Nate Wilde is a former Green Beret and aspiring Harvard archaeologist. Leaving the military after a catastrophic deployment that ended with most of his team dead or injured, he chooses to pursue his passion for history. When his dissertation proposal to search for the legendary lost city of Ubar in Saudi Arabia is rejected by the Harvard examining committee and his expedition permit is denied by the Saudi government, Nate resolves to continue his research by any means necessary. And the only path left to him is to enter Saudi Arabia’s Empty Quarter through war-torn Yemen, the same sands where his brothers lost their lives years ago.
Knowing he’s going back into harm’s way, Nate turns to the only men left alive that he truly trusts—Sergeant Benjamin “Wally” Walton, a medic formerly with the British Special Air Service; Shane Price, UFC fighter turned Green Beret and an affluent playboy; and Sergeant Tim McBride, Nate’s former best friend and a true warrior. Along the way the group meets Ana Metry, a geologist of Egyptian heritage searching for her missing father, whose research is key to Nate’s quest.
Hunted by a former Spetsnaz soldier who works for a shadowy organization with unknown goals, and chased through the desert by al Qaeda terrorists, the former commandos must utilize the skills of their past profession in a race to discover whether the city truly exists, as well as uncover a deeper geopolitical mystery with resounding global ramifications.
The series
The desert keeps its secrets well. Empires have vanished beneath its sands, armies have crossed it and disappeared, and somewhere in that endless horizon lies the promise of answers powerful enough to redraw modern maps. The Nate Wilde begins in that unforgiving landscape, where history is not a relic but a weapon waiting to be unearthed.
Read full series description
Created by Alex Dekker, this emerging action-adventure thriller series introduces a former Green Beret who has stepped away from structured warfare but not from danger. He carries the instincts of special operations into a new battlefield, one defined by lost cities, contested borders, and ancient mysteries with very modern consequences. The result is a military thriller infused with archaeological suspense, where satellite imagery and ancient maps are studied with equal intensity.
The tone is lean and purposeful. Firefights are sharp and sudden, yet the deeper tension simmers in negotiations, shifting loyalties, and the fragile trust between teammates forged in previous wars. Remote deserts, unstable regions, and forgotten ruins are rendered with a sense of lived-in realism. Sandstorms obscure more than visibility, they blur moral lines. Every discovery feels earned, every setback personal.
What gives the series its edge is the protagonist’s dual identity as soldier and scholar. He approaches a crumbling inscription the same way he assesses a hostile checkpoint, with patience, discipline, and a readiness for what might go wrong. That balance creates a layered reading experience, blending high-octane action with historical intrigue and geopolitical suspense. The stakes stretch beyond personal survival toward something larger, the recognition that buried history can ignite present-day conflict.
Though still in its early stages, the series has drawn attention from readers who crave globe-trotting thrillers grounded in tactical authenticity. It speaks to fans of military adventure fiction, treasure-hunt narratives, and stories where ancient civilizations intersect with modern intelligence operations. At its core, however, it remains character-driven. The missions matter because the man undertaking them carries unfinished business from his past and questions about who he becomes without a uniform.
For those searching for a thriller series that pairs special forces realism with archaeological mystery and relentless forward momentum, this one offers a journey into harsh terrain, both physical and psychological. The sand shifts. The maps change. And somewhere beneath it all, the next secret waits.
Be the first reviewer
Sign in and write the first reader review.
