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Recon #2

A Wolf in the Fold

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Randall Munroe’s past won’t stay dead.

Born Tyler Callas, the pampered heir of a Corporate Council scion, he fled that life and adapted the new identity of Randall Munroe so he could join the Commonwealth Space Fleet Marine Corps’ elite Force Recon unit in the war against the alien Tahni Imperium.

But when he returned from the war, his old life found him. His mother, Corporate Council Executive Patrice Damiani, tracked him down and tried to return him to her web of control, even if she had to have his personality altered by drugs and psychological brainwashing to do it. Narrowly escaping her clutches, he made a deal with the devil to stay free…and now the debt is come due.

Cowboy, a former Space Fleet Intelligence commando who fought beside Munroe on Demeter, now works for one of Patrice Damiani’s rivals in the Corporate Council and he agreed to keep Munroe safe from her, in return for Munroe using the skills he learned as a Recon Marine in the service of Cowboy’s boss. Cowboy has tracked down rumors of an ancient alien artifact that has been discovered by one of the criminal cabals out in the desolate Pirate Worlds, and he needs Munroe to steal it.

Munroe recruits a squad of former Marines and resistance fighters he fought with during the war and travels to Thunderhead, a world wracked by storms and hurricane winds, to a city run by the notorious crime boss known only as Abuelo. Their mission is to pass themselves off as mercenaries, try to get hired by Abuelo and then infiltrate his organization and discover where he’s keeping the artifact.

Cowboy and his Corporate masters see the artifact as a valuable piece of lost technology they can use to strengthen their control over the Commonwealth’s economy.
Abuelo sees it as a weapon to solidify his power among the other criminal cabals and use against Commonwealth law enforcement.
But its true nature may be something none of them none of them can control…something that could destroy them all.

208 pages, Paperback

Published April 7, 2017

116 people are currently reading
45 people want to read

About the author

Rick Partlow

207 books372 followers
Rick Partlow is that rarest of species, a native Floridian. Born in Tampa, he attended Florida Southern College and graduated with a degree in History and a commission in the US Army as an Infantry officer.
His lifelong love of science fiction began with Have Space Suit---Will Travel and the other Heinlein juveniles and traveled through Clifford Simak, Asimov, Clarke and on to William Gibson, Walter Jon Williams and Peter F Hamilton. And somewhere, submerged in the worlds of others, Rick began to create his own worlds.
He has written over 70 books in over a dozen different series, and his short stories have been included in many different anthologies.

He currently lives in norther Wyoming with his wife and their dog. Besides writing and reading science fiction and fantasy, he enjoys outdoor photography, hiking and camping.

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5 stars
90 (45%)
4 stars
74 (37%)
3 stars
29 (14%)
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1 (<1%)
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2 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
490 reviews25 followers
July 3, 2017
Again a Solid "C-, C" in Book 2

"Recon: A Wolf in the Fold," is a solid "C-, C" in a follow-on of the series. Authored by Mr. Rick Partlow, the story continues the saga of an ex-Marine, Force Recon hero, Staff Sergeant Randal Munroe, as he is manipulated, sometimes outright blackmailed, by the expansive network of the Commonwealth Executive Corporate Council, into doing deeds they need done.

Munroe assembles a team of ex-comrades-in-arms, in order to infiltrate a fringe world, controlled by a pirate chieftain. The mission objective is to obtain an alien artifact, and if not, destroy it. The internal politics of the Executive Council, pitting members of Munroe's "dysfunctional" against each other, ensnare him, time and time again.

The story is decent, as it moves quickly, and doesn't slow down. There is nothing new, special, or unheard of, in "Recon: A Wolf in the Fold." It's a tale, similar to many others previously told in this genre, and uses other non-SciFi story themes. The writing, however, is pedestrian, and at times, severely amateurish. Mr. Partlow's overuse of "though," and "but," is inexcusable. Neither are commas or periods. It mars the reading process the same way, as in oral speech, when people use "you know," "like," or "um." In writing, unlike speech, you can READ your product BEFORE publishing, and make corrections.

The book is recommended and was fully read via Kindle Unlimited.
500 reviews8 followers
May 12, 2017
Great New Military Space Opera Series!

Book 2 in the series. Partlow has created a large galaxy, filled with obvious and hidden threats to humankind. In book 1, the humans defeated an alien humanoid race. Now, humanity fights itself for the spoils and discoveries.

This story, in the first two volumes, is space opera, but with a "Starship Troopers" approach...very close and personal. This volume follows the pattern of direct action and close combat, but it also includes emotional responses that would feel familiar to North American readers.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AS: DYNASTIC SPACE OPERA.
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297 reviews8 followers
August 22, 2020
The second book in the series follows well and builds on the character of the protagonist and new lifestyle he has to follow given his exit from the military.

Follow his exploits as builds a team to take care of a mission regarding a piece of alien tech that he could not say no too.

For those who have read gloryboys there are some teasers on what more we can expect in the upcoming novels in the series. Hint: It is not just the 10 anymore.

The flow of the novel was good and I am looking forward to next book in the series.

I love it when a plan comes into action.
Profile Image for Steven Allen.
1,188 reviews23 followers
May 9, 2017
I have enjoyed these books enough that I will probably grab the other books by this author set in the same universe. Good action, reasonable outcomes of hard decisions, and a few good twists that I did not see coming but should have. Felt enough empathy that I was sorry to see some key characters die, but that happens in combat.
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821 reviews18 followers
August 9, 2018
Summary: Lots of action, reasonable plot the premise is not right, but overall not a bad story

Plotline: A bit one threaded and not too many surprises, but moves along nicely carrying on from the first book

Premise: I like the aliens and artefacts but the political set up doesn't really work

Writing: Pretty good, gritty.

Ending: Our hero is a hero

Pace: Never a dull moment!
157 reviews2 followers
August 23, 2017
Partlow does it again

I have yet to read a Rock Partlow book that I haven't liked immensely. "A Wolf in the Fold" doesn't disappoint. These stories are fast moving, action packed and thoroughly enjoyable. Buy one and enjoy!
14 reviews
October 17, 2018
Pretty good - easy ready nicely paced. Nothing spectacular but it’s good.
698 reviews
November 12, 2018
Good

Very enjoyable and definitely a lot better than the first book in the series. I already bought the third book in the series and cannot wait to start reading the book.
Profile Image for Dale (Aus).
923 reviews7 followers
June 17, 2020
Great read

This was a good book to get me through a rainy day at home. Good story, some twists and turns and lots of action.
254 reviews2 followers
February 10, 2021
Pretty good

Pretty well written military sci-fi adventure novel. Kinda gritty and not a feel good happily ever after type. Will continue reading the series.
307 reviews4 followers
April 2, 2021
Well written

Well written was exciting characters and plots. Rich loves to keep you guessing as to outcomes but bam! Bet you didn’t see that one coming!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

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