Matthew Betley

Matthew Betley exploded onto the scene with Overwatch which introduced the world to Logan West. In Oath of Honor, West and his team reached new heights and now in Field of Valor Betley has proven that he has what it takes to stand alongside all the greats in the field and his character Logan West can stand shoulder to shoulder with Jack Reacher and Mitch Rapp. Lock those three in a room and I wouldn’t care to wager which one walks out.

In Field of Valor West is leading a covert task force show more sanctioned by the President to take down a group whose aim is to pit China and the US against each other, leading to a world and a government that is shaped more to their liking. Once again, the action leaps off the page, literally from the opening words. Betley writes high-octane action as well as anyone and the wise-cracking pair of Logan West and John Quick are a blast to watch. Cole and Amira, the other two members of the team, first introduced in the previous book are back for more action as well.

Betley has a knack for quickly sketching out characters that make them instantly relatable. He did it in the previous book when introducing Cole and Amira and he does it here as well with Special Agent Austin Chang of the Secret Service. In just a few pages, he lets you get to know Chang and then drops him in the middle of an intense firefight. Not only are you invested in the action, you are invested in Chang and whether or not he will make it out in one piece. This kind of attention to what in other hands might be a throwaway character are one of the things that set Betley apart.

West and his team follow clues that take them from a Space Center in Virginia to a private residence/fortress on the Chesapeake Bay and into the heart of his own government. Throw in some flashbacks to West and Quick’s time in Iraq where they are first introduced to some of the other characters that pop up and you have the stage set for some jaw-dropping action sequences. Betley can write a scene that will leave you gasping for air and convinced you can spell the gunsmoke in the air. Logan West is a larger-than-life figure who draws both fear and admiration. “The man fell to the earth, looking up at the looming figure of Logan West descending toward him like a mythological god of death and destruction.” That is Logan West in a nutshell.

This is a fantastic series and Field of Valor will rank as one of the best thrillers of the year. If you haven’t picked up these books yet, do it now. Highly recommended.

I was fortunate to receive a copy of this book from the publisher. show less

Matthew Betley has managed to do the nearly impossible: stand out in the crowded action thriller field. Logan West is the next great action here, and Overwatch, Betley’s new book, is a great start to the series.

Overwatch starts the action on page one and keeps it going to the last page. Logan West and a handful of main characters are introduced and sketched out quickly, but with enough depth to hook you and keep you interested. Battle-scarred veterans with the intelligence and experience show more to make them credible and dangerous. The scars are emotional as well as physical and one of the things I appreciated most about this book was that Betley didn’t ignore the flaws in his heroes, particularly Logan West. His problems are real, they have consequences and he has to deal with them or be done in by them.

The action in Overwatch travels across the United States, into Mexico and on the other side of the world in Iraq. The enemy is smart, tough, and with a plan that is both realistic and frightening. Betley ties Logan West’s past and present together in a clever way that explains both why he was targeted and why he has the skills and motivation to pursue the enemy. The battle scenes are gritty, exciting and well-written. Mike Benson, Logan’s friend in the FBI is an interesting character that I would have liked to have known a little more about. John Quick, Logan’s old gunnery sergeant, is a tough as nails old soldier and a great character in his own right. Put them all together and you’ve got one great book.

Great characters, great writing, interesting plot and non-stop action. That’s your formula and Matthew Betley nails it. Sign me up for the next Logan West adventure. Fans of Vince Flynn, Brad Taylor, Lee Child, Brad Thor have a new series to check out. Overwatch is highly recommended.

I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book. show less

Matthew Betley set the bar high with his debut action thriller, Overwatch, a year ago and now with his second novel, Oath of Honor, he’s completely blown the lid off the joint. Oath of Honor is one of the best thrillers I’ve read in the last year. Best in the last 5 years. The action starts on page one and simply doesn’t let up.

The action starts when a piece of top secret equipment is stolen from the U.S. Government in Alaska. A high-tech piece of satellite hacking equipment that must show more not be allowed to fall into enemy hands. Logan West and John Quick are hot on the trail and once again are racing across the U.S., Europe and the Sudan in a race to stop a global conspiracy aimed at the United States and its interests. The involvement of Russian, Chinese and North Korean elements make it especially difficult to unravel.

Betley excels with cinematic action pieces. Battles on a North Korean freighter, an off the books prison in the Sudan, a cemetery in Khartoum and a mining facility outside of Las Vegas are among the most thrilling. Painting a picture that propels you along and takes your breath away is an exhilarating experience. Betley does this time and time again. The pace of this story is so fast it may burn your hands.

In Logan West and John Quick, Betley has created strong likeable main characters that make it easy to believe why others would walk through fire for them and why they do it for each other. He is also adept at adding new characters such as Cole and Amira who quickly become integral parts of the story and the team. As good as each of the first two books have been, the ending teases at much more excitement to come.

Matthew Betley is no longer chasing the pack of thriller writers, he’s leading it. Oath of Honor is one of the most exciting books you’ll read this year. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book. show less

With “Rules Of War”, his fourth Logan West novel, Betley continues to show why he belongs in the top tier of today’s thriller writers. Known since his debut for cutting-edge, over the top action scenes and dialogue rife with biting wit, humor and sarcasm, Betley continues to improve his story telling and plot details with each subsequent novel. “Rules Of War” is his most ambitious undertaking yet spanning multiple countries and continents and weaving a multi-layered plot that show more builds upon his previous works and continues to expand the Logan West universe in both depth and breadth.
Even with all of the action, plot twists, and acerbic commentary we’ve come to know and love from West, Betley skillfully goes deeper and expands his character development seamlessly in this outing. With West’s sidekick John Quick sidelined for much of the novel following the events in “Field Of Valor”, the reader gets a fantastic focus on Logan and an insight into his motivations, demons, and psyche that hasn’t been as apparent in the previous novels.

Betley’s novels are tight, fast-paced, humorous, and action-packed. His work is intended as entertainment and, as such, delivers at a high level consistently. “Rules Of War” is not a high-brow political commentary nor is it intended to be. “Rules” is intense, engaging, and a fun-filled adventure ride written to entertain and please the reader and it delivers fully and completely.

While many reviewers and commenters have raved about the train sequence and a scene in a certain fast-food restaurant, there’s a scene in, on, and around a mountaintop gondola that is vintage Betley and will grab even the most casual of readers! Further, unlike so many of today’s action thrillers, “Rules Of War” has a completely satisfying and appropriate ending – no contrived cliffhanger or abrupt, two page wrap up!

My only complaints are it’s not 100 pages longer, and it’s the only Betley novel I’ve not yet been able to get signed yet!

Keep you hands and feet inside the ride at all times, folks! You’re in for a fun one! show less