The Maze by Jennifer Lowery

…A game of survival tests their will and their love.
A mission she can’t forget…
The first female operative for the counter-terrorism unit known as ATCOM, Atalanta Devayne is haunted by a former mission gone wrong. That mission led to her imprisonment, torture, and ultimate retirement, along with her loss of faith in the man she’d trusted with her life.
Brings his vengeance…
Former Navy SEAL, Noah Kincaid, bears the responsibility of Attie’s imprisonment and blames himself for not protecting her from drug lord Carlos Santiago. This time he won’t fail her.
In a deadly game of survival.
Santiago has resurfaced and set up an elaborate plan to exact his revenge on Attie by taking her brother hostage. The only way to save him is by revisiting the darkness of her past and relying on a man she can’t trust. In a battle of life or death, Noah and Attie are put to the test. They must face challenges to overcome the past and accept their feelings for each other before the danger that tore them apart separates them forever.

'The Hunger Games meet drug lord and agents' kept going in my mind through the most part of the story.
This story's suspense is gory, terrifying, filled with psychological tension and fear. The circumstances, or the location, is rather far fetched, taking you to the edge of your imagination, and with its blood-soaked, intense terror, way out of the comfort zone. And I'm not sure yet, if that was in a good way, I have to try to sleep on it (without nightmares).
The beginning is a bit confusing, since the story, itself, started over a year ago, and the events of the past are slowly unfolded through the book. But until this started to happen, I felt a bit confused, like I had missed the previous book of the series.
Attie was not an easy person to like. Yes, I love it when the heroine is strong and independent. But there is the point when the strong will and mind, and the stubbornness is starting to remind you of a five year old in a middle of a temper tantrum. Constant bitterness and anger are not very attractive. And until the story unfold, and the reader finds out the reasons for her behavior, it might be too late to learn to like her.
I wish there would have been more about Noah, and more of the story told from his point of view. Maybe then Attie's anger and bitterness would have not been on a center stage.
The last 15% of the story completely saves the day, giving more insight to Noah, into their relationship, and the story does end with a beautiful images.
The Maze is a very intense, different kind of black ops story, and I do recommend it.
Three big spoons and a teaspoon on the side for it.

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The Maze (ATCOM Book 1)