Cold Glory

Nick Journey #1

by B. Kent Anderson

When the first page of a shocking Civil War-era document is unearthed in Oklahoma, history professor Nick Journey is called in to evaluate the find--and is promptly attacked by two men armed with Special Forces weapons.

Federal agent Meg Tolman's investigation into Journey's attack uncovers more troubling questions than answers. She soon finds herself joining Journey's cross-country quest to recover and protect the missing pages.

A shadowy group, the Glory Warriors, have been desperately searching for this explosive document to legitimize what is nothing less than a military coup. After their first attempt to steal it from Journey fails, they follow him, knowing that he holds the key to uncovering the long-lost papers.

They also set their plan into motion and begin assassinating key political figures. As the country plunges into chaos, Journey and Tolman search frantically for the remaining pages. And the Glory Warrior operatives are hot on their trail….

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

400 pages, Hardcover

First published October 11, 2011

About the author

B. Kent Anderson is an award-winning novelist, journalist and broadcaster. He has worked as a radio announcer and producer since age fifteen, served a stint in marketing for a symphony orchestra, and is currently a features writer for Oklahoma-based Slice Magazine.

He is the author of the contemporary, Civil War-based thriller Cold Glory, published by Forge in October 2011. The second book in the series, Silver Cross, will be released in November 2012. Under the pseudonym David Kent, he also authored the Department Thirty series in 2003-06.

He lives in Oklahoma City, where he is always on the lookout for more historical intrigues and is at work on his next novel.

Reviews

[Lori Henrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

History Professor Nick Journey is shocked when a document dating back to the civil war is discovered during an expansion project in Oklahoma. He is intrigue by the wording of the document and by the gold pin with the letters GW which was also found. Before Nick can delve into the historical implications of the document he is attacked by two men with guns. In his efforts to escape, he hits one of the men with a car killing him.

Nick never expected that a piece of paper written during the civil war would start a chain of events that could culminate in the death of the President of the United States. Meg Tolman works for an obscure branch of the government and is the only one who believe the theory that Nick believes the paper discloses. An illusive group called the Glory Warriors spanning the generations since the civil war can still be active is amazing.

This is a wonderful story. I don't normally seek out historical type fiction, but this one intrigued me. As I was reading it brought to mind stories like Dan Brown's Angels & Demons and the movie National Treasure. I was totally engrossed and wanted to find out what would happen next. The development of the relationship between Nick and his Autistic son Andrew helped to make Nick a more personable character.

Hope there will a new series on the horizon!

[Gene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although not great literature, Cold Glory was a really fun read. It avoided most of the issues that plague the action-conspiracy genre and make most books of that genre unreadable.

The sense of time was fairly realistic. The characters were not in Rome on one page, in Paris on the next page, and in Bolivia on the next page. Although the story relied on coincidence and luck, those components of the story were not so far fetched as to be miraculous. The characters were not super human with uncanny prescience, extreme fighting skills, and unbelievable strength. They all made mistakes and behaved realistically - depending more on determination, adrenaline, and luck. The story did not contain graphic violence and graphic sexual detail which sets it apart from many other stories of its genre.

The plot was a bit unrealistic; however, the story idea was fresh, intriguing, and sufficiently accurate historically that it did not lose too much credibility. The characters felt a little stereotypical and the author incorporated some amateurish psychological analysis, but that did not play a large enough role in the story to become nauseating.

If you just want to relax, turn the pages, and enjoy a good story, then by all means grab this book. If you are an obsessive-compulsive type who requires exact adherence to historical and legal fact, then you may want to pass.

[Miriam Ezra · Rating 4 out of 5]

National treasure style adventure, super good. Recommend it. Based on a "what if" in history. Very national treasure vibes except people actually die during this.

[HyrumSasser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cold Glory by B. Kent Anderson is a great book that is written well. It is a captivating book that tells two stories. One is at the end of the civil war and the other in the present day. The plot was planned very well with little to no holes. It is clear that Anderson had a plan when writing this book and knew where his story was headed from the beginning. The book stays true to its historical background with the exceptions that are noted at the end of the book. The antagonists of the book have a motive that makes it easy to see where they come from. There is a satisfying ending that leaves room for more story if wanted.
There are two protagonists two this story, Nick Journey and Edward Hiram. Edward Hiram is the main character of the story that takes place at the end of the civil war and his life beyond his name is a mystery to most. He is developed well while staying unknown to the reader. The mystery of his character adds a lot to the story. On the other hand, Nick Journey is the protagonist of the story taking place in the present day. His backstory is relatable and he is a likable character. I would choose to meet both of these characters if I had the chance. We learn a lot more about both characters as Nick uncovers the past throughout the story.
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Reread review
This book is a good book to reread because it has a detailed plot and background so there is a lot that could be missed the first time you read it. This is further amplified as the dual stories advance, one in the past and the other present day. Another thing that stuck out to me as I reread this is how much reading from the perspective of the terrorist organization, the Glory Warriors, shows us their reasoning and justification of their acts. In some books reading from the perspective of different characters can be confusing but I think that B. Kent Anderson wrote Cold Glory in a way that avoids such confusion. I recommend this book to anyone that is into history or likes action. The story of this book is also extended by a sequel that gives us more of the well-written characters from this one

[Margaret Wilkening · Rating 4 out of 5]

When former minor league baseball player turned Oklahoma university history professor, Nick Journey, begins researching an unearthed document from a Civil War era fort, he unwittingly pulls himself and his 12 year-old severely autistic son into a tangled conspiracy to overthrow the government that began at Lee's surrender at Appomattox. Finding himself the target of a deeply embedded plot to overthrow the United States government, he goes on the run, searching for the historical documents that will give proof to his assertions that national leaders are in jeopardy. Meg Tolman, a government investigator in an obscure bureaucratic office, becomes his only ally as they race to find evidence that the Speaker of the House, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the President are targets in a conspiracy to take over the government by a group called the Glory Warriors. The political thriller, Cold Glory, keeps the reader turning pages with plot twists and unexpected revelations. The characters are engaging and much less superficial than many in the genre. Journey’s relationship with his autistic son adds depth and humanity to his character, and the dichotomy of Tolman’s investigative role contrasts with her first passion of concert pianist. Author B. Kent Anderson ties unlikely plot lines together creating a plausible narrative. Cold Glory is a respectable addition to the predictable and unbelievable novels often found in the genre.

[Ben · Rating 2 out of 5]

A nice attempt, but ultimately a pretty lame bit of literature: the motivations of the characters are under developed and unbelievable, the "document" they're searching for would never hold any sway in the modern world, making the whole quest to find it a moot point, and the trajectory of the plot is transparent from the beginning, but only the main character seems mentally capable enough to connect the dots as the story unfolds. Ultimately I could never suspend disbelief. Just didn't do enough to make it plausible, while the whole underlying premise is pretty silly to begin with. Prob better off just rereading the da vinci code if you have a hankering for this type of literature.

[Horace Clinard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a full 4-star, but close enough. I enjoyed this book, although its slow start almost made me put it down. Once the story really started to move, it became pretty interesting the rest of the way to the end. Along the way I realized some parts were a bit improbable, although not extremely, and not so much it detracted from enjoying it.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but not great. Nicely paced but several interesting characters introduced with tantalizing aspects but then nothing comes of it. Such as Kerry Voss. Or Sandra for that matter. Underlying plot was mildly interesting but a bit of a stretch at times.

[J.R. Bell II · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is remarkable. The plot was very creative. The history, real characters, along with a cast of well thought out characters keep the book very interesting. It will absorb all your attention until you read the last words. This book is a great read.

GW

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

B. Kent Anderson's first novel Cold Glory (Tom Doherty 2011) is not the typical mystery/thriller.While the story deals with an unsolved mystery, uses murders and bad guys to move the plot forward, the characters are developed as you might see in literary fiction--with lots of internal pensiveness and personal problems that interfere with the main plot line, but Anderson's prologue does such a good job of drawing readers in that I had to read until I could uncover the tie-ins.

Nick Journey, a small town college professor and expert in the Civil War, is asked to review newly-discovered arms and documents uncovered in Oklahoma. When his story hits the news, someone tries to kill him and his family is threatened. When he decides his best defense is to solve the mystery of why someone cares enough about the documents to threaten him, he ends up on a cross-country chase accompanied by FBI agent Meg Tolman, racing against time to resolve the clues before the shadowy men threatening him can unfurl the fullness of their plan.You get a good sense of the two main characters in this verbal exchange: "I don't know if I can guarantee your safety (Journey talking to Tolman)." "I'll guarantee my own safety (Tolman responding)."

Yes, that sounds like the fodder of a typical mystery/thriller, but just as the plot is quickening, Anderson stumbles, interjecting plot pieces or descriptions as though he's trying too hard to fulfill the thriller genre. For example, Journey's office is ransacked and Anderson attempts to extend the threat beyond his main character to Journey's handicapped son by saying, "The fissure in the glass slashed directly across the boy's face." This is an obvious reference to the boy's safety, one which is repeated throughout the story with no real result. Anderson has some difficulty fully fleshing out his characters, despite both Journey and Tolman having appealing side-lives, the former raising an autistic son and the latter trying to develop a part-time career as a concert pianist. Somehow, they failed to garner my empathy. Additionally, Anderson has difficulty pacing the story, breaking often from the main plot to delve into side stories. These interrupt the plot's rhythm and thus the tension. Meg Tolman musing over her weekend plans and Nick Journey toddling through the daily events in his boy's life are interesting in their own way, but don't contribute to the rising sense of fear that usually accompanies a mystery/thriller.

Interestedly enough and despite my difficulties with the character development and pace, when I finished the book, I realized I had experienced a wonderful story. It is not the typical mystery/thriller, but one with the author's signature, off-center and appealing in its own unique way. In what other mystery/thriller would you read, "He changed Andrew and popped in a CD for him. It was approaching five o'clock and he needed to start thinking about dinner. It was strange, he thought, how in the midst of secret societies and weapons caches and thoughts about running down that gunman, life could still be rooted in the ordinary, in things every other parent did--finding something their child would eat." I found I liked this approach and Anderson's courage for writing it.

One issue I couldn't resolve was Nick Journey himself. He is depicted as an out-of-shape professor whose minor league baseball days are far in his rear view mirror, but manages to outrun ex-Special Forces operatives, outwit criminal masterminds and out-think his adversary on a regular basis. I liked his cleverness, ingenuity, but was pretty confused by him.

Overall, if you're a Civil War buff, you're going to love the history contained in this story. If you aren't, you'll love the story anyway.

[Barbara Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

October 11, 2011 is the release date for a new thriller by B. Kent Anderson. Cold Glory is the story of a supremely well-organized organization, Glory Warriors, who believe U.S. Grant and R.E. Lee signed a document just prior to Lee's surrender that details a plan for takeover of the U.S. government if the Speaker of the House, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the President are all taken out by violence. The Glory Warriors, who include people in all stations and walks of life, would take over the country swiftly before anarchy could arise.

It begins with the discovery at a construction site in Oklahoma of a cache of weapons and a document. Dr. Nick Journey, a history teacher, is called on to study the document. Journey is a hero you can't help but love. He has a severely autistic son who he cares for as a single parent since his wife left him, unable to take the day-after-day stress. He eventually is helped by a government researcher, Meg Tolman, who is the only one that believes him when he realizes the document has put him in terrible danger.

The Glory Warriors have been looking for that document since the end of the Civil War and they mean to get it no matter what it takes. They pursue Journey and Tolman across the country, and it's one of those cases where you can't trust anyone, even someone who has supposedly been one of your best friends. They can't be sure who is part of the conspiracy, especially after the Speaker and the Chief Justice are assassinated. The president is next and they must stop the Glory Warriors.

It's an exciting story. After about the first chapter the tension begins to escalate and finally it gets to be sitting on the edge of your seat time. This is a book where you need to suspend reality, don't question much, and just take the ride. Very good escapist thriller but with questions about autism, friends, and love underneath.

I may be prejudiced because of my love of history, but I recommend this book.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the surrender at Appomattox, Grant and Lee were left alone for a short period,Anderson surmises what might have happened in that moment and introduces the reader to a secret treaty that the two generals agreed upon.
When this sought after treaty is unearthed with a clad of civil war-era weapons in southern Oklahoma, Nick Journey, a small college professor and amateur historian, inspects the findings and is
attacked by a secret society, the Glory Warriors, in an attempt to recover this forgotten treaty in an effort to overthrow our government, home-grown terrorists.
When the key political figures are assassinated, RIO—a small investigative branch of Homeland Security—takes the threats seriously, but not knowing who to trust on the inside agent Meg Tolman and
Nick Journey have to put their trust in each other as they race to save the life of the President. The race takes them on a wild chase, with the Glory Warriors operatives hot on their trail.
With well-built and engaging characters, Anderson throws in a part-time concert pianist as a Federal agent and a protagonist with a severely autistic child that allows converging relationships to develop and sets up the reader for the sequel: the next adventure.
In a tale rife with intrigue and suspicion, this debut novel from Anderson has something for conspiracy theorists, history buffs,Civil War aficionados, and mystery readers alike and is a fast-paced page turner down to the final twist.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who would've thought a middle-aged, overweight man with a special needs son would be the hero of an action packed thriller? I certainly wouldn't, but B. Kent Anderson does a great job of making an everyday man do what needs to be done for his country and his son. This book has the feel of a National Treasure movie that keeps you hooked from page one!
Nick Journey, a college professor, gets called to a discovery of a cache of Civil War era weapons that includes an ominous page about a military coup and a piece of jewelry. After being on the news regarding these findings, he gets attacked which start a whole chain of events that puts him on the run for his life.
Meg Toleman, a concert pianist and research specialist for a little known government agency, is the only one who believes Nick's concern about a military coup. She comes to Nick's aid and together they go across several states, trying to find missing pages that a shadow organization is using to justify a military coup.
Meg and Nick face assassins, betrayals, and mystery on their journey to ensure the government isn't destabilized.
If you like American history with facts thrown in, a good story, and well developed characters, you will love this book. Not only does it delve into American history, it delves into Nick's caring for his son with Autism. Autism is a growing epidemic and I really appreciate how the book portrays the dedication Nick has to his son.

[Christopher Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up in a bargain bin at my local grocery store and it was well worth the $5 I spent on it.

What I liked most about the story was the pace. There was constantly something going on with very little down time. What I liked least was the depressing nature of the characters. I understand normal folks have issues in life to deal with, but it seemed all the characters had some sort of negative cloud floating over their heads resulting from events in their lives. The negativity seemed to prevent relationships from developing in the story, but that aside, it was a fun, action packed read.

The story was only somewhat believable with regard to "could this really happen?" A secret organization looks to take over the US government in a coup based on documents signed by US Grant and Robert E Lee at the end of the American Civil War. The organization (called the Glory Warriors) believed the document gave them the authority to do so if certain events transpire. I bought into this premise, but I didn't find myself buying into the ability of the Glory Warriors to pull off the coup 150 years later. A lot of government organizations would have to be corrupted with folks bordering on treasonous behavior for the events in Cold Glory to actually unfold.

Overall, I recommend Cold Glory to anyone who likes action and has a love of history. The "what if" scenario presented in the story may be appealing to some as well.

[William Bentrim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cold Glory by B. Kent Anderson

This book is a historical conspiracy complete with a sedentary history professor, a gun toting, piano playing researcher and a well done depiction of severe autism.

I didn't read this in one sitting, mainly because I started it too late in the evening. If you enjoy conspiracy, action and some extreme politics this may be a book for you. B. Kent Anderson has written another series of stories under the pseudonym David Kent, the Department Thirty series. I look forward to checking them out as well. I would like to see more of Meg Tolman and Nick Journey, take note Mr. Anderson.

I was particularly taken with Nick Journey’s devotion to his autistic son, Andrew. The author did an excellent job portraying a depth of emotion and consideration for the difficulties facing the parent of a severely autistic child.

The conspiracy was well plotted and the historic context was very interesting, especially for someone who taught American History decades ago. The minutia of history is often what makes it most interesting.

I really enjoyed the book and highly recommend.

[Bobby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like tales that keep the page turning even when not believable. History professor, Nick Journey, was a good protagonist but a little too clever at times. He was way ahead of the story a couple of times as he tracked down the centuries-old documents.

On the positive side I liked that Nick didn't have a fling with every female character that was introduced and especially appreciated having his special needs son, Andrew, getting a lot of attention in the story. Brought a real human side to the on-going intrigue. Overall, enjoyable just keep reminding yourself its fiction and don't read too much into it.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fans of "the DaVinci Code" or the movie "National Treasure" will surely enjoy this book. A nice touch was that the book did not only focus on the treasure hunt but also on the unfortunate reality that is our Washington right now. Fortunately the main characters, like myself, have hope. As quoted in the book, "Somewhere human misery must have a stop. There is no wind that always blows a storm" - Euripides. Wonderful words to live by. Thanks first-reads giveaway.

[Tracy Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those "what if" books about the Civil War. What if Grant and Lee signed a paper that formed a military coup called the Glory Warriors. When part of the paper is unearthed in modern times it starts the Glory Warriors on a mission to take over the government by killing the top three in power. History Professor Nick Journey has part of the document and finds himself on the run to find the rest of the papers. Fortunately he has help with some people in high places.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an entertaining if not so believable conspiracy story. The main character is a history professor with an autistic son who comes into possession of a document from Grant and Lee. The story takes off from there. Lots of action, and good character development. The plot is not quite believable at times.

[Michele bookloverforever · Rating 3 out of 5]

a cult dating from the civil war seeks to assassinate the president of the US and throw the country into chaos. The cult has infiltrated congress, the cabinet, the military, the police, the FBI...will they succeed? They seek papers found by a history professor which reveals their cult and their plot.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoyed the National Secret films, or historical mystery thrillers, you will probably enjoy this book. Starting with the final days of the American Civil War and ending with the foiling of an American coup in the present, B. Kent Anderson keeps us guessing until the final pages. An enjoyable read.

[Garry · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading Silver Cross, I check out Anderson's first novel. It's much slower but helps the reader understand the characters better. His second novel is, however, more interesting. Had I read this first, I would probably would not have checked out the second. Of course, now I'm curious to see the next one.

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anderson has written a book that entices and propels the reader along with excellent pacing and a wonderful plot line. For those who are not interested specifically in historically based fictional novels, this one a highly recommended read.

[Debye · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a debut novel, I thought this a very good read. In pace & action, it reminded me of James Rollins or Steve Berry, both of whom I enjoy. What caught my eye was the Civil War element and I think Anderson did a pretty good job coming up with a plausible story. I look forward to the next one.

[Joan Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very intriguing storyline with characters that have depth. I really like how the author shows autism is a family issue instead of something that is outside of a family. It is part of the book instead of a topic inside the book.

[Deckle Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

History, mystery, action and adventure all rolled into one book. B. Kent Anderson has created a masterfully written page turner. Keep me up late just to read "one more chapter" ... definitely a 'goodread".

[Wes Bartlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like history and mysteries this is a book you will like. Discovering old historical documents that reveal a connection to a current conspiracy links both history and mystery together. This was a very entertaining book.

[Yy]

Looks interesting.

[Mary G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a nice adventure story about what could have happened at the end of the Civil War.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book 100 stars...I would! Great drama, action, and some Civil War history combine to make this book a page-turning must read!