Review: Dark Liaison
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 21, 2011
Corban Dowler isn't your normal kind of guy, never has been, so why should becoming a follower of Christ make that any different? Once the CIA's top spy, Dowler gave it all up when he gave his life to Christ. But aren't Christians called to use their talents for God's glory? So Corban takes abnormal to a whole new level by developing COIL--a Christian based ministry focused on protecting missionaries in hostile countries and getting them supplies. He still works closely with the CIA, providing them assistance--non-lethal, of course--in exchange for favors of his own. Virtually, he's built a Christian spy and recon organization. And eventually that was bound to attract the wrong kind of attention.In Dark Liaison, D.I. Telbat has crafted a Christian spy novel that combines action and suspense while shedding light on the persecution that Christians around the globe suffer. The novel comes with an unapologetic evangelical bent and a dip into the supernatural, as Corban and his team begin to face their toughest enemy yet. The writing is engaging, the action fun and eye-opening. Telbat moves his story along through multiple storylines that coalesce as the story travels on.The first storyline involves Corban, his various disguises and expertise as a spy, and a hired killer that's hot on his trail. The subterfuge, craftiness, and inventiveness in their interactions create a fun story that helps us understand Corban while setting up an important part of the book later on. A secondary storyline involves Corban's team and their job extracting missionaries from hostile situations.As COIL's reputation grows, so does concern within the CIA. A hotshot CIA agent has set his sights on bringing down COIL because they are ostensibly a threat, but secretly he harbors an ulterior motive. Corban's own family isn't immune either and they too find themselves caught up in the plot to take down Corban and COIL.While I think the story would have been better off without resorting to the overtly demonic to explain the evil Corban faces, overall the story itself is strong, if a bit simplistic. That simplicity isn't a bad thing, it just means the book had more of a young adult feel to it. Some of the spy elements, while fun, stretched belief (the ease of disguises, for example) and some storylines saw abrupt and too-easy changes.Dark Liaison is a fun story with a great message. Telbat is adept at creating likable characters you can't help but want to know more about. Good is strongly contrasted with evil and readers are reminded that there is no redemption without sacrifice.At $1.99 on Kindle, Dark Liaison is affordable and portions of sales are being donated to Samaritan's Purse and Voice of the Martyrs.