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Even the Peanuts' Lucy likes Final Trumpet.
Rescue, Romance & Revenge
It is November, 1993. The chaos and lawlessness of Somalia has reached its apex in the wake of the “Blackhawk Down” debacle of a month earlier and the American government struggles with its foreign policy options. In neighboring Kenya a young couple honeymooning on safari are wickedly attacked by ruthless elephant poachers—he is murdered, she is kidnapped. Their fathers, who served together as Army Rangers in Vietnam, agonize over the loss (they and the incompetent Kenyan police believe both are dead) and choke on the certain truth that justice will never be served. That is, until they decide to do what any outraged former special forces soldiers would do ... hunt the bastards down themselves.
John Ruger Forrest, an airline pilot and a former highly skilled and decorated sniper, assembles a team of his old Army Ranger comrades to do what must be done. At great risk to his career, Steven Henry Henderson brings CIA resources to bear to provide Forrest with the support necessary to pose as an elephant researcher while stalking and hunting poachers. But, a mission that begins as an act of pure vigilante justice and revenge becomes something much more complicated when Henderson discovers his daughter may be alive and Forrest falls in love with Africa, the magnificent elephants and a woman whose husband hides a dark secret which has the potential to bring them both down.
This novel is “fiction-as-realism” at its best. Every fact and location has been painstakingly researched and every character and episode is either based on actual events or composites of real people and true stories. It doesn’t get any more “real” than this.
Wildlife
Elephants are a key component of Final Trumpet. Take a look at this video featuring the younger versions of these magnificent animals:
Excerpts
Excerpts from Final Trumpet are now available. Click here for a glimpse into this gripping tale.
Music
Composer and musician Fred Honey created a song about Final Trumpet. Check it out with the player below:
"Karl Lenker's Final Trumpet. In a word, WOW! As a marketer, the cover "pops". As a citizen of the world, the subplots are telling and rich. As an admirer of the regal elephant, I fell in love with them all over again. And finally, as a fan of action & adventure, nothing I've read (or seen) comes close.
Get this book, read it, and then read it again. It's like a quart of your favorite ice cream on a hot summer day - you just can't put it down. Beware, a real addiction will ensue. When's the sequel coming out?"
- Rudolf Waldner, Author, Marketing from the Trenches
"I was so moved I ordered 10 more copies!! Boy, am I glad I did. I started reading your book last night and absolutely love it!!!"
- Linda Brown, Milestone Books Inc., Birmingham, AL
"... the best damn book I ever read. EVER! I was so upset when I saw I only had a few pages left. I thought about it for days afterward."
- Jo Coggins, RN, Rockdale Medical Center, Conyers, GA
"... a masterpiece!"
- Chase Jazzborne, CEO, Aria Motion Pictures
"One of the best reads, and the most fun I've had in a long, long time! Damn it's good!"
- Dr. Winfield Butlin, D.P.M., Atlanta, GA
"Final Trumpet was fantastic! George (Scott), you picked another great one."
- Bernie Lake, Atlanta, GA
"Best book EVER! What a ride! Please tell me there's going to be a movie."
- Viki Greene, Stuart, FL
"A great read you cannot put down!"
- Kathy Irwin, Marketing Director CCR, Roswell, GA
"The best book I've ever read!"
- Laurie DeWitt, Marketing Director, Jacksonville, FL
"Final Trumpet is a real page turner. From the murder and kidnapping of a young newlywed couple one morning in the African savanna in the book's first few pages, to the satisfying, roller-coaster finale and epilogue that avenges the heinous crime, Lenker keeps the reader on the edge of the seat. Even the last two pages after the epilogue brings satisfaction to readers who wish there was more left to read."
- Patrick Shaub, AOPA FIRC Instructor, Dallas, TX
"... a damn good read! I look forward to your next book!"
- Vince Connolly, President, Commodity Marketing Company
"Great book! A MUST READ! Grabs you at the author's notes."
- Patty Halpin, Realtor, Vero Beach, FL
"WOW! One of the best books I've read in a LONG time! Let me know when the next one is out."
- Dan Easton, Realtor, Blairsville, GA
"Great book! When does the next one come out?"
- Donald Bull, Albany, NY
"Final Trumpet is amazing. Your book is really a love letter to the elephants. Kudos to you for writing it."
- Cissy Galloway, Current Book Club, Alexandria, LA
"I cried. I laughed. I cheered! I loved the book!"
- Linda Gilbert, Flight Attendant, Delta Air Lines
"Well, thanks to you, I missed all my Sunday football games because I could not put this book down. God has given you a great talent!"
- Dave Foster, Pastor, Tabernacle Ministries, Vero Beach, FL
"Outstanding book!"
- Dan Brutto, President, UPS International, Atlanta, GA
"... wonderful book. Bravo. Looking forward to For Dear Life."
- Dr. James White, US Navy Flight Surgeon, Alexandria, LA
"I tell you very honestly I was entranced. I have never been to Africa but Final Trumpet put me there in a very vivid way. With the animal poaching problem as the basic theme, you captured two stories in one outstanding novel. Congratulations! I also appreciated the honesty you showed in relationships with the characters. Count me in as one of your many reader fans!"
- Sgt. Hank Freedman, WWII Veteran and POW, Bronze Star recipient
"WOW! WOW!! WOW!!! Love the book. What a remarkable ending!"
- Julie Schmidt, Yuma, AZ
"The imagery in this book is amazing. I feel like I am actually a part of each scene."
- Dave Taylor, Marketing Account Executive, Locumtenens.com
"Fantastic book. Really enjoyed it. I found it extremely descriptive and kept looking over my shoulder for either a big cat or a protective hippo!! You warned me not to expect the usual Hollywood finish and you really delivered. I look forward to both seeing it on the big screen and reading your next novel. Thanks for such a thrilling and interesting read."
- Jim Seaver, President, St. Ives Country Club, Atlanta, GA
"I wasn't sure I was going to like this book, I am not into the whole 'vigilante justice' thing. But Final Trumpet just blew me away! There is so much more to it! Please send me two more copies, one for my Mom, and one for my best friend!"
- Laura Seibert, Attorney
"... phenomenal book! One of the most enjoyable books I've ever read."
- David Tascarella, MD, Atlanta, GA
"Bloody good book."
- Antonio Assaf, Investor, Vero Beach, FL
"Whomever stars in the Final Trumpet movie will be the next generation's Humphrey Bogart. What a cliffhanger!"
- Alice Story, Journalist, Alexandria, LA
"Final Trumpet is one of the most visual books I have ever read. I could picture each scene in my mind as it unfolded. You have a double hit on your hands - a best selling novel, and a blockbuster movie!"
- Joyce Ferrante, Sales Engineer, Marubeni America Corp.
"... certainly the best book I've ever read! Honestly, I didn't think I was going to like it when I first heard about it. Boy, was I wrong."
- Frances Marlow, Conyers, GA
"... better than Demille, W.E.B. Griffin and Cussler. You could easily be the next Tom Clancy. Final Trumpet is better than his last few books, too. When does the next one come out?"
- John Selvaggio, Flight Dispatcher, Delta Air Lines
"... a very good read. I've read many books, not nearly as good, by authors who are way more famous and well-known."
- Mitch Kilby, Apache pilot, U.S. Army
"Fabulous book! Kept me on the edge of my seat. Can you say MOVIE?"
- Rob Udinski, Paramedic, Stuart, FL
"Wonderful story. My wife was so impacted by it that she was not quite herself for a couple of days. We liked it so much we wrote a song about it!"
- Fred Honey, Professional Musician and Composer, Melbourne, FL
"The book is AMAZING! I can't believe this is your first book! I'm hooked."
- Lou Goldman, Community Cardiology, Manhasset, NY
"... Whoa! Awesome!"
- Eilean Kozak, Software Engineer, AVMap Navigation, Boston, MA
"I really enjoyed the book. I actually hated to put it down. I always love a good story to continue. I can't wait for your next book ... sounds very thought provoking."
- Pam Smith, Chandler, AZ
"...this is one of the most exciting, interesting, and emotionally charged books I've read in a long time. I'm so hooked! I'm already making a list of who's getting this book for Christmas!"
- Brenda Luna, RN, Baltimore, MD
"Great job on the book - great writing - it flows!"
- Gail Lash, PhD, Atlanta, GA
"I read Final Trumpet and thoroughly enjoyed it. I think you have a great future in adventure fiction and I hope you're working on books 2, 3, and 4 already. What a great first effort."
- Captain Dave Roberts, Delta Air Lines, Ret.
"Lenker, you magnificent bastard, I read your book! Couldn't put it down. Every spare minute I had for a week and a half was spent reading Final Trumpet. I'm sad it's finished. Nothing out there like this story. Fresh and timely ... what a combination!"
- CMsgt Randy Letschin, MdANG, Ret.
"Wonderful! Your book had depth and substance beneath a most gripping story."
- Jonathan Newhouse, MD, Spartanburg, SC
"My son Scott recently surprised me with an autographed copy of Final Trumpet. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised with the story line. As a long time enthusiast of action novels, I give this book very high marks. The characters were anything but predictable resulting in considerable suspense and intrigue. I just ordered another copy for a friend. Please keep on writing; you have a lifetime fan!"
- Paul Mechler, CEO, Airxcel
"... very well-crafted."
- Ron Henry, A-10 pilot, Baltimore, MD
"Final Trumpet is a wonderful book! My wife and I loved it. I passed it on to my friend Celine Dion. Maybe she can do the soundtrack for your movie."
- Roger Gregiore, Contractor, Jupiter, FL
"As a person who has to read too much financial material to make time for fiction, I have to tell you that this book is amazingly good. The first 20% of Final Trumpet I read as a courtesy to you. The last 80% I read because I could NOT put it down!"
- Rich Waid, Investment Broker, Atlanta, GA
"OUTSTANDING!!!!! Once I started it I could not put it down."
- George McDaniel, Vero Beach, FL
"I loved your book. It had everything. How do I get on the standby list for your next one?"
- Captain Darrell Abby, Delta Air Lines
"Final Trumpet is an excellent read filled with an original story line, superb mental imagery and the innate credibility of someone who has lived many of the experiences related in the book. Karl does a fantastic job of contrasting the beauty of Africa with the evil of man, and in the process creates a moral dilemma that any conservative mind can appreciate. I truly enjoyed this book from cover to cover and eagerly await Karl's next work!"
- Scott Mechler, municipal police Captain
"Final Trumpet is a wonderful book. Lenker's imagination wreaks havoc with the unacceptable, and this shows his worthiness to be at the front line of contemporary intellectual work."
- Brett Holbert, RN, CCEMT-P
"'Wow' is a start. Each time I'd set aside a few minutes to read I'd get hooked again. It was like trying to walk away from the scent of a favorite meal or not look twice as the emergency vehicle screams by."
- Joel Molinari, Business Owner, Vero Beach, FL
"... I love it!"
- Clair, Owner, Cyrano's Book Shop, Highlands, NC
"You have a winner. I thoroughly enjoyed it! You are a story teller with serious potential."
- Bob McNabb, Safety Consultant, STS Inspection, Inc.
"... great book! I have lent it to three others who also think it's great. All of us think it would be a GREAT MOVIE! When is that going to happen?"
- Steve Egge, Captain, American Airlines, Washington DC
"I liked Final Trumpet a lot! Damn good! My wife liked it so much she ordered one for her best friend."
- Larry Marlow, Major, US Army (ret.), EMS helicopter pilot
"This novel was extremely suspenseful and full of information about so many subjects. The book demonstrates the interconnectedness of the world and that's so essential for us all to understand. Oh, how I enjoyed this book!"
- Valerie Di Lorenzo, Teacher, Hartford, CT
"I really enjoyed the read! It has a considerable amount of value added. I consider it at least a '3 read' -- I'll read it at least twice more for plot and content. I tend to get into the action the first time through on a good one like this. Tom Clancy better check 6!"
- Captain Doug "Spike" Call, U.S. Airways, former A-10 and F-16 driver
"... well-written. Well-told. Well-done."
- E. Blaylock, Consultant, Mt. Airy, MD
"The book was excellent! Well worth waiting for. Can't wait for the next one!"
- Chief Master Sergeant Dave Cramer, USAF (Retired)
"...(Final Trumpet) is so fabulous and I, too, am reading it for the second time!"
- Betty Ingrish, Alexandria, LA
"If John Forrest were real, I'd like to sleep with him."
- Name withheld by request, Marketing Manager, Atlanta, GA
"...Very exciting, indeed! Forrest for President. Good reads possess this kind of texture."
- Keith Towler, Graphic Artist, Atlanta, GA
"First, let me say that the book was FANTASTIC! Once I started it, I could not set it down. Your characters fleshed out well. Your research was obvious, and your passion for the subject was easily seen. I enjoyed the way you followed the illegal ivory from its source to the place where it was distributed as a finished product in several different cultures. That was particularly well done. I will definitely re-read this book over and over."
- Wade Wagnon, Police Officer, Atlanta, GA
"... I'm really, really enjoying this book!"
- Captain Mark Saltzman, Delta Air Lines, Salt Lake City, UT