The Maidstone Conspiracy (The Secret Shepherd Conspiracies Book 3)

A Legacy Under Siege. A Conspiracy Unfolds.

Paul and Anne Winston built a life worth protecting—one of family, purpose, and quiet philanthropy. But when an unexpected inheritance turns Paul into the Earl of Prescott, the past resurfaces with deadly intent. A trans-Atlantic conspiracy is in motion, and its aim is clear: destroy the Winstons, take their fortune, and control the empire they never meant to build.

As betrayal strikes from within and trusted allies reveal hidden agendas, a young FBI agent and a veteran Scotland Yard detective are drawn into the unfolding mystery. Their unlikely partnership uncovers a dangerous web of deception—one that spans continents, generations, and the highest levels of power.

The Maidstone Conspiracy, the third book in The Secret Shepherd Conspiracies series by James Osborne, is a riveting international thriller that explores the thin line between loyalty and treachery, love and revenge, survival and sacrifice.

Start reading The Maidstone Conspiracy today and step into a world where every truth comes at a price.

Excerpt from the book

20 Years Earlier

Durham, NC,

Paul Winston was studying hard for the last of his MBA final exams at Duke University when his cell phone rang.

“Hello?” he said.

There was no response. He sensed a presence at the other end, but no sound.

“Hello?” he repeated. “Who’s there? What’s going on?”

There was a muted cry of anguish.

“Oh, Paul!” He heard his sister Emily’s voice cry out, convulsed with grief.

“What is it?” he said, suddenly alert. “What’s going on? Are you all right? Do you need help?”

“It’s Mom!” his sister cried. “It’s Mom and Dad!” she corrected herself. “They’re gone,” she sobbed. “They’re both gone! A crash! Dad’s plane! They were killed, Paul. They’re dead. Oh my God, Paul!”

“What?” Paul said. He struggled to grasp what he’d just heard. “What… what’s happened? How?”

“The plane, Paul. Dad’s plane,” Emily said. “It crashed and exploded. Dad was landing at the ranch… on the airstrip. Mom was with him. George said the plane blew up while landing. He says Mom and Dad must have died instantly. Oh my God, Paul! Can you come right away, please? This is terrible, and there’s something not right about this. I need you, now!”

Paul tried to console his sister while she struggled to share with him the few details available about the tragedy. They sat in silence on the phone for a few moments, then exchanged words of comfort, knowing that nothing they could possibly say would bring them solace. Finally, Paul said, “I’m on my way, Emily. I’ll see how soon I can get a charter and let you know. Are the police there?”

“Yes, they’re here,” she said. “But something’s wrong. I’ll explain when you get here. Hurry, Paul!”

“I’m on my way, Emily,” he repeated, too shocked to think of anything else to say.

Paul called Garrett Aviation at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. He was told a Learjet would be landing soon from a one-way trip. They could get it ready in less than two hours for his flight west across the country. Garrett knew the wealthy Winston family. They were eager to oblige. His next call was to a friend at the Colorado State Patrol. Major Joshua Schroeder confirmed what Emily had told him.

“I’m so very sorry, Paul,” Schroeder said. Paul and Joshua had been buddies through high school. “For what it’s worth, Paul, I will personally see that we do everything we can to find out what happened. Right now, all we have are a lot of questions and not many answers. We both know your dad was an excellent pilot. This doesn’t make any sense at all; it’s very troublesome.”

Paul was at the top of his MBA graduating class at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business in Durham, NC. He’d enrolled at the request of his father, Ted Winston, a successful Colorado entrepreneur and rancher, after being asked to take over the family’s rapidly growing business interests. At 28, he was the eldest of three children. Both of his sisters were married and pursuing their own successful careers.