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All Artemus Newton wanted after thirty-two years in the Army was a nice, quiet retirement. That's not going to happen. Fifty-year-old Army Chief Warrant Officer Artemus Newton has just retired after a long and mostly lackluster career sitting behind desks at different assignments around the world. Now Artemus Newton and his cat Gus have moved to a comfortable apartment at a far northwestern suburb of Chicago and he is looking forward to a peaceful retirement living off his Army pension, supplemented by a less stressful part time job. Newton's quiet life doesn't stay quiet for long, though. Sinister forces are planning the largest terror attack on American soil in history and they are converging on a target nearby. Guess who has to stop them.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 9, 2011
74 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Roger L. Blakely Jr.
22 books9 followersRoger Blakely is a retired Army Chief Warrant Officer. Roger spent six months at an Army airfield in Kuwait, 9 miles from the Iraq border during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in the desert.
Roger served in the Army for over thirty years with assignments in Germany, Kuwait, Illinois, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Alabama and other interesting places and draws upon his extensive military background when writing his novels. When he's not working on his latest novel, he plays a lot of on-line chess, takes his friends on adventures at a nearby shooting range, dabbles in flying lessons at the LaCrosse, Wisconsin airport, takes the occasional skydive from 14,500 feet, walks the occasional half-marathon or 5-K,visits museums and antique stores, visits some great Army and Navy and Air Force and Marine Corps and Coast Guard veterans at the local Veterans Administration Hospital (nursing home wing),bowls with his "bowling buddies," and was an avid kick boxer until he crushed and dislocated his left shoulder in an accident in early 2009.
Roger and his two cats, Jersey and Holstein, reside in the town of Huber Heights, Ohio.
Roger served in the Army for over thirty years with assignments in Germany, Kuwait, Illinois, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Alabama and other interesting places and draws upon his extensive military background when writing his novels. When he's not working on his latest novel, he plays a lot of on-line chess, takes his friends on adventures at a nearby shooting range, dabbles in flying lessons at the LaCrosse, Wisconsin airport, takes the occasional skydive from 14,500 feet, walks the occasional half-marathon or 5-K,visits museums and antique stores, visits some great Army and Navy and Air Force and Marine Corps and Coast Guard veterans at the local Veterans Administration Hospital (nursing home wing),bowls with his "bowling buddies," and was an avid kick boxer until he crushed and dislocated his left shoulder in an accident in early 2009.
Roger and his two cats, Jersey and Holstein, reside in the town of Huber Heights, Ohio.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 13, 2018
Basically a 'good ol' boy' book written by a 'good ol' boy' author; written by an American for Americans. His hero is fat, unfit, retired and old by 50. As if.
Some of the stuff in this book is painfully laughable to an international readership.
This author does minimal research.
He cannot compare with someone like Lee Child (an Englishman!) who did great research to write 21 highly enjoyable and thought-provoking books about the US Army and Reacher, his character; or with Michael Connolly and his in-depth knowledge of police practice on the west coast; or several of the British police procedural books, Joy Ellis and Peter James are just two..
And then there's his attitude towards his "purty li'l gal" who beats large brutes in hand-to-hand combat; utter BS..
I've seen local Sydney police woman, averaging 5'6' - 5'9", they are TRAINED, they are not pretty! They are thick wasted and tough, with real muscle.
I CAN imagine some of those getting extra martial arts training, and maybe THEN beating some big guys. They sure are NOT 'purty li'l gals'.. LOLOL.
I won't be reading any more of his lazy excretions.
Some of the stuff in this book is painfully laughable to an international readership.
This author does minimal research.
He cannot compare with someone like Lee Child (an Englishman!) who did great research to write 21 highly enjoyable and thought-provoking books about the US Army and Reacher, his character; or with Michael Connolly and his in-depth knowledge of police practice on the west coast; or several of the British police procedural books, Joy Ellis and Peter James are just two..
And then there's his attitude towards his "purty li'l gal" who beats large brutes in hand-to-hand combat; utter BS..
I've seen local Sydney police woman, averaging 5'6' - 5'9", they are TRAINED, they are not pretty! They are thick wasted and tough, with real muscle.
I CAN imagine some of those getting extra martial arts training, and maybe THEN beating some big guys. They sure are NOT 'purty li'l gals'.. LOLOL.
I won't be reading any more of his lazy excretions.
September 27, 2019
I remember reading this kind of YA prose as a young boy, in Hardy Boys books. The adult elements seem to have been added on as an afterthought. Plus, the typos were so many.
January 11, 2023
Very Poorly Written
Reads like it was written by a precocious child. The author makes very basic writing mistakes which make the book almost unreadably dull. Its hard to get to the meat of the story when the gristle of the writing is so tough.
The author takes the time to describe and redescribe every passing tangent which jams the brakes on the pacing of the story. He tells about the character moving in to a boring apartment, about how he adopted a cat 10 years previously, about a trip to the diner, about his morning work-out routine, about his clothing choices, etc. This goes on and on and on. None of it is at all relevant to the story in any way. He also overly describes people in the wrong ways - he tells ages and weights, but doesn’t show actions. All this makes the book incredibly dull.
Poor writing also saps the tension from action scenes. Short and stilted sentences with very basic or no descriptive language make it frustrating and dull despite the action. I don’t know how anyone could call this intense.
I got the first 6 books of this series for free. I won’t be reading any further. I would not recommend this novel to anyone. The author would be better served learning some writing technique rather than spamming out poorly written books.
Reads like it was written by a precocious child. The author makes very basic writing mistakes which make the book almost unreadably dull. Its hard to get to the meat of the story when the gristle of the writing is so tough.
The author takes the time to describe and redescribe every passing tangent which jams the brakes on the pacing of the story. He tells about the character moving in to a boring apartment, about how he adopted a cat 10 years previously, about a trip to the diner, about his morning work-out routine, about his clothing choices, etc. This goes on and on and on. None of it is at all relevant to the story in any way. He also overly describes people in the wrong ways - he tells ages and weights, but doesn’t show actions. All this makes the book incredibly dull.
Poor writing also saps the tension from action scenes. Short and stilted sentences with very basic or no descriptive language make it frustrating and dull despite the action. I don’t know how anyone could call this intense.
I got the first 6 books of this series for free. I won’t be reading any further. I would not recommend this novel to anyone. The author would be better served learning some writing technique rather than spamming out poorly written books.
September 12, 2020
I found "Chief" to be an entertaining, if rather farfetched, "Save America from the Bad Guys" read. Though the author would do well to have his work edited to clear up the frequent typos, they were not frequent enough to disrupt the flow of the story.
Memorable characters include Alexis, a hardened CIA agent, Henry, a billionaire obsessed with his Nazi father's legacy, and the boy "terrorists" Irfan and Muhammad, whom the author portrayed in a way that managed to be both grotesque and tragic.
However, the whole story would have worked much better for me if the main character, Artemus, (Artie) had actually been allowed the protagonist's role in a story that is ostensibly about him. As a is a slightly eccentric, middle-aged Army veteran with a pet cat and a penchant for strenuous workout routines, he's an appealing character, certainly strong enough to base a series on. I understand that this is only the first book in the series, but as "Chief" is written, Artemus seems almost a side character in his own story. I got the feeling if he suddenly walked "offstage" the other characters would barely bother to look around to see where he'd gone.
Memorable characters include Alexis, a hardened CIA agent, Henry, a billionaire obsessed with his Nazi father's legacy, and the boy "terrorists" Irfan and Muhammad, whom the author portrayed in a way that managed to be both grotesque and tragic.
However, the whole story would have worked much better for me if the main character, Artemus, (Artie) had actually been allowed the protagonist's role in a story that is ostensibly about him. As a is a slightly eccentric, middle-aged Army veteran with a pet cat and a penchant for strenuous workout routines, he's an appealing character, certainly strong enough to base a series on. I understand that this is only the first book in the series, but as "Chief" is written, Artemus seems almost a side character in his own story. I got the feeling if he suddenly walked "offstage" the other characters would barely bother to look around to see where he'd gone.
February 13, 2018
Artemus Newton is one of the most likeable protagonists I've yet come across. He's actually not a superhuman killing machine unlike so many, (I actually enjoy those too, just means suspending my disbelief wholesale,) he's human and infinitely more easy to relate to as a result.
Happens to be fifty, and shows his age in ways that we (okay - you young, fit healthy things too will one day reach this plateau, but until then you can ignore this bit!) can all relate to; less than perfect eyesight, meds for various misbehaving body parts, scales that continually seem to lie and overestimate one's weight and of course, the need for added fibre!
That doesn't mean to say that this story progresses at a slow, plodding pace, it certainly doesn't. It's fast-paced, crammed with intrigue and tension and populated with interesting characters, including Gus, Newton's elderly cat.
Have purchased the rest of this series, rather want to find out what Artemus next stumbles into during his far from relaxing retirement!
Happens to be fifty, and shows his age in ways that we (okay - you young, fit healthy things too will one day reach this plateau, but until then you can ignore this bit!) can all relate to; less than perfect eyesight, meds for various misbehaving body parts, scales that continually seem to lie and overestimate one's weight and of course, the need for added fibre!
That doesn't mean to say that this story progresses at a slow, plodding pace, it certainly doesn't. It's fast-paced, crammed with intrigue and tension and populated with interesting characters, including Gus, Newton's elderly cat.
Have purchased the rest of this series, rather want to find out what Artemus next stumbles into during his far from relaxing retirement!
July 8, 2017
Whoever gives their son the name of Artemus? Apparently it means “a follower of the goddess Artemis”. It is very unusual, however, and that applies to the man himself. He decides to revisit one of his former posting stations in Germany. This lasts only three days as he finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time – it is only a restaurant, but there is a meeting there between conspirators, a conversation being listened to by Alexis Lee, an American agent, who, as things begin to unravel, finds Newton coming to her aid. Both of them become targeted by Henry Sharp because his plans have been foiled, as he also tries to resurrect his desire to damage America. The plot is quite complex, but never dull. There are numerous typos, but these do not distract from what is a readable and exciting first novel. Artemus is very likeable as is his cat, Gus, and I look forward to following his adventures.
December 12, 2020
I purchased this book because of the amazing reviews on Amazon and oh boy, they were all right. This book is fantastic, the story is so beautiful and full of emotions, I couldn't put this down until I ended. The characters are so real and so well written that you can easily find yourself or a friend reflected on them, you start to love and care for them. Amazing book!!! can´t wait to read more from Roger Blakely.
This author is truly comfortable in his writing style. It is clean, lean, just what is needed to help the reader look forward to his future stories. I couldn't stop till the end! It was a pleasure to meet Artemis Newton and Alexis Lee at the beginning of their adventures. I highly recommend this book
This author is truly comfortable in his writing style. It is clean, lean, just what is needed to help the reader look forward to his future stories. I couldn't stop till the end! It was a pleasure to meet Artemis Newton and Alexis Lee at the beginning of their adventures. I highly recommend this book
June 22, 2018
Chief
Unexpectedly good thriller! The unfortunate Artemis Newton, getting involved with spies and terrorists, just wants a quiet, retired life with his cat, Gus. Even visiting a retirement home is dangerous. Turns out his retired life is more eventful than his working life ever was. Plenty of action to make it a page-turner. The only reason for not giving this 5 stars is, I don't like books about terrorism.
Unexpectedly good thriller! The unfortunate Artemis Newton, getting involved with spies and terrorists, just wants a quiet, retired life with his cat, Gus. Even visiting a retirement home is dangerous. Turns out his retired life is more eventful than his working life ever was. Plenty of action to make it a page-turner. The only reason for not giving this 5 stars is, I don't like books about terrorism.
January 15, 2025
Enjoyed this immensely, plenty of character development and action. Believablity was not over the top and didn't drag on like some others.
When I bought this, I thought it was a standalone which was done at the end. I was told(at the end) that this is a series with at least 3 more. This seems like 1 and done would be appropriate.
When I bought this, I thought it was a standalone which was done at the end. I was told(at the end) that this is a series with at least 3 more. This seems like 1 and done would be appropriate.
September 6, 2018
This book was excellent, I could not put it down.
April 7, 2020
Liked it alot
This i s the first of a pretty good series of books. Recommend them and look first to reading the whole group.
This i s the first of a pretty good series of books. Recommend them and look first to reading the whole group.
April 22, 2021
Great book, and great read! If you enjoy thrillers you will enjoy this series.
February 5, 2017
Interesting story. Needed an editor as there were too many incorrect words, misspellings, etc.
August 10, 2016
If you are looking for a new series, START HERE!
Let me get the negatives out of the way up front. First, I don't typically read Thrillers, life is serious enough without overstimulating my imagination with stressful, scary stuff. Second, all authors need a final proofreader. Final edits need to be double checked for structure and “do these words make sense?”. One of my personal pet peeves is when that final read before publication just doesn't happen. Roger L. Blakely Jr. is too talented a storyteller for this to be acceptable.
Enough of the negative, on to the positive. I read this book because the author is a former co-worker, and I was curious. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much. I was wrong. Once I accepted the negatives mentioned above, I was hooked. Artemus Newton is a wonderful, realistic person, and yes, he is also a character. His past experiences do not really prepare him for his retired life. I love the fact that as his life in retirement gets more exciting he just steps up his game and “gets it done”. His ability to make and keep friends (and enemies) is something special.
Read this book. Make some new friends. Raise your blood pressure and stimulate your imagination. Like all guilty pleasures, it's good for you once in a while.
Let me get the negatives out of the way up front. First, I don't typically read Thrillers, life is serious enough without overstimulating my imagination with stressful, scary stuff. Second, all authors need a final proofreader. Final edits need to be double checked for structure and “do these words make sense?”. One of my personal pet peeves is when that final read before publication just doesn't happen. Roger L. Blakely Jr. is too talented a storyteller for this to be acceptable.
Enough of the negative, on to the positive. I read this book because the author is a former co-worker, and I was curious. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much. I was wrong. Once I accepted the negatives mentioned above, I was hooked. Artemus Newton is a wonderful, realistic person, and yes, he is also a character. His past experiences do not really prepare him for his retired life. I love the fact that as his life in retirement gets more exciting he just steps up his game and “gets it done”. His ability to make and keep friends (and enemies) is something special.
Read this book. Make some new friends. Raise your blood pressure and stimulate your imagination. Like all guilty pleasures, it's good for you once in a while.
March 6, 2016
I'm reading Chief right now and I'm enjoying it very much. It's in a kindle edition. After seeing that Scoundrel was offered for free on Amazon, I decided I'd rather read the novels in chronological order and bought the first two. Chief is an excellent story ; however, there are many typing mistakes (i. e. Hanger instead of hangar to house planes), as well as forgotten words and /or words repeated twice. I do hope it's only the case for the first novel in the series. Please Mr Blakely, have the book read over and checked. It gives a bad first impression and might induce readers to give it up. I'm not, as I love the characters and the unusual plot.
March 6, 2016
I'll read more
The most interesting "twist" is that Artemus is not a special forces superman, but just an ordinary guy who did, and continues to do his duty. Not normal for the genre and thus interesting. Hope to get more of Agent Lee, who is a badass, in future stories.
The most interesting "twist" is that Artemus is not a special forces superman, but just an ordinary guy who did, and continues to do his duty. Not normal for the genre and thus interesting. Hope to get more of Agent Lee, who is a badass, in future stories.
May 10, 2016
Interesting read with good characters
The editing wasn't perfect, but the flow and character development kept me interested and wanting more. I am looking forward to reading more from Blakle
The editing wasn't perfect, but the flow and character development kept me interested and wanting more. I am looking forward to reading more from Blakle
July 4, 2016
Really great plot !!
Wow, what a great story! Love the characters, info on the military, info on CIA. Really like that the main character has a cat that he constantly interacts with. I look forward to reading more from this author!!
Wow, what a great story! Love the characters, info on the military, info on CIA. Really like that the main character has a cat that he constantly interacts with. I look forward to reading more from this author!!
September 27, 2016
This is an almost 4 star rating
This is a very good story with action and intrigue and twists with 'the best laid plans of mice and men' taking front and centre. I enjoyed the book but it definitely requires more proofing or a better editor, hence the 'almost 4 star rating.
This is a very good story with action and intrigue and twists with 'the best laid plans of mice and men' taking front and centre. I enjoyed the book but it definitely requires more proofing or a better editor, hence the 'almost 4 star rating.
January 5, 2020
Slightly unbelievable but good for treading on a flight
Storylines okay, but in the end some things were just a bit too contrived. If I find the meetings series I might read it but won't go out of my way to look for it
Storylines okay, but in the end some things were just a bit too contrived. If I find the meetings series I might read it but won't go out of my way to look for it
March 18, 2016
This is a very light book to read, although I enjoyed it. The bad guys didn't do that much bad because nothing went right for them, no matter how hard they have tried. I would read Blakely again.
December 20, 2016
This action-packed novel by Roger Blakely is the first in a series of action thrillers involving Artemus Newton, a newly retired Army Chief Warrant Officer. Having served in the United States Army for over 30 years, Artie just wants to retire and enjoy a simple life with his cat Gus. Before he starts his new part-time position, Artemus takes a vacation to reminisce and revisit his first duty assignment in Bamberg, Germany. But Artie has a way of finding trouble and meeting it head on. While dining in a German restaurant, he comes to the aid of a lovely CIA agent in danger, and the real entertainment begins as Artie helps the CIA foil a terrorist plot. Blakely is an entertaining author who has a knack for making Artemus a likeable character—as well as a loyal friend and a savvy opponent for the bad guys who cross his path. Just sit back and enjoy the ride, becaus
e the plot moves quickly. Also in the series: Arena, Scoundrel, and Knight. By the way, both Blakely and his hero Artemus Newton are Tecumseh High School alumni! So look for fun references to Springfield AND mentions of local treasures like Schuler’s bakery in each of his books.
April 13, 2017
Good Military and terrorist read
It was a pleasure to meet Artemis Newton and Alexis Lee at the beginning of their adventures. Mr. Blakely develops his characters well, not perfectly, but in a likeable manner.
It was a pleasure to meet Artemis Newton and Alexis Lee at the beginning of their adventures. Mr. Blakely develops his characters well, not perfectly, but in a likeable manner.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews