A new series by Bentley follows Owen Pierce and his secret life as an assassin. Lots of twists and turns. High paced and lots of action. I almost gave it a 4 star since the plot got confusing at times.

Another fun read by the author and I look forward to reading more books by him

The Council is a riveting roller-coaster thriller bursting with awesome and memorable action sequences and taut plotting connected together with a strong emotional undercurrent that serves as the bedrock for this adventure. I can’t wait to see this take off into a multi-book series and even a movie/tv-show. It’s that superb.

I really enjoyed the action and the premise of the book was interesting. This mysterious cabal of powerful people are choosing how things unfold for the world's benefit and using a covert group of people to accomplish this. It felt a little too much for me. Every time the characters turned somewhere, a new person from this group was there to thwart them. The fight scenes were well done. I still enjoyed the book a lot and it was worth the read, the Council was just a bit too much for me. The Custodian was a great name and job and he was well thought out in terms of the storyline.

Great book. Unique plot, good pacing. Character development was good for both good and bad, though still some more I would have liked to learn. Overall a great standalone book from a great author.

Ruthless, lethal, and emotional, The Council will tug on your heartstrings while satisfying your thirst for bloodlust. Matthew Betley is back with a merciless thriller filled with unbridled violence and charged feelings.

The Council is a group of powerful Americans who influence events from the shadows, shaping the direction of the country. How do they do this? By recruiting skilled operators through emotional manipulation and visions of vengeance. Now, one member of the Council wants to expand globally and resorts to unsavory methods to influence the upcoming vote. But when one team of elite operators figures out the plan, they won’t stand by and let it happen. Kicking off a deadly chess match that pits apex predators against each other in a battle to the death with absolute global power hanging in the balance.

This is a Thriller with a capital T. Suspenseful, action-packed and bloody. Filled from start to finish with intelligent tactics, deadly weapons and adrenaline-soaked brutality. Which is awesome on its own. But the juxtaposition of viciousness with raw sentiment takes the story to another level. Featuring characters who showcase elite operational abilities on one page followed by learning about their devastating trauma on another. Bringing morality front and center and asking the question: what would you do if presented with the opportunity to get retribution against someone who brought you unimaginable pain?

Broken heroes, duplicitous power brokers, and psychopathic killers collide in a hurricane of combat and carnage. Making The Council an engaging, enraging and entertaining character-driven tale containing everything a thriller fan could want in a book.

Owen Pierce is a lawyer by day and part-time assassin for the Council until a hit goes bad. A roller coaster storyline ride, great character development, and a whole lot of action. First time reading Matthew Betley and I would hope for a follow up to this book.
Thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book and will be available on April 28, 2026. I do recommend this thrill ride!!

I had no expectations going into reading this book as I had selected it based on the summary provided and it definitely did not disappoint. Matthew Betley has provided a political/spy thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Overall enjoyed the characters and questions the story provides! Quick and fun read!

I received a free advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an entertaining read throughout. Lots of action and INTENSE fighting - like very graphic scenes of violence. There were enough plot twists to keep things interesting. At times, I felt like there was a little skip in time that made me think, "Did i miss something?" This didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of this book though. I'd probably give 3.5 stars but I'm rounding up to 4 here. I think there could be a follow up to this and would absolutely read the next one if it becomes a series.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and Net Galley for this ARC! #TheCouncil #NetGalley.