From the shadows of justice to the page-turning world of psychological suspense, debut author Lee Sato delivers a gripping first novel, Hornet’s Nest, due for release in July 2025. The novel has already garnered high praise from early readers, with a 5-star ARC review calling it:
“A true mystery… It was really good! So many twists. I was hooked!” – BookishPenguin
Set against a backdrop of political power and buried secrets, Hornet’s Nest follows Jara, a seasoned FBI agent, as she teams up with Katerina, the daughter of a prominent senator, to unravel a shocking crime that devastates her family. What begins as a search for truth quickly spirals into a maze of deception, betrayal, and moral ambiguity — where every revelation comes at a cost.
As the investigation deepens, Jara must confront a tangle of lies and corruption that not only threaten careers but tear families apart. In a world where loyalty is rare and justice elusive, Hornet’s Nest keeps readers on edge, asking the ultimate question: Who can you really trust?
About the Author
Lee Sato lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, with her partner of 20 years. A graduate of Franklin College with a B.A. in Psychology and Journalism, Sato spent more than three decades immersed in some of society’s darkest realities. Her career included working with gangs in the 1980s, adolescent and child psychiatry in the 1990s, and investigating crimes against children until her retirement in 2017.
Throughout it all, the faces of troubled teens and abused children remained with her. “Closure and justice were rarely the outcome,” she reflects. Writing became a way to process what couldn’t be forgotten — not through case notes or reports, but through storytelling.
Encouraged by her partner, she returned to a lifelong love of writing and crafted the powerful narrative that would become her debut novel. Hornet’s Nest marks the beginning of a new creative chapter, one born from real-life experience, empathy, and an unflinching look into the human condition.
Hornet’s Nest
Coming July 2025 – Official Release Date TBA
Published by Launch Point Press
For media inquiries, review copies, or interviews with the author, please contact worldstarpublicrelations@gmail.com