What do you think?
Rate this book
Paul Richter #7
Insurrection
Paul Richter returns in James Barrington’s gripping new thriller
In Syria, a ritualistic ISIS beheading seems like another barbaric part of a terrible war. But this time is different…
In London, Paul Richter is briefed about a series of seemingly unconnected events, notably a terrifying spate of seemingly random shootings in America. Something doesn’t quite fit. Before long Richter is on the case and in the line of fire.
It seems a plot far bigger and more dangerous than anyone could have imagined is brewing from the mountains of the Hindu Kush and the deserts of Syria to the heart of Middle America.
With no information, the clock is ticking for Richter – and millions of innocent lives.
For readers of James Patterson, Will Jordan and Chris Ryan, the Agent Paul Richter series is intense, visceral and totally unmissable.
Watch out for more Agent Paul Richter thrillers Manhunt Overkill Pandemic Foxbat Timebomb Payback Insurrection370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 26, 2017
79 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
James Barrington
45 books76 followersI also write as Max Adams, James Becker, Tom Kasey, Thomas Payne and Jack Steel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 13, 2018
INSURECTION PAUL RITCHTER REVIEW
"These English are a strange people. They came here in the morning, looked at the wall, walked over it, killed all the garrison, and returned to breakfast. What can withstand them?” – Indian Martha Chieftain.
"When other Generals make mistakes, their armies are beaten; when I get into a hole, my men pull me out of it.” — The Duke of Wellington.
“A few honest men are better than numbers.” – Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell
2017 has not been a good year for Europe. Economic chaos, rising immigration causing real or imagined demographic and cultural problems, increased acts of Islamic terrorism and centrist moderate politicians are being butchered by populist, opportunistic right wingers or sanctimonious loonie lefties with a crypto Stalinist bent. Even with chaos however, some things are still certain. There’s death, taxes and people defending you from the modern-day barbarians at the gate, like the Daesh Islamist horde in Iraq and Syria. Springing onto the international terrorist circuit with a geopolitical bang unmatched by the old masters like the IRA and the PLO, Daesh has since begun to burn out, losing its so – called Caliphate to a combined force of everyone who hates it. But like a dying dog biting everything in its path, ISIS will try not go quietly into the night like we all want it to and has since begun using its independent online sympathizers to mount terrorist attacks in Europe and America. One of its primary targets has been Great Britain, which has seen such horror as the London Bridge run down and the House of Parliament stabbings.
A writer whose latest book focuses on a plot by ISIS and was released around the time of the incidents is James Barrington. Barrington is the pen name of a former Royal Navy Veteran Aviator and creator of the technothriller Paul Richter series. Over 7 books, the Paul Richter series focuses on the titular character, a modern day British super spy working for the British Intelligence Community’s paramilitary unit, in this case, the fictional “Foreign Operations Executive”. The closest thing to a real life 00 section, the FOE is intended to be the worst enemy for those who seek to threaten British civilians and the safety of the British state. Given the best kit, staffed by the top soldiers and spies the British military and intelligence services have to offer, and most importantly of all, given the political backing and capital to cut through all red tape in the course of their work, the FOE is a formidable force who allow Britain to punch above its weight in a world where Britannia no longer rules the waves. In Barrington’s seventh book, Insurrection which was published after a four-year hiatus, we’re given a reminder here, just how formidable the FOE and Richter truly are. Now to the review. With the world knowing all the terrorist tricks in the book, can the enemies of the free world come up with an attack no one will see coming?
We begin Insurrection in the lawless wasteland of Syria filled with religious fanatics, tyrants and the usual mass murderers who have roamed the Middle East for generations. In a desert clearing, Daesh terrorists are preparing to execute a group of drugged up, unlucky Syrian regime soldiers. As these soldiers have their heads sawn off for the glory of the depraved nutters live streaming the sorry affair, a conversation is taking place. The participants are a General of the Pakistani Army and the leader of a Daesh group.
Listening in on them is a militant who is not who he seems. A deal is struck between the Pakistani and the fanatic and a few days later, a team of men are sent to India. They test a biological weapon on a village, slaughtering everyone in it and withdraw after recording their findings. In London, Paul Richter is called into the FOE building where his boss Simpson informs him of a sudden escalation in terrorist attacks by ISIS and an honest to God cyberweapon is running around online. In Denver Colorado, a law-abiding citizen breaks the law for the first time in his life, by instigating one of the hundreds of mass shootings that have gone on in America.
And in Quetta, Pakistan at the most secure biohazard lab in South Asia, the makings of a terrorist attack that beggars’ belief in its scope and ingenuity that no intelligence service on earth would see it coming. From London, to Syria and the American Heartland, the Foreign Operations Executive re – emerges into the light to do battle with the enemies of Great Britain once more. As the most brilliant terrorists of their generation go in for the kill, and the free world is put in peril, once again, Britain’s finest do battle in a war on terror that’s changed beyond recognition and with no end in sight.
In terms of plot, Insurrection is a showcase of a writer who hasn’t lost his touch. Despite being away for four years, Barrington’s 7th book still captures all the things which made the Paul Richter series great. Smartly written writing that avoids being convoluted, sweeping geopolitical scope, an ingenious threat that is used in a creative, unforeseen fashion and a cast of badass, competent professionals going out and taking care of business for queen and country. After a long hiatus, Insurrection has all these elements click into place beautifully and the story and plot came at the right time in the chaotic 2017 where Britain is in peril more than ever.
Action and setting? Once again, superbly done. Barrington’s work has an adaptable quality about the action. At one moment, he can do a grand, sweeping action scene that would-be breath taking on a movie screen.
And after those, he can do something more up close, and personal. In Insurrection, he does a mixture of both. From the shocking mass shooting in Denver that kicks of the first act of the terrorist conspiracy, to a creative biological warfare attack that sends the American heartland into panic, we then head off to Syria where Britain’s finest proceed to give Daesh a damn good trashing, and then finally head to the city of Boston and a large-scale terrorist attack that has Richter and his allies running from the top to the bottom Beantown, in a last-ditch effort to prevent it from becoming boom town.
But it’s the backdrops which the action takes on which is a delight in itself. Barrington has above average abilities when constructing a setting, certainly better than many American spy novelists. Whether it be a corpse strewn town in India full of vultures and maggot infested corpses, or the gleaming industrial section of Boston harbour, in a Richter novel, the reader will find themselves suitably immersed and truly along for the ride with Agent Richter as he goes about his mission.
Research? Barrington goes above and beyond for his seventh book. The Richter series have a higher level of real world detail than, say, a Mark Greaney novel but integrate it just as skilfully into the narrative. Whether it be the mechanics of biological warfare and the production of bioweapons, a crash course in cyber warfare and subliminal messaging brainwashing techniques, and even how one of the world’s most important fuel substances can, roast, freeze of asphyxiate you, Barrington demonstrates that he is not rehashing his old notes, but rather still finds fascinating real-world facts to make a very thrilling experience. The multi – pronged terrorist attack for instance, is far more complex and smartly thought out compared to most grandiose terrorist schemes that went on in espionage fiction. And that’s just for starters as some of Duns other trademarks, including his pinpoint accurate portrayal of the capabilities of modern aircraft return with a vengeance.
Characters? Very good as always. I’ll focus on two standouts. First, Paul Richter, the hero and then, Halim Rassni the antagonist. First, Richter. A modern day British secret agent, Richter is the jack of all trades in the British intelligence community. One day he could be leading a burned asset to safety through the Syrian desert, the next day he may be finding himself trying to assassinate a terrorist on behalf of the crown, and even after that one may find Richter trying to arrest a Russian spy. A straightforward man who is very good at his job and doesn’t take fools gladly or prisoners at all, Richter by this point in time is at the peak of his powers, and a force of nature who with a ruthless, methodical precision hunts down the men responsible for the upcoming terrorist attack. Lacking the testosterone of his Yank counterparts, Richter makes up for this with that delightful sardonic British humour and a devil – may care bravery to rival James Bond. Richter is at the top of his game and isn’t afraid to let anyone remember that in this book.
Next, we have Halim Rassani. A General in the Pakistani Army and the most powerful state sponsored terrorist, Rassani is Richter’s prey in this story. A genius plotter who comes up with a chillingly well thought out scheme that averts the one – trick pony mentality of most terrorists, Rassani has a grander scope and vision with his plot and the means and talent to see it blossom into a murderous reality. Rassani is also a sadist from the Josef Mengele, Reinhard Heydrich school of murder and is obsessed with skinning people alive and recording how long they blead out for. When Richter finally punches his ticket in by far the most satisfying scene of the story, you’ll be pleased to see how far this scumbag is laid low.
Constructive criticism? Well one or two items. Firstly, weapon choices. Sure, it’s possible that the SAS still use MP5s, but for an op like the one described in Syria, they would most certainly not use dinky little MP5SDs against a ravenous inhuman mob of Daesh militants. The blades have gotten other kit like Heckler and Koch 416 carbines and .338 Lapua Accuracy International sniper rifles.
Most of the kit is what the Regiment would still use, but seeing them bring the equivalent of covert pea – shooters to an active warzone is jarring for me. Secondly, it seems that there hasn’t been much character development as the years have passed since we last saw Richter. While it’s not a problem to see Richter still at the top of his game, I think it would have been nice to see the series shook up by some dramatic moment in Richter’s life, whether it be the FOE coming under threat by some Whitehall hack or a personal development. But I suppose this is a good book for readers who haven’t known Richter long enough to start on.
It seems these days we’re all living in a crumbling ruin. Everything that we were certain about and optimistic about has been torn asunder in this second decade of the 21st century. One that will remain certain to the end of days is that the sheep will need sheep dogs to defend themselves from the wolves, no matter the “plant – eaters” as the US Army Delta Force call them, protest about this to all evidence on the contrary. And Richter is the kind of person all the sheep dogs should aspire to be. Quite professionals, who go do their jobs with a minimum of fuss, unlike say, recent rumblings out of DEVGRU this year.
James Barrington really shouldn’t have tortured readers with a long hiatus, as there’s nothing like the Richter series on Amazon today. Lovingly written, smartly plotted, these books are made by a master craftsman who has created a higher class of technothriller novel that doesn’t play it safe like most of the Tom Clancy continuation novels do. The world is chaotic, terrifying and the next time Barrington writes another book, this year or the next, I hope to see Paul Richter manning the gates.
RECOMMENDED.
"These English are a strange people. They came here in the morning, looked at the wall, walked over it, killed all the garrison, and returned to breakfast. What can withstand them?” – Indian Martha Chieftain.
"When other Generals make mistakes, their armies are beaten; when I get into a hole, my men pull me out of it.” — The Duke of Wellington.
“A few honest men are better than numbers.” – Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell
2017 has not been a good year for Europe. Economic chaos, rising immigration causing real or imagined demographic and cultural problems, increased acts of Islamic terrorism and centrist moderate politicians are being butchered by populist, opportunistic right wingers or sanctimonious loonie lefties with a crypto Stalinist bent. Even with chaos however, some things are still certain. There’s death, taxes and people defending you from the modern-day barbarians at the gate, like the Daesh Islamist horde in Iraq and Syria. Springing onto the international terrorist circuit with a geopolitical bang unmatched by the old masters like the IRA and the PLO, Daesh has since begun to burn out, losing its so – called Caliphate to a combined force of everyone who hates it. But like a dying dog biting everything in its path, ISIS will try not go quietly into the night like we all want it to and has since begun using its independent online sympathizers to mount terrorist attacks in Europe and America. One of its primary targets has been Great Britain, which has seen such horror as the London Bridge run down and the House of Parliament stabbings.
A writer whose latest book focuses on a plot by ISIS and was released around the time of the incidents is James Barrington. Barrington is the pen name of a former Royal Navy Veteran Aviator and creator of the technothriller Paul Richter series. Over 7 books, the Paul Richter series focuses on the titular character, a modern day British super spy working for the British Intelligence Community’s paramilitary unit, in this case, the fictional “Foreign Operations Executive”. The closest thing to a real life 00 section, the FOE is intended to be the worst enemy for those who seek to threaten British civilians and the safety of the British state. Given the best kit, staffed by the top soldiers and spies the British military and intelligence services have to offer, and most importantly of all, given the political backing and capital to cut through all red tape in the course of their work, the FOE is a formidable force who allow Britain to punch above its weight in a world where Britannia no longer rules the waves. In Barrington’s seventh book, Insurrection which was published after a four-year hiatus, we’re given a reminder here, just how formidable the FOE and Richter truly are. Now to the review. With the world knowing all the terrorist tricks in the book, can the enemies of the free world come up with an attack no one will see coming?
We begin Insurrection in the lawless wasteland of Syria filled with religious fanatics, tyrants and the usual mass murderers who have roamed the Middle East for generations. In a desert clearing, Daesh terrorists are preparing to execute a group of drugged up, unlucky Syrian regime soldiers. As these soldiers have their heads sawn off for the glory of the depraved nutters live streaming the sorry affair, a conversation is taking place. The participants are a General of the Pakistani Army and the leader of a Daesh group.
Listening in on them is a militant who is not who he seems. A deal is struck between the Pakistani and the fanatic and a few days later, a team of men are sent to India. They test a biological weapon on a village, slaughtering everyone in it and withdraw after recording their findings. In London, Paul Richter is called into the FOE building where his boss Simpson informs him of a sudden escalation in terrorist attacks by ISIS and an honest to God cyberweapon is running around online. In Denver Colorado, a law-abiding citizen breaks the law for the first time in his life, by instigating one of the hundreds of mass shootings that have gone on in America.
And in Quetta, Pakistan at the most secure biohazard lab in South Asia, the makings of a terrorist attack that beggars’ belief in its scope and ingenuity that no intelligence service on earth would see it coming. From London, to Syria and the American Heartland, the Foreign Operations Executive re – emerges into the light to do battle with the enemies of Great Britain once more. As the most brilliant terrorists of their generation go in for the kill, and the free world is put in peril, once again, Britain’s finest do battle in a war on terror that’s changed beyond recognition and with no end in sight.
In terms of plot, Insurrection is a showcase of a writer who hasn’t lost his touch. Despite being away for four years, Barrington’s 7th book still captures all the things which made the Paul Richter series great. Smartly written writing that avoids being convoluted, sweeping geopolitical scope, an ingenious threat that is used in a creative, unforeseen fashion and a cast of badass, competent professionals going out and taking care of business for queen and country. After a long hiatus, Insurrection has all these elements click into place beautifully and the story and plot came at the right time in the chaotic 2017 where Britain is in peril more than ever.
Action and setting? Once again, superbly done. Barrington’s work has an adaptable quality about the action. At one moment, he can do a grand, sweeping action scene that would-be breath taking on a movie screen.
And after those, he can do something more up close, and personal. In Insurrection, he does a mixture of both. From the shocking mass shooting in Denver that kicks of the first act of the terrorist conspiracy, to a creative biological warfare attack that sends the American heartland into panic, we then head off to Syria where Britain’s finest proceed to give Daesh a damn good trashing, and then finally head to the city of Boston and a large-scale terrorist attack that has Richter and his allies running from the top to the bottom Beantown, in a last-ditch effort to prevent it from becoming boom town.
But it’s the backdrops which the action takes on which is a delight in itself. Barrington has above average abilities when constructing a setting, certainly better than many American spy novelists. Whether it be a corpse strewn town in India full of vultures and maggot infested corpses, or the gleaming industrial section of Boston harbour, in a Richter novel, the reader will find themselves suitably immersed and truly along for the ride with Agent Richter as he goes about his mission.
Research? Barrington goes above and beyond for his seventh book. The Richter series have a higher level of real world detail than, say, a Mark Greaney novel but integrate it just as skilfully into the narrative. Whether it be the mechanics of biological warfare and the production of bioweapons, a crash course in cyber warfare and subliminal messaging brainwashing techniques, and even how one of the world’s most important fuel substances can, roast, freeze of asphyxiate you, Barrington demonstrates that he is not rehashing his old notes, but rather still finds fascinating real-world facts to make a very thrilling experience. The multi – pronged terrorist attack for instance, is far more complex and smartly thought out compared to most grandiose terrorist schemes that went on in espionage fiction. And that’s just for starters as some of Duns other trademarks, including his pinpoint accurate portrayal of the capabilities of modern aircraft return with a vengeance.
Characters? Very good as always. I’ll focus on two standouts. First, Paul Richter, the hero and then, Halim Rassni the antagonist. First, Richter. A modern day British secret agent, Richter is the jack of all trades in the British intelligence community. One day he could be leading a burned asset to safety through the Syrian desert, the next day he may be finding himself trying to assassinate a terrorist on behalf of the crown, and even after that one may find Richter trying to arrest a Russian spy. A straightforward man who is very good at his job and doesn’t take fools gladly or prisoners at all, Richter by this point in time is at the peak of his powers, and a force of nature who with a ruthless, methodical precision hunts down the men responsible for the upcoming terrorist attack. Lacking the testosterone of his Yank counterparts, Richter makes up for this with that delightful sardonic British humour and a devil – may care bravery to rival James Bond. Richter is at the top of his game and isn’t afraid to let anyone remember that in this book.
Next, we have Halim Rassani. A General in the Pakistani Army and the most powerful state sponsored terrorist, Rassani is Richter’s prey in this story. A genius plotter who comes up with a chillingly well thought out scheme that averts the one – trick pony mentality of most terrorists, Rassani has a grander scope and vision with his plot and the means and talent to see it blossom into a murderous reality. Rassani is also a sadist from the Josef Mengele, Reinhard Heydrich school of murder and is obsessed with skinning people alive and recording how long they blead out for. When Richter finally punches his ticket in by far the most satisfying scene of the story, you’ll be pleased to see how far this scumbag is laid low.
Constructive criticism? Well one or two items. Firstly, weapon choices. Sure, it’s possible that the SAS still use MP5s, but for an op like the one described in Syria, they would most certainly not use dinky little MP5SDs against a ravenous inhuman mob of Daesh militants. The blades have gotten other kit like Heckler and Koch 416 carbines and .338 Lapua Accuracy International sniper rifles.
Most of the kit is what the Regiment would still use, but seeing them bring the equivalent of covert pea – shooters to an active warzone is jarring for me. Secondly, it seems that there hasn’t been much character development as the years have passed since we last saw Richter. While it’s not a problem to see Richter still at the top of his game, I think it would have been nice to see the series shook up by some dramatic moment in Richter’s life, whether it be the FOE coming under threat by some Whitehall hack or a personal development. But I suppose this is a good book for readers who haven’t known Richter long enough to start on.
It seems these days we’re all living in a crumbling ruin. Everything that we were certain about and optimistic about has been torn asunder in this second decade of the 21st century. One that will remain certain to the end of days is that the sheep will need sheep dogs to defend themselves from the wolves, no matter the “plant – eaters” as the US Army Delta Force call them, protest about this to all evidence on the contrary. And Richter is the kind of person all the sheep dogs should aspire to be. Quite professionals, who go do their jobs with a minimum of fuss, unlike say, recent rumblings out of DEVGRU this year.
James Barrington really shouldn’t have tortured readers with a long hiatus, as there’s nothing like the Richter series on Amazon today. Lovingly written, smartly plotted, these books are made by a master craftsman who has created a higher class of technothriller novel that doesn’t play it safe like most of the Tom Clancy continuation novels do. The world is chaotic, terrifying and the next time Barrington writes another book, this year or the next, I hope to see Paul Richter manning the gates.
RECOMMENDED.
July 11, 2017
It's been a long wait for a new book in this excellent thriller series. I have always been surprised that they have not been best-sellers as they are far better than the McNabs and the Ryans.
The plots are always clever, but the main character, Paul Richter is just brilliant, sarky, sarcastic and...deadly. As always his relationship with his boss is very entertaining and each time the story has a focus on Richter the page just lights up.
In Insurrection, a number of incidents point towards a terrorist "spectacular" and Richter, sent on a mission with an SAS team extracts a key bit of information that leads to a trip to the US. The US authorities are occupied with a biological event, not knowing that something bigger is jus around the corner.
The plot is complex and the author has quite a bit going on in this one, some elements are a tad far-fetched but that doesn't really matter. The characters and dialogue are top notch and it is nice to see the UK and the US working together rather than the common plot of differing agendas.
It all really worked for me and utterly delighted to see the author and the character back. Hopefully not too long until the next one.
The plots are always clever, but the main character, Paul Richter is just brilliant, sarky, sarcastic and...deadly. As always his relationship with his boss is very entertaining and each time the story has a focus on Richter the page just lights up.
In Insurrection, a number of incidents point towards a terrorist "spectacular" and Richter, sent on a mission with an SAS team extracts a key bit of information that leads to a trip to the US. The US authorities are occupied with a biological event, not knowing that something bigger is jus around the corner.
The plot is complex and the author has quite a bit going on in this one, some elements are a tad far-fetched but that doesn't really matter. The characters and dialogue are top notch and it is nice to see the UK and the US working together rather than the common plot of differing agendas.
It all really worked for me and utterly delighted to see the author and the character back. Hopefully not too long until the next one.
April 24, 2018
As usual, Barrington challenges his readers with several subplots which coalesce in an exciting finale. This 7th book in the Paul Richter series centers on terrorism in the US. Barrington's research into bioweapons and the Middle East results in a fascinating but realistic plot. The protagonist has evolved into the leader of an international effort to stop an insidious effort to destroy an American city. Readers should be on the edge of their recliner as they follow the action.
February 1, 2018
Saves the world again!
Paul saves the Americans - again! We are a pretty hopeless bunch in the US in this book without Richter to save the day. High excitement and classic Richter activity!
Paul saves the Americans - again! We are a pretty hopeless bunch in the US in this book without Richter to save the day. High excitement and classic Richter activity!
March 24, 2018
Another Richter Adventure
Well, Paul pulls it out at the last possible moment. As always, very enjoyable reading and exciting page turning. Can't wait for the next one. But would also like to see more of WWII hero Dawson.
Well, Paul pulls it out at the last possible moment. As always, very enjoyable reading and exciting page turning. Can't wait for the next one. But would also like to see more of WWII hero Dawson.
March 13, 2019
Good book
This is another good read that follows the same lines as the other books in the series. I really appreciate the explanation of some of the things that were in the book that the author put in the back of the book.
This is another good read that follows the same lines as the other books in the series. I really appreciate the explanation of some of the things that were in the book that the author put in the back of the book.
September 28, 2021
Insurrection
Excellent use of the world situation to create a thriller with believable premise and attributes. Interesting to wonder if a terrorist might be able to do the Boston attack today.
Excellent use of the world situation to create a thriller with believable premise and attributes. Interesting to wonder if a terrorist might be able to do the Boston attack today.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews