John Corey is a member of the Anti-Terrorist Task Force.
This fictional organization based on the Joint Terrorist Task Force is a group of agents, analysts, detectives, and other careers working on the local, state, and Federal levels to counteract the ever-growing threat from terrorists and fanaticals both foreign and home-grown. Corey is one of the best operatives though his distinct lack of tolerance for political correctness constantly works against him.
As the series begins, he is not yet a member of the ATTF but is a decorated, highly experienced homicide detective with the NYPD, recuperating from several gun shot wounds suffered in the line of duty. Taking his medical leave on Long Island, he is bored enough to accept a request to investigate two deaths of local scientists. This in turn puts him in close contact with the Feds which leads to his leaving the police force to work for the Task Force in the second adventure.
To many people Corey presents an interesting attitude of almost not caring especially if that person is someone that gets on Corey's bad side, a not too difficult thing to do. To his friends and close ones, he is extremely loyal and will risk anything to protect them. He also will not stop once he gets his hooks into a case. As time and the series go by his attention to the law gets less and less but his desire for justice never diminishes. He is wise enough to know that the two are not always soulmates.
The series sees his personal life change for the better. As it begins he is in the middle of a divorce, a separation largely due to his eventual ex-wife's decision to practice law defending the scumbags he worked to put away. A brief and enjoyable sojourn with a fellow cop, this one on Long Island, follows but he soon meets and falls in love with an FBI agent name Kate Mayfield. By the third book they are an item which grows stronger as the books proceed.