🌍☣️🦠 "The Paris Betrayal" (2021) 🦠☣️🌍 - Book Review
MY REVIEW
ISBN-10: 0800738500
ISBN-13: 978- 0800738501
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“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.”
Thank you in advance to the publisher, Revell (a division of Baker Books) for providing a complimentary review copy through the author’s launch team. A positive review was not required or requested, all words are my own.
Right off – CIA and “spy-type” thrillers are not my genre. I do have a sentimental soft spot for the “older” James Bond movies – think Roger Moore era James Bond. Though, let’s be honest, my FAVORITE “Bond” was one-timer George Lazenby.
Today’s “spy-thriller” movies are more of the Jason Bourne movies and modern-day James Bond – Daniel Craig. Though to be honest, I could think of another “Bond” candidate.
Anyway …
Right off the cover isn’t “showy” – it is interesting, intriguing, subtle, mysterious, even ominous. With that “feel” – it definitely got my attention.
The premise for this book was too good to pass up. So, when the author said something about a launch and review team – I thought it would be a perfect time to try a new type of read.
In addition, it was also May’s read for Revell’s Beyond the Book Facebook group “read along”. How could I not decide to read this? And, I do like giving “new-to-me” authors a chance.
Let me say this – I am SO glad I agreed to be on the mini-launch and review team! This book! Wow! I don’t think there is an adequate word to describe how absolutely riveting this was. This was an intense, gripping, high octane, thrilling, exciting, edge of the seat roller coaster read.
The short chapters didn’t help matters when I kept going “just one more chapter, just one more” hoping to find a “stop” point. I literally read the first week’s worth of reading in less than three (3) hours. We were assigned chapters 1-25 (roughly 123 pages) for the first week; 26-50 for week #2; and 51 to the end for the final week. That reading pattern repeated itself the following two weeks of the read along. To state that I couldn’t put it down is definitely inadequate as well.
The characters were just as interesting as the story – Ben, Giselle (Ben’s “partner”/“girlfriend”), Sensen (an assassin), Clara and her dog Otto (she just “happens” to be there for Ben), Duval (a corrupt cop), and even “Jupiter”. And, as much as I was trying to keep a list of “who’s who”, it was hard to with all the action. The Paris Betrayal is told from multiple POVS – Ben, Jupiter, Clara, and Duval. There are also minor characters and keeping track of them can be a bit problematic.
This VERY much paralleled (if not rivalled) what I’d expect from the Jason Bourne movies or a modern-day James Bond movie (especially with everything that is put in them now). This had some serious “movie” tones and feels to it. Hannibal’s writing drew me right into not only the book, but it felt like I was part of the story as well.
However, given the current pandemic situation and the fact the book was written at the height of it – there will be a mention of COVID-19 along with certain parallels to it. While that aspect worked, it could be bothersome to those who might be sensitive to the pandemic’s far-reaching effects.
Moving on …
Ben Calix (not his real name, so that intrigues me) is CIA spy. And, as the story goes – a mission goes awry and he is “severed”. But, who is really to blame and why is is happening? That is what Ben is trying to find out and fast. In some cases – severance means “DEATH”. It isn’t bad enough he’s turned out by the agency, but someone has a target sign on him. This is all within the first, short eight chapters (roughly 39 pages) to give you an idea of the pacing.
Of course, prior to Ben’s “severance”, the readers met Jupiter. Even at the end, I was wondering who this guy was. It is obvious – he wants Calix.
However, Calix is more determined to prove his innocence to the Company who doesn’t care – it isn’t their job to care. They’ve made their decision – he needs to “live” with it.
As he goes on the run, he meets Clara and at first, he tries to leave her behind. It becomes clear she is also in danger. Would she be safer being left behind or with Ben? At times it isn’t clear.
And, despite him “using” her to get away from a situation – she doesn’t mind sticking close to him. She too has “secrets”.
Ben is trying to figure out how to get information to the company to stop Jupiter and Leviathan, as he’s trying to figure out what they’re up to.
After being spotted at the Notre Dame cathedral, Ben and Clara travel to Giselle’s where … a bomb goes off.
NOTE: this has to be one of the most fascinating parts of the book due to the reveal in the last third (1/3) of the book.
Ben’s next moves take him to an assassin, but he gets no information there and he is FORCED to leave Clara behind. Each step Ben takes to finding out what Jupiter and Leviathan are up to, puts him in further danger.
It becomes increasingly clear that Ben has been set up – but again – who and why? And, while he believes he can trust certain people, including his mentor, it is clear – Ben is on his own.
With Ben, realizing time is now running out for him as he becomes sicker and sicker – it becomes clear that it isn’t about what he deserves, it becomes what is his purpose? The Paris Betrayal is thrilling down to the end. As he watches some friends turn on him and some come to his rescue, Ben learns an important lesson along the way.
A little spoiler – don’t look for this to be “over” with even at the end. The ending was left open, so I am VERY curious to see if this is a standalone read or part of a series. I really want to see what is next for a few characters.
I did enjoy the “surprise” starting chapter 51. I truly didn’t see that coming, nor did I suspect Clara’s true origins. Hannibal really pulled those two right over me but they added to the suspense factor.
There is a moment where Ben turns on Clara and threatens her dog. It can be disturbing for some readers traumatized by animal cruelty. It is really the only questionable part of the book and it is VERY brief.
I absolutely loved the “narrative” lessons that Ben was recalling at various points along his journey. I felt like I was being given a lesson as well. There were times I completely identified with Ben in the “can anything go right” point of view.
Readers will note that Hannibal uses the damaged Notre Dame cathedral in the story as a hiding place. And, as I haven’t kept up with it since the damaging fire, it was interesting to read some sort of update on it or as near an update as one can get.
There is some “spy-talk” and terms in this, but not enough that it would stump the reader or preclude them from following and enjoying the story.
It is interesting to note this is the SECOND book I’ve read in May that deals with a bio-weapon made from a virus. The other one being Melissa Koslin’s debut Never Miss.
I guess that is to be expected due to the height of the pandemic last year. In one of the chapters of this book, the COVID-19 virus is mentions as is Wuhan and the original SARS outbreak. Hannibal definitely drew from reality there and it definitely real as I was reading it.
Even though this is distributed by a primarily Christian/faith-themed publisher, do not expect overt Christian tones or themes. While this story is a parallel to Job, there are hardly any references to religion at all. If there are, they are subtle in tone.
One of the questions from the “read along” dealt with finding out the truth and questioning others, as well as questioning God. Ben learns that sometimes the truth or finding information out does nothing to control the destiny of the master plan. And, he also learns that sometimes God’s ways and time are not ours.
Overall, this is a VERY enjoyable read and high up on the “I am definitely going to re-read this someday” list.
I honestly wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to those who enjoy either the Jason Bourne movies or James Bond ones. Fans of the author’s other suspense books won’t want to miss this either.
RATING:
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub
5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
James R. Hannibal is a former stealth pilot from Houston, Texas, who 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 three-time Silver Falchion award-winner for his children’s mysteries, a former Thriller Award nominees, and a Carol Award winner and Selah finalist for The Gryphon Heist – the opener for the CIA series that now includes Chasing the White Lion. James is a rare multi-sense 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.
You can also find him on the following social media accounts:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesRHannibal/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesrhannibal/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamesRHannibal/
Website: https://jamesrhannibal.com/
*This post contains affiliate links
Comments
Post a Comment