First Kill: A Kirk McGarvey Novel

Kirk McGarvey #24

by David Hagberg

Renowned thriller writer David Hagberg continues his New York Times bestselling Kirk McGarvey series with this riveting origin story for the CIA assassin in First Kill.

It is the beginning of Kirk McGarvey's career as a CIA black ops officer. Fresh out of the Air Force OSI, he receives his first assassinate a Chilean general known as the Butcher of Valparaiso, a monster who has tortured and killed more than one thousand dissidents at a soccer stadium in Valparaiso.

McGarvey manages to cross the border over the mountains from Argentina without being discovered, and even makes his way to the general's remote compound. But the odds are stacked against him. Chile's National Intelligence Agency, the ANI, has been warned of his approach and wants him to fail--and someone back home in Washington is working to make sure he does.

For this newly-minted assassin, killing the butcher is only the beginning.

Genres: Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 2019

About the author

aka David Bannerman, Sean Flannery, David James, Robert Pell, Eric Ramsey

David Hagberg is a former Air Force cryptographer who has traveled extensively in Europe, the Arctic, and the Caribbean and has spoken at CIA functions. He has published more than twenty novels of suspense, including the bestselling High Flight, Assassin, and Joshua's Hammer.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidh...

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written with good action and a hero worth following.

[Skip · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the weakest books in the Kirk McGarvey series, going back in time to his "first kill." McGarvey is tasked with killing a psychotic Chilean general, under Pinochet, who is torturing civilians thought to be dissidents, but probably just for his (and his wife's) enjoyment. Very political as Russia is trying to gain a foothold in the Western Hemisphere, and virtually every character in the novel knows McGarvey is coming to kill the general. There are two moles passing along information in the government, and people trying to kill McGarvey before he can even get to Chile. I especially disliked the combative relationship with his wife, Katy, who has not yet gotten used to McGarvey's CIA job. I sure hope #25 is better than this.

[Craig Wakefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

After 23 episodes in the saga of Kirk McGarvey, we confront Kirk as he begins his career with the CIA. As I began to read about the novice actions of Kirk I wondered have I read any of Hagberg's other books in this series? So I went to GoodReads and looked and low and behold I have read many in this series. What does this say for the impression that Kirk McGarvey has made on me. Would I consider reading all other 23 in the series if I had read this, the start of the story of McGarvey? Probably not.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taking a ride on the wayback machine, this book takes the reader back 20+ years to McGarvey's first target.
Marital issues, betrayal, at least one mole are all in the way of Mac's assignment.

[Robert Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read David Hagberg’s books since his first Kirk McGarvey book “Without Honor” back in 1989. He has certainly evolved into an excellent storyteller and the McGarvey character has evolved as well. This book takes us back to the beginning of McGarvey’s career. First rate and fast moving I really did find it hard to put down. Easy to read and full of excitement I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone that loves the spy genre.

[Robert Knorr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent! What a great “throw-back” — have thoroughly enjoyed Kirk McGarvey’s exploits over the years and this was a thrill packed adventure of his early years.

Never disappointed with David Hagberg’s writing.

4.5!

[Ricki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as great as the others but still a good read.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The action in this isn't bad but the story is nothing new. I also don't care for this new trend of retreating to the past because the lead character is getting too old for action scenes.

[Wayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read 23 of the 24 Kirk McGarvey novels and found many of them fun, exciting reads. Unfortunately , only 1 of the last 7 has brought me the enjoyment the others have. First Kill is my least favorite Kirk McGarvey novel. It is a confusing, uninteresting story with characters from Russia, Mexico, Chile, and the United States. Russia and the US both seem to have a problem with moles within their governments. Who they are is never clearly established. There is a lot of'babbling' without much action until things pick up in Chapter 58. Then there is a hint of what made McGarvey novels so enjoyable. Unfortunately, this did not last through the end of the book. Kirk is able to carry out his mission, including his first assassination. His work with the CIA ruins his family life, but his work comes first. According to David Hagberg, "I've been asked a number of times to go back to when McGarvey was just starting out, and how it deeply affected the rest of his life - and ultimately, the price just about everyone close to him paid."
Perhaps, the Kirk McGarvey saga has reached its end. I wish it were not so. Disappointing.

[Mike Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this is the latest book in the Kirk McGarvey series, it is actually a prequel that covers his first kill for the CIA. Wasn’t a great read, but wasn’t awful either. I felt that this book assumes that the reader is familiar with the series and hopes that familiarity is enough to draw you in and catch your interest. The problem is after 20 some novels, the storylines from the first few novels are well in the past.

The story was a little jumbled, but after a slow start there is a fair amount of action. It is odd to see an earlier version of McGarvey that isn’t perfect and makes some mistakes. The story didn’t really have an ending that provided closure. Instead it felt like it was a set up to the series itself.

I know there is one more books scheduled to be published this fall. It will be interesting to see if the series continues with Mr. Hagberg’s passing last year.

[Dan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The introduction to the books states that Hagberg had request to tell the story about how Kirk McGarvey got started-Where did he come from" This is the story!!

It is the beginning of Kirk McGarvey's career as a CIA black ops officer. Fresh out of the Air Force OSI, he receives his first assignment: assassinate a Chilean general known as the Butcher of Valparaiso, a monster who has tortured and killed more than one thousand dissidents at a soccer stadium in Valparaiso.

McGarvey manages to cross the border over the mountains from Argentina without being discovered, and even makes his way to the general's remote compound. But the odds are stacked against him. Chile's National Intelligence Agency, the ANI, has been warned of his approach and wants him to fail—and someone back home in Washington is working to make sure he does.

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The “game” has as as many rules as it does operators. A very provocative look at the ethics and moral equivalency of espionage and political assassination. This book is a kind of prequel to the author’s many successful books featuring CIA agent and assassin Kirk McGarvey. It tracks his first major assignment and his “baptism by fire” to the ambiguities and sacrifices imposed by his chosen career.

[Martin Lesher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast and furious as you read you have to keep looking over
your shoulder It’s all action and surprises that you don’t see
Coming but jump up and xplode.
I can’t xplain who does what to whom because it’s all going on at the same time.
In between there is real life going on,love,marriage,children, heart aches, friends and enemies
Trouble, sacrifice,life and death.
You have to read it to believe it
msl1313

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A prequel to the vintage Kirk McGarvey series that started 30 years ago with "Without Honor"...His 1st foray into his "wet work" specialty...tasked to kill one of Pinochet's officers "disappearing" thousands of Chileans in opposition to the General...sets the ground work for the rough patch that Kirk and Katy get through in the later novels...Decent!

[Rock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story!
It's always fun to go back in time with a character you like and McGarvey's 'first kill', referenced often in the series, was definitely fun.
I was surprised McGarvey comes off no different than in the last novel, though younger.
No real insights or anything like that, but a very enjoyable read.

[Lou]

This was another good read. McGarvey is a green CIA officer who is given an opportunity to perform his first hit.
Like other books I have read, this got a bit bogged down with political infighting, but the intensity of the intrigue in what McGarvey and his enemies were plotting made up for it.

[Tracy Wilson]

tough to get into

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

My four star was generous. Too many characters and a long read which could have been condensed.

[Ernest · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed the book and story of Kirk starting on his jurney

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Kirk McGarvey!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook. CIA with his first assignment. Good book. I will try to find more of his books to listen to.

[D.F. Haley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh!