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Master Sergeant Lauren Harper Mystery #2
The Sapper's Plot
The last thing Master Sergeant Lauren Harper needs is another difficult mission. Her ordeal in Bosnia left her traumatized and worn out. But a soldier doesn’t get to say no to official orders.
At least this time she’s embarking on a humanitarian mission. What could go wrong?
Turns out, just about everything.
Harper travels with a group of Combat Engineers—also known as Sappers, to the tropical jungles of a Honduran village, only to find a gruesome murder. Cut off from the main base because of the hostile weather, Harper and a man she hoped she’d never see again, CW4 Fletcher Mayes, are forced to take charge of the investigation. Lurking in the shadows are sketchy-looking locals, insolent Sappers and an aggressive TV news team looking for a steamy scandal.
In the midst of it all, the arrival of Sergeant Major Harry Fogg provides some much-needed solace but also muddles her concentration.
Harper begins to think danger will find her wherever she goes, even in the deepest jungles of Honduras. At times, she feels her slightest movement will send her tumbling over a cliff—and heights are about the only thing Harper fears.
At least this time she’s embarking on a humanitarian mission. What could go wrong?
Turns out, just about everything.
Harper travels with a group of Combat Engineers—also known as Sappers, to the tropical jungles of a Honduran village, only to find a gruesome murder. Cut off from the main base because of the hostile weather, Harper and a man she hoped she’d never see again, CW4 Fletcher Mayes, are forced to take charge of the investigation. Lurking in the shadows are sketchy-looking locals, insolent Sappers and an aggressive TV news team looking for a steamy scandal.
In the midst of it all, the arrival of Sergeant Major Harry Fogg provides some much-needed solace but also muddles her concentration.
Harper begins to think danger will find her wherever she goes, even in the deepest jungles of Honduras. At times, she feels her slightest movement will send her tumbling over a cliff—and heights are about the only thing Harper fears.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 17, 2013
2 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
M.L. Doyle
19 books27 followersM. L. Doyle has served in the U.S. Army at home and abroad for more than two decades as both a soldier and civilian. A Minneapolis native, Mary currently lives in Baltimore, Maryland.
Mary's excited about her latest book, The Bonding Spell, released Nov. 2015. She's hard at work on the second book in the series and hopes people will want to revisit Hester Trueblood in her quest to learn to live with being the embodiment of the ancient goddess, Inanna.
Unafraid of genre jumping, The Bonding Spell is Mary's first urban fantasy. She has also published a mystery series, some adult erotica and a couple of co-authored memoirs.
The Master Sergeant Harper mystery series begins with the first book, The Peacekeeper’s Photograph, takes place in a small Army outpost during the Bosnian Peacekeeping mission. The Peacekeeper’s Photograph, was the winner of the Carey McCray Memorial Literary Award for best novel from the South Carolina Writer’s Workshop and an IPPY award in 2014. The Sapper’s Plot, the second book in the series is also now available. The third book, the General's Ambition is also available.
Mary is the co-author of the memoir, I’m Still Standing: From Captive U.S. Soldier to Free Citizen—My Journey Home, which chronicles the story of Shoshana Johnson, a member of the 507th Maintenance Company who was captured during an ambush and held prisoner in the early days of the Iraq War. The book, published by Touchstone, in 2010, was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the literary category for best Auto/biography.
Mary has also co-authored, Soldier, General, Mother, Self: The story of a small town girl's rise to General Officer.The memoir, which chronicles the life of Brigadier General (Ret.) Julia Cleckley, is available now in on-line stores.
Mary’s adult romance series, Limited Partnerships, which features four novellas, is also available in individual novellas or in an Omnibus.
Mary has a bachelor of Arts in broadcast communications from Metropolitan State University and a Master of Arts from the University of Oklahoma in International Relations.
Mary's excited about her latest book, The Bonding Spell, released Nov. 2015. She's hard at work on the second book in the series and hopes people will want to revisit Hester Trueblood in her quest to learn to live with being the embodiment of the ancient goddess, Inanna.
Unafraid of genre jumping, The Bonding Spell is Mary's first urban fantasy. She has also published a mystery series, some adult erotica and a couple of co-authored memoirs.
The Master Sergeant Harper mystery series begins with the first book, The Peacekeeper’s Photograph, takes place in a small Army outpost during the Bosnian Peacekeeping mission. The Peacekeeper’s Photograph, was the winner of the Carey McCray Memorial Literary Award for best novel from the South Carolina Writer’s Workshop and an IPPY award in 2014. The Sapper’s Plot, the second book in the series is also now available. The third book, the General's Ambition is also available.
Mary is the co-author of the memoir, I’m Still Standing: From Captive U.S. Soldier to Free Citizen—My Journey Home, which chronicles the story of Shoshana Johnson, a member of the 507th Maintenance Company who was captured during an ambush and held prisoner in the early days of the Iraq War. The book, published by Touchstone, in 2010, was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the literary category for best Auto/biography.
Mary has also co-authored, Soldier, General, Mother, Self: The story of a small town girl's rise to General Officer.The memoir, which chronicles the life of Brigadier General (Ret.) Julia Cleckley, is available now in on-line stores.
Mary’s adult romance series, Limited Partnerships, which features four novellas, is also available in individual novellas or in an Omnibus.
Mary has a bachelor of Arts in broadcast communications from Metropolitan State University and a Master of Arts from the University of Oklahoma in International Relations.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 3, 2013
The Sapper's Plot is the second in the Master Sergeant Harper Mystery series, and it packs as much of a wallop as the first book, The Peacekeeper's Photograph. I enjoyed the first book immensely, and was looking forward to this novel coming out. I can say that this second story does not disappoint.
This tale starts off shortly after the first story ends. Master Sergeant Lauren Harper was supposed to have gone on a holiday for some much needed time off after the horrible ordeal in Bosnia. AND she was going to go with British soldier, Harry Fogg. (Two G's)
Rather unfortunately, she finds herself having to escort a civilian reporter and camera into the jungles of Honduras. Lauren not only finds herself face-to-face with an ex-boyfriend, but also right in the middle of an unusual murder. And it looks like one of their own is responsible. Add to the mystery of the dead body, there is the mysterious "mayor" of the small village and the questionable activities at the medical center. All in all, it is one heck of a roller coaster ride of a story to unravel! Harry comes to Lauren's rescue once again, and I have such high hopes for the two of them! I love the characters, and love the thought of them as a couple as well. Lauren, of course, is an amazing, strong female protagonist, with just enough quirks to make her human and oh, so very likeable. She has a great wit, and I think she is portrayed very realistically as well, especially when it comes to dealing with the trauma of past events. I always enjoy glimpses of characters from prior stories, in this case Santos and McCallen.
This is a great story, and it stands very well on its own. However, I highly recommend reading both of the Harper Mysteries by author Mary Doyle. You will be glad that you did. I absolutely cannot wait to read another installment....my fingers are crossed Lauren and Harry have some quality time (i.e. no threat of imminent death) together.
As a kind of "P.S." - I have to say that I also really appreciated the glossary at the back of the book that went over various military abbreviations and terms. Very helpful!
This tale starts off shortly after the first story ends. Master Sergeant Lauren Harper was supposed to have gone on a holiday for some much needed time off after the horrible ordeal in Bosnia. AND she was going to go with British soldier, Harry Fogg. (Two G's)
Rather unfortunately, she finds herself having to escort a civilian reporter and camera into the jungles of Honduras. Lauren not only finds herself face-to-face with an ex-boyfriend, but also right in the middle of an unusual murder. And it looks like one of their own is responsible. Add to the mystery of the dead body, there is the mysterious "mayor" of the small village and the questionable activities at the medical center. All in all, it is one heck of a roller coaster ride of a story to unravel! Harry comes to Lauren's rescue once again, and I have such high hopes for the two of them! I love the characters, and love the thought of them as a couple as well. Lauren, of course, is an amazing, strong female protagonist, with just enough quirks to make her human and oh, so very likeable. She has a great wit, and I think she is portrayed very realistically as well, especially when it comes to dealing with the trauma of past events. I always enjoy glimpses of characters from prior stories, in this case Santos and McCallen.
This is a great story, and it stands very well on its own. However, I highly recommend reading both of the Harper Mysteries by author Mary Doyle. You will be glad that you did. I absolutely cannot wait to read another installment....my fingers are crossed Lauren and Harry have some quality time (i.e. no threat of imminent death) together.
As a kind of "P.S." - I have to say that I also really appreciated the glossary at the back of the book that went over various military abbreviations and terms. Very helpful!
August 22, 2013
Sergeant Major Lauren Harper has a knack for getting herself in the middle of murder investigations -- and a whole lot of trouble to boot. This is the second installment in a series I hope will continue. Harper is a real original -- a strong, female (black) protagonist with plenty of grit, but she's far from infallible. Her friend and vital backup - British soldier Harry Fogg plays an important role (he's another terrific character) and he's clearly destined to be a romantic interest for Harper (actually he is already but we'll have to wait to see when they actually get to bed. I hope soon!)
In addition to the fast-paced writing, the series has three strong factors going for it: Harper as a unique protagonist, the author's experience that enables her to give you a real sense of the world of a soldier on a dangerous mission to a faraway land, and a strong romantic element from a woman's point of view.
I'm giving this four stars only because I don't think it's quite as good as the first, in part because the plot isn't quite as tight and believable.
In addition to the fast-paced writing, the series has three strong factors going for it: Harper as a unique protagonist, the author's experience that enables her to give you a real sense of the world of a soldier on a dangerous mission to a faraway land, and a strong romantic element from a woman's point of view.
I'm giving this four stars only because I don't think it's quite as good as the first, in part because the plot isn't quite as tight and believable.
March 2, 2014
As soon as I finished the Peacekeeper, I opened this book right away. Yeah I got hook on MSLH mystery. Can't wait for the next book.
August 27, 2013
“Women in combat boots” author M.L. Doyle writes a tough, action-filled mystery-thriller in The Sapper’s Plot. Army Master Sergeant Harper is assigned to accompany a TV news team from Minneapolis to a remote construction camp in Honduras where U.S. troops are providing engineering support for the project. The TV team is supposedly following one of the Minnesota construction units on the mission, but Army public affairs suspects the team actually seeks to uncover some scandal. When the group arrives at the camp, they discover the body of one of the workers had been buried alive in concrete. Harper takes command of the investigation and fights her way through the cover-up attempts, rigors of rough jungle living, army protocol, and male chauvinism. The descriptive details add much to the realism and mood of the story. The book is a fast-paced, gripping read that builds to a thrilling climax and final unmasking of the killer.
December 30, 2015
M.L. Doyle has done it again! The second book in the Master Sergeant Lauren Harper series hits the ground running with a gruesome murder. This time the setting is a humanitarian mission to the muddy jungles of Honduras. When the weather cuts them off from support from the main base, Harper finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation with plenty of suspects. I enjoyed the return of several characters from the first book (especially Harry). Doyle's characterizations are excellent and it's great to see a bit more of Harper's history in this book, along with the grit and determination that we got to know in book 1. I don't have a military background, but the book brings that experience to life in a way that's easy to relate to. Fast-paced with plenty of plot twists and a bit of romance, this book has something for everyone.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews