Courier

Freelancer #1

by Terry Irving

Rick Putnam is running for his life. A Vietnam Veteran riding a motorcycle for a national news network, he's picked up something too hot to handle. So hot that a reporter and a camera crew has already been killed and a rogue CIA kill squad is on his tail. Stick with this charismatic character as he fights his way all the way to 1600 Pennsylvania in his battle for the truth.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Adventure, Action, Mystery Thriller, Historical Fiction

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2013

About the author

Become a Patron! Join me at www.patreon.com/terryirving!

I moved to Washington DC in 1973 to kick around for a few weeks until I decided on a real career. I ended up riding a classic BMW R50/2 for ABC News during Watergate. Carrying that news film was the beginning of a 40-year career that has included producing Emmy Award-winning television news, writing everything from magazine articles to standup comedy and developing many of the earliest forms of online media.

After producing stories in Beirut, Hong Kong, El Salvador, and all 50 states, I still live right outside Washington, DC because my wife and my dog simply refuse to live anywhere else.

I have just finished a memoir of those early years and am in search of an agent.

You can visit my website:
http://www.roninrobotpress.com/

Or you can connect with me Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writingprodu...
Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/terryirving)

Reviews

[Kemper · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I received an ARC of this from NetGalley in exchange for this review.)

Back before digital technology and the internet made sending video easy by clicking a mouse, the network news had to use cruder methods for their evening broadcasts like handing the film off to a motorcycle courier to race it back to the station to be developed and eventually put on the air. Hell, they might as well have been making finger paintings on a cave wall...

It’s 1972 in Washington DC , and the Watergate investigation has begun to throw a cloud over Nixon’s upcoming second inauguration. Rick Putnam is a Vietnam veteran still struggling to get over the physical and psychological toll the war took on him, and his favorite kind of therapy is riding a motorcycle at daredevil speeds through the crowded and dangerous streets to deliver the film generated by TV news reporters all over town. As Rick makes a routine run he’s almost killed by a reckless driver, and he’s later shocked to learn that the reporters who gave him the film died in a car wreck. Rick soon finds himself targeted by people determined to murder him.

I had very high hopes for this since the premise of a guy being the target of a conspiracy in the DC of the early ‘70s seemed like it could have a paranoid conspiracy thriller of that era like Three Days of the Condor. A disaffected motorcycle courier racing through the streets with Watergate as the political backdrop could have been great. Unfortunately, this settles for just being entertaining.

The first problem I had is with Rick Putnam. He's a vet who had to endure months of painful therapy from his war wounds as well as post-traumatic stress that leaves him only able to sleep for a few nightmare ridden hours every night. You would think that would make him a bitter mess, but instead when not having flashbacks he seems like a cheerful and good natured guy who just likes riding his motorcycle really fast. Which is good for him because he gets chased an awful lot in this book.

The second problem is that instead of taking advantage of the ‘70s setting to evoke a grim urban environment populated by a bunch of sleazy assholes in bad sport coats (And isn’t that what we all want from a conspiracy story in the ‘70s?) , we get anachronistic attitudes that reflect modern sensibilities. Like a couple of gay characters make a few comments about having to stay in the closet, but the reaction of everyone in the book seem extremely progressive for the time. And did we really need the lecture about how the Washington Redskins name is racist and offensive to Native Americans? It is, but was anybody talking about that in 1972? And why is it in a conspiracy thriller?

While there’s some interesting stuff about how the whole film to TV process works, we’re almost immediately introduced to more supporting characters in the form of Rick’s housemates who just happen to be early hackers and show him how these miraculous ‘modems’ can be used to get information from computers. These guys are also hard core science nerds who become Rick’s personal crime lab. So instead of Rick maybe running around and talking to people to get things done, he has the 1972 version of Google in the form of these guys in his house.

It’s also a little unsatisfying because Rick ends up mainly just standing around in between motorcycle chases while everyone else does all the work and explains the conspiracy to him. Not only is Rick lucky enough to live with three hackers who can whip up high explosives and rig a way to develop film, his other roommate just happens to be a politically connected accountant who can not only decipher the crucial evidence, he also knows exactly how to use it. Oh, and he’s a martial arts expert which comes in handy!

Despite my disappointment that the book settles for being a light weight thriller that doesn’t take full advantage of its setting, I still enjoyed it. The motorcycle chase sequences are exciting, and even though I didn’t entirely buy Rick as a damaged vet, I did end up liking him for his earnest sincerity.

This is probably suffering from my expectations. Going back to the cinema comparison, I was thinking this would be The Conversation on a motorcycle, but it’s more like an action exploitation film in which The Man can be taken down by a biker/Vietnam vet and his eccentric pals. Thinking about it in those terms makes it seem a lot more successful.

[Lori Wale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Courier is one of those fun books you just thoroughly enjoy. Terry Irving took his own experiences as a motorcycle courier during Nixon-era Washington, DC and wove them into an exciting, nail-biting, fictional thriller.

Rick Putnam, the protagonist in the story, is a Vietnam vet with some heavy baggage. Not only is he physically and emotionally wounded from the war, he finds himself unwittingly carrying a courier delivery that could cost him his life. Through great action scenes, the reader is driven on a wild ride with unexpected twists and turns that keep those pages turning to the very end.

This is one you won't regret picking up; and once you do, you won't be putting it down until you're done!

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Courier Is a fascinating glimpse into the news world in the 1970s. Watergate created an entire nation of news junkies. I remember as a high school kid, reading Philadelphia newspapers cover to cover and watching Watergate on television. The most exciting place to be, of course, was Washington, DC. Courier is both a thriller and a history lesson. I never thought about how all those stories were put on the news so quickly. But in fact someone had to pick up the film, drive it down to the news station and have it developed before It could be edited, let alone put on air. In the traffic congested streets of Washington DC, that person was the motorcycle courier. Weaving in and out of traffic, he put his life on the line to get the story in on time. Imagine all that drama… then imagine realizing that someone in that traffic was trying to kill you. A great read!!

[Donald Critchfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1972, I was in network news on the other side of the world
(Saigon), but from what I remember of that place and those times, Terry
Irving's work of fiction about Washington, DC rings of truth. I know
it is a 'reach' to compare a first timer with an amazingly successful
fiction author, but this story has enough echos of 'The Pelican Brief'
about it that Terry should be looking over his shoulder.

I want to see the movie.

Don Critchfield (Recovering NBC News Producer)

[Viking Jam · Rating 2 out of 5]

http://koeur.wordpress.com/2014/03/21...


Publisher: Angry Robot
Publishing Date: April 2014
ISBN: 9781909223806
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Rating: 2/5

Publisher Description: It’s 1972. The Watergate scandal has Washington on edge. Rick Putnam, a Vietnam veteran and motorcycle courier for one of the capital’s leading television stations, is trying to get his life back together after his nightmarish ordeal in the war. But when Rick picks up film from a news crew interviewing a government worker with a hot story, his life begins to unravel as everyone involved in the story dies within hours of the interview and Rick realizes he is the next target.

Review: Cover is pretty cool.

This novel didn’t really hold my interest. I think the story-line was too simplistic to fit the mystery thriller genre. Most of the novel was built around scene development and character interaction.

If I were to boil the contents of this novel, down to it’s most basic elements it would go something like this. 1. How a newsroom operates and the machinations within. 2. A tour guides historical review of the Washington DC area. 3. Motorcycle ride. 4. Tour guide review. 5. Vietnam flashback 6. Motorcycle ride/chase 7. Vietnam Flashback 8. Conservatives suck/Liberals R’ Great 9. Vietnam flashback with Gay premise 10. Motorcycle ride/chase 11. Tour guide/historical review 12. Motorcycle ride. 13. Vietnam Flashback 14. Motorcycle ride/chase 15. Sex with an Indian 16. Motorcycle ride/chase 17. Death of a lesbian 18. Death of Vietnam Vet. 19. More sex with an Indian/Vietnam flashback 20. Montana/The End.

This was boring with a capital “B”. The only mystery in the novel is how a zippo lighter is still functioning after being in the jungles of Vietnam and how a BMW motorcycle is never described as having a Boxer motor. (Psssst…cars beat motorcycles on the corners and lose on the straights, not the other way around).

There is this relentless pounding by the author on “social perspectives” that belies a tainted liberal rear. The premise that monetary aid given to south Vietnam somehow reappears back into American re-election coffers is absurd in that it is not interesting as a story-line development. Seems to be a lot of work with a high exposure risk to those involved. So our reluctant war hero is going to make things right by bringing down the a-holes that are allowing service men and women to sacrifice themselves for a false ideal. Really? Did no one help the author through the development of a mundane story-line?

This is basically a Watergate story with a guy running around on a motorcycle yacking about the history of Washington DC like a retarded tour guide. But he gets to bang Indians and make jokes about “Gooks” and Natives, well because he fought alongside homosexuals. Fug.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Check out my other reviews at Little Miss Bookmark!

It was pretty interesting diving into Courier. I was born in 1980 so I thought that what I was feeling while reading was equal to what Marty McFly would have gone through when he jumped into the DeLorean with Doc Brown. (That was a Back to the Future reference in case you didn't have a fulfilling childhood and have never seen that movie.) Anyhow ... I had no idea that this was how couriers actually operated back then.

Courier gave me what I'm assuming is a fairly accurate accounting of what is going on in D.C. as the whole Watergate scandal explodes into a fiery disaster. I've heard my parents talk about Watergate but I've never done any real reading up on the subject ... since reading Courier, I have actually spent a couple of hours looking stuff up because now I'm super interested.

Courier moves at a pretty fast speed and keeps the reader fully engaged and on the edge of their seat. Now, I've never ridden a motorcycle and I think that people who have will find those parts a little more interesting. I did find myself skimming the parts where it talked about clutches and popping whatever it is that you pop when you drive a stick ... I have no idea how to drive a manual transmission ... so these parts were pretty much written in Chinese for me.

The writing was stellar throughout the entire book. Irving is such an amazing author that I could practically feel the wind blowing through my hair as the main character, Rick Putnam, raced up and down back alleys and busy streets. I'm betting it is spot on considering Terry Irving was a courier in this same historical time-frame. Man, I can only imagine the stories that he has to tell ... come to think of it ... was this one of his stories? How much of this is actually fictional ...

While the book did slow down a little for me about a third of the way through, it picked right back up and I was able to gain back my momentum. All in all, this is a pretty entertaining book and I'm hoping that Irving will have a memoir or something either coming out (or maybe it's already on shelves?) because I know that he must have some awesome stories to tell and I would love to hear them.

[Anthony Root · Rating 5 out of 5]

A larger than life portrayal of a wild but lovable motorcycle messenger who chases the news and then makes his own news. A 21st century blend of raw Shakespearean humor with Thomas Wolff social commentary. Vivid scenes that bring throbbing motorcycles drama to a level of detail and reality that underlie the autobiographical elements of the novel. A captivating read. I couldn’t put the book down.

[Tasha Mellins-Cohen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a blast reading this book - though it didn't do much to alleviate my insomnia!!If you enjoy descriptions of street races (car v bike), US politics in the post-Vietnam era, and a good strong action story then you've come to the right place. Irving has clearly done his homework about PTSD, too, which makes his handling of Putnam's character sensitive without being wishy-washy.

*Goodreads First Read Review*

[James Sorensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book as part of the Goodreads First-Read program.

I think this book had a very good premise on which to build a story but the Author fails to take the story where it needs to go. Set in 1972 during the early stages of the Watergate investigation which will eventually bring down President Richard Nixon. Rick Putnam is a motorcycle courier in Washington D.C., most often called upon to provide service for ABN, a local news channel. Rick runs film from the coverage site of breaking news stories back to the editing department at ABN so that the film can be developed and prepped for airing.

One local reporter is investigating a story about corruption in the Federal Government and gives the tapes of a witness interview to Putnam to get back to the studio for that night's news cast. Before Rick takes off he is given a second roll of film and a camera with important undeveloped pictures inside. Unbeknownst to Rick the film crew, including the reporter, are all killed by being forced off the road while driving over a bridge. Rick now becomes a target because of the information he is carrying.

Upon arrival at the news studio, before it is learned of the deaths of the news crew, the main roll of film is turned over to the editors. Rick, however, in his haste to get the main film to editing forgets he has another film and a camera full of pictures. It appears that agents of CREEP, The Committee to Re-Elect the President, must get what Rick has in order to prevent the exposure of corruption within the Office of the President.

Rick most also deal with the fact that he is a returned Viet Nam Vet who was seriously injured in the war and suffers from serious nightmares. And of course there is a beautiful love interest that helps Rick to defeat those who would kill him.

I think this book had so much potential but Terry Irving never allows the book to reach it. Unfortunately Mr. Irving who seems to have served in Viet Nam and has an obvious dislike of Richard Nixon, and maybe Republicans, brings his pacifist beliefs into this book. And by the way seems to have forgotten that John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson are the Presidents that escalated the war and then refused to do what was necessary, along with a Democratic congress, to end it. Short memory.

As there are moments in the book where the killers are after Rick and sometimes Eve, his love interest, the action fizzles before it even gets started. Although people are trying to kill him it is as though it would be against his honor to commit any acts of violence against them. Which makes the ending of the story all the more strange? Rick doesn't go to the police to get the would be killers arrested and yet doesn't do much to make sure the threat is ended. Sometimes personal values can interfere with the writing of a good book.

Also, this book has an historic context being set in December of 1972. Therefore when something is added that is historically inaccurate it strikes a discordant tone in the book. Mr. Irving at one point talks about a person walking around in Madison (Wisconsin?) underground re-enacting real life Dungeons and Dragons. The problem is that Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson did not publish the first D&D manuals until 1974. So I don't know who was running around under Madison but hey weren't play D&D. The real story that Irving is alluding to took place in 1979. A 16 male went wandering around some steam tunnels under Michigan State University trying to find a place to commit suicide. He then disappeared for a month, staying with some friends near campus before being reunited with his family.

The next inaccuracy I will surely be taken to task for but historical accuracy is important if an author is going to place his story in a historical setting. The use of the term "Gay" was not used to denote homosexuals as widely as Mr. Irving seems to imply in the book, during the 1960's and early 1970's. The term "Gay" had been changing meaning since the 1920's to imply an over exuberance in young dandies of the time. Unfortunately during the 60's and 70's the terms used for male homosexuals were very derogatory in nature.
I grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada during the time frame of this book. Vegas was a very Liberal city at this time and much more accepting of the homosexual life style than most other cities in the USA. But even here these secrets were not widely spread. When I was 16 I had the pleasure of working for the Safeway food chain and the two assistant managers at the store were homosexuals. They never once described themselves as "Gay" The term "Gay" did not come into wide spread use until the mid 80's when the HIV-AIDS crisis came to world wide attention. Homosexual activist used the term as a rallying point to bring focus to the crisis be faced by "Gay" men and women. Also, homosexuals in the military at that time would not have widely exposed there sexual preference as Mr. Irving would make the reader believe. With the advent of the "No Ask-No Tell" military policies of the Clinton administration and the contention this cause, those soldiers outing themselves in the military of the 60's and 70's would more than likely have made themselves targets of assault if not death. And for all the critics who would say I am just showing what a "Homophobe" I am. my best friend from elementary and junior high school died in the first wave of Aids deaths.

I just want a book that an author has placed in a historical setting to be historically accurate.

Despite my criticism the book was quite enjoyable and I think is worth the read if a copy can be found or ordered. I really like the Rick Putnam character that Mr. Irving has created. I would just hope he would toughen up Rick in future books. That doesn't mean I think Rick should become a hardened killer himself, but he could send a stronger message to think twice before messing with him. Still a good read and I would actually recommend "Courier" be picked up and enjoyed. I hope Terry Irving is writing the next Rick Putnam book.

[Carol Kean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book for the cover. (Okay, it was free via my daily Kindle deals newsletter, but the cover alone is a total must-have.) I love the motorcycle-riding Vietnam Vet. "Get ready for the ride of your life" - all right! Hang on, don't ride off yet, I'm coming!

The cover did not deceive. The prose did not disappoint. Terry Irving can write about riding a motorcycle as poetically as Pablo Neruda writes about love, and that is the highest tribute I can think of. No poet ranks higher than Neruda in my book.

The prose is so beautiful, I found the author on Twitter and told him he could probably make instruction manuals sound fascinating. Terry Irving tweeted in reply, "Actually, I have written both instruction manuals and computer User's Guides. Work better than Ambien." Hmm. Would I buy a computer user guide just because Terry Irving wrote it? Maybe it's the motorcycle, not *just* the beautiful, poetic prose, that had me so riveted.

This novel is riveting, all right. If you're a fan of the thriller genre, this is a 5-star novel. If you hate certain tropes of that genre, you'll be shaking your fist, cursing the author who made you witness blood spattering graphically, explicitly, and unforgettably. Especially when the blood is shed from a character you love. (Nope, can't tell you which ones.)

Call me literary. Or stubborn. Or too demanding. I can't even talk about my frustrations except to others who've read and loved the book due to that spoiler business. {{ *Lamentations of Frustration* on top of Cries of Anger }}

I love Vietnam Vets and motorcycles but I intensely dislike the thriller genre, so I'll play it safe and say no more than that. For now. (Give it time, I might recover sufficiently from the needless bloodshed and loss of life to say something more useful.)

Oh. BUY THE BOOK, even if you hate the thriller genre. There. If you follow me on Twitter, you know my tirades about Lying Authors (it's a given). Murderous, Homicidal Authors who make us love certain characters, then show these characters dying? Never forgive! Never Forget!

I'm mad at you, Terry Irving. Sure, authors have no control over their characters. They take on lives of their own. Gaaahh!!!

I'm willing to suspend disbelief for a good story, and I'll give authors their poetic license to tamper with historical dates and events, but, like the lone 3-star reviewer here (everyone else offers 4 or 5 stars), I was jarred right out of the story (like a cyclist bouncing over the railroad tracks and flying off the road) on seeing characters play Dungeons and Dragons in 1972.

Hacking, too. Computer hackers in 1972? Nothing in the novel appears to be digital. Reels of film, pictures developed in dark rooms, lots of great description of archaic technology, yet hacking is in its infancy because someone is using computers in 1972.

Okay. Moving on. The pacifist mentality (mentioned by the lone 3-star reviewer) has ruined many a novel or movie for me, too. The trope is this: "I hate killing. I will never kill a person, even in self defense." So you temporarily disable the person who's trying to kill you. Later, that person comes back to repeat the attempts on your life. Without fail, someone else near and dear to you will end up dead because you passed up that chance to kill the killer. (Dexter: you know which serial killer I'm talking about, and which character bled out in a bath tub.) Meh!

The PTSD scenes are compelling and convincing. This notion of letting an assassin live? Unacceptable. Irresponsible. I'm mad at you, Terry Irving.

The claims about Nixon, South Vietnam, campaign financing, and the real reason our troops were sent over to die in the jungle-- maybe it's true, maybe it's not. I haven't web-surfed that one yet. (Or heard of it anywhere else but here.) Irving also advances the conspiracy theory that Oswald was not the only shooter, and Ruby did not act alone (someone else put him up to killing Oswald). Okay, poetic license. Still. I'm more inclined to grant it to science fiction and steampunk writers than straight-up historical fiction authors.

Still, I can overlook any anachronism in hacking or Dungeons and Dragons, if the story is that good (and it is), but the tropes of the thriller genre just set my teeth on edge. Halfway into the novel, I couldn't believe this guy was still getting on his cycle, *knowing* he was being shadowed by would-be assassins, and the stupid assassins, having been outwitted by this cyclist before, would keep pursuing him in a car. Are people really that stupid? Uh... unfortunately, I think the answer is yes, they are, and that's why the idiotic heroine of scary movies always goes *alone* to the empty house where the killer awaits her.

Another irritant to me was the issue of the Washington Redskins having a racist mascot. That felt like a 21st Century intrusion into a 1970s novel. I'm a great fan of Native Americans and a champion of their causes, but this was just one of several examples of the author's personal views sneaking into a novel. Where do you draw the line on that? I'm not here to define that, because all authors reveal their core beliefs and world view, but some are more subtle than others.

Still. This novel is worth buying even if you find it annoying or maddening at times. Our motorcycle riding Vietnam Vet is all that, and more. There's a sequel? Count me in!

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his debut novel, Courier, author Terry Irving weaves an exhilarating and fast paced political thriller with a historical twist.

Rick Putnam is a Vietnam Vet and motorcycle courier for one of Washington D.C.'s leading television stations. The Vietnam War has taken its toll on Rick, after recovering from his war wounds, he suffers from PTSD and his method of escaping his demons and the memories of the war that continue to haunt him is by riding his motorcycle at breakneck speeds down the streets and alleys of the capital. When Rick picks up a roll of news film from a correspondent and news crew, he later finds out that the film contains the potential of a very hot and damaging story, and that the correspondent and news crew have been killed. What he doesn't realize is that he's next on the killer's list. With one fast motorcycle and a little help from friends, Rick is determined to figure out who is after him and why ... a discovery that will lead him all the way to the White House!

Courier is a gritty and gripping political thriller that takes the reader on one hell of a roller coaster ride. From Vietnam to the White House, Nixon to Watergate, author Terry Irving transports the reader back to 1972 Washington D.C., an era of turmoil in US history.

The author utilizes his past media experience to weave an intriguing tale that is rich in vivid descriptions and historical information. One can only wonder if the author instilled a bit of himself into Rich, as he is also a motorcycle enthusiast who began his career as a media motorcycle courier. I loved following Rich story's, he is a realistic and flawed man who the reader can easily relate to, you can't help but feel for him as he struggles with the residue of his time in Vietnam while trying to put his life back together.

With a fascinating cast of characters; witty dialogue and gripping interactions; and a riveting action packed storyline with chase scenes, danger, political drama, exciting twists and turns, and even a romantic love story thrown into the mix; Courier is a captivating historical political thriller that will keep you on your toes and turning the pages. I could easily see this novel being made into a movie, it is a must read that won't leave you disappointed!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by JKS Communications.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...

[AudioBookReviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My original Courier audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

Rick Putnam is a shell-shocked veteran doing the best he can.  His photographic memory won’t let him forget a single moment of the terrible events he suffered in Vietnam.  His only relief is the time spent on his motorcycle at top speeds negotiating the busy streets of Washington, DC as a news station courier.

It is the height of the Watergate scandal in the early 1970s and everyone is hyper sensitive to conspiracy.  Rick delivers a certain roll of film back to his news station, its disappearance and the death of the reporters raises more than a small warning.  Now the same men are after him and he must find out why or become collateral damage in a much bigger cover-up.

The action continues almost non-stop through this 1970s thriller.  Jack is an ordinary young man thrown into an impossible situation.  He is pretty lucky, even though he doesn’t see it that way.  The listener can empathize with his flaws and skills.  He practically lives on his motorcycle, so when the bad guys try to run him down, the action is at its most intense.

There are several interesting characters in the story and they sound believable enough.  The bad guys are two dimensionally evil, they just “do their job.”  But Jack is really the focus of the story and we are deep inside his head; nightmares, doubts and even delusions.  The little stability he has in his life crumbles around him quickly and we share his paranoia and anguish as the story unfolds.

The novel is performed by Bill Powers.  His deep voice is a pleasure to listen to and his characters are clearly discernible.  There isn’t a lot of variety in his portrayals, but it is never an issue.  He’s got a great voice and does an excellent performance.

Courier Freelancer is a spy thriller with an ordinary man as the hero.  We can relate to the military skills forced upon him from Vietnam and his post-traumatic stress disorder because of it.  There is an interesting conspiracy twist in the Nixon investigation that seems highly probable.  Overall, a highly entertaining espionage thriller full of action and intrigue.  Recommended.

Audiobook was provided for review by the author via Audiobookboom dot com.

[Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

MORE THAN THRILLING FICTION -- A SHOCKING HISTORICAL SECRET, FINALLY REVEALED. Terry Irving hasn't just written an amazingly gripping, can't-put-it-down thriller. He was there at the epicenter of the Watergate scandal, as its poisonous petals unfolded. He learned secrets that could never be told on the TV news shows he produced. And I promise, after you regretfully roar 'round the last nasty corner of this non-stop motorcycle chase, you will shake your head and blink -- because you'll have learned the shockingly plausible secret of why our "I'm not a quitter" President really quit. I won't spoil the ride for you, but you MUST read this book!

[Icy-Cobwebs-Crossing-SpaceTime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: COURIER by Terry Irving

Exhilarating, riveting, spine-tingling, spine-chilling: Terry Irving's COURIER is NOT to be missed. Events roll faster than our hero's BMW motorcycle, with the implacability of a French Revolution juggernaut toting Marie Antoinette and Louis XVII to.the Guillotine--Mr. Irving serves up.thriller JUST the way I like it.

Recall 1972? Well, no matter if you don't: it's perfectly delineated here. Heat of the Vietnam War? Our hero suffered it...and still relived it, nearly constantly.

If you're expecting EDGE-of-the-seat and nonstop momentum, Don't look away! We've got ALL you.need right here!

[Dory Dickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terry Irving's Courier is a great read! Don't open the book if it's already past your bedtime, 'cause it's hard to put down. I especially enjoyed passages describing the main character, Rick's harrowing escapes maneuvering his bike in heavy city traffic and in dicey weather. Very strong plot development and interesting characters... nothing mushy or inconsistent. Polished writing by an author who obviously knows his craft. Even if you're not interested in history, politics or fast motorcycles, you'll want to find out what the Courier does next, and how he survives. You'll pick up historical perspective along the way, and an appreciation for the real couriers of not so long ago.

[Doug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engrossing and engaging

Fair warning: I'm writing this, having only read about half of the book so far.

The author is new to me. Already I'm happy that his writing style ha gotten me engaged with the protagonist in such a way that it's hard to put the book down. There is intense action and peril. More than that, there is a wordplay that has to be read to be believed. I can't wait to see how the adventure turns out.

It's not often I can say this, but the money paid for this book was well spent.

[Stephany Acosta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange of review.
This story is a thriller in case you're interested to know. The beginning was to slow, a little bit boring, and I though the story wasn't go nowhere. But after the 75 pages the book began to be interesting, like what was the secret behind the persecutions and what was on the b-roll.
Unfortunately there's a cliche in this kind of books, innocent people dying.
Otherwise the plot was quite interesting, great twist, well written, no complains.

[Cliff Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Courier" is one of those books that a movie genius like Alfred Hitchcock could have done amazing things with. This is a tense, suspenseful book about a man who knew too much and goons trying to kill him. If you enjoy Brad Thor... You will love "Courier." Recommended.

[Bob Solomon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Preparing to write this all the usual cliches came to mind..."a real page turner", etc. etc. but they were true...this was a fun read. thanks, Terrry

[Glenda Bixler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was added to my personal favorite Top Ten...review will appear tomorrow at Book Readers Heaven!

[Susan Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent thriller written by an Emmy winning Writer/Producer. This is a political conspiracy thriller that will keep the reader hooked from the start.

[Jim Kratzok · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite impressive!

First, I need to say that this type of book is not what I typically read. I'm glad that I made the exception.

Rick, a war-haunted Vietnam veteran, is working as a motorcycle courier for a television news organization in DC on the early 1970's. Watergate is heating up and investigative journalists are looking for whatever can be found to take down the current White House resident. And here we are, 45 years later and we do something ourselves in a similar situation.... How about that?

Long story short, Rick ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time and ends up carrying some crucial evidence that some people would kill to keep from coming to light. That's where the adrenaline kicks in. As a former motorcycle rider, I loved the detailed chase scenes as Rick tries desperately to keep one step ahead of the people trying to kill him. Damn, that guy can ride!!! The motorcycle descriptions were terrific too. The comparison between the BMW and the Kawasaki were right on target. Details make the difference and knowledgeable details are the best kind!

If you want to relive an era most of us would like to forget, this book is the perfect way to do it.

[Red · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at the winter of 1972 in Washington DC (think the Watergate scandal) as seen through the eyes of a Vietnam veteran with sever PTSD who manages in part by working as a motorcycle courier for a TV network.

The book has a very interesting way of creating a fictional issue of national importance that ties in to real events, thus providing a new explanation for past events that were publicly unexplained. That part was pretty good. The technical touch points for 1972 were excellent, pay phones that cost a dime, the guys who were setting up some of the pre-internet computer network infrastructure, even developing camera film by hand and dumping all of the chemicals down the sink (horrors - probably went straight into the ocean). Those aspects of the story were wonderful.

Unfortunately, there were far too many car/motorcycle chase scenes for my taste. Even with visual media I’m not entertained by chases, I find them tedious and often used as an empty space filler when there is not enough actual story content. When you have multiple chase sequences in a book, that makes it that much less interesting for me.

[Cindy Wise · Rating 4 out of 5]

No expectations on this one when I started. I ended up really liking it--it was a strong good read for me. Who knew I would care about couriers? I don't normally find myself reading books set in the 70s, but this one was and I really enjoyed it. Partly for my own memories of the time period and partly for the view of Nixon and the Viet Nam war from a character who lived it along with the other issues of the time. I really liked all the characters; main and side. Thanks, Terry, for the great read!

[Loretta Saxe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wild ride!

This book keeps you on the edge of your seat till the very end. A wounded Viet Nam vet becomes a loose end that must be eliminated in this harrowing Washington D.C. drama.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just.... Meh.

[John Shearer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Courier (1)

This is an excellent story that has you wondering how much is not being put forth by the powers that be. The story is full of action and adventure and never stops.

[Alex H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing

I truly enjoyed reading this book. It has many twists and turns a very hard book to put down. Looking forward to the next book.

[MARY Stepp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

This was a very good book. Loved the storyline, the colorful characters. I would recommend this book to anyone over 13. Lots of info for everyone

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from JKS Communications for no charge in exchange for my honest review of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.


Book Description:

"This is a goddamn big story. It'll make those jerks at the Post look like idiots and Watergate look like a cop taking an apple off a fruit stand."

It's 1972. The Watergate scandal has Washington on edge and Putnam, a Vietnam veteran and courier for one of the capital's leading television stations, is trying to get his life back together after his nightmarish ordeal in the war. Racing at breakneck speed through the streets of the capital, he not only intends to be the best courier in the business, he also intends to escape the demons that haunt him. But when Rick picks up film from a news crew interviewing a government worker with a hot story, his life begins to unravel as everyone involved in the story dies within hours of the interview and Rick realizes he is the next target.

Enlisting the aid of friends who have discovered a way to hack into the government's computer databases, and a beautiful young Indian Rights activist, Eva Buffalo Calf, Rick races full throttle through the streets of the nation's capital to stay ahead of his pursuers as he searches for answers. When he discovers the killings have been orchestrated by a rogue CIA agent and his team of assassins, Rick isn't surprised when his road to the truth leads directly to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.


My Thoughts:

Courier is Terry Irving's debut novel and it is fantastic. I would describe it as a Historical Political Thriller being set in 1972. Rick is trying to get his life together after serving in Vietnam and being injured. He takes a job as a courier for a major television station in Washington D.C. where he picks up and delivers tape and pictures for the news casts. Rick picks up some film from a crew interviewing a government worker with a huge story, but what he doesn't know is that this will be the last time he sees this crew. They don't show up to do the news that evening and they found out all of them are dead. Rick goes on another pick up and is being chased through the city. At this point he realizes he is next. With help of his computer hacker roommates and a Rights Activist he tries to stay ahead of the people who want him dead to find out who it is behind all of this. As they dig deeper, they find that a rogue CIA agent and a team of professional assassins are after him and what he needs to know is at the White House.

Courier is Terry Irving's first published work of fiction. As a huge fan of debut writers and Historical Fiction this book caught my attention. I love reading about Watergate and Vietnam since it had such a profound affect on our country. Being born in 1974, I only know what I learned in school about these events. I have family who served in Vietnam War so to have the chance to learn more about it was great. Terry Irving uses his real life experience in the news world as a courier and then as writer and producer in the news industry to put write this wonderful story. This book is a fast paced thriller that once I started it, I could not put it down. The twists and turns throughout the book kept me guessing until the end. As I read this story I felt like I was there watching the events unfold in front of me. I found myself holding my breath during the action in this book. I also found myself laughing out loud in parts especially the interactions between the main characters. This book is a perfect blend of fact and fiction. I feel like I learned many things about this time period I didn't know before, especially about Washington D.C. at that time and the Vietnam War. The book does have a little bit of strong language but it does NOT take away from the book, to me it added to the authenticity of the time period. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Historical Political Thrillers, you won't be disappointed. I have found another must read author to my list! I cannot wait to read more from Terry Irving! I give this book 5 STARS. Thank you JKS Communications for the opportunity to read and review this book!