Book #1: Out of the Shadow and Across Strange Lines
The early morning opening procedures at a New England ski area become very unusual when a ski patroller finds the dead body of an obviously murdered man lying frozen on the trail.
As the Vermont State Police arrive and begin their investigation, they find that the dead man was a New York State policeman, working as a United Nations security investigator, following the trail of a missing representative.
Because of the murdered man’s professional identity, a report of the murder finds its way through various local, state, and federal channels.
It coincidently turns out the lead ski patroller at the scene, while on active duty, was a trained U.S. Navy SEAL, although currently in the Navy Reserves as a civilian ski patroller. When on active duty, he was attached to a specialized Navy security investigative team, and with his experience, he will be needed again.
After reactivating into the regular Navy, he returns to his previous station and is assigned to this case. He joins forces with a local woman Vermont State Trooper and his previous seal team members in Washington DC, and they work together to follow and find out where the murdered man’s investigation had been compromised.
As detail after detail shows itself, it becomes obvious that there is much more to the case than originally thought. It didn’t take long to find that it was a unique group of people, one of whom worked at the United Nations and was a vicious killer, and others who were involved with a crackpot college Professor and Political advisor who had strange ideas about using socialism to enrich himself.
As the investigation progressed, it became two separate cases; the trail quickly turned from a local state murder case into a Federal international chase to rescue and save a kidnapped woman.
A detailed investigation shows the SEAL team where she is, and they travel to Italy and rescue her.
She returns to the United Nations, only to find that her Kidnapper, who had been there that morning, had learned she was rescued and escaped.
When they find where he had gone, they follow him back to Vermont and learn of his various connections there.
The twists and turns that involve murder, kidnapping, international energy sources, illegal finances, international transfer of money, and political entrapments make this a case of intrigue and corruption in the highest levels of education and government.
ISBN
(International Standard Book Number)
Paperback 978-1-9845-6459-7
Hardcover 978-1-9845-6460-3
eBook 978-1-9845-6458-0
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Book Review - by: Blue Ink
Out of the Shadow and Across Strange Lines
A kidnapping, a murdered police detective, and a conspiracy crossing international boundaries converge in this short but wide-ranging thriller by Richard B. Christie, who employs his experience with the National Ski Patrol to launch his adventure.
In backcountry Vermont, ski patroller Paul DeNice discovers the frozen body of Howard Bean, a New York State Police detective. Bean was on the trail of Alice Thompson, a missing member of a United Nations investigative group. We soon learn that Paul is more than he appears: he’s a former member of the Navy’s elite Seal Team Six with a valuable set of skills.
The story jumps between Paul’s investigation of the murder and the conspiracy that triggered Alice’s kidnapping. The overtly complex story involves a plot to gain control of liquid natural gas and monetize its flow through New England. Paul, now working undercover for Seal Team Six, ties the kidnapping to a shadowy operation called Burlington Ops, whose most lethal asset is Evan Sikorski, a vicious assassin.
Higher up the food chain, Paul learns about Professor Alex Korskin, who runs a well-respected foundation and has close ties to one of Vermont’s U.S. senators. Secretly, though, he’s a crackpot with unhinged ideas about using socialism to enrich himself and change the fabric of the country. The action and Paul’s pursuit across the globe take readers to Italy, Venezuela, Boston, and Chicago, as well as Vermont.
The story is Tom Clancy Light, while Paul evokes characters such as C.J. Box’s Joe Pickett and Paul Doiron’s Mike Bowditch. Unfortunately, there are too many characters for a novel that’s only 156 pages, and the characters lack the charm or menace necessary for a page-turning read. Additionally, the story’s plot is confusing, and its omniscient viewpoint lends little to the overall effectiveness of the narrative.
While the ending is satisfying, readers must navigate some challenging material to reach the final page.
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Book Review - by: Workbook Press
Out of the Shadow and Across Strange Lines
Out of the Shadow and Across Strange Lines opens with a chilling discovery—a murdered man found frozen on a Vermont ski trail. What begins as a quiet morning at a New England ski area quickly escalates into a complex web of crime, espionage, and international intrigue.
The story captures the reader from the very first scene, blending small-town mystery with high-stakes global tension. When investigators learn that the victim was a New York State policeman working as a United Nations security investigator, the narrative takes on a deeper, more dangerous dimension. The murder’s ripple effects travel through local, state, and federal agencies, and soon, what seemed to be an isolated crime reveals itself as part of a much larger conspiracy.
At the heart of the story is a former U.S. Navy SEAL—now a ski patroller—whose quiet civilian life is interrupted when his unique background draws him back into service. Teaming up with a determined Vermont State Trooper and his former SEAL team in Washington D.C., he dives headfirst into a tangled investigation that spans continents and uncovers corruption at the highest levels.
The novel skillfully weaves together elements of murder mystery, political thriller, and international espionage. From Vermont to Italy, the action is relentless, and the stakes continually rise as the team unravels connections involving the United Nations, illicit financial networks, and a power-hungry academic with dangerous ambitions.
Mr. Christie crafts a fast-paced narrative filled with unexpected twists and layered characters. The combination of military precision and investigative depth gives the story both authenticity and intensity. Readers who enjoy political thrillers and global conspiracy dramas—especially those with strong, capable heroes—will find this book impossible to put down.
Out of the Shadow and Across Strange Lines is more than just a murder mystery—it’s a gripping exploration of loyalty, justice, and the shadowy intersections of power and morality. With its compelling blend of realism and suspense, this first installment promises an unforgettable series ahead.
