Review: Conspirancy of Silence by Ronie Kendig

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Four years after a tragic mission decimated his career and his team, Cole “Tox” Russell is persona non grata to the United States. And that’s fine—he just wants to be left alone. But when a dormant, centuries-old disease is unleashed at an archaeological dig where three Bronze-era censers are found, Tox is lured back into action. Partnered with an archaeologist and an FBI agent who’s an expert in deception, Tox and his team are pitted against a secret society, a plague dubbed the New Black Death, and a revered codex—which may hold the key to stopping the deadly outbreak.

My Review

Oh my! Conspiracy of Silence is full of intense, thrilling action with a suspenseful plot. The team members are loyal and have each other's backs, even with a harsh history of being caught in the middle of politics and lies. Mistrust and misinformation brings a tension to the scenes as Tox must work with agency contacts and intel that is being fed to him piecemeal and objectives are changed mid-mission. Tox is a strong and determined character with highly skilled training, but he also has his share of flaws and emotional vulnerabilities- which made him more easy to relate to. I loved Kasey's role as the deception expert, and her history of having an unrequited crush on Tox. She sees him differently than most, and has an innate sense for his real self under all the defenses (except when it comes to how he feels about her). Another great character in Tox's life is Chiji, a member Tox added to his team after spending time with his family while exiled in Nigeria. His calming influence was needed several times throughout the story as Tox's rage escalates. It's interesting how he can keep his cool in all sorts of crazy dangerous scenarios but when his loved ones are harmed, he comes a bit unglued. The Biblical history of the artifacts, Codex, and secret societies are fascinating, especially as they tie in to the present-day war for power. I definitely recommend reading the free e-book of the prequel novella, The Warrior's Seal, since it introduces the characters and gives details of the mission that is referred to several times in Conspiracy of Silence. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment in The Tox Files and learning more about the team members!

Highly recommend to fans of H.B. Moore's Omar Zagouri series and Julie Coulter Bellon's Griffin Force series!

(I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher; all opinions in this review are my own)

Be sure to check out the FREE prequel novella in the Tox Files series, The Warrior's Seal

Synopsis

A Special Forces team is thrust into a war with the past to save the president after an artifact unleashes a deadly toxin.

Special Forces operative Cole "Tox" Russell and his team are tasked in a search-and-rescue--the U.S. president has been kidnapped during a goodwill tour. The mission nosedives when an ancient biblical artifact and a deadly toxin wipe out villages. Tox must stop the terrorists and the toxin to save the president.