ONE STEP AHEAD
Press & Media Kit
By Ethan Harel
Book Summary
One Step Ahead is a high-intensity espionage thriller inspired by the astonishing real-world Mossad pager operation of 2024. When a covert digital strike cripples Hezbollah’s command structure, the Middle East is thrust into chaos — and a young intelligence officer finds herself at the center of a deadly chain reaction.
Yael Bareket, a rising star in Israeli cyber operations, uncovers fragments of a hidden threat buried inside enemy networks. As regional forces mobilize for retaliation, Yael becomes the target of a lethal pursuit stretching from Tel Aviv to Beirut. Pushed to her limits and betrayed by those she trusted, she must stay ahead of an enemy that always seems one move closer.
Blending authentic tradecraft, geopolitical tension, and pulse-pounding suspense, One Step Ahead reveals the shadow war unfolding behind the headlines — and the personal cost paid by those who fight it.
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FULL BOOK DESCRIPTION
One Step Ahead is a gripping espionage thriller inspired by the astonishing real-life Mossad pager operation of 2024. When a covert digital strike cripples Hezbollah’s command structure, the Middle East is thrust into chaos — and a young Israeli intelligence officer finds herself at the center of a deadly chain reaction.
Yael Bareket, a rising star in cyber operations, uncovers fragments of a hidden threat buried deep inside enemy networks. As Iran and Hezbollah race to retaliate, Yael becomes the target of a lethal pursuit stretching from Tel Aviv to Beirut. Betrayed by those she trusted and pushed beyond her limits, she must navigate a shadow war where every decision carries consequences measured in lives.
Blending authentic intelligence tradecraft, cutting-edge technology, geopolitics, and psychological tension, One Step Ahead reveals the invisible battles unfolding behind the headlines — and the human cost paid by those who fight them.
Perfect for fans of Daniel Silva, Homeland, Jack Ryan, and Israeli espionage thrillers, this novel delivers relentless suspense and an unforgettable heroine fighting to stay one move ahead.
Short Author Bio
Ethan Harel is an espionage thriller author whose work blends authentic intelligence tradecraft, cutting-edge technology, and real-world geopolitical tension. His debut novel, One Step Ahead, is inspired by the astonishing 2024 Mossad pager operation against Hezbollah. Writing under a pen name, Harel delivers high-stakes, tightly-paced fiction rooted in the hidden battles unfolding across the Middle East.
Long Author Bio
Ethan Harel is an espionage thriller author known for weaving authenticity, psychological depth, and cinematic pacing into his work. Drawing inspiration from genuine intelligence methods, covert technology, and real geopolitical events, Harel writes stories that feel as if they were lifted directly from classified files.
His debut novel, One Step Ahead, is based on the remarkable 2024 Mossad pager operation against Hezbollah — a covert cyber strike that shocked the Middle East and exposed a silent war unfolding in the shadows. Through the character of Yael Bareket and the world of Israeli intelligence, the novel explores the human cost of espionage, the fragility of trust, and the razor-thin margin between technological brilliance and operational disaster.
Writing under a pen name, Harel’s familiarity with regional security dynamics and intelligence tradecraft adds a layer of accuracy rarely seen in modern thrillers. He currently focuses on developing stories that blend realism, suspense, and the untold complexities of the Middle Eastern intelligence arena.
Author Photo
Talking Points
1️⃣ The real Mossad pager operation of 2024
How a real-life covert cyber strike using booby-trapped pagers inspired the core premise, structure, and stakes of One Step Ahead.
2️⃣ Why real intelligence tradecraft matters in fiction
How using authentic methods, behaviors, and constraints from the intelligence world changes the feel of a thriller compared to “Hollywood spy” stories.
3️⃣ The digital battlefield: cyber warfare as the new frontline
Why today’s most decisive moves in conflict are made in code, not bullets — and how that shapes the plot and tension of the book.
4️⃣ Yael Bareket — a new kind of intelligence heroine
Building a young female Mossad officer who is brilliant, flawed, and operationally credible in a traditionally male-dominated environment.
5️⃣ Writing a thriller based on an operation nobody believed was real
The challenge of turning a barely-believable true story into a page-turning novel that still feels grounded and plausible.
6️⃣ The psychological cost of undercover and intelligence life
Exploring what constant secrecy, pressure, and moral ambiguity do to relationships, identity, and mental resilience.
7️⃣ How geopolitics, technology, and personal stakes collide
Using the Israeli–Hezbollah conflict, cutting-edge tech, and intimate character arcs to create tension on both a global and deeply human level.
Interview Questions
1️⃣ What first drew you to the real 2024 Mossad pager operation, and at what moment did you realize it could become the core of a full-length thriller?
2️⃣ How much of the intelligence tradecraft in the book is based on real methods you’ve encountered or observed, and how did you balance authenticity with secrecy?
3️⃣ Yael Bareket is a complex and deeply human character. What inspired her creation, and why was it important for you to portray a young female intelligence officer at the center of the story?
4️⃣ The book blends cyber warfare, field operations, and psychological tension. Which of these elements was the most challenging to write — and why?
5️⃣ The novel explores the thin moral line between defense and escalation. What ethical questions were most important for you to highlight through the plot?
6️⃣ How do you see the future of espionage changing in the real world — and how does that influence the way you construct thrillers?
7️⃣ This story feels incredibly timely. How closely do you think fiction today needs to follow geopolitical reality to stay relevant?
Press Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: media@mossadfiles.com
Website: https://mossadfiles.com
NEW ESPIONAGE THRILLER REVEALS THE UNTOLD STORY BEHIND THE REAL 2024 MOSSAD PAGER OPERATION
TEL AVIV — 2025 — A shocking real-world cyber operation has inspired one of the year’s most gripping espionage thrillers. One Step Ahead, the debut novel by Ethan Harel, is a high-intensity, deeply realistic look into the shadow war between Israel and Hezbollah — and the covert strike that stunned the Middle East.
In 2024, a clandestine Mossad operation used booby-trapped pagers to cripple Hezbollah’s command structure, triggering global headlines and exposing a silent intelligence war unfolding beneath the surface. One Step Ahead transforms this unprecedented event into a tense, character-driven thriller anchored by Yael Bareket, a young Israeli intelligence officer drawn into a deadly chain of events that reaches far beyond the mission.
Blending genuine intelligence tradecraft, cutting-edge cyber warfare, and psychological depth, the novel offers a rare glimpse into the pressures, dangers, and moral dilemmas faced by those who operate in absolute secrecy.
“Readers want stories that feel real,” Harel says. “I wanted this novel to read like a classified file — authentic, tense, and frighteningly plausible.”
One Step Ahead is now available worldwide on Amazon in Kindle and print editions.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ethan Harel is an espionage thriller author whose work blends authentic intelligence methods, real technology, and geopolitical realism. Writing under a pen name, Harel creates tightly paced, high-stakes fiction inspired by the hidden battles shaping the modern Middle East. One Step Ahead is his debut novel.
MEDIA CONTACT
For interviews, review copies (ARC), or press inquiries:
media@mossadfiles.com
