A final comment. This book is a work of fiction, although mingled with real places, characters I have known, and actual events. As the series develops, crime, corruption, world incidents, politics, love and opinions are all expressed in many different ways, both as fact and fiction. My idea was to tell a story by painting a series of literary pictures, some real and some imagined. I encourage you to read the entire series, to experience all these pictures together, as they lead to a focal point. I hope your literary journey will be thrilling and rewarding. As with all such experiences, my highest and best hope is to stimulate the imagination, provide entertainment, and possibly induce a positive change, through reflection.
About the Author
Lee Cunningham’s father was killed when Lee Jr. was just 6 months old, while driving from Nebraska to Idaho to reunite with Lee Jr. and his mother. Lee Jr. eventually became known as “Danny” a nickname given him by his eight aunts. Lee’s mother relocated them to California, seeking a better career opportunity, to improve their lives. Struggling, as a working, single mother, she met and married George Holub, when Lee was 9. Lee’s step-father adopted him when he was 12. Lee was proud of his new father, and had his name legally changed, to Daniel Lee Holub.
Lee attended the U.S.A.F.A., C.U. Boulder, and U.C.L.A., graduating with a degree in Zoology, minoring in English. His daring mother often ventured in to the California deserts, to help him collect rattlesnakes, for college research projects. His father taught him to fish, hunt, camp, and love the outdoors. Lee’s parents taught him to respect and love his country and be thankful for life. He also always loved to write. His first success was an essay, published while he was in college.
In the year following college, Lee worked a drug case assisting D.E.A., and flew a Cessna 210 airplane from California to Bogota, Colombia, as an undercover pilot. He participated in one of the largest out-of-country drug sting operations of the time, when he was just 24 years old. Lee became enthralled with police work, was hired as a police officer, and graduated the L.A.P.D. academy, as co-valedictorian.
Lee worked in law enforcement in California and Nevada for 25 years, serving in both uniform and plain clothes. His work included assignments in patrol, a narcotics task force, a gang unit, and detective units, where he investigated thousands of cases, including homicides. He interviewed thousands of criminals, including some in prison. Lee served as a S.W.A.T. member and became a S.W.A.T. Commander.
Lee went on to work in Security Management at one of the world’s largest gold mines. He and his team were responsible for protecting more than a billion dollars’ worth of gold and silver shipments annually, while providing high level security for explosives and other sensitive chemicals. Lee trained and supervised a security team that won multiple Best-in-Security awards.
Throughout his careers, writing remained one of Lee’s passions, and he planned this collection of novels, for years. Calling on all his training and experience, Lee Cunningham now offers his first series of fiction novels as The Beckett Cypher series.
Lee now lives in Florida with his lovely wife, his nearly “psychic” multi-breed rescue dog, a King Charles Cavalier puppy, and a grand-motherly Cocker Spaniel. He enjoys writing, traveling, experiencing the great outdoors, good food, family, friends, and pets.
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