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Jason Drake #1
The Assassin's Betrayal
Jason Drake isn't just ex-CIA.
He's a wanted man.
And now he's the world's last hope to stop a world war.
A weapon equivalent to a small nuclear bomb is missing.
Not one intelligence agency in the world has a lead.
Everyone who gets close to the truth ends up dead.
With no one to trust at the Agency and knowing that time is of the essence, CIA Station Chief Kate Price turns to the only man she knows she can trust: disgraced covert operative and former assassin Jason Drake.
The problem? Drake is a wanted man.
What follows is a globe-trotting thriller ripped straight from the headlines. It's a story of intrigue, non-stop action, friends turned enemies, and betrayal.
The Assassin's Betrayal kicks off one of the most full-throttle CIA assassin series to hit bookstores in decades. It was created from the ground up to fill the space between Jason Bourne and Mitch Rapp.
This series of espionage thrillers is ready to shake you to the core and keep you reading late into the night. Auston's primary goal is to share stories that entertain, provoke, and leave you wanting more.
Are you ready to read the best thriller novel of 2023?
He's a wanted man.
And now he's the world's last hope to stop a world war.
A weapon equivalent to a small nuclear bomb is missing.
Not one intelligence agency in the world has a lead.
Everyone who gets close to the truth ends up dead.
With no one to trust at the Agency and knowing that time is of the essence, CIA Station Chief Kate Price turns to the only man she knows she can trust: disgraced covert operative and former assassin Jason Drake.
The problem? Drake is a wanted man.
What follows is a globe-trotting thriller ripped straight from the headlines. It's a story of intrigue, non-stop action, friends turned enemies, and betrayal.
The Assassin's Betrayal kicks off one of the most full-throttle CIA assassin series to hit bookstores in decades. It was created from the ground up to fill the space between Jason Bourne and Mitch Rapp.
This series of espionage thrillers is ready to shake you to the core and keep you reading late into the night. Auston's primary goal is to share stories that entertain, provoke, and leave you wanting more.
Are you ready to read the best thriller novel of 2023?
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 30, 2020
4750 people are currently reading
794 people want to read
About the author
Auston King
13 books43 followersAuston King is the author name for an ex-intelligence officer who prefers to keep his anonymity about him. He's an avid reader, who has consumed every Tom Clancy, Brad Thor, Vince Flynn and Robert Ludlum book he could get his hands on and he wants to share stories that entertain, provoke, and leave you wanting more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
November 28, 2021
A blatantly unreliable book. Like a script for a movie with a lot of activity, but with a low level, without any logic and credibility. Things are happening here that the participants have no ability to anticipate their origin. The secret is of course that only the writer knows the secrets, and he reveals them to us when they happen.
It was really insulting to keep reading. I do not know how I even managed to read 65% of the book, until I decided to stop.
It is not clear to me how the book received such a high score. Apparently the typical readers here the ones that loves the fantasy genre .
It is not a spoiler since it was clear from page 1. The author was getting the Idea from what happened in Beirut Sea-port of the devastating blast after a fire triggered the detonation of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that belong to the Terror organization - Hezbollah.
It was really insulting to keep reading. I do not know how I even managed to read 65% of the book, until I decided to stop.
It is not clear to me how the book received such a high score. Apparently the typical readers here the ones that loves the fantasy genre .
It is not a spoiler since it was clear from page 1. The author was getting the Idea from what happened in Beirut Sea-port of the devastating blast after a fire triggered the detonation of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that belong to the Terror organization - Hezbollah.
April 23, 2025
A fast-paced suspenseful thriller giving a new meaning to page-turners!
Jason Drake is a semi-broken man. Once a top officer in the CIA, he has since become disillusioned with his former employers and his country. Now he spends his time hidden from society but working to help those in most need. His life is turned upside down when his former boss at the CIA needs his help in locating a deadly explosive in the hands of the one person who can detonate it in the one city which can create a Third World War.
Will Jason set aside his personal regrets to save his country?
Loved this book! Look forward to the series. It's a first-class suspense-thriller!
Jason Drake is a semi-broken man. Once a top officer in the CIA, he has since become disillusioned with his former employers and his country. Now he spends his time hidden from society but working to help those in most need. His life is turned upside down when his former boss at the CIA needs his help in locating a deadly explosive in the hands of the one person who can detonate it in the one city which can create a Third World War.
Will Jason set aside his personal regrets to save his country?
Loved this book! Look forward to the series. It's a first-class suspense-thriller!
April 26, 2022
This is straight-up brain junk food. For fans of military fiction and thrillers, this is so predictable that one does not have to get halfway through the book to know precisely how the story will unfold.
That author is compared to Clancy, and Ludlum is laughable. A great read if one is sitting at an airport or bus terminal with a few hours to kill and nothing else is around.
That author is compared to Clancy, and Ludlum is laughable. A great read if one is sitting at an airport or bus terminal with a few hours to kill and nothing else is around.
March 21, 2021
Bravo
Bravo to the author for such an amazing novel. For the last six months I have read over 100 novels searching for “that one” and I have found it. I look forward to the next release.
Bravo to the author for such an amazing novel. For the last six months I have read over 100 novels searching for “that one” and I have found it. I look forward to the next release.
July 5, 2022
ugh
Though the writing itself isn’t terrible, the story is and seems like it was constructed by a 6 year old. Everybody lives through things they possibly couldn’t do or survive. I can’t believe I actually finished this book!
Though the writing itself isn’t terrible, the story is and seems like it was constructed by a 6 year old. Everybody lives through things they possibly couldn’t do or survive. I can’t believe I actually finished this book!
May 10, 2021
A good story BUT I don't recall anyone getting assassinated. A lot got killed in different battles so I don't understand the title. It was about 2,000 tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer smuggled into Washington, DC and the hunt that went on for it.
I liked Jason Drake and his friend and partner Clyde Colt, as well as recently promoted CIA Director Kate Price and her spy/secretary Sierra White. It was an exciting book but sometimes the words were kind of silly. If this were self-published the author should have at least got a proof-reader, and if he had one then he needs to get a new one. IMO
There was no sex and the F-bomb was used 136 times, and they were not always used at the right time.
As for the narration: John Andrews is not all that good. There was no difference in the voices whether a woman or a man's talking. No attempt was made in making his voice sound a little more feminine. This seems to be the only narration for JA so practice, Mr. Andrews.
I liked Jason Drake and his friend and partner Clyde Colt, as well as recently promoted CIA Director Kate Price and her spy/secretary Sierra White. It was an exciting book but sometimes the words were kind of silly. If this were self-published the author should have at least got a proof-reader, and if he had one then he needs to get a new one. IMO
There was no sex and the F-bomb was used 136 times, and they were not always used at the right time.
As for the narration: John Andrews is not all that good. There was no difference in the voices whether a woman or a man's talking. No attempt was made in making his voice sound a little more feminine. This seems to be the only narration for JA so practice, Mr. Andrews.
March 31, 2022
I rarely write reviews but I'm making a exception here. The story was predictable, weak, and mostly flowed like a dry river bed. The main character is built up via reputation throughout the book but does not live up tp his physical or mental (apparent) skills. Many times the story line makes no sense at all (taking a coffee break while you have a limited time to save the world) - I found myself skipping pages that were totally unentertaining and of no value to the story line. Right, I didn't like the book.
May 1, 2022
Exceptionally amateurish. Sophomoric. The first rule of freshman Creative Writing 101, write what you know about, and this author obviously knows little about the subject matter of his book. Admittedly, I only read about 40% of this book before my gag reflex got too strong to finish it. A very generous 2 stars.
June 26, 2022
A basically sound, albeit typical spy adventure plot. But the execution is amateurish. The flashbacks are forced. The characters stilted and overblown. There are so many better authors and works. Will not be suckered into reading any more of this series.
August 21, 2024
Really good book. Real fast paced and lots of action. Excited for more!
January 23, 2025
I just love this guy!
What a story teller! The book was full of action and just as you thought you knew where it was going. There be a bend in the road, and you be off on another adventure. I would truly highly recommend this book and series. Never a dull page!
What a story teller! The book was full of action and just as you thought you knew where it was going. There be a bend in the road, and you be off on another adventure. I would truly highly recommend this book and series. Never a dull page!
June 23, 2025
cliche in every way
Cliche plot and characters with forced depth. Bad plot and worse dialogue. I would not have finished the book if it had not been so short.
Cliche plot and characters with forced depth. Bad plot and worse dialogue. I would not have finished the book if it had not been so short.
June 23, 2021
Good book, but no Mitch Rapp, Jason Bourne, will Roby. Has some stepping up to do.
This book was very good, a great start to a new series.
The things I did not like, the main protagonist was captured too many times during the book.
He is no Jason Bourne, Mitch Rapp, will Roby, Jack Rager. None of these characters would have let a woman betray them. The heads would’ve been always on a swivel.
Instead of being injected by a female will be trade you she and her other cohort should’ve just gotten the drop on him. As far as the modifications that he went through, I don’t see any difference in him than any other normal individual.
As far as a purveyor of mini spy novels and other books I believe that this character needs to step up his game to compete with the elite.
Good book, plenty of action, great character development, but he has a way to go to be in the league with the best, and I’ve read the best. Great book, great first start of a series, give it a try. In fact I’m going on to read the second book
This book was very good, a great start to a new series.
The things I did not like, the main protagonist was captured too many times during the book.
He is no Jason Bourne, Mitch Rapp, will Roby, Jack Rager. None of these characters would have let a woman betray them. The heads would’ve been always on a swivel.
Instead of being injected by a female will be trade you she and her other cohort should’ve just gotten the drop on him. As far as the modifications that he went through, I don’t see any difference in him than any other normal individual.
As far as a purveyor of mini spy novels and other books I believe that this character needs to step up his game to compete with the elite.
Good book, plenty of action, great character development, but he has a way to go to be in the league with the best, and I’ve read the best. Great book, great first start of a series, give it a try. In fact I’m going on to read the second book
December 27, 2023
I do not like giving poor reviews. However, I can not understand why this book has received such high ratings.
I found the text and conversations extremely simple and the plot had zero originality.
What bothered me most was the author's lake of confidence in the reader. For example :
"Too good to be true. His grandfather always referred to that refrain when things were looking up and then unexpectedly took a left turn. If it looked too good to be true, that meant it probably was."
Did he really need to explain the phrase "too good to be true?"
He also defined the Silk Road -" because silk was the primary item traded between China and Europe". Maybe this is news to a lot of his readers but I learned that in 6th grade.
I respect the author and his work, but I do not agree with the ratings this book has received.
I found the text and conversations extremely simple and the plot had zero originality.
What bothered me most was the author's lake of confidence in the reader. For example :
"Too good to be true. His grandfather always referred to that refrain when things were looking up and then unexpectedly took a left turn. If it looked too good to be true, that meant it probably was."
Did he really need to explain the phrase "too good to be true?"
He also defined the Silk Road -" because silk was the primary item traded between China and Europe". Maybe this is news to a lot of his readers but I learned that in 6th grade.
I respect the author and his work, but I do not agree with the ratings this book has received.
September 29, 2023
Simple written for simple, fast reading like on a boat or one of the newest travel methodes that bores people to hell and back.
Editing should be done better to contain the technical weapons talk, adoration of violence and the child language that riddles the book everywhere. It also shows us the relative poor grammar education of the author.
"Empty bottles of vodka and ....... floor of the warehouse". should of course be:
"Empty vodka bottles and ........ floor of the warehouse".
There is no vodka in an empty bottle!! And there's more like that.
So the story is quite entertaining but the writer must go back to school for grammar and should then be able to write a much better book with more depth to the story and it's characters.
Editing should be done better to contain the technical weapons talk, adoration of violence and the child language that riddles the book everywhere. It also shows us the relative poor grammar education of the author.
"Empty bottles of vodka and ....... floor of the warehouse". should of course be:
"Empty vodka bottles and ........ floor of the warehouse".
There is no vodka in an empty bottle!! And there's more like that.
So the story is quite entertaining but the writer must go back to school for grammar and should then be able to write a much better book with more depth to the story and it's characters.
October 30, 2020
If you were to think you can figure out the ending of this book by reading the first few chapters, you would be wrong. Complex, compelling characters (and one great dog) race to thwart a plot to blow up a major US city. The characters have an interwoven history that sometimes works at odds with their desire to do the right thing. The book is an exciting exploit, but it also has a lot to say about the loss of innocents, and innocence, in war and about the unhealthy motives that drive violence. Looking forward to the sequel!
November 17, 2020
On your Mark
This book is so good. I stayed up past bedtime reading this. Just could not put it down. From the first chapter it's like watching a race, but you're reading it to see what's going to happen next. Loved it and can't wait for the next one. If you like Brad Thor and Vince Flynn this book is for you. You won't be disappointed. Like the old tv cowboy shows from back in the day saying there's a new sheriff in town, well there's a new author in town and his name is Auston King!
This book is so good. I stayed up past bedtime reading this. Just could not put it down. From the first chapter it's like watching a race, but you're reading it to see what's going to happen next. Loved it and can't wait for the next one. If you like Brad Thor and Vince Flynn this book is for you. You won't be disappointed. Like the old tv cowboy shows from back in the day saying there's a new sheriff in town, well there's a new author in town and his name is Auston King!
April 19, 2022
The Assassin’s Betrayal is a fast paced and entertaining story but just a touch too weak in subplots. I don’t think experienced SAS team would come up with such a ridiculously weak raid plan just so their Captain have to came back just to fixed it and then to witnessed and suffered as a consequence….for example. I want to like it more but I just couldn’t stop questioning or shaking my head every time something like that happened. Apart from that I did enjoy reading the book and quite like everything else so 3.85 stars.
January 26, 2021
This is an excellent book by Auston King.
For those who love black ops thrillers, this is great introduction to a new series. It has everything you would expect in such a book: a great hero, interesting characters, a number of twists and turns, and unexpected surprises. Indeed, it will keep you in suspense right up to the very exciting conclusion.
It was hard to put down and I expect you will suffer from the same affliction!
For those who love black ops thrillers, this is great introduction to a new series. It has everything you would expect in such a book: a great hero, interesting characters, a number of twists and turns, and unexpected surprises. Indeed, it will keep you in suspense right up to the very exciting conclusion.
It was hard to put down and I expect you will suffer from the same affliction!
May 19, 2023
ridiculous
The pre mis e and the cliches were too much to handle. It was like reading a teenage attempt at intrigue. Stealing a Blackhawk. Trip to the armory that anyone in the military knows is like getting into Fort Knox. Looking for trouble at the one bar in PR? I don’t want to spend anymore time writing about this pathetic. Attempt at aCIA novel. Don’t bother. I can’t believe I wasted my time and money on this
The pre mis e and the cliches were too much to handle. It was like reading a teenage attempt at intrigue. Stealing a Blackhawk. Trip to the armory that anyone in the military knows is like getting into Fort Knox. Looking for trouble at the one bar in PR? I don’t want to spend anymore time writing about this pathetic. Attempt at aCIA novel. Don’t bother. I can’t believe I wasted my time and money on this
January 24, 2023
Ugh. Nope. Not much good to say. Drake the supposed to be an amazing assassin but continually needed to be rescued by others. Never do we get to see his supposed skills. Just all talk. Supporting characters were more impressive. Story line is fine but I could not get excited about Drake and desperately wanted this book to end. Not wasting my reading life on book 2.
July 15, 2024
GOOD BOOK
I really like this book. Everyone is right he needs a new editor. Auston needs a new editor. But I can read very fast and I just skipped over all the errors and wrong words and punctuation problems. The story was just wonderful. I loved it. It was funny and very few bad curse words in it especially that bad word was not in it very often. I love the characters and I love the banter between all of them. It was a good story. Just ignore all theproblems and I would like to read the second one but I’m not paying five dollars right now. I’ll wait till it’s $.99 again, but I want to keep reading and put it down.
I really like this book. Everyone is right he needs a new editor. Auston needs a new editor. But I can read very fast and I just skipped over all the errors and wrong words and punctuation problems. The story was just wonderful. I loved it. It was funny and very few bad curse words in it especially that bad word was not in it very often. I love the characters and I love the banter between all of them. It was a good story. Just ignore all theproblems and I would like to read the second one but I’m not paying five dollars right now. I’ll wait till it’s $.99 again, but I want to keep reading and put it down.
April 11, 2025
Decent plot, but poor writing.
The plot was OK, but it ended up overshadowed by the flaws in writing. The hero ends up caught up in situations that a man of his abilities could have easily foreseen - and then miraculously escapes in very unlikely ways.
The other flaw is the use of incorrect grammar. In page 332 for example:
“You’re death will be instant. If we fail, thousands will die today, but millions will die tomorrow. “
Of course a 4th grade student could tell it’s “your death”. The author does not seem to know this and did not bother to use a grammar check. When I read a book I want the grammar to be basically correct.
The plot was OK, but it ended up overshadowed by the flaws in writing. The hero ends up caught up in situations that a man of his abilities could have easily foreseen - and then miraculously escapes in very unlikely ways.
The other flaw is the use of incorrect grammar. In page 332 for example:
“You’re death will be instant. If we fail, thousands will die today, but millions will die tomorrow. “
Of course a 4th grade student could tell it’s “your death”. The author does not seem to know this and did not bother to use a grammar check. When I read a book I want the grammar to be basically correct.
January 10, 2023
A new series I saw on Kindle. It started really slow and I almost put it down a few times.
Jason is an ex-CIA assassin who was enhanced in a program by the CIA (CRISPR DNA) with 5 other guys. Each to work alone. He meets Aya on a mission in Syria and falls in love but of course there is no happy ending.
Then his old handler Kate seeks him out to find tons of ammonium nitrate that went missing . The
storyline is typical (jetting through countries, people die, people are really not dead etc).
Jason is an ex-CIA assassin who was enhanced in a program by the CIA (CRISPR DNA) with 5 other guys. Each to work alone. He meets Aya on a mission in Syria and falls in love but of course there is no happy ending.
Then his old handler Kate seeks him out to find tons of ammonium nitrate that went missing . The
storyline is typical (jetting through countries, people die, people are really not dead etc).
October 13, 2024
A Start with a New Author
I love to read but always cringe when I have to find a new author after finishing a last book available. So, did the obvious and went to the reviews we write. Auston King sounded like many of the well written and enjoyable books I’ve read this year. Jason Drake portrayed and emulated many of the main characters in other series. AND, there were seven books in this series. I was not disappointed. A complex story line became apparent, yet there were enough twists to keep it interesting. Look forward to book number two.
I love to read but always cringe when I have to find a new author after finishing a last book available. So, did the obvious and went to the reviews we write. Auston King sounded like many of the well written and enjoyable books I’ve read this year. Jason Drake portrayed and emulated many of the main characters in other series. AND, there were seven books in this series. I was not disappointed. A complex story line became apparent, yet there were enough twists to keep it interesting. Look forward to book number two.
February 5, 2025
3 stars is being generous. The story was okay -- not original at all -- but not really believable. I'm okay with the nonbelievability, because many fiction books are in that category. However, the writing was sophomoric at best, and the proofreading was AWFUL! There are many proofing errors that should have been easily detected, had it been proofed. Hard for me to believe it was. I see there are many more books in this series. I haven't decided yet whether to give the next one a try to see if anything has improved or just to move on to better reading.
January 2, 2025
Ongoing opinion was up and down during reading
This is a new author for me. The plot was well thought out but it was a laborious journey. So much could have been left out. There were so many grammatical errors and poor sentence structure throughout the book. At one point for several chapters the writing style sounded like another writer. But I will say the ending was well done and the epilogue was unexpected. I guess I'm hooked for another.
This is a new author for me. The plot was well thought out but it was a laborious journey. So much could have been left out. There were so many grammatical errors and poor sentence structure throughout the book. At one point for several chapters the writing style sounded like another writer. But I will say the ending was well done and the epilogue was unexpected. I guess I'm hooked for another.
February 13, 2022
good read, could have been better but it was good.
There were spots in the book I speed read through as it had nothing to do with the book. But there was a fair amount of action without the author going off on soccer or something. I liked it and will read the rest.
Author should study up on spy craft and should read old Robert Ludlum and Ken Follet books for help.
There were spots in the book I speed read through as it had nothing to do with the book. But there was a fair amount of action without the author going off on soccer or something. I liked it and will read the rest.
Author should study up on spy craft and should read old Robert Ludlum and Ken Follet books for help.
January 11, 2023
Meet Jason Drake Former CIA Super Spy
Jason Drake has been through the school of hard knocks, and he has also been trained by the CIA. Jason might not be a white knight, but that doesn't stop him from saving the day. I can't wait to read the next book about Jason's globe trotting adventures!
Jason Drake has been through the school of hard knocks, and he has also been trained by the CIA. Jason might not be a white knight, but that doesn't stop him from saving the day. I can't wait to read the next book about Jason's globe trotting adventures!
July 28, 2023
Review of Assassin s Betrayal
First book in the Jason Drake series, Drake is the modern version of an American "James Bond ". The author paints a vivid picture of The CIA, The new Russian spy organization and how you can't trust anyone. The author understands how the use of Drones can cause irreversible damage
First book in the Jason Drake series, Drake is the modern version of an American "James Bond ". The author paints a vivid picture of The CIA, The new Russian spy organization and how you can't trust anyone. The author understands how the use of Drones can cause irreversible damage
Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews