Author Peter Berk on feeling young again with his highly anticipated novel, First Line of Defense

Jackson Blaine, the President of the United States and a former defense lawyer, shocks his estranged son Brian and the entire world when he decides to personally go to court to help defend the young man after he’s arrested for murdering his best friend and college dormmate. This is the compellingly unique premise of First Line of Defense, a political/legal thriller and murder mystery coming out October 1 by one of IE's most awarded and prolific authors, Peter Berk. 

​First Line of Defense marks award-winning author Peter Berk’s third novel with IngramElliott, following the recent publication of TimeLock and TimeLock 2: The Kyoto Conspiracy, the first two entries in an imaginative series of sci-fi and action novels co-authored by Peter’s father, Columbo and Mission: Impossible writer Howard Berk. 

Peter's TimeLock series was a finalist in 3 categories at CIBA-Sci-Fi, Mystery, and High Stakes Thriller!

And now, Peter adds legal thriller to his distinguished list. Tinged with action, suspense, romance, humor and more than a few unexpected twists, the new novel takes its 21-year-old lead protagonist, Brian Blaine, on a life-altering adventure that will dramatically change his relationship with his father and alter the course of his entire personal and professional life forever. 

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“To publish my first legal thriller and murder mystery is more rewarding than even the finest author in the world could ever properly express in words.”

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Available October 1 anywhere books are sold

Will the President risk it all to save his son?

When college student Ben Porter is murdered in his apartment near the University of Maryland, all evidence points straight to his best friend and roommate, Brian Blaine—the son of Jackson Blaine, the President of the United States. Despite Brian’s estranged relationship with his father, Brian has no choice but to await trial in the house that was never a home—1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. These staggering events exacerbate the young man’s rocky relationship with his demanding father and might very well end his budding romance with a beautiful pre-med student. To the shock of the entire nation, President Jackson Blaine, a former defense lawyer, does the unthinkable—he decides to represent his son in court.

Will Brian and his father discover the truth about Ben’s murder before it’s too late?

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Interview with Peter Berk

We caught up with the author ahead of the release of First Line of Defense on October 1. 

Award-winning author Peter Berk

What fact about yourself would really surprise people? 
Probably that I'm actually so much older than my first-person main characters in "First Line of Defense" and in the "TimeLock" series. I must say writing from the point of view of a 21 year-old does make me feel young again, though...I just have to remember to stay away from a mirror when I'm writing!

What books did you love growing up?
All things James Bond, Isaac Asimov, Hemingway, Thomas Wolfe.

Please tell us something about your book that is not in the summary. 
It can rightly be called a political legal thriller, but I mainly consider the book to be about a family - in this case, the First Family - and more specifically about a young man reconnecting with his estranged father. And because I had the opposite relationship with my late dad, Howard, Brian's turbulent rapport with the President through at least the first half of the book was the hardest part to write for me.

What do you most hope will be the reaction of readers to your book?
Like any author, I just hope people are compelled to keep reading, care about the characters, come across a surprise twist or two and enjoy the overall reading experience.

Why did you pick this particular subject matter to write about?
I hadn't written anything in the legal thriller genre and out of the blue had this wild notion of a President who's a former lawyer actually representing his own son in court. Not likely of course, but that's why it's called fiction!

What is your favorite scene in your book? Why?
Probably the meet cute scene when Brian first meets Emma; a later scene when the President catches a beet-red Brian and Emma after their first romantic encounter; the scene when father and son finally reconcile; and the "big reveal" at the end in the courthouse.

Writing a novel can be personal. Did you ever question whether to include or exclude any of your personal experiences or feelings?
Despite writing from a 21 year-old's perspective so long after I was in fact that age myself, I did include a lot of my own personal sensibilities throughout - being an only child like Brian, having a best friend who's like a brother (who is happily still very much in my life), possessing a self-deprecating sense of humor and more.

Please tell us something about yourself and how you came to be a writer. What inspired you to write your first book? 
My writing inspiration has been and always will be my father - a far better writer than I'll ever be. "First Line of Defense" was actually my first novel, but not the first one published, since I was fortunate enough to connect with IngramElliott after novelizing the screenplay of "TimeLock" my dad and I wrote several years back.

Do you have any advice for other writers?
Only the corniest of advice - never stop writing! Unlike being a dancer or athlete where you have a limited number of years to perform on the stage or on the field, writers can write at any age. My dad was working on a new novel at 92 and look how long it took me to have a book published, so keep at it forever.

Tell me a little about your book’s title and what it represents?
Nothing too subtle here, I'll admit, but "First" as in First Family and "Defense" since that's what the entire story is about.

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First Line of Defense is available in print and e-book on October 1. Pre-order today at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Rakuten kobo, and Bookshop.org - or anywhere books are sold.

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About The Author                                                                  
Peter Berk has written six novels, three TV pilots and a dozen screenplays, including several with his father which became the basis for the TimeLock series of novels. The original TimeLock novel was named as a Distinguished Favorite in the TechnoThriller category of the 2024 Independent Press Award and was a Finalist in the 2023 Chanticleer International Book Awards for Science Fiction, Mystery, and Global Thrillers. TimeLock 2: The Kyoto Conspiracy was published in 2023 and the third book in the series, TimeLock 3: The Millennium Paradox, will be published in Spring 2025 by IngramElliott. Peter and his family live in Southern California.
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Connect with Peter on Facebook and Instagram @peterberk_author.

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