Breaking the Code

Systema Paradoxa #3

by David Lee Summers, Jason Whitley (Illustrator)

1942. Gallup, New Mexico. Marine recruiters have come to town looking to fill their ranks with a secret weapon against the Axis powers—what would become Navajo Code Talkers—but not everyone supports the prospect of young native men going off to war.

When one new recruit is found dead, and a rancher's cattle are mutilated, whispers of witchcraft and skinwalker filter through the town and interest in enlisting wanes. Is there evil afoot, or is that just what opponents to the cause want everyone to think?

Whether guided by magic, mischief, or malevolence, without a doubt, nothing is as it seems...

110 pages, Paperback

First published May 21, 2021

About the author

David Lee Summers is an author, editor and astronomer living somewhere between the western and final frontiers. He is the author of eleven novels including The Solar Sea, Owl Dance, and The Astronomer's Crypt. His short fiction and poetry has appeared in such magazines as Realms of Fantasy, Cemetery Dance, The Martian Wave, Star*Line and The Santa Clara Review. He has edited the science fiction and fantasy magazine, Tales of the Talisman and the Full-Throttle Space Tales Anthologies Space Pirates and Space Horrors. Over the years, David has also worked at numerous observatories in the U.S. including Kitt Peak National Observatory.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1942 the town of Gallup, New Mexico, the U.S. Marine recruiters are hoping to hire the Navajo as they want them to do the secret weapon for the world war 2. The recruiters want them to be Navajo Code Talkers. Not everyone approves that the Navajo going to war. In fact there is a witch that is determined to stop it. A newly recruited Navajo is found dead by his father. He died outside their home. What happened? The local sheriff suggest that it must be an accident. As the recruiters drive back to the fort, the recruiter in the passenger seat sees what looks like an animal running along the side of the Jeep. He can’t believe it as the Jeep is going 40 miles per hour. What kind of animal can run that fast? The mutilated cattle at a rancher’s home is whispered to
be a skinwalker. The interest in enlisting is not attractive to the Navajos. Will they change their minds? Who is the skinwalker?

This novel is about the cryptid skinwalker. It is a creature thought gone. It is considered a myth. The author has written an excellent story about a cryptid. The characters are well written. I got to see the characters point of view of what was happening. It’s a mystery with a supernatural twist to it. It is an excellent gem of a horror novel.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

[Nathan McConville · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of Breaking the Code by David Lee Summers via NetGalley. This novel is set Gallup, New Mexico 1942. Recruiters for the Marines are targetting Navajo to recruit for sending coded messages in their native tongue. But there seems to be someone or something trying to derail their campaign. I found myself wanting a bit more to the story, just seemed a little repetitive - Recruit, recruits sign up, something bad happens. Who or what is it? etc. etc. It was ok. 3 Stars.