Act of Betrayal

by Morgan Avery and George Albert Brown

Like the super-selling novels of Patricia Cornwell, this gripping new suspense thriller combines all the elements for a compelling and un-put-downable reading: a complex heroine, an inside look at the intricacies of big-city law enforcement -- and murder. What gives Act of Betrayal its fascinating and original twist is that Avery's character PJ Gray is a police psychologist whose cutting edge forensic computer simulation program allows her to get inside the minds of killers. Her partner is veteran detective Leo Schultz, a hot-headed homicide cop who prefers a traditional, direct approach with his suspects. Together, they manage to crack the cases that have baffled their colleagues on the St. Louis police force.In Act of Betrayal, Leo Schultz finds himself in a very dangerous place -- and suspected of committing a horrible crime. After his son becomes the victim of a grotesque murder, the detective drinks himself senseless at the nearest bar. The next morning, his car is identified as the vehicle of a hit-and-run accident that killed a little girl.With her partner wanted for murder and a manhunt mounted, cybersleuth PJ Gray launches an investigation into Rick Schultz's death that uncovers disturbing links to another murder case -- one Leo worked on more than a decade ago. As she digs into Leo's past, PJ discovers just how little she really knows about him. Then, another brutal murder stuns the city, and PJ is forced to make a deal with Cracker, the enigmatic computer genius and depraved criminal, to help her catch the killer. For Leo has become a player in a deadly game of vengeance, and unless PJ acts fast, he'll suffer the same fate as his son.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786011157
• ISBN13: 9780786011155
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Pinnacle Books
• Length: 349 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.3" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

4th book's as great as the 1st 3 by any name!

Morgan Avery (AKA Shirley Kennett) strikes again! Her characters are so real you feel like you really know them. Be sure to read her 1st 3 books to top this one off! Keep writing, Shirley, no matter what name you have to use! Your fans will always follow your books!

Act of Betrayal by Morgan Avery (AKA Shirley Kennett)

This is the latest installment in the crime/mystery series involving P.J. Gray and Leo Shultz. I have been a fan of this series for years and this is my favorite. All the suspense and action is there and it seemed a little less graphic than her previous novels. I am careful when I start one of Shirley Kennetts books because I know I will not be able to put it down util I finish it! I look forward to the next one!

ACT OF BETRAYAL: ANOTHER FINE NOVEL BY SHIRLEY KENNETT!

That's right, Shirley Kennett. This novel is the latest book in the series that features cybersleuth P.J. Gray and veteran police detective Leo Schultz. As in her previous books, Ms. Kennett (a/k/a Morgan Avery) seamlessly blends mystery, suspense, romance, and the right amount of technical information about police procedure.

God book in this series

In St. Louis, Cat waits for the arrival of Rick Schultz, just released from prison after serving time for selling illegal drugs to students. During his jail time, Rick received mail from Ginger Miller, promising him a good time upon his release. Now he comes to meet Ginger for the first time, but instead of the woman, Cat hits Rick and ties him up inside a tent containing cyanide.A few days later, the police led by cybersleuth PJ Gray investigate Rick's murder, which is personal because the victim is the son of Veteran Detective Leo Schultz. However, the next morning Leo's car is involved in a vehicular homicide when his automobile is seen running down a 4-year-old child who was playing on the sidewalk. The police look for Leo, who has vanished. Leo knows he is in a game of cat and mouse with him being the rodent and only PJ on his side. ACT OF BETRAYAL is a chilling police procedural that centers on revenge. The story line is taut as the action begins on page one and never eases up for a moment. PJ is an intriguing single mom who combines her psychology skills with her computer abilities into a new type of sleuth. Leo is superb, realizing his role in the game with his unknown opponent is to serve as a victim. Throw in some clever twists with a fresh, unique mystery and readers will call for more PJ stories soon from Morgan Avery.Harriet Klausner

Not a bad read

This book has plenty of action and the main character is very likable. There are several suprises which will catch the reader off guard. The main character's job as a developer of computer simulation of crime scenes does not really enter into the plot. This is an element that could have given the book more interest...perhaps in the next one?