Rules of War by Matthew Betley

In a summer of great thrillers, Matthew Betley has cemented himself as top dog. Rules of War is a non-stop roller coaster ride of a novel. Great action, outstanding characters and relentless pace make Rules of War the best action novel so far this year.

In Rules, Logan West continues the hunt for the traitorous missing Vice-President of the United States who is also a high-ranking official in a mysterious organization orchestrating global instability. West and his team have tracked the VP down in South America but capturing him and making sure that he faces justice is going to be difficult.

The Organization has been dealt a serious blow by Logan's Task Force Ares but they still have a lot of fight left in them. Desperate to cling to power and willing to eliminate anything in their way. Combined with rogue elements of the Venezuelan Army in the middle of a country in turmoil and West’s job just got a whole lot tougher.

One of the things that make Betley’s books so good is the characters he's created are so easy to root for. Their motivations are honorable and believable so that when the characters wind up in danger the consequences feel real. The danger they face is serious and you never know if they will all make it out alive. As great a character as Logan West is, Cole, John Quick and Amira are nearly as good. Camaraderie and banter among all of them keep the story from getting too heavy and add a few chuckles and a few groans along the way.

One of my favorite things about these books is Betley's ability to flesh out minor characters you only meet for a scene or two. He manages to sketch them out in sufficient detail that the reader has no trouble identifying with them and the danger they are placed in has real stakes. Some of these characters may only exist for a chapter yet they feel capable of carrying an entire book by themselves. That holds true for all of Betley’s characters. As much time as you spend with them, you would love to spend more.

The action scenes in Rules of War and all of the Logan West books are unrivaled. They have the speed of a runaway train and explode into violence. The description is so cinematic that it places the reader in the middle of the action and allows you to visualize the entire scene as if it were a movie playing out before your eyes. Each scene is more explosive than the one before leaving you unable to put down the book and exhausted when you finish.

Rules of War is one of the best books of the year and Matthew Betley is must-read. Highly recommended.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.

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