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Task Force Orange #1
Buried in Black
DEEPER THAN DEEP STATE
In this explosive new series, former intelligence expert J.T. Patten takes you deep inside the top-secret operations you’ll never see on the news: our deadliest weapons in the war against terror . . .
BURIED IN BLACK
In the clandestine world of shadow ops, he’s known as The Man From Orange. A master of surveillance, signals intelligence—and silent killing—special operative Drake Woolf has been groomed and trained by the old-guard intel community after his CIA father and mother were murdered in Tunisia. Now he works for Task Force Orange, handling cases the government doesn’t want its fingerprints on. Woolf can always be relied on to carry out an assignment with surgical precision—and exterminate a threat with extreme prejudice. But his latest mission is different. Woolf knows the targets personally. He trained them in Iraq to be the perfect killing machines. Known as the “Mohawks,” these Iraqi rebels know our secrets, our strengths, and our weaknesses. And they’re using this knowledge to launch the deadliest attack the world has ever seen—on American soil . . .
In this explosive new series, former intelligence expert J.T. Patten takes you deep inside the top-secret operations you’ll never see on the news: our deadliest weapons in the war against terror . . .
BURIED IN BLACK
In the clandestine world of shadow ops, he’s known as The Man From Orange. A master of surveillance, signals intelligence—and silent killing—special operative Drake Woolf has been groomed and trained by the old-guard intel community after his CIA father and mother were murdered in Tunisia. Now he works for Task Force Orange, handling cases the government doesn’t want its fingerprints on. Woolf can always be relied on to carry out an assignment with surgical precision—and exterminate a threat with extreme prejudice. But his latest mission is different. Woolf knows the targets personally. He trained them in Iraq to be the perfect killing machines. Known as the “Mohawks,” these Iraqi rebels know our secrets, our strengths, and our weaknesses. And they’re using this knowledge to launch the deadliest attack the world has ever seen—on American soil . . .
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 20, 2018
75 people are currently reading
550 people want to read
About the author
J.T. Patten
17 books176 followers"J.T. Patten" has worked with the intelligence and special operations community in support of national defense and policy. He has a degree in Foreign Language, a Masters in Strategic Intelligence, graduate studies in Counter Terrorism from the University of St. Andrews, and numerous expertise certifications in forensics, fraud, and financial crime investigations. Patten shares these unique experiences with readers to give them a taste of "the black."
His novel is written in a multi-layered non-linear plot style that provides a compelling inside view of larger than life covert activities in addition to the gripping turmoil that warriors suffer while battling foes and internal demons.
Disclaimer:
These novels do not constitute an official release of CIA information. All statements of fact, opinion, or analysis expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official positions or views of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or any other U.S. Government agency. Nothing in the contents should be construed as asserting or implying U.S. Government authentication of information or CIA endorsement of the author’s views. This material has been reviewed for classification.
His novel is written in a multi-layered non-linear plot style that provides a compelling inside view of larger than life covert activities in addition to the gripping turmoil that warriors suffer while battling foes and internal demons.
Disclaimer:
These novels do not constitute an official release of CIA information. All statements of fact, opinion, or analysis expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official positions or views of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or any other U.S. Government agency. Nothing in the contents should be construed as asserting or implying U.S. Government authentication of information or CIA endorsement of the author’s views. This material has been reviewed for classification.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
November 20, 2018
Former Intelligence advisor, J.T. Patten is back with a new series, a Task Force Orange Novel which exists in the same universe as his highly acclaimed Safe Haven series. His hero in those books, Sean Havens is also back but acts more as back-up and a mentor for his new protagonist, Warren Drake Woolf, aka “Birddog.” Known as The Man From Orange working for a government organization called Task Force Orange. An off the books and one of the most secretive military elements in existence.
Starting off with Sean Havens. I mentioned he is in a support role, but don’t let that sway your judgement thinking Sean was downgraded to some type of desk job riding an office chair, getting fat and lazy. He is still one of the most dangerous operators in the world and provides some much needed back up with his Heckler & Koch 45 as well as his sniper rifle. He always shows up at the right time and right spot to save the day. Once Drake tells him, “Thank you, but for what it’s worth, I had this.” In regard to a hairy situation that we found our main protagonist in. In that same scene, you get to see how formidable Drake is, he didn’t get to take care of the bad guys, but he got the drop on Sean.
The bad guys, the “Mohawks.” A group of pissed of Iraqi rebels whom were trained by Drake, Sean and some other elite operators which in return has made them very formidable. Good ol’ Uncle Sam recruited these warriors to attack their own countrymen with promises of freedom within the borders of USA. However, the politicians in Washington went against their word and turned their backs on these rebels and they were left to fend for themselves. Many of them were killed and those who got away, their families were slaughtered. Therefore, they used their training and some help from scared desk warriors in Washington to target US Special Forces who trained them, including Drake. Big mistake on their part.
Now onto Warren Drake Woolf, aka “Birddog.” Imagine Mitch Rapp and Marcus Dumond or Scot Harvath and The Troll rolled into one person. He’s one of the best warriors in the world, but he’s also very technologically savvy. The best of both worlds maybe. He’s a warrior on a personal mission while all other missions, such as the ones we actually read about get in the way of his personal mission, which also act as his demons. Constantly haunting him, even driving him to the brink of insanity while still kicking ass and taking names. A very formidable opponent I wouldn’t want to cross on my best day. A very funny moment in the book when someone is describing Drake, they mention how one time an operator called Birddog “support” and he punched them in the face. For my civilian readers, in the military and the intelligence community, you have your door kickers, the bad asses and then you have everything else, such as Motor T (Motor transport), your communications guy, or (comm bubba), even a chow guy. Admin or administrations to make sure their pay is in order and logistics, supply. etc. And many more “support” type of jobs. I’m explaining this just to ensure from a military perspective why someone like Drake would be so offended that he would punch another operator in the face when he called him “support.” There’s a big difference between the shooters and everyone else.
Buried in Black takes you into the blacker than black world of espionage, kill teams, and black ops like rarely seen from other authors because most authors work from fantasy or research. Patten is clearly one of those who has “been there and done that.” As a former Marine myself, reading along and nodding in excitement and approval due to his authenticity and realism is something I very much appreciate, and I must give credit to where credit is due. This military thriller goes on sale November 20th, 2018. I urge you to Pre-Order your copy now and stand by to be impressed with Buried in Black, a Task Force Orange Novel featuring Drake Woolf. I look forward to the follow up, J.T. Patten leaves you wanting more, and more you shall get, this is number one in a three book deal J.T. Patten has signed with Kensington Publishing Corp. “America’s Independent Publisher”.
Starting off with Sean Havens. I mentioned he is in a support role, but don’t let that sway your judgement thinking Sean was downgraded to some type of desk job riding an office chair, getting fat and lazy. He is still one of the most dangerous operators in the world and provides some much needed back up with his Heckler & Koch 45 as well as his sniper rifle. He always shows up at the right time and right spot to save the day. Once Drake tells him, “Thank you, but for what it’s worth, I had this.” In regard to a hairy situation that we found our main protagonist in. In that same scene, you get to see how formidable Drake is, he didn’t get to take care of the bad guys, but he got the drop on Sean.
The bad guys, the “Mohawks.” A group of pissed of Iraqi rebels whom were trained by Drake, Sean and some other elite operators which in return has made them very formidable. Good ol’ Uncle Sam recruited these warriors to attack their own countrymen with promises of freedom within the borders of USA. However, the politicians in Washington went against their word and turned their backs on these rebels and they were left to fend for themselves. Many of them were killed and those who got away, their families were slaughtered. Therefore, they used their training and some help from scared desk warriors in Washington to target US Special Forces who trained them, including Drake. Big mistake on their part.
Now onto Warren Drake Woolf, aka “Birddog.” Imagine Mitch Rapp and Marcus Dumond or Scot Harvath and The Troll rolled into one person. He’s one of the best warriors in the world, but he’s also very technologically savvy. The best of both worlds maybe. He’s a warrior on a personal mission while all other missions, such as the ones we actually read about get in the way of his personal mission, which also act as his demons. Constantly haunting him, even driving him to the brink of insanity while still kicking ass and taking names. A very formidable opponent I wouldn’t want to cross on my best day. A very funny moment in the book when someone is describing Drake, they mention how one time an operator called Birddog “support” and he punched them in the face. For my civilian readers, in the military and the intelligence community, you have your door kickers, the bad asses and then you have everything else, such as Motor T (Motor transport), your communications guy, or (comm bubba), even a chow guy. Admin or administrations to make sure their pay is in order and logistics, supply. etc. And many more “support” type of jobs. I’m explaining this just to ensure from a military perspective why someone like Drake would be so offended that he would punch another operator in the face when he called him “support.” There’s a big difference between the shooters and everyone else.
Buried in Black takes you into the blacker than black world of espionage, kill teams, and black ops like rarely seen from other authors because most authors work from fantasy or research. Patten is clearly one of those who has “been there and done that.” As a former Marine myself, reading along and nodding in excitement and approval due to his authenticity and realism is something I very much appreciate, and I must give credit to where credit is due. This military thriller goes on sale November 20th, 2018. I urge you to Pre-Order your copy now and stand by to be impressed with Buried in Black, a Task Force Orange Novel featuring Drake Woolf. I look forward to the follow up, J.T. Patten leaves you wanting more, and more you shall get, this is number one in a three book deal J.T. Patten has signed with Kensington Publishing Corp. “America’s Independent Publisher”.
January 19, 2019
First of all I have to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read this.
This is by far the best thriller I've read in years with a surprising twist at the end.
I am really looking forward to the next one in this series.
I didn't know when I started this that one of the characters, Sean Havens had his own series so know I've got the first one of those read and the second in my TBR pile.
I will not write about the content because there are so many places to read that, but I will say this if you like thrillers. Read this one.
This is by far the best thriller I've read in years with a surprising twist at the end.
I am really looking forward to the next one in this series.
I didn't know when I started this that one of the characters, Sean Havens had his own series so know I've got the first one of those read and the second in my TBR pile.
I will not write about the content because there are so many places to read that, but I will say this if you like thrillers. Read this one.
March 29, 2019
Drake Woolf is raised by his aunt and uncle after his parents are killed by insurgents while on assignment in Africa. After a long recovery from this major trauma, Drake is raised by his aunt and uncle, who is a major CIA spook. Drake is a technological wizard and watcher, who likes getting his hands dirty on assignment while always seeking vengeance for his parents' deaths. Drake is called home to stop the "Mohawks": a group of U.S.-trained Iraqi rebels now murdering their trainers and families. Drake is a weapon, but also on a regimen of medications, some of which are taken to provide an edge. As Drake tracks down the bad guys, another rulebreaker (female FBI agent) is on his trail, not sure whether he is the problem or the solution. I was not nearly as impressed by this one as most reviewers as Drake's unstable personality, while understandable, grated on me.
June 29, 2019
DOGS OF WAR
"whatever is said inside, stays inside" – Russian GRU warning
“You Americans, you treat the Third World in the way an Iraqi peasant treats his new bride. Three days of honeymoon, and then it's off to the fields.” – Saddam Hussein.
In all wars, forces of occupations always need local collaboration for any hope of success. Whether it be the Auxiliaries used by the Romans, the Gurkhas that saved Britain’s bacon during the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny and the Algerian Harkis who fought for France, the relations between foreign allies/assets and their handlers is a relationship fraught with a twisted mix of expendability and sentiment. In the grand scheme of things, the foreign asset is at the end of the day disposable, to be used, abused, rewarded and dumped if they become a liability. But for those who interact with them, attachments are made and there is guilt when the time comes for them to be broken.
It’s destroyed assets which is the heart of Buried In Black, JT Patten’s newest thriller. An international man of mystery, Patten has worked in a broad variety of roles within the US Intelligence Community. As one of the insiders that other writers go to for a tip or two, recently his own writing career changed with a dive into mainstream published novels. The result is Buried In Black, a tale about loss, spying and how strong the ties that bind really are when self-preservation and cruel moral ambiguity get thrown into the mix. Now to the review, what happens when a loose cannon is fully unshackled?
We begin the novel in the Past. It’s the 90s and we find the young American Drake Woolf learning how to use an ice pick with his father. Woolf is the son of the CIA Station Chief of Tunisia, a man who knows the clouds of Al Qaeda are on the horizon and soon finds himself one of the first casualties of that onrushing storm. Al Qaeda militants proceed to burst into the Woolf’s diplomatic housing, and murder his parents, with Drake himself being injured in the violent attack. Woolf survives and fast forward several years later, he’s now a covert operative working for a mysterious division of the US Military only known as ‘Orange’.
We find him in 2018, sneaking around Lebanon, tracking an enemy of America who needs to be killed. He’s working with a team from Combat Applications Group and all seems smooth. However, events take a turn for the worse, discovery is imminent and while the job is completed, officials in America make a Captain’s Call to launch a predator drone strike that kills the CAG team but prevents discovery of the operation. Drake meanwhile flees Lebanon and finds himself in special operations limbo. A man without a country.
Back in the USA, a series of terrorist attacks commence. They are conducted by a team of Iraqis known as the Mohawks. Covert Operatives provided American standard tradecraft and expertise, they were left behind in the Obama Era withdrawal from Iraq and abused and tormented by Iraqi Shia, and ISIS. With nothing to lose, they take an offer from an interested party facing economic hardship for the first time in its history due to being classified as a terrorist organization. In return for their remaining loved ones being set up for life, they are to apply their expertise in the annihilation of a special operations unit and the more important policy makers, and pave the way for a spectacular series of terrorist incidents that are to follow their more dramatic, precise murders.
Members of the American government watching these incidents decide that a new initiative is required, a hit squad that can utilize intelligence collection to kill terrorists pre-emptively before they can attack. A prominent intelligence insider decides that his nephew will be perfect, Drake ‘Birddog’ Woolf as the trigger man for the new black ops program. Assigned two helpers, Sean and Lars, Woolf is sent to destroy this new generation of asymmetric threat. But there are a few problems. He’s already marked man, both on his side and the opposition’s. He’s got a very persistent FBI Agent on his case. And most concerningly of all, his brain is a little more than simply scattered. Stalking his prey around the Eastern Seaboard, the man from orange begins an operation where its participants are one disaster, one dead body away from being buried in black.
In Terms of plot Buried In Black is the perfect introduction to Patten’s writing for new readers. Having come from the indie published side of the Church to the mainstream side, Patten brings a sharp edge from the wild west of thriller fiction to the table. The good indie published novels always have a tendency to be more daring, more creative, more willing to shake things up than their mainstream counterparts. Such is the case with Buried In Black. It’s merciless, gripping and unforgiving in its portrayal of the moral ambiguity that today’s defenders of civilization have to dive deep into when doing their jobs. It outlines the costs of the war on terror that should have gotten more attention from the public – but never did. And it weaves a splendid tale about the new generation of terrorism, how technology and expertise has made it far more sophisticated and dangerous over the years.
Action and setting is solid enough. Patten’s work has always been more character and psychological driven, more mind games and gambits rather than a straight up shoot everything in sight story. However, not everyone comes home in Buried In Black. From the opening home invasion and murder in Tunisia, Woolf’s race to survive an operation that begins to collapse without warning in a Lebanese Refugee Camp, the highlight of the story is in fact the very destructive terrorist attacks and murders that the bad guys conduct. From the meticulous precision executed bombings, to a sniper crossfire hit at a funeral, to turning the favourite drinking hole of a special operations unit into a spectacular funeral pyre for the lot of them, Patten displays serious creativity and imagination when it comes time to bump off members of the cast. Fast paced, and when the killing begins, it’s very destructive with few survivors.
Research? One of the areas where Patten has done well is integrate the real-world details into the narrative and highlight just how complex modern counter – terrorism and the paramilitary side of espionage has gotten in the second decade on the war on terror. From the sophisticated communications and tracking technology, some of which the publishing boards of Langley and Fort Meade made changes to pre – publishing to keep their real capabilities under wraps to the sophisticated strategies the bad guys use to hunt their assassination targets, Patten also brings back one of his trademarks, the use of UAVs in contemporary wars and spying. Drones are no longer big, multimillion-dollar contraptions you have to pay Lockheed Martin to use. Smaller than a Predator yet more sophisticated than the old RC Helicopters, Over the years, Patten has been ahead of the curve in thriller fiction when showing the true potential of small cheap drone technology. In this book, the standout is something called the America Eagle. Vehicle launch and operated, it becomes Woolf’s personal AWACS and lights up two would be killers like Christmas trees, ruining their plans at the worst possible time. Aside from that, Patten also took a significant real world event, namely the current administration’s labelling of some gentlemen in Tehran as terrorists for the first time in years and successfully made a compelling story around it.
Another thing I like about this story are the themes and issues touched on. Patten sets up an ongoing motif throughout Buried In Black of the dogs of war. Persistent loyal and dangerous to those they hunt, the dogs of war, like ‘Birddog’ Drake have been gradually worn down over the years during the war on terror. And in the case of the antagonists, been abandoned altogether and become stray dogs, feral and angry at the world and masters who have been cruel to them. The other interesting issue, is that of the foreign assets. Everyone is familiar with the terps of Iraq and Afghanistan. Due to the nature of the US involvement in both countries and them taking jobs with a foreign occupier out of good intentions or just to make ends meet, inevitably the foe that has not been defeated plans to take vengeance on those collaborators. As such, only a few lucky ones like the legendary Johnny Walker of Mosul Iraq usually live to tell the tale, while others like the Algerian Harkis and the men in Buried In Black, suffer the vengeance and opportunism of a society that ruins them and takes everything they love.
Characters? This is the area where the book truly shines. What makes Patten’s writing stand out is that he knows how to play with the tropes and character archetypes and in this story, delightfully warps them to the point where a reader must truly expect the unexpected from them. This is not your usual counter – terrorist operative/assassin, not your usual FBI Agent and not your usual band of terrorists. Oh no. Rather we have a hero who just might have a few screws loose. A Fed who may have been the cause of a number of Hoods sleeping with the fishes and terrorists who actually have a justified reason for the murders they’re committing.
First, we have Mr Drake Woolf. Mr Woolf is introduced as an employee of a group known as the Intelligence Support Activity. This unit, first brought to attention by the Michael Smith Book Killer Elite, made iconic by The Activity Comic book series and then famous by Person Of Interest’s Iranian American operator Sameen Shaw, is the modern day scouting/tracker unit of the US Military. Providing tactical intelligence that the Company failed to provide during Operation Eagle Claw, the ISA also does man hunting and guiding shooters to where the next new terrorist or criminal bigshot scum is hiding. Woolf is very good at his job, pursuing his prey with an almost Ahab like focus and poise. Having been brought up by an uncle who was also a former special forces soldier turned Pentagon big shot, he’s also quite the killing machine. However, he is not the perfect, soulless assassin. Due to the traumas of his youth and life without any significant grounding, the Birddog has significant mental health issues that he tries to struggle through. Unlike the Mitch Rapp pre – Kyle Mills however, this is portrayed much more down to earth and at one point in the story, we get a pretty realistic panic attack before Drake gets his act together and tries to save the day.
Next we have Teresa. Teresa is an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who is moved by her boss to counter – terrorism. She’s dutiful, smart and rather violent as it turns out. And as it turns out, her name is not even Teresa. She’s far more than a Commissioner Gordon clone and soon finds herself hunting someone who she thinks might be providing a service to the community and the American Nation but is also breaking a 20 laws per week. She is a most intriguing character, with the drive and dedication of Tommy Lee Jones’ US Marshall but with enough sins and crimes of her own to warrant being hunted by the US Marshall’s service herself.
Finally, we have the Mohawk Agents. The Mohawks are not the big bad of the story, but they are the most active threat that Woolf faces. These are Iraqi law enforcement agents provided with the American standard of tradecraft. Promised a free ride and asylum to the USA if needed, the Mohawks were cruelly denied the chance to live in the land of the free which they deserved after faithful service to the stars and stripes. Shortly after, the Sunni ISIS militants killed and murdered their wives and children and the Shia Iraqis intimidated and forced the Mohawks into poverty and destitution. As a result, angry at America abandoning them and breaking promises, they take a job offer from their religious enemies to travel to America and murder their former Delta Force trainers. Their plight, homicidal rage, struggle and motivations are portrayed with a genuine sensitivity and skill that is still quite rare in thriller fiction and Patten, with his speciality in characterization, does the Mohawks justice and prevents them from becoming another lot of run of the mill jihadists.
Constructive criticism? Well, two things. The first is the story could have done with a teeny bit more action and I’m sure this problem will be addressed in the second book of the series coming out this year (Mr Patten has teased a car chase through Chicago more destructive and violent than when those Blues Brothers made the run to Richard Daly Plaza). The second criticism I have is about a chap named Dexter. I feel his introduction at the start of the story was poorly done and shoehorned in. Further elaboration on his role in the scheme of things will surely come in the second book and hopefully he will get a chance to shine. Finally, while not criticism, there’s a bit of confusion. At the start of the story there’s a brief sentence where Mr Woolf tries to confuse some terrorists by shouting in Hebrew rather than Arabic. I was a little doubtful that Hebrew would give the terrorists pause, but the point was ultimately rendered moot as Drake was running for his life at the time.
It’s rather difficult to make the transition from one side of the publishing congregation to the other, but JT Patten has triumphantly succeeded. Blending the refined tastes of mainstream published fiction with the edge and intensity of indie publishing, Buried In Black is a gripping journey into the dark cold heart of contemporary covert operations. Where Captains Calls can leave members of the home team crippled for life or dead. Where former allies not treated as they should are more than willing to dig two graves before setting out for revenge. Where those that betray us might not do it out of hatred but love. Boasting fascinating research into the current state of counter – terrorism in the second, chaotic decade of the war on terror, subverting tropes and conventions and gleefully turning character archetypes upside down and inside out, Contemporary American Spy Fiction has not seen anything like this in a long time. And the best is yet to come as Patten on 20th August 2019 takes us to ‘The Presence Of Evil’.
RECOMMENDED.
"whatever is said inside, stays inside" – Russian GRU warning
“You Americans, you treat the Third World in the way an Iraqi peasant treats his new bride. Three days of honeymoon, and then it's off to the fields.” – Saddam Hussein.
In all wars, forces of occupations always need local collaboration for any hope of success. Whether it be the Auxiliaries used by the Romans, the Gurkhas that saved Britain’s bacon during the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny and the Algerian Harkis who fought for France, the relations between foreign allies/assets and their handlers is a relationship fraught with a twisted mix of expendability and sentiment. In the grand scheme of things, the foreign asset is at the end of the day disposable, to be used, abused, rewarded and dumped if they become a liability. But for those who interact with them, attachments are made and there is guilt when the time comes for them to be broken.
It’s destroyed assets which is the heart of Buried In Black, JT Patten’s newest thriller. An international man of mystery, Patten has worked in a broad variety of roles within the US Intelligence Community. As one of the insiders that other writers go to for a tip or two, recently his own writing career changed with a dive into mainstream published novels. The result is Buried In Black, a tale about loss, spying and how strong the ties that bind really are when self-preservation and cruel moral ambiguity get thrown into the mix. Now to the review, what happens when a loose cannon is fully unshackled?
We begin the novel in the Past. It’s the 90s and we find the young American Drake Woolf learning how to use an ice pick with his father. Woolf is the son of the CIA Station Chief of Tunisia, a man who knows the clouds of Al Qaeda are on the horizon and soon finds himself one of the first casualties of that onrushing storm. Al Qaeda militants proceed to burst into the Woolf’s diplomatic housing, and murder his parents, with Drake himself being injured in the violent attack. Woolf survives and fast forward several years later, he’s now a covert operative working for a mysterious division of the US Military only known as ‘Orange’.
We find him in 2018, sneaking around Lebanon, tracking an enemy of America who needs to be killed. He’s working with a team from Combat Applications Group and all seems smooth. However, events take a turn for the worse, discovery is imminent and while the job is completed, officials in America make a Captain’s Call to launch a predator drone strike that kills the CAG team but prevents discovery of the operation. Drake meanwhile flees Lebanon and finds himself in special operations limbo. A man without a country.
Back in the USA, a series of terrorist attacks commence. They are conducted by a team of Iraqis known as the Mohawks. Covert Operatives provided American standard tradecraft and expertise, they were left behind in the Obama Era withdrawal from Iraq and abused and tormented by Iraqi Shia, and ISIS. With nothing to lose, they take an offer from an interested party facing economic hardship for the first time in its history due to being classified as a terrorist organization. In return for their remaining loved ones being set up for life, they are to apply their expertise in the annihilation of a special operations unit and the more important policy makers, and pave the way for a spectacular series of terrorist incidents that are to follow their more dramatic, precise murders.
Members of the American government watching these incidents decide that a new initiative is required, a hit squad that can utilize intelligence collection to kill terrorists pre-emptively before they can attack. A prominent intelligence insider decides that his nephew will be perfect, Drake ‘Birddog’ Woolf as the trigger man for the new black ops program. Assigned two helpers, Sean and Lars, Woolf is sent to destroy this new generation of asymmetric threat. But there are a few problems. He’s already marked man, both on his side and the opposition’s. He’s got a very persistent FBI Agent on his case. And most concerningly of all, his brain is a little more than simply scattered. Stalking his prey around the Eastern Seaboard, the man from orange begins an operation where its participants are one disaster, one dead body away from being buried in black.
In Terms of plot Buried In Black is the perfect introduction to Patten’s writing for new readers. Having come from the indie published side of the Church to the mainstream side, Patten brings a sharp edge from the wild west of thriller fiction to the table. The good indie published novels always have a tendency to be more daring, more creative, more willing to shake things up than their mainstream counterparts. Such is the case with Buried In Black. It’s merciless, gripping and unforgiving in its portrayal of the moral ambiguity that today’s defenders of civilization have to dive deep into when doing their jobs. It outlines the costs of the war on terror that should have gotten more attention from the public – but never did. And it weaves a splendid tale about the new generation of terrorism, how technology and expertise has made it far more sophisticated and dangerous over the years.
Action and setting is solid enough. Patten’s work has always been more character and psychological driven, more mind games and gambits rather than a straight up shoot everything in sight story. However, not everyone comes home in Buried In Black. From the opening home invasion and murder in Tunisia, Woolf’s race to survive an operation that begins to collapse without warning in a Lebanese Refugee Camp, the highlight of the story is in fact the very destructive terrorist attacks and murders that the bad guys conduct. From the meticulous precision executed bombings, to a sniper crossfire hit at a funeral, to turning the favourite drinking hole of a special operations unit into a spectacular funeral pyre for the lot of them, Patten displays serious creativity and imagination when it comes time to bump off members of the cast. Fast paced, and when the killing begins, it’s very destructive with few survivors.
Research? One of the areas where Patten has done well is integrate the real-world details into the narrative and highlight just how complex modern counter – terrorism and the paramilitary side of espionage has gotten in the second decade on the war on terror. From the sophisticated communications and tracking technology, some of which the publishing boards of Langley and Fort Meade made changes to pre – publishing to keep their real capabilities under wraps to the sophisticated strategies the bad guys use to hunt their assassination targets, Patten also brings back one of his trademarks, the use of UAVs in contemporary wars and spying. Drones are no longer big, multimillion-dollar contraptions you have to pay Lockheed Martin to use. Smaller than a Predator yet more sophisticated than the old RC Helicopters, Over the years, Patten has been ahead of the curve in thriller fiction when showing the true potential of small cheap drone technology. In this book, the standout is something called the America Eagle. Vehicle launch and operated, it becomes Woolf’s personal AWACS and lights up two would be killers like Christmas trees, ruining their plans at the worst possible time. Aside from that, Patten also took a significant real world event, namely the current administration’s labelling of some gentlemen in Tehran as terrorists for the first time in years and successfully made a compelling story around it.
Another thing I like about this story are the themes and issues touched on. Patten sets up an ongoing motif throughout Buried In Black of the dogs of war. Persistent loyal and dangerous to those they hunt, the dogs of war, like ‘Birddog’ Drake have been gradually worn down over the years during the war on terror. And in the case of the antagonists, been abandoned altogether and become stray dogs, feral and angry at the world and masters who have been cruel to them. The other interesting issue, is that of the foreign assets. Everyone is familiar with the terps of Iraq and Afghanistan. Due to the nature of the US involvement in both countries and them taking jobs with a foreign occupier out of good intentions or just to make ends meet, inevitably the foe that has not been defeated plans to take vengeance on those collaborators. As such, only a few lucky ones like the legendary Johnny Walker of Mosul Iraq usually live to tell the tale, while others like the Algerian Harkis and the men in Buried In Black, suffer the vengeance and opportunism of a society that ruins them and takes everything they love.
Characters? This is the area where the book truly shines. What makes Patten’s writing stand out is that he knows how to play with the tropes and character archetypes and in this story, delightfully warps them to the point where a reader must truly expect the unexpected from them. This is not your usual counter – terrorist operative/assassin, not your usual FBI Agent and not your usual band of terrorists. Oh no. Rather we have a hero who just might have a few screws loose. A Fed who may have been the cause of a number of Hoods sleeping with the fishes and terrorists who actually have a justified reason for the murders they’re committing.
First, we have Mr Drake Woolf. Mr Woolf is introduced as an employee of a group known as the Intelligence Support Activity. This unit, first brought to attention by the Michael Smith Book Killer Elite, made iconic by The Activity Comic book series and then famous by Person Of Interest’s Iranian American operator Sameen Shaw, is the modern day scouting/tracker unit of the US Military. Providing tactical intelligence that the Company failed to provide during Operation Eagle Claw, the ISA also does man hunting and guiding shooters to where the next new terrorist or criminal bigshot scum is hiding. Woolf is very good at his job, pursuing his prey with an almost Ahab like focus and poise. Having been brought up by an uncle who was also a former special forces soldier turned Pentagon big shot, he’s also quite the killing machine. However, he is not the perfect, soulless assassin. Due to the traumas of his youth and life without any significant grounding, the Birddog has significant mental health issues that he tries to struggle through. Unlike the Mitch Rapp pre – Kyle Mills however, this is portrayed much more down to earth and at one point in the story, we get a pretty realistic panic attack before Drake gets his act together and tries to save the day.
Next we have Teresa. Teresa is an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who is moved by her boss to counter – terrorism. She’s dutiful, smart and rather violent as it turns out. And as it turns out, her name is not even Teresa. She’s far more than a Commissioner Gordon clone and soon finds herself hunting someone who she thinks might be providing a service to the community and the American Nation but is also breaking a 20 laws per week. She is a most intriguing character, with the drive and dedication of Tommy Lee Jones’ US Marshall but with enough sins and crimes of her own to warrant being hunted by the US Marshall’s service herself.
Finally, we have the Mohawk Agents. The Mohawks are not the big bad of the story, but they are the most active threat that Woolf faces. These are Iraqi law enforcement agents provided with the American standard of tradecraft. Promised a free ride and asylum to the USA if needed, the Mohawks were cruelly denied the chance to live in the land of the free which they deserved after faithful service to the stars and stripes. Shortly after, the Sunni ISIS militants killed and murdered their wives and children and the Shia Iraqis intimidated and forced the Mohawks into poverty and destitution. As a result, angry at America abandoning them and breaking promises, they take a job offer from their religious enemies to travel to America and murder their former Delta Force trainers. Their plight, homicidal rage, struggle and motivations are portrayed with a genuine sensitivity and skill that is still quite rare in thriller fiction and Patten, with his speciality in characterization, does the Mohawks justice and prevents them from becoming another lot of run of the mill jihadists.
Constructive criticism? Well, two things. The first is the story could have done with a teeny bit more action and I’m sure this problem will be addressed in the second book of the series coming out this year (Mr Patten has teased a car chase through Chicago more destructive and violent than when those Blues Brothers made the run to Richard Daly Plaza). The second criticism I have is about a chap named Dexter. I feel his introduction at the start of the story was poorly done and shoehorned in. Further elaboration on his role in the scheme of things will surely come in the second book and hopefully he will get a chance to shine. Finally, while not criticism, there’s a bit of confusion. At the start of the story there’s a brief sentence where Mr Woolf tries to confuse some terrorists by shouting in Hebrew rather than Arabic. I was a little doubtful that Hebrew would give the terrorists pause, but the point was ultimately rendered moot as Drake was running for his life at the time.
It’s rather difficult to make the transition from one side of the publishing congregation to the other, but JT Patten has triumphantly succeeded. Blending the refined tastes of mainstream published fiction with the edge and intensity of indie publishing, Buried In Black is a gripping journey into the dark cold heart of contemporary covert operations. Where Captains Calls can leave members of the home team crippled for life or dead. Where former allies not treated as they should are more than willing to dig two graves before setting out for revenge. Where those that betray us might not do it out of hatred but love. Boasting fascinating research into the current state of counter – terrorism in the second, chaotic decade of the war on terror, subverting tropes and conventions and gleefully turning character archetypes upside down and inside out, Contemporary American Spy Fiction has not seen anything like this in a long time. And the best is yet to come as Patten on 20th August 2019 takes us to ‘The Presence Of Evil’.
RECOMMENDED.
August 6, 2018
This is a top notch thriller about international espionage and warfare. This author writes in a realistic and engaging style, drawing you in deep and never letting go. The opening chapter of this exciting thriller is heartbreaking, describing how young Drake Woolf’s life was forever changed. Drake was raised by his aunt and uncle, the latter being Robert O’Toole, the Deputy Director of the Department of Defense. O’Toole pushes Drake to the limits and raised him to be a killing machine.
The Mohawks were a group of Iraqi insurgents that the US had trained in combat and counterintelligence. When the US does them wrong, these ghosts from Drake’s past begin to haunt him and others they were trained by. The Mohawks plan a revenge attack that will cripple the US intelligence infrastructure. Drake soon discovers that the threat is much closer to home than he or anyone ever realized.
When someone close to Drake is attacked at home, the situation becomes personal. Drake had been thinking about becoming “disappeared but not dead” after he survived an attack overseas, but now Drake has no choice but to resurface and plan a revenge mission against those responsible.
Drake is used to working alone. In fact, he prefers it. But in this operation he is forced to work with a small team. As their investigation continues, Drake and his team leave a trail of bodies in their wake. Little do they know, an unlikely FBI agent is hot on their trail. Drake and his team must be cautious of the Mohawks and the FBI, never quite knowing who they can fully trust.
All guilty parties are held accountable for their actions in the thrilling conclusion, but a window is left wide open in reference to the next installment in this exciting series. I will eagerly anticipate reading more about Drake and his associates.
I would recommend this book to fans of thrillers and espionage. I received this as a free ARC from Kensington Books, Lyrical Underground on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Mohawks were a group of Iraqi insurgents that the US had trained in combat and counterintelligence. When the US does them wrong, these ghosts from Drake’s past begin to haunt him and others they were trained by. The Mohawks plan a revenge attack that will cripple the US intelligence infrastructure. Drake soon discovers that the threat is much closer to home than he or anyone ever realized.
When someone close to Drake is attacked at home, the situation becomes personal. Drake had been thinking about becoming “disappeared but not dead” after he survived an attack overseas, but now Drake has no choice but to resurface and plan a revenge mission against those responsible.
Drake is used to working alone. In fact, he prefers it. But in this operation he is forced to work with a small team. As their investigation continues, Drake and his team leave a trail of bodies in their wake. Little do they know, an unlikely FBI agent is hot on their trail. Drake and his team must be cautious of the Mohawks and the FBI, never quite knowing who they can fully trust.
All guilty parties are held accountable for their actions in the thrilling conclusion, but a window is left wide open in reference to the next installment in this exciting series. I will eagerly anticipate reading more about Drake and his associates.
I would recommend this book to fans of thrillers and espionage. I received this as a free ARC from Kensington Books, Lyrical Underground on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2018
Black ops. Those two words get used so much, we've become numb to them and forget what that actually means. 'Buried in Black' changes that. This is one of the best books I've read this year. I don't recap story's since the basis is outlined in liner notes. Instead I will tell you what I like in a book, which is what most military fiction fans look for in this genre. So on to that: Buried in Black is filled with an insider's perspective on how certain units, like the ISA or Activity, function. While there are obviously parts of the book that skip sensitive parts about intelligence collection, there is more than enough in there to let you know that J.T. Patten is well versed in the 'finding, fixing and finishing' the enemy using all the tools and tricks of today's top intelligence agencies and tier one units. Abundant in technical details, weapons used and tactics, this book really delivers as a top notch techno thriller, a military thriller and a good old fashioned spy book in one story. You will come away smarter about how JSOC units and intelligence agencies gather intel used for direct action kinetic ops. In a way though this is kind of bad, because once you read other writer's work, you realize just how much they don't know and make it up as they go.
The only drawback to this book is there was a section in the beginning that was filled with quite a few grammar errors and punctuation mistakes. Hopefully this is fixed in the final drafts, but even if not, it doesn't distract too much from the story. (I have been told they are, so really then I have nothing negative about this book.)
J.T.Patten was obviously so far into the black side of things that the book title could be about him as well. 'Buried in Black' is the real deal and a real page turner with no dull spots, lengthy hero aggrandizing, convoluted non-sensical plots, a recommended wine list or custom gun shop. It also shows just how dangerous a team trained by us could come back and inflict some serious payback to our country and black ops operators. One of the best books this year and I personally can't wait for the second and many more books.
The only drawback to this book is there was a section in the beginning that was filled with quite a few grammar errors and punctuation mistakes. Hopefully this is fixed in the final drafts, but even if not, it doesn't distract too much from the story. (I have been told they are, so really then I have nothing negative about this book.)
J.T.Patten was obviously so far into the black side of things that the book title could be about him as well. 'Buried in Black' is the real deal and a real page turner with no dull spots, lengthy hero aggrandizing, convoluted non-sensical plots, a recommended wine list or custom gun shop. It also shows just how dangerous a team trained by us could come back and inflict some serious payback to our country and black ops operators. One of the best books this year and I personally can't wait for the second and many more books.
September 18, 2018
Goodreads Kindle Copy Win
In a world of Special Ops, we are thrown into world where undercover duties take you into situations where your government denies your existence. Acquaintances can be your enemy and one wrong move can be your last.
A thriller that will keep you glue to the end.
In a world of Special Ops, we are thrown into world where undercover duties take you into situations where your government denies your existence. Acquaintances can be your enemy and one wrong move can be your last.
A thriller that will keep you glue to the end.
May 14, 2020
I've been meaning to get around to getting into JT Patten's work, having heard many praises sung about his prose. Having finally sat down and read it for myself, I'd have to say that praise is pretty well deserved.
BURIED IN BLACK deals with Drake Woolf, a former SOT-A SIGINT guy who's crossed over to the Intelligence Support Activity. He's seen a lot of stuff, and has kept a lot of stuff hidden from his superiors so he can continue to stay in the field and do what he does best: killing.
After a mission goes awry, Woolf is recruited by his uncle--black ops master Bob O'Toole--to work for a secret task force designed to take the fight to the enemy wherever they are, even if they happen to be on American soil. Things rapidly escalate as a series of chillingly effective terrorist attacks strike at the American homeland and the task force gets their first targets, with some of the attacks striking dangerously close to home.
It was an entertaining novel all around, and Patten clearly displays his knowledge and experience in the plot, crafting a counterterrorism thriller with compelling characters and even more compelling plot points. Getting inside of the mind of Drake Woolf--a man who clearly suffers from a litany of mental conditions and yet has been used and abused in his transformation into a weapon--was definitely the high point of the novel, and Patten does a solid job here. The supporting characters are also fairly well-rounded and compelling, though a couple of them indicate to previous novels of Patten's and some readers choosing BURIED IN BLACK as a launch point (such as myself) may be a bit lost in the sauce.
I honestly had three nitpicks that drove me to detract a star from the rating:
-the biggest one was switching perspectives mid-scene without warning. It wouldn't be so jarring if it was between two characters in the same scene, but often it would switch between characters and locations without a break. Kind of took me a minute to catch on. Some readers may be put off by this.
-Perhaps I was missing something, but the opening plot line with the mission going horribly wrong seemed like it was building up to something...but in the conclusion, I didn't see an end to the plot line. I would have liked to see what had happened there, especially since it was mentioned in the penultimate action sequence
-I felt the ending got a little rushed. It was going along at a pretty steady pace and then picked up to where it felt less like "The stakes are raising and things are happening" and more "I've got to wrap up this novel."
At the end of the day, though, I was thrilled and entertained, and that's the objective. I'm more than willing to read the next book in the series and read more of Patten's back catalog.
BURIED IN BLACK deals with Drake Woolf, a former SOT-A SIGINT guy who's crossed over to the Intelligence Support Activity. He's seen a lot of stuff, and has kept a lot of stuff hidden from his superiors so he can continue to stay in the field and do what he does best: killing.
After a mission goes awry, Woolf is recruited by his uncle--black ops master Bob O'Toole--to work for a secret task force designed to take the fight to the enemy wherever they are, even if they happen to be on American soil. Things rapidly escalate as a series of chillingly effective terrorist attacks strike at the American homeland and the task force gets their first targets, with some of the attacks striking dangerously close to home.
It was an entertaining novel all around, and Patten clearly displays his knowledge and experience in the plot, crafting a counterterrorism thriller with compelling characters and even more compelling plot points. Getting inside of the mind of Drake Woolf--a man who clearly suffers from a litany of mental conditions and yet has been used and abused in his transformation into a weapon--was definitely the high point of the novel, and Patten does a solid job here. The supporting characters are also fairly well-rounded and compelling, though a couple of them indicate to previous novels of Patten's and some readers choosing BURIED IN BLACK as a launch point (such as myself) may be a bit lost in the sauce.
I honestly had three nitpicks that drove me to detract a star from the rating:
-the biggest one was switching perspectives mid-scene without warning. It wouldn't be so jarring if it was between two characters in the same scene, but often it would switch between characters and locations without a break. Kind of took me a minute to catch on. Some readers may be put off by this.
-Perhaps I was missing something, but the opening plot line with the mission going horribly wrong seemed like it was building up to something...but in the conclusion, I didn't see an end to the plot line. I would have liked to see what had happened there, especially since it was mentioned in the penultimate action sequence
-I felt the ending got a little rushed. It was going along at a pretty steady pace and then picked up to where it felt less like "The stakes are raising and things are happening" and more "I've got to wrap up this novel."
At the end of the day, though, I was thrilled and entertained, and that's the objective. I'm more than willing to read the next book in the series and read more of Patten's back catalog.
December 9, 2019
Mr. Patten’s experience in the real world intelligence and covert warfare brings forth the grim and emotionally jarring experience in reading his book. I did expect dark and brutal black ops stuff before going into this one, but Buried in Black blew apart my mental foundations of the possibilities in storytelling.
With numerous mind-blowing twists and a few climatic twists being a legendary mind@#$%, this book kinda traumatized me in an exciting way. The hangover after finishing this audio-book took me some time to recover. Mr. Patten clearly enjoys messing with the minds of his readers. And his success in doing so makes him one hell of an author to look forward to.
The Taskforce Orange series beings with this book which breaks almost all stereotypes and cliches of black ops thrillers. During a podcast interview on the channel ‘SOFREP radio,’ Mr. Patten explains the easily possible dangers of serious threats that he has exposed in this book with the intention of tightening up security measures. I will not go into these security issues in this review but the book portrays this threat to the special operations community in a frightening manner.
The protagonist Drake ‘Birddog’ Woolf is the first of his kind that I’ve read. He comes from a real but little known unit from JSOC known as ISA(Intelligence Support Activity), a group that focused on SIGINT(Signals intelligence) mixed with special operations fieldwork. The unique thing about Drake Woolf are his psychological problems, his medication, and his micro-dosing on LSD to operate in the field.
Woolf is traumatized at a young age that damages his psyche beyond measure. But his uncle O’Toole, a senior officer at JSOC does everything he can to train Drake to be the best killer that he can be.
The plot begins with an operation gone wrong which leads to everyone trying to fake Drake’s death so that he can be inducted into a realistic black ops program.
But from one tragedy to another, Drake suffers chaos. A group of Iraqis, The Mohawks, who were trained by Drake in his past and betrayed by American diplomats, join forces with the Iranian IRGC to take out key targets in JSOC.
When Drake is targeted, his remaining family gets caught in a tragic vile attack. With the help of Sean Havens, a character who is the protagonist from Mr. Patten’s previous series, Drake begins hunting down the men he once trained.
But good stories like this aren’t so simple. Mix in some traitors, a complex financial conspiracy and nerve wrecking plot twists where people are light years away from what you think of them through most parts of the book, you’ll be reading this book at least twice to come to grips with trauma of the final twist.
The action is realistic and yet interesting for the average reader of this genre. The interactions between Sean and Drake, and between O’Toole and Drake made the audio-book some fine good entertainment that kept me hooked.
All the characters are realistic, fleshed out well enough with motivations that the readers can understand. Every character has a reason to do what they’re doing. The book does not make the cliched mistake in this genre of classifying characters as good or bad. Mr. Patten shows the grim reality of covert programs through this book where everyone is a gray character, that is, neither good nor bad.
I’m eagerly waiting for the sequel The Presence of Evil that’s releasing in a couple of months. Based on the ending, I’m sure that this series has great potential to expand the limits of storytelling.
A serious warning though, the average readers of books in general may find this book too brutal, grim, dark and traumatizing. Certain scenes and plot twists leave scars on you after finishing this story.
One thing that I felt was the middle portions of the book moved kinda slower than the beginning and the end. I did expect all-out action in this book but didn’t find it. The characters use brains and smarts in Mr. Patten’s book to solve problems than resolving to mindless action. I was not disappointed by this. The intellectual problem-solving capacity of Drake and Sean broadened my perspective of how operators work.
This is another thriller that thankfully avoids a needless romance subplot and that makes it more enjoyable. If you want something way different from the mainstream thrillers, this is a brilliant story that will traumatize you in a wonderful way.
For more reviews, books-related content, self-improvement articles and other content written by me, check out www.kronosananthsimha.com
With numerous mind-blowing twists and a few climatic twists being a legendary mind@#$%, this book kinda traumatized me in an exciting way. The hangover after finishing this audio-book took me some time to recover. Mr. Patten clearly enjoys messing with the minds of his readers. And his success in doing so makes him one hell of an author to look forward to.
The Taskforce Orange series beings with this book which breaks almost all stereotypes and cliches of black ops thrillers. During a podcast interview on the channel ‘SOFREP radio,’ Mr. Patten explains the easily possible dangers of serious threats that he has exposed in this book with the intention of tightening up security measures. I will not go into these security issues in this review but the book portrays this threat to the special operations community in a frightening manner.
The protagonist Drake ‘Birddog’ Woolf is the first of his kind that I’ve read. He comes from a real but little known unit from JSOC known as ISA(Intelligence Support Activity), a group that focused on SIGINT(Signals intelligence) mixed with special operations fieldwork. The unique thing about Drake Woolf are his psychological problems, his medication, and his micro-dosing on LSD to operate in the field.
Woolf is traumatized at a young age that damages his psyche beyond measure. But his uncle O’Toole, a senior officer at JSOC does everything he can to train Drake to be the best killer that he can be.
The plot begins with an operation gone wrong which leads to everyone trying to fake Drake’s death so that he can be inducted into a realistic black ops program.
But from one tragedy to another, Drake suffers chaos. A group of Iraqis, The Mohawks, who were trained by Drake in his past and betrayed by American diplomats, join forces with the Iranian IRGC to take out key targets in JSOC.
When Drake is targeted, his remaining family gets caught in a tragic vile attack. With the help of Sean Havens, a character who is the protagonist from Mr. Patten’s previous series, Drake begins hunting down the men he once trained.
But good stories like this aren’t so simple. Mix in some traitors, a complex financial conspiracy and nerve wrecking plot twists where people are light years away from what you think of them through most parts of the book, you’ll be reading this book at least twice to come to grips with trauma of the final twist.
The action is realistic and yet interesting for the average reader of this genre. The interactions between Sean and Drake, and between O’Toole and Drake made the audio-book some fine good entertainment that kept me hooked.
All the characters are realistic, fleshed out well enough with motivations that the readers can understand. Every character has a reason to do what they’re doing. The book does not make the cliched mistake in this genre of classifying characters as good or bad. Mr. Patten shows the grim reality of covert programs through this book where everyone is a gray character, that is, neither good nor bad.
I’m eagerly waiting for the sequel The Presence of Evil that’s releasing in a couple of months. Based on the ending, I’m sure that this series has great potential to expand the limits of storytelling.
A serious warning though, the average readers of books in general may find this book too brutal, grim, dark and traumatizing. Certain scenes and plot twists leave scars on you after finishing this story.
One thing that I felt was the middle portions of the book moved kinda slower than the beginning and the end. I did expect all-out action in this book but didn’t find it. The characters use brains and smarts in Mr. Patten’s book to solve problems than resolving to mindless action. I was not disappointed by this. The intellectual problem-solving capacity of Drake and Sean broadened my perspective of how operators work.
This is another thriller that thankfully avoids a needless romance subplot and that makes it more enjoyable. If you want something way different from the mainstream thrillers, this is a brilliant story that will traumatize you in a wonderful way.
For more reviews, books-related content, self-improvement articles and other content written by me, check out www.kronosananthsimha.com
April 3, 2019
Fantastic Read
March 7, 2019
I was fortunate enough to receive an early copy of this novel, partnering with The Real Book Spy, in exchange for an unbiased review.
Wow! This book is the Tesla of thrillers. It goes from 0-100 in mere seconds. Kicking off with on of the best prologues I've ever read, J.T. Patten is flying up the ranks as one of the top writers in the genre with BURIED IN BLACK. You can tell Patten is more than a writer. With his insight in counterterrorism, in-field operations, cyber warfare, and everything in between, it is easy to see that Patten knows exactly what he's writing about. As someone who works in cybersecurity, I was partially expecting to be hyper-critical of every and any technological slip-up, but everything was spot on. He hit the nail on the head with every, little detail. It felt almost like a Clancy novel but was half as long (which is a good thing). Patten introduces his newest character, Drake Woolf, who is easily one of the most impressive protagonists I've seen in years, and takes him on a wild adventure around the world.
BURIED IN BLACK is non-stop action from the first page until you flip the back cover. It is one of those books that will literally have your heart racing as you read it. I can't recommend this book enough, especially if you're a fan of thrillers. Great characters, great plot, great insight, great action, perfect thriller.
Wow! This book is the Tesla of thrillers. It goes from 0-100 in mere seconds. Kicking off with on of the best prologues I've ever read, J.T. Patten is flying up the ranks as one of the top writers in the genre with BURIED IN BLACK. You can tell Patten is more than a writer. With his insight in counterterrorism, in-field operations, cyber warfare, and everything in between, it is easy to see that Patten knows exactly what he's writing about. As someone who works in cybersecurity, I was partially expecting to be hyper-critical of every and any technological slip-up, but everything was spot on. He hit the nail on the head with every, little detail. It felt almost like a Clancy novel but was half as long (which is a good thing). Patten introduces his newest character, Drake Woolf, who is easily one of the most impressive protagonists I've seen in years, and takes him on a wild adventure around the world.
BURIED IN BLACK is non-stop action from the first page until you flip the back cover. It is one of those books that will literally have your heart racing as you read it. I can't recommend this book enough, especially if you're a fan of thrillers. Great characters, great plot, great insight, great action, perfect thriller.
December 8, 2018
Espionage Thriller from a Writer on the Inside
J.T. Patten's Buried in Black is a very cool espionage thriller starting in the Middle East following an off the book asset Drake Woolf as he dodges insurgents, drones and all manner of hostiles in this fast paced and twisting thriller.
The author is the real-deal, CIA, and his terminology keeps taking me into aspects of real world espionage and special ops I wasn't aware of. He might have changed details because of security clearances, but it all seemed very real to me.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
J.T. Patten's Buried in Black is a very cool espionage thriller starting in the Middle East following an off the book asset Drake Woolf as he dodges insurgents, drones and all manner of hostiles in this fast paced and twisting thriller.
The author is the real-deal, CIA, and his terminology keeps taking me into aspects of real world espionage and special ops I wasn't aware of. He might have changed details because of security clearances, but it all seemed very real to me.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
July 17, 2018
This book wouldn't be out of place in a Shakespearian tragedy if that tragedy included drone strikes, automatic weapons, an FBI bulldog, and the Terminator disguised as a special ops soldier. Drake can't be reasoned with, he can't be bargained with, he doesn't feel fear, and he absolutely will not stop.
There's family that doesn't have your best interest in mind and family that will literally kill for you. There are people called family that can turn on you and people called strangers that become more than family.
Drake suffers an unbelievable tragedy, thank God, his brother wasn't around. Put a pin in that as it's an important part of the story. Years later he suffers a betrayal that sets him on another path no less important but causes major internal struggles because it's not the path he wants to follow.
When a book manages to make you so angry that you have to stop reading before you do something drastic like throwing your Kindle across the room or has you talking to the book, making you thankful that no one can see you acting like a loon then, you know you've found something wonderful.
I've been waiting for a new book from the author but what I didn't expect was a new series or a new cast of characters. Don't worry, Sean and Lars are heavily featured in this book so fans won't be upset that this isn't the next Safe Havens book.
There are books you read that just ring true like the author knows the subject they're writing about but there's another level to his books and reading his bio, he's lived it.
There's no shortage of action in this book and to prove that point you can't even get through the prelude before you learn some very important information about Drake. You learn what makes him unique, what drives him, and the events that will forever change and shape his life. As a human, it's a difficult part to read but as a fan, you know you're in for a ride.
There's family that doesn't have your best interest in mind and family that will literally kill for you. There are people called family that can turn on you and people called strangers that become more than family.
Drake suffers an unbelievable tragedy, thank God, his brother wasn't around. Put a pin in that as it's an important part of the story. Years later he suffers a betrayal that sets him on another path no less important but causes major internal struggles because it's not the path he wants to follow.
When a book manages to make you so angry that you have to stop reading before you do something drastic like throwing your Kindle across the room or has you talking to the book, making you thankful that no one can see you acting like a loon then, you know you've found something wonderful.
I've been waiting for a new book from the author but what I didn't expect was a new series or a new cast of characters. Don't worry, Sean and Lars are heavily featured in this book so fans won't be upset that this isn't the next Safe Havens book.
There are books you read that just ring true like the author knows the subject they're writing about but there's another level to his books and reading his bio, he's lived it.
There's no shortage of action in this book and to prove that point you can't even get through the prelude before you learn some very important information about Drake. You learn what makes him unique, what drives him, and the events that will forever change and shape his life. As a human, it's a difficult part to read but as a fan, you know you're in for a ride.
July 11, 2018
JT Patten’s new novel is a unique and well written addition to the military/spy thriller genre. Drake Woolf, his new protagonist isn’t the typical Mitch Rapp clone, and Patten’s portrayal of the world of espionage and covert operations isn’t glamorous or black and white, instead existing within a morally grey area populated with complex characters who possess dubious intentions, motivations, and loyalties. Each character has their own distinctive voice and personality, and Patten's dialogue is sharp, authentic, and flows well. Although the plot has plenty of action and twists, this is also very much a character-focused story.
Drake Woolf is a soldier from the Intelligence Support Activity, specializing in implementing high tech SIGINT techniques to gather intelligence. He’s also troubled and heavily influenced by a childhood incident in which he witnessed the murder of his parents, who were CIA operatives in Tunisia. An early sequence in the book highlights Woolf’s skills with both SIGINT and direct action as he tracks a terrorist target in Lebanon. Here he’s also introduced to Sean Havens, the protagonist from the author’s past self-published novels. From there, the plot shifts to a terrorist bombing outside the Pentagon, and we are introduced to the Mohawks, a group of JSOC-trained Iraqi special ops soldiers who, with the support of an Iranian general, are personally motivated to launch a campaign of terrorism and assassination against the Americans they believe betrayed them and their families. The hunt begins for the Mohawks, and the plot soon becomes increasingly more complex and personal for Drake.
“Buried in Black” will appeal to anyone who prefers the darker, grittier, and more authentic side of the genre where authors like Dalton Fury, Jack Murphy, Joshua Hood or Sean McFate reside, and the ending suggests Drake's story will continue.
Drake Woolf is a soldier from the Intelligence Support Activity, specializing in implementing high tech SIGINT techniques to gather intelligence. He’s also troubled and heavily influenced by a childhood incident in which he witnessed the murder of his parents, who were CIA operatives in Tunisia. An early sequence in the book highlights Woolf’s skills with both SIGINT and direct action as he tracks a terrorist target in Lebanon. Here he’s also introduced to Sean Havens, the protagonist from the author’s past self-published novels. From there, the plot shifts to a terrorist bombing outside the Pentagon, and we are introduced to the Mohawks, a group of JSOC-trained Iraqi special ops soldiers who, with the support of an Iranian general, are personally motivated to launch a campaign of terrorism and assassination against the Americans they believe betrayed them and their families. The hunt begins for the Mohawks, and the plot soon becomes increasingly more complex and personal for Drake.
“Buried in Black” will appeal to anyone who prefers the darker, grittier, and more authentic side of the genre where authors like Dalton Fury, Jack Murphy, Joshua Hood or Sean McFate reside, and the ending suggests Drake's story will continue.
November 19, 2018
I was given an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was something new to me- a military thriller. While I am used to all kinds of thrillers- crime, psychological, adventure- this was a new category for me. And I must say I was impressed. The author, a former intelligence expert, has written other military thrillers, but this was his first in a series starring Warren Drake Woolf, a "black ops" or "spook" who belongs to an underground government program called Operation Orange.
The plot follows "the man from Orange", as he is known, as he becomes involved in an intricate operation chasing terrorists who are targeting American military and government personnel. As in many such books, things are not always what they seem, and sometimes he doesn't know who he can trust. The action is fast, the dialogue is sharp and witty, and the characterization is solid. The only drawback I found was an abundance of military jargon, which sometimes slowed the story down.
This book is sure to be enjoyed by fans of military and spy books, such as those by Tom Clancy and Lee Child.
This was something new to me- a military thriller. While I am used to all kinds of thrillers- crime, psychological, adventure- this was a new category for me. And I must say I was impressed. The author, a former intelligence expert, has written other military thrillers, but this was his first in a series starring Warren Drake Woolf, a "black ops" or "spook" who belongs to an underground government program called Operation Orange.
The plot follows "the man from Orange", as he is known, as he becomes involved in an intricate operation chasing terrorists who are targeting American military and government personnel. As in many such books, things are not always what they seem, and sometimes he doesn't know who he can trust. The action is fast, the dialogue is sharp and witty, and the characterization is solid. The only drawback I found was an abundance of military jargon, which sometimes slowed the story down.
This book is sure to be enjoyed by fans of military and spy books, such as those by Tom Clancy and Lee Child.
August 17, 2018
Buried in Black by J.T. Patten did not fail to deliver the high level of quality realistic action I have come to expect from him. From the first page through the last I was hooked, it engages you and wont let you go. A few new high-speed heroes make their way into Patten's world, but most importantly, for me, Sean and Lars show up to help take care of some of those bad guys who need taking care of. One thing that really struck me while I was reading this book was the timeliness of current events interwoven into the fast paced action of Buried in Black. Patten is spot on with the subject matter he addresses. In the news over the last few weeks and even today there are actually a few stories that seem as though they were taken right from the pages of Buried in Black. In short, I loved this book! I'm a huge fan of the series and the characters. If you liked Patten's past books (Shadow Masters and Primed Charge) and/or enjoy The Gray Man series by Mark Greaney, you need to get this book on your shelf or downloaded to your e-reader ASAP.
November 25, 2018
Buried in Black had me hooked in the first chapter! We are introduced to Drake Woolf, who is a phenomenal character that works in the Shadows. Woolf is tasked with bringing down a group of Iraqis, known as the Mohawks and who just happen to have been trained by Woolf himself, who are planning a devastating attack on America.
Overall, I loved Buried in Black! It is a great story that is well written and has a great plot. I am a fan of Patten’s previous work, Safe Havens and Primed Charged, and Buried in Black is his best yet. It is set in the same universe as his previous two novels and even features the protagonist, Sean Havens. I would highly recommend Buried in Black.
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing an ARC in return for an honest review.
Overall, I loved Buried in Black! It is a great story that is well written and has a great plot. I am a fan of Patten’s previous work, Safe Havens and Primed Charged, and Buried in Black is his best yet. It is set in the same universe as his previous two novels and even features the protagonist, Sean Havens. I would highly recommend Buried in Black.
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing an ARC in return for an honest review.
October 7, 2018
What a great start to a new series! I was able to read early thanks to Goodreads giveaway, Kindle edition.
Patten does a great job introdcing us to his new character, Drake Woolf. Not your typical "thriller" protagonist, as he has many faults to go along with his talents. Woolf is part of a new taskforce, hunting down a group that was trained by the US Military. With a twist at the end, Patten created a fast-paced thriller and leaves the reader wanting more. I can't wait for Task Force Orange #2!
Patten does a great job introdcing us to his new character, Drake Woolf. Not your typical "thriller" protagonist, as he has many faults to go along with his talents. Woolf is part of a new taskforce, hunting down a group that was trained by the US Military. With a twist at the end, Patten created a fast-paced thriller and leaves the reader wanting more. I can't wait for Task Force Orange #2!
June 18, 2019
Great first book in a series it does exactly what it's supposed to do, gets you caught up and then leaves you hanging with just enough to want to read the next one. And whether you you love them or hate them great characters. I can't wait to read more.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 21, 2018
I was fortunate to receive an ARC of Buried in Black and I was amazed at how well the story flows, the amount of detailed action, and how well everything fits in modern times. I was also pleasantly surprised with the depth of the story! I highly recommend this and look forward to more JT Patten and Havens/Woolf adventures.
‘Drake’ Woolf comes from a hardened background where some can agree he was a child of misfortune. Fast forward to a grown special operator who is haunted by internal demons and thrives in the black ops world. Woolf is a tremendous character that meets up w JT Pattens Sean Havens and the two are on a mission to stop the killing of innocent people at the end of the most unlikely of enemies!
‘Drake’ Woolf comes from a hardened background where some can agree he was a child of misfortune. Fast forward to a grown special operator who is haunted by internal demons and thrives in the black ops world. Woolf is a tremendous character that meets up w JT Pattens Sean Havens and the two are on a mission to stop the killing of innocent people at the end of the most unlikely of enemies!
May 2, 2019
It's about time the "Booger-Eaters" got some love in the Action/Thriller genre. Solid thriller with some interesting twists. I thought JT Patten did some fine character development. This is the 1st book in this series but there is quite a bit of history amongst these characters.
November 4, 2019
Realistic and Terrifying
The one thing you get with a J.T. Patten book is authenticity. He lived and breathed this stuff, so when you read his stories the realism and authenticity really stand out. He’s able to throw in specifics that feel real but you know (or at least hope) are fictional. Another thing you get with a Patten novel is a deep appreciation of just how many different layers there are in the government. Every time you think you have the layers figured out – he throws another one in, just to show you that this onion is much bigger than you originally thought.
The main character Drake Woolf aka Birddog was a fantastic leading man. He’s flawed in multiple ways and even though he can be completely ruthless – he also has a heart. Not enough of one to get him killed or leave him out in the open. But enough of one that you can get behind rooting for him. (This also had me Google the meaning/definition of birddog – this is what I found “a person hired to locate special items or people…” – I think that fits pretty damn well).
Every time I thought I’d figured this one out I was wrong. I knew going into it that it was going to be a deep and engrossing story but this one surprised me.
I thought that Steve Marvel did a pretty nice job with this one. I can’t tell if it was just my copy or what, but it was a little bit quiet. Nothing turning my car stereo or bluetooth speaker up didn’t fix but I wanted to point it out. His narration style fit the book well.
Slightly off topic of the review. Using a name like “Mark Watley” really threw me. While listening to this I was completely taken out of the story for a moment because I thought they were saying Mark Whatney (you know, the man they left on Mars in The Martian). It really doesn’t take away from the story for more than that moment I just had to point it out because I ended up needed to look at the book to figure out what his actual name was.
The one thing you get with a J.T. Patten book is authenticity. He lived and breathed this stuff, so when you read his stories the realism and authenticity really stand out. He’s able to throw in specifics that feel real but you know (or at least hope) are fictional. Another thing you get with a Patten novel is a deep appreciation of just how many different layers there are in the government. Every time you think you have the layers figured out – he throws another one in, just to show you that this onion is much bigger than you originally thought.
The main character Drake Woolf aka Birddog was a fantastic leading man. He’s flawed in multiple ways and even though he can be completely ruthless – he also has a heart. Not enough of one to get him killed or leave him out in the open. But enough of one that you can get behind rooting for him. (This also had me Google the meaning/definition of birddog – this is what I found “a person hired to locate special items or people…” – I think that fits pretty damn well).
Every time I thought I’d figured this one out I was wrong. I knew going into it that it was going to be a deep and engrossing story but this one surprised me.
I thought that Steve Marvel did a pretty nice job with this one. I can’t tell if it was just my copy or what, but it was a little bit quiet. Nothing turning my car stereo or bluetooth speaker up didn’t fix but I wanted to point it out. His narration style fit the book well.
Slightly off topic of the review. Using a name like “Mark Watley” really threw me. While listening to this I was completely taken out of the story for a moment because I thought they were saying Mark Whatney (you know, the man they left on Mars in The Martian). It really doesn’t take away from the story for more than that moment I just had to point it out because I ended up needed to look at the book to figure out what his actual name was.
June 25, 2018
Strike Back meets Person Of Interest in this dark, uniquely twisted and downright brilliant military thriller!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Warren “Drake” Woolf was the most effective weapon the US intelligence community ever had at their disposal. But when a mission in Lebanon goes terribly wrong, the legendary operative vanishes without a trace… Or so it appears. At the same time, US military facilities on home soil are hit by a string of devastating terrorist attacks, which, in their magnitude, rival 9/11.
At first glance, the story of Buried in Black might seem straightforward and in the tradition of the genre it exists in but, as every spy worth his salt knows, first impressions can be quite deceptive. So be prepared to be surprised, shocked and emotionally drained all at once. Because no matter what you think, you aren’t ready for the unprecedented emotional maelstrom that J.T. Patten is about to unleash on you.
Readers of the author’s previous works will recognize Patten’s trademark dark humor and his unmatched ring of authenticity when it comes to the shadow world of black-ops and intelligence matters. But what makes this book so special, is Patten’s ability to convey real emotions on the page. As a result, the reader can truly appreciate the characters’ differing motivations, hopes and fears. And it is a testament to Patten’s writing skill, that one can not only relate to the supposed heroes of the story but also to the ones opposing them. Everyone here tries to do what they think is right and due to that moral ambiguity, the story feels so much more rewarding and impactful. The characters themselves, are multi-dimensional and some are quite simply unlike anything previously seen in the genre, which is a remarkable achievement in its own right.
Last but not least, the action is superb – whether it be a breathless chase through a Lebanese refugee camp, which culminates in a drone strike or a deadly shootout in the quiet, residential streets of Georgetown – and the twists are truly unpredictable. So, the bottom line is this: If you want to read an action-packed, unrelenting thriller that not only entertains, but stirs up real emotions and leaves you reeling, make sure to pick up Buried in Black!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Warren “Drake” Woolf was the most effective weapon the US intelligence community ever had at their disposal. But when a mission in Lebanon goes terribly wrong, the legendary operative vanishes without a trace… Or so it appears. At the same time, US military facilities on home soil are hit by a string of devastating terrorist attacks, which, in their magnitude, rival 9/11.
At first glance, the story of Buried in Black might seem straightforward and in the tradition of the genre it exists in but, as every spy worth his salt knows, first impressions can be quite deceptive. So be prepared to be surprised, shocked and emotionally drained all at once. Because no matter what you think, you aren’t ready for the unprecedented emotional maelstrom that J.T. Patten is about to unleash on you.
Readers of the author’s previous works will recognize Patten’s trademark dark humor and his unmatched ring of authenticity when it comes to the shadow world of black-ops and intelligence matters. But what makes this book so special, is Patten’s ability to convey real emotions on the page. As a result, the reader can truly appreciate the characters’ differing motivations, hopes and fears. And it is a testament to Patten’s writing skill, that one can not only relate to the supposed heroes of the story but also to the ones opposing them. Everyone here tries to do what they think is right and due to that moral ambiguity, the story feels so much more rewarding and impactful. The characters themselves, are multi-dimensional and some are quite simply unlike anything previously seen in the genre, which is a remarkable achievement in its own right.
Last but not least, the action is superb – whether it be a breathless chase through a Lebanese refugee camp, which culminates in a drone strike or a deadly shootout in the quiet, residential streets of Georgetown – and the twists are truly unpredictable. So, the bottom line is this: If you want to read an action-packed, unrelenting thriller that not only entertains, but stirs up real emotions and leaves you reeling, make sure to pick up Buried in Black!
March 10, 2019
I am all about this kind of book because usually, it's 'fictional' enough that it doesn't feel like I'm completing a reading for work when I'm actually reading it.This novel, however, despite the really cool premise, did feel like work. I think it really was more to do with the fact that the author, clearly well-steeped in intelligence and security terminology, was trying to educate the reader as he went along but didn't quite manage to weave the teaching moments into the flow of the novel. Certain areas of the book felt like a reading I would do (or assign) on the basics of intelligence operations or special forces operations; other parts felt like what I imagine some field reports would look like. This really interrupted the flow of the story itself. There were also just some really, really odd choices in description; "eyebrow-hair bundles" made an appearance at one point and I just honestly didn't know what to do with that, other than laugh disbelievingly.However, as I said, I did enjoy the premise of the novel. There is a lot you could build on for further work and I do like the characters that were introduced, though again there were a few issues around how the introduction of new characters did tend to interrupt the flow of the story. The twist at the end was interesting, I'll admit, and I did not see that happening at all, for which I have to credit Patten. This is worth a read, I think, if only to lay the groundwork for his other books (which I haven't read to, but may look at in future). Also for the "lecture" bits which are pretty good, actually, if you want a feel for that sort of thing.
September 25, 2018
I enjoyed this. Superficially a typical black ops agent tracking down the bad guys, this actually has a lot going for it. Our black ops guy is operating very much in the dark and for all his skills, he has also been damaged by his past and upbringing. An attack on US soil has links back to those who once worked with US forces and our operative and a very small team might be all that can stop them. At the same time the FBI with a somewhat unique agent is on their trail, not sure if they are good guys or not.
Good character interaction, plenty of action and some thoughtful plotting. This is very good stuff and closes in a way that really leaves you wanting more.
Good character interaction, plenty of action and some thoughtful plotting. This is very good stuff and closes in a way that really leaves you wanting more.
January 7, 2019
You’ve Got to Read This!
I don’t want to give anything away by laying out the story but, let me just say, if you like this genre, you will love it. This is a story about a spec ops crew who are blacker than black. You get to see the lead character who has undisclosed mental health issues that he self medicates. You could almost feel him spinning away from reality. Mr Patten did an outstanding job with this description. In another part of the story, a spec warfare team is killed by “the good guys”. As a disabled veteran myself, this was an easy thing to believe. The brass always has to have deniability for things they were not supposed to be doing. 😡 WELL DONE MR PATTEN
I don’t want to give anything away by laying out the story but, let me just say, if you like this genre, you will love it. This is a story about a spec ops crew who are blacker than black. You get to see the lead character who has undisclosed mental health issues that he self medicates. You could almost feel him spinning away from reality. Mr Patten did an outstanding job with this description. In another part of the story, a spec warfare team is killed by “the good guys”. As a disabled veteran myself, this was an easy thing to believe. The brass always has to have deniability for things they were not supposed to be doing. 😡 WELL DONE MR PATTEN
November 20, 2018
JT Patten is an author you need to keep your eye on. By the time I finished this book I was already craving for the next! Unique characters, covert operations, formidable opponents, authenticity, and a flawed protagonist made this a great read.
December 11, 2018
The Man From Orange Is Kickass!!
This is an amazing read! It is so intricate, and the storylines are weaved perfectly together. I loved how all the characters shined, and played an intricate role in the story. A must read for any counterterrorism thriller reader.
This is an amazing read! It is so intricate, and the storylines are weaved perfectly together. I loved how all the characters shined, and played an intricate role in the story. A must read for any counterterrorism thriller reader.
August 15, 2020
Loved this book!! Drake Woolfe has shot up my list of favorite characters. The concept and set up of this book is amazing. I loved everything about it. The setting, pace and action, are all top notch!! I recommend this book to everyone!!
July 19, 2019
Excellent .
This is a really good startto this series .just asgood as j t pattens other series anoit sean havens .wow
This is a really good startto this series .just asgood as j t pattens other series anoit sean havens .wow
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