Bookpleasures is pleased to have as our guest, Jeffrey S. Stephens. Jeffrey is an Amazon bestselling and PenCraft award-winning author known for his thrillers, including the Jordan Sandor series and the Nicholas Reagan espionage novels.

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

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

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

What inspired you to write Illusions of Trust, and how does it connect to or differ from your previous thriller novels? How did your experience as an attorney shape the story and characters in particular?

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

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

Norm: Russell Palmer is a New York City attorney who takes on an unusually risky divorce case. What drew you to write about this legal drama entangled with corruption and murder?

Did any real-life cases or events influence this plot?

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

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

I must not forget to mention Maureen, without whose help in running the practice I would never have enjoyed the success I did.  

Norm: The novel features a wide societal range—from the demi-monde to political halls. How did you approach depicting such a diverse spectrum authentically?

Are any specific settings or social circles based on your personal observations or experiences?

Jeffrey: I began my practice representing restaurants and bars in Manhattan, thorough which I met that wide group of people.  I crossed paths with everyone from the ultra-wealthy, to professionals and politicians, to hard working middle class folks, to bookmakers and loan sharks. 

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

Norm: Russell Palmer’s relationship with private detective Robbie Whyte adds a detective element to the legal thriller. How did you develop their professional dynamic?

What challenges or benefits did you find in pairing these two characters?

Jeffrey: Robbie is based on a former police officer who helped guide me and introduce me to potential clients in my early days.  I had represented him in the first large federal trial I ever handled, and we formed a bond that lasted until his passing. 

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

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

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

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

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

I just wanted to raise some questions. 

Norm: How do you balance creating suspense and mystery while handling complex legal and political issues in the novel?

Were there scenes or plot points that required particularly careful research or sensitivity?

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

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

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

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

Norm: Christina Franco’s character is central to the story. What was your process in creating a protagonist who is both vulnerable and enmeshed in danger?

How do you make readers empathize with her despite the complexities around her?

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

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

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

Norm: The novel deals with themes of deceit and trust. How do you explore these themes in relation to the legal profession and personal relationships?

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

Jeffrey: Trust is what Palmer is all about.  He is an idealist, to the point that it 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 of the plot away, there are definite moments when trust becomes key to the plot in his relationships.  Palmer and Marvin Taub.  Palmer and Peter Frost.  And, of course, the frustration he continually feels about Cristina.  

Norm: Books often involve multiple layers of intrigue. How do you plot and structure novels like Illusions of Trust to keep readers engaged through twists and turns?

Do you outline extensively or allow the story to evolve during writing?

Jeffrey: I could not write 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 Los Angeles. 

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

As to the layers, I begin with 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 we call the “reveals”.  That’s the point when we let the reader in on various secrets or twists, and the timing is critical in making the suspense work. 

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

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

Jeffrey: I believe I addressed a bit of the current political climate while, as I’ve said, not preaching or turning it into a political screed.  We have too much of that division already. 

As to the legal process, I sadly 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 the difference between right and wrong and I have seen too many instances when I felt the system has failed. 

Norm: You’ve worked previously with espionage and thriller genres. How did writing Illusions of Trust compare to thrillers involving spies and government conspiracies?

Did the change in protagonist and theme require different storytelling techniques?

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

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

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

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

Jeffrey: We are in the process of setting up information on my website www.jeffreystephens.com.  There have already been generous reviews and posts out there, and of course the pre-order and further information is available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Illusions of Trust 

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

Jeffrey: A mystery or thriller is intended first as entertainment, something to grab a reader’s interest and then keep her moving ahead.  ILLUSIONS OF TRUST also attempts to raise issues that engage the reader, while introducing fun characters that will be back in the next novels in this series. 

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