The Mysterious Alexandra Tarasova-Yusupov is historical fiction about the glory years and the end of Tzarist Russia, and the time when Australia came into its own. It is a tale of swashbuckling heroes, ferocious pirates, and ruthless business tai-pans. The book chronicles the life of a woman who could outcompete them all, but could not conquer her own demons. Alexandra was at once lovable, beguiling, reasonable, and admirable, but also despicable, disenchanting, capricious, and—at times—deplorable. She was always mysterious.

The 17th century belonged to the Dutch and was an exciting era of commerce, discovery, and conflict—above all else, adventure. This first book of the Dutchman Trilogy is about adventure, triumph, conquest, failure, fighting—pirates, rioters, Christians, and Muslims. It is also about young love that became timeless, bonds of friendship that persisted lifetimes, and a raw exposition of what 17th century life and times were really like.

This is the eighth book in the Sybil series and may prove to be one of the most upsetting. She is a reasonable government official trying to cope with an unreasonable world ruled by narcissistic sociopathic populists. The worst of the bunch is the Prime Minister of the UK--Brexit Style. She becomes embroiled in spy v. spy, navy v. navy, and ally v. ally in the most touchy, confusing , and changeable adventure of her action-packed career. It is exhausting and anxiety provoking for her and for the president who is ill.

This is the seventh in the Sybil Norcroft series. The potential of high office is dangled by the president to the woman who has earned a BS degree in medical biology, an M.D. degree magna cum laude, is a FACS [Fellow of the American College of Surgeons] and a FAANS [Fellow of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons], and has earned a PhD in neurological studies. She has been a world-famous television medical consultant, a spy, and is now the DCIA [Director of the Central Intelligence Agency]. But, there is no time to rest on her laurels. She must meet and defeat the monster—the real devil—who would destroy polite civilization, and soon. But first she has to find him, her, or it. This is her greatest adventure yet and might well be her last one.