Phoebe and the Traitor

The Organization #2

by Bob Mayer

Shane and Agnes are getting married, Lisa Livia is standing in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower in love with a Duke (sort of), and Phoebe is on the trail of a traitor.

Of course, none of that is as simple as it appears as the after-effects of the Red Wedding reverberate at Two Rivers, Lisa Livia’s romantic interlude is interrupted by an attempted killing and Phoebe learns getting to the traitor is going to involve going through an obstacle course of the world’s most dangerous, and eccentric, assassins.

Add in Sam the Cleaner, who is more than he appears, and Bert, an apparently washed up barfly, who was, once upon a time, one of the world’s most deadly operatives and the chase takes unexpected twists and turns as the quest for vengeance becomes something much, much more.

“Agnes and the Hitman is fabulous fun.” —Booklist (Starred review)
“A comic caper and raucous romance...laugh-out-loud funny...a fun ride.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Wickedly funny.”—Cincinnati Enquirer
“A bubbly novel with amusing banter and…moments of poignancy.”—Publishers Weekly

Bob and Jennifer Crusie have a finished trilogy that will be coming out starting in 2023:
Lavender's Blue
Rest in Pink
One in Vermillion

Genres: Mystery, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Humor, Contemporary, Suspense

316 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2022

About the author

Besides my own interests, I read whatever my wife tells me to read-- she's a voracious reader and has wide-ranging tastes as my reviews show (she also always has the TV remote and she's always right about what to watch). I read a lot of nonfiction, mostly for research. Some of my favorite books are Lonesome Dove, Mystic River, LOTR, and an array of science fiction classics including the Foundation series. Our house is covered with books, although I finally broke down and started reading eBooks, strangely enough on my iPhone. Since I carry it pretty much everywhere, it means I always have an entire library of books with me.

I'm a West Point graduate, former Green Beret and a New York Times Bestselling Author. I've sold over five million books. My newest series begins with New York Minute, a thriller set in New York City in 1977.

I love using history and science in my books. My Area 51 series pretty much had me rewriting our entire history of civilization.

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

1 star for editing

4 stars for the story

Equals 3 stars overall.


Please, for the love of all the Gods and Goddesses, GET A COMPETENT EDITOR OR A PROOFREADER! I'm going crazy trying to decipher this book.

I realize this book is free for Kindle Unlimited members, but that does not make it right to put out a shoddy product.

The story was excellent but a tad all over the place. I'm not sure if this book is the end of an attempted series or if there will be more.

You do have to really suspend your disbelief for this book. Or should I say if you are not into AI, you will have to.

Nice bits of humor, but I really do miss Agnes. Shane is slowly losing importance but is still called on when needed.

Carpenter-well what can I say? He is what he is, and unfortunately, unless the author surprises me, I don't see any romance in his life. Phoebe- does she lose the love of her life, a best friend...the hints don't really get you anywhere, and that is a tad frustrating. Sometimes I need things spelled out for me.

A good read if you get it for free, and hopefully, the author and his publishers will put out an edited/revised version. I paid for this book and would really like not to have to decipher every few pages.

[Ann Godfrey]

Terrible editing. There were numerous misspelled words and grammatical errors. I sometimes had to reread a sentence several times before I could understand what was being said. At one point, a conversation between Louise and Phoebe was mixed up. Comments attributed to Louise was really said by Phoebe and vice versa.

I enjoyed the story, but the editing slowed done the reading.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've become attached to these characters. I was disappointed in the editing errors of this one, but loved the story. Wish I would have read Hannah's books about the Cellar prior to reading this, because she was more of an influence in this one and made me feel a bit like I was missing something. I'd love to read another book with this group! Agnes, Shane, Lisa Livia, Phoebe, Sam, and Bert!

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
By not being a typical spy thrill is what makes this book stand out. There is more than one "chess" game taking place in this story. Interesting characters, some likeable and others not as much, round out this book.

[Roseann Ilstrup · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, that was outstanding.

The characters in this book are really funny, interesting and nuts. The story is really original but there are so many twists and turns i had to keep reading or I'd have been lost. I am really looking forward to the next book.

[Laurie · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Goodreads entry on this book says there is no audiobook, but having listened to it, Goodreads’ info is incorrect. The publication date on this audiobook was March 8, 2024, the publisher was Cool Gus, and – – prepare yourself for this – – the narrator was Virtual Voice. That’s right, AI voicing. At first, the voicing doesn’t seem that bad, because the voice is pleasant, and while there were a few more than usual mispronunciations, it wasn’t egregious, and at the beginning, neither was the delivery egregious. But after a short while, the slight unreality of the delivery becomes impossible to ignore; I think it’s the audio version of the Uncanny Valley. I hated it. I’m glad I didn’t buy this book, because then I would be crazy cranky as opposed to the extremely cranky that I am.

Three stars for the quality of the story. No real complaints there.

But… Dear Bob Mayer: You’ve written a gazillion books, and it seems unlikely that you’re so hard up for money that you can’t afford to hire a decent actor. This experiment was a failure. You have devoted fans who can only access your work through audiobooks. Please don’t subject them to another virtual voicing.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh…. I’m giving three stars to Shane and Lisa The rest are flat as pancakes and have about as much depth as a mud puddle
(Can Agnes’s character not be in these books for a reason
She is a huge missing black hole. Where blah has filled
If you are going to continue this series Mr Mayer
Please reread Agnes and the Hitman The fun and ridiculousness
The depth of the characters The funny The silly
It’s missing Phoebe and Louise sound like Robots
You took Lisa’s spark
Carpenter well he’s the same But give the person on his shoulder a rest
Okay… enough

[J A Edrington · Rating 2 out of 5]

Proofread, please! The spelling and grammar errors were distracting. Also, stay true to the characters created! LL didn't grow up in New Jersey, she grew up at Two Rivers (which somehow was called Three Rivers at one point - proofread!). The brief parts of Agnes did not have her voice, as her character was developed in Agnes and the Hitman. LL also didn't sound or feel like the character in the original book.

[BKnees · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is good. The proofreading is dismal.

The first third of the book was rife with errors that a proofreader would have fixed. There are places in the book where the sentences require extra thought by the reader to determine what the author is talking about. There are sentences that can be taken two contadictory ways. I have enjoyed Mr. Mayer's books in the past, but this book and the one before need good proofreaders.

[Kerrie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun Book!

I'm very much enjoying this series. I loved Agnes and the Hitman and when I found out about Shane and the Hitwoman I grabbed it and growled, and then I anxiously awaited Phoebe and the Traitor and it was worth the wait! There's humor, (some of it rather dark), excitement, a little romance and great characters. I'm looking forward to more books in this series.

[Deborah Biner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't Waste Your Time

The plot isn't interesting or clear, the characters aren't interesting or appealing and it's full of grammatical errors. The book must have been written in a tremendous hurry and not even proofread. It was free with Kindle Unlimited and I still feel like I was ripped off because I wasted time reading the first quarter of it.

[Anne Grime · Rating 2 out of 5]

a let down from the two previous in this series

I skipped large chunks of this book. Very complicated, few real people, and very far fetched.
I have read the books this writer produced with Jennifer Crusie, which were first rate. This one lacks the charm and humor the Crusie provides, and therefore was totally unsatisfying. Not for me at all.

[Jonni Wilkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny fast and furious

The keeps you entertained and the need to stop reading due to life interface is just plain shameful. I am in love with all the characters. But life interferes once more at the words the end darn it!

[Jan Meeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phoebe

This was very different but the same action adventure and answers. Phoebe an excellent asset. The Organization is a big happy family different from the Cellar but the same.

[William Owens · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a waste of time!

I disliked all of the characters in this book. What I liked about Bob Mayer's writing in the past had to do with the technology. I read these books only to assure myself that I was not suffering from dementia. Where's Chris Lee when I need him?

[Strega · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad conclusion to the dual books, but it doesn't work all that well. A bit too confusing. Too many characters, and I had to keep looking back to see who was who and why, so keeping the story going was tough. Really easy to set aside.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recent Reads: Phoebe And The Traitor. Bob Mayer concludes the series that began with his and Jennifer Crusie's Agnes And The Hitman. More action thriller than romance, as operator Phoebe tracks the traitor in the Organization, and learns where she came from. Moscow rules apply.

[Salustra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing

Book 2 of the Organization but 3 as a Prequel of sorts Agnes & the Hitman is first. Lots of clues, misdirection, heart, job only a real total package w great characters. Loved writing style & pacing looking forward to more.

[Lyle Wichman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but not as good as the others

This book was very military, lots of battles, etc so I missed the humor in the previous books. But I’ll look forward to more books with Bob and Jennifer collaborating.

[M.A.SPRIGGS · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read

While I liked the first book better this was still a well written story that I enjoyed. Lots of action packed scenes and an introduction of new characters as well as old favourites. Highly recommend.

[Enrique Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters in this book are really funny, interesting and nuts. The story is really original but there are so many twists and turns i had to keep reading or I'd have been lost. I am really looking forward to the next book.

[TL Thomas · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first book was pretty good. The second one was ok. This one was just bad. It didn't make any sense, the story was all over the place, the characters were not presented the same as the previous two books.

[Patty Geisinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Old friends, new enemies

I truly enjoyed Phoebe's second book and all the new characters and old friends like Shane, Carpenter and Lisa Livia all engaged in new gun battles!

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminds me of circles within circles analogy. Lots of layers and a fun story with an unexpected ending. The writing quality deserves more polished editing.

[Suzanne]

0 stars

Skipped a lot on the middle.

How can assinations be boring?

Too easy finish. Too much trying to link everyone into another series.

[Donna Sipe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Phoebe and the interaction with folks from the past. Missed the romance, though.

[Crystal L Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really Great

This is a twisting tale with interesting characters and an amazing number of plots occurring simultaneously. It will keep you on your toes.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fun. The prequel with Agnes was the best one; would have been good to stay with that.

[Loy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book with the characters from Agnes and the hitman. It was a good book pretty crazy, but I enjoyed it. Glad to have found a book set in that world.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story, lots of action and even more new characters.