EMPTY CASKETS: Terran Patrol Book One

by Lewis Dually

The US Navy undertakes a special mission. Capture aliens hiding in the Asteroid Belt and acquire technology vital to Earth’s first interstellar expedition. The task falls squarely on the shoulders of Commander Allen Paul, but Paul is consumed by his recent discovery of empty caskets returning from the mining operations along the Belt. His dogged pursuit for answers reveals a link between the caskets’ missing occupants, the aliens he's tasked with finding, and a decades-old government conspiracy. Sleep deprived and injured from battle, Paul faces a difficult choice, follow orders and allow the aliens to escape, or obey to his conscience and attack their massive battleship before it leaves the system. One will earn him a promotion. The other will probably earn him a flag-draped casket of his own!

Genres: Science Fiction

Kindle Edition

First published February 17, 2017

About the author

Lewis Dually is a former long-haul truck driver and son of a West Virginia coal miner. He currently lives in Chattanooga Tn, where he pursues his passions for writing and fishing.

Quote "When I was a young lad, I was prone to telling tall tales. Now that I'm older and wiser, I no longer tell them, I write them!"

Reviews

[Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

This book starts out as an investigative space novel with an emphasis on "empty caskets" belonging to dead astronauts. It takes off very quickly from this point because every new revelation leads to several other questions. It is science fiction with police procedures on top of high octane action/drama. There are several plot twists that will keep the reader engrossed and entertained. The characters are three dimensional with a very developed back story which grips the reader by the throat.

[Cheryl Medley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the story

Now the interminable wait for the next in the series. I picked up the audible version as well as the kindle. The narrator did a great job.

[Louis C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is pretty cool. The main character is a Navy Commander in the Space Fleet, but he finds himself playing detective and butting heads with other agencies as he tracks down missing people from the empty caskets. He also teams up with a Texas Ranger who is a pretty cool character as well. The story moves back and forth from Earth to space a couple times and has two impressive space battles but it also has a lot of mystery as they chase down leads to the missing miners and the alien connections with the CIA and PDA. While the story has a definite ending, it also leaves you hanging as the Commander has an option to leave the Navy and become a Space Ranger or continue on and, I would assume, be promoted to Captian in the next book. Either way, I can't wait to see which way he goes. I really like Commander Paul. He's not the typical brash hard-nosed infallible hero you typically see in these kinds of stories and I thoroughly enjoyed his exploits and occasional humorous retorts.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three species

This exciting novel takes a way into our future. It is full of interesting twists and the age old issue of parents and youth disagreeing. Good plot line and an interesting hillbilly space hero make for an enjoyable read.

[brian edward galloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read

It's a great book with a story line that takes it from today's world and into the future with a cast of characters that makes it believable and shows that this may happen at some point in time if we pull our finger out and sort it

[Craig Sweeney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good action

I really enjoyed this book. Immediate and nonstop action with great characters. Fascinating interaction with three alien species and not the usual ‘they’re trying to kill us all!’ Well, some of that! More, please!

[Edward Zulko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get this one soon.

Very well written, composed and thought out. Editing was excellent characters are strong and interesting. Narration is top notch and the story definitely leaves you wanting more. And for me it was free!

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read. Future war sci fi.

[Marleen Leviton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome story line

With each twist and turn you find the angle is askew. Good fun.
story of other questions are answered. What fun!

[Len Futterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

?

[Eric Prater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where's the sequel?

Great book, well written, but now I want more, so where the he'll is the sequel, I need it now!