A solid read. Carson isn't the greatest prose style around perhaps, and the narrative was about 20% longer than it should have been, but this was still a book that compelled your attention throughout.

I've never been to Iraq, and I hope I'll always be able to say that, but Carson vividly sketches it in as a broken and damaged country with little or nothing going for it any longer. More important, he makes it feel real. And a good thing, too, because Iraq was the real central character here, not the woman who is the protagonist of the narrative and bounces through a series of Perils-of-Pauline style adventures. You wished the country the best, and you cheered for it, but you feared for it, too. And that's exactly the way the central character of a novel should play out.

Recommended.

One of my favourite tv shows is Blood & Treasure and I was just at the Louvre yesterday so this book was just perfect. I loved the adrenaline rush I got as we were running through Bagdhad trying to find which FBI agent betrayed Charlie's team and who is stealing the artificats. I want more books with Agent Charlie.

J.J. Carson does a great job in this suspenseful thriller, I thought it was a great idea to use Baghdad. The characters were what I was looking for and felt like they were what I was expecting. It left me wanting to read more in this universe and loved the way the author wrote this.

Could have/would have been a 5 star novel, but it being an ARC,
it was hard to tell who was talking at times(you had to really pay
attention). I don't really care for when the author over describes the scene with so much detail.
The book had a lot of action, kept me guessing, and flushed out the characters well. I hope the published edition is edited a whole lot better. Thanks to NetGally and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
I recommend this book if you're into thrillers!

A thrilling page-turner that will keep you hooked from the very first sentence. Follow FBI agent Charlie Glass as she races against time to recover stolen treasures from the war-torn streets of Baghdad. But little does she know, the real danger lies within her own team. With its captivating storyline and unforgettable characters, this book is sure to leave you craving more.

An adrenaline-fueled thriller that plunges readers into the heart of war-torn Baghdad. Against the backdrop of a city ravaged by conflict, FBI agent Charlie Glass embarks on a high-stakes mission to recover stolen treasures from the Baghdad Museum. However, she soon discovers that there is more than meets the eye as she uncovers a web of deception within her own team.

This gripping tale of suspense and betrayal keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

First things first, this is an absolute belter of a read. It has been widely reported that vast amounts of priceless artefacts were looted in Iraq as a direct result of the US led invasion. Of course, looting artworks has form, so to speak. After all, the Nazis hoarded thousands of artworks and rumours persist that a long lost train holds many of these stolen treasures. But, back to this book. FBI agent Charlie Glass is part of a task force sent to Baghdad to help recover some of the stolen pieces. Up against it right from the start, Charlie can’t trust anyone and in a war torn country, loyalties can be bought, even if it is with looted gold.

The action scenes are spectacularly choreographed and Charlie is a joy to watch in action. One thing I particularly enjoyed was the readability of this book; the pages just turned themselves. The dialogue was spot on and there are some delicious put downs. A real thrill ride with a stand up protagonist, a storyline built around documented events and a narrative pace that doesn’t let you pause for breath. Spectacular.