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The Syndicate Spy
AMAZON BESTSELLER Top 10 in Espionage Thrillers March 2023
" The Syndicate Spy is a modern-day thriller by Brittany Butler, who is ex-CIA and definitely knows her stuff. There's a gritty realism to the intelligence world scenes that feels hard earned and a strong, likable heroine struggling with the eternal balance of 'tough enough to do the job, not too hardened to feel compassion.'"
—Kate Quinn, New York Times best-selling author of The Alice Network
"Sacrifices must be made; battles will be lost. It is always this way in a quest for change."
In the near future, Earth's oil reserves are depleted. Nations grapple to find an alternative energy source. Terrorists race for control over world resources. And the Syndicate―a conglomerate of allied intelligence agencies―struggles to maintain peace.
Syndicate operative Juliet Arroway and her best friend, Mariam, a progressive Saudi princess, are tasked with hunting down terrorists and putting an end to the global energy war, the same mission that cost Juliet's father his life. But when multiple terrorist attacks result in devastating losses, including the death of Juliet's longtime boyfriend, and the Syndicate begins to suspect that Mariam's family is somehow involved, Juliet must rise above her heartbreak to discover the truth.
In her quest, Juliet is paired with Graham―a dashing yet arrogant FBI agent―and embarks on a dangerous journey toward love and survival as they race to obtain the formula that could solve the energy crisis.
But when peace demands a stunning betrayal, Juliet must decide how much she is willing to pay for the success of her mission. Brilliantly weaving fact and fiction, Butler tells a story seldom told―how female heroics can change the course of war.
" The Syndicate Spy is a modern-day thriller by Brittany Butler, who is ex-CIA and definitely knows her stuff. There's a gritty realism to the intelligence world scenes that feels hard earned and a strong, likable heroine struggling with the eternal balance of 'tough enough to do the job, not too hardened to feel compassion.'"
—Kate Quinn, New York Times best-selling author of The Alice Network
"Sacrifices must be made; battles will be lost. It is always this way in a quest for change."
In the near future, Earth's oil reserves are depleted. Nations grapple to find an alternative energy source. Terrorists race for control over world resources. And the Syndicate―a conglomerate of allied intelligence agencies―struggles to maintain peace.
Syndicate operative Juliet Arroway and her best friend, Mariam, a progressive Saudi princess, are tasked with hunting down terrorists and putting an end to the global energy war, the same mission that cost Juliet's father his life. But when multiple terrorist attacks result in devastating losses, including the death of Juliet's longtime boyfriend, and the Syndicate begins to suspect that Mariam's family is somehow involved, Juliet must rise above her heartbreak to discover the truth.
In her quest, Juliet is paired with Graham―a dashing yet arrogant FBI agent―and embarks on a dangerous journey toward love and survival as they race to obtain the formula that could solve the energy crisis.
But when peace demands a stunning betrayal, Juliet must decide how much she is willing to pay for the success of her mission. Brilliantly weaving fact and fiction, Butler tells a story seldom told―how female heroics can change the course of war.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 21, 2023
36 people are currently reading
5940 people want to read
About the author
Brittany Butler
2 books134 followersBrittany Butler is a former CIA targeting officer with first-hand knowledge of the recruitment and handling of spies and dismantling terrorist networks abroad. She is a staunch advocate for women’s rights in the Middle East and works within her local community to resettle Afghan refugees. The Syndicate Spy is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
January 31, 2024
Prose is Bulky for a Thriller
In this fictional story written by a former CIA officer, Juliet Arroway is a Syndicate Spy, hunting energy terrorists with her bestie Mariam, a Saudi princess.
Although I loved the strong female characters, every time the action was starting to build, unneeded words and sentences got in the way. If I were editor, I would go through and suggest eliminating anything that didn’t push the plot forward. For example, “Juliet inched herself from Graham and looked up, her face quivering.” Get rid of everything after “and”.
Or
“They both lay still with the light from the wood-burning fire filling the room communicating their deep commitment with their silence.” What about: “They laid together in a contented, peaceful silence.”? In the first sentence, the prose is bloated; A wood-burning fire with light had nothing to do with the plot.
“Despite the throbbing in her face, she grabbed a fistful of David’s shirt and pulled him down to meet her at eye level. Her head throbbed but she breathed deeper, determined to push the pain away.” Too much throbbing in these two consecutive sentences.
These unnecessary interruptions also interfered with the dialogue—there would be a line of dialogue and then one or two paragraphs of unneeded musings (usually repetitious or didn’t move the plot forward) and another line of dialogue. This disjointed style of dialogue didn’t come across as natural, and frankly, most of the musings in between dialogue were just filler, decimating the suspense.
Some of the twists were easy to spot, and I literally burst out laughing at the romance. Steam can be difficult to write. In this case, all of Chapter 19 should have been eliminated, and a fade to black would have worked better. Juliet literally goes on one date before she starts talking about how their souls are joined as one. Girl, please!
My favorite scene was when Juliet was in Salman’s palace, and I am dying to spray the edge of this book red…..
A novel with a lot of potential and would have been exceptional if the storytelling was sharpened.
How much I spent:
Hardcover text – Free provided by author
Audiobook – $84.99 per year through Everand
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In this fictional story written by a former CIA officer, Juliet Arroway is a Syndicate Spy, hunting energy terrorists with her bestie Mariam, a Saudi princess.
Although I loved the strong female characters, every time the action was starting to build, unneeded words and sentences got in the way. If I were editor, I would go through and suggest eliminating anything that didn’t push the plot forward. For example, “Juliet inched herself from Graham and looked up, her face quivering.” Get rid of everything after “and”.
Or
“They both lay still with the light from the wood-burning fire filling the room communicating their deep commitment with their silence.” What about: “They laid together in a contented, peaceful silence.”? In the first sentence, the prose is bloated; A wood-burning fire with light had nothing to do with the plot.
“Despite the throbbing in her face, she grabbed a fistful of David’s shirt and pulled him down to meet her at eye level. Her head throbbed but she breathed deeper, determined to push the pain away.” Too much throbbing in these two consecutive sentences.
These unnecessary interruptions also interfered with the dialogue—there would be a line of dialogue and then one or two paragraphs of unneeded musings (usually repetitious or didn’t move the plot forward) and another line of dialogue. This disjointed style of dialogue didn’t come across as natural, and frankly, most of the musings in between dialogue were just filler, decimating the suspense.
Some of the twists were easy to spot, and I literally burst out laughing at the romance. Steam can be difficult to write. In this case, all of Chapter 19 should have been eliminated, and a fade to black would have worked better. Juliet literally goes on one date before she starts talking about how their souls are joined as one. Girl, please!
My favorite scene was when Juliet was in Salman’s palace, and I am dying to spray the edge of this book red…..
A novel with a lot of potential and would have been exceptional if the storytelling was sharpened.
How much I spent:
Hardcover text – Free provided by author
Audiobook – $84.99 per year through Everand
Connect With Me!
Blog Twitter BookTube Facebook Insta
February 17, 2023
⭐⭐⭐.5/5-- It takes a lot for me to be surprised by the ending of a book – and this one really had me!!! I could only think at the end of this one… ‘Well damn.” 😂😂 (**pardon my French!!**)
A SHORT PREVIEW:
Juliet Arroway is a spy for the futuristic world's most renowned intelligence agencies: the Syndicate, who makes it their mission to combat modern terr0rism. Her mission? Help end the energy war ravaging the globe as the race for alternative energy comes to a head amongst groups that have warred for centuries. What she never expects to find? Personal betrayals and a sharp look at what morality really means behind the curtain of political maneuverings.
THOUGHTS:
- What I loved most about this book was the morally grey ending. So many of the ‘spy thrillers' on TV conclude with what many consider a ‘justified’ ending. Obviously, everyone’s ideas of justice varies across the morality spectrum, but I feel like the ending to this book was a more accurate representation of real-life events. Geopolitical maneuverings will hardly ever bring out warm and fuzzy emotions, and I love that Butler didn’t shy away from giving us an ending that wasn’t sunshine and rainbows.
- Women’s rights in the Middle East are a driving theme throughout ‘The Syndicate Spy’. As this book was written by Brittany Butler, a self-proclaimed former intelligence officer, some of what’s written is hard to read but also not surprising in the way the book ends up. Feminism in the Middle East is a touchy subject at best, and I think this novel fairly highlights the good and bad of the region.
- Much of the literature written by white Anglo-Americans about the Middle East tends to be pretty biased. I think this is one of the better non-biased books I’ve read! The Syndicate Spy also furthered my knowledge of Muslim beliefs and cultural things in this region that I didn’t know – which I always appreciate in books. Too many spy thrillers gloss over cultural things that would make their stories more complete!
THE ONLY THING(s) I DIDN'T LIKE:
As a person who's normally objective and unemotional about most things, there were two things about this book that bugged me in the context of a spy-novel:
- #1 There's a scene where terr0rist activity took place (and they had advanced warning it was coming), and they hadn't checked underneath all cars beforehand. This would never actually have occurred, especially not in a more developed nation.
--- #2: There are a couple of moments where the FMC gets emotional whilst in a precarious situation... but.. IN WHAT WORLD WOULD A HIGHLY TRAINED INTELLIGENCE OFFICER ACT A FOOL LIKE THAT? Overall Juliet's character was a smart, hardworking gal, and I loved that. However, if someone cannot keep their cool under pressure... that seems like a poor choice of recruit for the intelligence community? Hard choices and pragmaticism are the names of the game in preventing terrorism, geopolitical struggles, etc. Emotional breakdowns when a situation is obviously lost, and you need to get away when there are more important/bigger picture things on the line seem like a no-brainer to me? Being raised by someone in the intelligence world myself, perhaps I think a little too pragmatically? Who knows. **insert laugh whilst pouring myself a glass of wine this busy Friday...* If I had been one of Juliet's comrades, though? I'd have wanted to push her out of the chopper a time or two lol
NOTES:
- 🌶🌶/5 - A few open door s3xual situations.
- A feminist read in a way I whole-heartedly didn’t expect.
- TWs: I could see this book being hard to read if events like 9/11 etc have personally impacted you. Terr0rism & gen0cide are topics hard to read about in general as well.
-- If you liked this book, you may also like the Sean Wyatt Archaeological thriller series! I've found that these are really great and usually fun international spy/thriller reads!
**I received this book for free as an advanced reader copy, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
A SHORT PREVIEW:
Juliet Arroway is a spy for the futuristic world's most renowned intelligence agencies: the Syndicate, who makes it their mission to combat modern terr0rism. Her mission? Help end the energy war ravaging the globe as the race for alternative energy comes to a head amongst groups that have warred for centuries. What she never expects to find? Personal betrayals and a sharp look at what morality really means behind the curtain of political maneuverings.
THOUGHTS:
- What I loved most about this book was the morally grey ending. So many of the ‘spy thrillers' on TV conclude with what many consider a ‘justified’ ending. Obviously, everyone’s ideas of justice varies across the morality spectrum, but I feel like the ending to this book was a more accurate representation of real-life events. Geopolitical maneuverings will hardly ever bring out warm and fuzzy emotions, and I love that Butler didn’t shy away from giving us an ending that wasn’t sunshine and rainbows.
- Women’s rights in the Middle East are a driving theme throughout ‘The Syndicate Spy’. As this book was written by Brittany Butler, a self-proclaimed former intelligence officer, some of what’s written is hard to read but also not surprising in the way the book ends up. Feminism in the Middle East is a touchy subject at best, and I think this novel fairly highlights the good and bad of the region.
- Much of the literature written by white Anglo-Americans about the Middle East tends to be pretty biased. I think this is one of the better non-biased books I’ve read! The Syndicate Spy also furthered my knowledge of Muslim beliefs and cultural things in this region that I didn’t know – which I always appreciate in books. Too many spy thrillers gloss over cultural things that would make their stories more complete!
THE ONLY THING(s) I DIDN'T LIKE:
As a person who's normally objective and unemotional about most things, there were two things about this book that bugged me in the context of a spy-novel:
- #1 There's a scene where terr0rist activity took place (and they had advanced warning it was coming), and they hadn't checked underneath all cars beforehand. This would never actually have occurred, especially not in a more developed nation.
--- #2: There are a couple of moments where the FMC gets emotional whilst in a precarious situation... but.. IN WHAT WORLD WOULD A HIGHLY TRAINED INTELLIGENCE OFFICER ACT A FOOL LIKE THAT? Overall Juliet's character was a smart, hardworking gal, and I loved that. However, if someone cannot keep their cool under pressure... that seems like a poor choice of recruit for the intelligence community? Hard choices and pragmaticism are the names of the game in preventing terrorism, geopolitical struggles, etc. Emotional breakdowns when a situation is obviously lost, and you need to get away when there are more important/bigger picture things on the line seem like a no-brainer to me? Being raised by someone in the intelligence world myself, perhaps I think a little too pragmatically? Who knows. **insert laugh whilst pouring myself a glass of wine this busy Friday...* If I had been one of Juliet's comrades, though? I'd have wanted to push her out of the chopper a time or two lol
NOTES:
- 🌶🌶/5 - A few open door s3xual situations.
- A feminist read in a way I whole-heartedly didn’t expect.
- TWs: I could see this book being hard to read if events like 9/11 etc have personally impacted you. Terr0rism & gen0cide are topics hard to read about in general as well.
-- If you liked this book, you may also like the Sean Wyatt Archaeological thriller series! I've found that these are really great and usually fun international spy/thriller reads!
**I received this book for free as an advanced reader copy, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
April 13, 2023
Juliet Arroway works for The Syndicate, a group of allied intelligence agencies, in the not too distant future. There is not more oil, and the world is now relying on alternate energy sources, however not everyone like this, and so The Syndicate is attempting to maintain world peace along with stopping terror attacks on alternate energy sites, and leading cities throughout the world. Juliet's father had also worked for The Syndicate before his tragic death so Juliet has an additional reason for finding the terrorists who killed him. She is assisted by Mariam, a progressive Saudi Princess who also works for The Syndicate.
The book is fast-paced and filled with action galore, but too often (about 25% of the time), it bogs down into Juliet's love life and that not only disrupts the pacing of the book, but for me is a detraction to the entire story. When the book gets on track you can see that first-time author Brittany Butler knows her subject matter and has the potential to be a new light in the action/adventure/spy genre. There are not a lot of women writing in this genre and Brittany, herself a former CIA employee has all the tools and inside knowledge to make this a real fire cracker of a series. A good first effort that gets dragged down by the unnecessarily long and detailed romantic detours. 3.5***
The book is fast-paced and filled with action galore, but too often (about 25% of the time), it bogs down into Juliet's love life and that not only disrupts the pacing of the book, but for me is a detraction to the entire story. When the book gets on track you can see that first-time author Brittany Butler knows her subject matter and has the potential to be a new light in the action/adventure/spy genre. There are not a lot of women writing in this genre and Brittany, herself a former CIA employee has all the tools and inside knowledge to make this a real fire cracker of a series. A good first effort that gets dragged down by the unnecessarily long and detailed romantic detours. 3.5***
March 20, 2023
I don't read too many modern-day political thrillers, but this one is by an ex-CIA officer who definitely knows her stuff. There's a gritty realism to the intelligence world scenes that feels hard-earned, and a strong, likeable heroine struggling with the eternal balance of "tough enough to do the job, not too hardened to feel compassion." First in a series!
September 21, 2022
I was so excited to get an advanced reader copy of The Syndicate Spy, written by a former CIA Spy @formerspy1. Brittany has also been a guest on The Michael Calderin show twice, and I couldn’t wait to start reading The Syndicate Spy after having her on the show. She’s the real deal.
The Syndicate Spy is a genre-bending romance thriller that weaves fact and fiction, telling the TRUE story of female intelligence officers. Rarely do we read spy novels with a female lead (this one has 2!) and even more rare is a spy novel written by a former CIA spy with the credentials to back it up! From the minute I opened it, I knew this novel was different and unlike no other. The action starts in the beginning. You’re going to want to get your hands on this book!
Pre-order your copy today.
The Syndicate Spy is a genre-bending romance thriller that weaves fact and fiction, telling the TRUE story of female intelligence officers. Rarely do we read spy novels with a female lead (this one has 2!) and even more rare is a spy novel written by a former CIA spy with the credentials to back it up! From the minute I opened it, I knew this novel was different and unlike no other. The action starts in the beginning. You’re going to want to get your hands on this book!
Pre-order your copy today.
June 15, 2023
I requested this audiobook ARC because of the title and synopsis. First time author, Brittany Butler, ex CIA agent, did not disappoint. The first book in the series takes you all over the globe. Syndicate agents, Juliet Arroway and her partner Maryam work together in an attempt to bring peace between the West and Arabic nation’s fight over synthetic energy.
Butler gives us action and suspense while intricately mixing fact and fiction. Add in a steamy romance, thrills, and twists ….all making for an engaging page turner. It has some predictability, but still keeps you focused on the storyline and what happens next. Juliet, the main character, full of passion and fury, at times, just could not get out of her own way. Makes me wonder if the author gave us some of her own experiences through Juliet.
As it ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, eagerness awaits! I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.
Butler gives us action and suspense while intricately mixing fact and fiction. Add in a steamy romance, thrills, and twists ….all making for an engaging page turner. It has some predictability, but still keeps you focused on the storyline and what happens next. Juliet, the main character, full of passion and fury, at times, just could not get out of her own way. Makes me wonder if the author gave us some of her own experiences through Juliet.
As it ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, eagerness awaits! I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.
September 19, 2022
A must buy. The Syndicate Spy is a complete page turner! I couldn’t put this book down because I had to find out what was going to happen to Juliet and her mission. Butler’s first hand experience of being a female spy in the CIA gives her writing an authenticity that can’t be denied. Between the suspense and the romance plot lines, I was completely captivated. I would give this book a full-hearted 5 star review. I will be watching for Brittany Butler’s next book!
June 13, 2023
DNF, didn’t like the narration on this audio. It was just reading a book out loud.
September 20, 2022
An intriguing page turner that allows us a glimpse of what it’s like to be inside the world of espionage! The author, a former CIA operative, takes the reader on a thrilling journey to the Middle East, London, and France. Juliette, the main character, is a strong female with a well developed and complex personality. A surprising love story unfolds after tragedy and heartbreak. A must read!
May 6, 2023
Energy needs have become a matter of national priority and security for all countries throughout the world. The Snydicate's function is to prevent terriorism attacks and this story focus is on a terrorist group in the Middle East. Said group targets both people involved in developing alternative energy and the energy industry infrastructure itself.
The narrative is on point to current world events; however, the delivery of this storyline was unrealistic and poorly developed. I could not image any terrorist putting up with the main character. She was whinny, argumentative in the middle of a gun fight and just not a professional spy, agent or team leader. She should never have survived the first incident within the palace. There were so many gun fights and combat incidents I got bored. The reveals as the book progressed were predictable and trite. I say, no, just no to this book.
The narrative is on point to current world events; however, the delivery of this storyline was unrealistic and poorly developed. I could not image any terrorist putting up with the main character. She was whinny, argumentative in the middle of a gun fight and just not a professional spy, agent or team leader. She should never have survived the first incident within the palace. There were so many gun fights and combat incidents I got bored. The reveals as the book progressed were predictable and trite. I say, no, just no to this book.
May 25, 2023
When looking at the description for this book on Amazon, I am struck by the fact that though this book is being advertised as a futuristic book, "In the near future, Earth’s oil reserves are depleted. " it was set (according to the very first page) in 1938. Unless this is a significant typo, it sure put a different spin on this book for me. So which is it? A book set in the past with all sorts of modern tech, or a futuristic book with old-fashioned tech?
In the very first paragraph, I found a distracting mistake on the author's part. COPPER DOES NOT RUST, NOR DOES IT SMELL OF RUST. Yes, this may be nit-picking, but it still made me question how good this book would be. Mistakes such as this tend to pull me out of the story and question what I had been reading.
As I kept reading, I realized that this author has an interesting command of the language. For instance, Juliet's eyes can speak to her partner Mariam. Ohhkay. "Juliet took a SHARP swig of water" ??? "A silo of light poured into the compound."
This is most likely a very good book. I do so love futuristic novels, and having two kick-butt heroines would have been just perfect. However, too many things distract me from what could have been the perfect story.
*ARC supplied by the publisher.
In the very first paragraph, I found a distracting mistake on the author's part. COPPER DOES NOT RUST, NOR DOES IT SMELL OF RUST. Yes, this may be nit-picking, but it still made me question how good this book would be. Mistakes such as this tend to pull me out of the story and question what I had been reading.
As I kept reading, I realized that this author has an interesting command of the language. For instance, Juliet's eyes can speak to her partner Mariam. Ohhkay. "Juliet took a SHARP swig of water" ??? "A silo of light poured into the compound."
This is most likely a very good book. I do so love futuristic novels, and having two kick-butt heroines would have been just perfect. However, too many things distract me from what could have been the perfect story.
*ARC supplied by the publisher.
May 4, 2023
From the very beginning this book took me on a journey. I was transported to London, Paris and the Middle East. I gained fascinating insight on being a CIA operative as the author Brittany Butler, an ex CIA targeting officer weaved fact and fiction into the secretive world of espionage and intelligence. I cheered for the friendship between Juliet and Mariam, the strong female heroes working side by side to keep the peace between the nations using their intellect, connections and training to stop the war. The characters had such depth and a complexity that made it even easier to get lost in this futuristic world. We admire Juliet as this CIA badass, but learn she is also broken in many ways coping with the loss of her dad and dealing with an estranged relationship with her mom. Her pain and struggles make you root even more for her during her mission. Butler’s fast paced writing and witty dialogue delivers a novel full of adventure, romance and suspense making this one of the most exciting and satisfying reads of 2023.
February 9, 2023
The Syndicate Spy tells the story of Juliet Arroway’s valiant efforts to end an energy war along with her friend Mariam, a Saudi princess, both of whom work for the Syndicate, an international spy organization. This debut novel is chock full of exciting action, unexpected twists, and fascinating characters.
Butler’s experience as a former CIA targeter informs her story and allows her to include interesting details about the spy industry that you will have you reading more. This novel is much more than just a spy thriller — it bends the boundaries of the genre and brings in a compelling love story. The character of Graham reminds me of a mix of Jamie Fraser & Han Solo. Readers of spy thrillers and romance will both find something to love in The Syndicate Spy.
Thanks to #NetGallery for an advanced copy of the book.
Butler’s experience as a former CIA targeter informs her story and allows her to include interesting details about the spy industry that you will have you reading more. This novel is much more than just a spy thriller — it bends the boundaries of the genre and brings in a compelling love story. The character of Graham reminds me of a mix of Jamie Fraser & Han Solo. Readers of spy thrillers and romance will both find something to love in The Syndicate Spy.
Thanks to #NetGallery for an advanced copy of the book.
May 20, 2023
Juliet wants to avenge her father's death by working as a Syndicate spy and trying to end the war on energy.
This is a very fast-paced spy thriller that is filled with action. It will keep you guessing all the way through. There were a couple of twists in the end, and while I had guessed with the first, the other left me completely shocked. I was totally enthralled with the action, adventure, and romance. This was a fantastic start to what I'm sure will be an excellent series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This is a very fast-paced spy thriller that is filled with action. It will keep you guessing all the way through. There were a couple of twists in the end, and while I had guessed with the first, the other left me completely shocked. I was totally enthralled with the action, adventure, and romance. This was a fantastic start to what I'm sure will be an excellent series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
June 13, 2023
Published: 05/22/23
Narrator: Amy Landon
Thank you NetGalley and Brittany Butler, Greenleaf Book Group Press for accepting my request to read and review The Syndicate Spy.
The cover states -- A Juliet Arroway Novel, as far as I can tell this is the first and I hope there is a second. I liked Juliet, and inturn the book. Right away the book started, kudos to Butler for that. Rarely do I come across a book where the first thirty to forty pages are more than setting up the story. TSS reminded me of the television show 24. Out of the gate the action was on. TSS and 24 were centered around work. When you take a job, you have to learn about your coworkers while performing. Butler did a good job developing the personal side while getting the spy-business done. The story itself is smart. There are middle-eastern countries, cultures, and clothing pieces mentioned appropriately.
I did take issue with Juliet at the border with Graham. Maybe, just maybe that was realistic, I had a hard time believing it then, and I'm still not buying it. ( no spoiling). There was some bantering between them that I thought dumbed down the smart storyline.
I did like the full circle part of the story. There was a shielding incident that I had forgotten all about, and whoa Butler did not.
The narrator was good, and I hope if there is a second book she will narrate.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I take issue with 95% of the swearing, it cheapened the writing and was not necessary. It felt as if it was inserted to fulfill a quota. For that 3.5 stars, not rounding up.
Narrator: Amy Landon
Thank you NetGalley and Brittany Butler, Greenleaf Book Group Press for accepting my request to read and review The Syndicate Spy.
The cover states -- A Juliet Arroway Novel, as far as I can tell this is the first and I hope there is a second. I liked Juliet, and inturn the book. Right away the book started, kudos to Butler for that. Rarely do I come across a book where the first thirty to forty pages are more than setting up the story. TSS reminded me of the television show 24. Out of the gate the action was on. TSS and 24 were centered around work. When you take a job, you have to learn about your coworkers while performing. Butler did a good job developing the personal side while getting the spy-business done. The story itself is smart. There are middle-eastern countries, cultures, and clothing pieces mentioned appropriately.
I did take issue with Juliet at the border with Graham. Maybe, just maybe that was realistic, I had a hard time believing it then, and I'm still not buying it. ( no spoiling). There was some bantering between them that I thought dumbed down the smart storyline.
I did like the full circle part of the story. There was a shielding incident that I had forgotten all about, and whoa Butler did not.
The narrator was good, and I hope if there is a second book she will narrate.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I take issue with 95% of the swearing, it cheapened the writing and was not necessary. It felt as if it was inserted to fulfill a quota. For that 3.5 stars, not rounding up.
November 26, 2022
"The Syndicate Spy" is one book, though it didn't seem like something I usually opt to read, appealed to me only because it is a story about female spies in the futuristic world that has been written by a former female spy, recruiter and trainer. Despite this, I was still sceptical; one can be an excellent spy but that doesn't mean they know how to write a story based on spies. But has she proven me wrong!
This book, set in the future, centers predominantly on the life of Juliet Arroway, as she tries to achieve her self-imposed goal of stopping the long-standing war between nations, on account of gaining autonomy of an alternative energy resource, after all the oil reserves on earth are depleted. She has also been the mentor of a recruit Mariam, a progressive Saudi princess, since many years.
After a particular turn of events, involving a number of terror attacks across the world, a member of Mariam's family is suspected as the main instigator of the war. And Juliet is paired with FBI agent Graham in the task to find out the actual culprit and figure out a way to prevent the outbreak of another big war.
Brittany has woven an intricate and mind-blowing tale of deception, double-cross, heroism and female empowerment; through Juliet and Mariam, she has showcased independent, self-assured and self-sufficient women who are real go-getters wanting to change the world they live in. And this was my most favourite part of the book. There are some interesting twists throughout the story which make it an enjoyable read. The climatic twist was in some ways slightly preposterous and I was able to guess one of them as well - but the rest of the story was so very well told that I didn't mind it.
I very much recommend this book to people who like to read a complex and intricate spy thriller.
This book, set in the future, centers predominantly on the life of Juliet Arroway, as she tries to achieve her self-imposed goal of stopping the long-standing war between nations, on account of gaining autonomy of an alternative energy resource, after all the oil reserves on earth are depleted. She has also been the mentor of a recruit Mariam, a progressive Saudi princess, since many years.
After a particular turn of events, involving a number of terror attacks across the world, a member of Mariam's family is suspected as the main instigator of the war. And Juliet is paired with FBI agent Graham in the task to find out the actual culprit and figure out a way to prevent the outbreak of another big war.
Brittany has woven an intricate and mind-blowing tale of deception, double-cross, heroism and female empowerment; through Juliet and Mariam, she has showcased independent, self-assured and self-sufficient women who are real go-getters wanting to change the world they live in. And this was my most favourite part of the book. There are some interesting twists throughout the story which make it an enjoyable read. The climatic twist was in some ways slightly preposterous and I was able to guess one of them as well - but the rest of the story was so very well told that I didn't mind it.
I very much recommend this book to people who like to read a complex and intricate spy thriller.
September 25, 2022
Fast moving thriller set in a future world where oil is no longer available but future energy sources are more valuable. Written by a former CIA operative there is a strong sense of reality to operating in this new world. The extended Saudi family still hold power and the addition of Mariam, a strong feminist, and a Saudi princess to the cast makes a lot of sense. Juliette Arroway ,our key protagonist, is a complicated but realistic woman. Driven by her need to do the right thing she takes us into the world of counter terrorist operations as the CIA and the FBI work with other allies as The Syndicate - the only ones who can save the world and restore balance in the energy wars. It’s a page turner with the right buttons of energy and climate change as it’s backdrop. There is the requisite love affair ( actually more than one) and plenty of hand to hand combat that read as well as any action movie. If you need to disappear into a contemporary take on the future then this might be it. Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this advance copy. The opinions are my own@TheSyndicateSpy #NetGalley
November 30, 2022
The Syndicate Spy is a first novel for ex-CIA targeting officer, Brittany Butler. Built on her experiences with the CIA, the result is exciting, fast paced, and full of intrigue and plot twists.
The setting, a world at war over an alternative energy source, is disconcerting in its possibility. It is easy to see our global society devolving into Juliet’s world where the owners of the energy source fight among themselves and the entire world to control the only source of energy. Religion, politics, greed and altruism battle throughout the book. There is love and loss, and the deep, complicated friendship between Juliet and Miriam, her friend and co-worker.
The main character, Juliet, is strong and easily carries the book. She’s a focused, smart, kick ass lead. I loved her backstory and complex relationships with the other characters. Juliet’s leadership and technical skills are believable, drawn from Brittany’s life and the accomplishments and experiences of the amazing women she worked with.
It’s the perfect escape for a cold winter day or sunny day at the beach. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!
The setting, a world at war over an alternative energy source, is disconcerting in its possibility. It is easy to see our global society devolving into Juliet’s world where the owners of the energy source fight among themselves and the entire world to control the only source of energy. Religion, politics, greed and altruism battle throughout the book. There is love and loss, and the deep, complicated friendship between Juliet and Miriam, her friend and co-worker.
The main character, Juliet, is strong and easily carries the book. She’s a focused, smart, kick ass lead. I loved her backstory and complex relationships with the other characters. Juliet’s leadership and technical skills are believable, drawn from Brittany’s life and the accomplishments and experiences of the amazing women she worked with.
It’s the perfect escape for a cold winter day or sunny day at the beach. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!
February 19, 2023
This is a well-told, exciting spy thriller. Finally, two female leads who are badass and believable. Juliet and Miriam are tough and smart. I trusted that they knew what they were doing. There were twists in the book I didn't expect, but I felt they were plausible. The future world the author creates is scary but very realistic. It's like Jason Bourne meets Killing Eve as far as action and intrigue. Juliet isn't Wonder Woman. She gets hurt, she gets heartbroken, but she keeps fighting for what she believes. Thank you NetGalley, Brittany Butler, and Greenleaf Book Group Press for the arc.
March 21, 2023
I really enjoyed this book! Juliet is a spy who works for the Syndicate, a coalition of spy organizations that are trying to stop terrorist attacks in the Middle East in a world where there is fighting over alternative fuels. This book had everything, non-stop action, romance, betrayal-I thoroughly enjoyed the ride and it felt like something new and different. Plus I liked the fact that it was written by a former CIA agent, it added to the believability. It sounded like this is the start of a new series so I am looking forward to reading more of Juliet's adventures in the future if that is the case!
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy for my review, all thoughts are my own!
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy for my review, all thoughts are my own!
March 20, 2023
This was a great spy thriller and I read a lot of spy thrillers. The difference between this book and all the others I have read is that this one was written by a woman, and one who served in the CIA. Her novel has 2 female spies and the setting is the unrest in the Middle East. Like most good thrillers, this was a rollercoaster ride of a story. Never quite knowing what was coming next kept my thoroughly enthralled and reading as fast as I could. There is some romance in this book, but it is not the main theme. Congratulations to Brittney Butler on her first novel and I hope there will be more.
February 15, 2023
Brittany Butler is a first time author for me, and after reading her biography I was interested to see how she'd interweave her own experiences into the story. The story itself was a good read. Fast paced, straight to the point, and filled with spy action. If you enjoy reading about government, international espionage, CIA, and all those type of clandestine spy stories then you'll enjoy The Syndicate Spy.
The story focuses mainly on main character Juliet Arroway, an international agent working for a secret agency that may or may not be sanctioned by the US government. Known as " a conglomerate of allied intelligence agencies charged with hunting energy terrorists", Juliet is a top agent working to bring down foreign terrorists who have hijacked a new and clean energy source that the world needs. Set somewhat in the future, we're told that the environment is depleting and the energy crisis has nations across the world fighting for a cleaner and less expensive resource. You're taken immediately to the Middle East where Juliet and her "asset" Mariam al-Saud are tracking an elusive enemy who is trying to steal the renewable clean energy source that the United States have tried to secure. From the first pages, you're taken immediately into the action and you get a sense of the type of spy Juliet is.
What I liked about The Syndicate Spy was that there were no soft peddling around the topic of terrorists, environmental disasters, international spies, and even women's rights. The story did feel like you're watching a TV series or even a TV movie. Juliet is a likeable character with her own flaws and demons and the writer didn't try too hard to make you like Juliet or hate her. Many things happen throughout the story which keeps you on the edge of your seat. There were a couple of instances where some things didn't match up to a previous incidence but they didn't detract me from reading further.
There aren't a lot of characters in this story which was also a relief. There was Juliet, the MC, Mariam, David, and Graham - who later becomes a love interest. Interspersed throughout the story you get to meet Juliet's fiance and a few other minor characters. I won't go into too much details about all the characters as it will become spoilers, but know that all the characters in this story play a part that weaves well into the central plot.
While there were subtle hints and thoughts about women's rights in the Middle East and even as a whole concept, it wasn't the central focus until the very end. That I thought was a bit off-putting as I think the author was trying to bring something to light, but it felt rushed in a way.
Overall, The Syndicate Spy did seem like your typical spy type of action thriller. But you throw in some strong and convincing characters and a few twists in the end, and you get a well written story with a great central plot.
Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read this thrilling story.
The story focuses mainly on main character Juliet Arroway, an international agent working for a secret agency that may or may not be sanctioned by the US government. Known as " a conglomerate of allied intelligence agencies charged with hunting energy terrorists", Juliet is a top agent working to bring down foreign terrorists who have hijacked a new and clean energy source that the world needs. Set somewhat in the future, we're told that the environment is depleting and the energy crisis has nations across the world fighting for a cleaner and less expensive resource. You're taken immediately to the Middle East where Juliet and her "asset" Mariam al-Saud are tracking an elusive enemy who is trying to steal the renewable clean energy source that the United States have tried to secure. From the first pages, you're taken immediately into the action and you get a sense of the type of spy Juliet is.
What I liked about The Syndicate Spy was that there were no soft peddling around the topic of terrorists, environmental disasters, international spies, and even women's rights. The story did feel like you're watching a TV series or even a TV movie. Juliet is a likeable character with her own flaws and demons and the writer didn't try too hard to make you like Juliet or hate her. Many things happen throughout the story which keeps you on the edge of your seat. There were a couple of instances where some things didn't match up to a previous incidence but they didn't detract me from reading further.
There aren't a lot of characters in this story which was also a relief. There was Juliet, the MC, Mariam, David, and Graham - who later becomes a love interest. Interspersed throughout the story you get to meet Juliet's fiance and a few other minor characters. I won't go into too much details about all the characters as it will become spoilers, but know that all the characters in this story play a part that weaves well into the central plot.
While there were subtle hints and thoughts about women's rights in the Middle East and even as a whole concept, it wasn't the central focus until the very end. That I thought was a bit off-putting as I think the author was trying to bring something to light, but it felt rushed in a way.
Overall, The Syndicate Spy did seem like your typical spy type of action thriller. But you throw in some strong and convincing characters and a few twists in the end, and you get a well written story with a great central plot.
Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read this thrilling story.
March 16, 2023
A fast paced adventure thriller story. The story has action, suspense and international intrigue. Everything you can ask for in a thriller story. The espionage and terrorist adds to the thrill ride. The plot is action packed and in my opinion will keep the reader at the edge of their seat until twisted end. The story has strong and well written characters. The main character Juliet could be the next action hero. This book should be made into a movie.
Disclaimer: Thank you Greenleaf Book Group Press for this ARC and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Disclaimer: Thank you Greenleaf Book Group Press for this ARC and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 28, 2023
Do you think you’d cut it as a spy?
Oh heck no! I tell my husband so much. I think it takes a special talent to be able to compartmentalize this way, and its not a gift I have.
In the future the earths oil reserves are depleted, and nations are racing against terrorists to control alternative energy sources. Enter the Syndicate, an agency determined to put an end to the global energy war. Juliet is a Syndicate spy, and it is her mission to put an end to the war. Will Juliet be able to accomplish this despite numerous setbacks? Or will they be her undoing?
When I saw this spy novel written by a former CIA female operative, I was intrigued and needed to read it! There are not many female spy authors, and even fewer are former spies themselves! This was a fantastic debut novel, and it was apparent from the start that the author intimately knew the industry. I appreciated the drama interwoven into the story as well. I found the tidbits about dating while serving in this type of job quite fascinating! It was little things like this, that added to the authenticity of the book.
I absolutely loved the strong and amazing female main character. She was so fierce, yet relatable. I found her likable and easy to root for. When things went sideways for her I was shook, and was so happy when she worked things out.
If you’re looking for the female version of Jack Reacher, then look no further than the Syndicate Spy – out March 21st!
Thank you to the publisher, Greenleaf Book Group Press, the author, @formerspy1, and @netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Oh heck no! I tell my husband so much. I think it takes a special talent to be able to compartmentalize this way, and its not a gift I have.
In the future the earths oil reserves are depleted, and nations are racing against terrorists to control alternative energy sources. Enter the Syndicate, an agency determined to put an end to the global energy war. Juliet is a Syndicate spy, and it is her mission to put an end to the war. Will Juliet be able to accomplish this despite numerous setbacks? Or will they be her undoing?
When I saw this spy novel written by a former CIA female operative, I was intrigued and needed to read it! There are not many female spy authors, and even fewer are former spies themselves! This was a fantastic debut novel, and it was apparent from the start that the author intimately knew the industry. I appreciated the drama interwoven into the story as well. I found the tidbits about dating while serving in this type of job quite fascinating! It was little things like this, that added to the authenticity of the book.
I absolutely loved the strong and amazing female main character. She was so fierce, yet relatable. I found her likable and easy to root for. When things went sideways for her I was shook, and was so happy when she worked things out.
If you’re looking for the female version of Jack Reacher, then look no further than the Syndicate Spy – out March 21st!
Thank you to the publisher, Greenleaf Book Group Press, the author, @formerspy1, and @netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 3, 2023
I can’t begin to explain how much I loved this book!!! Addictive, thrilling, on the edge of your seat action, and nail biting suspense! Oh and so much more!!!
I’m still in awe of the magnificent talent it took to create this incredible story!!
I especially loved the characters, most specifically Juliet and Graham. Brittany Butler did a brilliant job of showing how nothing is as simple as it appears….
Outstanding job!!! I can’t recommend this book enough!! Can’t wait to see what Brittany comes up with next!!!
I’m still in awe of the magnificent talent it took to create this incredible story!!
I especially loved the characters, most specifically Juliet and Graham. Brittany Butler did a brilliant job of showing how nothing is as simple as it appears….
Outstanding job!!! I can’t recommend this book enough!! Can’t wait to see what Brittany comes up with next!!!
July 27, 2025
WOW. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect going into this book but it was everything and more. This spy thriller fully got me out of my reading slump. The attention to details, the twists and turns, the romance - I throughly enjoyed every second of this. If you are looking for an action thriller with a perfect dose of romance, this is the book for you. I guess it could be considered a Bourne level thriller with the nuance of a strong female lead. Highly highly recommend my goodness
September 20, 2022
From the first page, you will not be able to put this book down. You will find yourself swept across the world with Juliette and won't be able to wait to see what happens next. Juliette is the woman we all aspire to be–brave and strong, yet vulnerable and heart-felt. Her journey is captivating and inspiring. This is one of my favorite books of 2022 and I can't recommend it enough!
March 26, 2023
I’ll divide the rating into 2 categories:
3 ⭐️ — for the storyline
4.5 ⭐️ — for the issues this book holds
I won’t say I like the story nor I would say that I don't like it. It comes in between to me. The writing of this book as I never heard of this author is quite refreshing and the chosen words she picked to write this book have her own style. Meaning, for English as not your mother language, but it is quite understandable. Also, The issues she brought into this book especially focusing on ”How people see Muslim and women in general and other perspectives” gets me. That issue should be getting some appraisal.
The story comes from Juliet's perspective as our MC, it is a third person POV but mainly focuses on Juliet’s perspective on how she handles her own things in the storyline. She was having a business trip as a spy of a Syndicate in Syria and her main base is in France. She discovered that this certain person called “Abu Hassan” has been the main reason the Syndicate become relentless to capture a Muslim person because he brought another perspective of Western to the other Muslims and spread different rumors. When she was back in France, her long-lost boyfriend and soon-to-be fiance Jean-Marc was killed out of nowhere because of a plane crash, Juliet was shocked and feeling down for a while but her job took much of her attention. She was introduced to Graham and suddenly this Syndicate organization accused Mariam, her best friend in this world that Mariam has something to do with the voice of Muslim people Juliet trying to discover the truth about it and get deeper into the unexpected thing she never thought she would discover.
The storyline and The writing for the category of “Mystery and Spy Thriller”, this book is quite refreshing to read. Not only because the writing is understandable and easy to read, but also because the main focus of this storyline is only one thing but Brittany expanded into something interesting. No wonder she could do that, I just read her profile and she was “a former CIA targeting officer with first-hand knowledge of the recruitment and handling of spies and dismantling terrorist networks abroad.” She probably had her inspiration for this novel because of her work. Well, it is good and interesting to read the story in this book. However, the funny thing is while I was reading this book, I did not feel any special attachment to the characters or the storyline as well as it doesn’t get me into the special emotions which is disturbing. Furthermore, if any of you guys did some skimming towards this book, it won’t make any difference, like only a certain part of this book is “The main story and need to be paid attention to” while the others are just supporting. Furthermore, the love story between Graham and Juliet spark and how they serve and accused this love they had towards each other and doesn’t want this feeling gets into their job, I loved it. Unprofessionalism but acceptable.
Something I learned from this book:
①Saudi Women cannot travel outside the Kingdom without the approval of their male guardian
②Men in the Islamic world often used the name of their firstborn child as part of their kunya, another name for an adult derived from the name of their eldest child
③Black Abaya as a symbol in Saudi because black was worn only by the rich and noble and that’s why most women wear black ones today.
④Polygamy is normal in this state
⑤Oil, as the main business of Saudi
⑥”A life for a life” in the business of this nation is normal and still applied abruptly
⑦Muslim people wanted the West people to see; what it’s like to live without comfort, security, affordable housing, and job opportunities like the rest of the world.
⑧Middle East tech isn’t as good as we think
⑨Patriarchy in the nation is still happening and categories as “rational”
The Main issue of this book; the using of religious fundamentalist to wage a war that has nothing to do with religion.
To conclude, I love the main issue this book hold and what Brittany brought to the surface, especially about this main thing that most people always see as something less important. Brittany also could bring the story from the perspective of “a woman in a Saudi Arab household.” The writing and storyline were refreshing for a Spy and Mystery book and the love story between those two sweet people, I still see it as unprofessionalism but still accepted it on my own terms. Many things I learned from reading this book, especially focusing on this Middle East Nation. Oh, about plot twist I personally didn’t feel or get it. All of my guesses are correct all along. Even so, the specific cause and reason of that storyline have their own way your heart-nope, not mine. LOL.
What I love the most about this book is, people always see one religion as a thread when one person obsesses and brought anything related to their cause with religious names. Meanwhile, it is their own cause and problems of obsession to deal with and has nothing else to do with this certain religion. However, people always see the surface and not understanding that ”not all people in that certain religion is a prick” which this book secured this main thing in its own way. A wonderful thing to bring to the surface indeed!!!
3 ⭐️ — for the storyline
4.5 ⭐️ — for the issues this book holds
I won’t say I like the story nor I would say that I don't like it. It comes in between to me. The writing of this book as I never heard of this author is quite refreshing and the chosen words she picked to write this book have her own style. Meaning, for English as not your mother language, but it is quite understandable. Also, The issues she brought into this book especially focusing on ”How people see Muslim and women in general and other perspectives” gets me. That issue should be getting some appraisal.
The story comes from Juliet's perspective as our MC, it is a third person POV but mainly focuses on Juliet’s perspective on how she handles her own things in the storyline. She was having a business trip as a spy of a Syndicate in Syria and her main base is in France. She discovered that this certain person called “Abu Hassan” has been the main reason the Syndicate become relentless to capture a Muslim person because he brought another perspective of Western to the other Muslims and spread different rumors. When she was back in France, her long-lost boyfriend and soon-to-be fiance Jean-Marc was killed out of nowhere because of a plane crash, Juliet was shocked and feeling down for a while but her job took much of her attention. She was introduced to Graham and suddenly this Syndicate organization accused Mariam, her best friend in this world that Mariam has something to do with the voice of Muslim people Juliet trying to discover the truth about it and get deeper into the unexpected thing she never thought she would discover.
The storyline and The writing for the category of “Mystery and Spy Thriller”, this book is quite refreshing to read. Not only because the writing is understandable and easy to read, but also because the main focus of this storyline is only one thing but Brittany expanded into something interesting. No wonder she could do that, I just read her profile and she was “a former CIA targeting officer with first-hand knowledge of the recruitment and handling of spies and dismantling terrorist networks abroad.” She probably had her inspiration for this novel because of her work. Well, it is good and interesting to read the story in this book. However, the funny thing is while I was reading this book, I did not feel any special attachment to the characters or the storyline as well as it doesn’t get me into the special emotions which is disturbing. Furthermore, if any of you guys did some skimming towards this book, it won’t make any difference, like only a certain part of this book is “The main story and need to be paid attention to” while the others are just supporting. Furthermore, the love story between Graham and Juliet spark and how they serve and accused this love they had towards each other and doesn’t want this feeling gets into their job, I loved it. Unprofessionalism but acceptable.
Something I learned from this book:
①Saudi Women cannot travel outside the Kingdom without the approval of their male guardian
②Men in the Islamic world often used the name of their firstborn child as part of their kunya, another name for an adult derived from the name of their eldest child
③Black Abaya as a symbol in Saudi because black was worn only by the rich and noble and that’s why most women wear black ones today.
④Polygamy is normal in this state
⑤Oil, as the main business of Saudi
⑥”A life for a life” in the business of this nation is normal and still applied abruptly
⑦Muslim people wanted the West people to see; what it’s like to live without comfort, security, affordable housing, and job opportunities like the rest of the world.
⑧Middle East tech isn’t as good as we think
⑨Patriarchy in the nation is still happening and categories as “rational”
The Main issue of this book; the using of religious fundamentalist to wage a war that has nothing to do with religion.
To conclude, I love the main issue this book hold and what Brittany brought to the surface, especially about this main thing that most people always see as something less important. Brittany also could bring the story from the perspective of “a woman in a Saudi Arab household.” The writing and storyline were refreshing for a Spy and Mystery book and the love story between those two sweet people, I still see it as unprofessionalism but still accepted it on my own terms. Many things I learned from reading this book, especially focusing on this Middle East Nation. Oh, about plot twist I personally didn’t feel or get it. All of my guesses are correct all along. Even so, the specific cause and reason of that storyline have their own way your heart-nope, not mine. LOL.
What I love the most about this book is, people always see one religion as a thread when one person obsesses and brought anything related to their cause with religious names. Meanwhile, it is their own cause and problems of obsession to deal with and has nothing else to do with this certain religion. However, people always see the surface and not understanding that ”not all people in that certain religion is a prick” which this book secured this main thing in its own way. A wonderful thing to bring to the surface indeed!!!
May 7, 2023
Audiobook review
I absolutely loved this book. I don't usually read political thrillers but I thoroughly enjoyed the espionage and drama with a bit of romance thrown in. I was definitely kept in suspense for the whole book and couldn't stop listening. There were a few parts where I thought I knew were the book was going and then it went somewhere completely different! There aren't a lot of books that can surprise me with a well placed twist but this one had a few mind boggling twists that I wasn't expecting. I really enjoyed the characters throughout the book, I feel like they were well developed and the writing was very descriptive.
The narration for the audiobook was kind of hard to listen to, I almost turned it off but powered through. The narrator seemed a bit robotic and slightly monotone in most parts. It felt like every sentence was supposed to elicit suspense but when a suspenseful part did happen, the quicker cadence and rush you'd expect in a frantic scene seemed minimal because that's how the rest of the story was told, I feel like the cadence of the narration downplayed the suspense. Also the male voices were rough and seemed forced. I can appreciate that as a female narrator it's not always easy to portray many different male voices, but the male voices weren't great in my opinion.
I recommend this book (to read, not listen) and I look forward to reading another installment of Juliet Arroway.
Thank you to Netgalley and Greenleaf Book Group Press for allowing me to read and review this book.
I absolutely loved this book. I don't usually read political thrillers but I thoroughly enjoyed the espionage and drama with a bit of romance thrown in. I was definitely kept in suspense for the whole book and couldn't stop listening. There were a few parts where I thought I knew were the book was going and then it went somewhere completely different! There aren't a lot of books that can surprise me with a well placed twist but this one had a few mind boggling twists that I wasn't expecting. I really enjoyed the characters throughout the book, I feel like they were well developed and the writing was very descriptive.
The narration for the audiobook was kind of hard to listen to, I almost turned it off but powered through. The narrator seemed a bit robotic and slightly monotone in most parts. It felt like every sentence was supposed to elicit suspense but when a suspenseful part did happen, the quicker cadence and rush you'd expect in a frantic scene seemed minimal because that's how the rest of the story was told, I feel like the cadence of the narration downplayed the suspense. Also the male voices were rough and seemed forced. I can appreciate that as a female narrator it's not always easy to portray many different male voices, but the male voices weren't great in my opinion.
I recommend this book (to read, not listen) and I look forward to reading another installment of Juliet Arroway.
Thank you to Netgalley and Greenleaf Book Group Press for allowing me to read and review this book.
May 24, 2024
In Brittany Butler's new near future thriller, oil has disappeared and the world is aflame with violence and war as nation states fight for alternate energy sources. Juliet Arroway is a spy for the Syndicate, a global confederation of military and intelligence officers who are fighting to stop energy pirates from taking over alterative energy sites. Juliet's partner is Mariam, a daughter of Saudi royalty, who has escaped from the male dominated royal family to fight along side Juliet.
Juliet and Mariam, with other Syndicate agents, have been hunting the terrorist Abu Hassan, when they get intelligence that Hassan may be a member of Mariam's royal family. In the meantime, Juliet's boyfriend's plane disappears and he is presumed dead and Juliet, Mariam and a FBI agent named Graham Harding journey to Saudi Arabia to check with Mariam's uncle, the Grant Mufti, if Abu Hassan is really his son Aziz.
The set up for the novel is very convincing and there are plenty of plot twists and action scenes. I thought the betrayals and double crosses were difficult to suss out ahead of time. Even in a genre filled with super human anti terrorist fighters, like Mitch Rapp, Juliet Arroway's ability to get out of fights is simply unbelievable. Nor does Arroway use sophisticated weapons.
Butler certainly knows the Middle East and the spycraft and her plot is ingenious, but a little too farfetched even for one who frequently can suspend disbelief.
Hopefully, in her next book she can clean up her prose a bit.
Juliet and Mariam, with other Syndicate agents, have been hunting the terrorist Abu Hassan, when they get intelligence that Hassan may be a member of Mariam's royal family. In the meantime, Juliet's boyfriend's plane disappears and he is presumed dead and Juliet, Mariam and a FBI agent named Graham Harding journey to Saudi Arabia to check with Mariam's uncle, the Grant Mufti, if Abu Hassan is really his son Aziz.
The set up for the novel is very convincing and there are plenty of plot twists and action scenes. I thought the betrayals and double crosses were difficult to suss out ahead of time. Even in a genre filled with super human anti terrorist fighters, like Mitch Rapp, Juliet Arroway's ability to get out of fights is simply unbelievable. Nor does Arroway use sophisticated weapons.
Butler certainly knows the Middle East and the spycraft and her plot is ingenious, but a little too farfetched even for one who frequently can suspend disbelief.
Hopefully, in her next book she can clean up her prose a bit.
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