Traitor

*A question of Trust*

This is my first experience with a book by Chris Ryan, and I was pleasantly surprised by it. The beginning was a bit slow, but as I got into it, I started to understand it more.

I particularly liked the character of Sergeant Major Luke Carter. He seemed to be able to function in any situation, and he was never afraid to challenge or question the authorities.

On the back of his late brother, who was also in the services, we meet Luke, also known as “Geordie.” This nickname is given to people from Tyneside, especially those from Newcastle, in the UK. I love their accent.

“Geordie” is sent to Australia to recruit two candidates for a highly sensitive mission. He is tasked with selecting the best two men, and once they are chosen, they are given the details of the mission.

Throughout the mission, “Geordie” has a nagging suspicion that those who give the orders are keeping him in the dark. He can’t quite put his finger on what it could be. In order to complete the mission, each person has to rely on the others. After completing two missions, even though they were hard, the team is virtually doing a quick turnaround. They turned around without much time to settle down afterwards, and “Geordie” cannot understand their reasoning. This mission raises a red flag for him. But when they thought this job would be hard, the stakes are raised when the plan completely changes, and trust between them starts to waver.

The author, Chris Ryan, does a good job of writing what is happening, and the tension between the team is palpable. They focus on the task at hand, knowing that precision is key and every second counts.