Broker of Lies, (A Travis Brock Thriller Book 1) by Steven James is this week’s Reader Friday. Here’s the first few lines: Providence Memorial Hospital Burn Unit, Washington, DC. Zoe Hughes eyed the door. “He’s in there?” A nod from her supervisor, a nurse who’d been working in the burn ward for nearly twenty years. Kathleen Capron had seen it all. More than anyone should see.
But first the photo and verse. It’s one of my favorite photos that I took when in Branson, MO, back in March. The skies were that color blue I never can find a name for–kind like an October sky. And that verse is one that God taught me when I first started writing and wanted so badly to get published. I finally got it and quit trying to make it happen. That’s when I started to just enjoy the journey, and what a journey it’s been.
Now on to Broker of Lies (A Travis Brock Thriller Book 1) by Steven James. Here’s the cover and back copy:
The man who knows all our secrets has a secret of his own.
When Travis Brock, a high-level Pentagon redactor with an eidetic memory, finds a clue to solving the tragic arson that took his wife from him, he risks everything to find the truth—and chances losing himself in the process.
With a terror attack looming on the horizon and a pair of assassins on his tail, Brock drops off the grid and joins forces with a disavowed Homeland Security operative. Together they race to stop the attack before Brock is neutralized by the people he trusts the most.
From critically acclaimed, bestselling novelist Steven James comes a smart, wire-tight, and emotionally resonant thriller that asks just how far across the line we might go to see justice carried out.
My take:
Wow! is all I can say. This book is a fast-paced story with memorable characters and a killer of a plotline. We are introduced to Travis Brock when he is in the hospital after an arsonist sets fire to his house, killing his wife. We learn he is a strong man when he refuses pain medication when his burns have to be debrided.
Once he’s out of the hospital, he sets out to find the arsonist who killed his wife. Along the way, he meets Adria Halprin, formerly a Secret Service agent, now working for Homeland Security, testing the security at airport checkpoints. She was perfect as the very competent operative with a cocky attitude.
The story is full of twists and surprises, including the one at the end. This is the first book in the series, and I’ve already read the second book, Fatal Domain, and I can’t wait for the third book in the series.
Okay Readers what are you reading this week? Leave the first line in the comments or just comment, and I’ll enter you in a May drawing for a beautiful pen handcrafted by Dr. Steve Hooley, a $60 value. You can see more of his work at his website.
And April’s winner is…Vickie Watts.
When I took the photo of the chapel, I thought of this song. I’ve always liked the Statler Brothers’ version of it–I hope you do as well.
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Comments 33
Lovely church in a lovely location on a beautiful day, and the perfect verse to go with it! Broker of Lies sounds gripping. I am reading a nonfiction book called Reader Come Home by Maryanne Wolf. It’s about the neuroscience of reading and how our brains are physically changing in the digital age. The first line: “You stand at the doorway of my words; together we stand at the threshold of galactic changes over the next few generations.”
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I totally agree with the author of Reader Come Home, Priscilla! I was just discussing how much change we’ve experienced in the last 50 years.
I’ll bet their worship services become more meaningful entering and exiting that lovely church with that amazing view. You can’t help but see God’s hand in the beauty. And, yes, the Scripture fits perfectly, one of my favorites! This photo would like good on a wall!
Good review, Pat, on another page-turner written by Steven James!
“Many dime novelists experienced creative blocks to their writing, but Lydia Pelton doubted any of them would stoop to impersonating a clown and rescuing a three-legged goat from the circus to rescue them.” This is the firsts line of Written in Secret by Crystal Caudill.
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I love that book, Barbara, and it was an amazing view!
Pious Deception by Joan Hetzler a new author for me.
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I’ll have to check her out, Sharon.
I love that photo and that verse, Pat. I agree with Barbara that it would look good on a wall.
I’ve read both of Steven’s books in this series, and they are fantastic!
I’m currently reading “The Other Sister” by Jessica Patch. What would it be like to step into another person’s life as that person? What if your life depended on it? That’s what happens to the main character in this book shortly after she discovers she has a twin sister. There is also a flashback thread that runs through the book that will keep you wondering how this ties in with the main plot. I’m 68% into the book, and I still haven’t figured that one out! The book starts with “Her eyes are vacant orbs that pierce my soul and chill my bones.”
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Oh, my goodness, Tim, The Other Sister is so good! I’m glad you liked my photo!
It is a fabulous book. I can’t wait to read the sequel. I love the songs each week, too.
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Thank you, Delores! I enjoy finding them. 🙂 And the sequel is really good!
I’m reading The Shop Down the Lane by Leslie Gould.
Sometimes it’s hard to ‘be still’, isn’t it? Yet so rewarding when we do. We have a wonderful Heavenly Father.
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Being still is really hard for me with my ADHD mind, Anne. But like you said, it is so rewarding!
Beautiful photo – looks so peaceful! Ps. 46:10 fits it perfectly.
Broker of Lies sounds intriguing. I have read several books by Mr. James
I just finished reading Rescued Faith by Lisa Phillips and ready to begin The Keeper by Charles Martin.
Happy weekend!
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It was beautiful, Mary Gl. I forgot to mention we were at the top of a mountain there in Branson.
That is a lovely photo and a favorite verse. I need to check out Broker of Lies. I am reading Shot Through the Book by Eva Gates. The first line is:
As a librarian, I rarely get work-related visitors calling at my home.
I just started Lizzie’s LittleMouse by Anne Blackburn. After a new bakery opening an attack happens right away which puts mystery and suspense into the mix.
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That sounds like a very interesting book, Gail!
I just finished The Ragpicker by Pegg Thomas.
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I’ve heard good things about The Ragpicker, Betti!
Protecting the Orphan, by Jodie Bailey
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That’s one on my TBR, Barbie!
It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
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It is, Diana!
Last Patient of the Night by Gary Gerlacher
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That sounds really intriguing, BN!
I love the picture and verse. Many years ago, I gave some thought to traveling around the countryside taking pictures of country churches, but the idea fizzled. I wish I had done it. The song fits right in with the picture and verse. Here’s a bit of trivia. My pastor’s family lived in Staunton, VA, for a couple of years in the early 1980s. They lived in the house between Harold and Don Reid. My pastor used to play with their boys.
I started reading an anthology a few days ago consisting of four shorter books. The title is Justice. The first book is by Sara Davison, and the title is One Nine. When I first saw the title, I wondered if it was about a truck driver – you remember – “Breaker One Nine.” The first line: Brooke Turner lay on her back staring up at her fingers, dripping red in the dying sun. What…?
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Oh, my goodness, Edward, what an opening sentence! But Sara Davison is an phenomenal writer! Taking photos of country churches would be so neat.
I am currently reading Dinah’s Dilemma by Linda Shenton Matchette
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Hi Sheia! Sounds like an interesting book.
The book sounds great.
Lovely church.
I’m reading The Final Word ( ARC ). It’s a great, second book in a series about sisters. This one is fairy tale come to life while dealing with physical abuse.
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The Final Word sounds very intriguing! Thanks for stopping by.
Steven James’s novels are epic page turners!
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They are that, Caryl!