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American Praetorians #1
Task Force Desperate
For more than a century……America has been the world’s superpowerIs that about to end?Jeff and his fellow Praetorian Security contractors are about to find out the hard way. They know the world’s on the downslide. The global economy’s tanked. Piracy’s up. Which is why they’re riding shotgun on a freighter in the Gulf of Aden.Then they get the call.There aren’t many of them. They’re far from home, far from support, and they don’t even know who exactly the enemy is.But they’ll go, because they’re fighters. It’s what they’re hard-wired to do.Will they find the hostages?Will they even survive that long?You’ll love this military thriller because it once it hits the ground running, it never lets up!Get your copy now.
- GenresAction
311 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 29, 2012
140 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Peter Nealen
71 books106 followersPeter Nealen is a former Recon Marine, a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, and something of an aspiring renaissance man (emphasis on aspiring). He has long been a reader of history, philosophy, folklore, science fiction, and fantasy, and is the author of the American Praetorians series of paramilitary thrillers as well as the Jed Horn series of supernatural thrillers.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 16, 2015
THE GUNS FOR HIRE
"All this religion aside, those people who can't kill
will always be subject to those who can"- Sgt Bradley Colbert, Generation Kill.
In the world of self published books, there are many gems. the Shadow Warriors series by Stephen England and the Black Flagged Series by Steven Konkoly come to mind, proof that you don't need a contract to produce world class spy/military fiction. And now, I can add Peter Nealen to the list. A veteran Force Recon Marine, his military thriller series is about a Private Military Corporation and the hell they go through in the jobs they're contracted to complete. What sets his work apart from other contemporary thrillers is the beautifully constructed, contemporary dystopia his books are set in. In this world, the E.U has finally exploded, the Middle East is now 100% in the hands of Islamic Extremists, Mexican Drug Cartels have become warlords and effectively annexed the Southwestern United States and the economic situation around the world is pretty bleak. And that's only the tip of the iceberg. But I digress, let us get to the review. What do you do when the plan doesn't seem to come together no matter how hard you try?
We start the story on a boat and are immediately introduced to the main characters, who have been contracted to act as an anti-piracy force for a container ship doing a run down the Somali coast. They receive a transmission from their superiors saying that the job is concluded due to a new contract coming onto their plate. Elaborating further, the main characters are informed that the main airbase for American drones in Africa has been raided by a mob manipulated by Islamist extremists and 200 hostages have been taken to god knows where. Having being contracted by the CIA to track these hostages down, the protagonists head into Somalia and begin running down leads. But as their investigation progresses and takes them across one of Africa's most wretched failed states, the mission begins to creep into dangerous territory and explosively unravel a long term conspiracy hatched by one of the Islamic word's most dangerous men.
In terms of plot, Task Force Desperate is top notch. The pacing is smooth but tries to be realistic at the same time. It's not all gunfire, bombs and a rag-tag bunch of misfits trying to survive the series of unfortunate events that befall them. Catastrophic problems arise during their mission, and you will be on the edge of your seat wondering how they are going to wrangle their way out of the latest complication. The action and settings also go together nicely. From the chaotic, mob infested streets of Djibouti, to a violent ambush in a terrorist infested town, the author efficiently makes the combat in his book suitably visceral and bringing to life a vivid journey into the dark depths of brutality and despair. The research done in "Task Force Desperate" is a major highlight as well. Mr Nealen portrays the weapons and capabilities of the Private Military Corporation he's created realistically. This isn't the legendary executive outcomes which had HIND helicopter gunships at its disposal. Instead Praetorian Security has a limited number of potent assets which force the main characters to use them strategically. And then there's the stuff on East Africa's Islamic Terrorist groups. Nealen demonstrates that even with the rise of the likes of Boko Haram, organizations such as Al Shabab, which are older and well established, are still a potent force with the power to destabilize the region just as well as the new, Nigerian upstart. All this is combined with a nightmarish speculative/dystopia as mentioned in the introduction. It's the highlight of the novel and distinguishes Task Force Desperate from a crowded genre full of formidable authors. It's a world that's falling apart, with social decay, political corruption, economic issues and those that would normally do battle on our behalf no longer having the resources and capabilities to keep us safe due to gross mismanagement. It's a grim alternate universe where unlike in the A-Team, the plan doesn't quite come together with disastrous results for those who aren't quick on the draw.
Characters? I hate to admit it but with all the brilliant action scenes, research and world building, Task Force Desperate is a bit....lacking in this regard. The story is told from the perspective of Jeff Stone, private military contractor and former USMC sniper. We don't get the back story on him and his comrades in arms. But Nealen did manage to make me care for them due to the predicament they got themselves into. They're competent, deadly but also human, not superhuman. They bleed like the rest of us and during the novel, their efforts to survive and complete and increasingly tenuous contract which begins to fall apart as fast as the hostage takers can butcher their captives, will make you root for them.
So, overall, I wholeheartedly recommend Task Force Desperate. Peter Nealen doesn't go down the "gear head" route like Brad Thor was notorious in doing during his earlier books. Instead, he successfully blends his own experiences in combat, counter-terrorism, private security and a healthy dose of research with the creative addition of "contemporary dystopian fiction" into the setting and a fast paced, clean writing style. The fun has only started for the rag-tag American Praetorians and in the next book which I shall be reviewing, they go to Iraq.....and tangle with the boys at Daesh.
VERY RECOMMENDED.
"All this religion aside, those people who can't kill
will always be subject to those who can"- Sgt Bradley Colbert, Generation Kill.
In the world of self published books, there are many gems. the Shadow Warriors series by Stephen England and the Black Flagged Series by Steven Konkoly come to mind, proof that you don't need a contract to produce world class spy/military fiction. And now, I can add Peter Nealen to the list. A veteran Force Recon Marine, his military thriller series is about a Private Military Corporation and the hell they go through in the jobs they're contracted to complete. What sets his work apart from other contemporary thrillers is the beautifully constructed, contemporary dystopia his books are set in. In this world, the E.U has finally exploded, the Middle East is now 100% in the hands of Islamic Extremists, Mexican Drug Cartels have become warlords and effectively annexed the Southwestern United States and the economic situation around the world is pretty bleak. And that's only the tip of the iceberg. But I digress, let us get to the review. What do you do when the plan doesn't seem to come together no matter how hard you try?
We start the story on a boat and are immediately introduced to the main characters, who have been contracted to act as an anti-piracy force for a container ship doing a run down the Somali coast. They receive a transmission from their superiors saying that the job is concluded due to a new contract coming onto their plate. Elaborating further, the main characters are informed that the main airbase for American drones in Africa has been raided by a mob manipulated by Islamist extremists and 200 hostages have been taken to god knows where. Having being contracted by the CIA to track these hostages down, the protagonists head into Somalia and begin running down leads. But as their investigation progresses and takes them across one of Africa's most wretched failed states, the mission begins to creep into dangerous territory and explosively unravel a long term conspiracy hatched by one of the Islamic word's most dangerous men.
In terms of plot, Task Force Desperate is top notch. The pacing is smooth but tries to be realistic at the same time. It's not all gunfire, bombs and a rag-tag bunch of misfits trying to survive the series of unfortunate events that befall them. Catastrophic problems arise during their mission, and you will be on the edge of your seat wondering how they are going to wrangle their way out of the latest complication. The action and settings also go together nicely. From the chaotic, mob infested streets of Djibouti, to a violent ambush in a terrorist infested town, the author efficiently makes the combat in his book suitably visceral and bringing to life a vivid journey into the dark depths of brutality and despair. The research done in "Task Force Desperate" is a major highlight as well. Mr Nealen portrays the weapons and capabilities of the Private Military Corporation he's created realistically. This isn't the legendary executive outcomes which had HIND helicopter gunships at its disposal. Instead Praetorian Security has a limited number of potent assets which force the main characters to use them strategically. And then there's the stuff on East Africa's Islamic Terrorist groups. Nealen demonstrates that even with the rise of the likes of Boko Haram, organizations such as Al Shabab, which are older and well established, are still a potent force with the power to destabilize the region just as well as the new, Nigerian upstart. All this is combined with a nightmarish speculative/dystopia as mentioned in the introduction. It's the highlight of the novel and distinguishes Task Force Desperate from a crowded genre full of formidable authors. It's a world that's falling apart, with social decay, political corruption, economic issues and those that would normally do battle on our behalf no longer having the resources and capabilities to keep us safe due to gross mismanagement. It's a grim alternate universe where unlike in the A-Team, the plan doesn't quite come together with disastrous results for those who aren't quick on the draw.
Characters? I hate to admit it but with all the brilliant action scenes, research and world building, Task Force Desperate is a bit....lacking in this regard. The story is told from the perspective of Jeff Stone, private military contractor and former USMC sniper. We don't get the back story on him and his comrades in arms. But Nealen did manage to make me care for them due to the predicament they got themselves into. They're competent, deadly but also human, not superhuman. They bleed like the rest of us and during the novel, their efforts to survive and complete and increasingly tenuous contract which begins to fall apart as fast as the hostage takers can butcher their captives, will make you root for them.
So, overall, I wholeheartedly recommend Task Force Desperate. Peter Nealen doesn't go down the "gear head" route like Brad Thor was notorious in doing during his earlier books. Instead, he successfully blends his own experiences in combat, counter-terrorism, private security and a healthy dose of research with the creative addition of "contemporary dystopian fiction" into the setting and a fast paced, clean writing style. The fun has only started for the rag-tag American Praetorians and in the next book which I shall be reviewing, they go to Iraq.....and tangle with the boys at Daesh.
VERY RECOMMENDED.
September 11, 2021
Allow me to preface this review by saying that I found the single one-star review for this book complained about Nealen being a "gearhead" and complained that the protagonists did not complete their mission, so the book was horrible. With respect to that reviewer, perhaps he should stick to watching episodes of The A-Team rather than reading books from men who have been there and done that.
Now that's out of the way, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. It's the not-too-distant future. The US dollar has collapsed, leaving the nation's military in shambles. Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti has been taken over by jihadists and hostages have been taken. The US government contracts Praetorian Security to locate the hostages. Jeff "Hillbilly" Stone, former Reconnaissance Marine and Scout Sniper, is one of those contractors. Working with limited resources, against the clock and against enemies more sophisticated than in recent times past, Stone and the Praetorians race from one firefight to another, keeping alive by sheer determination and toughness.
From start to finish, it's obvious that Nealen's book was written by somebody who has both talked the talk and walked the walk. The weapons, tactics, terminology, and mindset of the contractors are all on point. Nealen writes in the first person from Stone's point of view, and any veteran of combat arms or SOF will be able to relate to his motivations, urges, and how he describes combat. There are no guns akimbo or grenades that level city blocks. Everything that is in the book is actually how it's done in real life.
It's rather subtle throughout, but Nealen has actually crafted an alternate universe with writing the collapse of the dollar. With how shaky our economy currently is coming out of the recent recession, this alternate universe is not all that far-fetched at all. Nealen does this without cramming his own personal beliefs down the reader's throat, which is a welcome relief from many authors of the genre.
The only thing I took issue with was that it was very, very difficult to track all of the characters involved. I understand that Nealen did this for the sake of realism. Very rarely will you find four to six guys mowing down everything in sight if things go right. At the same time, it's very, very difficult to involve so many characters without the reader losing track. This was my own personal nitpick, but about halfway through the book, I started to recognize names and associate them with roles.
All in all, I found it to be an excellent book and I'm anxiously awaiting further entries in the series. If you're looking for how it's done in the real world and razor-sharp prose, then Peter Nealen is your man and TASK FORCE DESPERATE is your book.
Now that's out of the way, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. It's the not-too-distant future. The US dollar has collapsed, leaving the nation's military in shambles. Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti has been taken over by jihadists and hostages have been taken. The US government contracts Praetorian Security to locate the hostages. Jeff "Hillbilly" Stone, former Reconnaissance Marine and Scout Sniper, is one of those contractors. Working with limited resources, against the clock and against enemies more sophisticated than in recent times past, Stone and the Praetorians race from one firefight to another, keeping alive by sheer determination and toughness.
From start to finish, it's obvious that Nealen's book was written by somebody who has both talked the talk and walked the walk. The weapons, tactics, terminology, and mindset of the contractors are all on point. Nealen writes in the first person from Stone's point of view, and any veteran of combat arms or SOF will be able to relate to his motivations, urges, and how he describes combat. There are no guns akimbo or grenades that level city blocks. Everything that is in the book is actually how it's done in real life.
It's rather subtle throughout, but Nealen has actually crafted an alternate universe with writing the collapse of the dollar. With how shaky our economy currently is coming out of the recent recession, this alternate universe is not all that far-fetched at all. Nealen does this without cramming his own personal beliefs down the reader's throat, which is a welcome relief from many authors of the genre.
The only thing I took issue with was that it was very, very difficult to track all of the characters involved. I understand that Nealen did this for the sake of realism. Very rarely will you find four to six guys mowing down everything in sight if things go right. At the same time, it's very, very difficult to involve so many characters without the reader losing track. This was my own personal nitpick, but about halfway through the book, I started to recognize names and associate them with roles.
All in all, I found it to be an excellent book and I'm anxiously awaiting further entries in the series. If you're looking for how it's done in the real world and razor-sharp prose, then Peter Nealen is your man and TASK FORCE DESPERATE is your book.
April 1, 2021
Interesting and enjoyable
Was as always, a bit over the top, but not bad. A part of the world that most of us know little about and alliance's between countries and factions that are beyond our knowledge.
Was as always, a bit over the top, but not bad. A part of the world that most of us know little about and alliance's between countries and factions that are beyond our knowledge.
May 15, 2015
One unique aspect of this novel is that it's narrated in first-person. Not much military fiction I can think of does that. Well, not any, to tell the truth. And since I've drawn attention to the writing itself already, I'll add that this is a very well-written book--way, way, way above average in this age of self-publishing. Jeff Stone (call sign: "Hillbilly"), the narrator/main character, has a voice well-suited for this sort of tale.
The good guys in this novel are mercs; the bad guys are pirates and terrorists . Jeff is a contractor in a PMC working in the third world's hottest spot, along with some other seasoned professionals. The story takes place in the near future, after the collapse of the US dollar, and the chaos in North Africa and the Middle East is probably no worse than it is back in the US. You get the idea that the Praetorian Security shooters are orphans of a sort; men without a country. They choose to live by the sword because they like the warrior life, but also because there's nothing to go back to...nothing else left for them. It bonds them into a tightly-knit unit...almost a family. That's the impression I got.
You won't be disappointed in the action. There is tension on every page from cover to cover and it only gets higher as the plot drives on. Through no fault of the book, I had to read it piecemeal over a period of weeks, and yet I consider it a fast read. And the details were right.
Looking at the new wave of military fiction, it's got a much better chance with a younger audience than the old classics I enjoyed back in the day.--possibly because so many of the new action/adventure authors are veterans. They want to make a buck just as much as the old cigar-smoking mid-list genre writers banging at their typewriters in a Manhattan efficiency apartment did, but there remains a level of pride in their former profession which compels them to sweat the details.
They want to get it right.
Pete Nealen strikes me as just such an author; and he did get it right. I recommend Task Force Desperate to everyone who likes military fiction.
The good guys in this novel are mercs; the bad guys are pirates and terrorists . Jeff is a contractor in a PMC working in the third world's hottest spot, along with some other seasoned professionals. The story takes place in the near future, after the collapse of the US dollar, and the chaos in North Africa and the Middle East is probably no worse than it is back in the US. You get the idea that the Praetorian Security shooters are orphans of a sort; men without a country. They choose to live by the sword because they like the warrior life, but also because there's nothing to go back to...nothing else left for them. It bonds them into a tightly-knit unit...almost a family. That's the impression I got.
You won't be disappointed in the action. There is tension on every page from cover to cover and it only gets higher as the plot drives on. Through no fault of the book, I had to read it piecemeal over a period of weeks, and yet I consider it a fast read. And the details were right.
Looking at the new wave of military fiction, it's got a much better chance with a younger audience than the old classics I enjoyed back in the day.--possibly because so many of the new action/adventure authors are veterans. They want to make a buck just as much as the old cigar-smoking mid-list genre writers banging at their typewriters in a Manhattan efficiency apartment did, but there remains a level of pride in their former profession which compels them to sweat the details.
They want to get it right.
Pete Nealen strikes me as just such an author; and he did get it right. I recommend Task Force Desperate to everyone who likes military fiction.
February 23, 2016
An interesting one this, with some ideas that help raise it above the usual military novel. It is set in the near future where the USA is cash-strapped and no longer dominant. The Preatorians of the title are on board protection against piracy in the Gulf of Aden. They are all ex-military and well-armed and experienced guys who take their freighter protection role seriously.
When a US base is attacked on-shore and hostages taken, the US have no force in the area and the Preatorians are asked to slip ashore and do some recon for the US forces yet to arrive. As the story develops it appears that there will be no back-up and the guys have to decide whether to risk all against challenging odds and a hostile environment.
The focus here is on action and the author has the background to really know his stuff. Occasionally he falls into the trap of giving too much detail on weaponry and there is slight repetition (lead character is always “dropping to his knee”) but these are minor observations of a novel that is packed full of pace and action. The provided situation with the subdued USA puts a different perspective onto everything without labouring this as a near future or “alternative” future. As a result the bad guys have more power and less fear and the good guys know that the cavalry may not be coming.
A bit different and a lot of fun.
When a US base is attacked on-shore and hostages taken, the US have no force in the area and the Preatorians are asked to slip ashore and do some recon for the US forces yet to arrive. As the story develops it appears that there will be no back-up and the guys have to decide whether to risk all against challenging odds and a hostile environment.
The focus here is on action and the author has the background to really know his stuff. Occasionally he falls into the trap of giving too much detail on weaponry and there is slight repetition (lead character is always “dropping to his knee”) but these are minor observations of a novel that is packed full of pace and action. The provided situation with the subdued USA puts a different perspective onto everything without labouring this as a near future or “alternative” future. As a result the bad guys have more power and less fear and the good guys know that the cavalry may not be coming.
A bit different and a lot of fun.
April 16, 2018
This is a good intro to the Mercenary company, American Praetorians. They were originally hired to guard ships sailing near Somalia, and kill any pirates that tried to attack. While there, Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti gets attacked, and over 150 Americans taken hostage. The Govt won't commit American forces for a rescue without confirmation of their location, so the Praetorians are tasked by the CIA to find them.
The mission keeps on getting more and more difficult, but they succeed in rescuing around 25 or so soldiers, only to suffer setbacks and betrayals. Eventually, they get tasked with rescuing the rest of the hostages, who have been moved to Somalia. As they attempt to infiltrate the enemy base, an IED kills 3 of them, severely wounds another, and the rescue fails.
By now, it's clear that the enemy is ready for any rescue bid, so they instead target the head of the Islamic groups that are meeting in Yemen. The Praetorians manage to get in, kill the bad guys and get out, although they take more casualties in the process. The book ends with the head of the company happy with the result, even though the rescue ultimately failed.
I look forward to the next book.
The mission keeps on getting more and more difficult, but they succeed in rescuing around 25 or so soldiers, only to suffer setbacks and betrayals. Eventually, they get tasked with rescuing the rest of the hostages, who have been moved to Somalia. As they attempt to infiltrate the enemy base, an IED kills 3 of them, severely wounds another, and the rescue fails.
By now, it's clear that the enemy is ready for any rescue bid, so they instead target the head of the Islamic groups that are meeting in Yemen. The Praetorians manage to get in, kill the bad guys and get out, although they take more casualties in the process. The book ends with the head of the company happy with the result, even though the rescue ultimately failed.
I look forward to the next book.
April 28, 2018
Oorah!
From one of Chesty’s grandchildren to another...OUTSTANDING MARINE! Highly impressed with this read. Had me from the beginning. What I liked most was that you kept it simple enough for a civilian to understand yet technical enough for a combat vet! Impressive!
From one of Chesty’s grandchildren to another...OUTSTANDING MARINE! Highly impressed with this read. Had me from the beginning. What I liked most was that you kept it simple enough for a civilian to understand yet technical enough for a combat vet! Impressive!
August 14, 2018
Good Read
The book is staged in areas of current conflict and US involvement to some extent. It draws the reader in.
The book is staged in areas of current conflict and US involvement to some extent. It draws the reader in.
November 30, 2020
Unbeivable
How this book was rated so high is over rated. This story could have be written under two hundred pages.
How this book was rated so high is over rated. This story could have be written under two hundred pages.
April 16, 2022
Midwestern mess.
I enjoyed this novel. Well written. Lots of action. Many situations. The bad guys identified and eliminated. Team sticks together.
I enjoyed this novel. Well written. Lots of action. Many situations. The bad guys identified and eliminated. Team sticks together.
October 24, 2015
This is a military action thriller set in a very near future world where the US is basically bankrupt and must rely on a small private military contractor to rescue a group of hostages in Somalia. I found the characters and action to be quite realistic. The soldiers understand that they aren’t supermen so they try and avoid firefights whenever possible, unless they have an advantage or no choice in the matter. There is still tons of action, but the characters usually think and act like people whose lives are on the line. The plot is mostly interesting as the group has to navigate the shifting alliances of militants and factions in Somalia to achieve their objectives. The overall writing is solid, but the plot does slow down in a few spots until the next fight. I think fans of military fiction will enjoy this book and I’ll be reading the next in the series.
September 8, 2016
Outstanding SOF Combat
Good story, great combat scenes. Spot on on equipment, weapons, tactics. A full head above most post collapse dystopian fiction.
Good story, great combat scenes. Spot on on equipment, weapons, tactics. A full head above most post collapse dystopian fiction.
September 2, 2024
Action packed to the brim
This book was written by a Marine Recon who has been there and back and back again. He knows the region and the peoples. I could smell the cordite and see the buildings and the dangers.
Whether in fiction or real life, that region is full of dangerous people with anti-American agendas. They are getting bolder and bolder each year regardless of who is in the White House or Kremlin because they have other backers other than the West. China and Iran have no qualms defying US policy in Africa because they are offering more money with very few strings attached and even fewer questions asked about human rights.
I cannot wait to read the next book.
This book was written by a Marine Recon who has been there and back and back again. He knows the region and the peoples. I could smell the cordite and see the buildings and the dangers.
Whether in fiction or real life, that region is full of dangerous people with anti-American agendas. They are getting bolder and bolder each year regardless of who is in the White House or Kremlin because they have other backers other than the West. China and Iran have no qualms defying US policy in Africa because they are offering more money with very few strings attached and even fewer questions asked about human rights.
I cannot wait to read the next book.
November 13, 2016
Awesome !
All around great book. Kept you in the action through out. I'd recommend this book to everyone who like a good action packed read.
All around great book. Kept you in the action through out. I'd recommend this book to everyone who like a good action packed read.
December 10, 2016
Well done, nonstop run-and-gun.
February 25, 2018
started ok but then got tedious quickly. some godlike soldiers mowing down hordes of evildoers . sure ok, dropped.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews