I love a good spy thriller, though I prefer ones set during the Cold War era as opposed to the present-day. I like the spycraft that was required now it seems to be all about high-tech surveillance and computer hacking. Even though this is a contemporary setting, I was drawn to it because Butler is a former CIA officer. Most spy novels I read are written by men and feature male protagonists. I was hoping for a female-centered Jack Ryan-type novel.

Juliet is part of an international intelligence agency called The Syndicate. She is paired with Graham. I didn't care for their early interactions. They don't get along and the banter between them felt like it was trying too hard to set them up as romantic interests. My initial thought was how unnecessary this was in a spy thriller. The banter is similar to what you read in an enemies-to-lovers rom-com. I soon realized that I had to shift my expectation that this was a spy thriller and instead, it was perhaps romantic suspense. But as the story progresses more and more romance tropes were introduced and by the end, I came to the conclusion that this was a romance novel masquerading as a spy novel.

While it was not the book I was expecting, it is a decent romance novel. I'm not a big reader of romance novels, particularly ones that have detailed sex scenes.

I also found the social commentary a little heavy-handed at times. The world is in an energy crisis and an Arab nation has discovered the formula for an endless renewable energy source. The leader wants to keep the formula a secret and basically control the world because they will have to bend to his will to access this energy. There are parallels to what we see now with a few countries controlling most of the available oil.

The Syndicate Spy is Butler's first novel and I see the potential for her becoming a great author. The problems that I had with the writing are often seen in debut novels and are often resolved as the author becomes more comfortable with her voice.

If you love romance novels that feature international danger and don't mind a little heat, then this is a book for you.

My review will be published on Monday at Girl Who Reads - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2023/06/4-romantic-stories-for-your-summer.html

This book will stay with me forever! What a ride! These are the way women need to be written in this genre! Bravo, we need more.

When looking at the description for this book on Amazon, I am struck by the fact that though this book is being advertised as a futuristic book, "In the near future, Earth’s oil reserves are depleted. " it was set (according to the very first page) in 1938. Unless this is a significant typo, it sure put a different spin on this book for me. So which is it? A book set in the past with all sorts of modern tech, or a futuristic book with old-fashioned tech?

In the very first paragraph, I found a distracting mistake on the author's part. COPPER DOES NOT RUST, NOR DOES IT SMELL OF RUST. Yes, this may be nit-picking, but it still made me question how good this book would be. Mistakes such as this tend to pull me out of the story and make me question what I had been reading.

As I kept reading, I realized that this author has an interesting command of the language. For instance, Juliet's eyes can speak to her partner Mariam. Ohhkay. "Juliet took a SHARP swig of water" ??? "A silo of light poured into the compound."

This is most likely a very good book. I do so love futuristic novels, and having two kick-butt heroines would have been just perfect. However, too many things distract me from what could have been the perfect story.

*ARC supplied by the publisher.

This was absolutely delicious and I am so grateful to Netgalley and the Publisher for giving me the ability to read and review this wonderful book. Probably the best/most unputdownable book I have read this year! I loved the characters, (be still my beating heart - this was a wild, intelligent, thrilling ride), and the pages literally turned themselves. I was so absorbed in the story I could not be bothered with eating or anything else. I HIGHLY recommend this book!

I should have stopped reading early on. This book was not good. It was poorly written and barely kept my interest. The story was pretty predictable, and dragged on way wayyy too long, especially the last 15% of the book. And the writing - find some new adjectives! I swear she used the word copper to describe grahams hair 1000x in this book. Ugh - needless to say this was a no for me.

I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Juliet wants to avenge her father's death by working as a Syndicate spy and trying to end the war on energy.
This is a very fast-paced spy thriller that is filled with action. It will keep you guessing all the way through. There were a couple of twists in the end, and while I had guessed with the first, the other left me completely shocked. I was totally enthralled with the action, adventure, and romance. This was a fantastic start to what I'm sure will be an excellent series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This compelling debut is by a former CIA officer. If you follow her Instagram, you will see her talk about her life in the CIA. FASCINATING!!
The Syndicate, is a group of allied intelligence agencies and Juliet Arroway works for them. Juliet is following in her father’s footsteps with The Syndicate, after he was killed by terrorists. She works with Mariam, who is a Saudi Princess.
Part action, drama mixed in with Juliet’s love life. The Syndicate is trying to maintain peace trying to save terrorist from attacking energy sites.
I can say the authors background adds to the novel. Looking forward to the next novel by Butler.

A total blast thrill ride. Juliet is a kickass heroine. Think feminist Tom Clancy, the dystopian corporatist world reminds me a bit of LeCarre but without the break cynicism. It’s popcorn, but the best kind. Ultimately redeeming and hopeful.

Author Brittany Butler writes her spy story about an energy war and political power struggles in the Middle East. Her story included betrayal, a bit of romance and a surprise twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. The author did a great job of writing a fast paced action story that kept me turning the pages.

Amazon Book Description: In the near future, Earth’s oil reserves are depleted. Nations grapple to find an alternative energy source. Terrorists race for control over world resources. And the Syndicate―a conglomerate of allied intelligence agencies―struggles to maintain peace.
Syndicate operative Juliet Arroway and her best friend, Mariam, a progressive Saudi princess, are tasked with hunting down terrorists and putting an end to the global energy war. In her quest, Juliet is paired with Graham―a dashing yet arrogant FBI agent―and embarks on a dangerous journey toward love and survival.

This riveting spy thriller, first in a series, was a work of fact and fiction about female intelligence officers working on the front lines all over the world risking their lives for the American people. Author Brittany was a former CIA targeting officer, both at Langley and on temporary assignments in the Middle East. She spearheaded operational efforts to achieve some of the most sensitive foreign intelligence objectives abroad.

I received an electronic advanced copy (eARC) from publisher Greenleaf Book Group Press and Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview this book.

Two women. Covert operations. The energy war. Terrorism.

The Sydicate Spy had everything I wanted to love in a novel. It lost me when Juliet’s love life didn’t seem relevant to the story.

I liked the contrast between the two main characters. Juliet, almost groomed to be a syndicate spy by her father and then godfather (who also happens to be her boss) and Miriam, a princess from the Middle East, recruited in college and the closest person Juliet has to a best friend.

The action is great. The story is interesting and I really did enjoy the book overall.

I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I won this in goodreads and also received it through NetGalley. It is an interesting read. The Syndicate is on the side of the West fighting the Terrorists to control the energy of the world . Juliet and her best friend , Marian who is a princess fight for everyone to have energy. Marian's uncle is on the other side of the war. They both lose their family and Juliet's fiance is dead. she has only her work and then she finds that FBI agent is working with her. they become very close. Graham promises he will not leave her and together they fight to make energy free for all. There would be no reason to fight any more.

Woah, I don't know where to start... this is the best book I have read this year! And I read it in one sitting, after I started reading I just couldn't stop!

It was full of everything I look for in a book - strong and unapologetic female leads, drama, intrigue and espionage. Ex-CIA officer Brittany Butler has painted a vivid image of the vital role of intelligence organisations and the strength of women in this field especially when they are constantly undermined.

To me, this book really encapsulates the power of the female spirit to preserve and create change in a world lead by men.

I cannot wait for the next book in the series and will keep a look out for a physical copy in the UK.

There was a time not too long ago where all I did was read spy novels. I loved the action, the conspiracies, the characters are smart, and there's usually a bit of romance to lighten it up. The Syndicate Spy had all of these but instead of letting one thing that lead, it tried to make all things equal. It was too much for one book. I'm the first to admit I have no real world experience here like the author, but so much of it felt over the top and I found myself saying that would probably never happen like that.

**Potential Spoilers**
I found Juliet to be contradictory and not have the ability to compartmentalize as one would expect. There was a lot of suspension of belief with her character. I found the death of her boyfriend to be impactful to her characters progress but then the twist at the end regarding him was just ridiculous. It felt like a distraction rather than serving the story. I liked the idea of Miriam but found her motives to not be fully fleshed out. Aziz was a great villain and Graham was fine as a love interest. I also found a lot of details to be glossed over. There were several times that I had to re-read sections because something would happen that didn't flow with the events from the paragraph before.

What I did like was the overall storyline. I am a sucker for dystopian novels and appreciate an author who can take a potentially real situation and flush out solutions. I appreciate that the women are wholly their own and are fierce in their own right. The friendship and betrayal between Juliet and Miriam were also well done. I wanted a deeper dive into that in the end but I also recognize that this is just the first novel in a series surrounding Juliet Arroway. I appreciate what the author is doing in making her women more than what their bodies can provide (like a lot of other novels in the space) it just didn't quite hit right for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

The Sydicate Spy is a gripping romantic suspense, that is non-stop action right from the get-go. Written by a former CIA operative, it gives a uniquely personal perspective of female agents in a fictional setting. Grab this book and settle in immediately!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book but my opinion is entirely my own.

Trying to live up to her father's memory, Juliet joins the Syndicate as a spy. She is deep in a mission to help end a war on energy when her boyfriend dies, leaving her alone. With reluctance, Juliet accepts help from FBI agent Graham and also from her best friend Mariam. As a spy, Juliet should have known things are not always what they seem.
Opinion
This book is very fact paced and chock full of action. There are good hints interspersed throughout but don't believe for a minute you will be able to guess the complete outcome. While I was able to figure part out, other parts shocked me. I was fully pleased with this books pace, romance, adventure and mystery. This is a great vacation read for mystery lovers.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Greenleaf Book Group for providing me with an ARC of this book.

The Syndicate Spy by Brittany Butler is a very intense, fast-paced, and intriguing spy novel. It features very strong and compelling female characters. Although fiction, the issues regarding an energy crisis and a possible world war are very real and relevant today. The action sequences are great and this book could easily be a movie.

Juliet Arroway is a former Army ranger who is currently a spy for the Syndicate, a CIA-type organization, charged with taking down energy terrorists in a world where every country is trying to find a new source of energy. She works with Miriam al-Saud whose family is actual royalty. As terrorist attacks increase by a group known as al-Alfatih, civilian casualties also increase around the world. Both women are emotionally connected to their mission because it has deeply affected both of their families. When they get closer to the truth behind the terrorist attacks, secrets are revealed that will change their lives forever. There are so many twists and turns in this spy thriller that I can’t get any deeper into the details without ruining everything. All I can say is that nothing is what it seems. Just when I thought that I had it all figured out, I was wrong. Even with all of that, there is also a true romance woven within the pages of The Syndicate Spy that I expected to be nothing more than a flash in the pan.

I have read plenty of spy novels and can definitely say that this was one of the best that I have read in a while. It was very realistic and left me wanting more. I look forward to reading another book from this author.

This is the story of two female intelligence officers set in a world where oil is no longer available and energy alternatives are the sought after commodity. The story is a romance thriller filled with espionage, suspense and twists. The settings of London, Paris and the Middle East left the reader feeling like they had just visited. The author's former affiliation with the CIA gives the plot authenticity and details that most likely only a former spy could develop. The author's knowledge of the Middle East, Muslims and the culture of the region come across in all the details. This is a feminist read with Juliet and Mariam leading the way in a terrifying post modern world. The romance is an added bonus.

What an outstanding debut novel. As I have said before, some of my favorite books are ones that blend fact and fiction. This one was right up there with the best of them. And it’s kind of hard to believe that it is a debut novel. I most definitely cannot wait for the next story in this series.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This is a Juliet Arroway novel. This is set in the near future, and the world has no more oil. Terrorists have new targets and are trying to take over the world. Syndicate operative Juliet Arroway and her best friend are on a mission to help keep the world safe. They have to find the formula that will end the world's energy crisis, can they do it?

The blurb was interesting and the focus on global assets and science is timely. However, the scenes did not flow due to ill-placed exposition that hampered the narrative and took the reader out of the story. The characters lacked depth and the setups from gear to operation execution seemed out of place or implausible. An overall lack of nuance and anticipation was out of step with the expectations of the spy genre.