Bloodsports

Set in the mid 1980's "good times" era of President Ronald Reagan, the story revolves around a secret (even from the US State Department), completely illegal off the books mission to try and prevent a dangerous coup within the declining Soviet Union, a coup that could be a disaster for East/West relations, re ignite the Cold War, or worse. Based on information received from a long dormant source inside the Soviet Union, information not believed by US officials, the "team", a former CIA star now discredited, his past now retired chief operative, and a drug taking washed out young third tier hockey player who once was a promising agent himself, undertake a highly unorthodox and dangerous operation. At the same time the young hockey player and the chief operative's teenage daughter are thrown together, much to the dismay of the father, who sees way too much of himself in the washed out hockey player, and doesn't like it. Body counts mount, blood flows-- espionage and hockey are, in fact--- blood sports.

The story as described briefly above moves rapidly around the US and Europe, from the unmatched summer and fall beauty followed inevitably by the frozen tundra of Minnesota to Washington D.C. to the colorful landscapes of New Mexico, to Madrid, Prague, and of course Moscow. Backdropped by 1980's political icons who are unknowing witnesses to the intrigue and danger swirling around them, the players take their desperate fight to the enemy completely on their own. Main characters include (1) the brilliant, egotistical leader of the team, Robert Templeton- formerly a hero at CIA for engineering one of the greatest Soviet defections in history, now relegated to a closet office as a lowly analyst at National Security Office (2) his most trusted lieutenant while at CIA, now retired legendary operative Albert Donaldson, a clandestine soldier's soldier who had made a mess of his personal life and was trying to make amends (3) Billy Bouchee, a drug dealing, hard partying former elite Canadian Airborne soldier and short time (fired for drug use) CIA operative, sporting a 160 IQ, a way with the ladies, and personal demons which are always present and accounted for, who will do about anything for money- an unlikely choice for such an important mission but who happened to possess the unique skills (including hockey) needed. There is also the lovely, stubborn and mature beyond her years daughter of Albert Donaldson, who has her own mission, the defector who made Templeton's early career, who hears from an old source inside the Soviet Union and initiates the mission, an NSA math whiz (Templeton's lady friend), a former love of Billy's, the only real constant in his life, and a young detective who could sabotage the entire mission. With the US government and the Russian KGB both looking to take them all down, the stakes and body count rise as do the odds against them. It will end, one way or the other, at the 1985 World Hockey Tournament in Prague. USA versus Russia. Who will prevail?

Born and raised in northern Minnesota, Andrew is a first time novelist. He is married and has three adult children. Interests include following most sports (particularly hockey), politics, working out, hiking, traveling and reading, to name a few. He also participates in golf, bowling, and, believe it or not, shot putting. While his roots are Minnesota, he has lived with his family for many years in New Mexico, which lives up to its description as the Land of Enchantment. Andrew is a published poet (one poem was chosen for a contest in Minnesota) and is an avid fan of 60's and 70's rock music.