3.5


Before anything else, a warning, Exit Strategy contains important spoilers of The A.B.C. Murders. So I would recommend not reading it if you plan to start the novel by Agatha Christie someday. There are just a couple of mentions about its resolution, but that precise couple of mentions is enough to ruin its reading.


Moving on...


This book is very entertaining. It's a bit similar to the series Alias. If I'm not mistaken, Alias was on the air when this book was published. I wouldn't be surprised if Armstrong was a little inspired by Sydney's missions to write the adventures of Nadia Stafford, the hired assassin.


The novels of Kelley Armstrong (at least in the series I have read so far) always have two'safeguards'. There is an independent, sensitive protagonist who is a little (or very, sometimes) 'politically incorrect' (an obvious example is Elena Michaels in Bitten). She gets involved in a suspense/mystery plot with several action scenes in the style of Joss Whedon (translation: fights with dialogues that they call banter or qualify as witty, but, to my taste, it gets tiring because of the cliché). There are scenes that are sometimes abrupt (ending with dialogues that are left hanging, unfinished phrases that take a while to be picked up in the following chapters or are forgotten), as if written in a hurry or without the necessary development to set the conflict correctly.


Anyway, it's a novel to have fun for a while. There is no romance but there is a lot of sexual tension and conflicts that are carried out at the pace of a weekly series like (as I mentioned before) ALIAS or like Whedon's in the early years of the past decade.


P.S.


I forgot: there is also a lot of Charles Manson and many mentions of Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders, which helps with the creepy factor of the story.


3.5

I'm extremely unsure about how to rate this book.

The story it presents is indeed quite unusual, and the characters are well-developed. However, there is something that I'm unable to precisely identify that I didn't like within it.

The plot, which involves a hitman or woman hunting another hitman who has gone crazy, had the potential to be much more suspenseful. But unfortunately, for me, it just fell flat. I simply didn't feel the sense of urgency that such a story should evoke. I didn't experience that nail-biting need to reach the end and discover what would happen next.

Maybe it's the pacing, or perhaps it's the way certain scenes were presented. I'm not entirely sure. But despite its interesting premise, this book just didn't quite manage to grip me in the way I had hoped.

Sorry.

At first, you think to yourself, "She's a hitman. How can I possibly enjoy a book about a woman whose career is so bad? How can I sympathize with her? How can I possibly care about anything she does?"

But then, you do.

You get past those initial doubts and move on.

You find yourself falling in love with Nadia Stafford's immense sense of right and wrong, her internal struggle with what she does and what she used to be.

It's like a less complicated Le Femme Nikita (either the original movie or the TV show, definitely not that horrible Fonda movie). However, Nadia has made this choice - it hasn't been thrust upon her.

You identify with Nadia on a level that you didn't think possible as a law-abiding citizen. She's a few steps away from being a vigilante and a few steps above a cold-blooded killer. She's a woman with problems.

She also has Jack, her mentor.

The relationship between the two of them leaves you longing for them to get together. He is a man of short sentences and few words, working with gestures - a man of action. Nadia leans on him like no other, and their connection keeps her sane.

I'll let you read the book to find out what happens.

I have a deep affection for captivating beginnings. In the opening chapters, there are two murders presented, one from the victim's perspective and the other from a hitwoman's point of view. Instantly, I knew I was in for an excellent read. After fulfilling her mission, Nadia Stafford returns to her normal life as the owner of a nature lodge in Ontario. She is completely unaware that a serial killer is creating more victims in American cities. However, this situation changes when an associate arrives and asks for Nadia's assistance in stopping the "Helter Skelter" killer.

Both the authorities and professional assassins believe that the killer is a hitman, which is causing a significant headache for both sides. Hitmen are being apprehended by the cops, resulting in a work slow-down and concerns that their livelihoods will completely dry up. If it weren't for Nadia, I wouldn't have cared about the plight of the hitmen. But the author, Kelley Armstrong, has crafted such a unique, conflicted, and complex character that I had to know how Nadia would handle the situation.

Other hitmen are also recruited to help, but since these individuals are not naturally team players, this leads to even more interesting conflicts. Not to mention, there are some truly memorable characters. With each passing chapter, the suspense intensifies, the relationships become more intense, the hunt grows more dangerous, and the stakes become higher. By the last third of the book, it is nearly impossible to put it down.

Although I had a couple of issues with the logic in one or two points, EXIT STRATEGY is a suspenseful and memorable read. I eagerly look forward to reading more about Nadia.

Hmm. I think this is the first book by Kelley Armstrong that I didn't enjoy from start to finish.

It should have been a slam-dunk into the "loved it" pile, but it really left me cold. Jack was interesting, yet I found his speech patterns really irritating and affected.

Nadia starts off strongly, but she seems to make so many careless mistakes and is so ruled by her "passion" (for lack of a better word) that I found it difficult to believe in her as a meticulously careful assassin.

Quinn seemed thrown in to provide a foil for Nadia, and to provide the third point of a love triangle (*sigh* - really?).

Will I read the rest of the trilogy? I'm pretty sure I will. I've loved all of Armstrong's other books, so I'm not quite ready to call it quits with this story.

There are promising tidbits dropped about Nadia's past, making her seem a little more unreliable as a narrator and much more interesting as a character (and they go a long way towards explaining some of her more emotional reactions to her job).

I'm not ready to consign Nadia Stafford to the DNR pile yet.

Nobody does surprising heroes better than Kelley Armstrong.

Her supernatural Otherworld books are truly captivating, and this series is no exception. I have a deep affection for both.

Like all of Armstrong's female protagonists, Nadia is a remarkable character. She is strong, capable of standing up for herself in a world that is often dominated by men. However, she also has her vulnerable side, which makes her all the more relatable.

The supporting characters in this series are equally complex and enjoyable. They add depth and dimension to the story, making it a truly immersive experience.

I just wish there were more books in the series. I can't get enough of Armstrong's writing and the fascinating world she has created. I hope she continues to write more books in this series and gives us more opportunities to explore the lives of these amazing characters.

3.25 stars.

This book was a bit on the slow side, especially considering it's a thriller.

It's quite interesting that I began reading Kelley Armstrong with the Rockton series, which was written a decade after this one. Here, I can detect glimpses of the Rockton characters.

The pacing of this book made it a bit of a struggle to get through at times. The thriller elements that one might expect to be fast-paced and filled with excitement seemed to be lacking.

However, it's fascinating to see the early inklings of the character traits and storylines that would later develop in the Rockton series.

Despite its flaws, there are still some redeeming qualities in this book that make it worth a read for fans of Kelley Armstrong or those interested in seeing the evolution of her writing style.

Perhaps with a bit more polish and a faster pace, this could have been a truly great thriller.

As it stands, it's an average read that offers some interesting insights into the author's creative process.

Overall, while it didn't completely wow me, I'm still looking forward to reading more of Kelley Armstrong's work to see how her writing has developed over the years.

Kelley Armstrong. I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it many many times again.

She is, by far, my favorite author. And this book does nothing to change that fact.

Before this point, I've only read her supernatural series, including The Otherworld books, the Darkest Powers trilogy, and recently the first novel in the Darkness Rising series.

Originally, I had no desire to read this book. I'm quite heavily into the supernatural scene and wasn't interested in reading anything else. But a friend convinced me I ought to. And I'm very thankful to her.

This book is extremely well written. I loved reading about a cop turned hit woman chasing after a hit man turned serial killer. It was very intriguing.

If there were any complaints to be had, it is simply that I hated the fact that Jack didn't speak in full sentences. I understand, of course, that it's part of his character, and it definitely set him apart. But I found I was more often distracted by it, my mind rewriting the sentences to make them full and complete before I could actually move on.

Also, at the beginning, Armstrong continuously referred back to Nadia's past without telling us what her past was. But it was done in such a way as if to make me think I should already know it. I found it rather frustrating. Thankfully, it was eventually explained.

While the end (which I'm obviously not going to go into detail) answered most questions while still leaving it open for a sequel, of which there is one, I found myself dissatisfied by certain loose ends that weren't tied up.

I'm looking forward to reading the sequel in the hopes of getting a more satisfying conclusion. Overall, I would recommend this book to any Kelley Armstrong fan, whether they think they don't want to read a non-supernatural or not. This book will only make them love Armstrong all the more.

3 1/2 stars.

What a thrilling ride this book was! Right from the very beginning, you were completely held captive, and the question of what would happen next was constantly on your mind.

Nadia owns a charming B & B hunting lodge located just north of Peterborough, Ontario. She is a former police officer who had to retire from the force due to something that happened in her past. Now, she is enjoying running her business and living in the peaceful wilderness.

However, Nadia's skills and training in the pursuit of the worst criminals have not gone unnoticed. She has received offers to do jobs on the other side of the law, specifically hit jobs across the border. She is highly proficient in getting in, completing the task, and getting out without leaving a trace.

Adding to this, Nadia requires some capital to boost her business. With these elements combined, it's easy to see how this story becomes an eventful and exciting one.

This was a very enjoyable read, and I will definitely be on the lookout for more books from this talented author.

Exit Strategy is an extremely intriguing beginning to a truly unique series.

Nadia, a highly skilled hitwoman, unexpectedly receives a visit from her mentor, Jack. The situation is dire as a hitman has transformed into a serial killer, which poses a significant threat as it could potentially draw excessive attention to their clandestine profession.

Consequently, Nadia and Jack join forces with a crew of other hitmen in a desperate attempt to track down the rogue and put an end to his murderous killing spree.

I thoroughly loved getting to know Nadia on a deeper level. Learning about her life prior to becoming an assassin and understanding her motivation for engaging in such a dangerous and immoral line of work was strangely endearing.

What I found most captivating about the story was observing all of the assassins grappling with the challenge of maintaining their secret identities from one another while simultaneously attempting to function as a cohesive team. After all, killing for money is typically not a collaborative effort, and I was truly fascinated by the way the group interacted with each other.

The book is filled with a great deal of mystery, some very entertaining scenes, and a touch of romance, which all combine to make it an extremely enjoyable read. Kelley Armstrong takes a refreshing detour from her usual supernatural offerings with Exit Strategy and effectively demonstrates that the mundane world can be just as captivating and enticing as the magical one.

Overall, Exit Strategy is a must-read for fans of thrilling and unique stories.

3.5 stars.
It's been a while since I've shipped characters like this who might never be together in canon.

These characters have such a unique and captivating dynamic that it's impossible not to root for them. Their interactions are filled with tension, chemistry, and unspoken emotions.

Despite the fact that the canon may not support their relationship, I can't help but imagine all the possible scenarios where they could end up together. Maybe in an alternate universe, or in a future storyline that has yet to be written.

Shipping these characters has become a source of joy and inspiration for me. It allows me to explore different aspects of their personalities and relationships, and to create my own fanfiction and fanart.

Even though they may never be together in the official story, their connection will always exist in my heart and in the hearts of other fans who ship them.

Love Kelley Armstrong,

She is an outstanding author who has a remarkable talent for creating extremely strong woman characters (and men as well).

Her books have an irresistible charm that grabs you from the very beginning and takes you on adventures to places you might not have expected or even wanted to go.

However, as the story progresses and everything finally falls into place, you find yourself truly appreciating the entire journey.

You are left in awe, wondering how you could have never foreseen the twists and turns that led to such a satisfying conclusion.

Kelley Armstrong's writing is a masterclass in storytelling, keeping readers engaged and on the edge of their seats until the very end.