What really happened the night a Texas county prosecutor died in a fiery car explosion?
That’s the question driving Bulverde Beat: Mystery Explosion, the first in a gritty, character-driven short story series by Ed Benjamin.
Set in small-town Texas, this isn’t your typical big-city procedural. The Bulverde Beat series follows Harry Miles, a former Air Force fighter pilot who was medically retired after a combat mission nearly killed him. Now, haunted by the past but pulled by a sense of justice, he works as a private investigator, often assisting his friend Luke Remington, a detective with the Comal County Sheriff’s Office.
In Mystery Explosion, Harry is called in after a respected prosecutor dies in a suspicious blast. What starts as a simple consultation quickly escalates into something much more dangerous. There are four suspects:
✦ The Husband — With a lottery windfall and a new girlfriend, did he want the wife out of the picture?
✦ The Ex-Boss — A personal injury lawyer with a grudge and something to hide.
✦ The Angry Father — Still furious that the prosecutor sent his son to prison.
✦ The Smooth-Talking Contractor — A ladies’ man with a bruised ego and motive for revenge.
What Harry uncovers will lead him into dark alleys and darker motives.
Excerpt: When Planting a Tracker Turns Into a Brawl
“Discretion is the better part of valor, in and out and no one the wiser,” Harry said to himself…Then Harry geys caught planting a tracker….
On June 21, 2025, the United States launched a series of coordinated strikes against Iranian nuclear and military sites. These attacks came in response to weeks of escalating violence. Earlier this month, Israel struck deep into Iran, targeting missile batteries, nuclear facilities, and senior military officials. Iran answered with waves of drones and ballistic missiles that injured hundreds in Israel.
Now, American forces have joined the fray.
As fears of a regional war grow, the world watches nervously.
Why Redemption Feels Like a Warning
In Redemption, a top-tier U.S. Air Force pilot is ambushed by eight Iranian fighters during a high-stakes mission. It’s fiction: but it’s so close to today’s headlines. The scenes of sudden attack, chaotic air battles, and strategic deception feel pulled from this morning’s newsfeed.
Redemption doesn’t predict the future — but it understands how fast war can spiral.
Here’s how it mirrors real life:
Escalation: Just like today’s rapid chain of strikes and counterstrikes, the personal conflict in Redemption is an example of how one mission can trigger global consequences.
Air power and politics: U.S. stealth, Iranian fighters, and the deadly chess match between nations — it’s all there in the novel.
The human cost: More than missiles and politics, Redemptionis about survival, fear, and second chances after war nearly claims everything.
A Story That Hits Harder Now
As headlines shout:
“U.S. strikes target Iranian nuclear labs and command bunkers” “Iranian response to Israeli attacks kills dozens in Israeli cities”
Redemption gives readers something more personal: the war through a pilot’s eyes. No politics. No punditry. Just one man, alone in the sky, trying to make it home.
One reader put it best:
“Regardless of my former USAF time and current FAA aviation credentials, I would have voted this one of the BEST ACTION-PACKED, PEOPLE-SENSITIVE NOVELS ever written!”
Read Redemption today — and see why fiction sometimes hits closer to home than the evening news.
In mid-June 2025, we’ve watched as Israel launched major airstrikes deep into Iran — targeting missile sites, nuclear and military infrastructure, and even senior IRGC leaders. Iran responded with ballistic missiles and drone attacks into Israel, injuring hundreds — and the world now braces for possible U.S. involvement and wider escalation.
Why Redemption Feels Uncomfortably Real
In Redemption, a top — of — the- line Air Force pilot fights for survival after being ambushed by eight Iranian fighters — just like the real threats reported today, including missile launches from Iran toward Israel, missiles from Israel toward Iran, and concerns about attacks on U.S. interests .
This fictional novel isn’t just a stirring story–it’s tapping into current global conflict dynamics:
Unpredictable escalation: real-world Iranian air- to- air missile attacks in Redemption.
State vs. proxy warfare: Israeli strikes aided by intelligence mirrors the combat scenes in the fictional world of Redemption
High Stakes: just like the tension over Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure, Redemption centers on the human stakes for one man.
A Story for Our Moment
In an age of headlines like:
“Iran’s missiles injure more than 270 in Israel,” and
“First stealth drones and Israeli airstrikes deep inside Iran”
Redemption offers a ground-level, pulse-pounding perspective. It shows the human cost behind geopolitics: survival, fear, and redemption after gut wrenching air — to- air combat in the face of state-level threats.
As one reviewer noted, “Regardless of my former USAF time and current FAA aviation credentials, I would have voted this one of the BEST ACTION-PACKED, PEOPLE SENSITIVE NOVELS ever written!”
If you’re hunting for a gritty action thriller that takes you beyond the usual urban warfare and into the rugged, lawless steppes of Mongolia — look no further than The Khan by E.B. Warren.
Why Mongolia Is the Perfect Backdrop for Action Thrillers
Most thrillers stick to the same tired locales: New York, Washington D.C., or some nondescript European capital. Mongolia? That’s a different beast.
Imagine:
Endless grasslands where danger can strike from miles away
Nomadic warriors and black-market arms deals
Harsh climates, limited resources, and no backup
A geopolitical no-man’s-land where law ends and survival begins
Now imagine a man with a past chasing a ghost of an enemy through that unforgiving terrain.
Introducing: The Khan by E.B. Warren
Plot Summary: David Dunn was once a rising star in the U.S. Air Force OSI — until a bad lead during a mission targeting an arms dealer called “The Khan” ended in a helicopter crash and multiple deaths. Now working as a private investigator, David hears that fateful name again while on a stakeout in New Mexico.
What follows is an international manhunt that takes him through gunfights in Denver, ambushes in New York, and finally, into the heart of Mongolia — where he’ll face The Khan and his army on their home turf.
Expect:
Explosive shootouts
Military strategy meets detective grit
Personal redemption against global corruption
A finale as raw and brutal as the Mongolian steppe
Why It Stands Out
The Khan doesn’t just use Mongolia as exotic scenery. It makes it part of the conflict:
The landscape shapes the action — brutal, remote, and relentless
The culture deepens the tension — mixing traditional honor with modern crime
The pacing builds like a storm — slow at first, then explosive
Author Note: E.B. Warren writes pulse-pounding thrillers rooted in real-world military intelligence, international espionage, and high-stakes manhunts.
If you’re a Christian parent looking for activities that build faith and fun, Bible verse coloring books are a powerful option.
These books do more than just entertain — they help kids engage with Scripture in a hands-on way. Let’s explore some of the best options for 2025 that can inspire young hearts and minds.
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✅ Benefits of Faith-Based Coloring Books
Reinforces Bible lessons visually** — Helps children retain God’s Word through coloring and repetition. * Encourages quiet reflection* — A great alternative to screen time, promoting peace and focus. * Supports early reading and memorization* — Builds language skills alongside spiritual development.
This book includes meaningful verses with slightly more intricate designs, perfect for older kids or early teens. Grandpa B’s tone is gentle and faith-centered, making it a thoughtful devotional resource. 👉 Get your copy here
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✅ Bible Verse Coloring Book for Children, Book One
Best for Ages 4–7*
Simple layouts and short Scripture passages make this ideal for early learners. It’s a great way to help your child begin memorizing verses while having fun with crayons or markers. 👉 Get your copy here
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✅ Bible Verse Coloring Book for Children, Book Two
Best for Ages 5–8*
A great follow-up to Book One with brand-new verses and creative designs. This book keeps kids engaged and eager to learn more about the Bible in a fun and accessible way. 👉 Get your copy here
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🙌 How to Use These Books at Home
* Morning devotionals with your child — Start the day with Scripture and coloring time. * Sunday School crafts— Perfect for faith-based classroom activities. * Quiet time activities during Bible reading — Let your child color while you read aloud.
Meaningful Gifts
These books make meaningful gifts, teaching tools, and daily faith-builders. Whether at home, church, or homeschool, Bible verse coloring books are a fun and effective way to help kids connect with God’s Word.
“Redemption” by Ed Benjamin is a military thriller that not only provides an engaging fictional story but also offers insightful details about aviation. The narrative follows Harry, one of the United States’ finest fighter pilots, whose life is dramatically changed after a near-death experience (NDE) during combat leads to his medical discharge. This book takes readers on an emotional journey through Harry’s struggles with loss, heartbreak, and his quest for redemption, blending military action with a deep, emotional story line .
My favorite review s“…one of the best action-packed, people sensitive novels ever written!”
The book is praised for moving effortlessly between exhilarating fighter pilot action scenes and complex detective work, showcasing an unmatched technical understanding of the United States Air Force, described as unparalleled in fiction. Harry, the protagonist, is a former Air Force hero who navigates his new reality after being grounded and medically discharged. This transition challenges him to find new purpose and meaning outside the military .
Overall, “Redemption” is not just a story about military exploits but also a profound exploration of personal recovery and the quest for a second chance. Its blend of action, technical detail, and emotional depth makes it a compelling read for those interested in military thrillers and stories of personal transformation.
Set in the rugged Texas Hill Country, this short but gripping story follows Harry Miles, a medically retired Air Force fighter pilot turned private investigator, as he gets drawn into a deadly confrontation on a rural highway. When a Comal County Sheriff’s Deputy is pinned down by an armed suspect, Harry springs into action.
With sharp pacing, realistic action, and an insider’s view of Texas law enforcement, this novella delivers pulse-pounding suspense in a uniquely Texan setting. It’s part of the Bulverde Beat series — perfect for fans of crime fiction that blends local grit with military precision.
It has been awhile since I have posted. I recently had a knee replacement operation and had some complications. After 18 days in the hospital/rehab facility, I went home and have been under Home Health Physical Therapy and Nursing care for the past three months.
The Home Health Physical Therapy care has released me, but due to some existing problems, I am still under Home Health nursing care.
I am anxious to get released from Home Health nursing care and hopefully that will happen in the near future.
While I was in the Rahab facility, I had some insomnia and listened to the sounds coming from the ward.
I wrote this short fiction entitled “Echoes of Suffering” one night at 3:00 AM while in the rehab facility.
I hope you enjoy it. And maybe now, I can get back in the habit of sharing some of the short fiction I write with you.
In the dim glow of the hospital’s rehab center’s faded light, Charlie lay still in his bed, every spring in the mattress, seemingly poised to irritate the bedsores covering his back and legs. It seemed there was no movement he could make in the bed without his nervous system sending him painful reminders of his own fragility.
The world outside was a blur and had been hazy since his admission into the rehab facility eight days ago. Inside the facility in the nether world of darkness, tendrils of light crept in from the hallway’s fluorescence, as sounds of human suffering crept into his room, sharpened his rough edges, and rubbed them raw.
As he lay there, feeling a bit sorry for himself, a low moan drifted into his room. The sound crept inward — lasting only a second — but Charlie felt it vibrate. It was almost as if a hand slipped inside his chest, encircled his heart, extending the little finger and plucking a heart string.
As the heart string vibrated, a small tremor shook him — milking droplets of dread from his soul.
A few more moans and sobs trickled down the hallway, each one a ghostly echo that resonated as they pulled at the nerve endings of his soul. The ghostly hand tugging, fingers strumming, and pulling at his emotions like a Master violinist plying a classical tragedy in Lincoln Center.
The fluorescent lights flickered, casting shadows that danced like specters on the walls. These shadows, his silent companions, performed their wordless ballet — a reflection of the unsettled nature within his own mind. He had felt comfortable before turning out the light. Now, as the sounds played with his feelings, he felt adrift in an ocean of despair, the moans of the others like the haunting calls of distant, sorrowful sea creatures beckoning him.
In this twilight world, time seemed to stretch and warp. The distant, mournful cries of his fellow patients were a chorus of the heartbroken, a symphony of souls in pain. One trembling male voice drifted a phrase shattering the silence — “I want my wife!” — triggering within Charlie the feeling that one of the saddest songs he had ever heard had come to life, the notes hanging heavy in the air, thick within the scent of antiseptic and regret.
Charlie closed his eyes, trying to escape into sleep, but the sounds of suffering followed him into his dreams. In his mind’s eye, he wandered down endless, sterile hallways, the cries of the other patients merging with his own inner voice, creating a haunting refrain vibrating deep inside him.
But even in the depths of despair, a faint glimmer of hope flickered. Each sob, each tear shed, each emotion unearthed, was a step towards healing, a painful yet necessary part of the journey towards recovery.
In this shared suffering, Charlie felt a strange sense of kinship with his fellow patients — a bond forged in the fires of adversity.
As dawn’s first light crept through the blinds, casting a gentle glow on the sterile room, Charlie felt a quiet resolve stirring within him. He was not alone in his suffering, and in that realization, he found the strength to face another day.
The road ahead was long and uncertain, but he was ready to walk it — one step at a time — one day at a time.
The End
Thank you for reading this story and as always, please
Stay In the Light,
Ed
I also have a Mailing List.
With the help of my grand niece Georgia, I have taken the first steps towards creating a mailing list.
Thoughts, Essays, Stories, and other Musings from a Grandpa who wants to share his thoughts with the world! This Grandpa is making a comeback — hence Ed’s Musings
Universal thoughts from Stoic philosophy, stories from the Tao, and some Flash Fiction for you to enjoy. Every now and then I may suggest one of my books and stories for you to order.
Just over two years ago I published a novel on Amazon and feel gratified that over 4,500 readers have enjoyed the story to date.
And 206 readers have left ratings averaging 4.3 out of 5 stars.
To start the story, I imagined what it must feel like if a top of the line fighter pilot in the middle of an aerial combat engagement with enemy forces under went a Near Death Experience.
That was a little challenging since I have never flown an airplane, but was a maintenance officer supervising those technicians who kept the airplanes flying. I had some memories from sitting in the bar with the fighter pilots and listening to their stories. I paid attention. And after receiving some technical assistance from a damn good Air Force fighter pilot with combat missions under his belt, I was able to write the flying scenes.
That part was easier than trying to figure out how to get the young pilot out of the situation. But then a memory from my days when I was a Chief of Maintenance at a flying training base presented a solution.
In this gripping novel, I hope you will join Harry on an emotional roller coaster ride as he grapples with loss, heartbreak, and the search for redemption.
A decorated Air Force pilot, Harry’s life is turned upside down when a near-death experience (NDE) in combat leads to a medical discharge.
Stripped of his reason for living — flying — and his military family, and now a civilian, Harry spirals into despair and self destruction, drowning his sorrows in alcohol and fleeting relationships.
Harry is in the throes of near death again!
Just when it seems all hope is lost, a restored Mustang, a mysterious missing person’s case, and an unexpected encounter with Katie, a computer geek, set him on a path to redemption.
As Harry struggles to stay afloat, will he be able to confront his demons and find purpose once again?
Find out if Harry can reclaim his life and face his nemesis, Mar, in a heart-stopping aerial battle that will leave you breathless.
