Field of Valor by Matthew Betley

Matthew Betley exploded onto the scene with Overwatch which introduced the world to Logan West. In Oath of Honor, West and his team reached new heights and now in Field of Valor Betley has proven that he has what it takes to stand alongside all the greats in the field and his character Logan West can stand shoulder to shoulder with Jack Reacher and Mitch Rapp. Lock those three in a room and I wouldn’t care to wager which one walks out.

In Field of Valor West is leading a covert task force sanctioned by the President to take down a group whose aim is to pit China and the US against each other, leading to a world and a government that is shaped more to their liking. Once again, the action leaps off the page, literally from the opening words. Betley writes high-octane action as well as anyone and the wise-cracking pair of Logan West and John Quick are a blast to watch. Cole and Amira, the other two members of the team, first introduced in the previous book are back for more action as well.

Betley has a knack for quickly sketching out characters that make them instantly relatable. He did it in the previous book when introducing Cole and Amira and he does it here as well with Special Agent Austin Chang of the Secret Service. In just a few pages, he lets you get to know Chang and then drops him in the middle of an intense firefight. Not only are you invested in the action, you are invested in Chang and whether or not he will make it out in one piece. This kind of attention to what in other hands might be a throwaway character is one of the things that sets Betley apart.

West and his team follow clues that take them from a Space Center in Virginia to a private residence/fortress on the Chesapeake Bay and into the heart of his own government. Throw in some flashbacks to West and Quick’s time in Iraq where they are first introduced to some of the other characters that pop up and you have the stage set for some jaw-dropping action sequences. Betley can write a scene that will leave you gasping for air and convinced you can smell the gunsmoke in the air. Logan West is a larger-than-life figure who draws both fear and admiration. “The man fell to the earth, looking up at the looming figure of Logan West descending toward him like a mythological god of death and destruction.” That is Logan West in a nutshell.

This is a fantastic series and Field of Valor will rank as one of the best thrillers of the year. If you haven’t picked up these books yet, do it now. Highly recommended.

I was fortunate to receive a copy of this book from the publisher.

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