Blood Betrayal [Paperback]

Mike Thompson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 29, 2009

The first installment of the Wolf Magnussen series--

Set in the peculiar Anderson Valley town of Booneville, nestled against the foothills of Northern California's Coastal Range -- a mystery unfolds as a series of family tragedies is revealed when Wolf Magnussen's nephew is found slain in the midst of a family hunting trip.

The boy's own father, Dimitri, a troubled former SAS commando suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, is the small-town sheriff's only suspect. He's also the focus of the FBI's investigation into the gruesome murders of three federal park rangers.

As the two law-enforcement agencies team up and unwittingly enlist the help of Dimitri's wife, brother, and both of his long-divorced parents, things begin to make sense in the most terrible way. The Magnussen family's complicated makeup is about to become more complicated, though. While everyone's doing their best to bring Dimitri in, or avoid being the next victim in his killing spree, the origin of Dimitri's PTSD comes into question when he's linked to a family tragedy more than two decades earlier.

When D's ex-commanding officer arrives from Britain, he'll join the broken family's transatlantic, heart-pounding and heart-wrenching tale -- 25 years in the making -- filled with telling scars, murder, forced confessions, vengeance, and suicide.

Rich and complex characters add to the stranger-than-fiction setting. Dimitri's polar-opposite brother, Wolf, narrates the story as he leads the reader through one surprise after another, and just when you think you've got it all figured out... you're wrong... and then you're wrong again.

Product Details

• Paperback: 282 pages
• Publisher: Outskirts Press (September 29, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1432748025
• ISBN-13: 978-1432748029
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,112,036 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mike Thompson was born in California in 1973. His parents divorced soon after that, and he was raised on a working Quarter horse ranch with his father, step-mother and older brother in the small town of Placerville in Northern California. He has two other siblings, has been married and divorced, and has three children. He currently lives in Anaheim, California. Mike is a general contractor and U.S. Navy Seabee veteran who was deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004. Mike holds black belts in Karate and Kung Fu, was a Military Close Quarters Combat instructor while in the service, and is an avid outdoorsman and hunter. Mike's suspense writing reflects his fascination with and study of the duality of man, psychology and psychiatric disorders, and his wealth of personal experience in the military and in the wild. Contact the author and get more info on upcoming releases from www.bloodbetrayal.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gripping Suspense Novel That Will Keep You Guessing, December 2, 2009

By 

Sarah Moore "Sarah" (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blood Betrayal (Paperback)

There are certain elements that, for me, create an especially compelling piece of dramatic fiction. If the book features episodes of violence or fear that are just as powerful for their psychological effect as they are for the acts themselves, I'm going to be drawn to the story. I have a great appreciation for writing that really explores what is occurring in a person's mind, no matter how twisted. When this complicated sense of terror is found within the context of family relationships, the plot becomes even more captivating.

First-time author Mike Thompson captures both of these features with his gripping new release Blood Betrayal.
Blood Betrayal details the story of Dimitri Magnussen, a veteran who is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder following seven years in the Special Forces, and the murder spree that he embarks upon while on a family hunting trip with his brother and son. As the story unfolds through the eyes of his brother Wolf, the progression of Dimtri's violent rage and his terrifying crimes makes him into a character with seemingly no conscience or hesitation to spill blood. However, revelations that are left unknown to the reader until the closing chapters of the book will complicate the situation and, at least for this reader, create an uncomfortable sense of ambiguity.

Mike Thompson does a wonderful job of using language to create a dark and suspenseful environment. As I turned each page of Blood Betrayal, I began to sense each dark corner and mysterious noise that existed in the comfort of my home. Even when the mood is a frightening one, I love getting lost in a book that transplants me into every emotion and experience in the story. From the terror that Wolf feels when he does not know who or what is stalking him in the mountains to the climatic moments during which Dmitri becomes the hunted and shocking family secrets are revealed, Thompson makes sure that every word contributes to the growing suspense.

I believe the impact of Blood Betrayal was multiplied for me by the current events that we see on the news every evening. The record number of PTSD cases stemming from the military conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq has made many Americans more aware of this frightening reality. It is apparent that Thompson uses his own experience as a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and as a Close Quarters Combat instructor to develop the characters in this book and that makes their personalities even more riveting. While the character of Dmitri Magnussen is certainly an extreme case, I know that shedding light on this emotional topic will continue to be important for years to come.

With Blood Betrayal, Mike Thompson has crafted a novel that will attract fans of suspense and those who appreciate the successful efforts of the author to bring his own expertise into a fictional format. The plot is unique and undoubtedly will have the readers guessing until the very last page, with a conclusion that warranted an audible gasp from me as I sat alone in my living room. On the back cover of his book, Thompson shares that Blood Betrayal is just the first release in the Wolf Magnussen series and I look forward to discovering what Thompson has in store for us next.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A riveting story of human nature, January 9, 2010

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blood Betrayal (Paperback)

Murder just adds more problems to one's already problem riddled life. "Blood Betrayal" tells the story of Dimitri Magnussen, a disturbed man wanted for murder. A sheriff out to find the killer of his friends believes Dimitri is the one responsible, and along the way the truth only becomes more and more muddled. A riveting story of human nature, and the cloud of innocence and guilt, "Blood Betrayal" is a very recommended read that shouldn't be ignored.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Trippy psychological mystery, October 16, 2009

By 

Guy (Anaheim, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Blood Betrayal (Paperback)

Very fun to read. Very easy to read also. Not too much flowery speech, but great story telling. The plot is extremely intriguing, and I never figured out what was going on until the last couple pages. This guy is a great suspense writer!