INTERVIEW WITH JOHN GILSTRAP | Crimespree Magazine

Zero sum

Jonathan Graves book 16

John Gilstrap

Kensington Pub

August 20^and2024

Zero sum by John Gilstrap has corrupt officials, drugs, political intrigue, human trafficking, greed, power and fear. There is also a subplot involving twins being kidnapped, which adds an extra dimension to the story.

The story follows a child under Jonathan Grave’s protection who dies from an intentional drug overdose. A twelve-year-old dies after consuming fentanyl disguised as candy in the dormitory of Resurrection House, the school he founded for the children of incarcerated parents. Jonathan, a former special ops agent who now runs a security investigation firm, feels that this crime has crossed a line for him, and he enlists FBI Director Irene Rivers to bring down the culprits and his team.

As usual, readers are gripped by the intensity, action and suspense from the first page.

Elise Cooper: How did you come up with the idea for this story?

John Gilstrap: It’s a set-up book for the new Irene Rivers series coming out next year. The idea comes from what the cartels are doing. A news story in the last few days talks about poisoned candy being used in Australia. What kind of animal would do something like that? There’s always a conspiracy in all my books. The underlying theme is that the drug problems in America are funded by politicians and law enforcement. Their careers are advanced by looking the other way. This is a tough time in society where no one is looking out for each other. Instead of helping or calling 911, they take out their phones and film it.

EC: Can you tell us something about the Irene series?

JG: I have a two book contract. The Jonathan and Irene series will not have any crossovers and will not coexist because of the way it ends for Irene in this book.

EC: And Roxie the drone?

JG: The technology does exist and it scares people quite a bit.

EC: Is the book also about the political elite in the US?

JG: There’s a quote from a book: “Infidelity among sworn officers and civil servants has become a disturbing new norm.” There’s the real world and the fictional world. Jonathan’s world feels more real than it probably is. People seem more willing to go for the clicks than for the patriotism these days. They have their own agendas.

EC: What do you think is Jonathan’s attitude in this book?

JG: I think he’s angry and he sees this as personal, not political. He’s upset that one of the kids he was responsible for was killed by an overdose. He’s taking the fight to the cartels and calling everyone’s bluff. He sleeps soundly knowing he’s on the side of the angels. He cares about bringing justice, even if it’s not within the bounds of the law.

EC: And what about Irene’s attitude?

JG: She was forced into acting by Jonathan. It may have cost her career and civil rights. Ultimately, she took the high road. She’s been very admirable over the course of the series. In previous books, she looked the other way. But in this book, she’s had enough and decides to blow the lid off. Her attitude is that at the end of the day, there’s right and wrong. And right isn’t about allowing children to die from drugs. Politics isn’t about enriching yourself. She’s always been a patriot. Along with the other characters, she lives in the gray space. She’s bitter and defeated.

EC: And Gail?

JG: Gail is on a reverse path. She started out as a Girl Scout: the lawyer, the sheriff, the one who quotes the Constitution, and is horrified by Jonathan’s shortcuts to achieve his goals. Now she is drawn to the dark side of the anti-hero Jonathan, who never works within the boundaries of the law. Gail was horrified at first, but has now become more comfortable living within those guidelines. She sees that justice and the law are often at odds in Jonathan’s world.

EC: Next book?

JG: It will be the first installment in the Irene Rivers series titled Burnt bridges next summer. Irene leaves the FBI to become a private investigator and move to West Virginia with her daughter and nephew, whom she is raising.

The next Jonathan book is in the works.

THANK YOU!!