The Consequence of Loyalty

The Columbus Archives #1

by Trey Stone

Why would an FBI agent shoot his own boss, in cold blood?

When Agent Greer is rushed to his office in the middle of the night, he has no idea what's expecting him.

His boss has been shot, but why is Greer being brought in for questioning?Do they need his help to catch the gunman, to start a manhunt through Columbus?

Greer is ready to take on the case, preparing himself to chase a hardened criminal. But the shooter is already caught, the shooter surrendered immediately. All Greer needs to do is figure out why his best friend and coworker would do this.

The Consequence of Loyalty is a dark, gritty, and psychological thrilling first book in a series of novels called The Columbus Archives. It promises to take you on a thrilling, emotional ride when friend is pitted against friend, in what seems to be an unsolvable case for the FBI's Critical Response Unit.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

265 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 14, 2017

About the author

Trey Stone grew up the youngest of three siblings, proving to his parents and all of their extended family that third time is in fact the charm – that was until they decided to try yet again and have Trey’s younger brother, after which both parents decided to divorce each other because they couldn’t live with the shame of what they’d done (creating something so incredibly mediocre after something so very nearly perfect).

Trey grew up in rural Norway and always was fascinated with stories, choosing more often than not to sit still and read and write about adventures than to run around outside having them in person.

It does perhaps not come as a shock that Trey decided to get into archaeology which is nothing if not storytelling, -building, -making, -sharing, and -investigating, and spends his time working as a slightly shorter (but much prettier) Harrison Ford-wannabe.

In 2015, when he decided to take his love of writing seriously, he wrote The Consequence of Loyalty, a psychological thriller and his first book which was published in 2017.

He likes reading, playing guitar, lifting weights, going for hikes, playing video games, and spending time with his gorgeous wife. He loves to travel if it wasn't for the fact that it's such a pain in the ass to do. Oh, and hates talking about himself in third person.
@TreyStoneAuthor

Reviews

[Tavi Florescu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trey Stone's psychological thriller "The Consequences of Loyalty" is not the usual whodunnit, which crime fiction readers are usually accustomed to, but a whydunnit, as the main suspect confesses his murder attempt from the very beginning. Oddly enough, the perpetrator (Martin) is not an outsider, but an FBI agent, former SAS member, directly subordinate to the victim. So, the question that haunts both the investigators and Martin's colleagues, Greer and Norman, is related to the reasons that pushed the third member of an elite FBI team to shot his own boss (Callaway).
No matter how hard the investigators try to find a justification for Martin's action, they always end up empty-handed. It seems that not even love and money, the traditional roots of human evil, could account for suspect's irrational behavior. Or could they? This lack of evidence that drives even the reader insane, more than half of the story, although the author delivers some faint clues along the way, is what makes this thriller enticing and original. But what may constitute the strength of this whydunnit, could also be its weakness, as the action drags on and it revolves around suspect's futile interrogatory, depriving the other characters of their due development.
This psychological thriller lives up to its title as it does explore the effects of military training on reservists and their life after being discharged, but with a mind-bending twist that you may not see it coming.
Stone's book is a good debut for an author of crime fiction that promises to entertain us with more unsolved cases of The Columbus Archives.

[Earnest Painter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure before I start: I'm not really a fan of action/adventure novels. That being said, this is not really action/adventure, though that's what I was expecting. (Never mind the subtitle.)

The story moves with a quick pace. I had a difficult time putting it down at night when it was time to go to sleep. And the suspense is real. I would normally put a book down when it gets too tense, but this time I made myself plow through it. And it does get intense. After passing the first tense moment, I eased into the story. (Outside of this book review, this was a personal revelation for myself, and I'm quite pleased.) Personal accomplishments aside, this book packs the punch of a suspense thriller. And a puzzle. Why would an FBI agent shoot his own boss, seemingly in cold blood? This was the puzzle that wound through the entire novel, taking us on a journey of of detection, personalities, and suspicion.

The characters are wonderfully developed. I felt as if I knew Agents Greer and Norman. We got to know Agent Martin sort of vicariously, which is a wonderful way to develop a character. Characters are important to me in a book, in case that wasn't clear, and these characters intrigued me enough to get me through parts of the book that were so tense I would normally have to put it down from anxiety. (Again with the personal revelation.) That being said, the one complaint I might have is Ackerman. I wasn't always able to suspend disbelief with his bully style, but he was by no means the reason one would come to this novel.

This had a touch of the classic mystery to it as well. I felt that I had been given enough information to figure out the puzzle, if only I could just put my finger on it. I didn't, which is brilliant. But, it was all there; no cheating. Even when I wasn't reading I was thinking about who and how; trying to put it together, to look at it from outside. I love a novel that does that.

I recommend this to readers who like mysteries, and definitely to those who like suspense and thrillers. It's not a shoot-em-up violent book; it's psychological.

Five stars.

[William Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a mystery that opens up with a bombshell and subsequently works backward to unravel the truth. When this story began with the smoking gun in the hand of the protagonist - I was hooked. Trey Stone’s debut novel “The Consequence of Loyalty” is a psychological thriller that doesn't leave you asking who but why.

The novel starts off with the murder of an FBI agent and it is one his staff, Martin, that has delivered the fateful shot. Martin is a model FBI agent and former elite soldier in Special Air Force service. Stone sets the tone for the book when from the beginning we discover that Martin has murdered his boss with no apparent motive.

Investigators are at loss.

Although Martin’s boss has been murdered he still has two remaining partners on his team at the FBI, Jordan Greer and Dana Martin. Both of whom are on a journey to find the truth behind the murder. The ensuing investigation takes Martin’s partners and the investigation into a labyrinth of truth,lies and utter pandemonium as nothing is what it seems. It will keep you turning the pages and you likely won't see the conclusion coming.

“The Consequence of Loyalty” is a terrific start to what I hope Stone makes into a psychological thriller series. It’s a perfect debut to a forthcoming series.

I also can’t end my review without acknowledging this fantastic title. Great book. Hope there is more to come.

[Ted Berner · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great murder/mystery book! Had me hooked from the beginning. When a tight-knit crew on the force gets news that one of their own has gone rouge, they have to act fast and not step on the toes of the FBI to find out what really happened. A great debut novel from a great new author.

[Ted Berner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Review to follow shortly.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is a good idea for a twisted thriller and I enjoyed the FBI connection. Three agents work together, but Jordan Greer and Dana Martin are going to find a lot of trouble when they learn the third agent in their group, Gerard Martin has shot their boss. The hunt is on to find the truth in a psychological thriller that takes readers into a twisted journey. I found some of the story a bit hard to follow because of the layout of the text and punctuation, but mostly I enjoyed the thriller.

[J.C. Paulson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sniper walks into his boss’s office and shoots him in the leg, managing not to pulverize the meat, tendons and arteries. He’s a sniper, for heaven’s sake.
Instead of disappearing, which Gerard Martin would certainly be trained to do, he surrenders. Something isn’t adding up.
FBI agents Greer and Norman, friends and colleagues of the shooter, are shocked and confused by this bizarre event. But because they are friends, the lead investigator takes them off the case. Ackerman, a big blowhard agent, spends a great deal of time holding them off; but there’s no way the agents are going to let it go.
Several strange events in the near and far past come into the investigation. Somehow, the FBI have to knit them together to solve this baffling case.
Well, I was hooked. I really, really wanted to know why the sniper missed the target. Or did he?
Damn, this book is so close to a five-star read. You won’t see the ending coming. The pace, particularly in the last third of the novel, is spectacularly fast and furious. The characters are well-drawn, particularly Greer and Ackerman, although they do yell a lot (ha). A slightly mushy bit in the middle and some distracting punctuation and spelling could use some going over, but don’t let that stop you. The Consequence of Loyalty is a hell of a read.

[Roberta Balin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a reader, I love FBI stories because of their scope and because there’s just something magical about characters who can flip open FBI credentials. They seem a little bigger than life right from the start. The Consequence of Loyalty is a fine " roman policier", full of action and unexpected twists. The trio of FBI agents, agents Greer, Martin and Norman, two men and one woman, find themselves in a difficult situation. One of them has unexpectedly, and very much out of character, commited a crime, by shooting his boss. What were Martin's motives, Jordan and Dana ponder. No answer could be given, not easily... As the hidden mystery unfolds, the protagonists face chilling facts and difficult decisions. For those who love thrillers packed with action, this is a must! You won't be disappointed!

[Brett Wallach · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is kind of a Kafka-esque quality to this intriguing debut novel. On one hand, there is an open and shut case against FBI Agent Gerard Martin for shooing another agent Sean Callaway. And yet...there seems to be more afoot here, and agents Greer and Norman lead the investigation to see what lies underneath the surface. All of this written with great verve by Stone; you'll be hooked to find out what's what until the final page!

[Zachary Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot say how much I enjoyed this book. What I loved most was character building and this book provided what I love most. Mr. Trey Stone has created a story which I want to hear more about. Trey, I hope, will write more novels such as this. Mystery is a love of mine, whether it be government or personal, I want to be surprised and not figure it out by the end. This book did it. I truly am impressed. Buy it everyone. Thank you Trey.

[Jaka Tomc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ex soldier, now FBI agent shoots a superior agent. It looks like there is no motive for his action. Why did he do it?

I enjoyed this book a lot. The story pulled me in and it kept me on my toes till the end. Trey knows how to maintain the right amount of suspense. I'm looking forward to his next books.

[Dawn Hosmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this Psychological Thriller by Trey Stone. It had an interesting plot as well as intriguing characters that kept me turning the pages. It had some twists which I didn't see coming which I always appreciate in a book. I thought the characters were well-developed and the plot was solid. I look forward to more work from this author.

[Judy Ferrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who did what?

This mystery/ police procedural is very interesting. The farther I got into it the more it intrigued me. I couldn't figure out how you could get someone to do the things done. Although this is an easy read it will hold you captivated trying to figure out who is behind the whole thing.

[Ulrike · Rating 5 out of 5]

well, that was fun.
A mixture of thriller and crime with a fast pace and an exciting ending. This is not one of the"who did it" stories but rather the "why did he do it" which is really refreshing. The story is also helped of well written characters.

[Nebulous · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trey Stone's "The Consequence of Loyalty" is a well-paced thriller and reels you in right from page one. Teamwork and professional relationships are severely tested when the boss of the FBI's Critical Response Unit has been shot, by one of its members. The strong partnership and banter between the two FBI characters Jordan Greer and Dana Martin are memorable, and Gerard Martin is a very layered and complex character. The element of suspense lingers as the plot unfolds, and the ending caught me off guard. This book is full of twists and turns along with being action-packed. I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more of Trey's work.

A thank you to VoraciousReadersOnly for giving me a free review copy of this book.

[Cal P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy of this book and am leaving a voluntary review. This opinion is entirely my own and is in no way influenced by outside parties.

Twenty pages into this book, one thing became very clear. This was going to be either a three or four-star review. I kept jumping back and forth between the two ratings, unable to decide where the line was. There are a lot of great things in this book, and a few that were disappointing. After the summary, I’ll start with the negatives and work my way around to the positives, and what clinched the four-star rating for me.

The Consequence of Loyalty is about two FBI agents trying to understand why the third member of their task force has shot their boss. In the mix is a troublesome internal affairs investigator, a crotchety lawyer, and a nice twist or two. It’s a simple premise, and it works.

Let’s begin.

The biggest disappointment for me was really simple to fix: typos. I encountered perhaps eight or nine in the first forty pages, and then less thereafter, but they were still present throughout. Most of them were on small words that are easy to miss, simple mistakes we all make. Still, it was enough to yank me out of the story on multiple occasions, which was upsetting, since I was enjoying the story so much. It would have benefited from another round of proofreading. There are also a lot of unnecessary commas, which interrupts the flow of the sentences.

Secondly, and much less problematic for me: There’s some repetitive stage direction. I think there were four or five raised eyebrows in the first twenty pages, then it’s fine. There’s also a chunk where several people “smile at the corner of their mouth,” then it’s fine again. Sometimes a phrase just gets stuck in your head and you use it more than you should, it happens to everyone.

In terms of story, my only grievance is that the primary antagonist, Lloyd Ackerman, is so bullheaded and one-dimensional that I couldn’t stand him. I know he’s supposed to be a stubborn jerk, but I think a small redeeming quality or two would have really helped round him out. Additionally, some of his body language is a little excessive. The guy is constantly growling, grumbling, scowling, pounding his fist on tables, yelling, crossing his arms, etc. A little less would have worked better, in my opinion. It’s a minor problem with his characterization, overall, I think he works. He’s just on the page so much I wish he would have been rendered with a lighter touch.

You might be thinking that if I wrote three paragraphs worth of grievances, that I didn’t like this book much. But remember, I gave it four stars. If you can get past the minor grammatical issues and one character who is a little bit too much, there are a lot of great things about this book.

First off, the pacing is phenomenal. I usually have a tough time starting books because there’s so much to introduce: characters, setting, story, etc. This book drops you right into the story with the most important characters and smoothly builds from there. There’s little to no rest between important scenes, and everything flows cohesively. At no point did I start to think “Wait, what? Who’s this person? When did that happen?” It’s so well-constructed that I was able to keep the big story and the smaller details of each individual scene straight in my head without a problem. That can be tough when writing a mystery or psychological thriller.

Another positive is the prose. It’s usually clear, simple, and straightforward. You won’t find any beautiful sentences or poignant phrases, but neither will you find paragraphs cluttered with self-important, grandiose language. It really helps the flow of the story and keeps things moving as a nice clip.

Character-wise, the two most likable characters are, thankfully, the two main ones, Jordan Greer and Dana Norman, who are teammates of Gerard Martin, the FBI agent accused of shooting their boss. Jordan Greer has some legitimately funny lines, and his rapport with Agent Norman is well-established. It reads like a genuine friendship with both professional camaraderie and personal intimacy of the platonic nature. I’m really glad there wasn’t any sort of romantic subtext with the two leads, it would have ruined their great chemistry. Their banter is generally entertaining and seems authentic, and their distinct styles of investigation are a great compliment to one another. Some other characters aren’t as skillfully handled, but since Greer and Norman are the ones we spend the most time with, I wasn’t particularly bothered by it. Quality leads are the most important.

Lastly, the story. About halfway through, I realized that with everything hanging so delicately in the balance, the “mind-blowing twist,” as per the book’s description, would be the make-or-break for the book’s rating. If I could predict the twist, three stars. If it caught me by surprise, four.

Well, the book is rated four stars. I thought I had it nailed down. I really did.

Nope.

The ending is satisfying, all the loose ends are explained and tied up, and the behavior and motivations that fuel the main plot and conclusion are well-handled. It’s nice to read a book that ends on such a strong note. Sometimes, the big reveal ends up feeling lackluster and cheapens the rest of the book, which is a shame, given the time investment. This is very much the opposite. The story builds in quality as it progresses, and things grow clearer instead of more convoluted.

Way to stick the landing, Mr. Stone.

[Proud Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing Style
I found this book an interesting read throughout. Although there were a few cases of typos (I don’t think you can ever get rid of them entirely) that had me pausing to figure out what had been missed so I could understand the meaning of the sentence. Overall, this read as a story that is meant to challenge you and keep you guessing.

What I found quite useful was the date and time stamp at the start of each chapter. Since we were swapping between various characters and went back in time at a couple of points, this made it really easy to see the flow of the story and understand when I was reading about a particular character.

Given how complex this story is, I would’ve been lost without this so I’m super thankful!

Initial Thoughts
When I first started reading this story, I got the feeling I was going to read a book equivalent to “Quantico”. And that was pretty damn complex, so I knew I’d be in for a confusing ride if this was anything like that.

I was a little bit lost to begin with, until I got used to the writing style, when we kept swapping characters. But this quickly settled as you got told pretty much at the start of each change who you were following now based on where they were, what they were feeling and what they were doing.

Final Thoughts
I will admit I powered through this one more because I got my reading mojo back and because I was trying to avoid having to study since I wasn’t feeling 100%.

That’s not to say that the story wasn’t intriguing. It was!

It just wasn’t the whole reason I read this one in like 2 days.

Anyway, as I worked through the story, I found I couldn’t figure out what direction I was meant to be heading in. Was I meant to be seeing clues as to who was behind everything? Was I just meant to be along for the ride?

If I wasn’t meant to be seeing any clues as to who the mastermind behind the shooting was, then congrats! Coz I certainly didn’t pick up on anything. But if I was meant to see clues and start to figure out (even just vaguely) who was responsible. Well, you missed the mark there.

It kinda felt like when you’re near your word limit for a uni report or essay, but you don’t wana cut out anything you’ve done so far. So you just cram the last bit of the report into the fewest possible words without actually explaining yourself properly. It honestly was like a hail Mary as to who the evil mastermind was that I didn’t pick up on until they walked into the kitchen to arrest them.

Surely, I should have had at least SOME inkling by this stage as to who needed to be arrested? I’m not saying I’m always right with these things. But normally afterwards once you know who the bad guy is you see all the clues fall into place.

And I didn’t get that with this one. Which was a shame since the rest of it was well written and kept me engaged throughout the whole story.

[Sonja Ton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was invested from the beginning and intrigued by the story. I’m not saying I saw the ending from the beginning but I wasn’t shocked. The story is seemingly simple and not a lot is happening but it’s a whydunnit not a whodunnit so it’s not supposed to be a action packed story.
Still I found it intriguing and had a struggle putting it down to do my work. I’m impressed that it is so dialogue driven and still so engaging.


I loved the Cru and their support of each other. I was not supposed to like or support the head of internal affairs but I certainly don’t mind him being thorough in his investigation. I’m hoping to see more of him in the next book as he is stubborn and hot tempered but not all together bad. He wants the truth and don’t think an agent is innocent just because, which obviously is his job.

This debut book is making me excited to read the next book and hopefully we will get to meet the characters again. I can only recommend it and without revealing the story say get your one click finger ready if you love a thrilling story with a great twist.

[Helen Whistberry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining first entry in a planned series. I would probably give this one 3 1/2 stars if that was an option because it kept me involved throughout the book. I thought there were plot points that were confusing or not completely thought out, and without being an FBI agent myself, I couldn't say for sure, but some of the actions carried out by the FBI agents during the investigation seemed far-fetched. However, the central mystery of why an agent would shoot his boss and immediately turn himself in, refusing to give a motive, was both extremely intriguing and a genuinely interesting puzzle that I was eager to find out the solution to. The ending was both surprising and actually added some additional emotional depth to the story. This was a promising debut from an author with some original and twisty ideas, and I look forward to seeing what he writes next.

[Anne Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was very disappointing. Right from the first page it was obviously in need of a good editing. Repetitive word use and plain mistakes. The main characters were one dimensional including an obnoxious agent, who I thought was meant to be the main hero, and a Special Agent who did nothing but shout which would have led to either dismissal or an aneurysm.
The only thing that kept me reading to the end was that I wanted to know, why, the motive that made the only character I found of any interest, do it.
The poor writing was such a shame as the idea was really good. I was gifted a copy from the author through Veracious Readers Only and I'm sorry to say I will not be reading anymore of this series. There are too many good books out there to waste time on more like this.

[Yvonne Crowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trey Stone, has done his homework when writing his first novel.
Firstly, the title and cover are, in my opinion, excellent. The description is enticing. Would the storyline stand up?
Yep. It is not easy to reveal the perpetrator of a crime at the beginning of a story, then weave the why around it. Trey Stone does this masterfully. Takes no prisoners, straight into the introduction with the main characters on a mission. Believable, easy to relate to, intriguing, page turning. Held my interest from the get go.
Interesting and unusual twist in the conclusion. Didn’t see that coming. Definitely an author to watch. Looking forward to his second novel in this series.

[Sheela Kean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This psychological thiller/mystery is worthy of a read for anyone who enjoys crime dramas. When an FBI agent shoots his boss in his own office and immediately surrenders everyone is stunned and confused. His partners don't believe it and dive deep into trying to find out why. The pacing in this is consistently good at keeping you from putting it down. The characters felt familiar for the genre but that's not always a bad thing. I admit to thinking there's no way the ending wouldn't be an eye roller but as the story progressed I was proved wrong and ended up completely surprised. The twist was a good one and added up perfectly.

[Kandis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book captures you from the beginning and flows well. An elite FBI unit of 3 and the boss when for no apparent reason one of the 3 shoots the boss. The author then takes you on a journey to find out why this Martin does what he does. For a short moment I did wonder if it was who I thought it was but then dismissed it because of the many twists and turns the author takes you on. I really didn't want to put this one down. A definite fast paced captivating read. I am looking forward to reading more from this author and hope to see further stories about this intriguing unit.

[Janet Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy from Voracious readers in exchange for an honest review.
3 FBI agents working together in a tight knit team. One of them shoots his boss.
Why would this happen, what is the motive?
Internal affairs are convinced he’s gone rogue, what will be the outcome and how can his colleagues prove his innocence.
This book grips immediately and the outcome is not as expected.
A really good book. Highly recommended!
An excellent first book can’t wait to read follow ups in this series.

[Melissa Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book which tells the story of Agent Greer trying to explain the shooting of his boss by a friend and colleague was a rollercoaster ride full of mystery and intrigue. Full of characters that were easily to engage with. This book is highly entertaining with great pacing, makes it a book you don't want to put down. There are plenty of twists and turns in the plot to make reading to the end a priority, as you discover what is going on along with the characters in perfect time. Writing is simply and beautifully done allowing the authors unique sense of humor to shine through.

[Melissa Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book which tells the story of Agent Greer trying to explain the shooting of his boss by a friend and colleague was a rollercoaster ride full of mystery and intrigue. Full of characters that were easy to engage with. This book is highly entertaining with great pacing, which makes it a book you don't want to put down. There are plenty of twists and turns in the plot to make reading to the end a priority, as you discover what is going on along with the characters at the perfect time. Writing is simply and beautifully done allowing the author's unique sense of humour to shine through.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good investigative, motive laden thriller. Srory revolves around Greer who is ex army. He shoots his boss but no one knows why. Greer is a master when it comes to interovation tactics and doesnt give anything away when questioned about his motives. Someone is out to get him though but who and why?

Cleverly written with a decent pace. Few surprises in the book and i certainly didnt think the who dunnit was the person who dunnit lol. Good book.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy of the book via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for a fair review.

Really enjoyed this read. Story moved at good pace, enough characters background revealed for story to make sense but not become boring.

I did not see the ending coming at all, while I liked it, it felt like that came out of nowhere - bit more foreshadowing would be very welcome.

[Lillian Wakulchyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received this from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review. Fast paced thriller, with many twists and it will keep you guessing until the end! The only drawback I found was in the character of Ackerman, he was set up as intimidating physically, but then became verbally abusive also. Personally, that did not appeal to me at all, I could have done without the yelling character . Otherwise I found this to be well written, and highly energetic !

[J. Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is quite a riveting read that has the reader guessing all the way through. The humour used to a comical effect really shows the interaction between the characters and gives a great sense of how the team interacts. Although some of the mystery can be figured out, it still doesn't fail to surprise you at the very end. There's a bit to unpack, and with the way how this book is written, it easily flows through each scene, which leaves you wanting to read more.