The Good Traitor by Ryan Quinn

I really liked this novel of international espionage and suspense. It is a chilling combination of technology and deception set in the framework of international relations.

Our heroine is ex-CIA agent, Kera Mersal, who is trying to clear her name after blowing the cover on an operation gone rogue. Her fall from CIA grace is in End of Secrets but I have not read that book and thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Kera is one tough woman. She puts all of her CIA skills to the test as she investigates several suspicious deaths, including that of the U.S. Ambassador to China. The request for her expertise does not come from a government agency but from two men running a technological news agency. These fellows are from the previous novel but again, there is enough back story to understand what's going on.

Their news service is unique. A computer sources information from all over the world, compares collected data and word relationships, verifies the truth of a story, then publishes it on the web. No primary source is needed to uncover a story. Words, phrases, locations, etc., from a variety of sources are all processed to reveal the underlying truth.

I found that aspect of the novel fascinating. Running parallel to that accumulation of data and information is that of government agencies. Reading this novel really made me aware of how vulnerable American citizens are to having their emails and phone calls investigated by government agencies.

This is a spy novel and some of the spying and terrorist activity involves hacking into computer systems. Action in the novel reads like today's newspaper with one country trying to gather information about another country or a major company. That was highlighted in the novel in the relationship between China and the U.S.

I really enjoyed this techno spy thriller. It has well crafted characters and a compelling plot. Quinn has done his research to create a plausible novel. I recommend it to those who enjoy first rate espionage adventure.

I am taking part in a blog tour of this book. Click here to view the 'The Good Traitor by Ryan Quinn' Tour Participants.

My rating: 5/5 stars.

Ryan Quinn was an NCAA champion and all-American skier while at the University of Utah. He worked for five years in New York's book publishing industry before moving to Los Angeles, where he writes and trains for marathons. One of his previous novels, The Fall, was a finalist in the 2013 International Book Awards. Find out more at http://www.ryanquinnbooks.com/.

Thomas & Mercer, 334 pages.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for the purpose of an independent and honest review.