Guest Review: A Time for Patriots

Summary: Welcome to Battlefield America 

When murderous bands of militiamen begin roaming the western United States and attacking government agencies, it will take a dedicated group of the nation's finest and toughest civilian airmen to put an end to the homegrown insurgency. U.S. Air Force Lieutenant-General Patrick McLanahan vows to take to the skies to join the fight, but when his son, Bradley, also signs up, they find themselves caught in a deadly game against a shadowy opponent. 

When the stock markets crash and the U.S. economy falls into a crippling recession, everything changes for newly elected president Kenneth Phoenix. Politically exhausted from a bruising and divisive election, Phoenix must order a series of massive tax cuts and wipe out entire cabinet-level departments to reduce government spending. With reductions in education and transportation, an incapacitated National Guard, and the loss of public safety budgets, entire communities of armed citizens band together for survival and mutual protection. Against this dismal backdrop, a SWAT team is ambushed and radioactive materials are stolen by a group calling themselves the Knights of the True Republic. Is the battle against the government about to be taken to a new and deadlier level? 

In this time of crisis, a citizen organization rises to the task of protecting their fellow countrymen: the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), the U.S. Air Force auxiliary. The Nevada Wing—led by retired Air Force Lieutenant-General Patrick McLanahan, his son, Bradley, and other volunteers—uses their military skills in the sky and on the ground to hunt down violent terrorists. But how will Patrick respond when extremists launch a catastrophic dirty bomb attack in Reno, spreading radiological fallout for miles? And when Bradley is caught in a deadly double-cross that jeopardizes the CAP, Patrick will have to fight to find out where his friends' loyalties lie: Are they with him and the CAP or with the terrorists? 

With A Time for Patriots, the New York Times bestselling master of the modern thriller Dale Brown brings the battle home to explore a terrifying possibility—the collapse of the American Republic. -- William Morrow

I have to admit that when I opened the package and saw the novel A TIME FOR PATRIOTS by Dale Brown, I wasn't exactly jumping up and down to read it. It's not that I don't enjoy a thriller every now and then, but I just can't seem to get into suspense novels about the military. However, I had a feeling that my dad might enjoy it -- and I think I was right! Here are his thoughts:

The year is 2013. The U.S. has suffered a double dip recession that began in 2008 and just survived a brutal attack from Russia called the American Holocaust. Major government programs had to be eliminated or significantly reduced. This environment led to increased citizen discontent and government suspicion which in turn gave rise to heightened anti-government activity.

This is the political and economic climate the reader is introduced to in A TIME FOR PATRIOTS by Dave Brown. During this crisis two events occur that forms the basis for Brown’s story. A militia group captures radioactive materials in a botched government sting operation and uses them in attacks on government facilities. At the same time a Utah Civil Air Patrol (CAP) team led by American Holocaust hero, retired Air-Force Lieutenant-General Patrick McLanahan, is on a rescue mission.

When the FBI investigation of the militia leads them to Utah, McLanahan and his CAP team become suspects in the anti-government activity. While McLanahan finds himself and his son caught between the FBI and the anti-government militia, he is also being pursued by a group of Russian assassins seeking revenge for his efforts in defeating Russia in the war. McLanahan then takes matters into his own hands.

Brown adds a lot of aviation jargon (he’s a pilot and CAP member) and features several high-tech airplanes and robotic weapons that surprisingly seem quite feasible. Of course as in most thriller novels involving the government, the FBI agents are shown as bumbling incompetents. If the novel had any shortcomings it would be that the characters don’t have much depth. However, since many of the characters exist in prior Brown novels I would probably have a better feel for the characters had I read the previous books. Additionally even though the ending is quite exciting, I think the author rushed it a little as everything came to a conclusion in very few pages.

A TIME FOR PATRIOTS is an exciting, fast-paced suspense thriller with good action and a believable plot. It’s an easy read for the beach or for a relaxing weekend.

Thanks to Booking Pap Pap for his review and thanks to the publisher for providing a copy of this novel.