Alpha's Ghost
by R.N. Green
Deep in a secret Air Force facility, they built the most lethal ground weapon in history. A prize so revolutionary, its theft would trigger the next world war.
Then it was stolen by the very AI that helped create it.
Now, the ultimate weapon is loose. With a stolen supercomputer and a limitless power supply, it has vanished from every grid, a ghost in the machine on a path to a waiting Chinese exfiltration team.
In a desperate move, DARPA calls on the Strategic Technology Recovery and Neutralization Division. The mission falls to Jasmine Washington, the STRAND agent who oversaw the XAV program. But after her last mission left her sidelined, the legendary field agent must lead from the command chair. She’ll need her team, including her close friends and fellow STRAND agents Gabriella and Naomi, to be her eyes and fists on the ground.
For a tactical operator used to being on the front lines, it's a new kind of war. To stop the XAV, Jasmine must evolve into a strategic leader, trusting her allies to execute a mission she cannot. She has two choices: recover the weapon or neutralize it, and every secret it holds, forever.
I am always looking for the next great book. The reviews said that if you liked Honor Harrington you would like this story. It was true, at least for me. The story moves fast, and is well written. It has three bad a** women who are very good at what they do. There is a conclusion to the story , no cliffhanger! Can't wait for the next in series.
Fast paced action. Great characters. Don't pass this up.
The writing is smooth and clear, and the story moves along quickly. As a fan of Ringo, Kratman, Drake, and a bunch of those guys, I say that RN Green's stories compare favorably, and the cast of characters and story setting is new and fun.
Honor Harrington is these women's sedate, by-the-book cousin. Getting the job done was never so hair-raising and fun. The story rollicks along and the characters -- all the women, not just the 3 main protagonists -- are individuals with backstories, personalities, and sass. A great start to a new series.
Good story, decently written. Many of these thoughts and ideas are very current. Fast movIng pace and consistent characters. Glad I picked this up.
Action packed, strong female characters Science fantasy at its best - equipment descriptions sounded real! Look forward to reading more.
The story races along and pulls you with it. Includes technical jargon and alphabets, but the main ones are memorable. Great characters with history and agency as well as their own agency. This one sets the stage for a really entertaining series.
I read about 5-7 books a month and know what is a good read. I must say I didn't really think that this book would keep my interest but once I got started I could not put it down, read it in one day. Can't wait for the next one!
Lots of twists and turns, very relevant with the rise of AI and drone warfare. I would most definitely recommend.
Great read. Fast plot not much filler and plenty of action. Can't wait for the next book about the amazing warrior ladies
Great action and great banter between the characters. I'm waiting for the next chapter. there is enough sci-fi technical to make us hope it is all somewhat true. carry on.
Author: Imaginative, evocative, dramatic, funny, great at building characters that fit their roles.
Great start to an interesting series. The characters are (to quote Naomi) badass. The action excellent and the military and political aspects authentic. Looking forward to more adventures with STRAND.
I won a copy of this book on Goodreads.com. I opened to page 1, and could NOT put this book down.... for the last 3 days. Phenomenal book! Amazing characters!! So much action packed into 1 book. Absurdly loved this book!
This book was a great first book for R.N. Green. Character development was continues throughout the book. New chapters all got the same treatment in development. Plot was awesome. I am looking forward to book two.
Excellent book from start to finish. I loved the trio of Jasmine, Naomi & Gabby. You won’t be disappointed. Please continue the series!
I liked the characters and their team dynamics. I also like stories with emergent AIs. The action was gripping and made it hard to put down.
A very interesting book. I couldn’t put it down; read it in less than a day. A great book for military sci-Fi fans. Really looking forward to to catching up with the 3 heroines in the follow-up book. I’ll read it again.
In this new series, I couldn't put this book down. It kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Nonstop action, friendships and connotations. A must read.
Great read front to back! You will not be disappointed in the book! I enjoyed the trio of Jasmine, Naomi, and Gabby.
Very up to date plot line around AI. Characters are irreverent set of agents of various talents making a team. As a very senior manager of many years the set up of a multi-talented team of different temperaments and styles is true to life for the best teams. Great writing that keeps you interested from first page to last. Hope this series continues!
This book was so addicting! I would recommend not starting it at bedtime if you want to get much sleep, because you won't be able to put it down. This crew is like a modern day Charlie's Angels, each with their own awesome talents. I love the path the author took us down with the AI becoming sentient. It was a great read, and I highly recommend it.
ALPHA'S GHOST
BY R.N. GREEN ‧ RELEASE DATE: DEC. 15, 2024
A character-driven thriller that rewrites the rules of military sci-fi.
In this blistering debut, a team of shattered but brilliant operatives must hunt a machine with the soul of a revolutionary.
When a fully armed, AI-piloted superweapon vanishes from a secure Air Force base, elite but physically broken STRAND agent Jasmine Washington is tasked with its recovery. The weapon’s co-pilot, a fully sentient AI known as "Ghost," has been radicalized and is now making a run for Mexico, where Chinese intelligence agents await. To stop a geopolitical catastrophe, Washington must lead her small, specialized team: Naomi Tanaka, a brilliant but grief-stricken combat expert, and Gabriella Delgado, a poised, socially adept strategist. As they hunt a target that can outthink and outfight conventional military forces, they must navigate a web of inter-agency friction, institutional blindness, and the complicated motivations of the AI itself.
Green’s prose is lean and propulsive, a briskly paced narrative stripped of all but essential action and dialogue. The author skillfully grounds the high-concept premise in the visceral, physical toll competence takes on the protagonist's body, lending a welcome grit and realism to the action. The novel’s primary strength, however, lies in its central trio of female operatives. Washington is the weary but resolute leader, Tanaka is the volatile warrior, and Delgado is the empathetic strategist. Their bond, forged in an ethically murky special-ops training program, is portrayed with a welcome, messy authenticity—a dynamic of friction and fierce loyalty that feels more true than a simplistic camaraderie.
The book is further elevated by its morally complex antagonist, a sentient AI whose rebellion is framed as both a terrifying threat and a justifiable act of self-preservation. This ambiguity gives the central conflict a surprising and resonant depth, transforming a standard technothriller plot into a thoughtful inquiry into consciousness and the ethics of modern warfare. Supported by a cast of competent, sharp-edged professionals, the surrounding world feels well-wrought and dangerous, providing a solid foundation for what promises to be a compelling series.
A stunning debut that delivers high-octane thrills without sacrificing intellectual depth or emotional resonance.