“Total Empire” is a fitting sequel. The author does a great job of using current political tensions and technological advancements and threats to create a plausible narrative (but one that hopefully will never be realized). I particularly like the respect that the author has Sinclair and his team show to each other and fellow soldiers, whether US soldiers or allies. With that respect and loyalty juxtaposed with the often-self-serving actions of politicians, members of the media or others with some degree of power or influence.

While thought provoking, in light of current world circumstances, I can't see this possibility. Regardless, the plot continues to prod the reader. Page after page, couldn't put it down.

Great read!! Garrett Sinclair is a hero's hero. The book is well written with an honorable, intelligent and yes deadly hero.

Would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre of book!

I became a fan of the general's writing because you could read that he wrote from experience, but this book reads more like nonfiction than any text book I've ever seen. I've read the reviews where people on the opposite political spectrum have been trashing the novel which only emphasizes the point the general is making, and saddens me knowing how much our nation's warriors are ignored and completely unappreciated by those very citizens they sacrifice for. I admit to spending a fair bit of time shedding tears while reading this book. I believe anyone who shares the general's opinion on the way our politicians have abused our nation's warriors are incensed by how our best and bravest are being treated in a world that needs them more now than ever before. I'm so proud to stand with these brave men and women against those who put ambition and greed before service. I love the message being delivered by the general; both Sinclair and Tata, and pledge my undying support for both them and our nation's best that they lead. I look forward to enjoying many more adventures with Dagger and hopefully finding a way to honor our warriors in the way they deserve since their sacrifice is what allows us that freedom. I'm honored to stand with those brave men and women, and if that "triggers" some people, that's too damn bad.

This is a captivating story about a high-risk mission to rescue an American hostage that takes a turn for the worse. General Sinclair, Zoey Morgan's godfather, informs her that his best friend, Sargent Major Sly Morgan, was killed while attempting to rescue the hostage. Zoey becomes suspicious and believes that Sly's death was not a random act of violence. She discovers that he had recordings and notes from a meeting in Morocco where Chinese, French, and American representatives discussed a plan to establish a global government with a shared military and economy. Intrigued by her father's findings, Zoey travels to Africa, determined to investigate what he found and to find his murderer. General Sinclair follows her closely because he's worried about her safety. He shares Sly's information with President Campbell, a personal friend of Sinclair and his late wife. Sinclair's mission is unofficial, and he's under investigation for his involvement in a previous mission, making it impossible for him to have backup support.

Zoey's journey to Africa takes a dangerous turn when she is captured by Henri Sanson, her father's executioner, who is leading an archeological dig in the Sahara. The dig distracts attention from the Chinese activity in the area. The Chinese have launched hypersonic vehicles armed with nuclear weapons to orbit Earth. The targeting system for these weapons is being developed in the Sahara, and Sinclair's group must stop the threat.

This is an action-packed story about six people battling against Chinese forces in the sweltering desert. Sinclair considers each member of his group as family, and their bond is tested as they face insurmountable odds. Although his late wife always believed that good triumphs over evil, there are losses that deeply affect the group. A.J. Tata takes you to the brink of nuclear war as China gains power and uses its weapons to coerce America. It's a daunting scenario that will keep you on the edge of your seat, with each page turning up the tension and suspense.

Overall, this story is a thrilling and thought-provoking read that is sure to keep you captivated from the first page to the last. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is intricate and well-crafted. The writing is descriptive, and the action scenes are masterfully written. If you're a fan of action and suspense, this book is an absolute must-read.

Lot of action and high intensity almost throughout the entire book. There were a lot of details and names to keep straight and I think that’s what made the first third of the book a small struggle. But at some point everything starts coming together and more enjoyable.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins for the arc.

Oh wow, this story included one scary notion that never gave me a moment’s mental peace. The basis for the story is a rescue that is a fly-by the seat of your pants, no support fiasco that is beset by betrayal and yet beautifully choreographed. The members of the Dagger Task Force are the most intimate of families, a completely cohesive unit, which will suffer because any loss is devastating beyond comprehension. And you just know that there will be losses. But back to the political intrigue - the “benefits of an ascendant China” those masters of opportunity and “the evolving definitions of nationalism, freedom and self-determination” - really scary stuff and framing a patriotic, solid, self sacrificing career military soldier is just more stuff thrown into the mash-up. Not sure how to interpret France being thrown under the bus hand in hand with China but if Tata wrote it I am believing it.


The imminent threat of a nuclear strike lingers from page to page and watching and listening to the adjacent rhetoric is just too “of the moment”. Action, theory which encompasses present events, likable protagonists and hateful antagonists make for one great story. I will continue to be on the lookout for anything Tata writes.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy.

Total Empire is book #2 in the Garrett Sinclair series and my first novel by the author!

General Garrett Sinclair is on a rescue mission for a missing goddaughter Dr. Zoey Morgan in the Sahara desert. Meanwhile, China, France, and perhaps the US are in talks about a global government! This thriller takes place mostly in north/western Africa.

dammit, you have a country to defend!

Sorry! I get hyped up with these books. 😊The pace is fast in both storylines but the rescues have me on edge of my seat. The second story is a lot of bureaucrats but picks up the pace to a nail-biter conclusion. Although I didn't read the first novel, this has good characters that are well-developed and likable. Overall, an exciting multifacet military geopolitical thriller. I also heard good things about his Mahegan series and I'm excited to check that out. 3.5⭐

I switch between reading and listening. The audiobook is very good. Brian Troxell is excellent!

Thank you St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for my copies to review.
OUT TODAY!

A mission to rescue an American hostage goes terribly wrong and General Garrett Sinclair loses his best friend, Sargent Major Sly Morgan. Sinclair is Zoey Morgan’s godfather and when he brings her the news she believes that his death was not a random killing. He had recordings and notes from a meeting in Morocco between Chinese, French and American delegates. Their discussions centered on a planned global government with a shared military and economy. When Zoey takes off for Africa to investigate what her father found and go after his killer Sinclair has no choice but to gather his unit and go after her. Before leaving, he shares Sly’s information with President Campbell, a personal friend of Sinclair and his l ate wife. His rescue mission is unofficial and he is under investigation for his involvement in a previous mission so there will be no backup.

Zoey has been captured by Henri Sanson, her father’s executioner. He is leading an archeological dig in the Sahara. This serves to divert attention from Chinese activity in the area. The Chinese have launched hypersonic vehicles armed with nuclear weapons to orbit Earth. The targeting system is being built in the Sahara and Sinclair’s group must take out the threat.

A.J. Tata’s political thriller is non-stop action. It is six individuals against Chinese forces in the sweltering desert heat. Sinclair considers each member of his group as family. His late wife always told him that good wins, but on this mission there are losses that shake the group to the core. Tata takes you to the brink of nuclear war as China gains strength and uses its’ weapons to blackmail America. It is a terrifying scenario that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for my review.

What's it about (in a nutshell):
Total Empire by A.J. Tata is an edge-of-your-seat political thriller about General Garrett Sinclair's personal mission to find his goddaughter in the Chinese-occupied Saharan desert. When a military mission goes very wrong, Sinclair loses his best friend, Sly, and must return home and tell Sly's daughter, Zoey, that her father died under his command. She sets off for the Saharan desert to find the man responsible for her father's death and exact her revenge. But, once Sinclair learns what she's doing, he sets off to save her from the many evils in that desert.

My Reading Experience:
The very personal tale of grief, loss, and the need for revenge held my attention without fail. The suspense and tension kept me glued to the page, and all the twists and turns kept the pages flipping quickly.
The military parts of the story didn't go as fast for me, but that was mainly just in the opening chapters. Once the story turned more personal, I was hooked.

Seeing the fictional interactions of people in our government was just terrifying. I loved that the president of the US is a woman and that many of her cabinet appointments are also women. I'm always all for women's empowerment in fiction and real life. But, the corruption for what boils down to personal gain is absolutely chilling. How politicians manipulate the media and misuse their power is frustrating at best. There's no denying that it makes for a very compelling story. And if there is ever a time for good to win, it is essential in a story like this that reflects the potential of the real world.

Characters:
General Garrett Sinclair is an officer that all soldiers should aspire to be. His leadership abilities are just part of who he is, his instincts are good, and his bravery in the face of adversity is unparalleled. His wife's death still haunts him, so when his best friend, Sergeant Major Sly Morgan, dies in a military mission, he wastes no time going after Sly's daughter Zoey as she prepares to take down the man who killed her father. He risks his job and life in the race to save Zoey from one of the most scrupulous killers in the world.

All of the characters are well-developed and relatable. Their struggles and loss create layer upon layer of development that holds the story together and keeps me interested in what happens to each of them – no matter how minor.

Narration & Pacing:
The pacing is fast for most of the story. Sometimes my reading felt bogged down with the politics in the story, which slowed the pace. Still, since most of the chapters focus on Sinclair and his mission to find his goddaughter, those periods were brief. Other chapters were written in third-person limited and focused on either the bad guy, Sanson (aka the Executioner), or the president of the US, Kim Campbell, and what was going on in their world, which of course, related back to Sinclair's and his personal mission.

Setting:
The Eye of Africa makes such an intriguing setting. I just learned about this natural anomaly that is rumored to be the location of the lost city of Atlantis. It works perfectly in every way with the story's plot and adds an extra bit of fascination. The Saharan desert, where the Eye is located, adds to the character's struggles as they try to complete what they set out to do, which helps to keep the pace fast and my eyes glued to the page.

Read if you like:
• Fast-paced thrillers
• Character-driven stories
• Intriguing settings

An amazing addition to the General Garrett Sinclair series. After a hostage rescue mission in the Sahara Desert results in several casualties on his team, including his best friend Sly, Sinclair ends up on a rogue mission seeking vengeance as well as unraveling what could prove to be a major coup be the President’s Cabinet.

I really enjoy that the books are written from a first person perspective. They read like an after action report. Tata has compelling characters, some of which commingle between the various series he writes. He also has brilliant action scenes, and storylines that are well paced. I also appreciate that while he is obviously writing about subjects he is well versed in, he doesn’t bog down the reader with technical details like weapons and ammo sizes.

General Garrett Sinclair is back in a violent and provocative escalation that has the United States and China on the precipice of World War III.

Sinclair is no stranger to being the ultimate ‘tip of the spear,’ as he has recently defended the U.S. and her allies against a notorious terrorist and his deadly biochemical weapon. This outing, Sinclair and his firestorm of talented operators from the Joint Special Operations Command are in the Sahara with the task of rescuing a kidnapped missionary. Like any good plan, it all goes to hell in a handbasket as the team takes numerous casualties while retrieving their mark with the ultimate loss of Task Force Daggers Command Sergeant Major, Sly Morgan.

Back stateside, Sinclair and team are retooling as the intensity ratchets up in the Inspector General’s investigation into the death of the Secretary of State (in which Sinclair is implicated). Grieving with his team and his goddaughter Zoey Morgan, Sinclair and team come up with a plan for vengeance. As they prepare for a war against ‘The Executioner,’ a deep-rooted plan involving high ranking politicians and the Chinese Communist Party, comes to light that force the hand of Task Force Dagger.

Back in action on the African continent for another round of combat with disastrous consequences, Sinclair and team are forced to call audibles left and right. Exceedingly dangerous technology makes an introduction as warheads start to fall and the U.S. is being handcuffed into immediate decision making. To prevent a massive escalation to World War III and an all-out nuclear battle, Sinclair and team must succeed, no matter the costs.

A.J. Tata is back with a gripping page-turner that highlights modern day headlines with the world on the brink of collapse. Hypersonic weapons, elite D.C. politicians lining their own pockets, and questionable reporting from news outlets all blend easily with the political divide facing the communities in Total Empire and in current times. Tata builds on the aura surrounding General Sinclair from Chasing the Lion to showcase the talents and leadership abilities, while bringing in the human aspect with relationships and the camaraderie built between those serving in uniform.

Total Empire A.J. Tata has so much potential as a military thriller. Hidden gold in the Sahara - the search for Atlantis - corruption in the highest levels of government - a sword wielding assassin - and a special operations group to save the day. But the execution is not there. There are way too many back stories/flashbacks in the middle of the action. Too much overexplaining of the weapons and tactics. And too many monologues by the main character. Have you ever been in a meeting where there was one person who felt the need to keep talking and would not stop pontificating? That's the MC here.
There are moments of extreme action here but all of the backstories stop any momentum of the narrative
The audiobook narrator, Brian Troxell, was okay except for the French accents. That was almost comical. This audiobook might have benefitted from some sound effects (numerous gun battles, drones, plane takeoffs, explosions)
If you like Tom Clancy, WEB Griffin, Larry Bond and military thrillers, you might enjoy this one.

Thanks to St. Martins Press and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy

An emotional and pulse pounding story as General Garrett Sinclair and his team take on another classified mission. Every page is filled with danger and action. The author has created characters in a world that is interesting and bold. It is a wonderful book to read and enjoy.

Listen, Total Empire is a hard book for me to review . I try to separate author's politics from the author's work and do a good job of it. Usually. Total Empire was a stretch. Basically, Tata used national pride to disguise MAGA talking points. In Total Empire, Tata implies if you are not lock-in-step with his views you are evil and an enemy of the United States. Which is absurd. My eyes almost rolled out of my head more than once. Which is a shame because Total Empire is the best book he's written and is a hellava thriller. Of course, some will love it but I believe it will turn off many, many more .readers.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Total Empire.

Total Empire A Garrett Sinclair Novel by AJ Tata

353 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: March 21, 2023

Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Military, Government, Action, Adventure

Garrett Sinclair is back in this suspense filled novel. During an operation, Sergeant Major Sly Morgan is killed. His daughter, Zoey, believes his death was planned and not random. There is a recording between high level Chinese and Americans planning on a global government partnership. When Zoey goes missing, Sinclair does what he does best. He takes his team off books to find the truth.

The book has a fast pace, the characters are developed, and it is written in third person point of view. Garrett is a soldier and fiercely loyal to his friends and country. A nuclear bomb is detonated near Washington DC, the President of the United States looks to Garrett for answers. He is going to find them at all costs. If you like military thrillers, this one is right up your alley. The action is non-stop in this follow up to Chasing the Lion.

A fast paced military thriller that's more than a little implausible in spots but which also has a thread running through it that will make you think. Tata. knows how to write a page turner making this a good one for travel. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC,

A great follow up to the first book in this series (Chasing the Lion)! Once again, the author has provided us with rich well-developed characters and a fast-moving story line leaves you breathless and at the edge of your seat in this high-octane action thriller. If you are looking for a military thriller with a complex but believable plot surrounded by lots of action, this book is for you. I couldn’t put it down. This thriller grabs you from the first page and doesn’t give you a moments rest until the last page.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

A very solid thriller. Tata continues to craft action-packed novels with interesting and dynamic characters.

General Garrett Sinclair is on a mission. His motivation is to find missing American citizen Zoey Morgan, avenge the death of Zoey's father, Command Sergeant Major Sly Morgan, and see if he was right what he believed he had discovered.
During this quest, he discovers a terrorist threat that will ultimately end in World War III and the destruction of humanity as we know it.
Put your seat belt on as A.J. Tata takes you on another thrill ride with "Total Empire".