Tidal Wave

Troy Bodean Tropical Thriller #0.5

by David F. Berens

A thrill ride from Vegas to New Orleans with a dead body to boot...

Troy Bodean is a rambling man traveling the U.S.A. on a mission to find some peace and quiet.

Afghanistan brings a ransom plot trading the victim's fingers for money (one by one.) Vegas brings a romance with a secretly married stripper whose mafioso husband isn't too happy about it. New Orleans brings a new job on a shrimping boat. Only problem is the current captain might have killed the previous one.

Troy just can't catch a break. Read all about it in the prequel to the hit Troy Bodean Tropical Thriller series. You'll laugh, you'll cry laughing, and then you'll laugh some more.

Be sure to look up ROGUE WAVE - A Troy Bodean Tropical Thriller #1 to see what kind of trouble Troy gets into next.

125 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 10, 2019

Reviews

[Lyle Boylen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the prequel to the Troy Bodean series. Light, easy to read, I will give Book 1 a try.

[Lyndon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure what to make of this. I think it's a prequel novella, introducing hapless and wandering Troy Bodean. Three interconnected short stories, I think.

It starts out as a military thriller in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Seemed okay at first - interesting set-up with a missing ambassador's finger bones being delivered each day to the embassy with a ransom note. The ending of that short story was not bad, but then Troy gets out of the marines or army or whatever and ends up in a brothel in Las Vegas but gets booted out by the mafia and winds up catching a ride with a maniac truck driver on his way to New Orleans.

So there's a bit of humor here? Or it's supposed to be darkly funny? Not sure if the rest of the series is like that but the whole set of 9 Troy Bodean books are available on Amazon right now for 99 cents. That's 1600 pages for a buck. But I'm not that tempted, tbh. I tried this first novel because I came across a free sampler of seven thrillers by various authors called "Into the Silence." So no harm no foul.

[Sue Olexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story by accomplished Author David Berens. Shows reader where Troy Clint Bodean came from...in a wonderful story telling way that only David Berens could do. Loved the book which evokes a lot of emotions and a very surprise ending. NO SPOILERS. Lots of actions between those pages. War is not pretty but it is even worse when some people crack and well...again NO SPOILERS. Just have to grab this one and read a great story to figure it all out, and at the hands of a master story teller, David Berens, that will be a good thing for the reader. I highly recommend Knuckle Bones by David Berns. Enjoy.

[Brad Audiobibliophile · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've had this in my library for a while and finally got around to reading it. It was not what I expected. It does indeed give some background into Troy Bodean's past and as a prequel it probably does it's job.

The book claims "You'll laugh, you'll cry laughing, and then you'll laugh some more." From that I expected a funny or hilarious tale but there are very few even mildly amusing moments. Not much in the way of excitement or action either so it felt like a bit of a let down. I finished reading it because I hoped it might pick up and because it was only a short read anyway.

Hopefully the next in the series will be much better.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new wave of thriller in understated, exciting action. Great cast of characters from troubled to psychotic, to brutal, to absolutely crazy. Loved this book.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story

A well created character who is a magnet for trouble. Even if he stayed in bed it seems like trouble would seek him out. Recommended interesting short story.

[Christopher Raney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read any of this series so I thought I would start with the "Prequel". Troy is interesting and smart although he figures things out pretty quickly after already getting himself in trouble. I wish his character would be a bit tougher instead of always running from trouble but the writing style is fun. So, I'm going to read a few more books and see how his character develops. Could be a good series.

[Liza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is only a very short story, it is complete. Troy is a well developed character. [This may have been written after other book(s) in the series.] He is a helicopter pilot in a dangerous arena but he still knows that the locals are people - and there is a mystery as well.
Reviewed on Kobo on April 18, 2018

[MGB · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an introduction to Troy Bodean told as a series of vignettes, all very loosely sequential in time. You'll feel like an outside observer retelling the story to your friends, recounting the travels and turmoil that is Troy. The author takes some liberties with events in Afghanistan that would never have happened, but it does setup the story.

[Asiaman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the start of the life of Troy Brodean. It is a fun story and gives you insight into Troy and his future travels. David Berens always writes good stories and this is just the start of a great series.

[Kellie Whittam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not really a fan of short stories because I like more detail, but this was interesting enough that I will read a full length book by the author.
Troy seems like a good guy who trouble always finds.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. Not what I was expect at all which is my fault I guess.

[Richard H. Sands · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the story and looking forward to the following ones telling about Troy's further adventures.

[Laurie Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great background story on Troy.
This should definitely be the first read of the series as it gives some insights into why he is as he is.

[Desmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know its a novela and a prequel but it was really enjoyable, I like how it was writen, i liked the style and the characters and looking forward to reading the full series, five stars 🌟

[Lee Wilkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting but not quite my style. I will look at his other books they may be mor my type, thanks for the read, interesting

[Erica von Holtz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read!

Great introduction to a fun character. If you are interested in a light read, try this short book and series!

[Mailmanr5 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little prequel isn't too much BUT! Definitely read the "sequel" Hat Check. It is a riot and fully fleshes out Bodean's character.

[Christmas Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Travel along with the amiable Troy Bodean as he goes from the frying pan into the fire over and over again. A delightful and witty story. Recommended.

[Garth Mailman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Afghan Vet goes to Vegas. David F. Berens. Seems he’s been a tennis pro but has a passing knowledge of the sandbox. Troy Clint Bodean is an Afghan Vet who gravitates to Las Vegas. A rough and ready individual with plebeian tastes--Corona Beer--lands on his feet and appears to settle in.

But Troy isn’t a settling in kind of guy. The story begins in Afghanistan, moves into Las Vegas where he gets run out of town. Hitch hikes to Nawlins, crews on a shrimper but that doesn’t end well, buys a ticket to the East Coast on a bus.

At least the text is well edited and there’s no profanity. Teaser for the series that follows.

Troy Bodean Tropical Thriller #0.5
Tidal Wave
David F. Berens

Here is another writer who is constantly reworking his texts and repackaging them and re-titling them this time as a 9 volume set. He also seems to use at least one pen name.

Troy Clint Bodean is a shiftless dilettante who wanders through life drifting much like a tumbleweed wherever the wind or the tide takes him. He has a brother Ryan cut from the same cloth with whom he has lost touch. In this outing we see him blown up in the sandbox, chased out of Vegas, and on a shrimp boat in Nawlins. None of these ventures end well and as the outing ends he is running again.

[Arthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knuckle Bones (a Troy Bodean adventure prequel)

Great short story, typical of young military action against the enemy, but trying to solve the mystery and then struggle with the results for they go against everything that you believe in. Can't wait to see how Troy makes out in civilian life.

[David Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good novella to introduce Troy Clint Bodean’s back story as an Army helicopter pilot in Afghanistan, his time in Las Vegas, and New Orleans. It appears where Troy goes trouble follows, and it isn’t always of his making. In some respects, he reminds me of Al Capp from the Lil Abner comic strip who was always followed by a rain cloud. I’m looking forward to reading more Troy Bedean stories.

[Woody James · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read but gives a little information about Troy's past including time in Afghanistan and Las Vegas prior to Rogue Wave. Not a great book but if you are reading the series it does provide some background.

[David Napper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always enjoy his books. Recommended!