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Simon Pack
Simon Pack
Series · 7 books · 2017-2020
By
John M. Vermillion
Books in series
#3
It's Not Dark Yet
2017
In the waning days of his Governorship, Simon Pack learns he did not leave the Upper Yaak Valley of Montana in sound health. The area is teeming with criminal enterprises and countercultural elements. Not wanting to dump problems he believes he’s responsible for onto the new Governor, Pack burrows into the unique Upper Yaak to identify and root out those complicated troubles. A crooked Sheriff pins a murder on Pack, and his release from charges involves a colossal legal confrontation. After his release from confinement, Pack returns to the cauldron of the Yaak, this time to be taken hostage inside a compound of anti-government radicals. Pack’s final act involves tracking down a man and woman bent on perpetrating terrorist attacks in the four corners of America. Main characters from the previous Pack novels are still here, but they are joined by a host of quirky new ones, including a lazy minister; a brilliant, exotic Asian lady and her evil boyfriend; Pack’s love interest, Keeley Eliopoulous; a crooked game warden who colludes with a County Sheriff; Tetu’s fiancée, Swan Threemoons; an honest Forest Ranger, Ranklin Shiningfish; and a 90-year-old man who in many ways is pivotal to solving the problems Pack faces.
#4
Evil in Disguise
2018
A horrid train wreck sets in motion a miserable chain of events for Simon Pack, Former Marine General and Governor of Montana. After dealing with the awful effects of the accident, Pack plumbs the depths of personal despair. Upon regaining his taste for life, he’s visited by a man from his past. The man who abducts Pack eventually is exposed as former Supersoldier and rogue agent who has murdered scores, including Americans, overseas. Now targets in America, including Pack, are fueling his vengeance-induced killing rampage. Pack needs to stop this Bad Man, Blaise Paschal. The action moves from Virginia to Louisiana to Montana. Characters from earlier Pack novels figure his successor in Helena, Governor James Dahl; Wilkie Buffer; Sheriff Mollison; Pack’s man-mountain sidekick Tetu Palaita, and numerous others. This novel unveils Pack in a new light, as devoted partner in a loving relationship with his new wife, Keeley.
#5
Comfort Kills
2018
Former General and Governor Simon Pack appears to be in the background in the newest Pack novel, but in truth he’s giving new life to a young man who’s been betrayed repeatedly—in war, love, and on smokejumper fire lines. Josh Panchrest is now so deep into his melancholic state the only solution he can imagine is to turn to Pack, his former Superintendent at West Point. Josh was the lone survivor in a major operation to snatch a Taliban leader. Readjusting to the too-soft America he returns to after combat is difficult. He finds solace in the rugged, disciplined life of a smokejumper assigned to the Missoula Jackals. For refusing to leave a badly-injured fellow jumper, Josh suffers. Meantime, he discovers that the bright, beautiful woman he loves is not what she seems. With his most subtle display of leadership yet, Pack expertly guides Josh through his crisis.
#6
Matai
2019
Simon Pack’s protégé, Josh Panchrest, at age 29 has ferried through foster homes, suffered physical and psychic wounds in combat, stuck with an injured smokejumper during a night of horror, walked through a field of flames to save a mother and son, and suffered a career-ending injury. Now he again fights through all the setbacks seeking fulfillment in some new challenge. He has eyes on big-time football coaching, but after realizing that’s a pipe dream, he lands a job teaching and coaching at a small town high school. The town requires rejuvenation as much as Josh. A one-time economic dynamo, the town has suffered a series of hard times in the past century. Can Josh resuscitate his future, and maybe the town’s as well? Both Josh and the town learn the true meaning of community, love, respect, and teamwork. This is an uplifting twin allegory of man’s quest for meaning.
#7
Just Pack
2019
Simon Pack's life has been a series of whipsaw Marine General; West Point Superintendent; hobo; Governor of Montana; writer. Now restless, he leaves Montana with his new K-9, Keto, not knowing what's ahead. This is Pack's most acute turn yet. The former Governor and General finds the perfect opportunity to dig into a question that's bothered him for should we question a single individual's acquisition of a vast expanse of land in a short period? Pack thinks so, and meets people forced off land their families have lived on for ages. On behalf of the displaced, Pack clashes with Eutaw Lane, a corrupt, uber-wealthy landowner who has the county government firmly under his control. Lane's men attack Pack and his new Major, his trainer and now wingman; Sky, owner of a ranch Lane is trying to acquire; and Shandy Sullivan, a distinguished jurist. Who will win?
#8
Pack's Posse
2020
Welcome to the world of strong US Marshals, offbeat criminals, and unusual settings from Arizona to Honduras to south Florida. Simon Pack, former Marine General and Montana Governor, now leads the largest fugitive Task Force in the Marshals Service. The main characters interlock in three big cases. Pack’s boss is jealous of Pack in the extreme, stamping a bull’s eye on Pack’s back. But when the US Attorney General assigns a case directly to Pack, it’s clear the Director of the Marshals Service cannot fire Pack. The final case addresses a current event in today’s headlines, and how Pack handles it may surprise the reader. In attempting to save the lives of his antagonists, Pack puts his own life in grave peril. Pack’s Posse is rife with chaotic action, compelling characters, and pithy insights on modern America. Watch as the action steamrolls to a dramatic conclusion.
#9
Packfire
2020
Tetu Palaita, American-Samoan giant, has been US Marshal Simon Pack’s most trusted friend for longer than any man. Someone murders Tetu’s family. Why was he the target? Or was he?Pack wants to avenge Tetu’s loss. His top priority becomes finding the blackguard who did this. Suspects abound. Join Pack as he drives to resolve a case that’s filled with futility until his crew discovers a valuable clue…an Elder Futhark, a ring which leads them to a Nordic religious sect that paves the investigative path ahead. At the end of the line, the Marshals close in on the man behind the murders in Montana. The man takes Pack prisoner and casts him into ‘The Room of Shame’. As the story winds down, see how the evil perpetrator punishes his own 250 followers, as well as Pack.Will Pack survive? Will the executioner survive?
Author
John M. Vermillion
Author · 9 books