If you love political thrillers that move fast and hit hard, Joel C. Rosenberg’s The Beijing Betrayal should be at the top of your list. This is the final installment in the Marcus Ryker series, and Rosenberg doesn’t just stick the landing—he lights the runway on fire.
Ryker’s latest mission sends him to Pakistan to hunt down the world’s most dangerous terrorist. What he finds instead is a nightmare scenario: a cutting-edge lab, a deadly virus, and a sinister plan that could wipe out millions. Meanwhile, Washington is distracted by tense trade talks with Beijing—unaware that China is quietly prepping for a full-scale invasion of Taiwan. What follows is a race against time to stop a biological attack and prevent World War III.
Rosenberg has always excelled at making global politics feel personal. Ryker isn’t just a hero—he’s a man on a mission, driven by principle and haunted by sacrifice. The action is nonstop, the tension is sky-high, and the plot reads like it was ripped from classified briefings.
Bonus tip: George Guidall’s audiobook narration is pitch-perfect.
If this really is Ryker’s final chapter, it’s one heck of a curtain call. I’ll be going back to read the earlier ones ASAP.
** Thanks to Edelweiss+ and Tyndale Fiction for a complimentary review copy. The opinions are my own.