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Tank Gunner is the pen name of a retired combat cavalry trooper, Senior Parachutist, and Jumpmaster awarded a Combat Infantry Badge and decorated with a Silver Star, three Bronze Stars, one for Valor, and a Purple Heart. He served his nation with pride and honor for more than a quarter of a century as an enlisted soldier and officer. An award-winning author and speaker, Tank published Prompts a collection of stories at age 76, Prompts Too another collection of stories at 77, Cookie Johnson, his Vietnam historical fiction novel at 78, Palomino, his WWII historical fiction novel at 79, Porky Baycann, his coming-of-age and adolescent friendship novel, and companion to Palomino, at 80, and The Redeemer, his powerful drama of love, conflict, and redemption, at age 81. He and his wife live with Toby, 100 miles southwest of Palomino.
Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite
The Redeemer by Tank Gunner is a historical fiction novel that keeps you hooked until the end. The story centers around the main character Dr. Greffen Gates, nicknamed Pearly, a doctor who is released from a Texas prison after being cleared of murdering two of his patients. Having spent ten years behind bars, he faces many hurdles in trying to reclaim his life as a practicing doctor again, like people who misunderstand and mistrust him, and those who won't let him forget his past. Part of his problem is that he appears to have a miraculous ability to save lives in a way other doctors can't, but divulging what the power is would be spoiling the story. And if that isn't enough, there is a woman in the picture, but do the two of them stand a chance?
From the first page, you're into Dr. Gates' story all the way. Gunner's writing is straightforward, his style easy, but there are layers of deep thought and feeling going on between the lines, a lot like a Cormac McCarthy novel. The dialogue is strong and moves the story along at an even pace, and the settings and atmosphere are realistic and well-drawn. He gives you a real sense of time and place by talking about certain events and people from that time in history, like WWII, The Dust Bowl, etc. While reading, you get the idea the author is passionate about his characters and his story and knows them well. This author is highly skilled at plot development, character arcs, and knowing when to give enough information to the audience, and when to pull back. The story isn't predictable or cliched, and you will enjoy the relationship between Gates and his love interest, wondering if things will work out for them. The Redeemer by Tank Gunner is one of those novels that plays like a movie in your mind.
