Knights of Valhalla Introduction It appears that Michael "Mickey" Ross cannot stay retired as he continues to get involved in cases coming into his office at Yankee Investigations. His business is booming and he never thought the day would come when he complained about too much business, but, that day has come. Even when Ross raised prices his business kept growing and it didn't seem to matter what he charged. He had a love-hate connection with his work and couldn't get it out of his system. What kept him captivated were the challenge of the investigation and the thrill of the chase. Because he was the boss, and had this fascination, he cherry picked the cases that titillated and stirred his curiosity most. AS AN AUTHOR - I truly believe that no one can say precisely how books should be written. I purposely try to write action- packed, fast moving stories. For that reason, at times, I'm not addressing the needs of those readers who prefer slow moving stories. I don't particularly like reading a book that is crammed with superfluous words. Private investigator Mickey Ross is the primary fictional character I write about. I have gently infused many of my real life's experiences into the soul of this imaginary character. When he was a detective on the NYPD he conducted multiple investigations that ran concurrently. I much prefer to enhance the original storyline with an additional tale related to the protagonist as opposed to adding superfluous words. Therefore, a few Mickey novels contain more than one story but they are all interrelated, fast moving, action-packed adventures that will hold your interest until the last page. THE KNIGHTS OF VALHALLA - Olivia Grayson nervously paced the halls of her palatial estate in Royal Oak, an elite section of Chappaqua, New York. She was troubled because the love of her life, Julian, had been kidnapped and was now being held for ransom. While Olivia was pacing, the brothers Hassan, Ziad and Tariq, had just finished the jihad school of training in southern Iraq. The brothers were given identification, credit cards, and clothing to fit into just about any area in the United States. Their mentors were making plans for the newly graduated duo to enter the United States through the Mexican border and work in the Westchester County area of New York State. In this episode, Ross comes close to losing his life when he ends up in a gunfight with these terrorists. During this shootout Mickey becomes indebted to a young man that saves his life. Emotionally, Ross starts thinking of the young man as the son he never had, and offers him a deal he cannot refuse. While Ross is in Westchester fighting terrorists a tremendous storm was raging off the coast of eastern Long Island and creating a turbulent ocean squall. About eight years agoRoss dropped Rommel's Black Box, from a helicopter, in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Long Island. At the time he had mixed emotions about what he was doing and for that reason he made a record of the boxes location. Rommel's Black Box had previously caused heartache and many deaths before reaching its final resting place on the ocean floor. At one point Ross hoped that the box would find an abyss or trench on the ocean's bottom and be gone forever. For close to a decade Ross thought about what he did. Now ocean divers would bring the box to the surface where, unexpectedly, the killings would start again. In this episode of The Knights of Valhalla Ross is pushed to his limit when his family is threatened. His thoughts about loyalty and commitment are fortified as his friends come to his aid when he needs them most. It's another suspenseful, exciting novel that will captivate the reader as the protagonist is pushed to his limit.
About the Author: This is the first autobiography I have written. I do feel a bit self-serving writing it but here goes. I was luckier than most kids because I grew up poor. Starting at the bottom gave me the advantage of appreciating those small experiences that are taken for granted by so many. I survived the New York City school system and by the time I graduated high school Elvis was singing "Heartbreak Hotel." After two years at Colorado A & M I dropped out. It was probably the best two years of my life. Over the next five years I drove a truck and completed at tour in the US Army. In 1962 I was appointed to the position of Trooper on the New York State Police. At thirty I married the girl of my dreams and we have three wonderful daughters. In 1968 I received a promotion to Detective/ Investigator and was assigned to work specifically on Organized Crime investigations and undercover narcotics cases. I was given a Federal clearance by the US Attorney's Office while assigned to various Federal & State Strike Forces in the NYC area. I was at Woodstock (1969) and made drug buys. I continued working narcotics cases in NYC, drove an undercover taxi, installed wiretaps, and had a partner that was shot and killed during a drug buy and bust deal gone bad. It was during this time that I was promoted to Detective Supervisor/ Senior Investigator and earned a bachelor's degree from S.U.N.Y. and a master's degree from Long Island University. I retired in the early eighties, did some private investigations work, tried commercial fishing and obtained a Coast Guard charter captain license. I ended up in business where I experienced the American Dream. I didn't start to write until I was in my late sixties and had lost most of my hearing. By not being able to hear it allowed me to enter into a special world of fantasy. I wrote five books before I had any thoughts of publishing. I presently reside, with my wife of 47 years, in New York spending my time between Westchester County and the Hamptons on Long Island. During the winter months I will be on the Treasure Coast, usually in Vero Beach, Florida. Last year, while alone on my boat in Shinnecock Bay NY I died of sudden cardiac arrest. I was brought back to life minutes later by an act of serendipity performed by my buddy who I call Mickey. Mickey is an implanted defibrillator who permanently resides under my skin below my left shoulder. That is my 45,000 word autobiography in 450 words.