Many of us have a fascination with conspiracies, and the world around us cooperates in providing a never, ending series of possibilities. Living in an open society where answers should be available to all is in fact not a reality and lends to this ongoing speculation to what really happened in all too many events that affect our existence on many levels.

The basis of this book is the intertwining of several controversial topics into a conspiracy with a believable and plausible ending or perhaps the real ending. The Tucson Phantom is the first in a series of books by John Van Horn working with this formula and is the first to be published.

The cast of "fictional characters," includes Jack Harvey our hero, well that may be taking it too far; he is our "detective" of sorts. This is a role he assumed from being in close proximity of a murder years ago in Newport, RI (his defining moment). This chapter of his life is covered in an unpublished book, HANGING AROUND NEWPORT. The other central character is K; she does Jack’s research, is his confidante and writes about his misadventures. K as the storyteller provides the humor and humanistic perspective through her editorial commentary of the events unfolding in the story. Oh, there is one other minor character – a Mr. Van Horn, who edits these stories for publication and could be confused with the author.

The main plot takes place in Tucson, Arizona, where a F-4 Phantom, fighter-bomber is being restored at the Pima Air and Space Museum. The book however tackles lingering questions that still haunt us about the Vietnam War and the Six Day War in 1967 with the involvement of the USS Liberty.

if you doubt the credibility of your government in the late '60s or today, you have got to read this....

So why not take a few minutes and read the Introduction and Chapter One of The Tucson Phantom?