Book Review of Shadow of Betrayal by Brett Battles

The 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.

Review:
I enjoy fast-paced action thrillers with bighearted heroes, so I couldn't put down Brett Battles's  latest Jonathan Quinn novel. 

Jonathan Quinn is a master at what he does and he's started out on his own.  In his business trust and honor are everything.  Since this is the third book in the series and Battles intentionally doesn't tell us how Quinn was maneuvered into agreeing to "3 jobs, no questions" which would be a story in itself.  It's one of those contract terms that will clearly prove problematic and it does, particularly since Quinn isn't about to renege on the deal.

If you're willing to suspend disbelief and dive into the story, Quinn and his loyal band of ex-military are a fun escape.  The "3 jobs, no questions" places them in a precarious position from the start and we see just how wily their employer gets.  But there's a larger story -- the targeting of a vulnerable group and the risk of an international incident -- in the middle of the intrigue, espionage, and action.

I do enjoy books like Shadow of Betrayal because of the fast-paced action and unexpected twists.  The book read much like a high octane action film with sympathetic heroes and a satisfying conclusion.   If you're looking to escape with a fun thriller, check out Brett Battles's Shadow of Betrayal.

ISBN-10: 0440243726 - Paperback $7.99
Publisher: Dell (May 25, 2010), 512 pages.
Review copy provided by Kaye Publicity.

About the Author:
Brett Battles was born and raised in southern California. His parents, avid readers, instilled the love of books in him early on.

Though he still makes California his home, he has traveled extensively to such destinations as Ho Chi Minh City, Berlin, Singapore, London, Paris, and Bangkok, all of which play parts in his current and upcoming Jonathan Quinn novels.  Learn more on Brett Battles's website at http://www.brettbattles.com/index.html