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The Burning Blue: Book III of the Sunlit Silence Series – A Novel of WWII air Combat and Sacrifice

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He hunts by night. But it’s the ghosts of war that won’t let him rest.

From the award-winning author of Sunward I’ve Climbed and The Shouting Wind comes the heart-pounding third novel in Frank A. Mason’s acclaimed Sunlit Silence series - an unflinching portrayal of sacrifice, vengeance, and survival in WWII’s deadliest skies.

Flight Lieutenant Trip Gibson has lost more than comrades. The war has taken friends, lovers, and pieces of his soul. Now flying with the RAF’s elite night fighters, Trip takes to the skies under cover of darkness - haunted, hardened, and hell-bent on revenge.

The Blitz is in full force. London is in flames. When off duty, Trip drowns grief in reckless nights and hollow laughs. By night, he stalks the German bombers leaving the city in ruins. His Bristol Beaufighter becomes a weapon of retribution, and Trip begins to wonder if he’s flying toward redemption or oblivion.

Then comes a mission deep into occupied France… and a revelation that shatters everything he thought he knew about love, loyalty, and Barbara - the woman he couldn’t save.

Can Trip survive the war without losing himself completely? Or will the burning blue of combat consume what’s left of him?

An emotionally gripping WWII aviation novel perfect for fans of Bomber Boys, Hornet Flight, and A Higher Call.

The Sunlit Silence Series of WWII in the

Sunward I’ve ClimbedThe Shouting WindThe Burning Blue

356 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 8, 2025

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About the author

Frank A. Mason

29 books16 followers
Frank A. Mason is the pen name for author Robert (Bob) F. Amason, Ph.D.

Professor at Large at Northern Illinois University (Semi-Retired). He earned his Ph.D. from Georgia Tech and University of Florida. A retired USAF Lieutenant Colonel, Bob Amason was a college professor for 25 years. As an officer in the USAF, Bob flew B-52s during the Cold War, was a flying training instructor, and directed high-level staff organizations over 22 years of his early adult life.

He is a life member of the Sons of the American Revolution. He now lives in Florida with his wife, who is also university professor and author

Winner of the 2023 Gold Royal Palm Literary Award, the highest award from the Florida Writer's Association

(Sources: Amazon author profile, Facebook, Linkedin)

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5 stars
471 (61%)
4 stars
240 (31%)
3 stars
43 (5%)
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7 (<1%)
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3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
11 reviews1 follower
April 13, 2025
This is an excellent series (fictional) about WW2. It gives a good portrayal of the politics of the time and the effect on regular people. The characters are great and make you support them through good and bad. There is happiness, sadness, laughter, crying, love and death. It is the time our parents struggled to save their world and the prices they paid. You will love the characters, especially Trip even more so if you love flying and air combat. I hated to finish the read since the next issue isn't on the horizon but I can't wait for it to come out, hurry, please!
69 reviews1 follower
May 7, 2025
Ring knockers lament

I enjoy a simple good read while exercising. I’m a student of anything relating to WWI and WWII, the more “technical” the better. Know enough about a lot of things to be dangerous. This read fulfilled more than my minim requirements. The only parts that didn’t ring true were the sex scenes. I assume they were included to add that zing to the story, probably a good choice, but then I digress. Time to say goodnight.
3 reviews
June 29, 2025
Well balanced

I’ve read too many WWII novels to count. My father fought in WWII. I’m always so intrigued by the bravery exhibited in that war of all wars. Here, I loved the balance of frightening excitement, personal relationships, affairs, and fairly intricate details of flying and WWII fighter planes. Many tears reading this book. Well done lad!
Profile Image for Donald B McAllister.
26 reviews1 follower
August 17, 2025
Exceptional War Novel

Frank A. Mason crafts a wonderful reading experience in historical war novels. His flight knowledge and ability to spin a yarn with realistic characters, exciting plots, and emotions galore not only,y from the characters but being able to jerk the reader’s emotions as well.

I hope future readers of this series are as entertained as I was.
205 reviews8 followers
Read
April 15, 2025
Outstanding

Frank A. Mason has presented us with another thrilling, emotional and even sad novel. Thursday is series shows the quality of style and characters we know of from Mr. Mason. I look forward to Trip's next adventure.
Profile Image for Richard.
498 reviews4 followers
May 7, 2025
American RAF ace

Fun fact: Once shot down over continental Europe you can never fly in combat again. The policy was if you were shot down again you might reveal, under torture, those involved in your escape.
23 reviews
July 4, 2025
superlative read

A very gripping tale combining tales of fictitious Trip Gibson in accurate historical adventures during World War II. Very entertaining social escapades are sprinkled throughout his aerial encounters with German adversaries. Truly enjoyable read.
852 reviews3 followers
July 29, 2025
This series remains interesting as Trip transitions to night fighting. Enter the Beaufighter, heavily armed with two engines and radar. New skills are also needed, as are new tactics. Fighting over occupied territory provides Trip with another escape challenge.
Profile Image for EvilAntie Jan.
1,637 reviews13 followers
November 27, 2025
What a Mission

Brilliant part three. This series gets better and better. I am overwhelmed by the technical expertise of flying airplanes. And it’s so interesting to see the humbleness of Major Trip.
2 reviews
April 26, 2025
Great book

Excellent story that is hard to put down. Well written and based on research and history. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
1 review
May 1, 2025
Good read

I love the series keep on writing them. I wonder what Trip is goi my to be flying next during the war.
256 reviews
May 21, 2025
He leaves England.

Trip finds himself with both more female problems and having to leave Spitfires for night fighters and eventually having to leave England.
3 reviews
Read
June 25, 2025
Great book

Enjoyed reading every page. Anyone who likes reading wwII history will like the story line. The characters are full of life.
Profile Image for Kevin Hill.
77 reviews2 followers
July 21, 2025
A good third volume in a terrific series

Sags a bit in the middle but it has a terrific end. I definitely look forward to the next volume.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews