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Jamie Sinclair #2

The Kill Shot

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In an explosive thriller for readers of Lee Child, Alex Berenson, and Brad Taylor, P.I. and security specialist Jamie Sinclair finds herself caught in a dangerous game of international cat-and-mouse.
 
Jamie Sinclair’s father has never asked her for a favor in her life. The former two-star general turned senator is more in the habit of giving his only child orders. So when he requests Jamie’s expertise as a security specialist, she can’t refuse—even though it means slamming the brakes on her burgeoning relationship with military police officer Adam Barrett. Just like that, Jamie hops aboard a flight to London with a U.S. State Department courier carrying a diplomatic pouch in an iron grip.
 
Jamie doesn’t have to wait long to put her unique skills to good use. When she and the courier are jumped by goons outside the Heathrow terminal, Jamie fights them off—but the incident puts her on high alert. Someone’s willing to kill for the contents of the bag. Then a would-be assassin opens fire in crowded Covent Garden, and Jamie is stunned to spot a familiar face: Adam Barrett, who saves her life with a single shot and calmly slips away. Jamie’s head—and her heart—tell her that something is very wrong. But she’s come way too far to turn back now.

277 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 17, 2015

43 people are currently reading
316 people want to read

About the author

Nichole Christoff

6 books72 followers
Nichole Christoff is a writer, broadcaster, and military spouse who owes Jane Austen, James Thurber, and Raymond Chandler for her taste in fiction.

She's also the award-winning author of the 6-book Jamie Sinclair series, including The Kill Shot, a Daphne du Maurier Award Finalist, and The Kill Box, a Library Journal "Best Books 2015" pick.

When Nichole isn't at her desk working on her latest novel or teaching genre writing at a midwestern university, she's out in the woods with her ornery English Pointer.

Nic loves to connect with students, writers' groups, and readers' groups just like yours. You can invite her to your meeting, classroom, or conference to chat about writing, books, Jamie, and more.

Find Nichole online at www.nicholechristoff.com where you can sign-up for her free seasonal newsletter, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NicholeChristoff, on Twitter at @NicChristoff, on Instagram @nicchristoff, or drop her a note at nic@nicholechristoff.com.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
Profile Image for Mary Brown.
1,298 reviews74 followers
July 26, 2015
Jamie Sinclair is a private investigator and a security specialist. When her father, who is a retired two-star general, asks her for help, she agrees to help him. Little does she know that when she agrees, her lives, both her physical and love, will be in serious danger.

I did not feel like I was reading a book but rather listening to a friend tell me a story. I do not know how the author did that, but the whole book felt personal and that is an awesome experience for a reader to have. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in creating tension and suspense with just the written word. I could not turn the pages fast enough to see what would happen next. There is more than one secret to unravel in this book and my attention never wavered. There are many twists and turns that had me second guessing throughout the entire book.

The characters are well developed and three dimensional. Jamie is one tough woman and she knows how to take care of herself. But she also has a vulnerable side which made her seem more human to me. The way she tries to win her father’s approval and her relationship woes made for some very touching moments.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted mystery suspense with lots of twists and turns. This is the second book I have read by this author and I really liked them both. Do yourself a favor and check them out.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group-Alibi for the opportunity to read and review
Profile Image for Becky.
1,507 reviews95 followers
March 18, 2015
When Jamie's father has a request, turning it down isn't an option. This is how the security specialist finds herself traveling to London to accompany a State Department courier tasked with delivering new passports to a Middle Eastern physicist and accompanying that person back to the United States. But things turn sour fast when Jamie and the courier are attacked as soon as they arrive in the UK. From there on, the job takes turn after turn for the worst and Jamie is stuck right in the middle.

I didn't enjoy this follow up to The Kill List quite as much as Christoff's debut. I think it was moving Jamie from a domestic setting to an international one and throwing in more of a political spin that did it for me. Honestly, too, I felt she made some rookie mistakes in this one where she came across as a more serious professional in her first outing.

The physicist in question will not leave the UK without their family, which throws a definite wrinkle in things when they're separated in the city. Multiple government entities are vying for this person and the information they can share, including the US.

I did like the way Barrett comes back in the mix. I like him a lot but felt the added tension of Jamie's old school friend was a bit overblown for my taste. Oh, well. The Kill Shot is good for simple escapism, but I just didn't quite meet my expectations this go around.
Profile Image for Linda Strong.
3,878 reviews1,708 followers
July 19, 2015
Jamie Sinclair is a security specialist. She is also the daughter of a US General turned Senator who also has control issues when it comes to his daughter. When he comes to her asking for her help, she jumps at the chance to do something to finally earn his approval.

She is asked to escort a diplomatic courier to London and to return the next day. Unfortunately, they have a greeting party .. one inclined to steal the papers that the courier is carrying. It only gets worse from there .....

I really like the toughness of Jamie, and understanding the relationship with her father through the author's words is at times sad and heart-breaking. Jamie has a love interest .. Adam Barrett, a US soldier who seems to care deeply for her. And then there is Philip, an old friend who professes to love her. One of them will betray her.

I really enjoyed the book. ... lots of action, a bit of romance, but it doesn't detract from the bigger story. I have not read the first Jamie Sinclair book, but this one held up firmly as a stand-alone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Publishers for furnishing a digital copy of this book in return for an honest opinion.
Profile Image for Julie .
4,251 reviews38k followers
April 3, 2015
Kill Shot by by Nichole Christoff is a 2015 Alibi publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have not read the first book in the series, although I would like to someday, but this one reads as a stand alone just fine.

Jamie Sinclair is a security specialist who still wishes to garner her father's approval. So, when the powerful Senator asked Jamie for a favor you could have knocked her over with a feather. Naturally, despite her father's anemic displays of love or affection , she jumps at the chance to make him proud of her. So, she abandoned the one night she has with her boyfriend, Adam Barrett, a military police officer, in Washington for only a short time before he must leave on assignment, and heads off to catch a plane to London. Before it's all said and done Jamie will most likely regret ever accepting this assignment.

A nuclear physicist and her father are in grave danger and nearly everyone wants them and their secrets as they become pawns in a deadly cat and mouse game and politics begins to take control over their safety as one double cross follows another. Jamie finds herself torn between her old friend Phillip and Adam, who has miraculously appeared in London as well. Not only that, it looks as if her father has thrown her under the bus and left her to either sink or swim.

I understood what the author was going for here and it works pretty well much of the time, however, Jamie is in security and although she is working internationally, which could throw someone off their game, I still thought she was just too gullible. I could see it happening once, but on more than one occasion, Jamie took things at face value or trusted someone while I was screaming at her not to buy into it.

Having said that, I found myself unable to stop reading the book, and kept picking it back up because was worried about Adam or Jamie or wondered what was going to happen next. The pacing was just about right and the characters were deliberately vague or murky because they all had their own hidden agendas. At times though the plot was just a little bit too transparent and I think some people who read a lot of suspense or thriller novels might groan or roll their eyes in some places. But, I do like to give thrillers a little benefit of the doubt when it comes to plausibility. As long as I was invested in the characters and I am being entertained, I'm not all that hard to please.

I was not sure how to take the senator or Phillip though out the story. I was uneasy from the beginning and even less impressed by the end of the story. It does make for some interesting psychology between parent/ child and what we know deep down in our souls about someone, but are incapable of allowing that to penetrate our brains or hearts, or dwell on it for too long, because it is simply too painful. So, we continue to do whatever we think will get us that love and recognition we so desperately crave, no matter how old we are. I found this area of the book incredibly sad and Jamie's character is somewhat puzzling at times because she continues to allow some people in her life to have way too much control over her. I do hope Jamie will filter out the crap and stop allowing people to manipulate her like a puppet.

It does occur to me now that I don't recall a lot of unnecessary bad language or sexual content, it mostly stays on the innuendo side of things for those of you who take those things into consideration. I am glad I found this series and I liked this one well enough to try out any subsequent followups.

3.5 stars rounded to 4
Profile Image for Patrice.
968 reviews46 followers
May 21, 2015
I received a free electronic copy of this book from Net Galley/the publisher, for an honest review. This is the first story in the Jamie Sinclair series of mystery/intrigue books. I liked this introduction to the series. It is well written, the major characters are 3-dimensional, and the story flows. Jamie is a private investigator and security specialist and former Army brat. Her father, now a U.S. Senator, is also a 2-star General. Even though Jamie grew up on a number of army bases across the globe, she calls New Jersey home.(I think that’s what makes me like her even more since I am a Jersey girl too!).

It is an interesting story of a physicist from Iran wanting to leave that country and the Security Council for the U.S. is trying to get the doctor and their family safely to the U.S., enlisting the help of the British government (all hush-hush). Senator Sinclair asks Jamie, as a favor, to accompany Katie DeMarco (a State Dept. Courier) to London, to meet up with them and see them safely to the U.S. Simple, right? Nope. Immediately upon landing at Heathrow, the two women are attacked and the documents Katie carries are stolen. Thus begins their trials and tribulations throughout England. She meets her former college friend, Philip, now an up-and-coming member in the British intelligence agency.
All-in-all this is a good story, not a lot of cursing and mostly innuendo with any attractions between the sexes. If I had to pick one thing that did bother me with the story, it has to be the fact that there were times in the story where I would have thought a security consultant would pick up on some important details, that I, as the reader picked up on right away. It seems she made some “rookie mistakes” throughout the book. This did not detract from my enjoyment of the story.
Profile Image for Darla.
140 reviews
February 2, 2015
Really liked this one!! Can't wait to see what's next for Jamie and Barrett!!
Profile Image for Darcy.
14.4k reviews543 followers
October 16, 2017
Well, Jamie sure found herself in some interesting situations. Early on I figured out on part, was surprised that Jamie didn't see that herself. I was glad that Jamie was able to help the Dr. find safety, even at the cost that came along with it. I was a bit surprised the role that Jamie's father played, didn't expect all the aspect, nor did I expect an old friend to pop up and the role they played. I was glad that Jamie saw them for the person they were. I was glad where Jamie ended up at the end, I still think that there are so many possibilities in that person.
Profile Image for Marlene.
3,446 reviews241 followers
April 4, 2015
Originally published at Reading Reality

I read this one a few days ago, but had to wait a bit to write my review. I needed to get over my mad, because there were things that happened in this book that absolutely infuriated me. It says something that I got so involved with the character of Jamie Sinclair in the first book (The Kill List) that I wanted to grab her and shake her over some of her behavior in this book.

The Kill Shot is certainly another wild ride for Jamie, and if you like thrillers with female protagonists the series is looking good.

But some of Jamie’s behavior in this book will make her friends want to sit her down for a good “talking to”.

The story is pretty straightforward. Jamie’s father, the retired general and current senator, asks for Jamie’s help. Because her dad never asks for help, Jamie is immediately onboard with the project.

Dear Old Dad needs Jamie, in her role as expert security consultant and protective detail, to travel to London with a diplomatic courier and help the courier bring a famous physicist and their companion back to the U.S. using the U.S. passports that the courier has in a locked diplomatic pouch.

Not only does this sound straightforward, but the courier is a friendly enough young woman that Jamie is more than willing to guard her. Nothing in this case is presented as remotely dangerous. And not a damn thing about it is even close to what it seems.

There is a metric butt-load of danger, and every single person in the case is hiding an equivalent load of secrets.

Oh, and Jamie’s best friend and almost boyfriend from college is the British Foreign Office operative assigned to this case. He got himself into this mess in order to make one last play for Jamie. Or so he says.

This operation is a complete clusterfuck, to put it lightly. Danger follows at every turn, and Jamie leaves a trail of bad guy dead bodies behind her. Some of those dead bodies are dead because Adam Barrett, the MP that Jamie got interested in while investigating in The Kill List, has followed her to London and is shooting some of the people who are after her. Dad may have said he needed her, but that doesn’t mean he trusts her to get the job done. But then, Dear Old Dad knows a whole lot more about the job than he would ever tell Jamie.

Of course, now some of the people after Jamie are after Adam. Even joining forces isn’t enough to stop the carnage.

Can they figure out who is behind it all before Jamie and everyone she is protecting gets killed? And even if they do, can Jamie ever figure out who she can trust when everyone (including and especially Dear Old Dad) is playing her?

Escape Rating B-: Let me say this first; in The Kill List it seemed like every man Jamie met fell in love with her. Having one of her old besties start a hot and heavy pursuit did not help ameliorate this particular problem. That in this case the guy was at least half trying to distract Jamie from his downright skullduggery is only a slightly mitigating factor.

For Jamie to be believable, the men in her stories need to stop the romantic attempts. Except Barrett. (My 2 cents)

But speaking of believability, Jamie has a serious problem with her relationship with her father. It’s not just that when he says “jump”” she jumps first and asks “how high?” on the way up, it’s that she knows he doesn’t trust her, doesn’t believe her and will use any ends to justify any means. It’s that in this particular case she doesn’t demand any of the information that she needs to do her job. If he were any other client, she would have made certain to get all the particulars of her duties before taking the job, because knowing what and where the danger might be is what keeps her alive as a security consultant.

She also forgives him much too easily for leaving her out in the cold when the job turns ugly. His plausible deniability nearly gets her killed and nearly scuttles the mission she was sent on. If she was this sloppy all the time, she’d have been killed long ago.

Jamie needs some serious therapy to learn to deal with at least her reactions to her father if not with her father directly. He’s going to get her killed if he keeps this up, and she’s going to let him.

The major reason that this mission “goes South” repeatedly and often is that there is a traitor in their midst. Jamie is presented with clues multiple times that this is true and even the identity of the traitor, but she is too busy dealing with multiple firefights or their aftermath and many multiple instances of people lying to her and playing with her that she doesn’t figure out the real problem until nearly too late.

If this were a case she had acquired on her own, she would have done some due diligence which is totally lacking in this one.

Jamie’s actions in this case drove me crazy.

On that other hand, the amount of danger and the sheer number of deadly situations that arise during this mission will keep the reader flipping pages fast until the very end. And the twist at the end is a dilly.
Profile Image for Melinda.
1,020 reviews
January 25, 2016
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Jamie is a likable character, a true professional, however, I am confident all the romance in both novels overshadows Jamie's full potential to the point where it solidly distracts. Given the seriousness of her assignment, she wasn't as sharp as she was previously. She seems overly preoccupied with both men's interests - Barrett and Philip, which is understandable to a degree. Her diversion conflicts with the impression she's created of herself with the reader, at least for this peruser.

I would have preferred more action, thriller, mystery as opposed to yet again, hefty romance. Too much for my taste, a repeat of my issues with the first book. I would have preferred more development in the personalities of the two men in the quasi love triangle over the political hand.

Jamie's distraction, the weighty political facet, the romance component deflected what could have been an even better narrative. I'm not opposed to my thriller/mystery containing romance, only a much smaller dose and less domineering. Showcase Jamie's smarts, professionalism, independence along with strength and a whole lot less amorous man hunting.
1,116 reviews23 followers
July 9, 2017
Jamie Sinclair is back in another adventure. She is a private investigator. Her father is a formal general, now a United States Senator. Nothing Jamie has ever done has been good enough for the man but that doesn't stop her from trying to earn his approval. So when the Senator asks her for a favor she jumps at the chance to help. He wants her to escort a courier to London, make sure she arrives safely with the diplomatic pouch she's carrying, then return home. It sounds simple but as soon as she and Katie, the courier, arrive on British soil, they're attacked. From that point on they're in a fight for their lives. Jamie is surprised when Lieutenant Colonel Adam Barrett of the U. S. Army shows up at every turn. He and Jamie are attracted to one another but have yet to act on it. Things get even more complicated when an old flame from college is also on hand to supposedly aid Jamie in her quest.

When the pouch the courier is carrying happens to be two passports for a physicist and her father then Jamie is tasked with protecting them from foreign operatives who either want to capture them or kill them for their knowledge regarding a nuclear threat. This adds to the suspense of the story and is the catalyst for a whole lot of action as Jamie and her party try to outrun their enemies.

Another top notch story from this author. Her plots could be taken directly from the pages of modern day headlines, full of mystery and intrigue with a bit of espionage thrown in. I'm really enjoying this series. Jamie is tough, determined, and more than capable of taking on any case that comes her way. When she pairs off with Captain Barrett they make a formidable team and I'm looking forward to seeing where his relationship with Jamie is headed. A solid four and a half stars for me.
Profile Image for Lori Robinett.
Author 18 books211 followers
November 20, 2018
Wow . . . this book was the first I've read in the series and it blew me away. I loved the richness of the setting (Mississippi), and the layered characters. Jamie Sinclair goes to Beauville for a romantic weekend with Barrett, her military man, but is quickly drawn into a mystery when the Lady Luck, the floating casino they are on, is blown up by a dirty bomb. She recognizes the man who dropped the bomb and reunites (sort of) with her mentor, a grizzled private investigator who taught her most of what she knows, to solve the mystery and untangle the web of crime involving organized crime, prostitution, and blackmail. I didn't see the ending coming, and thoroughly enjoyed the ride. Look forward to reading more from Nichole Christoff.
Profile Image for Anne Robinson.
697 reviews17 followers
March 2, 2018
Let me start by saying that this was a great read and a gripping thriller. I simply didn’t enjoy it as much as the first book in the series. In this one, Jamie allows herself to be so distracted by the men in her life that her supposed skills as a security expert seem to be almost non-existent! The fact that the reader can see her blatant mistakes and she cannot gets very annoying. Also, as a non-puritanical reader, I wish she would just get on with it and bed her man. The way that the author puts so many obstacles in the way, including numerous broken limbs, is irritating to say the least. If Jack Reacher can kick ass and have sex in each book, then Jamie Sinclair can too!
Profile Image for Beth Peninger.
1,888 reviews2 followers
May 14, 2018
Jamie Sinclair's imposing, retired two-star general father and new U.S. Senator is asking her for a favor and she can hardly believe it. He's never needed a favor from anyone, much less her, in his life. But he's asking and she can't say no. Really, she is not allowed to say no. She reluctantly packs a bag and heads out on this favor her father asks of her. This might be the last favor she ever agrees to be forced into doing for him.
Profile Image for Diane.
677 reviews30 followers
March 31, 2023
3.5 stars

The premise was good, but then the author just kept adding twists and turns to lengthen the story. The main character is supposedly an experienced PI. I figured out a couple of things that she should have been suspicious about as soon as they happened and I'm no PI!
Profile Image for Mieneke.
782 reviews88 followers
March 19, 2015
In the second Jamie Sinclair novel, The Kill Shot, the reader is reunited with Jamie and Barrett, but interestingly, The Kill Shot is not a straight up crime thriller. In fact, to me Nichole Christoff's sophomore outing read more like a spy novel. I was surprised by this shift in flavour to the narrative, though the general style of the book is very much the same as its predecessor. Jamie remains a kick-ass heroine and I really enjoyed reading about her next adventure.

After The Kill List , I was looking forward to learning more about certain secondary characters from the previous novel, such as Jamie's assistant Matty. Unfortunately, other than Barrett and Senator Sinclair the secondary characters from the previous book were largely missing from The Kill Shot. Instead, Jamie is enlisted by her father and sent on a mission to London, where we get to meet an entire new set of characters. My favourite of these was Ikaat  Oujdad, a young woman from an unnamed Middle Eastern country, who Jamie is supposed to help defect to the West with her father. I loved her spirit and her dreams; her joy at being able to do what she longs to do in peace and in the open, without fear of reprisal due to her gender, was lovely and was transmitted on the page very well.

Ikaat's father Armand, was interesting too, but more in his role as Ikaat's father and as a figure who reinforces how people will do anything for those they love most, than in and of himself. That sense that people will do anything for those they hold most dear, be they a child, parent, spouse, potential partner, or friend, is I think the major theme of this book. It invades all the story lines and character arcs, from Armand and Ikaat, to Jamie accepting her mission for her father's sake, on to Barrett, and the other two new characters, the State Department Courier Katie DeMarco and British Foreign Office official Philip Spencer-Dean.

While I enjoyed Katie as a character – she had a great connection with Jamie – at the same time I found her storyline the weakest, as it felt somewhat predictable. On the other hand, Philip’s arc didn’t feel predictable at all, if you leave out the inevitable triangle with Jamie and Barrett. Philip is the suave, British gentleman, almost Bond-esque in ways and he’s the one that could have been the one in Jamie’s past. The one who’s such a close friend that the risk of moving them out of the friend zone and having it fail is too painful to contemplate. While I liked the dynamics and chemistry between Jamie and Philip, I never felt as if it might truly happen, because as a reader I was already too heavily invested in Jamie/Barrett (should we call them Jarrett, is this a thing?) and additionally, I found Philip’s behaviour towards Jamie almost bordering on the creepy, as he essentially doesn’t take no for an answer and keeps pushing the issue. And while there were some testosterone displays between the two men, Barrett seems far more respectful of Jamie’s capabilities and letting her decide for herself.

If doing anything for those you love is a major theme in The Kill List, then Jamie’s arc is a direct outflow from this. The only reason she takes on this mission is to gain her father’s approval and it’s his silence she feels most when in London. Yet while we learn more about the why of Jamie’s daddy issues, we also get to see a softer side to Senator Sinclair, one that shows that the martinet has a softer heart than previously publicised. I also liked the other aspects of Jamie’s character development, mostly focusing on her inability to fully trust anyone with her feelings, including herself and her fear of becoming involved with anyone to the point that they might hurt her. But she acknowledges to herself at least that one day she might want just such an attachment and she realises she’ll need to grow to be able to do that, which I found interesting to see.

In a way, The Kill Shot is typical for an on-going crime series, it’s not so much about the cases as it is about the characters and in my opinion, Nichole Christoff writes her characters very well. I couldn’t help but root for Jamie and Barrett, but I found myself caring about Katie and Ikaat as well. There is still much for Jamie to do and learn in her road to a happy ending, with or without Barrett, and I for one look forward to reading her journey and whatever scrapes and adventures she’ll get into along the way.

This book was provided for review by the publisher as part of a blog tour.
Profile Image for Samantha.
739 reviews80 followers
April 4, 2015
Summary from Goodreads:

"Jamie Sinclair’s father has never asked her for a favor in her life. The former two-star general turned senator is more in the habit of giving his only child orders. So when he requests Jamie’s expertise as a security specialist, she can’t refuse—even though it means slamming the brakes on her burgeoning relationship with military police officer Adam Barrett. Just like that, Jamie hops aboard a flight to London with a U.S. State Department courier carrying a diplomatic pouch in an iron grip.

Jamie doesn’t have to wait long to put her unique skills to good use. When she and the courier are jumped by goons outside the Heathrow terminal, Jamie fights them off—but the incident puts her on high alert. Someone’s willing to kill for the contents of the bag. Then a would-be assassin opens fire in crowded Covent Garden, and Jamie is stunned to spot a familiar face: Adam Barrett, who saves her life with a single shot and calmly slips away. Jamie’s head—and her heart—tell her that something is very wrong. But she’s come way too far to turn back now."

My Thoughts:

The Kill Shot was just as explosive and page turning as I had hoped that it would be. (Page turning as in finger tapping since this was an e-read. LOL!) In all seriousness though, I had really high hopes for this book after enjoying the first book so much. This follow-up was just as fast paced and intense as the first book and I found myself having a hard time putting it down. What I love about this series is how this author includes details of military life within her books. Added to that was the fact that for the majority of this book Jamie is abroad in Europe. I absolutely loved all of the details that the author included to bring London to life. As I've never been, it was those details that really pulled me into this book and allowed for me to immerse myself within it. I could picture the different places that she was describing and it allowed for me to live a bit vicariously through Jamie and her adventures. What fun! This book was quite a ride and although I managed to figure out a few of the twists early on, for the most part I was kept in suspense which is just the way that I like it. I am very eager to continue on with this series and see what kind of trouble Jamie finds herself in next!

My one and only complaint with this book is that I felt that Jamie missed a few important details that she shouldn't have. As a security consultant, I felt like there were a few irregularities (trying not to share spoilers here) that really she shouldn't have missed when she is supposed to be so good at her job. It didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book but I just felt that for her to be as good as she is portrayed to be....well, she should have caught on a bit faster to what was going on big picture wise. This is just my opinion though and I do realize that the fact that she didn't led to a more thrilling experience for me as the reader. So there is that. Just worth mentioning as it might bother others more than it bothered me.

Overall this was a great reading experience for me, and one that I enjoyed from the first page to the last. I love how the author is able to create such a sense of place in her books so that I feel like I am experience everything right along with Jamie. I'm very eager to get my greedy hands on the third book as these books seem to be getting better and better. What kind of craziness will Jamie find herself in next? Who knows but I do know that I will be there to read about it! Easily recommended but especially to other mystery lovers. You don't have to read the first book before reading this one but I would recommend it just so that you get the full reading experience. Plus, you will understand more why I am such a huge Adam Barrett fan!

Bottom Line: A nail bitingly good read! I need more!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this books thanks to the publisher and NetGalley as part of a TLC book tour. Thoughts are my own!
Profile Image for Kathy .
3,809 reviews3 followers
March 17, 2015
The Kill Shot by Nichole Christoff is an action-filled and engrossing political thriller/mystery. This pulse-pounding second installment in the Jamie Sinclair series is a very absorbing novel with plenty of twists and turns that keep the pages turning at a blistering pace.

Jamie Sinclair is thrilled and honored when her father, a retired Army officer and senator, entrusts her with a sensitive mission escorting a State Department courier from DC to Britain and back again. With little information about the assignment or much time to prepare, Jamie and Katie deMarco set off on their journey and upon landing, they are quickly besieged by an unknown assailant. Despite Jamie's best evasive maneuvers, the pair continue to be targeted by unknown attackers but help arrives from a very unexpected source, which just adds to Jamie's mounting confusion about her latest case. Stonewalled by her father's chief of staff, Jamie relies on old college friend Philip Spencer-Dean for assistance and when her suspicions about Lt. Colonel Adam Barrett's puzzling involvement are confirmed, Jamie utilizes his highly specialized skills as well. But, as Jamie soon discovers, the stakes are incredibly high in this extremely complex and dangerous game of political intrigue where nothing is at it appears.

Jamie is still the same very capable and tremendously talented sleuth introduced in The Kill List but her strained relationship with her father hinders her case. She is extremely flattered by his faith her in ability to protect Katie, but Jamie soon realizes that his political agenda means he has not been completely honest about what awaits her in Britain. One of Jamie's strengths is her loyalty but this also becomes one of her greatest weaknesses where both her father and her old friend Spencer-Dean are concerned. There is enough double dealing and behind the scenes maneuvering going on that Jamie does not who to trust and she completely misses obvious clues that would have led her to the truth well before she found herself and those entrusted to her care involved in a number of life threatening and precarious situations.

The Kill Shot is another high octane adventure starring the very intrepid and highly capable Jamie Sinclair. It is an exceptionally well-written and intriguing novel and Nichole Christoff once again mystifies readers with a series of clever misdirects and plot twists. Although this latest offering easily stands on its own, I highly recommend the entire Jamie Sinclair series to fans who enjoys mysteries with a strong female lead.
Profile Image for Victor Gentile.
2,035 reviews66 followers
March 30, 2015
Nichole Christoff in her new book, “The Kill Shot” Book Two in the Jamie Sinclair series published by Alibi gives us another adventure with Jamie Sinclair.

From the back cover: In an explosive thriller for readers of Lee Child, Alex Berenson, and Brad Taylor, P.I. and security specialist Jamie Sinclair finds herself caught in a dangerous game of international cat-and-mouse.

Jamie Sinclair’s father has never asked her for a favor in her life. The former two-star general turned senator is more in the habit of giving his only child orders. So when he requests Jamie’s expertise as a security specialist, she can’t refuse—even though it means slamming the brakes on her burgeoning relationship with military police officer Adam Barrett. Just like that, Jamie hops aboard a flight to London with a U.S. State Department courier carrying a diplomatic pouch in an iron grip.

Jamie doesn’t have to wait long to put her unique skills to good use. When she and the courier are jumped by goons outside the Heathrow terminal, Jamie fights them off—but the incident puts her on high alert. Someone’s willing to kill for the contents of the bag. Then a would-be assassin opens fire in crowded Covent Garden, and Jamie is stunned to spot a familiar face: Adam Barrett, who saves her life with a single shot and calmly slips away. Jamie’s head—and her heart—tell her that something is very wrong. But she’s come way too far to turn back now.

It should have been an easy assignment. Her father asked her to accompany the messenger with the passport for the Middle Eastern physicist and then turn around and escort him back to the United States. Simple. Except things do not always work out that way for Jamie. First they attack her then they try to kill her and they almost succeed. I had never heard of a security specialist before. It is not a job I want however it is fine for Jamie. “The Kill Shot” will keep you guessing as to what is going on. There is plenty of action, suspense and a fair amount of thrills within these pages. What I recommend is you take the phone off the hook, go to the bathroom, then make a big bucket of popcorn to hold you because you will want to finish this book in one reading. I like Jamie Sinclair and I am so looking forward to her next adventure.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from TLC Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Profile Image for Deb.
1,333 reviews65 followers
March 20, 2015
Review Excerpt:

There are many things I liked about The Kill Shot starting with Jamie herself--she is smart, driven, holds her own in a male-dominated career, and has a sense of humor. She's not perfect and has plenty of issues--some deeply buried and some readily apparent. I also like Barrett, who although strong and no-nonsense, also has a soft side and unlike her ex-husband and father, is pretty supportive of Jamie and her skills. I think the pacing of the book was good--I like a lot of action and tension in my mystery thrillers and The Kill Shot provided it. London is a vibrant and intense city and most of the action in this book was set there. Author Christoff did a great job of bringing the city to life.

There were a few things in The Kill Shot that I disliked and that drove me a bit crazy. The first, for all of Jamie's reported skills as a security specialist, she seemed to lose a lot of ground in this second book. She made more mistakes than I would think someone with her experience would in keeping both herself and her clients safe and undetected, and she missed a whole lot of (pretty glaring in my opinion) clues. I like twists in my thrillers where I get at least a bit of a surprise at the end and while action-packed, this book did not have that. I spent at least half the book screaming at Jamie in my mind (OK, maybe a few times out loud too) about why she wasn't listening to/observing what was going on around her and without going into much plot-spoiling detail, who not to trust and who the 'bad guys' were. It just seemed pretty obvious.

Overall I did actually enjoy both books--The Kill List, more than The Kill Shot as Jamie seemed more on her game in the first book. The writing and the combination of the mystery/spy/military angles held my interest and kept me turning the pages. I will definitely seek out the next book in the series with high hopes that the relationship with Jamie and Barrett progresses but that Jamie gets her head back in the game of security and crime solving.

Probably 3.5 stars rounded down to 3 for me.

You can read my full review with a vegan chocolate truffle recipe inspired by the book on my blog post here: http://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/20...

Note: A review copy of "The Kill Shot" as well as a copy of The Kill List were provided to me by the publisher and TLC Book Tours in return for a fair and honest review. I was not compensated for this review and as always my thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Mignon Mykel.
Author 87 books686 followers
April 14, 2015
4.5 / 5 stars

eview copy provided through Tasty Book Tours/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Full review, with excerpt(s)/quote(s) can be found at original posting:
http://mnonmklreviews.blogspot.com/20...


Stephanie Plum and Eve Dallas, meet Jamie Sinclaire.

This book felt and read very much like the Plum and In Death series'. It was kind of an 'in the middle' type of read, maybe more In Death than Plum (in terms of serious versus comical).

Jamie does protection/rescue detail, and at the urging of her father, she ends up in the UK. She is to keep a girl named Katie safe as she's traveling, more or less.

Through the ins and outs of this story, you see Jamie doing what she does best -- protection, evade, escape. You see her battle emotions with a certain Adam Barrett, but then with her friend Philip. Barrett is Military Police and is out of the country often on assignment, and her friend Philip lives over in the UK.

Nichole did a really great job of writing the suspense aspect. I liked watching Jamie battle with her emotions and desires -- she's a divorcee and is finding her way back in the emotional pool. However, the romance aspect is not the forefront of this novel.

...but being the reader that I am, those were the parts that kept me wanting more. I wanted to see more Barrett/Jamie interaction. I found that when they were together, everything was real and truthful. The touches, the comments, the looks. I just loved them together.

I especially loved that in her world of men who keep things from her, regardless of her occupation, Barrett shared with her (what he could). Sure, parts of his job had to be kept under wraps, but when things concerned her or would somehow effect her, he didn't cajole, or hide, or lie... he told her.

This was a story of twists and turns. The plot was always moving and keeping the reader on her (/his?) toes. But while, yes, there were more serious aspects than any other, I did enjoy the brief moments of comedy:

[Barrett] "You’d better come see this.”
I wasn’t going to come see anything. Not while I was stark naked and soaking wet.


At some point, Plum and Dallas fell off my radar. I'm going to make it a point to keep Jamie Sinclair on it.
Profile Image for Dan Curnutt.
400 reviews19 followers
January 15, 2015
I enjoy a good mystery, spy novel, military novel, Private Investigator novel and political thriller. This novel has the potential for all of that. It involves each aspect as much as possible and then they are woven together for a good read.

I only had one small problem with the story; Jaime Sinclair is a Private Investigator, the daughter of a Military man and now a U.S. Senator. But franklin she left something to be desired in the investigative skill in this novel. Christoff writes the story with plenty of subterfuge and misdirection. There are plenty of characters who might be the bad guy or the good guy, but you aren’t sure. But what bothered me was the fact that there were little things Jaime should have seen or recognized that would have lead her to a quicker resolution of the issue.

Maybe she was too caught up in the relational/love angels that kept coming her way and they clouded her judgment, but her judgment was clouded and that shouldn’t have really happened.

So, with my frustration put aside (I figured things out long before Jaime) I tried to enjoy the story for the gist of what was happening. That I was able to do and enjoyed the writing.

There are some other issues with how someone can infiltrate a secret military site, but that will be left for another discussion.

Jaime Sinclair and Lt. Colonial Adam Barrett will be tasked with helping a defecting Dr. of Physics leave a Middle Eastern Country and defect to the U.S. They will do all in their power to make her transfer safe and easy, but the Middle Eastern country doesn’t want to loose their prized physicists’ and will do everything in their power to get her back.

Then add the British to the mix and their desire to retain the good doctor for themselves and you have a three way circus of events that will keep the story moving, changing and rambling toward an end that will not make any of the three groups happy.

I enjoyed Ms. Christoff’s first book I read very much. I enjoyed this book as well, but not as much as the other. I think there are some small changes that would have made the story more believable and more exciting, but that is just me.

Enjoy!
Profile Image for Dolly Sandor.
528 reviews42 followers
March 25, 2015
3.5 Stars!

Not exactly what I expected. I really enjoy thrillers and suspense novels and Kill Shot sounded like a good fit for me when I found it on NetGalley.

What I didn't like: The purpose of the suspense novel to me is it keeps the reader guessing and Kill Shot fell somewhat short in that area. I'm not sure what Ms Christoff had in mind but it was almost as if she had a secret and couldn't keep it. The subtle clues about the antagonist were not subtle. I felt like I was being hit over the head with clues that said, "look at me, look at me".

The synopsis indicates the heroine, Jamie Sinclair, is security specialist but again, this character seemed almost inept. She seems to be always reacting and not planning things out. She trusted people when she definitely shouldn't and didn't seem to be security conscious at all. I didn't find her to have any unique skills at all.

I couldn't connect with any of the characters except one. Jamie's father came across more as a bully than a father. (My Dad spent a career in the military and the way the Senator is written just doesn't ring true).

What I liked: The one character I liked and felt connected to is Jamie's maybe love interest, Adam Barrett. He was extremely capable and knew what he was doing. He wasn't necessarily reacting to the situations the group found themselves involved in. He planned and was more than a good judge of character.

I know it sounds like I didn't enjoy Kill Shot but it did have some good parts. The author has an easy to read writing style. Her worldbuilding seems to be on point and characters are almost interesting. There were a couple of twists with one character that I didn't exactly see coming. This is the second book in the series and I didn't read the first, so maybe I missed something.

While not a huge fan of this book, I might try something else by Ms Christoff down the road. I would recommend Kill Shot to readers who just might be dipping their toes into suspense/thriller novels. A veteran reader of those genres might not enjoy it very much.
Profile Image for Annabel Krantz.
122 reviews8 followers
March 19, 2015
A few months ago, I reviewed The Kill List, the first novel in the Jamie Sinclair series. I liked the feisty female security specialist with a take-no-prisoners attitude. The Kill Shot is the second book in the series, and Jamie returned in full force.

The Kill Shot saw Jamie off-balance from the beginning. When her father, a hard-ass senator whose approval Jamie desperately desires, asks her to do a ‘favour’, she finds herself in London. What was supposed to be a basic security detail job turns into a race against time to keep a Middle Eastern defector safe from the political forces who want to see her dead – or kept alive to be used as a bargaining tool.

I like political thrillers, so was familiar with the shady way that the players were conducting their business throughout this novel. However, there were times when Jamie, a professional, seemed a little behind the eight ball. Perhaps it was all the romance throwing her off balance…

While there were romantic undertones to the first book (the lovely Barrett was quite the charmer), in this book Barrett faced competition in the form of posh, gorgeous, cheeky Philip (who also was quite the charmer). With the two men vying for her attention, Jamie was at best a little distracted during her time in London. Understandable, I would have had trouble choosing between these two guys!! That said, there was a fair bit of focus on the romance in this book, perhaps at the detriment of the thriller aspect. However, it was well written, and kept me hooked… though perhaps a little more invested in the Barrett/Philip storyline than the political aspect!

While I enjoyed this book, I must admit that I preferred the first book in the series. It seemed a little more focused, and the mystery was more developed. That said, I’m partial to a little chick lit, and don’t mind when romance pops up amid gunfire! This book is definitely still worth a read. I’m looking forward to seeing where Christoff takes the character next!
Profile Image for Diane Coto.
388 reviews10 followers
March 12, 2015
This is the second in the Jamie Sinclair series. Her father, Senator James Sinclair (former Army Major General), is asking Jamie to accompany Katie DeMarco, a State Department Courier, to London. Jamie notices Katie is carrying a diplomatic pouch that exempts her from any search and seizure at the airport. In London, as they were making their way from the airport, someone grabs the pouch. But before they could take off, Jamie retrieves the pouch. Now it is torn and she can see it contains S Passports for people planning to defect. Katie finally explains it is for a physicist from a Middle Eastern rogue state who will trade secrets about a nuclear weapons program in exchange for asylum.

Jamie is escorting Katie, the physicist and family when once again they are placed in danger. She ushers them into a bookstore and faces the man who then opens fire on one of her charges. But, someone takes him down before he can get a kill shot. Jamie thinks that someone looks an awful lot like her boyfriend and military police officer, Adam Barrett.

The story is in Jamie’s first person account. I love that she wears square rimmed glasses; I think it helps us realize she is more like us and not some super-model. She’s portrayed at being very skilled and professional in her job, which is that of a PI and Security Specialist. However, I couldn’t completely understand why she would have been asked to escort someone in an international situation. Once she realized Barrett was also in London on the same mission, she complained that her father did not trust her. However, after shots are fired, it is clear to me that her mission would have failed if not for Barrett. I think she made mistakes in judgment in this novel and I felt frustrated that she seemed naïve about who to trust. I rated The Kill Shot at 3.5 out of 5.
Profile Image for Elaine - Splashes Into Books.
3,883 reviews137 followers
February 19, 2015
This is the second book in this series staring Jamie, the daughter of an ex-army officer who is now a senator. She continues to be a highly successful security consultant and private investigator and in this story she is given the task of escorting a US official to meet up with a nuclear scientist in London and then to bring them both safely back to the US. It seems like a straightforward mission - but, as in the earlier book, nothing is straightforward when Jamie is involved!

The nuclear physicist turns out to be a young lady and that's just the first of the surprises in store for Jamie. In this story she renews her acquaintance with two possible love interests - Adam Barrett, the US Military policeman who was introduced to readers in book one, and an ex-college 'friend' Philip Spencer-Dean who works for the British Foreign Office. It seems the scientist is in demand, so much so that rival factions are out to get her to work for them, to kidnap or kill her - and Jamie is in the thick of it, again. Romantic opportunities will distract Jamie but there's so much double dealing and back stabbing going on that it is difficult for her to decide just who she should be able to trust! The mystery and intrigue which permeated the first story in this series is a key component in this one, too, making it another 'must read this to the end' book, one you don't want to put down till all is resolved. I also highly recommend this book - and will be looking out for other works by this author in future.

Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley, too, for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
1,112 reviews8 followers
May 31, 2015
In the first book of this series, Jamie ends up doing a favor for her ex husband. This time, it is her senator father who is asking for her help. He really doesn't give her a choice in the matter, and Jamie finds her date with Adam interrupted and her butt in a seat on a plane bound for London. Jamie is accompanying a diplomatic envoy on a mission to retrieve a defecting scientist. As soon as the plane touches down, the action takes off. Unfortunately, this assignment is even more dangerous than Jamie's last. As she works to get the scientist out of the country, she encounters not only danger but her old friend, Philip, who is a high ranking official in the British government. Philip and Jamie definitely have some chemistry, but to complicate matters, Jamie spots Adam apparently undercover in London as well. Philip and Adam both plant doubts about each other, but which one is manipulating her and which one just wants to keep her safe?

I totally enjoy this series and these characters. Jamie can take care of herself and speaks her mind without being hard. The story had lots of action and plenty of twists to keep the reader guessing. I recommend it highly, but while it can be read as a standalone, it will have a much bigger impact if you read The Kill List first. Thanks go to Net Galley for providing a copy of this book.
Profile Image for Marissa.
3,577 reviews47 followers
March 17, 2015
Kindle Copy for Review

Jamie Sinclair private investigator whose father Sinclair is a US Senator and former military general. He is used to giving orders and issues his only child to go to London to escort a US diplomat courier and help bring a father and daughter back to America. She is not given any say, as she leaves behind a potential relationship with a military police officer Adam Barrett as she leaves him behind.

On her arrival it does not tale Jamie long to find herself in danger as goons try to harm the courier at the airport. She quickly realizes people are willing to kill for the daughter as the father is kidnapped. When in a crowded tourist spot, Convent Gardens, an assassin opens fire and Barrett ends up shooting him dead and disappears in the crowd, she knows something is really wrong.

Can she trust Barrett with her life and those she is supposed to protect? The more she investigates, the more her life is in danger. Who can she trust in this political game and what role does her father play in this since he is not willing to tell or speak to her since she left for London?

An interesting read that keeps the reader guessing the players and their motives.
Profile Image for Mark Easter.
680 reviews11 followers
Read
July 19, 2015

In an explosive thriller for readers of Lee Child, Alex Berenson, and Brad Taylor, P.I. and security specialist Jamie Sinclair finds herself caught in a dangerous game of international cat-and-mouse.

Jamie Sinclair’s father has never asked her for a favor in her life. The former two-star general turned senator is more in the habit of giving his only child orders. So when he requests Jamie’s expertise as a security specialist, she can’t refuse—even though it means slamming the brakes on her burgeoning relationship with military police officer Adam Barrett. Just like that, Jamie hops aboard a flight to London with a U.S. State Department courier carrying a diplomatic pouch in an iron grip.

Jamie doesn’t have to wait long to put her unique skills to good use. When she and the courier are jumped by goons outside the Heathrow terminal, Jamie fights them off—but the incident puts her on high alert. Someone’s willing to kill for the contents of the bag. Then a would-be assassin opens fire in crowded Covent Garden, and Jamie is stunned to spot a familiar face: Adam Barrett, who saves her life with a single shot and calmly slips away. Jamie’s head—and her heart—tell her that something is very wrong. But she’s come way too far to turn back now.

82 reviews2 followers
April 14, 2015
This was a great read! The main character Jamie Sinclare is a strong female lead. She is strong, inside and out and smart. She has her flaws but those flaws make her more real. The plot was well written with plenty of action to keep me reading late into the night to see what would happen next. This story grabbed my attention from the first page and kept it to the end. There are plenty of twists and turns and some edge of your seat action. The plot is still believable with no over the top moments. The characters are all well written and believable. You come to know the characters and care what happens to them.
This is a great stand alone novel but I do suggest you read The Kill List first, as you come to know Jamie and other characters more and you see why they make decisions they make. I think it makes The Kill Shot more enjoyable.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. I can't wait to read more by this author. Definitely a great novel!
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not effect my review one way or the other. I was excited to read this book after I read The Kill List.
Profile Image for Kari.
4,024 reviews95 followers
March 23, 2015
If you are looking for a non-stop action packed book full of intrigue and spy chasing, then you should definitely check this one out. The Kill Shot is the second book featuring Jamie Sinclair, private detective-turned-security-agent for hire. Her Senator father hires her for what seems to be a routine job; guarding someone delivering a US diplomatic pouch to London and home again. Once Jamie gets off the plane in London, she quickly realizes that this job is anything but routine.

I devoured this book. I literally read it in a couple of hours because I couldn't walk away from it. It was non-stop action from the beginning and didn't let up until the end. You never know who to trust in the book so it definitely will keep you on your toes. Jamie Sinclair is a great character. She is great at what she does, smart and beautiful. She is hesitant to give into her feelings for Adam, I did find that part of the book frustrating. I hope that he shows up in the next book and that they make some more progress. It would hate to have the" should I or shouldn't I?" question go on for too many books.

I am looking forward to the next book
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