Face of Betrayal, Lis Wiehl and April Henry

In “The Face of Betrayal” by Lis Wiehl and April Henry, a teenage senate page named Katie Converse mysteriously disappears after returning home for Christmas. Soon deep secrets revolving around her past are revealed—a married senator accused of having an affair with Katie, the stepmother who isn’t all that she seems, and a blog kept a couple of months before Katie’s disappearance. A prosecutor, an FBI agent, and a TV reporter jump start the investigation and attempt to find Katie before it is too late. As the investigation reaches its peak, one of the main characters continues receiving death threats while another becomes involved in an abusive relationship. Wiehl’s experience as a former prosecutor and a legal analyst for the television network Fox News provides valuable knowledge for this book and fills the plot with professional details. Overall this is a very engaging thriller, holding the reader captivated until the very last page. The writing is solid and the characters are striking. Perhaps my only criticism is that it was somewhat reminiscent of Mary Higgins Clark’s latest book, particularly the subplot with the prosecutor, but overall a book I would recommend reading to anyone who enjoys good mysteries that simultaneously touch upon some of the important social issues facing us today. Published by Thomas Nelson, April 2009, 320 pages, List price $24.99.