Helpful Score: 5
I liked this book because of the smart heroine. Nadia Stafford has to be, she's a hitman. People just don't last long in that business without brains. Either you get caught or you get killed. Nadia, or "Dee" (as she is called by other assassins who don't know her real name), was once a cop, born into a family of cops. After a traumatic childhood event, all it took for Nadia to take things into her own hands was one criminal scumbag who had hurt a young girl. Clearly she has issues brimming under the surface, but it may be her passion that makes her a good hitman. In Exit Strategy, she agrees to join a team of other hitmen who are going after one of their own. A professional killer has turned into a serial killer, and it has caused a shakedown from the law against the whole profession. This is NOT a paranormal, even though Kelley Armstrong is well known for her paranormal series, the Women of the Otherworld. Being a hitman was REALLY interesting to read about, especially things like trying to retire or having a family. No one trusts anyone, everyone has a hidden real identity, everyone's motives are suspect.. most people never retire: they die. And almost everyone in this book is the strong silent type. It's interesting how subtle the communication is between assassins. Facial expressions and head movements mean more than words. Actions speak loudest. I found the writing which moves between Nadia and the killer and his victims, very powerful. There is also there is a very subtle hint of a romance (I am thinking love triangle) in this book. It is barely even there, it's all in the silent communication. That's my take. I really want to know what happens in book 2. An interesting thriller.
Helpful Score: 4
I really enjoyed this story! A change of pace from my usual. I enjoy Ms. Armstrong's writing and enjoyed this venture into the "thriller" category.
I can recommend this one for people who like a little "who done it", twists, and don't need sex.
Looking forward to reading the next one!
I can recommend this one for people who like a little "who done it", twists, and don't need sex.
Looking forward to reading the next one!
Helpful Score: 3
Very good book! Starts a little slow but if you just stick with it past the first 50 pages you will be well rewarded!
Helpful Score: 1
Unfortunatly I could not finish this book. I feel bad about that because Kelley Armstrong was a favorite of mine. Bitten is one of my all time favorite books. I only read about 50 pages of Exit Strategy and then gave up. I was so bored and too easily distracted. I thought maybe I was just not in a reading mood. But I picked up Moonkeewrench from my TBR pile and got right into it and I'm really liking it.
Helpful Score: 1
Different kind of book from Kelley Armstong, but, as usual, very good story.
Helpful Score: 1
I have read all of Kelley Armstrong's Otherworld Series, so I knew she told a great story, but I wasn't sure if I would like it without the paranormal elements.
I did! This was a great action/adventure story. I could easily see this being made into a "guy movie". This book gives us a strong female character who has a strong moral compass. She lives by this, and does what she needs to do to be true to herself.
I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
I did! This was a great action/adventure story. I could easily see this being made into a "guy movie". This book gives us a strong female character who has a strong moral compass. She lives by this, and does what she needs to do to be true to herself.
I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
I am a HUGE fan of Kelley Armstrong's "Women of the Otherworld" series, so I picked up "Exit Strategy" hoping for the same strong female characters and biting wit. Truth be told, I wanted Eve Levine as a former cop turned hit woman because THAT would have been incredible! What I got was a book more reminiscent of Nora Roberts "writing as J.D. Robb" than anything Kelley Armstrong is capable of writing. I skimmed through several pages because I just wanted to get on with it already.
Remember this: "Life is too short to read a crap book". Put the book down and move on to the next one.
Remember this: "Life is too short to read a crap book". Put the book down and move on to the next one.
Interesting departure from her other books. I worked my way through it. Good. Not a fast read or pace, but that may still be ok. I am not quite sure what I think but I'll pick up book 2 and see what happens! Note, however, if you come into this series thinking it will be like her others you may end up disappointed (or perhaps pleasantly surprised)!
Add-on: Just a note that after a few days I am still thinking about this book and wondering what will happen to Nadia and Jack...I think I may be hooked. Liking it. Will recommend!
Add-on: Just a note that after a few days I am still thinking about this book and wondering what will happen to Nadia and Jack...I think I may be hooked. Liking it. Will recommend!
This book was great. It had lots of action and kept me interested from begining to end. The caricters were well developed and fasinaiting. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
I read Kelley Armstrong's Otherworld series and love them. This is very different but just as excellent. I can't wait to read the next in the series. This was really hard to put down!
Although it starts out slow, it is very interesting to learn what and how a hired killer thinks and feels.
Nadia Stafford owns a lodge in the Canadian Wilderness, catering to hunters and outdoorsmen. When she's not working at the lodge, Nadia is a professional hitman, working for the mob to take out members that stray. Nadia is approached by her mentor Jack. There is a ruthless serial killer known as the Helter Skelter Killer (HSK). He has left bodies littering the countryside. Jack believes HSK may be a retired hitman. He wants to put together a group to take out HSK before he brings the heat of the law enforcement community on all of them. Nadia agrees to work with an unusual group of pros to bring down HSK.
If you've read Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series, this is nothing like it. This book is about a woman with a dark past who makes ends meet by working is a professional hitman. Now she is joining with others of her profession to seek out and kill a serial killer. It won't be easy since this guy was a former hitman.
I found this book to be very intriguing. Nadia must be always aware of her environment, know the quickest way out of a building, know how to blend into a crowd without being seen. I loved the suspense aspect of this book; but I loved the relationships even more. These characters keep to themselves and are not big talkers. They rarely let anybody into their own space. I thought the chemistry between Nadia and Jack was palpable. I kept waiting for something between them, but knew he would not make a move while they were on the job. I look forward to the next book in this series. My rating: 4 Stars.
If you've read Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series, this is nothing like it. This book is about a woman with a dark past who makes ends meet by working is a professional hitman. Now she is joining with others of her profession to seek out and kill a serial killer. It won't be easy since this guy was a former hitman.
I found this book to be very intriguing. Nadia must be always aware of her environment, know the quickest way out of a building, know how to blend into a crowd without being seen. I loved the suspense aspect of this book; but I loved the relationships even more. These characters keep to themselves and are not big talkers. They rarely let anybody into their own space. I thought the chemistry between Nadia and Jack was palpable. I kept waiting for something between them, but knew he would not make a move while they were on the job. I look forward to the next book in this series. My rating: 4 Stars.
This is the first book in the only Armstrong series I haven't read, the Nadia Stafford series. There are three books in this series. I really enjoyed this book a lot. It provided an excellent mystery and intriguing characters. Previous to reading this series I have read all of Armstrong's other series; my least favorite of her series were the Women of the Otherworld series (only read the first three books) and her Blackwell Pages series (only read the first book). I have pretty much adored everything else.
Nadia is an ex-cop turned hitwoman who also owns a nature lodge in Canada. She basically takes on the hit jobs to pay for upkeep on her lodge when things are tight. However, when a serial killer starts rampaging around the country her mentor, Jack, calls to see if she would be willing to join a team of assassins set on finding out who the killer is and taking him out.
While there are some well done action scenes in this novel the focus is more on the strategy of planning a hit and the interesting people that are drawn to this sort of profession. Nadia and Jack are both fairly mysterious characters and it was fun to learn about them and what makes them tick.
Nadia is an amazing protagonist; she's gone through a lot in her life but has worked through a lot of the issues she's faced pretty well. She incredibly smart, savvy, and makes good logical decisions throughout the book...while still having some weak spots to work through. I really liked her a lot. Jack is a mystery throughout, but we start to slowly learn about him as the book progresses. There really isn't a lot of romance in here; this book is more about the mystery of the serial killer and about assassins trying to build trusting relationships with each other.
Those who have read Armstrong's other series may notice some parallels between these characters and other characters in her series. I realize this series came before the others. However, some aspects of Jack reminded me a lot of Gabriel from the Cainsville series. I also noticed that Nadia shared a lot of traits with Casey Duncan from the Rockton series. That being said that characters are very unique in their own ways. Armstrong does an excellent job of writing an intelligent thriller that has excellent pacing and action but also tackles a lot of psychological issues.
Overall I thought this book was just perfect. It was incredibly hard for me to put down and I raced right through it. I loved the complex plot, the characters, the action scenes, the psychological aspects, and the pacing. I thought the whole thing was wonderfully done and have already went out and purchased the second book in the series. I would recommend to those who enjoy psychological thrillers with assassins and characters that are easy to engage with and interesting.
Nadia is an ex-cop turned hitwoman who also owns a nature lodge in Canada. She basically takes on the hit jobs to pay for upkeep on her lodge when things are tight. However, when a serial killer starts rampaging around the country her mentor, Jack, calls to see if she would be willing to join a team of assassins set on finding out who the killer is and taking him out.
While there are some well done action scenes in this novel the focus is more on the strategy of planning a hit and the interesting people that are drawn to this sort of profession. Nadia and Jack are both fairly mysterious characters and it was fun to learn about them and what makes them tick.
Nadia is an amazing protagonist; she's gone through a lot in her life but has worked through a lot of the issues she's faced pretty well. She incredibly smart, savvy, and makes good logical decisions throughout the book...while still having some weak spots to work through. I really liked her a lot. Jack is a mystery throughout, but we start to slowly learn about him as the book progresses. There really isn't a lot of romance in here; this book is more about the mystery of the serial killer and about assassins trying to build trusting relationships with each other.
Those who have read Armstrong's other series may notice some parallels between these characters and other characters in her series. I realize this series came before the others. However, some aspects of Jack reminded me a lot of Gabriel from the Cainsville series. I also noticed that Nadia shared a lot of traits with Casey Duncan from the Rockton series. That being said that characters are very unique in their own ways. Armstrong does an excellent job of writing an intelligent thriller that has excellent pacing and action but also tackles a lot of psychological issues.
Overall I thought this book was just perfect. It was incredibly hard for me to put down and I raced right through it. I loved the complex plot, the characters, the action scenes, the psychological aspects, and the pacing. I thought the whole thing was wonderfully done and have already went out and purchased the second book in the series. I would recommend to those who enjoy psychological thrillers with assassins and characters that are easy to engage with and interesting.
from www.kelleyarmstrong.com :
Coming July 1, 2007 in mass market paperback
Law enforcement is in Nadia Stafford's blood. She comes from a long line of police officers, and was one herself until the wrong case sent her over the line from cop to killer. Now, to keep her beloved wilderness lodge afloat, she's a contract killer for a small Mafia family.
When a serial killer with all the earmarks of a hit-man begins murdering innocent people, the police investigation threatens to unmask Nadia and others, and she bands together with a small group of hit-men, including her mentor--the mysterious Jack. But once the killer realizes who's on his trail, his simple plan twists into a complex game as both sides fight to prove who is the hunter...and who the prey.
Coming July 1, 2007 in mass market paperback
Law enforcement is in Nadia Stafford's blood. She comes from a long line of police officers, and was one herself until the wrong case sent her over the line from cop to killer. Now, to keep her beloved wilderness lodge afloat, she's a contract killer for a small Mafia family.
When a serial killer with all the earmarks of a hit-man begins murdering innocent people, the police investigation threatens to unmask Nadia and others, and she bands together with a small group of hit-men, including her mentor--the mysterious Jack. But once the killer realizes who's on his trail, his simple plan twists into a complex game as both sides fight to prove who is the hunter...and who the prey.
