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WORK TITLE: Oath of Honor
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://matthewbetley.com/
CITY:
STATE:
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LC control no.: n 2015000058
LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/n2015000058
HEADING: Betley, Matthew
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053 _0 |a PS3602.E8234
100 1_ |a Betley, Matthew
670 __ |a Overwatch, [2016]: |b t.p. (Matthew Betley)
670 __ |a His website, viewed Feb. 22, 2016 |b About the author (Matthew Betley; born in New Jersey, grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, joined the Marine Corps in 1999, spent ten years as a Marine officer and was trained as a scout sniper platoon commander, an infantry officer, and a ground intelligence officer.) |u http://matthewbetley.com/biography/
PERSONAL
Married; children: two.
EDUCATION:Miami University, Oxford, OH, B.A.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and marine. Worked in corporate jobs.
MIILITARY:U.S. Marine Corps, 1999-2009; worked as a sniper platoon commander, infantry officer, and a ground intelligence officer; served in deployments to Republic of Djibouti, Africa, and Fallujah, Iraq.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Matthew Betley is a writer, novelist, and former officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was born in New Jersey but grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. As part of his college education, he spent a semester with the Washington, DC, Public Defender’s Office. There, he investigated felony murder cases as an intern investigator, “a formative experience that provided countless stories that could fill the pages of a nonfiction book,” commented a writer on the Matthew Betley Website. Betley holds a B.A. degree in psychology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
After graduating from college, Betley spent five years working in corporate jobs in Cincinnati. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1999. In his ten-year career as a Marine officer, he served as an infantry officer, a scout sniper platoon commander, and a ground intelligence officer, noted the Matthew Betley Website contributor. He was deployed to overseas areas that included the Republic of Djibouti, located in the horn of Africa, and Fallujah, Iraq.
Betley is also an advocate for former alcoholics and those who are working to break their addiction to alcohol. As a former alcoholic himself, he frequently speaks to groups about getting sober, and he conveys the message that if he can get sober, anyone can. He credits his experiences in the Marine Corps with providing the foundation of discipline he needed to quit drinking and encourages all alcoholics to develop that same type of self-accountability and determination to quit.
Overwatch
Overwatch, Betley’s first novel, introduces series protagonist Logan West. West is a former Marine officer who served as a Force Reconnaissance commander in Iraq. He is also a relapsed alcoholic, struggling to regain control but having very little luck. As the novel opens, West is waking up from a drinking binge in his home in Annapolis, Maryland. To his surprise, he finds a menacing stranger in his basement. The two struggle, and in the process, West kills the man. When the dead man’s cell phone rings, West impulsively answers it and discovers that he was supposed to be kidnapped. The person on the other end of the line tells him that he wants an Iraqi flag that West and his platoon liberated in Fallujah. West does not even remember the flag, but when threats are made against his wife, he knows he has to act. With his friend, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agent Mike Benson, West begins searching for the flag and the people who want it—but who may not get what they expect.
Shane Pinnegar, reviewing the novel on the website 100 Percent Rock, stated, “This is a legitimately exciting book, well plotted and—for the most part—well written. Betley’s professional experiences give the story a gritty, dangerous authenticity that help propel the fast-paced story forwards.” A Publishers Weekly contributor remarked, “Betley writes a good fight scene and knows how to plot.”
Oath of Honor
Oath of Honor, West’s second appearance, finds him and his friend John Quick serving as members of an FBI special task force. When a Russian black operations (black ops) team appears to have attacked an American research ship in Alaska, West and Quick are sent to find out what is going on. They discover that the ship housed the test site for an advanced antisatellite weapon that could take over any existing satellite without being noticed. The Russians apparently wanted the technology, but as the story progresses, it becomes clear that the attack on the research vessel was just the beginning. Soon, West and Quick discover that not only are the Russians involved, but also the North Koreans, the Chinese, and even the Sudanese. A Kirkus Reviews writer concluded, “Those thirsty for a storyline centered on sharp vengeance against America’s most notorious nemeses will be satisfied with this novel.”
In an interview with J.H. Bográn on the website Big Thrill, Betley offered some insight into what motivated his creation of Logan West. “As a former Marine officer, I wanted to create an action thriller protagonist whose origin was from the Iraq conflict, as that was an event that permanently changed me and my world view,” Betley told Bográn. Betley also wanted to incorporate his knowledge of alcoholism and with regaining sobriety into West’s character. Using the profound personal experiences of military service and recovering from alcoholism, Betley crafted a character who possesses honor and determination but who also has humanizing flaws.
“By creating a character with so many imperfections, Betley has made Logan someone readers can relate to and feel for. He’s human, like the rest of us. In a genre where most protagonists are a pair of tights and a cape away from being Superman, this is a welcome and refreshing change of pace,” commented Ryan Steck on the website Real Book Spy.
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, February 1, 2017, Jeff Ayers, review of Oath of Honor, p. 26.
Kirkus Reviews, January 1, 2017, review of Oath of Honor.
Publishers Weekly, January 25, 2016, review of Overwatch, p. 183.
Westerly Sun (Westerly, RI), March 24, 2016, Nancy Burns-Fusaro, “Matthew Betley Will Add a Thrill to Savoy Opening,” profile of Matthew Betley.
ONLINE
Big Thrill Online, http://www.thebigthrill.org/ (February 29, 2016), J.H. Bográn, interview with Matthew Betley.
Black Five, http://www.blackfive.net/ (March 11, 2016), review of Overwatch.
Matthew Betley Website, http://www.matthewbetley.com (November 3, 2017).
100 Percent Rock, http://magazine.100percentrock.com/ (June 5, 2017), Shane Pinnegar, review of Overwatch.
Real Book Spy, https://www.therealbookspy.com/ (December 2, 2015), Ryan Steck, review of Overwatch.*
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Atria/Emily Bestler Books
(March 14, 2017)
415 pages
ISBN: 978-1476799254
Pre-Order the BookAmazonBarnes & NobleIndieBoundBooks-A-MillionPre-Order the eBookKindleNook
Biography
Matthew Betley grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, which he considers home after his family moved there from New Jersey, where he was born and which also explains his affinity for the New York Yankees. He attended St. Xavier High School and then Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he graduated with a B.A. in psychology and minors in political science and sociology. He also spent the first semester of senior year investigating felony murder cases as an intern investigator in Washington, D.C., for the Public Defender’s Office, a formative experience that provided countless stories that could fill the pages of a non-fiction book. Upon graduation, he worked in corporate America for five years in Cincinnati before joining the Marine Corps in 1999.
Matt spent ten years as a Marine officer and was trained as a scout sniper platoon commander, an infantry officer, and a ground intelligence officer. His experiences include deployments to Djibouti after 9/11, and Fallujah, Iraq, prior to the surge, both in staff officer support billets.
Finally, and most importantly, Matt is a recovering alcoholic with nearly eight years of sobriety. He credits the Marine Corps with providing a foundation in discipline and personal accountability for his desire to initially seek help. Matt is open and direct about it and has spoken in front of large groups of people with one clear message – if he can get sober, so can anyone. He credits his recovery with providing the authenticity for Logan West’s struggle with his inner demons.
Copyright © 2017 Matthew Betley
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Matthew Betley
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Matthew Betley
Matthew betley 5200613.jpg
Born Matthew J Betley
New Jersey
Occupation Writer, novelist
Language English
Alma mater Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
Period 2016-Present
Subject action thriller
Matthew Betley is an American writer of thriller novels.
Contents [hide]
1 Biography
1.1 Early life and education
1.2 Early career
1.3 Writing and media career
1.4 Personal life
2 Bibliography
2.1 Logan West Series
3 References
4 External links
Biography[edit]
Early life and education[edit]
Matthew Betley was born in New Jersey. He is a graduate of St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio (1990),[1] a Jesuit college preparatory school,[2] and Miami University in Oxford, Ohio (1994). Matt got his B.A. in psychology as his major and studied political science and sociology as well, as his minors. He also interned for the Public Defender's office in Washington DC, investigating felony murder cases, in his first semester.
Early career[edit]
Upon graduation, Matthew tried his wings in the corporate world in Cincinnati. In 1999 he joined the Marine Corp instead of attending law school. He was trained as a ground intelligence and infantry officer, and once commanded a scout sniper platoon. He draws on this experience in his books. He deployed to Africa after 9/11 and then Iraq in 2006. He is also a recovering alcoholic 8+ years sober and speaks openly about his experiences with addiction.
Writing and media career[edit]
Matt reportedly got so bored with a best-seller he was reading that he decided to write a book that could be much better.[3]
Personal life[edit]
Admittedly, Matt is a recovering alcoholic. He wants to motivate alcoholics to move onto recovery by showing a good example and being inspirational.
Bibliography[edit]
Logan West Series[edit]
Logan is a battle hardened veteran who achieved the rank of captain. He was posted in Iraq, where he lost some of his men in an ambush. He is recovering alcoholic, who used alcohol to ease his nightmares.
Publication year Storyline order Title ISBN Author
2016 1 Overwatch ISBN 978-1476799216 Matthew Betley
2017 2 Oath Of Honor ISBN 978-1476799254
References[edit]
Jump up ^ https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/101601135/ The Cincinnati Enquirer Honor Roll - April 3, 1990
Jump up ^ http://www.stxavier.org/ About ST. X
Jump up ^ http://www.miamialum.org/s/916/index-social.aspx?sid=916&gid=1&pgid=10294&sparam=Matt+Betley&scontid=0
External links[edit]
Official Matthew Betley website
Authority control
WorldCat Identities VIAF: 313287288
Categories: Living peopleAmerican male novelistsAmerican thriller writersWriters from Cincinnati21st-century American novelistsMiami University alumni
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Overwatch by Matthew Betley
FEBRUARY 29, 2016 by J. H. BOGRÁN
0
overwatchBy J. H. Bográn
When I first got into reading thrillers, there were three authors who distinctly defined the genre for me: Clive Cussler, Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum. Their stories were tall, filled with detailed descriptions and, above all, very entertaining. I had the chance to read an advance copy of debut author Matthew Betley’s OVERWATCH, and somehow he managed to combine the style of my top three.
This first entry into a new series is action-packed; in fact, that term may be an understatement. In two simultaneous timelines we fear the outcome of a global threat while we learn what made the hero, Logan West, what he is today.
Mr. Betley graciously agreed to answer some questions for The Big Thrill.
In your own words, what’s the premise for OVERWATCH?
When Logan West impulsively answers a dead man’s ringing phone, he triggers a global race against the clock to track down an unknown organization searching for an Iraqi artifact that is central to a planned attack in the Middle East—one that will draw the United States into a major conflict with Iran.
It should be noted that it was Logan who actually killed that man before answering the call. What happens next?
Logan, a former Marine officer, is quickly contracted as a “consultant” to assist the FBI as part of a special task force bent on stopping the shadowy operatives, whatever the cost. The battles are nonstop, from the plains of the Midwest, to mansions in northern Mexico, to the war-torn Al-Anbar province, pitting an international team against trained mercenaries employed by the world’s largest private security contractor…whose owner has a personal vendetta against the US government. Meanwhile, Logan is battling his own demons, especially the trauma of the ambush that his Force Recon unit suffered at an insurgent torture compound in Fallujah in 2004, which threatens to destroy everything he holds dear.
Can you tell us about the origins of Logan West and how the character was created?
As a former Marine officer, I wanted to create an action thriller protagonist whose origin was from the Iraq conflict, as that was an event that permanently changed me and my world view. As an officer who was privileged to command a scout sniper platoon – albeit, for much too short of a time around 9/11 – and as a recovering alcoholic, I decided to follow the adage of “write what you know,” giving Logan a similar background but making him a former platoon commander of the Marine Force Reconnaissance Company and a relapsing alcoholic.
How did you prepare for this task?
I had been obsessing about writing a novel for more than a year, starting in August of 2009 when I read a thriller by a best-selling author that had been recommended in Entertainment Weekly. The book bored me out of my mind, but I didn’t do anything about it initially. I had all of this dialogue bouncing around in my head, and finally, the compulsion won over, and I just sat down and started writing August 2010, finishing the first draft roughly 18 months later. I knew exactly what I wanted to create, but I let the story go where it wanted to, which is how I write. For book two – already finished and in copy editing for 2017 – I outlined the plot a little more in my head, but that was about it. I don’t have a lot of notes before I start writing. I do my research and I just go.
Speaking of adages, there’s also one that says a story is only as good as its antagonist. Without giving away the plot, what can you tell us about Cain Frost?
Cain Frost, the founder and CEO of the world’s largest private military contractor company, is the antagonist. Driven by revenge but also ideology, he’s a focused and determined man every bit as lethal and dangerous as Logan…probably more so since he’s sober and Logan is struggling with that as the book opens.
The equivalent of the Droid with the secret plans everybody’s after is the Iraqi flag Mr. Quick brought home from battle. There have been several stories of soldiers bringing items that are not exactly spoils of war but rather mementos. Based on your experience, how true is that in real life and what is the military’s official position about it?
Other than flags, I hadn’t heard–I, personally–of other things brought back. And honestly, it’s been so long that I have no idea what the military policy would be, although I can’t imagine they’d allow a lot. The one thing I think I remember was that no captured weapons could be brought back for obvious reasons. Even then, I could be wrong.
The fight scenes include very detailed descriptions of the broken ribs, shattered skulls and other battle wounds, was it a conscious decision to make them like that?
Absolutely. I intentionally wanted to create a very visceral experience for the reader. I want the reader to feel–and see in his or her mind’s eye–every punch, kick, or shot in order to deepen the immersive experience.
The story definitely has room for expansion. What happens after OVERWATCH?
Book two is entitled First Shot and is a continuation of the events in Overwatch. I actually have the first five books completely outlined in my head–which was my intent from the beginning–as part of one long story arch with the characters evolving and the larger conspiracy unraveling bit by bit. Having said that, I also wanted each novel to be a self-contained adventure with a beginning and an end. The trick will be to pull it off, but I think First Shot moves the train much further down those tracks.
What kind of promotion will you be doing for the novel?
We’ve got a major marketing campaign behind Overwatch. In addition to the multiple interviews I’m doing with you, the Military Times, and other fan sites, I’m also going on a book tour in several parts of the country for that, I’ll be on the cover of Ingram’s Armed Forces Advance Supplement which goes out to booksellers, librarians, and international subscribers, I have an upcoming TV appearance in May, advertising through the Conservative Book Club, and there will be 30-second radio ads read by Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, and others on XM Radio’s The Patriot Channel. There are several other things in the works, but we’ll know more in the next few weeks.
Are you going to attend ThrillerFest in July?
I will definitely be attending part of the convention. It’s been on my to-do list, and now that publication is here, I’m finally getting to check it off. 🙂
*****
matthewMatthew Betley grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, which he considers home after his family moved there from New Jersey, where he was born and which also explains his affinity for the New York Yankees. He attended St. Xavier High School and then Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he graduated with a B.A. in psychology and minors in political science and sociology. He also spent the first semester of senior year investigating felony murder cases as an intern investigator in Washington, D.C., for the Public Defender’s Office, a formative experience that provided countless stories that could fill the pages of a non-fiction novel. Upon graduation, he worked in corporate America for five years in Cincinnati before joining the Marine Corps in 1999.
Matt spent ten years as a Marine officer and was trained as a scout sniper platoon commander, an infantry officer, and a ground intelligence officer. His experiences include deployments to Djibouti after 9/11, and Fallujah, Iraq, prior to the surge, both in staff officer support billets.
Finally, and most importantly, Matt is a recovering alcoholic with nearly seven years of sobriety. He credits the Marine Corps with providing a foundation in discipline and personal accountability for his desire to initially seek help. Matt is open and direct about it and has spoken in front of large groups of people with one clear message – if he can get sober, so can anyone. He credits his recovery with providing the authenticity for Logan West’s struggle with his inner demons.
To learn more about Matthew, please visit his website.
inShare
J. H. Bográn
J. H. Bográn, born and raised in Honduras, is the son of a journalist. He ironically prefers to write fiction rather than fact. José’s genre of choice is thrillers, but he likes to throw in a twist of romance into the mix. His works include novels and short stories in both English and Spanish.
His debut novel TREASURE HUNT, which The Celebrity Café hails as an intriguing novel that provides interesting insight of architecture and the life of a fictional thief, has also been selected as the Top Ten in Preditors & Editor’s Reader Poll.
FIREFALL, his second novel, was released in 2013 by Rebel ePublishers. Coffee Time Romance calls it “a taut, compelling mystery with a complex, well-drawn main character.”
He’s a member of The Crime Writers Association, the Short Fiction Writers Guild and the International Thriller Writers where he also serves as the Thriller Roundtable Coordinator and contributor editor their official e-zine The Big Thrill.
You can find him on his website, Facebook, Amazon and Twitter @JHBogran
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Matthew Betley will add a thrill to Savoy opening
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March 24, 2016 08:10AM
By NANCY BURNS-FUSARO Sun Staff Writer
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WESTERLY — Matthew Betley has lots to feel grateful about these days. The author and former Marine Corps officer celebrated seven years of sobriety earlier this week by leading a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous and accepting his anniversary chip. Next week, he and his wife, the parents of two young children, will both celebrate birthdays. His book, a thriller called “Overwatch” has been receiving stellar reviews and has caught the attention of a major film producer who’s interested in buying the rights.
And on Tuesday, Betley, a 44-year-old Maryland resident whose mom lives in Westerly, will make history.
Betley will become the first author to give a talk and book signing at the soon-to-open Savoy Bookstore and Café on Canal Street.
From this section:
Sunday movie listings
Not only will the candid debut author share his experiences about being a Marine and an alcoholic, but Betley, known for his humorous and self-deprecating speaking style, will tell how he got started in the book business.
“It was six months after I got sober,” began the storyteller, “I was on vacation with my wife and I was reading a book that was a best-selling thriller and it was awful.”
“I was bored,” said Betley who quickly went from boredom to obsession. He knew he could write a better story.
“I have no formal training and I don’t have a degree in English or creative writing,” he said. “But I know what I wanted to read.”
Betley said he wanted to read a book that was action-packed, that was a roller coaster of excitement and full of tough guy dialogue.
He knew the talk, he said, because he lived it.
“So, I just sat down and I wrote,” said the Ohio native. It took me eighteen months and eight days to finish his first book, a story centered on his protagonist Logan West, also a former Marine and a former alcoholic.
West has been contracted as a “consultant” to assist the FBI as part of a special task force bent on stopping the shadowy operatives, whatever the cost. The battles are nonstop, from the plains of the Midwest, to mansions in northern Mexico, to the war-torn Al-Anbar province, pitting an international team against trained mercenaries employed by the world’s largest private security contractor ... one whose owner has a personal vendetta against the U.S. government. Meanwhile, West battles his own demons, especially the trauma of the ambush that his Force Recon unit suffered at an insurgent torture compound in Fallujah in 2004, which threatens to destroy everything he holds dear.
When West impulsively answers a dead man’s ringing phone, he triggers a global race against the clock to track down an unknown organization searching for an Iraqi artifact that is central to a planned attack in the Middle East — one that will draw the United States into a major conflict with Iran.
Betley’s editor and publisher Emily Bester, who discovered Vince Flynn and Brad Thor said, “with high-stakes and fully-realized characters, ‘Overwatch’ is a thriller unlike any you’ve read before: deftly plotted, up-to-the-minute, and impossible to put down.”
“It was an unbelievable process,” said Betley who has finished novel number two, “First Shot,” and is already at work on book number three.
“That’s the marine in me,” he said.
Betley will be at the Savoy Bookshop and Café, 10 Canal St., on Tuesday, March 29, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
nbfusaro@thewesterlysun.com
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Oath of Honor
Jeff Ayers
Booklist.
113.11 (Feb. 1, 2017): p26.
COPYRIGHT 2017 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
Oath of Honor.
By Matthew Betley.
Mar. 2017. 416p. Atria/Emily Bestler, $26 (9781476799254); e-book (9781476799285).
Betley's follow-up to Overwatch (2016) continues the adventures of former marines Logan West and John Quick, who
now are members of an FBI special task force. A research vessel in the Gulf of Alaska is overrun by what appears to be
a Russian black-ops team, with West and Quick sent to investigate. It becomes apparent to them both that an effort to
steal technology from the U.S. is the motive behind the crime, but they have no idea that every move they make to stop
the threat has already been anticipated, and that the main attack is soon to take place. West and Quick team up with a
CIA operative, and soon they are galloping around the globe in an effort to save the world from catastrophe. Betley's
expertise with the marines and the Department of Defense adds authenticity to a high-energy tale that unfolds at a
machinegun pace. With only two novels to his credit, Betley has become essential reading to fans of the Brads (Taylor
and Thor).--Jeff Ayers
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Ayers, Jeff. "Oath of Honor." Booklist, 1 Feb. 2017, p. 26. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA481244792&it=r&asid=466a409626c983512120505150680ee3.
Accessed 16 Sept. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A481244792
---
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Betley, Matthew: OATH OF HONOR
Kirkus Reviews.
(Jan. 1, 2017):
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Betley, Matthew OATH OF HONOR Emily Bestler/Atria (Adult Fiction) $26.00 3, 14 ISBN: 978-1-4767-9925-4
Two former Marines pursue a nebulous enemy responsible for stealing American satellite technology.A former Marine
officer, Betley (Overwatch, 2016) brings back the hard-eyed and fast-shooting Marine Force Recon veterans Logan
West and John Quick in this fast-paced thriller. For unknown reasons, a research scientist mysteriously moves the test
unit of a "ground-based anti-satellite weapon," which has the capacity to take control of any other satellite while
remaining unnoticed, from a top-secret D.C. laboratory to a research vessel in the Gulf of Alaska. When the ship is
targeted by a well-trained Russian black-ops team which is pursuing the satellite technology, West and Quick arrive in
Alaska to interdict their efforts. That's when the gunfights start, and they continue through the rest of the book. This
Russian paramilitary unit is simply the tip of a spear that stretches back toward an international conspiracy that consists
of a coalition of American enemies. A shadowy Sudanese political leader, a lethal Chinese assassin, the Russian mob,
and even the North Korean government are all involved in this international technological heist. Taking orders straight
from the FBI deputy director, West and Quick battle their way through layers of these nefarious characters. In the
process, gunplay, bone-crushing unarmed combat, and plenty of sarcastic one-liners carry the narrative. Those thirsty
for a storyline centered on sharp vengeance against America's most notorious nemeses will be satisfied with this novel.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Betley, Matthew: OATH OF HONOR." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Jan. 2017. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA475357472&it=r&asid=49f6761dcbd83456b3031da244df728e.
Accessed 16 Sept. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A475357472
---
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Overwatch: A Logan West Thriller
Publishers Weekly.
263.4 (Jan. 25, 2016): p183.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Overwatch: A Logan West Thriller
Matthew J. Betley. Atria/Bestler, $26.99
(400p) ISBN 978-1-4767-9921-6
Betley, a former Marine officer, draws on his battlefield experience for his rousing first novel. One morning in October
2008, ex-Mari ne Logan West awakes from an alcoholic stupor in his Annapolis, Md., home to find an intruder in his
basement. Logan immediately realizes that the man is up to no good, and in the ensuing fight he manages to kill him.
When Logan takes a call on the dead man's cell phone, he learns from the person who answers, Juan, that the man was
planning to kidnap him. Juan says he wants an Iraqi flag that Logan and his team acquired during a mission in Fallujah
in 2004. Juan also threatens to harm Logan's wife unless he cooperates. Soon Logan and his FBI special agent buddy,
Mike Benson, are on the hunt for the bad guys. Betley writes a good fight scene and knows how to plot, but readers
should be prepared for some awkward prose ("She was cemented to the carpet, transfixed by her horror"). Agent: Will
Roberts, Gernert Company. (Mar.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Overwatch: A Logan West Thriller." Publishers Weekly, 25 Jan. 2016, p. 183. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA442116736&it=r&asid=fc60183a80dbc165972ca3acd924ae21.
Accessed 16 Sept. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A442116736
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‘Overwatch’ by Matthew Betley
Overwatch
Vince Flynn, Brad Thor… Matthew Betley?
That’s the question fans are asking ever since Emily Bestler Books, an imprint of Atria Books at publishing powerhouse Simon & Schuster, announced the release of Overwatch, the debut novel from former Marine Matthew Betley.
While Flynn and Thor – both of whom have spent their careers with Atria/Emily Bestler Books – are household names, Betley is the new kid on the block with seemingly unlimited potential.
In Overwatch, Betley introduces readers to his new series protagonist, Logan West. West is a former marine, relapsing alcoholic, and damaged man who’s struggling with the reality that his marriage is likely over after a prolonged rough patch – which had much to do with an addiction problem.
The book kicks off with Logan waking up after blacking out for nearly a day, the product of another drunken night spent alone. As he struggles to regain his bearings, already feeling the effects of a giant hangover, he quickly learns that he’s not alone.
The intruder welcomes him back to consciousnesses, but makes a critical mistake when he assumes Logan is too hung over to be a viable threat to his safety. West springs from the couch, attacking the man in quick and devastating fashion.
Staring at the body of the dead intruder that’s now laying on his floor, Logan calls his buddy, FBI Special Agent Mike Benson, for help. Mike agrees to come right over but after their brief phone conversation ends, the dead man’s phone starts to ring. Logan knows he shouldn’t answer it, but can’t help himself. He soon finds out that the intruder was working for a man that’s seeking information from Logan about a special artifact he’s trying to track down
The artifact in question is a flag that once belonged to Saddam Hussein, which Logan’s team of Marines had found in Fallujah years ago. While Logan has no idea why anyone would want the flag, or what it’s importance might be, he does know who currently has it – information he’s not willing to share with the man on the phone.
That’s when things take a turn for the worse, as the man on the phone threatens Sarah, Logan’s wife, whom he’s currently separated from but still loves, unless he can deliver the flag.
Matthew Betley
Author Matthew Betley
Logan, now furious, disconnects the call and dials back Mike, notifying him that there’s been a change in plans – Sarah is in danger.
What starts as a story about a former Marine Force Recon Commander trying to get his life back together and save his wife, soon turns into a globe trotting thriller about an unknown organization that’s planning a major attack in the Middle East. An attack that, should it go unstopped, will cause major implications for the United States.
To stop the unknown organization, the FBI puts together a task force of former Special Ops soldiers and mercenaries, which Logan is hired to join. Together, they’re given the green light to do whatever is necessary to stop any attacks before it’s too late.
Complicating matters, beyond just Logan’s alcoholism, is that he’s also suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from a incident during his time with the Marines.
By creating a character with so many imperfections, Betley has made Logan someone readers can relate to and feel for. He’s human, like the rest of us. In a genre where most protagonists are a pair of tights and a cape away from being Superman, this is a welcomed and refreshing change of pace.
The other thing that stands out is Betley’s pacing, which is exceptional for any first time author. He’s nailed the art of chapter-ending cliff hangers, without going overboard, which makes it nearly impossible to set Overwatch down.
You’ll find yourself up late reading this one, promising you’ll get to bed after one more chapter – only to flip the page and realize you can’t stop yet. After repeating this process a few times you’ll likely end up doing what I did and just throw on a pot of coffee, giving in and opting to pull an all-nighter with Logan West. You won’t regret it!
Of course Overwatch comes out March 1st, 2016 so maybe it’d be wise to just save one of your sick days in preparation for this explosive new thriller. All I’m saying is, if you’re the type to plan ahead, pencil in a cold or flu-like symptoms accordingly (wink, wink).
In the end, I found this to be an incredibly strong first novel in what I’m confident will be a very successful franchise for many years to come. Logan West is a flawed character that you’ll find yourself rooting for in more ways than one, and Overwatch is my early pick for the best debut novel of 2016!
So, is Betley the next Vince Flynn or Brad Thor? It’s too early to say, but two things are for certain:Overwatch is one of 2016’s first must-read novels, and Matthew Betley is someone to watch very closely!
Pre-order Overwatch today here.
Book Details
Author: Matthew Betley
Pages: 400 (hardcover)
Publisher: Atria/ Emily Bestler Books
Release Date: March 1, 2016
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Book Review - "Overwatch" by Matthew Betley
Friday, March 11, 2016
The following book review is a special for BlackFive readers provided by Elise Cooper. You can read all of our book reviews and author interviews by clicking on the Books category link on the right side bar.
9781476799216_p0_v4_s192x300Overwatch by Matthew Betley has an action plot with non-stop shootouts, exploding bombs, home invasions, drug cartels, and terrorists. Having served in Iraq Betley uses his experiences to create a gripping plot.
He commented to blackfive.net, “As a Marine junior officer I commanded a scout sniper platoon. Although I had a lot of tactical training my deployments were in a staff support function. Unfortunately, mortars and rockets don’t care about what capacity someone is in. When I was in Iraq US forces took the most missile fire during the war. The locations, settings, military units, and certain narrative components are all very real, but the overall story is completely my own. I decided to write this story because I read some bestsellers that bored me. I wanted to write something I would personally want to read, an action packed thriller. I created a modern day action hero who had some issues going back to the origins set in Iraq.”
The story begins when former Marine Recon Commander Logan West attempts to get his life back on track and reconnect with his wife before the divorce is finalized. As a relapsing alcoholic and someone suffering from PTSD he must deal with his demons. West has nightmares about the ambush that his Force Recon unit suffered in Iraq during an insurgent attack on a compound in Fallujah in 2004. But that is all put on hold when someone tries to kill him and his wife. After answering the dead killer’s phone West begins to connect the dots, realizing that a terrorist attack is imminent. The key appears to be an Iraqi flag that is currently owned by his friend and fellow Marine, John Quick. The FBI hires both ex-Marines as consultants to help thwart the attack that will draw the US into a war with Iran. It becomes clear they must battle ex-US military, now hired as mercenaries, by Calin Frost, a private security consultant out for revenge.
Readers might be a bit skeptical how West can conduct himself while still having re-occurring blackouts and alcoholic binges. West’s withdrawal symptoms could have created problems even if he seems to have a superhuman ability to lock into the mission.
Because Betley is a recovering alcoholic, sober for seven years, he told blackfive.net, he made those scenes very realistic. He noted, “I was a highly functioning weekend alcoholic. I would get hammered on the weekends. I thought about what would happen if I were in a bender. I basically would not stop drinking until I was hammered.”
Overwatch has the action taking place all over the globe, from Mexico, to America, specifically the Alamo, to the war torn Iraq Al-Anbar province. This debut novel has non-stop action that has readers feeling the realities of combat.
Posted by Blackfive on Friday, March 11, 2016 at 08:29 AM in Books | Permalink | Comments (0)
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BOOK REVIEW: OVERWATCH by Matthew Betley
Shane | Jun 05, 2017 | Comments 0
BOOK REVIEW: OVERWATCH by Matthew Betley
Simon & Schuster Australia – thriller, paperback, rrp$29.99
June 2017
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
7 ½ /10
A former Marine himself, Matthew Betley has written a debut novel with the potential to create great conflict in thinking readers.
On the one hand, this is a legitimately exciting book, well plotted and – for the most part – well written. Betley’s professional experiences give the story a gritty, dangerous authenticity that help propel the fast paced story forwards.
Overwatch introduces special forces veteran and alcoholic Logan West, a man juggling a disintegrating marriage and his illness, along with the burden of the horrors of what he saw on duty.
West’s marriage may be fading, but when his wife and beloved dog are attacked by unknown assailants in search of an Iraqi artefact, he immediately mans up and goes on the warpath for personal revenge, protecting the world from terrorism by an unlikely source, along the way.
Intriguing as West is, the other side of the coin to Betley’s writing is a sheer, bloody-minded jingoism that goes above and beyond the normally expected jarhead ‘ooh rah’ mentality.
For starters, there is a scary excitement in describing the bloodier scenes which leads him to get sloppy in his writing. There’s also no gung-ho charm in Betley’s obsession with weaponry, either. He insists on rattling off intimate details and model numbers of every gun and knife over and over, like he’s writing weapon porn.
Worst of all, there’s a casual racism shown by practically every main character. We’d again expect gung-ho parochialism and a distrust of enemy forces in any war situation, but Betley goes so far as to have his leads actively dislike all Iraquis, belittling civilian efforts with offhand statements such as reacting to a poorly painted insurgent building with, “Iraqui craftmanship at its finest.”
It’s unnecessary: hate the bad guys, not the entire nation or religion.
We’re well aware that many potential readers will find the above criticisms as selling points, rather than a detriment – which seems a bit of a sad indictment of the world today, but it is what it is.
Betley is a fine writer, despite these concerns, and it would be great to see him turn his talents to a more positive, or at least more open minded, story.
BOOK REVIEW: OVERWATCH by Matthew Betley
Filed Under: Book Reviews
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LIVE: DORO– September 12, 2017
BOOK REVIEW: When Planet Earth Was New by James Gladstone
10 Quick Ones with JESSICA HANNAN – September 2017
INTERVIEW: LAWRENCE GOWAN of STYX – September 2017
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