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Gage Hartline #1
The Diaries
He thought it was a routine surveillance job. They thought he was an ordinary citizen. Neither could have been more wrong. Propelled by the discovery of a set of mind-bending diaries penned by Adolf Hitler's unwilling lover, a deadly pursuit ensues across Europe. Chased is Gage Hartline, a former special operations soldier. Stalking him are the French mob, a rogue DGSE agent, and his former employer, the United States Army. But when the one he loves is ripped from him, Gage turns the tables and becomes the hunter. The first book in the Gage Hartline series, The Diaries is a modern example of the classic European espionage thriller.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 24, 2012
About the author
Chuck Driskell
19 books43 followersThe youngest of five children, Chuck’s initial love of fiction was borne out of a lack of money coupled with an overactive childhood imagination. On Sunday afternoons during his childhood, Chuck’s parents would take the entire family to the public library—it was pleasurable and, best of all, free. He credits The Shining, by Stephen King, as being the first novel he ever read.
Following high school, Chuck joined the Army after finding little inspiration (or money) for college. He was stationed stateside at Fort Sill and as a paratrooper at Fort Bragg; but it was Chuck’s two-and-a-half years stationed in Germany that forged many of the memories that fuel his interest today.
Following his honorable discharge from the Army, Chuck endured more schooling before embarking on a career in advertising. In 2001 he co-founded B2B Media, Inc., a company that would go on to be named the second fastest-growing company in South Carolina.
While his career was progressing nicely, an active skydiver, Chuck suffered an accident while BASE jumping from the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia. Although he’s since recovered, the accident took away his ability to compete in numerous sports. It was the accident, and his resulting physical limitations, that would later become the seed for his need to write.
As his career churned on, Chuck married his wife in 2003. Fulfilled personally and professionally, something began to tug at his mind. Before his accident he’d been able to satisfy his inner desires, first with the adrenaline of a soldier’s life, and later as a risk-taking skydiver. When he could no longer be either, he realized something was missing.
Searching for an answer, in 2005 and at the behest of one of his closest friends, Chuck began to write. Claiming he couldn’t write a decent sentence at the time, he started by penning his own experiences. After moving on to short stories for a period, he eventually began to write novel-length stories in earnest. Over time he learned to blend flawed characters with extraordinary situations, creating a hybrid of the classic spy/suspense novel. Chuck’s passion for travel—especially in Europe—helps lend genuine background and texture to his writing.
Now, every day, Chuck awakens before the dawn and writes. He claims his writing is at its best when his mind is a blank slate. Plus, by writing early, he doesn’t miss time with his wife, his daughter, or his son. They live in South Carolina.
Following high school, Chuck joined the Army after finding little inspiration (or money) for college. He was stationed stateside at Fort Sill and as a paratrooper at Fort Bragg; but it was Chuck’s two-and-a-half years stationed in Germany that forged many of the memories that fuel his interest today.
Following his honorable discharge from the Army, Chuck endured more schooling before embarking on a career in advertising. In 2001 he co-founded B2B Media, Inc., a company that would go on to be named the second fastest-growing company in South Carolina.
While his career was progressing nicely, an active skydiver, Chuck suffered an accident while BASE jumping from the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia. Although he’s since recovered, the accident took away his ability to compete in numerous sports. It was the accident, and his resulting physical limitations, that would later become the seed for his need to write.
As his career churned on, Chuck married his wife in 2003. Fulfilled personally and professionally, something began to tug at his mind. Before his accident he’d been able to satisfy his inner desires, first with the adrenaline of a soldier’s life, and later as a risk-taking skydiver. When he could no longer be either, he realized something was missing.
Searching for an answer, in 2005 and at the behest of one of his closest friends, Chuck began to write. Claiming he couldn’t write a decent sentence at the time, he started by penning his own experiences. After moving on to short stories for a period, he eventually began to write novel-length stories in earnest. Over time he learned to blend flawed characters with extraordinary situations, creating a hybrid of the classic spy/suspense novel. Chuck’s passion for travel—especially in Europe—helps lend genuine background and texture to his writing.
Now, every day, Chuck awakens before the dawn and writes. He claims his writing is at its best when his mind is a blank slate. Plus, by writing early, he doesn’t miss time with his wife, his daughter, or his son. They live in South Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
January 18, 2020
I think most authors deserve two stars just for their ambition to write and publish a novel. Chuck Driskell has earned a third star in my book for donating a portion of his profits to wounded veterans.
His book itself, The Diaries, is derivative in almost every important aspect. His hero, Gage Hartline, is a shorter version of Jack Reacher: ex-military, a loner, and a vigilante with a keen moral sense and fighting skills to single-handedly right wrongs. The story of a diary by a Jew with a mysterious secret was done better and before by Frederick Forsyth in The Odessa File. So was the idea of Hitler's progeny by Ira Levin in The Boys from Brazil. I recommend them both to you, including the film versions, instead of Chuck Driskell's The Diaries.
As for Mr. Driskell's writing, the hearts of his characters were described as thumping throughout the book more times than I cared to count, evidently because the author lacked the imagination to find other words to indicate excitement and anxiety. Furthermore, despite the alleged killing expertise of two main characters, one forgets his stun grenade and the second his silencer at two crucial moments. Finally, in a transparent attempt to impress his readers with his erudition, Mr. Driskell occasionally uses words in his text which were artificial and pretentious. I wish now that I had made better notes of them to share with you, but you will know them when you see them. I can't believe he actually uses them when he speaks.
I see that Mr. Driskell has written at least two other novels starring Gage Hartline. I think I'll save my time, skip these books, and just make a donation directly to the wounded veterans.
His book itself, The Diaries, is derivative in almost every important aspect. His hero, Gage Hartline, is a shorter version of Jack Reacher: ex-military, a loner, and a vigilante with a keen moral sense and fighting skills to single-handedly right wrongs. The story of a diary by a Jew with a mysterious secret was done better and before by Frederick Forsyth in The Odessa File. So was the idea of Hitler's progeny by Ira Levin in The Boys from Brazil. I recommend them both to you, including the film versions, instead of Chuck Driskell's The Diaries.
As for Mr. Driskell's writing, the hearts of his characters were described as thumping throughout the book more times than I cared to count, evidently because the author lacked the imagination to find other words to indicate excitement and anxiety. Furthermore, despite the alleged killing expertise of two main characters, one forgets his stun grenade and the second his silencer at two crucial moments. Finally, in a transparent attempt to impress his readers with his erudition, Mr. Driskell occasionally uses words in his text which were artificial and pretentious. I wish now that I had made better notes of them to share with you, but you will know them when you see them. I can't believe he actually uses them when he speaks.
I see that Mr. Driskell has written at least two other novels starring Gage Hartline. I think I'll save my time, skip these books, and just make a donation directly to the wounded veterans.
June 11, 2014
Kept me up.
Great book. I do take exception to the fact that I got nothing done today, well yesterday now since it is 0130hrs and I have to be in Guadalajara early later in the morning. It is Chuck Driscoll's fault. I can not believe this is your first book. Thanks from another Vet.
Great book. I do take exception to the fact that I got nothing done today, well yesterday now since it is 0130hrs and I have to be in Guadalajara early later in the morning. It is Chuck Driscoll's fault. I can not believe this is your first book. Thanks from another Vet.
December 31, 2020
A quick read of a free Kindle book. The hero, Gage Hartline, a special operations soldier, like a Jack Reacher with more training, finds something worth millions while on a mission for his nefarious employer. Now everyone is after him. But since he is like Reacher, it isn't something he can't deal with, but not everyone around him is safe.
June 12, 2021
Completely engaging
I was sucked into Gage's world from the first page and I just know I will be joining Gage again. Initially I was drawn to this book for the Hitler aspect. But Gage and his actions quickly outweighed my fascination with the diaries.
I was sucked into Gage's world from the first page and I just know I will be joining Gage again. Initially I was drawn to this book for the Hitler aspect. But Gage and his actions quickly outweighed my fascination with the diaries.
February 8, 2015
The subtitle (...Espionage thriller) says it all. but this is less espionage per se than thriller. and event that with a nice twist. Gage is a retired special forces solder doing odd jobs to make a living. On one he discovers a cache of diaries, which he realizes were written by a maid of Hitlter's---wa woman who has hidden her Jewish origins. Gage's new girlfriend hooks him up with a cousin who is a rare book dealer, and that's where things go horribly wrong. The dealer is in debt to the French mob and thugs come to collect. It gets complicated and Gage and Monica flee.Gage is suspected of several murders and must use all his ingenuity, and overcome guilt about innocvents killed in an operation in Crete. He ultimately pursues French thugs and mobsdters who have wronged him and in the end uses the diaries to ensure that the elderly daughter of the Jewish diarist is cared for properly. It's a good read, but if you're squeamish you won't like some parts. The writing is strong, the characters nicely built, and the pacing swift.
August 17, 2015
Quite interesting but a little too long..
May 20, 2017
Now there is a name to conjure with – Gage Nils Hartline. Doesn’t really trip off the tongue, but as he is generally referred to as simply “Gage”, it isn’t too bad. Obviously not his real name, as a former soldier he is trying to escape his past. He takes on well-paid roles, but in one of these he discovers a hidden compartment in which he finds a series of diaries written by a young girl in the mid to late 1930’s. The contents of these diaries would be explosive to say the least, and they attract the attention of people who will stop at nothing to try to obtain them. This despite Gage’s attempts to keep the diaries a secret until more can be found out about them, but his girlfriend’s brother, who is a book dealer in debt, and to whom they turn for help, allows information about them to become known by the criminals to whom he owes money. From that point control of the situation spirals downwards rapidly.
The information contained in the diaries is fascinating, and, if true, would have had tremendous consequences, but Gage manages in the end to come up with a very satisfying, and to my mind, appropriate way of dealing with them to the benefit of a number of people without revealing any of the secrets contained therein.
That only happens after a serious amount of toing and froing across Europe, quite an amount of violence, and a great deal of subterfuge.
I very much enjoyed this book, despite the idea of discovered diaries having become rather more commonplace in novels over the past few years. This one has sufficient difference in it to make me recommend it quite highly, and to look forward to the next novel in the series, by an author of whom I had not previously heard.
January 12, 2021
An Intriguing Story
This book represented an outstanding effort by a first-time author. While clearly a work of fiction (and you can peruse other reviews to get more details), the storyline was excellent and I became totally absorbed with the twists and turns as they unfolded. This is a classic story of good triumphing over evil, with the uplifting theme of how caring people can pass along opportunities to others that have been bestowed on them. This book has my strong recommendation!
This book represented an outstanding effort by a first-time author. While clearly a work of fiction (and you can peruse other reviews to get more details), the storyline was excellent and I became totally absorbed with the twists and turns as they unfolded. This is a classic story of good triumphing over evil, with the uplifting theme of how caring people can pass along opportunities to others that have been bestowed on them. This book has my strong recommendation!
June 23, 2022
Loved it
Gage Hartline is an ex-special ops operative now working freelance.
He has one criteria, he doesn't do 'wet jobs' for anybody, but one job has some surprising consequences when it turns up a set of diaries that could be the most dangerous diaries in the world.
Gage tries to find out who the diaries rightful owners might be, only to find out there are others interested in the diaries, and will do anything to get their hands on them, and killing a few people isn't a problem to them.
Gage Hartline is an ex-special ops operative now working freelance.
He has one criteria, he doesn't do 'wet jobs' for anybody, but one job has some surprising consequences when it turns up a set of diaries that could be the most dangerous diaries in the world.
Gage tries to find out who the diaries rightful owners might be, only to find out there are others interested in the diaries, and will do anything to get their hands on them, and killing a few people isn't a problem to them.
August 26, 2020
The Deadly Diaries!
Gage Hartline is an ex-covert agent. He accepts a petty job from his known contact at DGSE. While completing the work, Gage stumbles upon diaries. He takes them into possession and from thereon it's a deadly road for him to survive. Gage loses his only love, directly or indirectly due to the diaries.
What are these diaries and why is Gage so possessive about them that he's fighting a hard battle to not forego them?
Read this thriller to know the answers.
Gage Hartline is an ex-covert agent. He accepts a petty job from his known contact at DGSE. While completing the work, Gage stumbles upon diaries. He takes them into possession and from thereon it's a deadly road for him to survive. Gage loses his only love, directly or indirectly due to the diaries.
What are these diaries and why is Gage so possessive about them that he's fighting a hard battle to not forego them?
Read this thriller to know the answers.
September 6, 2020
'The Diaries' pulled me in from the start and didn't let go. Well written and well played out. The story line was very thrilling. Full of great characters, creative scenarios, descriptive locales, action and incredible adventure. Gage is a great lead. Everything about him screams awesome. I can't wait to read more of 'A Gage Hartline Thriller Series'. A definite must add to your tbr list. Highly recommended.
September 18, 2020
What's to like about this book? An ex covert op soldier is broken by an incident in in his past and shuns violence due to his guilty conscience. He suffers another tragic event but instead of suffering even more this gives him his mojo back and he reverts into a savage sadistic killer which as far as the author is concerned is a good thing and now he is ready to take part in violence for money again. Nice ending?
August 25, 2020
What a ride!!
Well written with the story woven with the possibility that hope might come even when everything seems darkest. The cost of unresolved loss and the cost of what we ask.our warrior's to do deepened the story. The cost of greed and evil can only be stopped by folks with character.
Well written with the story woven with the possibility that hope might come even when everything seems darkest. The cost of unresolved loss and the cost of what we ask.our warrior's to do deepened the story. The cost of greed and evil can only be stopped by folks with character.
November 20, 2020
Good story ruined by unnecessary extreme violence
The story was a little different, with quite a few twists and turns. Unfortunately the hero can’t seem to resist resorting to extreme violence, when it was not necessary to the plot. I had trouble believing how well he could function when he was severely injured toward the end.
The story was a little different, with quite a few twists and turns. Unfortunately the hero can’t seem to resist resorting to extreme violence, when it was not necessary to the plot. I had trouble believing how well he could function when he was severely injured toward the end.
July 10, 2021
Well Worth The Read
WOW! One of the best books I have read in ages. If I could, I would give it a "10" . It was well written, kept the pages turning. You will either hate or love each character that Chuck Driskell created in this thriller. I found nothing negative to comment on in this reading. On to his next book, which I hope is as well written.
WOW! One of the best books I have read in ages. If I could, I would give it a "10" . It was well written, kept the pages turning. You will either hate or love each character that Chuck Driskell created in this thriller. I found nothing negative to comment on in this reading. On to his next book, which I hope is as well written.
August 24, 2020
Highly recommended
Action and adventure stories are my favourite. This was, for me, a really good read. I intend reading the next in series and trust the author will not disappoint.
Action and adventure stories are my favourite. This was, for me, a really good read. I intend reading the next in series and trust the author will not disappoint.
August 29, 2020
A well constructed thriller with believable characters. The main character, Gage Hartline, is a "hard assed" version of Jack Reacher. If you like your thrillers quick paced, you will like this one. A very good first novel from Chuck Driskell. He goes onto my list of readable authors.
February 17, 2021
Second chances
Very good integration of past events with present. All main characters were given a second chance to correct a previous wrong one. Author gives the reader a great reading adventure working through the consequences of their second chances.
Very good integration of past events with present. All main characters were given a second chance to correct a previous wrong one. Author gives the reader a great reading adventure working through the consequences of their second chances.
March 4, 2021
👏👏Bravo!
I was not sure what I was getting into, as is often the case in a 1st book in a series with an unknown author. What a great surprise, with ups and downs and a soild main character. I really enjoyed this story and am anxious to read #2!
I was not sure what I was getting into, as is often the case in a 1st book in a series with an unknown author. What a great surprise, with ups and downs and a soild main character. I really enjoyed this story and am anxious to read #2!
September 29, 2021
This story was a little slow to start but understandable as it's the first in a series. I almost gave up on it but then it started to turn around at just the right time. I couldn't wait to see how it ended, which was with a bang!
March 25, 2018
Excellent
Would recommend to anyone who likes a hero with feelings, tough as nails but with a heart but not mushy
Would recommend to anyone who likes a hero with feelings, tough as nails but with a heart but not mushy
July 9, 2018
Great Read
So riveting I read the whole book in one evening without putting it down except to hit the head. Awesome
So riveting I read the whole book in one evening without putting it down except to hit the head. Awesome
July 29, 2019
Good book
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
November 14, 2019
Awesome book!
Great story line and characters! Best of the good guys and worst of the bad guys clash. Fitting to read around Veteran's Day!
Great story line and characters! Best of the good guys and worst of the bad guys clash. Fitting to read around Veteran's Day!
August 24, 2020
Diaries
This is the seventh book I’ve read by Chuck Driskell. An excellent read! Driskell never disappoints! On the the next one.
This is the seventh book I’ve read by Chuck Driskell. An excellent read! Driskell never disappoints! On the the next one.
August 26, 2020
First novel?
Excellent story. Cannot believe this is a first novel for this author. I enjoyed this book more than I expected.
Excellent story. Cannot believe this is a first novel for this author. I enjoyed this book more than I expected.
August 27, 2020
A fast knowledgeable read
A fabulous first book with a collection of desperate and less (more) understood characters. Fun to read and enough action keep your mind alert.
A fabulous first book with a collection of desperate and less (more) understood characters. Fun to read and enough action keep your mind alert.
September 1, 2020
A fast paced read with a heart warming ending
Can't wait to read the next book in the Hartline series. Keep them coming, Mr. Driskell. I enjoyed reading every part of this book.
Can't wait to read the next book in the Hartline series. Keep them coming, Mr. Driskell. I enjoyed reading every part of this book.
September 2, 2020
I loved this book! Gage Hartline is a lovable character, tough on the outside but much more to him than his exterior shell. Lots of action and suspense.
September 2, 2020
Typical former special forces operative novel, but interesting enough continue series. 3.5
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews