Book Review: The Alias by Mandi Tucker Slack

What would you do if you learned your husband was wanted by the FBI, and they wanted you, too? And what would you be willing to do to save your son?

These are the questions posed by new author Mandi Tucker Slack's novel, The Alias.

From GoodReads: After a long and difficult divorce, Jacey thinks the worst is over. Little does she know she’ll soon be forced to go undercover to protect her family, and in the process, she’ll risk losing her identity, her future, and her heart. With a lightning pace, a good dose of humor, and a plot that’s full of suspense, this thrilling novel is an edge-of-your-seat read.

Hoping to give her son a better life than what he's had, being in constant fear of his father, Jacey takes him to live with the family of her roommate. The only way to avoid the detection of the FBI is to pretend to be her roommate, Melissa. Taking on someone else's identity is hard, and she doesn't want to be a liar, but she feels it's her only choice. The move from Chicago to a rural town in Utah is certainly an eye-opener and a culture shock for her. There are actually wide-open spaces in Utah, and you can drive for a little while without seeing anyone else. Perhaps the biggest culture shock? Melissa's family - her pretend family - are Mormons.

In the end, Jacey must confront her past in order to put it behind her for good.

I teased Mandi a little bit and said, "If I were going to hide out, I would definitely go hide with Mormons."

This book has all the elements that make for a great read. A person on the run, their determination to protect those they love and yet, their vulnerability, and of course, a little romance thrown in to the mix, all add up to keeping the reader highly entertained. There were some rough spots that I felt could have been smoothed out, but these are things authors learn in time, and for a first novel, it was well done.

You can purchase The Alias here, visit Mandi Tucker Slack here, and buy the Kindle version for only $3.99 here.

FTC: I received a free copy of this book, and I was not hunted by the FBI or forced to change my name or ride a horse in exchange for my review.