Con & Consequence

The Richard O'Brien Series, Book 1

In 1997, General Alexander Lebed, former secretary of the Russian Security Council, admitted on CBS' 60 minutes that up to one hundred small nuclear weapons went missing during implementation of the 1991 START treaty. Twenty five years later, three of them turn up in one of the world’s most volatile regions: Gaza. Their path is being controlled by a Saudi professor determined to disrupt the balance of power in the Middle East. Richard O’Brien, an FBI linguist who finds cocaine and women much more intriguing than his low-level job, stumbles upon the plot. Unbeknownst to Richard is that he becomes a pawn in the Professor’s plan. As the intelligence agencies scramble for answers, Richard’s passion for the hunt is ignited, and rules be damned.

In Con & Consequence, loyalties and relationships are not what they appear to be. Who is the Professor, what side is he on, and why do people around him keep getting murdered? Find out in this thriller that takes you from New York to Africa, and across the Middle East. It’s the first in the Richard O’Brien series.

©2021 Ian R. Lazarus (P)2026 Ian R. Lazarus

Scams, Spies, and Superior Narration!

Ian R. Lazarus delivers a fast-paced, cautionary look at email crimes, terrorism, and the global networks behind them. The deep dive into espionage practices and terrorist recruitment feels terrifyingly real and the details surrounding the play-by-play of an attack are pure horror. The insights into the FBI’s response to terrorist activity and digital crime were eye-opening. Max Davidson’s narration is top-notch, pulling you into a world where "the con" has massive, real-world consequences. His delivery is fluid and engaging, bringing the layered plot easy to follow and the idiosyncrasies of each character to life. It’s an exciting, culturally informative listen that will make you rethink every "suspicious" email in your inbox. A must-listen for anyone interested in true-to-life crime and espionage. Looking forward to Book 2!