Author: Christopher Reich
ISBN-13: 9780385531542
Hardcover: 372 pages
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
FTC Disclosure: My copy of Rules of Betrayal was provided by the publisher for this review. I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.
drey's thoughts:
I wonder how it is that I've never read Christopher Reich before. Especially since I picked up Rules of Betrayal, whilst half-awake due to lack of sleep because my son's been up coughing for the last 4 nights, just to read a few chapters before I took a quick nap so I could get through the rest of the evening. And I could NOT put it down. So, thanks, Christopher--I'm now even more sleep-deprived than I was a few hours ago (no, I never made it to the nap).
In Rules of Betrayal, Jonathan Ransom is doing the do-gooder thing (to make up for the not-so-good things he's done in his past), treating the sick in Afghanistan, when he is kidnapped by a local warlord-slash-druglord-slash-all-'round-bad-guy. Not for money, oh no. But to heal his father, a top-of-everybody's-terrorist-list bad guy. Guess it runs in the family. However, through no fault of Jonathan's, bad guy's dad is offed while he's there. And he gets dragged heels kicking into the world of international espionage.
Not that he had much choice. Especially since the poor guy still loves his wife, an infamous spy herself. Never mind that he has no clue where she's at or what she's doing. Which is a good thing, since what she's doing is pretty dangerous, and a girl could get herself plenty hurt at it. Anyhoo.
The plot is tight with the usual cast of characters you'd expect in a spy thriller. Hero? Check. Lost love interest? Check. New girl interest? Check. Bad guys galore? Check. Some sort of weapon that could blow us all into a gajillion bits? Check. Double-crosses and twists and turns? Definitely. And, of course, spies galore. And while at times I could just imagine Matt Damon as Jonathan (who couldn't, after watching Damon in the Bourne movies?), I found that reading Mr. Reich is definitely less heavy on prose and more to the point than reading Mr. Van Lustbader. After all, who needs to wander all over Pakistan on a mule when you can just ride in a Humvee?
Thriller fans should pick this up. Or better yet, win it--read on!
drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good
Challenges: 100+, Pub
Giveaway!
Thanks to the awesome folks at Doubleday, I have two copies of Rules of Betrayal up for grabs, if you're a US resident (no PO Boxes, please!). To enter, comment and tell me you're a GFC follower--I'm shamelessly promoting my blog! Include an email address where you can be reached. +1 entry if you tweet (comment separately with the tweet link, please). +1 entry if you blog or link in your sidebar (comment separately with the link, please). Do it before 6:00pm CST August 18th. Good luck!
20 comments:
Ooh, count me in! This sounds like something The Big Guy would love to read. Awesome review, Drey!
florida982002[at]yahoo.com
I would love to read this book. I have read all of this author's novels and they are all riveting and suspenseful. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
I'd love to win this book. Thanks for the giveaway. I'm a GFC follower.
forwhlz at gmail dot com
I tweeted this at http://twitter.com/ForWhlz/status/20403988070
forwhlz at gmail dot com
Please count me in. GFC Follower.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
Hey Drey,
Count me in please. I am GFC follower. I hope your little man feels better soon. Get some sleep mom. I have been watching a lot of Burn Notice lately. This book should fit right in with that mood. My favorite Lustbader book is White Ninja.
Take care my friend.
Steve
wheels209@verizon.net
Please enter me. I'm a GFC follower.
crystalfulcher(at)ec.rr.com
No need to enter me, babe. I'm dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I've got this posted at Win a Book for you.
I am a GFC follower who shamelessly wants to win a copy of Rules of Betrayal. I love to read thrillers like this. Please enter me into your giveaway and hopefully draw my name.
Thank you,
Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net
I tweeted about this giveaway http://twitter.com/ossmcalc/status/20419954304
Thank you,
Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net
The review of Rules of Betrayal reminds me a lot of James Bond.
GFC follower.
+1 Tweeted. twitter.com@enylstil#rules
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com
I am always on the lookout for an author I haven't read yet but would like immensely. Sounds like a winner. Would love to win.
Yes, I am a GFC follower. :)
bsyb100 at gmail dot com
Sounds like a good one. Please enter me!
I follow on gfc
mlawson17 at hotmail dot com
I am a follower. Would love to be entered for this. Thanks!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
GFC follower
I love a book that you can't put down!
wolfcarol451(at)gmail(dot)com
This sounds like a great book!
I am a GFC follower
I tweeted http://twitter.com/bangersis/status/20570890582
Thanks!
bangersis(at)msn(dot)com
I'd really like to read this! Please enter me. Thank you!
I am a GFC follower.
mittens0831 at aol dot com
This looks great! Please enter me!
I'm a Google Friend Connect follower.
bethsbookreviewblog2 AT gmail DOT com
Sounds so good. I would love a chance to read this book. Please enter me. Thanks!
I am a GFC follower!
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
Sounds like something I'd enjoy! Count me in!
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