If you grew up reading Alistair MacLean, Hammond Innes, or Desmond Bagley, you already know the kind of story Gary Paul Stephenson writes. High-stakes. Intelligent. Rooted in a world that feels uncomfortably real.
Gary’s thrillers span two series. The Paul Nichols Series follows a former SAS operative whose greatest liability turns out to be knowing the truth. Dark, taut, and politically charged, these books ask a question that lingers long after the last page: what happens when truth becomes more dangerous than any weapon? Murder By Truth (Book 1) and Downfall By Truth (Book 2) have drawn comparisons to classic British espionage fiction for their stripped-back prose and moral weight.
The Charles Langham Series takes a different but equally urgent angle, placing readers inside the collision between political power and ecological destruction. Set across three continents and packed with the kind of international intrigue that made the adventure thriller genre great, The Pacific Affair (Book 1), The Atlantic Affair (Book 2), and The Caribbean Affair (Book 3) have earned praise from Midwest Book Reviews as “original, impressively crafted, and compelling.” The screenplay for The Pacific Affair has also attracted serious film attention.
Gary was born in London, built a career that took him around the world, and now lives in the landscapes of New Zealand that shaped his fiction. A distinction in creative writing, membership of the New Zealand Writers Guild, and literary representation through the Gilbert Literary Agency reflect a commitment to craft that readers can feel on every page.
He writes because the world needs stories honest enough to say what most people only think.
The hilarious antics of his two house rabbits, the sibling pair Castle and Becket, and the countless photos they inspired, led to the creation of his children’s books.
Gary is a person with Multiple Sclerosis.
Truth can get you killed. Sometimes it brings you back. The Paul Nichols Series delivers taut, character-driven noir thrillers filled with betrayal, high-stakes revenge, international intrigue, and the deadly cost of truth. Perfect for fans of gritty murder mysteries, political conspiracies, and relentless protagonists who fight back.
The first book in the Paul Nichols Series — Murder by Truth
The story of how I was murdered.
In the shadowed corridors of power, where secrets are traded and betrayal is currency, one man becomes the target of a deadly conspiracy. When Paul Nichols realizes his life is in imminent danger, he makes a decision few would dare—he must disappear.
But vanishing isn’t enough.
Newly married and surrounded by unseen enemies, Paul devises an audacious plan not only to save himself, but to protect the woman he loves. If his enemies succeed, the truth must still survive. And so he prepares for his own death—on his terms.
As threats close in, Paul documents everything: the names, the schemes, the forces determined to silence him. Sealed envelopes, regularly updated and entrusted to his lawyer, become his final safeguard—a dead man’s trigger designed to expose the truth and protect his wife should he be killed.
What follows is a gripping tale of deception, survival, and calculated disappearance, set against the dark underbelly of New Zealand’s criminal and political world.
Take a journey into New Zealand’s crime underworld—where the truth can be deadly, and survival demands the ultimate lie.
Paul Nichols was supposed to stay dead. Pulled out of retirement by shadowy allies, he returns to confront the corrupt government that once ordered his assassination. High-octane political intrigue meets personal vengeance in this explosive sequel.
The second book in the Paul Nichols Series — Downfall by Truth
After faking his own death and exposing the conspirators who tried to end his life in Murder by Truth, Paul Nichols is pulled out of retirement for his most dangerous mission yet: take down the corrupt government that sanctioned his murder.
Recruited by powerful allies including the United States and Mossad, Paul must infiltrate the country of his birth and execute a daring plan to install a new, strategically important government favourable to Pacific-region stability. But with enemies everywhere and nothing as it seems, Paul questions whether victory is even possible.
Set in the shadowy corridors of power and the underbelly of New Zealand’s political world, Downfall by Truth delivers relentless action, global intrigue, and conspiracy at the highest level.
The world is on the brink—and one man refuses to stand by. In an era where greed fuels nations and environmental crises are buried under global commerce, billionaire eco-philanthropist Charles Langham takes a stand. Armed with determination and a powerful team, he confronts the world’s most influential governments and uncovers sinister forces tracing back to the shadows of the 1940s.
In a world teetering on the brink of environmental collapse, The Pacific Affair introduces readers to billionaire eco-philanthropist Charles Langham, a man determined to tackle humanity’s greatest crises head-on. Faced with global famine, rampant deforestation, and the growing extinction of species, Langham challenges world leaders to take meaningful action — and gives them one week to respond before he takes matters into his own hands.
Langham’s bold ultimatum at the United Nations sparks outrage, especially from U.S. President Mike Read, who labels him an eco-terrorist and launches a campaign to stop him. What begins as a moral stand quickly escalates into an international standoff, with Langham pitted against the full force of a superpower. As he pushes his mission, he uncovers deep-seated conspiracies and shadowy agendas that extend far beyond political brinkmanship.
This gripping thriller blends high-stakes adventure, political intrigue, and deep-rooted environmental themes, following Langham as he battles global institutions, navigates international conflict, and fights to protect the planet.
Why This Book Matters
A timely story: Tackles real-world issues such as climate change, deforestation, and global inequity through the lens of fiction.
A compelling protagonist: Charles Langham is not just a visionary — he’s a determined leader whose mission challenges the status quo.
Thrilling and thought-provoking: From the United Nations to the high seas, the novel blends action with intellectual conflict.
Join Charles Langham’s journey — from an impassioned call for change to a global battle that tests his resolve, resources, and ideals.
The world is on the brink—and one man refuses to stand by. In an era where greed fuels nations and environmental crises are buried under global commerce, billionaire eco-philanthropist Charles Langham takes a stand. Armed with determination and a powerful team, he confronts the world’s most influential governments and uncovers sinister forces tracing back to the shadows of the 1940s.
One man’s relentless battle to save the planet takes a deadly new turn.
Billionaire philanthropist Charles Langham channels his vast wealth and cutting-edge technology into a high-stakes mission: regenerating rainforests, halting species extinction, and combating famine through sustainable, science-driven solutions. But when global leaders fail to act, Langham’s bold interventions draw powerful enemies—and this time, the threats turn lethal.
It begins with a seemingly ordinary man following precise instructions: collect a newly imported car, drive to a specific London street, and trigger its alarm at the exact moment. He complies. Moments later, his actions unleash chaos that forces the British Prime Minister to activate COBRA and declare martial law.
Across the Atlantic, U.S. President Johnson deploys two aircraft carriers and a specialized Presidential force led by Thomas to contain the crisis. As Langham’s team celebrates their first successful Sumatran tiger release, paramilitaries strike with ruthless precision, leaving devastating consequences.
Meanwhile, the enigmatic Axmann slips away on a freighter, carrying a sinister cargo toward the St. Lawrence Seaway—setting the stage for a high-seas confrontation that could decide the fate of Langham’s vision… and the planet itself.
Blending heart-pounding action, geopolitical intrigue, and urgent environmental themes, The Atlantic Affair escalates the Charles Langham saga into a gripping thriller where one man’s idealism collides with global power plays. Perfect for fans of eco-adventure and high-stakes suspense.
One man’s fight to save the planet reaches its deadliest moment. After a brutal campaign of attacks—including a strike on his own stronghold by the U.S. President’s private force—Axmann disappears, preparing a final, catastrophic assault on the leaders of the free world.
One man’s relentless fight to save the planet reaches its most lethal reckoning.
After enduring a brutal series of attacks—including a devastating strike on his own stronghold by the U.S. President’s private force—Axmann vanishes into the shadows, plotting a final, catastrophic assault on the leaders of the free world.
With London still bearing the scars of a nuclear disaster, the last superweapon destroyed, and Axmann’s father eliminated, Charles Langham finally dares to pause. Seeking refuge, he sets sail for the tranquil waters of St. Thomas in the Caribbean aboard Sundancer. At Marge’s urging, he agrees to explore the region’s vibrant reefs and deep ocean trenches, investigating environmental damage firsthand.
Langham reunites his family for the voyage, arranging for his children to leave their orangutan and tiger sanctuaries behind. Together, they plan their next bold mission: turtle conservation and coral reef restoration—fragile signs of hope for a wounded ocean.
But the calm shatters overnight.
At dawn, Charles spots an American carrier fleet anchored just beyond the harbor. As Sundancer heads out to deploy the submersible over untouched reefs, the captain detects a high-speed launch racing erratically toward the island.
Onshore, a high-level summit of international leaders is underway. When Thomas uncovers a merciless conspiracy aimed at mass murder, the Caribbean paradise explodes into chaos.
Can Charles Langham and his family escape this final, devastating threat—or will Axmann’s vengeance pull them into the epicenter of global catastrophe?
Blending pulse-pounding action, geopolitical intrigue, and urgent environmental stakes, The Caribbean Affair delivers a gripping conclusion to the Charles Langham saga—perfect for readers who crave intelligent eco-thrillers with heart, danger, and real-world resonance.
The Bunnie the Bunny books are charming children’s stories featuring two photogenic Dutch rabbits. These delightful tales follow the lives of the bunnies from the time they arrive as tiny babies and settle into their new home with their human companions, whom they amusingly regard as their “servants.
Bunnie the Bunny & Bunnie and Bugsy – A 2-in-1 Collection
Meet Bunnie, a curious and clever Dutch rabbit, and her brother Bugsy. This charming, heart-warming true story follows the siblings as they journey to their new human home, where they happily refer to their people as servants and quickly take charge of daily life.
Told through real-life photographs, this delightful collection is based on the true adventures of two house rabbits who enjoy the ultimate freedom: roaming the home, exploring the back garden, and living what can only be described as bunny heaven. Bunnie and Bugsy have been part of their human family since they were just six weeks old, and no two days are ever the same.
Using real-life photographs, this delightful and heart-warming book introduces Bunnie, a curious Dutch rabbit, and her brother Bugsy as they share their everyday adventures.
Bunnie the Bunny with Bugsy the Bunny – our lives and other bits
Using real-life photographs, this delightful and heart-warming book introduces Bunnie, a curious Dutch rabbit, and her brother Bugsy as they share their everyday adventures.
Through gentle storytelling and true moments, readers discover the rabbits’ unique personalities, playful cheekiness, natural instincts, favourite foods, and what life is really like from a bunny’s point of view. From quiet moments to mischievous antics, Bunnie and Bugsy show that no two days are ever the same.
This charming true story celebrates the intelligence, character, and surprising abilities of rabbits—proving that rabbits are anything but ordinary.
Gary’s books are available from Wheelers, Ingram Spark, Pharos Book Publishing and direct from the author