Assassin-for-hire Victor is in Bucharest, Romania, to kill two targets meeting to exchange stolen intelligence his client wants back. It should be a simple task - until he realises the second of his targets is a former ally. Even for a man of Victor's twisted morality, he's not prepared to kill someone to whom he owes his life.
To atone for not completing the job, Victor agrees to take on the kind of dangerous assignment he would otherwise avoid. At a conference on international relations, he must identify and assassinate a killer just like him and remain unseen, despite a guest list of spies, dignitaries, and security experts. Even for an elite professional, the job is a tall order - which is why he looks for help from the person whose life he spared in Romania.
Yet unbeknownst to Victor, the Bucharest contract stepped on the toes of powerful enemies from his past; enemies who now know exactly where to find him . . .
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.
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Victor is one of my favorite assassins in the book world. Tom Wood has created one of the greatest character in this genre ever. Firefight the 12th and latest adventure is one fast paced thrilling ride and it is even full with humor. So many problems at the same time and even time for some background to some of it. Now I only wonder what will happen in the next book. Wood has as always come up with a well written story with lots of great characters and it sure was a rollercoaster between good events and bad. If you out there hasn't tried Tom Wood and this Victor guy I can only say, get to it.
A complex and surprisingly emotional Masterclass Thriller
Still dealing with the aftermath of his latest contract, the assassin only known as Victor is sucked into a dangerous conspiracy revolving around high-level military espionage. He handles matters like the stone-cold professional he has proven to be time and again. Even the reappearance of a person from Victor‘s recent past who might or might not be on his side can’t distract Victor from his objective, since he always anticipates betrayal. The one occurrence Victor didn’t anticipate however, is the reemergence of an old enemy. An enemy with nearly unlimited resources and a lasting grudge against Victor, who by a potentially lethal twist of fate ends up in the assassin’s blind spot. Even worse, the man spearheading the manhunt for Victor cares more about ending the assassin‘s life than continuing his own…
The first noteworthy fact about this book is that it already marks the twelfth time we meet Victor. Well, it doesn’t feel like it! There is no sense of „it’s still entertaining but I know where this is going“ about it. Instead not only does the high stakes espionage storyline feel fresh and exciting but Victor still remains a fascinating and sufficiently enigmatic lead.
The action never stops and Victor’s physical endurance is truly put to the breaking point this time around but so is his inner fight for total control of his emotions. Combined with some other genuinely memorable supporting characters both new and old and a staggering amount of unpredictable twists, this book makes for a rather fascinating read, one of the very best of its kind. Now, I can’t wait to find out what we will find Victor up against next!
Victor the assassin never fails to entertain as do the plot lines with the thrillers.satisfying action detailed weaponry, does what it says and delivers a page turner once again.
Imagine being hunted by Victor, nowhere to hide, nowhere is safe, you dont even know he is watching you u til its too late. I really wonder if there are people out there like Victor….. and hope i never meet them.
Every year my credibility drops when talking about Tom Wood books because they simply get better and better. All it would take would be one small miss and a realistic take to prove I’m not biased. But alas…. This is the best book yet.
There are moments in this series that readers will be familiar with. The ending of “The enemy” gave us an incredible fight for survival and led to an amazing short story soon after. “The Darkest Day” gave us possibly the best side character in the series and showed us vulnerability in this ruthless assassin. “The Final Hour” was more than the sum of its parts, calling back to the previous stories and capping off that part of the series. “A Quiet Man” gave us a fresh take on the formula and a break from Victors typical protocols.
Tom Wood takes all of these elements, puts them in a box, shakes that box and delivers an absolutely incredible (and longer than normal?) book that 100% justifies its day 1 pre-order and night 1 read.
There are clues throughout the series that lead us to Victors past. He knows the name for African barbecue but also uses British army terms, he’s Caucasian but also referred to as an outsider regularly, has a past in Russia long enough to build a reputation but isn’t Russian or American and hates South American weather…. SO when there’s a set-up at the start of a chapter that has us thinking we’re about to find out for GOOD only to then prove us wrong would have me salty if these scenes weren’t so beautifully written and sincerely deep and meaningful. I do get to add several clues to my ever-expanding list.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
It is probably the best of Victor's latest novels. Set after the "change" in Blood Debt and with many references to and characters from previous books, this new story showcases several tied contracts in different parts of Europe and something quite personal about the protagonist's past. A really enjoyable action-filled, fast-paced reading.
The character of Victor is different because as an assassin he kills (or is supposed to kill) without discrimination. To protect himself. To protect his identity. That changed a lot in this novel. The pairing with Raven also felt very out of character for Victor. I also read the books as they were released, so have little memory of the last time Raven had showed up in the series.
I love all the Victor books he’s just the best assassin. This book has plot twists, the fighting scenes are exciting and edge of seat. I like Ravens character and the NI connection
Meh. Disappointing. Victor wasn’t Victor, Raven wasn’t Raven, and even Zahm had his history rewritten. Don’t get me started on the ridiculous reason why Victor owed a freebie.
I’ve been reading the Victor series for about 10 years. I believe he is the best anti-hero assassin / spy character in recent memory. I explained Victor to someone recently as a more realistic version of John Wick.
Once I learned that a new book was available, I went over to AbeBooks to pick up a UK copy so I could read it sooner than it’ll be available in the USA. Victor is one of the few I’ll try to grab early.
The old ally from the blurb is one of the best characters from the series, at least in terms of humor. Victor knows how to play it straight & the ally character knows how to poke fun at him. They make a wonderful odd couple, one in which can be funny one moment, then serious the next. I thought this was one of the highlights of the book.
As it is the 12th book, I felt the author was reaching a bit. In addition to the ally from previous books, he brings in an enemy who is out for revenge. This old enemy is just around to act as a spoiler, as Victor had everything under control throughout the plot.
I was also annoyed by the magic use of computers to track Victor by the old enemy’s organization. Magical facial recognition using any number of backdoors into any country’s port of entry to find Victor no matter what. This seems to be needed as Victor has a number of clean legends that should make him super difficult to track in real time. The organization the ally is tracking down also has this magic computer ability. There wasn’t any effort put into it, just magic.
Outside of that, the numerous firefights and violent encounters are classic Victor. He uses strategy to get the best of any opponent, not just pure strength or rage.
While a decent Victor book, the remix of old characters didn’t fully work. The enemy portion could have been taken out & more with the old ally would have been better. At least to me.
Now another year or better to wait for the continuation of the story, as it must.
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He said, ‘Who are you?’ ‘I’m the angel of death,’ [lady character] answered in words that were more a proclamation of absolute will than mere sounds. ‘To the people you work for, I’m vengeance personified.’ [He] stared. ‘But to you,’ she said, ‘I’m just a girl standing in front of a boy, asking him not to make her torture him until he soils himself.’
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Lady to Victor: ...I’m glad you’ve grown so much as a human being. The old you wouldn’t have had the humility, the inner courage, to admit you can’t do this alone.’ Victor: ‘And the new me regrets it already.’
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Victor in a car ‘You’re making me anxious,’ [lady character] said, glancing across to him. ‘Why? I’m not doing anything.’ ‘Exactly,’ she said. ‘You look relaxed. It’s freaking me out.’
Best Victor book so far! Reasons: We finally get to find out more about Victor's past, we see a more vulnerable and human side to Victor, RAVEN, Mossad!
Plot-wise this book was the most interesting. I really liked the depiction of Mossad - granted, it's probably not super accurate but I don't care. I like Wood's portrayal of the intelligence agency. The strong sense of camaraderie among them, the way the agency is treated like a family of sorts - it captures the nuances of the Israeli identity well, or at least what I view to be the Israeli identity. As villains, they're formidable. I'm really excited that they'll be returning in the next book and to see how Victor has to deal with them - if they'll be allies or continue to be enemies. I am slightly worried about the political aspect of it all. Let's see how Wood deals with it in the continuing books - if he'll broach the subject or keep the books somewhat politically neutral like he has done so far.
The return of Raven was a pleasant, pleasant surprise! After the last book, I didn't think there was hope for Victor and Raven, but it seems there might be space for an allyship after all. Does Victor really trust her? Will he take such a risk? Raven definitely managed to get through at least one layer of Victor's guard in this book. I love their chemistry, and I love that Raven is really the only character that can leave Victor speechless or get under his nerves. She makes him more human. I love him when he is with Raven. Did they get together at the very end? It wasn't said outright but it was strongly hinted at. Looking forward to more Raven in the future books.
Also, we finally got to see a glimpse from Victor's past. It brings me so much joy to see the more human side of Victor. The more vulnerable side. That is why I loved the villain of this book. Victor would have died had it not been for Woodcroft. Someone finally managed to best him. Loved the contrast between Victor's will to survive and Zahm's will to kill. Brilliant.
This book, to me, feels like a major shift in the tone of the Victor series. Other books definitely had influences from the past books, but this book was different. This feels like the start of something new. A plot that spans multiple books, perhaps. I hope Tom Wood experiments more with the tone and vibe he has set in this book. It has a lot of potential.
In conclusion, Victor the Assassin series isn't merely just an action-thriller for me. It goes so much deeper than that. There's so much complexity to Victor's character and his worldview. The books are thought-provoking, exciting and keep me on the edge of my seat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Book Review – Fire Fight – Tom Wood Anti-hero, Victor the Assassin, is probably one of the most underrated thriller protagonists in the thriller genre. British author Tom Wood has done a phenomenal job with this series; thus, it is one of my favorite series and most highly recommended.
In book 12, “Fire Fight”, Victor agrees to take on a dangerous assignment he would otherwise avoid. He’s hired to identify and assassinate a killer just like him and remain unseen, despite a long list of spies, dignitaries, and security experts he must deal with in completing the contract.
The extremely difficult job causes Victor to look for help and he does so with a former adversary whose life he previously spared. Unbeknownst to Victor, the contract steps on the toes of some very powerful enemies from Victor’s past, thus creating a very complex and dangerous espionage plot filled with daring and grave consequences for everyone involved.
The action is insurmountable and never stops, and Victor’s persistence and fortitude in the storyline is unrelenting. Tom Wood’s storytelling is profound and intense. The highly intensive narrative has strong supporting characters and a staggering number of unpredictable twists which makes the book for a fascinating read.
The Victor the Assassin books keep getting better and better with every release. Always look forward to ending the year with this series. It's a guarantee five-star read!
As a huge Victor fan, I rank Firefight up near the top of my favorite installments. Beyond seeing Victor in action doing his work, I really enjoy learning little bits about him and his past with every book. In this one, he goes back to visit the nun, now very elderly, who raised him, and that shows us a side of Victor we don't often see. There's also the return Raven, who I always enjoy. Their flirting is cute, but...hmm... I don't believe they, well, consummated their relationship at the end. I think Mr. Wood has a surprise for us in the next book. Speaking of recurring characters, I love the way Mr. Wood weaves the threads of his various plots together. The villain in this book is the guy whose nose Victor bit off several books ago - what a great twist! I would say more, but I don't want to give any spoilers. The action scenes were great, Victor is his deadly self, yet somehow also kind of adorably geeky, don't ask me how, and I can't wait for the next installment! And as always, I have to remark upon the quality of the writing. Tom Wood is an excellent writer as well as an excellent story crafter. Always a pleasure!
Actually 4.5 Victor is fully back! After a disappointing Traitor (two books back) where Victor actually described himself as a “hitman” and a number of us commented that that book was written by a ghost writer, early on when Victor describes his work to a particular woman, she refers to him as a hitman Victor immediately & politely rejects that term. That is when I knew the Victor we all knew and followed had fully come back. As many others have described the story I will not get into any details, but I do want to say that all the elements that have made the Victor series so excellent are all there. And maybe, just maybe, there may be some (small) opening of a possible romance. Looking forward to the next installment!
For me at least, enKindling the latest Victor novel has become as much of a summer vacation ritual as packing a suitcase. The assassin's laconic wit, implacable reserve and creative tradecraft, together with the international scope, make for ideal leisure reading (as long as you have a strong stomach). Somehow the series never seems to get stale.
On occasion the author has pushed the limits of believability (the 'Enter the Dragon' level fist fight against the nine-strong biker gang in A Quiet Man (Book 9) being a case in point), but I didn't get any such sense this time. Firefight even constructs a credible foundation for the killer's overt Catholicism, which before now I'd never really felt to be convincing.
This is, in my opinion, the least good book in the series so far and one of the least good in the genre in general that I have read to date. The genre is characterized by far-fetched plots, but this book crossed a line in the absurdity of the plot. The writing is pompous and tedious. On the one hand, the author's unfortunate attitude towards one of the best intelligence organizations in the world, and on the other hand, the admirable attitude towards the hero of the plot leaves a bitter taste and in all respect is simply ridiculous. I think the best remedy for this book is to go back to several wonderful Grisham books for balance.
By the time of the 12th Victor novel, we really do need to see some character development and a touch of career introspection, and we do get that here. There are all sorts of baddies from previous books after Victor and the very welcome return of Raven (not really giving away much there). Unfortunately some of the dialogue between the two was a bit one-sided and twee (with Raven doing all the teasing and Victor a blank response), but yes, we do want our Victor to have a safe relationship with an equal. Still want to see Victor in an unusual environment, where he might struggle to use his usual skills of people and environmental analysis.
‘’But no one ever really likes me. I’m not that interesting’’ Victor - you are the most interesting character in a book ever! Tom Wood is on top form in this high end series as he once again reunites us with his enigmatic assassin. An absolute rollercoaster of a book that sees the return of the very likeable Raven. Flawlessly written and executed this has got to be one of the best Victor books from this brilliant author and given this is number 12 in the series is no mean feat. Action packed and adrenaline filled this is a very addictive read and gets a massive 5⭐️ from me
Victor is back but he finds himself on a job where the assassins code comes into play. This leaves a dangerous assignment in play - luckily a situation of cat and mouse where we know our lead excels.
This is one of the most enjoyable stories in the series, the action is full on with turns at every point. The pace is fast but compelling - I was fully invested in the journey our character went on. The descriptive nature of the writing just elevated the action to new heights for me, I was hooked from first to last! Victor, we want more!
This is the twelfth installment in the Victor the Assassin series. They are getting harder to find for me. No longer carried at the public library. Unable to find at ant bookstore. So I order them online. I might take a break as I found this one a little boring. Overlong and padded with unnecessary exposition, it was a struggle to get through. There were a couple excellent action sequences, but the final one, which the book had been building up to since the beginning, seemed repetitive and unoriginal. Or maybe I am just being picky.
Järjekordne tõeliselt põnev osa Victori seiklustest. Kuigi kohati ajab natuke iiveldama, sest kirjeldused Victori töömeetoditest on nii värvikad, et pilt jookseb silme ees ja kujutad elavalt ette iga murtud luud ning vastastele jagatud lööke. Aga tuleb tõdeda, et Victori inimlikud ja pehmemad / südamlikumad jooned hakkavad peale kõiki neid aastaid lõpuks välja tulema. Miinuspool ka, et seekord oli küll tunne, et raamatu on tõlkinud AI - nii palju grammatiliselt valesid lauseid ja ajuvabasid sõnastusi.
It's almost 2 stories in one You have Victor cleaning up a mess, as a result of a hit that goes wrong You have Raven tagging along targeting the Consensus, as their targets align Some of the Mossad stuff seemed background info that whilst nice to know, was not relevant to Victor or Ravens story. It could have been covered in a couple of paragraphs The ending leaves a lot of open questions. What are the Consensus's plans and what does Mossad intend Next book could be quite intriguing
I didn’t think it would be possible, but this is possibly the best of the Victor books so far! I have loved every single one of these and this is for sure one of my favorites because it truly represents what Victor is all about and how he interacts with the world around him. Great story! Great character interactions! Cannot wait for the next one. Thank you, Tom for giving me such awesome escapes.
Is it possible to miss a literary character? It should be and I'm so glad Victor is back! Great read as always and though it seems like one might get tired of reading pretty much the same storyline done different ways, when written well (which Tom Wood does), it feels like a new story every single time. Bring on the next one. As much as it pains me to say it, I get a gut feeling that the end is coming and I'm intrigued to read about what will finally bring Victor down for the count.
Every book you read about victor the assassin has the same ending but is a very good read, fire fight is no 12 in the popular series and i really enjoyed it (no spoilers). This probably victors hardest battle at the end of the book, and it is still an engaging read, so go out and BUY the book and ENJOY.
This is one of my all-time favourite series, and with each book, Tom Wood delivers. The stories are always edge of your seat, the writing is superb, and the characterisation is addictive. Now on book twelve, I feel like I am one of Victor's friends, and even though he is an assassin, I always find myself cheering him on and hoping that it all works out...how does Tom Wood do that?