Karen L West, Author

America sees its next hero. Someone else sees her next weapon.

When President Peter Elam announces he won’t seek another term, former football star and senator Carter Thorne becomes the face of a hopeful future. News coverage, endorsements, and advertisements present him as the leader a wounded nation needs.

Behind that carefully arranged rise stands Victoria—the adviser Carter trusts and the woman he loves.

But an appointment recommendation arrives with a missing disclosure. An endorsement circulates without his permission. And records recovered in Montana connect people backing his future to businesses implicated in the country’s recent crisis.

As Claire Lalich, Clayton, and Jonathan Darling help investigators uncover the connections, Carter begins questioning how many doors Victoria opened—and what happened to the people standing behind them.
Victoria expects his loyalty. A frightened witness needs his protection. And exposing the truth could destroy his chance at the presidency.

Carter built his reputation making decisions under pressure. Now he must stand against the woman who helped build it.

The Hidden Hand concludes the Sleeping Evil series with a political conspiracy thriller about betrayal, accountability, and the courage to risk everything rather than let someone else decide what you stand for.