Trinity: A Novel

by Tom DeLonge, A.J. Hartley

It's 1962, in Trinity, Nevada, a small town on the edge of the desert, home to a military base serving the nuclear testing grounds.

Van Lopez and his brother Andy have enough to do keeping their truck running and the local criminal gang happy to be concerned about nuclear tests. Van has dreams, or-he's not sure what to call them-that he cannot explain or forget, but when he sees mysterious lights in the sky, he struggles to make sense of what now feel like his earliest memories.

On the day of the atomic test, the nuclear blast brings down something over Trinity that wasn't supposed to be there-something not of this world. Now Van is running for his life, pursued by a murderous Soviet agent and government forces bent on keeping all he has seen from getting out. Romances and rivalries come to a head as he fights for the things he cares about most, and in that final battle, he may have to make allies of his oldest enemies.

A thrilling new novel by the creators of Sekret Machines who, with the help of a team of government insiders, exposed the secret pentagon UFO program that captured America's attention and led to the first public congressional hearings about unidentified flying objects.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, Thriller

304 pages, Hardcover

Published June 11, 2024

About the author

Tom DeLonge is an award-winning producer, author, platinum recording artist, researcher and entrepreneur from San Diego, CA. Today Tom, with his company To The Stars, produces original content that aims to inspire a newfound appreciation of the profound, yet unresolved, mysteries involving science and the universe through entertainment directly informed by science. His first multi-media franchise Love, told the story of an isolated astronaut on the International Space Station and included a double album by his band Angels And Airwaves with the feature film premiering in 600 theatres across the United States. His next franchise Poet Anderson was inspired by a dream study conducted at Stanford University and spanned an award-winning short film, a chart-topping album, acclaimed comic book series, graphic novel and a YA science fiction novel co-written with NYTimes Bestselling author Suzanne Young. Most recently he is working on Sekret Machines which spans both sci-fi fiction and nonfiction thesis informed by unprecedented access at the highest level of the government and science to uncover information about the UFO phenomenon with renowned authors AJ Hartley and Peter Levenda. His Sekret Machines work has won him the 2017 UFO Researcher of the Year award.

For the full experience of Tom’s work, visit www.tothestars.media.

Reviews

[Chase Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stranger Things… but 1960s greaser doo-op vibes 🖤🛸

[Chris Greensmith · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Jillian Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Trinity" is a sci-fi thriller novel co-written by Tom DeLonge and A.J. Hartley. It's part of the larger Sekret Machines universe that DeLonge has been building through various media (books, music, documentaries).
Here's a breakdown of what people generally say about the book:
The Good:
* Engaging Story and Pacing: Many readers find the story captivating and the pacing keeps them hooked. The blend of historical events with fictional (or are they?) elements creates a compelling narrative.
* Well-Written: A.J. Hartley is a seasoned author, and his expertise shines through in the quality of the writing. The prose is generally considered to be good.
* Connections to Sekret Machines: Fans of the Sekret Machines series will appreciate the connections and Easter eggs within "Trinity" that tie into the larger universe.
* Thought-Provoking: The book delves into questions about UFOs, government secrecy, and the nature of reality, which can spark interesting discussions and further exploration of these topics.
The Not-So-Good:
* Similarities to "Strange Times": Some readers have pointed out similarities in tone and style to DeLonge's other work, "Strange Times: Ghost in the Girl." This might feel repetitive for those seeking something completely different.
* Quick Read for Well-Versed Readers: People already familiar with paranormal and UFO topics might find the book a quick read, as it doesn't necessarily present groundbreaking new information in those areas.
Overall:
"Trinity" is generally well-received, particularly by fans of DeLonge's work and those interested in UFOs and government conspiracies. It's an entertaining and thought-provoking read, even if it might not revolutionize the genre or provide deep dives into the unexplained.
If you're intrigued by the premise and enjoy fast-paced sci-fi thrillers, "Trinity" is likely worth checking out.

[Chester Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another product of To the Stars Academy, and Tom DeLonge. It has a very formulaic structure to it as far as classic UFO sightings and history. It was an adequate read, but for someone who has followed the phenomenon his whole life, a very average novel with average characters. A 3 out of 5 star read.

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow

Now that was a surprise and quite a fun ride through the desert. Not what I was expecting, you’re gonna like it.

[Jay D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed that. Little nod near the end to the Sekret Machines series, which was cool.
Would definitely recommend it!

[Alex S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy AJ Hartleys writing style. I like that he writes each character differently, from their words to tone. You can feel them, they have real stuff behind them and I believe they’re real people.
He does his research, it’s very authentic and fact checked. I was listening to Roy Orbison when it was mentioned, looking up every song, car mentioned and any other references, I love books like this!
My favourite line, a top tier insult “soulless little toe rag” 😂
I read Sekret Machines as well, and if you don’t already know, they’re not small books. I read them in a week and I was hooked. Tom and AJ make a perfect match for storytelling!

This story is great as well! It’s addicting and I sunk right into it. I was feeling pretty passionate in some parts; angry for Andy with the Snakes, angry for the boys when their dumb mom didn’t even stick up for them, and for Stacy when everyone kinda laughs at her for having ambitions beyond being a housewife. A little teary eyed to learn what Andy was doing for Van in secret.
To me that’s good writing, inspiring those emotions. It also sent a good message: ‘don’t lose sleep over the opinions of sheep’ because clearly Dylan, Hank and the Snakes are all just idiots and it’s unfortunate that most of the world is that watered down 🤷‍♀️
Dylan kinda turned around but I still think he’s just a dummy

I have a high interest in the atomic testings, UFO sightings and government conspiracies as well so very cool stuff. Very real, it’s not like ‘ohh beam me up and probe me’ sci fi. I’m a believer and I know the government hides so much from us, so call me crazy but it feels like a very truthful story. Tom was right 😉

I just really enjoy diving into something different with substance. I read a lot of romance and sometimes it’s just filler and mindless. No hate on romance! But I loved the nostalgia here; it reminded me a lot of the movie American Graffiti with Richard Dreyfus and a young Harrison Ford. DJ Stevie Fly reminded me of The Wolfman!

I have Cathedrals of Glass on my shelf next and I cannot wait to crack open another from the pen of AJ Hartley

[Melanie | addictedtobooks86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
I’ve always been a believer of UFO’s, as is DeLonge. I still can’t believe that he actually helped expose the secret pentagon UFO program….un-fucking-believeable!🙌🏻 With DeLonge’s brain power and Hartley’s writing skills this author duo does such a fantastic job at writing some badass science fiction books, and Trinity is just that and so much more.
This story centers around a couple of teenagers who stumble upon something from out of this world, something extraterrestrial in the desert of Trinity, Nevada. Trinity is the home of the nuclear testing site, and the government is determined to make sure that the teens unsee what they think that they saw.
This gave me some ‘Goonies' vibes, and I was all here for it. Hartley and DeLonge put together a fun, fast paced, and out of this world story that sheds light on the phenomena of UFOs. I could totally see this being turned into a movie (ehhhh @tothestars.media - can we make it happen?!😉) This book takes the reader on a fun, thrilling, and suspenseful ride through the desert of Trinity, Nevada. I loved the characters, the setting, the plot, the pace, and action mixed with sci-fi. DeLonge and Hartley nailed it with this one!🤘🏻

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✦Sci-fi
✦UFOs
✦’Goonies’ vibes
✦Action packed from start to finish
✦Fantastic character development



𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫4.5/5

[Kyle Soleil · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty underwhelmjng and I hate to give it only 2 stars as Tom Delonge is one of my favorite artists. It’s branded as a book about a UFO but really doesn’t get to that until the last 10-20 pages. It feels like the book was more about an unlikely events of some teenagers taking on, outrunning, defeating and outsmarting the United States military who watched a UFO crash land on their base.

The book is a pretty fast read, more geared towards YA I think. Personally, I’m not a fan of this David vs Goliath trope where kids or teenagers take on a trained/stronger enemy just to come out on top. That’s what this is.

I’ll give a star though for what I think is the analogy of the story for real life governments and what they know about UFOs and aliens. . Tom has always said that his story ideas are a blend of fiction and non fiction, not really identifying anything. But at the end of this we see what I think was their intentions to draw an analogy to the current state of UFOs and aliens.

[Melodie Ferrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow; this was so good! I really loved this! I honestly may have liked this even more than Sekret Machines. I enjoyed the setting and time period. I can tell a lot of research was done.
I think the approach Tom DeLonge takes with his projects is very smart and thought-out— such as with the inclusion of the main character being someone who doesn’t believe in the supernatural conspiracies his “paranoid” father does— but also just the fact that he creates these books in the first place to help give people a story that they care about, to explain these concepts in an understandable way, meeting the reader halfway.
Speaking of caring about it, I really cared about these characters, and I was definitely invested in what would happen to them and their relationships with each other. Because of that, much of this was quite suspenseful and thrilling. Some wild stuff happens and the stakes are very high.
A.J. Hartley’s writing is descriptive and metaphorical as usual. I’ve read in other time periods from him before, and I think he’s very good at writing in the past, putting himself in places and situations he’s never been in before.
It definitely became more interesting about halfway through, though the first half absolutely got me invested in the characters and painted a picture of the town they live in, and it raised some questions. There’s a lot of substance to this, and it makes you think and wonder. There are also some good messages at the end. This reminded me a bit of The Outsiders, which I’ve only read once, five years ago, and loved.
This was a really fun journey. If there is going to be a movie, like I know Tom DeLonge has mentioned, I definitely look forward to it.

Link to my BookTube review: https://youtu.be/O1v_IuGoD2U?si=LT_rW...

[Patrick Shanahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok book if you are into ufos. It is very basic but sometimes that’s what you need. It’s not too action packed but it kept my attention. I did not learn any life lessons and this book won’t be winning any awards but it is a book and it passed the time. Not bad but not great.

[Ryan Gainey (ryan_Gainey StoryGraph) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last few pages elevated this book quite a bit, but it’s nowhere near the depth and quality of the other books set in the TD “factional” universe. To be fair, those books are a high bar! 🛸

[Erin VanWoert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to meet aliens.

[Jenine Tepsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good and interesting book.

[Alexis · Rating 2 out of 5]

disappointing after reading the sekret machines series :(

[Nicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom DeLonge talking about aliens can never go wrong

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nowhere near as good as Sekret Machines, that’s for sure. The beginning drags on but when the action starts, this book is fantastic. The ending, however, needed some work as I felt there were a lot of loose ends that never got tied up. The Soviet spy storyline, the dad’s paranoia/what happened before the Lopez family moved to Nevada, and the repercussions with what the group actually found out could have been much better developed. Also, the Tunnel Snakes side quest thing was just annoying and added nothing to the book.

[Jenna Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A.J. Hartley and Tom DeLonge have teamed up again to deliver another paranormal thriller on par (and tangentially related to) the Sekret Machine universe.

What I really like about Hartley is that he can succinctly summarize the basics of historical events to get his reader up to speed and quickly into the plot of the story.

Unlike Sekret Machines, this story centers around a group of teenagers, and it has the feel of “Goonies” or, most closely, Tom’s recent inde film “Monsters of California.”

Overall, it was an enjoyable read, as Hartley is an expert in the art of storytelling and the subject matter was intriguing. For readers who are well educated in paranormal matters, it will be a quick read, but nevertheless, still entertaining.

[Jen Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Information is currency.”

Well written but fell a little flat for me. I’m guessing that’s because I had pretty high expectations. I’m a big fan of the Sekret Machines series and was hoping this was similar. Trinity felt a little slow and drawn out but that also could be a me problem because I’m a big UFO/UAP enthusiast so the story didn’t feel ground breaking. I do think it will be a great fit for those new to the UAP phenomenon.

[Kieran Harker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn near perfect story, the mention of something at the end made me so happy after reading Sekret Machines!

[Peter A. Lio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid and not bad, but sort of forced and not really about much of anything. It’s almost more of a vignette that maybe has some ideas built into it, but nothing beyond an X-files episode I think.