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Stephanie Patrick #4
The Third Woman
The unique Stephanie Patrick returns for a fourth time in another intelligent thriller by Mark Burnell. Icily professional, Stephanie has been living life as her alias Petra to the full. Having completed an intelligence contract in St. Petersburg she returns home, but civilian life eludes her when she is lured to France by the call of a friend in need. In Paris, a bomb-blast triggers a chain of events which contaminates every aspect of Stephanie's life. It's clear that she's been betrayed. But by whom? She must identify the threat before she can run from it... When a dangerous situation becomes life-threatening, Stephanie saves herself by taking a hostage, but soon the tension between captive and captor accelerates dangerously beyond her control. As powers shift critically, Stephanie struggles to maintain Petra's professional cool, and to hold herself together. Ultimately, she's the only one who can save them both... Mark Burnell has written another gripping thriller which will appeal to fans of Robert Harris and Michael Connelly. The Third Woman is a welcome return for a unique heroine, and a compelling sequel to Gemini.
612 pages, Paperback
First published August 31, 2005
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510 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
September 10, 2025
The fourth and last book in the Stephanie Patrick / Petra Reuter thriller series. Sad for me to see it end and of course I’m hoping for yet another.
It was a really good story for quite a while, but all the twists and turns and multitudes of players and scenarios tended to cause me confusion down the line. There was so much going on that I lost track several times. My least favorite of this series.
It was a really good story for quite a while, but all the twists and turns and multitudes of players and scenarios tended to cause me confusion down the line. There was so much going on that I lost track several times. My least favorite of this series.
August 17, 2019
3.5 stars
This series started promising with the first book but #2 and 3 were a bit of a let down with too many characters/names and connections to make for a comprehensible story. This last instalment is a bit of both. It starts out promising but gets messed up with too much information on foreign politics and the oil industry making some parts boring and confusing (and unnecessary, certainly in a book of over 600 pages). It’s like Alby’s review states, there are parts where Burnell seems to be stating his world view, parts that are not necessary to the story, spoiling the tension. Like #1 however the story was more about Petra/Stephanie which made me like it more than #2 and 3. The two different explanations of how Petra got to be in the messed up situation she was in did confuse me however. Yet I felt no desire to think about it, reread certain parts or do whatever to figure it out.
So all in all I liked it enough to give it 3.5 stars but I can’t really say that I’m a very big fan so will round it down to 3.
This series started promising with the first book but #2 and 3 were a bit of a let down with too many characters/names and connections to make for a comprehensible story. This last instalment is a bit of both. It starts out promising but gets messed up with too much information on foreign politics and the oil industry making some parts boring and confusing (and unnecessary, certainly in a book of over 600 pages). It’s like Alby’s review states, there are parts where Burnell seems to be stating his world view, parts that are not necessary to the story, spoiling the tension. Like #1 however the story was more about Petra/Stephanie which made me like it more than #2 and 3. The two different explanations of how Petra got to be in the messed up situation she was in did confuse me however. Yet I felt no desire to think about it, reread certain parts or do whatever to figure it out.
So all in all I liked it enough to give it 3.5 stars but I can’t really say that I’m a very big fan so will round it down to 3.
August 17, 2024
Petra Reuter is a spy/assassin who is ready to quit the life and start a new life as Stephanie Patrick. This plan is thrown into disarray when she agrees to meet a friend at a Paris cafe and endlessly avoids being killed in a bomb attack. It appears as if she was deliberately lured there. Who could want her dead? When she goes to a hotel to meet a possible lead, she finds the person dead, and realises she is caught up in a big conspiracy. She goes on the run, kidnapping oil businessman Robert Newman along the way, while she tries to get to the truth.
I will preface this review with the fact that spy thrillers are not my usual genre. In fact, I'm not sure I have read one before! Well, I probably have, but none spring immediately to mind. But of course, I have seen a number of spy thriller/action movies and enjoyed many of them, so I figured this might provide me with some action and excitement.
Err, wrong.
Unfortunately, The Third Woman was just exceptionally dull. The book goes for more than 600 pages (!) and in that time, we get a couple of fights/battles and a brief car chase. That's it. The rest of the book is just taken up with Stephanie/Petra globetrotting about the place as she goes to question or talk with one person or another. Over and over again. The conspiracy she was caught up in wasn't even all that complex, so I have no idea why the book needed to be over 600 pages. I mean, it's book four in a series and I was still able to follow on what was going on without reading the others! It's padded out with Stephanie asking Robert about his previous relationships. Or following the people who are tracking Stephanie, which is boring because we the reader already know where she is. The book also has this annoying habit of switching between first and third person for Stephanie, which is just such a bizarre writing choice. And the first person bits are in italics, which is wearying on the eyes if reading long passages.
If you want to read a book about a woman talking to 500 people to get the answers to a simple conspiracy, you might get something out of this. I found it all to be staggeringly dull. I can't believe I finished it.
I will preface this review with the fact that spy thrillers are not my usual genre. In fact, I'm not sure I have read one before! Well, I probably have, but none spring immediately to mind. But of course, I have seen a number of spy thriller/action movies and enjoyed many of them, so I figured this might provide me with some action and excitement.
Err, wrong.
Unfortunately, The Third Woman was just exceptionally dull. The book goes for more than 600 pages (!) and in that time, we get a couple of fights/battles and a brief car chase. That's it. The rest of the book is just taken up with Stephanie/Petra globetrotting about the place as she goes to question or talk with one person or another. Over and over again. The conspiracy she was caught up in wasn't even all that complex, so I have no idea why the book needed to be over 600 pages. I mean, it's book four in a series and I was still able to follow on what was going on without reading the others! It's padded out with Stephanie asking Robert about his previous relationships. Or following the people who are tracking Stephanie, which is boring because we the reader already know where she is. The book also has this annoying habit of switching between first and third person for Stephanie, which is just such a bizarre writing choice. And the first person bits are in italics, which is wearying on the eyes if reading long passages.
If you want to read a book about a woman talking to 500 people to get the answers to a simple conspiracy, you might get something out of this. I found it all to be staggeringly dull. I can't believe I finished it.
February 25, 2020
This book was by far the best one of the series. From the moment I picked it up it was so hard to put it down. Truly a great culmination of the series!
April 6, 2012
Terrific fast paced thriller about a female assassin/terrorist who is trying to get out of the game and revert from her assumed wicked persona to the real person she once was. A complex tale but one that is gripping, with lots of action. This is apparently the second or third in a series, but I have not been able to locate the earlier books, which detail how she was shaped to become the feared character she portrays in this book. I liked it far better than the "Girl with the . . . " series books.
April 28, 2020
This time Stephanie/Petra is suckered into a very complex trap designed to end her. She has virtually no friends left. By chance she is thrown together with a man who has some insight into the big picture of the machinations going on. They slowly develop some trust and together manage to throw some monkey wrenches into the works while staying alive themselves. An awesome thriller.
May 25, 2012
This is the fourth and final book in the series. The best books I've read in a long time. Burnell outdid Steig Larsson before Larsson even started writing. I liked Larsson's books but I couldn't put Burnell's down until I'd finished all four!
December 18, 2011
Another great book in the series. I read he has planned for a total of six. Can't wait for next one.
January 24, 2020
Burnell's Stephanie Patrick series are my favorite spy novels at present. The fourth in the series is just as compelling as the others. Wish there were four more to read.
August 8, 2021
I have not read any of the previous Stephanie Patrick books, but I will say that (for me) it was not a hindrance. I truly enjoyed this thriller/spy novel, and found the ending satisfying. I did think that there were one too many characters to keep track of, and perhaps if I was already familiar with this series, that would not have been as distracting. As it was, I found myself paging back from time to time to remember the relationship between certain characters.
If you like John LeCarre, and other politico-spy thrillers, this is just up your alley.
If you like John LeCarre, and other politico-spy thrillers, this is just up your alley.
March 2, 2021
I really enjoyed this last book in the series. I think it was the best after the first one. I notice that some readers were critical of the plot complexity and number of characters/names, but I found this to be more realistic, and helped keep my interest.
May 16, 2021
This one is the last book of Stephanie and i am very sad that it has come to an end , it was an addictive and fascinating read for me all the four books were excellent, thanks Mark Burnell i enjoyed all
June 1, 2024
Without a doubt the best book in the series!
The fastest read of the the four.
In my mind, Stephanie finally is going to enjoy her well deserved retirement.
And the Stern twist at the end is awesome.
If you're looking for a good series it's one you should strongly consider.
The fastest read of the the four.
In my mind, Stephanie finally is going to enjoy her well deserved retirement.
And the Stern twist at the end is awesome.
If you're looking for a good series it's one you should strongly consider.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2019
Almost as good as the first book in the series. Stockholm syndrome is a bit pathetic, but otherwise solid book.
August 22, 2020
Female super assassin trying very hard to retire and failing. Great story line and great characters. Totally unbelievable in terms of any link with reality but I got sucked right in anyway!
August 31, 2020
I am glad i finished the series. I had trouble with the start of them. But all I all enjoyed them.
October 13, 2020
Good read but felt long to me. A sort of female Jason Bourne character.
November 8, 2021
The final outing for Stephanie Patrick. This time she is being hunted.
March 30, 2022
might be the last in the series but hope not
Every book is better than the last. Perhaps more movies will be made too! Burrell is worth exploring. Read these !
Every book is better than the last. Perhaps more movies will be made too! Burrell is worth exploring. Read these !
October 11, 2022
Fantastic last book of the series. Didn’t want it to end but I couldn’t put it down.
July 13, 2023
Stratifying ending to the series but it takes too long to get to the meat of the story and leaves the guy hunting Stephanie from the control room a bit of a loose end.
October 11, 2013
I have read all four books in this series. Mark Burnell has a wonderful gift in that he has been able to write thrillers that start with an origin story about the making of a female assassin in the first book, Rhythm Section. The character he created in Stephanie Patrick and the processes he developed to make her the woman she became as Petra are very convincing and involving.
In this last novel about her, he spoils the tension from time to time with long explanations about his world view which feel like the writer speaking rather than necessary narrative to follow the story. So this one gets three stars from me because it is turgid at times but he wraps up her journey very well.
In this last novel about her, he spoils the tension from time to time with long explanations about his world view which feel like the writer speaking rather than necessary narrative to follow the story. So this one gets three stars from me because it is turgid at times but he wraps up her journey very well.
September 2, 2019
Read this again because I had never read books 1 & 2 in the series and recently got hold of them so did all 4 in order. I liked this character first time around but only enough to rate 3 stars. Having read the history of Stephanie/Petra from the beginning I see her now as a female Victor (Tom Wood) although not, in my opinion, quite as good.
I rate this one 4 stars because of the increased back story and I enjoyed how this book was full of plot lines and characters. Sometimes keeping track of them all can be difficult - not as bad as books three where there are lots of Russian names which are also similar! Well worth a read and it's a shame the series doesn't continue after this.
I rate this one 4 stars because of the increased back story and I enjoyed how this book was full of plot lines and characters. Sometimes keeping track of them all can be difficult - not as bad as books three where there are lots of Russian names which are also similar! Well worth a read and it's a shame the series doesn't continue after this.
December 21, 2013
I so looked forward to a new book from Burnell with my favorite assassin, Petra. Sadly, I was so disappointed in this one!
It seemed filled with gratuitous murders that did not really further the plot (yes, we know she's incredible!) and many superfluous characters/agencies that were added, as best I can determine, to emphasize how her reputation has grown.
When Burnell did get back to the plot of this book, it was good. --- But what an excessive amount of wandering around he did.
My first disappointment with Petra and her story.
It seemed filled with gratuitous murders that did not really further the plot (yes, we know she's incredible!) and many superfluous characters/agencies that were added, as best I can determine, to emphasize how her reputation has grown.
When Burnell did get back to the plot of this book, it was good. --- But what an excessive amount of wandering around he did.
My first disappointment with Petra and her story.
August 22, 2016
It's refreshing to see a thriller like this with a female protagonist. I thought the book was a little long, but it was mostly quite engaging.
My biggest gripe is that the protagonist would hear or see something and think "I feel like I should know what that is, but I can't quite remember..." This plot device was used a few times too many and detracted from her characterization. For someone whose job relies on the minutest of details, it seemed improbable that she would lose so many details.
Also, the ending was a bit of a letdown. I kept thinking "this is it? All this for this?"
My biggest gripe is that the protagonist would hear or see something and think "I feel like I should know what that is, but I can't quite remember..." This plot device was used a few times too many and detracted from her characterization. For someone whose job relies on the minutest of details, it seemed improbable that she would lose so many details.
Also, the ending was a bit of a letdown. I kept thinking "this is it? All this for this?"
February 14, 2012
i originally read this book over a year ago before i realised it was part of a series, now having read the 3 previous books i'm re-reading it & whilst i though it was good then it's better now. Lots of action, not to heavy going & full of interesting characters.
January 6, 2016
On her travels again. Once I'm in a series - I just can't stop. Got this wrong - reading the 4th before the 3rd. Oops! I still would rather work out what the heroine is feeling from her action and words rather than the author switching voices - but het, they are still a good read.
September 19, 2020
All wrapped up!
This book was a fitting end to this series. I enjoyed this book as much as the first. Lots of unexpected twists and intriguing turns bring the life of Stephanie to a perfect conclusion!
This book was a fitting end to this series. I enjoyed this book as much as the first. Lots of unexpected twists and intriguing turns bring the life of Stephanie to a perfect conclusion!
July 28, 2011
Good modern day spy thriller set in Europe.
February 4, 2019
Second time I read it, and just as good. This is the last in a four-volume series, worth reading in order.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews