The Traitor's Pawn

LISA HARRIS

Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, Revell, 2020.

How acquired: Revell Reads Blogger Program

First line: “Watch your back...this isn't over.”

(For the Goodreads synopsis, scroll to the bottom of this post.)

My thoughts: Aubrey is enjoying some downtime from her job with the Houston police, visiting family friends in Corpus Christi and about to do some duck hunting. But the peaceful vacation doesn't last long, and the action begins in the first few pages of this gripping suspense from the author of DEADLY INTENTIONS, which I absolutely loved.

Aubrey is a strong, confident woman who is good at her job, but when her friend and father figure is shot and she herself is kidnapped, she finds herself on the wrong side of a gun. Aubrey felt like a very realistic character. She's experienced at bringing down bad guys, but when a bad guy gets the jump on her, she doesn't turn into Superwoman. She's resourceful and finds a way to fight back, but she's also worried and terrified, as any normal person would be, and I appreciated that.

Jack is an FBI agent who is in town on an unrelated case. He and Aubrey were best friends growing up, and when Jack finds out Aubrey has been kidnapped he willingly jumps in to help out. It makes for a bittersweet reunion, as he and Aubrey lost touch after he moved away, and I also appreciated that their renewed friendship did not include a quick “now that we see each other again after all these years we obviously are in love and must be together”. Not that they have time for that anyway, what with all the bad guys out there that need to be identified and taken down. Possibly including Aubrey's estranged father, who may or may not be involved in some way. And I can't really say much more without giving too much away.

Lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing, lots of action, high on suspense, low on romance, well written, and a great way to get your mind off the pandemic and enjoy your isolation.