The Cost of Betrayal

Title: The Cost of Betrayal
Author: Dee Henderson, Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason
Series: Stand-Alone (3 separate novellas)
Genre: Suspense
Publishing Date: September 4, 2018

About the Book:

In Dee Henderson’s novella “Betrayal,” Janelle Roberts is freed–thanks to people she doesn’t know–after serving six years of a twenty-year sentence for a murder she did not commit. But a murderer is still at large, and Janelle needs to be somewhere safe with someone she can trust. She may not survive another betrayal.

In Dani Pettrey’s “Deadly Isle,” Tennyson Kent is trapped on the isolated island of her childhood by a storm surge, and she is shocked when the typically idyllic community turns into the hunting grounds of a murderer. Cut off from any help from the mainland, will she and first love Callen Frost be able to identify and stop a killer bent on betrayal before they become the next victims?

In Lynette Eason’s “Code of Ethics,” trauma surgeon Ruthie St. John saves the life of Detective Isaac Martinez. After a betrayal leads to him getting shot and then attacked while in recovery, Isaac is now a key witness determined to testify. But someone is intent on silencing him–and those around him–forever. Together, Ruthie and Isaac go on the run, desperate to escape the killers hunting him.

My Review:

The Cost of Betrayal is a set of 3 stand-alone novellas with a common theme of betrayal. Dee Henderson’s novella features the Falcon’s, seen in Full Disclosure and a few of her other stories. I don’t know if the others are featured characters in any of Dani or Lynette’s other novels. If they are it’s not from ones I’ve read yet.

For Dee Henderson’s novella, I have to admit I struggled through it a bit. I just felt things came a little to easily. It was a good story overall, but I feel it would have been better if the characters had to fight more for their answers. I remember the Falcon’s from some of Dee’s other books, so I enjoyed reading about familiar characters. Individually I’d give it 3.5 stars.

If I had to pick a favorite of the three I’d have to say it’s Dani Pettrey’s novella. There was plenty of suspense and action, and the story-line held my attention. The knowledge that Teni would have to know the killer due to the seclusion of their island added to the adrenaline. I felt both highly engaged and a desire to get to the end quickly so it would all make sense. Individually I’d rate it 4.5 stars

The final novella was by Lynette Eason. It was fast-paced and loaded with plenty of action as well. I felt similarly to the first book that certain things came to easily, but there were also more twists and turns. The one thing I still can’t get my head around was Ruthie’s ability to walk out of the hospital the way she did during the middle of her shift and stay in the drama until the end. I feel like her connection could have been a little better developed. Individually I’d rate this one 3.5 stars.

What’s really unique about this collection of novellas is that the reader is able to get a taste of each of the author’s styles and can look them up individually for more. All three authors are very popular in the Christian suspense world, so these are great introductions. I am personally a fan of longer stories because I feel like I have more time to get to know the characters and get into the story. I prefer seeing the characters having to fight and persevere through their experiences. I’m not a fan of everything coming easily. This doesn’t mean I never enjoy a novella, but I’m admittedly more picky about them. having said that, I have read full novels from each of these authors and would consider myself a fan of all three of them.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

Rating: 

Age Appropriateness/Content Warnings:

*PLEASE NOTE: This section may contain mild spoilers but I do my best to reveal the difficult and/or triggering content without giving away the story

Although 3 separate novellas the content was fairly similar in regards to being age appropriate. There isn’t anything overly graphic but there are murders that occur in each of the stories. The second story specifically has an element of “I’m being followed by a killer” that could be difficult for some to handle (I admit to being spooked myself). I would recommend to ages 14 and up.