Spirit Mission: A Novel - Hardcover

“Exciting, cleverly constructed...a spirit mission against seriously deadly odds.”
―Publishers Weekly

"The suspense crescendos into a satisfying surprise ending."
―Library Journal

"Russ, a West Point graduate and helicopter pilot, brings great authenticity to his account of military life...the flashbacks are outstanding....[a] promising writer."
―Booklist

“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...a fast-moving yarn with believable, three-dimensional characters."
―Kirkus Reviews

“Ted Russ has crafted a masterful thriller torn from today's headlines, yet what's more is he has written a book with an enormous soul, a novel about brotherhood, conflicted loyalties, and some of the finest writing I can remember on the topic of flying.”
―Elliot Ackerman, author of Green on Blue

“The account of cadet life at West Point is absolutely fascinating in every respect. One really learns properly how the place is run and why it has the reputation it does. The story of action taking place against all the rules is riveting also, and for a first novel he has managed superbly the technique of moving backwards and forwards over the years in this story of how cadets put themselves into action.”
―Jack Higgins, New York Times bestselling author of The Eagle Has Landed

“Ted Russ has written a wonderful book on West Point. Spirit Mission does a marvelous job of illuminating the humor, stress, and dilemmas of cadet life. It is a story of war and character, duty and honor, and stealing the Navy goat.”
―General (ret.) Wesley K. Clark

“There’s a common denominator in Ted Russ’s experience as a West Point cadet and a pilot with the US Army’s elite Special Operations Aviation Regiment―the bonds that develop among soldiers who share hardships. Here, in crackling prose that brings readers scenes that are full of both intense action and heartfelt emotion, Russ explores themes that have been with us since Homer’s epics.”
―Ed Ruggero, author of Combat Jump and The First Men In