Code Alpha
Stephen R. Gagin
(Reviewer - D. H. BROWN)
2004 Bookman Publishing
ISBN: 1594535434

50 years after the Korean War an American POW has become the Speaker of the House.

James Hingam is the last survivor of that tortured group who were subjected to mind-altering experiments. Now he has reached the pinnacle of power, & the a post-hypnotic suggestion incubating within him is ready to hatch. This will be the final component in North Korea's long war with the world, & the target is the President of the United States.

Meanwhile, meet Brad O'Rouke, a Navy salvage diver who is the lone survivor of an attack on his first ship. He fights to keep his nightmares at bay, until he comes upon a sunken fishing boat filled with stolen government supplies, & a very dead Marine.

Now Brad must team up with NCIS Special Agent Carolyn Hodge. The two piece together & uncover the conspiracy to make the Speaker of the House North Korea's unwitting pawn.

Sr. Staff Reviewer D. H. BROWN writes:

Stephen R. Gagin is certainly an author that keeps on giving! Having no more than finished his previous work, Bravo Two Sierra, than lo & behold into my hands falls his latest: Code Alpha.

This time I had none of my earlier reluctance, but plowed right in. Code Alpha is a much cleaner book than his debut. The adventure is no less stirring, the characters are a bit more rounded, the edges not quite so raw, & the thread that pulls the reader from first page to last, stronger.

Some authors write a good book right out of the gate, & stumble over their second. With Code Alpha Stephen R. Gagin is just getting into his stride. He's lived the life, knows the lingo &, as you follow him under the sea, makes you wish you'd brought your own diving gear.

I have only this to say to this author: kill a few less of your protagonists' friends, more of the enemy, & I did not like Requiem 2, the alternate ending.

Code Alpha is a definite page-turner, & we're going to see a lot more from this author.

Stephen R. Gagin has traveled the world after receiving his Bachelors degree in biology from The Citadel. He joined the Navy & headed for the last winter class at the Naval School Diving and Salvage. There he learnt the art of ship salvage & tap danced in the 205 pound spun copper helmeted, vulcanized rubber Mk V. During my years as a mixed gas diving & salvage officer, he served aboard a variety of salvage ships & was privileged to dive on & be the Officer in Charge of the underwater survey of the USS Arizona -- on the first official survey conducted by the National Parks Department & United States Navy in forty years. In 2001 he was invited to join the scientific crew of the Russian research vessel to dive on the wreck of the RMS Titanic & was one of the people to see the mighty liner in her actual resting place, two-&-a-half miles under the cold Atlantic.

More from Stephen R. Gagin: Bravo Two Sierra
(07/17/05)

D. H. BROWN
A RebeccasReads.Com Sr. Staff Reviewer

Reviewer's Bio:
D. H. BROWN is the author of the critically acclaimed HONOR DUE and the Citizens Warrior Series. The son of missionary parents and with the help his Uncle Sam, he has touched base in more than 40 countries.  In 1986 he produced the independent children's film Lessie's Rainbow.  During the late 80s and early 90s, he wrote the book Common Sense and delivered the seminars of the same name for the Community Action Network of Seattle (CAN).  While doing his early Vietnam recovery work, he counseled Veterans and spoke widely to men's groups in Washington state, and was a founder of The Lodge of the Wolf.

D. H. BROWN has worked as a Logistics and Weapons Specialist in Viet Nam; day laborer; Director of Security; Armored Car Driver; Police Officer; Professional Hunting Guide; Trapper; Dog Sledder; Homesteader; Truck Driver; General Contractor; Minister; Editor; Writer; Speaker; Restaurateur; Movie Producer; Antique Restoration Specialist; Personal Care Worker; PC Repair Specialist; Computer Instructor; Webmaster and Web Designer. "I write about what I know."

He lives deep in the Pacific Northwest rainforest with his wife, author and editor Rebecca and Buddy Dog, working on his next book.
Visit him at: www.dhbrownbooks.com