Below the Radar

by Dana Ridenour

After her last assignment went horribly wrong, everyone tells FBI Special Agent Lexie Montgomery she needs a break. But Lexie is determined to keep going with her undercover work—so when a Dutch constable goes missing, she jumps at the chance.

Along with Blake Bennett, her unfamiliar new partner, Lexie is thrown into the Gathering, a haven for environmental activists planning illegal activity.It's a dangerous situation, but she blends right in—a little too well, Blake thinks. As the pair of them try to get closer to the vanished constable, he begins to suspect that Lexie may be hiding an affinity for the eco-extremists' cause.

With her loyalties in question from both sides, Lexie will be forced to prove herself as an undercover agent and as a new recruit for the terrorists' cause. But as time starts to run out, staying below the radar may prove harder than she'd planned.

302 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 13, 2019

About the author

Dana Ridenour is a retired FBI agent. She spent most of her career as an FBI undercover operative infiltrating criminal organizations including the Animal Liberation Front, an organization of domestic terrorists.

Dana’s first novel, Behind The Mask, is fiction but based on her personal experiences working as an undercover agent. Behind The Mask won numerous literary awards including the Hal Bernard Memorial Award for best novel and the Edna Sampson Award of Excellence both presented by the Southeastern Writers Association. The novel also took top honors in the 2016 Royal Dragonfly Writers Awards winning not only the Grand Prize, but also first place in the Fiction-Novel category, and first place in the First Time Author (Fiction) category. Kirkus Reviews awarded Behind The Mask the coveted Kirkus star and named the book one of the best indie books of 2016. Behind The Mask won first place in its category at the Chanticleer International Book Awards. The book was awarded the Silver Medal at the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award for Best New Voice in Fiction. Behind The Mask was the First Place Winner for Best Action/Adventure Book at the Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

Dana’s second novel, Beyond The Cabin, was released on August 1, 2017. Beyond The Cabin won the Hal Bernard Memorial Award for best novel presented by the Southeastern Writers Association. Dana was also the recipient of the 2018 Royal Palm Literary Award for Best Thriller/Suspense Novel.

Dana's third novel, Below The Radar, was released on August 13, 2019. Like its two predecessors, the book won the Hal Bernard Memorial Award for best novel presented by the Southeastern Writers Association. Below The Radar was also the 2020 Readers' Favorite Gold Medal Winner in the Fiction - Thriller - Terrorist genre as well as 2021 Feathered Quill Book Awards Gold/First Place winner for best Adult Fiction.

Dana lives in Beaufort, South Carolina where she is working on her fourth novel.

Reviews

[Dana Ridenour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi Friends. This is the third book in my Lexie Montgomery series, and I think it's the best one yet. A little inside knowledge--this book was loosely based on a case I worked when I was an FBI agent. I was paired with my then boyfriend/now husband for an undercover investigation. We were a couple playing a couple. It was an incredible experience and became the basis for BELOW THE RADAR. I hope you enjoy reading the novel as much as I enjoyed writing it. Happy reading!

[Kathy Rhode · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the 3 books by this author. She is a former undercover agent for the FBI and her main character infiltrates some pretty scary groups. Although fiction, she did use her experiences when writing.

[Patty Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic third book in a three book series written by an author who’s actually been an FBI agent! Read and enjoy this jewel!

[John McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deep undercover mission infiltrating a violent extremist organization in a foreign country, by a female FBI agent with psychological issues rooted in a too-recent-to-be-recovered-from operation, with zero planning time beforehand, an inexperienced, unsophisticated partner and poorly-constructed legend—spies cover story—made up on the fly.  What could possibly go wrong?

And hey . . . an added note, just so you know . . . half of Ms. Ridenour’s twenty year career with the FBI was spent in undercover activity including gang-related human trafficking, narcotics and domestic terrorism.  Shes’ the real, real deal; tough, brave and smart.  All honest citizens owe her a debt of gratitude and personal Thanks for what she’s done for all of us. On top of that this is a great read by a great author.

[Megan]

Did not know it was #3 in her series. I don't think it mattered that much. FBI agents, so mystery to solve. Radical, extremist, animal rights group. Good book

[Terry Friedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating look at undercover work. I have now read all three in this series, and this was my favorite.

[T.M. Mike Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dana Ridenour proves "it takes one to know one." Her storied career as an FBI Undercover Agent has allowed her to create her Lexie Montgomery, FBI Undercover Agent, series with details and insight that few authors of thrillers have the knowledge to write. Add her gift for creating believable characters who have a propensity for placing themselves in dangerous and uncomfortable circumstances where the goal of the agent is to build trust to betray the trust to accomplish their assignment. Thank you, Dana, for writing another nailbiter story.

Get all three of her Lexie Montgomery stories and hope she has more coming soon!

[Harold Pritchett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Good Read

I’ve read all three books in the Lexie Montgomery Series. BELOW THE RADAR is the third book in the series. What I liked best in this book was that Lexie’s mission sent her undercover to the Netherlands. Not only was her boss not sure she was ready to work undercover, again, she was paired with an agent who was not sure of her. It was a nail biter story. Excellent writing from beginning to the satisfying ending.