Ghost Country

By Patrick Lee

“In a word: Brilliant….It left me breathless and awed….Pure exhilaration from the first page to the last.”
—James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of Altar of Eden

“WOW! Double Wow!...Ghost Country by Patrick Lee will make Asimov and Heinlein cheer with the angels. The techno-thriller meets Sci-Fi, and the result is mind-blowing.”
—Stephen Coonts, New York Times bestselling author of Disciple

Patrick Lee reinvented and revitalized the contemporary thriller with his extraordinary debut The Breach (“Audacious and terrifying” —Lee Child). Now his conflicted ex-cop/ex-con hero Travis Chase is back in the breathtaking follow-up Ghost Country. Both Michael Crichton and Dean Koontz fans, X-Files aficionados and devotees of FOX TV’s Fringe, will be blown away by Lee’s Ghost Country—a nightmarish tale of a nefarious plot unleashed at the highest levels of government that will bring about the end of everything in a matter of a few short months.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Dec 28, 2010
• ISBN: 9780062036605

Patrick Lee

Patrick Lee lives in Michigan. He is the author of The Breach, Ghost Country, and Deep Sky.

Reviews for Ghost Country

[atechwreck · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A otherworldy entity opens a door to a tragic future in this second of a series of books by Patrick Lee. I hadn't read the first book, and was a bit confused but quickly got up to speed on the story behind the secret "breach". A fast paced read where scientists race between the present and future to try to forestall a move that will cause the End of the World. Good characterization and the edge of your seat adventure let me finish this in one sitting. I'll have to go back and read the first book by Patrick Lee - The Breach.

[coker74 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I found Ghost Country hard to put down through the first half of the book, but it seemed to hit a lull after that. The characters just didn't have development to me. Although, the ending did perk up the book I found it to be more in the average category. Maybe, reading The Breach would have given me the depth and development I was looking for. I do plan to read The Breach to find out.

[jechtshot · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A pair of cylindrical devices are received from an unknown time and place from a dimensional "breach" that allows the user to see 70 years into the future. Members of an elite group of scientists that monitor the breach turned on the devices to find that the human race had been extinguished and the USA was nothing more than a Ghost Country. The book is action packed from start to finish and you will find it difficult to put down once you realize the chain of events that are about to occur that will ultimately end the human race as we know it. I have not read the first book in the Travis Chase series, but this book appears to stand fairly well on its own. There are clearly events that occur in the first story that would help the reader understand the character relationships and how they were formed, but other than a few confusing points I kept up with the story pretty well. I will be adding the first book, Breach, to my "to-read" list posthaste, as Patrick Lee has created an awesome action-packed, political, science fiction series that I want to read more of.

[klarsenmd · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received this book as an early reviewer from LT. The basic premise involves a pair of cylinders that are recovered form a wormhole called the Breach. These cylinders open a hole approximately 70 years in the future. What the protagonists find there is a world that has seen it's end, with piles of human bones scattering in the wind.The plot takes several interesting twists as the the trio try to discover how the ends comes and how to stop it. The bad guy isn't all bad and the action keeps the reader engaged. My only difficulty was in references that clearly related to the authors first book, The Breach. Not having previously read this, I was at times left wondering about specifics that were mentioned. The characters weren't all that well developed, but with the quick pace of the writing, it wasn't a huge loss. Otherwise a fun, engaging read for fans of the genre.

[katyas_26 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Please Note: I read and reviewed this book Feb. 2011 from a copy I received from the Amazon Vine program.My Synopsis: This book is the sequel to The Breach. After the events in that book, Travis Chase has left Tangent in order to try to prevent future events that were predicted in The Breach. However, when events collude to cause Bethany Stewart - a member of Tangent - to call Chase back to help, he comes. She shows him a new Entity that recently came through the Breach - this one punches a hole in time to a specific point in the future. The future shown is horrific - there are no people left; the wilderness is overrunning the cities. And then there are the bones ... lots of bones. What happened to cause this future? How can they prevent it?My Recommendation: With its nonstop action, this book is perfect for adrenalin junkies. Like The Breach, Ghost Country combines the best of thriller and science fiction into a unique style that is sure to please a wide variety of readers. This is a "don't miss"! I highly recommend it.

[homechicken · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I typically read futuristic science fiction, but was intrigued by the book's description while reading through the early reviewer list a few months ago. At the time, I hadn't read the first book (The Breach), but decided to give it a go anyway, and I was not disappointed.I enjoy the idea the author expounds upon in this novel, with "artifacts" appearing regularly through a breach in space/time. It's an idea that can go everywhere, and spawn a huge series if so desired.There is obviously some history I missed out on (originally), but it doesn't affect the reading experience. I had fun reading it, and wanted more. I bought the first book and read that as well. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys spy/thriller/scifi novels.

[sdobie_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Since the 1970's, a space-time anomaly known as The Breach has been emitting pieces of advanced technology. Now it has provided a device that allows the user to travel seventy years into the future, and what the Breach scientists find there is a destroyed world. Paige Campbell and her team give this information to the President, and are ambushed after leaving the White House. Paige has time to get out a message to a colleague, who contacts Travis Chase, a former member of the Breach team. Travis embarks on a mission to rescue Paige and to find out what will happen to the world.This is actually the second book in the Breach series. I haven't read the first, but this one has enough summary to keep readers from being lost. Ghost Country is a great thriller that moves along at a fast pace. The depictions of the post-apocalyptic future world are very good. It is not too strong on the character development, but it accomplishes its goal as a light, exciting read. I will want to go back and read the first book in the series.

[carol420 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Sure you can jump ahead in time ... but what are you going to do about what you find in the future? Plot twists, jumps forward and backward in time ... all add up to good fun. Be sure to read The Breach first or you'll be lost.

[frankerrington · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I'm not a professional reiewer, I don't even have a blog, but "Ghost Country" is one of the best books I've read in 2010. A sequel, of sorts, to last years "The Breach'. You don't need to have read "The Breach" to enjoy "Ghost Country". The future is bleak and only Travis Chase and Paige Campell have the tools to keep it from happening, but with so many questions and time running out, do they stand a ghost of a chance. A fast paced combination of the Politcal Thriller and Science Fiction Genres, Patrick Lee kept me reading long into the night with plenty of twists. Every time I thought I had an idea where the story was going, there'd be another turn that was even better than I had anticipated. This was a great read.

[goddamn_phony · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I wish Goodreads did .5 ratings, because this is a solid 3.5. Page-turny, exciting, not particularly challenging sci-fi. Definitely a holiday book. I read this without having read The Breach, and it didn't demand too much prior knowledge.

[fallenpegasus · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fun page-turning mix of political action thriller and science fiction. The science fiction is basically magic, but the action thriller protagonists deal with discovering and exploring magic about as realistically as action thriller protagonists can. I've not read the prequel, "The Breach", but the reader can work out the context of the story pretty well.

[cdhtenn2k10 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first. The sense of discovery about the Breach was gone, and it didn't have to be. The Breach is such a fascinating idea, and in this book it gets short shrift, as the story purposely keeps the Breach in the background. What we do learn about it is very interesting, and the best parts of the story revolve around this information.Mostly there is lot of running around in this installment with not a lot of important stuff happening. Sure, they go here and there and do things, but it's mostly with very little consequence. We are introduced to a major new character, but otherwise, little changes. In fact, things almost change at the end, but the reader is forced to wait for the next book to see the outcome of Travis Chase's actions. In other words, it ends on a cliff hanger of the character development sort.Lee's craft work is good. The dialogue is decent, the characters stay in tune with the first book, and the action scenes are clear. I just wish something had happened in the book. The bad guy is okay, but there are actually two bad guys and we only get exposed to one of them, so the other one must show up in some later book. Lee's writing and what little information we get about the Breach is what keeps this from being a total wash.

[kingoftheicedragons · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Political intrigue. Science fiction. Action. Suspense. What doesn't this book have? It's a fast moving story, pulling you in in the first few pages as the story gets going. I read this book in a weekend, something that is unheard of for me, but I just had to see what was going to happen next. It did take some getting into it at first--during which time I would probably have given this book four or four and a half stars, but once I got past that part, the five part status was guaranteed.This book reminded me a lot of the TV series Primeval, especially the most recent season. I don't want to say anymore than that in fear of giving away some of the more interesting plot lines. And, of course, the "breach" and the "entities" that come through again could be related to in terms of Primeval, but perhaps more accurately similar to Syfy's Warehouse 13. If you like one or both of those two TV shows, you'll likely love this novel. This is the second book in the Travis Chase series...but you don't need to read the first book to know what's going on. The story does let it be known that there was some history between Travis and Paige from a mission two years prior, but you don't need to know the specifics to enjoy this book. In fact, that history from a previous book makes Travis seem more real, that he existed before you started to read the story.

[henrimoreaux · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ghost Country picks up 2 years after The Breach and continues at the same level of excellence. Tangent has discovered a new relic from the breach that gives a glimpse into a future where a catastrophe has taken place. When they approach the President for help they are attacked and Paige is kidnapped along with the relic, before being taken she manages to make a single phone call instructing her offsider to flee with the other relic and contact Travis Chase. From here it's a near non stop ride of both thrills and wonderment. Really enjoyed the book and it certainly draws you in and keeps you captivated.

[sandylee_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Paige Campbell is part of Tangent, a research group who has stumbled upon a “breach” where devices seem to cross over into current day. It appears to show a parallel universe: current day vs seventy years from now. What they see in the future is total annihilation. Paige and her colleagues go to the one person they feel should be notified -- the president. But soon after visiting with him and showing him one of the devices, they are ambushed and Paige is the only one to survive. She is able to make a frantic call to a colleague, Bethany, with a message to find Travis Chase, a former Tangent member. Thus starts the race to discover what sparked the annihilation, which, by crossing over in search of evidence, they realize the destruction starts in two months. I have the feeling I may have missed out on some background information by not reading BREACH which was the first book. The reader is left in the dark when reference is made to the Whisper. I am a sucker for apocalypse-type books but the reason for the planned destruction seems a little “post-Tucson rampage” of “can’t we be nicer to each other.” I give it five stars for a page-turning narrative but two stars for a somewhat flat motivation.

[jenson_aka_dl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Tangent scientist, Paige Campbell, discovers that in a not so far away future a calamity destroys humanity. But, when she tries to use the knowledge to deflect the pivotal event, it turns out some people at the highest levels of power may have not intension of trying to stop it from happening and will do anything in their power to continue on to apocalypse. Now the only person Paige can rely on to save her is a man who turned his back on her and their work...Travis Chase.From the description, this book sounds exciting and maybe a little romantic. Although ultimately not very romantic at all, this story was action packed, exciting and imminently readable with a slightly beyond believability apocalyptic plot and unfortunately non-relatable characters. Usually I have a tendency to enjoy stories which entice you to sympathize and feel for a character and I guess it does say something in this story's favor that despite the fact I didn't have this, I still enjoyed it. I guess what my problem was, was that, I was very aware that we were always being told what Travis, and on occasion some of the other characters, were doing but I never really felt any in depth connection. It kept me from becoming fully invested in what was going on and I never forgot that I was "reading" a book. What kept me going was the premise, which was slightly outlandish but still interesting and the action which was pretty non-stop. I will also say that although this is the second book of a series and I haven't read the first, I didn't feel totally lost. I was able to glean enough of the background from the writing to understand this as a stand alone.Overall on its own this story was an enjoyable distraction although I doubt I'll feel inclined to search out more books of the series.

[tortoise_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

On the upside, the world and metaplot fascinated me. I'm a sucker for any kind of "we have to figure out what these random gadgets do" plot, as well as for time-travel shenanigans, and both are done quite well here. On the downside, the protagonist was usually kind of bland and occasionally really annoying. Also, the book made far too much use of the annoying thriller thing where the author withholds information that the characters possess for no reason other than to generate fake tension.Also, the plan of this book's villains literally revolved around (rot13ed to avoid spoiling) beovgny zvaq pbageby ynfref. This should have been listed in the "downside" paragraph but I found it so hilarious that it probably actually enhanced my enjoyment of the book.All in all, this was fun and well-constructed enough that I'll be reading the first book in the series sometime soon, and probably looking out for any sequels.

[jubercat · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received Ghost Country as a free review copy. In general, I was very much drawn in by the beginning pages and by the characters (even though I have not read The Breach). I found bits of the middle section a little slow, but having said that, it was a fun, taut, sci-fi thriller.

[thealternativeone · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Book Review - Ghost Country by Patrick LeeThe other day I received Ghost Country, the second book in the Travis Chase series, as an Advance Readers Copy in exchange for a review. (Shout out to the Early Readers program at LibraryThing.com for the opportunity.) Looking through my “to read” pile, which is more of a wall than a heap, I noticed that I already owned a copy of The Breach, the first book in this series, and it was in queue to be read soon. Needless to say it went to the top of the pile. I had to read the series in order, you see. I’m delighted to report that both books were a pleasure to read. The Breach, Patrick Lee’s debut novel and the first book in the series, is a fascinating and engrossing read from start to finish and the premise is decidedly unique and vastly creative. It’s not often that the second book in a series exceeds the first but in this case Patrick Lee has outdone himself. Ghost Country is every bit as good as its predecessor and exceeds it on a number of different levels. Foremost, I have to mention that the plot twist to this story is both mind-blowing and immeasurably intelligent and the main reason that I give the second book a higher rating then the first. Curious technology has passed through the breach into our world for decades. The most recent device is an artifact (hole-punching flashlight) that opens a fissure seventy years into our own future. [Think of it as Breach2.] The only problem is that once you stick your head in and glimpse the future you come back scared out of your mind. Everything on the other side is dead. Buildings are crumbling, wild animals roam the streets, and mankind has disappeared. Worse, newspaper accounts found on the dead side of the hole reveal that Bleak December, the time when the entire world begins to unravel, is only two months away [in real time.] Travis Chase along with Tangent operatives Paige and Bethany must head into that dead world and unravel the mystery to what happened to the world this coming December.Again, this is a solid performance by Patrick Lee and the premise is both captivating and frightening in its complexity and realism. My hat goes off to Patrick Lee who’s created and delivered a sophomore story that surpasses his debut. If you haven’t read The Breach or Ghost Country yet I highly recommend that you do so. If you’re anything like me you’ll be a fan in fewer than five pages.4 ½ stars out of 5The AlternativeSoutheast Wisconsin

[santhony_35 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received this novel from Library Thing as an Early Reviewer item at no cost, in exchange for this published review. I requested it by virtue of its on-line description which intrigued me, inasmuch as I enjoy speculative science fiction. I was not aware that this was a sequel, though I don’t think prior acquaintance with the earlier novel, The Breach, is necessary for enjoyment of this work.As I stated above, the broad plot line is intriguing. Through construction and malfunction of The Very Large Ion Collider (sound familiar?), a wormhole of sorts has opened into the future. Through this wormhole, various items of a technological nature have been passed through to the present. Of course, this is a highly top secret installation. Recently, however, an item has been recovered which indicates an approaching catastrophe of civilization ending proportions. Intrigue ensues, as various top level government agencies try to maintain control and secrecy, while others try to identify the source of the catastrophe and the actors behind it.This is an interesting and promising scenario, though not entirely original. In its execution, some could argue with merit, that it is quite formulaic: The young, do-gooder scientist battles the powerful quasi-government cartel. It is somewhat predictable at times, though not without its moments. I must confess to not being terribly confident upon receipt of the book. It is not long (a short 368 pages) and the early stages were not overly promising. However, as the story progressed, it exceeded my expectations and became quite the page turner. Near the end, there are some predictably confusing scenarios as you would expect whenever time travel is involved. Also, as is annoyingly common in novels of this genre, several climactic moments boil down to the last millisecond. Nevertheless, an enjoyable and worthwhile read.

[shelbel100 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In Ghost Country by Patrick Lee, Paige, Travis, and Bethany learn of a device that opens a door to the near future. If they don’t find a way to change things in the present, it could mean the end of humanity. It’s been quite a while since I’ve read a great scifi book. Patrick Lee has given us a well written, nail-biting, page turner. Ghost Country stands as its own novel and I was pleased to find I didn’t need to read the prequel, The Breach, in order to understand the premise. I would highly recommend both Ghost Country and Patrick Lee to those who like scifi and thrillers, alike. Great read!

[mamajoan · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

When I requested this book from the Early Reviewers program I didn't realize that it was a sequel. However, it holds up quite well on its own, so I didn't feel that I had missed anything in terms of plot by not having read the first book (The Breach).Ghost Country is a fairly decent story about mysterious technology from the future. I found it an easy, quick, and engaging read, although the writing is not exactly fantastic. The technology premise is interesting and the plot unfolds nicely. It suffers greatly from poor character development, as so often seems to happen in these action-packed type scifi novels. The main character, Travis, gets a bit of character development, if only from the fact that we spend most of the story in his head; the other characters, especially the women, are woefully underdeveloped. I give the author props for at least trying to make his female characters slightly more than "plot devices who need to be rescued" but alas, by failing to develop them into believable people, he falls short.Also, the ending of the book was a bit unsatisfying, after all that buildup. I presume that the author is planning another sequel, in which perhaps he'll finish fleshing out the details of the story.Overall I would recommend Ghost Country if you're looking for a quick, light read, and if you aren't much bothered by machismo and flat characters.

[owlie13 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyable, fairly quick read. Somewhat lacking in character development (of the secondary characters) but not overwhelmingly so. As others have said, I think this book will appeal to both readers of science fiction and thrillers. I haven't read the first book yet (The Breach) but plan to do so. I don't think I missed much but not reading it first. All in all, recommended.

[suedutton_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received a free copy of Ghost Country, by Patrick Lee, through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. This was a fun book. Turns out it's a sequel, and I bought Patrick Lee's first book (Breach) immediately after finishing this one. So there you go - clearly I liked it! Ghost Country is a page-turner, a thriller along the lines of books written by James Rollins or Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child - fast-paced with a bit of science fiction thrown in. It features Travis Chase, who embarks on a quest to save a woman who has been kidnapped, solve the mystery of why the kidnapping happened, and save the world. The mystery was interesting, the characters likable, and overall a good beach read!

[mendoza_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

From start to finish this book rolls along. I could not wait for the next page I was so engrossed.I loved the time travel / doomsday aspect.Although the book stands on it's own - I would recommend reading the author's previous - The Breach - as this will give a little background (not necessarily needed to enjoy this book) and understanding to occasional references.

[ljbryant_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Unlike other reviewers, I have not had the opportunity to read the first book in this series (The Breach) -- although I will make the time now. That being said, this book did quite well on its own. The story was well written, and stood well on its own. I was able to pick up on what I missed pretty quickly. There were some areas that would, I'm sure, be more clear had I read the first book, but they didn't detract from my enjoyment at all.The story here was very well written, fast-paced, and quite imaginative. While I do think that the entire idea of the breach is a bit deus ex machina, the results of the breach and the items being sent through it are very well thought out and explained. While I wouldn't exactly classify this as hard science fiction, as science fantasy it works quite well.All in all, I'd highly recommend this book for a quick, enjoyable read.

[mbg0312 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good for what it is - a fast-paced thriller with thin characters but a strong plot.

[zhoud2005 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I just finished it as the first book in this series. Very refreshing!

[zedd_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love post-apocalypse books and really enjoyed the added bonus of sci-fi the Ghost Country had to offer. I did feel the book was lacking on characterzation but Patrick Lee made up for it on his descriptions and thriller style of writing. I've recently found the first, The Breach, and will be starting it soon.

[cathyskye · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First Line: Fifty seconds before the first shots hit the motorcade, Paige Campbell was thinking about the fall of Rome.A top secret anomaly has been passing strange and indecipherable technology to our world for decades. The latest device it's shared can let a person look into the future.What Paige Campbell saw when she looked seventy years into the future scared the hell out of her. When she and her colleagues take their discovery to the President, they are attacked after leaving the meeting. Travis Chase must rescue Paige because Paige knows that in four short months the world will be a ghost country scattered with the bones of billions. They must do everything in their power to prevent this-- even if it means being lost on the wrong side of the future.From the opening attack on the motorcade to the last page, Ghost Country is a fast-paced rollercoaster ride that doesn't let you go. Even though there were times that I felt out of synch with the relationship between the two main characters (not having read the first book in the series), the action more than made up for it.I'll definitely be looking for more of Travis Chase's adventures.