Has the United States of America reached its end? In Michael Perron’s debut, Patriotic Duties, one character says that America will no longer be that country that inspires and stands proudly tall. But, to retreat a bit, are there cracks on the wall already, those indicating that the government is headed to a civil war under the watch of President Jeffrey Harrison? Well, there are plenty. First, a girl is kidnapped, and then a decorated soldier is murdered. Then comes the threat of domestic terrorism, orchestrated by those believing that they’re more patriotic than others, and then here comes the shocker—influential individuals in the government are clandestinely working on a plan to ascend to the throne, causing a trust-no-one situation. To save America, it would require the likes of Trent not only to dodge bullets but also to resist any attempt to join the other camp.
Patriotic Duties gave me all the reasons to keep turning the page—fast-paced, action-packed, and so clamped down in the tug of war between those bent on destroying the nation and those saving it. First, I liked Cole. Quite the right guy for the job. But then along comes another guy—a highly skilled and decorated member of Delta Force—who takes out eight people in a room without breaking a sweat.
The good thing about the book’s plot is that it doesn’t slow down once it starts, getting intense by every page. We see Trent returning home after a job well done, but unbeknownst to him, and despite his attempts to maintain a low profile, he’s a marked man already. In addition, this plot is forward-driven; yes, there are a few backstories here and there, only used to drive a certain point home. For instance, Trent's past relationship with Bella is kept to a minimum, as are Trent’s fond memories of his now-deceased buddy. What’s more, there are surprises and twists along the way. Hard to tell who’s on which side, and you better wait till the end to have the verdict delivered to you.
For fans of action-packed novels, Michael Perron has delivered a gripping story.