When Saigon Surrendered: A Kentucky Mystery

by James Aura

War never ends: It sends shock waves down through the generations that follow. Russell Ray Teague is a Kentucky teenager whose life is turned upside down with the fall of Saigon in the Spring of 1975. He struggles with loss and guilt as he seeks to unravel a family mystery and strives to find his place in a world that is darker and more dangerous than he ever imagined. This is a coming of age story set against the backdrop of a family whose lives are forever changed by war.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Historical Fiction

220 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2015

About the author

James Aura writes historical and environmental mysteries and climate fiction.
He grew up in farming country north of Clifton Hill, Missouri; a town with a barbershop and a population of 212. Later, after college and the army, he covered public servants and Pharisees, civil rights marchers, and the Klan, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, corporate bigwigs, Amish house-movers, snake handlers and strip-miners from the Midwest to the Atlantic Coast. In other words, he was in the local news business. James Aura lives in the woods near Raleigh, NC with his wife and a very opinionated cat.
He is the author of 'When Saigon Surrendered, a Kentucky Mystery' is a story about ordinary Americans in the aftermath of the Vietnam War.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1717881262?
'The Cumberland Killers' is set in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky with the onset of mountaintop removal mining in the 1980's. Some of the same characters inhabit both novels.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
'The Hurricane Code' is a story of North American climate refugees in the year 2099.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08J1SK814/
All books are available in print, Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.
Follow the author on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/james_aura
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/whensaigonsu...?
https://www.facebook.com/thecumberlan...?
https://www.facebook.com/The-Hurrican...
Medium:
https://medium.com/@james_aura

Reviews

[Grace Tenkay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book. Like a strange mix of Mark Twain, Tony Hillerman and the TV Show 'Justified'. A Kentucky family struggles to deal with effects of the Vietnam War. The story is told by an 18 year old farm boy, who is both naive and wise at the same time. Great characters and the plot takes a twist that will make you chuckle. Definitely looking forward to more books by this author. A very readable, crisp writing style. He paints word pictures.
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One of the few books I read a second time within the same year. Got some new insight from the second reading. This is a very interesting new voice in American Historical fiction. Highly recommend it.

[Camie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Russel Ray Teague a naive young man who grew up on a Kentucky farm but is attending college on a scholarship. It’s 1975 , his father has been killed in the Vietnam War and Saigon has surrendered, when he gets involved in a dangerous mystery by reading old letters written to his dad.
It’s an easy read that’s simply written, and billed as a mystery though I felt it was more of a coming of age tale.
Personally, I found the journey Russel’s character takes from farm boy to hero a bit of a stretch, but remembering the 70’s timeframe, when yes, we did use phone booths, increased believability.
Read for Jan - On The Southern Literary Trail 3.5 stars

[Richard Derus · Rating 2 out of 5]

PEARL RULED p20

I was looking forward to this read, honest I was. I like the time period, the narrator's in my age cohort, the country setting appeals. But then:

Grandma and I just sat there. We didn't say a word, but I knew what she was thinking.
Bobby Ray's dead and Saigon has surrendered. Just like that. Her only boy and my only Dad, out there in the ground behind Wesley Memorial Methodist Church.

And soon after:

Russell, the gallant knight, with sureness of spirit and the smile of the gods, was carrying the woman who raised
him into the rainy night. I was Paladin, Tristan and King David.

But this about tore it:

She had a way about her that spoke of homemade bread, and caring for people, and the kind of patience that women have when they help a ewe birth a lamb, or stay up in the night with a baby calf bawling for its momma.

What *did* tear it was:

When I got to the truck, the dream-woman, the nurse was lying on the seat. She was sobbing. Well, I felt like I'd had about enough excitement for one night.

Nothing more implausible than Russell being a kid, a college freshman when he's uttering this stuff; soon enough, he's got the funeral all done and Uncle Thingummy coming to the farm for a heart-to-heart that, frankly, defies description.

So I started flipping around, figuring I'd see what was going to come to pass, and one minute Russell's that kinda backward kid and an Avenger against unholy horrors the next! It's not bad writing, per se, but it's a bit too impressed with itself. That will most likely smoothe out as the author gains experience.

I'm not going to go into my Literary Dalek mode and grate "EXTERMINATE EXTERMINATE" all over you, but go in knowing this: at $2.99 I didn't feel ripped off and want my money back, but I don't see myself giving Author Aura another $2.99 any time soon.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It's historical fiction, a mystery and a young adult coming of age story. I can see why some of my older friends enjoyed it as well as younger people.
The main character, Russell, is a piece of work. Neurotic, naive and smart, he suffers a horrible event and works to overcome all the problems that result. Along the way he has to drop out of college (Auburn University) leans on some girlfriends and an older black woman, and finally discovers a human trafficking operation which members of his own family may have been involved with. I enjoyed the ending of the story so much I got up and danced around the room. A great yarn and my only criticism is that it ended so soon. I wanted to savor the downfall of the 'blackguards' a bit more. I certainly hope this author does more Kentucky mysteries that develop some of these characters further. I would call this modern southern literature with some similarities to some of the older writers like Mark Twain and Booth Tarkington.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this novel sounded quite interesting, and I like the setting in both place and time, so I wanted very much to love it. In fact, the novel has some moments that were standouts for me: the opening scene between the protagonist, Russell Teague, and his grandmother; and the tent revival, which struck a note of realism tinged with memory. However, there were also parts of the book that seemed fairly far-fetched and hard to believe. I also labored with feeling any real attachment to the characters, and I think the clipped, journalistic style of writing might have contributed to that.

One character I did like and wished there would have been more of was Soo Jin, the Korean housekeeper whose story figures into the heart of the plot. I wanted more background on her and also something more about how she felt about her life at the farm. The story felt too rushed in some ways, and too stretched in others. I am left thinking about it, but mostly thinking about what was missing or might have been improved.

[Harold Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this a memorable mystery story and the plot really pulls you in. It is a slow burn with a big twist and a surprise at the end. Loved the depiction of the South in the mid 1970's. Would have liked to hear more from the main character, an 18 year old college student whose observations about life are quite entertaining.
My only complaint, is I felt like maybe it ended too soon. I really wanted to learn more about some of the fascinating characters, especially the Vietnamese girls. I would recommend this e-book highly to any who enjoy historical fiction with a mystery twist.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TNO3L5U

[Maura Marini · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a work of fiction: the characters are not real. I get that. But I can't shake this feeling that I know these people- they are people I care about; I wonder what happened to them. I grew up in big cities and have never spent time on a farm. But I felt the calm and the wind and the burden of work.

This is a great read. It describes the people, the times and the issues with succinctly beautiful story telling. It is, at once, lyrical with beautiful words and fast moving with great action and adventure. And humor- subtle and sly.

It's one I will read again.

[Harry Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very entertaining fast-paced historical mystery with spare writing that reminded me of Bukowski, but less morose. It is even a bit inspirational at times. The narrator is a college student who faces several personal crises immediately after the Surrender of Saigon, hence the title. But the main story is set in Kentucky farm country and Auburn University. The characters felt real and the plot while fairly simple, presented quite a twist toward the end. I would have gladly read another ten chapters. I'll be looking for more novels from this author.

[Jackballoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an incredible journey. Kept me spellbound! I felt as tho I knew the characters, the whole book seemed entirely real to me.

[Esther Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where to start with this one? I was skeptical since it is the author's first book.But it is really good. A very colorful description of a farm family after the Vietnam War.He works a mystery into it about halfway through and then it almost becomes a thriller before the climax. Hard to categorize, but I really liked it and was always ready to pick up my Kindle and start in again to see what would happen next. I thought some of the characters could have been more developed but overall, I'd read another one by this author.
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I read it a second time and got more out of it. A very original, absorbing book.
Very enjoyable with some depth. Wonderful story and characters and just very good writing.

[Luci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this very much and plan to soon read the next in the series.
Russell Ray Teague is the storyteller and he spins quite a tale. A coming of age story and
a historical mystery. A very creative twist at the end. Those who grew up in the country will
really enjoy this story, I think. But some of the themes are universal.

[Neal Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an extraordinary little book of historical fiction. It did contain a fascinating mystery but I would term it more a coming of age story. The main character is a bright boy from the backwoods who wants to better himself, but the tide keeps turning against him. He finally seeks a type of redemption for what he believes was a huge error in his life and this keeps the plot wheel turning nicely. This story is populated with interesting characters, the women nearly as well drawn as the men.. in some cases, better.
I have seen When Saigon Surrendered compared to fiction by Mark Twain and I would have to say there were some interesting parallels...updated to 1975, of course. Two thumbs up for this author.

[Barbara J. Conway · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Saigon Surrendered

A compelling, engaging story that produced a sense of deja by in anyone familiar with the Midwest. Read it in one sitting.

Mal Conway

[Myron · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Aura has written an excellent first novel. The time period of the novel strikes a very personal note for me as I inadvertently avoided being called back into the Vietnam war as I was inactive reserve when the war heated up. I never believed that I would not be called back in so the
"Surrender" was a great relief for me. Kentucky, as the locale of the novel, was also very pleasing to me as I had watched every episode of Elmore Leonard's "Justified", centered in Harlan County, Kentucky, and had ready visual images of the territory in the novel.
Aura artfully begins the book with two teenage Vietnamese girls in Saigon, feeling abandoned by an American GI, and not knowing what their future will bring after the Surrender is announced. So I was expecting that they would be the center of the plot of the book.
Aura then 'threw me a curve ball' by introducing, Russell, an 18 y/o college freshman, living in Kentucky and the ultimate hero of the book. Here is the lovely sentence that introduces Russell: "Well, it sure left a mark on me, I’ll tell you that. Everything I am, all I feel, the people I love and hate all come through the prism of that night."
Thus the Vietnamese teenage girls in Saigon, and Russell in Kentucky are juxtaposed in a dramatic tension that propels the book forward. I found myself entranced by the progress of the novel and the hero's struggles to deal with his life on the family farm, go to college, and deal with a series of very bad people that somehow brings us back to the Vietnamese girls.
The only trouble I had with the book, was the too rapid denouement that didn't allow me to leisurely enjoy and digest the dramatic ending. I am pleased to hear that Aura will publish a sequel soon so I'm hopeful and expecting that his writing talent will grow. I will certainly read it.
Myron Lazar, Ph.D.

[Blackthorne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Russell Ray Teague is a young man living in rural Kentucky whose life changes on the day Saigon surrenders - April 30, 1975. He's 18, full of energy and promise but a bit naive. His introduction to moonshine, lawbreakers, sex and death leads to soul-searching and an epiphany.

Russell and an engaging cast of characters stumble into adventures with a satisfying and surprising twist at the end. In between the tedium of farm chores and the contentment of watching the allegorical red-tailed hawk circling overhead, We get a sweet and sanguine taste of small-town life. This is a compelling tale told in straightforward prose that entices you right through to the last page.

[Barry Flanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

A coming of age story that takes you straight into the aftermath of the Vietnam War. At times, dark, ironic and witty... great characters and a narrator who takes one back to both the pain and joy of youth.
I hope this author does a sequel. There's a lot to work with here. Every one of the characters could be the subject of a book of their own.
Mystery solution was an unexpected twist, as well.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this book and enjoyed it very much. I am a 71-year-old male from a farm community, so could identify with the Vietnam era and the rural farm life that was depicted. The characters were interesting and the mystery kept me engaged. I would recommend!

[Jim Nesbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHEN SAIGON SURRENDERED: A Kentucky Mystery
By James Aura

This is a classic coming-of-age tale with a bit of who-dun-it spice thrown in to give the story a hint of danger. Russell Ray Teague is torn between classes at Auburn University and the co-eds who give him a thrill and the obligations thrust upon him by the death of his grandmother, who left him the family farm.

The setting is rural Kentucky, with interludes in Alabama at Auburn. The backdrop is familiar to anyone who came of age in the mid-1970s – the fall of Saigon, doomed since the American withdrawal, a bitter and inevitable end to the Vietnam War, the defining event for a generation.

Watching Saigon’s fall on television is the last moment between Teague, whose father, Bobby Ray, was a soldier killed in that war under mysterious circumstances, and his grandmother. She suddenly slumps to the floor and Teague bungles his chance at saving her life by getting lost on the streets of the nearby small town on the way to the hospital.

Teague finds letters to his father that hint of something clandestinely criminal in its phrasing, something that may have been the true cause of his killing instead of the Viet Cong. There’s also his Uncle Wallace, a scarred veteran of the Korean War, who moves into the farmhouse and starts a partnership with his nephew subsidized by moonshine and raw milk.

While Teague is away at Auburn, Uncle Wallace brings in a Korean woman to clean and cook. She’s missing most of her teeth, knocked out by some rough characters in the big sin city of Clarksville, Tennessee, close to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, home of the famous 101st Airborne Division. And here’s where the mystery part of the title comes into play, one Teague and his boyhood pals are determined to unravel in hopes of finding the true cause of his father’s death.

The spoilers stop here. And the mystery has more than a hint of a Hardy Boys adventure than anything truly dark and bloody. That’s a good thing because, at heart, Aura’s book is a good-hearted tale of a boy on the cusp of becoming a man and figuring himself out along the way. His main character, Russell Ray Teague, is someone you root for – a young man well worth knowing, living life with one foot in the country, the other in a destination unknown.

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was refreshing and I found it hard to put down. The characters were well developed and easy to identify with. The book seemed to have something for everyone, from little things that made one smile to mystery and at times suspense and danger. Yet through all of the adventure and intrigue, the author was still able to maintain a certain amount of innocence throughout the book which accompanied those earlier times. I would highly recommend this book. It's easy reading and you won't be disappointed.

[Rachel Hackney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having grown up in the South, I found the author did a wonderful job of setting the scene and describing his characters. This is just a great, quick read. I especially liked the protagonist, Russell, but many of the characters are a delight.

[William Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fine written book and only the beginning of a string of wonderful books by James Aura. This genre isn't my regular one but I'm turning in this direction and Aura was a great start! The characters are well developed and the plot is solid. The fictional story uses an interesting and important historical background. When Saigon Surrendered is a thrilling and satisfying story. I look forward to the sequel next up.

[Jazz Fan · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite new e-books. A colorful story that follows a Kentucky farm boy thru trials and tribulations in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. This is not really a war story, but rather the story of a family, ordinary people trying to deal with what the war has done to each generation. I particularly liked the portrayal of the Korean War veteran, coping with what they used to call'Battle Shock.' He was a very rich character, but all the characters in this novel are three dimensional. James Aura's descriptions are very rich as well. You can see, smell and practically touch many of the settings. Word painting at it's best. The mystery in the story was quirky and the resolution sneaks up on you. Reminded me a little of an Elmore Leonard story.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story

Pretty good story. Enjoyed the local Kentucky slant. I liked the characters.

I think this author has potential, however I think he needs a couple classes on writing, mainly on how to use those strange things called 'chapters'. Serious case of run in thoughts. Otherwise the story needed some good, critical editing.

But I'd read more from the author. I think he had good imagination!

[NC Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unusual, interesting book. The author takes you back to Vietnam and Kentucky right at the end of the war. Very absorbing historical fiction and it is enjoyable watching the mystery unfold.
Americana writing of the best kind.

[Raymond Cushing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't do summary reviews, but I love reading a good book. This was great. It was captivating from the first page. On my scale, I would have given it 3 stars for simply being an enjoyable read. The quality of the writing raised it to 4 stars, and the memorable characters and overall plot structure took it to 5 stars. I recommend the book to anyone looking for a good read.

[Harry Heitman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this story set in 1975 Kentucky just as the Vietnam war finally came to an end. The portrayal of a farm family picking up the pieces after a serious loss was thought-provoking and well done. I enjoyed the first person narrative from the farm boy and how he is forced to mature quickly as things begin to lead to things out of his depth. The ending was a nice twist, never saw it coming. I will also check out this author's sequel to the story.

[Frances Applequist · Rating 5 out of 5]

The few formatting problems caused by the publishing process did not distract me from full enjoyment of this engaging mystery. Its historical and musical references, cultural influences, farm setting, and natural dialog combine to keep the story real for this reader who appreciates details.

[Carolyn Wilhelm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining read with profound thoughts to ponder

Complete with a soundtrack of songs popular around 1975, this story includes an untrained, non-affiliated, young crime-fighting trio of friends trying to solve some criminal after effects of war. The protagonist is 19 and is at college when a family situation calls him home to a funeral and farm work just prior to finals. Will he keep his scholarship in the face of unbending policies? He almost has no time to consider options with danger nearby.

Sprinkled through the story are thoughts to consider such as this one:

“I’ve thought a lot about what Uncle Wallace told me one night about war never ending and how it is passed on through the generations. I wondered how long it would take for people to forget about Korea or Vietnam, or even the Civil War, probably never.”

Thoughts of war are never that far away, are they. And the sad situations war leaves behind.

Life on the farm is wonderfully described! This is not a war story but is about life in the states at the end of the war. The writer is quite talented.

I had to read this in two days wanting to know the outcome. I read the books in the wrong order, but they are stand alone reads. I really enjoyed this book!

[Glennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was unusual since rather than focus on the soldiers or Vietnam, it was about the effects of the Vietnam War on the families back in the U.S. Specifically in Kentucky, which sends lots of young recruits off to war. So it wasn't your typical flag-waving action story, so much as a reflective piece about a teenager who discovers some dark things uncovered about his family when his grandmother dies. Some great characters, interesting descriptive passages, not only about Kentucky but Auburn, Alabama. The human trafficking plot thread creeps up on you through the appearance of a young Korean woman and I found the story riveting. I will the sequel soon, as it appears the same character continues his story in the 1980.

[Lori Keeton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well I read Mr. Aura’s duo out of order but it didn’t really matter. The second book was more to my liking than this one. The writing was quick and easy to keep the story going. However, I have to agree with other reviewers that certain things lacked in this debut. Characterization of the main characters is well done, but others could have been beefed up more, like that of Soo Jin whose background centers on the plot of the mystery. The title is significant to the time of the novel, and it is the back drop for the opening scene and chapter which sets Russell Ray Teague’s mood for the entire novel. I missed the Kentucky scenery and references that were much more prevalent in The Cumberland Killers. All in all, I enjoyed these historical mysteries and would read more from this author!