Review - Rocket’s Red Glare

Title:   Rocket’s Red Glare

Author:  James Patterson; Matt Eversmann

Publisher:  Little, Brown and Companu

Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   384

Date of Publication:   June 8, 2026

My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

From the world's #1 bestselling author: they’re ex-Special Forces. They’re on American soil. Their code name is “Rocket's Red Glare.” 

“A military thriller that captures the best of American heroism. There’s courage and nonstop action on every page. Nat Phillips is the hero we need.”—Bret Baier

"Rocket’s Red Glare brings the heat! In a summer read you will not soon forget, James Patterson and Matt Eversmann combine forces to create unforgettable characters and plot, with breakneck pacing that will keep you riveted through the night! This one is a banger!" —Jack Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Fourth Option

Nat Phillips leads an elite roster of special operators. They are ex-Special Forces, communications specialists, and intelligence officers. Phillips is a brilliant strategist and battle-tested leader who inspires total loyalty in his team. Now these decorated veterans of international warfare are at home and on stand-by—until a presidential campaign is interrupted by murder. 

Suddenly, the plan is no longer the stuff of Mission: Impossible. Emergency operations happening not overseas but in the centers of American power, from Nantucket to Washington, DC. This national crisis is real.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

Military and political thrillers aren’t usually my cup of tea. However, with James Patterson’s name on the cover, I picked up Rocket’s Red Glare anyway. I’m glad I did, because this was an exciting and fast-paced read filled with espionage, political intrigue, and plenty of action.

The story centers on Nat Phillips, a former Special Forces operator who now leads an elite team of veterans known as Rocket’s Red Glare. Made up entirely of ex-military personnel, the team is called into action when America faces a serious domestic threat. Their mission is to identify the danger and stop it before the situation spirals further out of control.

When a political event is rocked by both an explosion and an assassination, Nat and his team spring into action. Not only must they prevent further loss of life, but they also have to uncover who is responsible. With a state of emergency declared and the clock ticking, Nat quickly realizes that corruption and conspiracy run much deeper than anyone initially suspected.

Patterson’s books always seem to hold a reader’s attention, and Rocket’s Red Glare is no exception. As the king of short chapters, he knows exactly how to keep the pages turning. Every chapter ends with just enough suspense to make it impossible not to read one more. If this is the beginning of a new series, I’m all in. After spending a few hours with Nat Phillips and his team, I’ll definitely be lining up to read the next installment.

Many thanks to little, Brown and Company,  and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Tiger Woods, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. Patterson has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, and collaborated most recently with Michael Crichton on the blockbuster Eruption. He has told the story of his own life in James Patterson by James Patterson and received an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

Web | X