Fog City Stories writer trades familiar SFPD homicide inspectors for a group of lifelong friends taking on Somali piracy

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, UNITED STATES, September 18, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Author Brian Brady is taking his latest crime novel well beyond the streets of San Francisco.

The writer behind the Fog City Stories series releases The Crew today, introducing readers to an entirely new cast of characters and a story that moves from a casual gathering in San Francisco to a covert international mission involving Somali piracy, dangerous players and a group of friends who decide they are uniquely qualified to do something about it.

It’s a significant departure for Brady, whose first three novels followed San Francisco Police Department homicide inspectors. His fourth novel, Still Waters Run Deep, moved the action away from the city and into the regions of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. With The Crew (Indies United Publishing House), Brady takes that geographic shift several steps further – all the way to the coast of East Africa.

The story begins when a group of lifelong friends reunites in San Francisco for cocktails and conversation. Their discussion turns to the growing crisis of Somali piracy, and what starts as a conversation quickly becomes something much more ambitious. Each member of the group brings decades of real-world experience and a particular set of skills to the table. What they lack is funding.

That changes when one of the friends secures the backing needed to turn their idea into reality.

Suddenly, the group has a mission—and carrying it out means operating outside the usual channels. As they travel across the globe, the friends must work under the radar, negotiate with dangerous individuals and avoid authorities who have no intention of letting their unauthorized operation continue.

The result is an action-adventure crime thriller built around friendship, experience and a willingness to ignore conventional rules when conventional solutions aren't enough.

Brady also leaves readers with room to decide just how much of the story is grounded in reality.

“It's a mildly factual accounting, or pure fiction, take your pick,” one reviewer wrote. “But it's a fun read that will hold your attention throughout.”

While The Crew marks a departure from the characters and settings of Brady's earlier books, the author's own background continues to inform his approach to crime fiction.

Born and raised in San Francisco, Brady had a significant career in law enforcement, including as Chief of Police (Novato, California), before going into corporate security, including Head of Movie Studio Security at the NBC Universal lot in Hollywood and a role with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Those experiences have provided plenty of material for a writer whose stories often blend crime, real-world experience and colorful characters.

Available in hardcover, paperback, and eBook formats, The Crew is available today from major retailers.

For more on Brian Brady, his books, and links to his various social media platforms, visit his official website at www.GoldenGateTales.com.

Bruce Wawrzyniak
Now Hear This, Inc.
+1 813-854-8000
bruce@now-hear-this.net
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