Mark M Bello's Betrayal at The Border is book number seven of the Zachary Blake Legal Thriller series and a great addition it is.

In earlier books in this series, Bello created a strong and durable protagonist who I have grown to love and care for in following books, so I was only too eager to follow Blake as his new story unfolds and the character is continued.

Even though this tale belongs to a series, the plot is so well-constructed that I think it can easily be read as a standalone. It is definitely an entertaining read that should not be missed by thriller fans.

Betrayal At The Border is definitely another great read with great character building and a fast-paced and solid plot line. I really enjoyed reading this and I'm looking forward to the next Zachary Blake case! ( )

Betrayal at the Border, the 7th novel in the Zachery Blake Legal Thriller Series by Mark M. Bello tackles the broken immigration system in the United States. The story follows two different immigration stories being taken on by the clever and successful lawyer Zachery Blake. The exploration of the United States immigration system is both incredibly intriguing and completely heart-breaking. The two stories offer very different situations and characters but by seeing both sides by side we are given a deeper look into how broken the system is. Bello does a wonderful job of painting a full picture while also making a thrilling story that is hard to put down. I would highly recommend this highly compelling and powerful read to anyone who loves thriller novels. ( )

Award-winning legal thriller author, Mark M. Bello, pits our nation's broken immigration system against important human and social justice rights issues, spinning a tale that shines a bright light on the everyday fears of immigrants all over these United States. Can Blake, Mann, and Love prevent a Betrayal at the Border?

This is one of the best books that I have read recently. It is a great legal thriller that hooked me early on and kept me eagerly turning pages way past my usual bed-time. The story features some really great court room scenes, complex characters and I found it portrayed so many human emotions and frailties in a very delicate and compelling way that made me feel emotionally connected to the story and characters. This was an enjoyable legal thriller that really hits it stride in the courtroom scenes. Highly recommended! ( )

Betrayal at the Border is a fast paced emotional read with 2 stories intertwining back and forth with each chapter. First with the Gonzalez family, Emma and Emilio are young children born into America while their parents Miguel and Mary have over stayed the limit and are illegal immigrants. When ICE agents come and take Miguel and Mary away the plot becomes sticky. Meanwhile Canan takes her daughter Hana back home to Syria believing that it will be safe for her family to meet her daughter...she was all too wrong. Marshall Mann the one who knows the immigration laws to the T and his partner Zachary Blake the no nonsense get stuff done lawyer take these cases and work around the clock to get justice. ( )

Venezuelan born Mary Carmen and her husband Miguel live peacefully in Lincoln Park, Michigan with their two children, Emma 9 and Emilio, aged 7. A humble couple, immigrating when Mary Carmen was expecting their first child; both now work at a local adhesive filler plant.
Life is simple until the great worry hanging over their heads becomes a reality. Although they initially had a visa, it expired and owing to fears of refusion, they never reapplied, resulting in their status becoming classified as illegal immigrants. Their children, who were born in the US, are American citizens; therefore, they stayed, living with the fear of being deported to Venezuela.

Life trickled along until the number of raids deporting illegals increased. The dreaded day arrives when ICE agents storm the plant where the couple work and arrest them, as they cannot produce identity papers. Mary Carmen and Miguel, distraught, are in shock; their community rallies round, with the help of a sympathetic social worker who contacts and hires the great and finest trial lawyers in the country, Zach Blake and Marshall Mann.

Simultaneously, Canan, a Kurdish American citizen, elects to visit her hometown of Kobani with her young daughter. Her mother and grandmother still live there and have never physically met Hana, the child. Karim, Canan’s husband, is thoroughly against the suggestion, as he has to remain in America. Out of respect for his wife, accepting her resolution, he arranges safe transport for her. Unfortunately, en route, they are stopped at a blockade and kidnapped.

Mark M.Bello has constructed a novel comprising a terrifying game of chance as Zack and Marshall have to work simultaneously on two extreme cases with catastrophic elements. I was biting my nails, engrossed in the conclusion as the story cleverly switches between the two cases.
The author has composed this book around a very likeable MC. For once, a lawyer with a caring attitude towards his clients. He genuinely feels concerned about the welfare of the people, not only about fees and money. I found this refreshing in someone of his position and career path, including his ‘ no expense spared ‘ attitude.

To conclude, Betrayal at the Border includes a defined plot with well-described scenes and activities and intricately thought out legal aspects giving a precise sense of reality. ( )