Scars of the Prophet: A Novel of War and Romance

by Mingo Kane

Tom Judah, a former Marine recently discharged from the military after serving three tours of combat in the killing zones of Iraq. Jessica Spire, a young woman trying to reinvent her life after fleeing a callus and loveless marriage.

Scars of the Prophet is a dynamic story of what happens when fate and destiny collide in an aggressive world of pawns and broken kings.

Tom Judah wanted to fit back into society and forget the horrific necessities of a war his conscious was still fighting. Jessica Spire was looking to start a new life free of the dark and abusive shackles of a marriage she abandoned.

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 11, 2011

About the author

Mingo Kane was born and raised in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. After high school he left The Blue Ridge Mountains, and entered the United States Army where he served as a sniper with Bravo Company, 1st/75th (Airborne) Rangers. During his military career he traveled and explored the world, survived a Blackhawk helicopter crash, and endured some of the Army's most demanding training. Mingo is now retired and has enjoyed a host of unique occupations: Bouncer, Contract Security Specialist, first class high voltage lineman, and now a full time writer. Married and an avid outdoorsman, Mingo can be found hunting or fishing the mountains near his home when he's not at work on his latest novel. To find out more about Mingo Kane, visit his Facebook, Goodreads, or Amazon author page(s).

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Mingo Kane introduces the reader to the crumbling life of former Marine Tom Judah. To serve his country, he places youth, genius and the drive for excellence on the anvil of war, where those gifts are hammered into the perfect killing machine. The intellectual paradox of seeking perfection and taking joy in a difficult task well done, killing, leaves Tom mentally destroyed.

I read this novel over just two evenings. Hooked from the first pages, I couldn’t put it down. Beyond a story about a young veteran’s struggle with the after effects of battle, the author builds a brilliant historical parallel and reminds us of an obvious truth that society is quick to deny; in the history of human conflict, after the dead are buried, the living bear wounds that often never heal.

Not only is this novel a page turner, it is incredibly thought provoking. Best of all, the end is completely unexpected, somber and yet delightful in its creativity. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a compelling story and willing to open brain and heart to contemplate the true cost of war.

I’m looking forward to more from this talented author.

[Vered · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars are not enough for this masterfully written story by Mingo Kane. A young marine comes home after his third tour of duty in Iraq, and struggles to adapt to a society he doesn’t fit into anymore. As he buses across the country, Tom tries to grapple with interacting with his fellow passengers while experiencing a series of flashbacks to his time in Iraq. The plot is tight, the imagery searing, the writing rich and poetic, and the story deeply memorable. Scars of the Prophet will linger with you long after you turn the last page. I can’t recommend it enough, and I know I’ll be reading this book again.

[Edward Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written. It should be a must read for those who wish to counsel veterans with PTSD

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding writing, captures you from the first paragraph.

[Anne Weedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Judah, the main character in writer Mingo Kane's Scars of the Prophet, is a brilliant young man who enlisted in the military because he wanted to serve his country. He has now been discharged from tours of duty in Iraq and is trying to come home. The war, however, continues to follow Tom everywhere he goes, dashing him into time altering and horrific flashbacks of his experiences in combat. Tom's trials in trying to return home are symbolic of him trying to find the man he was before he went to war. He makes a connection with a woman he meets on his long journey who helps him begin to feel normal again, yet even that inkling of happiness tears away from him when he is challenged by other men. Tom is still the fast and deadly warrior he had to be in the combat zone. His guilt is all consuming. The author crafts an ending that will be a surprise to many readers, yet in retrospect, may seem inevitable.
Only after finishing this book did I discover that author Mingo Kane is a former U. S. Army Special Forces Airborne Ranger, and as true a patriot as exists in the 21st century. He lived a dangerous and courageous life in service to country and made the transition from warfighter to veteran with a new sense of purpose. Kane's use of imagery and his, at times, almost poetic use of prose is outstanding.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is now recognized as a condition that affects a significant number of combat veterans and their families. Its effects are long-lasting and destructive. This well-written book should be on the recommended reading list for all counselors, staff and volunteers who work with combat veterans. Families of combat veterans who read this book will have a far better insight into the experiences and ongoing psychological trauma their family member may be reliving day after day, which he or she may not be able to talk about with them.
Through the use of literary fiction, first time author Mingo Kane has written an important book for our time, one that has the potential to save lives. This book stands out to me, out of the many, many books I've read in my life, as one which I will never forget and which has forever changed my understanding of war and its far reaching impact on those who serve in combat.

[Corpus Amos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised that I really enjoyed this book. Tom Judah is a returning war veteran that is struggling to assimilate back into the public. Discharged by the military for enjoying killing too much, they felt he had become two people that were struggling against each other. In his effort to obtain perfection, he coveted the approval of his Sergeant. Sergeant Johnson is almost a mirror image of the character of Gunnery Sergeant Hartman from Full Metal Jacket. With strong language and gruesome accounts of warfare, I couldn't believe that this novel appealed to me. But you can't help but be empathetic to a soldier that is obviously suffering from PTSD and is doing the best he can just to cope.

[liirogue · Rating 4 out of 5]

The blurb about this book doesn't do it justice. A haunting, gripping tale of PTSD. I've never read such a realistic account from first-person POV.