This is the first book in the Nadia Stafford series, which is the only Armstrong series I haven't read before. There are three books in this series.

I really, really enjoyed this book a great deal. It presented an outstanding mystery along with captivating characters. Before delving into this series, I had read all of Armstrong's other series. My least favorite among them were the Women of the Otherworld series (I only read the first three books) and her Blackwell Pages series (I only read the first book). However, I have adored pretty much everything else.

Nadia is an ex-cop who has now become a hitwoman and also owns a nature lodge in Canada. Basically, when times are tough, she takes on hit jobs to pay for the upkeep of her lodge. But then, when a serial killer starts wreaking havoc across the country, her mentor, Jack, calls to see if she would be willing to join a team of assassins aiming to figure out who the killer is and take him out.

Although there are some well-executed action scenes in this novel, the focus is more on the strategy of planning a hit and the interesting individuals who are attracted to this kind of profession. Nadia and Jack are both rather mysterious characters, and it was great fun to learn about them and understand what makes them tick.

Nadia is an amazing protagonist. She has been through a lot in her life but has managed to work through many of the issues she has faced quite well. She is incredibly intelligent, shrewd, and makes good logical decisions throughout the book, while still having some weak points to overcome. I really liked her a lot. Jack remains a mystery throughout, but we start to gradually learn about him as the book progresses. There really isn't much romance in here. This book is more about the mystery of the serial killer and about assassins attempting to build trusting relationships with each other.

Those who have read Armstrong's other series might notice some parallels between these characters and other characters in her series. I'm aware that this series came before the others. However, some aspects of Jack reminded me a great deal of Gabriel from the Cainsville series. I also noticed that Nadia shared many traits with Casey Duncan from the Rockton series. That being said, these 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 addresses a lot of psychological issues.

Overall, I thought this book was just perfect. It was incredibly difficult 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 I have already gone out and purchased the second book in the series. I would highly recommend it to those who enjoy psychological thrillers with assassins and characters that are easy to engage with and interesting.

This is significantly different from the Women of the Otherworld series by Armstrong.

It offers a captivating and estimable glimpse into the world of the hitmen/women. I truly relished it and anticipate another novel with Nadia as the lead character.

However, her mentor and the way he spoke really irritated me. It constantly disrupted my enjoyment as the questionable manner of speaking (which, let's be honest, is quite common in the US nowadays) frustrated me.

When people in real life talk like that, I have the urge to hit them on the back and tell them to express themselves clearly and make a definite statement.

I understood the reason why her character spoke in that way...he was a man of few words and was trying to convey his point.

But I found it to be a hindrance to the smooth flow of the novel.

That being said, do pick this up! It has a great story, good characters, and a nice plot.

It's definitely worth a read despite the minor annoyance with the mentor's speaking style.

Kelley Armstrong is an incredibly talented author.

Her works have captivated readers around the world with their engaging storylines, complex characters, and unique settings.

Whether it's her urban fantasy series or her standalone novels, Armstrong has a way of drawing you in and keeping you hooked until the very end.

Her writing is vivid and descriptive, allowing you to easily picture the worlds she has created in your mind.

Not only that, but she also has a great sense of humor, which adds an extra layer of depth and enjoyment to her stories.

In short, Kelley Armstrong is a master of her craft, and there is truly no need to say more to convince you of her talent.

If you haven't already discovered her books, do yourself a favor and pick one up today. You won't be disappointed!