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5 Minutes to Die
The deadliest enemies are the ones we cannot see.
When Army Ranger Garrett Knox left behind his military career to lead wilderness expeditions, he thought he’d escaped the life-threatening missions forever. But his quiet world in the Montana mountains explodes one evening, forcing him to accept a persistent government agent’s dangerous mission:
Hunt down Knox’s former military buddy accused of treason and the murder of nearly their entire platoon.
Knox’s globe-spanning pursuit of answers soon places him in the crosshairs of a covert operation testing bioweapons on innocent civilians. As the body count rises, Knox assembles his own skilled team to expose the truth and topple the corrupt power-players behind the deadly conspiracy.
Racing from the halls of Washington D.C. to the unforgiving jungles of the Amazon and the hinterlands of Africa, Knox and his team find themselves in a do-or-die race to gather evidence and stop the devious masterminds before their sinister plans can infect the entire nation.
With adrenaline-charged action, stunning betrayals, and a final confrontation that will leave Knox and his country changed forever, this gritty page-turner by bestseller R.J. Patterson (Titus Black Series) will keep you breathless until the last shocking secret is revealed.
This action thriller is perfect for fans of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Vince Flynn’s Mitch Rapp, Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne or Stephen Hunter’s Bob Lee Swagger!
When Army Ranger Garrett Knox left behind his military career to lead wilderness expeditions, he thought he’d escaped the life-threatening missions forever. But his quiet world in the Montana mountains explodes one evening, forcing him to accept a persistent government agent’s dangerous mission:
Hunt down Knox’s former military buddy accused of treason and the murder of nearly their entire platoon.
Knox’s globe-spanning pursuit of answers soon places him in the crosshairs of a covert operation testing bioweapons on innocent civilians. As the body count rises, Knox assembles his own skilled team to expose the truth and topple the corrupt power-players behind the deadly conspiracy.
Racing from the halls of Washington D.C. to the unforgiving jungles of the Amazon and the hinterlands of Africa, Knox and his team find themselves in a do-or-die race to gather evidence and stop the devious masterminds before their sinister plans can infect the entire nation.
With adrenaline-charged action, stunning betrayals, and a final confrontation that will leave Knox and his country changed forever, this gritty page-turner by bestseller R.J. Patterson (Titus Black Series) will keep you breathless until the last shocking secret is revealed.
This action thriller is perfect for fans of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Vince Flynn’s Mitch Rapp, Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne or Stephen Hunter’s Bob Lee Swagger!
- GenresThriller
416 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 9, 2024
642 people are currently reading
3074 people want to read
About the author
R.J. Patterson
199 books209 followers*** Signup for my newsletter and receive a free copy of The Warren Omissions, the first book in my James Flynn thriller series, by visiting http://eepurl.com/bZwpdf ***
THE FIRST SIGNS that I might like writing -- and that I might be slightly competitive -- appeared when my year two (or first grade) teacher, Mrs. Holland, asked my class to write and illustrate our day. Mine read like this: “The Red team beat the Blue team, 1 to nil. And I won.” The next 47 entries covered my exploits on the soccer pitch while growing up in Ipswich, England.
In South Carolina as a teenager, my dad told me that I could get paid to watch sports provided I could write about it. Sounded easy enough and by the time I was 16, I landed a job at my town’s daily newspaper and had a column on Major League Baseball players from our area. I also covered my first riot there at a sporting event -- and it’s safe to say I was smitten with journalism.
After graduating from one of the best journalism schools in the country, I took a job as a sports editor in South Georgia and learned firsthand about the passion of high school sports in rural America. I thought I knew before, but I didn’t. This was another world.
I also had the opportunity to cover major sporting events like the Olympic Games, the World Series, the Super Bowl, and the Final Four. It was a thrill!
But nothing was as thrilling to me as uncovering the truth in investigative assignments. I once broke a story about a prominent southern football team’s NCAA violation -- and found out the violating coach had committed suicide only a few months earlier. The story won a national writing award and stoked my desire to write about these issues. It made me realize that the sports world was just another fantastic backdrop for drama.
After writing non-fiction books with athletes, for athletes, and ghost writing for many others, I decided to enter the world of fiction writing. It had been something I wanted to do but never found the time. So, I made the time--and had a blast in the process.
I’m not out to become the next Faulkner or Hemingway -- I’m just out to tell a good story. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them!
THE FIRST SIGNS that I might like writing -- and that I might be slightly competitive -- appeared when my year two (or first grade) teacher, Mrs. Holland, asked my class to write and illustrate our day. Mine read like this: “The Red team beat the Blue team, 1 to nil. And I won.” The next 47 entries covered my exploits on the soccer pitch while growing up in Ipswich, England.
In South Carolina as a teenager, my dad told me that I could get paid to watch sports provided I could write about it. Sounded easy enough and by the time I was 16, I landed a job at my town’s daily newspaper and had a column on Major League Baseball players from our area. I also covered my first riot there at a sporting event -- and it’s safe to say I was smitten with journalism.
After graduating from one of the best journalism schools in the country, I took a job as a sports editor in South Georgia and learned firsthand about the passion of high school sports in rural America. I thought I knew before, but I didn’t. This was another world.
I also had the opportunity to cover major sporting events like the Olympic Games, the World Series, the Super Bowl, and the Final Four. It was a thrill!
But nothing was as thrilling to me as uncovering the truth in investigative assignments. I once broke a story about a prominent southern football team’s NCAA violation -- and found out the violating coach had committed suicide only a few months earlier. The story won a national writing award and stoked my desire to write about these issues. It made me realize that the sports world was just another fantastic backdrop for drama.
After writing non-fiction books with athletes, for athletes, and ghost writing for many others, I decided to enter the world of fiction writing. It had been something I wanted to do but never found the time. So, I made the time--and had a blast in the process.
I’m not out to become the next Faulkner or Hemingway -- I’m just out to tell a good story. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 15, 2024
Garrett, this looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship
Amazing way to start a new series. Action and suspense are the best ways to describe what is in store for you. There's no gap in the thrilling story to give you a rest. You're going to hate to have to stop reading this novel so that you can get some sleep. Word of advice, don't start this book if you need to get to work or school the next day.
Amazing way to start a new series. Action and suspense are the best ways to describe what is in store for you. There's no gap in the thrilling story to give you a rest. You're going to hate to have to stop reading this novel so that you can get some sleep. Word of advice, don't start this book if you need to get to work or school the next day.
February 20, 2024
Excellent start to a new series from R.J. Patterson.
5 Minute to Die is the 31st book by R.J. Patterson that I have read so far, and I’m positive there will be many more as long as he keeps writing. This book is unique for a couple of reasons, first off this is the first book in a new series where I didn’t know any of the characters from previous stories and because Garrett Knox the main character of the series carries more scars than his prosthetic leg from his service as a Ranger. Once again Mr. Patterson weaves intense action, suspense, subterfuge and plain old betrayal together to create a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat holding your breath. Along with an excellent story he has created a cast of believable characters who each have their own demons to confront. If you enjoy high impact thrillers, do yourself a favor and grab a copy of 5 Minutes to Die, you won’t be sorry. I received an Advance Reader Copy from the author and chose to provide my honest opinion.
5 Minute to Die is the 31st book by R.J. Patterson that I have read so far, and I’m positive there will be many more as long as he keeps writing. This book is unique for a couple of reasons, first off this is the first book in a new series where I didn’t know any of the characters from previous stories and because Garrett Knox the main character of the series carries more scars than his prosthetic leg from his service as a Ranger. Once again Mr. Patterson weaves intense action, suspense, subterfuge and plain old betrayal together to create a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat holding your breath. Along with an excellent story he has created a cast of believable characters who each have their own demons to confront. If you enjoy high impact thrillers, do yourself a favor and grab a copy of 5 Minutes to Die, you won’t be sorry. I received an Advance Reader Copy from the author and chose to provide my honest opinion.
December 19, 2025
2.5 star—Audiobook—0nce again, I fail to understand the high ratings given to such a mediocre book. The story had so many flaws and inconsistencies it was almost comical. Things were said to “sound good” but made no sense.
The narration was equally as unimpressive as the story itself. While the narrator’s voice had great potential, he didn’t know how to use it. His attempts at additional voices and accents were pitiful, and he came across as being uninspired, even bored—which I kind of understand given the drivel he had to read.
I didn’t like the ending and was sorry to realize this was not a standalone but the start of a series. For an excellent example of what this book could only hope to be, read the Tier One series.
The narration was equally as unimpressive as the story itself. While the narrator’s voice had great potential, he didn’t know how to use it. His attempts at additional voices and accents were pitiful, and he came across as being uninspired, even bored—which I kind of understand given the drivel he had to read.
I didn’t like the ending and was sorry to realize this was not a standalone but the start of a series. For an excellent example of what this book could only hope to be, read the Tier One series.
October 25, 2024
When Army Ranger Garrett Knox left behind his military career to lead wilderness expeditions, he thought he’d escaped the life-threatening missions forever. His quiet world in the Montana mountains explodes one evening, forcing him to accept a persistent government agent’s dangerous mission: Hunt down Knox’s former military buddy accused of treason and the murder of nearly their entire platoon. He finds Rico but he has a different story than what Knox was told. Knox, Rico and MacKenzie save the world from corrupt power brokers in high places. A very enjoyable novel! Lots of action and twists and turns. Looking forward to the next one.
January 14, 2025
RJ Patterson books always have plenty of action, plot twist and turns, and main characters you can relate to. And they don’t always make the right decisions, or listen to people who are warning them. Knox was humanized a lot when he decided to trust Dr Warren and was captured. But of course, it was done in such a way that you knew he was still right about trusting her - she had no idea what was really planned. So he was wrong…but still right! Loved the ending too - resolving the situation yet opening the next one…on to books two and three!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2024
An excellent action thriller with a great storyline and outstanding realistic characters in an international setting. Contains plenty if action, suspense, betrayals, and several twists. A page turning read with an unexpected ending that I highly recommend. Bring on more adventures with Garrett Knox!
April 21, 2024
5 Minutes To Die - a review by Rosemary Kenny.
Garrett Knox is a modest, self-effacing hero, who thinks his former American Ranger military career is behind him.
Being always ready to put the weak and innocent before his duty led to him being wounded and honoroubly discharged.
Having a new career leading troubled youngsters to become their best, Knox is fulfilled and happy in his new career...but then the past comes calling.
R.James Patterson's 5 Minutes To Die will take you on a wild ride, as Knox must make the toughest decision of his life!
Garrett Knox is a modest, self-effacing hero, who thinks his former American Ranger military career is behind him.
Being always ready to put the weak and innocent before his duty led to him being wounded and honoroubly discharged.
Having a new career leading troubled youngsters to become their best, Knox is fulfilled and happy in his new career...but then the past comes calling.
R.James Patterson's 5 Minutes To Die will take you on a wild ride, as Knox must make the toughest decision of his life!
May 13, 2024
3.75 stars, rounded up.
I won this ebook from Goodreads in exchange for my honest opinion.
I liked this book and think it was worth the read. The pace moved along with some exciting parts that got the heart pumping. This first book in the series is similar to other series in which a special ops protagonist uses his skills to help a senator’s wife unravel the mystery behind her son’s death. The ending was satisfying with a cliff hanger to the next book in the series.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes military thrillers and mysteries.
I think this book was good enough to be a four star read if not for the editorial needs. There were several redundancies as well as missing words in sentences. If you can get past that then I think this book is an enjoyable read.
Thanks to #goodreads for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I won this ebook from Goodreads in exchange for my honest opinion.
I liked this book and think it was worth the read. The pace moved along with some exciting parts that got the heart pumping. This first book in the series is similar to other series in which a special ops protagonist uses his skills to help a senator’s wife unravel the mystery behind her son’s death. The ending was satisfying with a cliff hanger to the next book in the series.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes military thrillers and mysteries.
I think this book was good enough to be a four star read if not for the editorial needs. There were several redundancies as well as missing words in sentences. If you can get past that then I think this book is an enjoyable read.
Thanks to #goodreads for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 31, 2024
Compelling!
Early in the book I thought that, like many thrillers, the plotline was over-the-top! Well it was, but also an intense page turner that was thrilling! Knox, Rico and MacKenzie save the world from corrupt power brokers in high places! The fun is in the details! A very enjoyable novel!
Early in the book I thought that, like many thrillers, the plotline was over-the-top! Well it was, but also an intense page turner that was thrilling! Knox, Rico and MacKenzie save the world from corrupt power brokers in high places! The fun is in the details! A very enjoyable novel!
January 12, 2025
While a good story. It just moved around at impossible speed. Too many things that just does not make sense. It jumped from the start and had so many turns. Especially how the cleaner gets it. Too impossible to believe but heck that is the story right. I still gave it plenty of stars as it does have good character development.
August 1, 2025
Absolutely great!
A pulse pounding page turner of a book, impossible to put down. The plot is amazing, and is full of suspense and unexpected twists and turns. The story is great, the characters are well portrayed, and the plot builds swiftly to an explosive and satisfying ending.
In summary, just an absolutely great read from beginning to end, highly recommended.
A pulse pounding page turner of a book, impossible to put down. The plot is amazing, and is full of suspense and unexpected twists and turns. The story is great, the characters are well portrayed, and the plot builds swiftly to an explosive and satisfying ending.
In summary, just an absolutely great read from beginning to end, highly recommended.
May 15, 2024
5 Minutes to Die
The plot was very interesting and offered lots of twists and turns. In some sections it was hard to follow, in others it was hard to put the book down. Worth the time to read and looking forward to the rest of the story.
The plot was very interesting and offered lots of twists and turns. In some sections it was hard to follow, in others it was hard to put the book down. Worth the time to read and looking forward to the rest of the story.
May 25, 2024
This was definitely a different genre than I typically read. That being said, I did enjoy the book. I felt at times, it jumped quickly at points and I would wonder if I missed something. There was action throughout the entire book.
Thank you for the gifted copy.
Thank you for the gifted copy.
August 12, 2024
A thriller with more than one twist
Ok. I'm biased. I love anything R J writes. So much believable action. Clean read. If you like Reacher or Bourne you will love this!! Going to jump into the next book right away‐!! BTW I won't have to trim my nails for awhile. 😁
Ok. I'm biased. I love anything R J writes. So much believable action. Clean read. If you like Reacher or Bourne you will love this!! Going to jump into the next book right away‐!! BTW I won't have to trim my nails for awhile. 😁
May 1, 2025
Great read!
This grabs you right from the start and doesn't let go till the last word!! Loved the characters. Be warned, it will keep you up all night! Can't wait to start the next book.
This grabs you right from the start and doesn't let go till the last word!! Loved the characters. Be warned, it will keep you up all night! Can't wait to start the next book.
April 13, 2024
Stunning!
This was an excellent book! The beginning to a great series, I am sure. Looking forward to the next one. I highly recommend!
This was an excellent book! The beginning to a great series, I am sure. Looking forward to the next one. I highly recommend!
April 23, 2024
A very good book!
I really enjoyed this book thank you RJ Patterson for a very good book I can't wait for the next one!
I really enjoyed this book thank you RJ Patterson for a very good book I can't wait for the next one!
April 24, 2024
Another intriguing story that will keep you trying to guess what happened. Ex military, turned Ranger , Knox realizes the danger is still there. How will he figure out the best way to solve this.
April 24, 2024
great
Great (1st?) Garret Knox action thriller !!! Seems like a nother exciting adventure is coming up! Can’t wait to read it
Great (1st?) Garret Knox action thriller !!! Seems like a nother exciting adventure is coming up! Can’t wait to read it
April 24, 2024
plane down
Another thrilling story by R J Patterson love the ending and can’t wait for the next book with Garrett Knox. Kept my attention the whole time and was very well written.
Another thrilling story by R J Patterson love the ending and can’t wait for the next book with Garrett Knox. Kept my attention the whole time and was very well written.
April 27, 2024
Well written, intriguing and compelling
I enjoyed this book from start to finish. So many twists and turns kept me eager to read and read and read to get to the end. Can’t wait to read the sequel.
I enjoyed this book from start to finish. So many twists and turns kept me eager to read and read and read to get to the end. Can’t wait to read the sequel.
May 1, 2024
I really did enjoy this one but I can't seem to find the sequel ??
Want to read
May 7, 2024This book would make a great movie! Lots of thrills. A must read1
May 8, 2024
Excellent read. This was a very interesting book with well developed characters and a good fast moving plot. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the rest of the series.
June 7, 2024
Exciting, thrilling and enthralling.
February 18, 2025
Wonderful
What a strange twist of fate. Ending through me for a huge loop. Great story but got to read next novel to see where we are....
What a strange twist of fate. Ending through me for a huge loop. Great story but got to read next novel to see where we are....
March 24, 2025
Good story bad grammar
Good story, but frequently, grammar seemed to be AI driven, or just not edited, with numerous, easy sentences using wrong words to complete simple sentences.
Good story, but frequently, grammar seemed to be AI driven, or just not edited, with numerous, easy sentences using wrong words to complete simple sentences.
June 18, 2025
Slow and disjointed.
September 19, 2025
have 5 minutes to read this book, so......get started!!!! And once you start reading you will not be able to put it down until you finish it!!!!!!!!!!
October 24, 2025
Good read!
This was a good thriller and a lot of scary things happened. It is based on military tactics and the characters are mostly all former military people.
This was a good thriller and a lot of scary things happened. It is based on military tactics and the characters are mostly all former military people.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews