Jack’s Rogues Trilogy: Part I – Operation Agos; Part II – To Hell and Gone; Part III- Death’s Door. It’s intense and fast-moving. Unpredictable and unique. Genre’s include Metaphysical Fiction, Magical Realism, Military Fantasy and Military Romance. Jack’s Rogues is a continuation of the story begun in “The End.”
Audiobook: God (Adonai) and the Devil (Samael) have worked together for billions of years creating nature (biology) on Earth: For a hundred million with intent to create a species capable of carrying it forward into the otherwise sterile Milky Way galaxy; the last fifteen thousand in stark disagreement over the prospects of a species both promising and threatening to the entire enterprise: Homo sapiens. Humankind.
Key elements of the story:
–Humans have a divine purpose [to steward Creation] but don’t realize it.
–God (Adonai) and the Devil (Samael) are the co-creators; they argue over H. sapiens’ potential to carry that divine purpose out.
–Exhausted by mankind’s intensifying failures, Adonai agrees to quit interceding and to let the humans drive themselves to extinction. Samael decides (on his own) to hurry that process along: acting through Iran’s Supreme Leader and its Quds Force, he makes bomb-like devices that will strangulate sixty percent of the world’s population overnight; then wipe out the rest in a few centuries of total chaos.
–Meanwhile U.S. political leaders prioritize venal concerns over truly important matters but one leader, President Anne Murphy, stands alone and fights back.
–And major oil concerns attempt a dramatic assassination of the President before she can enact a Constitutional Amendment to mandate stewardship of the environment.
–Amidst of all this are the protagonists: two kindred spirits in the afterlife, Francis Xavier O’Rourke and Deirdre Anne Kavanagh, who both died tragically young in their Earthly lives. They find one another & league up in a strike team “The Rogues” to counter an adversarial strike team of Hell’s operatives “Vragi Naroda.” In Fran and De’s mission “to save the stupid humans” they venture into the depths of Hell and to the high reaches of Heaven. They even become human again in an all-out bare-knuckles scramble to create one last chance to turn this thing around.
A breathtaking setup. A rollicking story. A multi-genre mashup of metaphysical fiction, magical realism, military fantasy, and action-adventure. Faith, doubt, war, politics, love, friendship, nihilism, existentialism, climate science, treachery, the material world and the afterlife – all woven together. 18.73 hours of excitement, profundity, tension, fun, world building, world ending, and world expansion. It’s worth a listen. [Also, zero Artificial Intelligence employed in researching, writing, editing: AI free.]
Audiobook Publisher: Blackstone Publishing (9/9/2025)
JACK’S ROGUES by Paul Bryan Roach Copywrite August 11, 2020 TXu 2-214-248
Reviews:
- Peter Schlegel 5 out of 5 stars Well beyond adventure! Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2026 Jack’s Rogues is a multi-genre—military action/adventure, fantasy, magical realism, and metaphysical fiction novel.The story unfolds and soon becomes unconventional as it is refuses to follow a straightforward commando-oriented adventure arc. The story demands patience as magic-realism elements emerge, and weaves in philosophical tangents that feel Russian in their depth exploring existential discussions on humanity, creation, the environment, politics, history and love. Roach’s war-vet lens adds authenticity to themes of military conflict, foreign lands, brotherhood, and the absurdities of conflict.The plot follows a team of commandos (led by the character Jack) on a high-stakes mission—literally trying to “save the world” from catastrophic threats. The adventure marches forward amid side stories and digressions that explore the infinite goodness and extraordinary stupidity of humanity. Dr Roach ultimately dovetail all these diverse elements into this infinitely entertaining novel.
- Zoomazoom 5 out of 5 stars Paul is Back! Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2026 He does it again! I’ve read a handful of Paul’s books and he’s masterful. And that voice is made for storytelling!
- Paul Popernik 5 out of 5 stars A Can’t Miss Adventure Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2026 Paul B. Roach nails this ambitious venture into life, love, and the pursuit of something meaningful beyond oneself. It’s a story that only someone with a deep background in medicine and the military could tell in such a riveting and engrossing fashion. Add in the many metaphysical themes woven into a brilliantly defined dualistic reality, and you have an equally exciting and inspiring story that will hold your attention to the thrilling end.
- Storytelling Trifecta! erin hupp Paul Bryan Roach has hit the trifecta of successful storytelling: writing a rip snorter of a multi-genre action and fantasy tale; narrating a stirring plot with multiple voices in a coherent and beguiling manner; and offering an audio technical quality which makes all the components work seamlessly for the listener’s enjoyment. The central action involves the hero’s and heroine’s attempt to prevent the end of mankind as our technologically advanced species is spurred on by malevolent forces to race headlong into oblivion. It is played out over Space, Time, and Beyond Space/Time. The characters and their situations are delightfully original, dynamic and surprising despite heady themes rooted in theology, philosophy and military history. There is nothing cliche nor rote in this thoroughly unique tale. The overall tone of the novel is playful, with much humor despite its apocalyptic setting. The protagonist is Fran O’Rourke, yet equal attention is paid to his counterpart Deirdre Kavanaugh. Together and apart they encounter challenges in this life, the after life and the after after life. Both are US marines. However, when we first meet them both are Marines in Heaven. They face extraordinary challenges, dramatic tension as well as personal growth while pursing their mission to save the planet and humankind. They are accompanied by a troop of extraordinary (Heavenly) warriors. Together these recruits band together into a unit known as Jack’s Rogues, under the guidance of Jack O’Rourke, Fran’s father. Adventures ensue as the Rogues and their allies are confronted by a host of fascinating supernatural and earthly adversaries, while their leader Jack is held hostage by a mysterious former Soviet agent, now in league with the Devil – or is he? The novel is adroitly structured into three main Parts, clearly identified for the listener. Within each part the story flows with good continuity from each clearly indicated and organized chapter. The chapter breaks as well as the author’s clear transitions between scenes assist mightily in clarifying the action while one listens and absorbs all the components of the unique world-building the author accomplishes. The quality of the sound is excellent. The quality of the narration is exceptional. The author reads his own work with adroit pacing. The time shifts, the emotional registers, the settings are all effectively communicated. The vocal characterizations are simply amazing; as the author performs a diverse array of characters and situations and does so with great expression and clarity. And the funny parts are truly humorous, the suspense truly intense! Having read the book and having listened to the audio version, I much prefer the audio version; it is rich and rollicking and wondrous. You won’t be disappointed and you will think about this extraordinary tale for some time after! 5.0 Performance; 5.0 Story