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O.L.D. — A Good Way to Die: A Cold War Action-Adventure
The year is 1983, the height of the Cold War, and an evil secret society has planted an imposter in the White House with one objective: nuclear war. When Steven Leonard, a wannabe journalist, stirs the world’s most dangerous secret agent out of retirement — the alluring and provocative Hunter Gunne (think a female James Bond minus the misogyny) — he finds himself dragged along on an adventure to rescue the president, prevent World War III, and perhaps find the happiness both their lives so desperately lack.
If they fail: kiss humanity goodbye.
O.L.D. — A Good Way to Die is a retro action-adventure that sweeps the reader from the Arctic Circle to the Oval Office… and beyond. Twisting the spirit of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan series with the dark humor of Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove, the novel interweaves the history of the Cold War with the heroine’s past, highlighting the horror and absurdity of the nuclear arms race… a threat that still looms over humanity today.
If they fail: kiss humanity goodbye.
O.L.D. — A Good Way to Die is a retro action-adventure that sweeps the reader from the Arctic Circle to the Oval Office… and beyond. Twisting the spirit of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan series with the dark humor of Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove, the novel interweaves the history of the Cold War with the heroine’s past, highlighting the horror and absurdity of the nuclear arms race… a threat that still looms over humanity today.
421 pages, Paperback
Published May 16, 2020
About the author
Christopher Kügler
2 books11 followersChristopher Kügler lives in central Pennsylvania with his wife and two dogs. He’s worked in broadcast television for way too long and now enjoys writing novels.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 18, 2020
An impressive, ambitious debut sure to appeal to fans of high-action spy novels. O.L.D. has the bones of Ian Fleming's Bond novels updated with an 80's vibe and minus the chauvinism. Steven and Hunter make a dynamic duo. I hope to see them in action again!
July 22, 2020
I highly recommend this debut novel from author Christopher Kugler. Part history lesson, part action adventure, and part warning for the future this book is exactly the read we all need right now.
October 7, 2022
Read this timely and entertaining novel about good, evil, nuclear armagheddon, and saving humanity. President Biden recently mentioned how serious nuclear war threat is.
After reading Christopher Kugler’s cold war action-packed adventure, this novel deeply resonated. This reader remembers the cold war threats, the 1962 missile crisis, and the 1908’s confrontations with the USSR. But you don’t have to be that old to enjoy this novel. Younger people would benefit from this reading experience and then ask, “Is past prologue?”
This novel has everything.
A compelling protagonist, Hunter Gunne, (hero, assassin, and secret agent) who makes James Bond, Jason Bourne, Jack Ryan, and Jack Reacher look like amateurs… and Hunter is a woman! She undertakes missions to save humanity from nuclear disasters and battle the evil organization antagonists known as Old World Order. She relies on her training, heritage, and trusted mentors until she can’t.
A dogged investigative journalist, Steven Leonard, ( think Bob Woodward) in search of a pulitzer prize to tell Hunter’s life story. Will he succeed and at what price? Can he help or hinder Hunter’s mission?
Exciting, fast-paced, furious plot twists and turns, surprising betrayals, a kidnapped President, an imposter killer robot, and the ever present threat of humanity’s destruction. The author has combined a nice blend of historical fact and fiction with a nice serving of imagination to keep you hooked until the very end.
This novel appeals to readers who enjoy history, historical fiction, thrillers, suspense, and periodic suspension of one’s beliefs. As an extra bonus, you relish the dynamics of Ronald and Nancy Regan ( and her astrologer) who join the fray at various intervals.
A must read and highly recommended.
After reading Christopher Kugler’s cold war action-packed adventure, this novel deeply resonated. This reader remembers the cold war threats, the 1962 missile crisis, and the 1908’s confrontations with the USSR. But you don’t have to be that old to enjoy this novel. Younger people would benefit from this reading experience and then ask, “Is past prologue?”
This novel has everything.
A compelling protagonist, Hunter Gunne, (hero, assassin, and secret agent) who makes James Bond, Jason Bourne, Jack Ryan, and Jack Reacher look like amateurs… and Hunter is a woman! She undertakes missions to save humanity from nuclear disasters and battle the evil organization antagonists known as Old World Order. She relies on her training, heritage, and trusted mentors until she can’t.
A dogged investigative journalist, Steven Leonard, ( think Bob Woodward) in search of a pulitzer prize to tell Hunter’s life story. Will he succeed and at what price? Can he help or hinder Hunter’s mission?
Exciting, fast-paced, furious plot twists and turns, surprising betrayals, a kidnapped President, an imposter killer robot, and the ever present threat of humanity’s destruction. The author has combined a nice blend of historical fact and fiction with a nice serving of imagination to keep you hooked until the very end.
This novel appeals to readers who enjoy history, historical fiction, thrillers, suspense, and periodic suspension of one’s beliefs. As an extra bonus, you relish the dynamics of Ronald and Nancy Regan ( and her astrologer) who join the fray at various intervals.
A must read and highly recommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2020
I loved this book! A gripping, page turning, spy novel that takes you back in time to a Ronald Reagan administration and whisks you from the White House, to Alaska, and beyond! Some great twists throughout the book and really great characters leading you along the way! Adventure, sci-fi, accurate historical fact turned into alternate history, and a romance to boot, this book has it all! It's also so vivid, can picture it as a great movie! I look forward to more O.L.D adventures with Hunter and Steven! Highly recommend!
September 2, 2023
We read this for book club. It was great to read a book by a local author. However, while the book started well, I didn’t like the portrayal of Ronald Reagan (not that I’m a huge fan), and the overall storytelling. Reagan playing matchmaker as they are about to be killed. It just wasn’t for me.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews