Betrayal at the Border by Mark Bello is a fast paced legal thriller set predominantly in the United States. It is the seventh book in the Zachary Blake Series.

Bello addresses some important and timely issues in this book – namely the United States’ immigration policies and human rights issues. He raises awareness of these issues by telling the compelling story of two immigrant families, and their treatment at the hands of the US immigration system. These are interesting and pertinent themes and should appeal to a wide range of readers.

There are numerous characters in the book, including star lawyer Zachary Blake, the two immigrant families and a host of supporting characters. Zachary’s character is well developed and feels like an authentic portrayal of a lawyer, although a lot sharper. Miguel and Mary Gonzalez are authentic characters as well; their jobs, home and children are all well described and draw the reader into their heartbreaking story. The characters of Canan and Karim Izady are less developed and I would have enjoyed seeing more of them.

I really enjoyed the well developed scenes in the book. The story takes us to other countries, but the story is predominantly in the U.S. and I was absorbed in the scenery. The Gonzalez children find themselves in poor living situations and the descriptions draw the reader into the story and allow the reader to develop empathy for their plight. This is a legal drama novel, but I never felt overwhelmed or lost by the jargon thanks to excellent story telling that focuses on characters rather than technical aspects of law.

Betrayal at the Border is a fast-paced legal thriller that tackles contemporary issues with stunning legal drama. The authors experience as a lawyer really comes through as the law, as it is portrayed in the book, always felt real, which for a layman like me made the stakes feel palpable. Fans of John Grisham novels will find plenty to enjoy in Mark M. Bello’s enthralling legal thriller.

Pages: 334 | ASIN: B09FYJ6MWN