SACRED PLUNDER

In Daigle’s historical thriller, a former Navy SEAL becomes entangled in sinister activities in Vietnam.

In January of 1969, Mike McCall is on his second tour in Vietnam; he’s a Navy SEAL scout whose duties take him to dangerous places. Near the end of his tour, Mike is approached by a man named Kane who runs a firm called Guardian Security. Kane observes that Mike has quite the skill set: “navigation, tactical assessment, cultural awareness.” Perhaps he’d like to work in the private sector? When Mike returns to his home in California, he realizes civilian life is not for him. But is a private security gig the way to go? He is soon contacted by the CIA; the plan is for him to work for Kane but report secretly to the Agency. The feds are interested in “Kane’s intelligence connections and military contacts. They cared about leaked secrets, black market buyers, and mafia ties.” Kane is involved in smuggling antiquities, which hits a soft spot in Mike—while he was on a mission in Laos, he reported false coordinates for an air strike in order to protect a hidden temple. Mike soon discovers that Kane is involved in more than just stealing artifacts. The author has a tendency to state the obvious: For instance, Mike is a Guardian Security employee, CIA asset, and a man attempting to honor ancient artifacts; Daigle observes that “Each role demanded different loyalties and behaviors.” Naturally, one would expect someone working undercover to juggle different loyalties and behaviors. Although similar redundancies occasionally pop up in the text, the story boasts compelling twists and turns. As skilled as Mike is, he faces an equally formidable foe in a country that is still at war. Action scenes with whizzing bullets and the involvement of an intrepid journalist named Jane Wade add excitement—Mike isn’t the only one in danger or one seeking the truth.

A thoughtful, action-filled adventure rife with wartime double-dealing.