Ghost (Linear Tactical #5)

By Janie Crouch

The ghost finds his wraith.

Five weeks of torture in Afghanistan broke Dorian “Ghost” Lindstrom.

Now in Wyoming, he is slowly putting his life back together, with help from his brothers at Linear Tactical. 

An expert in survival techniques and self-defense, Ghost spends his days teaching survival skills to Linear Tactical’s clients, doing his best to forget the horrors of his forty-one days of captivity. Doing his best to survive, one day at a time, remembering the day the love of his life died. 

Grace Brandt, aka Wraith, has stayed in the shadows. For six years she stayed hidden, but the secrets she keeps have now proven to be unbearable to keep. And so, out of the shadows, she rose from the dead to seek her Ghost. 

Those of us following the men and women of Linear Tactical from the start have known and fallen in love with the reclusive, gentle giant known as Ghost. We knew he had issues—post-traumatic stress disorder, to be clinically correct, arising from his days in captivity. 

We were prepared to read about how Dorian—Ghost—was able to fight his demons, but wow …

Grace Brandt, Wraith, Ray… the trauma this strong woman went through was short of unbelievable. Shocking, even, when you think about Jane Crouch putting her in the cross-hairs of a conspiracy so nefarious, so evil, but sadly, oddly, possible in today’s world, in more ways than one.

Again, I thank Janie Crouch for shining a light on this topic.

Yes, I might be laying it on thick, but post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is not specific to law enforcement. A child losing a beloved pet, physical abuse borne out of toxic relationships, bullying, any and everything that can cause mental and emotional distress can trigger PTSD. 

How would you know if you, or someone you know, is going through PTSD? 

PTSD, according to the Mayo Clinic, is a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event. 

Most people who go through traumatic events may have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping, but with time and good self-care, they usually get better. 

Although there is a lot of information about post-traumatic stress disorder, it is not enough to rely on online material about the topic. From stress, sleeplessness, and troubling dreams, to the need to isolate ones’ self from the outside world, or worse, having negative changes in thinking and erratic moods, it is not enough to have a textbook, clinical diagnosis. It is also not advisable to treat it on your own. Especially if thoughts of suicide are rearing their ugly head.

If you tell me that never in your life have you suffered from PTSD, then I applaud you for dodging the bullet. But please, if you, or anyone you know, have PTSD, please reach out. PTSD is not something to be ashamed of.