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The Rho Agenda: Inception #3
Dead Shift
With the final chapter of the Rho Agenda Inception, all secrets will be revealed. Who is the alien mind haunting Jack “The Ripper” Gregory? What is the purpose of the immensely powerful Sun Staff? And how will the culmination of these events set the stage for the Rho Agenda?
In this page-turning sci-fi adventure, the NSA’s most brilliant hacker is abducted and the world stands on the brink of cyberwar. The Ripper and his ghost team commandos are called to action, battling a host of enemies ranging from a genius tech-billionaire and the Chinese government to an emerging superintelligence capable of bringing the world to its knees. With every threat in play, Jack must confront his alien passenger and regain some semblance of self-control. As the origins of the Rho Agenda come to light, Jack struggles to embrace his destiny. But how can even one such as he prevail against an existential threat to humanity?
418 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2015
219 people are currently reading
669 people want to read
About the author
Richard Phillips
15 books573 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Richard Phillips is the million copy bestselling author of the Rho Agenda scifi series, the Jack 'The Ripper' Gregory series, and the epic fantasy series, The Endarian Prophecy. He is a retired Army Officer, West Point graduate, and has a Master of Science degree in Physics from the Naval Post Graduate School. He was a researcher at Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos National Laboratories for the U.S. military, a software project leader at General Electric, Lockheed Martin Space Operations, and General Dynamics before becoming a full-time writer.
Richard Phillips is the million copy bestselling author of the Rho Agenda scifi series, the Jack 'The Ripper' Gregory series, and the epic fantasy series, The Endarian Prophecy. He is a retired Army Officer, West Point graduate, and has a Master of Science degree in Physics from the Naval Post Graduate School. He was a researcher at Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos National Laboratories for the U.S. military, a software project leader at General Electric, Lockheed Martin Space Operations, and General Dynamics before becoming a full-time writer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
June 10, 2015
Jamal Glover is the best of the NSA’s elite team of hackers, known as the Dirty Dozen, who work in the War Room at the NSA headquarters, keeping the country safe from cyber attacks and a lot more besides. Nineteen years old and straight out of MIT, Jamal loves his job. He also loves his girlfriend, Jill, and is on his way home to have dinner with her. What awaits him will change his life and if the Chinese government’s plans succeeds it will spell disaster and the threat to humanity will be immense and devastating.
Jack, Janet and the NSA’s special force, the ‘ghost’ team, are called in to rescue Jamal and stop the advancement of a powerful artificial intelligence initiated by the Chinese spy, Qiang Chu, and Steve Grange, a multi millionaire pioneer in medicine, more specifically brain surgery. He has an agenda of his own which involves his long dead wife.
With non stop action, teamed with treachery, death and destruction, the ghost team are up against an adversary like no other.
Jack battles against, and slowly gains more and more control over, the demon, Anchanchu. Jack’s dreams that aren’t really dreams, but more like detailed memories that are not his own, become more vivid and harder to shake off. Eventually he and Anchanchu come to an agreement on a subconscious level. This is the first time Anchanchu has been able to form any kind of communication with his host during the many centuries past.
Dead shift completes Jack Gregory’s and Janet Price’s back story with an incredibly tense and suspenseful narrative that shows the demon inhabiting Jack’s mind is not at all what it first seemed. As the surprising information regarding Anchanchu’s true nature increases it’s very satisfying to finally know how this, and some events during the preceding books, tie into to Jack and Janet’s involvement in the Rho Agenda.
Exploring the concept of artificial intelligence technology is incredible and terrifying and the extremely dangerous belief that software and machines could be created with independent intelligence is taken a step further in this gripping story. Very skilfully written and thought through, with a substantial number of facts to give much credibility. A tight plot plus the addition of convincing and strong characters, make this a terrific action/sci-fi thriller. I love Richard Phillip’s writing style, with short chapters alternating between the different perspectives and storylines. MacLeod Andrews’ narration is just right and faultless as always, giving the narrative extra impact.
Jack, Janet and the NSA’s special force, the ‘ghost’ team, are called in to rescue Jamal and stop the advancement of a powerful artificial intelligence initiated by the Chinese spy, Qiang Chu, and Steve Grange, a multi millionaire pioneer in medicine, more specifically brain surgery. He has an agenda of his own which involves his long dead wife.
With non stop action, teamed with treachery, death and destruction, the ghost team are up against an adversary like no other.
Jack battles against, and slowly gains more and more control over, the demon, Anchanchu. Jack’s dreams that aren’t really dreams, but more like detailed memories that are not his own, become more vivid and harder to shake off. Eventually he and Anchanchu come to an agreement on a subconscious level. This is the first time Anchanchu has been able to form any kind of communication with his host during the many centuries past.
Dead shift completes Jack Gregory’s and Janet Price’s back story with an incredibly tense and suspenseful narrative that shows the demon inhabiting Jack’s mind is not at all what it first seemed. As the surprising information regarding Anchanchu’s true nature increases it’s very satisfying to finally know how this, and some events during the preceding books, tie into to Jack and Janet’s involvement in the Rho Agenda.
Exploring the concept of artificial intelligence technology is incredible and terrifying and the extremely dangerous belief that software and machines could be created with independent intelligence is taken a step further in this gripping story. Very skilfully written and thought through, with a substantial number of facts to give much credibility. A tight plot plus the addition of convincing and strong characters, make this a terrific action/sci-fi thriller. I love Richard Phillip’s writing style, with short chapters alternating between the different perspectives and storylines. MacLeod Andrews’ narration is just right and faultless as always, giving the narrative extra impact.
August 12, 2017
This was about a computer genius who was kidnapped by a mad scientist, Steve Grange, who connected Jamal’s brain to electrodes connected to a computer in order to steal his knowledge and speed so Grange could have his dead wife’s brain back. A wife who has been frozen for 20 years. AND the Chinese bad guy Qiang Chu who was working to take Jamal’s Artificial Intelligence brain back to China. Yeah, that wasn’t going to work out for Qiang, if Jack had anything to say about. He’d killed 2 of Jack’s team and Jack had already been hired to kill Qiang because he killed the daughter of a billionaire who didn’t want Qiang to be captured and to stand trial.
Anchanchu is still hanging around in Jack’s brain but we do find out something very interesting about him, AND that his real name is Khal Teth.
I didn’t get that it seemed to be left open for another book but this was the last one. It was book 3 of 3 but it left a lot of unanswered questions. Like what was Admiral Riles going to do with the Jamal Artificial Intelligence? What was Jamal going to do after he told Caroline he was quitting NSA because he was tired of protecting America? And who were the people with Jack and Janet that Khal Teth saw in his mind? AND whatever happens to Jack and Janet? Too many important unanswered questions for me.
There was a little romance between Jack and Janet and sex that was referred to but was fade-to-black. No swearing which made the story kind of more unreal than it already was. I mean, sci-fi and all. There were probably one hundred+ men killed by this elite black-ops team in all three books but they never once used the F-bomb. That’s just silly as far as I’m concerned. That was my only real complaint about these 3 books.
As to the narration: MacLeod Andrews was super when it came to voices and emotions.
March 5, 2018
The last book in this particular series about Jack Gregory and Janet Price tied up a lot of the loose ends and answered many of my questions and definitely turned this series into a sci-fi series, but the end provides no closure, I guess because another series is going to continue where this one ended. More questions were raised. I am beginning to realize that Mr. Phillips is doing it on purpose. The endings are not cliff-hangars, thank goodness, but there are enough unresolved issues to keep the reader going to the next book. Not a bad idea. It has gotten me to purchase six of his books so far and I know there will be more in my future unless, like so many TV shows these days, the writing takes a dive.
July 12, 2015
Richard Phillips just keeps getting better. "Dead Shift," his third in the spinoff series about Jack "the Ripper" Gregory, may be his most conventional yet, leaning more toward traditional government intrigue thriller than his past novels. But Phillips likes his twists. The book still has the alien who lives in Gregory's head and gives him a kind of supernatural power boost at odd times. But at this point, that's no big deal. Yeah, alien? Whatever. Gregory is back as a part of a special ops team. He's initially not on great terms with the rest. They have to figure out what happened to a kidnapped government computer specialist. He's been set up. It looks like he killed his girlfriend. But it's really the Chinese. They have plans. Real bizarre plans, it turns out. Like they want to copy Jamal Glover's personality and digitize it to weapons-grade artificial intelligence. Weird for sure. But Phillips makes it sound plausible. He's got the sci-fi chops. And we readers get to know more about Gregory's alien friend. He's got a really compelling back story. The book moves with nonstop fury. It's like Phillips was a big comic book fan. He doesn't like downtime. He gets the party started. And I love this stuff. Phillips says this was a trilogy. Right. He can't keep Gregory to himself. He's got to let this guy loose.
November 7, 2015
Dead Shift is the final chapter of the Rho Agenda.Former CIA operative Jack Gregory is once again partnered with Janet Price and also an NSA ghost team.Their mission is to find and rescue Jamal Glover,NSA's #1 hacker,who has been kidnapped by the Chinese government in a secret operation to create artificial intelligence.In this final chapter the truth about Anchanchu,Jack's "rider" is revealed.This sci fi thriller is action packed,imaginative,moves quickly and has a great storyline.
August 27, 2015
Another pretty good action thriller featuring Jack Gregory..the Ripper. And Janet who kicks butt as well. I got hooked on these series first then started reading the Rho triology. I really like this series because of it's R rated action, while I merely like the Rho Agenda series because it is more YA and I would say PG-13.
The Ripper is one tough guy.....movie please!
The Ripper is one tough guy.....movie please!
June 3, 2015
Richard Phillips é o melhor de todos !!
September 27, 2021
This author was recommended to me by my college classmate-turned author - Mike Slavin. And I read this action thriller series AFTER the earlier sci-fi series. The protagonist of the story is Jack Gregory, a CIA agent turned assassin, and this book is basically a high tech, high energy, spy/action thriller, adventure, kick ass genre, with just a "touch" of the supernatural to set the stage. After and during a near-death experience in Book #1, ONCE DEAD) a devil-type guy, Anchanchu, who joins his soul for the duration of Jack's life in exchange for returning Jack to life. And Jack Gregory, becomes "Jack the Ripper" and basically an assassin for hire. Jack continues alive for book three of the trilogy, with the devil-guy along for the ride. This is definitely a fast-moving, action thriller with lots of physical violence. And in Book 3, the reader finally gets "to know" the the background of evil Anchanchu. As was true in two earlier book of the trilogy, Book #3 moves very fast, with lots of action and even more spy thriller stuff. So, as in ONCE DEAD and DEAD WRONG, basically a good-versus-evil morality play with " devil" along for the ride. Moves very fast plot wise, with lots of twists and turns of an action thriller more typical sci-fi. The characters are all well developed, and this trilogy could definitely be developed into an awesome movie script. I finished the three books of this trilogy over about two weeks, often not getting enough sleep. The author says that this is a triolgy, but for me, there definitely should be A LOT MORE JACK and JANET. Get back to work Ranger Phillips.
December 5, 2017
This is a better book than the one before it (the Nazi one, whatever its name was), but author definitely seems to be running out of good ideas. In Dead Shift, the plot underlying the whole thing is weak and fairly nonsensical—scientist-guy-who-is-a-billionaire-and-also-owns-a-winery (why??) is trying to reanimate his dead wife, and somehow has recently transferred her twenty-year-dead consciousness to a special hard drive. Hmm, how exactly would that work? And it is never clear how the Chinese fit into all this, or why they had to murder the girlfriend, rather than simply kidnapping Jamal in the first place. Just complicates the story. That’s all in the first chapter or so, so not much of a spoiler for those of you reading this.
Author is still copy-and-pasting entire sections from previous books to fill in backstory. Lazy, lazy, lazy. Guys, this is a trilogy, so if you are reading #3 first, you are probably going to be lost sometimes. Admittedly, the naming of these books and their three trilogies is confusing to say the least, and you have to study the reviews to determine what the “correct” order is, but still, #3 will always come after #1!
The original Rho Agenda trilogy is excellent, all three of those books. The first Rho Agenda Inception book is very good. These last two, he could have skipped writing and we wouldn’t be missing much.
And Phillips is still obsessed with baths and showers!
Author is still copy-and-pasting entire sections from previous books to fill in backstory. Lazy, lazy, lazy. Guys, this is a trilogy, so if you are reading #3 first, you are probably going to be lost sometimes. Admittedly, the naming of these books and their three trilogies is confusing to say the least, and you have to study the reviews to determine what the “correct” order is, but still, #3 will always come after #1!
The original Rho Agenda trilogy is excellent, all three of those books. The first Rho Agenda Inception book is very good. These last two, he could have skipped writing and we wouldn’t be missing much.
And Phillips is still obsessed with baths and showers!
May 21, 2018
The conclusion of the Rho Agenda Inception trilogy is easily the best book of this trilogy. I started reading Richard Phillips' books back when he was self published on amazon. I've recently taken to trying to read all of his books in the order in which they've been published.
Dead Shift picks up shortly after the last book in the trilogy with Janet avoiding associating with Jack since their last adventure in South America. This time, the stakes center around the NSA's elite hacker group and the best hacker, Jamal, and a nebulous Chinese spy/assassin. Needless to say, this trilogy is what I'd call Bourne movie syndrome--Lots of action but better story than the movies. For the record I actually loved the Bourne books but really feel the movies missed out on a great story. There is continued character development and parts of Jack's demon are now explained in greater detail which I'm assuming will come into play with the final trilogy the follows the original trilogy timeline-wise.
If you enjoyed the first two books in this trilogy, you'll enjoy this one. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who likes modern sci-fi thrillers.
Dead Shift picks up shortly after the last book in the trilogy with Janet avoiding associating with Jack since their last adventure in South America. This time, the stakes center around the NSA's elite hacker group and the best hacker, Jamal, and a nebulous Chinese spy/assassin. Needless to say, this trilogy is what I'd call Bourne movie syndrome--Lots of action but better story than the movies. For the record I actually loved the Bourne books but really feel the movies missed out on a great story. There is continued character development and parts of Jack's demon are now explained in greater detail which I'm assuming will come into play with the final trilogy the follows the original trilogy timeline-wise.
If you enjoyed the first two books in this trilogy, you'll enjoy this one. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who likes modern sci-fi thrillers.
June 14, 2021
I decided to read this book only because I had read the RIO Agenda books 1 & 2. But I read those more than 10 yrs ago and so I did not really remember the gist of the story. Then when I looked back at the previous book # 1 I remembered it was about there teenagers discovering a space ship in a cave and partaking of its mysteries through dawning of headsets. But then this book was confusing to me because none of the original 3 characters were in it and the new characters, Jack, Diane, Jamel, Spyder, etc just did not fit, unless they were mentioned in book 2 that I do not remember.
Anyway the book was good, although a bit gory at times with Jack being a known killer who ripped people up with his knife. But I could not make any connection with the spaceship and its technology. And in addition, I had also read another Phillip's book which was supposedly book three. And I do not remember that book either since I read it long ago. So two books # three is a bit confusing.
I had a hard time getting started reading this book but after I got about half way into it things were better and it turned out to be a good story.
Anyway the book was good, although a bit gory at times with Jack being a known killer who ripped people up with his knife. But I could not make any connection with the spaceship and its technology. And in addition, I had also read another Phillip's book which was supposedly book three. And I do not remember that book either since I read it long ago. So two books # three is a bit confusing.
I had a hard time getting started reading this book but after I got about half way into it things were better and it turned out to be a good story.
September 1, 2025
I just can’t
A one star review should sum up how I felt about this one. It is most definitely not for me.
It suffers from a lot of the same problems I had with the previous entry in the series. Lots of rehashing knowledge we already have from previous entries. Characters who’s motivations make no sense, based on their actions. And a plodding pace, despite the short chapter length.
Which leads me to the needlessly short chapters. Why is a chapter only 4 pages, when the next chapter is continuing the same scene? Felt like I was reading a plot outline, and that was even with skimming.
That’s right. I only got a handful of ‘chapters’ in before I gave up and just skimmed the remainder of the novel. I just couldn’t face going through all the same issues I had with the previous entry, again.
Clearly Richard Phillips is not the author for me. Which is perfectly fine. But I doubt I’ll be continuing on to the main series.
A one star review should sum up how I felt about this one. It is most definitely not for me.
It suffers from a lot of the same problems I had with the previous entry in the series. Lots of rehashing knowledge we already have from previous entries. Characters who’s motivations make no sense, based on their actions. And a plodding pace, despite the short chapter length.
Which leads me to the needlessly short chapters. Why is a chapter only 4 pages, when the next chapter is continuing the same scene? Felt like I was reading a plot outline, and that was even with skimming.
That’s right. I only got a handful of ‘chapters’ in before I gave up and just skimmed the remainder of the novel. I just couldn’t face going through all the same issues I had with the previous entry, again.
Clearly Richard Phillips is not the author for me. Which is perfectly fine. But I doubt I’ll be continuing on to the main series.
July 29, 2018
Flawed but highly entertaining
This is the 6th Richard Phillips book i have read and the end to the Rhoa trilogy and this has served to confirm my thoughts that Richard Phillips struggled with some aspects of writing (a tendency to over describe situations, characters who say and behave in ways that seem false and occasional clunky prose). Despite this, Phillips writes exciting stories, with exciting characters I cared about and this final book in the trilogy is a real page Turner and the sci-fi angle rises this above the usual good guys vs bad guys usually peddled in this type of book. Overall this is a good read and if you like action novels or books about American intelligence, this is definitely with a read.
This is the 6th Richard Phillips book i have read and the end to the Rhoa trilogy and this has served to confirm my thoughts that Richard Phillips struggled with some aspects of writing (a tendency to over describe situations, characters who say and behave in ways that seem false and occasional clunky prose). Despite this, Phillips writes exciting stories, with exciting characters I cared about and this final book in the trilogy is a real page Turner and the sci-fi angle rises this above the usual good guys vs bad guys usually peddled in this type of book. Overall this is a good read and if you like action novels or books about American intelligence, this is definitely with a read.
October 29, 2017
What a brilliant conclusion to the brilliant 1st trilogy of the 3 trilogy RHO AGENDA series!
1) THE RHO AGENDA: INCEPTION Trilogy
2) THE RHO AGENDA Trilogy
3) RHO AGENDA: ASSIMILATION Trilogy.
'Dead Shift' left me with a wonderful lead-in to the second trilogy --
Book 4, 'The Second Ship', which I was already half way through, and bookmarked, when I discovered these three amazing books which pave the way to what I can only imagine will be an amazing adventure.
Time will tell.
1) THE RHO AGENDA: INCEPTION Trilogy
2) THE RHO AGENDA Trilogy
3) RHO AGENDA: ASSIMILATION Trilogy.
'Dead Shift' left me with a wonderful lead-in to the second trilogy --
Book 4, 'The Second Ship', which I was already half way through, and bookmarked, when I discovered these three amazing books which pave the way to what I can only imagine will be an amazing adventure.
Time will tell.
December 24, 2018
A ripping good end.
Yet we need more. One is left wondering how it all ends up. It has been close to 4 years since this book was written. Richard Phillips. Please.
The narrator is wonderful. I have enjoyed several yarns performed by MacLeod Andrews. He has a voice which is well adapted to many different accents and moods. He either enjoys his craft or is good at making believe he is enjoying it.
Yet we need more. One is left wondering how it all ends up. It has been close to 4 years since this book was written. Richard Phillips. Please.
The narrator is wonderful. I have enjoyed several yarns performed by MacLeod Andrews. He has a voice which is well adapted to many different accents and moods. He either enjoys his craft or is good at making believe he is enjoying it.
February 6, 2019
I likely would have given the Rho Agenda Inception series 5 stars if I hadn't read the Rho Agenda series first. In that series I liked that Jack was a Badass Normal, meaning he wasn't enhanced but just super awesome, peek human condition. This prequel series, in a way, detracts from what made him special in the Rho Agenda. That being said, this series was extremely fun and the audible narration was perfect.
May 22, 2019
I wasn't quite sure of this volume - personally I didn't care for the premise and activities of the main theme, though I still enjoyed very much the action and fighting sequences. By the end of the book, the entire storyline jelled for me, and I was impressed with the possibilities for further advances of the story, and also Jack's personal saga. Some good development of that storyline in this book too.
May 6, 2017
Richard Phillips is delicious pulp for me. By the end of the second book in this trilogy I was starting to falter a bit. Definitely faltered during this one and almost went three stars. However, still enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to starting the Rho Agenda Assimilation trilogy in a few months after the third book comes out so I can 1, 2, 3 those three novels as I have Phillips other work.
August 13, 2018
Jack 'The Ripper' Gregory is cajoled into helping the NSA (thus setting up his reunion with Janet) save the world, again. But, again, from a very different threat. The Rho Agenda Inception is different than the Rho Agenda that it is prequel to, in that it's more spy thriller and a bit less SF (although that's still here, especially in this third volume).
May 28, 2019
Slick SciFi Spy Thriller
Inception Book 3 brings it all together in another roller coaster ride. We've got super spies, artificial intelligence and even aliens! Jack and Janet are back in action as the most deadly power couple in recent memory setting the stage for The Second Ship (Rho Agenda Book 1). It's another brilliant read.
Inception Book 3 brings it all together in another roller coaster ride. We've got super spies, artificial intelligence and even aliens! Jack and Janet are back in action as the most deadly power couple in recent memory setting the stage for The Second Ship (Rho Agenda Book 1). It's another brilliant read.
November 19, 2017
Good treatment and prequel of sorts to the Rho Agenda trilogy. Now, we have Jack and Janet’s backstory and how they will ultimately end up in Los Alamos and the lives of Heather, Mark and Jennifer. Can’t wait to read Meridian Ascent to see how it all ends.
December 1, 2017
great thriller action. loved the series
while I thought the 2nd book was the best, all three are super fast paced action ride! great read. can't wait to move on to the main Rho series. read these first!
while I thought the 2nd book was the best, all three are super fast paced action ride! great read. can't wait to move on to the main Rho series. read these first!
April 15, 2018
Overall an enjoyable thriller series but far short of the Rho Agenda
Rho Agenda was the best, this is a pale third and the last series is in between. Overall was still an enjoyable listen, hence the 4 stars.
Rho Agenda was the best, this is a pale third and the last series is in between. Overall was still an enjoyable listen, hence the 4 stars.
February 1, 2019
Another in the The Richard Phillips series that I couldn't put down.
This character faciinates me. Enjoyed every Minuit of the series.Looking forward to the next adventure of Jack the Ripper series.
This character faciinates me. Enjoyed every Minuit of the series.Looking forward to the next adventure of Jack the Ripper series.
March 14, 2019
Another good read from Richard Phillips. In depth description of action and pain. Cursory treatment of the passion between the two main characters. Men seem incapable of describing the main subject of our everyday fantasies. A great trilogy, hope there are more to follow.
May 21, 2021
All's well. At least as well as it could be.
The conclusion to the trilogy was a s thrilling as possible, but at the same time left me wanting more.
Jack and Janice are recovering on Kayo, but is there another story waiting in the wings?
I can only wait and see.
The conclusion to the trilogy was a s thrilling as possible, but at the same time left me wanting more.
Jack and Janice are recovering on Kayo, but is there another story waiting in the wings?
I can only wait and see.
October 19, 2017
Stunning, vivid and gripping
The reader should read the whole series, although this book is a great stand alone story. See my review of the Rho Agenda.
The reader should read the whole series, although this book is a great stand alone story. See my review of the Rho Agenda.
October 21, 2017
4 Stars
Very good, but not quite up to par with others in this. Series
Characters continue to interest Mr, and I'll start the 3rd trilogy
Very good, but not quite up to par with others in this. Series
Characters continue to interest Mr, and I'll start the 3rd trilogy
January 17, 2018
Excellent read. Thoroughly enjoyed. Perhaps best yet in Rho series.
December 2, 2018
A great end to the series. This novel has more sci-fi than the earlier two and just as much action. A good ending to a fun series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews