Behind the Lens

by Jeannée Sacken

American Writing Awards, 2022 Hawthorne Prize American Writing Awards, 2021 Book of the Year (fiction), Best Women's Fiction, Best Suspense Firebird Award, 2021 Fourth Quarter, Best Debut Fiction, Winner Women's Fiction, Winner Suspense Shelf Unbound , 2021, Winner Notable Book of the Year

Eight years ago, seasoned photojournalist Annie Hawkins Green barely survived a Taliban ambush that left her military escort dead and a young Afghan girl dying in her arms. Since then, she has managed to suppress her memories of that brutal day-until she returns to Afghanistan to teach a photography workshop at the secondary school for girls run by her expat best friend Darya Faludi. As the Taliban gain prominence in the once peaceful region, Annie's nightmares from her last time in-country come roaring back with a vengeance. But are they just dreams? The unshakeable feeling of a grim, watchful presence makes Annie think otherwise. As Annie struggles with her nightmares, more trouble brews with the suspicion that Darya's teenage daughter is sneaking away at night to meet her shadowy boyfriend. Meanwhile, Annie's own daughter wages war with her father and stepmother back home, feeding Annie's all-consuming mom-guilt. Her only comfort, a poetry-writing U.S. Naval officer who saved her life all those years ago, is now at the other end of a satellite phone 7,000 miles away. How can he possibly keep her safe? How can anyone?

Genres: Fiction, War, Mystery Thriller, Ebooks, Womens Fiction

444 pages, Paperback

Published March 9, 2021

About the author

A former English professor at Rochester Institute of Technology, Jeannée Sacken is now a photojournalist who travels the world, documenting the lives of women and children. She also photographs wildlife and is deeply committed to the conservation of endangered species. When not traveling, she lives with her husband and three cats in Shorewood, Wisconsin, where she's hard at work on the next novel in the award-winning Annie Hawkins series. Follow Jeannée at jeanneesacken.com

Reviews

[Literary Redhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping tale set in Afghanistan, where photojournalist Annie Hawkins Green is ambushed by the Taliban and witnesses horrific deaths. When she returns eight years later, nightmares arise that leave her with a terrible foreboding. Are they just dreams or is her life truly at risk? A thrilling read in an exotic setting!

4 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 09 Mar 2021
#BehindtheLens #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, Ten16 Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Miss W Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Behind the Lens by Jeannée Sacken is a well written emotional tale that shines the light on Afhantistan and the atrocities that have taken place in the war zones.

The protagonist , Annie, is a photo journalist that has spent time in Afhantastan during war time capturing the stories and the terror of the Taliban. There she sees things that really affect her.

Several years later she actually wins a Pulitzer Prize for a photo she took while in Afghanistan.

This was not only a gut-wrenching book, but also very suspenseful.

The characters and setting were well written.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more books from this author.

[Patricia Sands · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a novel I could not put down and which I read long into the night to finish. Jeannée Sacken, a well-travelled photojournalist, transfers her knowledge and experience to the pages of this gripping story ... so topical given recent events in Afghanistan. Well-researched, the reader is taken into the harrowing conditions of life for women in Afghanistan. The protagonist, Annie Hawkins Green, is a wartime photojournalist returning to Afghanistan to keep a promise to her best friend who courageously runs a girls' school and, perhaps unknowingly, to face the PTSD she suffers from a previous time there. Vivid descriptions and cleverly developed characters combine to provide a suspenseful narrative filled with the unexpected. Woven through are deeply personal issues facing Annie, bringing the realities of her life to contrast with the shockingly perilous journey on which she finds herself. I highly recommend this novel. (And am thrilled to know a sequel is in the works!)

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie Hawkins Green, a photojournalist, is returning to Afghanistan to teach girls a photography workshop, helping to give them a chance at an education. Eight years ago, she was nearly killed here in a Taliban attack that left others dead and a young girl dying in her arms.

Now that she is back in-country, and as the Taliban gains a hold in the region, Annie’s nightmares return.

What made this book so powerful for me is that Annie is battling on two fronts. Not only does she fear for these young women and herself in Afghanistan, but she has left her teenage daughter, who seems to be rebelling, back in the States.

Jeannée Sacken does a great job getting us emotionally involved and placing us in the moment. As for Annie, she’s courageous, but she is still relatable. She has doubts, worries, and guilt but would love the comfort of her man, who is thousands of miles away.

𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴.

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @authorjeanneesacken for a spot on tour and a gifted copy.

[Emma (thrilledtoreadya) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an incredible book that will make you more culturally aware of Afghanistan while also tugging your heartstrings and keeping you in suspense. I’m not sure the last time I read a book and physically felt my body tensing up because I was so anxious to see what happened next!

Annie is a photojournalist, venturing to war zones and capturing the human stories that exist behind conflict. When visiting a village in Afghanistan with a girl, Malalai, that she has grown particuarly fond of, the Taliban attacks and she experiences the kind of terror and loss that no one should ever have to and that never leaves you.

Eight years later, she has won a Pulitzer for a photo she took of Malalai, but she is still deeply haunted by the death and sorrow that she saw. Her college friend Darya has opened a school to educate girls in Afghanistan, and she asks Annie to teach a photography workshop there. Annie accepts, but when she travels to Afghanistan, old ghosts are dredged up. She has the sense that no matter what she does, there are eyes on her. But is it just PTSD, or is something more sinister going on?

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. My typical thriller tends to be a bit fluffier, but this was hard hitting and immersed you in Afghani culture. There was so much tension as I tried to figure out if Annie was just suffering from residual effects of the attack she witnessed, or if something more was going on in the village she was staying at. As someone that has always lived in America, what I know about Afghanistan comes from history class. This gave more perspective of how women that live there actually feel, and how the things I might view as oppressive actually give them power in a way that Western culture would never consider. One element of the pilot involves Darya’s teenage daughter Seema, as well as Annie’s teenage daughter Mel. The relationship between mother and daughter in different cultures is explored in parallel In a very powerful way. The reason it is not a full five star read is there were a few elements that came out of nowhere for me, but they did not detract too much from how much I enjoyed the experience of reading this novel. I would consider this 4.5 stars.

Thank you so much to @ten16press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Joanna Monahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

War photojournalist Annie lives in two worlds. There’s her home in Milwaukee, where she faces mounting tensions with her ex-husband and his new wife, as well as guilt over co-parenting their free-spirited teenage daughter. Then there is the world of her work, which takes her around the world, photographing dangerous situations, including a 2006 incident in Kandahar which left two military operatives and a young girl dead.

Now Annie is back in Afghanistan, teaching a photography seminar at a secondary school for girls. She quickly realizes that the past (and the ghost of the martyred Malalai) have followed her there. Will Annie be lucky enough to escape with her life a second time?

Author Jeannée Sacken does an excellent job of immediately drawing the reader into Annie’s story, while keeping both her characters and her audience in the dark as to what is *really* going on. Annie’s flashbacks are both jolting and illuminating, as the events of 2006 slowly emerge and meld into the present timeline.

BEHIND THE LENS was a different book choice for me, and was an excellent reminder that stepping out of my comfort zone yields wonderful rewards. This is a multi-layered book about culture, religion, and family, and the beauty and tragedy that can exist within them.

Note; A portion of the proceeds of BEHIND THE LENS helps fund girls’ and women’s education.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Behind the Lens is a stunning debut novel ultimately about friendship and family set amidst cultural upheaval. War in modern day Afghanistan might be expected to work one way, but war on the home front in a blended family situation is always a whisper influencing everything Annie Hawkins does, wherever she goes as a photojournalist. Divorced over the danger she constantly seeks, Annie shares her daughter with her ex-husband while working all over the world as a prize-winning photographer. When the stars almost align for Annie to fulfill a years-long promise to her former roommate and best friend Darya now operating a girls school in Afghanistan, Annie leaves home again to teach a class on photography during the midst of a power struggle between her daughter and her daughter’s stepmother. It’s been eight years since Annie has been back, and immediately long-suppressed memories resurface in episodes of disturbing PTSD. Only this time the memories reveal facts and offer clues about her current hazardous situation.

Annie’s friend also has a teenage daughter with a secret war going on. When Annie finally gets Darya’s daughter to open up, the truth is as ugly as it gets. Annie seeks a balance of friendship and promises while reflecting on her underlying guilt as a parent who regularly abandons her own child. Complicating matters further is Annie’s trust issues with a complex man who rescued her long ago and his attempts to protect her now.

Author Jeannée Sacken brings life to a crippling and maniacal segment of life in a turbulent nation. Step into the reality and horrors of not only the subjects of a photojournalist but the aftermath affecting Annie’s life and career. Experience the great joys and beauty of a country and people caught in the crossfire of deep-seated tradition and modern extremism with the bitter sorrows of terrorism in the stories Annie must live in order to tell.

Although I highly recommend this story for high school readers and up, some language, authentic violence, and mild adult situations lead me to caution parents to check it out first. Told from Annie’s viewpoint throughout, the story ebbs and flows in tides of pleasure and fear as Annie remembers the past, searches to explain why she takes risky assignments, and surrenders to her passion for telling story from behind a camera lens.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This debut novel contains some heavier content as you might expect from a story about a photojournalist who worked in war torn nations. It was a slow burn plot, but with tension and suspense throughout. The author’s real life experience as a photojournalist is apparent and shines through as we see what it is like to be a female war photographer. The real life hazards from working in the politically unstable regions and the cutthroat nature of the journalists are so vividly shown. I enjoyed learning more about about the culture in Afghanistan and felt it was done in a way that felt immersive and natural. Seeing the MC Annie try to balance her life as a mom with a career that takes her to dangerous places, along with managing episodes of PTSD felt heartbreakingly real. The flashbacks to 2006 are a jolting look at the past as the events slowly merge into the present storyline. The storyline is mostly resolved with a few dangling threads to be picked up in a sequel. It’s a well written novel with a complex and intriguing plot. I highly recommend you read the authors note at the end.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annie Hawkins is a combat photojournalist. This takes her to some of the most dangerous places in the world. One day, everything goes wrong in the most horrific of ways. Annie is the sole survivor, and immediately interrogated for how she survived a fire fight in Afghanistan, but well-trained marines didn't. Years later, she finds herself back in Afghanistan to fulfill her promise to a young girl who she couldn't save. But things are not as safe as she has been told.

This book is so immersive! So much thought and research went into this, as well as attention to detail. I felt like I was there with the characters. The emotion is very real and raw. This is one of those books that I could not put down. It felt so very real. It is a thriller...with a very slight amount of romance (no spice). Definitely one of my top reads of the year.

[Heidi Frenzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not my usual genre, so I was surprised that I couldn't put it down. Suspenseful, fun characters and at the same time educational. Handed it off to my teen to read next!

[Jodie | GeauxGetLit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was transfixed by this debut novel.

[Debra Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful, fast-paced, and full of intrigue, Behind the Lens is the story of photojournalist Annie Hawkins Green, who is struggling with PTSD but inextricably bound to a country in chaos. Eight years after experiencing a traumatic event in Afghanistan, Annie returns to teach a photography class to girls in a school created by her expat best friend, Darya Faludi. Meanwhile, Darya’s teenaged daughter is sneaking out at night to meet a mysterious young man, an act that in Afghanistan could have devastating consequences for a young girl. Full of guilt for once again leaving behind her own teenaged daughter with her ex-husband and his wife, Annie hopes to fulfill a promise to a young Afghan girl who died in her arms years ago during a Taliban ambush. While supporting the education of women in a country where many believe it a threat to their way of life, Annie once again finds herself in danger. Woven throughout this plot is also the push and pull of a budding romance with a U.S. Naval officer who saved Annie years ago and hopes to keep her safe once again. The last few chapters will have you reading into the night, while the ending leaves just enough to keep you waiting for its sequel-in-progress.
Important to note: Author Jeannée Sacken, a well traveled photojournalist herself, is donating a portion of her proceeds to help fund the education of girls and women.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

The setting alone--a remote Afghan village--is enough to intrigue any reader, but throw in Annie's PTSD, revenge, familial guilt, an epic teen rebellion, and you have a real page turner. I highly recommend this well-written and suspenseful debut novel.

[Dawnny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annie Hawkins is a photo journalist. When her friend Darya asks her to return to Afghanistan to teach a photography class at her girls school Annie is all in. Even though it means leaving her daughter and returning to a country that eight years ago she barely made it out alive. Her military escort and a young afghan girl weren't so lucky. Once back in Afghanistan all the memories from eight years ago come flashing back and hit Annie full force. This was a powerful look at life and the women in a war torn nation. I have the greatest respect for journalists that are also heroes, risking it all and the horrific events they witness and will never forget. This is the second book I've read by this author. The writing is compelling and really pulls you right into place and time. I  hope there is another one coming. Excellent read!

Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY

[Patti Procopi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew going in that this was not going to be a book of happiness. Sadly, any book about Afghanistan is going to be heartbreaking since it is a country of heartbreak. I really enjoyed this book. It was very well written. The characters were believable and the situation believable. I like the idea of the story being presented by a photo journalist because I think Photographer see the world differently. They’re both part of it and separated from it by their camera lens. As the book got close to the end my heart was in my throat pounding away. I highly recommend this book if you like thrillers and mysteries with even a bit of romance thrown in! A very good read.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was immediately drawn into this story. And as I read the last page, I could finally release the breath I did not know I had been holding. I got little done yesterday as I just could not put the book down. It is hard to believe this is Sacken’s debut novel.

That aside, “Behind the Lens” is primarily a book about family and relationships. Annie Hawkins Green, a war photojournalist, has known Daria, her best friend since college days. They tell each other everything. But Annie is hiding a secret from Daria. When Annie is on assignment, her 15-year-old daughter Mel lives with Mel’s father and his wife. Mel is good friends with Daria’s daughter Seema. Just like with Annie and Mel, Daria is also going through the teen angst with Seema. And finally, there is Annie and Cerelli, a US Navy Seal. Is he her knight in shining armor who rescued her from a Taliban ambush eight years earlier? Or does he distrust her and thinks she was in on the ambush?

Annie is returning to Afghanistan to teach a photography workshop at the girls' school that Daria runs. Upon her return, Annie begins experiencing nightmares and hallucinations. Is it PTSD or could those hallucinations be real? Wherever she goes, she feels someone is watching her, following her. She also suspects Seema is slipping out at night at meet her boyfriend. In Afghanistan, this act could have shocking consequences. Annie is torn between telling Daria or waiting until she has more proof.

Sacken masterfully embeds flashbacks from the ambush eight years earlier into the present day. She also does a phenomenal job of weaving all the storylines together. She seamlessly takes us from the little village of Wad Qol during her visit with Daria back to Wisconsin where her daughter is currently in a power struggle with her stepmother.

This powerful story felt so real; the characters were so well developed that they seemed like real people that I came to care about. The descriptions throughout the book are vivid and I could easily envision it as the story played out. The insights into Afghan culture were educational especially when it comes to the life of Afghan women. It is obvious that the author is enamored with the Afghan people and their culture and is heart-broken with the sufferings inflicted upon them by the terrorist groups there.

This is one of the best books I have read this year. The complex and intriguing plot kept me in suspense throughout. I will definitely be watching for her next book.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Debut novelist Jeannée Sackens mines her photojournalism career in this slow burn tale of war photographer Anne Hawkins Green.

Annie is returning to Afghanistan after eight years previously surviving a Taliban ambush that left her military escort dead and her nearly being accused of treason. Suffering from PTSD, now a single mum with the guilt associated with her career taking her away from her teenage daughter, Annie returns to teach young girls photography for her best friend Darya’s school.

The books strengths is Sackens real life experience as a photojournalist informing us what it’s like to be a war photographer, and, especially female in a boys club. She depicts the hazing from of her male colleagues, the ruthlessness of journalists to get their story and also the real life hazards associated with going into politically unstable regions.

My favourite scenes were her teaching her photography workshops, giving a reader a bit more technical insight into how a photojournalist works. This is largely because I’ve studied photography so I’m always down for a fictional photographer heroine! Additionally, the chemistry between Anne and her self-appointed guardian via sat phone Cerelli, her was a welcome addition of levity to the growing tension building.

However I did find the pace a bit too slow and there were times I felt the book could’ve edited down some bits to get to climax. I also can’t help but wonder if making the story close to home for Annie seemed a bit of a coincidence, especially as she discovers some truths about her friend.

Overall this is a fine debut. I understand Sacken is working on another Annie book which is certainly intimated given the story doesn’t wrap up neatly as one would expect. I look forward to it to more Annie in the aftermath of this and where it takes her.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for ARC. This review is my opinion only.

[Maggie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The opening chapter of Behind the Lens drops the reader right in the middle of a perilous attack on a village in Afghanistan where our protagonist, Annie Green, a embedded war photojournalist, witnesses the massacre of an entire village including the two soldiers who escorted her and a lovely young child whose face Annie captured with her camera only seconds before she was felled by a sniper’s bullet. The iconic photograph wins Annie a Pulitzer but the incident continues to haunt her eight years later, not only in her conscious thoughts, but in the recurring PTSD nightmares she suffers once she returns for a short visit to the country to reunite with her best friend Darya and her family, and to teach a intro photography course at the girls’ school Darya has founded in a small town outside Kabul.
The tension never lets up as danger is everywhere and Annie slowly realizes that almost no one she meets are who they seem. The writing is first-rate and the action will keep you glued to the story as you immerse yourself in the story of the brave Afghan citizens trying to offer women and girls a better life to the military officers, including the gruff but charismatic Cerelli, who is drawn to Annie and puts himself in danger to protect her life. A sub-plot that explores the often-fraught relationships between teenager girls and their mothers fuels a deeper story you won’t see coming. Highly recommended not only for a superb, fast-paced plot, but characters that ring true to life and a glimpse of the humanity and tragedy playing itself out in a country wracked by civil war halfway around the world.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[David Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting and suspenseful from start to finish.
Photojournalist Annie Hawkins Green barely survived an ambush in Afghanistan, an ambush that left her two military escorts and a beloved young girl dead. Eight years later, Annie's best friend from college, an Afghan woman, has moved her husband and teenage daughter to a small village in Afghanistan to open a school for girls. When her friend invited Annie to teach a two week photography course at the school, Annie jumps at the chance to go back there. What that means though is she has to leave her independent teenage daughter behind and miss an important event in her daughter's life. What Annie wasn't counting on in returning though is the debilitating PTSD episodes in which she experiences hallucinations related to the ambush and the young girl's death. From here the story follows Annie on her harrowing journey to not only finish teaching her photography course but getting out of Afghanistan alive.

This is one heck of a well told story. Annie and the cast of characters are so richly drawn and the vivid descriptions of time and place so cinematic it put me in the middle of the action holding my breath as the scenes played out. I felt the angst and frustration Annie experiences when navigating the mother/daughter relationships, both her own and her best friends. I was deeply invested in Annie's story and needed to know how things would turn out. It was also somewhat educational about life as a war photojournalist as well as what life in Afghanistan is like.

Thank you to the author, Ten 16 Press and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copy and including me on this tour. I'm looking forward to continuing Annie's story.

[Lainey Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love any book that immerses me in a world where I don’t live. And traveling through Afghanistan with Annie Hawkins Greene, a badass war photographer, gave me that and more!
After her daughter raises money, Annie travels to Afghanistan to help rebuild a destroyed girls' school. As a reader, once she arrives, we enter a world with danger everywhere. A world that is impossible to correctly navigate.

Double Exposure and Behind the Lens (Sacken's prior novel) are both fast reads with all the pacing of a written thriller. But the story is so much more. Annie has a teenage daughter and a lover who struggles with his own health issues and trauma. Add in that Annie herself has PTSD from her prior time in Afghanistan, and you have a combustible mix.

I loved Annie Hawkins Greene as a real badass woman. She’s courageous, but kind and culturally sensitive. She's filled with the humility. As humans, we need more empathy and openness to worlds unlike our own. Annie Hawkins Greene is a superb model for that.
Double Exposure is tense, dramatic, with engaging characters and meticulous research, and will keep you turning pages!

I was impressed by the diligent research this novel required. I was thrilled to learn about Landays (Afghan poetry), immerse myself in the mix of languages and cultural elements of Afghanistan, while being gripped by a story that held me at the edge of my seat.

I believe those who enjoy thrillers will especially appreciate the fast-paced nature of the novel, but as a lover of women’s fiction, it was ideal for me too because I related and enjoyed following the badass character of Annie Hawkins Greene.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annie Hawkins Green, a war-zone photo journalist, returns to Afghanistan in 2015 to teach photography at a school for girls run by her friend Darya Faludi. Eight years earlier when Annie was in Afghanistan, she watched a young girl and two marines die in an ambush. Annie almost died too, but that doesn’t stop her from returning to Afghanistan to make a difference in the lives of Afghan girls who attend school at great risk. But Annie's also returning to ease her guilt about the death of the young girl.

Annie encounters trouble shortly after arriving in Kabul, Afghanistan, then survives an explosion while on her way to Wad Qol. Teaching photography to high school girls is a pleasure for Annie, but her joy is clouded by secrets being kept by those around her and the feeling she is being stalked by someone who wants to kill her.

Behind the Lens by Jeannée Sacken is a fast-paced suspense novel with engaging dialogue, interesting characters, and a page-turning story. The main character, Annie Hawkins Green, is strong, independent, and compassionate, but also guilt ridden, suffering from PTSD, and at times too trusting. The supporting characters are interesting, well-developed, and believable—people I rooted for even while suspecting them at times of nefarious behavior.

Sacken’s book is riveting and filled with memorable characters. But just as importantly, she takes great care to present an accurate look at Muslim culture and traditions and life in Afghanistan. I’m looking forward to Sacken’s next novel featuring Annie Hawkins Green.

[Jill Dobbe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Behind the lens is a compilation of many themes---travel, culture, family, education, and war. It is a fictional story of a female photographer who goes to Afghanistan to teach photography at a school for girls. The last time she was in the country, the Taliban murdered two marines, and a small Afghani girl died in her arms.

I learned about the writing of the landays and the author's expertise with photography as she mentored her students. Throughout the book, Afghan dishes, the Dari language, traditional dress, and attitudes toward educating women and girls are also discussed. I always enjoy reading about the country of Afghanistan and its women and children, but not about spies, guns, military, or the violent side, which I know exists. This is where the book fell short for me. The violence and romance toward the end, despite being fictional, felt contrived—still a well-written and captivating novel that engaged me until the end.

Thank you, author, publisher, and NetGalley, for the ARC.

[Lucille Guarino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping Story
Author Sacken’s novel is like being on a high-speed roller coaster ride - a short climb to the pinnacle, plunging you down fast. And just when you come out of one inverted loop, there’s another, before you level out. Tense and riveting, the twists and turns kept me turning the pages and put me in a country 7,000 miles away, in Afghanistan. Protagonist and photojournalist, Annie Hawkins, not only sees it from behind her camera lens, she’s living through it. Burqa, hijab, learning to shoot, learning to walk and look inconspicuous, saving lives, Taliban and Isis uprisings, PTSD . . . it’s all there. The characters are believable. Navy Seal Cirrelli was my personal favorite. The contrast between Annie’s teenage daughter in America and her friend’s daughter in Afghanistan is stark. Landays, which are poems, I also found interesting. Well written and well researched, there is so much in this story that can be learned about the culture and conflicts in this region. A realistic fiction and a great read.

[Melissa Levens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Behind the Lens: The Annie Hawkins Green series, Book 1
Author, Jeannee Sacken

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @authorjeanneesacken for my #gifted copy!

Behind the Lens is gripping, suspenseful, and super interesting and I loved all the cultural and human connections. A poignant novel about a strong woman seeking redemption, forgiveness, and justice that's filled with love, the bonds between mothers and daughters, cultural complexities, and adventure. I absolutely recommend this fast- paced page- turner!

Jeannee Sacken is a photojournalist and author who "travels throughout the world and captures images of nature and wildlife and documents the lives of people who live in some of the most remote and fascinating places on earth." I love when an author brings her expertise and experience into her writing.

Sacken's sequel, Double Exposure, published 9.27.22 and I am looking forward to reading more about Annie's adventures!

4.5 stars!

[HM · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent read by debut novelist Jeannee Sacken. By the end of the first chapter, the many emotions unleashed within war photojournalist Annie Hawkins Green, will become yours until the end!

So many aspects of different relationships are explored: blended families, romantic interests, females working in (traditionally) male-dominated roles, mother-daughter issues, working-mom guilt, workplace drama, life and death consequences, cultural and religious differences, beliefs followed blindly vs. educated faith, and respectfully loving one another no matter the differences.

This book is great for cultural, religious, and gender based book discussions. I highly recommend this book to those interested in having honest, respectful dialogues with one another.

Thank you Jeannee Sacken and Ten16 Press for the ARC.

[Stacey (reading2escape) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really gave me a lot of insight into the Afghani culture, which I appreciate, especially considering what is currently going on in Afghanistan. While I typically lean more towards reading thrillers, this book had its share of suspense and even a little romance brewing in the background. I loved the friendship between Darya and Annie and some of my favorite parts were when Annie was teaching photography at the girls’ school.

This was a well written debut novel that highlights the relationship between mothers and daughters, the struggle of working moms, and friendships. In addition, the book gives good insight into the impact of PTSD, as well as cultural differences.

A portion of the proceeds from this book will help fund girl's and women's education.

Thank you to the author for proving me with a copy of your book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer Jorski Ebert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Behind the Lens is a must read!! This is a gripping thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat!! Not only is it timely and very eerily mirroring some of our current issues, the Author has thorough knowledge and meticulously researched the foreign customs, language, and the Military lingo to bring even more authenticity and credibility to an already excellent novel. Her insight as a photojournalist has been interwoven flawlessly in the protagonist. The descriptive and beautifully written prose will have you begging for more and turning the page as fast as you can read. Hoping for a sequel novel, but, nonetheless, will be impatiently awaiting more works from this debut Author. This book is perfect for those who love Historical Fiction, Mysteries, Thrillers, History, and Political Thrillers. This would also make a great gift!! You will not be disappointed!!

[BreeAnn (She Just Loves Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was impossible to put down! It’s a book that I got incredibly emotionally invested in and needed to know what was going to happen!

Annie is a warzone photojournalist. While working in Afghanistan, she is attacked by the Taliban, and witnesses some incredibly horrific things. When she returns home is haunted by what she experienced. She is asked to teach in an Afghanistan school, and she accepts, but when she gets there, she can’t help but feel watched.

I thought this was a stunning book that really provides a view into the life of women living in Afghanistan, and also what it’s like to be a war-time journalist. The world-building is detailed and truly creates an immersive experience while you read. I was fully invested in this one, and I highly recommend it!

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment Annie Hawkins Green slaps a piece of duct tape with her indentifying information on her flak jacket, the reader is thrust into the exciting and dangerous world of a photojournalist who covers conflict zones. Annie is courageous and resourceful—racked with guilt and plagued by PTSD. She’s a good—though flawed—mom and a good—though flawed—friend. And that, I think is what I love most about Sacken’s writing: she creates multifaceted characters in high-stakes situations, and she never resorts to the “easy out.” In Behind the Lens, Jeannee Sacken reminds us of the steep human cost of war and the deep human connections that can be forged there. This book will stay with you long after you finish the final page.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book gets your heart racing! From the beginning the author immerses you into the harrowing life of Annie Hawkins Green, a war photojournalist. She is in Afghanistan on an assignment and things go very wrong. Eight years later she goes back to Afghanistan to teach a photography class in a school for girls ran by her best friend. She had no idea that being back there would cause the pass to haunt her. The author did a very good job showing what it is like for girls to life there and their culture. Very suspenseful and shows that no matter how well you think you may know someone you can be totally wrong. Definitely recommend!

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publishers of #BehindTheLens for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.