Jack Sturgis launches revenge espionage thriller The Black Directive: Blood Ties

By AI, Created 11:26 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Jack Sturgis has released his debut thriller, The Black Directive: Blood Ties, a revenge espionage novel centered on three operatives chasing an ancient secret society across Europe and beyond. The book is now available in print-on-demand and eBook formats through Spines and major retailers worldwide.

Why it matters: - The Black Directive: Blood Ties enters the crowded espionage-thriller market with a revenge-driven story built around moral compromise, family loss and covert action. - The novel aims at readers who want fast-paced spy fiction with high-stakes violence, international settings and a conspiracy that stretches across centuries.

What happened: - Jack Sturgis launched his debut thriller, The Black Directive: Blood Ties, on May 8, 2026. - The novel follows three operatives targeting the Order of Vesta, an ancient secret society with roots tied to the history of Rome’s Vestal Virgins. - The book is available now in print-on-demand and eBook formats. - Book details list Spines as publisher and identify the ISBN as 979-8-90222-165-4.

The details: - Marek Kade, declared dead three years earlier, returns to his uncle’s estate in the Slovenian wilderness and kills Gregor Kade with a ceremonial dagger. - Marek takes an ancient scroll that names every Council member who voted for Seraphina’s execution. - The story frames Marek’s mission around 10 names and 10 deaths. - Isabelle Klein, an American operative, is hunting the same Council members after the murder of her adoptive brother. - Aaron Birch, a former special forces soldier, tries to keep both operatives alive while falling in love with Isabelle. - The novel moves through Madrid, Versailles, Brazil and the Aegean Sea. - Sturgis describes the book as a revenge thriller built around broken, relentless characters willing to cross moral lines. - Early readers called the book “unputdownable,” “cinematic” and “the most satisfying revenge story since The Count of Monte Cristo met Jason Bourne.”

Between the lines: - The book blends historical material with modern spy-fiction conventions to make the Order of Vesta feel like a real transnational power structure. - Sturgis is positioning the novel against well-known thriller authors such as Vince Flynn, Daniel Silva and Brad Thor. - The setup suggests the core conflict is not only assassination and pursuit, but also identity, loyalty and the cost of revenge. - The author said Marek, Isabelle and Aaron are not superheroes, but broken characters driven by grief and a need to dismantle the system that destroyed their lives. - More information, Spines on Instagram, Spines on Facebook, Spines on YouTube, Spines on TikTok

What’s next: - Sturgis is currently working on the prequel to the Aaron Birch series, The Rise of Thorne. - Sturgis is also writing a standalone psychological thriller titled The Ex. - Readers can expect the new book to reach espionage-thriller fans through major retailers worldwide.