Belladonna (Paperback) | Released: 22 Jun 2010

"Belladonna" is a fictional novel about greed, corruption, inter-familial struggles, deep psychosis, poisonings, and murder intersecting with loyalty, enduring friendship, solid investigational analysis plus an intriguing actual event. Most of the plotline takes place in the present but a substantial part of the denouement harkens back to the historically accurate sinking of a British Man-o-War off the coast of Montauk, New York, during the Revolutionary War year of 1781. A previously unknown treasure is stolen from the wreck by three defecting sailors who promptly disappear into the mists of Long Island history. But part of the purloined booty turns up again, in modern times, in a most curious way. Most of the main characters are members of the fictional Harris family and their various employees and retainers. The Harris' are fabulously rich, heirs to a corporate empire and totally dysfunctional. A long history of jealousies, infidelities, inter-family squabbles, and embezzlements now turns into a deadly round of eliminations conducted mostly by a mysterious woman who styles herself the "Belladonna"-"the deadly nightshade." Who is she? What does she want? Why is she scything down the family and its employees with such deliberation? Trying to stem the flow of blood and stop the rising body count is an old family friend, Admiral James Griffin, who is now the head of one of the most secretive Federal anti-terror directorates at the Pentagon. Is there a connection? Sadly, yes. Also coming to the rescue is Adm. Griffin's brilliant wife, Gracie Connors, who applies her considerable forensic skills to the problem and eventually cracks the case. But not before more bodies fall and Gracie herself nearly becomes the intended last victim of the clearly unbalanced "Belladonna." "Belladonna" is a sequel, in terms of several characters, to the author's award-winning first novel, "Animus."
About the Author: Phil has a degree in History from Harvard and has done Masters work at the Naval War College and Long Island University. After graduation from Harvard Phil went directly into the Navy and became a Naval Aviator. During three tours in Vietnam Phil served with distinction and was awarded, among other decorations, the Air Medal for Gallantry, the Purple Heart and the Navy Commendation Medal. After his wartime service he rose to the rank of Captain in the Naval Reserves. As a business executive he worked for two Fortune 500 firms holding senior positions in sales and marketing. He was also a COO and CEO for several technology firms specializing in the sales and marketing of high-end software products. In 1999 Phil was selected for the Executive in Residence Program at Long Island University and for the next six years taught both undergraduate and graduate business courses at LIU, Southampton. In 2007 Phil accepted an assignment to teach Marketing and Advertising Design at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in Providence. Phil is a columnist for the Southampton Press, a magazine feature writer, has published two fictional novels, is working on two major non-fiction books and serves on the Board and as President of the Long Island Authors Group. He is a licensed Coast Guard Captain and lives in Southampton, NY with his partner Laura and son Pierce.