The Wilkes Insurrection

An Air Force Base comes crashing down when commercial Flight 209 crashes down onto its runway.
Tamika a Major is in a race against time trying to find survivors. Because someone is tearing down the United States from the inside out. Destroying everything.
She has to figure out what and who is behind this. Before more bodies pile up.

I loved this high fast paced action thriller.
Its amazing. And if I'm being honest I'm very surprised I enjoyed it as much as I did.
The characters are quick and smart.
The writing really was amazing and well written. Thank you NetGalley. Greenleaf Book Group Press and author for this ebook copy.

The Wilkes Insurrection by Robbie Bach

When I started this book and realized that 9/11 had an important role in the story, my first reaction was negative. Like I needed another novel about the losses we experienced on that day. But as I continued into the story, I realized how wrong that initial impression was. The protagonist was Tamika Smith who had been seriously traumatized at the beginning of her military career when she was attacked and raped by a senior officer who knew she had no path towards causing him any harm within the military structure. Meanwhile, she and her father, a famous military general, had reached an impasse in their relationship. It was during 9/11 that her brother, the most important person in her life, was killed when the plane crashed into the Pentagon. In the military, and in response to her brother’s death she immediately sought duty in Afghanistan and Iraq in order to seek redemption for her brother. In the war zones, she led personnel that handled all the airplane crashes, trying to save as many people as she could despite the great risk to herself. In the process, she saw too much trauma, too much death. There’s a telling story about one such rescue behind enemy lines when she encountered her rapist, but that’s a story that is so well told that I’ll let you learn about it on your own.

Near the end of her military career, Tamika is introduced to a group of civilians, bright, energetic, and hopeful people who want to help heal and correct the horrible political shift in the country, a movement that has damaged a clear-headed sense of what it really means to be an American. However, there is another terrorist that has to be stopped. Bin Latif had the FBI and all other such forces tied in knots, unable to catch him or even know who he really was. Meanwhile, the civilians around, who formed the very impressive Lincoln Coalition, saw her potential as a leader in their movement and they encouraged Tamika to run for office. The story or her progress in the political world and the one of the terrorist were tightly woven together. Author Bach added compelling characters to fill out this story.

At the end of the book, Tamika gave a rousing speech at the Lincoln Memorial which was optimistic, enthusiastic, while at the same time being realistic about the difficulties ahead. (The speech reminded me of the one Michael Douglas made as President Andrew Sheppard in “The American President.”)

The Wilkes Insurrection is without question the best thriller that I’ve read this year. I give it my highest recommendation.

Former Microsoft Xbox executive Robbie Bach is now dipping his hand into fiction with the October 2021 release of The Wilkes Insurrection. Bach leans heavily on the civic issues currently plaguing the United States to create intrigue while keeping you on your toes throughout.

The Wilkes Insurrection follows Air Force Reserve Officer Tamika Smith and her journey following a terrible airliner crash on Offutt Air Force base in Omaha, Nebraska. While combing through the wreckage Smith makes an astonishing discovery in the form of a single survivor, who was thrown from the plane. What ensues is a huge media firestorm where Smith is hailed as a hero for saving the life of John Humboldt. Tamika is forced to navigate the resulting fame as horrific terrorist attacks continue across the country.

While there is pain and resentment in some of the relationships that are formed, there are the happenstance meetings that forge lifelong friendships and dedication for others. Bach also shows how Smith’s past has shaped her future and how the limelight can be used for good. While the authorities are searching for the people responsible for the heinous actions that are taking American lives, the web is being spun that ties all the major characters together.

Bach hits all the current talking points in America using political division and racial disparity while trying to show the true spirit of humanity, one that sees no difference in race, sex, or religion. The mission is simple: treat people the way you would want to be treated, even though it can be difficult. Bach unites people through adversity and delivers an edge of your seat ride that is extremely uplifting. Perseverance and one strong willed woman highlight the best of America in this great debut.

Well, buckle up because you will be going on the ride of your life, no matter how you travel with this story. It begins with a journey that not everyone will walk away from. Jonny is on his way home he has to travel a lot with his work.

Now, this author was part of the original team that produced the Xbox 360, and he takes you on a walkthrough, as seen by Jonny. He sets the scene, where he sits, and why, his rituals and small talk with an older couple. Then the plane is targeted by a man that wants to make a point.

The story is viewed by different people, the man who causes carnage throughout the book, the victims and the heroes, one, in particular, Major Tamika Smith. She has her demons from her past. The characters are brought together by these events, and it changes the course in life they had been set on in their lives. It has a fast pace, a race against time all the way through. The author is very inventive, with every event being unique with high casualties.

I enjoyed this book, I felt like I had an instant connection with the characters, both the good and bad. I liked too that they were all flawed with life, but dealt with it differently. A super paced story, a very explosive thriller.

The Wilkes Insurrection opens on a terrorist planning to create chaos in 'a target-rich environment', his day with destiny coming.

He starts by bringing down a plane on an Air Force base runway outside Omaha, Nebraska. Major Tamika Smith, a reservist and acting Combat Search and Rescue leader, takes charge.

Further attacks follow and we learn that the mastermind behind it is American Wilkes, hoping to unleash a second Civil War to create opportunity for massive societal change.

Though often over the top, this is an action packed and gripping read.

Robbie Back fictionalizes a scary scenario that conveys a horrifying message: America is more vulnerable than ever. Domestic terrorism is a real threat.

A snippet:

It opens when a terrorist bomb blows out a door on Flight 209 forcing an emergency crash landing at Offutt Air Force Base. Major Tamika Smith is in charge of the Search and Rescue efforts assisted by the base commander Jerry Jessup. The crash is the first of several terrorist acts that followed. Smith and Jessup lives were tragically altered on 9/11 and once again they are confronted with more terrorism.

My thoughts:

The pace is good and the chapter are not too long. The story exposes a divided America in the grips of terrorists’ attacks how it was done then and how it is still done today.

The story is told by different characters: the terrorist, the victims and the heroes. Major Smith is the principal player with all her demons haunting her. This badass ex-military who served in Afghanistan became an instant media sensation after the crash. The main villain Ford Wilkes has no particular qualities and is so easy for us to dislike. (Well he is the bad guy after all). Wilkes does the planning and hires Obaid bin Latif, a Jihadist, to execute the bombing and along the way Latif manages to evade capture time and time again....Do we have attacks in “The Wilkes Insurrection” so many to last a life time...The author does a masterful job maintaining suspense.

This is dialogue driven and easy to follow, definitely a storyline that flows effortlessly from page to page. It was very captivating till the final chapter when Tamika’s gave a long political speech then I lost focus and inevitably skipped to the end. Integrating politics was a turn off at this point.

The plot of the book was such a great page turner. The plot of the book was very well written. I truly cannot wait to read another wonderful book from this author. This was a truly great book.