The Paris Betrayal By James R. Hannibal

The Paris Betrayal

by James R. Hannibal

Publisher: Revell

ISBN: 9780800738501

I enjoy reading books by authors who are new to me, so when I had the opportunity to read The Paris Betrayal, I couldn't pass it up. Revell sent me his book for review.

Summary:

After a rough mission in Rome involving the discovery of a devastating bioweapon, Company spy Ben Calix returns to Paris to find his perfectly ordered world has collapsed. A sniper attack. An ambush. A call for help that brings French SWAT forces down on his head. Ben is out. This is a severance--reserved for incompetents and traitors.

Searching for answers and anticipating a coming attack, Ben and a woman swept up in his misfortunes must travel across Europe to find the sniper who tried to kill him, the medic who saved his life, the schoolmaster who trained him, and an upstart hacker from his former team. More than that, Ben must come to grips with his own insignificance as the Company's plan to stop Leviathan from unleashing the bioweapon at any cost moves forward without him--and he struggles against the infection that is swiftly claiming territory within his own body.

Award-winning author James R. Hannibal rachets up the tension on every page of this suspenseful new thriller.

My Review:

Well, I've just finished my first book by James R. Hannibal. Wow! What an incredible thriller The Paris Betrayal was! If you enjoy fast-paced, action-packed suspense, this is the next book you should be reading!

Ben Calix is the action hero of this story. I'd call him a sitting duck, but the guy never sits still. From the start, he's on the run. If someone isn't shooting at him, someone is trying to blow him up. Him or someone he knows. The guy has a bullseye on him and people doing what they can to bring him to Jupiter.

One of the problems writing reviews for thrillers or suspense novels is that you can't give anything away. How do you mention situations and people while being generic? lol I'll do my best to keep you in the dark.

Aside from his spy "co-worker" (is that what spies are, co-workers?), Giselle, Ben trusts no one. He has no family and really no friends. After they work a mission together all chaos breaks loose and they go in different directions.

Ben ends up with an unexpected companion in the midst of abandoning his flat in Paris. That companion comes with an unexpected four legged friend, Otto, a little daschund. The little pup adds a bit of levity in this nail biting story. They end up going from country to country trying to find answers and help.

It was mind boggling the amount of detail in this story. Whether it's the weapons people are carrying, explanations of the attack that's going to happen, or even the intricacies of the characters discussing the Company, there's a lot to take in. This is one of those books where you want to go back and read a second time to help digest all of the information.

Of course, I was trying to figure out who  was helping the bad guy. He's out there in all of his craziness for us to witness, and while he's using people to get to Ben, there's something going on behind the scenes and I kept trying to figure it out throughout the story. As soon as I figured it out, I realized I hadn't. Grrrr

I was literally on the edge of my seat for the entire story and was completely engrossed. SO engrossed I only have one tab for quotes. Listen, no time for stopping to make highlights when I have to find out who's going to be shooting at Ben next. We all know there are twists and turns throughout the story and we're always trying to keep up with what's going on. I felt like one of the puppets Jupiter was using to get to Ben!

After reading this I know Hannibal's other books will need to grace my bookshelves as well. The hardest part will be waiting for his next book!

About the Author:

James R. Hannibal is no stranger to secrets and adventure. This former stealth pilot from Houston, Texas, has been shot at, locked up with surface-to-air missiles, and chased down a winding German road by an armed terrorist. He is a two-time Silver Falchion Award winner for his children's mysteries, a former Thriller Award nominee, and a 2020 Selah and Carol Award finalist for The Gryphon Heist--the opener for the CIA series that now includes Chasing the White Lion. James is a rare multisense synesthete, meaning all of his senses intersect. He sees and feels sounds and smells, and hears flashes of light. If he tells you the chocolate cake you offered smells blue and sticky, take it as a compliment.