Maximum Risk

A high-stakes battle erupts over a game-changing cobalt deposit in small-town America.

"A cinematic globe-trotting roller coaster of a tale..." --Raymond Benson, New York Times bestselling author

When billionaire Max Fend and his hacker girlfriend Renee LeFrancois are enlisted by the FBI and CIA to search for a cobalt deposit in rural Pennsylvania, they're plunged into a race against time and international forces. Cobalt, the precious metal powering lithium-ion batteries, has the tech world scrambling for control, and the discovery of a new source ignites a frenzy. But as domestic and international stakeholders mobilize, the local community finds itself caught in the crossfire.

As adversaries close in, a deadly contract killer, a former Philly cop, a single mom reclaiming her identity, and a band of vigilante townspeople join the fight. With secrets unraveling and danger mounting, Max and Renee must risk it all to protect a community and their nation from unbridled greed.

In Cobalt, the quest for power and control collides with the will to protect, resulting in a thrilling, explosive showdown.

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Praise for Chris Bauer and Cobalt

2024 Winning Author of Thrillerfest Best First Sentence Award

"With COBALT, Chris Bauer delivers a masterclass in thriller writing, weaving a complex tapestry of intrigue and action that's both sharp and compelling." --Andrew Watts, USA TODAY bestselling author

"I was hooked from the first page. Take a look inside the world of Max Fend and how the need for precious resources sets up for a gripping thriller." --Mel Taylor, Emmy Award-winning reporter

"Chris Bauer is in full Tom Clancy mode. Bauer has become a master of the classic international thriller." --Don Swaim, former host of CBS Radio's Book Beat

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What readers are saying:

★★★★★ "A MUST READ "
★★★★★ "...high intrigue level."
★★★★★ "...gripping and timely..."
★★★★★ "...Masterfully woven together."
★★★★★ "...a story laced with hard facts and wild fiction."