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Nicholas Sharp #5
Counterpoint
Looking in the mirror, he saw only death…
Pursued by one of the world’s most efficient and ruthless assassins, Nicholas Sharp almost admires the deadly operator’s meticulous talents, until the assassin starts coming after Sharp through his friends. Sharp’s investigations reveal that the killer also has another target in sight: the US Secretary of Defense.
Is there a dark connection?
Face to face with a past he’d considered banished from his memory, Nicholas Sharp questions his own moral compass, and his ever-diminishing chance of survival.
Somewhere between Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and Robert Crais’ Elvis Cole, Nicholas Sharp may be a flawed hero, but you sure as hell want him on your side.
Pursued by one of the world’s most efficient and ruthless assassins, Nicholas Sharp almost admires the deadly operator’s meticulous talents, until the assassin starts coming after Sharp through his friends. Sharp’s investigations reveal that the killer also has another target in sight: the US Secretary of Defense.
Is there a dark connection?
Face to face with a past he’d considered banished from his memory, Nicholas Sharp questions his own moral compass, and his ever-diminishing chance of survival.
Somewhere between Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and Robert Crais’ Elvis Cole, Nicholas Sharp may be a flawed hero, but you sure as hell want him on your side.
- GenresThriller
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 18, 2023
276 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Mark Mannock
20 books13 followersMark Mannock was born in Melbourne, Australia. He has had an extensive career in the music industry including supporting, recording with or writing for Tina Turner, Joni Mitchell, The Eurythmics, Irene Cara and David Hudson. His recorded work with Lia Scallon has twice been long-listed for Grammy Awards.
As a composer/songwriter Mark’s music has been used across the world in countless television and theatre contexts, including the ‘American Survivor’ TV series and ‘Sleuth’ playwright Anthony Shaffer’s later productions.
Mark has also been active in music education across Australia promoting student’s ownership and voice in their own educational music journeys. He has won several awards for his endeavours in this area.
Mark is presently writing the successful ‘Nicholas Sharp’ thriller series about a disillusioned former US sniper whose past plagues him as he makes his way in the contemporary music industry. Sharp is a man whose insatiable curiosity and embedded moral compass lead him to places he ought not go. The series is currently read in over 50 countries.
Mark is also writing the new Lachlan Byrn Thriller series. Is Byrn an assassin, vigilante or serial killer?
Mark lives in Kettering, Tasmania with his family. His travels around the globe act as inspirations for his writing.
Mark enjoys hearing from his readers, so please feel free to contact him.
As a composer/songwriter Mark’s music has been used across the world in countless television and theatre contexts, including the ‘American Survivor’ TV series and ‘Sleuth’ playwright Anthony Shaffer’s later productions.
Mark has also been active in music education across Australia promoting student’s ownership and voice in their own educational music journeys. He has won several awards for his endeavours in this area.
Mark is presently writing the successful ‘Nicholas Sharp’ thriller series about a disillusioned former US sniper whose past plagues him as he makes his way in the contemporary music industry. Sharp is a man whose insatiable curiosity and embedded moral compass lead him to places he ought not go. The series is currently read in over 50 countries.
Mark is also writing the new Lachlan Byrn Thriller series. Is Byrn an assassin, vigilante or serial killer?
Mark lives in Kettering, Tasmania with his family. His travels around the globe act as inspirations for his writing.
Mark enjoys hearing from his readers, so please feel free to contact him.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 26, 2024
Nicholas Sharp is an ex-marine being chased by a ruthless killer whose life he refused to take when they were in Columbia. The killer intends to take out Sharp and all those responsible for sending him to Columbia, where he was captured and tortured for maybe years. This includes the current Secretary of Defense who Sharp dislikes for vague reasons. A cat and mouse chase ensues across the globe, and Sharp finds himself struggling with his need to do the right thing by his country vs allowing this assassin to take it an evil man who probably deserves what may be coming to him.
There are plenty of twists and turns in this book to keep you entertained and reading, wanting to turn the page to find out what happens next. This is my first read by this author and although not my go-to genre, I enjoyed the book and will definitely go back to read more in the Nicholas Sharp series.
There are plenty of twists and turns in this book to keep you entertained and reading, wanting to turn the page to find out what happens next. This is my first read by this author and although not my go-to genre, I enjoyed the book and will definitely go back to read more in the Nicholas Sharp series.
April 3, 2023
Looking for action, suspense, and a thriller that grabs you — you got it with Counterpoint, a new Nicholas Sharp book by Mark Mannock. It’s quite a story that will keep you up through the night as you won’t be able to put this one down. So prepare yourself for excitement that keeps building with every page you turn. Sharp is quite a character but with his past transgressions you will know whether he is a bad guy or a good guy. Without giving it away let me just say you will keep hoping he is a…..
April 5, 2024
Did the assassin have a reason to kill
Nicholas Sharp, a highly skilled assassin, had been sent to Columbia to kill an evil man. Another assassin had saved his life but when Sharp had a choice to kill the fellow assassin or the man he chose the man. The other assassin was captured for two years by the Chinese until he finally escaped. He was on a mission to kill all those involved in the mission that led to his capture and torture. Sharp was at the top of the list since he killed the target instead of killing him as he wanted.
Very difficult to put the book down.
Nicholas Sharp, a highly skilled assassin, had been sent to Columbia to kill an evil man. Another assassin had saved his life but when Sharp had a choice to kill the fellow assassin or the man he chose the man. The other assassin was captured for two years by the Chinese until he finally escaped. He was on a mission to kill all those involved in the mission that led to his capture and torture. Sharp was at the top of the list since he killed the target instead of killing him as he wanted.
Very difficult to put the book down.
February 27, 2025
This was more like 3.5-3.75 rating. This moved along with details, action nicely.
My problem lies with "bad guys" always had the upper hand making Nicholas Sharp look inferior in many instances but of course not at the end.
This is not a spoiler alert because there are more books in this series.
I will probably read at least 1 adventure to see if storyline changes.
My problem lies with "bad guys" always had the upper hand making Nicholas Sharp look inferior in many instances but of course not at the end.
This is not a spoiler alert because there are more books in this series.
I will probably read at least 1 adventure to see if storyline changes.
March 24, 2023
This is one of those books you don't want to put down for any reason. Sharp is at a spiraling, out of control mystery that drives him deep into who is doing this. Not easy to discover.
Highly Recommended.
Highly Recommended.
March 9, 2024
Pretty Good
This is the first book I’ve read in the Nicholas Sharp series, and even though it was a standalone novel, I still felt I was coming in midstream. This was good enough for me to go back and read the first book.
This is the first book I’ve read in the Nicholas Sharp series, and even though it was a standalone novel, I still felt I was coming in midstream. This was good enough for me to go back and read the first book.
August 27, 2025
Intense
If I could only make one comment in this review, it would be unexpected outcomes. Mark leads you on a journey where you think you have it figured out. However, the plot always turned in a different direction. Even the ending turned.
Thanks, this was a great read!
If I could only make one comment in this review, it would be unexpected outcomes. Mark leads you on a journey where you think you have it figured out. However, the plot always turned in a different direction. Even the ending turned.
Thanks, this was a great read!
February 19, 2024
Language
Profaning the sacred and sprinkling the story with f-bombs does not make for good writing. The story is not worth wading through that junk.
Profaning the sacred and sprinkling the story with f-bombs does not make for good writing. The story is not worth wading through that junk.
March 12, 2024
Great read
New character for me. Loved it! Rich descriptions of people places and action. Thank you, Mark, for a fascinating read.
New character for me. Loved it! Rich descriptions of people places and action. Thank you, Mark, for a fascinating read.
March 18, 2024
pretty good book
Had good movement of plot and unexpected twists to keep it interesting. The ending was what had to be after all the different directions taken in the main story.
Had good movement of plot and unexpected twists to keep it interesting. The ending was what had to be after all the different directions taken in the main story.
July 11, 2024
Good fast moving yarn
March 31, 2023
COUNTERPOINT concludes the Nicholas Sharp series. This is a stand-alone novel. Although I hadn't read the preceding novels, this novel made sense.
Nicholas Sharp is recovering from a botched military operation in which his partner, Lachlan Byrn, was taken prisoner.
When a man is shot, Sharp is called to give his opinion. At first Nicholas is confused. He's not a crime scene tech, and this is beyond his expertise. Then he realizes that the shot was made from an impossible vantage. It was a shot that only one man could make: his former partner Lachlan Byrn. Sharp and the military had assumed that Byrn died years ago, but now Sharp is convinced that Byrn is back -- and hunting him.
Nicholas soon realizes who Byrn's true target is. Nicholas struggles with a moral conflict of protecting a man he despises. Although he considers Byrn a madman, Nicholas almost agrees that his intended target is a despicable human being.
Nicholas is a great character. He's smart, witty, determined, and willing to push himself beyond human limits. Despite his moral conflict with his job, he's determined to honor his country and do his job.
Lachlan Byrn is amazing. The author does a fantastic job of characterizing a man who has fallen down the slope of sanity. Despite captivity and torture, Byrn learned to survive and to utilize his resources. He learned to improvise to make his plans work.
Byrn and Sharp are two memorable characters who will stick in my memory for a while.
The author's talent of wiring is great. The novel is told in voices, namely Nicholas and Byrn. Nicholas speaks in first person ("I"), while Byrn, who has slipped into madness, refers to himself in third person ("he").
As I said, I haven't read the entire series. I really enjoyed the final novel, and I encourage readers to pick up this series.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Nicholas Sharp is recovering from a botched military operation in which his partner, Lachlan Byrn, was taken prisoner.
When a man is shot, Sharp is called to give his opinion. At first Nicholas is confused. He's not a crime scene tech, and this is beyond his expertise. Then he realizes that the shot was made from an impossible vantage. It was a shot that only one man could make: his former partner Lachlan Byrn. Sharp and the military had assumed that Byrn died years ago, but now Sharp is convinced that Byrn is back -- and hunting him.
Nicholas soon realizes who Byrn's true target is. Nicholas struggles with a moral conflict of protecting a man he despises. Although he considers Byrn a madman, Nicholas almost agrees that his intended target is a despicable human being.
Nicholas is a great character. He's smart, witty, determined, and willing to push himself beyond human limits. Despite his moral conflict with his job, he's determined to honor his country and do his job.
Lachlan Byrn is amazing. The author does a fantastic job of characterizing a man who has fallen down the slope of sanity. Despite captivity and torture, Byrn learned to survive and to utilize his resources. He learned to improvise to make his plans work.
Byrn and Sharp are two memorable characters who will stick in my memory for a while.
The author's talent of wiring is great. The novel is told in voices, namely Nicholas and Byrn. Nicholas speaks in first person ("I"), while Byrn, who has slipped into madness, refers to himself in third person ("he").
As I said, I haven't read the entire series. I really enjoyed the final novel, and I encourage readers to pick up this series.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2023
This book held my interest from the first page. Full of action from start to finish, an edge of the seat page turner.
March 28, 2023
What an exciting read! I’ve read a couple of Mark Mannock’s short stories, but this was the first full length novel that I read. I found myself holding my breath many times during the action. The characters are strong and believable. The fact that Nicholas Sharp is also an accomplished musician makes him that much more interesting. I’d definitely recommend this book and I will be reading the rest in the series.
January 24, 2025
If reading the series this is a must read. It gives a little background of Nicholas Sharp and the Assassin that is stalking him. I actually like both Characters and hope the Author brings them back together in another book.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews