Detective Roger Viceroy, divisional head of the Midwest Region Special Crimes Unit, awakes one morning to a bombing in a wealthy suburb of Milwaukee. As he and his team dive into the investigation, a mysterious clue launches a manhunt with scant other evidence to point them in the right direction.

Over the coming weeks, the related murders unfold, each with a unique twist and the same clue left behind. Viceroy uncovers one other common thread – a seemingly random association with the small north woods town of Curwood, Wisconsin.

As the death toll mounts, Viceroy has to connect the dots and stop the carnage before it reaches the final target, Governor Kay Spurgeon. Within a crowd of tens of thousands on a clear October day, one man hides. Viceroy must find him.

PUBLISHER AND ACCOLADES

Suspense Publishing, June 2021

• 2018 Silver Falchion Award Finalist – Best Mystery, Killer Nashville
• 2018 American Fiction Awards Finalist – Mystery/Suspense: General, American Book Fest

“A must-read crime thriller about revenge and race relations that is reminiscent of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood.”
—BestThrillers

“This is a rare mystery book that is a true page-turner, even to the seasoned readers of the genre.”
—Thriller Magazine

“Give Place to Wrath will leave the reader wanting a quick release of a second book in the series.”
—Killer Nashville

“Give Place to Wrath is an absorbing—and very satisfying–novel.”
—Mystery Suspense Reviews

“I was on the edge of my seat and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.”
—Readers’ Favorite

“Cleverly plotted and anchored by an inventive and ingenious murder mystery, it will capture and hold the attention of readers”
—Book Review Directory

Roger Viceroy faces a return to the FBI and a life he vacated long ago, until an unexpected knock on his door. Standing on his doorstep is billionaire and former U.S. Senator, Jürgen Sandt.

A decade prior the senator’s only son disappeared in the jungles of Guatemala and he’s come to convince Viceroy to track him down after a satchel carrying his son’s unique bookmark was mysteriously
left at the gate of the Sandt estate.

Viceroy and team agree to take on the hunt. The stealth investigation takes them from the streets of Milwaukee, to the corridors of Washington D.C, and ultimately to an ancient site in Guatemala the government doesn’t acknowledge exists.

As Viceroy closes in, a parallel plot emerges back in Milwaukee – one that possibly points to the mysterious disappearance of Bertam Sandt, but may also launch a deadly new battle with millions of lives at stake. Viceroy instinctively knows it’s all not adding up. Somehow, somewhere they missed a molecule… and it may be too late.

PUBLISHER AND ACCOLADES

Suspense Publishing, November 2021

• Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award Best Thriller 2022

“Steven Harms rocks it in The Counsel of the Cunning. Murder, treachery, drugs, and a deadly trek through the Guatemalan jungle. My kind of story.”
-William Nikkel, Amazon Bestselling Author of Deadly Tide

“Fast-paced, intricately plotted, well written, and well imagined, The Counsel of the Cunning is a winner for fans of international thrillers, mysteries, and police procedurals – anyone who enjoys a page-turning novel of suspense.”
-Claire Matturo, The Compulsive Reader and author of Wayward Girls

“With significant detail, the narrative allows the reader to delve into the greater depths of the story. This is a book readers won’t want to put down due to its intensity, mind-blowing excitement, and fascinating ending.”
-US Review of Books

“Harm’s novel is a fast-paced thriller exploring greed, power, grief, and faith. This book will appeal to readers drawn to a genre that thrives on break-neck pacing and puzzling twists and turns. Readers will not be disappointed.”
-Killer Nashville

“Harms has skillfully woven two strong plot lines that we believe in every detail and landscape. There is a great deal to challenge readers to piece together what is happening and figure out how the dots will be connected. As the stakes become higher, Harms summons excellent tension and suspense requiring close attention. The unthinkable is alarmingly plausible, which invites questioning and the “what if” scenario.”
-Bookpleasures.com

“With its twisting plot and fantastic characters, The Counsel of the Cunning has certainly earned 4 out of 4 stars.”
-OnlineBookClub.org