An international sand-trafficking cartel. Two mysterious American deaths. An FBI investigation that uncovers the deadly consequences of a billion-dollar illegal trade.
“The Cost of Sand: A Howard Watson Intrigue” takes readers into the dangerous world of illegal sand mining and international organized crime. When two Americans die under suspicious circumstances, FBI Supervisory Special Agent Howard Watson and his team are called in to investigate. Their mission leads them to India’s notorious “sand mafia” and a powerful criminal network extending into the United States.
In the ninth installment of her Howard Watson Intrigue series, JoAnn Fastoff delivers another fast-paced thriller that combines gripping FBI investigations with urgent real-world issues. As Watson and his team uncover the devastating environmental and human consequences of illegal sand extraction, they must navigate a complex web of corruption, greed, and deadly secrets.
Available December 2026.
Book review:
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (October 2026)
5 Stars – Fantastic Fast-Paced Suspense
The Cost of Sand by JoAnn Fastoff is a suspenseful international crime thriller that centers on the illegal global sand trade. The Sand Mafia is involved with this criminal enterprise that is creating a devastating environmental impact worldwide. In this 9th episode of The Howard Watson series, FBI Assistant Director Alberto Marino brings in his team of special agents to investigate recent suspicious deaths of men who are linked to the sand cartel. Their investigation also uncovers other disturbing patterns of criminal activity linked to sand trafficking. Naming this investigation “Operation Sandbar,” the team sets out to find answers.
Having previously read all the books in The Howard Watson series, it was a pleasure to revisit the continuing cast of characters who are on Marino’s team. I’ve been following them for so long, I feel invested in knowing about their lives and investigations. Even if they are fictional characters, Fastoff brings them to life! Her vivid descriptions and attention to detail immediately made me feel like I was at a movie watching the action instead of reading words off paper.
I also appreciate that Fastoff focused on the sand trafficking issue, which is a true real-world issue, and an extremely serious one. As with her other novels, I found myself looking up more information on a topic that I was not familiar with. Environmental destruction caused by sand mining is a critical topic that readers will find very interesting, especially when real information about it is carefully provided throughout the novel, educating readers. The mysterious deaths of those involved with this illegal trade were also very interesting as she came up with unique ideas to make each death seem to be unrelated to the others.
Overall, JoAnn Fastoff’s The Cost of Sand is a must-read for fans of suspense. Readers will enjoy the seamless blending of real-life environmental issues with a fast-paced FBI investigation as the agents uncover the human, ecological, and criminal effects of the world’s booming illegal sand trade. I look forward to the next episode in The Howard Watson series and I am very curious about what real world topic the next adventure will involve.
