Centuries and continents apart, two American soldiers deploy in the years after “mission accomplished”—only to discover a land far from peace.

In 1870, five years after the United States defeated rebelling southern states, eighteen-year-old Henry McDonald enlists in the U.S. military. Henry’s sharp shooting and sharper mind while chasing Ku Kluxers in the South earns him the title “Private Trouble”—but real trouble still wreaks havoc in the rebellious Georgia in the form of lynchings, looting, and guerrilla violence.

In 2006, Lieutenant Sam Musgrave serves her second tour in Baghdad, three years after President Bush declared an end to combat operations in Iraq. Proud to represent her country but confounded by her government’s contributions to rising tensions, Sam contemplates the futility of her work all while harboring a risky secret back home—her relationship with Brighid Doran, whose own contemplations in the dusty archives of Springfield, Massachusetts lead her straight to Lieutenant Trouble himself.

At once an evocative love story and a searing indictment of U.S. military policy at home and abroad, CAPTAIN HENRY steps inside the heart of the American soldier, stuck in unwinnable wars and abandoned campaigns.

I.M. Aiken’s 2026 novel CAPTAIN HENRY explores the intersection between the anti-KKK days of the Reconstruction, the Spanish American War, the Iraq War, U.S. Military policy, and current events. It is also a love story between two heroes.

The Dedication

Quoting the manuscript:

I am writing this dedication on the sixth of January 2022, one year after a violent insurrection at the United States Capital. Those in public service, including the military, swear to uphold the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. This novel is dedicated to all of those who have taken, then upheld, this oath.

• Brian D. Sicknick, Capitol Police

• Jeffery Smith, Metropolitan Police

• Howard S Liebengood, Capitol Police

• Gunther Hashida, Metropolitan Police

• Kyle DeFreytag, Metropolitan Police

The insurrectionists wounded about one hundred and fifty police officers on that January day, fourteen days prior to the inauguration of the next president.

Additionally, I’d like to honor Elizabeth C. MacDonough…

Aiken had no idea that these facts would be controversial in the years that followed.

Keywords for the publisher’s marketing team

Spanish American War, Reconstruction, Civil War, U.S. Army, U.S. Military, U.S. History, Iraq War, Iran War, Posse Comitatus, Literature, Islam, Sunni, Shia, January 6th

Author’s Notes

This book will not be (is not) what I expected. It is the book I wrote following 20 years of experience and years of research on my own family.

No doubt when the marketing and publicity team at Catalyst Press get caught up and write a “one-pager”, it will be better than I’ve done. We’ll get a proper cover, ISBN numbers, marketing stuff and all of the things. When done, I’ll replace this page.

The novel follows three main characters and three related themes. Because years ago, I drafted a novel that accidentally foreshadowed 2026.

2026 Issues in CAPTAIN HENRY:

• Posse Comitatus discussions in the news

• The arrest of Don Lemon under anti-KKK laws of the early 1870s

• The present U.S. War with Iran

• The vilification of American heroes and the pardoning of those who harmed/killed them

• Active and aggressive efforts to disenfranchise American voters (paralleling efforts from the 1870s)

• The return of discriminatory rules within the U.S. Department of Defense

• The dreadful experience of knowing that your long military career shall involve one, or two, or three forever wars. I still have one friend (of 30 years) stationed in the Middle East and I can’t help but feel part of me is with her now.

I wrote a novel that I thought would be enjoyed by 3 history buffs and 5 genealogy types.

Audio ISBN: 9781963511802

These stories revolve around the characters found in the novels and adventures of my fictitious rescue squad. I intend for the reader to read or listen to the stories slowly and quietly. I don’t think they work when crushing it at a gym. They likely work better during a quiet walk or 20 minutes of contemplation. That’s a writer’s arrogance though, isn’t it.

Audio or Written

I record the audio myself and read it to you. Both of my editors say that my stories work better in the audio form. Frankly, I know I write the stories so that I can read them, as if I were writing scripts. Enjoy either, enjoy both.

Podcast

Due to the nature of Substack’s audio entries, these short stories are also podcasts and can be found anywhere podcasts can be found.

Please Share

This is that bit where I say “Like, subscribe, and click the little bell”, except there is no bell.

Please do share the links with others. There is no chronological or logical order to approach these stories.

The stories in order of released (newest to oldest)

• Mister Lincoln: Veteran of the Korean War (FEB 2026) audio

• Just Another (JAN 2026) audio

• Kahlil’s Wall (DEC 2025) audio

• The Night the Plane Crashed (SEP 2025)

• Murmuration (AUG 2025) audio

• 3 Faces of Raven (AUG 2025) audio

• The Joker (JUL 2025) audio

• First Corn (JUN 2025) audio

• The Curious (JUN 2025) audio

• Rubber Duckies (May 2025) audio

• The Firefighter’s Statue (APR 2025) audio

• When Johnny Goes Marching Away (APR 2025) audio

• Cooking Bacon with Propane (APR 2025) audio

The Name

I am playing on the word “dispatch”. I have spent a lot of years listening to and following instructions from “dispatch.” There is a person behind a suite of computer monitors, telephones, and a microphone telling me to wake my ass up and go do a thing somewhere, now.

“Dispatch” has also been used as the name of small town and regional newspapers: The Columbus Dispatch, St Louis Post-Dispatch, Richmond Times-Dispatch, etc.

Take your pick on the source.

We are so proud to announce I.M. Aiken's second novel, Stolen Mountain, a classic legal thriller with the fresh style, heart-wrenching twists, and sheer humanity that Aiken is becoming famous for, for your review. It is also available as an audio, read by the author, so please let us know if you'd like the audio version.

EMS Captain turned sleuth Brighid Doran trains her forensic eye on The Branston Club—a swanky ski lodge being built in her rural Vermont town.

While dodging danger and digging up dirt, Brighid and team draw the ire of small town politicians, crooked cops, and an ever-deepening chasm of deceptions, all the while struggling to cope with the constant deployment of her wife Major Sarah (Sam) Ann Musgrave.

With help from attorney Morgan Harmon and a hovering FBI, Brighid must determine the truth of a scheme with the potential of defrauding her friends and neighbors of millions... but at what cost to her own relationships and where she calls home?

Reviews

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/im-aiken/stolen-mountain-a-trowbridge-vermont-novel/

Deets

• Author: I.M. Aiken

• Literary Fiction

• Publication: 23 October 2025

• Print ISBN: 9781963511284/$21.95/paperback (299 pages)

• eBook ISBN: 9781963511291/$10.99/ebook

• Audio ISBN: 9781963511574/$23.05 (12 hours, unabridged, read by author)

My Substacks

I’ve got 2. One for more formal, edited short stories that fit within the context of the novels.

Trowbridge Dispatch

Trowbridge Dispatch is a series of short written and audio works that explore Trowbridge Vermont and the characters of "The Little Ambulance War of Winchester County" & "Stolen Mountain". I write about humans while celebrating the joyful mess we all are.

By I.M. AIken

Free thoughts of a writer writing (about writing) freely

New England writer of literary novels and short stories and Willing to touch hot things and button-like things. And maybe if I write well enough, I will get banned. How's that for a goal. Bar seems low, I think I can get there.

By I.M. AIken

A fascinating and darkly funny novel giving readers front-row access to the world of EMS and other first responders — and the sticky, sweat, and sex that accompanies long days caring for others at their most vulnerable.

The Little Ambulance War of Winchester County opens readers’ eyes to the human beings and too-often troubled systems we rely on to rescue us. An important and unforgettable saga of the people who race toward danger to save strangers like you.

James Grady, creator of CONDOR and author of THE SMOKE IN OUR EYES

Following in the footsteps of her beloved Boston cop father, Alex Flynn trains as an EMT, and spends her days chasing emergencies in an ambulance. But the person Alex becomes is a far cry from the hero she signed up to be.

Over forty years in public safety, Alex encounters a changing America, where veterans are left to rot on streets, women are welcome in dangerous fields but abusers still walk free, and service providers are subjected to intense public scrutiny while being denied the resources they need. After moving from bustling Boston to small town Vermont, Alex discovers an escalating feud between emergency operators and must decide which to protect, legacy or community.

Take a look what “The Book Club Cook Book” wrote about the novel in November 2024:

“This gritty portrayal of emergency services in urban and rural settings sparked a lively discussion about what these services should encompass, the responsibilities of the community, and the definition of a ‘community.'”— Blu Stocking Lit Society read I.M. Aiken’s THE LITTLE AMBULANCE WAR OF WINCHESTER COUNTY, a novel giving readers front-row access to the world of Emergency Medical Services and other first responders, with books from @catalystpress and #GalleyMatch.

“The novel offers readers front-row access to the challenging world of EMS and other first responders, vividly capturing the stink, sweat, and struggles—including the raw intensity of long days spent caring for people at their most vulnerable. Our group debated issues surrounding social and community services, particularly access to healthcare and emergency services. We delved into the systemic inequities and fraud that plague these systems and the tension between government-provided services and privatized ones—an issue many communities across the country are currently grappling with. For most of us, the ‘ambulance wars’ were a new, eye-opening concept, and this book heightened our awareness of the complexities involved.

We also discussed the main character’s journey—her evolution from an adrenaline junkie to someone seeking the respect her father once earned—and to become an advocate for those in need—was both compelling and inspiring. Her story highlighted the personal toll and profound impact of working in this field.”

The first half of this book takes place in Cambridge, where I worked, trained, goofed off, and others “stuff.” Stuff did include getting my head cracked with a boom while sailing, stepping on a rusty nail, finding trouble, and dating “stuff.” If in or near our fair city, please support any number of independent booksellers there.

Interested? Well read the book or take a look here

Related Short Stories

Trowbridge Dispatch

Cooking Bacon with Propane

Cooking Bacon with Propane…

Read more

a year ago · I.M. AIken

Trowbridge Dispatch

When Johnny Goes Marching Away

As told by Alex Flynn…

Read more

a year ago · I.M. AIken

Trowbridge Dispatch

The Firefighter’s Statue

Read more

a year ago · 1 like · I.M. AIken

Trowbridge Dispatch

Rubber Duckies

Want to listen? Audio recorded by author…

Read more

a year ago · 4 likes · I.M. AIken

Trowbridge Dispatch

The Curious

Prefer to Listen? (recorded by author) Audio Version…

Read more

10 months ago · 4 likes · I.M. AIken

Trowbridge Dispatch

First Corn

Read by Author / Listen along : https://trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/p/first-corn-audio…

Read more

10 months ago · 5 likes · I.M. AIken

Deets

• Print ISBN: 97832511024 (268 pages)

• Audio ISBN: 978196311369 (12 hours, unabridged, read by author)

• eBook ISBN: 97863511078

How is this Channel Different my other?

Trowbridge Dispatch is a series of short stories. These stories have been coordinated with my publisher (Catalyst Press) and edited by my outstanding editor Lora. You’ll find a bit more professional polish with Trowbridge Dispatch. while this channel is a collection of random thoughts, essays, and scribbles. Often notes on this substack haven’t been run through the publisher and editor. The rants of a dyslexic author

Trowbridge Dispatch

Trowbridge Dispatch is a series of short written and audio works that explore Trowbridge Vermont and the characters of "The Little Ambulance War of Winchester County" & "Stolen Mountain". I write about humans while celebrating the joyful mess we all are.

By I.M. AIken

Free Thoughts of a writer writing (about writing) freely is a random and unpolish set of nonsense that flows from brain to keyboard. Given I am dyslexic, and simultaneously deciding not to edits these pieces, forgive the mistakes, mispellings, and boo-boos in the prose.

Free thoughts of a writer writing (about writing) freely

New England writer of literary novels and short stories and Willing to touch hot things and button-like things. And maybe if I write well enough, I will get banned. How's that for a goal. Bar seems low, I think I can get there.

By I.M. AIken