THE STORY CONTINUES
Some of the strongest families are forged not by blood, but by the tragedies they survive together.
When I wrote Serpents Underfoot, I introduced two characters whose relationship would eventually inspire an entirely new story: Dish, a Montagnard warrior, and Mai, the young Vietnamese girl he had taken under his protection and come to regard as his little sister.
Their bond was born from tragedy, shaped by circumstances most of us will thankfully never experience. Yet something beautiful emerged from that suffering—a family built on loyalty, sacrifice, and an unbreakable commitment to one another.
I loved that relationship from the beginning.
And when Serpents Underfoot was finished, I knew there was much more to their story.
Family has always been an important theme in my writing. Not simply the family we’re born into, but the people who become family through shared experiences, hardship, and the willingness to stand beside one another when it matters most.
Dish and Mai embodied that idea in a particularly powerful way.
Montagnard gave me the opportunity to explore their history, the bonds that shaped them, and the world they had left behind. It also allowed me to take JD Cordell and his team into Vietnam’s Central Highlands, where the past still casts a long shadow over the present.
What begins as Mai’s journey back to her homeland becomes something far more dangerous, drawing JD and those closest to him into a fight where the stakes are deeply personal.
As with Serpents Underfoot, I eventually returned to Montagnard to prepare its Second Edition, refining the writing and presentation while preserving the story and characters that made it special to me.
Because at its heart, Montagnard has always been about something more than a rescue mission.
It’s about family, the promises we make, and how far we’re willing to go to bring someone we love home.
— D.C. Gilbert
BOOK TWO · A JD CORDELL NOVEL
MONTAGNARD
She returned to Vietnam seeking answers. Now her son must bring her home.
Mai Cordell returns to Vietnam hoping to reconnect with the country and family she left behind. Instead, she finds herself imprisoned and at the mercy of powerful men who have no intention of letting her go.
When JD Cordell learns his mother has disappeared, the retired Navy SEAL knows he cannot rely on official channels to bring her home.
With his trusted friend Carlos Vivas, his K9 partner Ajax, and a small team willing to risk everything, JD sets out on a dangerous journey through Thailand and Laos toward Vietnam’s Central Highlands.
But the mountains hold more than the promise of rescue. Old wounds, buried loyalties, and the consequences of a troubled past threaten to turn their mission into a fight for survival.
Some bonds are forged in tragedy. And some promises are worth risking everything to keep.
AWARDS, PRAISE, AND REVIEWS
2026 READERS’ FAVORITE GOLD BOOK MEDAL WINNER
2020 LITERARY TITAN GOLD BOOK AWARD WINNER
“This action-packed thriller is the page-turner that defines courage, family, and sacrifice.”
— Romuald Dzemo, Readers’ Favorite · 5 Stars
““D.C. Gilbert effortlessly blends martial arts, weapons and military tactics that will thrill any military aficionado.”
— Literary Titan
“A tightly focused and exciting second installment of a thriller series.”
— Kirkus Reviews
JOIN THE MISSION
Become part of the JD Cordell Universe and be the first to receive:
* New release announcements.
*Exclusive short stories and bonus content.
*Behind-the-scenes updates.
*Early previews of upcoming novels.
No Spam. Just great stories.