Intelligence pro writes Dark Thrillers

Three Same World Series' and Stand-alone Novel Shed Light on a Dark and Twisted World

J.T. Patten has written two commercially published series in the military / espionage book (spy novel) genre, and will be starting a third thriller series of short stories in Tactical Life magazine, The Lone Woolf Stories (Based on character, Drake Woolf, the man from Orange).

The first series, Safe Havens, centers on CIA NOC agent / contracted field intelligence operator, Sean Havens, and was initially Independently published. The second series, the Task Force Orange novels, focuses on an elite special operations soldier, Drake Woolf, who had worked for the highly secretive Joint Special Operations (JSOC) unit, the Intelligence Support Activity otherwise known as "the Activity" or "Orange," and is published by Kensington Book's imprint Lyrical Press and distributed by Penguin. His latest, Lone Woolf, builds from the others with SIGINT (intelligence operator) Drake as the main character. Both initial series' converge in Safe Havens: Presidential Retreat when Sean Havens and Drake Woolf first meet. Later, in the Task Force Orange series, Sean Havens becomes a mentor to the younger and highly volatile, Drake Woolf, who gradually evolves into an anti-hero role. In the third series, the saga continues but with a new publisher and in a series of episodic short stories.

Each book in the series can be described as having multi-layer plots that are character driven with a running theme of moral ambiguity in achieving the objectives of either the United States, as the "good guy" or the foreign actors as "bad guys." Within the gray morass are double crosses on all sides, and due to the shadowy nature of the activities, oversight and ethics fall by the wayside in exchange for bottom line "wins."

While the stories are fictional, they are based on possibilities that could happen in today's world from the depths of disavowed Special Access Programs, which are in "Blacker than Black," according to the late best selling author and veteran Dalton Fury.

Patten's trillers blend aspects of the fast-paced high body count of the traditional military thriller but also cross into the heavy dialogue and details of a modern day espionage book. Due to the high tech gadgetry in today's battle space, J.T. Patten's novels are considered hybrid sub-genres falling into Spy-Fi.

J.T. Patten's thriller influencers are Tom Clancy, Mark Greaney, and Vince Flynn on the military side, Robert Ludlum, John le Carre, and Forsyth for espionage, and Stephen King, Robert McCammon, and Thomas Harris for dark suspenseful twists.

Drake Woolf neurodivergent operator, Task Force Orange Logo Lone Woolf series

Books By Series

Military / Espionage Thriller

Shadow Masters

Sean Havens Black Ops Series, Book 1

Currenty Available

Military / Espionage Thriller

Primed Charge

Sean Havens Black Ops Series, Book 2

Currently Available

Military / Espionage Thriller

Presidential Retreat

Sean Havens Black Ops Series, Book 3

Currently Available

Military / Espionage Thriller

Task Force Orange Intelligence Support Activity JSOC

Buried in Black

Task Force Orange Series, Book 1

Currently Available

Military / Espionage Thriller

Task Force Orange JT Patten Intelligence Support Activity

The Presence of Evil

Task Force Orange Series, Book 2

Currently Available

Thriller Reviews

Task Force Orange Series

"J.T. Patten’s Buried in Black takes readers deep into the shadows with an explosive narrative that could only have been written by a man who has been there himself. Buried in Black delivers on action, intrigue, and excitement!"
—Mark Greaney #1 NYT Bestselling Author of Agent in Place

"JT Patten has done all the research. All you need to do is hang on for the ride."
—Sean Naylor, Bestselling Author of Relentless Strike and Not a Good Day to Die

"Fantastic. This is a thriller that reads like it could be true. J.T. Patten really knows his stuff, largely because he's lived it, with all the thrills and adrenaline rush it involves. Buried in Black will leave you sometimes shocked, frequently terrified, and ultimately grateful for the risks thees guys take in real life to keep you safe."
—Michael Smith, Bestselling Author of Killer Elite

“When it comes to dragging readers helplessly into the world of black ops, nobody does a better job than J.T. Patten . . . Complex, well-thought-out, and perfectly executed, J.T. Patten kicks off his new series with a thundering bang. . . Buried in Black has all the makings of a sleeper hit in 2018."
—Ryan Steck, The Real Book Spy

“Buried in Black is literary alchemy- a book that has the suspense of John le Carré and the action of Matthew Betley. J.T. Patten is an author to watch and Buried in Black is proof delivering a ripped from the headlines plot and a cast of unforgettable characters that can only come from a man who has lived in the shadows."
—Joshua Hood, BAMF, former 82nd Airborne and author of Clear by Fire and Warning Order

“Buried in Black grabs you by the throat and won’t let go. Expertly penned with gritty action, this is a novel that will keep you thinking long after the chilling conclusion.”
—Andrews & Wilson, Bestselling Authors of Tier One

Safe Havens Series

“JT Patten’s Shadow Masters is blacker than black.”

-Dalton Fury, Former JSOC, Best Selling Author

"Primed Charge is a refreshing combination of action and humanity. What makes Primed Charge different is JT's relentless reminder that the characters living in is world are just people. They are people with families, imperfections, worries, and hopes. People are the mortar holding all the weapons, operations, issues and groups together. I appreciate a thriller that is more than just thrilling.

-Joe Goldberg, Former CIA officer, Best Selling Author, Secret Wars: An Espionage Story

"JT Patten's spy thriller is one of few novels actually written by an intelligence professional--and it shows in his details. From an understanding of regional conflicts, special activities, to global locations, Primed Charge was an amazing read."
-Former Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and former Director of Intelligence, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)

The fictional works of J.T. Patten do not constitute an official release of CIA, NSA, or DoD information. All statements of fact, opinion, or analysis expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official positions or views of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or any other U.S. Government agency. Nothing in the contents should be construed as asserting or implying U.S. Government authentication of information or CIA endorsement of the author’s views. All published material has been reviewed for classification.