The Permit

by William B. Scott

Published June 1, 2014. A work of fiction based on the actual events of Erik B. Scott's killing on July 10, 2010, in Las Vegas, NV. When Las Vegas police officers unwittingly gun down a West Point graduate and current covert operations agent, then try to cover up their crime, they unleash an asymmetric war with a federal "black world" agency. It's a war the cops cannot win — and there is no escape from justice.

590 pages, Paperback

First published December 19, 2012

About the author

William B. Scott is a full-time author (www.williambscott.com). He retired as the Rocky Mountain Bureau Chief for Aviation Week & Space Technology, following a 22-year career with the international magazine. He also served as Senior National Editor in Washington, and in Avionics and Senior Engineering Editor positions in Los Angeles. He covered advanced aerospace and weapons technology, business, flight testing and military operations, wrote more than 2,500 stories for the magazine, and received 17 editorial awards.

His nonfiction book, COMBAT CONTRAILS: VIETNAM, was released in late-2021. A collection of 18 stories told by warriors who lived them, it's the first in a series of CONTRAILS books.

A solo-written novel, "The Permit," is based on actual events associated with the murder of his eldest son, Erik.

He's also coauthored four other books: License to Kill: The Murder of Erik Scott (nonfiction); Inside the Stealth Bomber: The B-2 Story (nonfiction); Space Wars: The First Six Hours of World War III (fiction); and a Space Wars sequel, entitled Counterspace: The Next Hours of World War III.

Bill is a Flight Test Engineer (FTE) graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and a licensed commercial pilot with instrument and multiengine ratings. In 12 years of military and civilian flight testing, plus evaluating aircraft for Aviation Week over 22 years, he's logged approximately 2,000 hours of flight time on 81 aircraft types. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from California State University-Sacramento.

During a nine-year Air Force career, Bill served as aircrew on classified airborne-sampling missions, collecting nuclear debris by flying through radioactive clouds; an electronics engineering officer at the National Security Agency, developing space communications security systems for satellites; and an instrumentation and flight test engineer on U.S. Air Force fighter and transport aircraft development programs. He also served as a civilian FTE/program manager for three aerospace companies: General Dynamics (F-16 Full Scale Development), Falcon Jet Corp. (Coast Guard HU-25A development and certification), and Tracor Flight Systems Inc. (Canadair Challenger development and certification, plus numerous fighter, transport and helicopter test programs).

Bill and his wife, Linda, live in Colorado. They have two grown sons, Erik and Kevin. Unfortunately, Erik was killed through a senseless, horrific tragedy in July 2010.

Find out more at: www.williambscott.com

Reviews

[Kimberly Lanton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The permit is a sad book about the hidden truth behind the word LAW. Sadly, this was written based off of the loss of William Scott's own son. I would like to say that it was a privilege reading this book but it was sad look at true life. My heart breaks for William Scott and his family. I hope justice gets served on a silver platter! As for the book based off of a life taken, it was written very well. Definitely a page turner that I was unable to put down. Even if this was not based off of a true story it is still very well told and believable. This is justice book 1 and can not wait for the next.
** I received a free book for an honest opinion **

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most engaging, intense novels I have had the pleasure of reading. If I could give more than 5 stars I would. The story is completely original and from start to finish it keeps you guessing. This is a book you will NOT want to put down. "The Permit" is a story based off of an actual event involving the authors son. We all known there is corruption within the police force, but this novel shows how far police go to keep secrets between the force. The retaliation for what happened to the main character, Erik Scott blew my mind away with creativity. Towards the end of the novel, the cops that were involved in the death of Scott start to get murdered one by one. The manner that they are murdered makes you wonder if the government is actually capable of such acts. Don't let the size of this book discourage you, it's definitely worth taking the time to read and you won't be disappointed. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves suspense, corruption, and thrill seekers.
I can't wait to read the second book of this series, I have no doubt it will be as good as the first.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Susan Bissell · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0 out of 5 stars Checkmate for Erik, December 10, 2014
By SueBiss (USA)
This review is from: The Permit (Checkmate Justice Book 1) (Kindle Edition)
When reading this book you can feel the love and grief the author is feeling at the loss of his son. Erik had a great future ahead of him sadly taken away from him from being shot and killed by police. This story is based on real events of that hot July day in Nevada in 2010. This author makes it hard to believe that this is really a work of fiction when so much of what happened in this story is going on today many of our police departments around the country. The book describes how corruption in the Las Vegas Police Department by on Erik's fatal shooting by covering up, losing or destroying evidence. With masterful fiction mixed into this story, you will find yourself drawn into an exciting adventure of black ops and high tech computers (you never knew existed) by tracking down the corrupt police that are involved in the cover up and miss handling of Erik's killing in a "payback" which the police will never see coming.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Permit is a novel about the corruption in police forces, and follows the death and repercussions of an innocent man killed by the police. When Erik Scott is killed by an inept cop who thinks he is a danger, many people within the precinct work to cover up the death. With little regard for the truth or justice, the corrupt cops look for any way to cover their error and protect themselves. But it turns out that Scott had connections to a black ops team, who now are working against the corrupt cops and those who help them. I think that the cover up itself was really chilling in how plausible it seemed, and the revenge that follows was very gripping and intense.

I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Ciara · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Permit' by William B. Scott is inspired by the death of the authors son.

It is a fiction-techno-thriller set in las Vegas.

The book had me engaged from the start. It is a well -written exciting fictional account of the investigation, corruption and gaming life in Las Vegas. The book also includes high-tech weaponry and tactics.

I found the book to be immensely thrilling, enjoyable and satisfying. I was engrossed in from the first page.

I would recommend this book to all readers. History books is my favourite genre, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this techno-thriller. It is also a fantastically well written human drama.

[Don Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you just happen to download a book that you will read later, and get a great surprise. So it was with The Permit by William B Scott.
I was checking out a blog one day and saw the book referenced on the page. I had read another book that this site recommended and loved it so why not?
The Permit turned out to be a great adventure and wonderfully told story that had me excited to sit down with it every chance I got. I won't post about the story because it should come to you as it did to me.. Bit by bit getting more exciting with every page.

[Alan McClain · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most shocking account of runaway violence by amateur enforcement officers, based on a true event in which an accomplished medical specialist and soldier needlessly lost his life. Though partly fictional, this story holds the reader's attention throughout, from cover to cover. Written by a veteran reporter and author, this is one for all concerned citizens to read and consider.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

******** * stars best book I have read in a long time. This is a must read book. The writing is terrific the plot part true and part fiction is interesting personal and intriguing. You do not want to put the book down until you finish it. This is a Goodreads give away.

[Zen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know the Author personally, but that truly in no way influenced my rating - it's a "Put yourself in my shoes" read that delves into a pain that, thankfully, many of us will never know. More importantly it brings to light just how much of an onion we have created in society - peel the layers and far more comes to the surface...God Bless Erik and the Scott Family.

[Brent Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The true story of Erik Scott is one that's largely unknown by the public because of their blind faith in the gangs of murderers roaming our streets, the criminals in costumes, the bandits, and brigands with badges. Scott's murder by a gang of dirty cops is the one that made me take a second look at what has become an epidemic of murders committed under the color of law and cover of authority. The Kelly Thomas murder is the one that really awakened me to the fact that there are sociopaths working for our law enforcement agencies, and they are getting away with murder. But Erik Scott's case is the one that started me down the path of learning the truth about criminally corrupt agents of the state.

Erik's father wrote this fictional book imagining a scenario of "what if" retribution against the guilty that murdered his son was sanctioned by the federal government. If you blindly worship the police, you will hate this book. If you know the truth about Erik Scott, you will enjoy it immensely.

[HICK · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book. Based on real life events this story is very relevant today when you look at the events currently taking place around the world. Emotional and gripping from the very first page, the story delves into an ongoing problem that has been around for years, politics and corruption. The final chapter came from out of nowhere; I did like the tie into the first chapter.

“I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.”