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Ultimate Betrayal
Inspired by actual events, "Ultimate Betrayal" is a thriller that takes the reader on an action-packed, adrenaline-boosting ride, from the streets of South Philadelphia, through the Afghanistan War, to Mafia drug smuggling, to the halls of power at the CIA and the White House. David Hood comes from the streets of South Philadelphia, is a decorated Afghanistan War hero, builds a highly successful business, marries the woman of his dreams, and has two children he adores. But there are two ghosts in David's past. One is the guilt he carries over the death of his brother. The other is a specter that will do anything to murder him. David has long lost the belief that good will triumph over evil. The deaths of his wife and children only reinforce that cynicism. And leave him with nothing but a bone-chilling, all-consuming need for revenge.
402 pages, Paperback
First published April 2, 2014
About the author
Joseph Badal
56 books137 followers"Joe Badal has had a varied and successful career. After 6 years as a decorated commissioned Army officer, having served in Vietnam and Greece, he had a long banking and finance career. He has had 18 suspense novels published: 4 stand-alones (The Pythagorean Solution, Shell Game, Ultimate Betrayal, and Payback); 7 books in the Danforth Saga (Evil Deeds, Terror Cell, The Nostradamus Secret,The Lone Wolf Agenda, Death Ship, Sins of the Fathers, and The Carnevale Conspiracy); 4 books in the Lassiter/Martinez Case Files (Borderline, Dark Angel, Natural Causes, and Everything To Lose); and 3 books in the Curtis Chronicles (The Motive, Obsessed, and Justice).
He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author and has received numerous awards, including being recognized as "One of The 50 Best Writers You Should Be Reading." He is a two-time winner of the Tony Hillerman Award for Best Fiction Book of the Year and has received multiple Gold Medals from the Military Writers Society of America. He was named Write of the year by the Military Writers Society of America in 2021. His books have received Finalist honors in the International Book Awards contest and in the Eric Hoffer Awards.
He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in International Finance and Business Administration, is a graduate of the Stanford University Law School's Director College, and of the Defense Language Institute, West Coast.
Joe has also written dozens of articles that have been published in a variety of business magazines and trade journals, and is a frequent speaker at business and writers’ events. His blog, Everyday Heroes, highlights individuals just like you who are confronted with a challenge and rise to the occasion."
He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author and has received numerous awards, including being recognized as "One of The 50 Best Writers You Should Be Reading." He is a two-time winner of the Tony Hillerman Award for Best Fiction Book of the Year and has received multiple Gold Medals from the Military Writers Society of America. He was named Write of the year by the Military Writers Society of America in 2021. His books have received Finalist honors in the International Book Awards contest and in the Eric Hoffer Awards.
He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in International Finance and Business Administration, is a graduate of the Stanford University Law School's Director College, and of the Defense Language Institute, West Coast.
Joe has also written dozens of articles that have been published in a variety of business magazines and trade journals, and is a frequent speaker at business and writers’ events. His blog, Everyday Heroes, highlights individuals just like you who are confronted with a challenge and rise to the occasion."
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 7, 2015
Ultimate Betrayal is ultimate reading.
WOW! This book was so exciting I c couldn't put it down. It was fast paced and so well written, and it was absolutely believable. It was fun to see a corrupt politician get his just rewards. Joseph Badal has another winner. I would give this book another star if I could.
WOW! This book was so exciting I c couldn't put it down. It was fast paced and so well written, and it was absolutely believable. It was fun to see a corrupt politician get his just rewards. Joseph Badal has another winner. I would give this book another star if I could.
February 15, 2015
The title gives a good description of the plot.
The author takes the reader on a journey of suspense and intrigue. This is the first book I have read by this author but it won't be the last. I look forward to reading more of his novels.
The author takes the reader on a journey of suspense and intrigue. This is the first book I have read by this author but it won't be the last. I look forward to reading more of his novels.
March 7, 2015
Ultimate Betrayal
This was an excellent read. It was full of action and even though there was a lot going on with the storyline, it was explained in a way that made it easy to follow. This was the first book I have read by Nadal but won't be the last!
This was an excellent read. It was full of action and even though there was a lot going on with the storyline, it was explained in a way that made it easy to follow. This was the first book I have read by Nadal but won't be the last!
March 21, 2015
Wow
Couldn't put this book down. It went from one exciting moment to the next. We all know the corruption that went on in Afghanistan and still does to this day. I highly recommend this book.
Couldn't put this book down. It went from one exciting moment to the next. We all know the corruption that went on in Afghanistan and still does to this day. I highly recommend this book.
August 2, 2015
Almost Too Good
This careening story about too believable events caused me to lose sleep worrying about what would happen next. Perhaps this is more excitement than should be allowed, especially when it is written so believability. But I must risk another one of his books.
This careening story about too believable events caused me to lose sleep worrying about what would happen next. Perhaps this is more excitement than should be allowed, especially when it is written so believability. But I must risk another one of his books.
May 25, 2016
Engrossing rollercoaster
Well worth my time. Entertaining and tense every word. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommend it. Writers out there who are aspiring to write a suspense thriller, take a lesson from this one.
Well worth my time. Entertaining and tense every word. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommend it. Writers out there who are aspiring to write a suspense thriller, take a lesson from this one.
April 16, 2015
A fun and fast paced read about a retired army officer using his unique network of friends to battle an unknown enemy. There's a new twist for the reader on every page.
April 29, 2015
Good book.
Four stars. Fast moving, suspenseful. Interesting characters. This was my first Joseph Badal book. I plan to read more of his work.
Four stars. Fast moving, suspenseful. Interesting characters. This was my first Joseph Badal book. I plan to read more of his work.
May 14, 2015
Highly recommended
Would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a mystery. This is my first book by Joseph Nadal but it will not be my last.
Would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a mystery. This is my first book by Joseph Nadal but it will not be my last.
June 2, 2015
Spellbinding read
I simply could not put this book down, it is an exciting read, could barely wait to turn the page.
I simply could not put this book down, it is an exciting read, could barely wait to turn the page.
July 22, 2015
Ultimate Betrayal
This book is suspenseful, thrilling, and very good! The characters were well written and it was easy to get immersed into the story.
This book is suspenseful, thrilling, and very good! The characters were well written and it was easy to get immersed into the story.
August 11, 2015
Outstanding!
Among the best novels i have read! I read a great deal and this book truly was enjoyable, thrilling and held me captive all the way through.
Among the best novels i have read! I read a great deal and this book truly was enjoyable, thrilling and held me captive all the way through.
January 21, 2016
Lots of action, interesting plot and character development of good guy ...but bad guy is almost unbelievably rotten, almost to a cartoon-like villain.
March 22, 2016
Good....not great
I liked it but wasn't mesmerized by it. It didn't hold any surprises. Having a minimum word requirements ticks me off and makes me not want to leave ratings!!!!!
I liked it but wasn't mesmerized by it. It didn't hold any surprises. Having a minimum word requirements ticks me off and makes me not want to leave ratings!!!!!
Read
November 14, 2016Great
This was a wonderful book. It kept me clued to the pages. I am looking forward to the next book.
This was a wonderful book. It kept me clued to the pages. I am looking forward to the next book.
February 1, 2017
An excellent thriller
This author continues to deliver one great thriller after another. This is a very excellent thriller which keeps you enthralled.
This author continues to deliver one great thriller after another. This is a very excellent thriller which keeps you enthralled.
April 8, 2017
A good book
I would of given this book 5 except for the proof reader. Of course it does all come down to the author in the end. Will recommend this book and read more of his books.
I would of given this book 5 except for the proof reader. Of course it does all come down to the author in the end. Will recommend this book and read more of his books.
October 25, 2021
A very intriguing story that just keeps building and building with more and more great characters. The ending became a bit too much and really a bit silly but I will take that because the rest of the book is first rate.
September 9, 2024
Very good! Also excellent narration. I will definitely read more by this author.
March 7, 2015
When a former U.S. army colonel with a shady past is appointed to a senior CIA position, he decides to ensure that none of his past shenanigans would surface to jeopardize his new career. His strategy: eliminate the nine or ten former soldiers who were under his command as anyone of them 'might' know about his corruption and narcotics-trading.
That's not all, anybody else who helps him track down the soldiers is also killed by hired assassins.
Naturally, one soldier survives the attempt on his life, and makes the retired colonel pay for all his sins.
Even with the implausible scenario, this could have been an enjoyable read if our surviving soldier went after the colonel with a well thought-out plan, with a coherent strategy, and with thrilling action sequences with the killers hired by the colonel to eliminate him.
Instead, we get pedestrian writing, stock characters, a meandering plot, childish action sequences, and police officers who immediately warm up enough to our hero to set aside all matters of the law and whole-heartedly help him with all the vigilante stuff.
This is the last I have seen of Mr. Badal.
That's not all, anybody else who helps him track down the soldiers is also killed by hired assassins.
Naturally, one soldier survives the attempt on his life, and makes the retired colonel pay for all his sins.
Even with the implausible scenario, this could have been an enjoyable read if our surviving soldier went after the colonel with a well thought-out plan, with a coherent strategy, and with thrilling action sequences with the killers hired by the colonel to eliminate him.
Instead, we get pedestrian writing, stock characters, a meandering plot, childish action sequences, and police officers who immediately warm up enough to our hero to set aside all matters of the law and whole-heartedly help him with all the vigilante stuff.
This is the last I have seen of Mr. Badal.
March 18, 2015
Ultimate Betrayal as a read
I've read better crime dramas of which I gravitate to. Much better writers out there....... Check out Vince Flynn, he was the best!
I've read better crime dramas of which I gravitate to. Much better writers out there....... Check out Vince Flynn, he was the best!
March 29, 2015
Ok read
As I read this book it seemed to be a little choppy like I was missing something it wasn't a smooth read to me. It wasn't really boring but there wasn't very suspenseful.
As I read this book it seemed to be a little choppy like I was missing something it wasn't a smooth read to me. It wasn't really boring but there wasn't very suspenseful.
April 18, 2016
Pretty good thriller/spy novel, until the hokey ending.
July 4, 2015
Hope The Mafia doesn't read this book.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews