I have reviewed Betrayal in Black by Mark M. Bello for Reader’s Favorite.
Betrayal in Black by Mark M. Bello is a fiction that revolves around the legal aftermath that followed after a revolting “driving while black” tragedy. Marcus Hayes was driving with his wife, Sarah Hayes, and two kids in the back seat. He had been obeying the traffic rules all through the drive. So, when a cop indicated him to pull his car to the curb, he was shocked. At the advice of his wife, he voluntarily offered to the cop that he was carrying a gun legally. However, his honesty did not sit well with Officer Randall Jones.
The office panicked and shot the man in front of his wife and kids. Fortunately, Sarah Hayes had recorded the disturbing events on her camera. Soon, the news of a white cop shooting a black man made the headline, and a demand for justice prevailed in the form of protests. Sarah approached Zachary Blake, a high-profile attorney to help her get the justice for her husband. Subsequently, new truths unraveled the underlying seed of racism among numerous cops in the force.
“He wouldn’t listen to either of us. He shoots Marcus to death in front of us, then another cop arrests me and takes me in handcuffs to police headquarters.
“I’m not permitted to go with my kids or with my husband. I’m terrified. It’s the worst night of my life, hands down. I will never forget it,” Sarah moans.
– Betrayal in Black by Mark M. Bello
Although Betrayal in Black deals with the sensitive issue of racism, Mark M. Bello did not undermine the devotion of good cops. Day after day, these cops put their lives on the line to keep their citizens safe. And, for that, the author has praised them again and again. Yet, he did not shy away from highlighting mostly justified apprehension of “driving while black.” Mark M. Bello has went above and beyond in including all the possible legal proceedings, including grand jury, depositions, etc, that made the plot more realistic.
“And that damned man in the White House doesn’t help things any. He represents the type of political hatred I’m talking about. Guys like him play to the worst tfears of white men. Are you having a bad time of it right now? Lost your job? Having difficulty making ends meet? It’s not my fault or your fault. It’s the black man’s fault.
“It’s the Muslim’s fault. Blame a Mexican immigrant. Man’s got everyone lining up, taking sides, white people versus people of color, different religions arguing their way is the right way.
– Betrayal in Black by Mark M. Bello
Officer Randall Jones’ struggle with accepting his own racist motives behind shooting Marcus Hayes added an extra layer of complex human nature. It would have been easy to simply portray him as a biased cop, but the author did not take the easy road. As far as characters are concerned, Zachary Blake impressed the most. His mannerism and no-nonsense attitude made him a memorable character. The readers with an interest in reading books that highlight social issues and intricacies of a legal battle would remain at the edge of their seats while reading Betrayal in Black by Mark M. Bello.
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