Reviewed by Maria Victoria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

Writ Reveal: A Clayton Haley Novel by Ethan T. Burroughs is the second installment in a series. It is an action-packed historical work set in the Middle East. Clayton Haley is back as a United States foreign service officer assigned to the embassy in Kuwait, a country recovering from the 1990 invasion. His job is to cover parliamentary elections, tribalism as a motivating political factor, succession, other internal concerns, and some external issues like Kuwait’s relations with Iraq. He is also tasked with repatriating Kuwaiti soldiers killed in action and hopefully improving relations between the two countries. He finds himself on a mission to salvage ancient Islamic writings that are reported to predate the visions of the Prophet Mohammad. Still haunted by his last assignment, he becomes involved in a new conspiracy because these writings will certainly bring the current Islamic teachings into question and threaten the delicate balance in the Middle East. The target of various assassination attempts, Haley must depend on his instincts and his green beret friends for survival. His old nemesis, the wealthy Muhsin Bin Laden, and the treacherous Ali al-Sadr have dispatched two assassins who are doggedly pursuing him. They are also interested in getting their hands on the ancient writings. Will Haley find the artifacts before they fall into the wrong hands?

Ethan T. Burroughs’ Writ Reveal is thought-provoking and fast-paced. The author has captured the details of the period accurately, making the story a highly authentic and informative read. What follows is a series of adventures that will capture the reader’s undivided attention. The characters are well developed and believable since a lot of effort went into describing the social norms, manners, customs, and traditions. I particularly enjoyed the shift in tone and diction of the dialogues between the characters coming from different countries. Well researched and meticulously written, the book blends fiction with historical facts seamlessly. As the conflict unravels, we learn more about the region’s culture. The author is knowledgeable about the Middle East and its religious ideologies and reading this book is an enjoyable way of learning more. There is no lack of suspense in the storyline and between the twists and turns, we get to know the religious, historical, and political divisions that define the Middle East as it is today. Clayton Haley's adventures not only entertain but also try to explain the different cultures and beliefs so that readers may better understand the conflicts that persist in the region. Highly recommended!