About the Book
"A covert CIA mission gone sideways, a harrowing post-WWI transatlantic flight, and a research facility with 'remote viewing' capabilities: three seemingly separate stories woven across time and locations bring us to the brink of an attack that would annihilate North America in this entertaining and suspenseful novel titled Raven's Run.
John D Trudel researched actual historical archives to tell the escapades of his uncle, George O. Noville, a Navy officer who made historical flights, explored Antarctica, became an oil executive, and eventually settled in Mexico to retire. It is through his voice that the reader 'hears' the story of forgotten U.S. history.
Josie is a gentle soul with an incredible psychic ability (as well as a penchant for marijuana and going braless). All she has to do is have physical contact with an item to see its history, location, and actions occurring around it. The government, needless to say, sees her as a valuable asset and has her working in secrecy. Her viewings have sometimes left her comatose - she is especially sensitive to violence, and sees her own future in a mental institution if she doesn't change the path she's on. Wayne, who has been given the boot from the CIA, is given a second chance along with a new identity as Raven.
He is tasked to protect Josie. While on his failed yet explosive mission in Iran, Raven had uncovered a diary belonging to Noville, with the title "Operation High Jump," a major Antarctic expedition that occurred right after World War II. All evidence from the mission was destroyed, but the significance of the notebook is unclear.
Josie is tasked with viewing the events surrounding the notebook, but the vastness of the great white ice continent makes finding any worthwhile data a huge challenge. While her talents are great, they are not unlimited. Meanwhile, Islamic extremists are racing toward a mission of their own in Antarctica, allowing nothing to stop their quest to rid the world of the "Great Satan" and infidels. With ties to oil executives, high level U.S. government officials, and a nuclear-powered icebreaking vessel, not much can stop them, not even one of their own.
The suspense builds at a breakneck pace. Josie and Raven form an unlikely bond, breaking down the walls that he has had to build around himself out of necessity. Raven gains Josie's trust, and she his. They start envisioning their own future together, but first they must complete this last, dangerous mission: solving the mysteries surrounding Noville, his death, and his diary.
Will their love give them the strength to survive the ordeal, or add to their vulnerability? Mechanical techies will enjoy Raven's Run's detailing of weaponry and engine mechanics on airplanes and ships, in both military and private use. Trudel challenges some widely held positions on climate change, Islam, the JFK assassination, Vietnam, and international incidents occurring between WWII and today."
About the Author :
John D Trudel has authored two nonfiction books and five Thriller novels: God's House, Privacy Wars, Soft Target, Raven's Run, and Raven's Redemption. He graduated from Georgia Tech and Kansas State, had a long career in high-technology, wrote columns for several national magazines, and lives in Oregon and Arizona. John Trudel maintains an author's site and blog. You can find them under his name "johntrudel" As an inventor and an instrument rated multiengine pilot, he has long loved aviation and technology. John had a pilot's license before he had a driver's license. He built and flew his own radio-controlled aircraft before they were called "drones" and programmed computers before PCs existed. His popular blog was selected by a Radio Host as one of the "top 8 in the Northwest." It has a mix of information about both real world events and novels. John's first four novels all won awards. Two were finalists for the prestigious Eric Hoffer award. Privacy Wars predicted the NSA and IRS scandals, winning three Awards in the process and gleaning many media interviews. Details, links, interviews, and video trailers are posted on John's website. The first chapters of his novels are there too, free.
Review :
Raven's Run: A Cybertech Thriller by John D. Trudel "It was a maelstrom of shifting reality where the past, present, and future were readjusting in a mad ride down churning rapids of good and evil." When impeccable research, engaging prose, and a personal connection are fused into one narrative, the result is Raven's Run, a savory, thought-provoking historical thriller with a penchant to discuss events that are at the forefront of western democracy in the 21st century. Audiences will find the plot entertaining and the characters relatable; however, the author's insights into the inner workings of the Kennedy Administration-including the planning for the journey to the moon-are perhaps the most intriguing elements of the novel as they are, to a degree, based on reality. Though the lines between fiction and fact are pleasantly blurred at times during the novel, Trudel provides readers with a "Factoids and Fantasies" section at the end of the book to clear any misconceptions and supply readers with vital source information. A.C. Wayne, a covert CIA agent narrowly escapes with his life from Natanz, an Iran Fuel Enrichment Plant that doubled as a facility for nuclear weapons. As a reward, he is permanently released by the CIA, which, in turn, leads to an off-the-grid opportunity from Dr. Goldfarb to uncover and foil any nuclear warfare plans against the United States. An essential, and thoroughly unique element of the story is remote viewing, led by Josie Lynch. In short, remote viewing is essentially a paranormal experience that was initiated at the Rhine Institute in Durham, North Carolina. Ironically, Wayne's escape was aided by Josie's incredible remote viewing skills, which ultimately paved a way out of the Natanz facility for Wayne. The romantic relationship between the two is refreshing and enjoyable; two utterly different individuals who discover intimacy through isolation. The core of the story revolves around the threat of weapons of mass destruction and the propensity for massive riches in oil. From Admiral Richard "Dick" Byrd and naval officer George O. Noville, who led the HIGH JUMP program, to Raven (Wayne's new identity), Josie, and Dr. Goldfarb, numerous characters are tasked with critical responsibilities throughout the story. The character whose name appears in nearly all contexts and references of Natanz is Akbar Safdari, perhaps the strongest antagonistic character in the novel. In a nutshell, "Islamic fundamentalists want a Caliphate and to have the Christian, Jews, and other Muslims who don't support them dead." Oil revenues switched from being split in 1957 to Iran nationalizing oil in 1974 and claiming full control of oil funds as a result. Mysterious deaths of high ranking officials, tankers being sunk in the ocean, and treasonous activities reign supreme and hold audiences on edge from the get-go. Throughout, Trudel does an exceptional job of shifting time frames from as early as 1927 all the way to the present day Obama administration. As political thrillers often go, secret missions like STARFISH and SNOWBALL, in addition to the potential for oil in Antarctica, add another dimension to the high-stakes situation. The inclusion of relevant articles like Harold T. Woolsey's "WHAT'S BLACKWOOD UP TO NOW?" from The Wall Street Journal add credibility to the novel. Being the nephew of George Noville cements the author credibility aspect and only leaves readers desiring for more by the end. Fascinating discussions about the caliphate and corruption in the novel are closely linked to current events and terrorist group, ISIS. Further information regarding Trudel's writing and his topics can be found on his blog. Ultimately, a seamless blend of dialogue and exposition, coupled with strong flowing prose and a gold mine of historical information, make Raven's Run a sure-fire must-read while readers wait for the sequel: Raven's Redemption. RECOMMENDED by the US Review
