The fight for victory in the Pacific continues, this time at Leyte in the Philippines. Deacon Cole and the rest of Patrol Easy are sent as an advance unit to help crack the formidable Japanese defenses before the American invasion. To make the mission even more difficult, the Japanese have deadly snipers of their own. If Deke and the others can’t help bring down the enemy defenses in time, there will be a terrible price to pay when US troops hit the beach.
David Healey made his publishing debut with SHARPSHOOTER, a what-if historical thriller about an attempt to assassinate Union General Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War, published by an imprint of Penguin Putnam. That novel was the result of years of research into the Civil War that included time as a reenactor at Gettysburg and other battlefields.
In its review, the Civil War News wrote: “SHARPSHOOTER has the feel of a techno-thriller, the kind offered by Tom Clancy or Dean Koontz ... SHARPSHOOTER moves quickly and is filled with all manner of intrigue."
Healey has brought that same passion for research and history to his World War II novels, GHOST SNIPER, ARDENNES SNIPER, and RED SNIPER. During a 21-year career as a journalist, he was fortunate enough to interview many veterans of the 29th Division who landed at Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. Some of the events and characters in these novels were inspired by their stories.
He loves the idea of a character like Micajah Cole, a self-reliant backwoods hunter who turns out to be unrelenting and ruthless as a sniper, especially against a skilled adversary, in the pages of these books.
In addition to fiction, he has written books on regional history, including 1812: REDISCOVERING CHESAPEAKE BAY'S FORGOTTEN WAR and GREAT STORMS OF THE CHESAPEAKE.
A graduate of Washington College and the Stonecoast MFA program, he was recognized in 2011 as a Chaney Scholar in history by St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Visit him online at www.davidhealeyauthor.com or follow him at Facebook at facebook.com/david.healey.books
Having been stationed on Okinawa, Camp Tengan/Courtney in the fifties and Guam in the seventies as well as Vietnam 67/68 I have seen the areas the story is about and I have lived with the mix of city boys, Hayseeds and underground farmers (coal miners). Shared my care packages and theirs, drank their beer and provided the beer. It didn't really matter where you were from or what you used to be but could you be counted on to do your job and watch their back.
Men that were better than brothers, here today and gone tomorrow but not forgotten.
Healey makes a story that rings true, from the stink to the fear and the boredom of waiting and to the crazy stupid jokes that would get you a moth full of knuckles stateside.
Good Read Good Read Gooden Read Enjoyed the read which kept the wife from looking over my shoulder. As a long-term retiree it often falls between napping, the TEEVEE or escaping into a comfortable chair with an escape novel. Rising Sniper fits the latter perfectly.
Next is a WESTERN, followed by a DETECTIVE, then maybe into SPACE
Great book. Thanks. Well done. I also was Army Infantry in Vietnam in 71. 1st 22 infantry 4th division, recon. Was was winding down for us Infantry. South Vietnamese were to take over!
Every time I begin reading any book I always begin being hopeful that what comes with the start continues the theme till the end. This book followed the storyline from its first word to its last word.
The personal side of the story, the relationships between people who normally wouldn’t talk back home. In war they die to protect those same people. They joined for their country but they fight for each other
Mr. Health likes to entertain the reader with well written stories , well researched and written in a nice flow. His cast of characters are a mix of Americas finish during what they can to win the war.
Patrol Easy has been tasked with knocking out three naval guns embedded in a Leyte hillside fortress. A priest, two Marines, Filipino guerrillas come to Easy's aid.
I enjoyed this book and the story. Two sides of the story make it more interesting. Sad so many people died for nothing. Our world was crazy then and now! Rock on!
….this story is written by an author who draws from stories told to him by his father and great uncles where the snap of a bullet zipping past at sonic speed were real. Drawing from these stories and using his talent for word craft plus imagination will have you entertained and finding it difficult to put the book down. So, as you read on into that good night, you will learn some actual facts, some geography taught in a way that you will remember it. The character development is superb, the facts are researched and slid into the story as it rolls along. While reading the part of crossing the choppy sea I could almost feel getting sea sick as well. Now THAT is an author who can write descriptively & well !!