Face Value by Ian Andrew
Blurb:
Kara Wright and Tien Tran, former members of an elite intelligence gathering team active in Afghanistan, Iraq, and places still classified, now make their living through Wright & Tran, a PI service that tracks errant spouses, identifies dishonest employees and, just occasionally, takes on more significant cases that allow them to use all their skills.
When siblings Zoe and Michael Sterling insist that their middle-aged parents have gone missing, Kara and Tien are at first sceptical and then quickly intrigued; the father, ex-intelligence analyst Chris Sterling, appears to be involved with an enigmatic Russian thug.
Using less than orthodox methods and the services of ex-colleagues with highly specialised talents, Wright & Tran take on the case. But the truth they uncover is far from simple and will shake Zoe and Michael as much as it will challenge Tien and anger Kara. Anger she can ill afford for she is being hunted by others for the killing of a street predator who chose the wrong prey.
The only constant in this darkening world is that nothing and no one can be taken at face value.
My thoughts:
I haven’t read a straight thriller for a while – usually I go for a story with a bit of romance as well, but I read the first chapter of Face Value and got hooked. A girl who can take out a man of dubious character using only a stiletto was a someone I wanted to get to know.
Both Kara and Tien were intriguing, each with their own special skills, and the variety of side characters added to the drama. I particularly liked Sammi, and I’d like to see more of her later on in the series. The author is an ex-Intelligence Officer himself, which I’m sure added to the well-thought-out plot and believable descriptions. It kept me guessing to the end. The way the book was written, I could easily picture each scene, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I look forward to the second book in the series, Flight Path, which is due to be released in March 2016.
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