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I spent some time with Mike Martini of No Limits: The Thriller Podcast a few weeks ago to discuss my debut espionage thriller, SHADOWS OF THE FATHERS. In this spoiler-free chat, we discuss several things related to the book. Some highlights include the meaning behind the title, some core themes, and the thought process behind crafting main character Hunter Long. I outline a few real-world things happening in Mexico right now between the cartels and China, and how involved Rus

Our Monday morning hike at the base of Mount Crested Butte There is something magical about walking into a local bookshop after a long day of hiking and exploring mountain towns. Each store has its own soul and is tied to the community around it. This past week, my wife, our two Chihuahuas, and I set out on a trip through Glenwood Springs, Aspen, and Crested Butte and experienced the magic of some Colorado's independent bookstore scene firsthand. If you’re looking for your ne

Shadows of the Fathers by Crowley Clark book cover

(you may not have heard of yet) Now that we’re over halfway through the year, I wanted to share some of my favorite reads in crime, espionage, and action-adventure in 2026 so far. In no particular order, here are four books you should check out! The Peacock and the Sparrow (2023) by I.S. Berry I was late picking up this gripping, twisty, cerebral, and immersive literary espionage thriller set during the Arab Spring in Bahrain. Shane Collins, a world-weary, alcohol-loving CIA

The geopolitical scene along the U.S. southern border is shifting fast. Mexico has moved from being a local law enforcement focus to a major stage for global power competition. For a long time, the relationship was seen mostly through the lens of the drug war and migration. Now, the breakdown of old-school criminal groups is clashing with the strategic moves of countries like Russia and China. This mix turns the neighborhood into a frontline for foreign influence. With simila

850K+ fireworks lit up the sky during the massive display in Washington, D.C. on July 4th, 2026. The fireworks lighting the night sky for the 250th anniversary of the United States represent more than just a historical milestone. They serve as a brilliant reminder of a fragile reality: liberty is never self-sustaining. It is bought, defended, and preserved by those who operate in the spaces between the headlines, standing watch against threats that evolve just as rapidly as t

A depiction of Hunter Long in his windowless office at CIA headquarters. Where we end up in life depends heavily on where we start. This is not just a poetic phrase; it is a measurable reality. While modern culture celebrates the idea of the "self-made individual," both sociology and psychology show that we are deeply bound by our origins. The blueprint of our lives is often drawn long before we are born, dictated by the accomplishments, failures, and expectations of our pare

Always fascinated by how the (mostly) subconscious forces of the human psyche drive behavior, I spent extra time developing my characters when writing my spy thriller, Shadows of the Fathers. A great thriller protagonist is an active, highly competent individual driven by urgent personal stakes, and whose ability to improvise under extreme pressure directly forces the plot forward. While heroes possess specialized skills that give them a fighting chance, they are balanced by

The allure of a great espionage or crime novel rarely lies in the logistics of the plot alone. While the intricate tradecraft, the ticking-clock tension, and the high-stakes betrayals keep us turning pages, the true gravity of these stories rests within the psychological architecture of the characters. As readers and writers drawn to dark, modern fiction, we instinctively look to the shadows because they reveal who a human being becomes when the safety net of civilized societ

Why do people betray their countries or people they love? If you write, read, or study espionage, this is a foundational question. In the world of intelligence, understanding human vulnerability is key to analyzing motives for treason or recruitment vectors. To categorize these human flaws, intelligence agencies use frameworks. Today, we are diving into the two most famous frameworks in the tradecraft lexicon: the classic MICE model and its modern, expanded successor, RASCLS.

What recent headlines reveal about cartel tech and Langley's ground operations The Situation: Ripped From the Headlines If you think all modern espionage thrillers stretch the truth, look at the front-page news from this month. In May 2026, explosive investigative reports sent shockwaves through Washington and Mexico City, revealing that the CIA has drastically escalated a clandestine, highly lethal war targeting top-tier cartel networks deep inside Mexican territory. The pub

Beyond the Page: My Week at ThrillerFest 2026 As someone who has attended more than his fair share of corporate events at high-end hotels, walking into ThrillerFest feels less like a corporate conference and more like stepping into the nerve center of the genre. I came as a lifelong thriller fan, as an author looking to sharpen my craft, and to network. The conference delivered on all three. Connecting with the Masters The fan in me appreciated the accessibility of the giants

Hollywood can make stories more fun and action-packed, but it sometimes ruins the grounded reality of a good spy novel. Bond films are notorious for this, trading real tradecraft depicted in the books for big screen spectacle. I recently posted on Instagram about Hollywood myths as compared to realistic literary portrayals, and have expanded on that here to debunk a few more espionage myths. The License to Kill vs. The License to... File Paperwork The Lie: Spies like James Bo

What follows is a bonus scene from my upcoming book, Shadows of the Fathers. The scene is from the perspective of a character who becomes central to the plot in Mexico. I don’t want to spoil too much before you read the excerpt, so I have a few notes for context after it. Day 2 - Thursday Mexico City Victor Chernov He drove alone east of Mexico City on the Autopista Mexico towards Puebla. Mexico City is home to over 22 million people and hosts over four million international

The last few weeks, I have shared bonus scenes from my upcoming thriller, Shadows of the Fathers. This week, I’m sharing a few book recommendations full of action and espionage. These are quick summaries for you. Note that I have longer version reviews posted on Goodreads and Instagram. Enjoy! The Peacock and the Sparrow (2023) by I.S. Berry is gripping, twisty, cerebral, and immersive. The novel is a literary espionage thriller set during the Arab Spring in Bahrain. Main ch

What follows is a bonus scene from my upcoming novel, Shadows of the Fathers . I wrote the story from the perspectives of various characters, often when they have the most to learn or the most to lose. In this case, we get a glimpse into one of the main characters in the story as seen through the eyes of a street-level drug dealer. Drug Dealer Thursday - Day 2 São Paulo, Brazil Leaning against the alley wall and exhaling purple smoke, he only glanced at the girls. He couldn

What follows is a bonus scene from my upcoming novel, Shadows of the Fathers . The novel is written from the perspectives of various characters, often when they have the most to learn or the most to lose. I’ll be sharing a few more of these in the coming weeks. Anastasia Basov Saturday - Day 4 Lomas de Chapultepec “What a day,” Ana said to herself as she waited for water to boil. Lots of things were going wrong that morning, and the coffee machine going out downstairs signale

A nice haul of gently used books from a recent visit to a local store. A good book can transport the reader through space and time. Authors provide a mental retreat that evokes emotion and makes people feel as if they are really somewhere else, experiencing an alternate reality alongside the characters. We read to learn, but everyone deserves to escape sometimes. As a writer, when we can’t always visit every place we write about, how do we bring the world to life on the page?

You’ve lived life, traveled, explored, and developed a perspective on the world, and now you’re ready to write. It's time to put pen to paper, or make those digits of yours click away on the keys to generate a story. What follows is a bit about my writing process, but beware. What works for me may or may not work for you. There are endless ways to get to a finished manuscript, and while my process works for me, it might just as well drive you insane as help you. Going from an