Book Review: Broker of Lies

I'm finally back in my happy place bookwise -- a triller with twists, turns, and a guy who plunges off a balcony.

My review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Cons: None really. It's a thriller so if you don't like intrigue and high stakes, this one's not for you. It's Christian fiction which means no explicit scenes, no cursing, and the good guys are actually good.

Pros: True to Steven James's style, The Broker of Lies is action-packed. The plot moves the book forward. James has developed strong characters who have fears and hard pasts to overcome, but it's the plot that keeps this book afloat. And that's my favorite kind of novel.

My review: Eighteen months ago, Travis Brock narrowly escaped a house fire in which his beloved wife, Sienna, died. He's determined to find those responsible and ensure they are punished.

In his job as a redactor for the Department of Defense, he realizes someone is looking for odd information on a little-known site used for nuclear research. And somehow it seems related to the fire that killed his wife.

Brock and a disavowed Homeland Security officer, Adeara, must defend themselves against Russian operatives and realize they've been thrown together on purpose. The more they look into the request for information about the nuclear site, the more alarmed they become.

Together they must stop a terrorist attack before hundreds of children die.

I love Steven James's style, but I have to admit his head-hopping makes me a little dizzy at times. I was listening to the book on my commute so I did not have the advantage of seeing scene breaks on the page. At times we moved from one person's point of view to the other with little notice.

The book also tells the story from the point of view of multiple characters, which can be a little confusing.

Both of these are part of James's writing style, and the pace, high stakes, and action make up for whatever confusion the characters cause.

Brock faces his greatest challenge as he must decide whether he's more interested in revenge for his wife's death or saving the world. Interestingly, he's not the only character who has to make this choice.

The book highlights how we all must make choices about what we want and what's the right thing to do.

Based on the ending, I expect to read more books about Travis and Adeara in the future. Grab this one for the start of a series you'll want to keep reading. (As if we need another one of those.)