Book Awards & Reviews

-- Review --

Red Scorpion: Rising by Patrick Greenwood is a sprawling geopolitical techno-thriller that melds cybersecurity warfare, covert intelligence operations, military action, political intrigue, and an unexpectedly warm family story. As the third and final installment of the Jack Kendall series, it brings together long-running themes of sacrifice, loyalty, grief, and service into a high-stakes conclusion. Drawing on his Marine Corps background and decades of cybersecurity expertise, Greenwood crafts digital threats and intelligence conflicts that resonate with compelling urgency.

The plot traverses the United States, China, Taiwan, Japan, Hungary, Switzerland, and various international locations, entangling multiple crises. China is poised to act against Taiwan, while the criminal hacker Dimi Zosh sets his sights on the Green Kyoto cryptocurrency network and NSA Director Valerie Jones activates the secretive Red Scorpion program. Jack Kendall, alongside his children Regina and William, finds himself embroiled in a conflict involving stolen billions, blockchain vulnerabilities, assassins, deep-cover agents, military brinkmanship, and competing national agendas. This thrilling blend positions the novel as an engaging cybersecurity thriller that resonates with fans of military, espionage, political, and international action fiction, making it a strong candidate for literary awards.

What distinguishes the story is Greenwood's focus on the individuals ensnared within the machinery of governments and intelligence agencies. Jack, a veteran troubleshooter, also embodies the roles of father, grandfather, grieving partner, and a man pondering how much of his life he should still risk. His developing relationship with Li Cao introduces tenderness without detracting from the overarching suspense, while Regina and William play pivotal roles in navigating both the technical and emotional realms of the narrative. Characters like Valerie Jones, Red Scorpion One, Poppy Ledger, Hai Ming, and Dimi Zosh add layers of secrecy, ambition, trauma, and obsession, forming a diverse cast whose decisions continually reshape the ongoing crisis.

The novel’s greatest strength lies in its expansive scale. It unfolds like a season of an international espionage series, characterized by short chapters, rapid location shifts, technical dilemmas, political confrontations, and action sequences that heighten the tension. Nevertheless, its final act reveals that Jack’s ultimate journey is not merely about completing another successful operation. His quiet reunion with Li in Basel, where he opts for the life awaiting him despite Dimi's presence, lends the ending significant emotional weight. Red Scorpion: Rising stands out as an ambitious geopolitical thriller that intertwines cyberwarfare, military suspense, romance, and family loyalty, offering a tense and heartfelt conclusion to the Jack Kendall series.

Rating: 5

🏆 Firebird Book Awards — Winner, Historical Fiction & Romance

Forever Our Sunrise in Saigon · 2023 · Dual Category Win

The Firebird Book Awards recognize outstanding independent and self-published authors. Achieving a rare dual-category win in Historical Fiction and Romance, this debut novel has been celebrated in numerous fiction reviews for its authentic portrayal of the final days of Saigon and the enduring power of love set against the backdrop of war.

🥇 Bookfest Awards — 1st Place, Literary Romance

Forever Our Sunrise in Saigon

Bookfest is one of the world’s largest literary awards programs. First place in Literary Romance honors the novel’s exceptional ability to weave authentic historical events into a deeply human love story that resonates long after the final page, showcasing the impact of Patrick Greenwood's storytelling.

🥈 Bookfest Awards — 2nd Place, Contemporary Romance

Forever Our Sunrise in Saigon

This debut novel secured a second podium finish at the Bookfest Awards in the Contemporary Romance category, highlighting its cross-genre appeal and its ability to connect with readers across different literary categories and fiction reviews.

🥉 Bookfest Awards — 3rd Place, Book Cover Design

Forever Our Sunrise in Saigon

A noteworthy podium finish for Book Cover Design at the Bookfest Awards, recognizing the visual craft and intentionality behind this debut novel's cover. The design tells its own story before the first word is read.

🥈 Bookfest Awards — 2nd Place, Technothriller

Shores of Okinawa

Shores of Okinawa achieved a Bookfest second-place finish in the Technothriller category, acknowledging the novel’s authentic military tradecraft, geopolitical tension, and the real-world cybersecurity expertise that Patrick Greenwood brings to every page of the Jack Kendall series.

Writers on Writers Over a Triple Espresso — Podcast

🥈 W3 Silver Award — Best Podcast 2021

🥈 W3 Silver Award — Best Podcast 2022

🥈 W3 Silver Award — Best Podcast 2023

Three consecutive W3 Silver Awards for Best Podcast — recognized by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA), celebrating exceptional digital content worldwide. This prestigious accolade is a notable achievement in the realm of literary awards.

In this no-filter conversation series, Patrick Greenwood engages with fellow authors, storytellers, and creative minds over a triple espresso. The podcast offers raw, honest, and caffeinated discussions that delve into the craft of fiction, insightful fiction reviews, the discipline of publishing, and the personal journeys that transform life experiences into compelling stories — including reflections on the works of Patrick Greenwood Books.

🪖 Wounded Warrior Project — Red Scorpion: Rising (July 1, 2026)

20% of net sales donated to the Wounded Warrior Project, supporting injured veterans and their families, reflecting a commitment seen in Patrick Greenwood Books.

🪖 Helmets for Kids Vietnam — Forever Our Sunrise in Saigon (2022)

Net sales supported Helmets for Kids Vietnam, providing life-saving motorcycle helmets to children across Vietnam — a cause close to John’s heart after his travels there, celebrated in various fiction reviews.

🇯🇵 Help OKI — Shores of Okinawa (2023)

Proceeds supported Help OKI, a community support organization in Okinawa, Japan — honoring both the history and the people who inspired the novel, which stands out in literary awards.