Certain Jeopardy

Sgt. Major Eric Moyer #1

by Jeff Struecker

Six American men live behind a protective façade, their real work hidden from neighbors and friends. Different in countless ways, they are intimately the same in one: at any moment their lives can be altered with a phone call, and their actions may change the world.

They are Special Ops. And one team’s mission is about to hit certain jeopardy status when the discovery of an Al Qaeda base in Venezuela becomes secondary to thwarting the transport of a nuclear weapons expert from that training camp to Iran.

Informed by the true combat experience of Captain Jeff Struecker and finessed by award-winning novelist Alton Gansky, Certain Jeopardy is an immersing and pulsating fictional account of what really happens at every level of a stealth engagement: the physical enemy encounter, the spiritual war fought within a soldier, and the emotional battles in families back at home.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Thriller, Christian, Military Fiction, Mystery, Mystery Thriller

403 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2009

About the author

Chaplain (Major) Jeff Struecker was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He entered the Army as an enlisted soldier in September 1987 and remained on active duty until April 2000 when he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army Reserve as a Chaplain Candidate. He confessed Christ as Savior as a teenager and was called to the ministry while serving with the 75th Ranger Regiment in Ft. Benning, Georgia.

He served for ten years in the 75th Ranger Regiment in positions from Ranger Reconnaissance Specialist to Platoon Sergeant. While serving in the 75th Ranger Regiment, Chaplain Struecker competed in the David L. Grange Best Ranger Competition for three consecutive years. His efforts culminated with a first place finish in 1996. He also served as an Assistant Instructor of Military Science at the University of Louisville and was recognized in 1998 as the US Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Noncommissioned Officer of the year.

Throughout his career Chaplain Struecker has attended numerous professional military schools and has received many awards and commendations. Some of his awards include the Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Master Parachutists Wings, Military Freefall Master Parachutist Wings, British Parachutist Wings, Thai Parachutist Wings, German Parachutist Wings, and German Sports Efficiency Badge. He has been awarded other commendations and decorations for successful completion of professional military schools throughout his military career.

His combat experience includes participation in Operation Just Cause in Panama, Operation Iris Gold in Kuwait, Operation Gothic Serpent, in Mogadishu, Somalia, and multiple tours in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. His awards for actions in these imminent danger zones include the Southwest Asia Service Medal (1 Service Star), Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2d award), National Defense Service Medal and the Bronze Star Medal (with "V" Device for valor, 3rd award). He has received other medals as recognition for his service in the United States Army.

Chaplain Struecker holds a Master of Divinity Degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, a Bachelor of Science Degree and Associate of Science Degree from Troy University in Alabama.

Chaplain Struecker and his wife, Dawn, have five children: Aaron, Jacob, Joseph, Abigail and Lydia.

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In “Certain Jeopardy” Sergeant Major Eric Moyer and his Special Ops team are sent to Venezuela on a recon mission to gather intelligence on a suspected Al-Qaeda training facility being set up. What they don’t expect is to uncover the abduction of a nuclear weapons expert and his family.

Intensity and suspense mount with Venezuela’s power-hungry foreign minister about to trade Dr. Hector Cenobio to Iraq, as Sgt. Major Eric Moyer must make a critical decision whether to rescue his family, held hostage in the training facility. Fast-paced and action-packed emotions run high as the Special Ops team make decisions that will have them chased by cars, helicopters and killers while working with the Navy to escape. Adding to all the exciting military action and intriguing twists including the capture and torture of two team members, the plot sparks with emotional tension within their families as one of their wives faces a life and death decision, another the rebellion of a teenage son, and the discovery of a health problem left unresolved.

Well-written, compelling, and realistic as Captain Jeff Struecker’s real life combat experience resonates throughout the plot, there is a strong sense of the team’s commitment to their duty and to each other. Even amid the violence there is also an unquenchable strand of faith as the men look for hope amidst the gunfire, torture and wounding of one of their own. With the power of characters not soon forgotten and the strength of a plot that keeps you absorbed from beginning to end, all too quickly the story progresses to a credible but sad ending.

I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend “Certain Jeopardy”, a thrill-ride you won't put down until finished. I look forward to reading more by the Struecker/ Gansky writing team.

[Tracey Cramer-Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have great respect for Struecker, who has written a nail-biting suspense about a Spec Ops (Army Ranger) team that also grapples with the issue of faith.

There are a lot of characters in this book, and the point of view bounced around a lot. Add in the team members’ nicknames, and it got hard to follow at times. The early parts bogged down a bit, felt a little slow with all the characters getting a tidbit.

Sruecker tried to follow family events happening at home (a rebellious teenage son, a troubled pregnancy) as well as the action on the mission, which I think is a pretty talk order given the huge cast of characters. As a result, it was hard to get to really know any one of the characters. JJ, the only Christian on the team, is probably the one the reader most gets to know, along with the team leader (Eric Moyer).

Struecker obviously knows the processes and lingo of Spec Ops (having been an Army Ranger himself), but he did an excellent job of not letting that overshadow the storyline.

As for the storyline… it had just the right amount of bad-guy stuff (although a tad bit cliché). It moved along very quickly from about the middle of the book.

(spoiler alert here) The ending was very good. I was starting to think it would be a HEA which didn’t feel realistic considering how the odds were stacked against this team. But no, the team loses one of their own in the end, and the ‘conversation’ about faith comes full circle, leaving some (Eric in particular) with grief and survivor guilt.

Excellent action. Less bouncing around amongst characters would have made this a 5-star read.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the back and forth from the guys who are sent on an operation to gather intel on a suspected Al-Qaeda gathering and their families back home who have no idea where they are and when they'll be back. For these guys, it's like having two families. When on a mission, they are ready and willing to lay down their life for each other. Won't leave even a dying man behind. But when something happens at home they have to trust God and the other wives to fill their boots until they can get back. You could put it this way. No sense saving one woman or child and letting the world go to hell in a hand basket.

I also want to take this moment to thank all the men and women of the armed services for helping to make the world a safer place and my prayers go out to them and their families. Thank you and Got Bless You.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a ride! Full of action and intensity, this one will grip you!

The only problem I had was: How can you have jeopardy without Alex Trebek?

(Kidding, people...)

[Carina Shephard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually this genre isn’t my cup of tea, but since I happen to possess a physical copy of this, I thought I’d go ahead and read it! I’m glad I did. Excellent plot, brimming with tension and plot twists, and well-written characters. Although there are several Christian characters and Christianity is woven tightly into the book, it feels real, not just there for the sake of being there. Lots of humor to balance out the tension. Any military jargon that’s introduced is explained for us civilians, which I appreciate (the extent of my military knowledge goes as far as Hogan’s Heroes will take me.)

All in all, even though this is something that I typically wouldn’t interest me, I enjoyed it and am planning on reading more in the series when I can.

Content: Very mild- some violence but not excessive by any means. Due to the nature of the material, 13+ would probably be best.

[A Busscher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked. Easy to read and quick to read aswell. It was a bit hard to believe the action on this, such as all the car crashes and the near misses with the bullets. Also, all the lucky hits wether it was from sheer luck or just because they had a "bible toter" on the team. I really liked it and how the guys didn't always get along but were always a team and could trust each other. I also liked the fact that the families struggled with each deployment- they weren't perfect families that worked well without dad, and BEST with dad. it was always hard with and without them home. I also cried the end with the funeral of caraway- Struecker did a great job.

[Faith Ijiga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading this book. What a powerful book! The last chapters saw me in tears. This kind of stories makes you appreciate how much dedication military personnel all over the world are putting their lives on the line daily to do what's right, and the sacrifices their families are making in letting them go away for a long stretch of time. A very big thank you to the authors for penning down such a hardwarming, action packed Thriller. I am going to the next book in the series immediately.

[Christopher Norris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the story! Plot was very good...started at the beach, finished later at home. BUT at times it was difficult to keep characters straight...especially with their real name and "army" nicknames being used, which can happen when you are breaking up the reading to the time you have instead of reading it straight through. It could have benefitted from a "Cast of Characters" appendix to help keep them straight. I will read more!

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is similar to the books written by Oliver North: exciting and hard to put down. I like the Christian influence interwoven throughout the story.

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good story, hard to put down. A lot of how military families try to cope and some of their war stories. It was hard to keep the men straight with all their nicknames.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book!! Lots of action as expected, but also gives you a 'behind the scenes' look at what the families deal with while their soldiers are away. Team dynamic and dialog were a perfect fit....snarky and sassy just like I like it. Heartbreak and triumph in one book and I can't wait to read more.

[Victor Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captain Jeff Struecker and Alton Gansky in their new book, “Certain Jeopardy” Book One in the Special Ops series published by B&H Publishing Group gives us another mission with Sergeant Eric Moyer and his Special Ops team.

From the back cover: Your safety rests in the hands of six men…

…they are Special Ops and their mission has just been upgraded from difficult to impossible. A detect-and-observe mission revealed the unexpected-and the terrifying. The discovery has forced a change in the mission-a change they call Certain Jeopardy. Failure to act endangers millions. To save the countless, Eric Moyer’s team may need to end the life of one innocent man–a fact that haunts the lone Christian on the team.

“Certain Jeopardy” takes the reader on a secret military mission to foreign soil. Six men, different in many ways, leave family behind to do heroic acts no one will ever hear about. At home, family members face challenges, fears and a life-and-death decision-all without the strength and guidance of their husbands and fathers. Physical battles without, spiritual battles within. Failure means catastrophe

In this book we are introduced to the six men of Special Ops and their families. This is important as these six men form their own family to rely upon one another in order to survive the mission. They also have their own families which have to face their own problems without these men. Military procedural thriller doesn’t really do this book justice. While it most certainly is let me assure you it is much much more. Let me put it this way, get ready for a nail-biting, page-turning thriller. Sergeant Moyer and the team are in deadly danger as they are racing around the globe trying to thwart the transport of a nuclear weapons expert from a Venezuela training camp to Iran.. Captain Jeff Struecker and Alton Gansky not only know how Special Ops forces work they know how to craft suspense. So much is going on within the pages of “Certain Jeopardy” and the characters are so real that you care for all of them and want them to succeed, well at least the good guys. There is more to the story that I didn’t mention but you didn’t really expect me to tell you everything did you? Otherwise you might not want to read the book and I wouldn’t want you to pass up an opportunity for a terrific read. Captain Jeff Struecker and Alton Gansky have written a current spy story with an old-time flair. There are great themes in this book: family, duty, country and how God figures in everything. “Certain Jeopardy” is a book that you will want to start early otherwise you will be up very late as you will want to finish it. I highly recommend it and am looking forward to more from this talented duo.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from B&H Publishing Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Bookish Indulgenges with b00k r3vi3ws · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story follows the lives of six special ops operatives and their immediate family. They live a kind of dual lives because they can never reveal what they really do. Their lives take an interesting turn with a simple phone call as three pairs of special ops soldiers move to a new assignment separately, yet together. As the lives of these six men change with the dire situations, so do the lives of their partners back home.

The character portrayal has been done to perfection as each character have their own personalities and quirks. The story is written from various point of views giving us an idea about what each of these people are thinking or going through. The six soldiers – ‘Boss’, ‘Colt’, ‘Doc’, ‘Junior’, ‘Shaq’ and ‘Goat’ – each have distinctive voice in the novel and together they made for a great cast. The plot is genuine and action packed without a single dull moment. From Al-Qaeda base in Venezuela to Nuclear weaponry in Iran, from kidnapping to abortion, this book covers a wide range of things. The only problem I faced was the author’s style of writing. I thought it to be a bit ‘dry’ and kept on wishing for a little more description of the surroundings and bit more expressive.

But what I loved the most about this book was its take on religion and faith. While some of the characters were Christians and they practiced their faith the others weren’t as keen. While the author made some points about faith at no point did it get too overbearing. Also, while the people in this line of work are truly appreciated, one often overlooks the struggles of their family. Spending lengths of time away from their partners, the wives have their own fights to live through.

The climax is the deal clincher though. I had a great time reading through this book and would recommend you to give it a try.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable book. The story was well-told and the characters were believable.

It is the story of a Special Ops team on a mission to Venezuela. As the story moved to its conclusion the fast-paced action kept me reading. I enjoyed the way the authors wove the lives of the families back home in throughout the story.

I don't usually enjoy Christian fiction, because so often the belief seems to drive the story. In this book the story was told, and the Christian belief was a part of it, but in a way that fit the story and made sense. It also wasn't simplistic in the Christian/good, not Christian/bad way that I have seen at times in Christian fiction. Not all of the characters were Christians. The leader of the team, arguably the main character, was not, and was presented as a decent man. From a theological point of view, I liked it that this book didn't present belief as a cure-all that would make all of the characters' problems disappear.

Some reviewers have found the lack of swearing bothersome--it is referred to, but not written--as such language tends to be de rigeur in books involving the military. I found its absence refreshing.

Not a great work of literature, but a decent and entertaining read.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Iran and Venezuela put their heads together, the results are not good for the United States. Throw in the kidnapping of a nuclear physicist's family, and things go from bad to worse. Eric Moyer's Army Ranger team is sent in to recon the situation. These six men represent the highest of Army ideals . . . but tragedy on the home front and a secret kept by a member of the team threaten to unravel even the best laid plans. Before long, things are spiraling toward certain jeopardy.

Certain Jeopardy, co-written by (now retired) Army Captain, Jeff Struecker, and prolific author, Alton Gansky, is an excellent example of military suspense. These men weave a story full of ripped-from-the-headlines realism and ever-growing stakes. Their characters make you proud of the U.S. military. Though they write from a Christian perspective, the story avoids getting bogged down in preachy subtext.

Family values, love of country, brotherhood, protection of the innocent . . . all these things can be found without the foul language and innuendo that plagues most novels in this genre. Yet Struecker and Gansky don't shy away from the harsh realities our Special Forces soldiers encounter.

I recommend Certain Jeopardy to all fans of military suspense.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a military thriller. The story was written in short, quick chapters from rotating point of views--and there were a fairly large number of point of view characters. At the beginning, I sometimes got confused as to how everyone was related to each other, but that didn't last long.

The prose felt a little unrefined, but that fit the character of the story.

The book was fast-paced. The author clearly explained the equipment and jargon used in the story without bogging down the pace with too many details. Every moment was full of tension and conflict, both at home with the team's families and on mission with the team. The conflict and reactions all felt realistic and plausible.

Characters were varied and engaging. Several of the characters were Christian. Their faith mattered to them and made a difference in how they reacted in difficulties, but the Christian content was never preachy.

There is no sex in this book and all the swearing is of the "he swore" variety rather than actual printed cuss words. Overall, I'd highly recommend this book as a "good, clean fun" novel.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little hesitant about this book after reading other reviews and noting the religious overtones that were called out. After reading it however, I can say that the religious aspects were well presented and fit nicely into the story line. [return]The book starts off quickly and keeps going. Jeff Struecker and Alton Gansky do a wonderful job of developing the characters in the story.The inclusion of the character's families make them feel real. [return]While the characters are well developed, I feel the authors fell short in the descriptions of the world around them. I did not feel immersed in their surroundings as with other authors of this genre. [return]Overall, I feel this was a great book and look forward to reading other books by this author.

[Marian Baay · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Certain Jeopardy we meet a Spec Ops team of six men. Although I had some trouble getting to know the names and nicknames of the men and to whom they were in a relationship--I really think it was a great read!
When I had the relationships all figured out, I enjoyed to have a look in the family lifes of special ops.

The book is believably written. It's always great to read a book by an author who knows where he's talking about. Jeff Strueker has been there and done that.

I highly recommend this book for fans of military fiction.
I'm looking forward to reading the other books Al and Jeff have written together!

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read aloud to me. I guess you could say it's just not my style though I've enjoyed a few others of the same genre. Some of these scenes are too descriptive for me. It's a riveting plot. There's character development. I would have preferred that some of the sub-conflicts were not quite what they were. I really liked a different one by this author though, The Road to Unafraid. This book has a different co-author. Perhaps his influence is the part I don't like.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book about military men working undercover in another country to protect the USA. It was not as well-written as many books I read, but it was suspenseful and all does not turn out perfect, just like the real world. One thing I didn't like was that the author had names for his characters, but also nicknames. It was very confusing at times, because he went back and forth on the same page, using the name or the nickname. It was an interruption in the reading.

[Stacy]

One I purchased on my Kindle for Tim to read. But he never seems to want to read, so I finally broke down and read it. Good book, took a bit to set up, but once it got going, it was really good. We'd heard Captain Struecker speak at our church, so we knew a lot about him. He has a couple of other books, one of which I've bought, and plan to read. Modern day soldiers in situations in the war against terrorism, with a Christian background and viewpoint. Good stuff.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this author. He writes great stories with no language or immorality, and he makes the characters real. It is obvious he puts some of himself and others into his characters. You really can start to understand why career military and special ops solders feel compelled to do what they do. I hope he continues to write more books.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book for Christmas and I'm glad I did. It was a great book, great story. Action packed while still having a Christian theme to it. The only problem I had with it (just me) was the number of characters in it to keep straight. But once I got them straightened out it was terrific. Highly recommended.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another excellent story with breathtaking suspense. The characters are so engaging, I felt like I knew them. I appreciate how the authors portrayed military soldiers as humans with extraordinary skills yet the same life struggles as civilians. I also like the example of the Christian character balancing his faith with the mission - so true to life!

[Brad Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of the TV show 'The Unit.' This book is a lot like the show with the addition one soldier's witness as a Christian to his fellow soldiers while they go through struggles related to their work and their families.

[Kale Snyder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over all this was a good read. It started really slow with a lot of background. The real story doesn't start until almost half way through the book but once it get going it's a wild and nail biting ride to the end.

[Brett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Suspense

[Deborah Boutwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read, my heart was racing with the action.

[Charity · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great!! I have read many of Alton Gansky's books and this was one of the best. I enjoy military stuff and this was good. Definitely a keeper:)!

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book, very fast paced.