When FBI agent Jack Shannon arrives in Corpus Christi, Texas, he is focused on one thing: find the man who has been selling encrypted government secrets to the Chinese through online birding chat rooms. But when a senator is shot during a hunting trip and the woman he was with is abducted, Jack agrees to join the search–especially when he discovers that the kidnapping victim is Aubrey Grayson, a … Grayson, a woman he was once in love with.
As the search continues, it becomes clear the senator may not have been the intended victim–and Aubrey may be connected to the other case Jack is supposed to be working on. Can Jack untangle the knots before it’s too late? And when he learns the truth, will it be too painful to get past?
Join the hunt for the truth–and a traitor–in this tension-laden story of secrets, betrayal, and second chances.
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I’m going to give this one 3.5 stars. It really took me a long time to get into this book. I had a hard time connecting with the characters. For being a suspense book, some of it felt very unreal and improbable. It did get somewhat better as the story went on. I did start to care for the characters by the end of the book. I did like the message about forgiveness in this one.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
The Traitor’s Pawn by Lisa Harris ~3 out of 5 stars~
I was sooo excited to read this! I had previously read Lisa’s ‘Nikki Boyd Files’ and they were absolutely the best, I fell head over heals for the plot, the characters and the story lines. I loved everything about them. So, coming into this I had some high expectations to say the least. Unfortunately, they weren’t quite met. That being said, I still did really like it, and had an enjoyable time reading it though .
The Writing.
At first the writing really threw me off, it felt very word-y and detailed which made it hard to focus and comprehend what was actually going on in the story. Although after the first little bit, that seemed to change and it no longer felt so word-y. And looking back, maybe that was just me, especially since I never felt that way with her previous books.
The Plot.
The plot, for me, wasn’t quite there. I didn’t leave me as mind blown as I would have liked. Although, there were a few curve balls thrown that I didn’t expect and really liked. But, one thing I really, really liked about the plot, was that it felt very fresh and modern. The whole story line, I felt, was something that felt really relevant and current. I could easily have believed that this was something actually happening in the real world today, or in the near future. I was excited as I was reading to see, what happened next and where the plot went, I definitely left me coming back for more! The ending was just what left me wanting a bit more. Also, poor Aubrey had to really go through it!
The Characters.
This was where Lisa completely had me hooked and loving it! Jack and Aubrey, ahhh I just loved their dynamics, old forgotten friends/romantic interests is something I love to read! Exploring all the old feelings to me is just SO much fun and addicting to read. Loved the way she went about writing it . I also loved their names, Aubrey Greyson (Bree) and Jack Shannon, they have a nice ring to ‘em. The other characters also felt authentic and easy to read about. Well done Lisa, your characters have captured my heart once again . I would honestly love to see a book in the future that, follows the ending of this one. Shows some more of Aubrey’s life after the events in this, and that shows exactly what just happens after this book ends .
Overall I really liked and enjoyed this, it was a good mystery/suspense that had me reading a bit later that usually. Like I said before, it definitely had me coming back for more and excited to see the wrap up of it all. I’m excited to read more from her in the future!
P.S. it’s funny how the Coronavirus makes you suddenly think differently, I was silently yelling in my head at anyone who was unnecessarily touching or hugging ‘social distancing!!!!’ and when Aubrey used some hand sanitizer it was like a miracle that she had any!
*I received an ARC copy from the author and publisher, all thoughts and opinions are my own. A big thank you to them for sending it to me!*
I really enjoy Lisa Harris’ books, and this one did not disappoint. While there is a bit of predictability in the romance section (at least you can guess who will end up with you), the steps taken along the way are harder to guess. I definitely did not make all of the connections or determine all of the ending.
This is a story about second chances. Should we get a do-over? Is that always realistic? Is God willing to forgive us no matter what? Are we willing to forgive others? Should we risk the truth even if it might hurt someone else? These and more questions are tackled in this latest book by Harris.
I cannot tell if this is a stand-alone book or if there will be a sequel. The characters are strong, and the family connections are meaningful. I do recommend this as a Christian suspense book. While the romance factor is an element, that is definitely not the dominant part of the story.
Thanks to NetGalley and Revell for letting me review this book. All opinions are my own.
Visit my blog – http://www.jengalaxy4.wordpress.com – for a full review of my favorite Lisa Harris book to date!
Thanks to Revell & LibraryThing Early Reviewers for an advanced copy!
No offense to the author, but when I first read a book by her a few years back, I was just like “she is OK…”. Then I read more her books, and discovered she is more than OK. I have come to love her suspense novels, and she is definitely one of my favorite suspense authors.
The Traitor’s Pawn is evidence of her being such a great author. I enjoyed this book a lot. I made the mistake of starting it on my lunch break at work, and had to put it down at a very climatic moment….which there are many of in this book.
Harris kept me guessing for a while on who was the true target, why, and if the guy they finally suspected was truly guilty or was a victim of a frame job. Even towards the very end of the book, I found myself back and forth on the guilt of the suspect.
As with the majority of Christian suspense novels on the market, this one is romantic suspense. This book is different from a lot of those out there. In Traitor’s Pawn, the two main characters had been best friends for years when they were younger, but a dating relationship with the male lead’s brother and the female lead had prevented anything beyond friendship. It is a nice departure from guy meets girl, people try to kill them, they fall in love, and they live happily ever after. Not that those books are bad. 🙂
There was a lot to like about this book, and I enjoyed every minute I spent reading it. I am thankful there are quality Christian authors like Harris who continue to put out great clean and Christian suspense that is worth reading. And I have always found her more interesting since she is a missionary.
This appears to be a stand alone novel.
I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.
FBI agent Jack Shannon is reunited with his childhood friend Aubrey Grayson in this thrilling suspense novel about spies, selling secrets and betrayal. Jack is supposed to be in Corpus Cristi investigating a spy ring that is passing secrets to both Russia and China. When Aubrey’s life is endangered, Jack jumps into action. I loved how their former friendship was revealed and how their current interaction is like prickly porcupines at first. I also enjoyed the storyline that is as relevant as possible in today’s world. I was totally enthralled with the family dynamics, too, especially the broken relationship between Aubrey and her father Charles. I liked how the author protected all of the innocents who were caught in the crossfires of the investigation and how she tied up all the loose ends in a believable and satisfying way at the end. This is a completely clean read, I’m happy to say, so that I can recommend it without reservation to all of my friends and, most importantly, to my teenaged granddaughters. Thanks to the author for a book worth reading that was clean! Fans of Christian romantic suspense will not want to miss this spy thriller that is spine-tingling, edge-of-your-seat reading!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher Revell via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Ever since I read my first Lisa Harris book (Ghost Heart, written with Lynne Gentry) and was ‘blown away’ by it, I have eagerly awaited new releases from this author. As expected, The Traitor’s Pawn is an intense and riveting book. It is edge-of-the-seat action throughout, suspense that does not let up, and a sweet romance that gently unfolds as the story progresses. The characters are strong and complex and yet realistic and relatable. Police detective Aubrey Grayson, vulnerable and courageous, desparately wants to believe in her father’s innocence, even though connecting the dots says otherwise. The plot has twists and turns that keep interest high and immediately draws you into the story. Nothing seems to make sense. Ambushed by a sniper, a shoot-out at the morgue and Aubrey’s emotions are in high gear. Is someone after her? After the Senator? Why? Revenge? Kidnappers? Something from her past? Or something totally unrelated to her profession? Lots of questions that the author eventually answers but not before the suspense is huge. And deftly woven throughout the story is the message that putting our hope in people and circumstances instead of a faithful God is sure to bring disappointment and disillusionment. Could forgiveness ultimately bring freedom from the past? Readers of romantic suspense will not want to miss The Traitor’s Pawn–a marvelous example of adrenaline-laced fiction.
I read a complimentary copy of the book from LibraryThing and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
Detective Aubrey Grayson and FBI agent Jack Shannon were childhood best friends and even separately pondered dating in college until life had other plans. Ten years later, they find themselves back in their hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas, working together.
Aubrey is visiting former senator Grant McKenna, who is like a father to her after the abandonment of her own, for a much-needed vacation from her job in Houston. As they sit by the lake talking, Grant is shot and Aubrey is taken captive.
Jack is investigating a Chinese spy ring and received a tip that a suspect is in Corpus Christi. Learning of Aubrey’s abduction, he immediately joins the search. Upon her rescue, Jack discovers Aubrey’s kidnapper and the man he is looking for are the same person. They join forces to solve the mystery.
I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book when I read the excerpt. I’m not a big social media person and the description included “chat rooms using bird names”. That turned out to have a very minor role and I did indeed enjoy the story. It kept you guessing until the very end.
Lisa Harris is one of the best authors to write a true clean novel with characters that stick to their morals. I liked Jack’s love and patience for Aubrey; however, I did get a little irritated with Aubrey’s indecisiveness at the end. Even though the situation is different, Lisa’s theme of forgiveness was very helpful in my own life. I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book. I volunteered to read it and write a review.
This who done it is packed with plot twists and turns that keep you guessing but still able to follow along. It’s an action packed story of past regrets, second chances, and forgiveness that will intrigue you and suck you in. Follow the characters through a tangled web of murder, mystery, betrayal, espionage, kidnapping, and treason to an ending that I never saw coming!
What I love best about Lisa Harris’ writing is that she writes characters that have depth, are relatable, walk out their faith in God in their everyday lives and sometimes struggle with their faith. These are people I want to know more about. In this book, Lisa writes about dealing with a father’s betrayal and forgiveness. She does an outstanding job of exploring the issue of forgiveness and how hard it can be. I definitely recommend this book and any book she has written!
I read three of Lisa Harris’ novels back to back.
A lot of suspenseful, fun, intriguing, and sometimes sweet books in a few days. The Traitor’s Pawn has had me on the edge of my seat to read since I first heard about it a while ago, and that cover! Wow! So perfect for the story with the model, the background, and the colors.
I could already tell that there was a red herring as I started the book and the suspense came up, but I wasn’t completely sure where it was coming from … I almost expected it to be different than it did end and was glad it hadn’t gone the way I expected though it was not the happiest ending suspense wise. I thought the romance side was sweet and it had a good ending.
Content wise this was a pretty good suspense, though I thought it was a bit violent for me at times but I don’t love the violence often found in suspense. An interesting read that will leave you wanting more from the author.
I’m struggling to remember the Christian content since I read it with Lisa Harris’ other books but from what I know was part of The Traitor’s Pawn it was all right.
This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group/Revell, through Interviews & Reviews.