The Covert Element by John Betcher

The Covert Element

Author: John Betcher

Reviewed by Fran Lewis

 

 

What would you do if someone were cooking up meth in your backyard? What would you do to stop it and how far would you go? Drug cartels do more than just sell, create, profit and make their own drugs. Their leaders are dangerous and their henchman even more. In 1985 Master Sergeant Fuentes proved to be equally as dangerous by executing, planning and orchestrating a plan to bring down the major drug cartel family on their home ground. Fuentes and his Alpha team along with Team Bravo pulled off a covert operation that rocked the inner core of a Mexican Drug cartel right in the heart of their operation. The end result: Boom! But, our Master Sergeant was not satisfied with just this one mission he needed to rid the world of every drug cartel, every drug dealer and those who tortured, raped, pillared and destroyed his own family and their fishing business.

 

Twenty years later someone blew up a meth lab in Ottawa County leaving 23 unidentified dead bodies. From the author of the Missing Element and 19^th Element comes another blockbuster novel starring our favorite lawyer, investigator the relentless James Becker: AKA BECK. Beck along with the Chief Deputy Sheriff and Beck’s wife Beth would hack into computers, skirt the law and work hard to find out who blew up the lab and much more.

 

Meet Walter Marsden a pawn in the hands of Los Cinco the drug cartel that has now infiltrated more than one state, country and city. Dangerous, lethal and fighting their own turf wars, this cartel take over businesses unknown to those running them. Bellechester was experiencing an economic decline. Our innocent friend Walter had a brilliant idea for restoring jobs and bringing economic life back to Bellechester. Creating an Organic Farming Elevator and Creamery Marsden hoped to create jobs. But, not unlike other hopefuls, he ran out of capital and needed some help. Unknowingly, he enlisted the wrong help and gave up fifty percent of his business and much more. As Marsden’s company flourishes he begins to question some of the financial and notices some discrepancies. Calling his partners he would soon learn the truth one that would make him an accessory to much more than just selling drugs.

 

Raphael Santos infiltrated the Los Cinco Cartel. He even married the leader’s niece. Playing the part of a caring soldier for the Calderon family, he managed to gain control after the untimely death of the man he referred to as El Jefe. Cunning, clever and wanting his own revenge on this deadly cartel, taking control and working to bring them down and much more.

 

 

 

 

Master Sergeant Fuentes is a dangerous man not to be trifled with. As he renters the story in the present and the reader learns of his past life and his reasons for wanting revenge on the cartel, you will learn just how cunning and deceitful he can be. Los Cinco: Is going more than down if he has anything to say about it and just how you won’t believe.

 

Red (Bull) Feather and Beck go way back. Bull saved his life more times than he can count. As the two reconnect and Bull explains why he needs Beck to help investigate the burning of the meth lab, who might have done it and hopefully stop them cold. But, introduces Beck to Fuentes and the truth behind his visit comes out and the dots are about to connect and if someone does not stop what is about to happen more deaths, tortures and explosions will occur. Red Wing is about to house their very own Mexican Drug Cartel and meth production is huge and they will stop at nothing to infiltrate as many places, cities and states in the United States.

 

Speaking to the reader, you understand and hear Beck’s voice, his thoughts and his every move as Beck and Gunner find a way to assess the crime scene and Beth uses her computer genius to assist. Just how: you will have to read and learn for yourself.

 

As Beck and Gunner mull over the facts and try to decide just where this meth factory really is, they uncover much more than they bargain for and the end result is not what you might expect. Learning the whereabouts, hacking into the accounts, finding out who the main person is not only surprised them but put Beth and Beck in grave danger. Just how far will Fuentes go to blow up the meth lab. Just how far will the cartel go to protect its investment.

 

A showdown that will keep the reader on the edge and in suspense even after the all is said and done. Just how will all the dots connect and will the plan to blow up the lab succeed? What part does Santos play and who is Elena? What happens when everyone is in place and all of the players ready to strike? Who wins? Who loses? Will the cartel succeed and keep their plant, their workers and their millions? Will Beck, Gunner, Bull and Beth bring them down? Who dies, who survives and who will be standing at the end? This is one action packed novel filled with surprises, twists, deceits, lies and many used as pawns to fulfill the greedy pockets of others. How this plays out will definitely stump the reader as Beck, Beth, Bull and Gunner create a plot so intricate and plan so well orchestrated that I wonder just who or what the real Covert Element Is?

 

Once again author John Betcher delivers a plot that only he can create. Characters so well defined and one woman that proves she’s got what it takes to take on more than just the cartel but Beck, Gunner and Bull too. Cunning, clever, crafty and definitely not to be taken lightly this team of investigators hoped to bring down one of the largest drug cartels. Beck is inventive, persistent and definitely at times no match for Beth as she proves to everyone her true womanpower. Never underestimate the smarts and strength of one CIA code breaker when angered. Watch out Clancy, Berry and Patterson : John Betcher: Is a mystery/thriller force to be reckoned with.

 

Fran Lewis reviewer