The Reluctant Commander

Richard Patton
Zumaya Publications (2002)
ISBN 1894869575
Reviewed by Ronald J. Martin for Reader Views (7/06)

In the second book of Richard Patton’s Neophyte Warrior series, “The Reluctant Commander”, we continue the adventures of a young George Washington at the outset of the French and Indian War.

Washington is back on duty and leading his men to the Ohio Valley – Again! His mission dictates that he will be second in command of the operation and meet at the rendezvous with the other soldiers, where the commander of the operation, Joshua Fry, will take over.

Washington is still very young in his military career and lacks the experience and confidence to lead the expedition. The first to admit this is George himself.
Washington doesn’t feel slighted by not being put in charge, and in addition he highly opposes the mission, which he believes to be not thought out well, undersupplied, and understaffed. Upon arrival at the rally point, much to his horror, Washington finds out that Joshua Fry has been killed in an accident, and now George is the “Reluctant Commander”.

This novel keeps the reader entertained as they follow the saga through the eyes of the rampaging madman Stump Neck, the gallantly clad French Military, and the Virginia Militia Men as they fight it out at Fort Necessity.

The book opens up with a “cast of characters” review and a bit of background information for the benefit of those who haven’t read the first book in the series (“His Majesty’s Envoy”). I would suggest to readers that if they want to fully enjoy and get wrapped up in this story that they should check out the first book before this one.

Standing on its own “The Reluctant Commander” is a wonderful historical fiction tale that I would highly recommend. The in-depth development of multiple characters keeps the reader interested and offers various different perspectives about the ongoing occurrences. This is the kind of book that is very difficult to put down because the story never slows or drags. At the end of each chapter I kept saying, “What’s going to happen next?” and found myself reading for hours.

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