The Breach

By: Patrick Lee

Narrated by: Jeff Gurner

Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Thirty years ago, in a facility buried beneath a vast Wyoming emptiness, an experiment gone awry accidentally opened a door. It is the world’s best-kept secret—and its most terrifying. Trying to regain his life in the Alaskan wilds, ex-con/ex-cop Travis Chase stumbles upon an impossible scene: a crashed 747 passenger jet filled with the murdered dead, including the wife of the [resident of the United States.

Though a nightmare of monumental proportions, it pales before the terror to come, as Chase is dragged into a battle for the future that revolves around an amazing artifact. Allied with a beautiful covert operative whose life he saved, Chase must now play the role he’s been destined for—a pawn of incomprehensible forces or humankind’s final hope—as the race toward Apocalypse begins in earnest. Because something is loose in the world. And doomsday is not only possible...it is inevitable.

©2010 Patrick Lee (P)2010 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"It's all here: brilliantly devious enemies; nifty, innovative gadgets and weaponry; hang-on-to-your-hat action; and razor-sharp plot twists aplenty." ( Publishers Weekly)

"Audacious and terrifying - and uncannily believable." (Lee Child)

Entrancing Sci-Fi

One of the most intriguing science fiction novels I’ve ever read (or listened to). Patrick Lee takes you on a thriller mystery with twists and turns to keep you engaged and characters that feel distinctly human and relatable. If you’re a fan of sci-fi, mystery, and excitement, don’t pass this up!

Good but with problems

This is a good page turner/book to read on a vacation. Basically put it's not the brightest of novels. The science fiction, while sound in the reality, is a little vague in terms of the why's and what's. But if you suspend your disbelief enough it all comes together in a nice wash of dumb euphoria.

There are 2 problems I had with the book:
1. the "good guys" speak and deduct like genius' that really only serve the plot which is slightly annoying. Some of their reasoning skills come down to the reader thinking, "really? because that's infering quite a bit and there are many more solutions that counter that. On top of their genius there are HUGE mistakes made that seem illogical for them to make. I won't spoil anything here but keep in mind, if you understand how a technology works why would you allow it to basicially work in the enemies favor?

2. The book, while trying to keep the female lead strong and intelligent fails to due so in most respects in order to keep the male lead the main protagonist. She says smart things and we are told she's smart, but then we have this male protagonist with zero experience in the things he's dealing with deducting for her and otherwise making her look dumb. He's always telling her what is happening and she's always dumbly following and saying, "I don't know, what do you think?" It comes across as chauvinistic in my opinion, and I'm male.

I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a quick fun read, but don't expect to remember this one as it's poor character development makes it forgettable.

worth the wild ride

This is a good book. It takes you to a place and makes you a part of the action. The writing is good, the narration is good. If I were told the storyline beforehand I would not have given this book a chance, I am very glad that I did, it takes you from the start and keeps the interest going to the end. It is fantastic at times but for some reason it all works, again I think the author is a good at his craft. I would recomend this book.

Mildy surprised

It kept me guessing until the end. What a surprise. I would highly recommend it!

Great new series

The Breach starts a great new series for Patrick Lee. It and Ghost Country are an intersting new concept for the action sci-fi enthusiast. Travis Chase is a character you can really like. Both of these books are both highly recommended in my opinion. I am waiting for the third book to come out.

Another amazing performance by Jeff Gurner

Like one of the reviewers before me, I decided to give "The Breach" a try based solely on the fact that Jeff Gurner had narrated it. I absolutely loved his performance in "Daemon" and "Freedom (TM)", and he nailed it again in "The Breach".

The story of "The Breach" was very compelling. I would consider this to be an action / sci-fi book, and I could definitely see it being made into a movie one day. If it were to be made into a movie, it would surely be Rated R for graphic violence and mild sexual situations. So let that serve as your warning if you're sensitive to that type of thing.

I thought the author did a fantastic job of setting each scene and describing everything within the book in great detail. It was very easy to imagine exactly what the story might look like in a live action format. The fast-paced nature of the book was especially addictive -- one of those types of audiobooks that keeps you listening in your car for several minutes after reaching your destination.

I could see how some might not like the way the book ended, but for me, I thought it was very fitting, and it definitely leaves the story open for a potential sequel that I would jump at the chance to listen to.

amazing book!

This was a great book and I cannot wait to listen to the next book in the series.!

Fringe meets 24. One of the best books I've read i

Fringe meets 24. One of the best books I've read in a long time! The entire trilogy is excellent.

awesome!

if you like sci fi similar to Michael Crichton or Peter Clines you'll dig this! a slight bit darker though and a little more action.

Fantastic ride, wipes out at the finish

It's been a long time since a thriller had me this high strung. Crazy intense set pieces, like invisible gunmen or an impossible, horrific siege, place the reader in situations of abject helplessness and hopelessness. This book is the paper equivalent of a roller coaster. I vocally shouted at it at least twice.

This book is has strong sci-fi elements, and seems like it takes ideas from movies like Men in Black and Momento or video games like Half Life and Crysis.

Two caveats, though.

First, the book has a mild sex scene, constant language, and cringe inducing gore.

Second, the ending was atrocious. My wife and I both felt as if the resolution had gaping holes. It creates more questions than it answers. Maybe that is what the author wanted, but for me it just seemed incomplete or worse, silly. I'll instantly forgive Patrick Lee if there is a sequel, though.

With all that siad, I'm still giving it 5 stars for the wild ride.