Blood Debt

Victor the Assassin #11

by Tom Wood

Occhio per occhio, dente per dente. Niente di meno. E lui combatterà fino all’ultima goccia di sangue.

Per rimediare agli errori del passato, l’enigmatico assassino noto solo come Victor è ora al servizio della più pericolosa impresa criminale al mondo, la mafia russa. Sebbene sia un sicario senza alcuna lealtà verso chiunque lo ingaggi, Victor non affronta mai una sfida che sa di non poter vincere e intende quindi saldare il suo debito, non importa quanto ci vorrà.

Quando il suo nuovo datore di lavoro viene freddato a Londra, Victor ha sia i mezzi che il movente per essere il più probabile fra i sospettati. Con il vuoto di potere lasciato da questo omicidio, si prepara il terreno per una nuova guerra sul controllo dei territori. Circondato da nemici, Victor deve scoprire chi è il vero assassino o subire l’ira vendicatrice della mafia russa.

L’undicesimo romanzo della serie più viscerale e ricca di colpi di scena in circolazione vede l’assassino Victor combattere nemici da ogni parte, senza alleati in vista, per i fan di personaggi tosti come Jack Reacher e Jason Bourne.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Action, Audiobook, Crime, Adventure

432 pages, Paperback

First published November 23, 2023

About the author

He is the author of the Victor series of 10 novels and 2 ebook novellas. Tom also wrote the standalone thriller A Knock at the Door under the pseudonym T W Ellis

Victor 10, TRAITOR, is out now in UK, IE, AS & NZ.

Subscribe to Tom's newsletter to stay up-to-date, and have the chance of winning signed copies and more: tomwoodbooks.com/newsletter

Reviews

[Bodo Pfündl · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic action thriller wrapped into a Whodunnit

The assassin only known as “Victor” has just repaid a potentially lethal debt but when his former obligee – who also happens to be one of the most powerful criminals in the world – is assassinated just when Victor was scheduled to meet him, Victor becomes the prime suspect. Soon he is hunted not only by the Bratva but by shadowy forces who see Victor as a threat to expose a deadly conspiracy with global ramifications…

In his eleventh mission Victor has to confront multiple threats at the same time while also resolving the murder that started it all. He once again demonstrates his trademark tactical shrewdness but also shows a remarkable sense of loyalty, even honour towards people he respects.
Tom Wood yet again proves that he can break new ground despite the series running for thirteen years now which is a tremendous achievement in itself.

Victor remains the gold standard, not only when it comes to relatable antiheroes but highly competent thriller protagonists as a whole. His perception of the world and observations of everyday life remain fascinating, his battle instincts unmatched and his deductions – put on impressive display here – are reminiscent of the best of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot.

Tom Wood’s writing is more immersive and eloquent than ever. His story is elegantly complex, full of twists, action and memorable characters. The general setting of London as the money laundering capital is insightful and intriguing and recent crises are cleverly woven into the narrative, with some cameos of fan favourite characters providing the icing on the cake.

Tom Wood again delivers on every front, leaving long time fans and newcomers alike hungry for more. Well done!

[John C Pell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back to top form

One of the best. A massive move on from the previous book. Then I was concerned that we had another Reacher writer not filling the boots of the real Tom Wood. Ha no. Back to the top of the tree. Once more we have those small nuances that make Victor Victor. How his anti surveillance works, how he moves, why he moves, how he thinks and how he makes others think. A great story, well choreographed and I’m bursting with anticipation for the next book

[Abibliofob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Victor is back in Blood Debt, the latest thrilling read by Tom Wood. He is trying to pay a debt to a russian bratva leader and it all goes well up to a point... Victor faces a lot of complications in this book and those that read the story will find out how it goes. This adventure is as always well written and there are some great characters in it. I have been a big fan of this series for a long time and although our assassin is getting older he still has a few trick available. If I should rate all the assassin series out there this is one of the best available.

[John Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have read Tom Wood previously you pretty much know what to expect and Victor has another outing doing what Victor does which is killing people for money. A brilliant series which is pure escapism and entertaining routing for one bad guy against everyone else. Maybe one day it will all go stale but the author here is in top notch form and this is another enjoyable read.

[Acciaio Aldo · Rating 4 out of 5]

La serie di Victor L'assassino è molto divertente. Le dinamiche sono le stesse in ogni libro, ma il personaggio è indovinato e ritrovare le stesse vibes ogni volta, rende questi libri una comfort zone per il lettore. Attendo il prossimo.

[Pete Mountford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Invincible

The latest in a series of books about Victoria the assassin maintains the fascination with the details of the execution of his targets, and his elaborate precautions to avoid indentification. Spy craft at its best. My only criticism would be that errors in the text, (typos, the occasional missing word, etc.), jar with the precision of the content, but still a great read, and roll on the next.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sherlock break Bones is back!
Every year, I fear the next Victor book can't improve from the last and thus expect a drop in quality, and every year, I'm proven wrong.

Tom Wood has crafted an artful thriller with creative action that, although brutal, stays grounded. There won’t be massive, unexplained explosions or a secret society of assassins hiding their HR department in the Eiffel tower yet the danger and thrill is felt at all moments.

We’re thrown in with Victor instantly having to use his intelligence and tactics to gain the upper hand in an inescapable situation. From there we’re given a story with simply more of what makes Victor great.

I come back to these books not because of the action but because of the time we spend in this capable tactician’s head as he out-thinks dangerous situations. More is set up from the beginning that allows these situations to appear naturally, with variety and without feeling forced.

Victor may have the awareness of Sherlock Holmes and know how to fight with brutal accuracy, but this comes with a further sense of depth and possibly sorrow. These skills come not from inherent ability but rather survival instinct. At no point is any of this glamorized, rather the awareness and attention to detail is shown repeatedly to be, (although necessary) a heavy, mental and physical burden. Small moments are stolen such as to allow for the appreciation of a skilled Cello player, but these moments quickly must return to a meticulous and somewhat exhaustive existence.

We’re also given slightly more of Victors history that shows immense depth. Victor returning to leave cash where his young crew once operated (as they had once promised they would) had me choking up. How can I go back to books where a character’s entire history is “standard military career – discovered coffee” after reading that?

You do not have to read the other books to follow this story but if you do there are some amazing rewards. At times I caught myself laughing out loud “only a taxi driver in New York knows the truth and he has absolutely no idea how much power he has over me”.

Being a fan of this genre is a mixed bag. We don’t have a booktube community and if you search for a particular books review they will often  be one line sentences or videos filmed on a potato.

Trying to find an action thriller that doesn’t tip over to expendables level ridiculousness with the depth of a teaspoon has led to a large pile of DNFs on my kindle. To find a book this well written is extremely rare so the Victor series is an incredible diamond in the rough.

[Richard Guest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing as always!

A fantastic read. Somehow finding new ways to make each Victor book even better. While also slowly tying up some of the lose threads from previous books. Amazing

[Michael Feuerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The latest installment in the Victor the Assassin series is excellent. Victor wraps up his involvement with the Russians in true form. Well written, and set up for the next one. Looking forward to mote from Tom Wood and Victor!

[Gail Radka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would say Victor at his best and a slightly different take with him in investigator mode, still using the full style snd nuances of Victor. Plenty of action, twists and turns, thoroughly enjoyed

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[Evie Gleis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood debt

I’ve loved everyone one of the books with Victor doing what he does best, out thinking and outwitting his foes. However there’s an intrinsic part of the “ old Victor” missing. This is a tougher, more ruthless and far colder character without an ounce of remorse or empathy. As such, I’ve given one less Star. Sorry, but I found it difficult to the latest Victor.

[Carl · Rating 2 out of 5]

The last couple of books have not been as good
still ok though

[Hanlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This action-packed thriller was another humdinger by Tom Wood and book number 11 in the Victor the Assassin series!
Our likeable assassin Victor, who hates any form of profanity, is back, and this time he's got to fight off quite a few people who are out to kill him.
Victor is doing one more favour for Maxim Borisyuk the head of the Bratva, then his debt is paid.
After a close call (again) in Afghanistan, Maxim asks Victor to meet him in London because he wants him to continue working for him, but before Victor can give him his answer Maxim is murdered and Victor must fight off the killer.
The Brotherhood is in turmoil because suddenly they have to find a new leader but was it one of them that was behind the murder of Maxim?
Their obvious suspect is Victor because not all of them believe that he had nothing to do with the murder. They allow him a few days to see if he can find out who was behind this killing but is everyone on the same page or not?
Who is hunting Victor and for what reason?

The style of writing keeps you engaged from the 1st page and if you don't believe me let me entice you with the first paragraph:

"Victor tried not to cause excessive damage. In part because he never liked making a mess. In part because killing someone was impolite enough without leaving their body in an untoward manner."

[Mojo Shivers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great entry in the series. This time Victor goes gunning for the answer to the question of who killed his employer. Along the way he manages to make more enemies, overcome a lot of obstacles, and have off against a worthy adversary that he seems evenly matched with. All in all, this book is full of the facets and nuance that make Victor such a great series and a regular read on my shelves.

[Leo Goldin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe if I read and not listen it will be better. In any case, this is the worst one in series for me - very slow, repeating same things all over again and again.

[JGrant '71 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually 3.5 and much better than the previous book, which I criticized as portraying Victor as a cold-blooded killer more than the professional & self-conscious assassin that we have known from the beginning. Although the author at one point uses the word assassin to identify him, Victor himself describes himself as a killer when he is confronted with the question of what he is.

What makes for partially bring back the “old” Victor is that he has taken on a mission of finding the killer of his client Maxim Borisyuk for whom Victor had run a number of contracts and developed a particular relationship, as quoted by Borisyuk “I did not so much become your employer as your priest.” So Victor’s motivation is personal and more on righting a serious wrong – somewhat similar to the Quiet Man we saw a couple of novels ago.

What made the hunt for Borisyuk’s killer intense & complicated for Victor is that the partners in Borisyuk’s organization believe Victor was the killer and he has a limited number of days to prove them wrong. Victor uses all his skills – including strategic thinking skills – to resolve the question and the path to that goal is intriguing and with a few surprises along the way that Victor quickly adjusts to. So as a reader, you remain quite involved in Victor’s pursuit of the true killer.

What I did find unfortunate, though, is that at times, the thought process that Victor goes through is sometimes overly described. As well, some of the hostile situations are overly depicted. I can only presume that this is done in relation to new readers who are not familiar with Victor’s fluidity of thought and efficiencies of action. These points plus that the Victor of today is portrayed more as a cold, somewhat ruthless character is what has led to a rating of under 4 stars.

[SteVen Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review – Blood Debt – Tom Wood
British author Tom Wood scripts another incredible Victor the Assassin novel – “Blood Debt” – book 11 in the series – and probably one of the most gripping, menacing, and action-packed thrillers yet. To make amends for some past mistakes, the mysterious assassin known only as “Victor,” is now in debt to one of the world's most dangerous criminal enterprises - the Russian Mafia. Although a hired gun without any loyalties, Victor always pays off his debts. However, when scheduled to meet with his new employer in London – The Bratva warlord is assassinated and subsequently, Victor – a hired assassin – becomes the prime suspect in the killing. Afterwards, Victor is hunted by the Russian Bratva as well as some very shadowy London gangsters. Victor is now forced to find out who the real contract killer is, and why or suffers the full wrath of the Mafia's vengeance. Tom Wood ‘again’ delivers another adrenaline-charged, action-laden story. The plot is firm, the characters intriguing, especially the Russian and London crime lords, and Victor – of course – who is menacing, cold, sinister, and downright lethal! He once again demonstrates his trademark tactical shrewdness but also shows a remarkable sense of loyalty and honor towards people he respects. Once again, Tom Wood shows the reader those small nuances that make Victor, Victor; how Victor works, how he moves, why he moves, how he thinks and how he makes others think. Victor is the gold standard for an unusual antihero but is a highly skilled action thriller protagonist. He puts on another unmatched and impressive display in this story. This book was a well-choreographed narrative, bursting with suspense, anticipation, drama, action, and a little bit of humor. Yet again, Tom Wood crafts a tremendous Victor tale that is a great ‘must read’! Absolutely loved this book!

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing start to my reading year, the best writer in the genre serving a brilliant new installment in the best action thriller series on offer.

After the events of Traitor, a book that while maintaining the usual quality of the series, had an unfinished air about it. Blood Debt continued seamlessly from that stopping point. Victor, assassin extraordinaire and a man who worked so hard to throw off the masters chain was back in the service of one of the world's deadliest criminal organization, the Russian mafia.

One of the minor complaints I had about the previous book was that the plot was not as thrilling at least compared to some of the five-star works before it, and the character work for the secondary characters did not come into fruition. But it seems to me now that it was great groundwork for Blood Debt.

The story here was so rich, the players and the stakes just had a glorious weight to them,and while I may have appreciated more action, the writing outside of it was brimming with so much intrigue that I wondered if the author would be able to wrap things up efficiently. Of course Tom Wood could never disappoint on that note and he provided an ending up there with the best of them. The final action sequence was spell binding, the intelligence put into it was breathing taking, not just for Victor in Hawk's chokehold, but the reader as well.

I hope Tom Wood releases the next one as quick as a possible or I might have to send Roman after him.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Victor has fulfilled his last assignment for Maxim Borisyuk, in payment for a debt he accrued by killing the Russian’s son, when the mafia boss is murdered. Victor is suspect number one, and has to pull out all the stops to discover the real killer before it is too late.
Blood Debt is a cross between a thriller and a spy novel, slightly different from the other ten books in this fascinating series, as Victor sets about uncovering the truth behind Borisyuk’s death. The plot is complicated which makes it slow at the outset as all the different characters are introduced. The fight scenes are tense and gripping, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat, as Victor outwits his enemies. We are privy to what Victor is thinking, which helps to explain how he has managed to stay alive for so long.
Despite the twists and turns of the plot, this series is largely character driven – the main reason I have carried on reading – and here we get glimpses into his past that help us to view him as a complex, three-dimensional character and not just a stereotype. He is facing extreme danger from an unknown enemy, but keeps his eye on the ball as his very survival depends on it. I have been a fan of Victor since the very first book and hope that there will be many more to come. Thanks to Sphere and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

[Ameya Mallya]

Wood's Blood Debt features Victor, an assassin investigating his employer's murder while navigating London's criminal underworld. The protagonist's contradictions—brutal killer who won't curse, lectures on Agincourt history while breaking free from handcuffs by exploiting a guard's extended fingers—create a distinctive voice in the crowded assassin genre.
The action choreography is crystalline, with the recycling facility siege's multi-front warfare being viscerally unforgettable. Wood's technical authenticity and mordant humor elevate familiar revenge-thriller plotting. The Boatman provides an excellent mirror character; their philosophical examination of a corpse adds unexpected gravitas. As Victor himself observes with characteristic terseness: he "disliked wasting words even more than he did wasting ammunition."
Weaknesses include repetitive investigative structure, emotional detachment that creates reader distance, and skeletal female characters. The villainous reveal feels unearned due to insufficient foreshadowing.
Recommended for fans of tactical thrillers who prioritize professional competence over emotional depth. Entertaining genre work that executes its mission with surgical precision.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s the top of 2024 and what has fairy of goodness has let me know a new Victor novel was published recently. Not for us folks in North America, not yet. But Europe has it. I do admit I hit Abe Books to find a seller of an English copy to send my way. Victor is one of my guilty pleasures I stretch my book budget to get early.

Being book 11, a new task for Victor, to keep things fresh. Think of this book as Victor, PI. But with awesome fight scenes as Victor carves his way through the London underworld.

The writing remains wonderful. The scene where Victor and the Boatman simply talk is chilling. It is similar to two samurai sizing each other up, simply with their eyes.

As always, Victor does what he does best, which means the book is fast to move through due to late night reading sessions. The author did say book 12 is being written, but I figure I’ll have to wait another year for my next Victor experience.

[Ken Karcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel featuring the assassin known as Victor finds our anti-hero repaying a debt to the head of the Russian Bratva. In the course of trying to extricate himself from the Brotherhood, the head of the criminal enterprises is killed with the evidence pointing at Victor. Now Victor has to avoid Russian assassins, Kremlin and English spies, and the London underworld while trying to find out who is responsible for Maxim's death. I love these books mostly because of the exploration into the mind of an honorable man in a world with none. These books are delightful and all-consuming, it's easy to lose track of time and find the sun coming up. I love this series so much that I purchase the books directly from England since they're not sold in the US. Wood must be doing something right to make me keep coming back for more.

[Ricky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this new Victor book. As always Tom Wood is a master story teller and he keeps you on your toes throughout the book. This was a really good plot. You will find yourself immersed in network of bad guys and criminal behaviours that only Victor could escape from. Victor seemed to be even more ruthless in some ways in this latest instalment. I always enjoy Tom Woods writing and love his glimpses of Victor's younger history; that often springs up to give you some awareness of his past and present behaviours. This for me makes him more interesting, and helps you to understand him in a more in-depth way. This book is a great fast passed read that will leave you wanting more at the end.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

All aboard the Victor rollercoaster in this action packed adrenaline fuelled adventure. Tom Wood really is the master of this genre and is at the top of his game in this one. A wonderfully complex plot sees the ruthless assassin play Russian roulette in London and it is non stop from the off. With some brutal yet highly captivating scenes the author has written one of his finest books in the series. Victor has to be one of the best characters in a book EVER! Loved loved loved it! A dazzling 5 stars

[Beach Bum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of detail

Not usually a detail sort of person when it comes to this sort of storyline, but it works on this occasion and has done in previous "Victor" books
This time round, it's less about assassination and more about the investigation regarding one that has already been carried out and which Victor is held accountable for
The main character is as ever totally comfortable in this scenario, just accepting it as another part of life thrown at him to deal with
A very well thought out and well written book and one I look forward to seeing the next in the series

[Joshua Moss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional as always. I always feel at ease when reading Tom Wood as I know I’m in for an excellent time. Victor is a familiar character this point and as thoroughly enjoyable to read now as in the early books. The story carves an exciting path as always, this one with a slightly different slant to the typical approach. Tom Wood continues to craft a brilliant tale with enough detail and knowledge of the world of assassination that it feels only possible to have been obtained first hand.

[Nikul Patel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant yet again for one of the the best literary characters out there. Action packed and the detail within the book is astonishing. Victor is still a force to be reckoned with and looking forward to the next installment. A minor minor critique of this book would be that for the first time, the storyline felt similar to previous books in the series although given its about an assassin, I guess you can't always conjure up new situations.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Victor series. This was full of the usual observations of people, behaviour and psychology that I enjoy so much. There seemed to be a lot of other people in this one, and Victor was less of the main character, but if we see more of Shivika I will be happy. There was a lot of exposition about arms dealing that could have been done more creatively. As I've said before, I would love to see Victor in a location right out of his environmental comfort zone like a desert or jungle.

[Mim-Is-Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been on a binge-reading spree with the Victor series over the past few weeks, and I’m absolutely devastated to realize this is the second-to-last book published. Victor is an extraordinary character—sharp, skilled, ruthless, and utterly captivating.
Tom Wood has crafted a series that’s gripping and addictive, and I’m already dreading the thought of it coming to an end. I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment!