Gavin de Becker, bestselling author of The Gift of Fear:

"A terrific novel.…You're about to board the precarious roller coaster protectors ride every day—sometimes smooth as you climb up high, sometimes getting to take in the impressive view for a moment, and sometimes diving into a steep freefall, with turns you learn about only after they’ve spun you around a few times."

Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, author of On Killing and On Combat:

"A rip-roaring read from someone who has actually done it and seen it. If Tom Clancy had actually been there, placing his life on the line for politicians, and if he wrote a fiction book about it, this would be the book!"

Former Special Agent, U. S. Secret Service:

"Mortal Shield describes the 'oil and water' relationship that is all too common among public figures and those who must protect them. Taylor has the experience, the knowledge, and the willingness to tell this story only as a cop can tell it. And he proves once again that cops write the best cop stories!"

Robert Oatman, author of The Art of Executive Protection:

"Tom Taylor has given us a real thriller and an invaluable inside look at executive protection from a true practitioner's perspective." 

Morley Swingle, author of The Gold of Cape Girardeau

"Mortal Shield is a memorable and eye-opening novel.…Like Joseph Waumbaugh with street cops, Patricia Cornwell with medical examiners, and Tony Hillerman with Navajo Tribal Police, Taylor knows his material

and weaves it into a good story."

Doctor James P. McGee, retired Director of Psychology and Director of Law Enforcement and Forensic Services at Sheppard Pratt Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland

"In addition to being a terrific yarn, Mortal Shield is also a great primer in protective services."

St. Louis Post Dispatch

"The book teems with technical detail about the intricate choreography of protecting a governor—and the frustration of protecting a governor whose priorities place politics ahead of prudence."

Publishers Weekly, 3/17/2008

"Full of authentic detail about protective operations, Taylor's debut gets off to a good start…"

Bridget DiCosmo, SE Live, 4/3/2008

"There is enough pulse pounding and nail-biting in the just under 300-pager to keep the reader hooked, and the novel moves along at a fast clip. The first scene is razor sharp and sets the pace for an exciting read."

Heather Shaw, ForeWord Magazine, May 2008

"This is Taylor's first novel, but there's nothing amateur about it. It walks and talks just like SOF (special operation forces). . . . Mortal Shield is a kind of anecdotal manifesto of why some people choose a career where death is not a penalty for failure but the ultimate sacrifice for success. Taylor is at work on a sequel: this is definitely a series that will interest fans of Clancy and Flynn."