The Pact: Book 1

By: Robert Patrick Lewis

Narrated by: Mike Dawson

Length: 5 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's Summary

The Pact is the second book by former Green Beret-turned-author Robert Patrick Lewis, and his first foray into the world of fiction.

The Pact is the first of a three-book series, a fictional story based on current events, the authors experience in Special Forces and first-hand knowledge of geopolitics and global intelligence.

The Pact combines global politics, combat, economics, conspiracy theories, and Special Forces history into one nail-biting fiction work; think Dan Brown meets Tom Clancy meets Red Dawn.

Already hailed as "so realistic and plausible that it's terrifying," "an on-the-edge-of-your-seat thriller that will have you looking in your rearview mirror for enemy troops," and "the next great franchise in the world of military fiction, The Pact is going to change the way Americans look at their government and safety for the rest of their lives.

©2014 3 Pillars Enterprises (P)2014 3 Pillars Enterprises

I really

Don't like it when stories do not stand on their own - It. Is probably just me but don't try and sucker me into buying a second book to complete the story - shame on you😖

Just terrible!

This is the worst book I've ever tried. I say tried because my husband and I couldn't make it more than half way through as we listened on a road trip. It was one hackneyed cliche after another, with a premise that made no sense at all. Yuck.

Awesome, can't wait for the rest of the series!

What made the experience of listening to The Pact the most enjoyable?

If you were a fan of the short-lived television show Jericho, either of the Red Dawn movies or the Australian film Tomorrow When the War Began you will love this book. First in the series, Robert Patrick Lewis a former Special Forces Medic sets up for a very plausible future for America, a future where the fight has come to our doorstep.

The book quickly sets up for a foreign invasion of American soil and jumps right into guerrilla warfare from Special Forces members, harassing the occupying forces at every turn. I honestly couldn't 'put the book down' (well, my e-reader, I couldn't put my kindle down) and can't wait for the next installment in the series. Rob brings a realistic scenario from the point of view of a guy that was actually deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan while picking up the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, NATO non-article 5 medal, two Army Commendation Medals, Special Forces Tab, Combat Infantry Badge, Airborne wings, Iraq Campaign Medal with star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and many other ribbons in his time there. While Clancy could bring in technical consultants (as could similar authors) Rob was there, he saw urban warfare with his own eyes and has his experiences and those of his friends to draw on to make a believable series.

Dawson does a fantastic job narrating (I was hoping Rob would read it but Dawson did pretty awesome and I'm quite happy with that choice).

What other book might you compare The Pact to and why?

The Tomorrow series by John Marsden

Awestruck

This was an amazing audio book. You will not find another book that draws you into the action as much as The Pact. One minute you are passively listening while you drive home from work and the next you are staying up late just to finish one more chapter. I particularly liked the bonds shown between father and children. I haven't come across another writer who can so accurately describe the love for his children. He takes the typical "I love my children" sentiment found in most books and makes you see the deeper bond.

Several things to like about this book, but.....

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I think the story line was fine, the characters good, but hearing the continuous bad mouthing of anyone political becomes old very quickly.... sure, there are politicians that may deserve to be portrayed as morons and sell outs, but really.....this was over-kill and I think the author is/was preaching to the choir. I think the story would have been better if he stuck to the military aspect, being prepared and the moral conflict of torture should be talked about and be confronted more....

Would you ever listen to anything by Robert Patrick Lewis again?

probably not

Would you be willing to try another one of Mike Dawson’s performances?

maybe

Lasted 10 minutes with this one

It was mostly a heavy-handed political rant at the beginning with no literary interest. I would prefer the story itself to convey the author's point of view rather than have the main character summarize it all at the beginning.

Straightforward fun.

This book is written in a straightforward and sparse writing style. No Tom Clancy multi page descriptions, no chapters of back ground setup. This author covers territory in this short book that nowadays would typically require three 350+ page tomes. It is refreshing. If you are looking for fast paced military small unit invasion America fiction, I think this book is a good choice.

You Should Be Forewarned!
*Necessary spoiler*
As I said, the author imparts information with very few words. I believe he made a critical mistake in setting the stage. In a sentence or two at the beginning of the book the liberal government is blamed for disarming America. I spent the first half of the book distracted as my mind kept wandering back to this hack contrivance. It would take a large majority of the nation to undo the 2nd Amendment. Modern attempts at gun control have mostly resulted in increased gun ownership. This shorthand attempt to set the stage for the story will offend many, either politically or intellectually. As a potential reader, be aware. Let it go. The book is not an anti liberal rant. Don't spend a big chunk of the book irritated, or wondering how you would explain the mistake to the author. Just read.

Total Waste

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Moved slow, written poorly had a hard time following the rants of the writer. What did I like, absolutely nothing. Very predictable. Amateurish at best.

What could Robert Patrick Lewis have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

The attempt to write an engaging survival story failed badly. Maybe it was the author's first attempt don't know but I read and listen daily to many authors. This was a waste of money which I will be requesting a refund.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Found nothing wrong with the narrator's performance. Easy to listen and enjoyed his presentation, just not the book

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Pact?

The author seems to be trying to hard, very predictable and the flow of the story line was taxing.

Any additional comments?

I would suggest buyers steer clear of this mess.

Overkill on the details

It isn't a bad book all together. The first person style used has as a consequence that there's very little emotion left. The main character is an analytical thinker, explaining all military details with such detail that it leaves me wondering whether it is to aid the story or to convince the reader that the author truly is very knowledgable on the subject. In my case, I started mentally sighing at the lecturing style of explaining all military aspects. Makes me pass on the next installments. Happy to have bought it on sale.

Better when you know the point of the book.

Would you try another book from Robert Patrick Lewis and/or Mike Dawson?

Yes. I am very interested in finishing the series. The book is meant to be more a bit more educational than entertaining.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Pact?

It was interesting to see how special forces would prepare for disaster events.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

I was not impressed with the narration. The pace was ok, but the narrator had little variation between the male characters and none of the women even remotely sounded like women.

Was The Pact worth the listening time?

Yes when I found out the point of the book.

Any additional comments?

After finishing the book, rather unsatisfied, I did some research on the author. Eventually I found a interview where he detailed the whole point of the book. Paraphrasing "while meant to be entertaining, the series is suppose to give you a glimpse into near future events, current events, how military personnel would prepare for such events and how you should prepare for such events." Keep this in mind while reading and it will be worth your time.