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Operation Fools Mate 24: A modern military action thriller
A modern military action thriller that instantly pulls you into the authors mind. Modern warfare doesn't get more realistic than this.
Operation Fool's Mate 24 is a thrilling and immersive debut that sets a high bar for the rest of the Fool’s Mate series. Baldwin’s military background shines through in the realistic action sequences and world-building, while his engaging characters and well-paced narrative will keep readers hooked from start to finish. - www.thebooknetwork.co.uk
The world is shifting. Empires that once seemed unshakable are crumbling, and from the ashes of history, a new threat is emerging—one far more dangerous than all the others.
A past plan, long buried and forgotten, has resurfaced. But this time, it’s not being used to defend—it’s being weaponized by the enemy. Only two people know the true and deadly scope of what’s coming, but the real challenge isn’t their knowledge—it’s convincing anyone else to believe the looming catastrophe is real.
As a nation teeters on the edge of collapse and alliances fray, those in power scramble to contain a crisis that could spiral into full-blown disaster. But is it already too late?
Mike had it all—a loving wife, a great career, and the peace of a life far removed from his days in the military. After nine years of civilian life, everything seemed perfect... until a sudden string of chaotic events shatters his world. What first appeared to be random misfortunes felt eerily familiar to Mike, and a conversation from his army days rushed back to haunt him. An old friend had mentioned a top-secret report—one that should have stayed buried.
Now, Mike knows this is no coincidence. He’s been pulled into something far bigger than he imagined, and every move drags him deeper into the heart of a conspiracy..
Operation Fool’s Mate is an electrifying new series, inspired by the author’s own high level military experiences. As a nation fights to survive an unseen enemy, the stakes have never been higher. Will you join the battle?
The fight for our survival starts now. This book is a warning of what's ahead. Do not miss it.
Operation Fool's Mate 24 is a thrilling and immersive debut that sets a high bar for the rest of the Fool’s Mate series. Baldwin’s military background shines through in the realistic action sequences and world-building, while his engaging characters and well-paced narrative will keep readers hooked from start to finish. - www.thebooknetwork.co.uk
The world is shifting. Empires that once seemed unshakable are crumbling, and from the ashes of history, a new threat is emerging—one far more dangerous than all the others.
A past plan, long buried and forgotten, has resurfaced. But this time, it’s not being used to defend—it’s being weaponized by the enemy. Only two people know the true and deadly scope of what’s coming, but the real challenge isn’t their knowledge—it’s convincing anyone else to believe the looming catastrophe is real.
As a nation teeters on the edge of collapse and alliances fray, those in power scramble to contain a crisis that could spiral into full-blown disaster. But is it already too late?
Mike had it all—a loving wife, a great career, and the peace of a life far removed from his days in the military. After nine years of civilian life, everything seemed perfect... until a sudden string of chaotic events shatters his world. What first appeared to be random misfortunes felt eerily familiar to Mike, and a conversation from his army days rushed back to haunt him. An old friend had mentioned a top-secret report—one that should have stayed buried.
Now, Mike knows this is no coincidence. He’s been pulled into something far bigger than he imagined, and every move drags him deeper into the heart of a conspiracy..
Operation Fool’s Mate is an electrifying new series, inspired by the author’s own high level military experiences. As a nation fights to survive an unseen enemy, the stakes have never been higher. Will you join the battle?
The fight for our survival starts now. This book is a warning of what's ahead. Do not miss it.
- GenresFiction
450 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 15, 2024
68 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
M.L. Baldwin
5 books4 followersM L Baldwin is a former Tank Commander who joined the Second Royal Tank Regiment in 1996 and served with them on operations in Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan over a 19 year career. He was Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) during his last tour of Afghanistan.
After leaving the forces he decided to try his hand at becoming an author, which is where you join him now in his journey. Inspired by the likes of Clive Cussler and Tom Clancy, he wrote his debut series of books for Operation Fools Mate back in 2023 which he hopes people will enjoy reading as much as he enjoyed writing them. Using his own first hand experiences of life on the front line of combat operations, he hopes to bring a level of realism and excitement that will both shock and excite his readers. After all, the modern battlefield is full of technology but ultimately, it's the human element and a certain degree of luck that play its part the most.
His expertise in his field have garnered widespread acclaim and featured interviews on BBC Radio, whilst his articles in leading publications such as The European, NationalWorld, MSN, the Daily Star (UK), The London Economic and others, have helped solidify his reputation as a sought-after authority in the field.
Keep watching for more exciting titles. In his own words, "I'm not finished yet, I'm only just getting started."
After leaving the forces he decided to try his hand at becoming an author, which is where you join him now in his journey. Inspired by the likes of Clive Cussler and Tom Clancy, he wrote his debut series of books for Operation Fools Mate back in 2023 which he hopes people will enjoy reading as much as he enjoyed writing them. Using his own first hand experiences of life on the front line of combat operations, he hopes to bring a level of realism and excitement that will both shock and excite his readers. After all, the modern battlefield is full of technology but ultimately, it's the human element and a certain degree of luck that play its part the most.
His expertise in his field have garnered widespread acclaim and featured interviews on BBC Radio, whilst his articles in leading publications such as The European, NationalWorld, MSN, the Daily Star (UK), The London Economic and others, have helped solidify his reputation as a sought-after authority in the field.
Keep watching for more exciting titles. In his own words, "I'm not finished yet, I'm only just getting started."
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 19, 2025
Really enjoyed this book, it was advertised to me on social media (not goodreads), which is unusual so I decided to give it a go, especially as it's a debut novel. The story follows a former military soldier who visits an old friend at the local military base and is swept up into a global crisis. The beginning is a bit slow, so stick with it. However, once the action starts it's a real page turner.
It's very refreshing to see a military book set in the UK primarily like this, and the author's real-life experience and knowledge are clearly on display, allowing the story to feel realistic. Some elements of the book can be challenging; there are abbreviations used non-stop which can be difficult to keep track of at times, and the plot is a little coincidental. However, the author includes a glossary of terms and the explanations for events are plausible. If you're a fan of Tom Clancy, I'd recommend this book. 4/5*
It's very refreshing to see a military book set in the UK primarily like this, and the author's real-life experience and knowledge are clearly on display, allowing the story to feel realistic. Some elements of the book can be challenging; there are abbreviations used non-stop which can be difficult to keep track of at times, and the plot is a little coincidental. However, the author includes a glossary of terms and the explanations for events are plausible. If you're a fan of Tom Clancy, I'd recommend this book. 4/5*
November 16, 2024
I highly recommend this book. My cousin recommended it to me as he was gripped by the plot and detailed character development. It wasn’t my usual genre but I stayed open minded and loved it. I read it quickly as I was so keen to know what happened next. This new author really captured the tension and political thread and I loved the characters and was a real delight to see that a strong female character is portrayed and I can’t wait for the second instalment in this trilogy. It is certainly not just a book aimed at men. I have pre ordered my copy and will try to read it slower this time so it lasts over my Christmas break from work and well into the new year. Wonderful!
April 15, 2025
The author obviously has a depth of knowledge, thanks to his impressive service in the Army - brave man! - and a good imagination. He tells a gripping tale, with a lot of detail, thanks to his tank experience [sometimes a little too much, some of which I skip read, without losing any of the plot]. It's not my usual type of book, but it's a good page turner.
I've only read it once, although it shows 'twice' above.
I've only read it once, although it shows 'twice' above.
November 20, 2025
Spoilt by the large number of typos
To put things in perspective, as soon as I had read this, I paid for, downloaded and started reading book 2. So I did enjoy it. The detail about army equipment and tanks was great.
However the flow of the story was interrupted by too many errors. Your instead of you're, wrong words requiring re-reading of the sentence. It was as if the book had been read out and transcribed by an AI system with poor recording quality.
The author deserves a better proof reader and more editorial support.
To put things in perspective, as soon as I had read this, I paid for, downloaded and started reading book 2. So I did enjoy it. The detail about army equipment and tanks was great.
However the flow of the story was interrupted by too many errors. Your instead of you're, wrong words requiring re-reading of the sentence. It was as if the book had been read out and transcribed by an AI system with poor recording quality.
The author deserves a better proof reader and more editorial support.
January 2, 2026
Very well written with great detail and a well thought out plot. WW 3 invasion of Great Britain. Table is well set and first course well executed. I was sent this autographed paperback by the author M. L. Baldwin as part of the 12 days of Christmas giveaway by the Military Thrillers Facebook group. It arrived in the mail from the UK two days after Christmas to my house in MD. Just got to it on New Year’s Day and couldn’t put it down. Diving into volume 2 very soon!
March 18, 2025
Fools mate
Wow what a book and I hope that the Russians have not read it otherwise we are in big trouble in the UK. It's a change for us to be in the firing line as this genre of stories are normally set in the USA
Wow what a book and I hope that the Russians have not read it otherwise we are in big trouble in the UK. It's a change for us to be in the firing line as this genre of stories are normally set in the USA
October 27, 2025
worryingly possible
Being ex-military I enjoyed this very much and somewhat sadly and considering the state of governance at present in our poor country the plot line is worryingly possible. Looking forward to 48
Being ex-military I enjoyed this very much and somewhat sadly and considering the state of governance at present in our poor country the plot line is worryingly possible. Looking forward to 48
January 1, 2026
This book popped up whilst I was just finishing another long series of books, I read the right up on the trilogy and decided it was just what I wanted having read Tom Clancy and a ww3 Red Storm Rising and have read that three times 🤣 I have just started the second of the trilogy and I’m gonna tell you that this book is absolutely brilliant, I haven’t been able to put my Kindle down, the story is excellent, I love the good guys and hate the bad guys, I’m so caught up in the plot and the characters, I’m actually surprised I’ve managed to put my Kindle down to write this opinion of this book, really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it 👍👍👍
Read
July 28, 2025Great storyline
I saw this book mentioned on X and thought I'd get it. I really enjoyed it, now on to book 2.
I saw this book mentioned on X and thought I'd get it. I really enjoyed it, now on to book 2.
September 2, 2025
Fantastic read
Really enjoyed the book. Left me looking for more. Eagerly awaiting for next book. Keep up the great work. Been waiting for a book like this for a long time.
Really enjoyed the book. Left me looking for more. Eagerly awaiting for next book. Keep up the great work. Been waiting for a book like this for a long time.
September 17, 2025
Can't put it down 👍
Brilliantly thought through, and well structured. Can't wait for the next one.
Looking forward to reading the trilogy.
Many thanks.
Brilliantly thought through, and well structured. Can't wait for the next one.
Looking forward to reading the trilogy.
Many thanks.
September 29, 2025
Very plausible takeover
An excellent read from the start and this is a very plausible invasion of the United Kingdom looking forward to next instalment.
An excellent read from the start and this is a very plausible invasion of the United Kingdom looking forward to next instalment.
January 1, 2026
Unfortuneatley realistic
A bit far fetched in parts but a good story for present times. It left me angry and wanting revenge.
A bit far fetched in parts but a good story for present times. It left me angry and wanting revenge.
November 24, 2024
Really enjoyed this book. It’s well written and has you gripped right from the first page. It’s clearly written by someone with military experience and is incredibly detailed. At times it was a little too detailed for me but that’s personal preference and I was able to skim read some of the more technical bits! Having said that, the detail just made it more believable, and scary (especially as I live in area where it’s based!!. It’s all very plausible - I’ve started the second book now and can’t wait to see what happens! Would definitely recommend, it’s a page turner!!!
Read
December 29, 2024What an absolute stunner of a story, this book had me hooked right from the very start. An exciting, believable plot, amazing character development, and action scenes that made me believe I was there! I don’t usually go for these types of books, and had it recommended by a friend, but I’m glad she talked me into reading it! Given the current climate at the moment in world politics, and the state of the countries of the world, this book is definitely current and on topic.
My only critique is that sometimes the author can go a little to in depth on the explanations of the military hardware, but this is only my personal view, other people who read the book in my club said they preferred this level of detail.
The way this author writes the story is different to other authors. I’d say more akin to the likes of Jeffery Archer, and the way he wraps you up in the story and brings you along quickly makes you forget about the world around you. Many a time I almost missed the bus, trying to get the chapter finished, it’s that good!
Overall an excellent book, that I feel is more a hybrid, yes it’s a military war book, but it has elements of a great thriller and political espionage about it, fitting into what I would say would be its own category. Be warned though, this is book one of a trilogy, so the story will continue. I promise you’ll be hooked!
There’s a second book due out this month, I’ve already pre ordered it, and can’t wait to see how this story continues!
Roll on the film!
My only critique is that sometimes the author can go a little to in depth on the explanations of the military hardware, but this is only my personal view, other people who read the book in my club said they preferred this level of detail.
The way this author writes the story is different to other authors. I’d say more akin to the likes of Jeffery Archer, and the way he wraps you up in the story and brings you along quickly makes you forget about the world around you. Many a time I almost missed the bus, trying to get the chapter finished, it’s that good!
Overall an excellent book, that I feel is more a hybrid, yes it’s a military war book, but it has elements of a great thriller and political espionage about it, fitting into what I would say would be its own category. Be warned though, this is book one of a trilogy, so the story will continue. I promise you’ll be hooked!
There’s a second book due out this month, I’ve already pre ordered it, and can’t wait to see how this story continues!
Roll on the film!
December 16, 2024
Operation Fools Mate 24 by ML Baldwin is a cerebral blend of speculative fiction, contemporary global issues and an extensive military history. The result? A belter of a novel that has huge potential in the action/ thriller genre
Mike is ex-military, he has settled into civvy street well. Mike has a great wife, a fantastic career and a secure home. A mysterious cell blackmails his old friend Pat, threatening to destroy his life and entire familly unless he undertakes a mission to swap out hardware essential to national security. Mike gets caught up in the attack on the camp and a case of mistakeen identitiy threatens to destroy his world as he knows it
As the nation is in turmoil, a security crisis brewing, espionage is abound and Mike has become deeply embroiled in the mire... how can he warn the powers that be of the danger looming ahead?
An exciting debut novel from ML Baldwin that is sure to have you hooked throughout. A great new author to keep an eye on
Thank you to the Book Network and ML Baldwin for this gripping ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
Mike is ex-military, he has settled into civvy street well. Mike has a great wife, a fantastic career and a secure home. A mysterious cell blackmails his old friend Pat, threatening to destroy his life and entire familly unless he undertakes a mission to swap out hardware essential to national security. Mike gets caught up in the attack on the camp and a case of mistakeen identitiy threatens to destroy his world as he knows it
As the nation is in turmoil, a security crisis brewing, espionage is abound and Mike has become deeply embroiled in the mire... how can he warn the powers that be of the danger looming ahead?
An exciting debut novel from ML Baldwin that is sure to have you hooked throughout. A great new author to keep an eye on
Thank you to the Book Network and ML Baldwin for this gripping ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews