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Broken Shadows
Haunted by his past, former intelligence officer Dolan Keane finds himself at the heart of a deadly conspiracy in Broken Shadows. After a failed mission in the Middle East leaves his SEAL team dead and his career in shambles, Dolan retreats to the small, sleepy town of Onancock, Virginia, hoping to escape the weight of his failures and the memories that refuse to fade.
But the past never stays buried. When his son Kevin is drawn into a global web of deceit orchestrated by the enigmatic Rami Al-Mahdi—a notorious terrorist leader—and Slater, a corrupt insider with ties to military intelligence, Dolan is thrust back into the shadows. His search for answers reveals that the catastrophic mission he barely survived was not a failure of circumstance, but part of a larger scheme with far-reaching implications.
With the clock ticking, Dolan must navigate a world of betrayal, uncover hidden truths, and face his darkest fears to save Kevin and unravel a conspiracy that threatens to ignite chaos in the Middle East. The journey takes him from the tranquil shores of Virginia to the harrowing depths of enemy strongholds, forcing him to confront not just the external forces working against him but the inner demons that have long consumed him.
In a breathtaking climax, Dolan must rely on his wits, skills, and the strength he didn’t know he still possessed to face Al-Mahdi and bring his son home. Yet redemption does not come without sacrifice. As Dolan wrestles with the cost of his choices, he discovers that healing is not found in revenge but in the enduring bonds of family and the hope for a future unshackled from the shadows.
Fans of The Terminal List and Sicario will be captivated by this intense military thriller that masterfully weaves themes of resilience, redemption, and the unyielding power of love. Broken Shadows is a story of a man’s fight to protect what matters most in a world where every step closer to the truth could be his last.
But the past never stays buried. When his son Kevin is drawn into a global web of deceit orchestrated by the enigmatic Rami Al-Mahdi—a notorious terrorist leader—and Slater, a corrupt insider with ties to military intelligence, Dolan is thrust back into the shadows. His search for answers reveals that the catastrophic mission he barely survived was not a failure of circumstance, but part of a larger scheme with far-reaching implications.
With the clock ticking, Dolan must navigate a world of betrayal, uncover hidden truths, and face his darkest fears to save Kevin and unravel a conspiracy that threatens to ignite chaos in the Middle East. The journey takes him from the tranquil shores of Virginia to the harrowing depths of enemy strongholds, forcing him to confront not just the external forces working against him but the inner demons that have long consumed him.
In a breathtaking climax, Dolan must rely on his wits, skills, and the strength he didn’t know he still possessed to face Al-Mahdi and bring his son home. Yet redemption does not come without sacrifice. As Dolan wrestles with the cost of his choices, he discovers that healing is not found in revenge but in the enduring bonds of family and the hope for a future unshackled from the shadows.
Fans of The Terminal List and Sicario will be captivated by this intense military thriller that masterfully weaves themes of resilience, redemption, and the unyielding power of love. Broken Shadows is a story of a man’s fight to protect what matters most in a world where every step closer to the truth could be his last.
459 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2025
About the author
Patrick J. Hughes
4 books2 followersPatrick "PJ" Hughes is a Navy veteran and multi-genre author whose work blends real-world grit with deeply human stories. His novels—including The Shattered Shield and Broken Shadows—explore the psychological toll of service, the resilience of those who endure it, and the weight of memory.
Drawing from his military background and personal experience with PTSD, Patrick writes with an unflinching eye toward the mental health struggles faced by veterans. While rooted in military fiction, his stories now expand into Cold War espionage and grounded fantasy, always with a focus on character and consequence.
Outside of writing, he paints as a form of expression and therapy, shares reflections on his blog, Funky Otter, and advocates for veteran mental health. Patrick lives with his family, balancing fiction with purpose—and a little chaos.
Drawing from his military background and personal experience with PTSD, Patrick writes with an unflinching eye toward the mental health struggles faced by veterans. While rooted in military fiction, his stories now expand into Cold War espionage and grounded fantasy, always with a focus on character and consequence.
Outside of writing, he paints as a form of expression and therapy, shares reflections on his blog, Funky Otter, and advocates for veteran mental health. Patrick lives with his family, balancing fiction with purpose—and a little chaos.
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May 11, 2025MWSA Review
Dolan Keane is a broken man, but that doesn’t mean he is incompetent. While struggling with the results of a military mission gone wrong, his subsequent court martial, and PTSD, he still manages to get by, albeit with a high degree of paranoia. As a former intelligence officer, Keane keeps tabs electronically on the man who took out Keane’s entire SEAL team, Rami Al-Mahdi. As Al-Mahdi targets Keane and his family, the pace quickens. Keane’s son is embroiled in the plot, and Keane must rescue him, with the help of a few friends.
The action is intense, and the ending is surprising. Those who enjoy military thrillers, twisty plots, and a protagonist who must overcome intense psychological and physical threats will be enthralled with Broken Shadows.
Review by Betsy Beard (April 2025)
Dolan Keane is a broken man, but that doesn’t mean he is incompetent. While struggling with the results of a military mission gone wrong, his subsequent court martial, and PTSD, he still manages to get by, albeit with a high degree of paranoia. As a former intelligence officer, Keane keeps tabs electronically on the man who took out Keane’s entire SEAL team, Rami Al-Mahdi. As Al-Mahdi targets Keane and his family, the pace quickens. Keane’s son is embroiled in the plot, and Keane must rescue him, with the help of a few friends.
The action is intense, and the ending is surprising. Those who enjoy military thrillers, twisty plots, and a protagonist who must overcome intense psychological and physical threats will be enthralled with Broken Shadows.
Review by Betsy Beard (April 2025)
March 12, 2025
throws you for a curve!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews