Tommy Whiteside was killed seven years ago. Allegedly.
In the waning days of the Second World War, Tommy’s American unit was slaughtered by the notorious Schutzstaffel—the Waffen SS. According to the U.S. government, there were no survivors.
But Tommy did survive—the sole survivor of 187 men. In the interest of his privacy, the government provided him with a new identity in a different region of the country. But, unknown to the U.S. government, Tommy spent his college years planning his revenge. And now, in 1952, Tommy is traveling back to Germany. He’s going there to find the man, the murderer, the SS commander who ordered his friends killed.
Despite his deep-seeded hatred, Tommy is forced to assimilate with his German hosts. Though unwilling at first, he even finds himself yielding to the kindness of a German widow and her son. Although his hunt progresses successfully, he soon falls under the scrutiny of a dogged Berlin detective as well as a deadly legion of former SS.
Inspired by the true events of the Malmedy Massacre, SEVEN YEARS DEAD begins as a tale of revenge and transforms to one of redemption. With dual plot lines of journal entries recounting the massacre, paralleled with Tommy’s hunt for the SS, SEVEN YEARS DEAD is an action/crime thriller that esteemed World War II author Kelly Durham describes as “thrilling and riveting.”
The youngest of five children, Chuck’s initial love of fiction was borne out of a lack of money coupled with an overactive childhood imagination. On Sunday afternoons during his childhood, Chuck’s parents would take the entire family to the public library—it was pleasurable and, best of all, free. He credits The Shining, by Stephen King, as being the first novel he ever read.
Following high school, Chuck joined the Army after finding little inspiration (or money) for college. He was stationed stateside at Fort Sill and as a paratrooper at Fort Bragg; but it was Chuck’s two-and-a-half years stationed in Germany that forged many of the memories that fuel his interest today.
Following his honorable discharge from the Army, Chuck endured more schooling before embarking on a career in advertising. In 2001 he co-founded B2B Media, Inc., a company that would go on to be named the second fastest-growing company in South Carolina.
While his career was progressing nicely, an active skydiver, Chuck suffered an accident while BASE jumping from the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia. Although he’s since recovered, the accident took away his ability to compete in numerous sports. It was the accident, and his resulting physical limitations, that would later become the seed for his need to write.
As his career churned on, Chuck married his wife in 2003. Fulfilled personally and professionally, something began to tug at his mind. Before his accident he’d been able to satisfy his inner desires, first with the adrenaline of a soldier’s life, and later as a risk-taking skydiver. When he could no longer be either, he realized something was missing.
Searching for an answer, in 2005 and at the behest of one of his closest friends, Chuck began to write. Claiming he couldn’t write a decent sentence at the time, he started by penning his own experiences. After moving on to short stories for a period, he eventually began to write novel-length stories in earnest. Over time he learned to blend flawed characters with extraordinary situations, creating a hybrid of the classic spy/suspense novel. Chuck’s passion for travel—especially in Europe—helps lend genuine background and texture to his writing.
Now, every day, Chuck awakens before the dawn and writes. He claims his writing is at its best when his mind is a blank slate. Plus, by writing early, he doesn’t miss time with his wife, his daughter, or his son. They live in South Carolina.
Captain Scott Rook’s (US Army Platoon C/O) unit consisted of: Thomas “Tommy” Whiteside, Staff Sergeant Kenny Martin (Texas Tech U), Sergeant John Vincent, & Sergeant Danny Elder. 3/1945, WWII era. Martin Vincent Elder (aka Thomas “Tommy” Whiteside, WWII Vet, 2nd Able Battery, 32nd Field Artillery, U of Oklahoma; German, Sociology) survived the Massacre at Kastellaun, Germany. He suffered from shell shock. Jimmy Gallotte (Day construction boss) had offered Martin the job in Berlin, Germany. Not many wanted to see the horrors of the Holocaust. Steglitz-Zehlendorf borough SW Berlin, Germany. Friedrichstrasse station. Marty exited the S-Bahn.
Friedrichstrasse St. Steglitz apartment building (# 6 A). Marty had met with Frau Schaal (widow, landlady) & was adapting to his new environment. She invited Marty over for dinner & he had already met Joshua “Josh” Thomas Schaal (son). Marty had another mission find: Dieter Siegst (aka Oskar Zeckern, Bavaria, SE Germany) & Michael Rüdin (aka Felix Leonhard Roth, alcoholic, carpenter, former Die Bruderschaft 101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion). Krofdorf-Gleiberg, Wettenberg Hesse, Germany. Gleiberg Castle Biergarten. Marty had found Felix. Marty later went to see Gloria Riddenger Michael’s GF. They exchanged stories. Gloria had lots of silver & gold jewelry & Nazi memorabilia. Later she was murdered. Bayreuth N. Bavaria, Germany. Marty had arrived. The 1st round hit the ammo carrier & when it exploded O’Malley, Eppes, & the new guy were killed. John Vincent (50 cal.) took out quite a few enemy Panzer SS soldiers.
Will Martin Vincent Elder (aka Thomas Wayne Whiteside) complete his mission?
Warning: This book contains extremely graphic adult content (Nazi racism), violence (POW’s), or expletive language &/or uncensored sexually explicit material (adult verbal/mental/physical) which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive or have potential adverse psychological effects on the reader.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written WWII book. It was amazingly easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great WWII movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is an extremely easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Autobahn Books; BookBub; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Started fairly strong but ended in formulaic fashion
Chuck Driskell's SEVEN YEARS DEAD began with an interesting premise -- U.S. GI WWII SS-massacre survivor seeks to avenge the horror -- but slowly descended into a formulaic over-wrought morality-tale of the healing and redemptive power of love. While this Reader is not averse to such a plot direction, this book could have been so-much-more if it had stuck to a more straightforward 'Man vs. Former-SS Monsters' action-thriller formula. Eventually the teenaged 'side kick' simply annoyed and the love-interest character lacked the descriptive-depth to make the protagonist's feelings seem genuine.
This novel is a work of fiction based on the Malmedy massacre that occurred in Belgium in 1944. Other similar incidents are also woven into this excellent novel. The primary character is the loan survivor, an American soldier of a massacre committed by the Nazi SS. His journey into Germany after the war is a quest for revenge. To honor his fallen brothers in arms. Initially he hates all Germans, understandably so. In the end he realizes he was wrong people are victim's of circumstances. Put into a position they have no control over. Their are good honest people everywhere and their are monsters. An incredible read. Enjoyed immensely.
I loved reading this book and the style it has been written in. Jumping from the present to the past is always interesting and enjoyable for me. It takes a lot of courage to cross over the line and cover the atrocities of mindless violence by those waging war. Men’s propensity for killing each other is nothing new and mass slaughter has forever been part of history. However this coverage of a fictional massacre based on a true event has been well thought out and penned into an exceptionally good novel, without many gruesome and gory explanations. A very good read for followers of crime and war.
Books about WWII normally detail battle scenes or problems at home but this is a unique look at one man’s survivor’s guilt. I haven’t come across something as vividly written in a very long time. I was born post-war but still remember the anti German feelings in the 1950s. This book explores one man’s realization that not all Germans were monsters while continuing to hunt the Waffin SS animals who slaughtered his mates. This is an outstanding book, one not to miss! Please, do yourself a favor & read this book. I’m sure you will enjoy it as much as I did. NickTheMoose
this book does not disappoint the reader .from the beginning it captures the interest and expectations and realise that the biography of a soldier in action of a war portrays effectively without any exaggeration of man's inhumanity to man while maintaining the readers compulsion to discover the the progress of a planned and determined assault on an enemy as a sole assassin U was refreshing book without the elongated chapters and was focused on a factual description capturing the reader
I found this book to be a compelling story, fictional though it may be, of a true event. the emotions and feelings of fear and understanding you were going to die - to the absolute hatred, anger and frustration that you didn't and you were powerless to help your friends. think this book is powerful and a good reminder of the atrocities of WW2 - may we never become too complacent to forget history. it repeats itself -you know?
I was born when ww2 was just heating up. I've always wished I had been able to participate as a spy, partisan,or any type of covert operator back then. This book gives you all the thrills you can handle. About the highest praise I. can give a book like this one is to tell you it ranks right up there with the "Odessa File" . I just finished it and am heading for the author's website for another dose of we 2.
Outstanding drama A horrendeous portrayal of the horrors of war.
One man who survived the massacre of the whole of his American unit takes it into to his head to exert revenge on the man who not only ordered the massacre but encouraged his fellow comrades to ensure that all his enemies were killed by driving their tanks over the bodies of the bullet ridden bodies to make sure nobody survived.
This is the first book I have read authored by Chuck Driskell and I was not disappointed. This post WWII thriller had believable characters and a fast paced story. The story was developed through flashbacks by way of the main character’s journal entries interspersed throughout the tale, which explain the motivation behind his actions and emotions. The chase is on, not just for the enemy, but for the protagonist’s own soul.
At the end of WWII in a small town in central Germany, an American unit pushing inwards toward Berlin encounters an SS unit. The SS commander , willing to surrender is shot by his second in command who enlists supporters to torture and ultimately massacre the Americans. One soldier survived and his mission for seven years has been to return to Germany and kill the man in charge.
Filled with tension, this would make a good movie.
interesting format, easy to know the ending but still engaging
The main character lacks some dimension but it stand harm the story telling too much. The premise is great for WWII buffs. The development of the one dimensional character in the last 1/3 of the book was rewarding. Wish it had more detail about the SS in post war Germany. I might nit pick but it was still a 5 star read.
Mr. Driskell weaves a 2-tier story that keeps one in the past and then in post war Germany. Out hero is a man gripped by the need to right a great wrong. While accomplishing his mission he learns about life. This is a most worthwhile read!
Compelling storytelling, good writing that flows well and only sometimes makes me wish I had a red pen in my hand. Toward the end I really did not want to put it down. The format—alternating personal journal entries with real-time suspenseful narratives—was effective at developing characters and describing action. I will definitely read more from this author.
This is a well done novel set in post WW II Berlin with the backstory of a massacre of American troops just before the end of the war. The motive is genuine, the plot is credible and the characters are well drawn. I didn't particularly care for the ending, but that is how the author wanted to wrap up the story. It works just fine, blame me for not enjoying it.
No other author I've read can compete with Mr. Driskell in the espionage genre set during the mid 20th century. His research is spot on and he brings that era to life as if it were yesterday. My thanks to him for another great story!
Enjoyed this book, very interesting plot. I am sure a lot of people felt the way these characters felt. There was so much damage done by the two World Wars. Hopefully, it will not happen again and so many countless lies lost. No one was really the winner!
A good imaginative read, and I was held by the completeness of the storyline. I’m a former marine, former police officer, and found no flaws in the writing. Looking forward to other books by this author
The read kept me interested but never went into enough historical detail which would have helped tremendously. Also a completely anticlimactic ending which left disappointment.
Even though this novel is fiction, the book describes the happenings of a war and the after effects. It is an easy book to read as it tells four separate stories all wrapped around a single massacre.
Very interesting story based on a true life massacre that took place 5 months before the end of World War II. If you have ANY connection to the war this book is a worthwhile read.
Well written filled with mystery, suspense and anguish. Great lead character with all the pain and aggression he concealed from his service. Worth reading but not easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars
While not the most unique thriller I loved the story and characters. The story was captivating to where I wanted to keep reading until I could place a new bookmark at a satisfying stopping point.
This is not the type of book I normally read. However I think it was very interesting fictionalized story of the after effects of war. The characters were very good and it was well written.