The Accidental Patriot

by Joseph Bauer

After the government’s first choice to design a secret installation is discovered and murdered by foreign agents, the president turns to a lonely widower from Pittsburgh to take her place. Stanley Bigelow’s unusual engineering skills and solitary life make him suitable for the work, but Captain Tyler Brew, the Navy SEAL overseeing the project worries that the man’s age, weight, and lack of physical fitness will make him vulnerable to his predecessor’s fate. Despite round-the-clock protection by female FBI agent, L.T. Kitt, and a specially trained German shepherd from the witness protection program (Augie), the SEAL’s fears prove warranted. All while a terrorist offensive takes shape.

The Accidental Patriot is a story of citizenship and service; loyalty and love; and how personal transformation happens in unexpected ways.

257 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 13, 2020

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely well written! I am hooked! Joseph Bauer's books (The Accidental Patriot and The Patriot's Angels) are so fun to read! Very well written; spy elements, human elements, and dog elements. They are a relatively quick read, and I didn't want to put down The Accidental Patriot - between Stanley, Augie, and L.T. Kitt - I couldn’t go to bed until I finished it. I cannot wait until the third book in the trilogy comes out!

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent read, I was very pleasantly surprised. Normally for first novels there are too many story lines, and the author crams a bunch of story endings in the last chapter. The plot is well drawn and credible, plot is satisfyingly and the density of technical detail provides just enough information without being boring. The hero, Stanley, is a delightful as well as a believable character, interesting because not only is he 70 but also physically unfit. I believe that terrorist thrillers don't get any better than this as you have very engaging characters, great plot, well-detailed setting. Mr. Bauer is a wonderful writer and he puts you right into the story. This book is what you need during Covid, as it will allow you to escape from reality. Bauer did serious background study of the towns he describes so much so that you will want to vacation at a few of the places. In addition, it is a good study on how the governments work. I believe some government agencies might be a little nervous after reading this. I am looking forward to the sequels.

[Ed · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thinking about this book reminded me about how it's unnecessary to learn how the sausage is made, the end result is what the matters. The lengthy detail involved in the construction of a SpecOps air base in Pakistan killed the pace. Like reading an industrial engineering textbook.

[Delany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Remarkable first novel, and if indeed he’s planning a trilogy, I’m delighted and will look forward to the next two. I’m a voracious but picky reader. I quickly toss aside more than half of the novels I begin reading; this is one that I was very happy to stick with. I’m always delighted to find a work of fiction that hits all of the important (for me) marks of an enjoyable and intriguing novel. Accidental Patriot has believable, complex, well-developed, interesting characters, at least a few of whom I can identify with in one way or another, and a compelling story that kept me wanting to keep turning those pages — and also not wanting it to end.

Bravo, Joseph Bauer!

[Lisa D'Onofrio · Rating 5 out of 5]

This new author hit a home run with this thriller about a military operation and terrorism. As you get into the book, it becomes a page turner, as the plot pulls you in. The characters are diverse and real, as are the settings, and the technical detail brings the whole operation to life. Looking forward to the next book!

[Penny Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Accidental Patriot.

What a great story! It holds the reader’s interest throughout, while you cheer on Stanley and Auggie! The fact that the President, Secret Service, and all levels of military personnel have all worked together to protect an elderly civilian hired to develop a means of safeguarding our nation and the world is wonderful! I actually enjoyed the historical aspect of this novel! Kudos to Mr. Bauer!!!

[Deborah Wall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unusual protagonist, an engineer

I thoroughly enjoyed this story of a 70 something, out of shape engineer, called to work on a super secret project. This is an engineering thriller, although there are also SEALs to add some adventure. I am looking forward to the next in the trilogy.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as an audio book.

Wonderful first book by Joseph Bauer. I am definitely waiting for the next one!

[Jessica Felter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book!

I didn't know what to think at first. But by chapter 2 I was hooked. I will read every book in this series with pleasure!!

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Cynthia Sprout]

DNF Didn’t even get to the dog or the girl. Just didn’t read well. Very standard military thriller.

[Mary Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spellbinding!

Fascinating, I did not want to put it down. I absolutely loved it. What great characters were developed. Read it, you will enjoy it!