Oh wow, this story included one scary notion that never gave me a moment’s mental peace. The basis for the story is a rescue that is a fly-by the seat of your pants, no support fiasco that is beset by betrayal and yet beautifully choreographed. The members of the Dagger Task Force are the most intimate of families, a completely cohesive unit, which will suffer because any loss is devastating beyond comprehension. And you just know that there will be losses. But back to the political intrigue - the “benefits of an ascendant China” those masters of opportunity and “the evolving definitions of nationalism, freedom and self-determination” - really scary stuff and framing a patriotic, solid, self sacrificing career military soldier is just more stuff thrown into the mash-up. Not sure how to interpret France being thrown under the bus hand in hand with China but if Tata wrote it I am believing it.

The imminent threat of a nuclear strike lingers from page to page and watching and listening to the adjacent rhetoric is just too “of the moment”. Action, theory which encompasses present events, likable protagonists and hateful antagonists make for one great story. I will continue to be on the lookout for anything Tata writes.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy. ( )

General Garrett Sinclair is trying to rescue his goddaughter Zoey, the daughter of his deceased friend, when he stumbles across a giant international conspiracy. Zoey believes that her father was killed because of this, after he recorded a conversation between representatives from China, the US, and Russia discussing their plans for a coup. On the surface, US and China are in an official alliance, however underneath tensions are hot, and the Chinese are trying to infiltrate deep into the highest ranks of the US government.

This was a really neat political and military thriller. This made for a great audiobook. I have not listened/read the first book in the series, but I really had no idea I was missing out on anything.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Thank you netgalley and Macmillan audio for giving me an advanced review copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

The death of Sergeant Major Sylvester Morgan on a mission weighs heavily on General Garrett Sinclair. When Sly’s daughter, Doctor Zoey Morgan, tells Garrett her father had recorded a clandestine meeting of diplomats from China, America, and France during which they discussed a plan for the Chinese-U.S. Partnership, a global government, it seems clear that he was murdered to keep him from revealing what he had discovered.

And then Zoey vanishes.

Realizing that Zoey has gone to Africa, Garrett and the team head for Dakhla, Morocco with a plan to rescue her. But the plan hatched by the Chinese is nearly complete . . . and a deadline for noncompliance triggers a nuclear attack somewhere in the United States.

Can Garrett and his Joint Special Operations Command team successfully keep the Chinese from using their laser system to launch more nuclear weapons toward the United States? And will they discover how the president of the United States is involved?

=========

Garrett Sinclair returns in another action-packed thriller. Well-drawn characters, a strong sense of place, and a chilling plot all work together to draw the reader into the telling of the tale from the outset. With hardly any time for the reader to take a breath, the narrative races along with Garrett and his team as they try to stop those inside the government who blatantly conspired against the president of the United States.

Unexpected plot twists bring surprises as the complex tale of political machinations and courageous military action keeps those pages turning. Readers are sure to root for Garrett and his team as the unfolding narrative, both compelling and terrifying, spins out its story of treachery and patriotism.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley
#TotalEmpire #NetGalley ( )