Righteous Sniper: A World War II Thriller

by David Healey

In the frigid winter of 1944, amidst the chaos of the Battle of the Bulge, US sniper Caje Cole fights for survival in the encircled town of Bastogne. With Panzer tanks and a deadly enemy sniper on his heels, Cole and his squad are given a high-stakes escorting a captured German officer to headquarters for interrogation. But this is no ordinary prisoner—he's wanted for war crimes by the Americans and considered a traitor by his own countrymen. As snow falls heavily on the battlefield, Cole must navigate treacherous terrain while evading relentless vigilante squads from both sides who are determined to exact revenge by killing the German. As tensions rise and bullets fly, Cole finds himself forming an unlikely alliance with the very enemy he was ordered to deliver to justice. Together, they seek refuge in a remote chateau and fight for their lives before being hunted through the frozen forests and fields. With danger lurking around every corner, will Cole be able to complete his mission and deliver the German safely? And as his bond with an enemy soldier grows stronger, he must ultimately decide where his loyalties truly lie on this wintry battlefield.

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 3, 2024

About the author

David Healey made his publishing debut with SHARPSHOOTER, a what-if historical thriller about an attempt to assassinate Union General Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War, published by an imprint of Penguin Putnam. That novel was the result of years of research into the Civil War that included time as a reenactor at Gettysburg and other battlefields.

In its review, the Civil War News wrote: “SHARPSHOOTER has the feel of a techno-thriller, the kind offered by Tom Clancy or Dean Koontz ... SHARPSHOOTER moves quickly and is filled with all manner of intrigue."

Healey has brought that same passion for research and history to his World War II novels, GHOST SNIPER, ARDENNES SNIPER, and RED SNIPER. During a 21-year career as a journalist, he was fortunate enough to interview many veterans of the 29th Division who landed at Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. Some of the events and characters in these novels were inspired by their stories.

He loves the idea of a character like Micajah Cole, a self-reliant backwoods hunter who turns out to be unrelenting and ruthless as a sniper, especially against a skilled adversary, in the pages of these books.

In addition to fiction, he has written books on regional history, including 1812: REDISCOVERING CHESAPEAKE BAY'S FORGOTTEN WAR and GREAT STORMS OF THE CHESAPEAKE.

A graduate of Washington College and the Stonecoast MFA program, he was recognized in 2011 as a Chaney Scholar in history by St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Visit him online at www.davidhealeyauthor.com or follow him at Facebook at facebook.com/david.healey.books

Reviews

[H.W. Bernard · Rating 4 out of 5]

RIGHTEOUS SNIPER is a fast-paced WWII thriller set in the Ardennes Forest during the infamous Battle of the Bulge. David Healy tells a highly creative story centered on three small groups of soldiers, two of them American, one, German. Two Americans--a sniper team--have been ordered to escort a high-ranking German POW to an American headquarters. The German officer is suspected, wrongly, of ordering American POWs executed. So a squad of Germans wants the officer dead, knowing he will reveal the truth about who really directed the massacre of American POWs. To complicate matters, a renegade team of Americans, out of mistaken revenge, wants the German dead, too. RIGHTEOUS SNIPER is the perfect book to read in front of a roaring winter fire while snow piles up outside. Believe me, you'll be flipping pages as fast as the snow falls.

[Mags Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Boys are Back Together

After a year since I finished book 9 in the Cole and Vaccaro adventures it was great to rejoin the hillbilly and New Yorker as they joined the Army with Mulholland headed for Bastogne. I shivered reading his descriptive writing of the cold damp European winter and the soldiers hunched down in soggy, muddy snow melted foxholes. One could nearly smell the rot of frost bitten toes, fingers, noses and ears. We owe so much to those soldiers and Author Healey brought it to life. If you had any family who fought in Europe in WW II you need to read this story. VR, Mags

[Lisa Giguere · Rating 5 out of 5]

More caje never a bad thing

I so enjoy this character. In the same way i enjoy Stephen Hunter's Bob Lee swagger novels. More caje cole is always welcomed. Didn't care that it falls out of sequence, that isn't important.

[Dennis West · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sniper series

10th book in this series and just as excites to continue reading about Hillbilly and Vaccaro. Same subjects but entirely different story lines. The imagination and story telling abilities of David Healey in this WWII saga makes me want to continue reading more!

[Bill Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

pretty good

I am not a big fan on stories from this part of WWII. It is well written and mostly factual. There might even had been a Cole in at least one of the units. I would recommend it first the stir and historical value alone.

[barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series and describes how the troops suffered in the cold ,wet, and lack of food but through great determination carried on .
Good description and you could almost place yourselves with them .
Good characters and series .
Very well written .

[Tom OConnor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Righteous sniper

Great story felt the cold that the G Is felt. Very well researched with a great storyline how enemies can cone together for a common goal. Anyone who likes military will enjoy reading Mr. Healey books.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hillbilly protection

I cannot say enough about how well these books are written. Also the reader is treated to some not so known WW2 knowledge!

[Robert W Waterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done

A very entertaining novel. Enjoyable to read. Historical rehashes are always entertaining. I hope thus author writes more similar tales.

[Roy Grimmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. I think this was the best yet. David Healey you’ll have trouble beating this one. Prove me wrong.

[Edwrd Poole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and following the redneck sniper through WW2. It has a good storyline and a real MESS HE WAS IN AND HOW HE GOT OUT OF IT—looking FORWARD TO THE NEXT BOOK.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been almost two years since I read the last book in this series, yet it feels like yesterday. All the characters and their personalities came flooding back. This was a great read - thoroughly enjoyed it.