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Charlie Fox Thriller #7
Third Strike
THIRD STRIKE is the seventh in Zoë Sharp’s highly acclaimed Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Fox crime thriller series, complete with author’s notes, an excerpt from FOURTH DAY: Charlie Fox book eight, and a taster of Australian thriller writer PD Martin’s exciting new novel HELL’S FURY.
‘I was running when I saw my father kill himself.’
The last person ex-Special Forces soldier turned bodyguard, Charlie Fox, ever expected to self-destruct was her consultant surgeon father. But she is shocked to see him throwing away his reputation on the New York news, and knows she can’t stand by and watch him fall.
That’s not easy when the emotionally distant Richard Foxcroft rejects her help at every turn. The good doctor has never approved of Charlie’s career choice―or her boss, Sean Meyer. Now, just as Charlie and Sean settle into their new life in the States, Foxcroft seems bent on ruin, taking his daughter and everyone she cares about with him.
But those behind Foxcroft’s downfall have not bargained on Charlie’s own ruthless streak. A deadly professional who’s always struggled to keep her killer instinct under control, this time she has very personal reasons for wanting to neutralise the threat to her reluctant principal.
When the conspiracy reaches deep into a global corporation with unlimited resources, the battle is going to be bitter and bloody.
‘I was running when I saw my father kill himself.’
The last person ex-Special Forces soldier turned bodyguard, Charlie Fox, ever expected to self-destruct was her consultant surgeon father. But she is shocked to see him throwing away his reputation on the New York news, and knows she can’t stand by and watch him fall.
That’s not easy when the emotionally distant Richard Foxcroft rejects her help at every turn. The good doctor has never approved of Charlie’s career choice―or her boss, Sean Meyer. Now, just as Charlie and Sean settle into their new life in the States, Foxcroft seems bent on ruin, taking his daughter and everyone she cares about with him.
But those behind Foxcroft’s downfall have not bargained on Charlie’s own ruthless streak. A deadly professional who’s always struggled to keep her killer instinct under control, this time she has very personal reasons for wanting to neutralise the threat to her reluctant principal.
When the conspiracy reaches deep into a global corporation with unlimited resources, the battle is going to be bitter and bloody.
Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
30 people are currently reading
320 people want to read
About the author
Zoë Sharp
71 books492 followersZoë Sharp spent most of her formative years living aboard a catamaran on the northwest coast of England. She opted out of mainstream education at the age of twelve and wrote her first novel at fifteen. She became a freelance photojournalist in 1988 and started writing her Charlie Fox crime thriller series after receiving death-threats in the course of her work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
July 4, 2016
Engrossing thriller but I didn't love this entry as much as usual. There were descriptions of torture and violence that went too far for me. I wouldn't really know what could happen in the situations the book describes, but the type of crime involved seemed more appropriate for lawyers, press, and FBI rather than close-protection bodyguards.
January 25, 2020
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 unrelenting action as Charlie Fox is on a very personal mission to save her parents’ lives
Third Strike (book #7) is, for the most part, written as a standalone. The interpersonal dynamics among Charlie, her partner, and her parents, however, would be better understood after knowing what had transpired in Second Shot.
In Third Strike Charlie Fox has moved with Sean Meyer to New York to accept a job offer from Parker Armstrong. She and Sean are living together in an employer-subsidized apartment with a Central Park view. Charlie has almost fully recovered from her nearly fatal gunshot wounds in Second Shot. And she realizes that although she has yet to be cleared for active duty, she is happy - content even - which is a first for Charlie. Well, Zoe Sharp can’t leave the story there. What kind of crime thriller story would that be?
The events in this story become utterly personal after Charlie watches her father, eminent surgeon-consultant, publicly commit professional suicide. Confused and concerned, Charlie’s tension mounts as her father savagely rebuffs her efforts to question him. Turning to her mother for an explanation, Charlie receives a cryptic reference to neighbors who had been murdered. A very supportive Sean convinces Charlie to dig deeper and they fly to the UK to check on her mother. Acting as a team, they soon repel home invaders, thwart a would-be rapist, and elude killers.
Given her father’s profession, he has actively tried to convince his only child to abandon her career choice and the “bad influence” of Sean, who will only lead Charlie to kill again and end up in prison. But it turns out that her father, overconfident in the strength of his professional reputation, had created an opponent with deep pockets and no scruples. It is obvious to Charlie that only people like herself and Sean could extricate her parents from the peril they now face.
Third Strike becomes a “bring your parents to work” story for Charlie. The pressure mounts on Charlie from all sides: from parental distaste and continued reluctance to accept professional help; from the constant jockeying between Sean and her father for Charlie’s loyalty; and from the fallout that tarnishes Charlie’s new employer’s reputation and business.
Charlie doesn’t come off looking her best given the pressure cooker she’s in. She’s not one to suffer fools, but in this story, her temper takes less than a hair to be triggered. But blood is thicker than water and so, Charlie is still loyal to her parents and trying to earn her father’s approval. Vicodin, prescribed for her gunshot injuries, is looking to be a more tempting means of pain relief.
Charlie’s parents frustrate me. Her mother is a class-conscious snob who hasn’t accepted her only daughter as an individual with her own desires and skill set. If I’m being generous, then her mother is just completely clueless about how to relate to her own daughter. Her father, however, has consistently appeared whenever Charlie has requested his aid in the past. Charlie shares more personality traits with her father than she would care to admit, but they firmly stand on opposing sides regarding her current choices, even while his and his wife’s lives are in complete jeopardy.
But the reason Charlie Fox is so admired by her fans is for her resiliency, tenacity, and her ability to act. This is a woman whose most common reprimand to herself is not to be “feeble.” She despises weakness in herself.
As another innocent person dies, Charlie and Sean realize they’re facing operatives who are not only as skilled as them but who possess both more resources and a sense of total impunity. The only way to protect her parents is to find the party behind this and to “take them out.” Now this is something that Charlie can do and do well.
Third Strike is fantastic! Zoe had provided insight into Sean’s psyche so it was good to see the same done for Charlie. Be prepared though, for Third Strike ends with a cliffhanger in Charlie’s personal life and it could drastically change everything. You may want to have the next story Fourth Day at the ready.
0) Trial Under Fire 🌟🌟🌟🌟½
1) Killer Instinct 🌟🌟🌟½
2) Riot Act 🌟🌟🌟🌟
3) Hard Knocks 🌟🌟🌟🌟½
4) First Drop 🌟🌟🌟🌟
5) Road Kill 🌟🌟🌟🌟½
6) Second Shot 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
March 8, 2013
One of the best yet in this excellent series - I'm surprised Sharp is not more widely known. Charlie's father, a successful orthopaedic surgeon, is arrested I the USA and appears to be intent on destroying his career. Charlie and Sean intervene and discover a conspiracy threatening both her parents. Lots of action, but also interesting development of e relationships between all 4 main characters, as they begin to understand and respect each other more. Through all the books I've felt Charlie was overly harsh towards her parents, saying they don't care when in almost every book Richard comes to her aid no questions asked, and ignoring the fact that she is very much like them, but won't admit it. This book shows how clever the author is - she admits in the afterword that she has been building up to this story, and it's really well done. The ending means I'm going to have to download the next one straightaway.
November 19, 2014
SIGH. I would love one goddamn series about a kickass woman without It is 100% uninteresting to me.
Other than the highly irritating ending, I really enjoyed this novel. Of course, because of said ending, I am very wary of picking up the next book.
Other than the highly irritating ending, I really enjoyed this novel. Of course, because of said ending, I am very wary of picking up the next book.
July 28, 2018
Liked the case they were on more than all of the personal stuff. I wish Sharp had not included Charlie’s parents. I really don’t care for her dad, and the book-long pissing match he carried on with Sean got tiresome. But other than these niggles, I enjoyed it.
February 11, 2014
WOW! My heart really can’t take much more when it comes to Charlie Fox. For those of you that haven’t read a Zoe Sharp book you may want to not continue to read this review as it will inevitably contain spoilers (especially if you are reading the series from the beginning). With that to one side, I am now on to my third Fox book in succession and I’m about to start the next one!
In this book, Charlie is still recovering from her injuries from her last job. Whilst progress is slow, she is now ready to be back in the field. With her and Sean now working in the US, Charlie has no idea that her next assignment will be a lot closer to home. Throughout the series we have seen Charlie struggle with her parents and their relationship has always been difficult. Charlie is ex-Special Forces and she has more battle wounds, both physical and emotional, than most. Charlie’s parents have a very bizarre relationship with Charlie and it was actually wonderful to realise that it was finally time that her father had to accept help from Charlie.
The whole situation is completely out of character for Charlie’s Dad Richard, and Charlie along with Sean are determined to find out the truth about why Richard’s reputation is being sullied. From the very beginning of this book I was absolutely gripped. The story had taken a personal turn of events which drew me in even more. In addition to the precarious situations presented to them, we get to see the more personal relationships flounder. This, like the last book, was read in under a day and to be honest by the time I got to the end, I just sat there gaping for a few minutes.
Not only did this book have everything a Sharp book normally has (action, danger, and loads of shooting), it also had the best ending. Zoe Sharp, you naughty lady, you knew full well that the majority of people who finish this book will HAVE to get the next one…great move. This is by far the BEST in the series so far and I have decided I may as well make this a marathon and go for the fourth book in as many days. I can honestly say that if you haven’t read Zoe Sharp’s Charlie Fox series you are seriously missing out!!! AN absolute AMAZING read which I highly recommend!
In this book, Charlie is still recovering from her injuries from her last job. Whilst progress is slow, she is now ready to be back in the field. With her and Sean now working in the US, Charlie has no idea that her next assignment will be a lot closer to home. Throughout the series we have seen Charlie struggle with her parents and their relationship has always been difficult. Charlie is ex-Special Forces and she has more battle wounds, both physical and emotional, than most. Charlie’s parents have a very bizarre relationship with Charlie and it was actually wonderful to realise that it was finally time that her father had to accept help from Charlie.
The whole situation is completely out of character for Charlie’s Dad Richard, and Charlie along with Sean are determined to find out the truth about why Richard’s reputation is being sullied. From the very beginning of this book I was absolutely gripped. The story had taken a personal turn of events which drew me in even more. In addition to the precarious situations presented to them, we get to see the more personal relationships flounder. This, like the last book, was read in under a day and to be honest by the time I got to the end, I just sat there gaping for a few minutes.
Not only did this book have everything a Sharp book normally has (action, danger, and loads of shooting), it also had the best ending. Zoe Sharp, you naughty lady, you knew full well that the majority of people who finish this book will HAVE to get the next one…great move. This is by far the BEST in the series so far and I have decided I may as well make this a marathon and go for the fourth book in as many days. I can honestly say that if you haven’t read Zoe Sharp’s Charlie Fox series you are seriously missing out!!! AN absolute AMAZING read which I highly recommend!
May 29, 2010
PROTAGONIST: Charlie Fox, bodyguard
SETTING: New York
SERIES: #3 of 3
RATING: 3.5
As a bodyguard, Charlie Fox has faced more than her share of danger. Her life has taken several turns for the better since the time that she was almost killed (Second Shot). She’s beginning to work through her physical limitations, although is showing a worrying dependence on Vicodin. She and her boss and lover, Sean Meyer, have moved from the UK and are working for a security company in New York. Just when things are all going in the right direction for a change, the world makes a turn on its axis – Charlie’s rigidly upright, cold and calculating surgeon father, Richard Foxcroft, confesses to the media that he botched an operation because he had been drinking. Subsequently, he is found soliciting a prostitute. It’s as if you put your hand in front of your face and called it an umbrella – the behavior is so completely incomprehensible.
Charlie has been estranged from her parents for a long time. Of course, they don’t approve of her career choice nor her boyfriend. Any interaction between Charlie and her father are completely acrimonious; their conversations feel like they are throwing acid at one another. So it’s an ironic twist that Charlie and Sean are the only people who can help her parents. Foxcroft’s bizarre behavior is a result of trying to protect his wife. Now Charlie and Sean need to get to the root of the threats and make them stop. It’s not easy given the dynamics between the main players and the fact that Charlie tends to try to please her parents and put Sean’s needs aside as a result. I found this thread to be extremely strange since Charlie is an independent woman who kills people. Yet, she is worried about what Mommy and Daddy will think about her sleeping with her live-in lover???
The narrative is a combination of thriller and psychological study of a dysfunctional family in distress. There’s a lot of hunting and chasing of the good and bad guys, with the result always being a violent encounter or a person being killed. There’s no middle ground in these books. As for the family drama, there was far too much page time spent with Charlie and her father engaging in extremely negative and mean encounters. They did move in the direction of some rapprochement; but for my taste, this aspect of the book was overdone.
When I read the Charlie Fox books, I always feel that I should like them more than I actually do. The writing is fine, but I never connect to the characters. There is just no warmth to them. I find the relationship between Charlie and Sean difficult to fathom; they don’t seem very caring and intimate with one another, except physically. However, Sean does open up much more to Charlie in this book than in the prior works. The conclusion promises to move the series in a whole different direction. It’s actually rather mind boggling to consider what it means!
SETTING: New York
SERIES: #3 of 3
RATING: 3.5
As a bodyguard, Charlie Fox has faced more than her share of danger. Her life has taken several turns for the better since the time that she was almost killed (Second Shot). She’s beginning to work through her physical limitations, although is showing a worrying dependence on Vicodin. She and her boss and lover, Sean Meyer, have moved from the UK and are working for a security company in New York. Just when things are all going in the right direction for a change, the world makes a turn on its axis – Charlie’s rigidly upright, cold and calculating surgeon father, Richard Foxcroft, confesses to the media that he botched an operation because he had been drinking. Subsequently, he is found soliciting a prostitute. It’s as if you put your hand in front of your face and called it an umbrella – the behavior is so completely incomprehensible.
Charlie has been estranged from her parents for a long time. Of course, they don’t approve of her career choice nor her boyfriend. Any interaction between Charlie and her father are completely acrimonious; their conversations feel like they are throwing acid at one another. So it’s an ironic twist that Charlie and Sean are the only people who can help her parents. Foxcroft’s bizarre behavior is a result of trying to protect his wife. Now Charlie and Sean need to get to the root of the threats and make them stop. It’s not easy given the dynamics between the main players and the fact that Charlie tends to try to please her parents and put Sean’s needs aside as a result. I found this thread to be extremely strange since Charlie is an independent woman who kills people. Yet, she is worried about what Mommy and Daddy will think about her sleeping with her live-in lover???
The narrative is a combination of thriller and psychological study of a dysfunctional family in distress. There’s a lot of hunting and chasing of the good and bad guys, with the result always being a violent encounter or a person being killed. There’s no middle ground in these books. As for the family drama, there was far too much page time spent with Charlie and her father engaging in extremely negative and mean encounters. They did move in the direction of some rapprochement; but for my taste, this aspect of the book was overdone.
When I read the Charlie Fox books, I always feel that I should like them more than I actually do. The writing is fine, but I never connect to the characters. There is just no warmth to them. I find the relationship between Charlie and Sean difficult to fathom; they don’t seem very caring and intimate with one another, except physically. However, Sean does open up much more to Charlie in this book than in the prior works. The conclusion promises to move the series in a whole different direction. It’s actually rather mind boggling to consider what it means!
Read
June 7, 2011After I met Zoe Sharp at a writer's conference in March, I liked her so much I knew I had to read one of her series of mysteries about her character Charlie Fox. (female) She pulled me into the story when Charlie sees her father threatened. I thought that was the main hook until Charlie's mother is also threatened, which really got the story going. Charlie is tough, wounded, interesting, and smart. She works to save her father, then her mother also and, at the same time, tries to restore a broken relationship with her father. A great mystery that also looks at the problems of adult children and their parents. I'm going to read the other books in this series.
October 18, 2012
Charlie,now a resident of New York with the ink not yet dry on her green card is thrown into complete bewilderment in the first act. Anger and violence is not far behind but is it warranted or misguided? The intrigue in this book of the cracking series pulls you along at quite a clip. As always Zoe's character analysis is in depth and you get a real feel for not only Charlie but everyone in her life. Humour,wit and sarcasm abound,it's another cracker from the Charlie Fox series. Seriously worth the entrance fee folks.
April 29, 2024
Warning: Extreme violence.
That said, this will be my last Charlie Fox book. I've never warmed to her (she is not the easiest character to like), and I still dislike her lover Sean. I sometimes wonder if the author is as ambivalent about Charlie as I am, given the trauma to which she subjects the girl.
This volume has Charlie, barely recovered from being shot at the end of book six, and living and working in New York City with Sean and their new security services partner at Parker Armstrong. Finding that her extremely superior surgeon dad is in New York and seems to be destroying his much-vaunted reputation for no good reason, Charlie goes off the rails and demands Daddy's explanation... which he refuses to give. When she tries again, she spots her father being hustled into a limo by shady New York types, so of course she follows, calling Sean for back-up. Richard Foxcroft is deposited at a Brooklyn brothel, which is promptly raided by police, sweeping up Charlie and Sean in the process.
Soon they learn Richard has run afoul of an international pharmaceutical firm whose new osteoporosis drug may be deadly for a certain class of patients. They seem ready to do just about anything to prevent Richard from publicly accusing the firm of knowingly failing to disclose this risk and killing a patient Richard tried to save. They are holding Charlie's mum hostage in England to ensure Richard accedes to their reputational homicide. Ergo, Charlie and Sean to the rescue.
It gets darker and more violent from there. Much nastiness ensues, including between daughter and dad, and Charlie and Sean. Again Charlie is subjected to some particularly revolting violence at the hands of the villains, and a plot twist that leaves me resolved not to pick up another Charlie Fox book.
Well, the author has put Charlie through everything else imaginable already; I guess I should have expected it.
Anyway, some well-done shoot-out set pieces here, almost cinematic (so well-drawn I can see them happening in my head like a slo-mo scene from a John Wick movie). I just can't deal with the emotional rollercoaster ride of life with Charlie Fox any longer.
That said, this will be my last Charlie Fox book. I've never warmed to her (she is not the easiest character to like), and I still dislike her lover Sean. I sometimes wonder if the author is as ambivalent about Charlie as I am, given the trauma to which she subjects the girl.
This volume has Charlie, barely recovered from being shot at the end of book six, and living and working in New York City with Sean and their new security services partner at Parker Armstrong. Finding that her extremely superior surgeon dad is in New York and seems to be destroying his much-vaunted reputation for no good reason, Charlie goes off the rails and demands Daddy's explanation... which he refuses to give. When she tries again, she spots her father being hustled into a limo by shady New York types, so of course she follows, calling Sean for back-up. Richard Foxcroft is deposited at a Brooklyn brothel, which is promptly raided by police, sweeping up Charlie and Sean in the process.
Soon they learn Richard has run afoul of an international pharmaceutical firm whose new osteoporosis drug may be deadly for a certain class of patients. They seem ready to do just about anything to prevent Richard from publicly accusing the firm of knowingly failing to disclose this risk and killing a patient Richard tried to save. They are holding Charlie's mum hostage in England to ensure Richard accedes to their reputational homicide. Ergo, Charlie and Sean to the rescue.
It gets darker and more violent from there. Much nastiness ensues, including between daughter and dad, and Charlie and Sean. Again Charlie is subjected to some particularly revolting violence at the hands of the villains, and a plot twist that leaves me resolved not to pick up another Charlie Fox book.
Well, the author has put Charlie through everything else imaginable already; I guess I should have expected it.
Anyway, some well-done shoot-out set pieces here, almost cinematic (so well-drawn I can see them happening in my head like a slo-mo scene from a John Wick movie). I just can't deal with the emotional rollercoaster ride of life with Charlie Fox any longer.
December 17, 2018
Charlie Fox, recovering from being shot in New Hampshire on her last private security assignment, is shocked to see her father in national television, admitting to actions that verge on malpractice in the death of a patient. Fox, estranged from her parents for her relationship with her colleague and mentor Sean, is determined to get to the truth of whether her father contributed to the death of old friend of his due to medical reasons. She soon discovers that the dead man had been taking an experimental drug that the pharmaceutical company is close to getting approved and the huge form is more than willing to kill to protect their profit line.
The story is told in first person by Charlie, and moves quickly from New York to Charlie's parents home in London, the action fast and furious. This is the third Charlie Fox novel I have read and loved every one so far. The interaction between Charlie, Sean and her parents is weaved very well in between the quest to clear her father's name. Very highly recommended!
The story is told in first person by Charlie, and moves quickly from New York to Charlie's parents home in London, the action fast and furious. This is the third Charlie Fox novel I have read and loved every one so far. The interaction between Charlie, Sean and her parents is weaved very well in between the quest to clear her father's name. Very highly recommended!
March 2, 2023
Zoë Sharp was recommended to me so “Third Strike” was the first of her novels I have read. I loved it. The novel mentions other exploits from the hero, Carlie Fox, so I am determined to read the previous novels.
Charlie, with her partner and love interest, Sean Meyer, is persuaded to investigate her surgeon father’s professional suicide on television. It is also related to a newly developed drug and some very unscrupulous villains.
Charlie’s father was sceptical of Sean’s intentions for his daughter but was grateful for his help and eventually acknowledged Sean’s love for Charlie. He was also dismayed at the level of violence his daughter embraced but the love of family endured despite that. Charlie’s mother, who was living in England was rescued by Charlie and Sean when home invaders employed by the villains took her hostage. Charlie had difficulty relating to her parents because they were class-conscious and snobbish.
Charlie and Sean are excellent operatives and wonderfully skilled. The book was fantastic. I am looking forward to reading more books about Charlie.
Charlie, with her partner and love interest, Sean Meyer, is persuaded to investigate her surgeon father’s professional suicide on television. It is also related to a newly developed drug and some very unscrupulous villains.
Charlie’s father was sceptical of Sean’s intentions for his daughter but was grateful for his help and eventually acknowledged Sean’s love for Charlie. He was also dismayed at the level of violence his daughter embraced but the love of family endured despite that. Charlie’s mother, who was living in England was rescued by Charlie and Sean when home invaders employed by the villains took her hostage. Charlie had difficulty relating to her parents because they were class-conscious and snobbish.
Charlie and Sean are excellent operatives and wonderfully skilled. The book was fantastic. I am looking forward to reading more books about Charlie.
Read
March 28, 2025Just finished Third Strike. 7th Charlie Fox book I have read in a row. The plots are great and keep you interested. The body count is high in every book, this was no exception. The collateral damage is so high you wonder how good Charlie really is at her job. The plot in this case is not very believable, especially the finale but it is entertaining. I enjoyed the development of her parents characters. You can see why Charlie is the way she is.
I am now really bored with Charlie's on again, off again relationship with Sean. He keeps sending her in to completely innocent situations and every time she is nearly killed. He seems to have all the charm of a rattle snake and personality of a psychopath with aspergers. I hope she dumps him.
On to the next Charlie Fox book..
I am now really bored with Charlie's on again, off again relationship with Sean. He keeps sending her in to completely innocent situations and every time she is nearly killed. He seems to have all the charm of a rattle snake and personality of a psychopath with aspergers. I hope she dumps him.
On to the next Charlie Fox book..
September 4, 2019
This was one of my favorite Charlie Fox books. As someone who has grown to abhor her father, I was apprehensive at him being a focal point in the book. However, I do appreciate the depth that we are seeing with Charlie and her parents, and in so much, with Sean as well. The story, as always, was very well, but I enjoyed the character development just as much. I think that is why I like these books so much - sure the action is great, but there is so much more than just that. The twists and surprises - I count the end as two - did not disappoint. A must for any fan of the series.
January 6, 2021
I saw a comment comparing this protagonist to Lee Child's Jack Reacher. Um, no. This is a woman - an adult - afraid to share a room with her lover in case her parents disapprove. It happens but .. it doesn't help make you Reacher. Still, all neuroses aside, she is interesting and readable. Whether I continue reading depends on whether she makes a predictable, moralistic and bourgeois approach to the issue facing her at the end of this book.
January 1, 2023
Could not put it down!
Tense and exciting, with unexpected plot twists. I loved it! Charlie Fox has become such a powerful character over the course of this series, that I now think of her as a friend - she's that real, to me. This novel reveals new and unexpected depths to the characters of Charlie's parents. Plus, the ending promises even greater change to come. Don't miss this one!
Tense and exciting, with unexpected plot twists. I loved it! Charlie Fox has become such a powerful character over the course of this series, that I now think of her as a friend - she's that real, to me. This novel reveals new and unexpected depths to the characters of Charlie's parents. Plus, the ending promises even greater change to come. Don't miss this one!
October 28, 2018
I love this series and this one, like all Charlie Fox books have me stay awake for hours past bedtime, then dream about what will happen next. I found this one especially gripping as the parents played a big role in it and there were a number of human issues to sort through. I am already onto the next one.
June 5, 2023
Got this at a library book sale because it looked intriguing. Didn't realize it was book #7 in the series. Didn't matter. It was a great stand-alone with compelling characters and plot. I've put one through six on my to-read list and will continue on with this series. Very sharp, Ms. Sharp!
January 30, 2017
Fast paced thriller with twist of female viewpoint. Lots of coincidences, two dimensional characters and unlikely scenarios but they are traditional features of the genre.
April 4, 2018
Decent read, but author seems to confuse being in one's fifties with being over 100!
September 27, 2018
A thriller that was disturbing at time but compelled me to keep reading.
December 1, 2018
Thrill and depth
Zoe Sharpe just keeps getting better at developing consistent characters, creating thrilling scenes and unlikely twists. Recommend for sure. Edge of your seat fun.
Zoe Sharpe just keeps getting better at developing consistent characters, creating thrilling scenes and unlikely twists. Recommend for sure. Edge of your seat fun.
July 31, 2019
We learn a lot about Charlie's family in this one, which is by far my favorite in this series. The interplay between the characters is great. Their individual personalities comes across beautifully.
July 15, 2020
Another excellent installment in this series. Worth reading in order to appreciate the character growth. Looking forward to the next in series.
January 14, 2022
Too much ruminating, Charlie.
February 1, 2022
OK well that didn't turn out the way I thought it would. OMG!
September 4, 2024
amazing read
This is her best work so far, always unputdownable,
It’s must read for Zoe fans, this was so fast it was like being on a roller coaster,
And I didn’t want it to stop.
This is her best work so far, always unputdownable,
It’s must read for Zoe fans, this was so fast it was like being on a roller coaster,
And I didn’t want it to stop.
October 9, 2016
Three and half stars for a fav Zoe Sharp. I like these books - enough to do the pager turners as there are only a couple audio books available from the library. Won't tell about the storyline as I hate when others repeat it - but there is a surprise at the end which makes me glad I picked up the next volume at the same time as I got this one.
DD@Phila
DD@Phila
March 16, 2013
Zoe Sharp certainly hasn't lost her edge with #7 in the Charlie Fox series. Taut drama, tight prose, plot twists and action jumping out on every page, Third Strike is a must read for anyone who loves action and suspense.
When someone sets off a wad of plastique (figuratively speaking) in Charlie's father's reputation, Charlie doesn't take it lying down. Regardless of how they feel about each other, in Charlie's world... you don't f**k with family! Not if you want to walk away without serious physical impairment... or worse!
I won't give away the surprise at the end, but it does make me want to jump right into the next in the series, Fourth Day. I should probably go back and pick up the one's I missed though... Killer Instinct - Zoe's incredible debut novel - is the only other one I've read so far. Trust me... I will remedy that!
If you're already a fan of Zoe's writing, nothing I say here will surprise you... you know already... and if you're not? What are you waiting for?
Now, I'm off to see where I can find Riot Act.
Thank you, Zoe, for some of the best writing in the genre I have come across in a long while, and an absolutely unforgettable character in Charlie Fox.
I recommend Third Strike whole-heartedly.
Veronica Marie Lewis-Shaw
16 March 2013
Cannon Beach, Oregon
When someone sets off a wad of plastique (figuratively speaking) in Charlie's father's reputation, Charlie doesn't take it lying down. Regardless of how they feel about each other, in Charlie's world... you don't f**k with family! Not if you want to walk away without serious physical impairment... or worse!
I won't give away the surprise at the end, but it does make me want to jump right into the next in the series, Fourth Day. I should probably go back and pick up the one's I missed though... Killer Instinct - Zoe's incredible debut novel - is the only other one I've read so far. Trust me... I will remedy that!
If you're already a fan of Zoe's writing, nothing I say here will surprise you... you know already... and if you're not? What are you waiting for?
Now, I'm off to see where I can find Riot Act.
Thank you, Zoe, for some of the best writing in the genre I have come across in a long while, and an absolutely unforgettable character in Charlie Fox.
I recommend Third Strike whole-heartedly.
Veronica Marie Lewis-Shaw
16 March 2013
Cannon Beach, Oregon
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