Book Review: Shadow of Betrayal

Shadow of Betrayal is the third in the Jonathan Quinn series by Brett Battles, although it is the first in the series that I have read. Shadow of Betrayal can stand alone as a thriller, but some parts of it would have been more clear if I’d read the previous novel. Even though I sort of understand what the group “LP” is, don’t ask me to tell you.

The good news is you don’t have to know the specifics, just that LP is working against our hero, Quinn. There are two other main players. The first is Orlando, Quinn’s girlfriend and second in arms. Battles does a good job of portraying Orlando as tough and dependable and as much an expert as Quinn, yet she can be soft when the time’s right. The second is Nate who Quinn relies on, despite Nate’s having one prosthetic leg. (My feeling is that Nate lost the leg in the previous book since during this book Quinn is questioning whether Nate will be able to keep up while at the same time feeling guilty for how Nate lost the leg.)

Now that you know the characters, here’s the back cover blurb:

Three jobs, no questions. That’s the deal Jonathan Quinn -- freelance operative and professional “cleaner” -- has struck with his client at the Office. But his first assignment in rural Ireland unexpectedly results in four dead bodies to dispose of -- and leads him to an astounding mystery about to spin wildly out of control.

Now Quinn, along with his colleague and girlfriend, the lethal Orlando, has a new mission: find and protect a U.N. aide worker who has suddenly disappeared from her assignment in war-torn Africa. If it were only that easy. Soon Quinn and Orlando will unearth a horrifying plot that is about to reach stage critical for a gathering of world leaders -- and an act of terror more cunning, and more insidious, than anyone can foresee.

I could see the Jonathan Quinn series as becoming one that I follow. I like that Quinn and Orlando work together. It’s not often you see a woman portrayed as capable and as realistically as Orlando is. And Quinn, clearly the hero, is not one-dimensional. The story moved quickly and kept me turning pages.
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FTC Disclaimer: Shadow of Betrayal was sent to me by Kaye Publicity in Chicago. I’ve no doubt that they hoped I would do a review, although they did not ask for one. But I liked the book, so I wrote this review. I also liked that they goofed and sent me two copies. Woo-woo! That means, I’m giving away the untouched copy (don’t think anyone would want my dog-eared one). So, if you would like Shadow of Betrayal by Barry Award winning author Brett Battles, leave a comment. You don’t need to leave an email address unless when I click on your name and go to your Profile, there’s no email address there. If there is an address there and you win, I’ll email you to get your mailing address. Also, I have no idea what it costs to mail things outside of the U.S., so if you know, give me a warning so I don’t faint in the post office when the bill is rung up. The drawing closes at midnight Saturday, June 12th.