Book Review: The Color of Betrayal
The Color of Betrayal. Hollie Smurthwaite, Self-published, 31 October 2022, Hardcover, Paperback, and eBook, 346 pages.
Reviewed by Kelly Fumiko Weiss.
The Color of Betrayal is book two in Smurthwaite’s “The Psychic Colors Series” and follows the story of memory surgeon Jolene as she tries to break through at her job with “The Agency” and show that she has what it takes to succeed in the dangerous job of bringing down major drug syndicates. As she deals with competing interests of her abusive boss, her flighty friends and coworkers, and a new love interest, she also struggles with her sobriety and the ever-changing and growing skills she has as a memory surgeon.
I was worried when I started this book that I would not know what was happening. I had not read the first book in the series, and that typically puts the reader at a disadvantage. However, that was not the case with The Color of Betrayal. This book was so well written that it stands on its own. Allusions to events I’m assuming happened in the first book are present, but they are explained well enough and fit so snuggly into the plot of this book that I did not feel like I was missing out. That in itself is a triumph for a second book in a series. In fact, this book was so well written that I have already put book one, The Color of Trauma, on my must-read list so I can go back and catch up on what I may have missed.
The true strength of this book is in the complexity of its characters. None of them are perfect. All of them are struggling in some way, which leads them to make decisions and actions that push the plot forward. While this book has very Alias vibes sometimes (and from me, that is the highest of compliments), it also charts its own path in a world where psychic abilities are real and varied, and the laws have yet to catch up. The tension and stakes are palpable and appropriate. And the love story—including several very steamy scenes—is integral to the plot and the character development of the story’s leads. Nothing is wasted in Smurthwaite’s prose. And it all ties together in a very satisfying conclusion.
The Color of Betrayal is a fast-paced, can’t-put-down, page-turner that fans of crime and suspense fiction with love, fans of romance will gobble up, and fans of world-building will appreciate. Smurthwaite has hit the perfect balance of science fiction and real, human-centered stakes that makes this larger-than-life story grounded in what really matters—what we think of ourselves and how we take care of others. I highly recommend The Color of Betrayal and look forward to going back for book one and the future when I’m sure Smurthwaite will continue the series. There are a lot more “Psychic Colors” stories to tell!