False Flag is “an action-packed, enjoyable and terrifying read.” – R.A. Mathis (author of Ghosts of Babylon and the Homeland series).
A terrorist group came into possession of a tactical nuke. Uncle Sam covertly put together a squad of mercs and SpecOps veterans to swipe the WMD before it could be used. The team of military contractors led by former SEAL Rocco Cavarra, who prefixed their radio call signs with the term “has-been,” had to fight their way through war-torn Sudan to reach the terrorist camp where the bomb was stashed. This all happened in Hell and Gone, the first book in the Retreads series.
While the Retreads were fighting overseas over the years (officially and unofficially), bad stuff has been happening on the home front in their own country. Now the USA is speeding over a cliff into economic collapse, nuclear terrorism, and civil war, and the Retreads are caught up in the middle of it in False Flag: the third novel.
Amazon reviewers have called False Flag “a runaway action thriller,” “a thinkers book,” and “an awe-inspiring ride.” More than a few have used the phrase: “ripped from the headlines,” but there are trace amounts of what would never make the headlines. Certain subplots would be dismissed as “conspiracy theory” in some circles, but in the wake of Jeffrey Epstein’s death, those circles are shrinking.
Both Hell and Gone and Tier Zero are available in audio book format as well as paperback and e-book. There are plans for a False Flag audio book as well. Now is a great time to pick up one of these great reads. They’re unlike anything else being published today; and they’re distinct from the action-adventure of yesteryear, too.
The plot toggles between Gordon’s ordeal, little brother Sebastian’s story, and federal-level politicians. For the most part, the character interactions are believable, although there is a high Character Stupidity Quotient in effect–especially when it comes to Sebastian. Sebastian is such an idiot that, were he the star of the show, I probably would have quit reading. (Ironic, because toward the end, I found his story the most interesting.) I lost patience and began to skim through the sub-plots with the Speaker of the House-turned-President, his wife, Vice President, assistants and generals. Those segments resembled a literary soap opera that aren’t really even necessary for the plot.
Of course, now I’m wondering what I said that inspired this person to post a review. Whatever it is, I need to duplicate it in my other work. In a business where some books are getting thousands of reviews on Amazon, this book just barely reached 84…and it’s been a bestseller in a few different categories.
“The author’s experience and insight helps deliver a story that is action packed, yet not so far fetched that it detracts from the story.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, HELL AND GONE. As good as it was, TIER ZERO is better in every way. The characterizations are deeper, the plot has more twists, and hard as it may be to believe, it has even more of the gritty, well-written action scenes at which Brown excels. I thought I knew where the story was going, but it takes a nice hard turn about halfway through that powers it on to the end of the book.”
“In this tough, gritty paramilitary thriller (sequel to the popular HELL AND GONE) author Brown harkens back to the ‘men’s adventure’ novels that were so popular in the 80s and early 90s. He does an exemplary job of carrying on that tradition and even adds some depth and background to his characterizations that increases their humanity, makes them seem more real — all without ever getting in the way of the balls-out, full throttle action. The plot is tight, with plenty of twists and surprises, and the ‘good guys’ are characters you really care about. So much so, that you will be rooting for a continuation of this intriguing, exciting series.”
