Oath of Honor

Logan West #2

by Matthew Betley

A break-neck, edge-of-your-seat thriller that moves from the Aleutian Islands to North Korean spy ships to secret Sudanese prisons as former Marines Logan West and John Quick, now members of an FBI special task force, uncover a global conspiracy that threatens America’s position in the current international balance of power.

Logan West and John Quick are sent to Dutch Harbor, Alaska, to investigate the possible presence of a Russian black ops team on a mission to steal United States next-generation technology. The resulting violent confrontation triggers a global search for the stolen technology and threatens to pit the US against China in a looming shadow war and technology race. As Logan and John—joined by the chief of the CIA’s Special Operations Group, Cole Matthews—battle their way through Spain, the Mediterranean, and ultimately, across Sudan, an imminent threat arises at home that FBI Deputy Director Mike Benson must face and determine if it is part of the deadly global conspiracy.

Oath of Honor is an intense and gripping follow-up to former Marine Matthew Betley’s “brilliantly conceived” (Clive Cussler) Overwatch and solidifies his place among the greatest contemporary thriller writers.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, Action, Military Fiction, Ebooks, Crime

417 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 14, 2017

About the author

Matthew Betley grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, which he considers home after his family moved there from New Jersey, where he was born and which also explains his affinity for the New York Yankees. He attended St. Xavier High School and then Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he graduated with a B.A. in psychology and minors in political science and sociology. He also spent the first semester of senior year investigating felony murder cases as an intern investigator in Washington, D.C., for the Public Defender’s Office, a formative experience that provided countless stories that could fill the pages of a non-fiction book. Upon graduation, he worked in corporate America for five years in Cincinnati before joining the Marine Corps in 1999.

Matt spent ten years as a Marine officer and was trained as a scout sniper platoon commander, an infantry officer, and a ground intelligence officer. His experiences include deployments to Djibouti after 9/11, and Fallujah, Iraq, prior to the surge, both in staff officer support billets.

Finally, and most importantly, Matt is a recovering alcoholic with nearly seven years of sobriety. He credits the Marine Corps with providing a foundation in discipline and personal accountability for his desire to initially seek help. Matt is open and direct about it and has spoken in front of large groups of people with one clear message – if he can get sober, so can anyone. He credits his recovery with providing the authenticity for Logan West’s struggle with his inner demons.

Reviews

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not the first Logan West counter-espionage thriller by Matthew Betley, but the first that I have read. The publisher’s blurb is succinctly correct: “A break-neck, edge-of-your-seat thriller that moves from the Aleutian Islands to North Korean spy ships to secret Sudanese prisons as former Marines Logan West and John Quick, now members of an FBI special task force, uncover a global conspiracy that threatens America’s position in the current international balance of power.”

If you spend your nights playing Call of Duty; if you find Fast and Furious adequately detailed; if your paintball team never misses a Saturday; this book is for you. Betley knows the details of every weapon --- that's EVERY WEAPON that might be used for and against the USA. Betley must have an app that spits out each acronym used by the DHS, DoD, or the DoJ…as well as Interpol and various countries’ analogs to our Seals and Rangers.

Logan and John survive ambush, fire-fights, sinking ships, vehicular chases, capture, prison fights, and assassination attempts. Every female is either beautiful, brilliant, deadly or all three. Every bad guy gets what he had coming and every patriot who dies gets to reflect on God, Country and/or Family and Friendship.

Not a bad plot or pace to the action. I am just not the right demographic for Betley.

[Slaven Tomasi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The highly anticipated follow up to 2016’s best debut Overwatch, by Former Marine Officer Matthew Betley. Oath of Honor picks up about two years after the events of Overwatch and starts off strong with absolutely no breaks in the action. Actually, I’m sorry, I have to take that back. There is a small break in action, an emotional event which Logan West must endure and I can imagine was harder for him than any combat mission he’s ever been involved in. Back to the action, along with our favorite character Logan West, the formidable and always funny former Gunnery Sergeant of Marines, John Quick is also back and just as bad ass. Joining those two, is a new character, Cole who has a pretty impressive job title at the CIA and can definitely hold his own in a ring. Along with him, Betley gives us another new character who is nothing short of amazing. Without spoiling too much here, as a fan I would definitely buy it, if Amira had HER own book. The action in the book draws you into it as if you’re there fighting along their side and your life is in danger. The humor is fantastic, placed so appropriately as to not take away from the seriousness of the situation at hand. As a former Marine myself, who has spent some time overseas in a combat zone, this is one of the many accurately portrayed things that troops utilize to deal with stressful situations and I loved it. Matthew Betley has been there, this is clearly evident in his authentic writing and Oath of Honor is bound to be in this year’s top 3 best thrillers among veterans like Brad Thor and Kyle Mills.

[Pierre Tassé (Enjoying Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forgot to enter this book when I started it. GREAT book. I didn't read first one in series and it still came out as a solid 4.5 stars. What a fantastic fun to read book.

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike the last (aka the first) book in the series, this is a buddy movie sort of book, with Logan West and his right hand man, John Quick, cracking jokes and wasting wimps throughout.

They travel the world to stop the Chinese from performing perfidy, and pick up some friends along the way. Excellent action sequences throughout.

In the techno-thriller field, Betley is one to watch.

[Tom Dooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betley's debut Overwatch was great but he had definitely refined his craft with Oath of Honor! Logan and John are back at it again. Someone is trying to get the world Superpowers fighting against each other while lining their own pockets. Can Logan and John so stop it? You'll have to read this to find out!

[Laura Wonderchick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another outstanding Logan West book from MB! This one has you traveling, around the world & through the pages quickly!

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, constant action. Really love the new character of Amira. Deadly. Lots of great tech and brutal fighting. The rise of new threats to the West, particularly the US. The president is not believable but it would be a great change if such a person was elected.

[Richard Guerrero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it. Was thinking 4.5 stars but no way, had to give it a five. Action pack and kept you on the edge of your seat throughout. Love the new character of Ameara. I am looking forward to the next book, hopefully the author keeps fine-tuning his skill. I like the way he made good writing adjustments from the previous book. Good job

[Chris Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC from the author as this was one of my few must reads for 2017. I know we are only a month into the year and we still have a little time before this hits the bookshelves, but this will compete for book of the year for sure.

Logan West, a former Marine turned All American badass works all over the world in this Grade A follow up to Matthew Betley's first thriller OVERWATCH. I don't normally include spoilers and I will do my best not to ruin anything for you here.

From the start of Oath of Honor the tone is set, the intrigue and excitement start in chapter 1. The action is nothing to wave off as it seems real and authentic, picturing everything clearly. There are numerous countries involved in some less than honorable actions. Who am i kidding, we all know Logan West is paid to go get the bad guys. These guys are ruthless and have an agenda to harm the greatest country on this planet. Logan and his buddy John Quick are back at it full throttle with their normal witty and sarcastic banter. Being in the military myself, I fully understand the monotony
of a days work in the uniform of our country and there is plenty of relief in the so called "ribbing" that these two give each other. The ability to take the constant playfulness at an all time high is the sign of brotherhood. That is well seen between these two Marines. There seems to be some mystery surrounding a new technology the US is using and is causes the team of John and Logan to globe trot while using all the tactics and lessons learned while serving in the Corps. There are some huge political and financial ramifications in fighting to find this technology leading to the loss of a true friend/team member. You get the chance to meet one heck of a woman in Amira, who can hold her own against any man despite weighting a sopping wet 125lbs.

If you are looking for intrigue, excitement, curiosity and great action scenes then don't pass this one up. If you like to sit in the corner by yourself on a friday night and play solitaire then this isn't for you, but you should buy it anyway, it will change your life. There is nothing that leaves you wanting more from this thriller, it contains everything a thriller lover will want. With multiple books planned in this series this can be read as a stand alone book but will play on the world of Logan West we learned about in Overwatch. Thank you for your time today folks and happy reading! Great work Matt, looking forward to more Logan West in the future!

[Brian Costello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oath of Honor is a globe trotting, mach 5, roller coaster ride of an adventure filled with some of the best action set pieces I’ve seen in years. Matthew Betley, who exploded onto the scene with his 2016 debut novel the Barry Award nominated Overwatch, has delivered a novel on par with some of the true greats in the genre. Oath of Honor sees us picking some time after the events in Overwatch and again focuses on the adventures of series protagonist Logan West and his right hand man John Quick. One of the highlights for me in Overwatch was the way in which Betley established Logan West as a talented yet flawed hero. West is just as good of an operative as many of the other big name characters in the genre but to me what sets him apart is the ways in which Betley has allowed him to be seen as a person that is not perfect. West’s battle with alcoholism and struggles associated with it make him seem more human and as a result draw us to him in ways that some major characters in the genre can’t. West isn’t superhuman, and for that I find myself rooting for him even more. The Logan West character isn’t the only thing about Betley’s work that makes him standout. What drew me to Overwatch originally is the ways in which he uses his major action set pieces to drive the storyline. In Overwatch, Betley provided many more action scenes than your average novel in the genre and with Oath of Honor he has doubled down on the action. His action set pieces, and to be fair that is what they really are, are truly epic. You’ll get more high quality action in 10 pages of Oath of Honor than some entire New York Times Best Sellers. The action set piece at the beginning of the novel set in Alaska alone makes the book worth every cent you pay for it. He writes his action in a style that allows for you to visualize the events on the page as if it was playing out in front of you on an IMAX screen. In my opinion he is the best pure action sequence write in the genre today. His ability to create multiple action sequences that only grew in emotion, scope, and intensity throughout the novel is astounding.
While the action clearly stands out in Oath of Honor, Betley also deserves credit for continuing to build a diverse and eclectic universe for Logan West to operate in. Returning characters such as John Quick and Mike Benson see an increased role in this novel and Betley does a great job of making them seem like integral pieces of the storyline and not mere second tier players like many secondary characters can seem to feel in novels in this genre. He also does a fantastic job of organically introducing several new characters into the universe who are both intriguing and pretty badass. All around the character development and new players, good guys and bad guys, add a great deal to the development of the series. Add in some of Betley’s trade mark sarcasm and pop culture references and by and large you get a group of characters in the novel who really stand out and buck many of the cliches in the genre.
Oath of Honor is a thriller fans dream come true. I couldn’t give it a higher recommendation. I could go into greater detail about the ways in which the action scenes are some of the best I've ever seen but I don’t want to spoil all the fun you’ll have. The pacing and execution are world class and you might not fly through another novel as quickly as this one this year. Though its still still early in 2017 and we still have novels to come from titans like Thor, Silva and Berry I think it is fair to say that by the end of the year people will still be talking about Oath of Honor as one of the best novels of 2017. I won’t be surprised to see it receive a Barry Nomination come this time next year. I love what Matthew Betley is doing with this series and I can’t wait to see what he has in store for us moving forward. Oath of Honor is the definition of a must read novel. You’ll love it.

[Todd Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, and so well written. Matthew Betley has done a superb job with this Action Thriller. I love reading a book that can make me laugh out loud, and entertain me with so many great characters, and a well thought out plot. One of the standouts is definitely the great action scenes. You know you’re enjoying a book, when you start to read faster and faster. Captain Jack Dawson had no idea how important his cargo would be to another country, and the lengths they would go to get their hands on it. That was until a team of killers turned up to take it. The American Intelligence Agencies certainly knew the value of the cargo, and what would happen if they didn’t prevent their enemies getting a hold of it. So they quickly sent Logan West and his partner John Quick to Alaska to start chasing it down. Logan and John weren’t your average FBI agents, and they would need all their skills from their days in the military, with the men that are trying to kill them. However they don’t have to do it alone, as they have the CIA and Spain’s Special Forces assisting them. They are quite surprised when it looks like there is more than one country involved. There is a lot to like about this book, and I’ll certainly be adding this Author to my list of must reads.

[Kashif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oath of Honor is most definitely an excellent successor to Overwatch, the first in the Logan West series. From the get-go, the narrative is filled with break-neck realistic action sequences with global stakes and conspiracies at hand that weave an intricate but well explained web of events and twists and turns that lead the good guys on a wild chase from icy landscapes to warmer locales without letting up.

I thoroughly enjoyed the witty banters between Logan West and John Quick, brothers-in-arms both lethal as ever, who must prevent a shadowy organization from executing its sinister plans that if accomplished would cause a global shift of superpowers. There are strong emotions in the novel resonating with the concept of serving in the armed forces, a sentiment beautifully handled by Mr Matthew Bentley.

The story keeps on going at full throttle, introducing new characters that fit well in the dangerous and lethal team up of Logan West and John Quick and I can not wait to see what happens next.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was very good but I liked his first book, overwatch,better. However, that said, this book was the start of a new chapter, and I think the books for which he laid the groundwork,will definitely be enjoyable.

[Tad · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 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.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘A black shadow in the shape of a man stood on the stairs, its right arm pointed accusatorily at him.’

Ohio author Matthew Betley grew up in Cincinnati, attended St. Xavier High School and Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he earned a B.A. in psychology and minors in political science and sociology. He also spent the first semester of senior year investigating felony murder cases as an intern investigator in Washington, D.C., for the Public Defender's Office. After graduation, he worked in corporate America for five years in Cincinnati before joining the Marine Corps in 1999. Matt spent ten years as a Marine officer and was trained as a scout sniper platoon commander, an infantry officer, and a ground intelligence officer. His experiences include deployments to Djibouti after 9/11, and Fallujah, Iraq, prior to the surge, both in staff officer support billets. Of important note Matt is a recovering alcoholic with nearly eight years of sobriety. He credits the Marine Corps with providing a foundation in discipline and personal accountability for his desire to initially seek help. Matt is open and direct about it and has spoken in front of large groups of people with one clear message - if he can get sober, so can anyone. He credits his recovery with providing the authenticity for Logan West's struggle with his inner demons.

With a bio such as this it is no wonder Matt has become such an important writer in the genre of military and terrorist thrillers. He knows the military, the legal system, and the impact of personal demons. But that does not always accompany a fine writing style: in Matt’s case the tools and the manner in which they are conveyed ate married well.

Pulling the reader into the drama happens immediately – even for those who have not had the experience of getting to know Logan West from the initial book in this series OVERWATCH. ‘Akutan Island, Gulf of Alaska - The 130-foot research boat rocked back and forth in the frigid water as the sky darkened and the last remnants of dusk vanished. Rain fell nearly horizontally, battering everything it touched. An occasional wave from the winter storm crashed over the railing, spraying the deck with frost and foam. Anchored only a few hundred yards off the north side of Akutan Island, its captain had wisely chosen to seek shelter as the gulf side of the island succumbed to a relentless pounding. Unfortunately for the crew, the storm wasn’t the only force of nature stalking the prototype research vessel. From a perch nestled among the nooks and crannies of several large, craggy rocks on the severe slope of a cliff, a pair of night-vision, military-grade binoculars was trained on the boat. Their owner stared through the lenses and looked at the illuminated dials on his watch. A few more minutes and visibility will be less than twenty yards. Almost time to go. The team commander wasn’t comfortable on American soil, but his orders had been issued from the top of his chain of command, a chain that didn’t exist in any operational publication. His team operated outside the conventional services which his country boasted and was only called upon to execute missions in the most extreme circumstances. He didn’t question his orders. Assuming command of his elite team years ago, his first order of business had been the removal of all questions of morality and objectivity. The success of each individual mission was all that mattered, and he had yet to fail. Tonight would be no different. There were no signs of life on deck. The crew of six, including the captain and the two researchers, was riding out the storm below deck or in the wheelhouse. It was an advantage for him and his team—the weather would mask their movement. The commander spoke quietly in English into a slim, waterproof microphone that wrapped around from his ear to his mouth. “We go in two minutes. Conduct one last gear check to ensure no loose items. Radio silence until we make contact. And no matter what, the rules of engagement must be followed. No deviations.” He knew there wouldn’t be any, and although he’d never had to reiterate his instructions before, his superior had emphasized the point to him. Above all else, he followed his orders to the letter. “Wolverine, out.” The rain gathered in intensity as the final vestiges of light slipped away. Moments later, four dark figures nimbly crept down the steep slope toward the churning water below. Wraiths in the night, they vanished into the gulf waters.’

Matt provides a fine if too brief synopsis for this Volume 2, OATH OF HONOR - ‘The story moves from a resurgent Russian threat in the Aleutian Islands to North Korean spy ships to secret Sudanese prisons as former Marines Logan West and John Quick, now members of an FBI special task force, uncover a global conspiracy that threatens America’s position in the current international balance of power. Logan West and John Quick are sent to Dutch Harbor, Alaska, to investigate the possible presence of a Russian black ops team on a mission to steal United States next-generation technology. The resulting violent confrontation triggers a global search for the stolen technology and threatens to pit the US against China in a looming shadow war and technology race. As Logan and John—joined by the chief of the CIA’s Special Operations Group, Cole Matthews—battle their way through Spain, the Mediterranean, and ultimately, across Sudan, an imminent threat arises at home that FBI Deputy Director Mike Benson must face and determine if it is part of the deadly global conspiracy.’

Thriller authors of this caliber are rare. Matt Betley has earned his kudos and his honors to our good fortune. Highly Recommended.

[Jeanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It wasn't just words, it was an oath, an oath of honor.

Coming into the Logan West series in the 2nd book and I have to say it can be a stand alone. I would like to read the first one just to get some back ground of Logan West but you can find all you need to know on this military thriller. It is fast paced, it is not for the faint of heart and it leaves you wanting more.

West and his colleagues are on a short time table to find out who is behind a conspiracy of all out global war with major players of North Korea, China and the United States. There is smoke but the fire is who is behind the methodical plan of upsetting the security between China and the United States. An orchestration of a very dangerous global maneuver.

You have everything in a military/political thriller of bombs going off, who can you trust, espionage, double agents, ambush, and global security, a page turner with every page. There is no lull only action!

A Special Thank You to Atria Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Dick Reynolds · Rating 3 out of 5]

The protagonists of this political thriller are FBI Agents Logan West and John Quick. Their mission is to outmaneuver some Russians who are trying to steal America’s newest weapons system. West and Quick travel to many different places during the mission including Alaska, the Sudan, and Valdemoro, Spain.
One particular scene involves West, Quick, and their small combat teams boarding a North Korean ship called Wonjo Buhwal to search for missiles. Their mission is wildly successful with many weapons fired, grenades exploded, and bad guys permanently dispatched. Overall, I thought this event was pretty exciting but way over the top in credibility.
The action seems to be nonstop in this novel and I suggest that readers often pause to catch their breath and not suffer battle fatigue.
Oh, and one last thought. Logan West and John Quick are also former Marines so perhaps that scene on the North Korean ship was not so far over the top after all. (A disclosure: I’m a retired Marine with twenty-four years of service.)

[Brian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Was a struggle to get through this book. Written like a cheap action movie with horrible dialogue and highly predictable, unbelievable action sequences. The author can’t seem to decide between having the characters make long dramatic statements or annoyingly repetitive sarcastic comments during intense, time sensitive moments. Highly predictable once you realized that the author just kept having his characters do and say the most ludicrous things. Just because you like action and suspense stories shouldn’t mean they need to be poorly written and executed. I find it hard to believe the same person wrote this and The Neighborhood.

[Noah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5. First off, I think it’s exceptionally cool that this book was written by a colleague of mine! Overall, it was a pretty standard spy-action novel in the vein of Vince Flynn or Jack Carr. The action sequences were tight and detailed—if a bit far-fetched at times—and I liked the nonstandard settings. That said, the dialogue was occasionally corny and stilted, and I finished the book not knowing what any of the characters really looked like — although I did know about their guns. I’m excited to read Betley’s ‘The Neighborhood,’ as I’ve heard—including from the man himself— that it’s his best yet.

[Garry Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally finished the audio version of the novel. Since I only listened to the story while I exercised, it took several weeks to finish and I kept forgetting a lot of the details of the story. Now, we wait for the next book in the series.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second Logan West adventure is as good as the first. Chinese, Russians, Sudanese, North Koreans, mystery American assassins, stolen satellite weaponry and hints of a darker conspiracy below the surface. 'Oath of Honor' had everything. Betley wrote in the afterward that he's working on a 5-book story arc, and the first two have been brilliant. Can't wait for the conclusion of this saga.

[Lori Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book and I love Logan West!!!

[FLJimmy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here we go again. Guns are described right down to their full model number and nothing else receives equal treatment. I did not even know the color of the Hummers, the height and weight of some characters, or the type of jet this overly-elite group went on between places. Why not the brand of stiletto knives or the brand of shirts? I do not find added value in knowing what model gun is used, especially when it is inconsistent. I won’t go look it up, I do not need a model number.

If you or I survived a close call with death, would we exchange witty repartee? A special request for interment at Arlington National Cemetery by the POTUS with five days? A secret meeting with POTUS where he tells people he just met they are smarter than other public figures? This overly-elite team is a bit too magical. The single death of a team member does not balance our=t all the close calls, near misses, or just plain luck.

It is described as a break-neck, edge-of-your-seat thriller that moves from the Aleutian Islands to North Korean spy ships to secret Sudanese prisons as former Marines Logan West and John Quick, now members of an FBI special task force, uncover a global conspiracy that threatens America’s position in the current international balance of power. True, my neck is broken trying to keep up with the travels and I am on the edge of my seat trying to figure out why they are going there.

I read Overwatch and thought it was great so I expected more from Oath than I got.

[Stuart Ashenbrenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book 100-stars, I would. This book is absolute epitome of a page-turner. Matthew Betley absolutely crushes this one out of the park. As a huge fan of Overwatch, which I can confidently say is easily one of the best books of 2016, I couldn't wait to see what Betley and Logan West had in store for us. And wow, they did not disappoint. From Prologue to Epilogue, a nonstop thriller. We jump from country to country, as Logan West digs his way out of trouble and turmoil.

I can't say enough how essential this book is to not only a reader of thriller novels but to all readers who love adventure. I feel like Betley has not only developed an amazing story, he's based it around amazing characters - the ones in which you fall in love. It makes you feel like you are part of the story right along side Logan West.

Finally, this book also feels like one of those "beating the headlines" novels, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for Logan West.

Buy this book immediately, and if you're a fan of audiobooks, narrator George Newborn crushes it once again.

[Joe · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's ok, but corny. Black Ops, meets super spy, who meets super super spy and then super spy gets a crush on super super spy! Not the best of the genre.

If you get deep into this book, the best part features Eugene and to his credit he's not a spy.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Given that I loved author Matthew Betley's first Logan West book "Overwatch" so much, I feel kind of ashamed that it took me so long to get around to reading this second book in the series. I bought it in hardcover when it came out but I just didn't get to reading it with all the other books I've buried my nose in.

But I've now rectified that oversight and what I found was that Betley has done it once again. In Oath of Honor, it's been about two years since the end of the events of Overwatch. Logan and his fellow wisecracking man of action John Quick soon find themselves on the hunt for a sensitive piece of intelligence hardware that has somehow been stolen by a team of Russian operatives. The problem being that this hardware can make any security measure obsolete, something the US government definitely doesn't want.

Worse yet, it seems that it is part of a larger plot to set the US and China against each other in a war between the world's two superpowers.

As Logan and John hunt down those responsible for the threat, they come into contact with a couple new additions to the series. Each is a deadly operative in their own right and have their own marching orders.

But as the chase continues, it soon becomes clear that not only is Logan and the others two steps behind but there's someone leaking information to their enemies. The "war" is now on two fronts. Recover the hardware to avoid a war no one wants AND find the traitor.

To do so, West and Quick will face off with Chinese hit squads, a horrific black site prison and a possible Islamic terrorist event with death and destruction at every turn.

The use of humor to offset all the tension that goes into their work is handled nicely and I particularly enjoyed seeing a side of John Quick I wouldn't have expected, that of an awkward kind of schoolboy crush. It just made me chuckle thinking about it.

I found myself taking immediately to the new characters. While there's obviously more to reveal about them, I thought they were both fully realized and blended into the action seemlessly. I'm actually hoping they continue to play a part as the series continues.

When I first started the book, the first action scene seemed to drag on a bit. I was worried that I was not going to enjoy the rest of the book.

Then I came to realize what the problem was. I was tired. Not from being up late or anything, but rather the simple act of reading that first all guns blazing action scene had tired me out as much as the actual characters must've been after it was all over.

And that's the key thing for Betley's books. He does such a great job of setting the reader in the midst of all the action that you do get the feeling that you are there with the bullets whizzing by your head and explosions going off all around you. It's that kind of authenticity that makes each Logan West book a thrill ride experience and pushes Matthew Betley into the rarified group of authors that are appointment reading for action thriller enthusiasts the world over.

[Speesh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The one in which he goes too 'big.'

Only two books in, and Matthew Betley has us struggling to believe that his recovering alcoholic hero is both called Logan West, and has had his Police record exude an amnesia cloud, allowing him to be set on the FBI. Not as a door-knocking "have you seen this man?" type either. He's on first name terms with the top Feeb brass, and involved in global conspiracies involving the Russians and the Chinese. It's all a bit of a stretch, both for the character and for us reading it.

It's not badly written, it is at least, while sharing many of the same elements, better reading than a(ny) Clive Cussler book. It does boil away at a furiously breakneck pace, never a still moment and, if this is the sort of thing that rings your bell, you absolutely get your money's worth. It's just that I was just expecting more after the promising first book, Overwatch. I expected the story, character and writing to progress, but not this way. It doesn't come as a surprise actually - as the global conspiracy and only one man can save us all kind of thing is a trend amongst American Thriller writers -  more a disappointment. There were a lot of other good things he could have done with the character. He needed to keep the action 'small' and tight, close-in and based around the Logan West character. Less James Bond, more Jack Reacher. More on the how do I get out of this, and less on the Global Conspiracy. It doesn't work for James Bond-believability and it doesn't work here.

On the plus side - Europe gets a large proportion of the action. Because, as I've mentioned before, if you're American, anything goes there/here. Sudan hardly ever features in American thrillers (can't recall too many trips to Sudan in UK thrillers either for that matter). The pal-buddy-mate thing with this John Quick looks promising too. I'll buy and read the next one, still based on the glow from Overwatch, but he needs to tighten up. A Thriller can be thrilling even if it just spans the city, it doesn't always need to span the globe. In fact, I'd rather they didn't.

Blog: Speesh Reads
Facebook: Speesh Reads
Pinterest: Speesh Reads

[Phillip III · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthew Betley joined the Marines in 1999, and spent ten years as a scout sniper platoon commander, an infantry officer, and a ground intelligence officer. His background and experience have allowed him an amazing opportunity to slip into his current role as the author of military thrillers. I read his first book, OVERWATCH, in a few days. Devoured it. Upon completing the reading of that book I dove head first into his latest novel, OATH OF HONOR. It picks up right where OVERWATCH left off. And once again, the action, and the characters, and the plot is compelling as hell!

OATH OF HONOR is a bit more complex. There is a growth in Betley's writing. A maturing. This will please fans to no end. I saw plenty different this time around, things I didn't realize were maybe overdone in the first book, but absent in this second novel. I consider this a good thing. The cliches were cut back (even though I know many of them in OVERWATCH were clearly made on purpose).

An unknown group has coordinated the theft of a U.S. weapon. In enemy hands, this particular device would ruin the U.S. globally. Small, compact, and lethal, the group has plans to "humiliate the U.S." If activated, if used a world war would be unavoidable. There is only one team up for the challenge of confiscating the potential weapon, so that is why Logan West and John Quick are offered up for the task. Time is of the essence  . . . time is running out . . . Worse, there might be a mole inside the organization, as the unknown group continually stays one step ahead of West and Quick, and the red herrings are flying fast and furious!

The best part about reading a series of books is getting to know more and more about the reoccurring characters. Betley continues growing not just his main characters, but his secondary, and third-ary (wait, what?) characters. You get a sense for who each person is, and whether you like or dislike them it is because of the talented way Betley paints them with his words. (And I did see in the back of the book that Betley has mapped out five books for the West / Quick saga. Which is fine. For now. We, as readers, may need to band together and demand more. Just saying).

Phillip Tomasso,
Author of Assassin's Promise
and Sounds of Silence

[Papalodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notable that the characters, who for the most part, are age 40+, all are in top physical condition; probably able to leap tall buildings. Here is a challenge I'll set for you - if you happen to come across a character who is not in tip-top shape - please let me know.

This thriller dashes smoothly along - yet I stumble when an acronym, of which there are many, pops up. Here is a sample; and another challenge - see how many you know without checking your smartphone. MSS, HUMINT, MWTC, DARPA, ONERING, GEO, HRT, ACLU, SCUD, JSOC, NH90, UOE, Type 67, M18, XM25, AH-6, SIGINT, IMINT, SAP, DSS, RSO, MRAP QRF, UAV, QRF, Hind Mi-24, LEGION, CNPC, DEFSMAC, AMD, NGA, CRITIC, SOO, NSOC, NOAA, NSOC, PLA, ch-53f, FLIR, M79, CH-53E, HLZ, NEO, GS14, EOD, ViCAP, That's about it; the others you readily know - CEO, CIA, FBI, USA, SUV, NIA, DoD, DC, IQ, GPS, ATV, SEAL, UN, USAID, ER,DNA, PD, IED, ETA, UAV, NSA.

When I was stationed in Germany, in security, we had a daily weapon issue, which we signed going on and of shift, of either a 45 or M1 - never both. In this thriller these guys get all they can carry - PP2000, Kimber .45, Heckler & Koch PSG-1 MP5, Type 5 submachine gun, AK47, H&K MB5SD-N KA-BAR,COLT M911, M4, Sig-SAUER: like they were on a shopping spree at Walmart.

Both sides had their detailed plans of assault : usually they had to switch to Plan -B - that made it more of a thriller. Some people got killed, usually in interesting disgusting ways - made for a better story: the swim in the Nile is a gem..

Towards the end, the team meets the President, their Commander-in-Chief - a former Air Force officer who'd flown A-10 missions during Desert Storm. (compare that with a clueless 4x draft dodger commander).

The final chapter brings back a character that I had completely forgot about.

Oh, Matthew, from your book cover photo I notice you've dropped your buzz cut standards and also acquired civilian casual; thanx for another thrilling thriller.

[Daniel Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

#2 is Better—and Overwatch was good ...

Logan West and his crew of battle buddies again travel the world to kick ass and take names; when they don't have a pen, well, they just kick ass.

No one is holding me at gunpoint, so I won't be surrendering any spoilers here. But suffice to say, if you liked Betley's debut novel "Overwatch," you're gonna love you some of this outing.

Same sharply drawn characters, even more slam-bang action sequences, but now perhaps a greater attention to story arc and narrative development. I frankly still quarrel with his penchant to express sound effects verbally: SFX in words is just too much like a comic book, and this novel both seeks to rise about that level, and largely succeeds.

I appreciated his explanation at the end of the book that this series is intended to be a five-book narrative. Hints at the conclusion leave the reader eager for the next installment, where West & Co. have the president's direct authority to take more names in the shadow war few citizens know is being waged.

I think we're going to need more pens.