The series Global Search and Rescue by Susan May Warren concludes with The Price of Valor.  Those who have not read the previous two books should read them, as they help readers understand the situations in this story better.  It is possible to read this as a standalone novel, but the richness and depth are significantly reduced.  Those used to Susan May Warren’s style will not be disappointed.  Things start off rather quickly and just keep moving until the action causes the story to explode and then the dust can settle.

Hamilton Jones has been in several of the previous books, and he has always been a strong yet broken character.  In this book his story finally gets to be told.  It is told in such a way that readers can’t help but feel great sorrow for all that he has endured.  His fledgling relationship with his daughter is so tangibly fragile.  Warren does a great job delving into the challenges of Hamilton’s life.  She really tugs at the heartstrings with his childhood memories.

Then comes the story of Signe Jones, Hamilton’s wife.  Everything finally begins to make sense.  This story might be one of the most poignant yet.  Warren really went all out on the emotional aspects of this character. 

Susan May Warren is a master at creating all sorts of action and intrigue and yet her main focus is on her characters and their inner struggles.  As has often been the case in her stories, Warren weaves in characters from several of her other popular series.  This is a book one will want to read just to assure that it ends as one might hope, but does it?

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Revell

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  None 

Violence/Gore:  A character is shot and bleeding out; a character cuts another with a knife in an effort to escape; multiple references to a character being murdered; a character strikes someone who is trying to steal her stuff; men break into a house and attack the occupants, blood and knives are drawn; characters fight and punch one another; a character threatens to harm a child in exchange for getting what he wants; characters plan to cause physical harm to many; many mentions of the fact that a character was raped repeatedly. 

Sex/Nudity:  Many mentions of the fact that a character was raped repeatedly; a married character indicates she is not ready for physical intimacy; married and non-married characters kiss and embrace.

Mature Subject Matter:

Terrorism, post-traumatic stress disorder, abandonment of a child, death of close family members.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

A character reports a person was a meth addict.