praise for the syndicate spy

Review by Kirkus Reviews

This debut novel pits an Army Ranger–turned-spy against a terrorist organization bent on destroying alternative energy sites.

Set in a near future when the planet’s oil reserves are essentially gone—and former oil-rich nations are desperate to regain their power on the world stage—the story revolves around Juliet Arroway. She’s an operative for the Syndicate, a partnership of intelligence agencies whose mission is to hunt down and eradicate energy terrorists. Arroway’s main goal is to stop the mysterious Abu Hassan, the head of a terrorist group that has been responsible for the deaths of countless people over the years—including her father. With the help of her longtime partner and friend Mariam al-Saud (who happens to be the estranged daughter of the king of Saudi Arabia) and cocky FBI agent Graham Harding, Arroway slowly uncovers the complicated motivations behind the attacks. Early on, Harding tells her: “If I were you, I would go into this investigation with an open mind.” She eventually finds that the conspiracy goes much deeper than a group of misguided jihadis seeking to establish an Islamic caliphate. Butler obviously understands what thriller fans want in a story. The action is nonstop, the pacing is relentless, and the bombshell plot twists are numerous—but it’s the brilliantly developed characters that power this narrative. In this series opener, Arroway is a badass in every sense of the word, but she also has an impressive emotional depth and a vulnerability underneath her tough exterior that make her relatable. Her tumultuous relationship with Harding, for example, is more intimate than any romance and more arousing than any work of erotic fiction. But perhaps the understated hook in all of this is the author’s vivid writing style, which makes characters and scenes come alive on the page. As Arroway and Harding are evacuated from a horrific battle scene, Butler writes: “Fragments of light grew into thick saffron beams as they glided above the smoke-filled cities below.”

A storytelling tour de force—this espionage thriller delivers the goods in a big way.

Review by publisher’s weekly booklife

Butler hits the ground running with her thriller debut, an electrifying near-future series-starter that pits intelligence operative Juliet Arroway, her Saudi princess partner in espionage, and a Syndicate of intelligence agencies against the terrorists of a post-oil world. In Juliet’s case, the latest threat in the ongoing energy war has a personal edge: her father, a Syndicate agent, was a casualty of the war against al-Alfatih, a terrorist organization targeting alternative energy sites. A wave of attacks bring fresh tragedy to Juliet—and cast suspicion on her trusted partner, Mariam, the daughter of the king of Saudi Arabia, whose family might be involved in al-Alfatih despite the Kingdom’s recent investment in renewable energies.

In Juliet, Butler has crafted a compelling, independent-minded protagonist who’s adept at tradecraft and ready for bold action, as the genre demands, but also possessed of unusual depth. She agonizes over having to keep her job and the danger she faces from the man she loves, and she’s quick to push back against the nasty xenophobia of seasoned intelligence salts, asking one, after dressing him down for his anti-Muslim invective, “Why is it that women are ball-busters and men are just doing their jobs?” Mariam, too, is a standout creation, a woman eager to see “an end to the cycle of death” but whose loyalties get questioned.

The richness that Butler brings to character also distinguishes The Syndicate Spy’s portrayal of a new global order—and the new threats that come with it. The geopolitics are convincingly complex, with antagonists who feel refreshingly human, but Butler still conjures a grabber of a thriller plot centered on a formula for “synthetic oil” that many interested parties will kill for. Pulsing throughout is the persistent question of who Juliet can trust. Action is exciting and never punishing, though occasionally wordy; the dash of romance feels natural, a welcome respite from the tension. Readers who favor smart, twisty spy thrillers with a sense of hope and humanity will love this.

Takeaway: This smart near-future espionage thriller introduces a heroine readers will love.

A fascinating tale of two female spies and their harrowing journey to accomplish a seemingly impossible mission. Filled with great attention to detail and captivating characters, Brittany Butler has crafted a brilliant homage to the courage and bravery of women in the proverbial 'man's world.

—Holli Fawcett Clayton, author of Somewhere Above It All

In her debut novel, local author Brittany Butler channels her career as a CIA operative into a ripping thriller centered on the hunt for radical Muslim terrorists. The kicker? The protagonist is a woman. [...] An admirable debut read, the book rings authentic with Butler leveraging her hands-on experience in the world of espionage.

—Jeff Wilkinson, Charleston Magazine

Written with the authority of John le Carré and the pace of Tom Clancy, The Syndicate Spy is the 21st-century espionage thriller.

—Hayden R. Smith, author of Cambridge University Press’s Carolina’s Golden Fields

Realistic details, based on the author’s own experiences as a spy, propel this powerful story of Juliet’s quest to find and neutralize the terrorist responsible for her father’s death and too many others. Memorable characters, twists and turns, and international settings keep you racing to the shocking conclusion. It’s a gripping story with an empowering message. Juliet is a badass!

—Kaira Rouda, USA Today & Amazon bestselling author

The Syndicate Spy is the female-forward spy thriller that we’ve been waiting for! With exciting, new storylines and protagonists updated to fit modern political challenges and dilemmas, Brittany Butler is uniquely qualified to spin a gripping plot about spies, targeting, and secret operations.

—Michele Rigby Assad, former CIA operative & author of Breaking Cover

Breathtaking and inspiring. Rarely do I see two women portrayed as the protagonist in spy novels and Butler does a superb job of developing Juliet and Mariam into the heroines that they are. Uniquely qualified to bring realistic details, Butler masterfully mixes tradecraft with the backdrop of the Middle East, making the reader feel as if they are in the middle of the action. The Syndicate Spy is a brilliant first novel and I cannot wait to see more.

—Tracy Walder, former CIA & FBI agent, and author of The Unexpected Spy

I am familiar with the challenges of creating believable characters and an exciting plot. Butler has flawlessly executed both of those aspects with Juliet Arroway’s heart-pounding mission.

—Robbie Bach, former Chief XBOX Officer, Microsoft, and author of The Wilkes Insurrection

If you’re looking for the female version of Jack Reacher, then look no further than The Syndicate Spy.

—Netgalley Review