Matt Latham, foreign correspondent and part time spy for Australia's SIS, flew from his home in London to Dallas, Texas, where he'd been tasked with ghost writing a book for an old friend, Bryant Callahan, who was aiming to become the next US Senator for Texas. The luxury mansion he stayed in, belonging to the Callahan's, was eye opening. Bryant's wife Aleja, was a lovely young woman whose past had included being crowned Miss Cuba in 2008. As Matt dug deeply into Bryant's life, his respect for his old friend gradually dissipated. Matt realised he hadn't known Bryant at all.

When Matt travelled to Havana to search for Aleja's birth parents, he unlocked secrets that had huge ramifications, alerting the authorities to the search. Matt barely escaped Cuba with his life. Discovering what happened in Nicaragua decades prior, Matt found himself jumping to conclusions - but were they the right ones? What would be the outcome for Aleja, as well as for Bryant?

Best Left Buried is the 2nd in the Matt Latham series by Aussie author Neil A. White, and while I enjoyed the first, this one disappointed me, unfortunately. I couldn't associate with Matt this time round, and the same with the other characters in the book. Lonnie was the only person I liked. I doubt I'll continue the series in the future..

With thanks to NetGalley & Echo Publishing for my digital ARC to read and review.

Tamarind trees blanket much of the fast-paced intrigue afoot in Best Left Buried. Occasional scenes drip with enjoyable cheese and this was a fun surprise worth picking up.

An Australian reporter is tasked to write a biography of a wealthy, politically-connected, Texas man his father was once friends with. Well drawn locations include Texas, Cuba, Mexico, and Washington D.C. The story is easy to drop in to and zips with action. Scenery description are vivid and well done. A couple cartoonish moments force you to suspend belief but this is action/espionage and we are here to see how viscous events from the past will snowball into calamity in the present.

It works fine as a stand alone and could easily have you grabbing for the 2024 release Shadow Lives

Thanks to Netgalley and Echo Publishing for a review copy.

Best Left Buried is a compelling and vivid read that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go. Neil A. White’s writing is rich in detail, making it incredibly easy to picture each scene as it unfolds. The descriptive style creates a strong sense of place without ever bogging down the pace.
The character development is another standout. Each introduction is handled with clarity and care, making it easy to keep track of who’s who and how they connect to the main character. It’s refreshing to read a book where the cast feels distinct and meaningful without becoming overwhelming.
There were even a few laugh-out-loud moments that added a welcome lightness to the suspense, particularly the line: “Why you Aussies gotta talk so goddamn fast?” As someone with American family, I couldn’t help but laugh—White perfectly captures the charming clash of accents and cultures.
Overall, Best Left Buried is sharp, well-crafted, and thoroughly enjoyable. A great blend of tension, character, and humor