It would seem that Wilbur Smith has yet another contender for his title. This is an extremely well researched multi-faceted book by a new to me author. In fact it would seem to be his first book. WOW!

The promotional blurb calls Sea of Lies '<i>The Mother of all Asia Conspiracy Theory Thrillers'</i> and for once they have it right.

Although this book is written in minute detail and with plenty of sub-plots, the author manages to keep it breath-takingly exciting, basing his story line on actual events and giving alternative explanations to what we currently have through the so-called authorities.

Bradley West, if you keep writing at this level we are going to need more stars for our ratings. 11/10 for your effort!

Thank you to Goodreads and author Bradley Allan West for providing a digital ARC of Sea of Lies: An Espionage Thriller (and thrilling it is) for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

thank you.
enjoyed it,
will get copies for family and friends.

Sea of Lies is not your average spy tale. This one is a doozy! It is a combination of fiction and real-world events melded into a tale that spans the globe and will have you hanging on the edge of your seat.

Bob Nolan works for the CIA, but is about a month away from retirement. He’s a cryptanalyst and works mostly with computers and hackers. He lives in Rangoon with his wife, who is Chinese. His children, both adults, live in the U.S. He helps investigate a missing airliner, MH370, a story ripped from current real-world headlines. He and his embassy driver go out to try to find a newly-constructed airstrip that someone in the CIA saw on a satellite photo. Thus begins a wild ride of a tale that will take Nolan all over the world and make him a wanted man by his own agency. It is one complicated espionage story!

Bob’s godson is Mark Watermen, an Edward Snowden-like character who has taken some NSA files and fled to Russia. The US wants the files back, the Chinese want the files, the Russians want the files, one corrupt Russian official wants to use the data to hack the Iranians nuclear manufacturing, and Mark wants out of Russia. Bob tries to help facilitate a handoff of the files and his godson, while dodging trouble himself. Will he be successful?

Nolan doesn’t know who to trust and must try to conceal his activities from a spy agency with eyes and ears everywhere. His boss might be corrupt and he and his family are in mortal danger. Who is involved and who can he turn to for help? Meanwhile, a brutal mercenary who Nolan knew 30 years ago and thought was dead turns up very much alive and involved in something shady. Now, Bob has to run from this man as well. Can he survive all these things? Can he outwit them all and come out alive and well?

This story has so many plot twists and turns, you will not be able to put it down. It kept my interest and I found myself reading late into the night. If you like espionage tales, this one is one of the better ones I have read in a long time.

The characters are well-written and have plenty of depth. Bob is a flawed individual, but he’s still the good guy and you find yourself rooting for him to succeed. He teams up with a Chinese spy and together they must solve the mystery and both keep their competing agencies happy.

The pace of the story is fast and you will not be bored. Settings, dialog, and characters are all written very well. The weaving of real-world events into fiction makes it more interesting and offers an alternative explanation for these events. I found this a really enjoyable read and a book that will certainly make you think. Highly recommended!