Red Empire

Rogue Team International #5

by Jonathan Maberry

In the next novel in the Joe Ledger and Rogue Team International series, the team faces new and old enemies alike as a bioengineered version of The Black Death surfaces.

Hundred of years after the first waves of the bubonic plague swept through Europe, a new, more dangerous version threatens London. Joe Ledger’s old enemy the Red Empire—reborn as a far more powerful political and military group—has bioengineered a weaponized version of yersinia pestis—the bacteria responsible for The Black Death that killed tens of millions in the Middle Ages.

As Joe Ledger and Rogue Team International race against the clock to put a stop to the Red Empire’s plans, they’re sucked into the strange and mysterious past of the man called Mr. Church. Secrets come to light that make even his staunchest allies wonder who –and more precisely what—Church really is.

With whispers of an elixir vitae—or elixir of life—circling, Joe Ledger and Rogue Team International are facing the highest possible stakes in their work together yet. As the tension builds and the balance between life and death sways precariously, it seems like tragic losses among them might be inevitable.

Genres: Horror, Thriller, Audiobook, Science Fiction, Action, Fantasy, Fiction

Audible Audio

Published March 10, 2026

About the author

JONATHAN MABERRY is a NYTimes bestselling author, #1 Audible bestseller, 5-time Bram Stoker Award-winner, 4-time Scribe Award winner, Inkpot Award winner, comic book writer, and producer. He is the author of more than 50 novels, 190 short stories, 16 short story collections, 30 graphic novels, 14 nonfiction books, and has edited 26 anthologies. His vampire apocalypse book series, V-WARS, was a Netflix original series starring Ian Somerhalder. His 2009-10 run as writer on the Black Panther comic formed a large chunk of the recent blockbuster film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. His bestselling YA zombie series, Rot & Ruin is in development for film at Alcon Entertainment; and John Wick director, Chad Stahelski, is developing Jonathan’s Joe Ledger Thrillers for TV. Jonathan writes in multiple genres including suspense, thriller, horror, science fiction, epic fantasy, and action; and he writes for adults, teens and middle grade. His works include The Pine Deep Trilogy, The Kagen the Damned Trilogy, NecroTek, Ink, Glimpse, the Rot & Ruin series, the Dead of Night series, The Wolfman, X-Files Origins: Devil’s Advocate, The Sleepers War (with Weston Ochse), Mars One, and many others. He is the editor of high-profile anthologies including Weird Tales: 100 Years of Weird, The X-Files, Aliens: Bug Hunt, Out of Tune, Don’t Turn out the Lights: A Tribute to Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Baker Street Irregulars, Nights of the Living Dead, Shadows & Verse, and others. His comics include Marvel Zombies Return, The Punisher: Naked Kills, Wolverine: Ghosts, Godzilla vs Cthulhu: Death May Die, Bad Blood and many others. Jonathan has written in many popular licensed worlds, including Hellboy, True Blood, The Wolfman, John Carter of Mars, Sherlock Holmes, C.H.U.D., Diablo IV, Deadlands, World of Warcraft, Planet of the Apes, Aliens, Predator, Karl Kolchak, and many others. He the president of the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers, and the editor of Weird Tales Magazine. He lives in San Diego, California. Find him online at www.jonathanmaberry.com

Reviews

[Tobin Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maberry has absolutely put his characters through the wringer before, and likely never more so than in the 15 books of the Joe Ledger series.

But never more than this book. Maberry takes a long time lighting the fuse, but when this thing goes bang, it leaves a mushroom cloud behind. I won't spoil anything, but if I have any complaints with this at all, it's that when it ended... it seemed to end really quick. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of the takedown, but it's such a minor complaint on a well-plotted chess game that I can live with it.

Besides, I think much of what I'm looking for will probably serve as the opening to the next book.

Absolutely phenomenal series.

[Travis Lantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just to be transparent, I have a huge bias towards this book series. There isn’t a Joe Ledger novel or novella that I haven’t enjoyed reading. Jonathan Maberry is thorough and mindful of the content in his books, his attention to keeping the integrity of the continuity of the books is my favorite aspect of his writing.

This book in particular really gives the fans what we want and that’s to know more about a specific character’s origins as they were such an enigma from the very first book in the series. The pay off was worth the wait after all these years and far more interesting than I expected. This is the only book in the series where I was itching to get to the next interlude.

The characters are diverse and the world building is fun and unexpected in a few of them. Every year I look forward to continuing this book series with a lot of the characters that I’ve grown to love over the years.

He’s already writing the next book and has reminded us that the whole series is in development for TV.

Give the series a read.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

ok this book was epic. let me just say Jonathan Maberry knows how to write a tale. let me honest part of me loved church's back story however the other part was kinda let down there wasnt more bang. I know in this series there isnt magic in this series its more science based. still I was hoping that there would be a little Shazam but anyways thats. I did love the moment when church is shot and the bad guys think hes dead and then he comes back with a vengeance. I honestly dont know how RTI is gonna recover from the amount of losses they have racked up. I honestly dont know how much joe can take. hes been pushed to breaking and beyond. somehow I hope he gets a break. he needs something good in his life besides top, bunny, bell, Remy, doc, bug, and junie of course. he needs more than junie as a light im hoping that in the next book he gets it.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were parts of this book that were fun and parts that were brutal. The fun part was finally learning more about Church. Yet even as much as we learned, it feels like there are so many more questions we need answered and they are all so close. Heck...Joe seemingly had the answers in his hands and he didn't look, even gave them to Church. I kinda hate him for that, I want to know now more than ever due to the events in this book.

The brutal part of the book was pretty much every thing else. From the case they were dragged into to help in London, to what happened there. So many hard hits people lost. There were many times I wondered if this was somehow the last book with them all and the author was going to have them go out with a bang and not in a good way. The repercussions from what happened in this one will be felt by the team for a long time. It will be interesting to see where things go from here for them all.

[Vicki Elia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good exploration of the history of Nicodemus and the period of the years between 1,000 to present. The first half of the book focuses on this era and becomes rather tedious, hence the 4 star rating. The second half of the book is more of what you'd expect from a DMS/RTI saga. A battle to save the earth and the loss of much. New evil players enter the scene, and there is a long thread of Mr. Church's true identity and history, which if you're interested, remains unresolved.

Any book in this series by Maberry delivered by Ray Porter is superb.

A personal gripe: The decimation of the name DMS and the reinvented RTI (Rogue Team International) seems hokey. I personally don't care for the name RTI. Perhaps the conclusion of this book may give the author the opportunity to rename it - again? Please?

[Sheska · Rating 3 out of 5]

16 books and we finally get Mr Church's reveal! I have to say I was relieved the author didn't go with some conventional Biblical mythology cliché.

[Calvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Near perfect book, until the end

I really enjoyed this book, didn't want to put it down, stayed up too late too many nights in a row just to finish it faster.... and then I got to the ending. What a letdown. Seriously 95% of the book is amazing and 5% is just terrible. This book finally explores Mr. Church's background after 17 years, which is something I've been wanting since the first book. There's almost as much focus on his background as there is on the main storyline. The action with Ledger and Havoc team is a lot more toned down compared to previous novels, at least until the final act. Nicodemus makes his return, seemingly dying of the plague, but it's never explained what's wrong with him. His big plan is to ruin everything Church has set up and get Ledger to see Church is a monster. But the novel spends the entire time showing Church is truly a good guy. Violent when need be, yes. But not evil or a monster, unlike Nicodemus. In the end, Nicodemus just disappears again despite the book making it seem like he's going to die or face off against Church one final time. Huge let down there. Toys shows up for all of 10 minutes, which is a wasted opportunity. A new character is introduced, causing some major issues for Ledger... for the two minutes she's in the book. She's never been mentioned before in any way, and then just magically appears. I'm sure she will play a much larger role in the next book, but I don't see a reason why she was introduced here as such a huge wow factor. She was hardly in the book at all. Two minor characters die, but I hardly remembered anything about them, so it was hard to care. The secondary villian to Nicodemus doesn't seem to really who is pulling the strings. He also turns into a caricature of an over the top racist villian, complete with a 20 minute monologue explaining his master plan. There's a ton wrong with this. He's super strong and has Ledger at his mercy, then just stops at the last second. During his monologue, he rants about who he perceives as the enemy of the church, but it seems like it's more in line with the KKK. There was a way to explain the plan as a way to save the Church, but instead he's just another white supremacist. Definitely not the kind of villian the team has had to deal with multiple times in the last few books. Not at all. Just when I thought the author had gotten better with his political leanings leaking into his work, he batters you over the head with it again. A new group is introduced in the last act, becoming a borderline deus ex machina. Considering who they are, what they represent, and the massive consequences they have to the world, you'd think there would be more done with them. Instead, they show up, save the day, talk to Ledger for 30 seconds, then leave. That's it.

Don't get me wrong. There's a ton of great stuff in this book. Church gets to show just how much of a warrior he is. Nicodemus is always creepy. Ledger is Ledger. The final act is filled with action, violence, and a legitimately terrifying moment for Bug. He's fine don't worry. But there's so much build up with Nicodemus and the other villian that ultimately is a let down or goes nowhere. I have a sneaky suspicion the final act and the villian were drastically rewritten after November of 2024. Make of that what you will.

[Katie Komo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid story, albeit the cold open was very, very familiar. Hasn’t Joe already been attacked once or three times at Helen’s grave? However, it is one place he consistently visits, so I get the “why.”
I have to do a reread, or really and initial “read”, because i bought the Audible version and before I even finished, bought the Kindle. Even with the amazing Ray Porter (the undeniable GOAT of narrators) reading this tale, I don’t think I absorbed everything.

I will say that when Bug was hurt, I put the phone down and walked away. And then when he saw Nikki? I slammed the phone down and then had to explain my irrational avoidance to my husband because I was SO scared Doc Holiday wouldn’t end up in the land of the living. JM, if you read this: I will absolutely stop reading and revolt if you kill her off!! She’s my favorite (and damn if Ray Porter doesn’t just bring her to liiiiife).

In the near week since I finished this book, I’ve thought about it many times, which is common for a Ledger installment, but damn if I wouldn’t give anything to know what was in that book he burned! Joe may know “who Church is” but I’m still not clear and it’s driving me bonkers! Also: the whole Claire/Grace thing… I really can’t wait to see how that unfolds in future installments.

[Leigh Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mayberry finally pulls back the curtain on the mysterious Mr. Church in this book. And when I say pulle back the curtain, I mean, we get pretty much the full explanation of who he is and how he is who he is That, after 14 long books, is pretty great.

However…

The price we pay for getting so much of Mr. Church‘s backstory is that there is a distinct lack of backstory for the enemy. Whether it’s Nicodemus or Kuga or Sebastian Gault, or any of those folks being reincarnated or renamed, we always got a healthy look at their machinations and their plans. This is completely absent in this book. It’s my one complaint.

Instead, everything gets revealed in the middle of the third act, and frankly it doesn’t seem fair. Maybe fairs isn’t the right word, but it certainly isn’t consistent with the way the narratives have been laid out previously, so I’m a little disappointed because of that.

[Jed Sorokin-Altmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

It gives more insight into Mr. Church and his war, but not all, and meaning no disrespect to Mr. Maberry, it might be time to tell all and end the series. Even with the new information given, this novel feels very repetitive. It was a page turner only in that I wanted more resolution and revelations, and they didn’t really come. Otherwise, it is much of the same as its predecessors. Unlike, say, the works in Tom Clancy’s Ryan-verse, this book doesn’t have a unique plot that differentiates itself from others in the Joe Ledger-verse. Horrible disease, supernatural adversaries, Joe Ledger’s team/family/extended allies being targeted/killed/sickened, wash, rinse, repeat….

[Michael Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: This review was originally published at FanFiAddict.

The radar of long-time Joe Ledger readers might ping at the mention of red in Red Empire, given our hero’s tumultuous past with The Red Order and their vampiric Red Knights. Since their debut way back in 2012’s Assassin’s Code, these blood sucking genetic whackadoos have grown into a series staple with multiple appearances along the way, including 2023’s Cave 13. Red Empire leans heavily on these earlier entries, but Jonathan Maberry does his best to make the convoluted history easy to digest. And hoo boy, does Red Empire ever have a lot of history behind it, so much so that Ledger even comments during a session of intelligence gathering that “Dan Brown just got a woody.”

Following an attack at a graveyard, Ledger has found himself targeted by the enigmatic and possibly demonic Nicodemus, just as a new threat rises from the ashes of the past. Some goofballs have been playing around with yersinia pestis, aka the bubonic plague, which swept through Europe in the Middle Ages. The Black Death was the deadliest pandemic in history, but modern science now offers the bad guys a chance to make this bacteria even more lethal as a genetically engineered, fast-acting, weaponized bioagent whose victims show signs of infection within hours and a painful death soon thereafter. When one of Rogue Team International’s own falls victim in London, the race is on to find a cure, the terrorists responsible, and to put an end to this latest threat before humanity itself goes extinct.

As with previous books, Maberry intercuts the present-day action with interludes flashing back to earlier periods that help give context to the unfolding events and to develop the bad guys and their motivations. Red Empire’s interludes just might be the farthest Maberry has stretched, reaching all the way back to the Crusades and the war between the Church, Islam, and The Red Order and their Knights, and the plague of the 1300s. Maberry weaves them all together in a complex tapestry of religious warfare, shadowy warriors, political infighting, and a conspiracy that carries through into the present.

There’s also the history of the many-aliased Mr. Church, a figure that’s almost as much of a riddle as his villainous counterpart Nicodemus. Maberry has been teasing this book as Mr. Church’s origin story for the last few years on his various social media accounts and he certainly delivers on that promise, adding yet more layers of complications to Ledger’s life and mental well-being. For his part, Ledger isn’t exactly on the most solid mental footing following the last couple books, forcing readers to question if he can survive this latest doomsday scenario both mentally and physically, given all of Church’s very many secrets and Nicodemus’s mind games.

Red Empire is a thick book in terms of both page count and plot. Coming in as the fifth entry in the Rogue Team International series and fifteenth overall Joe Ledger book, there’s a lot of unpack in here, although Maberry tries to make it accessible to new readers. For those who have been following along since Patient Zero, Red Empire offers the usual familiarities that have become staples of the series thus far. You’ve got your outsized, egomaniacal James Bond villain hellbent on world domination, genetically engineered super-bugs, and plenty of militaristic violence that’s blessedly free of American jingoism that would certainly feel false in our current political landscape. Although Ledger insists he’s apolitical, and Mr. Church’s war waves no flag other than humanity’s secular own, it’s hard not to see some incredibly relevant commentary in here about America in the age of Trump. It’s certainly a pleasure reading about Ledger wiping the floor with racist, Christofascist douchebags, although I wish more pages had been spent allowing his titanium-toothed attack-dog, Ghost, to maul the hell out of them along the way. There’s always the next book for that, I suppose. Hope, you see, it does spring eternal.

I think that with a series as long in the tooth as this one, fans may not be looking for originality as much as familiarity, and much of Red Empire certainly is familiar, at times feeling like a hodgepodge of prior books mashed together. Thankfully, it’s a comforting sort of familiarity, a pleasant bit of brain-candy, rather than a been there done that kind of bore. Besides, Empire’s climax might be among Maberry’s finest as Ledger does his best Die Hard impersonation as he and Havoc Team find themselves trapped in a towering office building thick with plague and terrorists, and the threats only get larger and wider in scale from there. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t completely on edge for the last third or so of this book, my hands gripping my e-reader tightly with tension and sweating bullets as I turned the pages and Maberry made me his emotional plaything. And, as with past Joe Ledger books, I finished feeling full and satisfied, and excited to see what comes next. Like I said, these books are the good kind of familiar, and I really can’t get enough of them.

[Erin Clemence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

Expected publication date: March 10, 2026

In Jonathan Maberry’s “Red Empire”, Joe Ledger and his Rogue Team International (RTI) are back for a new adventure, this time with a side of supernatural mixing in with his James Bond vibes.

It’s been hundred of years since the Bubonic Plague destroyed London and infected its citizens, but now a new and deadlier version is once again primed for release, created by Joe’s old nemesis, a group called the Red Empire. Joe and his team find themselves working alongside other RTI teams to take out this new enemy and, as they do, secrets start to be revealed about the man in charge, simply called Church. As Joe and his team find out conflicting, and unbelievable things, about their team leader, they must face the greatest battle of their lives, hoping to find a way to stop the plague before it terrorizes London- again.

“Empire” is the fifth novel in Maberry’s “Rogue Team International” series of novels. I was given the opportunity to read book four, but that was my first and only experience with Maberry and with the RTI, so I’m still getting my bearings. It seems to be like this is one of those novel series that are best read in consecutive order, as the plots are complicated and there are often many characters, especially those that make up the different RTI teams, but I was able to keep up with the plot after only reading two books from this series, so it isn’t a total loss.

The fifth installment features Joe as the protagonist still, but there are unique components that are narrated by others, as they take place as far back as the second century BCE. Through these chapters, we learn about the long-since-defunct (or presumably thought to be) Red Order and Red Knights, who both play an important role in the current plot, although what that role is isn’t immediately known. There is a supernatural component, as mentioned, which totally caught my interest and left me wanting more.

“Empire” has a lot of moving parts. There are multiple RTI teams, as well as the Red Empire and its two different branches and then, of course, the historical figures that are mentioned that have a close connection to Church, as well as the “Saturday people” and all that they entail. If you can keep track of it all, there is also a lot of action, including some creative weapons, so the plot line is not slow moving by any means.

I thoroughly enjoyed finding out about Church and learning a bit about his backstory. That was the component that truly intrigued me and the details of his past did not disappoint. The Saturday people were unique also, and I wanted to know more. There was a lot of intense action, with fight scenes and gore, that would be perfect for anyone who loves a good spy novel, but a lot of the plot was difficult to keep up with and the ending was expected, with the exception of Church’s secrets.

Book four and book five in this series rate about the same for me, neither a complete disappointment nor a total page-turner, but Maberry has substantial writing talent and he will definitely connect to a certain type of reader.

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy action, danger, intrigue, and suspense, then look no further than Red Empire by Jonathan Maberry. This fifth book in the Rogue Team International (RTI) series featuring Joe Ledger is a combination of action thriller and medical thriller. Joe and his Havoc Team work for RTI. RTI are independent troubleshooters who sometimes tackle antagonists on their own and sometimes are asked for help from various countries. Once again, this is a dark and violent thriller with some interludes from the ancient past. While most of the novel takes place in London, England, readers also travel to Greece, France, Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Spain, and the United States.

Hundreds of years after the bubonic plague initially swept through Europe, an old enemy has taken on a new life as a more powerful political and military group. They’ve also bioengineered a weaponized version of The Black Death that killed millions in the Middle Ages. As the race to stop the Red Empire’s plans gets underway, secrets about Mr. Church, the leader of RTI are revealed.
Joe has unresolved rage issues despite the years of therapy with Rudy Sanchez. He tends to be empathetic and has great problem-solving skills along with a fierce determination. He tends to improvise because structure leads to predictability. This means he can be a pain when dealing with authority figures.

Once again, Maberry hooked me with a stark, dark, and chilling prologue that pulled me immediately into the story. While the plot jumps back in time with interludes, the story is mostly told from Joe’s perspective.

For an action / medical thriller, I loved the style that Maberry used. While there are comprehensive descriptions of people, places and gear, it doesn’t go into minute detail. I believe this approach will make this novel appeal to a wider audience. There are several twists and a big surprise that I didn’t see coming. The last quarter of the book is full of pulse-pounding action. My biggest quibble is that the Historical Interludes adversely affect the pacing. However, they also provided valuable information.

Overall, this novel is a shockingly dark, disturbing, and tense thriller. Be aware that there is plenty of violence and emotional turmoil in this story. This is the ninth book I have read by this author who writes in a variety of genres. I can’t wait to read another one by him. Maberry’s books are well-written with characters that have depth and there is always an interesting plot where the story line pulls the reader in immediately. I believe those readers who enjoy action thrillers and medical thrillers that are dark will enjoy this book.

St. Martin’s Press – St. Martin’s Griffin and Jonathan Maberry provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for March 10, 2026.
------------------------------
My 4.25 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.

[Lukasz · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 but I'll round it up and I'm not really objective.

Jonathan Maberry’s Red Empire is the fifteenth Joe Ledger novel and the fifth Rogue Team International book. At this point, the series is long enough that picking up a single entry without context is a bit like walking into season twelve of a TV show and hoping for the best. Maberry does try to make the story understandable on its own, but the emotional weight, the grudges, and half the revelations only really land if you’ve been here for the long haul.

I have. And that probably means I liked this book more than it objectively deserves.

We finally got the long-promised look into Mr. Church. For years he’s been the most mysterious person in the series - Ledger’s boss, puppet master, and occasional badass. Red Empire finally digs into who he is and where he came from. The answers are satisfying. Maberry reveals a lot, but leaves room for questions. The infamous cookie code, for example, remains unsolved.

Also, the Red Order is back and that means things will spiral fast. These genetically altered vampire-like warriors take center stage again. Their return ties together a lot of old plot lines. It also allows Maberry to reach deep into history, jumping back to the Crusades and the Black Death. I loved the historical sections that made a lot of things clearer.

On the modern-day side, a weaponized version of the bubonic plague may wipe away humanity. Between that and the usual Joe Ledger combat scenes, this book gets very violent. Anyone squeamish should probably look elsewhere. Longtime readers already know the deal and enjoy brutal fights, ugly deaths, and the constant sense that no character is entirely safe.

And yes, some familiar faces die.

Maberry has been thinning the cast regularly for years. Fans are used to it, even if it still stings when it happens. The series has always balanced its action with the sense that these people matter to each other, and when one of them goes down it hurts.

The action itself is fast, loud, and relentless. The last third of the book in particular barely slows down. There’s a long siege inside a sealed London skyscraper where plague, terrorists, and Joe Ledger collide. It’s chaotic, tense, and a lot of fun to read.

After fifteen books, the characters feel like old teammates. Ledger’s grim humor still works. Havoc Team still operates like the world’s most dangerous family. And when Maberry throws them into chaos, it’s easy to get pulled along.

In the end, Red Empire isn't the tightest book in the series but it is one of the most revealing. It finally opens the door on Mr. Church’s past, pushes the Red Order storyline forward in a big way, and reminds readers why this series has lasted so long.

Audiobook narration: Ray Porter slays.

[Hope Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listening to Red Empire after years of reading the Joe Ledger books was a strange experience in the best possible way. For more than a decade I’ve had these characters’ voices in my head, so hearing them performed out loud felt a little like someone had been secretly eavesdropping on my imagination and decided to broadcast it.

Jonathan Maberry once again delivers exactly what longtime fans expect: relentless action, scary science, and the kind of global catastrophe that makes you rethink travel plans. This time Joe Ledger and Rogue Team International are dealing with a bioengineered version of the Black Death unleashed by the resurrected Red Empire. Because apparently regular problems like traffic and taxes were not stressful enough. The outbreak in London kicks off a race against time packed with brutal fights, desperate science, and pacing that rarely lets you breathe.

One of the best parts of Red Empire is how much it expands the mythology of the series. Maberry finally pulls back the curtain on Mr. Church, one of the most mysterious figures in the entire saga, and ties his story to centuries-old conflicts involving the Red Order and the origins of the plague. The historical threads reaching back to the Crusades and the Black Death add a bigger scope to the story and make the stakes feel even more personal.
As always, Maberry balances the darkness with Ledger’s trademark dry humor and the camaraderie of Rogue Team International. The villains are terrifying, the action scenes hit hard, and the final stretch of the book is pure chaos in the best way.

For longtime fans, this one feels like a reward. It deepens the lore, raises the stakes, and reminds you why you got hooked on this series in the first place. And hearing it in audio adds another layer that makes the tension and emotion land even harder.

If you’ve been riding along with Joe Ledger since Patient Zero, Red Empire absolutely delivers. Just maybe do not listen to it if you are already feeling paranoid about pandemics. Or secret centuries-old conspiracies. Or both.

This is a review of the audiobook.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, what a book.

This is the 5th book in this series, but it is actually the 15th or so book in the Joe Ledger series. If you have not read any of these books, it is extremely hard to explain. Somehow, Mr. Maberry has created a world with characters and storylines that seem other worldly and supernatural while at the same time giving the readers scientific explanations on how crazy things like vampires or zombies can actually be a threat.

We are again following MMC Joe Ledger and Mr. Church as they continue the "war" against those that try to threaten or harm the innocent. The Red Order has been vanquished....or have they?

This book FINALLY gives us the back story on Mr. Church, and we get to go back into the past and follow him into the present. Even though I had a fairly good idea of what to expect, THAT in itself makes this book worth it.

Without going into spoilers, this book takes us on one heck of an adventure. Things are crazy and there is a heck of a lot going on but the chess board is being manipulated. People are being maneuvered into specific locations and when the fog clears, it is horrifying to discover how vulnerable the folks at RTI are. There is a mastermind pulling all of the strings. There were several times I realized that I was holding my breath as I was reading. Ingenious, yet spine chilling.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. This book will be out for publication on March 10, 2026.

[John Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more or less the 15th book in the Joe Ledger series.

The 1st book Patient Zero was beyond amazing.
I may have read it 3 times.
Which for me is almost unheard of.

Also still reading a series with so many books in it
is a rare trick.
Maberry has managed to keep the
stories entertaining still even after so damn many of them.


Loosley summed up
this series is
James Bond
+
The X Files.

Ledger is a Baltimore cop
who gets volunteered for the DMS
(Department of Military Sciences)
(imagine Q Branch but with REALLY weird shit)
When on a Joint Task Force he is involved
with raiding a terror cell hideout
and accidentally wrassles
a zombie ( caused by a manufactured virus )
and did not die,
impressing Mr. Church the mysterious leader of the DMS.

He proceeds to fuck up more terrorists zombie and regular.
Foiling the Big Bads nefarious plan.

This time is sort of more of the same.
1) Shit happens
2) Ledger reacts
3)The traitor is revealed
4) The traitors plan is exposed
5)Joe / his team / everyone gets their asses handed to them.
6)Hope is lost as Evil seems triumphant
7)Joe / Church / Someone pulls a miracle out of their ass and saves the day
8)The villain is defeated but at what cost???

This time there is a bonus
we finally learn the origin
of Mr. Church.
And it is a doozey.

Oh and yeah I got an ARC of this, no time travel was involved ( cause occasionally some wanker will complain)

[mrsxtremistsbookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC! As an "auto-buy" fan of Jonathan Maberry, I was counting down the days for Red Empire, and it absolutely delivered. This is a phenomenal continuation of the Joe Ledger and Rogue Team International series that raises the stakes to an almost impossible level.

The plot centers on a weaponized, bioengineered version of the Black Death being unleashed on London by the reborn Red Empire. The tension is relentless as Joe Ledger and the team race against time, but the real highlight for me was finally getting some answers. We learned some truly jaw-dropping information about Mr. Church that we have been wondering about since the very first book. Seeing those long-standing mysteries start to unravel while the team faces such a global threat was incredible.

The pacing is spot-on, with consistent, pulse-pounding action that moves the plot along without ever feeling stalled. It was also wonderful to see so many characters we have come to love over the years; it feels like catching up with old friends, even if they are in the middle of a biological apocalypse.

Another amazing Maberry book that has me eagerly waiting for more!

[Stephen Bochniak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red Empire by Jonathan Maberry is the newest installment of the Rogue Team International series, following the protagonist Joe Ledger. This time, they face something more deadly than the rage virus; it’s a virus bred from the Black Death, which has the power to kill anyone in contact with it within a couple of days. Joe, with the assistance of many, must find out where the virus is being dispersed and who is behind it before there is a global pandemic of the likes of which no one has ever seen, while combating different forces seeking control and unknowns who are friend or foe.

Jonathan Maberry knows how to write an action thriller that keeps the reader begging for one more chapter. He grips the reader from the first chapter and continues to peel back the story layer by layer. His scenes were well defined, and I especially enjoyed his chapter style in this book, going from past to present, allowing the reader to understand how they got to the present point. I found this book enjoyable and highly recommend it to anyone looking for an action thriller with a twist.

Thank you Netgalley, Jonathan Maberry and St. Martin’s Griffin for allowing me to read this copy.

[James Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maberry never disappoints when it comes to crazy international techno-thrillers. In Red Empire, Joe Ledger and his Rogue Team International face old adversaries while facing an even older biological threat-the Black Death. Nobody will emerge from this battle unscarred. Some will not ever emerge again.

Maberry isn't afraid to put any and all of his characters on the chopping block in service to the greater story. Told with glimpses back to the days of the Crusades, readers learn of the fate of the Red Order and the monsters created in their service. Tied into it all, we learn the origin story of the mysterious Mr. Church. Many readers have guessed over the several books in the series and will be floored by the truth.

Throughout this insane ride, readers will wonder if this is Ledger's last battle. Either way, it will go down as one of Maberry's best Rogue Team books.

This review is based on the audio book, read by the incomparable Ray Porter. He not only manages to embody the soul of Joe Ledger. Somehow, I can actually hear Jonathan Maberry's particular intonations in this reading. If you crave action and international intrigue, Red Empire is your book.

[Andi-Roo Libecap · Rating 3 out of 5]

The WAR is the war. And so it goes. It's the journey, not the destination. Fight the good fight.

Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City to take back the child that you have stolen. For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom as great... You have no power over me!

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Okay, sorry. I'm done.

Anyways...Some zombies show up for a second (not nearly long enough), and some vampires make an entrance (also not nearly long enough), and the sorcerer's stone pops in (definitely did not need that imo). The magic is always science, and that's fine.

Everything else is just boys blowing each other up. Guns and bombs and dick jokes and fart jokes and big muscles and lots of blood and barf. I think Joe got laid again, but if so, that was toward the beginning of the book and he didn't tell us much about it this time which is cool cool cool. I'm pretty sure his girlfriend is part alien anyway so every time they boink, it kinda gives me the ick.

Whatever.

The dog doesn't die and that's what matters most.

Love, TARS, love.

[Kerrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent Joe Ledger action-adventure novel. Perhaps one of most dangerous missions Ledger has ever experienced and certainly devastating to RTI’s headquarters and human casualties especially among some of the most valued RTI team members. The author expertly unfolded the mystery of the son of the Bastard Knight while unfolding the mystery of the resurgence of the Black Death only bioengineered as weaponized strain. No man is an island. Even Joe Ledger needs an ally to confront villainous monsters when the chips are down. The ally is a rumored beneficial “upierzcki”. There is plenty of action and the author does a great job of articulating the action, emotions and danger faced by Ledger & his associates.

I recommend reading the Joe Ledger novels in order for a richer experience of the adventures and to maintain certain secrets and mysteries to allow the reader to speculate, wonder and enjoy the timing of revelation when the secrets unfold.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 5 is an epic (500+pages) supernatural thriller that will confuse you if you've never read Jonathan Mayberry. I read book 4 and I was kinda confused at times with all the ancient lore and the character name changes, but it all comes together at the end...kinda? I highly doubt I'll read another book in this series, but might check out another series because the author tells a very entertaining story. I would recommend reading the series in order for a better understanding of the storyline.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the ARC and the book will be available on March 10, 2026.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Joe Ledger and Rogue Team books and this new one doesn't disappoint. It's a wild ride and once the action starts it just continues to ramp up throughout the whole book with teams Havoc, Bedlam, Chaos, Wild Hunt and Mr. Church all smack dab in the middle. The reemergence of their old enemy the Red Empire has them all fighting for their lives against a new plague while not knowing who's friend or foe or how many lives will be lost. To learn more about Mr. Church we go back to The Crusades, The Knights Templar and The Upierczy to find out who or what Mr. Church is. The twist towards the end of the book is a pleasant surprise.

[Matt Schroeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I rounded up from 4½ stars

What can I say, this one was worth the wait, and easily among the top—the top—of the series.

And the half-star rounded? Mayberry repeats himself a lot, especially when it comes to the history of the series. Multiple times, the same content. Could have used a tighter edit in those areas, I suppose.

But the story? Top. Shelf. Stuff. Raises the stakes immeasurably. This should be a hard reset of RTI, and I hope a retirement of some long-threaded storylines. The castle could use a can of fresh paint, if you'll pardon the ham-fisted foreshadowing.

[Amber K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes!!!! I devoured this book!!
My first read by the author, and I absolutely loved the story! Loved the main character, the writing style was phenomenal, and I need to read more books from this author!!! Mystery, suspense, intrigue, and fast-paced action, I just feel like this book checked all the boxes for me!
This is the 5th book in the Rogue Team International series and the 15th Joe Ledger series books - I had no issues diving in here and fully enjoying & loving this book!!
I will 100% be reading more of Maberry's books!!

[Rickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another solid entry

I haven't had a sense of dread while reading a Joe Ledger book for awhile. The buildup of Church's origin and the rise of this new Red Empire made it seem like big losses were coming to the main cast. While I thoroughly enjoyed it, I do feel like Maberry is playing safe with certain characters now. I'm also completely up in the air on my opinion of the new Major. I'm hoping she is something different and not just a clone of previous character. I'm looking forward to Avalon Station and the new enemies and allies.

[KG Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always been a fan of Johnathan Mayberry. My first read was Rot & Ruin and then I journeyed into the world of Joe Ledger.

I received this book as an ARC. I enjoyed the story- once it finally picked up. It was 70% before it finally got to landing the plane, per se.

I think that some of the prologue could have been presented a little differently- just to keep the book from being as long and large as it was.

I am happy that we finally got some history in Mr. Church. If you’ve been following Joe Ledger- this is another installment that you have to read!

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give it closer to a 3.5. Good entertaining read, and finally hearing the Church backstory was something we all wanted. For me it just feels like the last couple books are recycling the same players even bring back same looking cousins. While I know the series will always have a facet of predictability and repetition just given the fact it is a series, this one more so than the rest felt the most predictable (outside the Church story).

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many questions answered and probably the easiest read in the DMS/RTI series. Easy read is not a criticism, it's just so well written that the book flies by quickly and enjoyably.

I found this book to be a little more grounded vs. earlier entries which also added to the enjoyment.

I'm not sure what's next in this series, but I cannot wait for the next book. If you are a fan of the series this one is highly recommended.