Library Journal
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Relationship building between cadets at West Point in the early 1990s tests honor and integrity as two "spirit missions" develop nearly 25 years apart. The dual story lines balance a plan by cadets to steal the Navy's goat mascot and an unauthorized rogue mission by Lt. Col. Sam Avery to rescue a friend in Iraq held captive by ISIS. While the narrative takes time to gather momentum, by mid-story readers will feel compelled to discover how the two spirit missions will conclude. The suspense crescendoes into a satisfying surprise ending. Character development is sufficiently accomplished via the emotions, thoughts, and struggles of the main characters as their loyalty and honor are challenged both at West Point and in Iraq. VERDICT This first novel is a good choice for military fiction buffs, especially for readers interested in learning more about life in a military academy. The author's experience as a West Point graduate makes this half of the book an accurate portrayal of cadet life from day one to graduation.-Seth Herchenbach, McHenry Cty. Coll. Crystal Lake, IL © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Russ' first novel is actually two stories in one complex package. Lieutenant Colonel Sam Avery defies orders and leads his Night Stalker helicopter team into ISIS-held territory in Iraq to rescue his friend and West Point guru Henry Stillmont. While the mission is going on, Avery reflects back on his time as a student at West Point. The novel jumps back and forth in time as Avery realizes that even if he's successful in rescuing Stillmont, his career is over. The current military operation is somewhat predictable in both tactics and end results, but the flashbacks are outstanding, creating a somewhat disjointed narrative and making readers wish the West Point story was its own novel. Still, Russ, a West Point graduate and helicopter pilot, brings great authenticity to his account of military life, which will keep most readers engaged, even if the thriller plot itself seems overly predictable. Military-fiction readers should look for better things to come from this promising writer.--Ayers, Jeff Copyright 2016 Booklist

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

In West Point cadet lore, a spirit mission is an illegal or unauthorized one that needs to be carried out for moral reasons.The first novel by Russ, a West Point graduate and Army helicopter pilot, follows cadet Sam Avery on two such missions, 15 years apart: The first is a senior-year prank to steal the Naval Academys goat mascot before a football game. The second, deadlier mission is to rescue a fellow graduate whos been captured by ISIS in Iraq; they have 24 hours to reach him before hes going to be beheaded. The two connected stories are told in alternate chapters. A key figure in both stories is an upperclassman known as the Guru. At West Point hes a mentor to Sam and his company, a soldier who flouts authority, listens to the Grateful Dead, and instigates the goat-napping. In Iraq hes in charge of a humanitarian operation before his capture by ISIS. The flashbacks follow Sams West Point experience, from his plebe year as a hazed freshman, through the death of a classmate and his growing commitment to his company. They also explain why he needs to attempt the Gurus rescue, while the Army prefers to avoid the risk. The West Point Chapters prove the most compelling, turning this from a straight adventure story to a deeper psychological study of military school and its rites of passage. The narrative only bogs down in parts of the rescue mission, which reveal more about the mechanics of a Chinook helicopter than most civilians would ever want to know.Russ proves adept at spinning a fast-moving yarn with believable, three-dimensional characters. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Publishers Weekly
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In 2015, U.S. Army aviator Sam Avery, the narrator of Russ's exciting, cleverly constructed first novel, is the pilot of a Chinook helicopter on an unauthorized mission into Iraq. Flashback to 1987. Sam arrives at West Point and is immediately submitted to the harassment inflicted on all cadets every minute of their day for their entire first year. Sam rooms with Cisco Guerrero, who earns the nickname Turtle because of his slowness. Of particular interest is the upperclassman known as Guru, who takes the new cadets under his wing and is soon sending them on "spirit missions," fiendishly elaborate unsanctioned pranks that are undertaken for the sheer glory of pulling them off. Years later, it's Turtle and Zack Dempsey, another West Point roommate of Sam's, who show up in Iraq and tell Sam that Guru, now a charity worker, has been taken prisoner by ISIS and will be beheaded in 24 hours unless they rescue him. Once again the old friends are on a spirit mission, this time against seriously deadly odds. Agent: Ed Victor, Ed Victor Ltd. (U.K.). (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.