JAMES EDWARDS
BROKEN PATRIOTS
The war didn’t end when the United States fractured. It evolved.
Broken Patriots is the explosive conclusion to The Great Unwinding Trilogy, a sweeping work of post-apocalyptic political fiction and military thriller that chronicles the collapse of a nation and the cost of trying to rebuild it.
Set during the height of the Secession Wars, this installment bridges the events of Shadow Patriots and The Lone, revealing how fractured alliances, covert operations, and ideological extremism reshaped America into rival nation-states fighting for survival.
As the United Alliance of America and the Bluegrass States Republic struggle to stabilize their territories, Texas rises as both adversary and uneasy negotiator. Behind official governments, hidden networks maneuver in silence, believing they alone can prevent total societal collapse. Their decisions ignite consequences that will echo for decades.
Elite operatives are forced to confront the morality of their missions. Soldiers question the flags they fight under. Civilians are caught between collapsing cities and emerging regimes. Loyalty is tested. Identity is fractured. Memory itself becomes a battlefield.
Blending speculative geopolitical fiction, military action, covert operations, and emotionally driven character arcs, Broken Patriots explores:
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The collapse of the United States into regional powers
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The ethics of preemptive war and engineered catastrophe
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The rise of supranational governance and military alliances
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The personal cost of secrecy, patriotism, and sacrifice
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Survival in a world shaped by political extremism
For readers of military thrillers, dystopian political fiction, and epic speculative sagas, Broken Patriots delivers high-stakes action grounded in human consequence.
The trilogy may be read out of order, but together The Lone, Shadow Patriots, and Broken Patriots reveal the full scope of The Great Unwinding.
When nations break, who decides what survives?
And what are you willing to sacrifice to hold the world together?
LOST COST
A Near-Future Tech Horror Novella
How much is true freedom worth to you? In a world ruled by predatory algorithms and automated monetization, peace costs your entire history.
Adam Sabot used to be a high-flying advertising executive. He was the man who greenlit the use of personalized AI commercials, carving out a career by turning human data into corporate profit. But the system he helped build grew too efficient. Now, he’s been replaced by the very technology he championed—unemployed, isolated, and drowning his sorrows in a hyper-monetized world where even basic survival is hidden behind an aggressive paywall.
When a minor infraction turns Adam into an official financial liability to the city, his last remaining funds are systematically targeted. His only way out is an intervention at The Emporium—a towering, silent skyscraper on the horizon with a chilling promise: Unburden Your Soul.
What begins as a mandatory corporate consultation quickly spirals into a mind-bending psychological thriller. Inside the shifting, clinical walls of the Emporium, Adam is subjected to a grueling audit of his deepest regrets, his broken marriage, and his darkest sins. The predatory AI knows every variable of his past, and it demands total liquidation.
The price to clear his ledger? Every memory he has ever kept.
Lost Cost is a dark, conceptual science fiction thriller that explores the terrifying intersection of artificial intelligence, corporate horror, and digital legacy. If you crave tight, suspenseful stories with shocking final twists in the tradition of Black Mirror and The Twilight Zone, step into the elevator.
Welcome to the team. The sick-cycle carousel is about to begin.
EDEN UNBORN
Eden Unborn is a haunting, slow-burn science fiction thriller that explores identity, memory, and the future of human reproduction. In a society where artificial surrogacy is the norm and natural birth is extinct, Eden believes she’s different—until a single glitch shatters everything.
When a mysterious address leads her into the past she doesn’t remember, Eden uncovers secrets buried by time and technology—secrets about her origin… and who she truly is.
TRIAL BY JURY
A brutal murder. A shattered detective. A second chance—delivered by angels.
In this gripping crime thriller with a supernatural twist, veteran detective Frank Moletti faces his greatest nightmare: coming home to find his wife and daughter slain, and his son missing. As he teeters on the edge of despair, a strange vision and a messenger from beyond ignite a new fire within him—one fueled by faith, grief, and a thirst for justice.
With the help of his loyal partner, Joey Santiago, Frank dives into a harrowing manhunt that will test his beliefs, his resolve, and the limits of what’s possible. As clues unfold in his dreams, Frank must decipher divine signs and uncover the truth behind the killings before the murderer strikes again.
Trial by Jury is a fast-paced, emotionally charged detective mystery with powerful themes of loss, redemption, and spiritual awakening. Perfect for fans of Frank Peretti, John Grisham, and supernatural suspense stories with heart.
✔ A gritty mystery wrapped in faith
✔ Supernatural elements woven with real-world crime
✔ A powerful exploration of grief, justice, and hope
“Sometimes the greatest jury isn’t in the courtroom—it’s in heaven.”
SHADOW PATRIOTS
In a world unraveling beneath the surface, the truth is a dangerous thing. Before Jack Ashby lost his memory and stepped into a broken future, the storm had already begun. In Shadow Patriots, the prequel to The Lone, a rogue intelligence agent uncovers a conspiracy so vast, it could ignite a global reckoning. As hidden forces pull the strings of democracy, a small group of operatives must choose: protect the system they swore to defend, or expose the corruption festering within. From government backchannels to deadly urban missions, every step forward brings them closer to a terrifying secret—and a future no one is ready for. If freedom is an illusion, what would you risk to shatter it? Step into the shadows. The war for truth has already begun.
LONE
The Great Unwinding Book 1
In a world unraveling beneath the surface, the truth is a dangerous thing. Before Jack Ashby lost his memory and stepped into a broken future, the storm had already begun. In Shadow Patriots, the prequel to The Lone, a rogue intelligence agent uncovers a conspiracy so vast, it could ignite a global reckoning. As hidden forces pull the strings of democracy, a small group of operatives must choose: protect the system they swore to defend, or expose the corruption festering within. From government backchannels to deadly urban missions, every step forward brings them closer to a terrifying secret—and a future no one is ready for. If freedom is an illusion, what would you risk to shatter it? Step into the shadows. The war for truth has already begun.
THE SONG OF YOU
Do you long for a deeper, more personal relationship with Jesus?
Are you ready for a 30-day devotional journey that focuses on your true identity in Christ?
The Song of You invites you into a daily encounter with the finished work of the Cross—designed to draw your heart closer to the One who knows you completely and loves you unconditionally.
This is more than a devotional. It’s a love letter from the Father to His child— to the song that is you.
ABOUT JAMES EDWARDS
Meet James C. Edwards – Author of Gritty Thrillers and Speculative Fiction That Challenges the Status Quo
James C. Edwards is an American author known for crafting near-future dystopian thrillers, pulse-pounding mysteries, and thought-provoking genre-bending fiction that grips the heart and challenges the mind. Drawing inspiration from classic and modern greats like George Orwell, C.S. Lewis, Ted Dekker, and John Grisham, James brings powerful stories to life across multiple genres—from the haunting sci-fi of Eden Unborn to the emotionally charged crime thriller Trial by Jury, the deeply personal reflections of his 30 Day Devotional: The Song of You, and his most ambitious and signature project: The Great Unwinding series.
His flagship saga, The Great Unwinding, includes The Lone and Shadow Patriots, with more installments on the way. This series delivers a riveting blend of political intrigue, near-future dystopia, and moral complexity, perfect for fans of high-stakes, genre-bending fiction who crave stories where shifting loyalties and hidden conspiracies determine the fate of freedom.
With a style that blends mystery, raw human emotion, and thought-provoking themes, James explores identity, freedom, and the gray areas of right and wrong. His writing captivates readers seeking intense thrillers, genre-bending adventures, and stories unafraid to tackle life’s biggest questions, including faith, but never at the expense of a great story.
When he’s not crafting novels, James is passionate about encouraging others to discover their purpose and the stories they were born to tell. He is also the founder of Vanguard Patriot Press, committed to creating books and resources that inspire, challenge, and entertain.
As the online home for both James’s author brand and Vanguard Patriot Press, this website provides readers with a platform to explore his thrilling novels and insightful devotionals. Vanguard Patriot Press currently serves as the professional imprint for James’s fiction works, providing a polished and unified identity across his published books, with plans to expand its mission in the future.