Into the Fire

Without Sanction by Don Bentley is the first book in A Matt Drake Thriller Series.

If you're not prepared for ongoing horrific conflict, you might not want to read Without Sanction. However, thriller readers know that inherent in the genre is absolute conflict, and Don Bentley is a master of conflict. His hero Matt Drake is suffering the effects of a mission gone wrong to the enth degree and, as a result, he's doing his best to leave all his DIA work behind him. Accompanying him from that mission are tremors in his hands which spread up his arms and seeing the faces of two of the three victims who were his assets he couldn't get to before he and his best friend were blown up by an IED. These symptoms are the twisted beginnings of a sinister and diabolical plot that almost leads to his death.  

Just as anyone who has paid attention in recent (or all along the way) times can see, the arrogant and double-crossing habits of political gamesters who do and arrange the unthinkable are in full action in this story. Their power-hungry behind the scenes negotiations remind us that rarely is anything as it seems, and that these particular people who engage in these deceptions can fool nearly everyone around them without ever paying for the consequences of their actions. 

When Matt is engaged from his "sabbatical" because of the chemical weapons genius labeled "Einstein" supposedly wanting to defect to the good guys but only if it's Matt Drake, he returns for the solitary mission because Einstein, as his bargaining chip, claims to know where a captured US soldier (Shaw) is located. It's debatable whether or not Shaw is still alive at first, but Matt can't turn this down if there's any way to get Shaw out of Syria. This begins an impossible effort that results in the denying of Matt's permission to continue in Syria. He's officially "without sanction" but even more determined to countermand his orders because of the incompetence and illegitimate person in charge with whom he has a history. 

The journey to meet up with Einstein is an impossible, painful task. Is it a personal "suicide mission" for Matt Drake? Is he willing to die to complete it – the answer is always reluctantly "yes." But will he see it through when no one seems available to help him? He has one last hope. Will it work? 

Truly, this one will make you hold your breath, take a break, or possibly read it till the end in one jolting session. Me? I had to take multiple breaks because of the difficulties and the anger I felt toward the wicked men/women who lust for power in our government – never more prevalent or visible than it is today. I commend Don for handling it boldly and without apology.

There are characters to love and hate within this story, and I love the ones who will do whatever it takes to try to make things right. Takes a special breed apart, and Don captures this well. 

Thriller lovers, you can start this series now if you haven't already. 

Book 2 The Outside Man is reviewed here. 

(Profanity present.)

Father, you know hearts and minds. You are the giver of wonderful gifts and talents and clearly you have blessed Don with multiples. Please continue to encourage and uplift him as he tackles his new project. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.