John Lescroart’s Betrayal is the engrossing story of two men who meet in Iraq in 2003 and later become bitter enemies. Because of a bureaucratic snafu, Second Lieutenant Evan Scholler and his eight men find themselves on convoy duty for a military contractor named Jack Allstrong. Scholler and those under his command are forced to risk their lives to protect the interests of the venal, amoral, and aggressive Allstrong, who arrived in Baghdad nearly penniless and, months later, became a multi-millionaire by cheating and lying. To people like him, “basically the entire country’s for sale.” Scholler soon becomes a friend and drinking buddy of Ron Nolan, Allstrong’s senior official and chief troubleshooter, who is making twenty thousand dollars a month, tax free. The persuasive and charismatic Nolan involves Evan in some nasty activities that are both illegal and dangerous. In addition, he finds out that Evan is desperately trying to reconnect with his estranged girlfriend, Tara Wheatley, whom he left back home. On a visit to the states, Nolan decides to do whatever he can to win the beautiful Tara for himself. Ron and Evan are on a collision course to disaster.

Lescroart constructs his book with great skill, telling a complex but seamless tale that begins in 2003 and concludes in 2008. This is a powerful and creative work that has elements of a political thriller, courtroom drama, murder mystery, and romance. The scenes that take place in Iraq provide a harrowing look at the chaos, corruption, and rampant violence that makes this country one of the most dangerous places on earth. In addition, we experience the terror that our soldiers feel every time they go on patrol, and the misery that afflicts the unfortunate men and women who return home from their tours of duty with traumatic brain injury and/or post traumatic stress disorder.

The protagonist, Lieutenant Scholler, is a deeply flawed individual who lacks good judgment and common sense, especially while under the influence of alcohol. Ron Nolan is a self-centered and vicious sociopath who takes full advantage of Scholler’s naiveté. Dismas Hardy and Abe