CIA analyst Layla Karam is thrust into a dangerous DEA field operation against a cartel that puts a target on her back. Though Layla never wanted to be a field agent, Langley had other ideas. After one of her team members is murdered because of fallout from the op, Layla is left scrambling to find safety.
At the same time, the CIA opens up an internal investigation against her. Out of options, Layla turns to ex-boyfriend and private investigator Hunter McCoy for help finding out who might want to ruin her career.
Layla and Hunter soon discover a mole inside the DEA has sold out the team’s identity to the cartel. She must clear her name with the Agency and protect herself and her teammates from cartel retaliation. With threats on all sides, Layla must put her trust in Hunter–the man who broke her heart–and hope they both come out of it alive.
Rachel Dylan stirs together an alphabet soup of government agencies with heart-pounding suspense to create an unforgettable story of betrayal, forgiveness, and intrigue with her latest book Backlash. Fans of NCIS won’t want to miss this one!
While the main character doesn’t work for that particular agency, it is in the mix, as well as many others. I found it a bit complicated at first as I tried to keep each character matched with their proper places of employment, but soon the action takes over and tracking employment didn’t matter.
I really enjoyed Layla’s character and found myself cheering her on throughout the book. You can’t help but root for her as she encounters one obstacle after another. I like that she knew what she wanted and was determined to do her best, even when things weren’t going her way.
On the other hand, Hunter is a more complicated male lead. His story isn’t quite as straightforward, and I enjoyed the way that Dylan dribbled the details out as you crave more of the back story.
I must admit, I did figure out who the ‘bad guy’ was fairly early on in the story, but I wasn’t able to guess the other twists and turns that this plot takes – and there are a lot of them! I enjoyed trying, though, and catching all the red herrings that Dylan throws out is half the fun.
While Backlash can stand alone, it’s the second book in the Capital Intrigue series, and I liked the large part that Izzy played in this one. I think you’ll definitely enjoy this story more if you’ve read End Game.
If romantic suspense and governmental intrigue is your thing, though, you’ll want to put Backlash on your TBR list now. It’s fast-paced, mysterious, and well-written, making it the perfect choice for fall and winter reading.
Click here to read my review of End Game, Book One in the Capital Intrigue series.
I received a free copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.
