What starts as a seemingly routine divorce case quickly unravels into a web of corruption, murder, and high-stakes deception in Jeffrey S. Stephens’ gripping new legal thriller, Illusions of Trust. The novel, set for release on October 28, 2025 via Post Hill Press, marks the first installment in Stephens’ new Russell Palmer and Robbie Whyte series.
In the story, New York City attorney Russell Palmer takes on the case of Christina Franco, a wealthy socialite desperate to escape her abusive husband. What appears at first to be a straightforward divorce escalates when Palmer uncovers his client’s entanglements with powerful, ruthless figures. Christina’s husband isn’t just dangerous—he’s deeply connected, and Palmer soon finds himself navigating a labyrinth of deceit, violence, and betrayal.
Assisting Palmer is private investigator Robbie Whyte, whose streetwise instincts prove invaluable as the duo becomes entangled in a chain of explosive events. From the suspicious suicide of a prominent lawyer to a brutal murder pinned on one of Palmer’s clients, the pair also confront a federal probe into a pharmaceutical empire with ties to Christina’s family. As the investigation spreads from Manhattan’s shadowy underground to the corridors of power in Washington, D.C., Palmer and Whyte must confront difficult questions about trust, loyalty, and survival.
“Russell Palmer is a lawyer who refuses to walk away from the truth, no matter the cost,” Stephens said. “This series will test the boundaries of loyalty, power, and justice.”
The novel also introduces readers to a cast of high-stakes players, including politicians, influential families, and a seductive journalist, all navigating moral ambiguity and dangerous motives. Stephens’ signature blend of legal intricacies, suspenseful plotting, and vivid characterization ensures that Illusions of Trust will keep readers on edge from start to finish.
Jeffrey S. Stephens is an Amazon bestselling and PenCraft award-winning author whose prior works include the Jordan Sandor thrillers (Targets of Deception, Targets of Opportunity, Targets of Revenge, Rogue Mission), the Nicholas Reagan thrillers (The Handler and Enemies Among Us), and the Anthony Walker murder mystery Crimes and Passion. He has lived for over 40 years in Greenwich, Connecticut, with his wife, Nancy, and their two sons, Graham and Trevor.
Illusions of Trust is available for pre-order now on Amazon and promises to be a must-read for fans of legal thrillers, suspense, and stories of corruption at the highest levels.