In "The Syndicate Spy," Brittany Butler takes readers on a journey through a near-future world grappling with an energy crisis. The story revolves around Juliet Arroway, a determined Syndicate operative, as she confronts terrorists and uncovers a web of deception. Butler blends elements of mystery, thriller, romance, and women's fiction, in this novel.

The author's ability to weave fact and fiction is commendable, shedding light on the power of female heroics in shaping the course of war. However, as an espionage enthusiast, I struggled to stay fully engaged with the story. Despite an intriguing premise and a strong narration by Amy Landon, the book fell short of my expectations. Nevertheless, the inclusion of multiple terrorist attacks and the emotional journey of the protagonist kept me invested to some extent.

Overall, "The Syndicate Spy" offers an interesting perspective on the consequences of global resource wars. While it may not have fully satisfied my espionage cravings, the book's blend of genres and the author's storytelling skills make it a worthwhile read for those seeking a mix of mystery, romance, and women's empowerment.

#TheSyndicateSpy #BookReview #Mystery #Thriller #Romance #WomensFiction #Espionage #FemaleHeroics

*Thank you Netgalley for the audiobook ARC of this novel*

I wanted to enjoy this novel, but there were a number of items that felt they fell flat. Between the lack of depth for the characters outside of surface level chips on shoulders, there was not much substance to speak of. There were also some odd instances of phrasing that took the reader out of the narrative. I believe there are some very good aspects to this story, just could use some refinement to have the subjects be more taingible.

I very much enjoyed the audio narration of this story which is what led me to giving an extra star. I will be looking for other work this narrator puts out.

This intriguing audio espionage thriller is set in the near future when Earth has depleted all of its oil reserves and the world finds itself on the brink of war based on ownership of alternative energy sources. American Juliet Arroway, a former Army ranger, now works as an undercover spy in an international syndicate with operatives from governments around the world aimed at ending terrorist attacks related to alternative energy development. She on the hunt for a the head of a Middle East terrorist group, known as Abu Hassan, but whose identity has remained elusive, and she’s partnered in tracking her down with Mariam al-Saud, the daughter of the King of Saudi Arabia who Juliet met at Foreign Service School in D.C.. Unexpected twists and turns abound amid terrorist attacks in London and Paris, and Juliet’s having to partner with Graham Harding, a self-assured FBI agent she finds endlessly abrasive. The plot also involves the fight for women’s rights in closed-down traditionalist Arab, male-dominated societies.

That thriller part of the book proves grabbing and I loved the amazing audio version- with amazing narration from changing of international accents to keeping the suspense at full tilt. The plot also clearly draws from the author’s years as a CIA spy recruiter, with her focus on both the Middle East and the fight over women’s rights.

That being said, clunky explicit sex scenes and the constant angst in Juliet’s love life truly drag the action down – instead of heightening the thrill or adventure or coming off as erotic. Hopefully these will become more believable and nuanced with better editing guidance as future books continue Juliet’s work as a master spy agent.


Thanks to Greenleaf Book Group Press and Netgalley for an audio review copy of this book.

I really tried but I just could not get into this one. I felt like it started in the middle of the story and I could not catch up. The writing was dry with little description to help the story along. I didn’t relate to any of the characters and ultimately DNF’d this one because I couldn’t get into it.

Brittany Butler asks readers to suspend a lot of belief in this spy thriller. I have to admit after listening to The Syndicate Spy to being surprised when I read the author’s bio and background because even a novice in world relations and the spy world would be scratching their heads in disbelief at Arroway’s antics. Plus the romance is an affront to most working women - especially those in the military field. I’ve never seen experienced agents act so carelessly or with such ignorance of just simple procedure. I truly hope the secondary title of this book does not mean that this is intended to be a series because Arroway is not worth a spy fanatic’s time. I tried to suspend my own knowledge of the military world to just enjoy the story, but I just wanted to fire Arroway and Graham and put professional agents in the field. These are not agents you can count on to save your butt in the field.

<i> 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, the same mission that cost Juliet's father his life. But when multiple terrorist attacks result in devastating losses, including the death of Juliet's longtime boyfriend, and the Syndicate begins to suspect that Mariam's family is somehow involved, Juliet must rise above her heartbreak to discover the truth.
In her quest, Juliet is paired with Graham―a dashing yet arrogant FBI agent―and embarks on a dangerous journey toward love and survival as they race to obtain the formula that could solve the energy crisis.

But when peace demands a stunning betrayal, Juliet must decide how much she is willing to pay for the success of her mission. Brilliantly weaving fact and fiction, Butler tells a story seldom told―how female heroics can change the course of war. </i>

It took awhile to get into this book, at first having trouble connecting with the characters and the story, and then, suddenly, it all came together into an engaging, action- and romance- packed spy adventure. The dialogue between the two main characters occasionally felt a bit stilted and unnaturally flowery when veering towards their burgeoning romance, but that wasn’t enough to detract from the well- written political dynamics and action sequences. In those regards, the author clearly knows her stuff ( which makes sense for an ex-CIA). An enjoyable audiobook, as narrated by Amy Landon, that could also make a great movie.

Thank you Brittany Butler, Greenleaf Book Group Press, and NetGalley for providing this ALC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Syndicate Spy
Author: Brittany Buttler @formerspy1
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press
Stars: 5/5

Wow what a spy thriller this books was. It kept me on
the edge of my seat. I loved that the main character is
a strong female lead who is also not afraid to show
her soft vulnerable side. I wanted to add part of the
synopsis from the author’s website that had me
wanting to read this book

”The future: Earth’s oil reserves are depleted. Nations
race against terrorists for control over alternative
energy sources, and the Syndicate—a conglomerate of
allied intelligence agencies—must put an end to the
global energy war. Syndicate spy, Juliet Arroway, and
her best friend, Mariam, a Saudi princess, are tasked
to hunt down energy terrorists. When the Syndicate
begins to suspect that Mariam’s family is somehow
involved, tensions build and the carnage multiplies.
When peace means a stunning betrayal, Juliet must
decide if her mission is worth risking her own life as
well as the lives of those she loves.”

There are so many twist and turns in this story that I
ended up buying the book and stopped listening to the
audio version in part because I was not fond of the
narration. The book is well written and it is obvious
that that the author knows the “spy” world.

This is generally not the genre of book that I read but I
told myself that I was going to venture into new genres
in 2023. I could never of imagined the final outcome. I
am looking forward to more Juliet Arroway adventures!

Thank you to @NetGalley for the Audio ARC that
started my adventure with Juliet.
To Brittany Butler @formerspy1 and to Greenleaf Books
for publishing this book.

@formerspy1 #greenleadbookgr #thesyndicatespy
#julietarroway #ciaagent #intelligence #secretagent
#femalespy #spystories #espionage #book
#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booklovers #book
#booknerd #bookaddict #bookreview #booklover
#bibliophile #igreads #currentlyreading #bookreview
#lovetoread #booksarelife #bookreviewer
#bookaddicts #bookpost #bookworms #booknerd
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Initially, I was very excited for this story. It was like stumbling upon a Yelp review for a new restaurant that looked like a perfect match for me. A action packed spy thriller with a zest of romance. Sadly, it fell short of my expectations. To put into food perspective, my burger was overdone, the fries were cold and the ranch sucked. I couldn’t wait to get the check and go home.

I found the action sequences to be completely unbelievable and the romance was being forced upon us at inappropriate times, taking away from scenes. The characters were too predictable and cheesy. I found myself laughing out loud at how corny the romance scenes could be and it just pulled me out of the story every time. The main love interest, Graham, is too perfect. He always says the right thing at the right time, it’s like he’s tapped into her head, making it uninteresting because there’s no emotional investment. Juliet, never seemed like the hardened spy she claimed to be, always making stupid decisions in combat situations and putting her partner in compromising positions. Also, does no one die in this book? Grenade blasts, gun shots, sword slices, broken jaws and everyone just shrugs it off like they’re fine. So many scenes in this book had me wondering, why’re we even reading anymore? There’s nothing at stake, the main characters can’t die, they just get hurt and then magically heal super quick. This book got really boring really fast.

A positive, I think the author illustrates the complex duality that intelligence officers and SOF operators deal with on a daily basis, juggling who they are as a person and who they’ve become. Overall, I thought the plot had a lot of promise but the execution left me disappointed.

I listened to the audio format and I thought the narrator did a great job of playing the different characters, but when doing scenes with multiple accents you could hear her start to blend them together.

An interesting fast paced espionage story with suspense, mystery and romantic elements around the non usual topic of energy resources for our planet. The topic was approached realistically and with the necessary literature nuances to carry away the reader or audiobook listener.

I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook and the narrators' voices added up to a nice audio experience. However, if I was to suggest one thing is that I would prefer it to be a bit shorter in length. The audiobook was almost 11 hours long.

I’m a big fan of mystery/thriller novels. I would say this book was more of a romance novel. Brittany Butler’s professional background does give the spy part more credibility. The narration was done well. If you are wanting a light romance, women’s fiction with a bit of fighting for justice, you will enjoy this book.

Thank you #NetGalley, #GreenleafBookGroupPress, #BrittanyButler, #AmyLandon and #TheSyndicateSpy for the advance audiobook for my honest opinion.

I think I have found my favorite genre and that is in part due to Brittany Butler! When I started listening to this one it was supposed to be for when I went on walks with the dogs and did my chores over the weekend, instead it was a sit through and ignore all other items on my to do list.

Butler gave me a spy I want to cheer on, a villain I want to hate, an asset I want to succeed., and a love interest I want to blossom. The content can be a little hard to handle at times, as it is indicative of the inequality of females and the sometimes gruesome events that happen in extremist groups in the middle east.

I cannot wait to get the next book of this series and it is absolutely one I will be anxiously awaiting with each new installment.

The narration was good, I enjoyed the tone of most characters--though there was one that just seemed a weird take (and since he was a main it was a lot), but it was not enough to take away from the story.

Audiobook received for free through NetGalley

A good book that grabbed me and took me along for a ride. Glad I came across it

This book is typically something that I usually do not read but getting it as an audio book from NetGalley, I did not mind giving it a chance. While there was some real fun parts of the book, there were others where I would just go huh. I felt like the first part of the book they are trying to drill the name of the terrorists, I swear every other word was their name. It became a bit much. Then the under tone of the romance that Juliet build up with Graham, even though at the beginning she was with another guy for about six years. The way it just appeared made me go okay. But it was fun to read a different style book. I like the tension with Mariam when it came to her family and from that part of the book it went wild. So not being my cup of tea, if you like spy books with some twists and turns, this will be right up your alley. I look forward to seeing some other books as well.

I requested this audiobook ARC because of the title and synopsis. First time author, Brittany Butler, ex CIA agent, did not disappoint. The first book in the series takes you all over the globe. Syndicate agents, Juliet Arroway and her partner Maryam work together in an attempt to bring peace between the West and Arabic nation’s fight over synthetic energy.
Butler gives us action and suspense while intricately mixing fact and fiction. Add in a steamy romance, thrills, and twists ….all making for an engaging page turner. It has some predictability, but still keeps you focused on the storyline and what happens next. Juliet, the main character, full of passion and fury, at times, just could not get out of her own way. Makes me wonder if the author gave us some of her own experiences through Juliet.
As it ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, eagerness awaits! I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.

I don't often read spy thrillers, but when I have in the past, I've enjoyed them. So I decided to take a chance on this one.

Unfortunately, it just didn't do it for me. I found Juliet Arroway, the main female character, to be overly controlled by her emotions, whatever they happened to be at the moment, which is likely to get a spy killed. Whether she was fixated on grief, revenge or love, that was her sole focus to the exclusion of all else. As a result, she lacked depth and wasn't very likable.

I did like Graham, her male counterpart, well enough, but there were too many things that weren't believable, like getting sliced in the abdomen with a scimitar and being near death, only to need a few stitches to survive.

Given the author's background, I had anticipated something with some realism to it, but this just didn't really work for me at all.

All the same, I appreciate the advance review copy. Thank you, Brittany Butler, Greenleaf and NetGalley.

This book was outside the genre I usually read. As usual the romance was my favorite part. The narrator’s voice was very fitting to the character. I felt like it fit perfectly. There were some moments where her voice was so deep and quiet that it was hard to hear without adjusting the volume. I liked her use of voices in the story but there were moments where she didn’t change her voice and I was unsure who was talking.

The story itself was good. It started a little slow for me. I think at the 60% mark it really picked up. One of the plot twists was predictable to me but the other was quite shocking. If I can get myself in the mood for a book outside of romance maybe I will continue to the series again. I do love Graham. A dashing and arrogant FBI agent is right. Juliet was meh for me. Honestly I could take or leave her. Overall book was good.

Published: 05/22/23
Narrator: Amy Landon

Thank you NetGalley and Brittany Butler, Greenleaf Book Group Press for accepting my request to read and review The Syndicate Spy.

The cover states -- A Juliet Arroway Novel, as far as I can tell this is the first and I hope there is a second. I liked Juliet, and inturn the book. Right away the book started, kudos to Butler for that. Rarely do I come across a book where the first thirty to forty pages are more than setting up the story. TSS reminded me of the television show 24. Out of the gate the action was on. TSS and 24 were centered around work. When you take a job, you have to learn about your coworkers while performing. Butler did a good job developing the personal side while getting the spy-business done. The story itself is smart. There are middle-eastern countries, cultures, and clothing pieces mentioned appropriately.

I did take issue with Juliet at the border with Graham. Maybe, just maybe that was realistic, I had a hard time believing it then, and I'm still not buying it. ( no spoiling). There was some bantering between them that I thought dumbed down the smart storyline.

I did like the full circle part of the story. There was a shielding incident that I had forgotten all about, and whoa Butler did not.

The narrator was good, and I hope if there is a second book she will narrate.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I take issue with 95% of the swearing, it cheapened the writing and was not necessary. It felt as if it was inserted to fulfill a quota. For that 3.5 stars, not rounding up.

I tried but finally had enough. DNF. The main character had a giant chip on her shoulder, was ridiculously defensive and offended with other military groups, externally emotional, and on the brink of handing over confidential secrets to her boyfriend. Not believable as someone who could hack it in that arena where that would be the daily environment/choices.

Thanks to Netgalley for advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.

Great book! I love a good spy story and was hooked from the start and loved the main character was a female. It was fast paced, race against the clock action. Juliet wasn't going to slow her fight against the terrorists.

I can't wait for more from this author.

Well written and full of details that feel plucked from the news, politics, science and current conflicts. Set in the near future, the pace is fast, though slowed for romantic interludes that should appeal to romantic suspense fans. I’m more a fan of straight suspense, but appreciate that this has a strong female /male dynamic. A fully fleshed out ending also leaves room for more books with these characters.