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Blake Barrett #1
The Impostor
Living a lie while seeking the truth. Meet Blake Barrett.Minding his own business with a quiet life in the Ozarks, former Air Force Special Reconnaissance airman Blake Barrett survives a surprising assassination attempt on his life and must make a difficult choice to avoid a life on the impersonate an assassin. Not an easy task for a man who was passed over for an elite special ops team because of his reticence to take another’s life.
With his life at stake, Barrett must find the resolve to do what he couldn’t do years before. But in the process, he’s thrust headlong into a twisted conspiracy that weighs heavily on a hotly contested presidential election.
Posing as a covert operator, Barrett infiltrates a shadowy organization pulling the strings behind the scenes. From Spanish caves to secret underground tunnels in Indianapolis to luxury yachts in the Mediterranean, Barrett battles terrorists, arms dealers, and corrupt politicians, all in an effort to uncover the truth and stop an attack that could alter the course of American history.
Outgunned and on the run, Barrett criss-crosses the globe as he confronts his own dark past while unmasking the powerful forces manipulating events for their own sinister ends that will ultimately put millions of innocent people in the crosshairs of a deadly game.
The Impostor is an electrifying thriller full of action, intrigue, and high stakes on the campaign trail. Can Barrett uncover who wants him dead without losing himself in the deception?
With his life at stake, Barrett must find the resolve to do what he couldn’t do years before. But in the process, he’s thrust headlong into a twisted conspiracy that weighs heavily on a hotly contested presidential election.
Posing as a covert operator, Barrett infiltrates a shadowy organization pulling the strings behind the scenes. From Spanish caves to secret underground tunnels in Indianapolis to luxury yachts in the Mediterranean, Barrett battles terrorists, arms dealers, and corrupt politicians, all in an effort to uncover the truth and stop an attack that could alter the course of American history.
Outgunned and on the run, Barrett criss-crosses the globe as he confronts his own dark past while unmasking the powerful forces manipulating events for their own sinister ends that will ultimately put millions of innocent people in the crosshairs of a deadly game.
The Impostor is an electrifying thriller full of action, intrigue, and high stakes on the campaign trail. Can Barrett uncover who wants him dead without losing himself in the deception?
390 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 29, 2024
About the author
R.J. Patterson
209 books219 followers*** Signup for my newsletter and receive a free copy of The Warren Omissions, the first book in my James Flynn thriller series, by visiting http://eepurl.com/bZwpdf ***
THE FIRST SIGNS that I might like writing -- and that I might be slightly competitive -- appeared when my year two (or first grade) teacher, Mrs. Holland, asked my class to write and illustrate our day. Mine read like this: “The Red team beat the Blue team, 1 to nil. And I won.” The next 47 entries covered my exploits on the soccer pitch while growing up in Ipswich, England.
In South Carolina as a teenager, my dad told me that I could get paid to watch sports provided I could write about it. Sounded easy enough and by the time I was 16, I landed a job at my town’s daily newspaper and had a column on Major League Baseball players from our area. I also covered my first riot there at a sporting event -- and it’s safe to say I was smitten with journalism.
After graduating from one of the best journalism schools in the country, I took a job as a sports editor in South Georgia and learned firsthand about the passion of high school sports in rural America. I thought I knew before, but I didn’t. This was another world.
I also had the opportunity to cover major sporting events like the Olympic Games, the World Series, the Super Bowl, and the Final Four. It was a thrill!
But nothing was as thrilling to me as uncovering the truth in investigative assignments. I once broke a story about a prominent southern football team’s NCAA violation -- and found out the violating coach had committed suicide only a few months earlier. The story won a national writing award and stoked my desire to write about these issues. It made me realize that the sports world was just another fantastic backdrop for drama.
After writing non-fiction books with athletes, for athletes, and ghost writing for many others, I decided to enter the world of fiction writing. It had been something I wanted to do but never found the time. So, I made the time--and had a blast in the process.
I’m not out to become the next Faulkner or Hemingway -- I’m just out to tell a good story. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them!
THE FIRST SIGNS that I might like writing -- and that I might be slightly competitive -- appeared when my year two (or first grade) teacher, Mrs. Holland, asked my class to write and illustrate our day. Mine read like this: “The Red team beat the Blue team, 1 to nil. And I won.” The next 47 entries covered my exploits on the soccer pitch while growing up in Ipswich, England.
In South Carolina as a teenager, my dad told me that I could get paid to watch sports provided I could write about it. Sounded easy enough and by the time I was 16, I landed a job at my town’s daily newspaper and had a column on Major League Baseball players from our area. I also covered my first riot there at a sporting event -- and it’s safe to say I was smitten with journalism.
After graduating from one of the best journalism schools in the country, I took a job as a sports editor in South Georgia and learned firsthand about the passion of high school sports in rural America. I thought I knew before, but I didn’t. This was another world.
I also had the opportunity to cover major sporting events like the Olympic Games, the World Series, the Super Bowl, and the Final Four. It was a thrill!
But nothing was as thrilling to me as uncovering the truth in investigative assignments. I once broke a story about a prominent southern football team’s NCAA violation -- and found out the violating coach had committed suicide only a few months earlier. The story won a national writing award and stoked my desire to write about these issues. It made me realize that the sports world was just another fantastic backdrop for drama.
After writing non-fiction books with athletes, for athletes, and ghost writing for many others, I decided to enter the world of fiction writing. It had been something I wanted to do but never found the time. So, I made the time--and had a blast in the process.
I’m not out to become the next Faulkner or Hemingway -- I’m just out to tell a good story. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them!
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 15, 2024
So this one wasn’t my typical genre, so that was difficult. However, I’m a character in this book!!!! Well, at least my name exists in this book. My husband won a raffle and submitted my name to be used as a character. Forever the new coolest thing about me!
February 27, 2024
Action/suspense packed new series from R.J. Patterson.
After reading 35 books from 6 series by R. J. Patterson I thought I had his character development figured out, but then along came The Imposter and I had to rethink my preconceived notions. This book starts off in such a way that I was not just intrigued by the story premise, but by the numerous unanswered questions flooding my mind. These questions are all related to motivations and identities of the various characters in addition to Blake Barrett. Blake’s motivations are very straight forward, but the drivers behind those motivations are a mystery at best. Like all of R. J.’s books, The Imposter is action-packed, populated with several very likeable characters as well as some who are suspect at best and most likely despicable. While I have enjoyed all the previous books of R. J.’s that I have read, this Blake Barrett series is one that has my interest piqued to the point of wishing the entire series were available right now so that I could just sit, and binge read each book to see if my suspicions are right. I received an Advance Reader Copy of the Imposter and chose to provide my honest review.
After reading 35 books from 6 series by R. J. Patterson I thought I had his character development figured out, but then along came The Imposter and I had to rethink my preconceived notions. This book starts off in such a way that I was not just intrigued by the story premise, but by the numerous unanswered questions flooding my mind. These questions are all related to motivations and identities of the various characters in addition to Blake Barrett. Blake’s motivations are very straight forward, but the drivers behind those motivations are a mystery at best. Like all of R. J.’s books, The Imposter is action-packed, populated with several very likeable characters as well as some who are suspect at best and most likely despicable. While I have enjoyed all the previous books of R. J.’s that I have read, this Blake Barrett series is one that has my interest piqued to the point of wishing the entire series were available right now so that I could just sit, and binge read each book to see if my suspicions are right. I received an Advance Reader Copy of the Imposter and chose to provide my honest review.
August 13, 2024
This is an exciting new series that introduces us to Blake Barrett. Blake Barrett a former Air Force Special Reconnaissance airman, and is living a quiet life in the Ozarks. Barrett survives a surprising assassination attempt on his life. He ends up taking a roll as an assassin to stay alive ans figure out who and why do they want him dead. Blake encounters many challenges during his missions. Lots of twists, turns and action that keep you on the edge of you seat and wanting to keep reading to see what happens next. Looking forward to the next book.
March 24, 2026
Interesting story, the characters seemed real t me that is probably because I am a very senior citizen and some of the Character experience related to real news I have heard about or senior experiences seemed real to me , some are even familiar from news reports in old media I have read about in real news media .. It was a book I could read of and on during my day and it “called” me back to read more and fill in and join back to where returning to the story after a break!
April 2, 2024
A new series
I was a little reluctant to get into this new series because I am so fond of the others. Glad I took the plunge. So much action and unexpected twists. I'm Looking forward to the next book. Clean read.
I was a little reluctant to get into this new series because I am so fond of the others. Glad I took the plunge. So much action and unexpected twists. I'm Looking forward to the next book. Clean read.
March 15, 2024
Another amazing beginning to a new series. Someone tried to assassinate Blake, and now he needs to quickly find out why. Full of secrets and danger that will have you gripped Can’t wait for more.
April 1, 2024
New series
I just finished The Imposter. Very fun book to read. I love Blake Barrett and the new team. Can't wait to read book number 2.
I just finished The Imposter. Very fun book to read. I love Blake Barrett and the new team. Can't wait to read book number 2.
April 11, 2024
Enjoyable book. The team of three were extremely good at their job and this is a good beginning for a new series. I rate this book 5 stars.
August 15, 2024
Started off ok
Got to unrealistic during the last 20% of the story. Helicopters don’t sneak in and Secret Service agents don’t let strangers on a stage.
Got to unrealistic during the last 20% of the story. Helicopters don’t sneak in and Secret Service agents don’t let strangers on a stage.
February 11, 2025
Great book
This was so different from the other books I have read by this author. I liked Barrett and the change of character.
This was so different from the other books I have read by this author. I liked Barrett and the change of character.
February 19, 2026
Not your usual thriller but lots of intrigue!
Blake Barrett is more than he appears but not convincing enough to be accepted by a specialist group of operatives!
Blake Barrett is more than he appears but not convincing enough to be accepted by a specialist group of operatives!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews