Spirit Mission

August 1, 2016
In 2015, U.S. Army aviator Sam Avery, the narrator of Russ’s exciting, cleverly constructed first novel, is the pilot of a Chinook helicopter on an unauthorized mission into Iraq. Flashback to 1987. Sam arrives at West Point and is immediately submitted to the harassment inflicted on all cadets every minute of their day for their entire first year. Sam rooms with Cisco Guerrero, who earns the nickname Turtle because of his slowness. Of particular interest is the upperclassman known as Guru, who takes the new cadets under his wing and is soon sending them on “spirit missions,” fiendishly elaborate unsanctioned pranks that are undertaken for the sheer glory of pulling them off. Years later, it’s Turtle and Zack Dempsey, another West Point roommate of Sam’s, who show up in Iraq and tell Sam that Guru, now a charity worker, has been taken prisoner by ISIS and will be beheaded in 24 hours unless they rescue him. Once again the old friends are on a spirit mission, this time against seriously deadly odds. Agent: Ed Victor, Ed Victor Ltd. (U.K.).

In West Point cadet lore, a spirit mission is an illegal or unauthorized one that needs to be carried out for moral reasons.The first novel by Russ, a West Point graduate and Army helicopter pilot, follows cadet Sam Avery on two such missions, 15 years apart. The first is a senior-year prank to steal the Naval Academy's goat mascot before a football game. The second, deadlier mission is to rescue a fellow graduate who's been captured by the Islamic State group in Iraq; they have 24 hours to reach him before he's going to be beheaded. The two connected stories are told in alternate chapters. A key figure in both stories is an upperclassman known as the Guru. At West Point he's a mentor to Sam and his company, a soldier who flouts authority, listens to the Grateful Dead, and instigates the goatnapping. In Iraq he's in charge of a humanitarian operation before his capture. The flashbacks follow Sam's West Point experience, from his "plebe" year as a hazed freshman, through the death of a classmate and his growing commitment to his company. They also explain why he needs to attempt the Guru's rescue, while the Army prefers to avoid the risk. The West Point chapters prove the most compelling, turning this from a straight adventure story to a deeper psychological study of military school and its rites of passage. The narrative only bogs down in parts of the rescue mission, which reveal more about the mechanics of a Chinook helicopter than most civilians would ever want to know. Russ proves adept at spinning a fast-moving yarn with believable, three-dimensional characters. COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 1, 2016

Relationship building between cadets at West Point in the early 1990s tests honor and integrity as two "spirit missions" develop nearly 25 years apart. The dual story lines balance a plan by cadets to steal the Navy's goat mascot and an unauthorized rogue mission by Lt. Col. Sam Avery to rescue a friend in Iraq held captive by ISIS. While the narrative takes time to gather momentum, by mid-story readers will feel compelled to discover how the two spirit missions will conclude. The suspense crescendoes into a satisfying surprise ending. Character development is sufficiently accomplished via the emotions, thoughts, and struggles of the main characters as their loyalty and honor are challenged both at West Point and in Iraq. VERDICT This first novel is a good choice for military fiction buffs, especially for readers interested in learning more about life in a military academy. The author's experience as a West Point graduate makes this half of the book an accurate portrayal of cadet life from day one to graduation.--Seth Herchenbach, McHenry Cty. Coll. Crystal Lake, IL

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.