Next week, I’ll reveal the cover of my new novel, The Deserter. Until then, I thought you might want to know what people are saying about it… These are smart people, excellent writers, and people who don’t tolerate poor story-telling. If you are unaware of their work, check them out.
“The Deserter evokes classic blood-and-sand adventures like Under Two Flags and Beau Geste. With meticulous research and compelling characters, Turmel has brought the desert saga back to thrilling life.” Frank Thompson- author of The Compleat Beau Geste
“The Deserter evokes classic blood-and-sand adventures like Under Two Flags and Beau Geste. With meticulous research and compelling characters, Turmel has brought the desert saga back to thrilling life.” Cam Torres, author of the Tyler Zahn thrillers
“The Deserter is a great read from beginning to end. Rousing adventure, multifaceted characters, and the near mythical setting of life in the French Foreign Legion add up to a thrilling page turner. If you haven’t read Wayne Turmel’s work, you’re missing out. – Thom Reese, author of the HUNTINGTON ADVENTURES series.
“The Deserter is a thrilling tale of desert adventure in the classic tradition of Beau Geste and the Flawed Blades novels of P.C. Wren. Enlisting in the French Foreign Legion seems like the answer to Gil’s prayers, but he soon learns that safety is a mirage.” Jill Hand, author of the Trapnell thrillers, White Oaks, Black Willows and Red Pines
“I love historical novels, and the best of them meet three requirements. They must be good novels with believable characters and a protagonist I can get inside the head of. They must be historically accurate in small details. And, ideally, they tie to an actual historical event. The Deserter meets all those requirements.” Wally Bock, The Well-Read Author Newsletter
“A two-fisted historical adventure that weaves visceral action, rugged landscapes, and raw emotional depth into a haunting tale of honor, betrayal, and the elusive hope of redemption.” — David Buzan, bestselling author of IN THE LAIR OF LEGENDS
Look for the cover reveal and more good stuff on Wednesday, October 22
After a lot of false starts and hemming and hawing, “The Deserter, a Tale of the Foreign Legion,” will be out January 16, 2026.
Gritty and existential! A British veteran’s stint in the French Foreign Legion turns ugly as he suffers from the brutal cost of good intentions and the indifferent machinery of war.—Cam Torrens, award-winning author of the Tyler Zahn suspense series .
This book marks the return to my historical fiction roots. It’s different than anything you’ve read from me. It’s dark, violent, and decidedly not cute or funny. But it IS a thrilling story of desperation and one man’s desire to overcome his worst impulses.
Here’s the synopsis:
Marseille, 1908.
A Boer War veteran, broken and adrift, seeks discipline and renewed purpose in the unforgiving ranks of the French Foreign Legion. He finds it, but not for long. When a payroll guard is murdered, a treacherous soldier blames him, forcing Gil Vincente to run for his life.
Chasing his nemesis through the rugged mountains of North Africa, Gil must fight to clear his name. But with the Legion on his heels and a ruthless killer on the loose, will he find justice or be forever branded a coward and deserter?
Think Beau Geste, directed by Sam Peckinpah, and you’re on the right track.
If you’d like an early review copy, want to be on my launch team, or just want to know more details as launch day draws near, Get on my mailing list.
