The Severance: A Novel
About this audiobook
War is hell. And sometimes profitable...
Action, adventure, and intrigue intersect amid the war in Afghanistan ina novel whose authenticity springs from author Elliott Sawyer's two combat tours as a decorated captain in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Severance is the story of a "rehabilitation platoon," made up of bitter, unruly troublemakers and misfits whose past disciplinary sins have led the army to put them into this unit, a unit assigned the dirty missions no one else wants. They are twenty-first-century counterparts of the World War II rogue soldiers in The Dirty Dozen, the 1965 bestseller made into the classic movie of the same name. The platoon's leader, Captain Jake Roberts, has been picked as punishment for past lapses of his own. When he and his men, fighting and patrolling in the Afghan mountains, discover a large cache of American dollars hidden by a corrupt contractor, they devise a plan to hide it and later smuggle it out of the country. They call it their "severance pay package." Soon, however, the men discover the Taliban insurgents aren't the only enemy they must confront and defeat on and off the battlefield. Someone has found out about the Severance—and wants to hijack it.
Is this second enemy one of them, another soldier at their base, or even Jake's girlfriend? The mystery builds to a climax as their unknown adversary tries to kill Jake and some of his men while they seek to safeguard the Severance and determine the identity of their deadly stalker.
About the author
Elliott Sawyer was an officer in the 101st Airborne Division. He saw action as a combat patrol leader in Iraq in 2005 and 2006 and during a second deployment in Afghanistan in 2008 and 2009. He was awarded the Bronze Star and an Army Commendation Medal. Now, back in the United States, he commands a training company of up to 240 soldiers. He and his wife live in Elgin, Oklahoma. The Severance is his first novel.
Kirby Heyborne is an accomplished actor, musician, and comedian. He has received critical acclaim for his starring roles in the award-winning World War II drama Saints and Soldiers, the lighthearted family comedy The R.M., the award-winning boy-band mockumentary The Sons of Provo, and the award-winning quixotic comedy Pirates of the Great Salt Lake. He has had starring roles in thirteen features and many short films. Kirby has also appeared on the WB's Everwood and many national commercials. Recently, Kirby was seen as a recurring character on the hit FOX sitcom Free Ride. Kirby has received a number of AudioFile Earphones Awards for excellence in audiobook narration. He has narrated such titles as Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, Black Swan Green by David Mitchell, Breathers by S. G. Browne, and The Genius by Jesse Kellerman. Kirby is a cofounder and director of the celebrated Los Angeles-based improv comedy group The Society. Also a successful musician, Kirby has released four solo albums and has had his music featured in many films. Kirby has delighted audiences across the country with his ability to blend heart-warming stories, beautiful music, and comedic wit.
