An interesting concept let down by some of the technical knowledge which made me find the whole conceit unbelievable.

It was a good effort rather than an exceptional one, but as it is only the author’s second book, I would imagine his stories will develop and make that jump - this one certainly had the ingredients in it, but just didn’t quite do it for me. Having said that, at least the author has published this and invited comments, which is more than I’ve ever done, so any negativity above should be read with that in mind.

In fairness, if there is a follow-up book to this, I would probably read it, so it perhaps is better than I’ve acknowledged above.

If you're looking for an action-packed military thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, then look no further. This book takes you into the 21st century, where the rules of engagement have changed, and the enemy is already inside the gates.

The Reaper Initiative is an elite group of operatives who are America's secret line of defense against all that lurks in the shadows. With plausible deniability baked into their very operational structure, they are the perfect solution to internal threats posed by radicals, extremists, and covert operatives. And when a new American civil war is on the horizon, they are there to win it - no matter what it takes.

This is a thrilling and action-packed read that will keep you turning the pages until the very end. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is fast-paced and full of surprises. If you're a fan of military thrillers, then you won't want to miss

A gripping thriller that takes readers into the world of covert, post-modern warfare where the enemy is already inside the gates. In this age of redefined conflict, Unlawful Enemy Combatants (UECs) pose a serious threat to national security, and America's answer to this threat is the Reaper Initiative. This elite group of operatives is tasked with defending the country against all that lurks in the shadows, with plausible deniability baked into their operational structure. But when a new American civil war backed by a familiar external enemy looms on the horizon, the Reapers must do whatever it takes to win the war and protect their country.

A thrilling novel that explores the world of post-modern warfare, where the enemy is already inside the gates. The story follows the Reaper Initiative, an elite group of operatives tasked with defending America against Unlawful Enemy Combatants (UECs). When a new American civil war backed by a familiar external enemy looms on the horizon, the Reapers must do whatever it takes to win the war and protect their country. This book is a must-read for fans of the thriller genre and anyone interested in the intersection of politics, technology, and war.

I really like how the descriptions are in this book. You get a clear image of that the author wants you to see, but is it not so long that it draws away from the action.
The characters are also well developed.
Sadly, that was about the only good things that stood out to me.
Some of the criticism might stem from the book not quite being what I thought it was going to be.
There is a strong anti-communist theme throughout the entire book, and it focuses on the fact that they are trying to take over American values. This might not be a problem in and of itself, but it could have been painted in a more nuanced way. As it is now it feel very “US good, Russia bad”.

There are also a lot of unnecessary details, such as specific gun models, that don’t really say much to the average reader. If you are really into guns and more military stuff, this book is probably going to be a little better than it was for me.

The main thing that I took hold on was that the plot was very hard to grasp. I had a hard time trying to understand if what happened has any relevance to the plot. The ending also came very abruptly, and didn’t really feel satisfying.

The REAPERS by M. J. Edington.
Welcome to the 21st century, an age of redefined conflict where the enemy need not announce his presence on the battlefield. In an age of covert, post-modern warfare, the enemy is already inside the gates. Unlawful Enemy Combatants (UECs determined to kill, steal, and destroy, can cost the country everything if left unchecked. When national interest hangs in the balance, nothing can stay off the table.
An OK read. Slow. 3*.