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Sean Havens Black Ops #1
Safe Havens: Shadow Masters
Sean Havens served the government black ops underworld for over twenty years. He lived and operated through corporate cut-outs and within the dark recesses of humanity to protect the country he loved. But when the family he loved was unprotected by his country, Havens' clandestine double life follows him home colliding two very separate worlds. As a corrupt oversight-exempt program drives him to soldier on, Havens struggles to hold on to what he has left of his formerly distanced life. Shock awaits as he learns who is friend or foe in the obscure domestic battlefield. To find sanctuary, he must navigate the intertwined shadows of underhanded proxy surrogate schemes, staged terrorism, and a long thought to be disbanded CIA rival--The Pond. If Havens survives as both protector and punisher, will his soul be among the body count? Few will find safe haven amidst those seeking revenge and refuge within the twisted wreckage of covert eliminations and set-ups.
374 pages, Paperback
First published January 27, 2014
93 people are currently reading
280 people want to read
About the author
J.T. Patten
17 books176 followers"J.T. Patten" has worked with the intelligence and special operations community in support of national defense and policy. He has a degree in Foreign Language, a Masters in Strategic Intelligence, graduate studies in Counter Terrorism from the University of St. Andrews, and numerous expertise certifications in forensics, fraud, and financial crime investigations. Patten shares these unique experiences with readers to give them a taste of "the black."
His novel is written in a multi-layered non-linear plot style that provides a compelling inside view of larger than life covert activities in addition to the gripping turmoil that warriors suffer while battling foes and internal demons.
Disclaimer:
These novels do not constitute an official release of CIA information. All statements of fact, opinion, or analysis expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official positions or views of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or any other U.S. Government agency. Nothing in the contents should be construed as asserting or implying U.S. Government authentication of information or CIA endorsement of the author’s views. This material has been reviewed for classification.
His novel is written in a multi-layered non-linear plot style that provides a compelling inside view of larger than life covert activities in addition to the gripping turmoil that warriors suffer while battling foes and internal demons.
Disclaimer:
These novels do not constitute an official release of CIA information. All statements of fact, opinion, or analysis expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official positions or views of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or any other U.S. Government agency. Nothing in the contents should be construed as asserting or implying U.S. Government authentication of information or CIA endorsement of the author’s views. This material has been reviewed for classification.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
November 17, 2021
Written nine to ten years ago as his first novel, J.T.Patten reintroduces the formidable thriller SHADOW MASTERS with the same whirlwind grab, now SHADOW MASTERS RELOADED,but reintroduces the protagonist and secondary characters with a greater fleshing out of their characters’ personalities, job descriptions, locale descriptions, those elements that make a narrative sing. It is a stunning tale of deep Black Ops taken to the nth degree. What is more startling is to learn this author has a lengthy connection to the intelligence community. Whether it is scene description, narrative, or dialogue, the intensity behind the words written leave you pondering -is this fiction or am I looking at a reality Patten experienced in the field? Is this novel designed as a warning, of possibilities that lay on the horizon.
Regardless, it is a brilliant piece of literature. Special Ops personnel, especially Black Ops, will be reading it to view its accuracy. Perhaps to reflect on similar assignments received in the past. Novices especially those seeking a career with the intelligence/security community will peruse it for information as a heads up, an enlightenment of what to expect.Some will walk away with an OMG. Others may see it as a challenge. You will not finish it without an adamant opinion on it. I’m an old lady, lived, worked in DC nearly quarter century. Knew people in the ‘community’ and I see this as reality. A reality to be dealt with repeatedly over the years. Especially in light of the corruption in current government. This is like an open book, explaining how spy masters,living in the shadows, are trained, how they perform in the field, the role of a personal life in these personnel, how they interact with other agencies, and possible assignments, some with a personal agenda that’s a violation of their oath to the Constitution.
In the past, the CIA and its sister agencies had developed an “anything goes” reputation. Bribery, graft, assassination, anything went. Even the mass media began pointing out the overstepping of boundaries. Fifty years ago, warnings were delivered thru movies. They made the career of one of Hollywood’s most legendary actors. Robert Redford. Remember the reporters on Watergate?
The theme of this book was first raised way back then and is still applicable today. Anyone recall THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR. It shook societal/governmental structures then, made Redford’s career and left our nation reeling. Some will recall it was just about someone connected to the CIA tracking an assassin. Others recall the premise- there is an ELITE CIA within the CIA carrying out missions that meet their agendas and not necessarily those of the current administration or policy set forth by Congress. They operated by their own rules, had their own private networks for enactment of their agendas, cutouts, who were viewed as expendable. Those employed may not be informed about others in the network, not even those in counterintelligence, counterinsurgency in the recognized CIA or in the security community in general.
Patten takes his story to the blackest of the Black Ops, to two more levels downward into that abyss. The “Game” leads to the central heart of the Pentagon, to the core of the Intelligence Community, But with each unveiling you find yourself questioning just how many layers are there? Is this “fictional” story an actual description of reality today? The core theme of this novel is to not only peel back the layers of that community, but to examine also the prime motivator for an operation like this.
As with anything today, it comes down to money, lots of money. There is an $800B budget for DOD/National Security and Intelligence? Remember that as you ponder a plot where anything is allowable, consider anyone expendable to justify and create a scenario and rationale to prove to Congressional power brokers that more money is needed to restabilize world govts (which we just destabilized) to establish and ensure that the US and its military are the dominant player in the world arena. You got all that? You need the money to destabilize govts of the world to prove to a gullible,power crazed Congress that more money is needed to ensure that US/military are the dominate player in the world. Think about all this. Sound familiar? This book is as timely today as when it was written a decade ago. Some things never change.
Patten introduces you to 40 year old Sean Havens, husband to therapist spouse, Christina, and dad to teen daughter Maggie. He is a fixer, a specialized layer in the intell community who assesses situations around the world, develops and offers options to his immediate supervisor who carries it up the line. Decisions are made and Havens sets into motion those recommendations made through cutouts, independent operators, or occasionally handled by himself.
The powers that be have decided they want greater control over Sean. They have plans for him within the higher echelons of this multi-layered “CIA within a CIA, within a CIA,” and family is mucking it up. He avoids various entrapment in getting himself out of the Middle East, asks a “professional” friend to keep tabs on his family until he arrives home. He discovers he is too late. His chain of supervisors could care less, after all, they set the dogs of war upon them. Betrayal is everywhere. A good long term friend is actually his senior supervisor in the “Pond.” He ordered and arranged the hit through Havens’ immediate supervisor. They see attacking his family as a motivator to getting total commitment to them, their agenda by Sean.
This story is executed like a multiple level chess game where everyone is a pawn and expendable. But this military Cabal with their pet projects didn’t count on Sean having a Chicago Police Forensics Detective covering his back, his brother in law, Lars Bjorklund. They didn’t anticipate professional friends of Sean and Lars stepping in to protect the daughter in a comatose state in the hospital. They certainly didn’t expect incompetent gang bangers to be brought in for the job and not ensuring all were dead. These people are power hungry, money hungry and blinded by ambition. A bad combination for a military accustomed to ‘snap to it’ orders. It becomes a test of wills in a failed or screwed up power play. Too many unanswered questions arise along with too many mysteries, all enrage a deadly Sean Havens.
Patten creates exotic personalities for his chief players. Havens is portrayed as sort of a super spy with the occasional flaw. He loves his family, but sometimes is not very good at domestication. His immediate bosses are first class pricks. Suck ups to their superiors and expect nothing less than perfection from Sean. Told what to do, he makes it happen. They are in for a surprise when Havens tells them to shove the job, he is not deserting his daughter a week after burying his wife to go to Tripoli.
Patten creates an interesting neurotic creature as good friend of Havens but is actually his senior boss within these hidden layers of Black Ops. Prescott Draeger, a man who holds a grudge against Havens for ‘humiliating’ Draeger years earlier while saving PD’s life. An interesting lifestyle is portrayed for this man. His ambitions are examined and also why he sleeps in a closet as a form of panic room. He’s a man who suffers from anxiety and panic attacks but lives and works in the counterintelligence community. Not a pleasant person.
His brother in law is presented also as a real character. A massively large man with a magnificent mind for details and scoping out scenarios. He knows he always covers his back in everything, so Sean has to be the source somehow that initiated this assassination. Patten uses Bjorklund’s gentle yet thorough interrogation of his brother in law to introduce you to Sean Havens early years, his fascination with all kinds of weapons from those used in special ops to bow and arrow hunting.
Patten reveals through a narrative from Havens how he was recruited from college due to his desire to get into special ops. But with his vision, would never cut the requirements. His multi- lingual abilities and efficacy with guns and weaponry is a strong poser along with his willingness to learn anything. Havens finds himself introduced to a senior player in the black ops community who his vastly impressed by Havens and gets him entered in training programs. It is amusing to see a grown man being taught a multitude of ways to make tea and conduct tea ceremonies. The same with coffee. He is taught how to run businesses efficiently. Taught how to use explosives.How to serve as an emergency medic in the field. It was fascinating to see the variety of careers this man was introduced to and be able to perform within those careers if he had too. In many ways, this strikes me as very much how a field operative would be trained.
Jerry Jackson introduced Havens to the community of the SUB ROSA. And as his prize pupil, has kept tabs on Sean and his career over time. It is interesting to see this figure reintroduced into Havens’ career years later. With a handful of professional friends, Sean and Lars unpeel the layers of deceit and betrayal, not only against Sean and his family, but also the heinous plot instigated by the Cabal, the POND, to manipulate senior government leaders in Congress and the White House to up the ante for pet military projects in order to enhance and enlarge the military budgets for them. How high does the treason against oath to Constitution and the nation go? How high the greed?
Too many readers, Americans forget the Church hearings of the 70s that tried to reign in abuses of power by the CIA. Too many details are forgotten about what really happened on 9/11 with the collapse of the NYC Trade Center buildings, not only the two towers, but also the smaller third building of this world center for banking and business. Look up the implosion of the Trump hotel of Atlantic City, view the video of that done several months ago. Then go back and start watching all the video footage of the collapse of the Twin Towers and the third building of the complex. Ask yourself what looks different. Do their destruction look similar? Same with the collapse of the newly reconstructed Fifth Wall of the Pentagon. View the videos taken of that. Run them through your mind. What are you really looking it?
In many ways, this book scared the hell out of me. Especially in light of actions taken by our former President to interfere with SARS Covid-2 stoppage and treatment. How far would a govt go to enact the agenda, the orders by chief players in a universal CABAL, to ensure they get the money they want? Where is the line drawn between blind ambition and genocide? I was on the Potomac River bridge on 9/11 when that jet destined to hit the Pentagon went right over the top of me, right over the CIA at Langley. When I saw it, I knew we were at war. Far greater damage could have been done to our nation if CIA at Langley had been incinerated. Why bother with the Pentagon, with a building that had been totally renovated and reopened recently? The CIA would have been a more prime target.
Patten raises a hell of a lot of questions with the reissuance of this upgraded novel. The training involved in producing Special Ops, Black Ops players, the intensity and thoroughness make you realize these people are capable of doing anything if ordered or paid enough. That they are trained to appear as Joe Smith, average American with nothing to distinguish them, yet lethal. Both men and women taught to blend. How far would they go to enact orders? This is a brilliant and superbly written,revealing novel, designed to hold your attention throughout with a plot that sends chills down your spine. The detailed narrative and dialogue leave you enthralled. Be prepared to be shocked and enlightened. And as you read it, think of the oath you took, as a child in the Pledge of Allegiance, as a military soldier, as an office holder. Would you cross the line or be willing to die to protect that oath to your nation? Think about it, only you can decide. A fantastic read that engages both the thrill seeker and the intellectual. Kudos J.T. Patten,5*!
Regardless, it is a brilliant piece of literature. Special Ops personnel, especially Black Ops, will be reading it to view its accuracy. Perhaps to reflect on similar assignments received in the past. Novices especially those seeking a career with the intelligence/security community will peruse it for information as a heads up, an enlightenment of what to expect.Some will walk away with an OMG. Others may see it as a challenge. You will not finish it without an adamant opinion on it. I’m an old lady, lived, worked in DC nearly quarter century. Knew people in the ‘community’ and I see this as reality. A reality to be dealt with repeatedly over the years. Especially in light of the corruption in current government. This is like an open book, explaining how spy masters,living in the shadows, are trained, how they perform in the field, the role of a personal life in these personnel, how they interact with other agencies, and possible assignments, some with a personal agenda that’s a violation of their oath to the Constitution.
In the past, the CIA and its sister agencies had developed an “anything goes” reputation. Bribery, graft, assassination, anything went. Even the mass media began pointing out the overstepping of boundaries. Fifty years ago, warnings were delivered thru movies. They made the career of one of Hollywood’s most legendary actors. Robert Redford. Remember the reporters on Watergate?
The theme of this book was first raised way back then and is still applicable today. Anyone recall THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR. It shook societal/governmental structures then, made Redford’s career and left our nation reeling. Some will recall it was just about someone connected to the CIA tracking an assassin. Others recall the premise- there is an ELITE CIA within the CIA carrying out missions that meet their agendas and not necessarily those of the current administration or policy set forth by Congress. They operated by their own rules, had their own private networks for enactment of their agendas, cutouts, who were viewed as expendable. Those employed may not be informed about others in the network, not even those in counterintelligence, counterinsurgency in the recognized CIA or in the security community in general.
Patten takes his story to the blackest of the Black Ops, to two more levels downward into that abyss. The “Game” leads to the central heart of the Pentagon, to the core of the Intelligence Community, But with each unveiling you find yourself questioning just how many layers are there? Is this “fictional” story an actual description of reality today? The core theme of this novel is to not only peel back the layers of that community, but to examine also the prime motivator for an operation like this.
As with anything today, it comes down to money, lots of money. There is an $800B budget for DOD/National Security and Intelligence? Remember that as you ponder a plot where anything is allowable, consider anyone expendable to justify and create a scenario and rationale to prove to Congressional power brokers that more money is needed to restabilize world govts (which we just destabilized) to establish and ensure that the US and its military are the dominant player in the world arena. You got all that? You need the money to destabilize govts of the world to prove to a gullible,power crazed Congress that more money is needed to ensure that US/military are the dominate player in the world. Think about all this. Sound familiar? This book is as timely today as when it was written a decade ago. Some things never change.
Patten introduces you to 40 year old Sean Havens, husband to therapist spouse, Christina, and dad to teen daughter Maggie. He is a fixer, a specialized layer in the intell community who assesses situations around the world, develops and offers options to his immediate supervisor who carries it up the line. Decisions are made and Havens sets into motion those recommendations made through cutouts, independent operators, or occasionally handled by himself.
The powers that be have decided they want greater control over Sean. They have plans for him within the higher echelons of this multi-layered “CIA within a CIA, within a CIA,” and family is mucking it up. He avoids various entrapment in getting himself out of the Middle East, asks a “professional” friend to keep tabs on his family until he arrives home. He discovers he is too late. His chain of supervisors could care less, after all, they set the dogs of war upon them. Betrayal is everywhere. A good long term friend is actually his senior supervisor in the “Pond.” He ordered and arranged the hit through Havens’ immediate supervisor. They see attacking his family as a motivator to getting total commitment to them, their agenda by Sean.
This story is executed like a multiple level chess game where everyone is a pawn and expendable. But this military Cabal with their pet projects didn’t count on Sean having a Chicago Police Forensics Detective covering his back, his brother in law, Lars Bjorklund. They didn’t anticipate professional friends of Sean and Lars stepping in to protect the daughter in a comatose state in the hospital. They certainly didn’t expect incompetent gang bangers to be brought in for the job and not ensuring all were dead. These people are power hungry, money hungry and blinded by ambition. A bad combination for a military accustomed to ‘snap to it’ orders. It becomes a test of wills in a failed or screwed up power play. Too many unanswered questions arise along with too many mysteries, all enrage a deadly Sean Havens.
Patten creates exotic personalities for his chief players. Havens is portrayed as sort of a super spy with the occasional flaw. He loves his family, but sometimes is not very good at domestication. His immediate bosses are first class pricks. Suck ups to their superiors and expect nothing less than perfection from Sean. Told what to do, he makes it happen. They are in for a surprise when Havens tells them to shove the job, he is not deserting his daughter a week after burying his wife to go to Tripoli.
Patten creates an interesting neurotic creature as good friend of Havens but is actually his senior boss within these hidden layers of Black Ops. Prescott Draeger, a man who holds a grudge against Havens for ‘humiliating’ Draeger years earlier while saving PD’s life. An interesting lifestyle is portrayed for this man. His ambitions are examined and also why he sleeps in a closet as a form of panic room. He’s a man who suffers from anxiety and panic attacks but lives and works in the counterintelligence community. Not a pleasant person.
His brother in law is presented also as a real character. A massively large man with a magnificent mind for details and scoping out scenarios. He knows he always covers his back in everything, so Sean has to be the source somehow that initiated this assassination. Patten uses Bjorklund’s gentle yet thorough interrogation of his brother in law to introduce you to Sean Havens early years, his fascination with all kinds of weapons from those used in special ops to bow and arrow hunting.
Patten reveals through a narrative from Havens how he was recruited from college due to his desire to get into special ops. But with his vision, would never cut the requirements. His multi- lingual abilities and efficacy with guns and weaponry is a strong poser along with his willingness to learn anything. Havens finds himself introduced to a senior player in the black ops community who his vastly impressed by Havens and gets him entered in training programs. It is amusing to see a grown man being taught a multitude of ways to make tea and conduct tea ceremonies. The same with coffee. He is taught how to run businesses efficiently. Taught how to use explosives.How to serve as an emergency medic in the field. It was fascinating to see the variety of careers this man was introduced to and be able to perform within those careers if he had too. In many ways, this strikes me as very much how a field operative would be trained.
Jerry Jackson introduced Havens to the community of the SUB ROSA. And as his prize pupil, has kept tabs on Sean and his career over time. It is interesting to see this figure reintroduced into Havens’ career years later. With a handful of professional friends, Sean and Lars unpeel the layers of deceit and betrayal, not only against Sean and his family, but also the heinous plot instigated by the Cabal, the POND, to manipulate senior government leaders in Congress and the White House to up the ante for pet military projects in order to enhance and enlarge the military budgets for them. How high does the treason against oath to Constitution and the nation go? How high the greed?
Too many readers, Americans forget the Church hearings of the 70s that tried to reign in abuses of power by the CIA. Too many details are forgotten about what really happened on 9/11 with the collapse of the NYC Trade Center buildings, not only the two towers, but also the smaller third building of this world center for banking and business. Look up the implosion of the Trump hotel of Atlantic City, view the video of that done several months ago. Then go back and start watching all the video footage of the collapse of the Twin Towers and the third building of the complex. Ask yourself what looks different. Do their destruction look similar? Same with the collapse of the newly reconstructed Fifth Wall of the Pentagon. View the videos taken of that. Run them through your mind. What are you really looking it?
In many ways, this book scared the hell out of me. Especially in light of actions taken by our former President to interfere with SARS Covid-2 stoppage and treatment. How far would a govt go to enact the agenda, the orders by chief players in a universal CABAL, to ensure they get the money they want? Where is the line drawn between blind ambition and genocide? I was on the Potomac River bridge on 9/11 when that jet destined to hit the Pentagon went right over the top of me, right over the CIA at Langley. When I saw it, I knew we were at war. Far greater damage could have been done to our nation if CIA at Langley had been incinerated. Why bother with the Pentagon, with a building that had been totally renovated and reopened recently? The CIA would have been a more prime target.
Patten raises a hell of a lot of questions with the reissuance of this upgraded novel. The training involved in producing Special Ops, Black Ops players, the intensity and thoroughness make you realize these people are capable of doing anything if ordered or paid enough. That they are trained to appear as Joe Smith, average American with nothing to distinguish them, yet lethal. Both men and women taught to blend. How far would they go to enact orders? This is a brilliant and superbly written,revealing novel, designed to hold your attention throughout with a plot that sends chills down your spine. The detailed narrative and dialogue leave you enthralled. Be prepared to be shocked and enlightened. And as you read it, think of the oath you took, as a child in the Pledge of Allegiance, as a military soldier, as an office holder. Would you cross the line or be willing to die to protect that oath to your nation? Think about it, only you can decide. A fantastic read that engages both the thrill seeker and the intellectual. Kudos J.T. Patten,5*!
December 28, 2014
I don't write long, drawn-out reviews for any book, nor do I write many reviews at all. You won't find me bashing an author or his/her storyline b/c the fact of the matter is, almost 100% of the people reading this could never begin to start and FINISH the process. So, I write reviews to help the person that's looking for the "next book to read." I write reviews for books that either truly sparked my interest, made me think, or caused me to put off something I needed to do for...
...one. more. page.
And, in those few such cases, I think the book is truly special.
This book is special.
This book has everything Ludlum's Jason Bourne has, only Patten writes with and saturates his main character, Sean Havens, with far more "grit" than Ludlum/Bourne thought about having.
I know...sacrilege. You'll live.
Safe Havens is crisply written with a plot that hits all the right ebbs and flows any novel should. In my opinion, it's frightening to think that there are people like Sean Havens walking around - much less his antagonist at the Pond. More frightening still - the ease at which I could see just how quickly the contents of this book could become reality...for anyone.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. DO I recommend this book, absolutely.
...one. more. page.
And, in those few such cases, I think the book is truly special.
This book is special.
This book has everything Ludlum's Jason Bourne has, only Patten writes with and saturates his main character, Sean Havens, with far more "grit" than Ludlum/Bourne thought about having.
I know...sacrilege. You'll live.
Safe Havens is crisply written with a plot that hits all the right ebbs and flows any novel should. In my opinion, it's frightening to think that there are people like Sean Havens walking around - much less his antagonist at the Pond. More frightening still - the ease at which I could see just how quickly the contents of this book could become reality...for anyone.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. DO I recommend this book, absolutely.
February 20, 2014
4.5 stars....Excellent debut novel. Great plot, great twist to keep you guessing.
At times a bit confusing and the dialogue at times was weak. Still I will be looking forward to more work by this author.
At times a bit confusing and the dialogue at times was weak. Still I will be looking forward to more work by this author.
November 7, 2016
NO SAFETY WHEN SPYING
=[4.6 Stars rounded up to 5]=
Hello. This is my first review on this site in a while. Due to a surprisingly busy year (all my extended family thought it would be the right time to visit me) and a mid-year visit to the parts of East Asia which I haven’t travelled to (the ROK was fantastic. Taiwan on the other hand was like being trapped in an oven set to “baking”), I have neglected to keep up and developed an increasingly large waiting list of books. So today, I will seek to thin that list by one book.
American spy/military thriller writers and moral ambiguity. Let’s face it, the two do not go hand in hand. Crafting morally grey tales is normally the preserve of British writers, such as Graham Greene’s “The Quiet American”, John Le Carre’s “The Honourable Schoolboy”, Charles Cumming’s “TYPHOON” or even Tom Wood’s “The Hunter”. All the big names among American thriller writers solidly prefer traditional black and white morality when writing their books. Not that I would begrudge them for it or consider it wrong, after all, many of those same authors worked hard to get where they are and usually receive hundreds of positive amazon reviews and thousands of sales for their efforts. However, there comes a point when even a good vs evil conflict can get boring, where even avid readers will start saying that they’ve “seen it all before.” Stories with moral ambiguity on the other hand, while unsettling for some are a lot more interesting, making the characters and plot more dynamic and forcing the reader to answer questions about whether the “hero” can still be called that. Today I will review a book which combines the well-researched narrative of a Brad Thor thriller tempered with the ruthlessness and brutality of a John Le Carre novel. Written by J.T. Patten, a man who has spent a considerable amount of time in the American Intelligence community, “Safe Havens” is the first spy thriller in a series featuring deniable asset Sean Havens who is forced to begin a walk into the dark places which other spy thrillers glorify, sugar-coat or try to avoid.
The story begins with a group of men leaving behind a crime scene they’ve manufactured. Having eviscerated an innocent family of an Afghanistan Veteran and turned their home into a something akin to the set of a horror film, they proceed to frame the Veteran for the murder of his family and for good measure, make it appear he is connected to the Mexican Drug Cartels with some planted cocaine packages. When the police arrive on the scene Chicago Police Detective Lars Bjorklund smells a rat and notices several details suggesting a frame-up. We then cut to two years later with the main character, Sean Havens conducting an operation in Sana Yemen. The objective is to create a response intended to manipulate the Yemen government into granting Uncle Sam a bigger presence in the Al Qaeda infested country. Noticing that he’s under surveillance, Havens shows his skill and with masterful timing sedates the tail following him before the man can react. He finds that his victim is a PMC and seeing that he has friends making a right arse of themselves, Havens drops a flashbang grenade into the middle of a Souk and maims the other contractors with a knife. He then manufactures a terrorist threat by handing the knife to an unwitting civilian, provokes the intended response the operation required and leaves while his dupe gets killed by armed civilians. Returning the safe house, Havens calls his wife and learns that his daughter has been raped by a stalker. He immediately drops everything and tries to get back to the states. The moment he does however, an unknown group attempts to destroy his life and sanity in a shockingly cruel campaign of psychological manipulation and betrayal. As he begins his walk through the dark in uncovering an insidious conspiracy born in the early faction fights of American Foreign Intelligence’s early days, Havens is forced to ask how far he is willing to go in keeping his country, his family and himself, safe.
Plot-wise, Safe Haven’s is somewhat unique compared to many American spy thrillers. Don’t be fooled by the cover art. There are no melodramatic gunfights or action scenes which are common in other novels. The violence is quick and stark, with the man who fires the first shot normally surviving during the events of the book. Instead, J.T. Patten appears to have taken the John Le Carre approach of psychological tension to heart, and the result is devastating. A main theme concerns the mental stress inherent in the high-stakes world of intelligence gathering, military conflict and how it effects the people who participate in it. The main villains of Safe Havens try to harness this psychological damage for their own ends, and some of their efforts were downright nightmarish. While trying to investigate and uncover why he was targeted, the main protagonist is forced to fight off the attempts by the forces opposing him to drive him to madness and disgrace. This mental battle of manipulation and wits is the foundation of Safe Havens plot and seeing it play out is one of my most memorable reading experiences of 2014. The other main highlight of the book is the main conspiracy. No spy thriller could ever exist without one, whether it’s being conducted by international terrorists or the men sworn to protect us. I commend the author for crafting a surprisingly well planned conspiracy for his book. Most conspiracies have grandiose goals like “kill everyone in the UN General Assembly Meeting” or “hijack the new F-35 fighter jet”. Mr Patten’s conspiracy on the other hand has shockingly realistic expectations and plausible logistics. Conducted by members of the American Intelligence community, its main objective is to ensure increased budget appropriations and justifying them through manufacturing mass casualty events and then targeting military veterans to be used as scapegoats. Executed by operators who know their tradecraft and financed through dozens of untraceable cut-outs, it’s one of the finest evil schemes I’ve read about in a while which isn’t just fun but could also be pulled off in real life.
Now for characters. There are two stand-outs. First, Sean Havens, the main protagonist. As the book begins, he’s like a slightly cockier version of the middle aged Mitch Rapp from “The Last Man”. Sean is patriotic but has seen it all and managed to justify the decisions he had made during his career. However, during the course of the book, his character development becomes a whole lot more electrifying and dynamic than anything the bestselling authors ever conceived. Havens is forced to learn how to dance on the moral line, struggling to keep himself in check as his sanity slowly begins to erode due to the campaign conducted by his enemies. This conflict is one of the things which makes him stand-out among the other spies and professional killers created by American thriller writers, while Havens is competent and downright tenacious when he eventually catches on to who his enemies are, he is forced to fight a battle which he’s not equipped for, one involving the gambits and betrayal of a classical spy novel rather than the guns and bombs of a contemporary counter-terrorist thriller.
Next, we have Prescott Drager who I would readily nominate as my “best antagonist of 2014”. He’s the perfect foil to Havens. Where Havens wouldn’t be out of place running around in an explosive counter-terrorist thriller, Drager excels at scheming and plotting in the comfortable halls of America’s Intelligence establishment like a classical spymaster. While he’s a dangerously savvy antagonist who manages to pull off a delicate waltz and put some distance between himself and the main character when things go to hell for his conspiracy, J. T. Patten did something very interesting, adding a sympathetic element to an individual, who for all intents and purposes is a textbook sociopath willing to make a mountain of corpses if it can save his own skin. He suffers from PTSD and at a few points in the book, I briefly felt sorry for the guy. In other books, the villains, whether power mad political busybodies or Islamist terrorist, it’s unfortunately common for them to repeat the moustache twirling archetype without any context to what motivates them. Drager on the other hand, while he certainly isn’t a good man, is more understandable than many other villains in the genre he inhabits, with the author exploring why he’s so screwed up in the head.
Now for some constructive suggestions and criticism. Most spy/military/political thrillers these days use quite a bit more sophisticated jargon than books written in the Cold War era. Hence, a few authors, most notably spy thriller author Stephen England, increasingly like to include a glossary of a few (not all) relevant definitions which explain certain acronyms and nomenclature for the mere mortals like us. I have read many spy thrillers which has allowed me to recognise familiar terms but I think Safe Havens (and any future books) would have been served well with a short list of some of the more obscure terms which cropped up in the book. Next, while I did like the plotting, at times, it did get a tad too complex for its own good and the writing style could have been streamlined just a little bit more. Nevertheless, Mr Patten has clearly demonstrated great potential as a writer and I’m sure he will continue to improve and develop his skills in whatever future books he writes.
So, my verdict on Safe Havens is this. Are you bored of the chest-thumping machismo increasingly common in the spy thriller genre? Looking for a novel where brains not bullets count? J. T. Patten’s first spy thriller has the best of both worlds. While letting the reader peak behind the curtain of America’s Intelligence establishment even more than a Mitch Rapp, novel, it tempers this with a dark, morally ambiguous view of the intelligence establishment. It’s a story about individuals who do good and evil things because they believe they have the right reasons and about those people who do battle on are behalf and do what they can to survive and come home to a safe haven. This is only the first step of a long, walk in the dark for deniable asset Sean Havens. And may there be many more.
TOTALLY RECOMMENDED.
=[4.6 Stars rounded up to 5]=
Hello. This is my first review on this site in a while. Due to a surprisingly busy year (all my extended family thought it would be the right time to visit me) and a mid-year visit to the parts of East Asia which I haven’t travelled to (the ROK was fantastic. Taiwan on the other hand was like being trapped in an oven set to “baking”), I have neglected to keep up and developed an increasingly large waiting list of books. So today, I will seek to thin that list by one book.
American spy/military thriller writers and moral ambiguity. Let’s face it, the two do not go hand in hand. Crafting morally grey tales is normally the preserve of British writers, such as Graham Greene’s “The Quiet American”, John Le Carre’s “The Honourable Schoolboy”, Charles Cumming’s “TYPHOON” or even Tom Wood’s “The Hunter”. All the big names among American thriller writers solidly prefer traditional black and white morality when writing their books. Not that I would begrudge them for it or consider it wrong, after all, many of those same authors worked hard to get where they are and usually receive hundreds of positive amazon reviews and thousands of sales for their efforts. However, there comes a point when even a good vs evil conflict can get boring, where even avid readers will start saying that they’ve “seen it all before.” Stories with moral ambiguity on the other hand, while unsettling for some are a lot more interesting, making the characters and plot more dynamic and forcing the reader to answer questions about whether the “hero” can still be called that. Today I will review a book which combines the well-researched narrative of a Brad Thor thriller tempered with the ruthlessness and brutality of a John Le Carre novel. Written by J.T. Patten, a man who has spent a considerable amount of time in the American Intelligence community, “Safe Havens” is the first spy thriller in a series featuring deniable asset Sean Havens who is forced to begin a walk into the dark places which other spy thrillers glorify, sugar-coat or try to avoid.
The story begins with a group of men leaving behind a crime scene they’ve manufactured. Having eviscerated an innocent family of an Afghanistan Veteran and turned their home into a something akin to the set of a horror film, they proceed to frame the Veteran for the murder of his family and for good measure, make it appear he is connected to the Mexican Drug Cartels with some planted cocaine packages. When the police arrive on the scene Chicago Police Detective Lars Bjorklund smells a rat and notices several details suggesting a frame-up. We then cut to two years later with the main character, Sean Havens conducting an operation in Sana Yemen. The objective is to create a response intended to manipulate the Yemen government into granting Uncle Sam a bigger presence in the Al Qaeda infested country. Noticing that he’s under surveillance, Havens shows his skill and with masterful timing sedates the tail following him before the man can react. He finds that his victim is a PMC and seeing that he has friends making a right arse of themselves, Havens drops a flashbang grenade into the middle of a Souk and maims the other contractors with a knife. He then manufactures a terrorist threat by handing the knife to an unwitting civilian, provokes the intended response the operation required and leaves while his dupe gets killed by armed civilians. Returning the safe house, Havens calls his wife and learns that his daughter has been raped by a stalker. He immediately drops everything and tries to get back to the states. The moment he does however, an unknown group attempts to destroy his life and sanity in a shockingly cruel campaign of psychological manipulation and betrayal. As he begins his walk through the dark in uncovering an insidious conspiracy born in the early faction fights of American Foreign Intelligence’s early days, Havens is forced to ask how far he is willing to go in keeping his country, his family and himself, safe.
Plot-wise, Safe Haven’s is somewhat unique compared to many American spy thrillers. Don’t be fooled by the cover art. There are no melodramatic gunfights or action scenes which are common in other novels. The violence is quick and stark, with the man who fires the first shot normally surviving during the events of the book. Instead, J.T. Patten appears to have taken the John Le Carre approach of psychological tension to heart, and the result is devastating. A main theme concerns the mental stress inherent in the high-stakes world of intelligence gathering, military conflict and how it effects the people who participate in it. The main villains of Safe Havens try to harness this psychological damage for their own ends, and some of their efforts were downright nightmarish. While trying to investigate and uncover why he was targeted, the main protagonist is forced to fight off the attempts by the forces opposing him to drive him to madness and disgrace. This mental battle of manipulation and wits is the foundation of Safe Havens plot and seeing it play out is one of my most memorable reading experiences of 2014. The other main highlight of the book is the main conspiracy. No spy thriller could ever exist without one, whether it’s being conducted by international terrorists or the men sworn to protect us. I commend the author for crafting a surprisingly well planned conspiracy for his book. Most conspiracies have grandiose goals like “kill everyone in the UN General Assembly Meeting” or “hijack the new F-35 fighter jet”. Mr Patten’s conspiracy on the other hand has shockingly realistic expectations and plausible logistics. Conducted by members of the American Intelligence community, its main objective is to ensure increased budget appropriations and justifying them through manufacturing mass casualty events and then targeting military veterans to be used as scapegoats. Executed by operators who know their tradecraft and financed through dozens of untraceable cut-outs, it’s one of the finest evil schemes I’ve read about in a while which isn’t just fun but could also be pulled off in real life.
Now for characters. There are two stand-outs. First, Sean Havens, the main protagonist. As the book begins, he’s like a slightly cockier version of the middle aged Mitch Rapp from “The Last Man”. Sean is patriotic but has seen it all and managed to justify the decisions he had made during his career. However, during the course of the book, his character development becomes a whole lot more electrifying and dynamic than anything the bestselling authors ever conceived. Havens is forced to learn how to dance on the moral line, struggling to keep himself in check as his sanity slowly begins to erode due to the campaign conducted by his enemies. This conflict is one of the things which makes him stand-out among the other spies and professional killers created by American thriller writers, while Havens is competent and downright tenacious when he eventually catches on to who his enemies are, he is forced to fight a battle which he’s not equipped for, one involving the gambits and betrayal of a classical spy novel rather than the guns and bombs of a contemporary counter-terrorist thriller.
Next, we have Prescott Drager who I would readily nominate as my “best antagonist of 2014”. He’s the perfect foil to Havens. Where Havens wouldn’t be out of place running around in an explosive counter-terrorist thriller, Drager excels at scheming and plotting in the comfortable halls of America’s Intelligence establishment like a classical spymaster. While he’s a dangerously savvy antagonist who manages to pull off a delicate waltz and put some distance between himself and the main character when things go to hell for his conspiracy, J. T. Patten did something very interesting, adding a sympathetic element to an individual, who for all intents and purposes is a textbook sociopath willing to make a mountain of corpses if it can save his own skin. He suffers from PTSD and at a few points in the book, I briefly felt sorry for the guy. In other books, the villains, whether power mad political busybodies or Islamist terrorist, it’s unfortunately common for them to repeat the moustache twirling archetype without any context to what motivates them. Drager on the other hand, while he certainly isn’t a good man, is more understandable than many other villains in the genre he inhabits, with the author exploring why he’s so screwed up in the head.
Now for some constructive suggestions and criticism. Most spy/military/political thrillers these days use quite a bit more sophisticated jargon than books written in the Cold War era. Hence, a few authors, most notably spy thriller author Stephen England, increasingly like to include a glossary of a few (not all) relevant definitions which explain certain acronyms and nomenclature for the mere mortals like us. I have read many spy thrillers which has allowed me to recognise familiar terms but I think Safe Havens (and any future books) would have been served well with a short list of some of the more obscure terms which cropped up in the book. Next, while I did like the plotting, at times, it did get a tad too complex for its own good and the writing style could have been streamlined just a little bit more. Nevertheless, Mr Patten has clearly demonstrated great potential as a writer and I’m sure he will continue to improve and develop his skills in whatever future books he writes.
So, my verdict on Safe Havens is this. Are you bored of the chest-thumping machismo increasingly common in the spy thriller genre? Looking for a novel where brains not bullets count? J. T. Patten’s first spy thriller has the best of both worlds. While letting the reader peak behind the curtain of America’s Intelligence establishment even more than a Mitch Rapp, novel, it tempers this with a dark, morally ambiguous view of the intelligence establishment. It’s a story about individuals who do good and evil things because they believe they have the right reasons and about those people who do battle on are behalf and do what they can to survive and come home to a safe haven. This is only the first step of a long, walk in the dark for deniable asset Sean Havens. And may there be many more.
TOTALLY RECOMMENDED.
February 27, 2021
What a great and fun book!! Fast paced and character driven, action packed!! Sean Havens family is murdered while he is out of country. He comes back and is set on revenge, but is drawn into a web of lies and conspiracy. Havens must learn who is friend or foe. JT Patten's writing is great and his character development is top notch. You really get into the head of Havens and feel what he is going through.
February 10, 2014
I can count on one hand the books I read multiple times for pleasure. J.T. Patten has written such a book. I'm looking forward to the next.
February 16, 2014
As per Amazon.com review http://www.amazon.com/review/R2C8IU95...
Sean Havens is a righteous man caught up in an extremely dirty business. He operates in a profession where the chains of command are so compartmentalized that he only knows the identity of his immediate superior and has no clue who is actually pulling the strings. He wants nothing more than to help his country and he trusts in his superiors’ judgment and that he is doing what is needed to make the world a better place. A nice notion: but, what if the very people he trusts are not righteous men like him, what if they have other agendas than making the world a better place and trying to protect his home country?
With such secrecy and cover-up there is no room for accountability for the ‘people at the top’. The very people who need such accountability, for the power they wield and the reach that they have is so great. This system that they operate in allows for such broken and disturbed people to possess such power and rank; a dangerous thing given that the work they do is basically manipulating and taking the lives of people they deem their targets.
This reality hits home in a horrific way for Sean and it quickly becomes clear that the very people he trusted may not be who he thought they were. As he tries to weave his way out of such a tangled web of lies and secrecy he realizes very quickly that there is only one thing he can trust: himself and his training.
This book is so well written and detailed—from description to the dialogue—that it was such a joy to read. The characters are extremely well-developed and the author provides such insight into them that they become more than just characters on a page. They become real people.
It is a great asset to the story that the author has real knowledge of this world that he is depicting here—I don’t think it would have been possible to make the story so believable and realistic otherwise. There is a good deal of military jargon in the book, but I don’t think it confuses the reader. Rather, it draws them further into the world that the author has created.
Great job! I can’t wait to read the next book now!
Sean Havens is a righteous man caught up in an extremely dirty business. He operates in a profession where the chains of command are so compartmentalized that he only knows the identity of his immediate superior and has no clue who is actually pulling the strings. He wants nothing more than to help his country and he trusts in his superiors’ judgment and that he is doing what is needed to make the world a better place. A nice notion: but, what if the very people he trusts are not righteous men like him, what if they have other agendas than making the world a better place and trying to protect his home country?
With such secrecy and cover-up there is no room for accountability for the ‘people at the top’. The very people who need such accountability, for the power they wield and the reach that they have is so great. This system that they operate in allows for such broken and disturbed people to possess such power and rank; a dangerous thing given that the work they do is basically manipulating and taking the lives of people they deem their targets.
This reality hits home in a horrific way for Sean and it quickly becomes clear that the very people he trusted may not be who he thought they were. As he tries to weave his way out of such a tangled web of lies and secrecy he realizes very quickly that there is only one thing he can trust: himself and his training.
This book is so well written and detailed—from description to the dialogue—that it was such a joy to read. The characters are extremely well-developed and the author provides such insight into them that they become more than just characters on a page. They become real people.
It is a great asset to the story that the author has real knowledge of this world that he is depicting here—I don’t think it would have been possible to make the story so believable and realistic otherwise. There is a good deal of military jargon in the book, but I don’t think it confuses the reader. Rather, it draws them further into the world that the author has created.
Great job! I can’t wait to read the next book now!
July 12, 2016
Well, how do you start a review of such an awesome read? First, there were many elements, which set "Shadow Masters" above almost every other book I ever read, but the complex and scaringly realistic scenario, which was heavily crafted by the multi-layered plot, was certainly the most important one of all!
The core of every great story, is of course a protagonist you can identify and feel with. J.T. Patten does in exceptionally fine job in, not only accomplishing that goal, but also setting Sean Havens apart from the typical action hero stereotypes of the genre! You can really understand how he acts, because the author never fails to find the right words to describe Sean's feelings.
The third important element that intrigued me, were the despicable villians. They were really wired and also were the perfect way of making the situation even more personal for Sean. (No more spoilers here, just read it!)
The next great thing, is you believe from the first side, that Mr. Patten is really familiar with the world he writes about! So, in this case this means, that I actually learnt a lot of new things about the world of special operations (despite I read a lot of stuff from so called insiders of this world)! I also loved that the threat came from a group within the "intelligence community", because that was much more interesting to me than the always replaying threats, involving islamic terrorists!
The last element, which is not only awesome but also something truely unique in that kind of books, is the ending. It is a true pain in the ass, because after you are through it, you instantly begin to desperately surfing in the web, because you want to know, when the next book comes out!
J.T. Patten now really earnt himself the top spot in my list of favourite writers, alongside Tom Wood, Ben Coes and David Baldacci!
Well done Mr. Patten and please hurry up with the next one!
The core of every great story, is of course a protagonist you can identify and feel with. J.T. Patten does in exceptionally fine job in, not only accomplishing that goal, but also setting Sean Havens apart from the typical action hero stereotypes of the genre! You can really understand how he acts, because the author never fails to find the right words to describe Sean's feelings.
The third important element that intrigued me, were the despicable villians. They were really wired and also were the perfect way of making the situation even more personal for Sean. (No more spoilers here, just read it!)
The next great thing, is you believe from the first side, that Mr. Patten is really familiar with the world he writes about! So, in this case this means, that I actually learnt a lot of new things about the world of special operations (despite I read a lot of stuff from so called insiders of this world)! I also loved that the threat came from a group within the "intelligence community", because that was much more interesting to me than the always replaying threats, involving islamic terrorists!
The last element, which is not only awesome but also something truely unique in that kind of books, is the ending. It is a true pain in the ass, because after you are through it, you instantly begin to desperately surfing in the web, because you want to know, when the next book comes out!
J.T. Patten now really earnt himself the top spot in my list of favourite writers, alongside Tom Wood, Ben Coes and David Baldacci!
Well done Mr. Patten and please hurry up with the next one!
March 7, 2014
Safe Havens: Shadow Masters is a spine-tingling, high speed action adventure that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Sean Havens' covert world is turned upside down when harm comes to his family. Sean is now rethinking his path in life and is ready to make some changes. Somewhere in the shadows someone is pulling the strings and they won't allow Sean to decide how is life is played out. Can Sean escape the tangled web his life is now entangled in or will he too become another tragic piece of the puzzle.
I am keeping my description of the Safe Havens: Shadow Masters short and shrouded in darkness in order to keep from spoiling anything for readers. The story starts out with a bang and continues on hyper speed right to the end. The plot is so thick and twisted, filled with events you never expect and ones that are sure to leave your head spinning. The author is fluent in special ops and his knowledge is evident in the great detail he puts into his story. Many times I found myself wondering if the author was writing from experience as the incidents that occur are just crazy enough to be true. The author does allow readers to see a more loving and compassionate side of Sean Havens like when he thinks or speaks of his wife and daughter or connects with his brother-in-law. In my opinion, this made me like the main character all that much more.
I highly recommend picking up a copy of Safe Havens: Shadow Masters.
August 6, 2016
Patten crafts a great story beginning with a black ops intelligence operative a la Bourne/Ryan, an operative that works for a shadow organization operating under the premise of taking out really bad guys around the world.
However, the life of main character Sean Havens gets turned upside down when the evil that he is constantly abroad trying to fight is brought straight to his doorstep. Things just got personal for Havens in a major way.
Coming home, Havens, who usually is on top of his own intelligence game, is found that he doesn't know who to trust and who is pulling the strings around what is happening. Needless to say, there are much bigger events that are behind these actions, and it takes every ounce of Haven's training, connections, and resources to work the problem as every action he takes seems to go sideways on him.
Patten writes with a complexity of plot that Bourne and Jack Ryan fans will love, but with the ingenuity and problem-solving skills that are so prevalent with Jack Reacher's modis operandi. So many of the spy/thriller/espionage characters that we have come to know and love in the genre seem to be combined and epitomized in the character of Sean Havens.
Patten gets you inside the mind of an intelligence operative like few have done before. The technicality and the expertise that was involved in making the story so accurate in detail make it all that much more realistic. That and the overall plot is so plausible that it would be a dis-service to call it a simple conspiracy.
There have been many military thrillers out there with plots that seem plausible and that hit a little too close to home and make you want to squirm in your seat a little bit. Safe Havens takes you to the front lines of the actual operations, to the inner working of the mind of the experts, to the overshadowing plot that encompasses the entire story.
This is a wonderful book to read if you like Ludlum, Clancy, or the like. The details involved in the book are up to date as in, really up to date. Everything in the book could be taken from the headlines of papers around the country.
Patten has a skill for writing which I hope will continue in the future. He has another book that appears to be coming out, but is not in the same universe as "Safe Havens". If you read "Safe Havens" I think you will agree that more chapters to this series is needed!
However, the life of main character Sean Havens gets turned upside down when the evil that he is constantly abroad trying to fight is brought straight to his doorstep. Things just got personal for Havens in a major way.
Coming home, Havens, who usually is on top of his own intelligence game, is found that he doesn't know who to trust and who is pulling the strings around what is happening. Needless to say, there are much bigger events that are behind these actions, and it takes every ounce of Haven's training, connections, and resources to work the problem as every action he takes seems to go sideways on him.
Patten writes with a complexity of plot that Bourne and Jack Ryan fans will love, but with the ingenuity and problem-solving skills that are so prevalent with Jack Reacher's modis operandi. So many of the spy/thriller/espionage characters that we have come to know and love in the genre seem to be combined and epitomized in the character of Sean Havens.
Patten gets you inside the mind of an intelligence operative like few have done before. The technicality and the expertise that was involved in making the story so accurate in detail make it all that much more realistic. That and the overall plot is so plausible that it would be a dis-service to call it a simple conspiracy.
There have been many military thrillers out there with plots that seem plausible and that hit a little too close to home and make you want to squirm in your seat a little bit. Safe Havens takes you to the front lines of the actual operations, to the inner working of the mind of the experts, to the overshadowing plot that encompasses the entire story.
This is a wonderful book to read if you like Ludlum, Clancy, or the like. The details involved in the book are up to date as in, really up to date. Everything in the book could be taken from the headlines of papers around the country.
Patten has a skill for writing which I hope will continue in the future. He has another book that appears to be coming out, but is not in the same universe as "Safe Havens". If you read "Safe Havens" I think you will agree that more chapters to this series is needed!
October 20, 2014
Spy/counter-terrorism thrillers are one of my go-to genres, the problem is that after a while it is hard to tell if you are reading a book about Mitch Rapp, Scott Harvath, Jason Bourne or Jericho Quinn. One gets confused about whose wife got killed, who's on the run because somebody pinned the conspiracy on him, etc.
Sean Havens is a different kind of operative. Sure, the common parts of the genre are present (it's basically canon) but the cliche (and cheese for that matter) content is very low.
And the paranoia is cranked up to 11. And this is deep paranoia, it doesn't even sound crazy. This is a great spy/counter-terrorism thriller.
I am looking forward for the next Sean Havens book, which according to J.T. Patten's website is going to be titled "Primed Charge."
Sean Havens is a different kind of operative. Sure, the common parts of the genre are present (it's basically canon) but the cliche (and cheese for that matter) content is very low.
And the paranoia is cranked up to 11. And this is deep paranoia, it doesn't even sound crazy. This is a great spy/counter-terrorism thriller.
I am looking forward for the next Sean Havens book, which according to J.T. Patten's website is going to be titled "Primed Charge."
June 24, 2014
If you like thrillers with lot's of twists, this one's for you. Many other have written the synopsis in their reviews so I won't bother with writing it again here. There were a few pages which were confusing concerning some of the characters, but I figure it was from me rushing to get through to the next chapter. I was pretty sad when I read the last page because the story was over, however, the ending really gets you excited for further books. I really hope Mr. Patten is able to continue the story in the same manner as this one.
You would be missing an excellent book if you pass this one by. Can't wait for the next one.
You would be missing an excellent book if you pass this one by. Can't wait for the next one.
March 1, 2015
Fast paced black ops action packed story.
Excellent book. Author comes at the story from an unexpected angle. Very nice for a change. On sale for .99¢. A real bargain. I was hoping to see the main character's boss killed. He is a sociopathic narcissist. Maybe in the sequel. I especially liked the wood chipper and eggnog scenes. Highly recommend.
Excellent book. Author comes at the story from an unexpected angle. Very nice for a change. On sale for .99¢. A real bargain. I was hoping to see the main character's boss killed. He is a sociopathic narcissist. Maybe in the sequel. I especially liked the wood chipper and eggnog scenes. Highly recommend.
May 24, 2014
Assault teams often work under the cover of darkness in completing their mission. Crime scene investigators often scan the sickening aftermath of senseless crimes, but thankfully few ever encounter horrible scenes with corpses everywhere. Was the crime scene a planned attack? Was there more than one killer? Was it the act of terrorists?
Unfortunately, there are realms existing in the dark recesses of humanity.
In the real world in which we live: There are depraved people who like nothing better than to leave victims in their wake. Just recently, a man’s decapitated body was found in a resort community and the wife’s body was found dumped in a nearby lake. In even more recent news a deranged man in California drove around a campus shooting anyone he saw - leaving six victims dead and many more wounded.
In this novel - Sean Ravens served his country he loved in the black ops underworld for many years. However, a domestic battlefield turns his life upside down. This thriller by J.T. Patten takes readers inside the dark recesses of humanity and has a lot of twists and turns. I hope and pray that we all stay safe and out of harm’s way so that we never actually experience horror or killings in their lifetime. Thank God we have people like J.T. Patten who are trained to protect us, with the courage to carry out their mission and the intelligence to take action when it is deemed necessary.
Jeannie Walker (Award-Winning Author)
Unfortunately, there are realms existing in the dark recesses of humanity.
In the real world in which we live: There are depraved people who like nothing better than to leave victims in their wake. Just recently, a man’s decapitated body was found in a resort community and the wife’s body was found dumped in a nearby lake. In even more recent news a deranged man in California drove around a campus shooting anyone he saw - leaving six victims dead and many more wounded.
In this novel - Sean Ravens served his country he loved in the black ops underworld for many years. However, a domestic battlefield turns his life upside down. This thriller by J.T. Patten takes readers inside the dark recesses of humanity and has a lot of twists and turns. I hope and pray that we all stay safe and out of harm’s way so that we never actually experience horror or killings in their lifetime. Thank God we have people like J.T. Patten who are trained to protect us, with the courage to carry out their mission and the intelligence to take action when it is deemed necessary.
Jeannie Walker (Award-Winning Author)
July 5, 2015
Originally posted to Audio Book Reviewer
Wow, did this book surprise me! I had no prior knowledge of the author or narrator and chose to review it on a whim, I just liked the title, it intrigued me. I didn’t even read the summary, just jumped down the slide head first, exhilarated by every twist, turn, and drop the ride had to offer.
Sean Havens was on an assignment in the Republic of Yemen when he got word from his wife, Christina, that their daughter had been raped and the rapist was threatening to kill her for going to the police. Sean was furious, and told wife he’d be home in a few days. After getting a shady passport from his employers, he ran into some trouble heading to the States, forcing him to make a detour through Dubai. Meanwhile, as Havens tries to figure how he is getting home, Christina and Maggie are attacked at their house killing Christina and putting Maggie in a coma. Upon arriving home, Sean is told by police the attacks on his family were gang related. Sean Havens wasn’t sure about that. Is it that simple, or is there something bigger there? He didn’t know, but what he did know what whoever was responsible will pay. The Havens are not a family to be targeted or toyed with.
When it first got started I was a little put off by the narration. It read much faster than I expected. I don’t know if it was Charles Kahlenberg reading quickly or if it was an editing issue, but it was there. It got much better after the first few chapters, though there were points the performance felt a little rushed. That being said, Mr. Kahlenberg’s voice and presence were great. His resonance in the book was ear catching and held my attention. Great narration, with sub par production quality due to the speed. It won’t keep me from trying Kahlenberg’s work again though, hopefully on the next Sean Havens thriller.
Let me tell you, it does not disappoint! This was a bit darker than I expected it would be and it was all the better for it. Charles’s voice lent perfectly to the almost brooding Sean Havens character. I tried to think of a comparison or reference a couple other characters out there that might come close to Sean Havens. The fact is, he’s his own entity, unique from other protagonists in the genre and very well done. A story full of deceit, conspiracy, revenge, and surprises around every corner, this is a story for all thriller fans, do not pass on Sean Havens. J.T. Patten is new on the seen and if the adrenaline pumping Shadow Masters is any indication, he’s going to be force in the genre.
Wow, did this book surprise me! I had no prior knowledge of the author or narrator and chose to review it on a whim, I just liked the title, it intrigued me. I didn’t even read the summary, just jumped down the slide head first, exhilarated by every twist, turn, and drop the ride had to offer.
Sean Havens was on an assignment in the Republic of Yemen when he got word from his wife, Christina, that their daughter had been raped and the rapist was threatening to kill her for going to the police. Sean was furious, and told wife he’d be home in a few days. After getting a shady passport from his employers, he ran into some trouble heading to the States, forcing him to make a detour through Dubai. Meanwhile, as Havens tries to figure how he is getting home, Christina and Maggie are attacked at their house killing Christina and putting Maggie in a coma. Upon arriving home, Sean is told by police the attacks on his family were gang related. Sean Havens wasn’t sure about that. Is it that simple, or is there something bigger there? He didn’t know, but what he did know what whoever was responsible will pay. The Havens are not a family to be targeted or toyed with.
When it first got started I was a little put off by the narration. It read much faster than I expected. I don’t know if it was Charles Kahlenberg reading quickly or if it was an editing issue, but it was there. It got much better after the first few chapters, though there were points the performance felt a little rushed. That being said, Mr. Kahlenberg’s voice and presence were great. His resonance in the book was ear catching and held my attention. Great narration, with sub par production quality due to the speed. It won’t keep me from trying Kahlenberg’s work again though, hopefully on the next Sean Havens thriller.
Let me tell you, it does not disappoint! This was a bit darker than I expected it would be and it was all the better for it. Charles’s voice lent perfectly to the almost brooding Sean Havens character. I tried to think of a comparison or reference a couple other characters out there that might come close to Sean Havens. The fact is, he’s his own entity, unique from other protagonists in the genre and very well done. A story full of deceit, conspiracy, revenge, and surprises around every corner, this is a story for all thriller fans, do not pass on Sean Havens. J.T. Patten is new on the seen and if the adrenaline pumping Shadow Masters is any indication, he’s going to be force in the genre.
December 30, 2015
Fan’s of Tom Clancy rejoice, a new player has entered the Thriller genre.
Follow Sean Havens a 20 year veteran black-ops operative as he is challenged in ways that even he doesn’t see coming. Thrown into a world that he was once fighting against, Havens is forced to make decisions to protect those that he loves along the way.
Narration for Safe Havens: Shadow Masters was done by Charles Kahlenberg. My only qualm is that the first few chapters were a little fast. I wasn’t prepared for that. Normally I start a book at normal speed and progressively speed it up as I get used to the narrators tone and delivery. But this one started out at around a 1.5 (without speeding up). The speed gets better after the first few chapters, but it is still something to watch out for. The narrators voice is perfect for this story/character though. I would definitely listen to another Patten/Kahlenberg audiobook.
I love when a book can grab my attention in the beginning. I love even more when it does this AND won’t let it go throughout. That’s how I felt while I was reading Safe Havens: Shadow Masters. This genre usually isn’t something I read a lot of but I have dabbled from time to time. I tell you what, if all Military/Thriller books were this good, I’d be reading a lot more of them.
Patten’s style reminds me of Tom Clancy with slightly more edge, which aren’t words to be thrown around lightly. I loved the black ops/covert stuff within, it makes me tingle with excitement when I don’t know whats going to happen next.
A few times this reminded me of the Bourne books/movies (some of my all-time favorites in the genre), and others you could tell this was a whole new beast.
I will be on the watch out for J.T. Patten’s other books, and I’m really glad that I picked this one up to review.
Follow Sean Havens a 20 year veteran black-ops operative as he is challenged in ways that even he doesn’t see coming. Thrown into a world that he was once fighting against, Havens is forced to make decisions to protect those that he loves along the way.
Narration for Safe Havens: Shadow Masters was done by Charles Kahlenberg. My only qualm is that the first few chapters were a little fast. I wasn’t prepared for that. Normally I start a book at normal speed and progressively speed it up as I get used to the narrators tone and delivery. But this one started out at around a 1.5 (without speeding up). The speed gets better after the first few chapters, but it is still something to watch out for. The narrators voice is perfect for this story/character though. I would definitely listen to another Patten/Kahlenberg audiobook.
I love when a book can grab my attention in the beginning. I love even more when it does this AND won’t let it go throughout. That’s how I felt while I was reading Safe Havens: Shadow Masters. This genre usually isn’t something I read a lot of but I have dabbled from time to time. I tell you what, if all Military/Thriller books were this good, I’d be reading a lot more of them.
Patten’s style reminds me of Tom Clancy with slightly more edge, which aren’t words to be thrown around lightly. I loved the black ops/covert stuff within, it makes me tingle with excitement when I don’t know whats going to happen next.
A few times this reminded me of the Bourne books/movies (some of my all-time favorites in the genre), and others you could tell this was a whole new beast.
I will be on the watch out for J.T. Patten’s other books, and I’m really glad that I picked this one up to review.
October 7, 2015
An intriguing yet distressing portrayal of what goes on behind the scenes to keep various nations safe.
The well written plot seems quite believable, as if the writer has first hand experience of covert missions and assassinations. Trained men operate without mercy, removing anyone their superiors name as a target.
The personal side of Haver's life gives a glimpse of how the job affects the family. This aspect interested me more that details of various operations, mad mens' reasoning, and counter plots.
The armed forces aspect of the novel is bound to appeal to men; less so for a woman. I struggled to read many accounts of the reasoning behind the action, and skipped some altogether.
The well written plot seems quite believable, as if the writer has first hand experience of covert missions and assassinations. Trained men operate without mercy, removing anyone their superiors name as a target.
The personal side of Haver's life gives a glimpse of how the job affects the family. This aspect interested me more that details of various operations, mad mens' reasoning, and counter plots.
The armed forces aspect of the novel is bound to appeal to men; less so for a woman. I struggled to read many accounts of the reasoning behind the action, and skipped some altogether.
August 4, 2014
Wow! What a book. Talk about secrecy. Never knew so much could go on at once. Have to say I didn't understand a lot of the jargon, but the messages were clear. It all comes together in the end. And why do these things take so many people? Looks to me it would unravel before it got started. I like Sean a lot, and hope he clears everything up. I also don't think I'd like to live that kind of life. Not that I couldn't keep a secret, but way too much goes on, and you never really know who's doing what. Can get really, really confusing. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves this type of story. It is rather exciting. And I can hardly wait for Book 2.
July 7, 2016
A really good spy book for those that have a taste for clandestine spy operations. You either like this stuff or you don't. Reading this book you enter a world of an intelligence officers life who is part of a surrogate group of intelligence agencies. Companies the CIA might hire to conduct intelligence operations
There is some pretty good spy action. The book also lets you feel the main character's mind set. One could actually see how this story could play out in real life which makes this book better. I am considering reading the next JT Patten book.
There is some pretty good spy action. The book also lets you feel the main character's mind set. One could actually see how this story could play out in real life which makes this book better. I am considering reading the next JT Patten book.
May 30, 2016
Just finished it in a late-night read through. Gripping read, if a bit convoluted in some places. This book makes some intelligence work look, more than usual, like a three-dimensional chess game played by second- and third-hand proxies. May leave you thinking twice or thrice when you read come headlines.
February 11, 2021
Very nice!
My first reading from this author, I wanted to start at the beginning. A very good novel about a tormented man. His family brutally attacked by a secret agency. He just tries to find answers and deliver justice when required. I look forward to the others in the series.
My first reading from this author, I wanted to start at the beginning. A very good novel about a tormented man. His family brutally attacked by a secret agency. He just tries to find answers and deliver justice when required. I look forward to the others in the series.
July 13, 2014
Excellent first novel in what I hope will be a long and entertaining series.
Great job J.T.!
Great job J.T.!
September 9, 2016
Really enjoyed this book, hurry and get the next one publised
September 15, 2018
I wish that I had read this one first but stuff happens. For a firs book it is really great, even if it where a second or third book it would be great. I am really glad that the author reached out to me and I will continue to read his work and hope that he continues for quite some time. I actually had to get book two in this series before I was done with this one but I will wait for a while before reading it since it's my last unread book by Patten.
March 31, 2016
I'm not sure where this went wrong for me. The books beginning was well thought out, organized, described, and developed. Somwhere around Chapter 50 or so, the plot sped up, assumptions were "put on display" and the book seemed rushed to the end. All of the time I invested caring about the characters was wasted with the convoluted, ending. It felt as if the book was started by one author and completed by another author that did not care as much about the storyline that had been developed.
I understand is a a first novel and I will not refuse to read any other books by Mr. Patten, but I wanted to like this one, but just can't.
I understand is a a first novel and I will not refuse to read any other books by Mr. Patten, but I wanted to like this one, but just can't.
April 19, 2019
Sean Havens!
After reading this book, I will never look at close friends the same! We are introduced to Sean Havens in this book. He seems like a classic family guy, with possibly a military past. He is very good at what he does. However, when what he loves the most is taken from him, we see him transformed into something else to enact revenge for what he lost.
Also, that ending! I’m getting the next book for sure! Havens is my new favorite counter terrorism guy!
After reading this book, I will never look at close friends the same! We are introduced to Sean Havens in this book. He seems like a classic family guy, with possibly a military past. He is very good at what he does. However, when what he loves the most is taken from him, we see him transformed into something else to enact revenge for what he lost.
Also, that ending! I’m getting the next book for sure! Havens is my new favorite counter terrorism guy!
January 22, 2019
Great read! Love Lars..........
Great read! Love Lars.........Plenty of action. The growth of characters is refreshing. Definite cliff hanger bringing an old friend from the beginning to the ending.
Great read! Love Lars.........Plenty of action. The growth of characters is refreshing. Definite cliff hanger bringing an old friend from the beginning to the ending.
August 7, 2024
Surpsingly good
I came across JT on the Team House podcast (which is superb!), but his own admission his writ g has I over since this book, so I was somewhat worried about how good (or bad) it would be. To my surprise it’s actually good, a little confused and contrived in places, but on the whole really enjoyable. I look forward to reading more of the series.
I came across JT on the Team House podcast (which is superb!), but his own admission his writ g has I over since this book, so I was somewhat worried about how good (or bad) it would be. To my surprise it’s actually good, a little confused and contrived in places, but on the whole really enjoyable. I look forward to reading more of the series.
Read
November 4, 2020Great book. Very enjoyable read. I would recommend this book highly. If you like Vince Flynn, Steve Berry, Brad Taylor or Daniel Silva you will like this book. I am on to the next book in the series. I was recommended by my brother who actually knows J.T. Patten.
December 17, 2022
Cheesy
Convoluted. Jargon-filled mumbo jumbo. Unbelievable. Large stretches of a glacier pace. Probably the least satisfying bit of 'action writing I've waded through in years.
Convoluted. Jargon-filled mumbo jumbo. Unbelievable. Large stretches of a glacier pace. Probably the least satisfying bit of 'action writing I've waded through in years.
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