The Severance    by Elliot Sawyer Order:  USA  Can Bridge Works, 2010 (2010) Hardcover, CD, e-Book Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth Opening this novel, I expected a war story with bombs exploding and all the accoutrements that accompany battle. Indeed, The Severance by Elliot Sawyer supplies that for fans of war novels. But I think for me, the story lies in the attitudes of the men involved. The unit featured in the novel is one made up of men who needed discipline for one infraction or another. Contrary to official opinion, the plan has worked well and Captain Jake Roberts has held the men together. Each and every one of them is loyal to him, rather than the army. When the chance of a lifetime appears, they take advantage of it – a haul of four million plus in U.S. dollars. The trick is to get it home and then divide it. Working this out takes time and daring. Then a monkey wrench thrown into the works almost aborts the whole attempt. The Severance is, without a doubt, an intriguing story. Even though you know these guys are not sterling characters, you can't help but root for them. This is Air Assault Captain Sawyer's first novel. He has put in his time in deployments and knows war first hand. His book reads true to life – which sure isn't much of one when fighting a war. Though his work needs a few more descriptive words to place his readers in the plot, I hope he continues to write. This will come in time. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews