"Blind Trust" by Natalie Walters

Blind Trust (Apr. 11, 2023) by Natalie Walters.*

*This is the third novel in a trilogy.*

She knows she has a reputation for being impulsive at the [fictional] SNAP (Strategic Neutralization and Protection) Agency, but Lyla Fox always jumps in feet first and faces the threat head on, no matter how dangerous the situation. But even Lyla is given pause when she receives a threatening note from a man she helped put in prison along with a busted windshield, and the inmate turns up dead by apparent suicide. There are other situations, too: vehicles following her and shots fired with her as their target. She can’t uncover what’s going on by herself. She’s going to need the entire trusted SNAP Agency team, especially Nicolás Garcia (formerly had a brief career in the Army Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) branch), who’s always the most bothered by her recklessness and doesn’t seem to trust her. The rest of the team includes cyberguru Kekoa Young, team leader Jack Hudson and SNAP Agency Director Tom Walsh. Nicolás has dealt with bombs and knows how dangerous they are, but working with Lyla is just as dangerous.

            My first full-length novel from Walters, I found it to be dramatic and fairly fast-paced with a snappy cast of protagonists (Kekoa is easily my favorite) and antagonists. Trust is a theme and fear is present, too. It’s not a rollicking adventure, more a slow-build with bursts of adrenaline and pulse-pounding scenarios. Faith is there in multiple characters, but not in an overbearing way. The danger is well-balanced with humorous interjections. When it comes to romantic suspense, I prefer Dani Pettrey’s novels, but Natalie Walters has made a strong case with this novel that I read. My only gripe is that Lyla’s impulsivity sometimes grated on my nerves, so I didn’t connect with her character as well. I get that she’s in a profession where she’s sometimes got to make split-second decisions where there isn’t time for thinking, but that impulsivity seems to be her default.

            Standout line: “The woman owns real estate on the edge of risk, and next to her I look like Mr. Rogers.” --Nicolás to Jack (p. 160)

            Previously read: Targeted: Caught in the Crosshairs (a novella)

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”