The Cost of Betrayal

Back Cover

Faith will be tested.  Trust Shattered.

Three bestselling romantic suspense writers reunite for novellas of deadly betrayal.

Dee Henderson - "Betrayed"

After serving six years of a twenty-ear sentence for a murder she didn't commit, Janelle Roberts is finally freed.  But the truth is still waiting to be discovered, and a murderer is still at large.  Janelle needs to be somewhere safe with someone she can trust.  She may not survive another act of treachery.

Dani Pettrey - "Deadly Isle"

Tennyson Kent is trapped on the isolated island of her childhood by a storm surge, and she is shocked when the typically idyllic community turns into the hunting grounds of a murderer.  Cut off from any help from the mainland, will she and first love Callen Frost be able to identify and stop a killer before they become the next victims?

Lynette Eason - "Code of Ethics"

When Detective Isaac Martinez lands in the ER with a gunshot wound, he pulls through thanks to trauma surgeon Ruthie St. John.  But as the witness to a crime and possible corruption, Martinez is at risk from someone intent on silencing him - and those around him - forever.  When he barely survives another attack while recovering, both he and Ruthie must flee, trying to outrun deadly killers while locating the evidence they need to end the danger.

Review

What a smashing group of stories!  Arguably three of the current top ten writers of suspense, Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey, and Lynette Eason come together to bring readers to the edge of their seats once again in three thrilling stories.

 

Dee Henderson kicks things off with "Betrayed".  Written in her typical style of detailed, thought-provoking, analytical writing, Ms. Henderson's favourite characters, Ann and Paul Falcon, stumble onto a murder case that was presumably wrapped up and finished years ago.  All it takes, however, is for one small piece of evidence to surface for Ann to wonder if there had been a miscarriage of justice.  Ann's justice-seeking nature is unwilling to let the matter rest until all stones have been overturned.  And while her suspicions prove correct, it could spell danger for Janelle Roberts, whose newfound lease on life may be cut short should the real killer decide to silence her once and for all  Consisting mainly of dialogue in this character driven plot, "Betrayed" is not as much of a nail-biter as some of Ms. Henderson's previous works, but the tension in this story is palatable, and I was never sure of how the story would end until I turned over the last page.

Dani Pettrey keeps the ball rolling with "Deadly Isle", as an island that was once seen as one of refuge, turns deadly for Tennyson Kent.  As the owner and of the founding family of Talbot, she has a higher duty than most to ensure the safety of every citizen on the island.  But the danger doesn't stop with the murder that occurs in the opening pages of the story.  Dangerous events and attacks ensue until it becomes clear that the killer has an additional target in mind.  Nearly every chapter in "Deadly Isle" ends on a cliff-hanger note, compelling the reader to read "one more chapter" to find out what happens next.  The inclusion of romance in this suspense was nicely done as it wasn't so much a budding love story as it was a re-kindling of a previous relationship, so as it didn't feel too forced or too fast.  As there were a number of different potential suspects, I really appreciated the fact that the ending tied up all the loose ends and left no question unanswered.

 

Lynette Eason arguably had the hardest job in closing out this three-story compilation on a high note.  Not surprisingly, she executes the job perfectly with "Code of Ethics".  A short story spin-off of her "Blue Justice" series, this novella follows Ruthie St. John, the "black sheep" if you will, of a family of law enforcement personnel.  Unlike her parents and siblings, she chose the medical field as a career option - and of course, works in the high-stress environment in the ER where anything can happen.  Still, she isn't quite prepared for when Detective Isaac Martinez comes into her care after a shootout.  It quickly becomes obvious that Isaac is the target of someone - or someones - as he harbours evidence that could put corrupt individuals away for a long time.  Ruthie is unwilling to let her injured patient, who is barely able to even walk without assistance, fight this battle on his own.  She is pulled into the fray and it becomes a race against time as they actively seek enough evidence for an arrest and stay alive at the same time.  This story was a white-knuckle of a ride and highly enjoyable.  After devouring the last page, I promptly checked out book one in Ms. Eason's "Blue Justice" series as I want to read more about the St. John family!

 

All in all, The Cost of Betrayal would make an excellent addition to any suspense reader's library.  Three very different stories which wonderfully exhibit each author's unique styles, The Cost of Betrayal compels the reader to keep reading long into the night...and leaves one hoping for another compilation of these wonderful suspense writers.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.