What do you think?
Rate this book
Nadia Laksheva Spy Thriller #2
37 Hours: Blood in the Water
After two long years spent in a secret British prison, Nadia is suddenly granted her freedom. Yet there is a dangerous price to pay for her she must retrieve the Russian nuclear warhead stolen by her deadliest enemy, a powerful and ruthless terrorist known only as The Client.
But her mysterious nemesis is always one step ahead and the clock is ticking. In 37 hours, the warhead will explode, reducing the city of London to a pile of ash. Only this time, Nadia is prepared to pull the trigger at any cost.
The deadly trail will take her from crowded Moscow to the silent streets of Chernobyl, but will Nadia find what she is looking for before the clock hits zero
But her mysterious nemesis is always one step ahead and the clock is ticking. In 37 hours, the warhead will explode, reducing the city of London to a pile of ash. Only this time, Nadia is prepared to pull the trigger at any cost.
The deadly trail will take her from crowded Moscow to the silent streets of Chernobyl, but will Nadia find what she is looking for before the clock hits zero
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 21, 2023
9 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
J.F. Kirwan
5 books368 followersJ. F. Kirwan is the author of the Nadia Laksheva thriller series for HarperCollins. Having worked in accident investigation and prevention in nuclear, offshore oil and gas and aviation sectors, he uses his experience of how accidents initially build slowly, then race towards a climax, to plot his novels.
An instructor in both scuba diving and martial arts, he travels extensively all over the world, and loves to set his novels in exotic locations. He is also an insomniac who writes in the dead of night. His favourite authors include Lee Child, David Baldacci and Andy McNab.
An instructor in both scuba diving and martial arts, he travels extensively all over the world, and loves to set his novels in exotic locations. He is also an insomniac who writes in the dead of night. His favourite authors include Lee Child, David Baldacci and Andy McNab.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 7, 2018
5☆ Addictive! HIGHLY RECOMMEND
37 Hours is the second book in the series.
I really recommend reading the first book so you get to grips with the characters and storyline.
37 Hours is full of action and thrills.
It's fast paced, gripping and full of suspense.
Nadia is back and doing what she does best.
But this time she is tracking a nuclear warhead.
This is where the Title is so relevant as she is giving 37hours to retrieve the warhead before it is detonated.
For me this book is so much better than the first book. I'm always dubious about second books but wow this one didn't disappoint!
Nadia once again is kick ass, ruthless, head strong, and a fantastic female spy!
If you love spy thrillers that literally makes your heart race. Them please pick up 37 Hours! You won't be disappointed!
This series is fast becoming my favourite series.
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
For more info plus My Review is on my blog website :
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
37 Hours is the second book in the series.
I really recommend reading the first book so you get to grips with the characters and storyline.
37 Hours is full of action and thrills.
It's fast paced, gripping and full of suspense.
Nadia is back and doing what she does best.
But this time she is tracking a nuclear warhead.
This is where the Title is so relevant as she is giving 37hours to retrieve the warhead before it is detonated.
For me this book is so much better than the first book. I'm always dubious about second books but wow this one didn't disappoint!
Nadia once again is kick ass, ruthless, head strong, and a fantastic female spy!
If you love spy thrillers that literally makes your heart race. Them please pick up 37 Hours! You won't be disappointed!
This series is fast becoming my favourite series.
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
For more info plus My Review is on my blog website :
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
January 19, 2019
I've indulged myself this time and given my star rating from the heart because I loved this story so much. It was hard to catch your breath during all the action. If you've read any Matthew Reilly or Mark Greaney (Grey Man books) you'll know what I mean. If not maybe you could give one a go.
Nadia is finally free after two years of imprisonment and interrogation at the hands of MI6 after the business with the Rose (book 1) when she is broken out and has to help dive into a stricken Russian submarine which has been disabled and had a nuclear warhead stolen off it. It is suspected the warhead in the hands of the Salamander - a legendary but elusive spy/mercenary about whom almost nothing is known. It is believed that the target is the G20 summit to be held in London shortly.
There's action a plenty, double and triple crosses, betrayals at the highest levels, a mole in MI6 - the whole nine yards. Katya is back along with Jake. And some good people die, but I'm not telling. This is not literary fiction but its bloody good escapist fun and hugely entertaining. Nadia is a female Jason Bourne or Court Gentry or Victor the Assassin or Reilly's Scarecrow. This is the real deal. Note to self, get the next book 88 degrees North real soon.
Nadia is finally free after two years of imprisonment and interrogation at the hands of MI6 after the business with the Rose (book 1) when she is broken out and has to help dive into a stricken Russian submarine which has been disabled and had a nuclear warhead stolen off it. It is suspected the warhead in the hands of the Salamander - a legendary but elusive spy/mercenary about whom almost nothing is known. It is believed that the target is the G20 summit to be held in London shortly.
There's action a plenty, double and triple crosses, betrayals at the highest levels, a mole in MI6 - the whole nine yards. Katya is back along with Jake. And some good people die, but I'm not telling. This is not literary fiction but its bloody good escapist fun and hugely entertaining. Nadia is a female Jason Bourne or Court Gentry or Victor the Assassin or Reilly's Scarecrow. This is the real deal. Note to self, get the next book 88 degrees North real soon.
September 16, 2017
Wow what a fast paced, action packed book this is! It grabbed me from the start and made it impossible to put down as theatre was always something new happening.
It was good to read a story where the Russians were the heroes rather than the villains as they are often depicted in books or films. The author cleverly uses the recent conflict between Russia and the Ukraine as part of the storyline which meant the reader gets to learn a little more about the troubles from both points of views.
The main character, Nadia, was brilliant! I have always been a huge fan of strong female characters and I thought she was exceptional. She never allows herself to show others any weaknesses and refuses to fail at any task, even if it is one that she’s never done before. She is especially determined when it comes to proving her ability against men and refuses to be beaten or allowances to be made because she is female which was great to read about!
There are some quite chilling parts in the book. The description of what a country could hush up or how they can make people disappear, if true, is quite terrifying. It did make me wonder what our government could be capable of in real life. There are also some quite graphic descriptions of torture at times whibutit isdid make for uncomfortable reading at times.
This is the authors second book but it is the first I have read. Even though it is second in a series it can easily be read as a stand alone which is what I have done.
Thanks you to Kate from TAT Publicity for many copy of this book and for inviting me on the blog tour.
It was good to read a story where the Russians were the heroes rather than the villains as they are often depicted in books or films. The author cleverly uses the recent conflict between Russia and the Ukraine as part of the storyline which meant the reader gets to learn a little more about the troubles from both points of views.
The main character, Nadia, was brilliant! I have always been a huge fan of strong female characters and I thought she was exceptional. She never allows herself to show others any weaknesses and refuses to fail at any task, even if it is one that she’s never done before. She is especially determined when it comes to proving her ability against men and refuses to be beaten or allowances to be made because she is female which was great to read about!
There are some quite chilling parts in the book. The description of what a country could hush up or how they can make people disappear, if true, is quite terrifying. It did make me wonder what our government could be capable of in real life. There are also some quite graphic descriptions of torture at times whibutit isdid make for uncomfortable reading at times.
This is the authors second book but it is the first I have read. Even though it is second in a series it can easily be read as a stand alone which is what I have done.
Thanks you to Kate from TAT Publicity for many copy of this book and for inviting me on the blog tour.
March 1, 2018
Nadia Laksheva is back in 37 HOURS by J.F. Kirwan and this book is even more explosive than the first in the series.
It has been two very long years in a secret British prison for Nadia but when she is needed to track down a Russian nuclear warhead, she finds herself free and fighting against the clock. Because in 37 hours this warhead will detonate, killing millions, and their lives are depending on Nadia's success. Chasing her nemesis, Nadia always seems to be one step behind but as danger closes in, will she succeed in her mission or will life as we know it change forever?
I enjoyed the first book in this series but 37 HOURS is even better! Gripping, action-packed, and punchy with plenty of danger and grit, I devoured this book and had it finished in no time. Nadia is such a complex and fascinating character and in this book, we get to delve a little more into her personality. With plenty of twists and turns and misdirections, you will never know exactly what is going to happen and I love that in a spy thriller. 37 HOURS by J.F. Kirwan is a kick-ass spy thriller and a must for fans of the genre.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley
It has been two very long years in a secret British prison for Nadia but when she is needed to track down a Russian nuclear warhead, she finds herself free and fighting against the clock. Because in 37 hours this warhead will detonate, killing millions, and their lives are depending on Nadia's success. Chasing her nemesis, Nadia always seems to be one step behind but as danger closes in, will she succeed in her mission or will life as we know it change forever?
I enjoyed the first book in this series but 37 HOURS is even better! Gripping, action-packed, and punchy with plenty of danger and grit, I devoured this book and had it finished in no time. Nadia is such a complex and fascinating character and in this book, we get to delve a little more into her personality. With plenty of twists and turns and misdirections, you will never know exactly what is going to happen and I love that in a spy thriller. 37 HOURS by J.F. Kirwan is a kick-ass spy thriller and a must for fans of the genre.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley
March 5, 2018
37 Hours is the second book in the Nadia Laksheva series and hoo boy, what a thriller this is! If you thought 66 Metres was good, let me tell you right now that this one is even better! If you haven’t read the first book, I would recommend that you do if you want to get the full picture and background of the various characters. And even if you don’t, read it anyway because it’s just that great!
This second instalment picks up two years after the previous book. Nadia has spent two years in a secret British prison, being interrogated about her involvement in the chase for The Rose. But suddenly she’s granted freedom when a warhead is stolen from a submarine. Not only will Nadia need to face her biggest enemy, she will also be confronted with her past. And all the while, the clock is ticking and the city of London is under threat.
37 Hours had me hooked from the first page and didn’t let go. This is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller where the Russians aren’t the bad guys for a change. How novel! 😄. In fact, the bad guy may as well be a ghost. Nobody seems to know what he looks like. Full of international conspiracies and intrigue, it had me completely engrossed. True to form, there’s a bit of traveling and an unforgiving place that played a big and rather dark part in history features quite prominently but I won’t say anymore about that. You’ll just have to find out for yourself. I mention it because I really liked how the author was able to incorporate that bit.
I said it in my review for 66 Metres and I’ll gladly say it again. The Nadia Laksheva series would make a fantastic tv show or movie. Suspenseful, highly entertaining, brilliantly written, some guts and gore … What more could you possibly want? I enjoyed this one immensely and it left me wanting more. Luckily, there’s a third and final book in the series, 88° North, which I’ll be reviewing in April. I can’t wait to read it and see how J.F. Kirwan wraps up this series!
This second instalment picks up two years after the previous book. Nadia has spent two years in a secret British prison, being interrogated about her involvement in the chase for The Rose. But suddenly she’s granted freedom when a warhead is stolen from a submarine. Not only will Nadia need to face her biggest enemy, she will also be confronted with her past. And all the while, the clock is ticking and the city of London is under threat.
37 Hours had me hooked from the first page and didn’t let go. This is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller where the Russians aren’t the bad guys for a change. How novel! 😄. In fact, the bad guy may as well be a ghost. Nobody seems to know what he looks like. Full of international conspiracies and intrigue, it had me completely engrossed. True to form, there’s a bit of traveling and an unforgiving place that played a big and rather dark part in history features quite prominently but I won’t say anymore about that. You’ll just have to find out for yourself. I mention it because I really liked how the author was able to incorporate that bit.
I said it in my review for 66 Metres and I’ll gladly say it again. The Nadia Laksheva series would make a fantastic tv show or movie. Suspenseful, highly entertaining, brilliantly written, some guts and gore … What more could you possibly want? I enjoyed this one immensely and it left me wanting more. Luckily, there’s a third and final book in the series, 88° North, which I’ll be reviewing in April. I can’t wait to read it and see how J.F. Kirwan wraps up this series!
August 18, 2017
37 Hours is the second book in the Nadia Laksheva series. I haven’t read the first book, 66 metres, and whilst I didn’t have any problem reading this book, nor following the story, I did miss not having the background information on the characters.
The plot opens with Nadia’s assassin father being driven by enemy forces to be interrogated, or killed. He needed to come up with a plan fast, and one that would work to his advantage. His plan was successful, and the enemy now presumed him dead. He watched from afar his own funeral, and spoke of how he knew his girls Nadia and Katya would be fine without him.
We then meet Nadia many years later in prison, herself now an assassin, being held by MI6. In the two years that she had been there she had never had a visitor, nor seen a lawyer, that was until her sister turned up with a diplomat, needing her help in exchange for her freedom.
A Russian submarine had been taken by force and they needed someone small enough, and capable, to enter the sub via a torpedo tube and take back control. The mission didn’t quite go according to plan, especially when it turned out a nuclear warhead was missing. Nadia suspected that the man, a ghost, she had been looking for before her incarceration was the culprit – Salamander.
Problems arose when it became apparent that as much as Nadia wanted to find Salamander, he wanted her dead. He may of been a man that had never been seen, a ghost, but Nadia had her own ghost looking out for her, her father.
37 Hours is an exciting, and completely gripping British spy thriller, that packs a punch. I was hooked from the first page, and raced through it.
J.F. Kirwan has written an explosive plot filled with attention grabbing scenes. The underwater attacks, both from humans and sharks had me on the edge of my seat.
The book is completely up to date too, with mentions of Russian PM, Putin, G20, Isis, Chernobyl, and even Twitter. This made the book very real, and if you think about it very scary. Not in a horror kind of scary, but the kind that reminds you just how warped some individuals are, and how intent they are on causing destruction.
The book is intensely action packed. It’s filled with twists and turns, and red-herrings, and had my heart racing for most of it. There are also some kick arse characters, Nadia and Lorne, two females, at the forefront, proving that spy thrillers work just as well with women leading the way.
An amazing book, that if you love thrillers then you really need to give it a go. Even if you’re not a big fan of them, step out of your comfort zone and give this book a read. It is truly spectacular.
Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
The plot opens with Nadia’s assassin father being driven by enemy forces to be interrogated, or killed. He needed to come up with a plan fast, and one that would work to his advantage. His plan was successful, and the enemy now presumed him dead. He watched from afar his own funeral, and spoke of how he knew his girls Nadia and Katya would be fine without him.
We then meet Nadia many years later in prison, herself now an assassin, being held by MI6. In the two years that she had been there she had never had a visitor, nor seen a lawyer, that was until her sister turned up with a diplomat, needing her help in exchange for her freedom.
A Russian submarine had been taken by force and they needed someone small enough, and capable, to enter the sub via a torpedo tube and take back control. The mission didn’t quite go according to plan, especially when it turned out a nuclear warhead was missing. Nadia suspected that the man, a ghost, she had been looking for before her incarceration was the culprit – Salamander.
Problems arose when it became apparent that as much as Nadia wanted to find Salamander, he wanted her dead. He may of been a man that had never been seen, a ghost, but Nadia had her own ghost looking out for her, her father.
37 Hours is an exciting, and completely gripping British spy thriller, that packs a punch. I was hooked from the first page, and raced through it.
J.F. Kirwan has written an explosive plot filled with attention grabbing scenes. The underwater attacks, both from humans and sharks had me on the edge of my seat.
The book is completely up to date too, with mentions of Russian PM, Putin, G20, Isis, Chernobyl, and even Twitter. This made the book very real, and if you think about it very scary. Not in a horror kind of scary, but the kind that reminds you just how warped some individuals are, and how intent they are on causing destruction.
The book is intensely action packed. It’s filled with twists and turns, and red-herrings, and had my heart racing for most of it. There are also some kick arse characters, Nadia and Lorne, two females, at the forefront, proving that spy thrillers work just as well with women leading the way.
An amazing book, that if you love thrillers then you really need to give it a go. Even if you’re not a big fan of them, step out of your comfort zone and give this book a read. It is truly spectacular.
Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
October 1, 2017
It has been a while since I have read a really good spy thriller. Yet, Mr. Kirwan has found that niche that I have come to expect and enjoy from spy thrillers. There are a few references to events that appear to have transpired in book one but it is not big enough to take away from the storyline in this book. This book can be read as a stand alone novel. Which is what I did. Although, I enjoyed this book so much that I plan to go back and read book one. Yet, it did take me a few chapters to find my groove with this book, partly due because I had not read the first one.
Nadia can kick some serious butt. Don't get on her bad side. I like that she stayed cool under pressure. When I used to pretend that I was an spy, this is the type of person I imagined that I was. Although, every strong woman does need a man in their lives. Luckily for Nadia she has Jake. He is used to Nadia being gone long periods of time and make coming back with a new scar because he risks his life doing the same type of thing. They are equally balanced and perfect for each other. Yet, their romance did not get in the way of the mission or distract from the story.
There was plenty of action. The introduction of other characters was nice. I was able to quickly figure out who was who and what their role was in the story. The ending is a good lead into the next book.
Nadia can kick some serious butt. Don't get on her bad side. I like that she stayed cool under pressure. When I used to pretend that I was an spy, this is the type of person I imagined that I was. Although, every strong woman does need a man in their lives. Luckily for Nadia she has Jake. He is used to Nadia being gone long periods of time and make coming back with a new scar because he risks his life doing the same type of thing. They are equally balanced and perfect for each other. Yet, their romance did not get in the way of the mission or distract from the story.
There was plenty of action. The introduction of other characters was nice. I was able to quickly figure out who was who and what their role was in the story. The ending is a good lead into the next book.
September 16, 2017
37 Hours picks up two years after 66 Metres but despite the time gap, you do have to read 66 Metres to fully appreciate its follow-up.
Nadia has served her time at Her Majesty’s pleasure and is heading home to Russia. As she touches down on home soil, she is apprehended by the Russian navy who are in a pickle…and Nadia is the one they need! Thrown in amongst this tale of saving Nadia’s country, are some revelations and history between other characters in the story.
This episode was slightly lacking for me. But it is a personal thing; I loved Jake in the first instalment of this trilogy. For me, 37 Hours didn’t feature enough of this rugged Brit with his on-off lover Nadia. Their relationship sparks off the page! I love it!
But don’t get me wrong, this fast paced international spy thriller totally grabbed my attention and had me hooked. I read it over 3 evenings so 6-7 hours of diving into the cold ocean, chasing around the world to end up in what can only be described as a deadly environment but that is all I can describe it as #nospoiler!! And there were parts where my hand was at my mouth in shock!!
I will be getting the final third of this trilogy as I want to know whether Nadia is ever freed from her past!!
Many thanks to Thick as Thieves Publicity for my e-copy of 37 Hours.
Nadia has served her time at Her Majesty’s pleasure and is heading home to Russia. As she touches down on home soil, she is apprehended by the Russian navy who are in a pickle…and Nadia is the one they need! Thrown in amongst this tale of saving Nadia’s country, are some revelations and history between other characters in the story.
This episode was slightly lacking for me. But it is a personal thing; I loved Jake in the first instalment of this trilogy. For me, 37 Hours didn’t feature enough of this rugged Brit with his on-off lover Nadia. Their relationship sparks off the page! I love it!
But don’t get me wrong, this fast paced international spy thriller totally grabbed my attention and had me hooked. I read it over 3 evenings so 6-7 hours of diving into the cold ocean, chasing around the world to end up in what can only be described as a deadly environment but that is all I can describe it as #nospoiler!! And there were parts where my hand was at my mouth in shock!!
I will be getting the final third of this trilogy as I want to know whether Nadia is ever freed from her past!!
Many thanks to Thick as Thieves Publicity for my e-copy of 37 Hours.
March 6, 2018
Having read and enjoyed book one in the series I was looking forward to reading 37 Hours and finding out what was next for Nadia and Jake and what they were going to get themselves into this time.
The book did not disappoint because once again Nadia gets herself caught up in a whole lot of trouble. Once again the threat is nuclear and it takes all that Nadia has along with the help of MI6 as they race against time to find a stolen warhead.
37 Hours had many twists and turns and lots of unexpected events that kept the pace going and the tension rising. I had really like the character Jake in the first book and I was disappointed that he didn’t feature more in this book but hopefully book three will make up for that.
The diving remains a central part of the plot but this time there are also some recreational dives to enjoy which I liked, although sharks were a little too demonised in my opinion which was a shame.
I do think that to fully understand the plot of 37 Hours the reader needs to have read the first book in the series, 66 Metres as Nadia especially has so much history that there would be big gaps missing if you hadn’t started the story at the beginning.
Overall this is a great read, it’s fast paced and will keep the reader hooked and guessing what will happen next. I’m now looking forward to reading book three in the series.
The book did not disappoint because once again Nadia gets herself caught up in a whole lot of trouble. Once again the threat is nuclear and it takes all that Nadia has along with the help of MI6 as they race against time to find a stolen warhead.
37 Hours had many twists and turns and lots of unexpected events that kept the pace going and the tension rising. I had really like the character Jake in the first book and I was disappointed that he didn’t feature more in this book but hopefully book three will make up for that.
The diving remains a central part of the plot but this time there are also some recreational dives to enjoy which I liked, although sharks were a little too demonised in my opinion which was a shame.
I do think that to fully understand the plot of 37 Hours the reader needs to have read the first book in the series, 66 Metres as Nadia especially has so much history that there would be big gaps missing if you hadn’t started the story at the beginning.
Overall this is a great read, it’s fast paced and will keep the reader hooked and guessing what will happen next. I’m now looking forward to reading book three in the series.
October 5, 2017
I liked this novel of international intrigue. Having read the first in the series, I was familiar with the characters. Nadia is a tough woman and a different kind of heroine, an assassin. The suspense is nearly continuous as Nadia is determined to find the nefarious Salamander and kill him before he does the same to her.
The plot is a good one, with a nuclear war head being stolen. Salamander is a clever man and manages to be one step ahead of the Russians and MI6. The suspense increases as it becomes apparent Salamander has big plans for the weapon. The plot is complex, with many characters and locations. There is a great deal of revenge going on for past deeds and the death toll is pretty impressive. There is plenty of under water action too, Kirwan's area of expertise.
A strong female lead character and lots of international intrigue and suspense made for a good story. The adventure is not over yet so I will be looking for the sequel.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
The plot is a good one, with a nuclear war head being stolen. Salamander is a clever man and manages to be one step ahead of the Russians and MI6. The suspense increases as it becomes apparent Salamander has big plans for the weapon. The plot is complex, with many characters and locations. There is a great deal of revenge going on for past deeds and the death toll is pretty impressive. There is plenty of under water action too, Kirwan's area of expertise.
A strong female lead character and lots of international intrigue and suspense made for a good story. The adventure is not over yet so I will be looking for the sequel.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
March 2, 2018
37 Hours by J F Kirwan is the second book in the Nadia Laksheva thriller series. I, sadly, haven’t read the first book but, nevertheless, I’m glad I have been introduced to this amazing series. I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets made into a movie, it is simply superb!
Nadia has been in prison for two years now, following the previous assignment. One day, out of the blue, she is set free. She unexpectedly meets her father (also a spy), whom she thought to be dead long ago. Along with her sister Katya, Nadia is set up for another assignment, this time involving a dangerous mind who is also an old enemy of her father’s. Although Nadia is an expert around the moves and tricks of the trade, she is surprised regardless, as the enemy seems to have anticipated her every move. From deadly action under the sea to the deserted plant in Chernobyl, Nadia looks high and low for the criminal to stop him from blowing up London and turn it into a nuclear waste.
The series has three books in all, in my opinion. I actually wanted to review all three but due to prior engagements, I missed out on the first one. But I will read it, one day for sure. 37 Hours is a to-the-point book packed with action and weaponry, you know, the things spy thrillers are made of. I could almost picture it as a movie playing in my head as I kept turning the pages.
The writing style is precise, just the type you’d expect from a thriller. A no-nonsense narrative with accurate descriptions makes reading it, a pleasure. The amount of research towards nuclear warfare, submarines and the likes is evident and appreciated. All in all, a fast paced spy thriller, that you can’t put down! Kudos to the author, J. F. Kirwan!
I loved the book! Of course, I am a huge fan of James Bonds and Mission Impossibles. So, if you are someone like me, chances are you’d fall in love with the series. Looking forward to read the next one!
*** This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. ***
Nadia has been in prison for two years now, following the previous assignment. One day, out of the blue, she is set free. She unexpectedly meets her father (also a spy), whom she thought to be dead long ago. Along with her sister Katya, Nadia is set up for another assignment, this time involving a dangerous mind who is also an old enemy of her father’s. Although Nadia is an expert around the moves and tricks of the trade, she is surprised regardless, as the enemy seems to have anticipated her every move. From deadly action under the sea to the deserted plant in Chernobyl, Nadia looks high and low for the criminal to stop him from blowing up London and turn it into a nuclear waste.
The series has three books in all, in my opinion. I actually wanted to review all three but due to prior engagements, I missed out on the first one. But I will read it, one day for sure. 37 Hours is a to-the-point book packed with action and weaponry, you know, the things spy thrillers are made of. I could almost picture it as a movie playing in my head as I kept turning the pages.
The writing style is precise, just the type you’d expect from a thriller. A no-nonsense narrative with accurate descriptions makes reading it, a pleasure. The amount of research towards nuclear warfare, submarines and the likes is evident and appreciated. All in all, a fast paced spy thriller, that you can’t put down! Kudos to the author, J. F. Kirwan!
I loved the book! Of course, I am a huge fan of James Bonds and Mission Impossibles. So, if you are someone like me, chances are you’d fall in love with the series. Looking forward to read the next one!
*** This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. ***
March 7, 2018
37 hours is the second book in Nadia Laksheva Spy thriller series and what a thriller it is. The story starts off with one action packed prologue which totally had me hooked.
In this story we catch up with Nadia once again and this time after being in a secret prison for two years she is freed at a price. The clock is ticked and she only has 37 hours to retrieve the Russian nuclear warhead before London turns to a pile of ash.
37 hours is a mix of intense entertainment with a touch of romance. Which I feel some crime
thrillers lack. It gives the reader more of an understanding about the character, it would be
boring if life was all work and no play!
I loved the shark attack scene it was that intense I felt like I was watching a Jaws movie but better. The author certainly knows how to make you feel right there in the story. This would make a great movie. It is full of twists and turn and will totally have you on the edge of your seat.
Nadia is a very strong character, I love that she is female and becomes a killer I cannot wait to read 88 North....This series is so good!
If you are a fan of spy thrillers this is the book for you which I highly recommend giving it 4 stars.
Thank you to Rachel Gilbey for a copy and inviting me to take part on Blog Tour
In this story we catch up with Nadia once again and this time after being in a secret prison for two years she is freed at a price. The clock is ticked and she only has 37 hours to retrieve the Russian nuclear warhead before London turns to a pile of ash.
37 hours is a mix of intense entertainment with a touch of romance. Which I feel some crime
thrillers lack. It gives the reader more of an understanding about the character, it would be
boring if life was all work and no play!
I loved the shark attack scene it was that intense I felt like I was watching a Jaws movie but better. The author certainly knows how to make you feel right there in the story. This would make a great movie. It is full of twists and turn and will totally have you on the edge of your seat.
Nadia is a very strong character, I love that she is female and becomes a killer I cannot wait to read 88 North....This series is so good!
If you are a fan of spy thrillers this is the book for you which I highly recommend giving it 4 stars.
Thank you to Rachel Gilbey for a copy and inviting me to take part on Blog Tour
April 5, 2017
Although I am a sci-fi fanatic, I read the prequel of this book (66 metres) and really enjoyed it. One of the great things about these books are the characters. There is a strong bad-ass female protagonist Nadia, a lovable diving expert Jake an MI6 agent, who is also her love interest and a mysterious villain worthy of a James Bonds nemesis.
The story itself is much faster paced than the first book and a real page turner, with some twists and characters turning out to not be what you except. In fact the story is so gripping that I was nearly late for work one morning as I couldn’t put it down. If I were on holiday I would probably have read it in one sitting.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would totally recommend it for anyone who likes spy/thriller type books. It would also make a great holiday read. My one complaint, it seemed over far too quickly! I can’t wait to read the next installment and find out about Nadia’s next adventure.
The story itself is much faster paced than the first book and a real page turner, with some twists and characters turning out to not be what you except. In fact the story is so gripping that I was nearly late for work one morning as I couldn’t put it down. If I were on holiday I would probably have read it in one sitting.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would totally recommend it for anyone who likes spy/thriller type books. It would also make a great holiday read. My one complaint, it seemed over far too quickly! I can’t wait to read the next installment and find out about Nadia’s next adventure.
October 11, 2019
The only way to hunt down a killer is to become one…
After two long years spent in a secret British prison, Nadia Laksheva is suddenly granted her freedom. Yet there is a dangerous price to pay for her release: she must retrieve the Russian nuclear warhead stolen by her deadliest enemy, a powerful and ruthless terrorist known only as The Client.
But her mysterious nemesis is always one step ahead and the clock is ticking. In 37 hours, the warhead will explode, reducing the city of London to a pile of ash. Only this time, Nadia is prepared to pull the trigger at any cost…
The deadly trail will take her from crowded Moscow to the silent streets of Chernobyl, but will Nadia find what she is looking for before the clock hits zero?
This follows on from 66 Metres and is another really enjoyable book. Will definitely be reading the last in this series, 4.5*
After two long years spent in a secret British prison, Nadia Laksheva is suddenly granted her freedom. Yet there is a dangerous price to pay for her release: she must retrieve the Russian nuclear warhead stolen by her deadliest enemy, a powerful and ruthless terrorist known only as The Client.
But her mysterious nemesis is always one step ahead and the clock is ticking. In 37 hours, the warhead will explode, reducing the city of London to a pile of ash. Only this time, Nadia is prepared to pull the trigger at any cost…
The deadly trail will take her from crowded Moscow to the silent streets of Chernobyl, but will Nadia find what she is looking for before the clock hits zero?
This follows on from 66 Metres and is another really enjoyable book. Will definitely be reading the last in this series, 4.5*
March 3, 2018
I really liked the first book, and was less reluctant to jump out of my comfort zone of reading this time. I started reading this one and bam! Right into the action on page one. The writing is brilliant, the storyline unflinching, brutal, heartfelt and kick-ass all in equal measure. I am now eagerly awaiting reading book 3, and I would recommend this series to female and male readers alike. A cracking read, from a brilliant author. I shan't give the storylines away, as I hate that - but definitely a series to buy and devour whole.
5 stars from me for this one!
5 stars from me for this one!
March 16, 2018
Wow! This book is the absolute epitome of what a spy thriller should be and is the perfect follow up to the excellent 66 Metres.
We are once again reunited with Nadia, Jake and Lorne as the action follows on 2 years from 66 Metres and the aftermath of her actions in the first book are still following her. Salamander wants revenge and Nadia has to try to stay one step ahead whilst also trying to keep those dear to her safe.
Although this could be read as a standalone book, I would really recommend starting with 66 Metres as we learn more about the characters backgrounds and the storyline does follow on from the consequences of what happened in 66 Metres.
From the first chapter, the action comes at you like a bulldozer, thick and fast and you are left reeling with some of the twists that come your way. Nadia is at the forefront of the story as we learn more about her past, namely the father whose footsteps she has followed in to become the person she is today and the sacrifices she continues to make on a daily basis. Also reminiscent of her father. We follow her as she tries to stop Salamander unleash terror on the unsuspecting public using a nuclear weapon which leads her to the chilling Chernobyl.....
Although Nadia is an assassin, she is a character that you like and grow to respect. J F Kirwan has done brilliantly in creating a tough and strong female character that you genuinely care for. You are desperate for her to make it out of each story unscathed.
I flew through this book as I found it so easy to read. You do genuinely feel as though you are holding your breath during the action packed chases!
Although we are only in February, I think this is one of my reads of the year!
August 15, 2017
Original Review Here
Despite not having read J.F Kirwan’s first novel in this series, the synopsis for the second intrigued me. I was reliably informed it was not necessary to have read the first one, so I opened this book anticipating an exciting story.
It did not disappoint.
37 Hours tells the story of Nadia, a Russian with links to crime organisations. Or, rather stopping them. We are first introduced to Nadia in prison, having spent two years in either interrogation or isolation. But now she is free; free to help solve a terrorist threat in return to her freedom.
Nadia is a strong female character, one of the best I have read. She has her vulnerabilities, but she can also handle herself and will go through whatever is necessary if it means keeping her family safe. Despite having missed the prequel and therefore the initial introductions to Nadia’s character, I felt the reader still gets to know her in this novel alone: what she is fighting for and what she is prepared to give up.
The narration mainly follows Nadia, but we are introduced to glimpses of other people: her missing father and her partner, Jake (who is Nadia’s link to MI6). These insights help fill some of the blanks that would otherwise be present, an insight into the investigation and what other people know. But these secondary characters have story-arcs of their own and are engaging in their own right.
The threat is a missing nuclear bomb and the terrorist is a man no one can learn any real information about. But this man knows about Nadia. He knows about MI6 and Jake. He wants both Nadia and Jake killed, and knows where to find them in order to carry it out.
It quickly becomes apparent there is a mole in MI6. Although this increased the tension and kept me on my toes (you never knew which of their plans were going to work!), it also had a disadvantage. There is not only one mole; there are several. Once I was aware of this, it made it hard to trust any of the characters introduced, which stopped me from connecting with them. So saying, it throws you off when you didn’t guess the true nature of someone Nadia trusted.
The tension is high throughout. It only took me about a quarter of the book to realise I was completely gripped. The first attack on Jake and Nadia results in a shark attack – and I couldn’t turn the page quickly enough. The result of that attack made me really empathise with the characters. That was when I knew for certain I was in for a great read.
37 Hours is an enjoyable read. Fast-paced with the tension increasing as the story unfolds, this is a great spy thriller. I want to go back and read the first, but knowing the final destination of the characters might undermine their journey in the prequel. One thing is for sure: Kirwan is a talented author!
Despite not having read J.F Kirwan’s first novel in this series, the synopsis for the second intrigued me. I was reliably informed it was not necessary to have read the first one, so I opened this book anticipating an exciting story.
It did not disappoint.
37 Hours tells the story of Nadia, a Russian with links to crime organisations. Or, rather stopping them. We are first introduced to Nadia in prison, having spent two years in either interrogation or isolation. But now she is free; free to help solve a terrorist threat in return to her freedom.
Nadia is a strong female character, one of the best I have read. She has her vulnerabilities, but she can also handle herself and will go through whatever is necessary if it means keeping her family safe. Despite having missed the prequel and therefore the initial introductions to Nadia’s character, I felt the reader still gets to know her in this novel alone: what she is fighting for and what she is prepared to give up.
The narration mainly follows Nadia, but we are introduced to glimpses of other people: her missing father and her partner, Jake (who is Nadia’s link to MI6). These insights help fill some of the blanks that would otherwise be present, an insight into the investigation and what other people know. But these secondary characters have story-arcs of their own and are engaging in their own right.
The threat is a missing nuclear bomb and the terrorist is a man no one can learn any real information about. But this man knows about Nadia. He knows about MI6 and Jake. He wants both Nadia and Jake killed, and knows where to find them in order to carry it out.
It quickly becomes apparent there is a mole in MI6. Although this increased the tension and kept me on my toes (you never knew which of their plans were going to work!), it also had a disadvantage. There is not only one mole; there are several. Once I was aware of this, it made it hard to trust any of the characters introduced, which stopped me from connecting with them. So saying, it throws you off when you didn’t guess the true nature of someone Nadia trusted.
The tension is high throughout. It only took me about a quarter of the book to realise I was completely gripped. The first attack on Jake and Nadia results in a shark attack – and I couldn’t turn the page quickly enough. The result of that attack made me really empathise with the characters. That was when I knew for certain I was in for a great read.
37 Hours is an enjoyable read. Fast-paced with the tension increasing as the story unfolds, this is a great spy thriller. I want to go back and read the first, but knowing the final destination of the characters might undermine their journey in the prequel. One thing is for sure: Kirwan is a talented author!
Read
May 6, 2017Now she has killed once, she knows she can do it again…
Imprisoned by MI6 for two long years in solitary, Nadia suddenly finds herself free again. But there is a price to pay for her release. Another dangerous and near impossible mission – retrieve the Russian nuclear warhead stolen by her old nemesis, the deadliest of terrorists.
But he is always one step ahead, and soon Nadia finds herself at the front line of preventing London from disappearing into a cloud of ash. Only this time, she is ready to pull the trigger at any cost.
And with the clock counting down from 37 hours, time is running out…
*
*
What if you watched someone die and then you became the target?
What if you got someone you loved back but had to be exchanged for your sister?
I found this book very intriguing at the beginning, two stories evolving into one.
I like how the author made the beginning intriguingly suspenseful as he articulately described the van structure and where we was being held.
"Vladimir mapped the van inside his head. The van layout was standard: two seats in the front facing forward, two benches in the back facing each other. Two front doors on the driver and passenger side, a double door at the rear. He was on the left-side bench, a heavy beside him, one opposite. The leader was in the left-hand front seat, the driver on the right. He needed to know if there was anything between him and the driver, in front on the opposite side, such as a vertical strut, or a metal grill. Because if there was either of those things, his plan wouldn’t work."
This paragraph had me indulged with every word.
This book reminded me a lot of the movie "Taken" where a man's issues becomes his families as well.
I also enjoyed how the author jumped back and forth between the fathers and daughters situations as they were extremely different but were both looking for the same thing; freedom.
One quote that will stick with me for a very long time will be the following. This quote makes the story turn darker and gives the reader a wandering mind as to what this character may be like.
"He is blind, but can see. Water and air are the same to him. He will find you in the darkness. You will not hear him when he comes for you."
The first couple chapters are an adrenaline junkies dream while reading- being hidden for not the protection of others but herself, deep sea diving into what could be your death, not aware of what others around you may have on their agenda and if it involved you.
After the first 10 chapters, I became lost as the story began to trail all over the place. First Nadia's father was back, then she was needed for another job, then they took her sister for ransom as a trade for her father, than London was threatened. I found it everywhere.
I was very confused on why certain characters were huge in the beginning than were forgot about until the end and weren't discussed. Sergei was a huge character in the beginning but doesn’t come back to life until the last couple chapters.
I was also disappointed in how I didn't feel much connection between the characters as I wish I did.
I wish the author would have elaborated on the militaries previous plans as if they didn’t plan on having Nadia as their frontline. It jumped from a threat to an abduction to saving London. It was everywhere.
I personally would not recommend this book.
Rate: 2/5 stars
Imprisoned by MI6 for two long years in solitary, Nadia suddenly finds herself free again. But there is a price to pay for her release. Another dangerous and near impossible mission – retrieve the Russian nuclear warhead stolen by her old nemesis, the deadliest of terrorists.
But he is always one step ahead, and soon Nadia finds herself at the front line of preventing London from disappearing into a cloud of ash. Only this time, she is ready to pull the trigger at any cost.
And with the clock counting down from 37 hours, time is running out…
*
*
What if you watched someone die and then you became the target?
What if you got someone you loved back but had to be exchanged for your sister?
I found this book very intriguing at the beginning, two stories evolving into one.
I like how the author made the beginning intriguingly suspenseful as he articulately described the van structure and where we was being held.
"Vladimir mapped the van inside his head. The van layout was standard: two seats in the front facing forward, two benches in the back facing each other. Two front doors on the driver and passenger side, a double door at the rear. He was on the left-side bench, a heavy beside him, one opposite. The leader was in the left-hand front seat, the driver on the right. He needed to know if there was anything between him and the driver, in front on the opposite side, such as a vertical strut, or a metal grill. Because if there was either of those things, his plan wouldn’t work."
This paragraph had me indulged with every word.
This book reminded me a lot of the movie "Taken" where a man's issues becomes his families as well.
I also enjoyed how the author jumped back and forth between the fathers and daughters situations as they were extremely different but were both looking for the same thing; freedom.
One quote that will stick with me for a very long time will be the following. This quote makes the story turn darker and gives the reader a wandering mind as to what this character may be like.
"He is blind, but can see. Water and air are the same to him. He will find you in the darkness. You will not hear him when he comes for you."
The first couple chapters are an adrenaline junkies dream while reading- being hidden for not the protection of others but herself, deep sea diving into what could be your death, not aware of what others around you may have on their agenda and if it involved you.
After the first 10 chapters, I became lost as the story began to trail all over the place. First Nadia's father was back, then she was needed for another job, then they took her sister for ransom as a trade for her father, than London was threatened. I found it everywhere.
I was very confused on why certain characters were huge in the beginning than were forgot about until the end and weren't discussed. Sergei was a huge character in the beginning but doesn’t come back to life until the last couple chapters.
I was also disappointed in how I didn't feel much connection between the characters as I wish I did.
I wish the author would have elaborated on the militaries previous plans as if they didn’t plan on having Nadia as their frontline. It jumped from a threat to an abduction to saving London. It was everywhere.
I personally would not recommend this book.
Rate: 2/5 stars
December 19, 2017
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...
I had read the previous book to this and the first in the series 66 Metres and I thoroughly enjoyed that one so 37 Hours had a lot to live up to! Well I started the book and after a few pages I knew that the author had done it again and I flew through the book! I do love a strong female lead and Nadia is superb. I really enjoyed the plot and the writing style was great again, I was gripped and didn't want to put it down until the end, so many twists and turns, it really is an excellent story! I am now eagerly waiting for the next book in the series, 88 Degrees North!! And last but not least, 66 Metres is currently free on Amazon and I definitely recommend it!
I had read the previous book to this and the first in the series 66 Metres and I thoroughly enjoyed that one so 37 Hours had a lot to live up to! Well I started the book and after a few pages I knew that the author had done it again and I flew through the book! I do love a strong female lead and Nadia is superb. I really enjoyed the plot and the writing style was great again, I was gripped and didn't want to put it down until the end, so many twists and turns, it really is an excellent story! I am now eagerly waiting for the next book in the series, 88 Degrees North!! And last but not least, 66 Metres is currently free on Amazon and I definitely recommend it!
December 31, 2017
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I was thrilled when the author contacted me about reviewing this novel, the second in his Nadia Laksheva thriller series, as I really enjoyed the first book. I don’t often read thrillers, but 66 Metres was such an easy read and I really wanted to know what happened next with Nadia and the mysterious ‘Big Bad’ threat she had uncovered.
In 37 Hours the risk is elevated, the tension is ratcheted and the twists are numerous. Nadia is deeper in the espionage world now and it shows: double agents abound. For Nadia the goal is again personal. ‘Family is the only thing worth killing for’. For the rest of the world, including the reader, the threat is nuclear, imminent and terrifyingly realistic.
There is less diving minutiae in this book than its predecessor, although it does still make a few appearances (it is the main character’s specialist skill after all). Less technical information does make the action more easy to visualise for the layman, but I’m glad that some diving was still incorporated as I feel it makes this series stand out amongst other spy thrillers. I particularly enjoyed the appearance of and education about sharks in this outing.
I was a touch disappointed in Nadia’s personal relationships in this novel, as I felt it unlikely that her experiences with Jake would have so thoroughly healed her sexual past as to make casual encounters possible. But then I remembered the years of solitary confinement between books and gave the author a pass on that one! I thought the various familial relationships, on the other hand, were very realistically handled: after years of pain and anger I found it very plausible that in the moment those emotions could be subsumed by love, especially in the adrenaline rush of action.
I particularly like that the main antagonist remains the same in these novels, almost mirroring the protagonist in terms of luck, skill and determination to succeed. Mirroring was definitely part of the overarching themes here, especially when it comes to motivation: familial vengeance cropped up again and again with characters on both sides.
Overall this second novel was simply just as good a read as the first: fast paced, exciting and intriguing. I think it is better read after 66 Metres as there is a lot of plot and characters development that occurred there which is then built on in this novel. So there’s a good excuse to go out and buy TWO books instead of just one. And the ending was only semi-resolved again, so there’s more to come…!
I was thrilled when the author contacted me about reviewing this novel, the second in his Nadia Laksheva thriller series, as I really enjoyed the first book. I don’t often read thrillers, but 66 Metres was such an easy read and I really wanted to know what happened next with Nadia and the mysterious ‘Big Bad’ threat she had uncovered.
In 37 Hours the risk is elevated, the tension is ratcheted and the twists are numerous. Nadia is deeper in the espionage world now and it shows: double agents abound. For Nadia the goal is again personal. ‘Family is the only thing worth killing for’. For the rest of the world, including the reader, the threat is nuclear, imminent and terrifyingly realistic.
There is less diving minutiae in this book than its predecessor, although it does still make a few appearances (it is the main character’s specialist skill after all). Less technical information does make the action more easy to visualise for the layman, but I’m glad that some diving was still incorporated as I feel it makes this series stand out amongst other spy thrillers. I particularly enjoyed the appearance of and education about sharks in this outing.
I was a touch disappointed in Nadia’s personal relationships in this novel, as I felt it unlikely that her experiences with Jake would have so thoroughly healed her sexual past as to make casual encounters possible. But then I remembered the years of solitary confinement between books and gave the author a pass on that one! I thought the various familial relationships, on the other hand, were very realistically handled: after years of pain and anger I found it very plausible that in the moment those emotions could be subsumed by love, especially in the adrenaline rush of action.
I particularly like that the main antagonist remains the same in these novels, almost mirroring the protagonist in terms of luck, skill and determination to succeed. Mirroring was definitely part of the overarching themes here, especially when it comes to motivation: familial vengeance cropped up again and again with characters on both sides.
Overall this second novel was simply just as good a read as the first: fast paced, exciting and intriguing. I think it is better read after 66 Metres as there is a lot of plot and characters development that occurred there which is then built on in this novel. So there’s a good excuse to go out and buy TWO books instead of just one. And the ending was only semi-resolved again, so there’s more to come…!
April 4, 2017
This sequel of 66 metres doesn’t disappoint anyone. Characters are more mature, the relationships between them more defined, and the plot ties all loose ends from the previous book, adding a much more intricate back story to some of the characters that were previously mentioned. The many plot twists keep the reader eager for more pages, which would be the only downside of the book: that it is read too fast (that and some unfortunate deaths...)
The author is very effective at depicting the scenarios in which the story takes place: you feel teleported into an exotique paradise, diving in the most marvelous reefs, but also into the isolation of a nuclear disaster zone, anxiety mounting as the characters approach extreme radiation.
Looking forward to the 3rd book (the last one?) which will give closer on some loose ends!
The author is very effective at depicting the scenarios in which the story takes place: you feel teleported into an exotique paradise, diving in the most marvelous reefs, but also into the isolation of a nuclear disaster zone, anxiety mounting as the characters approach extreme radiation.
Looking forward to the 3rd book (the last one?) which will give closer on some loose ends!
May 14, 2017
*I recieved a free copy of this book in return for an honest book review for the review competition by Books and the Bear*
Just as the reader thinks that that ‘how can anyone top this?’, J. F. Kirwin delivers and the readers are left in absolute awe. The prologue itself captures one’s attention & from there on out, it is impossible to skip a word. This time around, not only are the stakes set higher, but a more engrossing subject has been tackled - the forever existing debate regarding top politicians’ obsession with power and their lack of acknowledgement of the sacrifices made for them. This book paints a world of extremes – loyalty and betrayal, sorrow and happiness, love and hatred, life and death. This is an exhilarating story that all thriller lovers must read. You can’t tell what J. F. Kirwin will write next, which is even more exciting.
Just as the reader thinks that that ‘how can anyone top this?’, J. F. Kirwin delivers and the readers are left in absolute awe. The prologue itself captures one’s attention & from there on out, it is impossible to skip a word. This time around, not only are the stakes set higher, but a more engrossing subject has been tackled - the forever existing debate regarding top politicians’ obsession with power and their lack of acknowledgement of the sacrifices made for them. This book paints a world of extremes – loyalty and betrayal, sorrow and happiness, love and hatred, life and death. This is an exhilarating story that all thriller lovers must read. You can’t tell what J. F. Kirwin will write next, which is even more exciting.
May 5, 2017
A breathless, nonstop adventure. J. F. Kirwan’s intrepid heroine Nadia Laksheva is back, this time racing against the clock to stop a nuclear attack.
J. F. Kirwan is a man who loves to set a scene. In the second installment of the Nadia Laksheva series, the streets of London are loud and overwhelming, and Russia is dark and foreboding. That’s especially true when Nadia encounters the book’s clever antagonist, known as “The Client.” 37 Hours tasks Nadia, the same whip-smart and unrelenting woman that enthralled readers in 66 Metres, with finding a nuclear warhead. Can she keep London from becoming a pile of ash and rubble?
BestThrillers.com
J. F. Kirwan is a man who loves to set a scene. In the second installment of the Nadia Laksheva series, the streets of London are loud and overwhelming, and Russia is dark and foreboding. That’s especially true when Nadia encounters the book’s clever antagonist, known as “The Client.” 37 Hours tasks Nadia, the same whip-smart and unrelenting woman that enthralled readers in 66 Metres, with finding a nuclear warhead. Can she keep London from becoming a pile of ash and rubble?
BestThrillers.com
June 10, 2017
I had picked up the first book on Friday, and by Sunday I had finished and started the second book. This series is completely addictive. Now I have to hold my breath for the next book that I hope will be published soon.
August 15, 2017
All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com
To be perfectly honest, there was a part of me that thought I would end up disliking this book. Looking back now, I’m not entirely sure how I came to that conclusion after reading a small amount of the book. Maybe it was because the genre was completely out of my comfort zone and took a bit of warming up? Or maybe it was because of how different it was, and the frequency of graphic material? I wish I could say for sure. But, all I know (and to be honest, what’s mainly important), is how everything above means diddly squat where my final thoughts on the book are concerned.
Why?
Because reader; I bloody loved it!
Yes, the storyline was rather graphic.
Yes, the genre is a heck of a lot different to the loved-up, heart warming contemporary fiction novel I had read before this one.
And yes, it did take me a chapter or two to warm up to the overall feel of the book.
But by golly was that all worth it! Whilst reading ’37 Hours’, I learned that I love spy thrillers, that I can read several pages of the book with one eye open and one eye shut, AND how books like these make me feel like CatWoman and SuperWoman rolled into one. Well, I’m so accident prone that I might end up killing myself instead of the enemy, but y’know. The thought is there, right?
I must add that ’37 Hours’ is book two of the Nadia Laksheva spy thriller series (I found that out afterwards!), but, I found it 80% alright to read as a standalone, with the last 20% spent wishing I had more background information to enable me to understand certain parts of the book better.
Nadia Laksheva has spent the last two years in prison, and the only way she can get her freedom is to pay a ‘life or death’ type bail. The countdown is on; 37 hours until London disappears for good, but who can Nadia trust to be on her team? Who’s playing her for a fool, and who’s wanting her for a duel? The clock is ticking…you shoot and you die, you shoot and you live…
’37 Hours’ is a fast paced, high energy novel which will have you hanging off the edge of your seat, feeling as though you could take on Iron Man, AND end up being more addictive than chocolate. Truthfully? I have never read a book like this before in my life, and let me tell you, the author has his work cut out for the next book, that’s for sure.
I loved how the storyline was always buzzing with new events, new deaths, familiar faces, and secrets…lots of secrets. There was always something going on, with so much to sink my teeth into along the way. Nadia is such a ballsy protagonist and, whilst I didn’t really warm to her at first, I did find myself admiring her by the end of the book. The way in which she held herself through difficult situations whilst put herself on the line for other people, as well as being extremely feisty, ensured that Nadia was a main character you wouldn’t forget in a hurry.
The graphic parts of the storyline were exactly that, graphic. But in all honesty, I don’t think the story would have worked had the deaths been written about less graphically. Whilst I did end up reading those parts with one eye open and one eye shut, I found myself more drawn to those events as opposed to the calm and serene situations. As weird as this sounds, it created more depth and grit. More things to sink my teeth into.
Don’t get me wrong, there were times I thought ‘huh?’ or ‘what the heck is that?’, especially as I’m not exactly clued up on spy jargon, but that didn’t even slow me down at all.
’37 Hours’ is an extremely addictive, gruesome (yet fabulous), and shocking novel which (pardon the pun) blew me away. There hasn’t been a lot of things able to keep my attention lately, yet J.F.Kirwan managed to keep my attention and then some.
What a fantastic novel. I am so glad I didn’t choose to listen to myself at the start of the novel, as I would have missed out on a belter of a read.
Thanks NeverlandBT & HQ Digital.
To be perfectly honest, there was a part of me that thought I would end up disliking this book. Looking back now, I’m not entirely sure how I came to that conclusion after reading a small amount of the book. Maybe it was because the genre was completely out of my comfort zone and took a bit of warming up? Or maybe it was because of how different it was, and the frequency of graphic material? I wish I could say for sure. But, all I know (and to be honest, what’s mainly important), is how everything above means diddly squat where my final thoughts on the book are concerned.
Why?
Because reader; I bloody loved it!
Yes, the storyline was rather graphic.
Yes, the genre is a heck of a lot different to the loved-up, heart warming contemporary fiction novel I had read before this one.
And yes, it did take me a chapter or two to warm up to the overall feel of the book.
But by golly was that all worth it! Whilst reading ’37 Hours’, I learned that I love spy thrillers, that I can read several pages of the book with one eye open and one eye shut, AND how books like these make me feel like CatWoman and SuperWoman rolled into one. Well, I’m so accident prone that I might end up killing myself instead of the enemy, but y’know. The thought is there, right?
I must add that ’37 Hours’ is book two of the Nadia Laksheva spy thriller series (I found that out afterwards!), but, I found it 80% alright to read as a standalone, with the last 20% spent wishing I had more background information to enable me to understand certain parts of the book better.
Nadia Laksheva has spent the last two years in prison, and the only way she can get her freedom is to pay a ‘life or death’ type bail. The countdown is on; 37 hours until London disappears for good, but who can Nadia trust to be on her team? Who’s playing her for a fool, and who’s wanting her for a duel? The clock is ticking…you shoot and you die, you shoot and you live…
’37 Hours’ is a fast paced, high energy novel which will have you hanging off the edge of your seat, feeling as though you could take on Iron Man, AND end up being more addictive than chocolate. Truthfully? I have never read a book like this before in my life, and let me tell you, the author has his work cut out for the next book, that’s for sure.
I loved how the storyline was always buzzing with new events, new deaths, familiar faces, and secrets…lots of secrets. There was always something going on, with so much to sink my teeth into along the way. Nadia is such a ballsy protagonist and, whilst I didn’t really warm to her at first, I did find myself admiring her by the end of the book. The way in which she held herself through difficult situations whilst put herself on the line for other people, as well as being extremely feisty, ensured that Nadia was a main character you wouldn’t forget in a hurry.
The graphic parts of the storyline were exactly that, graphic. But in all honesty, I don’t think the story would have worked had the deaths been written about less graphically. Whilst I did end up reading those parts with one eye open and one eye shut, I found myself more drawn to those events as opposed to the calm and serene situations. As weird as this sounds, it created more depth and grit. More things to sink my teeth into.
Don’t get me wrong, there were times I thought ‘huh?’ or ‘what the heck is that?’, especially as I’m not exactly clued up on spy jargon, but that didn’t even slow me down at all.
’37 Hours’ is an extremely addictive, gruesome (yet fabulous), and shocking novel which (pardon the pun) blew me away. There hasn’t been a lot of things able to keep my attention lately, yet J.F.Kirwan managed to keep my attention and then some.
What a fantastic novel. I am so glad I didn’t choose to listen to myself at the start of the novel, as I would have missed out on a belter of a read.
Thanks NeverlandBT & HQ Digital.
August 16, 2017
Rating 4.5/5
37 Hours is thrilling! It starts right in the action and keeps up a brilliant pace throughout the book. I really didn’t want to put it down at all because I was desperate to find out what was going to happen next. The mix of suspense and action was spot on, I found myself on the edge of my seat on a number of occasions and I didn’t even try to guess at what would happen I just let myself be taken along for the ride.
The plot was really well thought out, I’m not going to delve into it at all because I think this one is best left to experience. However what I will say is that there were no loose ends, everything included had a purpose and tied off relatively nicely by the end. I say relatively because I believe there is to be another book after this one so it couldn’t be too concrete an ending.
The writing style was easy to follow, yet dynamic and even though there were topics in the book that were outside my knowledge base I didn’t once feel like I couldn’t understand something. The descriptions and imagery were brilliant, I could see it all playing out in my head so vividly, it was easy to get immersed into every scene.
Nadia, of course, was amazing both tough and smart but also I found quite relatable. Sometimes in crime/thriller novels I feel like kickass women tend to come across as otherworldly, as if it wouldn’t happen anywhere outside a book, so it was nice to see the importance she placed on her family and that not everything went her way, she had to overcome a lot.
The only little bug bear I had about this book was that it is the second in the series and I was told it could be read as a standalone and I really don’t think that’s the case. Don’t get me wrong whilst there is a lot of reference to what happens in the previous book all the details relevant are given so that you can understand everything, so in that sense yes you can read it without reading the first book.
However, I do feel there were some characters that I maybe wasn’t quite as invested in as I could have been because there isn’t that original introduction. Also even though the most important points of the plot of the first book is included, I found myself curious about how the events played out. So really if you’re going to read this book make sure you read 66 Metres first just to make it even better. I’m certainly going to go back and start from the beginning!
37 Hours has definitely made it onto my list of favourite reads for this year, and I can’t wait to get the next book.
Originally posted on everywhere and nowhere
37 Hours is thrilling! It starts right in the action and keeps up a brilliant pace throughout the book. I really didn’t want to put it down at all because I was desperate to find out what was going to happen next. The mix of suspense and action was spot on, I found myself on the edge of my seat on a number of occasions and I didn’t even try to guess at what would happen I just let myself be taken along for the ride.
The plot was really well thought out, I’m not going to delve into it at all because I think this one is best left to experience. However what I will say is that there were no loose ends, everything included had a purpose and tied off relatively nicely by the end. I say relatively because I believe there is to be another book after this one so it couldn’t be too concrete an ending.
The writing style was easy to follow, yet dynamic and even though there were topics in the book that were outside my knowledge base I didn’t once feel like I couldn’t understand something. The descriptions and imagery were brilliant, I could see it all playing out in my head so vividly, it was easy to get immersed into every scene.
Nadia, of course, was amazing both tough and smart but also I found quite relatable. Sometimes in crime/thriller novels I feel like kickass women tend to come across as otherworldly, as if it wouldn’t happen anywhere outside a book, so it was nice to see the importance she placed on her family and that not everything went her way, she had to overcome a lot.
The only little bug bear I had about this book was that it is the second in the series and I was told it could be read as a standalone and I really don’t think that’s the case. Don’t get me wrong whilst there is a lot of reference to what happens in the previous book all the details relevant are given so that you can understand everything, so in that sense yes you can read it without reading the first book.
However, I do feel there were some characters that I maybe wasn’t quite as invested in as I could have been because there isn’t that original introduction. Also even though the most important points of the plot of the first book is included, I found myself curious about how the events played out. So really if you’re going to read this book make sure you read 66 Metres first just to make it even better. I’m certainly going to go back and start from the beginning!
37 Hours has definitely made it onto my list of favourite reads for this year, and I can’t wait to get the next book.
Originally posted on everywhere and nowhere
September 12, 2017
I went into 37 hours without having read Kirwan's first novel in the series, titled 66 meters, but I can't say that it affected my enjoyment of the novel as I finished this book very quickly at the start of the month, I almost didn't finish it in a day -but I managed it. There is a lot of character/relationship development that I feel would have been more impactful had I read the first book before this one, but it was still a very intense read.
For example the main antagonist is the same as in the previous novel, much like the protagonist -and for the record I do really like this idea, even if I didn't get the full effect.
When I read the blurb for this book I knew I'd enjoy it, criminals, nuclear weapons, badass female characters... What more could you need from a book? Oh wait, stealing a submarine and the aforementioned nuclear warhead, fighting sharks and a visit to Chernobyl. Hows that for an action packed book?
The diving element of the book series is very unique too, or at least I've never read about it before -maybe it's a trope I've missed, but that was a whole other level of exciting that you don't get with car chases.
It's been a while since I read, or even watched, a spy thriller, so the graphic nature of the book did hit me a little harder than it might have done at the start of the year, Kirwan never over did it though, the scene was set perfectly and I found myself being fully immersed in the series of events he had created.
Nadia is amazing too, I really enjoyed reading about her and I'll definitely be picking up 66 meters at some point because I'm intrigued to know more about her and the relationships that seemed to develop in this book. Although she is a killer, and ruthless at that, she commands the attention of the reader and I was rooting for her the whole time. You'll come to understand that Nadia has a very complex person with a past that would explain some of the decisions she's made.
I would recommend this book to any fans of sci-fi, thrillers and spy novels, there is a lot to like about this book and it only lost a star because I think to be read as a standalone it needs a little more for me to understand personal relationships and more intimate feelings, but I would read the rest of the series too when I have the chance/as it's released.
For example the main antagonist is the same as in the previous novel, much like the protagonist -and for the record I do really like this idea, even if I didn't get the full effect.
When I read the blurb for this book I knew I'd enjoy it, criminals, nuclear weapons, badass female characters... What more could you need from a book? Oh wait, stealing a submarine and the aforementioned nuclear warhead, fighting sharks and a visit to Chernobyl. Hows that for an action packed book?
The diving element of the book series is very unique too, or at least I've never read about it before -maybe it's a trope I've missed, but that was a whole other level of exciting that you don't get with car chases.
It's been a while since I read, or even watched, a spy thriller, so the graphic nature of the book did hit me a little harder than it might have done at the start of the year, Kirwan never over did it though, the scene was set perfectly and I found myself being fully immersed in the series of events he had created.
Nadia is amazing too, I really enjoyed reading about her and I'll definitely be picking up 66 meters at some point because I'm intrigued to know more about her and the relationships that seemed to develop in this book. Although she is a killer, and ruthless at that, she commands the attention of the reader and I was rooting for her the whole time. You'll come to understand that Nadia has a very complex person with a past that would explain some of the decisions she's made.
I would recommend this book to any fans of sci-fi, thrillers and spy novels, there is a lot to like about this book and it only lost a star because I think to be read as a standalone it needs a little more for me to understand personal relationships and more intimate feelings, but I would read the rest of the series too when I have the chance/as it's released.
August 26, 2017
I feel this is one of those books I’ll never forget! I just could not put it down and I will admit I only started 37 Hours last weekend and I managed to finish it before Monday, that was even with working on Saturday. I love Kirwan’s way of writing and he had me sitting on the edge of my seat, especially towards the end, he is a very talented author. I know this is the second book in the series but it definitely did not feel that way!
I love books like that as you can just pick it up and read. I’ve done it before where I’ve picked up the second or even third book and I’m clueless over what’s happened and nothing makes sense. I probably will go back and read 66 Metres as at the beginning events from this book are spoken about and I’m intrigued to read what exactly happened. I was able to connect really well with the characters, especially Nadia.
I suppose this is something we all wish for, with characters we like, I also love how much diving is involved in the book. You can most definitely tell she is a diver, and this is related back to Kirwan, with living by the coast I am a massive fan of this. Before reading 37 Hours, I was a little unsure if I would enjoy it as much as I would my preferred genre of supernatural/fantasy, but I am definitely glad I gave this book a chance!
I definitely will think to pick up spy/thriller books if they are on the same pages as this one, but I am sure this is just down to Kirwan’s style of writing. I am definitely interested in the sequel 88° North now, I can not wait to see where Kirwan takes the characters in the next story. Especially after I exclusively revealed the cover last month!
It’s got me gripped and ready to see Nadia’s next adventure, which is hopefully with Jake. I’ve got my fingers crossed that I’ll be taking part in the Blog Tour with Neverland Blog Tours. Even if I don’t take part in the Blog Tour, I’ll definitely be reading it to see what happens next with Nadia.
Reviewed by Gemma on https://anoceanglimmer.wordpress.com
I love books like that as you can just pick it up and read. I’ve done it before where I’ve picked up the second or even third book and I’m clueless over what’s happened and nothing makes sense. I probably will go back and read 66 Metres as at the beginning events from this book are spoken about and I’m intrigued to read what exactly happened. I was able to connect really well with the characters, especially Nadia.
I suppose this is something we all wish for, with characters we like, I also love how much diving is involved in the book. You can most definitely tell she is a diver, and this is related back to Kirwan, with living by the coast I am a massive fan of this. Before reading 37 Hours, I was a little unsure if I would enjoy it as much as I would my preferred genre of supernatural/fantasy, but I am definitely glad I gave this book a chance!
I definitely will think to pick up spy/thriller books if they are on the same pages as this one, but I am sure this is just down to Kirwan’s style of writing. I am definitely interested in the sequel 88° North now, I can not wait to see where Kirwan takes the characters in the next story. Especially after I exclusively revealed the cover last month!
It’s got me gripped and ready to see Nadia’s next adventure, which is hopefully with Jake. I’ve got my fingers crossed that I’ll be taking part in the Blog Tour with Neverland Blog Tours. Even if I don’t take part in the Blog Tour, I’ll definitely be reading it to see what happens next with Nadia.
Reviewed by Gemma on https://anoceanglimmer.wordpress.com
September 18, 2017
37 Hours is the follow-up to 66 Metres and the second in the series to feature Nadia Laksheva. Housekeeping first, the story of 37 Hours picks up 2 years after events in 66 Metres. There is clear reference to what has already gone before and I am certain that reading the books in order would be advantageous. However, I have not read the first book and I had a blast reading 37 Hours so while it may be advantageous it is by no means essential – 37 Hours can stand alone as a cracking story.
This was an adventure thriller where events zip around the globe and the stakes felt so high that the tension was ever present. Nadia Laksheva is in prison – two long years of captivity and as 37 Hours opens we see her in her cell contemplating her situation. But the story begins just as Nadia is offered a chance to walk free – assuming she will assist with a mission which is considered to be of vital importance.
Straight into the action from here and I was sucked into a story which kept me hooked. Nuclear missiles lost at sea means Nadia has to dive with a team of “experts” to make them safe. The underwater scenes are brilliantly detailed and had me flashing back to the first time I saw Thunderball – the dark (almost claustrophobic) tension as the hero – in this case Nadia – places her life on the line and faces unexpected challenges.
The story shifts location and there are more underwater scenes to enjoy and a new danger to be faced. No spoilers, however, the underwater cave scenes chilled me. Gotta love when a book does that!
JF Kirwan has done a brilliant job of keeping 37 Hours a tense, tight and wickedly entertaining adventure story. Nadia is a feisty and likeable lead and she faces more than her fair share of peril during the course of events.
I really do not want to give away too much of the story but with a nuclear threat, a sinister “bad guy” calling the shots, exotic locations and Russians, Germans and Brits keeping that global feeling running through the book – this feels like the Summer Blockbuster you don’t want to miss.
This was an adventure thriller where events zip around the globe and the stakes felt so high that the tension was ever present. Nadia Laksheva is in prison – two long years of captivity and as 37 Hours opens we see her in her cell contemplating her situation. But the story begins just as Nadia is offered a chance to walk free – assuming she will assist with a mission which is considered to be of vital importance.
Straight into the action from here and I was sucked into a story which kept me hooked. Nuclear missiles lost at sea means Nadia has to dive with a team of “experts” to make them safe. The underwater scenes are brilliantly detailed and had me flashing back to the first time I saw Thunderball – the dark (almost claustrophobic) tension as the hero – in this case Nadia – places her life on the line and faces unexpected challenges.
The story shifts location and there are more underwater scenes to enjoy and a new danger to be faced. No spoilers, however, the underwater cave scenes chilled me. Gotta love when a book does that!
JF Kirwan has done a brilliant job of keeping 37 Hours a tense, tight and wickedly entertaining adventure story. Nadia is a feisty and likeable lead and she faces more than her fair share of peril during the course of events.
I really do not want to give away too much of the story but with a nuclear threat, a sinister “bad guy” calling the shots, exotic locations and Russians, Germans and Brits keeping that global feeling running through the book – this feels like the Summer Blockbuster you don’t want to miss.
March 7, 2018
Wait, what? Vladimir Laksheva? Nadia’s father? Her DEAD father?
With barely time to take a breath, 37 Hours picks up where 66 Metres left off and we’re plunged back into Nadia Laksheva’s world.
Imprisoned in book 1, Nadia gained her freedom with a conditional release—do the bidding of Kadinsky for ten missions/five years. Now, the only way she can leave the secret prison Ml6 has squirreled her away in for the last two years is to take on another mission—recover a nuclear warhead.
Guess Great Britain doesn’t do parole for good behavior.
Nadia had done quite a bit of growing up in a short time. She’s confident and more focused… and she’ll need to be to come out ahead of the numerous forces working against her, not the least of being the faceless Salamander. He’s not just determined to detonate the nuclear warhead, he also wants Nadia and her family dead… because he’s an evil, spiteful bastard who seems to know what Nadia is going to do before she does it. How is that possible?
Trust doesn’t exist and the members of the Laksheva family each find themselves trusting their own judgment as betrayal lurks around every corner.
The author again keeps the suspense high and tight as a parade of memorable characters (some with memorable deaths) make their moves in this high-stakes chess game. Bureaucrats are sketchy with details… and the truth, and those entrusted to do the right thing don’t. (Lorne? Ugh! No sympathy from me. She was doing waaaay too much!)
J.F. Kirwan keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, scratching their head, and swiping pages. The dive scenes are intense, and the writing is superb. In 37 Hours, he delivers a fast-paced, international thriller with plot twists you don’t see coming, but will have you looking forward to the next one.
Nadia Laksheva makes my list of truly strong, female leads, and her journey is far from over, but you don’t want to miss this part… or Nadia, the assassin.
And Vladimir? Didn’t see that coming.
Enjoy!
With barely time to take a breath, 37 Hours picks up where 66 Metres left off and we’re plunged back into Nadia Laksheva’s world.
Imprisoned in book 1, Nadia gained her freedom with a conditional release—do the bidding of Kadinsky for ten missions/five years. Now, the only way she can leave the secret prison Ml6 has squirreled her away in for the last two years is to take on another mission—recover a nuclear warhead.
Guess Great Britain doesn’t do parole for good behavior.
Nadia had done quite a bit of growing up in a short time. She’s confident and more focused… and she’ll need to be to come out ahead of the numerous forces working against her, not the least of being the faceless Salamander. He’s not just determined to detonate the nuclear warhead, he also wants Nadia and her family dead… because he’s an evil, spiteful bastard who seems to know what Nadia is going to do before she does it. How is that possible?
Trust doesn’t exist and the members of the Laksheva family each find themselves trusting their own judgment as betrayal lurks around every corner.
The author again keeps the suspense high and tight as a parade of memorable characters (some with memorable deaths) make their moves in this high-stakes chess game. Bureaucrats are sketchy with details… and the truth, and those entrusted to do the right thing don’t. (Lorne? Ugh! No sympathy from me. She was doing waaaay too much!)
J.F. Kirwan keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, scratching their head, and swiping pages. The dive scenes are intense, and the writing is superb. In 37 Hours, he delivers a fast-paced, international thriller with plot twists you don’t see coming, but will have you looking forward to the next one.
Nadia Laksheva makes my list of truly strong, female leads, and her journey is far from over, but you don’t want to miss this part… or Nadia, the assassin.
And Vladimir? Didn’t see that coming.
Enjoy!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews