Sunday, January 28, 2018

Bookish Thoughts: Betrayed by Karen E. Olson

My name is Tina Adler, and I am an addict. ~ Opening of Betrayed



Betrayed (Black Hat Thriller #2) by Karen E. Olson
Severn House, 2017
Crime Fiction (Thriller); 224 pgs
Source: I purchased a copy of this book for my own reading pleasure.


I have enjoyed the Black Hat series since reading the first book, Hidden. I would strongly recommend starting at the beginning of the series if you are coming into it for the first time as the books do build on one another. Because this book is so wrapped up in the first two, it is hard to talk about it in detail without giving something away. I am trying to be as careful as possible.

Betrayed picks up after Tina Adler (aka Nicole Jones and Susan McQueen) has somewhat settled into her new life. She’s pulled in for an interview by the FBI when evidence of a hit against the notorious Tony DeMarco is found on a computer used at the shop where she’s working. Tina has managed to stay off the computer since the last trouble she ran into,  and it seems someone is trying to set her up. Not only that, but the person is also trying to set up Tracker, the hacker who acts as her mentor from time to time. Tina is determined to find out who is behind the set-up and clear her name. The FBI is hoping she’ll do just that, only they want her to work for them. Used to being on her own, Tina isn’t comfortable with that—she works much better alone. The title Betrayed is a fitting one, speaking not just to the possible motive of the villain in the novel, but also to several other characters in the book. I think just about all the major players can claim having been betrayed at some point.

Tina is struggling to unravel her mixed emotions about Tracker’s real identity. And it really is no wonder she is in such turmoil about it, given her past relationship with his alter ego. Can she reconcile her feelings for one and the other? Will she ever be able to see them as the same person? The reader spends a lot of time in Tina’s head as she sorts out just how she feels about everything that is happening—or has happened—to her. This throws Tina off her game a bit, and I figured this was why she wasn’t as clear headed or careful as she usually is.

Betrayed was just as intense as the previous books in the series. There were a couple of instances things fell into place a little too nicely, but I was so caught up in the novel that I did not spend much time thinking about it. Like with the previous books, it was addicting, and I had a hard time pulling away from it once I started reading. As ever, author Karen E. Olson keeps the suspense up at top notch. I guessed early on who was behind everything, but it did not take away from my enjoyment of the book.

I am glad I had a copy of Vanished, the next book in the series, on hand to read, as Betrayed left off with the perfect set up for the next novel.
To learn more about Karen E. Olson and her books, please visit the author's website. You can also find the author on GoodreadsFacebook, and Twitter.


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25 comments:

  1. Yep, I'm definitely reading this series in coming weeks or months. You've sold me, Wendy! LOL

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  2. Definitely have to check this series out! I love a really intense read and it's always a good sign when you want to move on to the next book in the series right away.

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    1. Kimberly - It's a great series if you get a chance to read it. :-)

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  3. I read the first book in this series, but not this one....yet. :)

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  4. Glad to hear you enjoyed it! Great review. :)

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  5. Aaagghhh! I want to start this series so much but my library doesn't have them. I love a hacker thriller and throw in the FBI and I'm even happier!

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    1. Katherine - Can you request them? I don't know if your library will get in copies if you ask, but maybe. It's a fun series!

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  6. Oooh, this sounds really good. I'm going to follow your recommendation and add the first book in the series to my TBR. I do love an intense thriller.

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  7. I do have the first one in the series and need to get with it!

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    1. Iliana - I hope you are able to get to it and enjoy it as much as I did.

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  8. I've only read the first book... I'm so far behind with this series so hopefully I'll be able to catch up the rest this year.

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    1. Melody - You don't have far to go to catch up. There's only four books out now. :-)

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  9. I don't know that I have heard of this series before but it does sound like something that I would like. I am glad that you enjoyed this one as much as you did. Great review!

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    1. Carole - I really enjoy Karen E. Olson's novels, and this is a fun series!

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  10. Thanks for the great review, Wendy, and so glad you're enjoying the series!

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    1. Karen - Thank you so much for taking the time to visit, Karen. I am enjoying the series quite a bit. I hope to have my review of Vanished up this month. I liked that one as well!

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  11. Ohhh, his alter ego? Now you have me curious about what hPpened in the last one!

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    1. Verushka - It's definitely worth reading the previous book to find out!

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  12. I need to get back to this series ASAP! I really, really enjoyed this 1st book and if I wait too much longer I'm not going to remember what happened in it. I'm going to grab the next couple of books from the library so I don't have to wait to see what happens :)

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    1. Samantha - I hope you get to the rest of the series soon!

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