Book Review: The Alliance by Matt Brolly

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Four cities, four killers, four murders. The Alliance is just getting started.

FBI Agent Shannon Wallace faces an unprecedented threat when four unconnected serial killers simultaneously commit identical murders across four different US cities. Each homicide is witnessed by a survivor, and now these lucky ones need to decide how to tell their stories to the world. Their posts about the horrific murders create a media storm and a new term is soon coined for the The Alliance.

As more innocent people linked to the initial murders are killed, it becomes clear that the deadly alliance was formed to terrorize the nation with coordinated strikes. The killers are always one step ahead and their survivors seem to be embroiled in sinister game of the survival of the fittest.

In a desperate race against time, can Wallace uncover the members and motives of the Alliance and end their reign of terror before more victims wind up dead.

The Alliance is the first Matt Brolly book I have read and I can confidently say it won’t be my last. From the start, I found myself captivated by the gripping mystery, unable to pry myself away until the very last page.

The narrative unfolds with a chance encounter between a former journalist and an obese man (later called the Chicken Man) in a San Antonio bar. Soon, the scene shifts to kidnapping of the journalist and him witnessing a murder. The journalist’s tale of survival intrigues the local police, especially when they uncover similar incidents transpiring across the country, prompting FBI’s involvement led by Agent Shannon Wallace.

As the survivors are thrust into the spotlight, a sinister entity known as The Alliance emerges, broadcasting their malevolent intentions via social media channels. The intricate web of deceit and murder unravelled with each twist, leaving me on the edge of my seat.

Amidst the chaos, characters like Wallace, Boyd, and the journalist, Ike Glass, hog the spotlight with their intertwining personal and professional struggles. Each carries their own burdens, adding depth to an already suspenseful narrative.

While the relentless tension kept me hooked, the finale fell slightly short of expectations, with the latter half feeling somewhat rushed and repetitive.

Despite these minor qualms, The Alliance by Matt Brolly remains a standout thriller, boasting a sinister plot that lingered in my thoughts long after I turned the final page.

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