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Nadia Stafford #3
Wild Justice
The third entry in the #1 "New York Times" bestselling author’s Nadia Stafford series.
Since Kelley Armstrong wrapped up book two, fans had been eager to know what happens to the tough-as-nails contract killer. "Wild Justice" brings Nadia back for the next step, an action-packed tale that will dazzle everyone, including those who are only familiar with Armstrong’s bestselling paranormal books.
Nadia is confronted with her most difficult task to date: going after the man who killed her cousin Amy twenty years prior. But when it turns out that someone else has already taken justice into their own hands, she is drawn into a complex situation where everything she knows and loves is thrown into the path of danger. Nadia is forced to take matters into her own hands, ultimately requiring her to confront her darkest secrets—and her deepest desires—in a way that she never thought possible, or necessary!
Since Kelley Armstrong wrapped up book two, fans had been eager to know what happens to the tough-as-nails contract killer. "Wild Justice" brings Nadia back for the next step, an action-packed tale that will dazzle everyone, including those who are only familiar with Armstrong’s bestselling paranormal books.
Nadia is confronted with her most difficult task to date: going after the man who killed her cousin Amy twenty years prior. But when it turns out that someone else has already taken justice into their own hands, she is drawn into a complex situation where everything she knows and loves is thrown into the path of danger. Nadia is forced to take matters into her own hands, ultimately requiring her to confront her darkest secrets—and her deepest desires—in a way that she never thought possible, or necessary!
400 pages, Paperback
First published November 26, 2013
124 people are currently reading
3071 people want to read
About the author
Kelley Armstrong
302 books33.5k followersKelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.
Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.
Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 375 reviews
August 5, 2017
Wild Justice by Kelley Armstrong is the 3rd book and conclusion in her Nadia Stafford Trilogy and whilst I’m a bit sad to say goodbye to Nadia Stafford, part-time hit woman extraordinaire…..
I was quite pleased how it ended. Really, what a great finale!!!
This series kicked off with Exit Strategy…. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... where we are first introduced to Nadia Stafford, a former disgraced cop, now owner of a wilderness retreat lodge in the Ontario region and part-time contract killer for a Mafia family. We meet her Jack, her mentor, Quinn, the FBI agent and friend and Evelyn, a tough old bird and friend and also Jack’s mentor. They team up to hunting down the serial killer named Helter Skelter.
Followed by Made to be Broken, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... , Nadia works on finding one of her employee that has vanished with her baby. We also get to see the love triangle that comes up between Nadia and Quinn and Jack and which left it up in the air.
In Wild Justice, Nadia is confronted with one of the hardest mission in her life. Jack has given Nadia information regarding the whereabouts of her cousin Amy’s killer, who disappeared after he had not been brought to justice after his crime.
Soon everyone she cares about is in danger when she discovers that there’s something more than what it seems about the case, especially when the killer is wiped out by someone else before she gets to him. She will also have to face her feelings for Jack and Quinn.
I love the way the author makes you engage with characters that kill for money …..she makes you see their flaws and the goodness that exists beneath that cold and calculating exterior.
Great character and plot development. Twists and turns keeping you guessing until the end. Fantastic writing. Dark humour. Sexual tension. Romance.
Although I’m pleased with the conclusion to this trilogy, I am still hopefully waiting….maybe we will see Nadia Stafford and her friends in the future!!!
A great series and worthwhile read.
A quote I liked:
I was quite pleased how it ended. Really, what a great finale!!!
This series kicked off with Exit Strategy…. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... where we are first introduced to Nadia Stafford, a former disgraced cop, now owner of a wilderness retreat lodge in the Ontario region and part-time contract killer for a Mafia family. We meet her Jack, her mentor, Quinn, the FBI agent and friend and Evelyn, a tough old bird and friend and also Jack’s mentor. They team up to hunting down the serial killer named Helter Skelter.
Followed by Made to be Broken, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... , Nadia works on finding one of her employee that has vanished with her baby. We also get to see the love triangle that comes up between Nadia and Quinn and Jack and which left it up in the air.
In Wild Justice, Nadia is confronted with one of the hardest mission in her life. Jack has given Nadia information regarding the whereabouts of her cousin Amy’s killer, who disappeared after he had not been brought to justice after his crime.
Soon everyone she cares about is in danger when she discovers that there’s something more than what it seems about the case, especially when the killer is wiped out by someone else before she gets to him. She will also have to face her feelings for Jack and Quinn.
I love the way the author makes you engage with characters that kill for money …..she makes you see their flaws and the goodness that exists beneath that cold and calculating exterior.
Great character and plot development. Twists and turns keeping you guessing until the end. Fantastic writing. Dark humour. Sexual tension. Romance.
Although I’m pleased with the conclusion to this trilogy, I am still hopefully waiting….maybe we will see Nadia Stafford and her friends in the future!!!
A great series and worthwhile read.
A quote I liked:
“It's so easy to screw up. To make a choice that seems right. Then time passes and you look back and you say, 'How the hell did I do that?' Attitudes change. Insights change. Eventually things you were so damned sure were right become...incomprehensible.”
November 28, 2014
FANTASTIC. FANTASTIC. FANTASTIC!
The last book in this series proves wine isn't the only thing that gets better with age...in this case, the books kept getting better as the series progressed. KA writes a compelling, engrossing and tightly woven plot about an ex-cop turned hitwoman seeking justice for those failed by the law. There was a common thread laced throughout this series concerning Nadia's past and its affect on her whole life including her chosen profession.
Lodge owner by day, hitwoman in between, Nadia Stafford is one bad-ass heroine!
Everything gets tied up in this last book. Nadia finally learns the truth about that fateful incident when she was young that has haunted her for the last 20 years. And let me tell you, I was SHOCKED! The truth was incredibly hidden and I was stunned. The first two books lead up to closure for Nadia but nothing could prepare her for the final confrontation.
And of course we finally see Nadia and Jack make a decision about their situation. It was a long time coming, very slow building but so explosive when it happened!
Jack was truly an amazing guy. Everything he did for Nadia, said, sacrificed....he was incredibly romantic and considerate. Offering to do hits for a girl? Strange right? But so sweet and beautiful within the context of this story. I've been waiting for him to finally do something, anything and was so satisfied and happy when he did. There really wasn't a love triangle between Nadia, Jack and Quinn. To me, there was no contest.
But to be truthful, this is suspense/thriller first, romance-like second. The main plot throughout this series focuses on Nadia's past and how it's affected her so profoundly. Her hits, her compassion for those deserving justice, her guilt over what happened to her cousin...but the feelings for Jack and their situation was always in the background. Yes he was her mentor, but so much more. Jack was his usual minimum-words self, he hid behind his professional mask but beneath it all he was a passionate and wonderful man. Nadia finding closure was done so precisely and so intelligently, I was in awe of how KA weaved details into a story that ultimately distinguishes her from other writers. This was nothing near predicable, kept me on the edge of my seat and had me guessing till the end.
I loved this series! I'm sad it's over, even. I'd love a glimpse into Nadia's and Jack's life, so maybe an epilogue would have been good, no, NECESSARY. But still, this was excellent and highly recommended. Not just this series but this author, LOVED IT.
The last book in this series proves wine isn't the only thing that gets better with age...in this case, the books kept getting better as the series progressed. KA writes a compelling, engrossing and tightly woven plot about an ex-cop turned hitwoman seeking justice for those failed by the law. There was a common thread laced throughout this series concerning Nadia's past and its affect on her whole life including her chosen profession.
Lodge owner by day, hitwoman in between, Nadia Stafford is one bad-ass heroine!
Everything gets tied up in this last book. Nadia finally learns the truth about that fateful incident when she was young that has haunted her for the last 20 years. And let me tell you, I was SHOCKED! The truth was incredibly hidden and I was stunned. The first two books lead up to closure for Nadia but nothing could prepare her for the final confrontation.
And of course we finally see Nadia and Jack make a decision about their situation. It was a long time coming, very slow building but so explosive when it happened!
Jack was truly an amazing guy. Everything he did for Nadia, said, sacrificed....he was incredibly romantic and considerate. Offering to do hits for a girl? Strange right? But so sweet and beautiful within the context of this story. I've been waiting for him to finally do something, anything and was so satisfied and happy when he did. There really wasn't a love triangle between Nadia, Jack and Quinn. To me, there was no contest.
But to be truthful, this is suspense/thriller first, romance-like second. The main plot throughout this series focuses on Nadia's past and how it's affected her so profoundly. Her hits, her compassion for those deserving justice, her guilt over what happened to her cousin...but the feelings for Jack and their situation was always in the background. Yes he was her mentor, but so much more. Jack was his usual minimum-words self, he hid behind his professional mask but beneath it all he was a passionate and wonderful man. Nadia finding closure was done so precisely and so intelligently, I was in awe of how KA weaved details into a story that ultimately distinguishes her from other writers. This was nothing near predicable, kept me on the edge of my seat and had me guessing till the end.
I loved this series! I'm sad it's over, even. I'd love a glimpse into Nadia's and Jack's life, so maybe an epilogue would have been good, no, NECESSARY. But still, this was excellent and highly recommended. Not just this series but this author, LOVED IT.
February 6, 2022
With this 2013 novel, Armstrong brings her original Nadia Stafford trilogy to a satisfying conclusion (although the two later novellas carry on the story in a rewarding way). Again, six months have passed since the previous installment, so our chronological setting is the latter part of October, 2007.
By the end of the second novel, Nadia had recognized that her true romantic feelings are for Jack. But she also concluded that her taciturn and seemingly unemotional mentor didn't return them (although readers might be less sure of that). So in the intervening months since, she and Quinn have added a sexual component to their long-distance relationship (they get together about once a month). For readers who view sex as expressive body language for a total self-giving in life-long love and fidelity, it's not hard to predict that introducing it into a situation where both parties profess no hurry to be committed (and one is in love with someone else) is likely to end in emotional disaster. That's what happened here, about a month ago, with Quinn wanting to move in the direction of engagement and marriage and Nadia not willing to, leading to a messy breakup that left him very hurt and her “feeling like [vulgarism deleted].” :-( On top of that stress, when this book opens, she's in rural Michigan on a job (of the kind that she doesn't advertise). That quickly results, though through no fault of her own, in a traumatic event which has her on the point of meltdown. But before long, she's in for a moral and emotional ordeal which will make her present distresses look relatively mild.
Both previous novels have made us aware of the formative event of Nadia's life, which happened when she was only 13. That was the night she and her beloved 14-year-old cousin Amy (with Nadia along because, as usual, she was trying to keep the headstrong older girl out of trouble) got taken to a lonely woodland cabin by a budding psychopath in his early 20s named Drew Aldritch. Nadia was able to escape and run for help, but Amy still ended up raped and killed. At the trial, Nadia wasn't called to testify; and it didn't help that Amy was a bit of a “wild child” with a reputation as a flirt. The defense exploited that to claim that the sex was “consensual,” and that Aldritch strangled his victim to death “accidentally.” So the jury acquitted him. (Yes, this is fiction; but sadly, even in real life, there are jurors who would actually be that idiotic.) He left town immediately; and Nadia hasn't seen him since. But the horror of the tragedy, and the survivor's guilt, has stayed with her for 20 years, shaping her into the adult woman she became, and leaving her with intermittent nightmares from which she still wakes up screaming.
Jack knows something about the baleful influence of teenage trauma (and we'll learn something, in the course of this book, about his past and how it shaped him –our leading lady here isn't the only character with painful baggage). Early on, Jack discloses that, on his own initiative, he's tracked Aldritch down to where he's now living in Ohio under his latest alias, and working, of all things, as a small-town cop –and there's good reason to believe that his behavior and proclivities haven't changed for the better in the ensuing decades. So Nadia now has to decide what to do with this knowledge. Whatever happens, this trip down Memory Lane is not going to be a pleasant stroll; and it will prove to be a dark, harrowing, twisty and dangerous one, with more than one major surprise.
As usual, there's a genuine mystery (actually, more than one) at the heart of this tale; and solving it, and surviving to the point of solving it, will be a challenge. (Luckily, Nadia's tough and resourceful.) In terms of style, this book is much of a piece with the preceding ones in most respects, including the language issues. Again, there's no explicit sex, but there is some unmarried sex that takes place, and some scenes are steamier than some readers might want. Romance, and related angst, doesn't take over the plot, but it plays a more important role than it has up to now, and there will be a significant development in that area. (The books definitely are best read in order.) At one point, a character imparts a crucial piece of information that later developments show that he wouldn't have known, but that's the only logical slip; in the main, the plotting is impeccable. For any readers who liked the first two books, this one has to rank as a must-read; and I don't believe any of them will be disappointed with it!
By the end of the second novel, Nadia had recognized that her true romantic feelings are for Jack. But she also concluded that her taciturn and seemingly unemotional mentor didn't return them (although readers might be less sure of that). So in the intervening months since, she and Quinn have added a sexual component to their long-distance relationship (they get together about once a month). For readers who view sex as expressive body language for a total self-giving in life-long love and fidelity, it's not hard to predict that introducing it into a situation where both parties profess no hurry to be committed (and one is in love with someone else) is likely to end in emotional disaster. That's what happened here, about a month ago, with Quinn wanting to move in the direction of engagement and marriage and Nadia not willing to, leading to a messy breakup that left him very hurt and her “feeling like [vulgarism deleted].” :-( On top of that stress, when this book opens, she's in rural Michigan on a job (of the kind that she doesn't advertise). That quickly results, though through no fault of her own, in a traumatic event which has her on the point of meltdown. But before long, she's in for a moral and emotional ordeal which will make her present distresses look relatively mild.
Both previous novels have made us aware of the formative event of Nadia's life, which happened when she was only 13. That was the night she and her beloved 14-year-old cousin Amy (with Nadia along because, as usual, she was trying to keep the headstrong older girl out of trouble) got taken to a lonely woodland cabin by a budding psychopath in his early 20s named Drew Aldritch. Nadia was able to escape and run for help, but Amy still ended up raped and killed. At the trial, Nadia wasn't called to testify; and it didn't help that Amy was a bit of a “wild child” with a reputation as a flirt. The defense exploited that to claim that the sex was “consensual,” and that Aldritch strangled his victim to death “accidentally.” So the jury acquitted him. (Yes, this is fiction; but sadly, even in real life, there are jurors who would actually be that idiotic.) He left town immediately; and Nadia hasn't seen him since. But the horror of the tragedy, and the survivor's guilt, has stayed with her for 20 years, shaping her into the adult woman she became, and leaving her with intermittent nightmares from which she still wakes up screaming.
Jack knows something about the baleful influence of teenage trauma (and we'll learn something, in the course of this book, about his past and how it shaped him –our leading lady here isn't the only character with painful baggage). Early on, Jack discloses that, on his own initiative, he's tracked Aldritch down to where he's now living in Ohio under his latest alias, and working, of all things, as a small-town cop –and there's good reason to believe that his behavior and proclivities haven't changed for the better in the ensuing decades. So Nadia now has to decide what to do with this knowledge. Whatever happens, this trip down Memory Lane is not going to be a pleasant stroll; and it will prove to be a dark, harrowing, twisty and dangerous one, with more than one major surprise.
As usual, there's a genuine mystery (actually, more than one) at the heart of this tale; and solving it, and surviving to the point of solving it, will be a challenge. (Luckily, Nadia's tough and resourceful.) In terms of style, this book is much of a piece with the preceding ones in most respects, including the language issues. Again, there's no explicit sex, but there is some unmarried sex that takes place, and some scenes are steamier than some readers might want. Romance, and related angst, doesn't take over the plot, but it plays a more important role than it has up to now, and there will be a significant development in that area. (The books definitely are best read in order.) At one point, a character imparts a crucial piece of information that later developments show that he wouldn't have known, but that's the only logical slip; in the main, the plotting is impeccable. For any readers who liked the first two books, this one has to rank as a must-read; and I don't believe any of them will be disappointed with it!
February 17, 2014
Why cannot I live in a perfect world where my favorite series don't come to an end?
I want to just lay down and do nothing with my life. I cannot believe there will be no more Nadia and Jack for me. I tried taking it slow (even slower than it took) but it didn't work out. This series, although completely different from what Kelley writes, is magnificent and I love it just as much as I love all the other adult books she's written.
I cannot write a review because well I cannot. I love this series too much. So instead, I am going to list why you need to read this series.
-Assassins/hitmen
Yes that is a legit reason. Assassins are awesome and the ones in this book are REALLY awesome because they are realistic. They think things through, have plans, tons of contacts don't always have flashy gadgets, rely on skill and aren't actually all rounders. There are different kinds of hitmen. They have different strengths and are in the business for different reasons.
-AWESOME female lead
I wish there were more female leads like Nadia out there. Nadia is perfect in terms of a female lead. She isn't overly anything. She is strong but can occasionally be in denial about things. She has her vulnerabilities. She has her own set of beliefs and really you cannot change her mind no matter how you try. She is also incredibly realistic but at the same time she hopes for things. She is so easy to relate to and SO MUCH fun to read about.
-Jack
Please. He is reason enough to pick up this series. He is like his own breed of male. He is quiet as hell and yes the way he talk may get on some people's nerves (it didn't get on mine though) but he is perfect in my eyes. He is the perfect companion and kind of the ideal guy. He gives you room, listens to what you have to say and well is willing to let you do your thing BUT will always be there for you to fall back on. He is also a badass hitman but he has insecurities. Not in a 'poor baby' way but just realistically. The kind of insecurities anyone is bound to have. He also has a very interesting back story but the best thing about THAT is that while it's shaped who he is today, the past is the past. It will stay with him for the rest of his life but that is that. Also I want to get high on sugar with Jack and like just see him be happy.
-The Romance
tee hee. NO THERE ISN'T A LOVE TRIANGLE. You'd have to be blind to not see this one coming and let me just point out that it isn't a love triangle. You could try to put it inside that box but it isn't that. Coming to the actual romance bit. IT IS SO SLOW. OH DEAR GOD. IT is slow. We have to suffer for a LONG LONG TIME but it's worth it. It's well developed and doesn't come out of nowhere. It's slow but it develops so beautifully. You'll never meet a couple more perfect for each other. I kid you not.
-The Mysteries
Each book focuses on a different mystery but all of them are well developed. Things don't come out of nowhere but neither are they predictable. Clues are handed out and you get to watch the characters put everything together. It's just brilliant mystery. It isn't overly complicated and it works. It's fun to read about and keeps you on your toes.
So.... like what are you waiting for? A sign from the universe? GO READ THIS. *points gun at you*
I want to just lay down and do nothing with my life. I cannot believe there will be no more Nadia and Jack for me. I tried taking it slow (even slower than it took) but it didn't work out. This series, although completely different from what Kelley writes, is magnificent and I love it just as much as I love all the other adult books she's written.
I cannot write a review because well I cannot. I love this series too much. So instead, I am going to list why you need to read this series.
-Assassins/hitmen
Yes that is a legit reason. Assassins are awesome and the ones in this book are REALLY awesome because they are realistic. They think things through, have plans, tons of contacts don't always have flashy gadgets, rely on skill and aren't actually all rounders. There are different kinds of hitmen. They have different strengths and are in the business for different reasons.
-AWESOME female lead
I wish there were more female leads like Nadia out there. Nadia is perfect in terms of a female lead. She isn't overly anything. She is strong but can occasionally be in denial about things. She has her vulnerabilities. She has her own set of beliefs and really you cannot change her mind no matter how you try. She is also incredibly realistic but at the same time she hopes for things. She is so easy to relate to and SO MUCH fun to read about.
-Jack
Please. He is reason enough to pick up this series. He is like his own breed of male. He is quiet as hell and yes the way he talk may get on some people's nerves (it didn't get on mine though) but he is perfect in my eyes. He is the perfect companion and kind of the ideal guy. He gives you room, listens to what you have to say and well is willing to let you do your thing BUT will always be there for you to fall back on. He is also a badass hitman but he has insecurities. Not in a 'poor baby' way but just realistically. The kind of insecurities anyone is bound to have. He also has a very interesting back story but the best thing about THAT is that while it's shaped who he is today, the past is the past. It will stay with him for the rest of his life but that is that. Also I want to get high on sugar with Jack and like just see him be happy.
-The Romance
tee hee. NO THERE ISN'T A LOVE TRIANGLE. You'd have to be blind to not see this one coming and let me just point out that it isn't a love triangle. You could try to put it inside that box but it isn't that. Coming to the actual romance bit. IT IS SO SLOW. OH DEAR GOD. IT is slow. We have to suffer for a LONG LONG TIME but it's worth it. It's well developed and doesn't come out of nowhere. It's slow but it develops so beautifully. You'll never meet a couple more perfect for each other. I kid you not.
-The Mysteries
Each book focuses on a different mystery but all of them are well developed. Things don't come out of nowhere but neither are they predictable. Clues are handed out and you get to watch the characters put everything together. It's just brilliant mystery. It isn't overly complicated and it works. It's fun to read about and keeps you on your toes.
So.... like what are you waiting for? A sign from the universe? GO READ THIS. *points gun at you*
November 6, 2019
Professional hitman Nadia Stafford's mentor has given her a lead on the man who raped and murdered her cousin twenty years ago. This is her chance to bring Amy's killer to justice. But when she and Jack go to Drew Aldrich's home to search for evidence of other crimes, they instead find Drew dead from a gunshot wound. They wonder who the man was they saw leaving Drew's home. Was he the person who killed him? Nadia finds evidence of Drew Aldrich's long life of crime. And, she discovers the truth about what happened to Amy twenty years ago.
This is the third book in the Nadia Stafford series. Each book in this series was better than the last. The story was well written with lots of twists, especially near the end of the book. Even though the suspense story was excellent, what kept me turning the pages was Nadia and Jack's slow building relationship. By the middle of this book my frustration level was very high. Thankfully their relationship was resolved before the book ended. I wouldn't have been happy if that hadn't happened. The characters in this book made me root for them. Yes, I was happy the hitmen got the job done. My rating: 5 Stars.
This is the third book in the Nadia Stafford series. Each book in this series was better than the last. The story was well written with lots of twists, especially near the end of the book. Even though the suspense story was excellent, what kept me turning the pages was Nadia and Jack's slow building relationship. By the middle of this book my frustration level was very high. Thankfully their relationship was resolved before the book ended. I wouldn't have been happy if that hadn't happened. The characters in this book made me root for them. Yes, I was happy the hitmen got the job done. My rating: 5 Stars.
October 3, 2023
2023 re-read. Every time I read this series I fall even more in love with it. This book specifically was amazing, Jack and Nadia's relationship evolved in a really satisfying way and I am here for it!
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Update Oct 2019 re-read: I loved this just as much the second time around. Kelley Armstrong writes amazing stories. Considering I don't really like crime thrillers, I adored this series and I was super sad to finish it. The ending was fantastic, I didn't see it coming at it was really satisfying.
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I haven't read a Nadia Stafford book in years but I'm so glad I picked this one up. As usual, Kelley Armstrong's writing really draws you in. I read this in two nights and was able to drive straight back into the series despite a long break.
Crime honestly isn't really my genre, it's not something I often buy or even particularly enjoy but coming from Kelley Armstrong, I really truly loved it.
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Update Oct 2019 re-read: I loved this just as much the second time around. Kelley Armstrong writes amazing stories. Considering I don't really like crime thrillers, I adored this series and I was super sad to finish it. The ending was fantastic, I didn't see it coming at it was really satisfying.
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I haven't read a Nadia Stafford book in years but I'm so glad I picked this one up. As usual, Kelley Armstrong's writing really draws you in. I read this in two nights and was able to drive straight back into the series despite a long break.
Crime honestly isn't really my genre, it's not something I often buy or even particularly enjoy but coming from Kelley Armstrong, I really truly loved it.
December 1, 2013
Spoilers
-The third and final book in the Nadia Stafford trilogy, the first two came out years ago so it was nice to finally get some closure to the series. I was a bit reluctant to read this though as it'd been a quite a while since I'd read the earlier books, and I wasn't sure if I'd remember or still be invested in the characters and plot. Thankfully, I was. There was enough of a summary given to past events and characters, so it was easy to immerse myself back into the series.
Yea, I wasn't disappointed… The plot was interesting, the characters were engaging, there was plenty of action, and everything was resolved in a satisfying way.
-I loved that Nadia got answers to her cousin's (Amy) murder after it had haunted her for so long, it pissed me off how Amy's murderer got away with everything he did for two decades. I'm glad he died a horrible death, the fucker.
-I didn't get why Nadia made such an issue about not wanting to kill Aldritch. He kidnapped her, and as far she knew killed and raped her cousin, and he got away with his crimes and fucked around with other girls. He deserved to die, why was she so against it? She was cool with assassinating abusive husbands and other scum-bags yet she got all moral and ethical about Aldritch even though he was worse than the people she'd assassinated in the past. It didn't make any sense.
-The relationship Nadia had with her mentor, Jack, was quite sweet. I liked the slow build up between them, it made their romance all the more convincing. I loved that Nadia wasn't waiting around for him, and instead had a relationship with someone else — it made a nice change from other heroines who usually go into deep freeze (for sometimes years) as soon as they meet the hero.
Jack and Nadia were great together, it was fun reading about them both tip-toeing around their feelings for each other.
-Jack's dialogue was a little annoying. I don't remember him talking so stilted and short in the first two books, but it's been a while since I read them so I've probably just forgotten.
-All in all, a decent end to the trilogy.
-The third and final book in the Nadia Stafford trilogy, the first two came out years ago so it was nice to finally get some closure to the series. I was a bit reluctant to read this though as it'd been a quite a while since I'd read the earlier books, and I wasn't sure if I'd remember or still be invested in the characters and plot. Thankfully, I was. There was enough of a summary given to past events and characters, so it was easy to immerse myself back into the series.
Yea, I wasn't disappointed… The plot was interesting, the characters were engaging, there was plenty of action, and everything was resolved in a satisfying way.
-I loved that Nadia got answers to her cousin's (Amy) murder after it had haunted her for so long, it pissed me off how Amy's murderer got away with everything he did for two decades. I'm glad he died a horrible death, the fucker.
-I didn't get why Nadia made such an issue about not wanting to kill Aldritch. He kidnapped her, and as far she knew killed and raped her cousin, and he got away with his crimes and fucked around with other girls. He deserved to die, why was she so against it? She was cool with assassinating abusive husbands and other scum-bags yet she got all moral and ethical about Aldritch even though he was worse than the people she'd assassinated in the past. It didn't make any sense.
-The relationship Nadia had with her mentor, Jack, was quite sweet. I liked the slow build up between them, it made their romance all the more convincing. I loved that Nadia wasn't waiting around for him, and instead had a relationship with someone else — it made a nice change from other heroines who usually go into deep freeze (for sometimes years) as soon as they meet the hero.
Jack and Nadia were great together, it was fun reading about them both tip-toeing around their feelings for each other.
-Jack's dialogue was a little annoying. I don't remember him talking so stilted and short in the first two books, but it's been a while since I read them so I've probably just forgotten.
-All in all, a decent end to the trilogy.
January 29, 2020
Nadia Stafford taking care of business makes for some highly addictive reading! This was a marvellous trilogy and I wish that I wasn’t already finished! Can’t recommend it enough!
Want to read
December 3, 2014FIIIIIINALYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!
July 17, 2016
Well shame on me for taking so long to get to the third book in this series. I blame it on the abundance of good books available nowadays. But even having taken a break from Nadia & Company, I felt like I was returning to old friends as soon as I cracked the book open...albeit lethal, dangerous old friends whose bad side you do not want to be on!
Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors. Whether it's her paranormal/supernatural type books or this more mainstream book about an ex-cop who is now a hitman (or I guess that would be hitwoman, ha ha) and her mentor Jack. Jack. Jack. Oh, Jack. For a character of few words and lethal actions, he sure makes an impact on a reader. ;) This author just has a knack for creating characters who draw you in and make you want good things for them, even if they're not always society's definition of "good" people.
If this truly is the final book of the series, I am happy with the way things were wrapped up. However, I am holding out hope that there's at least one more adventure waiting in Ms. Armstrong's brain for these characters.
If you like action and suspense, try out this series, but be warned there is violence. I mean, if you go into a book about hitmen and think there's not going to be violence and killing, well...maybe you're a few pages short of a novel to begin with.
I do think the first book took a little effort getting into, but the series only got better with each book.
Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors. Whether it's her paranormal/supernatural type books or this more mainstream book about an ex-cop who is now a hitman (or I guess that would be hitwoman, ha ha) and her mentor Jack. Jack. Jack. Oh, Jack. For a character of few words and lethal actions, he sure makes an impact on a reader. ;) This author just has a knack for creating characters who draw you in and make you want good things for them, even if they're not always society's definition of "good" people.
If this truly is the final book of the series, I am happy with the way things were wrapped up. However, I am holding out hope that there's at least one more adventure waiting in Ms. Armstrong's brain for these characters.
If you like action and suspense, try out this series, but be warned there is violence. I mean, if you go into a book about hitmen and think there's not going to be violence and killing, well...maybe you're a few pages short of a novel to begin with.
I do think the first book took a little effort getting into, but the series only got better with each book.
August 4, 2016
3.5
Es una serie entretenida y con personajes interesantes (especialmente Nadia la protagonista, y Jack, su compañero), pero, lamentablemente, no está a la altura de otras novelas de Kelley Armstrong. Pienso que lo paranormal le sienta mucho mejor. En este caso, muchas escenas fueron poco realistas, casi como sacadas de un novelón yanqui, con poco desarrollo y falto de imaginación.
Así y todo, se lee fácil y rápido. Tiene la acción suficiente para entretener al estilo de Harlan Coben, así como una investigación a lo largo de la trama que, si bien no sorprende con giros inesperados (al menos en mi opinión), sí cumple su objetivo de mantenerte prendido en su lectura.
En cuanto a la parte romántica, esta última entrega cumple con creces (si los personajes en cuestión son de tu agrado, obvio.) Por ese lado, tampoco ninguna sorpresa, pero sí un 'alivio' después de . Puedo decir que no decepciona en absoluto. Bue, no decir- opinar, solamente.
Podría haber sido muchísimo mejor (falla en el desarrollo, llegando a la mitad) pero sirve para pasar un buen rato (una buena semana, en mi caso.) No me 'enamoró' como Darkest Powers Trilogy o Women of the Otherworld Series Collection: Haunted, Broken, No Humans Involved, Personal Demon, Living with the Dead, pero fue aceptable, mejor que la mayoría en el género de protagonistas femeninas.
Es una serie entretenida y con personajes interesantes (especialmente Nadia la protagonista, y Jack, su compañero), pero, lamentablemente, no está a la altura de otras novelas de Kelley Armstrong. Pienso que lo paranormal le sienta mucho mejor. En este caso, muchas escenas fueron poco realistas, casi como sacadas de un novelón yanqui, con poco desarrollo y falto de imaginación.
Así y todo, se lee fácil y rápido. Tiene la acción suficiente para entretener al estilo de Harlan Coben, así como una investigación a lo largo de la trama que, si bien no sorprende con giros inesperados (al menos en mi opinión), sí cumple su objetivo de mantenerte prendido en su lectura.
En cuanto a la parte romántica, esta última entrega cumple con creces (si los personajes en cuestión son de tu agrado, obvio.) Por ese lado, tampoco ninguna sorpresa, pero sí un 'alivio' después de . Puedo decir que no decepciona en absoluto. Bue, no decir- opinar, solamente.
Podría haber sido muchísimo mejor (falla en el desarrollo, llegando a la mitad) pero sirve para pasar un buen rato (una buena semana, en mi caso.) No me 'enamoró' como Darkest Powers Trilogy o Women of the Otherworld Series Collection: Haunted, Broken, No Humans Involved, Personal Demon, Living with the Dead, pero fue aceptable, mejor que la mayoría en el género de protagonistas femeninas.
August 29, 2016
Wild Justice is the third and final book in Kelley Armstrong's Nadia Stafford series. It is an adult contemporary mystery thriller.
It has been years since I read book two in this series. But surprisingly everything came back to me fairly easily.
I love Kelley Armstrong and am a big fan of many of her other series. The Nadia Stafford series is very different from all of her other series. But it is just as enjoyable.
Nadia Stafford is a former cop turned hitwoman. I guess you could describe her as a hitwoman with a conscience. She owns a lodge in the wilderness in Ontario. So she goes back and forth between being a killer for hire and a lodge owner.
In addition to getting a lot of Nadia, we also get to see some of our favorite characters from the other two books: Jack, Quinn and Evelyn. I enjoy the dynamic between all of these people.
In Wild Justice Nadia's past is the case. We are reminded of the case that started it all (the death of her cousin Amy). There is a lot of action in this book. People are after her. She has relationship issues. Plus we finally get to find out what happened all of those years ago to her and her cousin.
Wild Justice is a wonderful conclusion to an excellent series.
February 19, 2015
Third and final book in the Nadia Stafford thriller series about a female hitwoman.
My Take
No, no, no, no, no, nooooooo. I don't want this to be the end!! I love this series!! Besides, what about the Contrapasso??? Now that Armstrong has let this particular cat out of the bag, she can't leave it there… Okay, so I'm whining. I like this series! How often do you get a story, let alone a series, about a contract killer who's a woman?
Wild Justice is a story you simply can't stop and put down. It's like the rest of this series, and not at all what you would expect from Armstrong, although it does bear the hallmark of her excellent writing abilities. Then there are those twists she introduces. God knows I was clueless, refusing to believe for pages until Armstrong led me along her path of clues!
It's kinda too bad that Nadia has a moral streak, as the trigger event hits really hard and simply gets worse when Jack shows up with an unexpected "gift". It'll be a rough trip down memory lane, but worth it for the truth that emerges. It's that initial truth, about a serial bad guy who could'a, should'a, been taken down at the start that hurts the most.
It's amazing how very careful Jack is with Nadia—and it makes me want to go back to the beginning with Exit Strategy , 1, and re-explore how we first learn about Jack mentoring Nadia. Was Jack's telegraph-style of speech there, and I simply missed it? Was the basis for the camaraderie between Nadia and Jack laid there as well? I know I wouldn't mind a re-read.
It's a slow dance Armstrong has us waltzing through with its close steps and suggestive moves, its careful building to its unexpectedly expected result. And still Armstrong continues to twist and turn, using Quinn and his regrets, Nadia reacting in the guy role, and Jack the timid one. Armstrong had me wallowing in indecision, but eventually Nadia's choice, her explanations, rang true, and I had to admire her reasoning. Dang, Armstrong's good!
Wow, we get Jack's background, and it's much rougher than I had expected. Makes me feel bad for the guy.
Okay, hitman humor. The superior, first-rate versus the third-rate, and it's just sad. There's something to be said for reading, and these two should have read their Nadia Stafford books *shakes her head with very little regret*. Although, Jack, Nadia, and Quinn had their own snafus…!
That scene after the fancy dinner...smokin'! Even if there was some nasty fall-out. If you're interested in relationship alternatives, a different way of approaching one, do read Wild Justice.
Oh, it's a little scary how clueless Nadia is, and yet, why would she think anything else?
It's a good ending. One that leaves an opening for more, although I'm not sure that's not just me being hopeful…
The Story
A hit goes bad, and Nadia zones out, the bad result triggering her memories of the murder of her young cousin two decades ago.
Memories that seem so appropriate when Jack hands his "gift" to her. It should be so easy…
The Characters
Nadia Stafford, a.k.a., Dee, is an ex-cop who runs a wilderness lodge northeast of Toronto when she's not under contract. Emma and Owen Walden are the cook and all-round handyman who handle things when she's gone. Scout is the dog Jack gave her last spring. Neil is a cousin who was a newbie on the force those 20 years ago along with fellow cops, Myron Young and cousin Pete. Dr. Foster was the good-intentioned family physician.
Jack, in truth John Daly, is Nadia's mentor; Evelyn is Jack's mentor and middleman. Felix is a hitman friend who's into the toys. Quinn, a.k.a., the Boy Scout, is a Virginia-based U.S. marshal who moonlights as a vigilante hitman. He's also Dee's ex-boyfriend these days.
Amy is Nadia's twenty-year-dead, naive cousin; Uncle Eddie was Amy's father and a cop. Drew Aldrich is the man who killed her, and his premium defense team included Lawrence Webb and Sebastian Koss, who is now a big-time victim's advocate. Shannon Broadhurst was a victim, one who realizes, now, the truth of the situation.
Paul Tomassini, nephew to a New York mafia don, is Dee's exclusive middleman. Roland, another middleman, runs third-rate hitmen, like Mark Lewiston. Duncan is another middleman, very professional, and a good friend of Evelyn's.
Alan Wilde is a hit. Rose Wilde is his timid wife while Hannah is their three-year-old. David Miller, a.k.a., James Emery, is a fake cop in Newport who's living in Cleveland.
The Contrapasso Fellowship is an urban legend among cops and hitmen, a "club composed of former judges, lawyers, and law-enforcement officers who hire assassins to right judicial wrongs." Henry Bryant is hiding in the Contrapasso. Diaz is another member.
The Cover
The cover has a soft black background with a partial view of Nadia in a too-big khaki trenchcoat, holding a really big gun. A very determined-looking lady.
The title is a combination of what occurs within the boards and is definitely a Wild Justice.
My Take
No, no, no, no, no, nooooooo. I don't want this to be the end!! I love this series!! Besides, what about the Contrapasso??? Now that Armstrong has let this particular cat out of the bag, she can't leave it there… Okay, so I'm whining. I like this series! How often do you get a story, let alone a series, about a contract killer who's a woman?
Wild Justice is a story you simply can't stop and put down. It's like the rest of this series, and not at all what you would expect from Armstrong, although it does bear the hallmark of her excellent writing abilities. Then there are those twists she introduces. God knows I was clueless, refusing to believe for pages until Armstrong led me along her path of clues!
It's kinda too bad that Nadia has a moral streak, as the trigger event hits really hard and simply gets worse when Jack shows up with an unexpected "gift". It'll be a rough trip down memory lane, but worth it for the truth that emerges. It's that initial truth, about a serial bad guy who could'a, should'a, been taken down at the start that hurts the most.
It's amazing how very careful Jack is with Nadia—and it makes me want to go back to the beginning with Exit Strategy , 1, and re-explore how we first learn about Jack mentoring Nadia. Was Jack's telegraph-style of speech there, and I simply missed it? Was the basis for the camaraderie between Nadia and Jack laid there as well? I know I wouldn't mind a re-read.
It's a slow dance Armstrong has us waltzing through with its close steps and suggestive moves, its careful building to its unexpectedly expected result. And still Armstrong continues to twist and turn, using Quinn and his regrets, Nadia reacting in the guy role, and Jack the timid one. Armstrong had me wallowing in indecision, but eventually Nadia's choice, her explanations, rang true, and I had to admire her reasoning. Dang, Armstrong's good!
Wow, we get Jack's background, and it's much rougher than I had expected. Makes me feel bad for the guy.
Okay, hitman humor. The superior, first-rate versus the third-rate, and it's just sad. There's something to be said for reading, and these two should have read their Nadia Stafford books *shakes her head with very little regret*. Although, Jack, Nadia, and Quinn had their own snafus…!
That scene after the fancy dinner...smokin'! Even if there was some nasty fall-out. If you're interested in relationship alternatives, a different way of approaching one, do read Wild Justice.
Oh, it's a little scary how clueless Nadia is, and yet, why would she think anything else?
It's a good ending. One that leaves an opening for more, although I'm not sure that's not just me being hopeful…
The Story
A hit goes bad, and Nadia zones out, the bad result triggering her memories of the murder of her young cousin two decades ago.
Memories that seem so appropriate when Jack hands his "gift" to her. It should be so easy…
The Characters
Nadia Stafford, a.k.a., Dee, is an ex-cop who runs a wilderness lodge northeast of Toronto when she's not under contract. Emma and Owen Walden are the cook and all-round handyman who handle things when she's gone. Scout is the dog Jack gave her last spring. Neil is a cousin who was a newbie on the force those 20 years ago along with fellow cops, Myron Young and cousin Pete. Dr. Foster was the good-intentioned family physician.
Jack, in truth John Daly, is Nadia's mentor; Evelyn is Jack's mentor and middleman. Felix is a hitman friend who's into the toys. Quinn, a.k.a., the Boy Scout, is a Virginia-based U.S. marshal who moonlights as a vigilante hitman. He's also Dee's ex-boyfriend these days.
Amy is Nadia's twenty-year-dead, naive cousin; Uncle Eddie was Amy's father and a cop. Drew Aldrich is the man who killed her, and his premium defense team included Lawrence Webb and Sebastian Koss, who is now a big-time victim's advocate. Shannon Broadhurst was a victim, one who realizes, now, the truth of the situation.
Paul Tomassini, nephew to a New York mafia don, is Dee's exclusive middleman. Roland, another middleman, runs third-rate hitmen, like Mark Lewiston. Duncan is another middleman, very professional, and a good friend of Evelyn's.
Alan Wilde is a hit. Rose Wilde is his timid wife while Hannah is their three-year-old. David Miller, a.k.a., James Emery, is a fake cop in Newport who's living in Cleveland.
The Contrapasso Fellowship is an urban legend among cops and hitmen, a "club composed of former judges, lawyers, and law-enforcement officers who hire assassins to right judicial wrongs." Henry Bryant is hiding in the Contrapasso. Diaz is another member.
The Cover
The cover has a soft black background with a partial view of Nadia in a too-big khaki trenchcoat, holding a really big gun. A very determined-looking lady.
The title is a combination of what occurs within the boards and is definitely a Wild Justice.
March 12, 2017
I LOVE THIS SERIES SO MUCH. I'm mad at myself for not checking it out sooner, but thank god I finally did. It is possibly now my favorite Kelley Armstrong series? We’ll see how Cainsville plays out (and I haven’t read any of her Women of the Otherworld series), but this series was just so great!!! JACK AND NADIA!!!!!!!
It was a little strange how Nadia had decided to start things up with Quinn in the last book just to reveal they had broken up at the beginning of this, but I never cared about their relationship, so that was fine. I had liked Quinn well enough in the previous books, but he definitely ruined it in this book with his reaction to finding out about Nadia and Jack. And like, the immediate reaction is one thing, but the fact that even after having time to think about it and process it, he was still like “He took advantage of you when you were vulnerable, and you’re making a mistake and you’ll realize it eventually,” or whatever was super obnoxious and made me really dislike him.
The mystery/plot was definitely the best of the three books (although I had really enjoyed the mysteries in the previous books as well).
Basically, everything about this was perfect. Nadia and Jack have definitely vaulted into my favorite book romances, and I’m sure I’ll be rereading this series many times in the future!
It was a little strange how Nadia had decided to start things up with Quinn in the last book just to reveal they had broken up at the beginning of this, but I never cared about their relationship, so that was fine. I had liked Quinn well enough in the previous books, but he definitely ruined it in this book with his reaction to finding out about Nadia and Jack. And like, the immediate reaction is one thing, but the fact that even after having time to think about it and process it, he was still like “He took advantage of you when you were vulnerable, and you’re making a mistake and you’ll realize it eventually,” or whatever was super obnoxious and made me really dislike him.
The mystery/plot was definitely the best of the three books (although I had really enjoyed the mysteries in the previous books as well).
Basically, everything about this was perfect. Nadia and Jack have definitely vaulted into my favorite book romances, and I’m sure I’ll be rereading this series many times in the future!
April 14, 2021
4 Stars. Just a touch less exciting than "Exit Strategy" but not much! Nadia Stafford, contract killer and Ontario resort owner, starts out with a failure and ends with a success. Or is it? The failure is a hit on an enemy of her New Jersey mafia employer, during which she hesitates in fear of killing a bystander. The ensuing questions about her options are directed to Jack, her mentor, with the anticipated lack of resolution. At the same time Jack tells her he has developed a solid lead on the man who killed her cousin Amy twenty years earlier. Thirteen-year-old Nadia had been a witness. The accused, Drew Aldrich, had disappeared after the court case for which he was acquitted thanks to his high-powered Toronto law firm. When Nadia and Jack track him to a small town in the US, it appears someone beat them to the punch. He is dead. Suicide out of remorse? Is that a confession? Nadia's relationship with Jack, and with her erstwhile boyfriend Quinn, play a vital role this time. You'll see. Maybe you'll see a little too much of it. My comment? "Guys, this case is important; can we please have a little more focus?" (April 2019)
July 12, 2018
Just like the first two Nadia Stafford books, this one had me engrossed from beginning to end; in an ideal world I would never have had to put it down. Armstrong is brilliant at putting together a tightly written drama about characters you can really relate to even if they're very different from you and your friends. In her urban fantasies, of course, she has only to gain the fantasy fan's willing suspension of disbelief in werewolves, witches, and other supernaturals, and then they're the fan's fictional friends. I think she also succeeds in the bigger challenge of creating relatable characters who are killers for hire, even part-time ones like Nadia Stafford, who owns and runs a lodge in the forested part of eastern Ontario and takes occasional assignments to hunt and kill bad guys.
Our familiar characters, Nadia, Jack, Quinn, and Evelyn, are back; and all four have different perspectives, feelings, and codes of ethics somewhere at the far end of a spectrum that ranges from cold-blooded hitmen all the way to righteous vigilantes like Quinn, a U.S. marshal who secretly administers capital punishment to people who've gotten away with murder. Nadia comes next on that spectrum, I'd say; she works exclusively for the nephew of a Mafia don taking contracts on other mobsters and has a clear understanding with him that she doesn't target innocents. Jack, her recruiter and mentor, takes a wide range of contracts but still has a code of ethics that he spells out, awkwardly and painfully, in a confrontation with Nadia late in the book. And there's Evelyn, his mentor and a mastermind of assassins, whose chief spark of humanity seems to be loyalty to her assassin family.
These four characters function for the reader as "us" versus "them"; "them" includes a surprising number of contract killers farther down the spectrum and the unknown real villains who hire them. Evelyn has entree to a mysterious organization called Contrapasso, whose highly placed members orchestrate extralegal retribution for murder and other crimes. Even though this is supposed to be the final book in the series, Contrapasso is dangled out there in the dim distance just like the set-up for a sequel; here it's a source of clues and red herrings for the central mystery, which stems from the murder of Nadia's cousin Amy when they were 13 years old and is slowly revealed to be much more and much worse than Nadia thought.
Gripping action scenes and suspenseful detective work are combined, masterfully I thought, with the intricate development of the four principals' relationships, in which issues of trust, support, and conflict provide structure to the feelings they all have for each other--especially Nadia and Jack now that Nadia has broken it off with Quinn and Quinn won't accept that. But with an increasing threat to Nadia's life they have to work closely together, and sometimes there's more suspense in that than in their hunt for the real killer.
Our familiar characters, Nadia, Jack, Quinn, and Evelyn, are back; and all four have different perspectives, feelings, and codes of ethics somewhere at the far end of a spectrum that ranges from cold-blooded hitmen all the way to righteous vigilantes like Quinn, a U.S. marshal who secretly administers capital punishment to people who've gotten away with murder. Nadia comes next on that spectrum, I'd say; she works exclusively for the nephew of a Mafia don taking contracts on other mobsters and has a clear understanding with him that she doesn't target innocents. Jack, her recruiter and mentor, takes a wide range of contracts but still has a code of ethics that he spells out, awkwardly and painfully, in a confrontation with Nadia late in the book. And there's Evelyn, his mentor and a mastermind of assassins, whose chief spark of humanity seems to be loyalty to her assassin family.
These four characters function for the reader as "us" versus "them"; "them" includes a surprising number of contract killers farther down the spectrum and the unknown real villains who hire them. Evelyn has entree to a mysterious organization called Contrapasso, whose highly placed members orchestrate extralegal retribution for murder and other crimes. Even though this is supposed to be the final book in the series, Contrapasso is dangled out there in the dim distance just like the set-up for a sequel; here it's a source of clues and red herrings for the central mystery, which stems from the murder of Nadia's cousin Amy when they were 13 years old and is slowly revealed to be much more and much worse than Nadia thought.
Gripping action scenes and suspenseful detective work are combined, masterfully I thought, with the intricate development of the four principals' relationships, in which issues of trust, support, and conflict provide structure to the feelings they all have for each other--especially Nadia and Jack now that Nadia has broken it off with Quinn and Quinn won't accept that. But with an increasing threat to Nadia's life they have to work closely together, and sometimes there's more suspense in that than in their hunt for the real killer.
March 1, 2014
3.5 stars
I'm glad to see that the Nadia Stafford books got a proper ending. I only wished this book was paced a little bit faster. I was riveted until about 60% of the way through when I started to get a little confused on the plot. Then I just started to not care at all about them catching the villain.
I believe that this book really could be read as a standalone (although I always recommend reading the other books before), because it had been a while since I read the other books in this series and I had no problem following along; not once did I need to refer to the previous books to understand what was going on. So kudos to Armstrong for that :)
I don't remember Jack talking as stiltedly in the other books, maybe it's just been a while. With the way his character talked, it reminded me a bit of the male interests in all of the Kristen Ashley novels. Despite his stilted talk, the dialogue between Nadia and Jack were probably my favorite part about this book. Whether it was figuring things out, a friendly conversation, or more, the character chemistry between the two of them was awesome.
Anyways, if you need a break from reality and want to read an engaging book with a flawed but awesome female character, this is the book for you!
I'm glad to see that the Nadia Stafford books got a proper ending. I only wished this book was paced a little bit faster. I was riveted until about 60% of the way through when I started to get a little confused on the plot. Then I just started to not care at all about them catching the villain.
I believe that this book really could be read as a standalone (although I always recommend reading the other books before), because it had been a while since I read the other books in this series and I had no problem following along; not once did I need to refer to the previous books to understand what was going on. So kudos to Armstrong for that :)
I don't remember Jack talking as stiltedly in the other books, maybe it's just been a while. With the way his character talked, it reminded me a bit of the male interests in all of the Kristen Ashley novels. Despite his stilted talk, the dialogue between Nadia and Jack were probably my favorite part about this book. Whether it was figuring things out, a friendly conversation, or more, the character chemistry between the two of them was awesome.
Anyways, if you need a break from reality and want to read an engaging book with a flawed but awesome female character, this is the book for you!
September 20, 2017
Audiobook Re-Read September 2017
July 2016
I love this one a lot. I think this is my first full re-read, but I often re-read parts of it.
Original Review
OKAY. WHO WANTS TO READ THESE AND TALK TO ME ABOUT THEM?
It's not perfect, but it left me pretty satisfied and happy and searching Armstrong's blog to find out if there will ever be more. (Possible novella next year!!!)
July 2016
I love this one a lot. I think this is my first full re-read, but I often re-read parts of it.
Original Review
OKAY. WHO WANTS TO READ THESE AND TALK TO ME ABOUT THEM?
It's not perfect, but it left me pretty satisfied and happy and searching Armstrong's blog to find out if there will ever be more. (Possible novella next year!!!)
October 17, 2019
This series was a joy to read, and this final book was the best one yet in my opinion! Kelley Armstrong truly is a wonderful writer.
April 14, 2015
OH MY! Where do I even begin? So bittersweet that this series is over!!! I literally just finished and I'm definitely in denial that its over. I'm staying positive though because I asked Kelley myself if this was truly the end, and she said it basically is for now but she wouldn't rule anything out in the future and I am holding onto that for eternity!!
So this was my favorite one of this series obviously.. I was a Jack and Nadia fan from the start so I couldn't be happier with the way this one went. Because I love the series so much, naturally I was worried that this one wouldn't hold up to my expectations but MAN, Kelley knocked it out of the park! The pacing was perfect. Nothing felt rushed or too slow. My concern was that we wouldn't see much of Jack admitting anything for Nadia or even a kiss because lets face it, this is not a fast moving man! But Kelley has a way of making everything turn out right and feel so natural. It was just so perfectly done and well worth that long wait!
A couple other things.. I was really glad Nadia finally got some closure and answers about what happened to her when she was young. I loved that Jack was the one to track Aldridge down for her, knowing how bad she needed this case. Parts were downright hard to get through to be honest, just because of the heaviness of it all. But as I said, this was Nadia's greatest hump to get over and now that she has, she can start to live a healthier, happier life with Jack. I don't know if Quinn deserves a word here, but I can say that I was shocked when it looked like he betrayed them.. and I was quite relieved to find that wasn't the case. I liked him ok.. just not with Nadia. Glad they ended on civil terms though.
So to wrap up, this was all that I wanted it to be and more! Kelley did an excellent job as usual and while that was the best ending for this series at THIS point... I'm keeping my fingers crossed that sometime in the future we will see a little bit more of Nadia and Jack!
So this was my favorite one of this series obviously.. I was a Jack and Nadia fan from the start so I couldn't be happier with the way this one went. Because I love the series so much, naturally I was worried that this one wouldn't hold up to my expectations but MAN, Kelley knocked it out of the park! The pacing was perfect. Nothing felt rushed or too slow. My concern was that we wouldn't see much of Jack admitting anything for Nadia or even a kiss because lets face it, this is not a fast moving man! But Kelley has a way of making everything turn out right and feel so natural. It was just so perfectly done and well worth that long wait!
A couple other things.. I was really glad Nadia finally got some closure and answers about what happened to her when she was young. I loved that Jack was the one to track Aldridge down for her, knowing how bad she needed this case. Parts were downright hard to get through to be honest, just because of the heaviness of it all. But as I said, this was Nadia's greatest hump to get over and now that she has, she can start to live a healthier, happier life with Jack. I don't know if Quinn deserves a word here, but I can say that I was shocked when it looked like he betrayed them.. and I was quite relieved to find that wasn't the case. I liked him ok.. just not with Nadia. Glad they ended on civil terms though.
So to wrap up, this was all that I wanted it to be and more! Kelley did an excellent job as usual and while that was the best ending for this series at THIS point... I'm keeping my fingers crossed that sometime in the future we will see a little bit more of Nadia and Jack!
December 18, 2013
Nadia Stafford owns a lodge in the wilderness of Northern Ontario. She used to be a cop. Now, she’s a hitman. But a hitman with a code of ethics, a conscience and a need to right a wrong that can never really be made right again.
You would think it would be difficult to like a character that kills people for a living, but like Dexter, Nadia only kills the bad guys.
This is the third and final book in this trilogy, so I was anxious to see how all the elements introduced in the first two books were resolved in this last book. I must say I wasn’t disappointed. Ms. Armstrong wrapped everything up very nicely. I enjoy Ms. Armstrong’s books and this one was no exception, however, I cannot say if it’s because she is loathe to let her characters go or if she just felt a need to wrap up the series so finished Nadia’s story, but Wild Justice seemed quite repetitive in places. Scenarios and conversations kept repeating so I wasn’t as compelled by the action as I felt I should have been. It was a nice last visit with the characters anyway.
You would think it would be difficult to like a character that kills people for a living, but like Dexter, Nadia only kills the bad guys.
This is the third and final book in this trilogy, so I was anxious to see how all the elements introduced in the first two books were resolved in this last book. I must say I wasn’t disappointed. Ms. Armstrong wrapped everything up very nicely. I enjoy Ms. Armstrong’s books and this one was no exception, however, I cannot say if it’s because she is loathe to let her characters go or if she just felt a need to wrap up the series so finished Nadia’s story, but Wild Justice seemed quite repetitive in places. Scenarios and conversations kept repeating so I wasn’t as compelled by the action as I felt I should have been. It was a nice last visit with the characters anyway.
November 28, 2017
I seriously love this series. There are many good series from Kelley Armstrong but this is definitely my favourite one.
Jack brings Nadia information about the rapist of her cousins. When they break into his house, they discover that the man is dead and his murder has been faked for suicide. Soon someone sends a hitman to kill Nadia and this is just a beginning of the threat for her life.
Nadia is such an fascinating, complicated heroine. And not just because she works as a professional killer but because of her character that is rooted deeply in her past. And Jack is a good pairing for her. It's great that their relationship finally moves one a bit. The suspense/action part is great with all those twists and unexpected events.
I wish there is another book dedicated to Nadia and Jack, them working a case together or something.
Jack brings Nadia information about the rapist of her cousins. When they break into his house, they discover that the man is dead and his murder has been faked for suicide. Soon someone sends a hitman to kill Nadia and this is just a beginning of the threat for her life.
Nadia is such an fascinating, complicated heroine. And not just because she works as a professional killer but because of her character that is rooted deeply in her past. And Jack is a good pairing for her. It's great that their relationship finally moves one a bit. The suspense/action part is great with all those twists and unexpected events.
I wish there is another book dedicated to Nadia and Jack, them working a case together or something.
August 9, 2016
Even though this finale gave me everything I wanted and even some things I didn't know I wanted, there's still something about this series that just doesn't 100% work for me. I won't go about basically repeating my (shoddy) review for MADE TO BE BROKEN but while I didn't love this book, I did love a few elements of it. Mostly shippy things. Also, I liked where Armstrong went with the plot and reliving some of Nadia's past. I didn't see it coming at all.
While there were some irritating bits (oh Quinn I wanted you to fall in a hole) it was still a satisfying conclusion, but not a series I will ever revisit. Though I do need to get my hands on the novella!
While there were some irritating bits (oh Quinn I wanted you to fall in a hole) it was still a satisfying conclusion, but not a series I will ever revisit. Though I do need to get my hands on the novella!
February 20, 2014
The Good: This is how you end a series. A wonderfully real romance that satisfying with adequate buildup. Revelations from the past that make complete sense while tearing your heart out. A strong heroine showing explainable, humanizing weakness. I was sucked in from page one and couldn't do anything else with my life until I knew how it ended. And it was totally worth it.
The Bad: Now I want more Nadia!
The Bad: Now I want more Nadia!
October 29, 2018
Probably the best in the series. We got some of the usual mystery/hitman plot but with a little romance splashed in. It was also nice to get to know the characters more and I actually really enjoyed how this one ended. Almost like a happily ever after. Or as best as we could get in this case.
The series itself was great. Not her best but still well worth the read.
The series itself was great. Not her best but still well worth the read.
February 1, 2014
A million times yes this book nice wow good yes.
(I will be coherent later once the post-book glow wears off.)
(I will be coherent later once the post-book glow wears off.)
July 5, 2022
Hallelujah. Friggin finally. I was going to scream if they didn’t get together in this final book. I enjoyed this trilogy immensely. Plenty of twists & turns in the storyline, which keeps the reader on their toes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2013
I really enjoyed this concluding book to the Nadia Stafford series. I found the writing engaging. I especially liked the dialog between Nadia and Jack. I also enjoyed watching them finally take a chance on having a relationship. I found it amusing that two contract killers who faced physical danger all the time would be so fearful of taking emotional risks.
When the story begins, Nadia is in a tough place mentally. She has just broken up with fellow contract killer Quinn because they had different expectations for their relationship. She is feeling guilty that she might have led him on. She is also facing professional difficulties because she didn't kill the man she was hired to kill and shortly later he kills his wife, wounds his infant daughter and kills himself. Nadia passed on the hit because the wife and daughter were there and she wasn't willing to kill him in front of them. Now she is feeling guilty because they died or were injured because she didn't take the shot.
Her mentor Jack comes to see her with a gift. He has located Drew Aldritch - the man she believes killed her cousin twenty years earlier but who was acquitted at the trial. Nadia was there at the isolated cabin at the time but managed to escape and run for help. She feels guilty that she didn't do anything to save her cousin. She has had nightmare about the whole thing for years. They are especially bad when she gets in another situation where her actions cause harm to an innocent. Drew Aldritch has changed his name a few times but hasn't changed his ways with young girls. Jack thinks that Nadia will feel better if she kills him herself but Nadia is more in favor of turning him in to law enforcement.
Unfortunately, while they are watching Drew, someone gets there first and kills him. Worse than that, someone has hired hit men to kill Nadia - perhaps because Drew Aldritch recognized her. Jack and Nadia have to figure out who is trying to kill her. Quinn gets involved in the case too which is incredibly awkward for Nadia who has finally started a relationship with Jack after years of missed signals.
Complicating things even further is that Nadia recalls things about the time of her cousin's death that she had completely blocked out of her memory. Things that her family had known and Jack had guessed but which Nadia had repressed. Dealing with those new memories rocks her world.
This story was excellent. I can't wait to get a keeper copy for my bookshelf.
When the story begins, Nadia is in a tough place mentally. She has just broken up with fellow contract killer Quinn because they had different expectations for their relationship. She is feeling guilty that she might have led him on. She is also facing professional difficulties because she didn't kill the man she was hired to kill and shortly later he kills his wife, wounds his infant daughter and kills himself. Nadia passed on the hit because the wife and daughter were there and she wasn't willing to kill him in front of them. Now she is feeling guilty because they died or were injured because she didn't take the shot.
Her mentor Jack comes to see her with a gift. He has located Drew Aldritch - the man she believes killed her cousin twenty years earlier but who was acquitted at the trial. Nadia was there at the isolated cabin at the time but managed to escape and run for help. She feels guilty that she didn't do anything to save her cousin. She has had nightmare about the whole thing for years. They are especially bad when she gets in another situation where her actions cause harm to an innocent. Drew Aldritch has changed his name a few times but hasn't changed his ways with young girls. Jack thinks that Nadia will feel better if she kills him herself but Nadia is more in favor of turning him in to law enforcement.
Unfortunately, while they are watching Drew, someone gets there first and kills him. Worse than that, someone has hired hit men to kill Nadia - perhaps because Drew Aldritch recognized her. Jack and Nadia have to figure out who is trying to kill her. Quinn gets involved in the case too which is incredibly awkward for Nadia who has finally started a relationship with Jack after years of missed signals.
Complicating things even further is that Nadia recalls things about the time of her cousin's death that she had completely blocked out of her memory. Things that her family had known and Jack had guessed but which Nadia had repressed. Dealing with those new memories rocks her world.
This story was excellent. I can't wait to get a keeper copy for my bookshelf.
January 6, 2021
4.5 stars
With this book's mystery plot we get closure for what happened to Nadia and her cousin, when Jack tracks down Drew Aldrich who, 20 years after getting aquitted for his crime, lives under an assumed name now. There are quite a few twists and it turns out not everything is as it seems or as Nadia remembers it. I liked the mystery and its resolution. I'm not the biggest fan of the Contrapasso Fellowship subplot, though. I just don't entirely buy that an organization like that could/would exist; that required some suspension of disbelief on my part.
The romantic subplot finally comes to a head in this installment, which means it moves a little more to the forefront, compared to the previous books. It's still not a romance-heavy story and the sex scenes are all fade-to-black. The love triangle is kind of there, but much of it happened off the page between books. In the end, what there is in terms of love triangle drama didn't bother me at all because it actually serves a purpose in the larger story.
I noticed shades of Armstrong's later Cainsville series in some of the character dynamics. The characters in the two series are very different people on very different paths populating a very different story, but some of the dynamics were similar enough in their basic strokes to scratch the same itch for me.
All in all, a satisfying conclusion to a fun thriller series. Though, it's not quite the end yet, there's still two novellas to go. On to reading those now...
With this book's mystery plot we get closure for what happened to Nadia and her cousin, when Jack tracks down Drew Aldrich who, 20 years after getting aquitted for his crime, lives under an assumed name now. There are quite a few twists and it turns out not everything is as it seems or as Nadia remembers it. I liked the mystery and its resolution. I'm not the biggest fan of the Contrapasso Fellowship subplot, though. I just don't entirely buy that an organization like that could/would exist; that required some suspension of disbelief on my part.
The romantic subplot finally comes to a head in this installment, which means it moves a little more to the forefront, compared to the previous books. It's still not a romance-heavy story and the sex scenes are all fade-to-black. The love triangle is kind of there, but much of it happened off the page between books. In the end, what there is in terms of love triangle drama didn't bother me at all because it actually serves a purpose in the larger story.
I noticed shades of Armstrong's later Cainsville series in some of the character dynamics. The characters in the two series are very different people on very different paths populating a very different story, but some of the dynamics were similar enough in their basic strokes to scratch the same itch for me.
All in all, a satisfying conclusion to a fun thriller series. Though, it's not quite the end yet, there's still two novellas to go. On to reading those now...
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