ANIMUS

by Philip Keith

An Al Qaeda cell emerges from an abandoned military base ready to commit another horrific act of terrorism, this time in the rich and famous Hamptons. The terrorists have been hired and funded by an eccentric billionaire whose purposes are to usurp a real estate and gambling empire he could not obtain by legitimate means, but below the dark surface of his sordid life lie more sinister motives of revenge and redemption. A sadistic murder starts the events in Animus cascading and it brings in James Griffin, the local Chief of Detectives. He is a cop's cop, forged by service in Vietnam, Ivy League educated, veteran of two decades in the NYPD and recently back from a horrific tour of reserve duty in Iraq. Animus races toward conclusion with a fatal betrayal, the arrival of a team from Delta Force, the kidnappings of both Griffin's girlfriend and young son, and a wild chase across the wind swept rocks around the Montauk Lighthouse. Death will lash out.

464 pages, Paperback

First published May 27, 2008

About the author

Phil Keith earned a bachelor's degree in history from Harvard and has done master’s work at Long Island University and the Naval War College. After graduating from Harvard, Phil went directly into the Navy and became an aviator. During three tours in Vietnam, he served with distinction and was awarded, among other decorations, the Purple Heart, Air Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, and Navy Commendation Medal.
After his wartime service, Phil rose to the rank of Commander in the Naval Reserve and is also a licensed US Coast Guard Captain and Master’s Mate. As a business executive, he worked for two Fortune 500 firms and is a former assistant professor of business at Long Island University. Since 2007 Phil has been an adjunct instructor at the Rhode Island School of Design, teaching marketing and writing courses.
Phil has authored novels and nonfiction books. His Vietnam book, Blackhorse Riders, from St. Martin’s Press, won the 2012 award from USA Book News for Best Military Non-Fiction, was a finalist for the 2013 Colby Award, and earned a 2013 silver medal from Military Writers Society of America. His second Vietnam book, Fire Base Illingworth, released by St. Martin’s Press in 2013, was a Gold Medal winner from MWSA. His latest book (Zenith Press) is “Stay the Rising Sun,” an account of the crucial WW II Battle of the Coral Sea and the loss of the aircraft carrier USS Lexington in May, 1942. Phil is currently working on two more non-fiction books: one on the Civil War and another about Eugene Bullard, the first African-American fighter pilot. He has also completed fictional novel about Vietnam to be released in summer, 2017.
Phil serves on the planning board for the Town of Southampton, New York, and is a member of VFW Post 5350, American Legion Post 924, the Disabled American Veterans, and Vietnam Veterans of America. He writes an opinion column for the Press newspapers called "Mostly Right," and lives in Southampton with his partner Laura Lyons and son Pierce.