The Council

by Matthew Betley

From award-winning author Matthew Betley—creator of the popular Logan West series—comes The Council, an action-packed thriller perfect for fans of Jack Carr and the Tier One series.

Dating back to our country’s founding, the Council has been the puppet master behind nearly every seat of power in Washington for centuries, doing what it must for the good of the country. Made up of senators, Supreme Court justices, cabinet members, and wealthy corporate executives, the Council’s orders are enforced by the Custodian, whose lineage can be traced all the way back to the Revolutionary War. A true believer in the Council’s code, the current Custodian serves one master at all costs.

But years of absolute power and influence have corrupted and warped the mission of the Council. They don’t merely recruit retired Special Forces operators and Navy SEALs to do their dirty work, they resort to coercion and psychological pressure. But when a Council member, and US Senator, creates a controversial plan to expand the Council globally—though the methods of her strong-arm campaign break all the rules—the Council’s elite special forces team, led by Owen Pierce, find themselves in an ethically and morally compromising position.

When the team find themselves the Council’s prey instead of predator, Owen swears to put the Council out of business, if it’s the last thing they do.

Genres: Thriller

353 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 28, 2026

About the author

Matthew Betley grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, which he considers home after his family moved there from New Jersey, where he was born and which also explains his affinity for the New York Yankees. He attended St. Xavier High School and then Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he graduated with a B.A. in psychology and minors in political science and sociology. He also spent the first semester of senior year investigating felony murder cases as an intern investigator in Washington, D.C., for the Public Defender’s Office, a formative experience that provided countless stories that could fill the pages of a non-fiction book. Upon graduation, he worked in corporate America for five years in Cincinnati before joining the Marine Corps in 1999.

Matt spent ten years as a Marine officer and was trained as a scout sniper platoon commander, an infantry officer, and a ground intelligence officer. His experiences include deployments to Djibouti after 9/11, and Fallujah, Iraq, prior to the surge, both in staff officer support billets.

Finally, and most importantly, Matt is a recovering alcoholic with nearly seven years of sobriety. He credits the Marine Corps with providing a foundation in discipline and personal accountability for his desire to initially seek help. Matt is open and direct about it and has spoken in front of large groups of people with one clear message – if he can get sober, so can anyone. He credits his recovery with providing the authenticity for Logan West’s struggle with his inner demons.

Reviews

[Brent · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked this author's Logan West series, but the two standalones he has published after it aren't it. I guess he's trying to revive his career and come up with a new idea that could become a hit series but The Neighborhood was a Die Hard-esque middling book I barely remember and The Council is more of the same but worse. It's a jumble of ideas that have been the basis for tons of books and movies and then executed in a way that was uninteresting. Even the action set pieces which are a Betley strength didn't really shine here. Also, the book seemed like it was so short it felt extremely rushed so character development and context about why things were happening didn't really feel fleshed out. Mostly just a waste of an audible credit because I thought the author was one that would hit for me.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the theme of The Council has been extensively explored in books and TV, the story is engaging and well-written. A group of people that denominated themselves as The Council wants to take over the network of information and AI to make America a powerful and dominant country in the world and to attain such goal they will lie, deceit, manipulate and bribe others. Their plans will fall apart when Owen Pierce and his team realize that the persons they were asked to kill were not guilty as they were meant to believe and that they were killed simply to enable The Council to reach their goals. The story is fast-paced, has a lot of action and fighting with incredible descriptions, and provides good entertainment.
I thank the author, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not my typical genre to read. However, I enjoyed the book and will be open to reading more books with in this genre. it kept me interested in wanting to know what happens next. It is also a little terrifying to think about what goes on that we are unaware of in the world of governments and politics! I can definitely see this book being made into a movie!

[Tj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over the top action thriller, full of 80s B-movie one liners and ninja sword duels. Breezy read overall.

[Kathie Bennet]

The Council by Matthew Betley is a fast paced, high stakes thriller that dives into the shadowy intersection of power, politics, and covert operations. With its gripping premise and morally complex characters, the novel delivers intense action while exploring the consequences of unchecked authority. A compelling read for fans of military and political thrillers.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining read throughout. Lots of action and INTENSE fighting - like very graphic scenes of violence. There were enough plot twists to keep things interesting. At times, I felt like there was a little skip in time that made me think, "Did i miss something?" This didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of this book though. I'd probably give 3.5 stars but I'm rounding up to 4 here. I think there could be a follow up to this and would absolutely read the next one if it becomes a series.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and Net Galley for this ARC! #TheCouncil #NetGalley.

[Jean Kolinofsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I am looking for an action packed thriller there are several authors that I turn to including Brad Thor, Mark Greaney and , of course, Matthew Betley. Betley’s latest, The Council, introduces Owen Pierce.and his team as they commit a seemingly impossible assassination. While Pierce is a lawyer, he also works for The Council, a secret American organization that is quickly becoming a world wide influencing force. When a mission against a drug cartel goes horribly wrong, Pierce discovers that he and his team are being used to advance The Council’s goals rather than seeking justice against criminals who have escaped punishment. One of The Council’s members is secretly working against their goals and sends his own representative to help Pierce shut them down. The Council had carefully selected the members of Pierce’s team. Each of them had suffered a personal loss and were approached with an offer to exact revenge in exchange for their services. Now Pierce and his team are being hunted by The Council and not everyone will survive.

With cinematic battle scenes, Betley puts you in the center of the action. Without going into excessive background for his characters, he familiarizes his readers with the impact of each team member’s tragedy. The exception is Pierce, with the complete story of his losses and the method of his recruitment. This is a story of personal loss and grief. It is also a story of emotional manipulation and revenge. With the action beginning on page one and continuing to the final battle, thriller fans will find it hard to put this book down. I would like to thank NetGalley and Blackthorn Publishing for providing this book.

[Jan Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most powerful political thrillers I have read in a very long time. The action is non stop, brutal and intense and moves at a dizzy speed going in several directions at once. The covert operations are pretty grim with a lot of blood being spilled throughout the story.

The story centers around a lawyer, Owen Pierce, an ex special forces military soldier who had been searching for his daughters murderer. "The Council" a secret government group of politicians and military personal make him an offer for the murderer's contact information. He would agree to do 4 ops for them at their discretion. It's the same offer The Council makes for the other members of his team with similar military backgrounds. Each member of the team has a "day job" but gear up and are in covert action when they receive a call from "The Council" leader.

There are a lot of assassins and military foes that Owen's team encounter while trying to do the right thing once they find out the real reason they have been tasked with eliminating certain folks and realize "The Council" is a corrupt group. Once "The Council" finds out about Owen and his team's betrayal they send other assassins to eliminate Owen's team. That's when this book goes into hyperspeed. The action is non-stop with twists and some surprises until the end.

I don't want to give away any further information. I hope you enjoy the story as much as I did!

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an action packed stand alone that pulls you in from the very beginning, filled with drama and intrigue.

We meet MMC Owen Pierce and learn fairly quickly that he is a part of a team that apparently does "jobs" (a better word than assassinations) for some kind of shadow government organization.

The story then takes us on a journey that splits into a couple of different storylines. The first with Owen and his group being tasked on a new assignment that takes them to Mexico. Things do NOT go as planned and that ends up opening a HUGE can of worms.

The second storyline has us following certain members of said "shadowy organization" who might just have an alternate agenda and it becomes apparent that there is more going on than meets the eye. Both of these storylines eventually meet in a big and epic climax with lots and lots of dead bodies.

I liked Owen as a character - he is one of those guys who is trying to do good, even if his actions may seem bad. I also grew to like the other secondary characters - members on his team that were all as close as family.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. This book will be out for publication on April 28, 2026.

[Steven Netter · Rating 4 out of 5]

READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books

Ruthless, lethal, and emotional, The Council will tug on your heartstrings while satisfying your thirst for bloodlust. Matthew Betley is back with a merciless thriller filled with unbridled violence and charged feelings.

This is a Thriller with a capital T. Suspenseful, action-packed and bloody. Filled from start to finish with intelligent tactics, deadly weapons and adrenaline-soaked brutality. Which is awesome on its own. But the juxtaposition of viciousness with raw sentiment takes the story to another level.

Broken heroes, duplicitous power brokers, and psychopathic killers collide in a hurricane of combat and carnage. Making The Council an engaging, enraging and entertaining character-driven tale containing everything a thriller fan could want in a book.

[Abibliofob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthew Betley, that's the name of an author that is a sure thing when it comes to great stories. The Council is his latest work and it's a five star book without a doubt. I read this in two sittings. It is pure joy reading a text from this author, there is a great flow in the telling that makes for a sadly very quick read. On the other hand it's a high grade of writing. Some books feels like you aren't getting anywhere and it takes forever to read. Well that is not the problem with Betley and his books, so far I have enjoyed every single one I've read so far. The plot in this one is also surprisingly fresh and a new take on the old thought of justice and retribution. It has some twists that surprised me and the characters are really good. I must thank Blackstone Publishing and Edelweiss for letting me read this advance copy. The book is in stores on the 28th of April.

[Jeremy Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read a few of Matthew Betley’s books you know he always brings the action and that holds true here. The book starts off as a Mission: Impossible sort of action scene. We discover that the main character and a team he completes missions with take orders from the council a group that works to ensure the “betterment” of the country. The action is top notch, bloody and gory. My one knock is some of the characters could’ve used more work and fleshed out a bit more. Some of the descriptions of characters were a little monotonous a little obvious (there were a lot of “attractive” women in this book). Overall, I would recommend. Thanks to Matthew Betley and Blackstone Publishing for the opportunity for an early review.

[Ricki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Successful ex-Green Beret Owen Pierce ,now Miami lawyer has a side job. He's an assassin for "the Council", a price he had to pay for their help in finding the serial killer responsible for his daughter's death. The Council assigns jobs to "take care" of criminals that have evaded justice.

However, a mission to eliminate a cartel leader is actually a trap set by the Council to eliminate Owen and his team. This leads to Owen discovering the real aim of one of the power hungry Council members and he and his team vow to dismantle the group.

Lots of action, parts a bit unbelievable (such as the Council's ultimate hitman) but a pretty fast read. I found this better than The Neighborhood.

About a 3.25 for me.

[David Jonescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no expectations going into reading this book as I had selected it based on the summary provided and it definitely did not disappoint. Matthew Betley has provided a political/spy thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Overall enjoyed the characters and questions the story provides! Quick and fun read!

I received a free advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Owen Pierce is a lawyer by day and part-time assassin for the Council until a hit goes bad. A roller coaster storyline ride, great character development, and a whole lot of action. First time reading Matthew Betley and I would hope for a follow up to this book.
Thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book and will be available on April 28, 2026. I do recommend this thrill ride!!

[Doug Yonce · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new, exciting character who discovers his secret life as an assassin has been manipulated, and he’s soon acquired a new set of opponents. A superstar goes to work and provides an entertaining story. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily provided an honest review.

[Brian Monson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book really interested me. Although an entertaining read, the story felt under-developed and I personally feel this could have been a top tier espionage/conspiracy story. The action is fast paced and done well in the usual Betley fashion. While not my favorite of his offerings, it’s still definitely worth one’s time.

[Terry L. Estep · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the kind of semi-mindless thriller I needed about badass men and women doing badass things. The main character, Owen Pierce, is an assassin who is starting to realize the shadowy cabal employing him may not be full of nice people.

The highest compliment I can pay it is I finished it and immediately went to check my local library to see if they had any of his other books.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betley continues to produce action packed page turners. With the same pace and drama from the Neighborhood and Logan West series before it, The Council takes on the idea of unfettered power, the desire for vengeance and, ultimately, the flight for inner good.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb, fast-paced thriller with lots of action and some good twists.

Count me as a Matthew Betley fan.

I've enjoyed all his novels, right back to the Logan West series. "The Council" was hard to put down - and I barely did!

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who really “runs” our government? Politics, deceit, revenge, action packed, Special Forces, a page turner. Knowledge of “whodonit” leads the subject to kill anyone under that contract; but are they innocent? Trouble follows when one’s conscience gets in the way…Enjoy

[Todd A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Betley Book!

Have read all of Matthew Betley books - all excellent! You can’t go wrong. I have season tickets for anything he puts out.

[JXR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. The action was great, but the story had so many holes in it it felt like swiss cheese. so i think that averages out to about a 2.5 or 3. tysm for the E-ARC.

[Vann E. Schaffner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys?

Nothing is as it seems.

An engaging read with unexpected plot twists and intrigue. Kudos Matt!

[Sharon O'Lear-Busse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and it was an enjoyable read if you like the spec ops type genres. Storyline moves along throughout the book.

[Benjamin Drayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

ANOTHER GREAT READ BY MATTHEW BETLEY!

If you are a fan of Clany, Thor, Greaney, etc., you will enjoy Matthew Betley! Lots of action, good storylines. A very good read!

[LaShana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nonstop action and thrills

[Blair Campbell]

Will there be a book two? Fingers crossed.