I quite liked this book whilst i was reading it, but on further reflection it's gone down from 4.5 to 3.5 stars.

Why? Well the action is quite satisfying. Most of the people that get killed are, undeniably, wicked. Not sure they deserve to die, but they certainly deserve to be punished.

I guess I have, however, an issue with hitmen going on a vigilante spree and that is what this series is turning into, with a sprinkling of romance for good measure.

If there is a third book in the series, I'll probably give it a go, but I think the formula needs to change to be appealing to me. ( )

I have never read any other of Kelly Armstrong’s books, although I am aware of her other world series. It was never my cup of tea, so I never had any interest. In fact, I never realized this was the same author when I brought the first one home. I can’t compare this to her other writing, just the first book in the series. I was attracted to this book at first, because of the female hitman angle. I wasn’t sure how they would keep this up in the second book, especially when it’s based around her home, where she prefers to remain anonymous. Although there are still hitman aspects to this book, I felt it was more a mystery/suspense type book. Good, strong interesting characters, although a few of them still don’t have much depth. Some old favorites are back, along with some new fresh ones. The love triangle started in the first book is continued in this book…I love the continuity of characters. I don’t know if I am saddened or encouraged that the author left a few loose ends for the next book. And it will open up so much territory for the new book. I can’t wait for the next installment, and hope we don’t have to wait long for it. =D ( )

I find it easier to believe in werewolves than ethical hitman (hitpersons) but this was very good. ( )

I love this series. Well plotted, researched, and structured, this book was a great follow up to the first, called Exit Strategy. Recommended to anyone who likes a good plot and character driven thriller. ( )

When I read the first of the Nadia Stafford books, I was really wary. Stepping away from the supernatural tricks can be hard on a writer, and often it leads to the story suffering, or feeling the worse off for the constrained space. Thus, it came as a very pleasant surprise when Exit Strategy was really well done, with solid plotting to go along with the high level of characters and dialogue I'd come to expect from Ms. Armstrong.

So my expectations were quite high coming into this one, and I have to say, I was disappointed through even the first hundred pages or so. I wasn't being drawn into the plot, I didn't care as much about the characters, and things were just looser. I was still reading it - I don't generally put down books before I finish them - but I was unimpressed, and getting annoyed. I was all ready to write this off as the first misstep in all of the works of Ms. Armstrong's that I'd read.

But then... almost despite myself, I got drawn in more, both to the circumstances of what they find, as the plot comes together, and the characters themselves. Really, it's the characters here that sell it more than the plot, which has to do with solving the death of one of lead character Nadia Stafford's staff at her rural Ontario lodge. Even to explain the circumstances around it would start spoiling things, but the plot expands nicely as they look more into it, and the others involved on the wrong side of the exchange are clever enough to make it interesting up through the climax of the book.

But while the plot does turn out better than I expected, it's really still the characters that sell it - specifically Nadia, her mentor Jack, and fellow hitman Quinn. I really enjoyed the growth of the characters within the story, and their interactions with each other. It all felt real, and it did draw me in strongly by the end. I can't give it as high a mark as the first one, just due to my feelings at the beginning, but I can say in the end that Armstrong still has it. I'm curious to see if she'll continue with the series now, but I'm glad to have the two of them that are out there now. ( )