Rules of War

May 27, 2019
Betley’s stirring fourth Logan West novel (after 2018’s Field of Valor) takes former Marine West, who heads the super-secret combat group Task Force Ares, to Venezuela in pursuit of Joshua Baker, the U.S. vice president, who has taken refuge in that country after being unmasked as a shadow leader in the Organization, a powerful international cabal seeking to destabilize the world economy. Baker manages to stay one step ahead of West and his team, who are forced to spread their resources across Venezuela—from abandoned mountain resorts to collapsed tunnels and rugged jungle canyons. During pauses in the action, the tone can get syrupy or cornball. For instance, Logan frets about his young family back home, wondering if he “can be the father I know I should be.” This is a bit incongruous coming from a man who once fed an enemy combatant to a hungry hammerhead shark. Those who enjoy a mix of heated dialogue, nearly continuous violence, and lots of military jargon will be rewarded. Agent: Will Roberts, Gernert Co.

June 1, 2019
An American Special Forces officer teams with a Venezuelan counterintelligence agent to combat a nebulous international organization. Bringing his experiences as a former Marine officer, Betley (Field of Valor, 2018, etc.) returns with his serial character, former Marine Force Recon veteran and apex soldier Logan West. In this outing, Chief Inspector Santiago Rojas of Bolivarian National Intelligence is charged with locating West, with the promise of medical treatment for his daughter if he succeeds. It doesn't take long for Rojas to find Logan, along with former CIA special operator Cole Matthews, at a Bahamian resort, on a mission to find the traitorous American vice president. Nor does it take long for the Glock pistols to be drawn, the bone-crushing unarmed combat to commence, and the edged weapons to find a home in human flesh. Basically, it appears that violence follows Logan wherever he goes, and he is more than ready to greet it. However, with a child of his own on the way, Logan quickly sees the nobility in Santiago's actions and accompanies him back to Venezuela, where Logan learns that high-ranking Venezuelan and Russian officials are helping the missing veep. Logan puts aside any concerns about the Venezuelan human rights record to help Santiago save his daughter and to punish the American defector and anyone helping him. Some of the connections in this account of international intrigue appear somewhat loose, but there is a surplus of gunplay and military tactics to keep the pages turning for fans. An action-packed tale of deep-state double crossings and the elite soldiers charged with ensuring American interests.

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