Exit Strategy follows Nadia - an ex-cop turned hitwoman - as she and a collection of other hitmen try to hunt down one of their own who has turned serial killer. While each professional has their own personal reason - from personal to simply bad for business - Nadia is fueled by a sense of justice and ultimate desire to protect.

Overall, I found the book to be very entertaining. I like hitmen (fictionally - my sense of self-preservation keeps me from liking real ones), and Armstrong delivers a wide range to chose from. The sense of secrecy between them keeps any characters from feeling too shallow, while preserving the sense of mystery surrounding not only the case, but the "who and why" of how the group comes together.

At 480 pages it's a nice meaty chunk of entertainment that is perfect for a long snow day or lounging by a pool. ( )

I loved this book. Ex cop turned hitwoman goes on the hunt for a hitman turned serial killer, with the help of other hitmen. The pacing was great, the writing spot on, the story was enough of a cat and mouse game to keep me interested but not frustrated. Despite our heroine being a Canuck, most of the action takes place in the USA, so I'm looking forward to the next book which seems to take place more in and around the lodge that she owns in Cottage Country. ( )

The premise: Nadia Stafford is a former cop who was shamed out of the force, and now has to deliver justice through unconventional means: she's a hitwoman, but a hitwoman with a conscience. Normally a solo-act, but when a serial killer starts a killing spree across the U.S. and the clues point to a former hitman, Nadia hooks up with others in her profession to find the killer and take him down, before he brings down all of them. To do this, Nadia must use everything experience has taught her, and to transform herself from predator to prey. She's got to catch him, before he catches her.

My Rating

Must Have: now, I can't say whether it's a must-have for a mystery guru, as I'm no regular reader of the mystery genre. But I get ENOUGH mystery in the genres of urban fantasy and even science fiction that I recognize something good when I see it, and when I consider that growing up, my favorite television shows were MacGyver, Profiler, Batman: The Animated Series, and Alias (well, I was an "adult" by time Alias came out, but bear with me), I feel like I know enough to enjoy a good book in the genre when I read it. For Kelley Armstrong fans, this book is DEFINITELY a must, though you won't find it in SF/F/H. I've found this series in both the mystery/thriller shelves and just in regular fiction, so when you're looking in the store, make sure you exhaust all possibilities. ANYWAY: anyone who's a fan of, say, Alias, is going to really enjoy this: Nadia is a fantastic heroine, and the world of hitmen/hitwomen is definitely fascinating. I loved the cast, the level of tension that keeps pages turning at a deliberate pace, and the mystery holding the whole story together of the Helter Skelter Killer was just a lovely excuse (and a well-played plot) that gave me a chance to get to know these people. I promptly bought book two, Made To Be Broken as soon as I finished this one, because while this book is certainly a stand-alone, the writing and characters are too good not to continue as soon as possible. I really, really enjoyed this, and it's definitely worth the time and money. Check it out.

Review style: Stream-of-conscious review style, but don't worry, no spoilers for this one. If you're interested, the full review is in my LJ. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome.

REVIEW: Kelley Armstrong's EXIT STRATEGY

Happy Reading! :) ( )

Nadia is a hitwoman, but not your average hitwoman. She is an ex-cop. After a series of events fires up her blood about the injustice of the law, she starts taking hits for criminals. While she claims she isn't a vigilante, she is perhaps only a step below that. With her partner, Jack, teaching her the ropes this time they are hunting together for a pro turned serial killer.

This book was really good. It wasn't too dark but it had a serious tone to it. The beginning was a little hard to get through but I will definitly be looking for the sequel. ( )

A light and perhaps fluffy read, that hit the right spot at the right time. I enjoyed this and liked the characters. Nadia is an ex-cop with a troubled past, who has turned assassin to pay her bills. She teams up with other assassins when a serial killer starts killing people hitman style, and their careers are all put in jeopardy. ( )