Book Review — Sons of Valor IV: False Flag by Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson

(See all my Book Reviews and Author Interviews) — Brian Andrews (http://www.andrews-wilson.com) and Jeffrey Wilson are the authors of nearly 30 novels. Sons of Valor IV: False Flag was published in late July. It is the 79th title I’ve completed reading in 2025.

I received an ARC of this book for free through https://www.netgalley.com and I am voluntarily leaving this review. My opinions are unbiased and entirely my own. Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R.

Keslo Jarvis, a former Tier One operator himself, has only recently assumed office as President of the United States. Meanwhile, Crown Prince Khalid bin Ahmed al Saud of Saudi Arabia is pursuing a bold, moderate agenda, reaching out diplomatically to Israel in an effort to stabilize the turbulent Middle East.

But Khalid’s efforts are cut short. He is assassinated in his office in a coup orchestrated by his younger brother, Prince Faisal. The plot, seeded years earlier, was conceived alongside Arash Reza, an Iranian intelligence operative, during their college days. Faisal’s plan frames three Mossad agents for the murder, plunging the region into chaos.

Faisal drugs the King, keeping him in a coma. As long as the monarch lives, Faisal remains the Crown Prince, positioning him to control the country and reverse years of moderate reforms. With Reza’s guidance, Faisal aims to restore the Saudi Kingdom to hardline conservatism, joining with Iran to become the driving force in the heart of the Arab world.

US Navy Lieutenant Keith “Chunk” Redman knows uncertainty — Tier One operators thrive on it. When President Jarvis briefs Gold Squadron, telling them that the Crown Prince of the Saudi Kingdom is dead, that the King has disappeared from public view, and that Mossad agents have been framed for the assassination, it becomes clear the Middle East is a powder keg ready to ignite.

Gold Squadron splits into three critical operations: Chunk leads a team of Israeli operatives, while Sniper Saw takes command of Gold. They are tasked with intercepting a shipment of missiles to be used to attack Israel. Meanwhile, intelligence analyst Whitney Watts, along with three others, is sent by the US president to Saudi Arabia as an independent investigatory team to verify the circumstances of the crown prince’s death.

Gold Squadron is deployed to intercept two ships in the Mediterranean. Intelligence has identified them as carrying missiles to be used against Israel. Most frightening is the possibility that one or more may carry a nuclear payload.

Unseen by all, the veteran Iranian intelligence operative Arash Reza is working with his long time friend Prince Faisal to form a shadow alliance. Reza is adept at manipulating his friend with the goal of bringing Iran and Saudi Arabia together. As part of the conspiracy, Iranian forces are to smuggle an atomic bomb into Jerusalem, intending to annihilate Israel.

Watts must lead a desperate attempt to reach the King and make him aware of Prince Faisal’s betrayal. Gold squadron races against time to intercept the atomic bomb before Israel is destroyed.

I enjoyed the 9+ hours I spent reading this 433-page thriller. I have read several novels by Andrews and Wilson and they have been consistently good reads. Those other books are: Tier One, War Shadows, Crusader One, American Operator, Act of Defiance, and Defense Protocol. I give this novel a rating of 4 out of 5.

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