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The Phoenix Chronicles #7
The Deadly Alchemist
Brady Hawk returns in this pulse-pounding action thriller, fighting to bring down a cancer rotting the soul of his country’s leaders.
As The Alliance continues its subversive attack on the U.S. government, the Magnum Group receive a communique from a hacker imprisoned in Northern Ireland who wants to exchange information for his freedom. Desperate to stop The Alliance, the CIA green lights the off-book operation, led by Hawk and Alex.
Armed with the fresh lead, the two operatives pursue Dr. Paul Decker, the man behind one of The Alliance’s most dangerous operations. However, the closer they get, the higher the stakes go before reaching a point of no return. If they fail, the country will silently fall into the hands of an unknown enemy. But for Hawk, losing is never an option.
As The Alliance continues its subversive attack on the U.S. government, the Magnum Group receive a communique from a hacker imprisoned in Northern Ireland who wants to exchange information for his freedom. Desperate to stop The Alliance, the CIA green lights the off-book operation, led by Hawk and Alex.
Armed with the fresh lead, the two operatives pursue Dr. Paul Decker, the man behind one of The Alliance’s most dangerous operations. However, the closer they get, the higher the stakes go before reaching a point of no return. If they fail, the country will silently fall into the hands of an unknown enemy. But for Hawk, losing is never an option.
Kindle Edition
Published January 27, 2023
368 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
R.J. Patterson
194 books207 followers*** Signup for my newsletter and receive a free copy of The Warren Omissions, the first book in my James Flynn thriller series, by visiting http://eepurl.com/bZwpdf ***
THE FIRST SIGNS that I might like writing -- and that I might be slightly competitive -- appeared when my year two (or first grade) teacher, Mrs. Holland, asked my class to write and illustrate our day. Mine read like this: “The Red team beat the Blue team, 1 to nil. And I won.” The next 47 entries covered my exploits on the soccer pitch while growing up in Ipswich, England.
In South Carolina as a teenager, my dad told me that I could get paid to watch sports provided I could write about it. Sounded easy enough and by the time I was 16, I landed a job at my town’s daily newspaper and had a column on Major League Baseball players from our area. I also covered my first riot there at a sporting event -- and it’s safe to say I was smitten with journalism.
After graduating from one of the best journalism schools in the country, I took a job as a sports editor in South Georgia and learned firsthand about the passion of high school sports in rural America. I thought I knew before, but I didn’t. This was another world.
I also had the opportunity to cover major sporting events like the Olympic Games, the World Series, the Super Bowl, and the Final Four. It was a thrill!
But nothing was as thrilling to me as uncovering the truth in investigative assignments. I once broke a story about a prominent southern football team’s NCAA violation -- and found out the violating coach had committed suicide only a few months earlier. The story won a national writing award and stoked my desire to write about these issues. It made me realize that the sports world was just another fantastic backdrop for drama.
After writing non-fiction books with athletes, for athletes, and ghost writing for many others, I decided to enter the world of fiction writing. It had been something I wanted to do but never found the time. So, I made the time--and had a blast in the process.
I’m not out to become the next Faulkner or Hemingway -- I’m just out to tell a good story. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them!
THE FIRST SIGNS that I might like writing -- and that I might be slightly competitive -- appeared when my year two (or first grade) teacher, Mrs. Holland, asked my class to write and illustrate our day. Mine read like this: “The Red team beat the Blue team, 1 to nil. And I won.” The next 47 entries covered my exploits on the soccer pitch while growing up in Ipswich, England.
In South Carolina as a teenager, my dad told me that I could get paid to watch sports provided I could write about it. Sounded easy enough and by the time I was 16, I landed a job at my town’s daily newspaper and had a column on Major League Baseball players from our area. I also covered my first riot there at a sporting event -- and it’s safe to say I was smitten with journalism.
After graduating from one of the best journalism schools in the country, I took a job as a sports editor in South Georgia and learned firsthand about the passion of high school sports in rural America. I thought I knew before, but I didn’t. This was another world.
I also had the opportunity to cover major sporting events like the Olympic Games, the World Series, the Super Bowl, and the Final Four. It was a thrill!
But nothing was as thrilling to me as uncovering the truth in investigative assignments. I once broke a story about a prominent southern football team’s NCAA violation -- and found out the violating coach had committed suicide only a few months earlier. The story won a national writing award and stoked my desire to write about these issues. It made me realize that the sports world was just another fantastic backdrop for drama.
After writing non-fiction books with athletes, for athletes, and ghost writing for many others, I decided to enter the world of fiction writing. It had been something I wanted to do but never found the time. So, I made the time--and had a blast in the process.
I’m not out to become the next Faulkner or Hemingway -- I’m just out to tell a good story. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them!
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 27, 2023
Hawk & Alex are back in an action-packed episode!!
R.J. Patterson’s latest offering in The Phoenix Chronicles – The Deadly Alchemist is without a doubt the best in the series. Not only is it action packed like its predecessors, but there are also instances where the level of suspense around some of the characters’ well-being is at its peak. As I was reading this book, I kept getting a vision of Mr. Patterson, being a professional juggler – he must be, to keep the multiple storylines all moving in air at the same time and never dropping any of them. Once again, the Alliance raises its head in this story in multiple ways further compounding roadblocks for the Phoenix team which may or may not be resolved in this story. Having read the previous six installments I this series, The Deadly Alchemist is the best of the series, however, I am looking forward to seeing the next installment in the series. I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the author and chose to provide this review.
R.J. Patterson’s latest offering in The Phoenix Chronicles – The Deadly Alchemist is without a doubt the best in the series. Not only is it action packed like its predecessors, but there are also instances where the level of suspense around some of the characters’ well-being is at its peak. As I was reading this book, I kept getting a vision of Mr. Patterson, being a professional juggler – he must be, to keep the multiple storylines all moving in air at the same time and never dropping any of them. Once again, the Alliance raises its head in this story in multiple ways further compounding roadblocks for the Phoenix team which may or may not be resolved in this story. Having read the previous six installments I this series, The Deadly Alchemist is the best of the series, however, I am looking forward to seeing the next installment in the series. I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the author and chose to provide this review.
January 27, 2023
The 7th book in the Phoenix Chronicles series starts with Brady Hawk, and wife Alex, in the Black Forest. ……The Alliance is causing problems, once again, but a new name, The Red Dragon order, has reared its ugly head. Their job with the Magnum Group, to quickly and quietly track down enemies of the state, often involves uncovering sordid pasts - what will the partners uncover this time? To compound matters, there appears to be information sharing taking place. Brady and Alex also need to make a huge personal decision. I could hardly read this latestbook quickly enough, through the many twists and turns. Have the Magnum team bitten off too much this time?
January 27, 2023
An excellent action thriller with a well written storyline and an outstanding cast of realistic characters. Contains a fast-moving plot with plenty of action, lots of suspense, and several twists. A well-crafted page turner that I highly recommend. Ready for the next Brady Hawk adventure.
January 29, 2023
Another outstanding book from a talented author. Brady Hawk has his work cut out trying to find the truth before people die. A hacker in prison who will give information for freedom. Intriguing, suspenseful and danger all in one story to make you want to binge read. Don’t miss out.
February 11, 2023
Awful
I
is always one step ahead. I have usually enjoyed this series, but, this one was by far the worst, and probably last, one. I waited a few months for this Rubbish? Not worth the effort it took to slog through this book.
I
is always one step ahead. I have usually enjoyed this series, but, this one was by far the worst, and probably last, one. I waited a few months for this Rubbish? Not worth the effort it took to slog through this book.
February 20, 2023
Excellent Read
The Alchemist was a good story of things going array in the scientific community with feelings of infallibility and
misplaced loyalties and twisted minds. I really enjoyed the story and I think you will too if you like a thriller.
The Alchemist was a good story of things going array in the scientific community with feelings of infallibility and
misplaced loyalties and twisted minds. I really enjoyed the story and I think you will too if you like a thriller.
June 10, 2023
When you think about what can go wrong, it's not what you thought at all!
It's not the most evil characters that cause the most trouble, it's the most benign appearing who draw you in to crush you!!!
It's not the most evil characters that cause the most trouble, it's the most benign appearing who draw you in to crush you!!!
June 10, 2024
Deadly Alchemists
Another excellent phoenix chronicles story. Brady and Alex come closer than ever to the people they've Been chasing. But now they have an idea of who they are after
Another excellent phoenix chronicles story. Brady and Alex come closer than ever to the people they've Been chasing. But now they have an idea of who they are after
January 27, 2023
Once again we have an adventure with the latest book, that readers will enjoy.
The characters are great, and the plot is full of twists and surprises to the end.
The characters are great, and the plot is full of twists and surprises to the end.
February 2, 2023
Rating
I gave this book a four, because I love the ending, the bad guys got what they all deserved. It was also intense and gave the reader's something to think about.
I gave this book a four, because I love the ending, the bad guys got what they all deserved. It was also intense and gave the reader's something to think about.
September 26, 2023
Fantastic Book
This book is remarkable. You worry about each character as you turn each page and wonder how they are going to get out of all that is going on.
This book is remarkable. You worry about each character as you turn each page and wonder how they are going to get out of all that is going on.
January 16, 2025
Wonderful
Hawk and Alex are here to help solve WORLD PROBLEMS....God bless us all for their instincts. Can't wait to read the next novel.
Hawk and Alex are here to help solve WORLD PROBLEMS....God bless us all for their instincts. Can't wait to read the next novel.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews