Bookpleasures is pleasedto have as our guest, Jeffrey S. Stephens. Jeffrey is an Amazonbestselling and PenCraft award-winning author known for histhrillers, including the Jordan Sandor series and the Nicholas Reaganespionage novels.

A native New Yorker andpracticing attorney with over 40 years of experience in Greenwich,Connecticut, Stephens draws on his legal background and deepknowledge of complex social and political issues in his writing.

His newest novel,Illusions of Trust (2025), follows New York City attorneyRussell Palmer and private investigator Robbie Whyte as they navigatea high-stakes divorce case tangled with suicide, murder, andpolitical intrigue reaching up to Congress.

Norm: Good day Jeffrey and thanks for taking part inour interview.

What inspired you towrite Illusions of Trust, and how does it connect to or differfrom your previous thriller novels? How did your experience as anattorney shape the story and characters in particular?

Jeffrey: After writing sixespionage thrillers, a murder mystery and a father-son treasure huntthat was dear to my heart, I decided to fall back on my decades ofexperience as an attorney to create a new set of characters. 

Having moved from New YorkCity to Connecticut long ago, it was fun to recall my early days ofpractice in Manhattan and recreate some of those adventures in amodern story.  In my view, there is simply no other city thatprovides the diverse settings and characters that New York offers. 

Norm: Russell Palmer isa New York City attorney who takes on an unusually risky divorcecase. What drew you to write about this legal drama entangled withcorruption and murder?

Did any real-life casesor events influence this plot?

Jeffrey: Absolutely. The story is certainly based in part on cases I handled, and many ofthe characters are modeled after people I knew well. 

Palmer’s mentor, RobbieWhyte, is my attempt to pay homage to a gentleman who was influentialwhen I set off to open my own office, and the Marvin Taub characteris also drawn in part from real life, as are others. 

I must not forget tomention Maureen, without whose help in running the practice I wouldnever have enjoyed the success I did.  

Norm: The novelfeatures a wide societal range—from the demi-monde to politicalhalls. How did you approach depicting such a diverse spectrumauthentically?

Are any specificsettings or social circles based on your personal observations orexperiences?

Jeffrey: I began mypractice representing restaurants and bars in Manhattan, thoroughwhich I met that wide group of people.  I crossed paths witheveryone from the ultra-wealthy, to professionals and politicians, tohard working middle class folks, to bookmakers and loan sharks. 

As I say, you do not haveto look far in New York to find that sort of diversity.  

Norm: Russell Palmer’srelationship with private detective Robbie Whyte adds a detectiveelement to the legal thriller. How did you develop their professionaldynamic?

What challenges orbenefits did you find in pairing these two characters?

Jeffrey: Robbie is basedon a former police officer who helped guide me and introduce me topotential clients in my early days.  I had represented him inthe first large federal trial I ever handled, and we formed a bondthat lasted until his passing. 

I tried to paint Robbie asa generous but cynical soul, someone with a good heart but whoseexperiences kept him alert to danger—both to himself and Palmer. 

Norm: The storyinvolves a federal investigation into a major pharmaceutical company.Why did you choose this industry as part of the novel’s corruptiontheme?

Is there a cautionarymessage you want readers to take from this angle?

Jeffrey: That decisioncame from my concerns about what is happening in that industry. There are just too many examples of greed and even malfeasance, and Ifelt shedding a bit of light on what goes on is a good thing.

Don’t they say thatsunlight is the best antiseptic?  I am not suggesting Big Pharmadoes not have a right to make a profit, but there are concerns abouthealth and vaccines and medications that need to be addressed. 

I just wanted to raisesome questions. 

Norm: How do youbalance creating suspense and mystery while handling complex legaland political issues in the novel?

Were there scenes orplot points that required particularly careful research orsensitivity?

Jeffrey: Yes indeed. As you know, creating suspense is always a balancing act.  Afriend who helps me plot my novels is always concerned about thedangers of preaching. 

If there is a point to bemade, it should happen through the action, not some character goingon and on about this or that political bias. 

I strive to make my novelsfun, page-turners, while also provoking some thought.  Let thereaders make up their own minds about things, that’s what Iconsider respect for the audience.

As to research, I do mybest to stay current, factual, and very careful about settings. If characters are meeting in a restaurant or courthouse, I want thereader to feel as if they are really there—particularly if theyhave been to the place! 

Norm: ChristinaFranco’s character is central to the story. What was your processin creating a protagonist who is both vulnerable and enmeshed indanger?

How do you make readersempathize with her despite the complexities around her?

Jeffrey: When Idevised the central plot of the story, I found myself intrigued byCristina.  I have known and even represented famous people, andit is fascinating to me how they deal with their circumstances. 

I chose not to have herwell-known in ways an actress or singer might be.  I wanted herto deal with the mantle of celebrity that was thrust on her becauseof her family and then her husband. 

That creates uniqueissues, and can affect the person in different ways.  

Norm: The novel dealswith themes of deceit and trust. How do you explore these themes inrelation to the legal profession and personal relationships?

Can you give an exampleof a moment in the book where trust is profoundly tested?

Jeffrey: Trust iswhat Palmer is all about.  He is an idealist, to the point thatit sometimes worries Robbie Whyte.  But it is sense of loyalty,as well as his idea of right and wrong, that drive him. 

Without giving too much ofthe plot away, there are definite moments when trust becomes key tothe plot in his relationships.  Palmer and Marvin Taub. Palmer and Peter Frost.  And, of course, the frustration hecontinually feels about Cristina.  

Norm: Books ofteninvolve multiple layers of intrigue. How do you plot and structurenovels like Illusions of Trust to keep readers engaged through twistsand turns?

Do you outlineextensively or allow the story to evolve during writing?

Jeffrey: I could notwrite without an outline.  Things always change as I write,which is fine, but creating a novel is like taking a long road trip. I need to know that we are starting in New York and ending in LosAngeles. 

I have intended stopsalong the way, and those may change, but I must know the beginningand end points.  That’s how I avoid any sort of writer’sblock.  I just keep moving.

As to the layers, I beginwith the main story, then try to weave subplots throughout the book,attempting to have them all relevant to the principal action. 

The real fun is what wecall the “reveals”.  That’s the point when we let thereader in on various secrets or twists, and the timing is critical inmaking the suspense work. 

Norm: How does yourbackground in law influence your portrayal of justice and morality inyour novels?

Do you see Illusions ofTrust as commenting on current legal or political issues?

Jeffrey: I believe Iaddressed a bit of the current political climate while, as I’vesaid, not preaching or turning it into a political screed.  Wehave too much of that division already. 

As to the legal process, Isadly confess it has too often been disappointing over the years. Justice is a wonderful concept, but it should not be for sale—see,there I go, starting to preach LOL. 

I am very committed to thedifference between right and wrong and I have seen too many instanceswhen I felt the system has failed. 

Norm: You’ve workedpreviously with espionage and thriller genres. How did writingIllusions of Trust compare to thrillers involving spies andgovernment conspiracies?

Did the change inprotagonist and theme require different storytelling techniques?

Jeffrey: Great question,because I admit espionage thrillers are easier to write.  Anytime you feel the action is slowing down, just create a shooting orbombing or some sort of attack. 

Seriously though,ILLUSIONS OF TRUST has more characters of depth than my earlierbooks.  In those spy novels, I hope the readers found the fewmain characters to be three-dimensional, but with all the action itis tough to dive too deeply into everyone’s background. 

In this new novel, I havetried to create a whole cast of interesting people, along with thesuspense and mystery that keep the pages turning.   

Norm: Where can ourreaders find out more about you and Illusions of Trust?

Jeffrey: We are in theprocess of setting up information on my websitewww.jeffreystephens.com.  There have already been generousreviews and posts out there, and of course the pre-order and furtherinformation is available on Amazon athttps://www.amazon.com/Illusions of Trust 

Norm: As we wrap up ourinterview, what do you hope readers will take away from Illusions ofTrust regarding the nature of trust, power, and justice? How do yousee the role of a thriller novel in engaging with social andpolitical themes?

Jeffrey: A mystery orthriller is intended first as entertainment, something to grab areader’s interest and then keep her moving ahead.  ILLUSIONSOF TRUST also attempts to raise issues that engage the reader, whileintroducing fun characters that will be back in the next novels inthis series. 

I hope everyone who readsit finds the enjoyment and human elements I strove to provide. Thank you.