Rules of Betrayal Review and GIVEAWAY

Surgeon Jonathan Ransom and his secret-agent wife, Emma, return in this third installment of Reich's Rules series. Working in Afghanistan for Doctors without Borders, Jonathan has an accidental encounter with a terrorist, from whom he barely escapes. Back in the U.S., he is recruited by his wife's agency. Emma has disappeared while investigating the possible acquisition of a nuclear weapon by a terrorist cell, and now her only hope of rescue lies with her husband. Does Jonathan have the skills to become a spy and save the woman he loves? Of course, betrayal is the name of the game here. Reich's ability to craft tense story lines and to populate his high-concept spy thrillers with fully developed main characters quickly have made him one of the new masters in the spy game. It's a bit disappointing, though, that Jonathan gets drafted into the game this time, because it's more fun if he's an outsider. That nitpick aside, this is still a fine effort from the reliable Reich. The number-one rule about his Rules novels: read them. --Jeff Ayers

My Take: Honestly, this is just a fun, easy read.  When I say easy, I mean I skipped over the technical stuff.  There is a nuclear weapon of sorts in the Afghan mountains.  Apparently, Jonathon and Emma Ransom have already made their debut in two other books.  Also apparently, there are rules of betrayal.  They aren't very nice and I wouldn't suggest using them.

The book begins with a group of mountain climbers who witness an airplane crash.  It is also apparent that one of the climbers has ulterior motives for getting to the top.  End scene.

Emma and Jonathon are not together.  Although they are still married, Jonathon seems to have this altruistic streak in him.  He's a doctor and wants to help the citizens in war-torn Middle Eastern countries.  This gets him kidnapped and then the trouble really starts.  Jonathon is your typical NGB. (Nice Guy But...) The qualifier is that Jonathon is far too gullible.  Fortunately, he does have some pretty good instincts, as proven in previous novels.  Perhaps he can be used as an agent?

Meanwhile, Emma gets herself into some trouble.  Emma happens to have a history of working as a double agent for both the United States and Russia.  It's a little unclear who her boss is at this point.  It doesn't really matter because she's in dire circumstances, too.

The story is fast paced, entertaining, and contains some really interesting twists.

4 stars

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*This book was provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.  For reasons I can not fathom, nobody wants to pay me for my sage words.