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Line in the Valley
Line in the Valley Paperback ChrisHernandez Tactical16
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 15, 2014
7 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Chris Hernandez
7 books9 followersI’m a former Marine and proudly serving Texas National Guard Soldier, married with a bunch of kids, writing fiction based on my military and LE experience. My first novel, Proof of Our Resolve, was released in September 2012. Line in the Valley, my second novel, was released January 2014.
Just to make sure there’s no misunderstanding: I AM NOT, NEVER HAVE BEEN AND NEVER WILL BE A SPECIAL OPERATIONS SOLDIER, nor have I ever been attached to a Special Operations unit. In Afghanistan I was allowed to have a beard and long hair because of my job. I’m a regular Joe who had the opportunity to work with some great units and people, and do some pretty cool stuff overseas.
Just to make sure there’s no misunderstanding: I AM NOT, NEVER HAVE BEEN AND NEVER WILL BE A SPECIAL OPERATIONS SOLDIER, nor have I ever been attached to a Special Operations unit. In Afghanistan I was allowed to have a beard and long hair because of my job. I’m a regular Joe who had the opportunity to work with some great units and people, and do some pretty cool stuff overseas.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 11, 2014
I couldn't put this book down. It's was obviously written by an individual who has extensive knowledge about combat and the ups and downs of being a guard soldier. I've deployed with the Army National Guard myself and could relate to many of the things he wrote about in this book. Outstanding read and a must read if you enjoy military fiction.
August 6, 2018
Action, action, action. And the kind of authenticity that comes from someone who has been there. After reading this book, I felt like I had been through the ringer, too!
February 7, 2017
In PROOF OF OUR RESOLVE, Chris Hernandez introduced us to SFC Jerry Nuñez, a Texas Army National Guardsman and Houston Police officer who was deployed to Afghanistan, fighting the Taliban in the AO's strongest insurgent hotbed. It was a good read, a little rough around the edges, but the themes and emotions that Chris conveys in his writing were definitely worth the time and money spent reading the book.
LINE IN THE VALLEY takes a darker turn than its predecessor. I'm surprised that the overarching plot (insurgent forces of unknown origin attacking and capturing border towns) has not been done before by a more prominent thriller author, as it is nothing short of brilliant. It certainly sets the stage for SFC Nuñez--who has reneged on his vow to leave the Guard after the events of PROOF--and his platoon--now led by Lieutenant (formerly Corporal) Rodger Quincy--to have to live the nightmare scenario and fight the war at home. It's frighteningly plausible, and makes the reader wonder why it hasn't happened already.
My only gripe with the plot was that we never really get down to the nitty gritty of who the insurgents were or what their goals were, aside from intel briefings that Nuñez and Quincy receive from their S-2 shop. HOWEVER, it can be sensibly argued that Chris's objective was not to provide a third person omniscient thriller novel, but rather to put the reader in the boots of the soldiers on the ground. Having worked as an infantryman in Iraq, I can testify that when you roll outside the wire, the average grunt isn't particularly concerned with the strategic battlefield picture as it falls outside of their immediate duties, so this is accurate.
I do feel the prose has improved markedly since PROOF and that Chris is growing as a writer. He's starting to find his stride. Having said that, I do feel that it could be a bit more polished.
What Chris lacks in polish, he makes up for it in raw action and his ability to put the reader on the ground. You feel the dread of having to fight a war on the American homeland, the frustration and rage at the actions of the enemy, and the hollowness and sorrow that comes from one's mates dying around them. His characters are extremely well-written, as always. I can safely say that with just under a decade's experience in the military, I have met somebody like each of the characters in LINE IN THE VALLEY.
The ending is a cliffhanger, and has me rushing to buy the next book to see what happens next. Once you read LINE IN THE VALLEY, I have a feeling that you will do the same.
LINE IN THE VALLEY takes a darker turn than its predecessor. I'm surprised that the overarching plot (insurgent forces of unknown origin attacking and capturing border towns) has not been done before by a more prominent thriller author, as it is nothing short of brilliant. It certainly sets the stage for SFC Nuñez--who has reneged on his vow to leave the Guard after the events of PROOF--and his platoon--now led by Lieutenant (formerly Corporal) Rodger Quincy--to have to live the nightmare scenario and fight the war at home. It's frighteningly plausible, and makes the reader wonder why it hasn't happened already.
My only gripe with the plot was that we never really get down to the nitty gritty of who the insurgents were or what their goals were, aside from intel briefings that Nuñez and Quincy receive from their S-2 shop. HOWEVER, it can be sensibly argued that Chris's objective was not to provide a third person omniscient thriller novel, but rather to put the reader in the boots of the soldiers on the ground. Having worked as an infantryman in Iraq, I can testify that when you roll outside the wire, the average grunt isn't particularly concerned with the strategic battlefield picture as it falls outside of their immediate duties, so this is accurate.
I do feel the prose has improved markedly since PROOF and that Chris is growing as a writer. He's starting to find his stride. Having said that, I do feel that it could be a bit more polished.
What Chris lacks in polish, he makes up for it in raw action and his ability to put the reader on the ground. You feel the dread of having to fight a war on the American homeland, the frustration and rage at the actions of the enemy, and the hollowness and sorrow that comes from one's mates dying around them. His characters are extremely well-written, as always. I can safely say that with just under a decade's experience in the military, I have met somebody like each of the characters in LINE IN THE VALLEY.
The ending is a cliffhanger, and has me rushing to buy the next book to see what happens next. Once you read LINE IN THE VALLEY, I have a feeling that you will do the same.
February 22, 2019
An excellent example of top notch military fiction
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews