Ben Porter, America’s favorite FBI agent returns to action in this stunning new thriller from Christopher Rosow.
Hot on the heels of Rosow’s magnificent third entry, Subversive Addiction, his latest opens some six months later, with Ben Porter laid up in a hospital bed after a horrible car accident . . . or was it?
Turns out, the “accident” was really a failed assassination attempt gone wrong. Ben survived, barely, but someone close to him wasn’t quite as lucky—leaving him a mixture of saddened and shocked, while still acutely aware that someone, with considerable reach, wants him dead.
With his team around him, Ben battles lingering symptoms while taking on his next assignment tasked by a high-placed government official. Soon, though, loyalties and motives are called into question, as one twist leads to another, with a deeper conspiracy ready to strike . . . and when it does, it’s safe to say that diehard fans will be left picking their jaws up off the floor.
If it feels like this review is light on plot info, that’s because it is intentionally so. Trust me, the less you know about this one, the better, as Rosow dials up the heat, treating readers to a truly expertly-plotted thriller that will forever shape Porter’s Universe. And therein lies the conundrum in covering this title, since touching on the most shocking aspects would, frankly, require spoilers. That said, it’s not a stretch to say that, from a developmental standpoint, Rosow’s unflinching decision to re-energize his series as he has, is nothing short of brilliance.
While there are more heavy moments in this one, especially for fans of past books, the overall feel of Vital Deception matches the tone of other Ben Porter Books. And what makes this series so good, is the way Rosow handles his lead. There’s no question about that. More than any other character on the thriller scene today, Ben feels like your every day, lovable, guy-next-door. He’s growing into his position within the FBI, sure (and, boy, does that continue in this one), but Rosow’s ability to blur the lines between over-the-top plots and authentic, human-driven stories is second to none.
Another spectacular entry in one of the most under-the-radar series in print today, Christopher Rosow’s Vital Deception is a must-read for fans of James Patterson and David Baldacci.
Book Details
Author: Christopher Rosow
Series: Ben Porter #4
Pages: 381 (Paperback)
ISBN: B09TRZV4H8
Publisher: Quadrant Publishing LLC
Release Date: April 15, 2022
Real Book Spy Rating: 8.75/10
Praised as “One of the hardest working, most thoughtful, and fairest reviewers out there” by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline, Ryan Steck has “quickly established himself as the authority on mysteries and thrillers” (Author A.J. Tata). Steck also works full-time as a freelance editor and co-hosts the ThrillerTalk podcast. His debut thriller, FIELDS OF FIRE, comes out on September 6, 2022. For more information, be sure to follow him on Twitter and Facebook.