The Third Force is the dramatic conclusion of The Gisawi Chronicles. The Democratic Republic of Gisawi is on the verge of historic elections after the ousting of the county’s longtime dictator. The fragile democracy is imperiled when an infamous warlord and his rebel army threaten to send the country into chaos.
When Colonel Louie Bigombe emerges as a surprise candidate in the presidential election, it’s unclear who’s supporting him and why. He must discover the truth as the campaign turns deadly for those he most wants to protect.
Operation Hermes is the dramatic sequel to the satirical novel War Under the Mango Tree. An economic crisis and rioting in the streets threaten to topple the government of the longtime American ally. Amid the turmoil, the country’s aging autocrat looks to Beijing for support, raising fears in Washington of a new superpower rivalry emerging in Africa.
A mysterious assassination attempt sends rivals scrambling for advantage, each hoping to occupy the executive mansion. With the country’s future hanging in the balance, American spies, diplomats, and soldiers race against time and each other to get their candidate into power.
At a remote military camp in Africa, a small detachment of American soldiers and their local allies wage a high-tech manhunt to neutralize the notorious warlord Daniel Odoki and defeat his rebel army. As the quixotic campaign unfolds, a cast of glory-seeking generals, rapacious mercenaries and corrupt government officials are determined to finish off Odoki, though each for different reasons.
In the tradition of writers such as Joseph Heller, Kurt Vonnegut, and Evelyn Waugh, War Under the Mango Tree is a darkly painted satire of war, money, and corruption on the far-flung reaches of Pax Americana.
Praise for War Under the Mango Tree
“Loaded with plenty of whiskey-tango-foxtrot moments, War Under the Mango Tree is a thoroughly entertaining lampoon of the US military machine…Not since Catch 22 has a novel this brilliant come along. Five cheeky stars!” – David Edlund, USA Today bestselling author of Guarding Savage
“. . . a brilliant satire of the hypocrisy, bureaucracy, banality, and ineptitude of the military. . .scathingly funny and often feels absurd—yet other times, all too real.” – David Aretha, editor of multiple award-winning military books
Praise for Operation Hermes
“Voelz conjures a tightly wrought, edgy, and satirical thriller…the more a reader knows about Africa, the more real Gisawi seems…the dialogue is sharp and believable to anyone who has been in these crisis action rooms.” — Bill Bray, deputy editor-in-chief, Proceedings.
“The espionage tradecraft and geopolitical setup are spot on, leaving the reader to ponder where fact and fiction diverge…Operation Hermes is a must-read!” — Dave Edlund, USA Today bestselling author of Valiant Savage
“Voelz possesses a wicked sense of humor that never disappoints.” — Robert Bruce Adolph, author of Surviving the United Nations: The Unexpected Challenge.
“A roller-coaster ride of international intrigue…Filled with intriguing characters, a larger-than-life storyline, and back-stabbing politics…a great read, and once started, hard to put down – it has all the elements of a Fredrick Forsyth piece of work.” — Tom Wangler, author of Nigeria – An Ancient Secret Becomes the Adventure of a Lifetime.
Praise for The Third Force
“The Third Force offers an all too real finale to the Gisawi Chronicles. Told through the eyes of Louie, a Gisawian army officer, it offers a cautionary tale about nation-building run amok. Fiction often gets to a higher truth. The Third Force proves it.” — Kevin Maurer, NY Times Bestselling co-author of No Easy Day.
Glenn Voelz 