Flashback

by Gary A. Nilsen

Dr. Victoria Heath, an expert archaeologist, uncovers an inexplicable and modern artifact deep within an ancient shipwreck in the Red Sea. The discovery of a gold medallion with its inscription leads her to Dr. Jack Carter, a professor of ancient history. Together, they follow a path of intrigue and mystery that spans decades. As they delve deeper into the puzzle, they uncover a connection to the world of clandestine government programs and quantum physics that seems too impossible to believe.

388 pages, Paperback

Published March 25, 2026

About the author

Gary A. Nilsen is a writer of Young Adult fantasy and Science Fiction adventure. His time living in the Middle East and participation on an actual 1500-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Africa in the Red Sea has infused his writing with real world experience.

He earned an MFA in Fiction with Southern New Hampshire University and has received awards for literary promise and placement on the top categories for fantasy writing.

Gary binges TV series on Netflix, Hulu, and Britbox, craves Italian food, and loves a good glass of PInot Noir. He currently resides with his partner, Nancy in Scottsdale, Arizona - But, he really miss New York PIZZA!!!

Reviews

[Aliza Villanueva · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a book that feels like you’ve accidentally stumbled into a high stakes episode of The X Files mixed with Indiana Jones, Gary A. Nilsen’s Flashback is going to be right up your alley. Because it does give Indiana Jones goes to a secret government black site, which I absolutely love and why it kept me hooked. The story kicks off with Dr. Victoria Heath, an archaeologist that finds something that absolutely shouldn’t at an ancient shipwreck. Then teams up with Dr. Jack Carter, a history professor who holds the missing piece of the puzzle, and from there, the book just hits the gas. What I really liked about Flashback is the blend of genres. You start off thinking you’re in for a thriller, but Nilsen quickly pivots into quantum physics and shady government conspiracies. It sounds like a lot to juggle, but once the mystery starts unraveling, the "impossible" nature of the tech they’re chasing makes for some really cool, mind bending scenarios. The chemistry between Victoria and Jack keeps the story grounded. It’s not just tech babble and running from bad guys but they actually have to figure out how their respective fields of study can fit into this massive, decades long cover up. It’s paced well, not too slow, but it gives you enough room to try and guess the ending before the final chapter. It gives you that satisfying sense of thrill and mystery that keeps you turning pages at 1 AM. If you like stories where the history books are wrong and the government is hiding something secret in a lab, you'll have a blast with this.