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Dr. Gary Kidney is a renowned author known for his gripping historical espionage fiction. He retired from being an educator and academic administrator in higher education information technology. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Albertus Magnus College. He loves to travel and has visited every location that serves as a setting in his writings. He lives in Pearland, Texas, with Mary Helen Lowry, his partner. He has two sons, Brand and Josh.
Gary was inspired to write this book by the war stories told by his brothers and uncles and by the old man he met by Galveston Bay who claimed to have lived this story.
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
The Eagle Scout Picture by Gary Kidney is a razor-sharp espionage thriller that plunges readers into the perilous heart of Nazi Germany through the eyes of Frederich ‘Zelly’ Zellner. A young American forced to adopt the identity of a Hitler Youth, Zelly becomes a lone operative on the knife’s edge of survival, betrayal, and discovery. Trained in deception but led by conscience, he carries out daring missions behind enemy lines, risking everything to undermine the Nazi regime. Each choice he makes challenges his morality, resolve, and identity. Based on real wartime intelligence operations, the novel masterfully blends historical fact with the relentless pacing of a thriller, keeping the tension high and the emotional stakes even higher.
Author Gary Kidney has a keen sense of pacing and the art of the reveal to let information slip at just the right moments in this historical espionage adventure, ensuring that every moment is packed with authenticity and suspense. The work is a great balance of plot and character-led action. Zelly is a compelling protagonist whose internal conflicts elevate the novel beyond typical spy fare in an emotive story we’re so personally invested in that you can’t possibly leave without finding out what fate has in store for him. The same descriptive treatment is given to every scene with sharp attention to detail. This makes the action sequences suitably thrilling, but without sacrificing emotional depth or historical accuracy, as these elements are naturally woven into the story. Overall, The Eagle Scout Picture is a highly recommended standout addition to WWII literature that honors the complexity and bravery of wartime intelligence work while being thoroughly entertaining.
