Fiction Addict

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: April 2009

Reviewed by Tim George

Face of Betrayal co-authored by Fox News Legal Analyst Lis Wiehl and April Henry, is the first in a promised series of four called the Triple Threat Novels. And, with acknowledgments from the likes of Bill O’Riley, Sean Hannity, and Nancy Grace there is no doubt a lot of people will read this book. The question is will they find a great story once they open the cover?

There high school classmates find a common bond in their ten year reunion and a chocolate desert called, the Triple Threat. One is a Federal Prosecutor, another FBI special agent, and the third a TV reporter. As the story begins, it is apparent they have shared their resources in the past to solve various cases. When a 17 year old US Senate page disappears, the three find themselves in the center of her apparent kidnapping.

There is much to like about Wiehl’s first outing in Christian fiction. The pace is fast without sacrificing character development making for a quick and interesting read. Wiehl brings a wealth of knowledge from her experience with the Washington inside to an otherwise oft-told story: wealthy family involved in a kidnapping, powerful politician obstructing justice, etc … What brings real life to Face of Betrayal is its description of justice and journalistic procedures without becoming bogged down bogged down in needless detail.

While an excellent freshman effort, this suspense novel has a few distracting drawbacks. Most notable is the hurried up feel of the ending. Too much is introduced too late in the story and then lose ends are tied up in ways that feel more forced than necessary. The end result is a mixed bag. Perhaps by the time the sequel arrives the writing will have been tightened up. I hope so.