The Phalanx Code by A.J. Tata

Book 3 in the Gen. Garrett Sinclair series. Sinclair is more Jason Bourne, who leads from the front, than he is a 3-star suit in the rear with the gear. While we all need more like him, this story line seemed a touch far-fetched.

At the end of Total Empire, General Sinclair was sent to the ‘Disciplinary Barracks’ (prison) somewhat for punishment, somewhat for his own protection. After a year of enduring harsh prison life, he ends up getting sent to solitary for his role in a dining hall rumble. Gets roughed up by a guard and told to stay on the mattress for the next half hour. Given the video surveillance everywhere, Sinclair does as he’s told. Maybe 20’ later, the outside wall of his cell explodes inward by a heavily armored Humvee. One of his former Dagger team at the wheel speeds Sinclair off into the farmland surrounding Leavenworth.

Once out, he’s taken to a waiting plane to be flown into the Wyoming mountains where his benefactor awaits. Multi-billionaire tech developer name of Drewson weaves a tale of his evil competitor, another multi-billionaire Frenchman Blanc. Drewson is preparing to roll out Web 3.0 that’s supposed to be protective of its users. Blanc’s latest and greatest involves The Phalanx Code, a universal surveillance system. Each team is littered with coding/decoding geniuses and security teams better equipped than most armies.

The story follows Sinclair as he tries to take down Blanc. Much of what ensues from Sinclair’s grandfather, an Army Ranger who climbed Point-du-hoc on D-Day and helped take St. Mere Eglise. After that, the storyline sort of goes off the rails (at least in my mind. Hard core adrenaline junkie readers will probably salivate with each turn of the page). Allegiances crisscross so much it’s hard to keep straight who is/isn’t on Garrett’s team. Attacks and escapes have convenient contingencies that help Sinclair’s hunt for the truth.

At the core, thrillers need to be somewhat believable. There were simply too convenient situations to be believable that almost resulted in me putting the book down. But I trudged on mostly to see what unfolded in the next outlandish scene. Tata is a former army General so his description of battle are probably realistic, but I have a hard time believing someone like General Garrett Sinclair could actually exist. But the action, body count, and changes in the mission will appeal to an audience. Just don’t think that audience includes me.

ECD