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The Enemies Trilogy #3
Foreign Enemies And Traitors
Foreign Enemies And Traitors" is set in the near future in an America that is creeping steadily toward socialist tyranny, in the midst of the second Great Depression. A year after earthquakes have devastated the Tennessee Valley, survivors are resisting demands by the federal government to relocate to FEMA refugee centers. United States National Guard units have proven ineffective at forcing these survivors out of the earthquake-damaged regions, due to their reluctance to employ deadly force against fellow Americans. As a result, the president has invited so-called foreign peacekeeping battalions to do the work of forcibly relocating the holdouts. The novel follows a small group of determined survivors in their resistance to the foreign enemies, and the American traitors who are their allies.
417 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2011
154 people are currently reading
435 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Bracken
11 books101 followersMatt Bracken was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1957 and graduated from the University of Virginia in 1979 with a degree in Russian Studies. He was commissioned in the US Navy through the NROTC program at UVA, and then graduated from Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training class 105 in Coronado California. He served on east coast UDT and SEAL teams, taking a Naval Special Warfare detachment to Beirut in 1983. Mr. Bracken left active duty after Lebanon, upon completion of his obligated military service, but he remained in an active reserve status through the remainder of the 1980s. Since then he has lived in Florida, Virginia, South Carolina, Guam and California. In 1993 Mr. Bracken finished building a 48-foot steel sailing cutter of his own design, on which he has done extensive ocean cruising, including a solo voyage 9,000 miles from Panama to Guam and two Panama Canal transits.
Matt is a self-described freedomista who loves ocean sailing for the pure freedom it often permits. He is a constitutionalist who believes in the original intent of the founding fathers of our country. He lives with his family in North Florida and longs for the wide blue ocean.
Matt is a self-described freedomista who loves ocean sailing for the pure freedom it often permits. He is a constitutionalist who believes in the original intent of the founding fathers of our country. He lives with his family in North Florida and longs for the wide blue ocean.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
March 26, 2014
I found the book to be a satisfying conclusion of the Enemies Trilogy. The storyline is tightly constructed and, other than Mr. Bracken's tendency to put too many words into his descriptions (resulting in my tendency to skip to the next "quote" of dialogue), the action was easy to visualize.
As to the subject matter….I would suggest the less direct use of obamanation might keep the story more current. The series topic is more universal, but the Obama and Bill Ayers connection has a limited shelf life.
Overall, this novel is the best of the series.
As to the subject matter….I would suggest the less direct use of obamanation might keep the story more current. The series topic is more universal, but the Obama and Bill Ayers connection has a limited shelf life.
Overall, this novel is the best of the series.
July 14, 2009
This trilogy is great! It is an easy to believe depiction of a future America that COULD be.
April 21, 2012
"Foreign Enemies and Traitors" paints an even bleaker picture of our future as Phil Carson can no longer hide from the realities of the lost freedom of his homeland. On a smuggling run, Carson is shipwrecked along the Southern Gulf coast with no means of retreating back to the relative safety and anonymity of the Caribbean where he had been hiding. He joins up with a group of freedom fighters led by a former Special Forces soldier who could not carry out the illegal orders he was given by his government so he deserts and establishes himself in the woods of his native Tennessee. A chance discovery offers proof of unbelievable war crimes against civilians and threatens to blow the fragile government apart.
J. Keith Jones
Reviewer
Author: In Due Time
J. Keith Jones
Reviewer
Author: In Due Time
July 5, 2012
Outstanding read - easily building on the first two in the series and eclipsing them with ease.
Numerous parallels to the world around us and that public cast of characters makes for a real "thinker."
Good fun adventure, a bit of the best sorts of human drama (can't explain lest it be spoiled) and virtue as a guiding value.
Numerous parallels to the world around us and that public cast of characters makes for a real "thinker."
Good fun adventure, a bit of the best sorts of human drama (can't explain lest it be spoiled) and virtue as a guiding value.
June 3, 2012
Great trilogy! I haven't read a trilogy this exciting and relevant in a while. If you like a good political thriller than I highly recommend this series. It will leave you feeling like wow what if? you find some of what is happening in this book can easily be happening today.
October 18, 2014
The thought that this can actually happen is absolutely terrifying.
April 15, 2014
Great plot lines, great characters. The book is very readable. I hope he has a forth book in this series.
Its fiction that gives you something to think about.
Its fiction that gives you something to think about.
March 16, 2018
seven eleven pee em the 16th of march 2018 early friday evening just finished good read four stars kindle owned. have read the other two in the enemies trilogy and been a while since i read #2...seemed almost fitting that there also seemed to be some time that has passed between #2 and this final. thought a few of the early scenes, people talking, setting up what is happening, tarfu, thought those a bit...something. okay, but wondered if they could have been done differently. later on, there's other scenes like that...equivalent of two sitting around a campfire telling tales...those worked no problem...not that the early scenes were a problem they only seemed like they interrupted the flow of the story. pres tarbox and his aid...maybe there was another, other leaders so forth so on. thought the cam david scenes great, the lead up. story takes a number of characters and follows through on them, there's no one travis mcgee but i guess even he had his meyer. anyway, good read, enjoyed the story. there's one...whud ya call it...continuity error? carson in the cab of the truck looking at the mirror when it is boone in the truck...carson is in the hide-out with the other. a few typos, missing letters or something, your eyes catch it is all...interrupts the flow like rocks in the river. onward and upward. 271" of snow for the winter. soon.
February 15, 2025
DNF at 32%. If a book ever needed an editor, it's this one. I like the premise of a broken no-longer-united states but this got so drawn out for no good reason. It would repeat itself within a couple paragraphs, which was maddening. Just not worth the time.
July 5, 2013
I really enjoy Matthew Bracken's what-if series and possible vision of things to come. Unfortunately, there were some parts of Foreign Enemies and Traitors which gave me pause in that I wasn't sure that the racist view towards African-Americans was the voice of the character or the voice of the author.
Trilogy overview
Bracken makes no attempt to hide his conservative/libertarian leanings and those of a more liberal bent will find this book no more than a conservative fairy tale fueled by right-wing extremism and fears that the right is trying to instill in the voting public. If you can't get through Bracken's political views then this book is definitely no for you.
For others, this book is a decently written thriller that touches a bit on modern warfare/intelligence tactics. Like his earlier books in the trilogy, Bracken touches on Drone warfare and use on domestic soil, Data-mining through what he calls 'omnivore' (a nod to 'carnivore' obviously) and other hot button topics into today's modern politics.
The first in the series was still my favorite but I still enjoyed this one immensely. I enjoy Bracken's writing style and my have to pick up the first book in his sniper series.
Trilogy overview
Bracken makes no attempt to hide his conservative/libertarian leanings and those of a more liberal bent will find this book no more than a conservative fairy tale fueled by right-wing extremism and fears that the right is trying to instill in the voting public. If you can't get through Bracken's political views then this book is definitely no for you.
For others, this book is a decently written thriller that touches a bit on modern warfare/intelligence tactics. Like his earlier books in the trilogy, Bracken touches on Drone warfare and use on domestic soil, Data-mining through what he calls 'omnivore' (a nod to 'carnivore' obviously) and other hot button topics into today's modern politics.
The first in the series was still my favorite but I still enjoyed this one immensely. I enjoy Bracken's writing style and my have to pick up the first book in his sniper series.
April 16, 2013
Good book. Felt that the history lessons seemed overdone.
March 12, 2014
I thought it was a good book, perhaps a bit longer than it might need to be. I really hope the author is wrong about what he might see for the future
March 12, 2014
Great book. Best of the trilogy.
March 29, 2014
Tremendous
to close to the happenings going on in our country and the world, so much of it is like a roadmap, showing what we should avoid
to close to the happenings going on in our country and the world, so much of it is like a roadmap, showing what we should avoid
Read
November 16, 2020Bracken manages, in the last installment of the trilogy, to include just about all of the fear-based memes of the folks who despair of the path our country has taken in the last fifty years. The action shifts back to our old acquaintance, Phil Carson, who has decided it's too hot down in South America and is returning to his native land with a cargo of real coffee beans and solar panels, both of which are in high demand in an economically strapped and energy poor United States, after one disastrous event follows another.
Phil, himself, can't seem to avoid tragedy, and instead of sailing to Texas - one of the last beacons of freedom in the country - he is blown off course by a tropical storm and shipwrecked somewhere on the coast of North Carolina. After he comes to land, we get to follow along with Phil on his journey to try to reach either Texas or the other "free" territory formed by several states in the Northwest. Martial law has descended on most of the South, as the federal government tries to get all those racist rednecks who are clinging to their guns and religion to accept pacification. In support of that effort, President Jamal Tambor has imported foreign troops from the former Soviet Union and Africa to help out, after U.S. soldiers refused to fire upon their countrymen.
Good 'ole Bob Bullard turns up once more, as a deniable liaison between the White House and the Kazaks pacifying Tennessee, where Carson runs into a few hitches in his journey, spending time in a relocation camp until he can ally with an Army doctor who is willing to help him on his way for the cargo on Phil's boat. There are still a few freedom fighters on the loose in Tennessee, and Phil joins them in their fight against the feds and their foreign allies.
A pretty good conclusion to the trilogy, but I hope Bracken gets around to writing about how things get put back together again someday.
Phil, himself, can't seem to avoid tragedy, and instead of sailing to Texas - one of the last beacons of freedom in the country - he is blown off course by a tropical storm and shipwrecked somewhere on the coast of North Carolina. After he comes to land, we get to follow along with Phil on his journey to try to reach either Texas or the other "free" territory formed by several states in the Northwest. Martial law has descended on most of the South, as the federal government tries to get all those racist rednecks who are clinging to their guns and religion to accept pacification. In support of that effort, President Jamal Tambor has imported foreign troops from the former Soviet Union and Africa to help out, after U.S. soldiers refused to fire upon their countrymen.
Good 'ole Bob Bullard turns up once more, as a deniable liaison between the White House and the Kazaks pacifying Tennessee, where Carson runs into a few hitches in his journey, spending time in a relocation camp until he can ally with an Army doctor who is willing to help him on his way for the cargo on Phil's boat. There are still a few freedom fighters on the loose in Tennessee, and Phil joins them in their fight against the feds and their foreign allies.
A pretty good conclusion to the trilogy, but I hope Bracken gets around to writing about how things get put back together again someday.
April 13, 2019
Best of the Three Books in the Trilogy
Seems like the story matured over time. Wraps the plans for a New World Order into a riveting page turning story.
Written during Obama’s administration, it seems clear that the character of President was modeled after Obama with a Bill Ayers like mentor and George Soros like funding source.
All plausible but not likely. Still, conservatives will relish the ending. One who has studied the NWO wish the truth of it all would surface like this. (Kind of like the truth of Russian Hoax is now surfacing with the actors desperately trying to suppress it.)
Prophetic in some ways. You will recognize events surfacing today that were written about a decade ago.
All books in this trilogy are worth the read, and build on each other, but if you were to read only- this should be it.
My only minor negative was the length of the books, but I shortened that a bit with the audible editions coupled with a bit of speed skim reading through parts here and there.
Language a bit strong (no problem for an ex Marine like me, but may possibly offend others) but not a major part of the book at all.
Some events were not for the faint of heart, but well written.
Don’t look for any Christian content. It is minor at best, but does not detract from the story. Mark Goodwin’s trilogy offer that POV. If interested in that perspective, check out her trilogies in the same dystopia, conservative genre.
All told, this is a series well worth reading and very possibly a wake up call for patriots and conservative oriented Americans.
Seems like the story matured over time. Wraps the plans for a New World Order into a riveting page turning story.
Written during Obama’s administration, it seems clear that the character of President was modeled after Obama with a Bill Ayers like mentor and George Soros like funding source.
All plausible but not likely. Still, conservatives will relish the ending. One who has studied the NWO wish the truth of it all would surface like this. (Kind of like the truth of Russian Hoax is now surfacing with the actors desperately trying to suppress it.)
Prophetic in some ways. You will recognize events surfacing today that were written about a decade ago.
All books in this trilogy are worth the read, and build on each other, but if you were to read only- this should be it.
My only minor negative was the length of the books, but I shortened that a bit with the audible editions coupled with a bit of speed skim reading through parts here and there.
Language a bit strong (no problem for an ex Marine like me, but may possibly offend others) but not a major part of the book at all.
Some events were not for the faint of heart, but well written.
Don’t look for any Christian content. It is minor at best, but does not detract from the story. Mark Goodwin’s trilogy offer that POV. If interested in that perspective, check out her trilogies in the same dystopia, conservative genre.
All told, this is a series well worth reading and very possibly a wake up call for patriots and conservative oriented Americans.
December 30, 2020
Great read.
Probably the best book in series.
I’d like little bit more information on what happened with foreign troops and NAL, and maybe a tiny bit more on direction toward future development of US as a country, but otherwise a great read.
My only comment is regarding Kazaks/Cossacks and Kazakhs.
The book keeps jumping from one to another, but those are very different people.
Kazakhs, who are people from Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic in Asia, are Muslims related to Mongols. They have their own language, although they generally can also speak Russian. They are Asians, generally smaller in height, dark haired.
Cossacks were militarized society who essentially Russians special forces, extremely loyal to Tzars with very long military traditions, who used to live in Ukraine.
Cossacks are Christians, and mix of Russian/Ukrainians, tall and blond.
After revolution Cossacks as society were essentially destroyed, but came back after the fall of Soviet Union in 1999s. They speak Ukrainian and Russian.
In Russian, Cossack is pronounced as Kazak.
Going by description in the book, the mercenaries are Kazakhs, not Kazaks.
This might be a minor issue for most readers, but for those who understand the differences this jumps at you, especially since the rest of the book is very well researched.
Still, 5 stars from me.
Probably the best book in series.
I’d like little bit more information on what happened with foreign troops and NAL, and maybe a tiny bit more on direction toward future development of US as a country, but otherwise a great read.
My only comment is regarding Kazaks/Cossacks and Kazakhs.
The book keeps jumping from one to another, but those are very different people.
Kazakhs, who are people from Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic in Asia, are Muslims related to Mongols. They have their own language, although they generally can also speak Russian. They are Asians, generally smaller in height, dark haired.
Cossacks were militarized society who essentially Russians special forces, extremely loyal to Tzars with very long military traditions, who used to live in Ukraine.
Cossacks are Christians, and mix of Russian/Ukrainians, tall and blond.
After revolution Cossacks as society were essentially destroyed, but came back after the fall of Soviet Union in 1999s. They speak Ukrainian and Russian.
In Russian, Cossack is pronounced as Kazak.
Going by description in the book, the mercenaries are Kazakhs, not Kazaks.
This might be a minor issue for most readers, but for those who understand the differences this jumps at you, especially since the rest of the book is very well researched.
Still, 5 stars from me.
November 4, 2025
I’m glad Ranya and Carson had a happy ending, they deserve it after all the fucked shit they’ve been through.
Was quite a journey with these three books and I enjoyed it. Some really sad and honestly scary stories, what Jenny had to go through with the refugees fucking her parents up and hearing her mother scream as she hid. When Boone called his mum and she was so happy to find out he was alive, but hearing what she was having to deal with being forced to have refugees in her home because she couldn’t afford to pay the ‘empty room’ tax.
It’s hard to tell if the slightly racist leaders were the voice of the characters or the author, and you can tell the author is clearly conservative, there was a mix of fear-fairytales used by the right and somewhat valid points.
Was quite a journey with these three books and I enjoyed it. Some really sad and honestly scary stories, what Jenny had to go through with the refugees fucking her parents up and hearing her mother scream as she hid. When Boone called his mum and she was so happy to find out he was alive, but hearing what she was having to deal with being forced to have refugees in her home because she couldn’t afford to pay the ‘empty room’ tax.
It’s hard to tell if the slightly racist leaders were the voice of the characters or the author, and you can tell the author is clearly conservative, there was a mix of fear-fairytales used by the right and somewhat valid points.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2022
Fantastic trilogy.
This trilogy is amazing. This series is inherently political, but one thing I love is how Bracken balances the politics. There are many ideological conflicts throughout this series, many times between the good guys. Like the Memphis refugee situation. You can see how being on either side of the looking glass would lead you to one conclusion. Granted, one side is mostly due to misinformation, but believing misinformation doesn't make you a bad
person. These books are very well written with compelling characters, and a convincing argument for the constitution and the necessity of the second amendment.
This trilogy is amazing. This series is inherently political, but one thing I love is how Bracken balances the politics. There are many ideological conflicts throughout this series, many times between the good guys. Like the Memphis refugee situation. You can see how being on either side of the looking glass would lead you to one conclusion. Granted, one side is mostly due to misinformation, but believing misinformation doesn't make you a bad
person. These books are very well written with compelling characters, and a convincing argument for the constitution and the necessity of the second amendment.
May 1, 2024
The Fall and Rise of America: A Dystopia Action Thriller
Bracken has concluded The Enemies trilogy magnificently as he places the final decision of American's fate in the hands of those who swore to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
In the concluding book, true colors are exposed and choices made which reveal their love or hate of America.
This fast paced action pack dystopia conclusion will have you on edge throughout the book.
Bracken has concluded The Enemies trilogy magnificently as he places the final decision of American's fate in the hands of those who swore to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
In the concluding book, true colors are exposed and choices made which reveal their love or hate of America.
This fast paced action pack dystopia conclusion will have you on edge throughout the book.
Read
June 3, 2019A A little skewed with history
Most of the information, military, political and historical was pretty spot on. What truly disappointed me was writing about "those racist rednecks" just shooting poor black for fun whenever they saw them. Other than it never has or will ever happen it sounded like an attempt to be PC when describing actual black crimes during natural emergencies (a la Katrina). I almost deleted this book from my Kindle.
Most of the information, military, political and historical was pretty spot on. What truly disappointed me was writing about "those racist rednecks" just shooting poor black for fun whenever they saw them. Other than it never has or will ever happen it sounded like an attempt to be PC when describing actual black crimes during natural emergencies (a la Katrina). I almost deleted this book from my Kindle.
December 6, 2019
I loved the entire trilogy!
I started reading the first book in the trilogy because I like reading new authors. I liked the first book so much that I decided to read the rest. The author definitely didn’t disappoint. I enjoyed these books a lot and would highly recommend them.
I started reading the first book in the trilogy because I like reading new authors. I liked the first book so much that I decided to read the rest. The author definitely didn’t disappoint. I enjoyed these books a lot and would highly recommend them.
May 14, 2021
Matthew Bracken's trilogy is worth reading, in my opinion. He's written a lot of articles about how to fight and defeat domestic enemies. The fiction gave examples of how his tactics would work. And he would know since it was his profession before he became a writer.
August 10, 2022
Bravo. Very prescient of the present times.
Bravo. Very prescient of the present times. Everything happening is the story. Our democrat party should be ashamed. People, we still have e the US Constitution!
Bravo. Very prescient of the present times. Everything happening is the story. Our democrat party should be ashamed. People, we still have e the US Constitution!
July 20, 2024
A great ending to this trilogy.
It is almost as if what could easily happen in the US. It all makes sense. A well written ending to a scary and possible future for our great Nation.
It is almost as if what could easily happen in the US. It all makes sense. A well written ending to a scary and possible future for our great Nation.
September 4, 2024
Realistic fiction
I thoroughly enjoyed this series. I think it's a realistic representation of what could happen in the future. An entertaining read, it portrays a future of government corruption and over reach.
I thoroughly enjoyed this series. I think it's a realistic representation of what could happen in the future. An entertaining read, it portrays a future of government corruption and over reach.
January 25, 2025
Too good to put down
The author weaves a story that could be unfolding today with characters and subplots that leaves you wanting more. A real page turner that deserves more than 5 stars.
The author weaves a story that could be unfolding today with characters and subplots that leaves you wanting more. A real page turner that deserves more than 5 stars.
December 16, 2017
Amazing
The storyline, the characters, just amazing. I couldn't put these books down. All Americans should read these books and learn from them!
The storyline, the characters, just amazing. I couldn't put these books down. All Americans should read these books and learn from them!
July 8, 2018
Anyone who is troubled by the current political climate should read this. Mr. Bracken knows of which he writes.
July 31, 2018
Foreign Enemies and Traitors review
Foreign Enemies and Traitors is the third excellent dystopian book in The Enemies Trilogy series written by author Matthew Bracken.
Foreign Enemies and Traitors is the third excellent dystopian book in The Enemies Trilogy series written by author Matthew Bracken.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews