines you, what's left after retirement? During a week of surprises and abstruse events, Belinda sees the once presumed greatness of her life flicker as she forces the moment for her decision to a crisis.

More Reviews:

“Belinda’s study in contrasts and opportunities will delight readers with a story that grabs on both an emotional and action-packed basis. It keeps readers wondering about many options until its end…” —Midwest Book Review

“Belinda is a great choice for readers looking for a Texas-sized tale filled with a diverse cast of both likable and despicable characters and has a plot that does not give up its secrets too early or too easily.” —Lone Star Literary Life

“Zvonkovic’s third novel is a compelling legal drama with heart, driven by character and offering complex corporate scheming and suspense. In Belinda, Zvonkovic layers in the tension and twists that will keep even a casual legal thriller reader’s interest piqued.” —BookLife

“Mark Zvonkovic has crafted a tale that draws you close and holds you there, with style, passion, and ever-present menace. You will keep turning pages not just for the pleasure of his writing, but because you simply have to know what happens next.” —Mark Pryor, author of Die Around Sundown and the Hugo Marston series

“Belinda is a thrilling novel with gripping layers of legal and corporate intrigue, but it’s Zvonkovic’s character work and timely themes that propel the narrative to new heights. Part romance, part legal drama, Zvonkovic blends genres and defies expectations with each turn of the page, ultimately creating an emotional exploration of justice, purpose, and legacy.” —James Wade, award-winning author of River, Sing Out

“When the past bleeds into the present, a lawyer and an ex-spy reunite, risking the unknown in this entertaining romantic thriller.” —Clarion Reviews

“Fans of characters such as Tom Clancy’s John Clark, as well as other readers who are interested in the techno-thriller genre, should find Belinda to be a thoroughly captivating and satisfying read.” —David Loux, Author of Chateaux Laux   

Author Bio:

Mark Zvonkovic is a novelist and recovering lawyer who lives in Baja, California with his wife Nancy and their two dogs, Finn and Cooper.

Shop The Raymond Hatcher Stories 

"Compelling characters and poignant philosophical questions drive The Narrows.... An excellent family drama with suspense and heart." —IndieReader

A harrowing extraction of members of a religious cult goes awry. Junior high teacher Larry Brown teams up with experienced extractor nicknamed Black Lightning to rescue his cousin from a cult. But the mission is complicated by Larry's unfaithful girlfriend and the drowning of another cult member in the Charles River. And then Larry's cousin isn't as willing as Larry hoped. These events work together on a day in a family vacation home on Cape Cod to turn Larry's world upside down.

Spanning a ten-day period, The Narrows chronicles the personal and social challenges that took place during the cultural transformation of the 1970s.

More Reviews:

"Its special blend of psychological inspection with components of thriller reading will delight literary seekers of quality fiction." —Midwest Book Review

"…the different path individuals take to find their niche in the world. With Larry it's about maintaining the status quo—a respectable job, a nice apartment and a girlfriend—while Bradley is more open to exploring other avenues to find his nirvana.” —Foreword Magazine

Author Bio:

Mark Zvonkovic is a novelist and recovering lawyer who lives in Baja, California with his wife Nancy and their two dogs, Finn and Cooper.

Shop The Raymond Hatcher Stories