The last time I read this, I gave it two stars. Why? Because it wasn't what I was expecting when I bought a Kelley Armstrong book, and I found that disappointing.

On reread, I'm giving it 3.5 stars. It's not the fastest paced story in the world, and it took me a while to get my head around the characters and all their aliases and why they're doing what they're doing.

Past Me was disappointed about the lack of a romantic relationship. However, on reread, I can see that Armstrong's just laying the groundwork and building up to things slowly. I mean, Nadia knows almost nothing about Jack and she's shocked to discover that he's like 15 years older than she thought he was. So it would be a liiiiiittle weird for Armstrong to be all "NOW KISS".

I love that all the characters operate in that moral grey zone. They're hitmen, so they were never going to be total white hats. Nadia kills without a second thought, and she has her reasons for that. I love that they all have their own personal limits, their own specific targets that they'll take on and others that they'll refuse. Armstrong's writing is great as always, and various subplots were neatly explored and tied up.

That said, there are clearly issues that Nadia will have to deal with in the remaining two books of the trilogy. For instance, the nightmares about her cousin's death that she's still having two decades after the event. So not EVERYTHING is neatly tied up.

Given my feelings towards this book the last time around, I wasn't expecting much. So finding a 3.5 star book was a pleasant surprise.

Kelley Armstrong is an outstanding writer, and she has penned one of my all-time favorite books, Bitten.

Her work is truly remarkable, and this particular series is a hidden gem that undoubtedly merits more recognition.

I am completely enamored with the world of Nadia Stafford and the fascinating and thought-provoking moral dilemmas presented within it.

Exit Strategy is a significant departure for Armstrong as it lacks magic and has a very minimal or almost non-existent romantic element. However, it still retains all the classic Armstrong hallmarks - a tightly woven plot, exquisite details, and vividly drawn characters, right down to their unique speech patterns.

Moreover, it is deliciously psychological, delving deep into the minds and motives of the characters.

I also adored the heroine, Nadia. She has a strict code of honor when it comes to the (very limited) jobs she undertakes, and in this story, she is on a mission to track down a killer.

The concept of Nadia being a hitwoman adds an extra layer of intrigue, making her a truly captivating character. The world she inhabits is equally compelling, filled with all sorts of fascinating details about the life and trade of a hitwoman.

Overall, Exit Strategy is a thrilling and engaging read that showcases Armstrong's exceptional talent as a writer.

Nadia is truly a breath of fresh air. She is a strong female character who can hold her own against the boys and doesn't rely on cheap wisecracks. As Armstrong's urban-fantasy series demonstrates, she is adept at writing strong women and layering them without the typical clichés. The characters feel genuine, and even without knowing every single detail, you can see how different things motivate them.

The morality in this story is fascinating. They are paid assassins, and our so-called 'good guys' aren't entirely pure. I found this an interesting blend. Nadia has boundaries but doesn't deny her core. Evelyn uses her manipulations, and Jack is taciturn. Then there's 'vigilanty' Quinn with his high morals, not always seeking payment and not realizing the danger in that.

There are several points of view here, with brief glimpses of the victims that make them more than just numbers. At least one of those really grabbed my attention! In terms of the plot, I think I was more captivated by the characters, observing how they adapt and what is revealed about them. I never felt much suspense (except for that point of view!). They discover the killer's identity fairly early, and from there, it's just a matter of watching how it all unfolds.

I could have done without so many rhetorical questions, although a big part of that is Jack's style of speaking. No pronouns. Short sentences. Sometimes you just want to shake the words out of him - but make sure he's unarmed first! While his emotions are clear to the reader, it's no wonder that Nadia can't see them. Quinn is much more open, like a puppy or an overgrown child. Hopefully, everything will happen in its own time! If you're reading this for romance, you may be disappointed. There's plenty of character interaction, but most of it is subtle.

This is a re-read (since I discovered that the third and final book has been released), and I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed it.

Nadia resides on a hunting lodge. It is a place where wealthy clients come to unwind, and it serves as the ideal location to conceal her identity as a hit-woman for the Mafia. Currently, a serial killer has become the topic of discussion in the media. Their expertise is leading the police perilously close to the Mafia. In response, Nadia teams up with other assassins to pursue the killer.

The story is well-written, as one would anticipate from a Kelley Armstrong book. However, it simply isn't the type of story that appeals to me. I have no affinity for crime and Mafia stories, so it comes as no surprise that this particular one failed to capture my interest. If you have a penchant for this genre, you will likely enjoy it. For my part, I will continue to focus on the Otherworld books that I hold dear.

4 Stars.

Has a professional hit-man suddenly transformed into a serial killer? This is the very question that Nadia Stafford and her older mentor Jack are facing as a series of shocking murders spreads terror across the United States. Here's an unexpected twist: Nadia herself is in the employ of a mafia family, occasionally taking on assignments to eliminate enemies permanently.

She is a young Canadian woman and a former police officer. When she leaves her struggling lodge in cottage country 150 kilometres north of Toronto to slip into the States for her other line of work, she claims to be cross-border shopping. Likely not an occupation that is covered by the North American Free Trade Agreement!

Nadia and Jack decide that they must pursue this mysterious person as he is attracting far too much FBI attention to their occupation. Oops, it could potentially be a "she." They initially attempt to find a connection between the victims who were slain all over the US. Could that be a clue?

The Helter Skelter Killer even goes so far as to send a note to the media proclaiming that he is an illegitimate son of Charles Manson. Nadia contemplates becoming the bait. She has doubts, she is nervous, and yet she is also fascinating. I am eager to know more. Where on earth is book #2 in this series? (November 2017)

I absolutely LOVE this series with all my heart and I simply can't wait for the release of book 3.

The dynamic that exists between Nadia and Jack is truly so amazing and captivating. It's like a beautiful dance of emotions and unspoken words.

I find myself constantly looking forward to that one special day when one of them finally summons up the courage to tell the other exactly how they feel.

Will it be Nadia who takes the leap and confesses her deep-seated feelings for Jack? Or perhaps it will be Jack who finds the bravery within himself to lay his heart on the line for Nadia.

Whichever way it goes, I know it's going to be an incredibly emotional and satisfying moment that will leave me on the edge of my seat.

I can already picture the expressions on their faces and the joy that will fill their hearts when they finally hear those long-awaited words.

Until then, I'll continue to eagerly anticipate the arrival of book 3 and hope that my favorite characters get their happily ever after.

I'm really not certain how to rate this particular book. The main characters in it simply lack any heroic qualities whatsoever.

In my humble opinion, the ending was a real cliffhanger. This was especially the case since I wasn't even aware that it was the first installment in a series.

Now I find myself in a bit of a dilemma. I have to decide if I'm curious enough to find out how things ultimately end to be willing to trudge through more books featuring these same characters. It's a tough call because on one hand, I'm intrigued by the unresolved plotlines, but on the other hand, the unlikable characters make me hesitant. I'll need to think long and hard before making a decision.

The story seemed to drag on interminably. There wasn't really a great deal happening. In fact, I almost gave up towards the end. I simply couldn't read any more, despite my aversion to leaving a book unfinished. Maybe I'll give it another shot next year, seeing as I truly adore the author. However, this particular book was the very reason I ceased reading for almost two months. I was just so weary of the story and reluctant to admit to myself that I had abandoned it.

Since I didn't complete it, it doesn't strike me as fair to assign it a rating. After all, how can one accurately assess a work that one hasn't fully experienced? It's like trying to judge a painting without seeing the whole canvas. I hope that when I do pick it up again next year, I'll be able to appreciate it more and give it the fair evaluation it deserves.

3.5 really...

I've been a Kelley Armstrong fan for quite some time now. I devoured the Women of the Otherworld series, along with two supernatural YA trilogies, and found them to be the highest quality brain candy. Now that the last entry in this trilogy has been published, I'm turning my attention to Nadia Stafford. There are no supernatural antics in this one, but fortunately, it's just as addictive as Armstrong's other work. It also continues her tradition of featuring heroines who don't make me want to scream.

Nadia, a former cop, was kicked off the force after the death of a suspect - which wasn't exactly an accident. Having lost everything in the aftermath, she has started a new life as the owner of a hunting lodge that doubles as a hired killer. The problem is, Nadia (professional name: Dee) isn't the only professional killer around, and one of their number seems to have gone rogue, attracting a lot of police attention. So when Nadia's mentor, Jack, shows up with an offer for her to join him and a few others from the hitman community to take out the guy, she accepts.

Armstrong does a great job of setting up Nadia's world and introducing us to some characters who will clearly become major players as the series progresses. I really liked the way she wrote about Nadia and the way she approached tracking down the killer (and I really enjoyed Evelyn, the gun-toting and not very trustworthy OAP).

The scenes around the killer's victims were all very effective, and while I'm no expert on police work or that of professional killers, all of the details and techniques at least seemed plausible to me.

I was glad to see that the initial case would be solved in this entry - no cliffhangers here! - and while I'm not particularly fond of love triangles, so far Nadia's is taking a backseat. And although I'm sure it'll become more of a focus as the series progresses, I quite like Jack, so I'm happy to see how this develops (as I'm equally sure that he will come out on top).

**Also posted at Randomly Reading and Ranting**

This was a really enjoyable read, to be honest.

However, I do wish that the plot had a bit more excitement and energy. I truly expected Wilkes to encounter Nadia and Jack much earlier in the story. It would have been great if the author had increased the tension by transforming it into a real cat and mouse game.

Moreover, I also expected Wilkes to start eliminating the people close to them. It would have been an extremely cool twist if Wilkes had killed Evelyn.

Especially when it is revealed that Wilkes was lurking around on the dark web and saw Shadow and Sid mentioned in relation to a group hunting him. But what actually happens to Shadow and Sid? Basically nothing significant. One gets caught by the police and the other just runs away. There is no exit related to Wilkes for them. What a waste!

Also, in the last quarter of the book, Wilkes wasn't as intimidating and fearsome as he was in the earlier parts.

Some other thoughts: I am really tempted to read more to find out what the heck is going to happen with Nadia and Jack because the book is really teasing. But I have the feeling that it's going to be one of those long series like an eight-season show.

And when the author wrote about Nadia's "dark side" at one point, I actually had a cringe moment. Instead of just telling us about her dark side, the author should have had her actually go crazy and do something really messed up at some point to truly show it.

I don't think this book should be written in the first person. Third person would have been a much better choice as it would have given the author more room to maneuver and play with the story.

I really loved the concept of professional hit women (and one man, to be precise) going after a rogue killer. It was a thrilling idea that had a lot of potential.

However, the speech pattern of Jack was extremely irritating. It was like nails on a chalkboard, which really detracted from the overall experience. Just because someone doesn't say much doesn't mean they have to omit every single pronoun from every single short sentence.

Also, I didn't completely believe Nadia's justifications for the jobs she took. There were some glaring logical errors in her defense of working for a Mob family. It made it a bit hard to fully invest in her character.

But despite these irritants, they were relatively easy to overlook. I was still able to enjoy watching the clever people in the story try to outsmart each other. It was quite entertaining, and I found myself engaged in the plot, eager to see what would happen next.

I had to DNF this book.

It's not that it's a bad book at all. In fact, it has its own merits. But the simple truth is that it's just not what I'm in the mood to read at this moment.

I was on the hunt for assassin-themed reads when I came across this one. However, upon starting it, I quickly realized that it leans more towards the 'hitman' genre rather than the traditional assassin story I was hoping for.

Another aspect that didn't quite sit well with me was our main female lead. I had expected her to be a strong, alpha-female character, but unfortunately, she didn't quite meet my expectations in that regard.

Despite these issues, I'm sure there are many readers out there who will enjoy this book for what it is. It just wasn't the right fit for me at this time.