Ronie Kendig: Conspiracy of Silence

By Kelly Bridgewater

Four years after a tragic mission decimated his career and his team, Cole "Tox" Russell is persona non grata to the United States. And that's fine--he just wants to be left alone. But when a dormant, centuries-old disease is unleashed, Tox is lured back into action.

Partnered with FBI agent Kasey Cortes, Tox has to pull together a team to begin a globe-spanning search for answers--and a cure. As their quest leads them from continent to continent, it slowly becomes clear they're not just fighting a plague--but battling against an ancient secret society whose true goals remain hidden.

With time running out and opposition growing on every side, the key to everything may rest in an antique codex, the Crown of Jerusalem--but will Tox and his team be able to trust each other enough to break this century-spanning conspiracy of silence?

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My Review:

I have read majority of Ronie Kendig's books, so I had a pretty good idea what I was in for when I picked up Conspiracy of Silence. I expected a strong hero who has a job or background in the military, strong heroine's, a setting that takes place in other countries, and a plot that moves at all times. With Conspiracy of Silence, I read all of these things and was pleasantly surprised with how much I really enjoyed this book.

First, the writing is strong and concise. Kendig does a great job at inviting me into the setting in a foreign country and allows me to experience a different culture than I have ever visited. I really enjoyed how she stays in one character's perspective at one time. She doesn't confuse me at all. I feel like I am invited into their internal struggles and allowed to empathize with each individual characters.

As for the characters, I really enjoyed getting to know and understand Tox. He is a strong hero who has military skills that make him shine on the page. He gripped me from the first moment I met him. Tox cares about family and would do anything to protect his niece. Even though he can kill a person with his physical skills, he is still a deeply caring person. First, with the hint of romance with Tzivia, than with a blast from the past romance with Haven. Don't worry! The romance is not the overarching story or takes away from the fast pace novel. It is a side note that deepens the characters.

The plot reminds me a lot of the Indiana Jones movies. It features a hunt for a Biblical artifact that has gone missing that could release a deadly plague on the world. It is fast pace, and Kendig does allow the characters and the readers alike to take breathers once in a while. Kendig's ability to incorporate her research about the Aleppo Code into the story without boring me was an amazing feet.

While the story is original, it isn't completely predictable, and I really can't wait to see what the next book in the series holds. There really isn't anything that I would shy away from. I believe teenagers would enjoy this book as much as any adult who loves adventures in their novels. Since the novel is a hunt for a Biblical artifact, there is a lot of mention of God, not preaching at the reader, but clues from the Bible to help Tox and his crew to solve the mystery. I believe fans of Kendig and Indiana Jones will devour this novel. I know I did.

With the hunt for a Biblical mystery, Ronie Kendig's Conspiracy of Silence invited me into a new world of intrigue with relatable characters to experience a world I have never encountered. I really can't wait for the next installment. Write faster, Ronie!

I received a complimentary copy of Conspiracy of Silence from Bethany House Publishers and Ronie Kendig, and the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 

This book reminded me a lot of Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code. Do you agree? Why or Why not?