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Tom Kagan #1
Broken Allegiance
Winner for Best Mystery by the 2014 National Indie Excellence Award panel of judges.
Before Travis Mays, before Gerrit O’Rourke—there was Tom Kagan.
Police gang detective Tom Kagan has been seeking justice for more than ten years, leaving him a broken man. His only reason for living—the woman he loves and the badge he swore to uphold. When a man is brutally killed in a vineyard on the outskirts of Santa Rosa, California, it sparks a series of events that test what’s left of Kagan’s resolve to protect and serve.
Secrets from the past thwart Kagan’s efforts to unravel a series of killings sanctioned from within the walls of California’s highest security prison. From the lush vineyards of Sonoma County to the shores of beautiful Lake Tahoe, the detective must outsmart a killer who is moving in for one epic killing spree.
Leaders of the notorious Nuestra Family prison gang are fighting for power, a struggle that spills out onto the streets of California. Kagan joins forces with Special Agent Hector Garcia, a feisty supervisor of the Special Services Unit for the California Department of Corrections; Diane Phillips, a beautiful and hard-charging prosecutor; and Mikio Sanchez, a former gang member marked for death. Through the eyes of cops and gangsters, readers are able to glimpse the seldom seen workings of the gangster underworld.
Lb>Broken Allegiance is about treacherous lies, broken promises, and shattered lives—about life, death and a man’s honor.
Before Travis Mays, before Gerrit O’Rourke—there was Tom Kagan.
Police gang detective Tom Kagan has been seeking justice for more than ten years, leaving him a broken man. His only reason for living—the woman he loves and the badge he swore to uphold. When a man is brutally killed in a vineyard on the outskirts of Santa Rosa, California, it sparks a series of events that test what’s left of Kagan’s resolve to protect and serve.
Secrets from the past thwart Kagan’s efforts to unravel a series of killings sanctioned from within the walls of California’s highest security prison. From the lush vineyards of Sonoma County to the shores of beautiful Lake Tahoe, the detective must outsmart a killer who is moving in for one epic killing spree.
Leaders of the notorious Nuestra Family prison gang are fighting for power, a struggle that spills out onto the streets of California. Kagan joins forces with Special Agent Hector Garcia, a feisty supervisor of the Special Services Unit for the California Department of Corrections; Diane Phillips, a beautiful and hard-charging prosecutor; and Mikio Sanchez, a former gang member marked for death. Through the eyes of cops and gangsters, readers are able to glimpse the seldom seen workings of the gangster underworld.
Lb>Broken Allegiance is about treacherous lies, broken promises, and shattered lives—about life, death and a man’s honor.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2012
9 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Mark Young
5 books41 followersMark Young is a former police officer with the Santa Rosa Police Department in California for twenty-six years; an award-winning journalist; and a Vietnam combat veteran. He served with several law enforcement task force operations, including the presidential Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force targeting major drug traffickers, and the federal Organized Crime Task Force charged with identifying and prosecuting prison gang leaders. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his family. Visit www.MarkYoungBooks.com for more information about Mark Young and his writing. Readers may also connect with him at http://hookembookem.blogspot.com/ where mystery readers, writers and law enforcement connect.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 13, 2013
Broken Allegiance: Mark Young
I pledge allegiance to the gang that I will never divulge their secrets, codes or go against their creed. I will stay loyal and committed to the superiors or leaders of this gang or the consequences will be of my own making. When two young people skirt off to an old winery building for a night of fun with a basket of food and wine with the hope of having an evening to themselves little do they know that this simple act of passion would change their lives forever. A young naive girl and a guy hoping to show her a good time and quite macho, find themselves embroiled in something that would endanger both of their lives. But, within this vineyard another car is coming their way and although the young man warns his girlfriend to stay down and quiet she cannot help but try to see what is happening. Four young men, three sent to carry out the orders from the top and one bound and ready for execution take center stage. The leader Rascal along with two of his gang members to aid in the task, bring the captured and bound victim to face his final moments. I pledge my loyalty to the gang at all costs you might say. Were they smart or were they just pawns in a bigger plan? Following orders they take out a well-respected and seasoned member of their gang named Paco. But why? The end comes for this man and the surge for power grows as powerful as an electric current running through many wires as the body is left there and the two young lovers pray they are unseen.
Tom Kagan works the gang unit and has been asked to protect a young mother and her son that are witnesses to a murder. But, one act would change it all as he relates his position to his boss, states he has the situation under control and is blindsided in the middle of the night by an invasion that proves he has it all under control. Protecting a young mother and her requires time and attention but when the mother jeopardizes the safety of everyone include fast and unexpected decisions need to be made. Relocating her is the first step and dealing with the fall out the second as Tom receives an anonymous tip about the gangland killing. With the help of a reliable dispatcher he and his partner Bill Stevenson team up to get to the bottom of this gruesome murder and decide whether it is one family pitted against another, an inside job within a family or an all out gangland war?
As the scene is handled and the discussion begins we hear Tom’s voice as he and his partner assess what needs to be done, the possible reasons for the killing and the oddities they found that lead them to believe there is much more to the murder than meets the eye. Families against family, hate, fear and terror will rock the streets before all is said and done.
A gang hit but who ordered it and why? An investigation on both by the police and by gang members learning who ordered the hit, where it came from and whose loyalty and allegiance was broken. . When a young gang member named Gato receives a coded message to take out a family member what he decides to do will change the course of events and put others besides him in danger. From prison they rule, they decide and they play judge and jury and from the streets of Santa Rosa Tom and his partner Bill Stevenson hoped to create their own justice. Families that have their own colors, fights that they have to protect their turf, money, drugs and prostitution rings and no qualms about killing control reaching their ultimate goal: POWER . When murder is the verdict are you bond to go along? Where will your allegiance be if you belong to this gang? They are your family: I pledge my allegiance or I die! The really frightening part are the guards, the officials and even some police working with the gangs from prison and giving them unconditional power as we even meet Hulk the head of the Investigations team in Pelican Prison itself. A man whose network is wide and whose ability to hear and process information might change things but for what side?
When Rascal is ordered to kill his respected friend Paco he never hesitates, tries not to look back and learns that Ghost powerful man ordered the hit from prison. Why? Did the family sanction the hit or did he act alone? Tom is relentless and manages to become the lead on the case much to the doubt of his boss. But, when things start to move you can hear and feel his determination, his will to find out the answers even though it is taking its toll on his personal life and relationship with his wife Sara who seems to be the target of someone unknown. When Tom receives a set of pictures and his wife’s head is circled letting him know someone is watching her just what will he do and how will he stop what someone is warning him could happen? Is there a link between Tom and Ghost or any other gang members? What is the message he is receiving and why is this happening as the author takes us deep inside the prison to learn just what power these gang members wield, their network and to what lengths they will go to in order to strike.
Diane Phillips is a prosecutor heading Vertical Gang Prosecution Unit and she and Tom have a history and connecting with him to help solve Paco’s murder and being a friend might prove interesting in more ways than one. The Nuestra Familia: How far does their power reign? When Rascal is injured and demands respect from his own members, what happens that lands him in the hospital and what he decides to do will definitely surprise readers.
With protection on its way and his confession on tape Rascal thought he might be home free or at least safe from execution. But, the family is stronger and the loyalties run deep within their blood and his fate was sealed way before.
When Maria Sanchez meets with her husband DJ in prison the message she is given makes her shudder. To disobey his orders and what comes next would not only be in violation of the code she took and her allegiance to the family but would guarantee her fate. Documents in hand and the message clearly sent she and her daughter are charged with taking care of a family member who everyone believes is a traitor. But, how do you kill your husband’s brother? When is that fine line drawn that it is so thin that lines might be crossed and loyalties changed? Paco is dead, his murder not sanctioned by the Familia and the truth placed where it belongs and the end result you just won’t believe. Tom and his partner working the case and Special Services Unit Head Garcia map out their strategy but in the end will it work?
Deaths are adding up and when tragedy hits someone close to him and a gang member is eliminated you begin to wonder just how wide the net of this family is, why they are given such latitude when in jail and why prison officials agree to their demands you might say.
Family members pitted against their own and told to take out their uncles and nephews using loyalty and allegiance as the reason and instant death if you don’t comply. Female members of the family forced to set up murders, meetings to learn the whereabouts of their mark no one is really safe and the end result when Ghost manages to get his freedom is more than frightening. Blood in…Blood Out: family blood goes both ways: Who wins? Everyone winds up in prison at some time. Their fate is sealed!
Families in danger and Tom has to protect his own and that of his partner but will they be safe and will the trail lead Ghost to find them? Choosing to leave the family Mikio and his nephew Gato place themselves in the hands of Tom and the police can they be trusted? The ending has far to go before the final fate is revealed as Ghost is almost like a specter that seems transparent or a faint or shadowy trace that can hardly be seen. Would you murder to become a gang member? Would you chance the death penalty? How far will Tom let his anger and rage carry him before he gets pulled off the case? Author Mark Young helps readers get a true understanding of gang mentality, gang warfare and what it means to Pledge your Allegiance to the Family. Prison means nothing to these people just a safe haven to conduct business. Fact or Fiction: does not matter what does is that the author has based this fiction novel on real life events that are happening right now. When those in charge sell us out what are we supposed to do? Tom Kagan created by author Mark Young reminds us that some detectives cannot be changed, bought and there are those that live to protect those that cannot defend themselves. Will gangs ever be eliminated and stopped? I doubt it but maybe stronger laws to prevent what is so vividly and clearly described in this novel should be instituted to with heavier penalties.
An ending so powerful and so frightening you won’t know the final outcome and who lives and who meets the next gang member’s bullet until you turn the final pages of the book and read what twist the author has in store for readers.
Ghost seems invisible, Gato disappeared and his uncle made his own escape. With DJ the so called mastermind thinking that everything was in place, the murders he order completed what happens will let readers know and gang members too that the best laid plans are not always carried out to the letter of what you think might be the law and the end result will prove just what the word allegiance means to some and not to others. I pledge allegiance to the code of honor of the gang and will never defy them! Watch and learn what happens when they think you do. An ending so powerful, fast paced and filled with twists, turns and one huge surprise. Broken Allegiance: What’s your definition! A Must read for teens, gang members, law enforcement officers, lawyers and prison officials to get the straight talk about what really lies behind the mentality of those that think that Allegiance Means Honor!
Fran Lewis: reviewer
I pledge allegiance to the gang that I will never divulge their secrets, codes or go against their creed. I will stay loyal and committed to the superiors or leaders of this gang or the consequences will be of my own making. When two young people skirt off to an old winery building for a night of fun with a basket of food and wine with the hope of having an evening to themselves little do they know that this simple act of passion would change their lives forever. A young naive girl and a guy hoping to show her a good time and quite macho, find themselves embroiled in something that would endanger both of their lives. But, within this vineyard another car is coming their way and although the young man warns his girlfriend to stay down and quiet she cannot help but try to see what is happening. Four young men, three sent to carry out the orders from the top and one bound and ready for execution take center stage. The leader Rascal along with two of his gang members to aid in the task, bring the captured and bound victim to face his final moments. I pledge my loyalty to the gang at all costs you might say. Were they smart or were they just pawns in a bigger plan? Following orders they take out a well-respected and seasoned member of their gang named Paco. But why? The end comes for this man and the surge for power grows as powerful as an electric current running through many wires as the body is left there and the two young lovers pray they are unseen.
Tom Kagan works the gang unit and has been asked to protect a young mother and her son that are witnesses to a murder. But, one act would change it all as he relates his position to his boss, states he has the situation under control and is blindsided in the middle of the night by an invasion that proves he has it all under control. Protecting a young mother and her requires time and attention but when the mother jeopardizes the safety of everyone include fast and unexpected decisions need to be made. Relocating her is the first step and dealing with the fall out the second as Tom receives an anonymous tip about the gangland killing. With the help of a reliable dispatcher he and his partner Bill Stevenson team up to get to the bottom of this gruesome murder and decide whether it is one family pitted against another, an inside job within a family or an all out gangland war?
As the scene is handled and the discussion begins we hear Tom’s voice as he and his partner assess what needs to be done, the possible reasons for the killing and the oddities they found that lead them to believe there is much more to the murder than meets the eye. Families against family, hate, fear and terror will rock the streets before all is said and done.
A gang hit but who ordered it and why? An investigation on both by the police and by gang members learning who ordered the hit, where it came from and whose loyalty and allegiance was broken. . When a young gang member named Gato receives a coded message to take out a family member what he decides to do will change the course of events and put others besides him in danger. From prison they rule, they decide and they play judge and jury and from the streets of Santa Rosa Tom and his partner Bill Stevenson hoped to create their own justice. Families that have their own colors, fights that they have to protect their turf, money, drugs and prostitution rings and no qualms about killing control reaching their ultimate goal: POWER . When murder is the verdict are you bond to go along? Where will your allegiance be if you belong to this gang? They are your family: I pledge my allegiance or I die! The really frightening part are the guards, the officials and even some police working with the gangs from prison and giving them unconditional power as we even meet Hulk the head of the Investigations team in Pelican Prison itself. A man whose network is wide and whose ability to hear and process information might change things but for what side?
When Rascal is ordered to kill his respected friend Paco he never hesitates, tries not to look back and learns that Ghost powerful man ordered the hit from prison. Why? Did the family sanction the hit or did he act alone? Tom is relentless and manages to become the lead on the case much to the doubt of his boss. But, when things start to move you can hear and feel his determination, his will to find out the answers even though it is taking its toll on his personal life and relationship with his wife Sara who seems to be the target of someone unknown. When Tom receives a set of pictures and his wife’s head is circled letting him know someone is watching her just what will he do and how will he stop what someone is warning him could happen? Is there a link between Tom and Ghost or any other gang members? What is the message he is receiving and why is this happening as the author takes us deep inside the prison to learn just what power these gang members wield, their network and to what lengths they will go to in order to strike.
Diane Phillips is a prosecutor heading Vertical Gang Prosecution Unit and she and Tom have a history and connecting with him to help solve Paco’s murder and being a friend might prove interesting in more ways than one. The Nuestra Familia: How far does their power reign? When Rascal is injured and demands respect from his own members, what happens that lands him in the hospital and what he decides to do will definitely surprise readers.
With protection on its way and his confession on tape Rascal thought he might be home free or at least safe from execution. But, the family is stronger and the loyalties run deep within their blood and his fate was sealed way before.
When Maria Sanchez meets with her husband DJ in prison the message she is given makes her shudder. To disobey his orders and what comes next would not only be in violation of the code she took and her allegiance to the family but would guarantee her fate. Documents in hand and the message clearly sent she and her daughter are charged with taking care of a family member who everyone believes is a traitor. But, how do you kill your husband’s brother? When is that fine line drawn that it is so thin that lines might be crossed and loyalties changed? Paco is dead, his murder not sanctioned by the Familia and the truth placed where it belongs and the end result you just won’t believe. Tom and his partner working the case and Special Services Unit Head Garcia map out their strategy but in the end will it work?
Deaths are adding up and when tragedy hits someone close to him and a gang member is eliminated you begin to wonder just how wide the net of this family is, why they are given such latitude when in jail and why prison officials agree to their demands you might say.
Family members pitted against their own and told to take out their uncles and nephews using loyalty and allegiance as the reason and instant death if you don’t comply. Female members of the family forced to set up murders, meetings to learn the whereabouts of their mark no one is really safe and the end result when Ghost manages to get his freedom is more than frightening. Blood in…Blood Out: family blood goes both ways: Who wins? Everyone winds up in prison at some time. Their fate is sealed!
Families in danger and Tom has to protect his own and that of his partner but will they be safe and will the trail lead Ghost to find them? Choosing to leave the family Mikio and his nephew Gato place themselves in the hands of Tom and the police can they be trusted? The ending has far to go before the final fate is revealed as Ghost is almost like a specter that seems transparent or a faint or shadowy trace that can hardly be seen. Would you murder to become a gang member? Would you chance the death penalty? How far will Tom let his anger and rage carry him before he gets pulled off the case? Author Mark Young helps readers get a true understanding of gang mentality, gang warfare and what it means to Pledge your Allegiance to the Family. Prison means nothing to these people just a safe haven to conduct business. Fact or Fiction: does not matter what does is that the author has based this fiction novel on real life events that are happening right now. When those in charge sell us out what are we supposed to do? Tom Kagan created by author Mark Young reminds us that some detectives cannot be changed, bought and there are those that live to protect those that cannot defend themselves. Will gangs ever be eliminated and stopped? I doubt it but maybe stronger laws to prevent what is so vividly and clearly described in this novel should be instituted to with heavier penalties.
An ending so powerful and so frightening you won’t know the final outcome and who lives and who meets the next gang member’s bullet until you turn the final pages of the book and read what twist the author has in store for readers.
Ghost seems invisible, Gato disappeared and his uncle made his own escape. With DJ the so called mastermind thinking that everything was in place, the murders he order completed what happens will let readers know and gang members too that the best laid plans are not always carried out to the letter of what you think might be the law and the end result will prove just what the word allegiance means to some and not to others. I pledge allegiance to the code of honor of the gang and will never defy them! Watch and learn what happens when they think you do. An ending so powerful, fast paced and filled with twists, turns and one huge surprise. Broken Allegiance: What’s your definition! A Must read for teens, gang members, law enforcement officers, lawyers and prison officials to get the straight talk about what really lies behind the mentality of those that think that Allegiance Means Honor!
Fran Lewis: reviewer
January 9, 2014
"Nos vemos en el infierno!"
It would be difficult to imagine a writer more qualified to pen a book of the nature of mystery/suspense/thriller/Police Procedural genre as BROKEN ALLEGIANCE than Mark Young. Not only has he proved his mettle in his previous three books, but in this particular novel he has that scabrous way with gang dialogue that only comes with extensive exposure to gangs in and out of the prison environment through his twenty-six year history as a police officer with the Santa Rosa, CA Police Department (the very setting for this novel) and his involvement with the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force targeting major drug traffickers, and the federal Organized Crime Task Force charged with identifying and prosecuting prison gang leaders. Couple all that with the fact that he served as a combat marine in Vietnam at the peak of the war serving with Fox 2/5, Ist Marine Division, along the Ho Chi Minh trail where he sustained GSW requiring he be medevac'd (of note, the author and this reviewer were there at the same time, perhaps yielding a closer appreciation for the danger Young faced physically and mentally).
The storyline as condensed by the author is better than anyone could write: `Police gang detective Tom Kagan has been seeking justice for more than ten years, leaving him a broken man. His only reason for living--the woman he loves and the badge he swore to uphold. When a man is brutally killed in a vineyard on the outskirts of Santa Rosa, California, it sparks a series of events that test what's left of Kagan's resolve to protect and serve. Secrets from the past thwart Kagan's efforts to unravel a series of killings sanctioned from within the walls of California's highest security prison. From the lush vineyards of Sonoma County to the shores of beautiful Lake Tahoe, the detective must outsmart a killer who is moving in for one epic killing spree. Leaders of the notorious Nuestra Family prison gang are fighting for power, a struggle that spills out onto the streets of California. Kagan joins forces with Special Agent Hector Garcia, a feisty supervisor of the Special Services Unit for the California Department of Corrections; Diane Phillips, a beautiful and hard-charging prosecutor; and Mikio Sanchez, a former gang member marked for death. Through the eyes of cops and gangsters we are able to glimpse the seldom seen workings of the gangster underworld. Broken Allegiance is about treacherous lies, broken promises, and shattered lives--about life, death and a man's honor.'
Though spellbinding on the first read, the emotions this novel stirs are so intense that a second reading is even more rewarding. It is then that the reader can appreciate the language, the ability to build tension and offer surprising relief, add passion and sensuality, and a hint at the inexorable complexities of gang crime and bifurcated corruption and failure within the criminal system. Prison doesn't stop gangs from murdering more people. This is a novel and at the same time an expose, and seemingly a call for change within the management of crime in this country. Just brilliant writing.
Grady Harp
It would be difficult to imagine a writer more qualified to pen a book of the nature of mystery/suspense/thriller/Police Procedural genre as BROKEN ALLEGIANCE than Mark Young. Not only has he proved his mettle in his previous three books, but in this particular novel he has that scabrous way with gang dialogue that only comes with extensive exposure to gangs in and out of the prison environment through his twenty-six year history as a police officer with the Santa Rosa, CA Police Department (the very setting for this novel) and his involvement with the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force targeting major drug traffickers, and the federal Organized Crime Task Force charged with identifying and prosecuting prison gang leaders. Couple all that with the fact that he served as a combat marine in Vietnam at the peak of the war serving with Fox 2/5, Ist Marine Division, along the Ho Chi Minh trail where he sustained GSW requiring he be medevac'd (of note, the author and this reviewer were there at the same time, perhaps yielding a closer appreciation for the danger Young faced physically and mentally).
The storyline as condensed by the author is better than anyone could write: `Police gang detective Tom Kagan has been seeking justice for more than ten years, leaving him a broken man. His only reason for living--the woman he loves and the badge he swore to uphold. When a man is brutally killed in a vineyard on the outskirts of Santa Rosa, California, it sparks a series of events that test what's left of Kagan's resolve to protect and serve. Secrets from the past thwart Kagan's efforts to unravel a series of killings sanctioned from within the walls of California's highest security prison. From the lush vineyards of Sonoma County to the shores of beautiful Lake Tahoe, the detective must outsmart a killer who is moving in for one epic killing spree. Leaders of the notorious Nuestra Family prison gang are fighting for power, a struggle that spills out onto the streets of California. Kagan joins forces with Special Agent Hector Garcia, a feisty supervisor of the Special Services Unit for the California Department of Corrections; Diane Phillips, a beautiful and hard-charging prosecutor; and Mikio Sanchez, a former gang member marked for death. Through the eyes of cops and gangsters we are able to glimpse the seldom seen workings of the gangster underworld. Broken Allegiance is about treacherous lies, broken promises, and shattered lives--about life, death and a man's honor.'
Though spellbinding on the first read, the emotions this novel stirs are so intense that a second reading is even more rewarding. It is then that the reader can appreciate the language, the ability to build tension and offer surprising relief, add passion and sensuality, and a hint at the inexorable complexities of gang crime and bifurcated corruption and failure within the criminal system. Prison doesn't stop gangs from murdering more people. This is a novel and at the same time an expose, and seemingly a call for change within the management of crime in this country. Just brilliant writing.
Grady Harp
November 16, 2013
The evening starts innocent enough for Toby and Charlotte in BROKEN ALLEGIANCE: A TOM KAGAN NOVEL by Mark Young (ISBN: 978-0983266389; 346 pp). Eager young lovers, moonlight and a bottle of wine, an abandoned vineyard and blanket for two. It seems Toby's thought of everything, arranged the perfect scenario for hot, steamy sex.
Not so fast, Romeo.
Before Toby can utter “A little mood music please,” visitors arrive and the teens seek cover behind the crumbling winery walls, fearing for their own lives as they watch a gang member's cold-blooded execution.
Running is out of the question. Might as well show themselves and beg for a bullet to the head - or worse. If they're quiet enough, still as the corpse cooling on the ground outside, they might survive.
Should they report the murder?
Toby says no. The reach of a gang's hierarchy is infinite. Charlotte's gut screams at the injustice. "Shot him like he was . . . nothing," she says. But, does she have the courage to call the police?
Come on, gang members killing gang members? Red against blue. Turf wars. The Mexican Mafia hitting Nuestra Familia. Shootings and stabbings and mutilations.
Ought to be a blessing, right?
But the order to take out Javier “Paco” Valdez, one of the highest ranking NF soldados on the streets - to take his wind - seems to have come from inside the walls of California’s Pelican Bay State Prison. From one of his own, an aging gang member who goes by the name of Ghost.
It’s up to Detective Tom Kagan, with the aid of gang expert Hector Garcia, to connect the dots and cement the hit on Paco to its source. Kagan isn't new to the callousness and brutality of gang violence. He's lived with the resulting heartache for ten years, since the day a black Monte Carlo low rider t-boned his wife's SUV and killed his son. The loss has caused a strain on his marriage and tested his ability to function within Santa Rosa’s Organized Crime and Intelligence Section. Now Kagan finds himself in the position of having to protect the very gang members he despises - including Mikio, the one known NF leader clever enough to walk away from the gang and remain alive.
Mark Young once again deftly flexes his writing muscles as he moves readers from one pulse-pounding assault to the next. The author’s law enforcement background with the Federal Organized Crime Task Force charged with identifying and prosecuting prison gang leaders adds credence to his tale. I knew several chapters into BROKEN ALLEGIANCE that this was going to be a five-star review. The book is artfully written, finely-tuned and beautifully presented. Young’s vivid descriptions transport readers to the streets of Santa Rosa to safe houses to a lone cabin on Lake Tahoe, while believable dialogue and well-developed characters hold them captive to the book’s conclusion. I’d recommend BROKEN ALLEGIANCE to any reader who loves a good, gut-wrenching, page-turning thrill-ride. (Reviewed by Sharon Cupp Pennington, author of HOODOO MONEY and MANGROVES AND MONSTERS.)
Not so fast, Romeo.
Before Toby can utter “A little mood music please,” visitors arrive and the teens seek cover behind the crumbling winery walls, fearing for their own lives as they watch a gang member's cold-blooded execution.
Running is out of the question. Might as well show themselves and beg for a bullet to the head - or worse. If they're quiet enough, still as the corpse cooling on the ground outside, they might survive.
Should they report the murder?
Toby says no. The reach of a gang's hierarchy is infinite. Charlotte's gut screams at the injustice. "Shot him like he was . . . nothing," she says. But, does she have the courage to call the police?
Come on, gang members killing gang members? Red against blue. Turf wars. The Mexican Mafia hitting Nuestra Familia. Shootings and stabbings and mutilations.
Ought to be a blessing, right?
But the order to take out Javier “Paco” Valdez, one of the highest ranking NF soldados on the streets - to take his wind - seems to have come from inside the walls of California’s Pelican Bay State Prison. From one of his own, an aging gang member who goes by the name of Ghost.
It’s up to Detective Tom Kagan, with the aid of gang expert Hector Garcia, to connect the dots and cement the hit on Paco to its source. Kagan isn't new to the callousness and brutality of gang violence. He's lived with the resulting heartache for ten years, since the day a black Monte Carlo low rider t-boned his wife's SUV and killed his son. The loss has caused a strain on his marriage and tested his ability to function within Santa Rosa’s Organized Crime and Intelligence Section. Now Kagan finds himself in the position of having to protect the very gang members he despises - including Mikio, the one known NF leader clever enough to walk away from the gang and remain alive.
Mark Young once again deftly flexes his writing muscles as he moves readers from one pulse-pounding assault to the next. The author’s law enforcement background with the Federal Organized Crime Task Force charged with identifying and prosecuting prison gang leaders adds credence to his tale. I knew several chapters into BROKEN ALLEGIANCE that this was going to be a five-star review. The book is artfully written, finely-tuned and beautifully presented. Young’s vivid descriptions transport readers to the streets of Santa Rosa to safe houses to a lone cabin on Lake Tahoe, while believable dialogue and well-developed characters hold them captive to the book’s conclusion. I’d recommend BROKEN ALLEGIANCE to any reader who loves a good, gut-wrenching, page-turning thrill-ride. (Reviewed by Sharon Cupp Pennington, author of HOODOO MONEY and MANGROVES AND MONSTERS.)
April 13, 2014
An accident that killed his son, shattered Detective Tom Kagan's life. The offending driver, a gangbanger, ran from the scene and was never brought to justice. Now back from a temporary assignment with the FBI, he's once again hunting down gang members in Santa Rosa, CA.
The author pulled me into the emotional turmoil that is Tom Kagan's life. Although he deeply loves his wife Sara, since the accident, he has shut down all emotion and is often remote from her. We see Tom with all of his warts. He drinks too much and is also a first class cheapskate who begrudges tips he gives to waitresses.
Having been called out to the murder crime scene of Paco, a high ranking, seemingly untouchable, "all good" member of the Nuestra Familia (NF) street gang, he knows this could become a no holds barred fight within the gang, with innocent people getting hurt along the way. What he doesn't know is a gang leader named Ghost is calling the shots from his cell within Pelican Bay State Prison, CA.
Kagan has a history with the Hispanic gangs since the accident that killed his son -- a bad one. His sergeant thinks he's a loose cannon who should be retired back to patrol, but the chief wants Tom in gangs. The detective has been receiving photographs of himself, his wife, and his partner's wife with the message: we're watching you. His partner, grounded in the spirituality of his Christian religion, is a sharp contrast from Tom's depression and rage. Kagan keeps knowledge of this surveillance from his supervisors out of fear he will be removed from working on gangs, which is where he gets intelligence with which to protect his wife.
When Kagan and Hector Garcia, a gang expert with the Special Service Unit (SSU), visit Ghost in Pelican Bay, the gangbanger taunts Tom. He says he was the one driving the car that killed Tom's young son, years ago. Agent Garcia has to hold Tom back. Ghost screams at Tom, "You're a dead man."
After an assault on Ghost in the prison, he's transferred from Pelican Bay to a community hospital, from which he escapes. Now the gangbanger is hunting Tom Kagan and his partner Detective Bill Stevenson. There is an emotionally wrenching scene where Tom and his wife go to his partner's home for dinner, unaware that Ghost lurks outside watching the house. Bill reads his young son a story and then he and Tom listen as the boy says his prayers before bed. They have no clue there is evil lurking outside.
It is obvious the author has personal, career experience in law enforcement with gangs. He is totally successful in getting across how senseless gang violence is, that nobody gets out alive from a gang. Regardless of the demand for loyalty by the gang, there is no loyalty within. Eventually every gang member is killed by a rival gang, or by a stronger member of his own gang who seeks power. This novel is well written and readers who are thrilled by a good detective novel will love this one's authenticity.
The author pulled me into the emotional turmoil that is Tom Kagan's life. Although he deeply loves his wife Sara, since the accident, he has shut down all emotion and is often remote from her. We see Tom with all of his warts. He drinks too much and is also a first class cheapskate who begrudges tips he gives to waitresses.
Having been called out to the murder crime scene of Paco, a high ranking, seemingly untouchable, "all good" member of the Nuestra Familia (NF) street gang, he knows this could become a no holds barred fight within the gang, with innocent people getting hurt along the way. What he doesn't know is a gang leader named Ghost is calling the shots from his cell within Pelican Bay State Prison, CA.
Kagan has a history with the Hispanic gangs since the accident that killed his son -- a bad one. His sergeant thinks he's a loose cannon who should be retired back to patrol, but the chief wants Tom in gangs. The detective has been receiving photographs of himself, his wife, and his partner's wife with the message: we're watching you. His partner, grounded in the spirituality of his Christian religion, is a sharp contrast from Tom's depression and rage. Kagan keeps knowledge of this surveillance from his supervisors out of fear he will be removed from working on gangs, which is where he gets intelligence with which to protect his wife.
When Kagan and Hector Garcia, a gang expert with the Special Service Unit (SSU), visit Ghost in Pelican Bay, the gangbanger taunts Tom. He says he was the one driving the car that killed Tom's young son, years ago. Agent Garcia has to hold Tom back. Ghost screams at Tom, "You're a dead man."
After an assault on Ghost in the prison, he's transferred from Pelican Bay to a community hospital, from which he escapes. Now the gangbanger is hunting Tom Kagan and his partner Detective Bill Stevenson. There is an emotionally wrenching scene where Tom and his wife go to his partner's home for dinner, unaware that Ghost lurks outside watching the house. Bill reads his young son a story and then he and Tom listen as the boy says his prayers before bed. They have no clue there is evil lurking outside.
It is obvious the author has personal, career experience in law enforcement with gangs. He is totally successful in getting across how senseless gang violence is, that nobody gets out alive from a gang. Regardless of the demand for loyalty by the gang, there is no loyalty within. Eventually every gang member is killed by a rival gang, or by a stronger member of his own gang who seeks power. This novel is well written and readers who are thrilled by a good detective novel will love this one's authenticity.
August 10, 2016
For a story like Broken Allegiance, there could hardly be a more qualified author than Mark Young. Drawing on his vast experience as a police officer, he writes a story that gives us a glimpse of the courage and dedication of the men and women committed to fighting to uphold the law in the face of gang violence. The book doesn't shy away from the brutality of gang life, but it doesn't linger on it ugliness.
Tom Kagan, a man searching for redemption and a way to let go of the blame he still carries, is called to investigate a gang execution. This lands him in the crosshairs or Ghost, a gangster with an insatiable vendetta.
The chapters are short, tight and afford very few opportunities for the reader to relax as the author puts all the pieces into place for the inevitable showdown between Kagan and Ghost. The showdown is inevitable, but by no means predictable. Mark Young goes for a messier ending rather than opting for the easy neat and tidy wrap-up.
In Broken Allegiance, Mark Young delivers an authentic protagonist, a great supporting cast, and intense police action and drama. It's a satisfying read, well worth the investment.
Tom Kagan, a man searching for redemption and a way to let go of the blame he still carries, is called to investigate a gang execution. This lands him in the crosshairs or Ghost, a gangster with an insatiable vendetta.
The chapters are short, tight and afford very few opportunities for the reader to relax as the author puts all the pieces into place for the inevitable showdown between Kagan and Ghost. The showdown is inevitable, but by no means predictable. Mark Young goes for a messier ending rather than opting for the easy neat and tidy wrap-up.
In Broken Allegiance, Mark Young delivers an authentic protagonist, a great supporting cast, and intense police action and drama. It's a satisfying read, well worth the investment.
December 21, 2013
Tom Kagan is haunted by the death of his young son, and to cope he throws himself into his work as a cop in the organized crime unit. His latest case involves a string of murders among Hispanic gangs in Northern California. I'm not sure what all I can say about this. It's a cop thriller. There's the evil gangster, the good gangster, the gangster who could be good but can't seem to extricate himself from the gang. The main villain, Ghost, is truly scary. There were points when I honestly wasn't sure if everybody was going to be okay. I liked Mikio, loved Garcia, and kind of wanted to punch Gato in the face a few times. In short, it was good, but not in a way that lends itself to a lengthy review. If you like cop thrillers, you'll like this one.
November 23, 2013
Wow. Took me about 3 days to finish but wow this was an amazing book! A full length review coming soon!
January 3, 2014
A little more technical than I like my thrillers to be, but a good crime novel. Feel like I got a little education in gang crime. Full review soon.
June 5, 2019
This book has an interesting premise and plot. It is clearly an early novel from an author fresh out of a class that taught him to 'show' the reader instead of 'tell' the reader. Every part of the book is cluttered with unnecessary details. Once I recognized that fact, I was able to start enjoying the rich setting. The author had a great story based on true crime scenarios. I suspect that in the future he will find a better balance between stating the facts and flooding the reader with facts.
January 6, 2019
Fantastic
Great read. Like how real this felt. Enjoy the intrigue of this story.happy to see a good ending. Looking forward to more.
Great read. Like how real this felt. Enjoy the intrigue of this story.happy to see a good ending. Looking forward to more.
February 21, 2021
A trip into another world/lifestyle. Keeps you reading.
March 21, 2014
Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 4 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Author
Reviewer: Ariel
Broken Allegiance is the first in a new series from Mark Young. The protagonist takes the form of Tom Kagan, a cop in Santa Rosa, CA who works for the Organized Crime and Intelligence Section. Tom is determined to take down a gangster setting up hits on his fellow gang members. But will Tom’s dark past be a hindrance as he goes after the gang leader? Or will it give him the motivation he needs to succeed?
I really enjoyed having Tom as a protagonist. He’s damn good at his job, and he is determined to put an end to gang violence in Santa Rosa, an admirable goal if a little large. The death of his son is something that haunts Tom, and something that he needs to work through as the novel goes on. It also takes a toll on his relationship with his wife Sara, who I also really liked.
There were so many side characters that I loved! Bill Stevenson being the first and foremost. He’s such a good partner for Tom. He’s still determined to catch gang members, but he also understands that you need to have some downtime from your job or you’re going to go crazy. He’s a good father to his little boy, and a good husband to his wife.
Broken Allegiance has a really entertaining plot. It centers around gang violence so there is constantly something going on, whether people are being killed or people are planning hits on other people, there’s never a dull moment in the story. Each chapter also focuses on different characters, so you could get a chapter focusing on Tom and his effort to capture the man behind all of these murders, or you could have a chapter focusing on one of the gangsters already in jail, setting up hits for people on the outside.
This being a novel about gang violence, there are quite a few characters to keep track of. Maybe not Game of Thrones status, but still a lot to keep track of. It especially gets confusing when the gang members are referred to both by their street names and their birth names interchangeably. It’s not necessarily a downside, it’s just something that keeps your brain working throughout the whole thing.
The writing style is very blunt and straightforward, which makes sense for being a crime novel, but something about it didn’t wow me. This isn’t to say I wasn’t entertained by the book, because I loved the book, the writing style just didn’t grab me. It wasn’t bad, just not really my thing.
Probably my favorite thing about this novel, and probably why the book is so amazing, is it’s based on the author’s own experiences. Young used to work for the Santa Rosa police department, and while I’m sure that a lot of what goes on has been exaggerated, or changed to be more entertaining in the novel format, I really find myself admiring the fact that the author probably went through cases that weren’t too terribly different from what goes on in Broken Allegiance.
Overall, I’m giving Broken Allegiance 4 out of 5 controllers. Really entertaining story, I love myself a good crime story, but there are a lot of people to keep track of, and the writing style wasn’t really my thing. I would definitely recommend it for fans of the crime genre.
Rating: 4 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Author
Reviewer: Ariel
Broken Allegiance is the first in a new series from Mark Young. The protagonist takes the form of Tom Kagan, a cop in Santa Rosa, CA who works for the Organized Crime and Intelligence Section. Tom is determined to take down a gangster setting up hits on his fellow gang members. But will Tom’s dark past be a hindrance as he goes after the gang leader? Or will it give him the motivation he needs to succeed?
I really enjoyed having Tom as a protagonist. He’s damn good at his job, and he is determined to put an end to gang violence in Santa Rosa, an admirable goal if a little large. The death of his son is something that haunts Tom, and something that he needs to work through as the novel goes on. It also takes a toll on his relationship with his wife Sara, who I also really liked.
There were so many side characters that I loved! Bill Stevenson being the first and foremost. He’s such a good partner for Tom. He’s still determined to catch gang members, but he also understands that you need to have some downtime from your job or you’re going to go crazy. He’s a good father to his little boy, and a good husband to his wife.
Broken Allegiance has a really entertaining plot. It centers around gang violence so there is constantly something going on, whether people are being killed or people are planning hits on other people, there’s never a dull moment in the story. Each chapter also focuses on different characters, so you could get a chapter focusing on Tom and his effort to capture the man behind all of these murders, or you could have a chapter focusing on one of the gangsters already in jail, setting up hits for people on the outside.
This being a novel about gang violence, there are quite a few characters to keep track of. Maybe not Game of Thrones status, but still a lot to keep track of. It especially gets confusing when the gang members are referred to both by their street names and their birth names interchangeably. It’s not necessarily a downside, it’s just something that keeps your brain working throughout the whole thing.
The writing style is very blunt and straightforward, which makes sense for being a crime novel, but something about it didn’t wow me. This isn’t to say I wasn’t entertained by the book, because I loved the book, the writing style just didn’t grab me. It wasn’t bad, just not really my thing.
Probably my favorite thing about this novel, and probably why the book is so amazing, is it’s based on the author’s own experiences. Young used to work for the Santa Rosa police department, and while I’m sure that a lot of what goes on has been exaggerated, or changed to be more entertaining in the novel format, I really find myself admiring the fact that the author probably went through cases that weren’t too terribly different from what goes on in Broken Allegiance.
Overall, I’m giving Broken Allegiance 4 out of 5 controllers. Really entertaining story, I love myself a good crime story, but there are a lot of people to keep track of, and the writing style wasn’t really my thing. I would definitely recommend it for fans of the crime genre.
June 30, 2014
The descriptive beginning created vivid imagery; I could easily imagine where the characters were.
When a gang member is murdered, Tom Kagan, an expert in gangs is called in to investigate the case when an anonymous caller rang to report it. His long and turbulent history creates tension with some of his fellow officers; a sense of underlying tension can be felt. But his experience and keen eye is needed if they are to prevent a major gang war.
Another character is brought into the plot known as Ghost. His long history with the leader of the gang means he can still operate from jail sending out death orders, but he crosses the line, and the leader of the gang is soon after him. As Tom Kagan once again closes in, Tom is the Ghost’s next target.
This was fast becoming an addictive read as the book took me behind the prison bars into the prison walls where various illegal communications are taking place. While on the outside gang members have to prove their loyalty through murder, an in-depth look into their lives of these gang members, living on the edge one day to the next.
It is easy to get caught up in this underworld; the characters are clearly defined, relatable, and very easy to connect with – good and bad in their own way.
The action heats up as Mikio and his nephew have to hide in order to get away from the killers that obey orders from the inside, traitors are not to be tolerated.
Tom slowly discovers some facts and comes across the name Ghost, whom he is connected to in more ways than one.
But prison does not stop a vengeful man, causing all those that went against him to either flee or fight, or die. Especially Tom and his wife. But Tom’s enemies target him in many ways, hurting him by hurting others he cares for.
The story heats up all the more as different gang members reveal their agenda, nothing is sacred, and no one is safe. They begin to close in, and who knows will come out alive.
Tension builds and nearly explodes as everything rapidly comes together, and those that are dangerous quickly move, but others close in.
An exciting and satisfying end to a novel that is sure to excite readers.
4/5 stars
When a gang member is murdered, Tom Kagan, an expert in gangs is called in to investigate the case when an anonymous caller rang to report it. His long and turbulent history creates tension with some of his fellow officers; a sense of underlying tension can be felt. But his experience and keen eye is needed if they are to prevent a major gang war.
Another character is brought into the plot known as Ghost. His long history with the leader of the gang means he can still operate from jail sending out death orders, but he crosses the line, and the leader of the gang is soon after him. As Tom Kagan once again closes in, Tom is the Ghost’s next target.
This was fast becoming an addictive read as the book took me behind the prison bars into the prison walls where various illegal communications are taking place. While on the outside gang members have to prove their loyalty through murder, an in-depth look into their lives of these gang members, living on the edge one day to the next.
It is easy to get caught up in this underworld; the characters are clearly defined, relatable, and very easy to connect with – good and bad in their own way.
The action heats up as Mikio and his nephew have to hide in order to get away from the killers that obey orders from the inside, traitors are not to be tolerated.
Tom slowly discovers some facts and comes across the name Ghost, whom he is connected to in more ways than one.
But prison does not stop a vengeful man, causing all those that went against him to either flee or fight, or die. Especially Tom and his wife. But Tom’s enemies target him in many ways, hurting him by hurting others he cares for.
The story heats up all the more as different gang members reveal their agenda, nothing is sacred, and no one is safe. They begin to close in, and who knows will come out alive.
Tension builds and nearly explodes as everything rapidly comes together, and those that are dangerous quickly move, but others close in.
An exciting and satisfying end to a novel that is sure to excite readers.
4/5 stars
January 25, 2014
It is not too often we can read about the gangster underworld - that unfortunately exists, even today. The author of "Broken Alliance" knows what a police detective needs to do in order to get the better of a criminal by being clever and cunning. He was a police officer for 26 years, and an award-winning journalist. Now he uses his expertise and experiences in creating a novel that is very interesting and right on the mark.
I like the settings he uses in this novel, Sonoma Valley is a beautiful place for sure. If you have ever visited a winery, then you know how delightful it is, even if the place has long been out of use for making wine. The evening starts out with Toby and Charlotte enjoying a beautiful moonlit night with a bottle of wine in an abandoned vineyard - perfect for two teenage lovers or is it?
Who would think as we anxiously continue reading that we might wind up behind prison walls and even learn about gang members taking out gang members. Well, my friends, this fascinating, captivating novel, that is very well written will take you many places and keep you turning pages. Mark Young knows his stuff and presents it in an absorbing and riveting way. He has polished the knack of true storytelling.
Jeannie Walker (Award-Winning Author)
Fighting the Devil: A True Story of Consuming Passion, Deadly Poison, and Murder
I Saw the Light
Thomas, The Friendly Ghost
The Rain Snake: A True Story of Love, Faith and Trust
I like the settings he uses in this novel, Sonoma Valley is a beautiful place for sure. If you have ever visited a winery, then you know how delightful it is, even if the place has long been out of use for making wine. The evening starts out with Toby and Charlotte enjoying a beautiful moonlit night with a bottle of wine in an abandoned vineyard - perfect for two teenage lovers or is it?
Who would think as we anxiously continue reading that we might wind up behind prison walls and even learn about gang members taking out gang members. Well, my friends, this fascinating, captivating novel, that is very well written will take you many places and keep you turning pages. Mark Young knows his stuff and presents it in an absorbing and riveting way. He has polished the knack of true storytelling.
Jeannie Walker (Award-Winning Author)
Fighting the Devil: A True Story of Consuming Passion, Deadly Poison, and Murder
I Saw the Light
Thomas, The Friendly Ghost
The Rain Snake: A True Story of Love, Faith and Trust
November 2, 2017
Mark Young wrote a book that I could not possibly put down. His background in law enforcement is evident throughout the story with the knowledge he shares about gangs and how they are brought to justice. With all his knowledge, I was easily able to understand both the good guys and the bad guys. The inside knowledge of gangs, both on the street and in prisons, was amazing.
This thriller kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters develop perfectly throughout the novel. There is a lot of action to keep the reader entertained. I recommend this to readers looking for a suspense filled, action packed novel.
This thriller kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters develop perfectly throughout the novel. There is a lot of action to keep the reader entertained. I recommend this to readers looking for a suspense filled, action packed novel.
August 8, 2015
Absolutely outstanding!
Mark wrote an incredible novel about the actions of gangs and the trials of what police departments around the world deal with daily. It is a shame that these situations exist and I feel for those who put themselves and others into danger for what they call respect and power. This book is a real eye opener for those who have in some way experienced seeing this in real life. Though this is "fictional" it is all so real. I pray the for safety of those who live this life daily.
Mark wrote an incredible novel about the actions of gangs and the trials of what police departments around the world deal with daily. It is a shame that these situations exist and I feel for those who put themselves and others into danger for what they call respect and power. This book is a real eye opener for those who have in some way experienced seeing this in real life. Though this is "fictional" it is all so real. I pray the for safety of those who live this life daily.
February 2, 2014
Wow! Mark has outdone himself with this novel. I have enjoyed all of his books, but this one is a crowning achievement.
This crime-drama is so well written that you can easily imagine the scenes as you read. The story builds and builds and builds to an action packed ending. This could easily be adapted to screen! Hollywood are you paying attention?
I highly recommend this to everyone who enjoys crime-drama and police procedurals.
This crime-drama is so well written that you can easily imagine the scenes as you read. The story builds and builds and builds to an action packed ending. This could easily be adapted to screen! Hollywood are you paying attention?
I highly recommend this to everyone who enjoys crime-drama and police procedurals.
March 18, 2014
Great read
Great read
one of the best I have read. keeps you on the edge of your seat. I couldn't put it down.
Great read
one of the best I have read. keeps you on the edge of your seat. I couldn't put it down.
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