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The Villains #3
Number Six
What happens when a mysterious former spy with seemingly little interest in sex meets a provocative expert in sexual fantasies? An opposites-attract, spicy lesbian romance set in Lee Winter’s Villains series and Hotel Queens worlds.
All cool, pragmatic Ottilie Zimmermann has been dreaming of for years is retiring from her top-secret, morally gray job to sip Mai Tais on a Pacific island. While in Las Vegas tying up some final loose ends, she crosses paths with a woman who is clever and intriguing yet far too sex-obsessed for Ottilie’s taste. So why can’t she stop thinking about her?
Flirtatious Monique Carson thinks she’s met—or made love to—every type of woman there is until she encounters commanding, charismatic Ottilie. Around others, though, Ottilie shrinks into an older, inconspicuous persona. Who is this chameleon? What secrets does she hide? Monique would dearly love to find out…if only Ottilie would let her in.
For two smart women accustomed to seeing through everyone else with ease, it’s disconcerting to discover they cannot read each other. How can they walk away now?
Number Six includes the bonus short story ‘Number Five’.
All cool, pragmatic Ottilie Zimmermann has been dreaming of for years is retiring from her top-secret, morally gray job to sip Mai Tais on a Pacific island. While in Las Vegas tying up some final loose ends, she crosses paths with a woman who is clever and intriguing yet far too sex-obsessed for Ottilie’s taste. So why can’t she stop thinking about her?
Flirtatious Monique Carson thinks she’s met—or made love to—every type of woman there is until she encounters commanding, charismatic Ottilie. Around others, though, Ottilie shrinks into an older, inconspicuous persona. Who is this chameleon? What secrets does she hide? Monique would dearly love to find out…if only Ottilie would let her in.
For two smart women accustomed to seeing through everyone else with ease, it’s disconcerting to discover they cannot read each other. How can they walk away now?
Number Six includes the bonus short story ‘Number Five’.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 2025
52 people are currently reading
516 people want to read
About the author
Lee Winter
35 books2,902 followersLee Winter is a former award-winning veteran newspaper journalist who has covered courts, crime, news, features and humor writing for almost three decades around Australia. Now a full-time author and part-time editor at Ylva, Lee is also a two-time Lambda Literary Award finalist and a multiple Golden Crown Literary Award winner.
Want to get in touch? Email: Leewinterauthor@gmail.com
Want to get in touch? Email: Leewinterauthor@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
February 18, 2025
3.5 stars!
A somewhat okay book #3 --- still readable just to catch-up on characters in the previous books...
A somewhat okay book #3 --- still readable just to catch-up on characters in the previous books...
Want to read
February 5, 2025thank god for lee winter and her early year releases, always making sure i start off the new year with zest for life
February 25, 2025
FINALLY!!
I have been in a prolonged reading slump over the last month and a half, and this is the first book to hold my attention enough that I blasted through it in a day. I’m so glad I ended up grabbing this one, because I nearly just put it on my tbr for later and wasn’t going to buy it. I didn’t enjoy the first two books in this Villains series much. I WANTED to, desperately. I have a real fondness and affection for Lee Winter’s books. The Red Files series was my first gateway into indie sapphic fiction, and that truly changed my life and my reading for the better over a decade ago. But I’ve enjoyed her more recent works a little less, and been super bummed out about that. (I’m not gonna get into the frustrations here, much, bc this is rlly its own book with only minimal mentions of things that happened in books 1 and 2, though it absolutely makes much more sense to have read them first).
This one though, was a delight. I never thought I was going to be all that interested in either Ottillie or Monique when we saw glimpses of them in other books, but I ended up rlly enjoying both of them, and their dynamic, here. I am especially rlly fond of Monique, but I was surprised at how much I warmed up to and enjoyed Ottillie’s pov!
(The only thing that tripped me up a little was learning that Monique was 52. The way that she talked about older women and appreciating them had me thinking that she was in her early 40s/late 30s, for some reason. I didn’t think she and Ottillie seemed like they had much of an age gap, when I read that. But I guess all things considered early fifties is different than mid 60s). I do so appreciate getting to see older women than society has deemed as the “norm” for romance and being the center of stories get more time to shine, bc I rlly loved both ladies, here.
This was a fairly quick read, and did a great job of capturing my attention with fascinating characters at a time when I desperately needed them. I’m very glad I decided to pick it up.
I have been in a prolonged reading slump over the last month and a half, and this is the first book to hold my attention enough that I blasted through it in a day. I’m so glad I ended up grabbing this one, because I nearly just put it on my tbr for later and wasn’t going to buy it. I didn’t enjoy the first two books in this Villains series much. I WANTED to, desperately. I have a real fondness and affection for Lee Winter’s books. The Red Files series was my first gateway into indie sapphic fiction, and that truly changed my life and my reading for the better over a decade ago. But I’ve enjoyed her more recent works a little less, and been super bummed out about that. (I’m not gonna get into the frustrations here, much, bc this is rlly its own book with only minimal mentions of things that happened in books 1 and 2, though it absolutely makes much more sense to have read them first).
This one though, was a delight. I never thought I was going to be all that interested in either Ottillie or Monique when we saw glimpses of them in other books, but I ended up rlly enjoying both of them, and their dynamic, here. I am especially rlly fond of Monique, but I was surprised at how much I warmed up to and enjoyed Ottillie’s pov!
(The only thing that tripped me up a little was learning that Monique was 52. The way that she talked about older women and appreciating them had me thinking that she was in her early 40s/late 30s, for some reason. I didn’t think she and Ottillie seemed like they had much of an age gap, when I read that. But I guess all things considered early fifties is different than mid 60s). I do so appreciate getting to see older women than society has deemed as the “norm” for romance and being the center of stories get more time to shine, bc I rlly loved both ladies, here.
This was a fairly quick read, and did a great job of capturing my attention with fascinating characters at a time when I desperately needed them. I’m very glad I decided to pick it up.
September 11, 2025
My god - the audiobook narrated by the Legendary Angela Dawe is absolutely delicious!
When Lee Winter is in her zone, as she is with this series, the outcome is spectacular. Nobody but nobody writes ice queens better.
While I very much enjoy Winter’s lighter fare, these darker romances are where she really shines. The character development, the intelligence of the writing, the delicious melting of the ice queens - utterly divine.
I LOVE that this sexy romance is between a woman in her mid-60s and the other in her early 50s. Intellectual, strong, successful women who open up to one other in beautifully raw, intimate moments. I found the gradual, nuanced revelations of the real Ottilie especially moving.
While this series is on the darker side, Winter allows her humor to shine through and gives readers some fun Easter Eggs along the way. A superb read and listen!
When Lee Winter is in her zone, as she is with this series, the outcome is spectacular. Nobody but nobody writes ice queens better.
While I very much enjoy Winter’s lighter fare, these darker romances are where she really shines. The character development, the intelligence of the writing, the delicious melting of the ice queens - utterly divine.
I LOVE that this sexy romance is between a woman in her mid-60s and the other in her early 50s. Intellectual, strong, successful women who open up to one other in beautifully raw, intimate moments. I found the gradual, nuanced revelations of the real Ottilie especially moving.
While this series is on the darker side, Winter allows her humor to shine through and gives readers some fun Easter Eggs along the way. A superb read and listen!
February 2, 2025
Power, control and above all consent.
Learning to know someone and understanding them is to let go of your common misconceptions.
There is never black or white, but always so many gray areas.
Lee Winter is exceptional at plotting and creating characters with depth.
Mature and smart women with knowledge of the world and incredibly astute in their use of words. Competency is sexy.
A clash of body and brain. Monique and Ottilie are perfect together, and they are so interesting... who wouldn't be tempted to really get to know them? The mystery... The need to understand them...
I laughed a lot at many of Ottilie and Monique back and forths. Witty, witty dialogues... so smart!
Couldn't have asked for a better conclusion to the series.
Learning to know someone and understanding them is to let go of your common misconceptions.
There is never black or white, but always so many gray areas.
Lee Winter is exceptional at plotting and creating characters with depth.
Mature and smart women with knowledge of the world and incredibly astute in their use of words. Competency is sexy.
A clash of body and brain. Monique and Ottilie are perfect together, and they are so interesting... who wouldn't be tempted to really get to know them? The mystery... The need to understand them...
I laughed a lot at many of Ottilie and Monique back and forths. Witty, witty dialogues... so smart!
Couldn't have asked for a better conclusion to the series.
February 26, 2025
4.5⭐️ this was a fun book. Winter has one MC from her villain series - Ottlie and Monique Carson from Hotel Queens. Ottlie is an ex CIA agent turned secret board member of the Fixers and Monique is a sex worker living in a hotel in Las Vegas. Both are incredibly smart and driven to success. By chance they meet and all sorts of things happen. Ottlie helps Monique out by getting even with two evil women who attack her.
We also got a bit more of Michelle and Even Lawless. This one also has several very hot scenes.
We also got a bit more of Michelle and Even Lawless. This one also has several very hot scenes.
February 7, 2025
Yes indeed! The unlikely pairing of two characters we’ve met in previous Lee Winter books shouldn’t work but it so does. On paper, so to speak, and certainly will on audio. As a bonus it was an absolute pleasure to catch up with other characters we know and have loved or disliked, (very disliked, in some cases).
An approaching release of a new Lee Winter book fills us all with anticipation. And maybe sometimes a small worry that that anticipation might overpower and the book might not reach our expectations. With Lee Winter, no worries.
I realise this must put a lot of pressure on the writer too. It would have to. But as is her wont Lee Winter has again delivered the goods. Accolades to her writing skills. Read Number Six with confidence. And enjoy.
An approaching release of a new Lee Winter book fills us all with anticipation. And maybe sometimes a small worry that that anticipation might overpower and the book might not reach our expectations. With Lee Winter, no worries.
I realise this must put a lot of pressure on the writer too. It would have to. But as is her wont Lee Winter has again delivered the goods. Accolades to her writing skills. Read Number Six with confidence. And enjoy.
February 5, 2025
Number 6 is a book to be savoured and adored – a meeting of minds that is so captivating at times I was left speechless. On my first read, there were many chapters and conversations that stopped me in my tracks, I had to sit and digest, or go back and reread them. Ottilie’s and Monique’s story is beautifully unique, there is very low anguish because they give only what they can and expect no more than what is given from each other. The story as a whole has some hard topics and scenes; however, they are balanced out by the trust, respect, and acceptance these characters have for one another. The icing on the cake was cameos from characters from both the previous Villians series books and Hotel Queens/Number Five. Some get their comeuppance, and others get the happy ending they deserve.
I adored the dynamics between them. Competency is sexy, and with this pair, that sexiness is off the scale. Ottilie doesn’t see physical beauty in anyone and is attracted to intelligence, so therefore rarely feels a spark that leads to a romantic bond. Then there’s Monique who finds physical beauty in all women, but she’s closed herself off to any form of deeper attachment. Both are convinced that they are happier alone, yet they see something in the other that reshapes their outlook on their future.
Full review will be posted on TheLesbianReview
I adored the dynamics between them. Competency is sexy, and with this pair, that sexiness is off the scale. Ottilie doesn’t see physical beauty in anyone and is attracted to intelligence, so therefore rarely feels a spark that leads to a romantic bond. Then there’s Monique who finds physical beauty in all women, but she’s closed herself off to any form of deeper attachment. Both are convinced that they are happier alone, yet they see something in the other that reshapes their outlook on their future.
Full review will be posted on TheLesbianReview
December 15, 2025
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - 15 DEC 2025
Solid 5 stars!
I had a great time revisiting Ottilie and Monique’s story in audio. The book’s badassery is next-level thanks to Angela Dawe’s narration. I KNEW she’d absolutely slay this audiobook, and yup— she did! One truly can’t go wrong with the Lee Winter + Angela Dawe combo.
Winter’s character work really shines here, especially with the ever-pragmatic Ottilie Zimmermann. (fun fact: I only just realized that Dawe pronounces her name /oh-TIL-ee-uh/; I’d been calling her /oh-TIL-ee/ since day 1! 😭 I fully blame Michelle Hastings for always calling her Tilly!) As for Monique, I enjoyed her even more this time around. On my first read I was initially indifferent to her, but now I already adore her!
Dawe’s narration makes my favorite moments from the book hit even harder, and I’m once again in awe of how Winter writes morally complex characters—never fully black or white, deeply human without making it as an excuse for their actions. She also really excels at writing characters with irredeemable arcs! And now, even after having read all of her books, I’m still in awe of the range of characters she writes with such authority, oftentimes crafting characters that no longer feel fictional...
I highly recommend this audiobook! It’s steamy and a deep dive into the minds of two smart, strong-willed, complex women, with revenge schemes that are wickedly executed and incredibly satisfying!
BOOK REVIEW - 07 FEB 2025
Lee Winter: A true navigator of the human psyche! As usual, brilliant writing! 🫡
Note: The following commentary may contain spoilers. I’m not really sure! 🫣
“Number Six” is Book 3 in Lee Winter’s Villains series. It’s a spin-off that centers on two side characters from her previous books: Ottilie Zimmermann from The Fixer and Chaos Agent, and Monique Carson from Hotel Queens. As the author suggests, it’s important to read the first two books in the Villains series, along with the short story Number Five (included in this book), before diving into this one.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
As it turns out, I’m in the minority when it comes to Ottilie Zimmermann—I've been captivated by her since Chaos Agent. I’ve recently learned that many readers of The Fixer and Chaos Agent didn’t like her, which particularly surprised me. When “the reveal” happened in Chaos Agent, I literally had gone “I knew it! She’s THE badass!” I couldn't even stop thinking about her for days. In this book, she’s just as intriguing and badass—if not more so! Ottilie has an impressive persona, and I was thrilled to dive deeper into her character!
On the flip side, I’ve also learned that I’m in the minority, or maybe the only one, whose interest wasn’t captured by the exquisite CEO-slash-sex-fantasy-expert, Monique Carson, in Hotel Queens. So, of course, I was beyond skeptical when I first learned Lee planned to pair her with Ottilie. I wondered whether I would be able to make their pairing work in my head. But, as always, in Lee Winter’s brilliant mind and mighty pen we trust! Lee did a fantastic job of expanding Monique’s character in this book. By the end, I not only understood her better but also felt protective of her. It’s always a pleasant surprise when a character grows on me like that!
Both Ottilie and Monique are intelligent, highly perceptive, and undeniably intoxicating individuals. I had so much fun learning how their minds work—how differently they see the world—and yet, together, they truly make an unstoppable duo! They have found their perfect match in each other. I just wish this book was longer so I could experience more moments with them when their feelings for each other were developing into a more profound state.
Ottilie is, without a doubt, a pragmatic character, which makes her morally grey persona understandable (at least to me). Every time Ottilie’s pragmatic mind works, I find it both impressive and endearing! But there really is still more to uncover behind her persona. I thought Lee did a magnificent job of peeling back the layers and gradually revealing the true Ottilie. It felt almost intimate to witness such a character revelation! Even after finishing the book, I’m still deeply intrigued by her and would love to learn even more! Plus, her particular protectiveness over Hannah and Monique had me swooning—intensely! 🥹
As for Monique, this book helped me see her in a new and much better light. Still, I feel her background could have been explored more. This is another reason why I wished the book was longer. Some aspects of her past felt incomplete, leaving gaps in my understanding of some of her present vulnerabilities.
Moreover, there were so many other things I loved about this book. For one, the cameo appearances from characters in Lee’s other books were a total delight! Just the mention of Catherine Ayers had my heart overflowing with bliss! And the villains? A couple of them were absolutely vile. I’m talking I almost recoiled from the page vile. But that made their punishments so much satisfying! *smirks* The vengeance part was truly a joy to read! 🥷 And of course, with a CEO-slash-sex-fantasy-expert as one of the protagonists, the spicy scenes were, without a doubt, ablaze with passion and steam! 🔥
Though “Number Six” is a little shorter read compared to the first two books in the Villains series, it still has everything I love about Lee’s writing: sharp, witty dialogue, humor, and Lee’s masterful understanding of the human psyche that always shines through in the complexity of her characters. Ottilie, in particular, is a standout for me in this book! She definitely deserves a paradise-inspired retirement life!! 🏝️🍹🐠💋
I already can’t wait to revisit this story in audio format. Angela Dawe will surely slay the narration!
Solid 5 stars!
I had a great time revisiting Ottilie and Monique’s story in audio. The book’s badassery is next-level thanks to Angela Dawe’s narration. I KNEW she’d absolutely slay this audiobook, and yup— she did! One truly can’t go wrong with the Lee Winter + Angela Dawe combo.
Winter’s character work really shines here, especially with the ever-pragmatic Ottilie Zimmermann. (fun fact: I only just realized that Dawe pronounces her name /oh-TIL-ee-uh/; I’d been calling her /oh-TIL-ee/ since day 1! 😭 I fully blame Michelle Hastings for always calling her Tilly!) As for Monique, I enjoyed her even more this time around. On my first read I was initially indifferent to her, but now I already adore her!
Dawe’s narration makes my favorite moments from the book hit even harder, and I’m once again in awe of how Winter writes morally complex characters—never fully black or white, deeply human without making it as an excuse for their actions. She also really excels at writing characters with irredeemable arcs! And now, even after having read all of her books, I’m still in awe of the range of characters she writes with such authority, oftentimes crafting characters that no longer feel fictional...
I highly recommend this audiobook! It’s steamy and a deep dive into the minds of two smart, strong-willed, complex women, with revenge schemes that are wickedly executed and incredibly satisfying!
BOOK REVIEW - 07 FEB 2025
Lee Winter: A true navigator of the human psyche! As usual, brilliant writing! 🫡
Note: The following commentary may contain spoilers. I’m not really sure! 🫣
“Number Six” is Book 3 in Lee Winter’s Villains series. It’s a spin-off that centers on two side characters from her previous books: Ottilie Zimmermann from The Fixer and Chaos Agent, and Monique Carson from Hotel Queens. As the author suggests, it’s important to read the first two books in the Villains series, along with the short story Number Five (included in this book), before diving into this one.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
As it turns out, I’m in the minority when it comes to Ottilie Zimmermann—I've been captivated by her since Chaos Agent. I’ve recently learned that many readers of The Fixer and Chaos Agent didn’t like her, which particularly surprised me. When “the reveal” happened in Chaos Agent, I literally had gone “I knew it! She’s THE badass!” I couldn't even stop thinking about her for days. In this book, she’s just as intriguing and badass—if not more so! Ottilie has an impressive persona, and I was thrilled to dive deeper into her character!
On the flip side, I’ve also learned that I’m in the minority, or maybe the only one, whose interest wasn’t captured by the exquisite CEO-slash-sex-fantasy-expert, Monique Carson, in Hotel Queens. So, of course, I was beyond skeptical when I first learned Lee planned to pair her with Ottilie. I wondered whether I would be able to make their pairing work in my head. But, as always, in Lee Winter’s brilliant mind and mighty pen we trust! Lee did a fantastic job of expanding Monique’s character in this book. By the end, I not only understood her better but also felt protective of her. It’s always a pleasant surprise when a character grows on me like that!
Both Ottilie and Monique are intelligent, highly perceptive, and undeniably intoxicating individuals. I had so much fun learning how their minds work—how differently they see the world—and yet, together, they truly make an unstoppable duo! They have found their perfect match in each other. I just wish this book was longer so I could experience more moments with them when their feelings for each other were developing into a more profound state.
Ottilie is, without a doubt, a pragmatic character, which makes her morally grey persona understandable (at least to me). Every time Ottilie’s pragmatic mind works, I find it both impressive and endearing! But there really is still more to uncover behind her persona. I thought Lee did a magnificent job of peeling back the layers and gradually revealing the true Ottilie. It felt almost intimate to witness such a character revelation! Even after finishing the book, I’m still deeply intrigued by her and would love to learn even more! Plus, her particular protectiveness over Hannah and Monique had me swooning—intensely! 🥹
As for Monique, this book helped me see her in a new and much better light. Still, I feel her background could have been explored more. This is another reason why I wished the book was longer. Some aspects of her past felt incomplete, leaving gaps in my understanding of some of her present vulnerabilities.
Moreover, there were so many other things I loved about this book. For one, the cameo appearances from characters in Lee’s other books were a total delight! Just the mention of Catherine Ayers had my heart overflowing with bliss! And the villains? A couple of them were absolutely vile. I’m talking I almost recoiled from the page vile. But that made their punishments so much satisfying! *smirks* The vengeance part was truly a joy to read! 🥷 And of course, with a CEO-slash-sex-fantasy-expert as one of the protagonists, the spicy scenes were, without a doubt, ablaze with passion and steam! 🔥
Though “Number Six” is a little shorter read compared to the first two books in the Villains series, it still has everything I love about Lee’s writing: sharp, witty dialogue, humor, and Lee’s masterful understanding of the human psyche that always shines through in the complexity of her characters. Ottilie, in particular, is a standout for me in this book! She definitely deserves a paradise-inspired retirement life!! 🏝️🍹🐠💋
I already can’t wait to revisit this story in audio format. Angela Dawe will surely slay the narration!
October 25, 2025
I think a lot of people will really enjoy this book. This just has a lot of things that don’t work for me. I did like seeing older characters represented in sapphic fiction since it’s such a rarity.
September 12, 2025
I didn't particularly connect with the first two books of the series because Eden was annoyingly righteous. Ilove morally grey and complicated characters. Here comes Ottilie Zimmermann that I simply found fascinating. I was skeptical when I heard Winter wanted to pair Ottilie, a former CIA agent and board member from The Fixer, with Monique Carson, a sex expert/CEO. And it worked!! they are opposites, but their intelligence was what made them match and these two were just perfectly suited. The sex working job was delt brilliantly, almost making me want to book a session 🤣. Everything was there for me to fall in love with this book : the relationship development, the layered characters that are respectively 65 and 52, some dramatic and infuriating scenes that made my stomach drop, then some extremely satisfying scenes... The fact that Ottilie is sapiosexual was truly refreshing. Moreover, Winter had the ovaries to bring up despicable women aggressor. A friend told me she knew I would like it because there were older, complicated women. I have never felt so called out. Narration : 10/10
January 31, 2025
(rounded down from 4.25)
As always, Lee Winter knocks it out of the park. I didn't care much about Otillie in the previous books in this series but she manages to make a compelling character arc and story about Otillie finding someone who helps her grow and enjoy her retirement after finishing up her Fixer business. A solid and engaging read, as expected.
As always, Lee Winter knocks it out of the park. I didn't care much about Otillie in the previous books in this series but she manages to make a compelling character arc and story about Otillie finding someone who helps her grow and enjoy her retirement after finishing up her Fixer business. A solid and engaging read, as expected.
February 16, 2025
Oh what a fantastic ending to The Villains Series! Ottilie and Monique are an intriguing couple. Both have immense respect for one another's intelligence. They both have layers of defense to get through before they really know each other. This is a gorgeous age gap, opposites (somewhat)attract, slow burn, HOT love story! A FAVORITE!! I LOVE this Series! Worth more than 5 stars!
October 31, 2025
Number 6 was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I can see why others might really enjoy it, but it just didn’t quite land. I did appreciate seeing older women represented in sapphic fiction and I liked the idea of two intelligent, middle-aged characters reflecting on love, life, and connection.
That said, the story felt too dialogue-heavy and not in a way that kept me engaged. There’s very little plot to hold onto, and after a while, it started to feel repetitive. The chemistry between Monique and Ottile had its moments, but overall it lacked the emotional pull I was hoping for.
I listened to the audiobook, and Angela Dawe’s narration was easily the highlight. Ottile’s accent and Monique’s smooth tone were beautifully done. Still, despite the strong narration and a few great moments, this one wasn’t really for me.
That said, the story felt too dialogue-heavy and not in a way that kept me engaged. There’s very little plot to hold onto, and after a while, it started to feel repetitive. The chemistry between Monique and Ottile had its moments, but overall it lacked the emotional pull I was hoping for.
I listened to the audiobook, and Angela Dawe’s narration was easily the highlight. Ottile’s accent and Monique’s smooth tone were beautifully done. Still, despite the strong narration and a few great moments, this one wasn’t really for me.
February 6, 2025
Nunca sentí una predilección por Monique o Tily, no obstante conocerlas con profundidad a sido una delicia maravillosa.
Me encantó la mente ágil, perspicaz y culta de estás dos. No se si a todo mundo le agrada algo así, pero en lo personal es algo que disfrutó mucho, es así que leí el libro con mucha rapidez y aunque no hubo nada de dramas, la historia en si es interesante, al muy estilo particular de Lee.
Sin duda, esta autora sabe como contar historias, el año que se toma entre libro y libro merece la pena, todos son dinámicos, con protagonistas fuertes, misteriosos, románticos y con unas protagonistas de hielo qué están para morir.
Está trilogía es recomendadisima.
Spoiler....
No puedo creer que no contará a profundidad la boda de mi adorada Michelle, porqué!!!!!!! En serio, porqué!!!!
Me encantó la mente ágil, perspicaz y culta de estás dos. No se si a todo mundo le agrada algo así, pero en lo personal es algo que disfrutó mucho, es así que leí el libro con mucha rapidez y aunque no hubo nada de dramas, la historia en si es interesante, al muy estilo particular de Lee.
Sin duda, esta autora sabe como contar historias, el año que se toma entre libro y libro merece la pena, todos son dinámicos, con protagonistas fuertes, misteriosos, románticos y con unas protagonistas de hielo qué están para morir.
Está trilogía es recomendadisima.
Spoiler....
No puedo creer que no contará a profundidad la boda de mi adorada Michelle, porqué!!!!!!! En serio, porqué!!!!
November 13, 2025
*** 4 ***
I appreciated this series as a whole, and I enjoyed this book a lot, since it revolved around a mature Les relationship. We sure enjoy a strong and buttoned up ice queen being loosened up and melted down by a warm and charming a tad younger woman ♀️♀️😃👍!
I appreciated this series as a whole, and I enjoyed this book a lot, since it revolved around a mature Les relationship. We sure enjoy a strong and buttoned up ice queen being loosened up and melted down by a warm and charming a tad younger woman ♀️♀️😃👍!
August 26, 2025
I’ll preface this commentary by saying that I love books (or movies, or TV shows, anything, really) that dwell on or are heavily lined with moral ambiguity. This gray zone that no one likes to talk about or recognize as part of themselves, but that actually makes the world go around.
This book’s predecessors, The Fixer and Chaos Agent, the last one specifically, were ripe with this very human trait: It’s very easy to have strong thoughts on things when they are a vague idea and not something that pertains us and our lives. When it does not touch us. When it does, though…
This book brings this concept home even more: The main character recognizes and verbalizes the duality of her actions, “I did what I though had to, at the time, pragmatically, and I am very fine with all of it.”(Not verbatim, just my take) I just love this, not just because life is like this, but because it’s tremendously courageous to portrait it so. Done beautifully in this book.
The other main attests to a similar road of life: Conscious choices driven by circumstances, and the consequences of such choices. Insecurity, defenselessness, not really doing anything wrong but being judged by it anyway. And still sticking to her compass. Who’s to judge who, then?
This book brings two souls together that do not judge because who are they to impeach each other’s choices. Superb.
This book is ripe with dialog, I’ve come to expect it from this author, but it bears mentioning that dialogs between the two mains are a tour de force. Word of warning for this one: While it's even very funny at times, it is very heavy on others.
Last, as with this author’s other books, there is an intense and serious deep dive into a very glaring social matter: Sex work. Exposed from the standpoint of a sex worker who apparently has all the control, which is obviously debunked as a myth over a couple of tough scenes in the book. Those parts were difficult to read, to be honest. It’s not all glitter at the sex goddess' house. Fundamental message, very well delivered.
I’ve read some reviews that dwell on control and power. I can see that these two mains have plenty of that when they want or have to. What I really take home is choices, accountability, acceptance of self and others.
PS: While this book can stand on its own, the story is so heavy, the experience will be greatly enhanced by reading The Fixer and Chaos Agent first. There are a lot of references that will not make much sense otherwise, but first and foremost Ottilie’s story will click best if you have that background.
Update: Audio version is superb.
This book’s predecessors, The Fixer and Chaos Agent, the last one specifically, were ripe with this very human trait: It’s very easy to have strong thoughts on things when they are a vague idea and not something that pertains us and our lives. When it does not touch us. When it does, though…
This book brings this concept home even more: The main character recognizes and verbalizes the duality of her actions, “I did what I though had to, at the time, pragmatically, and I am very fine with all of it.”(Not verbatim, just my take) I just love this, not just because life is like this, but because it’s tremendously courageous to portrait it so. Done beautifully in this book.
The other main attests to a similar road of life: Conscious choices driven by circumstances, and the consequences of such choices. Insecurity, defenselessness, not really doing anything wrong but being judged by it anyway. And still sticking to her compass. Who’s to judge who, then?
This book brings two souls together that do not judge because who are they to impeach each other’s choices. Superb.
This book is ripe with dialog, I’ve come to expect it from this author, but it bears mentioning that dialogs between the two mains are a tour de force. Word of warning for this one: While it's even very funny at times, it is very heavy on others.
Last, as with this author’s other books, there is an intense and serious deep dive into a very glaring social matter: Sex work. Exposed from the standpoint of a sex worker who apparently has all the control, which is obviously debunked as a myth over a couple of tough scenes in the book. Those parts were difficult to read, to be honest. It’s not all glitter at the sex goddess' house. Fundamental message, very well delivered.
I’ve read some reviews that dwell on control and power. I can see that these two mains have plenty of that when they want or have to. What I really take home is choices, accountability, acceptance of self and others.
PS: While this book can stand on its own, the story is so heavy, the experience will be greatly enhanced by reading The Fixer and Chaos Agent first. There are a lot of references that will not make much sense otherwise, but first and foremost Ottilie’s story will click best if you have that background.
Update: Audio version is superb.
February 21, 2025
Honestly I love Lee winter.
But this one (and if we’re being honest, all the other ones after sometime) lack a LOT. The dialogues were basically just one character saying something that they said a million times already but in a different way, then the other mc just agreeing and saying exactly the same thing but in a different (but not really) way!!
- hey, the sky is blue.
- indeed the sky is blue. It’s blue because…
And then it keeps going like that. It’s completely shallow, even when they’re talking about trauma. If I closed my eyes and opened them in any page I could never tell who was speaking. It’s not as profound as it sets out to be, in fact it has no depth.
So many unnecessary words!! And I love words. I need thoughts and dialogues.. long ones are the best.
This book and a lot of others lately have no real story. What’s the story of this one? There’s none. It’s just repetitive dialogues and scenes that make no sense. There’s no continuity!! No opportunity to know the characters even though we do get a little backstory. Just feels forced and plain.. sorry
But this one (and if we’re being honest, all the other ones after sometime) lack a LOT. The dialogues were basically just one character saying something that they said a million times already but in a different way, then the other mc just agreeing and saying exactly the same thing but in a different (but not really) way!!
- hey, the sky is blue.
- indeed the sky is blue. It’s blue because…
And then it keeps going like that. It’s completely shallow, even when they’re talking about trauma. If I closed my eyes and opened them in any page I could never tell who was speaking. It’s not as profound as it sets out to be, in fact it has no depth.
So many unnecessary words!! And I love words. I need thoughts and dialogues.. long ones are the best.
This book and a lot of others lately have no real story. What’s the story of this one? There’s none. It’s just repetitive dialogues and scenes that make no sense. There’s no continuity!! No opportunity to know the characters even though we do get a little backstory. Just feels forced and plain.. sorry
February 5, 2025
4 Stars
As the author mention at the beginning of the novel it is best to have read The Fixers first before diving into this to truly enjoy the nuance of Number 6.
A very peculiar pairing but it worked. Lee Winter made it work. Never in a million years would I think Ottilie Zimmerman would get her own book, but here we are. Granted the story is less angsty than the rest of Winter’s books but it’s still really good. It’s very involved and heavy in a “behavioural science” sense and there’s nothing more interesting to me than psychoanalysis. A study in the opposite sides of the spectrum. Very fascinating. And of course the vengeance part is also satisfying.
Lee Winter is an auto buy for me and yet again she’s proven my point.
As the author mention at the beginning of the novel it is best to have read The Fixers first before diving into this to truly enjoy the nuance of Number 6.
A very peculiar pairing but it worked. Lee Winter made it work. Never in a million years would I think Ottilie Zimmerman would get her own book, but here we are. Granted the story is less angsty than the rest of Winter’s books but it’s still really good. It’s very involved and heavy in a “behavioural science” sense and there’s nothing more interesting to me than psychoanalysis. A study in the opposite sides of the spectrum. Very fascinating. And of course the vengeance part is also satisfying.
Lee Winter is an auto buy for me and yet again she’s proven my point.
August 21, 2025
Updated: 8/21/2025
Book: 5++
Audiobook: 5++
Wow. Just finished listening to the audiobook with the incomparable Angela Dawe! It's true amazing that someone's vocal artistry mirrors the author's "voice" in words!! This is very true with Lee Winter and Angela Dawe. I've listened to all of their collab and I tell ya, it's uncanny! I hear Dawe's voice in the Winter's characters. It's not because I know Dawe's voice already because I forget what the voice actor sounds like after each listen. My auditory memory somehow rejects any vocal retention... including mine - I don't ever know what I sound like, tbh! So, when I read the book, I was floored by Winter's deeply engrossing, highly engaging character story. Her perfectly executed narrative with superlative communicative expressions between the 2 MCs effortlessly shaped how Ottilie and Monique sounded in my mind. So, by the end of the book, I just knew Dawe would be flawless in transforming into these two phenomenal, totally unforgettable characters who I've never come across in any book I've read, thusfar.
And Angela Dawe delivers!! Blimey, does she ever! Goosebumps all throughout! Precision in her embodiment of Ottilie and Monique, the familiar sounds of Michelle and Hannah fills up my visuals in full technicolor! Her vocal artistry brings life to each character, every scene and the story. Simply gorgeous. To be able to "see" the characters and their expressions, verbal and non-verbal, alike, from merely the sound of one's voice, bears true testament about Dawe's phenomenal vocal artistry, how she can transform the written word into real-life forms.
To enjoy a full spectrum of satiation, I implore everyone to READ and LISTEN to these 2 incomparable artists!
-------
Ottilie. Monique. Two side characters who literally STOLE the show in their respective appearances in Winter's fan-bloody-tastic books, "The Fixer" and "Chaos Agent," and "Hotel Queens." No offense to the MCs, obviously! But in every single story, there has to be an anomaly of a character who'd sneak in from behind just when you least expect it and....BAM! Before you know it, you're like a moth to a flame, "Hey! Who's that shiny little thing there? I wanna know more! Gimme a sec, MCs, let me just... oh, where did she go? Nevermind. Ok, MCs, where were we?" Yes, this truly was playing in my head just moments before I started typing here... yeh, I try to get real with my writing. ;)
Anyhoo....
"In life, there are only two things that matter: power and control. Those who run the world and those who seek to. Everything else is a lie hidden by shiny distractions. Never ever attempt to unpeel the lie." ~ Ottilie Zimmermann
"Power is an illusion. I can strip you of it or give it back in the blink of an eye. It is a concept sold by men who get hard from the thought that it makes them special. It doesn't. I can tell you, having made the weak feel powerful and the powerful feel weak, that power is actually nothing at all.." ~ Monique Carson
Reading these 2 quotes by our dearly beloved, right before the 1st chapter begins, I was immediately enthralled. Goosebumps. Immediately, I could "see" all the impending scenes, scenarios, dialogue that I'd be showered with when the story started. Shivers (thrills). One phrase came to mind which I thought perfectly described Ottilie and Monique, as each other's mutual antagonist: An Unstoppable Force Meets An Immovable Object. Now THAT's a recipe for an intoxicating slow-burn romance between two powerhouses whose intense attraction with each other is sizzlingly irresistible! Who's unstoppable and who's immovable? Are they mutually exclusive or are they two sides of one coin, inevitably bound together as one? That is the question!
OMG. How is Lee Winter so bloody HILARIOUS with her words, I just…!!! I’m still chuckling as I’m typing about the ridiculously funny text exchange between Ottilie and Hannah (oh, Hannah, another side character from Fixer/Chaos that I absolutely ADORE from the get-go! To see her here again is simply a gift! Cheers, Lee!). Oh. My. God. Just that scene itself, the entire book is deserving of a read. Trust me. The quality of the humour. I mean, come on!
Literally every single page of Ottilie, Monique, Ottilie and Monique, had me feeling more and more besotted. Ottilie, in particular. I LOVED her mystique, her questionable actions, her devilish persona in "The Fixer" and, in particular, "Chaos Agent". I wanted to know more about her so I resorted to creating a clandestine back story and her entire persona in my head, at the same time, wishfully thinking that Winter could write a spin-off featuring this utterly fascinatingly delish creature of a certain age! And BAM!! Wish came true!! YAAAAS!! Honestly, I thought I was the only oddball out there who actually found Ottilie’s less than savoury villainy to be oh-so endearing!! Ha! Yes, I adore grey characters and villains! But to find out that she’s a dark horse amongst all the characters in the Villains series… that’s all down to Winter’s incredible gift in developing such a complex, multi-dimensional character that readers would love to hate but…can’t!! Haha! Bloody well done, Winter. Long live villains with a heart of gold!! Long live Ottilie Zimmermann!!
Throughout the book, we have hilarity, action, intrigue, thrills, as well as powerful and poignant observations and views about life and its myriad of choices and decisions that shape not only a person’s character but their path to ultimate self-love, -worth and -acceptance. With Winter’s incredible gift in writing stories that engage your heart and your mind, invoke critical thinking, making even the most impossible situations resonate because of the realistic state of mind/psyche that the characters possess, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better, more engaging, more fun story to devour, imho. And if you know Lee Winter’s writing style, you’re in for a real treat with her latest adventure with a über fascinating character that you may not have liked but by the end of the story, you’d feel such adoration for her! Ottilie and her endearing neural pathway in all things “human” (sensibilities, emotions, logic, etc..) is so relatable to the “oddball” me (just like most of Winter’s ice queens/villains…hmm…a pattern is emerging…whoops!)... simply put, I just ADORE her to no end!
There are so many memorable scenes in this book that I can’t even begin to mention them. But one memorable one is definitely the scene with Ottilie. Let’s just say, Winter resurrected her wickedly hilarious “Vengeance Planning” scheme to apply to this part of the story involving our ex-spy (well, as they say, once a spy…you know…) has to be one of my all-time favourite scenes in a book! It’s unforgettable, tbh! Oh, the difference this time? It’s for the professionals, not amateurs! LOL!
Another thing worth mentioning that makes this book such a delight for me? My fav characters from the Villains books, namely, Michelle, Hannah and Snakepit…or rather, “Mr.” Snakepit as Ottilie, always the formal type, prefers to call him…until she doesn’t (you’ll know why when you read it)...well, just once.. And ohhhh….the chemistry between Ottilie and Hannah…ohhhh…so-so cute and adorbs and lovable!
Lee Winter, once again, I BOW to your genius. I ROLL in the sea of your incredible wit, your writing magic, your story-weaving, and your ingenious character chemistry development that organically flourish from your written and unwritten words that speak volumes from reading between the lines! I'm floored. Utterly brilliant work. Deserving of repeated rereads (and I'm assuming the obvious - re-listens, if AD had anything to do with playing the parts through her voice!). I expected that I’d utterly enjoy reading it but I did not expect to LOVE it so much in so many ways that it’s now my favourite one of the Villains series, and one of my all-time favourite stories. Very rarely do I find stories where I love every single character, story/character development, scene, every page. Even with my favourite stories/books, there’s almost always something that I’d just skip during my rereads. But THIS one? No way. Every page is savouring!
Ottilie, oh Ottilie!! She’s now become one of my all-time favourite fictional characters, and my list of all-timers is a short one. They’d have to impress the socks out of me to be considered. But Ottilie. I thought I loved her in the previous 2 Villains books. But this one just shot her into orbit! Oh, she’s enduringly unforgettable. Ohhhh, I’m going to be rereading “Number 6” multiple times!! Thank you, Lee, for finally biting the bullet and writing us this GEM of GEMS about a SIDE character that flourished into a MAIN character in a blink of an eye (obviously with a GENIUS story and character development/growth, not to mention, a wonderful closure that I will cherish forever especially when some of the context literally mirrored our best laid plans that alas couldn’t come to fruition so I’ll just live vicariously through Ottilie and Monique as they ride into the “sunset”…no pun intended!) who’s a FORCE to be reckoned with!!
As if you haven’t realised already, Lee Winter is one of my all-time fav authors. Her writing…I mean, it’s no wonder she was a journalist in her “past life”! But once a journalist, though, more specifically, a journalist with engaging storytelling. In essence, I can see that she brings with her this journalistic acuteness she possesses in keeping her stories and writing air-tight, The language, the tempo, the words, the phrases, the flow, the storytelling that’s always perceptively engaging because I reckon with her experience as a newspaper journalist, she effectively weaves narratives with vivid details, compelling characters, and a clear plot into her stories, just like a journalist’s reporting, making them captivating to the readers, creating a more immersive reading experience.
Investigative journalists are usually compelling storytellers in their reporting. At least that’s been my experience being captivated by articles/reports written by investigative journalists. I think it’s because of time and space constraints in newspapers where reports need to catch the reader’s attention long enough to read them in their entirety so there’s no room for unnecessary fluff. That makes the story tight, precise, to-the-point and intriguing to the end. And that’s why Winter consistently produces absolutely compelling stories with top-notch, high quality writing and storytelling, starting from her debut novel, which incidentally was about 2 formidable journalists!
Anyway, Winter has done it again, with “Number 6.” I absolutely, positively LOVE and ADORE this story!!! One simple word. OTTILIE. Only Winter can transcend a terribly mysterious, potentially insidious villain (who I always LOVED since “The Fixer”!) like Ottilie into this absolutely enchanting, empathetic, deeply affecting character with layers of mysteries and secrets that you can’t help but want to peel off each of them to reveal who she really is at her core. Still waters run deep. That’s Ottilie. She’s the immovable object that only an unstoppable force, aka Monique, can grab her by her quiet but lethal outer persona and deconstruct her layer by layer, with increasing chemistry, allure and this innate intellectual attraction that turns into an intoxicating sexual desire between these 2 souls who're meant for each other. Intellectuality vs Beauty. I concur with Ottilie. Intellectuality is Beautiful. Intellectuality is Sexy. Intellectuality is Sex. Mind, Body, Soul. All-encompassing.
p.s. The meaning of Number Six. *sigh* I wasn't expecting it at all so when it was revealed in the end, it was breathtaking. Merely 2 words. Who knew TWO words could affect such deep emotional intimacy between two destined souls... Never have I thought that this book's title itself, to me, would become THE epitome of this entire journey between 2 powerful women who've led such rich and fascinating lives find love in the most unexpected place. Fate or serendipity pushes them together at the right time. Timing is everything. Age is just a number. It's irrelevant. Love is love. This love is meant for them to discover, explore and experience as they continue with the 3rd phase of their lives, together. Couldn't be more enduringly romantic than that.
READ IT. And then, read it AGAIN. And Again. And Again….. I know I will!
Book: 5++
Audiobook: 5++
Wow. Just finished listening to the audiobook with the incomparable Angela Dawe! It's true amazing that someone's vocal artistry mirrors the author's "voice" in words!! This is very true with Lee Winter and Angela Dawe. I've listened to all of their collab and I tell ya, it's uncanny! I hear Dawe's voice in the Winter's characters. It's not because I know Dawe's voice already because I forget what the voice actor sounds like after each listen. My auditory memory somehow rejects any vocal retention... including mine - I don't ever know what I sound like, tbh! So, when I read the book, I was floored by Winter's deeply engrossing, highly engaging character story. Her perfectly executed narrative with superlative communicative expressions between the 2 MCs effortlessly shaped how Ottilie and Monique sounded in my mind. So, by the end of the book, I just knew Dawe would be flawless in transforming into these two phenomenal, totally unforgettable characters who I've never come across in any book I've read, thusfar.
And Angela Dawe delivers!! Blimey, does she ever! Goosebumps all throughout! Precision in her embodiment of Ottilie and Monique, the familiar sounds of Michelle and Hannah fills up my visuals in full technicolor! Her vocal artistry brings life to each character, every scene and the story. Simply gorgeous. To be able to "see" the characters and their expressions, verbal and non-verbal, alike, from merely the sound of one's voice, bears true testament about Dawe's phenomenal vocal artistry, how she can transform the written word into real-life forms.
To enjoy a full spectrum of satiation, I implore everyone to READ and LISTEN to these 2 incomparable artists!
-------
Ottilie. Monique. Two side characters who literally STOLE the show in their respective appearances in Winter's fan-bloody-tastic books, "The Fixer" and "Chaos Agent," and "Hotel Queens." No offense to the MCs, obviously! But in every single story, there has to be an anomaly of a character who'd sneak in from behind just when you least expect it and....BAM! Before you know it, you're like a moth to a flame, "Hey! Who's that shiny little thing there? I wanna know more! Gimme a sec, MCs, let me just... oh, where did she go? Nevermind. Ok, MCs, where were we?" Yes, this truly was playing in my head just moments before I started typing here... yeh, I try to get real with my writing. ;)
Anyhoo....
"In life, there are only two things that matter: power and control. Those who run the world and those who seek to. Everything else is a lie hidden by shiny distractions. Never ever attempt to unpeel the lie." ~ Ottilie Zimmermann
"Power is an illusion. I can strip you of it or give it back in the blink of an eye. It is a concept sold by men who get hard from the thought that it makes them special. It doesn't. I can tell you, having made the weak feel powerful and the powerful feel weak, that power is actually nothing at all.." ~ Monique Carson
Reading these 2 quotes by our dearly beloved, right before the 1st chapter begins, I was immediately enthralled. Goosebumps. Immediately, I could "see" all the impending scenes, scenarios, dialogue that I'd be showered with when the story started. Shivers (thrills). One phrase came to mind which I thought perfectly described Ottilie and Monique, as each other's mutual antagonist: An Unstoppable Force Meets An Immovable Object. Now THAT's a recipe for an intoxicating slow-burn romance between two powerhouses whose intense attraction with each other is sizzlingly irresistible! Who's unstoppable and who's immovable? Are they mutually exclusive or are they two sides of one coin, inevitably bound together as one? That is the question!
OMG. How is Lee Winter so bloody HILARIOUS with her words, I just…!!! I’m still chuckling as I’m typing about the ridiculously funny text exchange between Ottilie and Hannah (oh, Hannah, another side character from Fixer/Chaos that I absolutely ADORE from the get-go! To see her here again is simply a gift! Cheers, Lee!). Oh. My. God. Just that scene itself, the entire book is deserving of a read. Trust me. The quality of the humour. I mean, come on!
Literally every single page of Ottilie, Monique, Ottilie and Monique, had me feeling more and more besotted. Ottilie, in particular. I LOVED her mystique, her questionable actions, her devilish persona in "The Fixer" and, in particular, "Chaos Agent". I wanted to know more about her so I resorted to creating a clandestine back story and her entire persona in my head, at the same time, wishfully thinking that Winter could write a spin-off featuring this utterly fascinatingly delish creature of a certain age! And BAM!! Wish came true!! YAAAAS!! Honestly, I thought I was the only oddball out there who actually found Ottilie’s less than savoury villainy to be oh-so endearing!! Ha! Yes, I adore grey characters and villains! But to find out that she’s a dark horse amongst all the characters in the Villains series… that’s all down to Winter’s incredible gift in developing such a complex, multi-dimensional character that readers would love to hate but…can’t!! Haha! Bloody well done, Winter. Long live villains with a heart of gold!! Long live Ottilie Zimmermann!!
Throughout the book, we have hilarity, action, intrigue, thrills, as well as powerful and poignant observations and views about life and its myriad of choices and decisions that shape not only a person’s character but their path to ultimate self-love, -worth and -acceptance. With Winter’s incredible gift in writing stories that engage your heart and your mind, invoke critical thinking, making even the most impossible situations resonate because of the realistic state of mind/psyche that the characters possess, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better, more engaging, more fun story to devour, imho. And if you know Lee Winter’s writing style, you’re in for a real treat with her latest adventure with a über fascinating character that you may not have liked but by the end of the story, you’d feel such adoration for her! Ottilie and her endearing neural pathway in all things “human” (sensibilities, emotions, logic, etc..) is so relatable to the “oddball” me (just like most of Winter’s ice queens/villains…hmm…a pattern is emerging…whoops!)... simply put, I just ADORE her to no end!
There are so many memorable scenes in this book that I can’t even begin to mention them. But one memorable one is definitely the scene with Ottilie. Let’s just say, Winter resurrected her wickedly hilarious “Vengeance Planning” scheme to apply to this part of the story involving our ex-spy (well, as they say, once a spy…you know…) has to be one of my all-time favourite scenes in a book! It’s unforgettable, tbh! Oh, the difference this time? It’s for the professionals, not amateurs! LOL!
Another thing worth mentioning that makes this book such a delight for me? My fav characters from the Villains books, namely, Michelle, Hannah and Snakepit…or rather, “Mr.” Snakepit as Ottilie, always the formal type, prefers to call him…until she doesn’t (you’ll know why when you read it)...well, just once.. And ohhhh….the chemistry between Ottilie and Hannah…ohhhh…so-so cute and adorbs and lovable!
Lee Winter, once again, I BOW to your genius. I ROLL in the sea of your incredible wit, your writing magic, your story-weaving, and your ingenious character chemistry development that organically flourish from your written and unwritten words that speak volumes from reading between the lines! I'm floored. Utterly brilliant work. Deserving of repeated rereads (and I'm assuming the obvious - re-listens, if AD had anything to do with playing the parts through her voice!). I expected that I’d utterly enjoy reading it but I did not expect to LOVE it so much in so many ways that it’s now my favourite one of the Villains series, and one of my all-time favourite stories. Very rarely do I find stories where I love every single character, story/character development, scene, every page. Even with my favourite stories/books, there’s almost always something that I’d just skip during my rereads. But THIS one? No way. Every page is savouring!
Ottilie, oh Ottilie!! She’s now become one of my all-time favourite fictional characters, and my list of all-timers is a short one. They’d have to impress the socks out of me to be considered. But Ottilie. I thought I loved her in the previous 2 Villains books. But this one just shot her into orbit! Oh, she’s enduringly unforgettable. Ohhhh, I’m going to be rereading “Number 6” multiple times!! Thank you, Lee, for finally biting the bullet and writing us this GEM of GEMS about a SIDE character that flourished into a MAIN character in a blink of an eye (obviously with a GENIUS story and character development/growth, not to mention, a wonderful closure that I will cherish forever especially when some of the context literally mirrored our best laid plans that alas couldn’t come to fruition so I’ll just live vicariously through Ottilie and Monique as they ride into the “sunset”…no pun intended!) who’s a FORCE to be reckoned with!!
As if you haven’t realised already, Lee Winter is one of my all-time fav authors. Her writing…I mean, it’s no wonder she was a journalist in her “past life”! But once a journalist, though, more specifically, a journalist with engaging storytelling. In essence, I can see that she brings with her this journalistic acuteness she possesses in keeping her stories and writing air-tight, The language, the tempo, the words, the phrases, the flow, the storytelling that’s always perceptively engaging because I reckon with her experience as a newspaper journalist, she effectively weaves narratives with vivid details, compelling characters, and a clear plot into her stories, just like a journalist’s reporting, making them captivating to the readers, creating a more immersive reading experience.
Investigative journalists are usually compelling storytellers in their reporting. At least that’s been my experience being captivated by articles/reports written by investigative journalists. I think it’s because of time and space constraints in newspapers where reports need to catch the reader’s attention long enough to read them in their entirety so there’s no room for unnecessary fluff. That makes the story tight, precise, to-the-point and intriguing to the end. And that’s why Winter consistently produces absolutely compelling stories with top-notch, high quality writing and storytelling, starting from her debut novel, which incidentally was about 2 formidable journalists!
Anyway, Winter has done it again, with “Number 6.” I absolutely, positively LOVE and ADORE this story!!! One simple word. OTTILIE. Only Winter can transcend a terribly mysterious, potentially insidious villain (who I always LOVED since “The Fixer”!) like Ottilie into this absolutely enchanting, empathetic, deeply affecting character with layers of mysteries and secrets that you can’t help but want to peel off each of them to reveal who she really is at her core. Still waters run deep. That’s Ottilie. She’s the immovable object that only an unstoppable force, aka Monique, can grab her by her quiet but lethal outer persona and deconstruct her layer by layer, with increasing chemistry, allure and this innate intellectual attraction that turns into an intoxicating sexual desire between these 2 souls who're meant for each other. Intellectuality vs Beauty. I concur with Ottilie. Intellectuality is Beautiful. Intellectuality is Sexy. Intellectuality is Sex. Mind, Body, Soul. All-encompassing.
p.s. The meaning of Number Six. *sigh* I wasn't expecting it at all so when it was revealed in the end, it was breathtaking. Merely 2 words. Who knew TWO words could affect such deep emotional intimacy between two destined souls... Never have I thought that this book's title itself, to me, would become THE epitome of this entire journey between 2 powerful women who've led such rich and fascinating lives find love in the most unexpected place. Fate or serendipity pushes them together at the right time. Timing is everything. Age is just a number. It's irrelevant. Love is love. This love is meant for them to discover, explore and experience as they continue with the 3rd phase of their lives, together. Couldn't be more enduringly romantic than that.
READ IT. And then, read it AGAIN. And Again. And Again….. I know I will!
February 26, 2025
This was the Lee Winter I've missed so dearly.
It's not like I disliked the latest works per se. They just weren't as exciting to me emotionally as the classic ones. I couldn't get into The Villains at all, for example.
This, though? Chef's kiss.
It's not like I disliked the latest works per se. They just weren't as exciting to me emotionally as the classic ones. I couldn't get into The Villains at all, for example.
This, though? Chef's kiss.
February 23, 2025
What a wonderful finish to the Villains series. I loved everything about this book. It was sexy, funny, romantic, and beautifully written with memorable characters who are beautifully matched. I don't expect anything less from Lee Winter. I loved the cameos of the characters from the other books. Most of all, I loved watching these two strong mature capable women find their way to each other.
February 4, 2025
Great book. I have been looking forward to this book and it hasn’t disappointed me. Lee winter writes great books with well developed characters. There was not as much adventure in this book as in the other books in this series, so it felt a little different. Though there were some really nasty people, this book was about Ottilie finishing her work of ending the Fixers and surprising herself. It was very nice to meet Ottilie again and learn more about her. I liked that the two main characters were in their fifties and sixties and also the way their relationship developed. Monique and Ottilie were very different in some ways, with Monique being more easy going and social and Ottilie more a distant ice queen, who I found a little bit awkward at times. But both are very clever and have only a select few real friends due to life experiences and their jobs. They see things in each other that other people usually don’t. Though Monique has some difficulty understanding Ottilie’s past, in the end she sees Ottilie as a good person who defends people even when it’s detrimental to herself and has made amends by causing Michelle to bring down the Fixers. They respect and grow to love each other for who they are.
I will read the whole villain series again sometime.
I will read the whole villain series again sometime.
February 9, 2025
Detailed score: 4.5/5
As the author goes to pains to note in the foreword, do not read this book without having read the earlier books in the series else some key characters and plot points will feel very under done. Having said that, I hadn’t read them in quite some time and it was all good.
And look. Lee Winter is one of those authors where you just buy her book from simply seeing her name on the cover, right?! Really they only vary between very good and excellent.
This one was ‘very good’. But still delicious unique characters, outstanding pacing, just the right amount of pwoar scenes that also build the plot.
If you don’t like other Winter books you won’t like this but otherwise - why do you need this review? Get buying / borrowing already!!
As the author goes to pains to note in the foreword, do not read this book without having read the earlier books in the series else some key characters and plot points will feel very under done. Having said that, I hadn’t read them in quite some time and it was all good.
And look. Lee Winter is one of those authors where you just buy her book from simply seeing her name on the cover, right?! Really they only vary between very good and excellent.
This one was ‘very good’. But still delicious unique characters, outstanding pacing, just the right amount of pwoar scenes that also build the plot.
If you don’t like other Winter books you won’t like this but otherwise - why do you need this review? Get buying / borrowing already!!
March 25, 2025
I love Lee Winter’s powerful characters. There was a lot that I liked about this book, but ultimately I preferred The Fixer and Chaos Agent. Monique is a great character but in the end her story felt forced, same with Ottilie. I liked how their relationship developed and understood why they fell for each other, the book did keep me engaged and, even the slow burn made sense but it was missing the magic…3.5.
Short summary: Ottilie has one loose end to toe up before retirement. She is single-minded and determined. No one will distract her, especially not a too-flirty sex fantasies expert…who invites her to…breakfast?
Short summary: Ottilie has one loose end to toe up before retirement. She is single-minded and determined. No one will distract her, especially not a too-flirty sex fantasies expert…who invites her to…breakfast?
March 19, 2025
4.6 Well crafted plot line. Character perfect. Ah to be powerful and that good at reading people. Explicite sex scenes. Emphasis placed on sex workers and hazards to them.
Spoilers:
I liked the first two books better though I'm a big fan of Ottilie.
I would think that Monique's two careers would be a lot more easily found out than stated in the book and she would get blackmailed.
Spoilers:
I liked the first two books better though I'm a big fan of Ottilie.
I would think that Monique's two careers would be a lot more easily found out than stated in the book and she would get blackmailed.
February 26, 2025
4.25 stars
July 10, 2025
I was curious because these two women didn't actually invoke anything in me from their prior appearances because I was so focused on the MCs in the books they initially appeared in. Michelle Hastings was definitely something delicious to devour because with her, there was build up since "The Red Files"era. Like how dare you hurt Catherine Ayers. Anyways, Ottilie and Monique were not really for me as a couple but each as a person, they seemed very interesting.
Ottilie; The way she went hard at that singer (I don't remember her name) made me so giddy. I would have loved to witness that concert flopping because how dare she touch a woman like that. Nasty like bum.
Monique: I loved how she openly helped that woman who appeared in "Number Five" (Again, I am so bad with names) but that was truly beautiful what she did for her.
Now them together as a couple, I didn't feel it and I definitely didn't enjoy it when Monique was all wanting Ottilie to "prove" herself. Like girl, go away. That really annoyed me because Ottilie didn't even blink about her Monique's line of work and then here is Monique blinking like a freaking barbie doll, like bruh. That just botched my interest for their love but we get what we get.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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