Line of Sight
by Paul G. Wright
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GENRE: Mystery
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BOOK BLURB:
It is 1995, and intelligence operative Lora Chandler, a.k.a. Agent Vogel, is tasked with investigating the claim that Professor Simon Blackmarr has cracked the invisibility problem. A mission that leads her back to the half-forgotten beach town of Lancaster, Florida. Home to estranged love interest, and newspaper reporter Richard Davis. Her feelings for him have never really died, and matters become even more complicated when Vogel learns that Blackmarr's breakthrough is legitimate. A scientific discovery that —in the wrong hands — could alter the balance of global power. The stakes become even higher when the professor is abducted from the university, forcing Vogel back into the shadowy realm of espionage to find out who and why. It will take all the skill and cunning Lora Chandler possesses to stop a threat that could have devastating consequences for her personal life — and the world at large.
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EXCERPT ONE:
The file lay in easy reach, on the conference table. The letters LMAR printed across the front. In another moment she would have it. She reached out.
“I think not.”
Mason. He was like a cat, with more lives.
“You think wrong,” said Vogel.
Mason’s hand slammed down on the folder, inches from hers. Their eyes met—his with that same arrogant smirk she’d seen a hundred times before, his dark hair perfectly in place. As always, he was impeccably dressed, his wine-red tie in a flawless knot. Vogel couldn’t deny it—under different circumstances, she might . . . But no, he was an international criminal and a murderer. And he kissed like a college freshman. The lines were drawn.
Mason looked at her through steely eyes. “Vogel,” he said coolly, “why do we always seem to have this same discussion?”
Vogel smirked. “Because, Mason, you’re terrible at losing.”
Mason nodded. “A character flaw, I’m afraid, that is permanent.”
She snatched the file away as Mason lunged for her. Instinctively, her hand went for her gun, and she pointed the sleek black barrel directly at his head. He froze, a smile playing across his face.
“Now let’s be practical,” Mason said. “There’s no way out.”
“You always say that.”
A door opened and men in dark fatigues entered, holding assault rifles. Mason’s henchmen. She should have known. They stood on either side of him, with their weapons trained on her like spiders. Vogel counted six in all.
Mason eyed her. “Really, Vogel. I mean, what are your options? Why don’t you just hand that over and we can all sit down?”
A bead of sweat ran down her back. Her shoes were tight, and she hadn’t showered since Wednesday. She felt gross. This was taking longer than expected. They were on the thirtieth floor, standing in front of a series of plate glass windows. Mason was right. There was no way out.
It was then she heard the roar of the helicopter.
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GUEST POST:
The Making of a Hero: Inside the Mind of Agent Lora Chandler
What makes a great hero? Is it their strength, their intelligence, their ability to navigate impossible situations? Or is it something deeper—their flaws, their struggles, the things that make them undeniably human?
For me, a hero is someone who is not only capable but compelling. Someone who, despite their skills, is still wrestling with their own past, their own doubts, their own choices. And when I set out to write Line of Sight, I knew I didn’t just want to create another spy—I wanted to create a person first.
That’s how Lora Chandler—known in the field as Agent Vogel—was born.
Who is Vogel?
Vogel is the kind of woman you don’t underestimate. She’s sharp, resourceful, and unrelenting in her duty, a seasoned intelligence operative who has spent years navigating the shadowy world of espionage. She’s the one you call when the stakes are too high for mistakes.
But Vogel isn’t just an agent—she’s a person with a past, with relationships, with regrets.
Her latest mission sends her to Lancaster, Florida, where Professor Simon Blackmaar has allegedly cracked the invisibility problem. A discovery with world-altering implications. But what should be a straightforward retrieval job turns a personal when Vogel is forced to reconnect with Richard Davis, an investigative journalist and former lover. What follows is a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, where Vogel must navigate not just dangerous enemies and shifting alliances, but emotions she thought she had buried.
The Inspiration Behind Vogel
Vogel didn’t just appear out of thin air. She was inspired by a real person. A close friend from high school. Someone I’ve always admired for her quick wit, ability to read people, and strength in the face of adversity. She was the kind of person who could charm a diplomat one minute and disarm a bomb the next.
When I decided to write a spy novel, I realized I had never seen one where the lead operative was a woman. At least, not in the traditional sense. That seemed like a gap that needed filling. After all, the real-world intelligence community is filled with strong, brilliant women—why shouldn’t they take center stage in fiction?
At the same time, I didn’t want Vogel to be a superspy, who never makes a mistake or questions herself. I wanted her to be someone who has had to sacrifice for her job. Someone who struggles with the knowledge that the work she does makes real relationships nearly impossible.
And yet, despite all of that, Vogel isn’t jaded. She doesn’t see herself as a hero or a villain. Just someone trying to do her job.
Vogel’s Strengths (and Weaknesses)
What makes Vogel different from the standard spy archetype is her ability to adapt. She’s highly skilled, but she’s not invincible. She wins because she’s observant, because she knows how to use her environment to her advantage, because she’s always thinking several steps ahead.
Her greatest strength? Her ability to read people. Unlike the James Bonds of the world, who rely on sheer force or flashy gadgets, Vogel is a strategist. She listens, she watches, and understands what people want—and more importantly, what they fear.
But her weaknesses are just as important. Her past with Richard Davis is one of them. He represents a life she could have had, but ultimately abandoned. When she’s forced to work with him again, she finds herself questioning everything.
Why Readers Connect with Vogel
At the heart of it, Vogel’s story isn’t just about espionage. It’s about the cost of living a double life. About the choices we make and the ones we regret.
Vogel is tough, but not invincible. Smart, but not infallible. She’s a survivor, but survival has a cost.
I think that’s why people can connect with her. Because she’s more than just an action hero. She’s someone who has fought hard for her place in the world, but still wrestles with what that place truly means. She’s real.
Final Thoughts: The Evolution of a Hero
When I first started Line of Sight, I thought Vogel would be a one-book character. A single story, and a single mission. But as I wrote, I realized she had more to say. There were layers to her I hadn’t even begun to explore.
In starting work on the sequel, I’m excited to see where her journey will take her next. What new challenges she’ll face, and what new questions she’ll have to answer about herself. That’s the beauty of writing. Characters evolve, just like people do.
And Vogel? She’s just getting started.
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AUTHOR BIO:
Paul G. Wright is a native of Atlanta, GA. He has worked as a newspaper journalist, freelance writer, and screenwriter. He studied acting at the Warehouse Actors Theater and earned his degree in filmmaking from Columbia College Hollywood, in Tarzana, CA. He currently resides in the Atlanta area with his wife and their cat Dusty.
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