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Oathkeeper
"Until recent times, Calumet County had never been known as a place of killing and violence..."
A peaceful valley in the mountains of Colorado becomes a battleground pitting the federal government against a rural sheriff's department. Beleaguered Sheriff Bear Ellison finds himself outnumbered, over-matched, and increasingly isolated as he is forced to decide between risking his life protecting a local hero, or reneging on his oath and handing him over to federal prosecutors.
A peaceful valley in the mountains of Colorado becomes a battleground pitting the federal government against a rural sheriff's department. Beleaguered Sheriff Bear Ellison finds himself outnumbered, over-matched, and increasingly isolated as he is forced to decide between risking his life protecting a local hero, or reneging on his oath and handing him over to federal prosecutors.
- GenresThriller
190 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 7, 2016
My original Oathkeeper audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Calmut County, Colorado is about as rural as you can get. Bear Ellison the town sheriff lives here and is thrust into a battle between federal agencies and the local law enforcement over a man (who is also a local hero) who may or may not have committed a murder. Sheriff Ellison must decide to take on the seemingly endless number of federal agents to protect this local hero.
Oathkeeper was narrated by Gabriel Zacchai. Zaccahi does a great job with Oathkeeper and makes the story easy to follow and enjoy. Her style was both a normal narration and dramatization because Zacchai had some characters that she would really give her all for, and others were just there to move the story along. I thought her narration really made the book enjoyable.
Sometimes I can tell within the first few chapters what is going to happen, but Oathkeeper kept me guessing through the entire thing. Every time I thought I had the story figured out it would twist and turn and totally change my opinions. Keeping me on my toes in a story that I thought was going to be very simple was a nice surprise.
Tony Grice wrote Oathkeeper so well that I thought I was there. I felt immersed into this situation with Bear to where I was feeling things for him even though he's fictional. Grice perfected walking the fine line between too much and not enough information giving the readers enough to wet their palate, but not giving them too much to drown them in details.
Overall, Oathkeeper was an interesting story. Deeper than I thought and much more detailed than I was expecting. A true gem of a book when I was expecting much less. I don't know if I should raise my expectations next time or if it was good to be so caught off guard.
The story felt so real to me that I had some curiosity to whether something like this actually happened in Grice's life. It just had that true-life feel about it. A riveting story without feeling false.
And I am not trying to ruin or spoil the ending, but it caught me way off guard. Check out Oathkeeper and see what I mean!
Audiobook was provided for review by the publisher.
Calmut County, Colorado is about as rural as you can get. Bear Ellison the town sheriff lives here and is thrust into a battle between federal agencies and the local law enforcement over a man (who is also a local hero) who may or may not have committed a murder. Sheriff Ellison must decide to take on the seemingly endless number of federal agents to protect this local hero.
Oathkeeper was narrated by Gabriel Zacchai. Zaccahi does a great job with Oathkeeper and makes the story easy to follow and enjoy. Her style was both a normal narration and dramatization because Zacchai had some characters that she would really give her all for, and others were just there to move the story along. I thought her narration really made the book enjoyable.
Sometimes I can tell within the first few chapters what is going to happen, but Oathkeeper kept me guessing through the entire thing. Every time I thought I had the story figured out it would twist and turn and totally change my opinions. Keeping me on my toes in a story that I thought was going to be very simple was a nice surprise.
Tony Grice wrote Oathkeeper so well that I thought I was there. I felt immersed into this situation with Bear to where I was feeling things for him even though he's fictional. Grice perfected walking the fine line between too much and not enough information giving the readers enough to wet their palate, but not giving them too much to drown them in details.
Overall, Oathkeeper was an interesting story. Deeper than I thought and much more detailed than I was expecting. A true gem of a book when I was expecting much less. I don't know if I should raise my expectations next time or if it was good to be so caught off guard.
The story felt so real to me that I had some curiosity to whether something like this actually happened in Grice's life. It just had that true-life feel about it. A riveting story without feeling false.
And I am not trying to ruin or spoil the ending, but it caught me way off guard. Check out Oathkeeper and see what I mean!
Audiobook was provided for review by the publisher.
December 28, 2015
Grice has a gift in story and in character that outweigh the misses in this interesting book about a community struggling with a drug epidemic and the lawless federal response to that epidemic.
With interesting action and rich character descriptions, you will be glued to the story. These are real people with real backgrounds and quirks and it's enjoyable to learn about them. These qualities help you forget the plot holes and some of the questionable motives.
If you're skeptical of the War on Drugs, the plot will resonate with you. If you are in favor of draconian measures to combat victimless crimes, you won't like this book. I found it an entertaining addition to an up-and-coming author's collection.
With interesting action and rich character descriptions, you will be glued to the story. These are real people with real backgrounds and quirks and it's enjoyable to learn about them. These qualities help you forget the plot holes and some of the questionable motives.
If you're skeptical of the War on Drugs, the plot will resonate with you. If you are in favor of draconian measures to combat victimless crimes, you won't like this book. I found it an entertaining addition to an up-and-coming author's collection.
April 29, 2016
In small-town Colorado who has more power?
4.5 out of 5 stars
Oathkeeper takes place in fictional Calumet County in rural Colorado. Inside you will find Bear Ellison, the town’s sheriff. A stand-off between federal agencies and the local sheriff ensues as a man is tried for a murder that he might not have committed. The sheriff must decide if he is going to take on the seemingly endless number of federal agents while protecting this local hero.
The narration for Oathkeeper was done by Gabriel Zacchai who does a wonderful job. It’s a combination of a narration and a dramatization. There were a few times that Zacchai got into character more than others, but overall it was a really enjoyable audiobook.
This was one of those books where I couldn’t really tell what was going on in the first parts of it. But, once the story was formed and I realized that it was a deeper story than at first glance, I was happy.
Troy Grice has a way of writing that really makes you feel like you’re there. He’s able to be descriptive of each new scene without being overly so. Some authors can either leave out large details that really help the reader understand where they are in the story. While others seem to drone on about seemingly mundane details. Grice walks the tightrope between these two lines and explains scenes and situations in vivid detail without droning on.
The overall story was really interesting. As a reader, I found myself actually feeling like this was a real court case and a real investigation. I felt like these things actually happened. Kudos to Grice for being able to write a story that is obviously set in fictitious places, but feels incredibly real.
The whole story, once it got going reminded me of a lot of shows on TV like Law & Order and the likes since it dealt with federal agencies. But unlike that, it was more from the point of view of this small-town sheriff’s eyes and mind.
Overall, Oathkeeper was a really good story. It was riveting and original without feeling unbelievable. I definitely enjoyed this audiobook, and I’m glad that I read/listened to it.
Without spoiling anything, the ending surprised me a bit. But doesn’t take away from the story at all.
See more like this at Brian's Book Blog
4.5 out of 5 stars
Oathkeeper takes place in fictional Calumet County in rural Colorado. Inside you will find Bear Ellison, the town’s sheriff. A stand-off between federal agencies and the local sheriff ensues as a man is tried for a murder that he might not have committed. The sheriff must decide if he is going to take on the seemingly endless number of federal agents while protecting this local hero.
The narration for Oathkeeper was done by Gabriel Zacchai who does a wonderful job. It’s a combination of a narration and a dramatization. There were a few times that Zacchai got into character more than others, but overall it was a really enjoyable audiobook.
This was one of those books where I couldn’t really tell what was going on in the first parts of it. But, once the story was formed and I realized that it was a deeper story than at first glance, I was happy.
Troy Grice has a way of writing that really makes you feel like you’re there. He’s able to be descriptive of each new scene without being overly so. Some authors can either leave out large details that really help the reader understand where they are in the story. While others seem to drone on about seemingly mundane details. Grice walks the tightrope between these two lines and explains scenes and situations in vivid detail without droning on.
The overall story was really interesting. As a reader, I found myself actually feeling like this was a real court case and a real investigation. I felt like these things actually happened. Kudos to Grice for being able to write a story that is obviously set in fictitious places, but feels incredibly real.
The whole story, once it got going reminded me of a lot of shows on TV like Law & Order and the likes since it dealt with federal agencies. But unlike that, it was more from the point of view of this small-town sheriff’s eyes and mind.
Overall, Oathkeeper was a really good story. It was riveting and original without feeling unbelievable. I definitely enjoyed this audiobook, and I’m glad that I read/listened to it.
Without spoiling anything, the ending surprised me a bit. But doesn’t take away from the story at all.
See more like this at Brian's Book Blog
January 5, 2016
Libertarian page-turner
Oathkeeper is set in a small town in Colorado where a returning vet becomes an unexpected hero by stopping a mall shooting. But events rapidly go downhill from there, as a botched DEA raid starts a chain of catastrophic events. Although the vet walks onto the setting as a hero, he is more of a Greek tragic figure, and the story actually revolves around the town sheriff, Chief Bear Ellison. Sheriff Ellison is the everyday citizen who is faced with the moral dilemma of Law Enforcement today - what do you do when the enforcement collides with the Constitution?
This is the most libertarian book I have read in some time. It's very much against the War on Drugs, a position I have mixed feelings on. The story builds up to a confrontation between Federal authority (in the form of the DEA) and the residents of a small town. This is also very topical, considering current events in Oregon, or less known events even close to DC.
In terms of story, Oathkeepers is very readable once the action gets going. I thought there was some drag early on when introducing some characters, but events move quickly after that. The resolution is maddening yet inevitable, and the ending is open to sequels, though I have no idea if the author has any planned.
Oathkeepers is a thought-provoking book that will spur much discussion in any book club or group.
(A copy of this book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review. Read more of my book reviews at my blog www.bookhorde.org)
Oathkeeper is set in a small town in Colorado where a returning vet becomes an unexpected hero by stopping a mall shooting. But events rapidly go downhill from there, as a botched DEA raid starts a chain of catastrophic events. Although the vet walks onto the setting as a hero, he is more of a Greek tragic figure, and the story actually revolves around the town sheriff, Chief Bear Ellison. Sheriff Ellison is the everyday citizen who is faced with the moral dilemma of Law Enforcement today - what do you do when the enforcement collides with the Constitution?
This is the most libertarian book I have read in some time. It's very much against the War on Drugs, a position I have mixed feelings on. The story builds up to a confrontation between Federal authority (in the form of the DEA) and the residents of a small town. This is also very topical, considering current events in Oregon, or less known events even close to DC.
In terms of story, Oathkeepers is very readable once the action gets going. I thought there was some drag early on when introducing some characters, but events move quickly after that. The resolution is maddening yet inevitable, and the ending is open to sequels, though I have no idea if the author has any planned.
Oathkeepers is a thought-provoking book that will spur much discussion in any book club or group.
(A copy of this book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review. Read more of my book reviews at my blog www.bookhorde.org)
May 3, 2016
Published in 2015, this book resembles the Grants Pass OR fiasco at the end of the year. Politicians and Federal authorities and Federal Agents of all types need to read this fiction book, as well as review some of the true incidents in which they have been involved with disastrous consequences.
I would like to read other books by Grice! His style is good, the story is interesting, and he ends the book in a satisfying manner, not happily ever after, but at least honestly.
The book was lent to me by a reader who suggested that I would like it, and I did.
I would like to read other books by Grice! His style is good, the story is interesting, and he ends the book in a satisfying manner, not happily ever after, but at least honestly.
The book was lent to me by a reader who suggested that I would like it, and I did.
March 3, 2016
Great read
It would be a happier world if the scenarios were far fetched.
Be clear there is an evil hiding under the Federal white hats but there is also the overriding good of people we know with clear understandings of inalienable rights and the obligation of oaths.
Great read!
It would be a happier world if the scenarios were far fetched.
Be clear there is an evil hiding under the Federal white hats but there is also the overriding good of people we know with clear understandings of inalienable rights and the obligation of oaths.
Great read!
October 21, 2015
Great read
I could hardly put this one down. It showed the best and worst in human nature. The federal government is getting more powerful and corrupt and the Constitution has become a mere suggestion instead of what it once was.
I could hardly put this one down. It showed the best and worst in human nature. The federal government is getting more powerful and corrupt and the Constitution has become a mere suggestion instead of what it once was.
January 17, 2016
Excellent small-town mystery.
This was a fast read, but well written with good characters and an excellent plot. A who-done- it that keeps you guessing. The ending is a thrill ride with a good laugh. I highly recommend this police mystery.
This was a fast read, but well written with good characters and an excellent plot. A who-done- it that keeps you guessing. The ending is a thrill ride with a good laugh. I highly recommend this police mystery.
July 11, 2016
Not what I expected; so much better than that!
August 1, 2017
Absolutely amazing! This book should be on everyone's reading list.
The story follows a county Sheriff in a rural part of Colorado. When the DEA/Feds begin a mission in his county, tragic mistakes are made. But when the victim becomes the suspect and the corruption within the federal government becomes blatant, the sheriff will strive to keep his oath to the Constitution and to protect his people.
An incredible book that I strongly recommend to everyone. Well written with honest characters, I read this in a single evening. I will definitely be looking for more from this author. Tremendously well done!
The story follows a county Sheriff in a rural part of Colorado. When the DEA/Feds begin a mission in his county, tragic mistakes are made. But when the victim becomes the suspect and the corruption within the federal government becomes blatant, the sheriff will strive to keep his oath to the Constitution and to protect his people.
An incredible book that I strongly recommend to everyone. Well written with honest characters, I read this in a single evening. I will definitely be looking for more from this author. Tremendously well done!
August 17, 2019
Great read
Wow, what a great read. This story sucked you right in and in and in. Lots of twists and turns. I will tell you the ending...the butler did not do it! Am going to have to put this author on my to read list.
Wow, what a great read. This story sucked you right in and in and in. Lots of twists and turns. I will tell you the ending...the butler did not do it! Am going to have to put this author on my to read list.
January 17, 2018
Very well written, a truly believable story. A little thrown off by the ending, but overall a wonderful read.
February 7, 2018
A very believable story---in a small town setting.
Loved the characters and the back grounds given about them.
Loved the characters and the back grounds given about them.
February 7, 2023
On occasion, through no effort on my part, the stars align and a prescient book lands on my lap that coincides perfectly with a current events story and the two seamlessly meld together. In this instance, the book Oathkeeper, by Troy Grice, although written in 2015, perfectly describes a general mood of distrust and disillusion with the governing order, as if predicting the essence of the views expressed by those at the recent Virginia 2A rally. The book also succinctly encapsulates the notion of an enemy-of-the-people media establishment eager to propagate fear and promote the primacy of the state above anything else. Undoubtedly, many of those in attendance at the rally were portrayed as fringe, domestic extremists and much to the dismay of the media, the rally remained peaceful.
In his book, Grice has written a genuinely entertaining work of fiction expounding upon the perils of an overbearing federal policing apparatus with a storyline feels all too real. Indeed, this storytelling approach is very effective at conveying concepts without being too heavy handed and academic and allows the reader to discover new concepts and question the status quo narratives of government workers just doing their job for the good of the people. Without invoking any common characterizations of left/right or progressive/conservative, Grice has written a story of the individual versus the state and ultimately, liberty versus tyranny.
The stage is set when, under the guise of the Drug WarTM, a sheriff is descended upon by a cabal of conforming organization men who exist wholly to serve the Federal government. This group spreads their web of state privilege across any and all who dare to challenge their authority. Oathkeeper brings to life the reality of an overtly militarized Federal law enforcement apparatus that takes on the task of cleaning up an alleged drug problem, in the process, a shocking but all too familiar incident occurs and sets in motion a standoff of epic proportions. Average, everyday folks are put into extreme circumstances and grapple with the concepts of federal versus local control, who to trust in an era of media manipulation and ultimately, how far one is willing to go to defend oneself. To some, the ending is shocking, to others, it is inevitable.
The book will make you think about the powers continually granted to government:
“You may have nothing to hide today, but what about a decade from now, when there are different people in power? What if those people in power don’t like you? What if they fear you?” (2977)
The book will make you think about who you should believe and how pervasive the intelligence alphabet soup agencies have become:
“I’ll make it a national security issue...He can easily be portrayed as a domestic extremist..we’ll throw in some racism or religious fanaticism or sexual deviancy for good measure...they’ll find something, contextual or not.” (3153)
The book will make you think about the everyday nature of authority:
“When faced with resistance to their [law enforcement] demands, their response is simply to escalate, all the way to violence if necessary. The vast portion of the civilian population quickly and wisely capitulates before it comes to that, regardless of the legality of the demand.” (2558)
At every turn of the page, there are countless opportunities for the uninitiated to go down any number of rabbit holes of research: what is the FISA court, what was Plessy v. Ferguson, what was the Kelo house all about, what was the Korematsu Case, what is the true nature of police brutality, probable cause and a legal system stacked against the average person and how does one rein in a drug war ran amok? Perhaps one of the most important avenues for investigation presented in the book is the reality of a kangaroo court system where, “...they [government] win 97% of their cases by verdict or plea bargain. That isn’t justice...it’s show trials.” (2825) How does one counter a system that has infinite resources?
The court proceedings described in the book may seem far fetched to some, but they aren't and I present to you, if I may, another quirk of fate as evidence. As I finished reading the book, I found myself listening to an episode of the Free Man Beyond the Wall Podcast (#373), where the guest tells the shocking inside story of being on a jury for a recent Federal drug conspiracy case. Through the course of jury deliberations, the uncompromising actions of one of the jurors helped secure several acquittals for the defendants due to the lies, manipulation of evidence, and sheer incompetence of the drug task force. Many jurors were eager to toe the line and do whatever the prosecutors told them to do and send their so-called fellow men off to prison with absurd sentences. The prosecution thought they had the case in the bag and they thought the defendants would get buried under the pressure of the machinations of the Federal prosecutorial apparatus; they were wrong. The true nature of a nefarious court system set up to work against the average individual is described in infuriating detail in the podcast episode and there are striking parallels from this true story to the fictional one told in the book. Indeed, the odds were against them, but all it took was one person to stand in defiance of the status quo to take down the system.
This defiant spirit is alive in well in the book with the main character grappling with the absurdity of a drunk-on-power Federal agent hell bent on using any means necessary to bring an alleged outlaw to justice. The law is set up to protect the officers, not the people, and alleged violations and probably cause, “could be manufactured by any officer who had even the slightest modicum of legalistic creativity.” (621) The book captures and cogently describes this concept with the characters living in an epoch of a, “voluminous list of highly specific and contradictory edicts promoted to create an illusion of justice, but written by the rich so that those who could afford counsel could always escape punishment by exploiting technicalities.” (1603) As for the rest of us? Off to jail.
There are many concepts at play in this book, but perhaps the book is best summarized with the following passage, “They’ve probably decided that things are a little more complicated when people shoot back. They aren’t used to that.” (3734) This is true literally and figuratively. We would all do well to get to know our neighbors, be wary of trusting government propaganda, avoid the pervasive media fear-mongering and always question authority. This book fulfils two key aspects in the continual quest to overcome rampant statism in favor of a freer society, that of education and entertainment. I encourage everyone to support this author and share this book widely.
In his book, Grice has written a genuinely entertaining work of fiction expounding upon the perils of an overbearing federal policing apparatus with a storyline feels all too real. Indeed, this storytelling approach is very effective at conveying concepts without being too heavy handed and academic and allows the reader to discover new concepts and question the status quo narratives of government workers just doing their job for the good of the people. Without invoking any common characterizations of left/right or progressive/conservative, Grice has written a story of the individual versus the state and ultimately, liberty versus tyranny.
The stage is set when, under the guise of the Drug WarTM, a sheriff is descended upon by a cabal of conforming organization men who exist wholly to serve the Federal government. This group spreads their web of state privilege across any and all who dare to challenge their authority. Oathkeeper brings to life the reality of an overtly militarized Federal law enforcement apparatus that takes on the task of cleaning up an alleged drug problem, in the process, a shocking but all too familiar incident occurs and sets in motion a standoff of epic proportions. Average, everyday folks are put into extreme circumstances and grapple with the concepts of federal versus local control, who to trust in an era of media manipulation and ultimately, how far one is willing to go to defend oneself. To some, the ending is shocking, to others, it is inevitable.
The book will make you think about the powers continually granted to government:
“You may have nothing to hide today, but what about a decade from now, when there are different people in power? What if those people in power don’t like you? What if they fear you?” (2977)
The book will make you think about who you should believe and how pervasive the intelligence alphabet soup agencies have become:
“I’ll make it a national security issue...He can easily be portrayed as a domestic extremist..we’ll throw in some racism or religious fanaticism or sexual deviancy for good measure...they’ll find something, contextual or not.” (3153)
The book will make you think about the everyday nature of authority:
“When faced with resistance to their [law enforcement] demands, their response is simply to escalate, all the way to violence if necessary. The vast portion of the civilian population quickly and wisely capitulates before it comes to that, regardless of the legality of the demand.” (2558)
At every turn of the page, there are countless opportunities for the uninitiated to go down any number of rabbit holes of research: what is the FISA court, what was Plessy v. Ferguson, what was the Kelo house all about, what was the Korematsu Case, what is the true nature of police brutality, probable cause and a legal system stacked against the average person and how does one rein in a drug war ran amok? Perhaps one of the most important avenues for investigation presented in the book is the reality of a kangaroo court system where, “...they [government] win 97% of their cases by verdict or plea bargain. That isn’t justice...it’s show trials.” (2825) How does one counter a system that has infinite resources?
The court proceedings described in the book may seem far fetched to some, but they aren't and I present to you, if I may, another quirk of fate as evidence. As I finished reading the book, I found myself listening to an episode of the Free Man Beyond the Wall Podcast (#373), where the guest tells the shocking inside story of being on a jury for a recent Federal drug conspiracy case. Through the course of jury deliberations, the uncompromising actions of one of the jurors helped secure several acquittals for the defendants due to the lies, manipulation of evidence, and sheer incompetence of the drug task force. Many jurors were eager to toe the line and do whatever the prosecutors told them to do and send their so-called fellow men off to prison with absurd sentences. The prosecution thought they had the case in the bag and they thought the defendants would get buried under the pressure of the machinations of the Federal prosecutorial apparatus; they were wrong. The true nature of a nefarious court system set up to work against the average individual is described in infuriating detail in the podcast episode and there are striking parallels from this true story to the fictional one told in the book. Indeed, the odds were against them, but all it took was one person to stand in defiance of the status quo to take down the system.
This defiant spirit is alive in well in the book with the main character grappling with the absurdity of a drunk-on-power Federal agent hell bent on using any means necessary to bring an alleged outlaw to justice. The law is set up to protect the officers, not the people, and alleged violations and probably cause, “could be manufactured by any officer who had even the slightest modicum of legalistic creativity.” (621) The book captures and cogently describes this concept with the characters living in an epoch of a, “voluminous list of highly specific and contradictory edicts promoted to create an illusion of justice, but written by the rich so that those who could afford counsel could always escape punishment by exploiting technicalities.” (1603) As for the rest of us? Off to jail.
There are many concepts at play in this book, but perhaps the book is best summarized with the following passage, “They’ve probably decided that things are a little more complicated when people shoot back. They aren’t used to that.” (3734) This is true literally and figuratively. We would all do well to get to know our neighbors, be wary of trusting government propaganda, avoid the pervasive media fear-mongering and always question authority. This book fulfils two key aspects in the continual quest to overcome rampant statism in favor of a freer society, that of education and entertainment. I encourage everyone to support this author and share this book widely.
February 16, 2016
Monte Turcott is a veteran recently returned to his home in Calumet County. He becomes a local hero when he stops a pointless shooting spree by killing the shooter. But the star of this novel is Sheriff Bear Ellis.
The irony in the behavior of government employees (from the White House down) is that they all are required to swear an oath to abide by the Constitution. Then they immediately set about violating every article and clause in it. Bear is a rarity in that he remembers his oath, and is convicted to keep it. But even though a county sheriff is theoretically accountable to the people of his county, and beholden to no higher official, Bear is under tremendous pressure from the jackbooted federal Gestapo (represented by the DEA in this case) to be a team player in the encroaching police state.
Grice did a good job getting inside the mind of a cop. Even the dying breed of "good" ones have been poisoned by relativistic rationale that puts loyalty to fellow LEOs above actually keeping their oaths. It must be severely difficult not to develop an "us vs. them" attitude regarding the people they are paid to serve and protect.
When the DEA raids the wrong house, killing Turcott's wife, Bear finds himself caught in the middle of the struggle between the rule of law (to include due process) and the aspirations of the alphabet soup Gestapo agencies.
A very well-written novel, examining one little microcosm of what is happening/has happened to our republic.
The irony in the behavior of government employees (from the White House down) is that they all are required to swear an oath to abide by the Constitution. Then they immediately set about violating every article and clause in it. Bear is a rarity in that he remembers his oath, and is convicted to keep it. But even though a county sheriff is theoretically accountable to the people of his county, and beholden to no higher official, Bear is under tremendous pressure from the jackbooted federal Gestapo (represented by the DEA in this case) to be a team player in the encroaching police state.
Grice did a good job getting inside the mind of a cop. Even the dying breed of "good" ones have been poisoned by relativistic rationale that puts loyalty to fellow LEOs above actually keeping their oaths. It must be severely difficult not to develop an "us vs. them" attitude regarding the people they are paid to serve and protect.
When the DEA raids the wrong house, killing Turcott's wife, Bear finds himself caught in the middle of the struggle between the rule of law (to include due process) and the aspirations of the alphabet soup Gestapo agencies.
A very well-written novel, examining one little microcosm of what is happening/has happened to our republic.
February 23, 2020
On occasion, through no effort on my part, the stars align and a prescient book lands on my lap that coincides perfectly with a current events story and the two seamlessly meld together. In this instance, the book Oathkeeper, by Troy Grice, although written in 2015, perfectly describes a general mood of distrust and disillusion with the governing order, as if predicting the essence of the views expressed by those at the recent Virginia 2A rally. The book also succinctly encapsulates the notion of an enemy-of-the-people media establishment eager to propagate fear and promote the primacy of the state above anything else. Undoubtedly, many of those in attendance at the rally were portrayed as fringe, domestic extremists and much to the dismay of the media, the rally remained peaceful.
In his book, Grice has written a genuinely entertaining work of fiction expounding upon the perils of an overbearing federal policing apparatus with a storyline feels all too real. Indeed, this storytelling approach is very effective at conveying concepts without being too heavy handed and academic and allows the reader to discover new concepts and question the status quo narratives of government workers just doing their job for the good of the people. Without invoking any common characterizations of left/right or progressive/conservative, Grice has written a story of the individual versus the state and ultimately, liberty versus tyranny.
The stage is set when, under the guise of the Drug WarTM, a sheriff is descended upon by a cabal of conforming organization men who exist wholly to serve the Federal government. This group spreads their web of state privilege across any and all who dare to challenge their authority. Oathkeeper brings to life the reality of an overtly militarized Federal law enforcement apparatus that takes on the task of cleaning up an alleged drug problem, in the process, a shocking but all too familiar incident occurs and sets in motion a standoff of epic proportions. Average, everyday folks are put into extreme circumstances and grapple with the concepts of federal versus local control, who to trust in an era of media manipulation and ultimately, how far one is willing to go to defend oneself. To some, the ending is shocking, to others, it is inevitable.
The book will make you think about the powers continually granted to government:
“You may have nothing to hide today, but what about a decade from now, when there are different people in power? What if those people in power don’t like you? What if they fear you?” (2977)
The book will make you think about who you should believe and how pervasive the intelligence alphabet soup agencies have become:
“I’ll make it a national security issue...He can easily be portrayed as a domestic extremist..we’ll throw in some racism or religious fanaticism or sexual deviancy for good measure...they’ll find something, contextual or not.” (3153)
The book will make you think about the everyday nature of authority:
“When faced with resistance to their [law enforcement] demands, their response is simply to escalate, all the way to violence if necessary. The vast portion of the civilian population quickly and wisely capitulates before it comes to that, regardless of the legality of the demand.” (2558)
At every turn of the page, there are countless opportunities for the uninitiated to go down any number of rabbit holes of research: what is the FISA court, what was Plessy v. Ferguson, what was the Kelo house all about, what was the Korematsu Case, what is the true nature of police brutality, probable cause and a legal system stacked against the average person and how does one rein in a drug war ran amok? Perhaps one of the most important avenues for investigation presented in the book is the reality of a kangaroo court system where, “...they [government] win 97% of their cases by verdict or plea bargain. That isn’t justice...it’s show trials.” (2825) How does one counter a system that has infinite resources?
The court proceedings described in the book may seem far fetched to some, but they aren't and I present to you, if I may, another quirk of fate as evidence. As I finished reading the book, I found myself listening to an episode of the Free Man Beyond the Wall Podcast (#373), where the guest tells the shocking inside story of being on a jury for a recent Federal drug conspiracy case. Through the course of jury deliberations, the uncompromising actions of one of the jurors helped secure several acquittals for the defendants due to the lies, manipulation of evidence, and sheer incompetence of the drug task force. Many jurors were eager to toe the line and do whatever the prosecutors told them to do and send their so-called fellow men off to prison with absurd sentences. The prosecution thought they had the case in the bag and they thought the defendants would get buried under the pressure of the machinations of the Federal prosecutorial apparatus; they were wrong. The true nature of a nefarious court system set up to work against the average individual is described in infuriating detail in the podcast episode and there are striking parallels from this true story to the fictional one told in the book. Indeed, the odds were against them, but all it took was one person to stand in defiance of the status quo to take down the system.
This defiant spirit is alive in well in the book with the main character grappling with the absurdity of a drunk-on-power Federal agent hell bent on using any means necessary to bring an alleged outlaw to justice. The law is set up to protect the officers, not the people, and alleged violations and probably cause, “could be manufactured by any officer who had even the slightest modicum of legalistic creativity.” (621) The book captures and cogently describes this concept with the characters living in an epoch of a, “voluminous list of highly specific and contradictory edicts promoted to create an illusion of justice, but written by the rich so that those who could afford counsel could always escape punishment by exploiting technicalities.” (1603) As for the rest of us? Off to jail.
There are many concepts at play in this book, but perhaps the book is best summarized with the following passage, “They’ve probably decided that things are a little more complicated when people shoot back. They aren’t used to that.” (3734) This is true literally and figuratively. We would all do well to get to know our neighbors, be wary of trusting government propaganda, avoid the pervasive media fear-mongering and always question authority. This book fulfils two key aspects in the continual quest to overcome rampant statism in favor of a freer society, that of education and entertainment. I encourage everyone to support this author and share this book widely.
In his book, Grice has written a genuinely entertaining work of fiction expounding upon the perils of an overbearing federal policing apparatus with a storyline feels all too real. Indeed, this storytelling approach is very effective at conveying concepts without being too heavy handed and academic and allows the reader to discover new concepts and question the status quo narratives of government workers just doing their job for the good of the people. Without invoking any common characterizations of left/right or progressive/conservative, Grice has written a story of the individual versus the state and ultimately, liberty versus tyranny.
The stage is set when, under the guise of the Drug WarTM, a sheriff is descended upon by a cabal of conforming organization men who exist wholly to serve the Federal government. This group spreads their web of state privilege across any and all who dare to challenge their authority. Oathkeeper brings to life the reality of an overtly militarized Federal law enforcement apparatus that takes on the task of cleaning up an alleged drug problem, in the process, a shocking but all too familiar incident occurs and sets in motion a standoff of epic proportions. Average, everyday folks are put into extreme circumstances and grapple with the concepts of federal versus local control, who to trust in an era of media manipulation and ultimately, how far one is willing to go to defend oneself. To some, the ending is shocking, to others, it is inevitable.
The book will make you think about the powers continually granted to government:
“You may have nothing to hide today, but what about a decade from now, when there are different people in power? What if those people in power don’t like you? What if they fear you?” (2977)
The book will make you think about who you should believe and how pervasive the intelligence alphabet soup agencies have become:
“I’ll make it a national security issue...He can easily be portrayed as a domestic extremist..we’ll throw in some racism or religious fanaticism or sexual deviancy for good measure...they’ll find something, contextual or not.” (3153)
The book will make you think about the everyday nature of authority:
“When faced with resistance to their [law enforcement] demands, their response is simply to escalate, all the way to violence if necessary. The vast portion of the civilian population quickly and wisely capitulates before it comes to that, regardless of the legality of the demand.” (2558)
At every turn of the page, there are countless opportunities for the uninitiated to go down any number of rabbit holes of research: what is the FISA court, what was Plessy v. Ferguson, what was the Kelo house all about, what was the Korematsu Case, what is the true nature of police brutality, probable cause and a legal system stacked against the average person and how does one rein in a drug war ran amok? Perhaps one of the most important avenues for investigation presented in the book is the reality of a kangaroo court system where, “...they [government] win 97% of their cases by verdict or plea bargain. That isn’t justice...it’s show trials.” (2825) How does one counter a system that has infinite resources?
The court proceedings described in the book may seem far fetched to some, but they aren't and I present to you, if I may, another quirk of fate as evidence. As I finished reading the book, I found myself listening to an episode of the Free Man Beyond the Wall Podcast (#373), where the guest tells the shocking inside story of being on a jury for a recent Federal drug conspiracy case. Through the course of jury deliberations, the uncompromising actions of one of the jurors helped secure several acquittals for the defendants due to the lies, manipulation of evidence, and sheer incompetence of the drug task force. Many jurors were eager to toe the line and do whatever the prosecutors told them to do and send their so-called fellow men off to prison with absurd sentences. The prosecution thought they had the case in the bag and they thought the defendants would get buried under the pressure of the machinations of the Federal prosecutorial apparatus; they were wrong. The true nature of a nefarious court system set up to work against the average individual is described in infuriating detail in the podcast episode and there are striking parallels from this true story to the fictional one told in the book. Indeed, the odds were against them, but all it took was one person to stand in defiance of the status quo to take down the system.
This defiant spirit is alive in well in the book with the main character grappling with the absurdity of a drunk-on-power Federal agent hell bent on using any means necessary to bring an alleged outlaw to justice. The law is set up to protect the officers, not the people, and alleged violations and probably cause, “could be manufactured by any officer who had even the slightest modicum of legalistic creativity.” (621) The book captures and cogently describes this concept with the characters living in an epoch of a, “voluminous list of highly specific and contradictory edicts promoted to create an illusion of justice, but written by the rich so that those who could afford counsel could always escape punishment by exploiting technicalities.” (1603) As for the rest of us? Off to jail.
There are many concepts at play in this book, but perhaps the book is best summarized with the following passage, “They’ve probably decided that things are a little more complicated when people shoot back. They aren’t used to that.” (3734) This is true literally and figuratively. We would all do well to get to know our neighbors, be wary of trusting government propaganda, avoid the pervasive media fear-mongering and always question authority. This book fulfils two key aspects in the continual quest to overcome rampant statism in favor of a freer society, that of education and entertainment. I encourage everyone to support this author and share this book widely.
April 18, 2020
The author is good at writing characters, but weaker in other areas. There are too many improbable or problematic plot points to rate this higher than 3 stars. This is a political book, but it doesn't do a particularly good job of advancing those views. The ending was problematic, with parts resolved via deus ex machina and other parts dissipated and unsatisfying.
June 3, 2019
Kept me reading.
While it was somewhat slow and confusing at first as one thing led to another, the suspense built . I could not stop reading. What a great storyteller is Grice. I will look for more.
While it was somewhat slow and confusing at first as one thing led to another, the suspense built . I could not stop reading. What a great storyteller is Grice. I will look for more.
June 4, 2019
Started well
Wow, I was really getting into this story. Then the author ran out of proper vocabulary and the profanity started at 18% of the book. What a waste of my time. I hate profanity! If authors are gonna use it then they should warn us in the intro.
Wow, I was really getting into this story. Then the author ran out of proper vocabulary and the profanity started at 18% of the book. What a waste of my time. I hate profanity! If authors are gonna use it then they should warn us in the intro.
June 6, 2019
Respect the oath
Fantastic story. Thought it wouldn't be very interesting at first. Glad I stuck with it.scary at the thought of how helpless a normal upstanding citizen can be when confronted by corrupt government agents who have no respect for their oath.
Fantastic story. Thought it wouldn't be very interesting at first. Glad I stuck with it.scary at the thought of how helpless a normal upstanding citizen can be when confronted by corrupt government agents who have no respect for their oath.
October 1, 2024
The novel was good. Some of it was very good.
A war vet saves lives by killing a shooter in a store. Then a DEA agent is killed, and he is blamed, and it goes to trial. That is not the end of the story. Great, this act. I'm not sure I liked the last page or two.
Recommend it. Good read!
A war vet saves lives by killing a shooter in a store. Then a DEA agent is killed, and he is blamed, and it goes to trial. That is not the end of the story. Great, this act. I'm not sure I liked the last page or two.
Recommend it. Good read!
June 17, 2022
Dull and Ridiculous
Dull and Ridiculous with really odd story telling choices. While it tries to be grounded and realistic, it just isn't and is harder to get into because of that. This is one of those books that is hard to pick back up everytime you put it down. A punishing read.
The dialouge is pretty well written, on the positive side.
Dull and Ridiculous with really odd story telling choices. While it tries to be grounded and realistic, it just isn't and is harder to get into because of that. This is one of those books that is hard to pick back up everytime you put it down. A punishing read.
The dialouge is pretty well written, on the positive side.
October 23, 2015
Five star book. Best free book I've read
I got this book as a freebie through one of the kindle free applications and have to say it is one of the best stories I've had a chance to read. A fast paced book with a great story line and easy to follow plot. Here the good guys are the bad guys. The sheriff is the outlaw and a hero is the victim. You won't want to put this story down & when it's done you will wish it had more chapters to go. Five stars because it's a five star read.
I got this book as a freebie through one of the kindle free applications and have to say it is one of the best stories I've had a chance to read. A fast paced book with a great story line and easy to follow plot. Here the good guys are the bad guys. The sheriff is the outlaw and a hero is the victim. You won't want to put this story down & when it's done you will wish it had more chapters to go. Five stars because it's a five star read.
January 19, 2016
Page Turner
Could not put it down. Just when I thought I had it figured out it took another direction.. very well written, fast paced. I highly recommend
Could not put it down. Just when I thought I had it figured out it took another direction.. very well written, fast paced. I highly recommend
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