White Soul by Brandt Dodson was published in 2008 by Harvest House Publishers. It’s a story about an undercover DEA agent who penetrates the operation of a major drug lord in Miami whose ambition is to expand into Cuba as the head of a similar syndicate to what used to be known as “The Corporation”, much like the Mafia, originated by a Cuban ex-patriot in America.
Ron Ortega, married with a pregnant wife in Chicago, believes he is a man of faith and integrity, but as felon Ron Acuna, his alias, he discovers he can gain access to Estevez through a small-time street hustler, and he elects to stay in Miami to infiltrate the drug king’s lair. Accepted for his quick-on-his-feet reactionary thinking, he is welcomed into Estevez’s operation. Being a young agent and somewhat less experienced than he thinks he is, especially at this level, some of what he observes as the new guy in the operation proves to rattle his faith and convictions as he passes along the information to his handler while seeming to acquire fast favor from the drug lord.
The drug lord with a supposed conscience who loves to feed the underprivileged and abused but justifies profiting from his peddling and provision of “white soul” to those who need “something” to fill their empty places, thinks nothing of eliminating his competition by setting them up for hits implicating it’s the result of another more powerful drug kingpin. Using his employees to gain access to information and to exterminate his opponents, his “benevolence” works to ingratiate his help to remain loyal until Ron manages to convince one of them to escape without blowing his cover.
As the temptations mount for the agent, he succumbs to weakened thinking. It isn’t until he gets a horrendous wakeup call that he sees what he’s becoming. When his life is on the line from an unexpected source, he regains his perspective and his purpose.
This is a good old-fashioned tale about organizations who deal drugs, run prostitution rings, gambling, and other “entertainment businesses” in the heart of Miami. A few stereotypical characters dot the landscape of the story, but Ron Ortega, aka Acuna, is a genuine character who falls prey to his particular weaknesses while gaining acceptance from the intense Estevez. With the pressures to appear eager to satisfy the demands of the powerful boss, Ron faces head on who he’s becoming. When he sees himself from the inside out, he decides to do “the right thing” instead of “the desired thing”.
The ending seemed a bit contrived. Too easy. It’s the ending we desire, but under the circumstances presented in the chaos of the final scene, it seems unlikely. However, if all you’re after is a story that turns out well and provides all kinds of tension while the agent plays his role undercover, White Soul is a novel to entertain you and give you a hint of just how difficult it can be to resist the devil before it’s too late.
Father, you know Brandt’s heart for writing. You know the stories still left for him to tell. You know he wants to honor you in his efforts. Please bless whatever he does for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Into the Fire 
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