"Total Empire" is a gripping thriller and the latest addition to the Garrett Sinclair series by A. J. Tata. Set against the backdrop of political intrigue and international espionage, the novel follows the protagonist, Garrett Sinclair, as he navigates a web of deception and danger in his pursuit of justice. With its fast-paced narrative and well-crafted characters, the book keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
A. J. Tata's skillful storytelling and attention to detail make "Total Empire" a must-read for fans of the genre. The author's extensive military and government experience is evident in the authenticity of the plot and the intricacies of the characters' interactions. Furthermore, Brian Troxell's narration brings an added dimension to the story, immersing listeners in the heart-pounding action and suspense.

Total Empire by A.J. Tata (Audio and eBook versions), audio narrated by Brian Troxell

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for sending these advance reader's copies of the eBook and audio book for review consideration.

Disclaimer
This review expresses my own personal opinion. I have not been asked to post it by the author, their publishing companies or anyone connected with the book or author.

This is the second General Garrett Sinclair book in a three-book series written thus far by the author. The first is Chasing the Lion and the most recent soon to be released in February 2024 is The Phalanx Code. I have not read Chasing the Lion, but after reading Total Empire, I will be picking it up soon and eagerly awaiting the third book.

I chose to listen to the audio version as it better fit my busy schedule. This review briefly provides my thoughts on the story, the author's writing, and the narration.

Review
As we look at the balance of power on the world stage there is no doubt America has a target on its back with China being our main adversary, one whose desire is to supplant the U.S. as the leading global power. This is the genesis of this action filled book.

Noted General Garrett Sinclair goes rogue disobeying orders from his commanders and even the President of the United States to thwart an international threat by the Chinese who have aligned with high-level operatives in the U.S. to create CUSP, Chinese-U.S. Partnership, one that will supplant the U.S. as the leading world power. He undertakes this mission both as a patriot to protect and defend America, and as an avenging angel, who seeks to bring justice to the person who is tied to CUSP, the organization that orchestrated the killing of his best friend, Major Sylvester “Sly” Morgan, a man who not only served under General Sinclair, but whose daughter Zoey is the General’s god-daughter, after Morgan uncovers the U.S. Chinese conspiracy. A conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of the U.S. government. To complicate matters, Zoey is kidnapped by her father’s killer and used as bait to draw Sinclair and his famed Dagger Team into a trap that would ensure their demise and the success of the Chinese goal of total empire.

A.J. Tata captures you from the very first page as you are drawn into the action, intrigue, suspense, and political betrayal. The plot is simple, stop the Chinese, but how, especially since the Chinese have supersonic nuclear tipped missiles orbiting the earth, missiles strategically placed that can strike any city within the U.S.

Tata has done his homework on military strategies, tactics, armaments, use of artificial intelligence, and the advancement of Chinese technology, which may one day rival ours. His writing is believable, unfortunately all too believable, as this is not out of the realm of possibility as China continues its advancement in AI technology and the race to supplant the U.S. as the number one world power, militarily and economically.

As stated, I listened to the audio book narrated by Brian Troxel. The right narrator can either transform a book into an absorbing adventure or make it a drag on the imagination and senses. Troxel is in the former category. He does a good job of shifting from character to character in a believable style and voice intonation and modulation keeps you engaged throughout.

If you want a suspense filled, action packed political thriller, that will keep you guessing, this is a good book to pick up.

I enjoyed the audiobook as much as the written book, the narrator was very easy to listen to and I think helped to bring this story to life.

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.

General Garrett Sinclair is trying to rescue his goddaughter Zoey, the daughter of his deceased friend, when he stumbles across a giant international conspiracy. Zoey believes that her father was killed because of this, after he recorded a conversation between representatives from China, the US, and Russia discussing their plans for a coup. On the surface, US and China are in an official alliance, however underneath tensions are hot, and the Chinese are trying to infiltrate deep into the highest ranks of the US government.

This was a really neat political and military thriller. This made for a great audiobook. I have not listened/read the first book in the series, but I really had no idea I was missing out on anything.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Thank you netgalley and Macmillan audio for giving me an advanced review copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

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!

Well this is a sequel that didn’t suffer from Second Book Syndrome! I was riveted to my seat! Even better than the first book!

The world was so believable & shockingly well defined. I could have been there with him. Garrett Sinclair is a bit of an old school General. He fights with & for his fellow soldiers & in this story he goes rogue to save his God Daughter & possibly the world.

You feel his pain when he loses someone, fear for his friends and cheer him on when he’s taking care of business!

China & France want a new world order and Garrett Sinclair is in the thick of it.

The author knows military acronyms and subtly shares their meaning with the reader. This was an action packed roller coaster ride. If you liked book one you’ll love book two!

Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan Audio! I look forward to book 3!!

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

General Garrett Sinclair is determined to find his deceased friends daughter, Zoey, when she disappears in Africa. The US and China have entered into a partnership, but China has issued penalties and deadlines for non-compliance. As part of this, China has fiver high-tech hypersonic glide vehicles armed and ready with nuclear weapons orbiting the Earth. When Sinclair takes off after Zoey, he doesn’t have authorization and puts everything on the line. As he continues to dig he can’t help but wonder if Zoey’s disappearance is somehow tied to the Chinese partnership. Will he find Zoey before it’s too late? Is his career over since he went off book?

This was a fantastic book to listen to on audio! It was so action packed that I felt right there in the middle of everything. The narrator did a fantastic job of annunciation and enthusiasm for the words. The narrator kept the pacing in line with how I envisioned the book being written.

This book was great. I enjoyed the fast pacing and character development. This book was non-stop from the start to the finish. I did feel the ending was a little rushed, but overall, this was a great read and I highly recommend it to those looking for an action-adventure thriller.

Thank you to the publisher MacMillian Audio, @Macmillianaudio, St Martin’s Press, @stmartinspress, and Netgalley @netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book 2 did not disappoint! I love this series and I love General Sinclair and his team. I couldn't love it more that his team has become family and that they look out for each other as family. The general premise of this entire book feels feasible and totally frightening...let's hope this never actually comes close to happening in real life! The way Anthony Tata writes it seems like this could happen tomorrow!!

What a ride! A.J. Tata did it again with this fantastic thriller!

When Sergeant Major Sylvester “Sly” Morgan is killed on a mission, his daughter, Zoey, tells General Garrett Sinclair that her father's death wasn’t random. Morgan had recorded a high-level meeting between Chinese, American, and French diplomats as they spoke about a plan for a new global government.

The “Chinese-U.S. Partnership”, or CUSP, intends to combine the world’s two largest economies and militaries to usher in a new era of partnership and leadership. But China’s offer has a deadline and penalties for noncompliance. As a safeguard, China has five high-tech hypersonic glide vehicles armed with nuclear weapons orbiting the Earth ready to strike. When Zoey disappears in Africa, seemingly while in pursuit of her father’s killer, Sinclair and Dagger Team are caught off-guard as they scramble to catch up.

Without authorization, Sinclair takes Dagger Team into Dakhla, Morocco as he attempts to save his goddaughter’s life. With too many missions to complete and not enough information, Sinclair and team discover that the Chinese plan is nearly complete. As one nuclear glide vehicle misses Washington, DC but hits Loudoun County, Virginia, Sinclair’s mission in the Sahara is to stop the Chinese from using its ground based laser targeting system before they can more accurately launch the remaining four. Facing insurmountable odds and without support from his government, Sinclair takes his team into the maw of the Saharan death pit, the Eye of Africa.

Audiobook Review: Total Empire (Garrett Sinclair #2) by Anthony J. Tata
Narrated by Brian Troxell
A Macmillan Audio Production for St. Martin's Press, March 21, 2023

★★★★★ (4.5 Stars)
Rave!

Audiobook narration: A-Plus!
COMMENDABLE SUPPORTING cast of international voice actors, even as narrator Brian Troxell delivers a top-shelf, cool-under-fire cadence in his portrayal of General Garrett Sinclair, an entertainment gem which brings to mind notable suspense thriller audiobook narrations.

Think George Guidall as "Gabriel Allon" (by Daniel Silva), Scott Brick as "Evan Smoak aka Orphan X" (by Gregg Hurwitz), Robert Bathurst as "Chief Inspector Armand Gamache" (by Louise Penny), or Stephen Shanahan as "Aaron Falk" (by Jane Harper).

And now Brian Troxell as "Garrett Sinclair" (by Brig. Gen. Anthony J. Tata) joins the fray.

FROM THE TABAS DESERT, IRAN....

Readers first meet the 3-Star General in 1980 as an Army Ranger team leader in "Operation Eagle Claw". ("Chasing the Lion" , Garrett Sinclair Book #1, 2021)

The doomed mission to rescue 55 American hostages in the Tabas Desert, Iran, over remote farmlands culminates in a conflagration as a Sea Stallion helicopter crashes into a Lockheed loaded with troops and jet fuel.

The fiery disaster kills a Tabas farmer, a collateral casualty who happens to be the father of one Dariush Parizad.

Parizad would later become a symbol of the revolution and named "The Lion of Tabas" by the Ayatollah himself, and in January 2020, (fictional) Iranian General Dariush Parizad becomes the commander of the IRGC Quds Force following the assassination of Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani....

....TO THE EYE OF AFRICA,
AND THE ATLANTIS OF PLATO'S DIALOGUES.

// TOTAL EMPIRE (Garrett Sinclair #2) by Anthony J. Tata (2023) //

General Garrett Sinclair is still reeling from a near-death experience in thwarting Iranian General Dariush "The Lion of Tabas" Parizad's plan to annihilate hundreds of thousands of citizens during a historic day in the United States - the day of the inauguration of its first woman president ("Chasing the Lion" Book #1), when Sinclair and his team find themselves going rogue once again as the one and only final stand against the devious "TOTAL EMPIRE" world domination scheme by America's greatest modern economic and military rival.

The People's Republic of China, wielding an arsenal of space-based hypersonic nuclear missiles, is aided and abetted by the greatest threat to America.

Its enemies from within.

Powerful and corrupt cabinet-level U.S. government officials. Globalists seeking a new world order. The usual suspects in the American mainstream media. And a deranged, sword-wielding French descendant of guillotine executioners cum treasure hunter in pursuit of "Plato's gold". (See below.)

The lead-by-example /boots-on-ground general and his JSOC (Joint Special Operations Command) Dagger strike team complemented with a combat helicopter and crew fend for themselves, cut off from U.S. government and military resources by treacherous design, as they relocate to the "Eye of Africa" in Western Sahara, wherein strategically hidden lies a well-disguised Chinese missile guidance base for five orbital nuclear hypersonic glide vehicles.

The "Eye of Africa", Mauritania, also known as the "Eye of the Sahara", a/k/a the "Richat Structure", further considered by historians and scientists as the site of Poseidon's Atlantis given detailed description in "Plato's Dialogues", circa 360 B.C.

In legend, a city of gold.

Where quite possibly Garrett Sinclair and his closest friends and allies will pay the ultimate price...

-----

Well-written, breathtakingly creative, non-stop action in one of the most mysterious and intriguing places in the world. A must-read!

Review based on an advance listening copy courtesy of Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley

Total Empire A Garrett Sinclair Novel by AJ Tata

Listening Time: 12 Hours, 8 Minutes
Narrator: Brian Troxell
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
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.

The narrator brings Garrett to live. He brings the reader into the landscape of the story. 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 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 MacMillan Audio who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

A.J is an awesome author. I have read numerous books and I cant believe how all the books are more than likely spot on when it comes to
how things happen every day. I am so taken by these books and will continue to read them as they come out. I love the military background in each of the books and the connection of the military ops that go on.. .

I listened to this one as an audio book--I think page turners make really solid audio books, and this was certainly a page turner. Unfortunately, I am not familiar with Tata or the first Garrett Sinclair novel, and I don't know if this might have improved my take on the book.

The book itself moves through space with a very unrealistic premise--but what are action novels for except to explore unrealistic premises?

The plot itself kept moving, but it felt clumped rather than flowing. The writing was typical of a genre novel--not stunning but workable.

Total Empire
A Garrett Sinclair Novel
Garrett Sinclair #2
Anthony J. Tata
When I requested this audio book for review I did not realize it was the second book in the series; this tale stands well alone but I would like to go back and read the book one.
General Garrett Sinclair is ordered to place Sergeant Major Sylvester (Sly) Morgan in charge on the ground. While most General’s would stay in their office and coordinate things from there, Garrett was in the helicopter while the mission was in progress. He was listening in when things went bad and his best friend Sly was killed. Sly had recorded a covert meeting between the Chinese, French and Americans as they plotted against the US and made plans for a one world government. Sly gave the flash drive to his daughter Doctor Zoey Morgan who passed it on to her Godfather, Garrett. It is obvious Sly was murdered to keep him from divulging what he had discovered.
The Chinese-US Partnership aka CUSP was plotting to combine the economic resources and militaries of China and the US. China convinces certain members of the US administration that the plan will benefit both governments. China has several missiles nuclear warheads orbiting earth ready to attack if the President does not sign on the their plan.
Zoey is determined to find her father’s murderer and heads to Africa, where she disappears. Sinclair and his team follow her to Africa without authorization. China hits VA with one of their nuclear missiles. Thousands are dead. Sinclair must rescue Zoey, stop the Chinese, and rescue the leader of the US government.
WOW! This is a non-stop action thriller. The characters are well fleshed out. The scenes were realistic. But the cliffhanger left me wanting more. Now I have to wait until author Anthony J. Tata publishes the next installment.

I received an advanced copy of the book from NetGalley in return for a review.

Another nail biting thriller from A J Tata! Garrett and his team are tasked with stopping China from starting a nuclear war. Political maneuvering forces the President to send the team covertly within support. They save the day, but at a terrible cost. Of course the book ends on a cliffhanger…..
Can’t wait fir the next installment.

A highly enjoyable political thriller that left me wanting to pick up the next book now! Garrett Sinclair is ready for retirement, but the President is still in need of his service. Sinclair takes his team on a journey that can only be described as challenging and eye popping. Sinclair must make difficult choices that puts his very family at risk. The ending …. Well, the ending left me screaming at the book. Thanks to NetGalley for the early read.

Total Empire
by A. J. Tata Narrated by Brian Troxell
Action-packed military audiobook. Very much worth listening to. A definitely five-star story