Rogue Forces (Patrick McLanahan Book 15)

I read this recently, even though Dale Brown published it in 2009, and was entertained overall, but left wondering at the end. The previous reviews do a great job describing the plot, but Brown has re-used the USA and it's government vs. the Sky Masters, Inc and McClanahan theme over and over. I like Brown's characters and his locations, such as Northern Iraq's Kurdish region and the Republic of Turkey, but the plot was far-fetched and didn't appear to be realistic. I will continue to read Brown's novels, and I do recommend this book, but prepare to be disappointed at the end.

I read “Flight of the Old Dog” in 1988 and that hooked me on the excellent novels by Dale Brown. In the early 1960s I served in SAC and was based at Altus AFB on the staff of the 816th Strategic Aerospace Division (B-52s and Atlas F ICBMs). Thusly I had a special interest in Brown’s depiction of this iconic heavy bomber that has been combat ready and flying missions for more than six decades—and the Big Ugly Fat Flyer is projected to be operational into the 2040s.You can’t go wrong with any of the Dale Brown military thriller novels. His well crafted plots make for a compelling read with more twists and turns than a monster rollercoaster. I’m retired and making it from month-to-month on Social Security, since 2010 I’ve only been reading affordable ebooks. I was thrilled to discover Dale’s “Rogue Forces” available as a Kindle ebook at a reader-friendly price around three bucks—being retired on a frugal budget equates to “price really does matter.”Needless to say, “Rogue Forces” was an instant purchase, and within a few minutes I was reading his newest enovel on my aging iPad—wishing it was a new Kindle Fire!!! Frankly the experience was like reuniting with an old friend who is an excellent novelist.Enjoy often… John

I set out to read (in chronological order) all the Patrick McLanahan available Kindle Books, as the storyline does somewhat follow on in each book, although they all stand alone as a story. However, it is getting tougher, as the stories are written to a semi-rigid formula where there is always someone in authority (USA) who is out to get Patrick (or his weapons), despite all he does. This has meant the unique stories are becoming rote.Having said that, they are still enjoyable and the action always escalates exponentially towards the end, so there are some late night reads to finish a story.I have found that I read one Dale Brown book and then 2-3 others and then another Dale Brown book and that takes the edge off of the 'sameness' of the stories.Another good point is a total lack of typos and errors, which is a real plus when reading digital books.I started off giving these Patrick McLanahan stories 5 stars ('Flight of the Old Dog' era) and that has slowly dropped to this 3 stars, but I keep buying them!

I enjoy books by Tom Clancy, and to a lesser extent, Clive Cussler. This book, not so much. I bought it because it was super-cheap and the reviews seemed to say he'd gotten better after a long period of writing poorly.The only part I did like was the prologue. And the only character I did like was the female terrorist. I don't think that's what the author intended.Everyone else I either disliked, or was a cardboard character. (Presumably, some of them you were supposed to have gotten to know and admire in previous novels.) The massive changes in direction/behavior by almost everyone (with the exception of the author's "pet" characters: the former general and his cohorts) were completely inexplicable to me.The super-technology saves the day nonsense bored me. The technology in Clancy novels is infinitely more realistic and useful, and it's not the technology that saves the day, but the people using it.And every single interaction between men and women made me cringe (again, with the exception of the terrorist and her male relatives).I won't be buying (or reading) anything by this author again.

The first half of the book is overwritten with military abbreviations and jargon. There is very little combat. I skipped much of that. When combat finally happened it was relatively weak and weighed down with uninspired writing. I bailed and searched for a Stephen Hunter sniper book.

In an interesting plot in which this time the Turks are invading Iraq, Brown sets up a page turner and then dilutes the tension and suspense by overdoing the technical stuff. This is why as good as he is, Brown is not a Clancy when Clancy was a Clancy. I have a background in aerospace, and for a female lawyer, I know the lingo. It is not that the technical material sails over my head--it is that it overwhelms the story line. Brown is better when he select one or two futuristic devices and uses them almostas if they were actual characters. Brown does a good job with the Turlish and Iraqi characters, but Masters, Martindale and McClenahan are becoming trite. Still, it's a better read than most writers in the genre are offering.

Once I start reading it, it's hard to stop. A combination of new weaponary, clever analysis by Patrick Mcclanahan & lots of action. Only thing I didn't like was the addition of a preview of another story just before the last chapter. I was starting to think that the ending had got deleted of my electronic copy as I skimmed the preview.

I have been a fan of Dale Brown's military aviation thrillers for years, but Rogue Forces just didn't measure up. The technology goes beyond any credible belief, the characters are cartoonish, and the resolution improbable. I found it hard to stay with the book, constantly checking to see how close to the end I was. Then, when the book did end, it was abrupt and unsatisfying -it could have been a chapter ending instead of the conclusion to the novel. It's as though Brown was tired of it himself, and wanted to move on to another project.

I'd not read (as I recall) a Dale Brown book before, but as this was a daily deal on Kindle and I've enjoyed novels of a similar style before (judging by all the "The new Tom Clancy" plaudits on his books) I thought it would be a good holiday read for a skiing trip.As I forgot to take my usual selection of magazines with me on this holiday, I got through it all while I was away.It is very much in the style of Tom Clancy with lots of 'techno-babble' (much of it made up!), but it was an enjoyable, lightweight read for a holiday and certainly better than a "Tom Clancy with" book I read recently.I'm not going to rush out and buy a load more Dale Brown's on the strength of it though, but equally I wouldn't mind picking up another some time.

It's a rattling good yarn - another one in the series. A bit predictable at times and some of the characters are not developed enough. Then it suddenly ends.

It does "what it says on the tin". Fans of Dale Brown won't be disappointed although I found enough boring politics (some of it far fetched) to make me skip pages. I hope US military and political structures never go this "rogue"

Dale Brown us always a good read. I have read most of his books.

Sorry Dale - loved your earlier books but this is just a rehash of old concepts with nothing new to say. With the best will in the world I got close to the end but couldn't be bothered to finish it.

This is non stop, edge of the seat action that includes feasibility, reality, fantasy and Dale Brown. What more would readers of action books want. Good stuff.

Dale Brown does what he does best. An entertaining read with some interesting characters and a nice flowing plot. Well worth it for fans of this type of novel.

Expecting a gripping war story, all I got was second rate unbelievable science fiction. Waste of money, would not bother again.

More quality from Dale Brown he keeps achieving the highest level of writing the stories are sharp and all consuming another hard one to put down till it is finished

Great story by the top author on the subject

Already have a dozen of his work. Will be ordering more titles shortly

Like all of the other Dale Brown books a good read. If you haven't read any of the others in this series this is a good start.

Dale Brown at his very best in this gripping story, with all the usual cast taking part.

Exactly wat you expect from Dale Brown high octane action which keeps you guessing till the end going to read the next one

A standard Dale Brown formula - easily readable, quite exciting at times but equally you know how it's going to end!