Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Under The Radar
SERIES: Accidentally Undercover #6 multi-author series
AUTHOR: Linden Bell
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: Approximately 218 Pages
RELEASE DATE: April 30, 2024
BLURB:
My boyfriend is perfect. He drinks red wine, listens to true crime podcasts, and loves the theater. So what if I don’t know what he does for work, where his family is from, or who his friends are?
My friends disagree. They’re convinced that Jared either has a secret family, is a serial killer, or is a spy. When they wheedle me into some harmless stalking, I discover that the truth is wilder than fiction.
Under the Radar is part of the Accidentally Undercover shared romantic suspense series.
REVIEW:
In the nightclub, Jared is instantly drawn towards a stunning man with green eyes; he needs something, someone, and that is Logan. What was supposed to be a one-nighter turned into more, and months later, Jared still hasn’t confessed his job or real identity. Logan knows Jay is keeping secrets, and pier pressure encourages him to find out more – but will he like the answers? Will he survive the answers?
Under The Radar is part of a series written by various authors. All can be read as standalone stories. The tale has a splendid concept, moves fast, is action-packed, and includes heat wherever the opportunity permits. It is a variation on a well-worn theme. Nevertheless, I was entertained by this punchy short novel that felt like reading an episode from an FBI TV series.
The story is told in the first person from the viewpoints of Jared and Logan. For the majority, technically, it is good. However, there were a lot of autonomous body parts, which a few years ago were considered no-nos among editors (unless there was a pre-qualifying sentence). Maybe times have changed – hey ho. Given the book’s length, scenic picture building is minimal, as most of the drama is action-based, and talking about flora and fauna would have broken the flow.
Logan is a sweet, good man with a core of steel and a circle of adorable friends that made me smile. They were the caring light relief to the serious bits. I could almost imagine them kicking the proverbial out of the bad guy just for being nasty (though this doesn’t happen). Jared is FBI and can be badass. And the couple like their dirty talk.
Under The Radar is a combination tale. It is one of knowing a person and not. Knowing their soul, but not their day-to-day life. There’s a second chance element, too. As for the drama, the odd scenario is a touch far-fetched, but desperate times mean desperate measures. Also, this is fiction, so the generally impossible becomes possible, and everything is plausible. But, one section in the aftermath dialogue gave me pause regarding the timeline vs action. A little more clarification would have been appreciated as the lack of adequate/skimmed-over explanation gave rise to either a plot hole, gross FBI incompetence, or something equally despicable, as there’s a world-class criminal out there.
Anyhoo, regardless of the blips, where I am airing on the side of leniency; I would recommend it for its action/entertainment value, and I’m glad I picked it up to read.
RATING: 
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