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

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