Operation Brushfire

by Rhett C. Bruno, Lou Diamond Phillips (Narrator)

Listening time 10 hours 55 minutes

He’ll do anything for the truth. They’ll do anything to bury it.

Henry Stasik, an Internal Affairs agent for the globe-spanning Coalition, is no stranger to crooked agents or scandals. He's a truth junkie. An addict.

But when international celebrity Anastasia Danicheva specifically demands his presence at a police station, everything changes. The Coalition, which has brought peace through uniting the world under a single banner, wants her dead. But none of their case against her adds up.

Stasik can’t help but need to know why.

Hours after taking her under his department's protection, a cybernetically enhanced hitman nips at Stasik's heels. Witnesses disappear or turn up in pools of blood. And lurking above it all, guarded by a genocidal AI construct, is a secret that threatens to dismantle a perfect world—and Stasik himself.

Don’t miss this breakneck science fiction thriller, set in an alternative history rife with political intrigue, espionage, and a conspiracy you'll never believe. Ex Machina meets Bladerunner with a dash of The Man from U.N.C.L.E., all set in a dystopian world evoking shades of 1984 and V for Vendetta.

Genres: Science Fiction, Thriller

Audible Audio

Published September 21, 2021

About the author

Rhett is happy to hear from his fans and can be reached at rcbruno44@outlook.com. Please subscribe to his newsletter for exclusive access to updates about his work and the opportunity to receive limited content and ARCs.
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Rhett Bruno grew up in Hauppauge, New York, and studied at the Syracuse University School of Architecture where he graduated cum laude.

He has been writing since he can remember, scribbling down what he thought were epic short stories when he was young to show to his parents. When he reached high school he decided to take that a step further and write the “Isinda Trilogy”. After the encouragement of his favorite English teacher he decided to self-publish the “Isinda Trilogy” so that the people closest to him could enjoy his early work.

While studying architecture Rhett continued to write as much as he could, but finding the time during the brutal curriculum proved difficult. It wasn’t until he was a senior that he decided to finally pursue his passion for Science Fiction. After rededicating himself to reading works of the Science Fiction author’s he always loved, (Frank Herbert, Timothy Zahn, Heinlein, etc.) he began writing “The Circuit: Executor Rising”, The first part of what he hopes will be a successful Adult Science Fiction Series.

Since then Rhett has been hired by an Architecture firm in Mount Kisco, NY. But that hasn’t stopped him from continuing to work on “The Circuit” and all of the other stories bouncing around in his head. He is also currently studying at the New School to earn a Certificate in Screenwriting in the hopes of one day writing for TV or Video Games.

Reviews

[Christopher Morgan, · Rating 5 out of 5]

A alt history cop mystery

Doing a history degree and loving history just makes any book of fiction based on history or alternative history will always attract my interest. Rhett C.Bruno also has done other alt history books like thr Luna missile crisis and both that book and this book are amazing.

This book Is set like a post ww2 crime mystery and its also a genre I love so mixing both history and mystery together ❤will get a 5 star review any day

[Jas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating alternative history story from the amazing minds of Rhett Bruno and James Wolanyk. Bruno has previously had fun with alt history with Luna Missile Crisis, but in Operation Brushfire, he and Wolanyk take it to the next level.
Operation Brushfire is set in a very different, dystopian future, one in which the world (most of it), has been united under a single ‘Coalition’ banner. There are no individual countries, no religions, no separate languages, and only a single dialect. People are chipped at birth, and through this, they are fed information about the state of the world, updates on the ‘news’ as such, as well as information that is relevant to current affairs. Through this, the ‘Coalition’ can control the masses.
As with all things though, there are dissenters to this way of life, a group called the Nationalist’s does not like this new alleged ‘Utopia’ and is trying to bring down the Coalition.
We are introduced to Henry Stasik, our main character, who works for a division of Internal Affairs of the Coalition, seeking out those that are doing wrong by the Coalition. Henry has a reputation as being someone who will go the extra mile, regardless of who it upsets, to find the truth, and uncover, or bring down, anyone that is dirty. Other members of his unit steer clear of him, and he has been through 5 partners in just a few months, no one wanting to work with him, that is, until he got his latest partner, one Diane Mallison, who not only works with him, but actually admires him.
The Authors create a powerful, gritty and very detailed in-depth background very quickly, portraying a world that was the same as ours up until the end of World War II, but from there, it diverted and it is vastly different now to the history we now know.
At the start of this book, we learn that there is a lot of drug use by the agents, uppers and downers, opiates, amphetamines, codeine, etc, all to provide the illusion of control. The Population has their memories wiped at various incidents, or altered, so that they don’t remember various things, and again, are provided with various ‘happy’ pills to keep them docile. There is a strong Noir feel to this world, a cross between Blade Runner and the Matrix, where things are almost surreal, but what you do see, feels a bit run down and grimy. The world building is both intense, and extraordinary, you get so immersed in the story, pulled into it and engaged with it so quickly.
Into this world, comes Anastasia Danicheva, currently one of the most famous models around, but she has asked to speak specifically to Stasik. He finds out she has sought him out because of his reputation, she needs someone who she can trust, and isn’t likely to be bought off, as she is in mortal danger, having had 2 attempts on her life already.
And this is where the adventure begins.
I don’t want to say too much about the actual story, as I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I will say, it is absolutely stunning, and once you pick this book up, you won’t be able to put it down. The story is fascinating, full of mystery and intrigue, and leaves you guessing and just when you think you have it worked out, something else happens you don’t even realise was a possibility. I found this story to be a bit of a conundrum at times, in that there are parts in which it felt like it was racing along, but at the same time, everything was being explained in great detail, and it seemed to be happening in almost slow motion, so you could clearly understand what was happening. It has been exceptionally well written.
This was largely due to both the world building as discussed, but also the outstanding Character work, which was just masterful. Stasik’s character is fascinating, as this intense, dedicated agent, who is an absolute workaholic. As a result, he is struggling a bit with social skills (especially with his partner(s), but he has been lucky to find a partner in Mallison who understands the person he is. There is a very deep and powerful character within Stasik, incredibly realistic as a Law Enforcement Officer (I should know having been a Cop for 11yrs), his character is just stunning.
Beside him is Diane Mallison, who I won’t say much about, as it will give away spoilers, but I will say, again, her character is just exceptional, so multi-faceted and in-depth, and one of the truly remarkable characters of the story.
Anastasia ‘Nata’ Danicheva, the model who is desperate for help, is another captivating character, (again, no spoilers), and leaves you guessing for basically the whole story. Her character is engaging, clever, and inspired. She is one of those characters that you can’t help but love, but at the same time, know that you can’t trust, and if you were in the same room with her in real life, you would either fall in love with her, or have to kill her to save your own life.
This is a story that has so many different aspects to it, one that will leave you thinking for days after, and reaching for the book to look up something that happened, just to confirm parts, going ‘Huh’ as something occurs to you, and another little part of the story clicks into place. It is not only incredibly clever, but there are so many twists and turns, it will keep you guessing right until the end.
This is a wonderful story that has some masterful world building that you can totally lose yourself in, becoming absorbed into this futuristic world that is reminiscent of Phillip K. Dick’s Blade Runner or the Matrix, with its dystopian view of a world that has been torn apart by humanity, savaged by global warming, war, and so many other things. Bruno and Wolanyk’s vision of the future is both terrifying and fascinating, but is so detailed you can’t help but be captivated by it.
One of the best books of 2021, and regardless of the genre of Sci-Fi you like, or if you like a good Mystery or Thriller, then this will be one book that you just can’t put down. An absolute must read!!

[Ziggy Nixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

---I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest opinion. My input will be provided on Amazon France as well once the book is offered there.---

3 1/2 stars. Though very well-written and -edited, I found this to be a very difficult book to get through. I base this on its decidedly depressing tone and dark plot, both of which for better or worse were quite effectively conveyed in this alternate - and quite disturbing - historical tale. I'm sure others will be more attuned to what and HOW all transpired here, but I can't escape my, well, expectations for what a Rhett C. Bruno book should entail.

I am truly hesitant to admit that my reaction was this "less than overwhelmingly positive" because I adore Bruno's work. I recently commented in a Twitter thread that I find that RCB is simply the best scifi writer out there today (to which little argument was made... yes, I pick my friends on social media well). His works are consistently exciting, as well as invariably - and wonderfully so - complex. Simply put his books are filled with a range of focal points - from the worlds he creates to the (anti-)heroes he embraces - that make him easily one of my favourite authors in this or any genre. And I truly do respect his, well, willingness if you will to try out new topics and to skew the definitions of his collection as it grows at an almost dizzying pace.

That being said though it would be somewhat impossible to like every approach he took. For example, I thoroughly enjoyed the weighty gloom of "The Roach" or even some of the darker aspects of "The Luna Missile Crisis", which remains by far my all-time favorite alt-history novel of ANY genre! However,"Operation Brushfire" to me was just too dark and - well, not maudlin but almost totally self-defeating - to truly ENJOY in that sense of the word.

The plug for this book states that this book is a "breakneck science fiction thriller, set in an alternative history rife with political intrigue, espionage, and a conspiracy you'll never believe. Ex Machina meets Bladerunner with a dash of The Man from U.N.C.L.E., all set in a dystopian world evoking shades of 1984 and V for Vendetta." And I still think much of that is true after all, with the exception of disbelieving the overall "conspiracy" (it seemed rather obvious even early in the book). However, what the book does NOT have that many of these other titles provided (ok, with the exception of "1984") is that special someone to pull for, a character with whom we could sympathize in any way, shape or form. To be blunt, I found that our main protagonist Henry is not just an addict for the truth but a sad addict in every sense of the word. This was not a welcome characteristic and certainly not one I could relate to in any way at all.

It's almost then to me like the book took these general descriptions I quoted above, re-worked them and then had it all filmed by a post-war Soviet production company. You know the mood: making sure that we never see light unless it shines to cause or indicate pain and that the threat of not obeying must weigh on everything said, done or otherwise experienced. All Hail the State! and damn the body counts along the way! For me then it took - in my own mind's eye - the desperation of "Bladerunner" and combined it with the sheer anguish and soul-crushing frustration of Franz Kafka's "The Trial" or "The Castle". Oh, maybe then we could even have had the ghost of Ingmar Bergman to film the whole shebang! Even the ending - which again seemed somewhat obvious to be honest - left little to sway me from this reaction or to find any kind of feedback other than a bit of nausea and a big dollop of sadness truth be told.

Still, I think if you are a fan of dark fiction in any form or even what I consider to be the "hit-or-miss" sub-genre of cyberpunk, this book could be just the thing for you. I would emphasise in closing that even though it wasn't MY taste, it was still a very well produced novel!

[Neil · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

This was really disappointing.

I had two attempts to read this but found the story line confusing and the characters lacking depth.

The story just did not hold my interest and unfortunately I put it down, not finishing it.

It might just have been my mood but I think there are far better stories out there.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting book, but not an easy read. I definitely liked the second half of the book more than the first, when I was comfortable, I guess, with what was going on and the background - I did wonder early on whether this was the sequel to another book that I had missed (no), but gradually things came together.
I found this to be a book that could span many genres, and at times it felt quite disturbing, however there were some brilliant ideas and I did enjoy it, particularly the later parts.
I perhaps have been rather spoilt by the wonderful and easy to read Scifi from Rhett Bruno, which I love, and so if asked to rate this book in the early stages of my read, may have given four stars, but the thought provoking images conjured up later in the book did make me revise my opinion.

[Cmadler · Rating 3 out of 5]

During the month it took me to get through this book, I came across several articles coming down on either side of the DNF debate. First, I came across I'm Breaking Up With 3-Star Reads, which argued that pushing through books that you don't really enjoy impacts the overall reading experience (and slows you down). Later I saw It’s an insult to authors not to finish each and every book you start, a terribly-titled piece arguing that just because a book is difficult doesn't make it a bad read.

The problem with the latter argument is that it missed the nuance that difficult books can be worthwhile, but they aren't inherently so. I've read some very difficult books that were fantastic, but not every hard-to-read book is Ulysses or The Name of the Rose. Some books just aren't very good, and some books (the most unfortunate, in my opinion) have the kernel of a great book within them, but need better editing and perhaps a major rewrite to bring it out.

Unfortunately, I think Operation Brushfire falls into the last of these categories. The story progression seemed disjointed, and I repeatedly found myself having to back up several pages (once I even had to back up several chapters) because suddenly the characters seemed to be in a different place or a different situation from the one I had left them in. This repeated disconnection significantly slowed down my reading, to the point where I find myself reviewing an advance copy of a novel that was released a month ago.

There's an intriguing story here -- a bit like a more physical, possibly more beneficial version of the Matrix, with some people willingly cooperating with the machines -- but as noted in Ziggy Nixon's excellent review, it's written in an incredibly bleak manner:

It's almost then to me like the book took these general descriptions I quoted above, re-worked them and then had it all filmed by a post-war Soviet production company. You know the mood: making sure that we never see light unless it shines to cause or indicate pain and that the threat of not obeying must weigh on everything said, done or otherwise experienced. All Hail the State! and damn the body counts along the way! For me then it took - in my own mind's eye - the desperation of "Bladerunner" and combined it with the sheer anguish and soul-crushing frustration of Franz Kafka's "The Trial" or "The Castle".

Again, what made this book so frustrating to me was that, despite the excessive bleakness, and for all the scene transitions I missed (I think some were there, but I'm sure some just weren't), this has the core of a really interesting book. It would have been easy to give up and call it a DNF if the underlying idea as well as the prose weren't so compelling. All in all that puts this in one of the worst places I think I book can be: a well-written, well-conceived book that just doesn't quite add up as it should. With all that said, if I get word that this has been re-edited, or that Bruno and Wolanyk have re-written it, I would certainly give this book another try; there's plenty in it to make it worthwhile.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Denis Wheller · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1944, presumably in a parallel universe, World War II ended with an Armistice but no side, as such, would appear to have been the victors. At a pace which it would be an understatement to describe as precipitous the whole of Eurasia and North America has settled into a state where there are no countries only provinces of The Coalition. Everyone has been fitted with an electronic implant which feeds directly into their brain and is the fount of all knowledge (a sort of Google- Wikipedia hybrid) delivering answers before you have even asked the questions. This is a satellite based system working by some version of WiFi. Everyone also has a personal recording and communication device built into their wrist, operated by brass wheels. Everyone, but especially Stasik, is up to the eyeballs on drugs (upper, downers and all points in between).
The implication is that the story is set in the 1950s, though how such a range of developments could have occurred is left unsaid.
As in all dystopias, there are people who fight against the system, in this case Nationalists. Coalition Specialist agents Stasik (probably from Connecticut) and Mallinson (probably from England) are guarding one such, an apparently Russian young woman, Nata Danicheva, who is due to stand trial in Moscow, but possess information which would be devastating to the Coalition and believes she will be killed before she gets there. I say “probably” and “apparently” because it is clear that the Coalition is the source of all personal information.
The trio are being hunted by Bahr, a former Nazi Special Ops (or something like that) guy, who is actually being controlled by a senior Coalition Operative called “Textile” – who is probably a supercomputer and may actually be the sole upper echelon and de facto is The Coalition.
Against this background we have a standard chase thriller, not intrinsically different from Bourne, Reacher, Dr Who, pick your favourite. There are structural flaws but it rolls along at such a speed that these don’t get in the way. Cerebral it isn’t.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

[Gil T · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the End of the World As We Know It

Wars have ravaged the planet. Many died and many others suffered. The governments of the world united to form the coalition. The coalition is now in control and guides the world away from the cruelty of bombs and rifles. One people, one coalition. The ‘training’ starts in early and a lot is done through implants in the children. The coalition knows all, the coalition sees all.

Henry Stasik is a Coalition Internal Affairs agent who figures out what is what. Most times, he is figuring out which agent has gone rogue. In a few cases, he is specifically asked for, his current case is one of these instances. A fashion celebrity, Anastasia Danicheva, who asks to be called Nata has asked for him and only him. He tries to keep a low profile and never is in any of the media reports. How does she know him or why to ask for him? He knows he has never met her, so why him?

An agent pulled Ms. Danicheva over with false traffic pretenses and made a hands on arrest. Internal Affair agents left Stasik alone and didn’t want anything to do with him. He was on his 5th partner in the last 5 months. They become targets just because they work with him. As he headed towards the interview room to meet with Nata, most whisper about him as he passes. They didn’t want the truth like he did. They didn’t care that much. Nata says that the coalition is trying to kill her and if Stasik doesn’t help her, she will be dead later tonight. She even supplies what he will be told and what car will pick her up. Nata provides a list of higher ups’ names that most people have never heard of as people who are responsible for what will happen. Stasik doesn’t understand why she knows these names and even why they would want to kill her. Nata says that her associates prevented accidents in their sectors. Things like bombs in fuselages and derailing train cars and had full files with credible proof. All the associates are dead and the proof is gone. The entire building is gone by a gas leak somehow by crossing a street and through steel reinforced doors. What does she expect him to do?

Lots of action, intrigue and a great story. Highly recommend!

[Siesta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth sticking with.
Henry Stasik believes the truth is everything. He is perfectly suited to working in Internal Affairs, where he roots out nationalist terrorists and corruption: though his zeal isolates him from his colleagues. So when, Anastasia Danicheva, a famous influencer, appeals for his protection against enemies within the powers maintaining the post-war coalition idyll, he is compelled to act. Anastasia is charged with aiding and abetting nationalist insurgents. Anastasia predicts she will never be allowed to live long enough to testify. Aided by Mallinson, Henry’s long-suffering, loyal and lethal partner, they commit to ensuring Anastasia arrives safely in court. But almost immediately, they are ambushed, and they realise sinister forces in high places are just as committed to stopping them.
Going rogue, Anastasia finally reveals the hideous truths that the coalition leaders don’t want her to reveal. As the tension heightens and their options dwindle, Henry is constantly challenged with whether all truths should see the light of day.
This was a dense, complex and at times confusing read. It was fairly standard cat-and-mouse “little guys against the corrupt powers” until near the end, when it took an altogether more interesting turn. I’m glad I kept at it, as the ending was much more thought-provoking than I expected.

[Norma · Rating 5 out of 5]

( Format : ebook )
"Sooner or later every drug wears off..."
There is always a moment, a frisson of excited anticipation, upon opening a new book by Rhett C.Bruno: he's a painter of words, a great story teller and his tales are unusual, often unexpected, no matter the genre. Operation Brushfire is a -what? - political mystery conspiracy S.F.thriller set in an alternative universe. An impeccably honest agent, Henry Stasic, and his partner, Diane Mallison, get pulled into danger as their whole belief system is challenged by Nata, a model who asks Henry to help save her life. The books draws the reader in further and further, finally spouting them out, rather chewed up, at the end

Yes, all the hallmarks of Bruno's usual excellence and unexpectedness with a certain something else added in his writing in conjunction with James Wolanyk. Action, suspense and a puzzle: great read

[Lori Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received as an ARC from NetGalley, this is an honest review. This is a wondrous read as who controls the truth is at the heart of this harrowing journey that makes you understand the tyrannical control Coalition means to maintain... even if they must murder those that could topple their power as if it were a Jenga game. Rhett C Bruno has crafted a story that works within multiple genres delivering a whiplash of action, secrets cleverly placed that tie together to reach the haunting conclusion with characters that may be words upon the page but become beautifully visualized with your mind. Highly recommended.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Henry Stasik is an internal affairs agent for the Coalition a global state that has brought peace to the world. Henry is renowned for his tenacity when searching for the truth. But when a international super star model asks him for help against the Coalition who she says want her dead. His search to uncover the truth could bring his and everybody's world crashing down. Full of intrigue and mystery with excellent characters this book move's at a cracking pace. There are numerous surprises along the way which keep you guessing what's coming next. But the final revelation is the best. Rhett has definitely excelled himself this time and I would definitely recommend this book

[Shaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating take on future dystopia. Henry Stasyk is a straight-arrow internal affairs agent for a world government, brought into a case which seems odd at first--and quickly becomes deadly as he and his partner fight their way through a globe-spanning conspiracy which unravels their understanding of everything they held sacred. Good writing and a clever, unusual plot keep this dark alt-history moving fast. A superb read.

Got this as an ARC, really enjoyed it!

[Janice Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to give this a 5 star for the twists and turns that run through the story. I found it a bit slow in spots, but the story kept me reading to get the answers to the mystery of Nata. The ending surprised me. Bruno and Wolanyk have crafted some unusual characters and an interesting alternative world. It is well worth the read.

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Operation Brushfire by Rhett C. Bruno, James Wolanyk is such an awesome story to read. This is a story written by two brand new authors for me to read and I am so hooked I will read more of there books. I highly recommend this story to everyone.

I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.

[Crawforde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alternate history, original, scary, excellent

A well written thriller that will pull you in and not let you go.
Excellent character and world building.
A big WHAT IF alternative timeline for a post WW2 utopia or dystopia. It’s your call.

[Danny Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding work.

I loved it. Rhett C Bruno is one of my favorite authors because of books like this.
I love how easily I got fully invested in the characters here.
I don't do spoilers.
This is a great story. I'm blown away again.

[Vaun Fiedler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reality Check

What if a super computer ran society? History was constantly being rewritten? How would you know what is real? Read!

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Different, but good. Narrated well.

[Cmoore · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF'd

[Brian's Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alternate History Blast!

I usually have a hard time when a synopsis of a book compares it to other things that I love. But, in the case where that description is dead on… the book is excellent. Just like Operation Brushfire was. I thought “how on earth could Bruno and Wolanyk make a story that combines Man in the High Castle and Blade Runner?” But by god they did it, but they nailed it.

Operation Brushfire threw me right into the action. I wasn’t sure which side was up. I knew who a few characters were and I definitely knew that someone wasn’t okay. The “truth-junkie” Henry was fun to follow, especially as he starts to question things. But even though we meet her in the intro for a few fleeting moments, Anastasia was such a character that I completely understood why Henry was doing the things he was doing.

Operation Brushfire was one of those books I thought would let off the gas a bit as the story finally took hold, but I was wrong. Bruno and Wolanyk jammed the accelerator into the floor and never let up. They kept throwing new things at Henry and I kept thinking “there’s no way he’s getting out of this” –but he would. A few times I was pretty sure I had either the scene or the ending guessed and I was wrong.

I kept hovering between a 4.5 and a 5 just because of the different twists and turns. The ending was not what I expected and I thought for sure if it ended in a way I wasn’t expecting I would give it a 4.5 – but Bruno and Wolanyk surprised me so well that I have to give them the 0.5 stars back. They earned it.

Now, I feel like I can’t say much about Lou Diamond Phillips that hasn’t already been said – but good god is he a great narrator. He absolutely took this already 5-star book to another level and really made it shine. His narration was perfect for this story and I couldn’t have asked for a better narrator.

[Melvin Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok, but I didn't like the characters. I don't like my protagonists to be drug-addled dope fiends. And the main protagonist's partner was just annoying. I'd figured out where the story was headed about halfway through so it was a little predictable.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never heard of this author, but I'll definitely have to check out more. Really enjoyable cyberpunk book!