Serpents Underfoot
About
Conspiracy. Terrorism. Nuclear stakes.
JD Cordell believes in freedom, honor, and the quiet discipline it takes to defend both. The son of a Vietnam veteran and his Vietnamese wife, he serves as SEAL Team 5’s K9 handler alongside his dog, Ajax—steady, reliable, lethal when required.
During a deployment to Afghanistan, JD’s team intercepts intelligence pointing to a coordinated terrorist plot with catastrophic implications. What begins as a battlefield operation quickly unravels into something far darker - evidence of a cover-up reaching into the highest levels of American power.
As JD follows the trail, he identifies a mastermind intent on detonating nuclear devices on U.S. soil. When an assassin tied to the network strikes close to home, the mission shifts from operational to personal.
JD doesn’t chase glory.
He doesn’t trade in speeches.
He hunts threats.
And when the threat is nuclear annihilation, hesitation isn’t an option.
Serpents Underfoot launches the JD Cordell series—where loyalty is earned, freedom is defended, and accountability is final.
Praise for this book
Serpents Underfoot had me immediately hooked. JD Cordell, a Navy SEAL with honor, courage, and a loyal K9 companion, is facing a deadly terrorist plot that could reach all the way to the White House. It’s the kind of high-stakes, pulse-pounding story that grips readers from the first page. The author's mix of military precision, nail-biting suspense, and personal stakes makes this debut novel feel both thrilling and deeply human.
I particularly admire how the author blends authentic SEAL action with a conspiracy that keeps readers guessing. JD’s fight to protect not just his country but the people he loves gives the story real emotional weight, while the pacing and tension keep readers on the edge of their seats throughout.
Gilbert’s impressive debut features a Navy Seal on the trail of an international terrorism conspiracy. Rahman Atta, leader of a high-profile Muslim terrorist organization, has planned it all: detonate nukes on United States land and turn it into a nuclear wasteland. To achieve his sinister goals, he will stop at nothing.
When a Navy Seal team on a mission in Afghanistan uncovers a deadly terrorist plot, which leads to the brutal assassination of a couple of CIA officials in the United States, JD Cordell, a SEAL Team K9 handler and son of a Vietnam veteran, finds himself entangled in the case. As he is drawn deeper into the sinister web, JD discovers a cover-up that reaches the White House.
Cordell, with his Belgian Malinois K9 partner, Ajax, at his side, finds himself in a desperate battle that soon places his entire family in danger.
Fans of spy and military fiction will enjoy reading Serpents Underfoot by DC Gilbert. The story begins in the jungles of Vietnam, following the exploits of Army Captain Curtis Cordell, and continues with his son, Navy SEAL team member JD. Readers are whisked from Afghanistan to Iran, and then back to the streets of the US political capital, Washington, DC. This story has it all—corrupt politicians, conspiracy, betrayal, terrorism, assassinations, and even a little romance.
Serpents Underfoot is a well-written, action-packed story with great characters. After reading this thriller, one cannot be left without wondering "what if?" I highly recommend this read for military enthusiasts and readers looking for fast-paced action and adventure.