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Ames To Kill: The Killing League, The Recruiter, Killing the Rat
THREE FULL-LENGTH THRILLERS FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR DANI AMORE!
THE KILLING LEAGUE: An FBI profiler discovers The Killing League - a competition among active serial killers and soon learns that he and a woman whose life he helped save...are the grand prize.
THE RECRUITER: Samuel Ackerman drops out of Navy's Hell Week and fails to achieve his lifelong dream: to be a Navy SEAL. He must return to his small hometown and be a successful recruiter to get another chance at his dream. He's looking for a few good recruits....and he won't take no for an answer.
KILLING THE RAT: A Mafia lowlife robs the head of the Detroit Mob and before entering the FBI's witness protection program, decides to celebrate with plenty of booze, an expensive hotel room and a high-priced call girl. When a hitman tracks them down, the bullets start flying, people die, and the money disappears.
THE KILLING LEAGUE: An FBI profiler discovers The Killing League - a competition among active serial killers and soon learns that he and a woman whose life he helped save...are the grand prize.
THE RECRUITER: Samuel Ackerman drops out of Navy's Hell Week and fails to achieve his lifelong dream: to be a Navy SEAL. He must return to his small hometown and be a successful recruiter to get another chance at his dream. He's looking for a few good recruits....and he won't take no for an answer.
KILLING THE RAT: A Mafia lowlife robs the head of the Detroit Mob and before entering the FBI's witness protection program, decides to celebrate with plenty of booze, an expensive hotel room and a high-priced call girl. When a hitman tracks them down, the bullets start flying, people die, and the money disappears.
774 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2013
282 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 20, 2020
In his collection of three unrelated, superficial thrillers under the title Ames To Kill, author Dan Ames has saved his worst for the first. "The Killing League" is the story of a criminal mastermind who assembles a mini-army of assassins in a killing competition. Crossing the line between silly and ridiculous, the participants are all serial killers with supervillain names whose psychological complexities are simplistically reduced to a fear of blackmail and a love of killing. If you are looking for a genuine thriller with characters who don't belong in a comic book, then I suggest you look elsewhere.
I have read other books by Mr. Ames and he has the capability to be a decent writer. Although copyrighted in 2014, "The Killing League" reads more like an early effort, like a high school assignment to write a novel which a young Dan finished on the bus at the last minute on the day it was due.
You will enjoy the second novel, "The Recruiter," almost as much as you did not enjoy "The Killing League." Samuel Ackerman's dream is to become a Navy SEAL and he will literally kill anyone who stands in his way. Suffice it to say there are plenty of people who he perceives stand in his way. If this book were ever made into a movie, I picture a young Ray Liotta playing the part of Samuel.
Mr. Ames has created sharply drawn characters in "The Recruiter" and tells his story with confidence, skill and dark humor. Despite some poor editing and careless factual errors, the story is entertaining and suspenseful. The ending is more-or-less predictable, but the fun in this book is getting to the destination, not guessing it.
Regrettably, in the third novel, "Killing The Rat," Mr. Ames did not save his best for last. It was no more than a mildly amusing black comedy populated by a large cast of forgettable characters chasing a suitcase of stolen Mob money and incriminating tapes. The story's "surprises" were uninspired and unimpressive. I have seen reviews of this book where some readers praised the ending as unpredictable. Nonsensical would be a better word.
So after scoring the first book a zero, his second book a 3.5, and his third book a generous 2, Mr. Ames' collection Ames To Kill has earned no better than a 2 in its entirety. My advice is to skip books one and three and simply enjoy his second, "The Recruiter."
I have read other books by Mr. Ames and he has the capability to be a decent writer. Although copyrighted in 2014, "The Killing League" reads more like an early effort, like a high school assignment to write a novel which a young Dan finished on the bus at the last minute on the day it was due.
You will enjoy the second novel, "The Recruiter," almost as much as you did not enjoy "The Killing League." Samuel Ackerman's dream is to become a Navy SEAL and he will literally kill anyone who stands in his way. Suffice it to say there are plenty of people who he perceives stand in his way. If this book were ever made into a movie, I picture a young Ray Liotta playing the part of Samuel.
Mr. Ames has created sharply drawn characters in "The Recruiter" and tells his story with confidence, skill and dark humor. Despite some poor editing and careless factual errors, the story is entertaining and suspenseful. The ending is more-or-less predictable, but the fun in this book is getting to the destination, not guessing it.
Regrettably, in the third novel, "Killing The Rat," Mr. Ames did not save his best for last. It was no more than a mildly amusing black comedy populated by a large cast of forgettable characters chasing a suitcase of stolen Mob money and incriminating tapes. The story's "surprises" were uninspired and unimpressive. I have seen reviews of this book where some readers praised the ending as unpredictable. Nonsensical would be a better word.
So after scoring the first book a zero, his second book a 3.5, and his third book a generous 2, Mr. Ames' collection Ames To Kill has earned no better than a 2 in its entirety. My advice is to skip books one and three and simply enjoy his second, "The Recruiter."
December 19, 2017
Dan Ames to Please and hits home run!
This author gives you everything you want in a novel that will have you up all night unable to put this book down.
I will definitely have to get his next book so I can sample more of his literary white knuckle suspense and mayhem.
This author gives you everything you want in a novel that will have you up all night unable to put this book down.
I will definitely have to get his next book so I can sample more of his literary white knuckle suspense and mayhem.
July 27, 2018
Triple The Thrill
A trio of fast paced dramatic crime thrillers. All by the same author, but each one different, and each one a great read. Great descriptions, fantastic drama, and the pages just keep on turning. Not stop action, gritty with just a touch of romance.
A trio of fast paced dramatic crime thrillers. All by the same author, but each one different, and each one a great read. Great descriptions, fantastic drama, and the pages just keep on turning. Not stop action, gritty with just a touch of romance.
September 13, 2018
Killing Game
I enjoyed reading “Ames to Kill” by Dan Ames 1 of 3 crime thrillers. It’s a competition among active serial killers but what’s the grand prize .
The author wrote a great mystery that had me turning pages.
I enjoyed reading “Ames to Kill” by Dan Ames 1 of 3 crime thrillers. It’s a competition among active serial killers but what’s the grand prize .
The author wrote a great mystery that had me turning pages.
June 1, 2019
Mystery
Very addictive and great way to view what a dark side is out there and it does not matter how we choose to see life it’s still there and always will be and always has been from the beginning of times
Very addictive and great way to view what a dark side is out there and it does not matter how we choose to see life it’s still there and always will be and always has been from the beginning of times
July 1, 2017
S
L
iPad
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iPad
April 17, 2018
Mob, Mafia, mayhem
What a great storyteller! Each book of this set was unique, capturing interest, making it difficult to put aside when necessary.
What a great storyteller! Each book of this set was unique, capturing interest, making it difficult to put aside when necessary.
September 7, 2020
Always a great read
February 12, 2017
Fantastic Read
All three stories were riveting and kept me on the edge of my seat. Great reads! I'm looking forward to reading more.
All three stories were riveting and kept me on the edge of my seat. Great reads! I'm looking forward to reading more.
December 15, 2016
Three stand alone mysteries.
Best to rest between episodes. Didn't think I was going to like the last one when I started reading it but it grew on me.
Best to rest between episodes. Didn't think I was going to like the last one when I started reading it but it grew on me.
July 16, 2015
Death in Many Forms
There are many ways to die, and these three novels show how to accomplish it violently. The upper Midwest has pockets of poverty and power, and folks from both are nefarious and deadly.
There are many ways to die, and these three novels show how to accomplish it violently. The upper Midwest has pockets of poverty and power, and folks from both are nefarious and deadly.
November 19, 2016
Very enjoyable mysteries
The author has done an excellent job of writing a mystery that keeps you in the story throughout the book. The story is intriguing and sure to please the avid mystery reader.
The author has done an excellent job of writing a mystery that keeps you in the story throughout the book. The story is intriguing and sure to please the avid mystery reader.
January 21, 2017
Lots of Unexpected Action!
Lots of action, totally unexpected twists and turns, really bad guys, good guys (and gals) who are all just a bit bad, and one surprise after another! A fun read well worth the effort!
Lots of action, totally unexpected twists and turns, really bad guys, good guys (and gals) who are all just a bit bad, and one surprise after another! A fun read well worth the effort!
September 15, 2016
My new favorite author
I could not get through the stories fast enough , they are that intense. If you haven't yet read Mr. Ames' work , I suggest you do so immediately.
I could not get through the stories fast enough , they are that intense. If you haven't yet read Mr. Ames' work , I suggest you do so immediately.
June 19, 2017
3 stand-alone thrillers that are absorbing, page-turning, quick reads.
April 17, 2017
three full length novels. Ames to Kill was written by, who else, Dan Ames, aka Dani Amore.
I think Killing the Rat was the best of the three
I think Killing the Rat was the best of the three
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews