First Ranger: A Short Story

by Brian Andrews, Jeffrey Wilson, Bradford Hastings (Reader)

From New York Times bestselling authors Andrews & Wilson

The tender kiss that followed was interrupted by the sudden and aggressive barking of their two hounds ranging somewhere out on the heath.

“Sounds like we have a visitor,” Anna said and stepped to the bedroom window to pull the curtain back. After a look, she turned to Knowlton, the rosy color from her flushed cheeks evaporating before his eyes. “I think it’s George Mason … and he’s in a full gallop.”

First Ranger details the life of Thomas Knowlton. Known for his ability to sneak behind enemy lines in order to gather valuable intelligence, Knowlton who was selected by George Washington himself to form the first team of what would become the US Army Rangers.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Short Stories, Audiobook, Historical, War

1 pages, Audio CD

Published February 14, 2026

About the author

Brian is a US Navy veteran, nuclear engineer, and former submarine officer. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in psychology, holds a Master's in business from Cornell University, and is a Park Leadership Fellow. He is a principal contributor at Career Authors, a site dedicated to advancing the careers of aspiring and published writers: www.careerauthors.com.

He is half of Andrews & Wilson, the New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, & #1 Amazon best-selling co-author team behind the TIER ONE series. New in 2026:

- SLEDGEHAMMER (short): (JAN)
- SCARS (audiobook): (FEB)
- THE EQUESTRIAN (short): (MAR)
- INSURGENT: Tier One #10 (JULY
- And much more!

In addition to their novels, Andrews & Wilson have multiple projects under development for film and television with major motion picture studios including Tier One, Dark Intercept, 4 Minutes, Portal, Glitch, and The In Between.

Find Brian online at:

Web: www.andrews-wilson.com
Instagram: @andrewsandwilson
Twitter: @BAndrewsJWilson

Sign-up for his newsletter at www.andrews-wilson.com to stay informed about all his new releases or "Follow" his Amazon Author page!

Reviews

[Abibliofob · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Ranger by Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson is a neat story about early special ops. I especially like the parts about weaponry and shooting distances.

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Ranger was a compelling short story of how the first Rangers were established, spearheaded by Thomas Knowlton and how their efforts helped in the Revolutionary War. The account was action-packed, but the glimpse into Knowlton’s personal life made the story resonate more deeply.

Bradford Hastings did an excellent job narrating the characters with a range of accents and emotions that brought the story to life!

I voluntarily listened to an audio copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of this writing duo and am always thrilled whenever I see anything new available from them. This was a very short story that gives the reader a small snapshot into the birth of special warfare fighting and special operations during the American Revolution.

I listened to this on audio and the narration by Bradford Hastings did a wonderful job of creating the perfect atmosphere for the story.

We meet Thomas Knowlton and follow him as he leaves his family to go and fight for the Continental Army while at the same time, bringing ideas to the forefront that began the evolution in American fighting tactics. It made me want to immediately go and look up how much of this story was historically accurate and how much came from the brilliant minds of our authors.

Great short story.

[Ethan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Historical Fan Fiction, rather than historical fiction.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent blend of fiction and reality. I would love to see more stories set in this time period. A great way to start the celebration of 250 years of America! Thank you Andrew’s and Wilson for this story. Another great read.

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little morsel of historical fiction has a surprising amount of depth delivered with an exceptional narration (audiobook). Marvelous.

[David Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent new edition. Cannot wait for more!!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting and Impressive

Andrews and Wilson do it again. In this historical fiction novella, the birth of our nation comes alive. Washington trusts the protagonist to create the Rangers and wreak havoc on the British. This short story is packed with weapons and tactics development that are in use today. Well done!! I cannot wait for next months story.

[Martin J · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little taste of a new series, perhaps?

I’ve been impressed with the previous writings of A&W, and had to get this short story the day it was released. I’m happy to see that they are dabbling in historical fiction. I’m excited at the prospect of a potential new series taking place during the 18th century. Please keep turning out these fun and entertaining series.

[SteVen Hendricks · Rating 4 out of 5]

eBook Review — First Ranger — Andrews & Wilson

“First Ranger,” an exciting short-story by Andrews & Wilson delivers an aggressively told firsthand account of a military elite special operations operator back in the 1700s.

It is an action-packed 74-paged short story with a deeply emotional account of the birth of American Special Forces during the Revolutionary War.

The “dynamic writing duo’s” background shines through again in the tactical authenticity—the gear, the strategic movement, and the well-thought-out mission planning all felt credible without bogging down the short but rapid pace.

And as expected with any Andrews and Wilson story, the action sequences are crisp and kinetic, but never chaotic. Even the geography of each engagement was clear, which made the stakes of the short storyline hit even harder.

What elevates this “shorty” above regular military thriller stories is its focus on the mindset and the burden of the military warrior. The protagonist—Colonel Thomas Knowlton, a fearless militiaman known for his boldness and brilliance under fire—is not just a trigger-puller but a professional shaped by discipline, loyalty, and the moral character to make split-second decisions under fire.

That emotional undercurrent added depth to the firefights and covert operations, and gave me a reason to invest beyond the adrenaline of the action.

The plot moves with precision, escalating from tightly focused missions to broader geopolitical consequences in a way that felt both timely and believable.

Andrews and Wilson balance technical detail with their excellent storytelling, making this Revolutionary War tale a standout in the military history genre.

First Ranger tells the electrifying true story of America’s original special operator—a man whose courage, ingenuity, and sacrifice helped forge the tactics of today’s modern warfare and ignite a revolution against the British some 250 years ago.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first historical fiction piece I've read from these two authors. It's a fascinating period in American history when George Washington is leading the country against the Brits and sanctions the creation of the First Rangers headed up by Colonel Thomas Knowlton.

Knowlton is a strong character. A true patriot, courageous and a strong leader willing to put his own life on the line.

I found there was too much narrative and insufficient action for me. Plenty of weapons talk which is standard for these authors but these weapons are far less sophisticated than those used in modern warfare.

We learn some warfare strategy and how the First Rangers introduced new strategies at the behest of Washington.

It is a complete short story but I found myself struggling to stay enthusiastic about it and was glad when it was over.

[James Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the five-star rating system I use:

★★★★★ Great book! Can’t wait to read it again (and I will).
★★★★☆ Good book. I am glad I read this.
★★★☆☆ OK book. Nothing special but not bad.
★★☆☆☆ Not good. Why did I waste my time?
★☆☆☆☆ Lousy. I didn’t finish.

If for whatever reason, I go back and reread a good book, I will change the rating to five-star because I read it again.

[Nicole Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Revolutionary War stories - and this little gem gives us a double treat in it's introduction to the beginning of the Rangers and an insight into our independence. I wish it were longer and I wish there was more on Knowlton.
Knowlton was portrayed in this short story extremely well and he vividly came to life - more is definitely needed here!!!!

[Dan McConkie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love these guys and their Teir One series but this one came up short. just not long enough to care about the characters or the story.