Undaunted, A Stan Turner Mystery Vol 1 - The Stan Turner Mysteries, #1

As a youngster Stan Turner has his fortune told by the old Univac computer at the county fair. His fortune is an ominous one, predicting that he will have a difficult and perilous life. In the late sixties while an undergraduate at UCLA, Stan meets and falls in love with a beautiful brunette, Rebekah James. They are married during their junior year and finish out college together. Stan has a hard time getting into law school but finally is accepted by the University of San Diego. Although he gets a high number in the draft lottery, he is drafted just three days before the lottery takes effect, and ordered to report to duty. Stan and Rebekah now have a child and another one on the way, so they are concerned about having to live on a private's pay. Accordingly, Stan enlists in the Marines to avoid the draft and in the winter of 1969 reports to Officer Training School in Quantico, Virginia.

Misfortune strikes again when Stan's first acquaintance at Quantico disobeys their drill sergeant's order and talks to Stan in the chow line. Although Stan doesn't say a word the offending candidate and Stan are singled out for special punishment. During the punishment Stan is beaten by his overzealous drill sergeant and ends up in sick bay where he meets Rita Andrews. She becomes his nurse when he is admitted to the hospital and, although Stan loves Rebekah, he becomes infatuated with this wonderful, caring woman who has suddenly appeared in his life.

The next morning Stan's drill sergeant is found murdered and Stan becomes the prime suspect. Stan is shocked when he is later arrested and charged with the drill sergeant's murder. He has no money for bail and is in the depths of despair when a journalist, Virginia Stone, offers to post his bail if she can have his exclusive story. Elated with the prospect of being released, he accepts the offer and sets out to prove his innocence. Aided by Virginia Stone, Rita, who has fallen in love with him, his court-appointed attorney, a hospital acquaintance, Sgt. Matson, and a few other friends enlisted along the way, Stan fights for his life by searching for his drill sergeant's actual killer.