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The Vietnam War #1
The Gomorrah Principle: A Young Man Becomes a legendary Sniper in Vietnam
The Vietnam War, often called the CIA’s war, tested the morals of men from the highest offices of our nation to those from the smallest boroughs of rural America. Brady Nash was one of those men. When his friend Duff Cowan is killed in Vietnam, Brady recognizes the mysterious circumstances and is compelled to search for the truth. With an extraordinary ability to shoot and a hardnosed determination, Brady must face life and death through the scope of a rifle when he gets involved with a clandestine organization.
Caught in a web of espionage and black-ops, Brady attempts find the identity of Duff’s killer. However, once he digs too deep, he’ll soon find himself on the hit list. While “truth has a resonance to it that fills the cracks where falsehoods lie,” Brady will quickly discover his search for truth is leading him to become more and more like the people he despises.
Rick DeStefanis’ The Gomorrah Principle: A Vietnam Sniper’s Story is an exciting new thriller that blurs the line between right and wrong. Filled with gripping espionage and rigid tension, this enthralling story will have readers hooked from the opening pages. Historical fiction mixed with thrilling action, Brady’s journey will engross and entertain with its ambitious story and complex themes.
Filled with complex characters that eschew traditional clichés, The Gomorrah Principle is an exciting story that grabs readers with thrilling action and espionage but truly captivates them with its surprising depth. Not only perfect for action and thriller fans, this tantalizing novel will fit wonderfully in any casual reader’s collection. A page turner in every sense of the phrase, this mesmerizing story proves easy to pick up and hard to put down. With action, intrigue, and suspense set against a tumultuous time in United States history, The Gomorrah Principle has all of the ingredients to become an instant classic.
Caught in a web of espionage and black-ops, Brady attempts find the identity of Duff’s killer. However, once he digs too deep, he’ll soon find himself on the hit list. While “truth has a resonance to it that fills the cracks where falsehoods lie,” Brady will quickly discover his search for truth is leading him to become more and more like the people he despises.
Rick DeStefanis’ The Gomorrah Principle: A Vietnam Sniper’s Story is an exciting new thriller that blurs the line between right and wrong. Filled with gripping espionage and rigid tension, this enthralling story will have readers hooked from the opening pages. Historical fiction mixed with thrilling action, Brady’s journey will engross and entertain with its ambitious story and complex themes.
Filled with complex characters that eschew traditional clichés, The Gomorrah Principle is an exciting story that grabs readers with thrilling action and espionage but truly captivates them with its surprising depth. Not only perfect for action and thriller fans, this tantalizing novel will fit wonderfully in any casual reader’s collection. A page turner in every sense of the phrase, this mesmerizing story proves easy to pick up and hard to put down. With action, intrigue, and suspense set against a tumultuous time in United States history, The Gomorrah Principle has all of the ingredients to become an instant classic.
- GenresMilitary FictionThriller
398 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2011
355 people are currently reading
980 people want to read
About the author
Rick DeStefanis
20 books58 followersRick DeStefanis is an award-winning novelist.
Newspaper carrier, grocery store clerk, land surveyor, machinist (International Harvester), paratrooper (82nd Airborne Division), foundry worker, carpenter, brakeman and conductor (Illinois Central Railroad), deputy sheriff, business owner, house painter, dock worker, truck driver, airline ramp agent, operations manager (FedEx Express), Airline Flight Dispatcher, Area General Manager (General Electric), motorcyclist, skydiver, hunter, fisherman, wildlife photographer....Mississippi author Rick DeStefanis brings a lifetime of experiences to his writing. An avid outdoorsman and military veteran, DeStefanis brings several of these experiences to his books, both in his Vietnam War Series and his Southern Fiction Series. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Rick has lived most of his adult life in Mississippi, where he resides with his wife Janet. For more information visit Rick at www.rickdestefanis.com and at www.facebook.com/rickdestefanisphoto.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
March 17, 2014
I recommend this book for its new voice and its credibility with the topic. And, it's a really good story.
Thoughts on The Gomorrah Principle
At first glance, The Gomorrah Principle can be mistakenly perceived as another military, espionage-driven thriller. However, a closer examination reveals much more in this well-crafted work wherein Vietnam, and the war, are simply vehicles for protagonist Brady Nash to act on his convictions. Beginning in the mountain region known as “The Tennessee Overhill”, this novel is not an American billboard, nor is it broadly based on honor, or a call to serve. Instead, it’s simplified into maxims of love, loyalty, responsibility—allegiance to friend and kin.
Tennessee bred and raised, Nash is bound by his inherent commitment to right the wrong, beyond question or even the obvious decrees of common sense. Leaving behind Lacey, the love of his life, he dives head-first into the war, using his skill with a rifle as means for weaving his way inside the machine of conflict—banding with CIA agents, rogues and even anarchistic derelicts working behind the scenes of the war. His goal, of course, is to avenge the death of his friend and brother, Duff, who was murdered by secret operatives…and so on…
The work, under a lens, reveals that author Rick DeStefanis has shunned the temptation to indulge in pornographic violence, while still supplying exquisite detail, thus conveying the same cool persona and discipline that allows his character to land in Nam, fell other humans with the ease of a trigger pull, while focusing simply on the shelter-task of avenging his brother’s death. It is also relevant to point to the writer’s mastery as such that he is blatantly faced with the opportunity to sensationalize the relationship between Nash and Lacey. Brady enlists and leaves for the war against Lacey’s will. In itself, this burden of guilt has been overly-themed in many works, through many mediums, pertaining to love and war. DeStefanis however, provides a deeper, more meaningful twist to the bond. Though not true siblings, Brady and Lacey grew up together as brother and sister, along with Duff, Lacey’s biological brother. DeStefanis displays this early on—functional as such that it is clear that Brady and Lacey share a stronger bond than just kids in love. Theirs is much deeper—tethered to family, though technically, not in blood. In this matter, the author again does not fall prey to depreciating the work with exploitation of southern stereotypes prevalent throughout mainstream literature. His decision to bond his characters in this manner, is respectful, unexploitive, and entirely believable. In this vein, the theme works as such that not only is Brady’s burden heavier, but Lacey is faced with the dilemma of losing her love—brand of both family and fiancé, while still mourning her real brother Duff. There is no deep dive into Freudian analysis—no sexually charged scenes where the laws of morality are compromised. No reckless, denigration of character and creed. So, not only has DeStefanis added a different dimension to his story and specifically to his characters, but he shows greater understanding of how subtlety in theme and thus in prose can convey a more potent sense of realism.
Fiction or non, much has been written about war—Vietnam—men and boys leaving small towns to fight for their country while family awaits, wringing hands, anxious for their return. Though anachronistic, The Gomorrah Principle captures something solid and fresh in as such that it is a simple story of sacrifice for doing what’s right. Though very young, Brady Nash is a character of great principle. Once he’s heard the call, he does not hesitate at the edge, nor does he yield to a need for comfort and psychological ease. Instead he forges ahead, driven by gut instinct and a desire to comply with unwritten code. In this work, the writer has great control of his voice, with his toying, and craft for saying more through what’s not shown or said. The author’s credibility in creating such character is infinitely apparent. Clearly, DeStefanis knows a thing or two.
Chris Davis
Thoughts on The Gomorrah Principle
At first glance, The Gomorrah Principle can be mistakenly perceived as another military, espionage-driven thriller. However, a closer examination reveals much more in this well-crafted work wherein Vietnam, and the war, are simply vehicles for protagonist Brady Nash to act on his convictions. Beginning in the mountain region known as “The Tennessee Overhill”, this novel is not an American billboard, nor is it broadly based on honor, or a call to serve. Instead, it’s simplified into maxims of love, loyalty, responsibility—allegiance to friend and kin.
Tennessee bred and raised, Nash is bound by his inherent commitment to right the wrong, beyond question or even the obvious decrees of common sense. Leaving behind Lacey, the love of his life, he dives head-first into the war, using his skill with a rifle as means for weaving his way inside the machine of conflict—banding with CIA agents, rogues and even anarchistic derelicts working behind the scenes of the war. His goal, of course, is to avenge the death of his friend and brother, Duff, who was murdered by secret operatives…and so on…
The work, under a lens, reveals that author Rick DeStefanis has shunned the temptation to indulge in pornographic violence, while still supplying exquisite detail, thus conveying the same cool persona and discipline that allows his character to land in Nam, fell other humans with the ease of a trigger pull, while focusing simply on the shelter-task of avenging his brother’s death. It is also relevant to point to the writer’s mastery as such that he is blatantly faced with the opportunity to sensationalize the relationship between Nash and Lacey. Brady enlists and leaves for the war against Lacey’s will. In itself, this burden of guilt has been overly-themed in many works, through many mediums, pertaining to love and war. DeStefanis however, provides a deeper, more meaningful twist to the bond. Though not true siblings, Brady and Lacey grew up together as brother and sister, along with Duff, Lacey’s biological brother. DeStefanis displays this early on—functional as such that it is clear that Brady and Lacey share a stronger bond than just kids in love. Theirs is much deeper—tethered to family, though technically, not in blood. In this matter, the author again does not fall prey to depreciating the work with exploitation of southern stereotypes prevalent throughout mainstream literature. His decision to bond his characters in this manner, is respectful, unexploitive, and entirely believable. In this vein, the theme works as such that not only is Brady’s burden heavier, but Lacey is faced with the dilemma of losing her love—brand of both family and fiancé, while still mourning her real brother Duff. There is no deep dive into Freudian analysis—no sexually charged scenes where the laws of morality are compromised. No reckless, denigration of character and creed. So, not only has DeStefanis added a different dimension to his story and specifically to his characters, but he shows greater understanding of how subtlety in theme and thus in prose can convey a more potent sense of realism.
Fiction or non, much has been written about war—Vietnam—men and boys leaving small towns to fight for their country while family awaits, wringing hands, anxious for their return. Though anachronistic, The Gomorrah Principle captures something solid and fresh in as such that it is a simple story of sacrifice for doing what’s right. Though very young, Brady Nash is a character of great principle. Once he’s heard the call, he does not hesitate at the edge, nor does he yield to a need for comfort and psychological ease. Instead he forges ahead, driven by gut instinct and a desire to comply with unwritten code. In this work, the writer has great control of his voice, with his toying, and craft for saying more through what’s not shown or said. The author’s credibility in creating such character is infinitely apparent. Clearly, DeStefanis knows a thing or two.
Chris Davis
July 6, 2015
The Gomorrah Principle is set in the late 1960's, in Vietnam War zone. It is a complex story of war, snipers, corruption and betrayal by all sides of the conflict. Brady Nash takes on a commitment to his step-brother after he was murdered while serving under the control of the Special Forces controlled by the CIA. This quest for the truth about the death of his brother is an exciting adventure full of danger, double crosses and close escapes. The Gomorrah Principle is full of memories of a time when many of my friends were in Vietnam and tells what it was like fighting in the jungle where you could not tell friendly Vietnamese from the Vietcong. It is realistic, full of danger and ends in Tennessee, where Duff, Brady and Lacey grew up in a small mountain town. The lines between right and wrong are fuzzy in a war that made no sense for the United States to be part of a civil dispute in a small Asian country. The writing style is excellent, the story fast paced and exciting with the horror of war full disclosed as part of the plot.
My thanks to Rick DeStefanis and Goodreads First Reads for the copy of The Gomorrah Principle I have.
My thanks to Rick DeStefanis and Goodreads First Reads for the copy of The Gomorrah Principle I have.
November 18, 2013
I was surprised at the story depth of this book. The story line does not focus on the typical war tale but rather encompasses the family and emotions - including first love - that so many books lack. The subtle nuances of faith and family are what turns this book into a real page turner. I honestly think the story has something to interest every reader. Good read? Yes!
June 4, 2015
The late 1960s was a tumultuous time in American history. The Vietnam war was in full swing and several young men went off to war and didn’t return. One of those men was Duff Cowan who left behind evidence suggesting that he was part of a secret operation and his death may have been a homicide. Two of the people affected by his death were his sister Lacey and his best friend Brady Nash. Despite Lacey’s protests, Brady enlists in the army and heads to Vietnam to find the men responsible for Duff’s death.
Brady becomes one of the best snipers in the Vietnam and works his way into the secret organization that cost Duff his life. Little by little Brady discovers that not everything is as it seems and it’s hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys. Brady finds himself involved in a world of spies, double agents and he sees that the lines between good and evil are blurred.
The Gomorrah Principle by Rick DeStefanis is more than a war-time thriller. This is also a story about love, friendship, loyalty and morality. I’ll admit right away that I’m not a big reader of war stories but Rick DeStefanis had me hooked from the start. The beginning of the story focuses on Brady and you get to learn about his feelings towards Duff and Lacey. Then we find out about what happened to one of the people who went away to war and came back. At this point you feel like you know Brady personally and you’re concerned for him as he goes on a journey that he feels he has to take.
The Gomorrah Principle is a masterpiece with strong characters and an exciting storyline. I enjoyed how Brady worries about loosing his humanity as he has to start killing people and how he still hopes that some day he can go home and have a normal life with Lacey. I liked that we also got to hear Lacey’s story in this book, I felt it added more depth to an already complex story. A good war story should also be about the people soldiers leave behind and this one gets into how Lacey is affected by Brady’s absence.
Another thing I liked about this book is how it shows that people on both sides of the war have their own agenda and everyone is a shade of grey. In one of my favorite scenes a Vietnamese woman says that this is a civil war and America should not be here. She goes on to say she is leaving the country because she is not sure she can trust anyone on either side of the conflict. I loved that this story looked at the war from the Vietnamese perspective as well as the American prespective.This novel leaves nothing out showing how the soldiers in the war felt and how the people effected by it felt. We also get a vivid description of what it’s like being a soldier under attack. Rick DeStefanis spent time in the armed forces and describes the fighting in vivid detail from his own experience. Even if you don’t like war stories you should read this book anyway because it’s a good story period.
Brady becomes one of the best snipers in the Vietnam and works his way into the secret organization that cost Duff his life. Little by little Brady discovers that not everything is as it seems and it’s hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys. Brady finds himself involved in a world of spies, double agents and he sees that the lines between good and evil are blurred.
The Gomorrah Principle by Rick DeStefanis is more than a war-time thriller. This is also a story about love, friendship, loyalty and morality. I’ll admit right away that I’m not a big reader of war stories but Rick DeStefanis had me hooked from the start. The beginning of the story focuses on Brady and you get to learn about his feelings towards Duff and Lacey. Then we find out about what happened to one of the people who went away to war and came back. At this point you feel like you know Brady personally and you’re concerned for him as he goes on a journey that he feels he has to take.
The Gomorrah Principle is a masterpiece with strong characters and an exciting storyline. I enjoyed how Brady worries about loosing his humanity as he has to start killing people and how he still hopes that some day he can go home and have a normal life with Lacey. I liked that we also got to hear Lacey’s story in this book, I felt it added more depth to an already complex story. A good war story should also be about the people soldiers leave behind and this one gets into how Lacey is affected by Brady’s absence.
Another thing I liked about this book is how it shows that people on both sides of the war have their own agenda and everyone is a shade of grey. In one of my favorite scenes a Vietnamese woman says that this is a civil war and America should not be here. She goes on to say she is leaving the country because she is not sure she can trust anyone on either side of the conflict. I loved that this story looked at the war from the Vietnamese perspective as well as the American prespective.This novel leaves nothing out showing how the soldiers in the war felt and how the people effected by it felt. We also get a vivid description of what it’s like being a soldier under attack. Rick DeStefanis spent time in the armed forces and describes the fighting in vivid detail from his own experience. Even if you don’t like war stories you should read this book anyway because it’s a good story period.
August 10, 2014
Fantastic read! Now I will try to apply the Gomorrah Principle to everyday life :) One of the best novels set (partially) in Vietnam I've read...but Vietnam is really just the setting here, not the story. DeStefanis sets up the main character Brady as enlisting in the army and going to Vietnam, to investigate the death of his adopted brother, Duff. Duff had sent a final cryptic letter hinting he was involved in some black ops and feared for his life. It might have seemed a stretch at first that this army PFC could successfully weave his way in to a position to figure out this conspiracy, but DeStefanis pulls off the believability by setting Brady up as a quiet sniper superstar. He is decorated for courage under fire, promoted, and his reputation quickly becomes legendary to both US and enemy forces. There are some great stories with a sniper protagonist out there, but DeStefanis takes a unique angle and focuses more on the psychology of the sniper rather than an endless expose of techniques. DeStefanis splits the action between Nam and the town and surrounding mountains of Melody Hill, Tennessee. He manages to squeeze in a romance that adds a layer of urgency/vulnerability and is a nice nod to a female reader. As the climax builds, we get the feeling that the action will come back to Tennessee in the end, but that's how we wanted it, right? You will enjoy this thriller...highly recommend!!
April 11, 2014
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for reading and posting my honest review. I had no prior knowledge or association with this author or his work.
I read this book over just a few days time. I couldn't put it down. I just had to know what was going to happen next. Normally, I would shy away from a book about war, but this is so much more.
I became enrapt with the characters and their situations almost immediately.
Duff couldn't have asked for a better friend/brother than Brady. Brady was determined and very intelligent. I really liked the way his mind worked.
Maxon was truly sick and twisted. He would sacrifice anyone and anything he thought was in his way.
Lacey was the perfect girl for Brady in so many ways. I truly understood her struggle to identify with Brady's motives. Especially since she didn't have all the information.
This book had plenty of action, suspense and romance which all worked together for a really great read.
I read this book over just a few days time. I couldn't put it down. I just had to know what was going to happen next. Normally, I would shy away from a book about war, but this is so much more.
I became enrapt with the characters and their situations almost immediately.
Duff couldn't have asked for a better friend/brother than Brady. Brady was determined and very intelligent. I really liked the way his mind worked.
Maxon was truly sick and twisted. He would sacrifice anyone and anything he thought was in his way.
Lacey was the perfect girl for Brady in so many ways. I truly understood her struggle to identify with Brady's motives. Especially since she didn't have all the information.
This book had plenty of action, suspense and romance which all worked together for a really great read.
February 13, 2014
I won this book from Goodreads First Reads. I found this book to be very engrossing. I would get lost in reading it and lose track of time. I mostly read it during silent reading time with my students and would find myself wanting to peek at what was going to happen next. I had several students ask to read it after I gave a quick book talk on it. It is fast-paced and accessible to people of different ages. This would be a good rainy weekend read.
July 22, 2022
The Vietnamese called the young sniper Hổ xảo quyệt, The Cunning Tiger.Brady Nash believes his friend Duff Coleridge has been murdered in Vietnam, possibly by a rogue CIA advisor. As he seeks out the Special Operations Group in which Duff was working, Brady’s reputation as a sniper grows to legendary proportion. The truth slowly emerges, only to leave him trapped in a morass of espionage, murder and intrigue. Brady’s every instinct tells him he has found Duff’s killers but his quest for final proof puts him dead in their sights.The Phoenix Program(Phung Hoang) launched by the CIA in 1967, was not generally known during most of the time it was operational to either the American public or American officials in Washington.However,one of the first people to criticise Phoenix publicly was Ed Murphy,a peace activist and former military intelligence soldier,in 1970.Public disclosure of the program lead to congressional hearings in 1971,and the CIA was pressured to shut it down.A similar program,Plan F-6,continued under the South Vietnamese government.The Phoenix Program involved Australian and South Vietnamese militaries as well.The Phoenix Program was premised on the idea that North Vietnamese infiltration had required local support within non-combat civilian populations,which were referred to as the "VC infrastructure" and "political branch" that had purportedly coordinated the insurgency.
The Military Assistance Command,Vietnam Studies and Observation Group(MACVSOG) was a highly classified,US joint service organisation that consisted of personnel from Army Special Forces,Air Force,Navy SEALs,Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance Units,and the CIA.MACVSOG was a unique US unit to participate in the Vietnam War,since its operational mandate authorised its missions to take place 'over the fence' in North Vietnam,Laos,and Cambodia,where most other American units were forbidden to go.Black Ops was an ongoing program of covert action,and included intelligence collection and psychological warfare operations,and air and naval attacks.
The Military Assistance Command,Vietnam Studies and Observation Group(MACVSOG) was a highly classified,US joint service organisation that consisted of personnel from Army Special Forces,Air Force,Navy SEALs,Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance Units,and the CIA.MACVSOG was a unique US unit to participate in the Vietnam War,since its operational mandate authorised its missions to take place 'over the fence' in North Vietnam,Laos,and Cambodia,where most other American units were forbidden to go.Black Ops was an ongoing program of covert action,and included intelligence collection and psychological warfare operations,and air and naval attacks.
October 26, 2022
Wonderful Book
I have enjoyed these books immensely!!! THERE ARE OTHER WORDS TO SAY!!! I agree with the author PTSD for Vietnam Veterans was unheard of at that time, yet these men suffered from it
Unconditionally! unfortunately I agree these veterans were not given the respect which they so rightly deserve until 9/11 happened and yes that respect was thrown in a little late. But I want to say me and my Military Brats have had nothing but respect for Vietnam Veterans as many of our fathers were of the Korean and Vietnam wars, as well as, those served in the Middle East. I for one saw the hellish nightmares of the Vietnam Veterans such as my father's own. But as a nurse working for the Army in the 70's saw first hand the anguish these mea went through and many are still going through. Hopefully we have learned from the past mistakes and will help make things right and care for ALL OF OUR WAR VETERANS suffering from the wrongs of war and especially PTSD.
I have enjoyed these books immensely!!! THERE ARE OTHER WORDS TO SAY!!! I agree with the author PTSD for Vietnam Veterans was unheard of at that time, yet these men suffered from it
Unconditionally! unfortunately I agree these veterans were not given the respect which they so rightly deserve until 9/11 happened and yes that respect was thrown in a little late. But I want to say me and my Military Brats have had nothing but respect for Vietnam Veterans as many of our fathers were of the Korean and Vietnam wars, as well as, those served in the Middle East. I for one saw the hellish nightmares of the Vietnam Veterans such as my father's own. But as a nurse working for the Army in the 70's saw first hand the anguish these mea went through and many are still going through. Hopefully we have learned from the past mistakes and will help make things right and care for ALL OF OUR WAR VETERANS suffering from the wrongs of war and especially PTSD.
March 1, 2020
It's been a long time since I've picked up a military thriller to read, and The Gomorrah Principle delivered a rock-solid story with memorable characters. Set during the Vietnam War, the story follows Brady, a young recruit determined to solve the mystery around his friend's death—was he killed in action, or was he murdered? I hunkered down in jungles and crept along dark alleyways of Saigon with Brady on his quest for truth and justice. The story eventually comes full circle, back to his Tennessee home town, and Brady confronts the real enemy and defends those he holds most dear. This read ranks right up there with Tom Clancy thrillers. Gritty and honest, Destefanis has an authentic voice.
October 16, 2017
The Gomorrah Principle has all the great story qualities that keeps you intrigued and keeps you reading just to know what is going to happen next! I found myself captivated by and wanting to cheer on the main characters. The hills of Tennessee and the battlefields of Vietnam came alive for me through the authors descriptive imagery. I enjoyed this book very much! This is the second book by this author that I have read and look forward to the next!
November 21, 2024
Excellent Military Fiction🌟
Intriguing story that is much more than a military drama. While the war dramatization is thoroughly described and intense, the author does an excellent job portraying the impacts of the war on civilians both American and Vietnamese. The corruption that is always rampant in war theaters is central to the story. Character development is outstanding both major and supporting. First time I've read this author, but he is now on my hot list.👏
Intriguing story that is much more than a military drama. While the war dramatization is thoroughly described and intense, the author does an excellent job portraying the impacts of the war on civilians both American and Vietnamese. The corruption that is always rampant in war theaters is central to the story. Character development is outstanding both major and supporting. First time I've read this author, but he is now on my hot list.👏
December 14, 2024
Excellent!!
I have read dozens of books about Vietnam, but none compare to this one! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, and was extremely happy to find NO typos. I look forward to the next one.
I have read dozens of books about Vietnam, but none compare to this one! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, and was extremely happy to find NO typos. I look forward to the next one.
April 28, 2025
Gomorrah Principle
Mr. rested a is writes detailed stories and takes the reader for a ride. Well researched subject matter and anyone interested in stories from Viet Nam will enjoy his books.
Mr. rested a is writes detailed stories and takes the reader for a ride. Well researched subject matter and anyone interested in stories from Viet Nam will enjoy his books.
June 28, 2025
Gomorrah Principle
As an old man who served from 1972 to 79 in the Army. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It brought back memories both good and bad. The main character was well developed the plot gripping and the tale well written. Excellent read. Highly recommended.
As an old man who served from 1972 to 79 in the Army. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It brought back memories both good and bad. The main character was well developed the plot gripping and the tale well written. Excellent read. Highly recommended.
June 3, 2017
Awesome
Really great read both books so far have been really good .hard to put down try them both and see for yourself.
Really great read both books so far have been really good .hard to put down try them both and see for yourself.
September 20, 2017
Excellent
Awesome book, was very hard to put down for sleeping. Intriging story with great action and suspense. Enjoyable and would highly recommend to anyone.
Awesome book, was very hard to put down for sleeping. Intriging story with great action and suspense. Enjoyable and would highly recommend to anyone.
October 10, 2017
Good read
The story flowed well and kept you interested. A military story with a little romance. This story would appeal to the military reader
The story flowed well and kept you interested. A military story with a little romance. This story would appeal to the military reader
November 24, 2017
A good read for this genre
Not bad at all, one should read this book's precursor first. The two combined are a good read.
Not a five but a decent 4 .
Not bad at all, one should read this book's precursor first. The two combined are a good read.
Not a five but a decent 4 .
October 20, 2018
Excellent book!!!
January 12, 2019
Wow I really enjoyed this book the 2nd in a small series< It had everything you could ant in a book and more A sniper book about Nam and CIA murder and stuff really a good read.
July 19, 2021
4.5 / 5
Read
September 11, 2023Review
Great job. Really enjoyed the story. I was 11b in nam. Glad I was not in the CIA!!
Thank you again
Great job. Really enjoyed the story. I was 11b in nam. Glad I was not in the CIA!!
Thank you again
January 3, 2024
Enjoyable book, the author brings the reader right into the story. Well worth the time.
September 1, 2024
Well done
An extremely well done novel. Would like to read more from this author.
Maybe in times to come they will be published.
An extremely well done novel. Would like to read more from this author.
Maybe in times to come they will be published.
October 24, 2022
an implausible but captivating action tale
Long on romance and a moral Rambo like character.. short on battle and Vietnam texture. A nice beach or fireside read.
Long on romance and a moral Rambo like character.. short on battle and Vietnam texture. A nice beach or fireside read.
April 23, 2015
The Gomorrah Principle by Rick DeStefanis is the story of a promise Brady Nash made to his late best friend and step brother, Duff Coleridge. Duff had been killed in Vietnam, though there are things about his death that don't entirely make sense. A letter he had sent home is evidence of the wrong doings that have been happening in Vietnam. Enlisting means alienating Lacey, his lover, but Brady wants to get to the bottom of what had happened with Duff's death, even if it means the love of his life never speaking to him again.
The characters are very relatable and I can certainly understand the motivation behind all of their actions. Brady Nash, firstly, is an interesting character and I do like how he feels like he needs to find out the truth about what had happened, despite not needing to (he could have thrown the documents away or stored them and done nothing about it). One of the things I liked most, with Brady's talent for sharp shooting, that he was fairly modest and didn't brag much about it. As for Lacey, I felt that she was a strong woman and appreciated her tenacity in both her career and later involvement in the espionage plot. My favourite character overall was Jack Maxon; it was good to have his outlook on the situations. I liked that he was fearful of Brady's investigation, but he still remained smart about matters and confident within the situations presented. Though, having said that, I kind of felt like he was getting stupider as time progressed and it sort of seemed like the author no longer had any idea where to lead the character; the threats Maxon was making seemed unnecessary and the violence toward others seemed somewhat random rather than the intelligent thought process we had seen prior. I did feel like his later actions weren't as intelligible as his earlier ones and he ultimately led his own downfall. Other than those main characters, I think that many of the background characters were strongly written as well. Though, I would have enjoyed some more contact with some of them; many of them just dwindle into the background and some of those minor plots do not get resolved. For example, I don't think that Hubert Brister's story got properly told and we never really got much of an explanation as to what happened to him in the end. The same with Lynn Dai Bouchet; I just don't feel like we got a full explanation as to her role in all of the mess that went on, and even the goings on between her and Duff.
I really liked the beginning of the book; it's like a little enticing snippet of what is to come and it also introduces us to Brady's idea of "The Gomorrah Principle". The death of his friend was sad, but also a fairly interesting beginning to the mystery. Though, I did feel like later on in the book, the mystery portion was completely gone. I feel this because as soon as we meet him, it's kind of obvious as to who is responsible for Duff's death. Though, I think the book was more reliant on the adventure aspect rather than that of mystery; we get to read the thrills of war and even the espionage that goes on as well. I particularly liked the side story of Lacey's music career, but felt that the ending of that was a little bit insubstantial, just because after a point, it just sort of ends. I think that the book was fairly well written. The author has a good grasp on word usage and explanations to create interest and mystery. I also like the way they use descriptions to create realistic scenes. Being that I'm not particularly knowledgeable in many aspects of military, I found that I didn't understand every reference. However, it was good that the author had a simple glossary at the back which did help with some things.
Overall, I think that the Rick DeStefanis has written a great book; the perspectives from many characters provide us with an interesting scene of war and mystery. There are times when I felt the book lacked certain elements, like fulfilled plot lines for some characters and proper explanations for some events. However, overall, I think it is worth five stars; I really enjoyed the book.
I received a free eCopy in exchange for an honest review.
The characters are very relatable and I can certainly understand the motivation behind all of their actions. Brady Nash, firstly, is an interesting character and I do like how he feels like he needs to find out the truth about what had happened, despite not needing to (he could have thrown the documents away or stored them and done nothing about it). One of the things I liked most, with Brady's talent for sharp shooting, that he was fairly modest and didn't brag much about it. As for Lacey, I felt that she was a strong woman and appreciated her tenacity in both her career and later involvement in the espionage plot. My favourite character overall was Jack Maxon; it was good to have his outlook on the situations. I liked that he was fearful of Brady's investigation, but he still remained smart about matters and confident within the situations presented. Though, having said that, I kind of felt like he was getting stupider as time progressed and it sort of seemed like the author no longer had any idea where to lead the character; the threats Maxon was making seemed unnecessary and the violence toward others seemed somewhat random rather than the intelligent thought process we had seen prior. I did feel like his later actions weren't as intelligible as his earlier ones and he ultimately led his own downfall. Other than those main characters, I think that many of the background characters were strongly written as well. Though, I would have enjoyed some more contact with some of them; many of them just dwindle into the background and some of those minor plots do not get resolved. For example, I don't think that Hubert Brister's story got properly told and we never really got much of an explanation as to what happened to him in the end. The same with Lynn Dai Bouchet; I just don't feel like we got a full explanation as to her role in all of the mess that went on, and even the goings on between her and Duff.
I really liked the beginning of the book; it's like a little enticing snippet of what is to come and it also introduces us to Brady's idea of "The Gomorrah Principle". The death of his friend was sad, but also a fairly interesting beginning to the mystery. Though, I did feel like later on in the book, the mystery portion was completely gone. I feel this because as soon as we meet him, it's kind of obvious as to who is responsible for Duff's death. Though, I think the book was more reliant on the adventure aspect rather than that of mystery; we get to read the thrills of war and even the espionage that goes on as well. I particularly liked the side story of Lacey's music career, but felt that the ending of that was a little bit insubstantial, just because after a point, it just sort of ends. I think that the book was fairly well written. The author has a good grasp on word usage and explanations to create interest and mystery. I also like the way they use descriptions to create realistic scenes. Being that I'm not particularly knowledgeable in many aspects of military, I found that I didn't understand every reference. However, it was good that the author had a simple glossary at the back which did help with some things.
Overall, I think that the Rick DeStefanis has written a great book; the perspectives from many characters provide us with an interesting scene of war and mystery. There are times when I felt the book lacked certain elements, like fulfilled plot lines for some characters and proper explanations for some events. However, overall, I think it is worth five stars; I really enjoyed the book.
I received a free eCopy in exchange for an honest review.
March 26, 2015
The Gomorrah Principle by Rick DeStefanis
I received a free copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
I wanted to like this book and as it went on, my appreciation of it grew, with a few quibbles.
It begins with a young man who is grieving the loss of his best friend and step brother , Duff, in Vietnam Nam. What at first looks to be a tragic KIA , is something more sinister, as the hero of the book, Brady Nash, discovers when a Manila envelope is hand delivered to him by an army buddy of Duff's. The envelope contents tells the story of a CIA mission group gone rogue. The group leader, code named "Spartan"' has set himself up in the black market and as sole arbiter of who is target of the group' s assassinations. The targets are no longer just the enemy leaders, but people who stand in the CIA Boss's way. Brady's stepbrother fears for his life and tells him in writing that if he is KIA, do not believe it. Also in the envelope is proof of those murders.
So far a good set up to the story.
At first, I felt that the occasional interspersing of chapters covering the home life of Brady's girlfriend while he is in combat slowed the book down and could have been condensed, but that material came up as important to the book's denouement ( to use a little French lit lingo here). The author was right in his story arc.
What takes some suspension of belief by the reader is the development of the plot wherin Brady joins the Army, specially to go to V-N ( no problem there, as the Army was hungry for men to fight) but that Brady manages to get assigned to the same outfit as his stepbrother and in the same locale. That seems unlikely to happen that easily, but this is a novel, right, so we will give the author some leeway.
The location scenes in VN appear to be accurately depicted as far as I know, and the local color, the sense of fear and danger while the troops are out in the boonies is palpable to the reader. Good depiction of combat ambush tactics and a exciting, but all too brief brief coverage of the Tet offensive.
Brady is a country boy, a dead shot, and becomes a sniper. He wrangles a assignment with the same CIA group, led by the crooked CIA man, real name Maxon, to go on the same seek and kill missions. Again, it is all a bit too easy to do all this for an low ranking enlisted man, not to mention the casualness with which Brady wanders around in the dark alleys of Saigon and Da Nang, meeting highly dangerous people of questionable loyalties which seems a bit much for a man not used to high- level intrigue--- but some leeway is asked for and given for the sake of enjoyment.
In due course, Brady gets accurate info on Maxon's murderous schemes, but just as Brady's investigations come to a head, he is put in the crosshairs. There is an exciting combat sequence here and the author ratchets up the tension. From here on, the book gets better and better as it builds to a very exciting climax. I would have given it another star if the middle part of the book been as tightly written as the ending.
I wanted to like this book, and I did. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys military thrillers or a book where a dedicated loner fights a secret agent gone bad to expose truth.one can see a movie adaptation.
A solid three+, almost four stars.
I received a free copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
I wanted to like this book and as it went on, my appreciation of it grew, with a few quibbles.
It begins with a young man who is grieving the loss of his best friend and step brother , Duff, in Vietnam Nam. What at first looks to be a tragic KIA , is something more sinister, as the hero of the book, Brady Nash, discovers when a Manila envelope is hand delivered to him by an army buddy of Duff's. The envelope contents tells the story of a CIA mission group gone rogue. The group leader, code named "Spartan"' has set himself up in the black market and as sole arbiter of who is target of the group' s assassinations. The targets are no longer just the enemy leaders, but people who stand in the CIA Boss's way. Brady's stepbrother fears for his life and tells him in writing that if he is KIA, do not believe it. Also in the envelope is proof of those murders.
So far a good set up to the story.
At first, I felt that the occasional interspersing of chapters covering the home life of Brady's girlfriend while he is in combat slowed the book down and could have been condensed, but that material came up as important to the book's denouement ( to use a little French lit lingo here). The author was right in his story arc.
What takes some suspension of belief by the reader is the development of the plot wherin Brady joins the Army, specially to go to V-N ( no problem there, as the Army was hungry for men to fight) but that Brady manages to get assigned to the same outfit as his stepbrother and in the same locale. That seems unlikely to happen that easily, but this is a novel, right, so we will give the author some leeway.
The location scenes in VN appear to be accurately depicted as far as I know, and the local color, the sense of fear and danger while the troops are out in the boonies is palpable to the reader. Good depiction of combat ambush tactics and a exciting, but all too brief brief coverage of the Tet offensive.
Brady is a country boy, a dead shot, and becomes a sniper. He wrangles a assignment with the same CIA group, led by the crooked CIA man, real name Maxon, to go on the same seek and kill missions. Again, it is all a bit too easy to do all this for an low ranking enlisted man, not to mention the casualness with which Brady wanders around in the dark alleys of Saigon and Da Nang, meeting highly dangerous people of questionable loyalties which seems a bit much for a man not used to high- level intrigue--- but some leeway is asked for and given for the sake of enjoyment.
In due course, Brady gets accurate info on Maxon's murderous schemes, but just as Brady's investigations come to a head, he is put in the crosshairs. There is an exciting combat sequence here and the author ratchets up the tension. From here on, the book gets better and better as it builds to a very exciting climax. I would have given it another star if the middle part of the book been as tightly written as the ending.
I wanted to like this book, and I did. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys military thrillers or a book where a dedicated loner fights a secret agent gone bad to expose truth.one can see a movie adaptation.
A solid three+, almost four stars.
April 8, 2014
Brady Nash foster brother & Lacey Coleridge biological brother Duff Coleridge was killed during the Vietnam War. Brady of course has made up his mind & decides to enlist. Not only can he serve his country but it’s possible he might be able to find out the mystery (letter) behind his foster brother’s death.
Raised in Melody Hill Tennessee (Polk County, Overhill) a bible belt Brady has learned moralistic values as well as elite hunting skills. Brady makes reference to the biblical verse the Gomorrah Principle (Lot’s wife stopped & looked back at Gomorrah…) when he will kill coyotes back home or enemy combatant in/during the Vietnam War.
With the reluctance of his foster-sister/G/F Lacey who ends up in Nashville pursuing a country western music career & foster mom Mama Emma; Brady joins the Army & off to Vietnam he goes.
Brady goes through basic training at Ft. Jackson, S.C. & then goes through several different units (Ranger; 173rd Airborne Brigade, 4th Battalion, OSA-CIA, IOCC) in Vietnam & quickly becomes the expert marksman (sniper). As SPC E-4 Brady accounts for his daily kills of enemy combatants he learns & uncovers several things about his foster brother Duff’s death.
Later Brady goes for a little R & R in Da Nang & uncovers even a lot more clues (Spartan (Jack Maxon, Lynn Dai Bouchet) to his foster brother’s death.
After some time Lacey finally writes Nash about how she feels about their relationship.
Lacey’s manager Hugh Langston tries to put the moves on her & she ends that relationship real quickly.
Nash reports for his current orders to General Buckingham headquarters in Saigon & low & behold he will not realize that Jack Maxon a civilian aide to the General could be 1 of his biggest clues is right under his nose.
Will Brady Nash solve the mystery that got his foster-brother Duff Coleridge killed in Vietnam? Will Lacey Coleridge get a career as a country western singer? Will Brady & Lacey fall in love & get married?
I’m a Political Science & History undergrad & a true war buff. True or false the book is filled with historical facts such as Vietnam War, politics, rebuilding, & friendships a real life soldier can/will not ever forget, just to name a few. I am also a retired Vietnam Army veteran. & I express all my gratitude for all my brothers/sisters serving past/present in the military.
Cool book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written exciting could be true-to-life historical factional true/false war book for an older teen/adult audience. It was very easy to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. No grammar errors or repetitive out of line sequence sentences. It was filled with a lot of enlightening scenarios & a host of great characters to keep track of. This could make another excellent War movie (Navy Seals, Band of Brothers) or an informative TV series. A book you won’t be able to put down. No doubt in my mind a very easy rating of 5 stars for this book.
Thank you for the free autographed book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Raised in Melody Hill Tennessee (Polk County, Overhill) a bible belt Brady has learned moralistic values as well as elite hunting skills. Brady makes reference to the biblical verse the Gomorrah Principle (Lot’s wife stopped & looked back at Gomorrah…) when he will kill coyotes back home or enemy combatant in/during the Vietnam War.
With the reluctance of his foster-sister/G/F Lacey who ends up in Nashville pursuing a country western music career & foster mom Mama Emma; Brady joins the Army & off to Vietnam he goes.
Brady goes through basic training at Ft. Jackson, S.C. & then goes through several different units (Ranger; 173rd Airborne Brigade, 4th Battalion, OSA-CIA, IOCC) in Vietnam & quickly becomes the expert marksman (sniper). As SPC E-4 Brady accounts for his daily kills of enemy combatants he learns & uncovers several things about his foster brother Duff’s death.
Later Brady goes for a little R & R in Da Nang & uncovers even a lot more clues (Spartan (Jack Maxon, Lynn Dai Bouchet) to his foster brother’s death.
After some time Lacey finally writes Nash about how she feels about their relationship.
Lacey’s manager Hugh Langston tries to put the moves on her & she ends that relationship real quickly.
Nash reports for his current orders to General Buckingham headquarters in Saigon & low & behold he will not realize that Jack Maxon a civilian aide to the General could be 1 of his biggest clues is right under his nose.
Will Brady Nash solve the mystery that got his foster-brother Duff Coleridge killed in Vietnam? Will Lacey Coleridge get a career as a country western singer? Will Brady & Lacey fall in love & get married?
I’m a Political Science & History undergrad & a true war buff. True or false the book is filled with historical facts such as Vietnam War, politics, rebuilding, & friendships a real life soldier can/will not ever forget, just to name a few. I am also a retired Vietnam Army veteran. & I express all my gratitude for all my brothers/sisters serving past/present in the military.
Cool book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written exciting could be true-to-life historical factional true/false war book for an older teen/adult audience. It was very easy to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. No grammar errors or repetitive out of line sequence sentences. It was filled with a lot of enlightening scenarios & a host of great characters to keep track of. This could make another excellent War movie (Navy Seals, Band of Brothers) or an informative TV series. A book you won’t be able to put down. No doubt in my mind a very easy rating of 5 stars for this book.
Thank you for the free autographed book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
May 7, 2015
I first picked up The Gomorrah Principle because I discovered it was written by a childhood friend and neighbor. I couldn’t put it down because, as it turned out, that cute boy next door had become an amazingly talented storyteller.
And above all, The Gomorrah Principle is a good story, with all the components I look for but rarely find in a first novel – a little romance, a little intrigue, a little suspense, all wrapped around a thought provoking struggle between good guys and bad guys in the American military during the Vietnam war and the burning question of how far should one go for a friend.
Rick DeStefanis has written a story that grabs you from the very beginning and never lets go. At its core, it is a story of values – of friendship, loyalty, and commitment. Excellent character development turns our hero, Brady Nash, who joins the army to track down the truth about his friend’s death, and the girl he leaves behind, who swore that if he volunteered for Vietnam she would not wait for him, and who also happens to be the sister of the friend who died there under mysterious circumstances, into real people who struggle with the decisions they’ve made and the challenges they face.
The easy transition between locations in Vietnam, where Brady’s emerging talent as an army sniper, gives him the opportunity to move into Special Operations and discover the truth about his friend, and back home in Tennessee, where Brady’s girlfriend, Lacy, struggles to make it on her own as a country singer, while wanting nothing more than to have Brady return home but knowing she may never see him again, keeps any reader engaged, regardless of gender or interest in war stories.
But it is Rick’s talent in painting a picture that makes the reader feel a part of the story rather than a bystander. From the jungles of Vietnam and the streets of Saigon, to the hills of East Tennessee, I could smell the earth, feel the sweat run down my back, and hear the crack of a sniper’s rifle or the chirp of the grasshoppers in the field. It seemed like I was there, waiting for the telltale pause that both animals and humans seem to take just before they reach safety, allowing a patient sniper to bring them down. I was there, barely breathing when the realization hit that it was those on the same team that pose the greatest danger. And I was there, in the east Tennessee mountains, when the real war followed Brady home and threatened those closest to his heart.
The Gomorrah Principle is a tremendously good read, seamlessly combining an exciting story of war, espionage, and the underworld with a love story between a brave and skilled soldier, a talented and strong willed young woman, and the friend and brother they both lost.
This was a book I held in my hands for a few minutes after it was finished, hating to put it down and walk away. But there is good news. Rick’s latest work, the soon to be released, Melody Hill, is a pre-quell to the Gomorrah Principle. I can’t wait to read more from the boy next door.
And above all, The Gomorrah Principle is a good story, with all the components I look for but rarely find in a first novel – a little romance, a little intrigue, a little suspense, all wrapped around a thought provoking struggle between good guys and bad guys in the American military during the Vietnam war and the burning question of how far should one go for a friend.
Rick DeStefanis has written a story that grabs you from the very beginning and never lets go. At its core, it is a story of values – of friendship, loyalty, and commitment. Excellent character development turns our hero, Brady Nash, who joins the army to track down the truth about his friend’s death, and the girl he leaves behind, who swore that if he volunteered for Vietnam she would not wait for him, and who also happens to be the sister of the friend who died there under mysterious circumstances, into real people who struggle with the decisions they’ve made and the challenges they face.
The easy transition between locations in Vietnam, where Brady’s emerging talent as an army sniper, gives him the opportunity to move into Special Operations and discover the truth about his friend, and back home in Tennessee, where Brady’s girlfriend, Lacy, struggles to make it on her own as a country singer, while wanting nothing more than to have Brady return home but knowing she may never see him again, keeps any reader engaged, regardless of gender or interest in war stories.
But it is Rick’s talent in painting a picture that makes the reader feel a part of the story rather than a bystander. From the jungles of Vietnam and the streets of Saigon, to the hills of East Tennessee, I could smell the earth, feel the sweat run down my back, and hear the crack of a sniper’s rifle or the chirp of the grasshoppers in the field. It seemed like I was there, waiting for the telltale pause that both animals and humans seem to take just before they reach safety, allowing a patient sniper to bring them down. I was there, barely breathing when the realization hit that it was those on the same team that pose the greatest danger. And I was there, in the east Tennessee mountains, when the real war followed Brady home and threatened those closest to his heart.
The Gomorrah Principle is a tremendously good read, seamlessly combining an exciting story of war, espionage, and the underworld with a love story between a brave and skilled soldier, a talented and strong willed young woman, and the friend and brother they both lost.
This was a book I held in my hands for a few minutes after it was finished, hating to put it down and walk away. But there is good news. Rick’s latest work, the soon to be released, Melody Hill, is a pre-quell to the Gomorrah Principle. I can’t wait to read more from the boy next door.
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