The Hitman's Guide to Stately Fences and Killer Defenses

The Hitman's Guide #8

by Alice Winters, Michael Ferraiuolo (Narrator)

Leland

Life is normal…suspiciously normal.

During my long, lonely years as a hitman, I never realized that one day, I would have a family to call my own.

Now, instead of stalking my targets and taking down people with a flick of my wrist, my specialties lie in things like planning sleepovers (why does Waylon look terrified?), The Fence hour (those are screams of joy), and involving others to help our child succeed (no, of course I didn’t abduct anyone).

But for a guy like me, things can’t stay good for too long. Someone seems to think that I should still be the ruthless hitman I used to be. They want to draw me back into the limelight and prove to me that what I’m living now is a lie.

But they don’t realize how much they’re going to regret meeting the Sandman–especially once they threatened my family.

Jackson

This person seems to be obsessed with an image of Leland from the past, and because of it, we now have a crime boss on our tail and a bounty on Leland’s head. The stalker has no idea that Leland comes with multiple ex-assassins, a sketchy Scotsman, and the chief of police who likes to pretend he doesn’t want to be involved.

I adore my life with Leland just the way it is (someone, please burn down The Fence), and no one is going to ruin that (I will pay well).

They’d better be afraid to sleep because the Sandman is coming (and if they took down The Fence while they were at it, I wouldn’t mind).

Genres: M M Romance, LGBT, Audiobook, Contemporary, Humor, Romance, Action

10 pages, Audible Audio

Published January 20, 2026

About the author

Alice Winters started writing stories as soon as she was old enough to turn her ideas into written words. She loves writing a variety of things from romance and comedy to action. She also enjoys reading, horseback riding, and spending time with her pets.

Follow me on Facebook where I put up short stories, teasers, and giveaways: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Alice...

Join my newsletter: https://www.alicewintersauthor.com/

Reviews

[Lucie V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

✅ 2 POVs
✅ Characters
✅ Found Family
✅ Banter and silly situations
✅ Cute established couple
✅ Action
✅ Pace and plot
✅(🆗) The Fence (it was funny, but it’s enough now)
❗️❗️Trigger warnings: shooting, murders, mention of mild torture (off-page, secondary character)
🔥 Spice level : 🌶️🌶️🌶️ / 5

I will keep this review brief, as I feel that by the 8th book of the series, readers know what to expect from this author and from this crazy group of dangerous people.

Seeing the whole gang together was awesome. Leeland’s antics and silly humor are just as over the top and absurd as always, but I loved it. This is what I want when I read this series: silly banter, stupid jokes, ridiculous over-the-top situations, and never-ending running gags.

The plot is simple, and I like it that way. This author sometimes makes her plot too convoluted, and I ended up being all lost, until the main character explained everything (because clearly I was not the only one being lost). In this book, it is straightforward, and there is no piling of betrayal on top of other betrayals. A mysterious stalker is after Leeland, trying to force him to become the Sandman and to kill again, and going so far as to threaten Leeland’s family and to orchestrate murders, making it look like the Sandman did it.

I loved seeing more of Waylon, especially now that he is starting to be more at ease with Leeland andJackson, and does not hesitate to sass Leeland. It is also nice that he keeps his personality and does not turn into a mini Leeland, despite Leeland's efforts. He really feels like a teenager who is embarrassed by most of what Leeland does, poor Waylon.

Will we get a book about Everly and Micah? They are the only ones still tiptoeing around each other, and I would love to see the gang again. On the other hand, some of the running gags have lived long and prosperous lives and need to be put to rest. I love the series' ridiculousness and the OTT characters, but I feel the jokes have been quite repetitive in the past few books. The ending (and I mean the very last paragraph) also has this feeling of contentment and closure. I do not know if the author is planning any more books in this series, but if she leaves it at that, it would be a cute and satisfying ending.


1. The Hitman’s Guide to Making Friends and Finding Love ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
2. The Hitman’s Guide to Staying Alive Despite Past Mistakes ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
3. The Hitman’s Guide to Tying the Knot Without Getting Shot ⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. The Former Assassin's Guide to Snagging a Reluctant Boyfriend ⭐⭐⭐⭐
5. The Hitman’s Guide to Righting Wrongs and Causing Mayhem ⭐⭐⭐⭐
6. The Hitman's Guide to Codenames and Ill-Gotten Gains ⭐⭐⭐⭐
7. The Mercenary's Guide to Mishaps and Romance ⭐⭐⭐.5


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[Ditte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh how I missed Leland and co. This was like being back with the most unhinged and chaotic family. Lots of laughs.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in such a weird mood today and no book was engaging me - I tried five or six before I remembered this one had been released and it was exactly what I needed!

Leland's shenanigans were amusing as ever, I swing back and forth on whether I think The Fence TM is funny or not (I'm team Jackson on this) and it was great to see the whole group together.

Waylon is probably my favourite character and I love how he's starting to sass Leland and Jackson more and not panic (too much) about possible reactions.

The bad guy plot was interesting, the stalker was insane, and how on earth does Leland win people over?!

I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for an Everly and Micah book though...

[Cadiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot love these books enough

I could read about the antics of this ragtag band of chaos goblins for decades and never get tired of their insane antics.

This book is no exception and I honestly have no clue how Alice manages to pull these plots out of her head and make me fully engaged in the madness.

[Debra ~~ seriously slacking on her reviews ~~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've got to say, I really enjoyed this installment. The series has been hit or miss, honestly all the author's books sometimes verge on too much nonsense for me, but I had no problems with this one. I found myself laughing out loud, and I love it that Leland is letting those pesky emotions shine through more often, especially with that sassy child of his Waylon. Expect all the usual shenanigans and an interesting plot connected to Leland's past as the Sandman.

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of the same, in a good way (for the most part - that sex scenes are baaaad, as per usual).

I’m starting to forget who’s who and what’s what. Might just be a me problem. COVID brain damage and all.

[Kristel (hungryandhappy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just never get tired of reading about these characters and now there's so many of them helping Leland on another one of his wild adventures, now involving a stalker who wants him to go back being the Sandman.
Things got pretty dangerous and there was so much action, yet we also had a lot of hilarious bonding scenes and the steamy scenes were hotter than usual. I blushed a lot.
Leland and his aversion to emotions is surrounded by people he cares about and will protect with all his babies, aka his guns, and he has many of them. So so many.
Seeing them being parents to Waylon was incredible, I just love how over the top Leland is as a father and how much he puts into every single thing he does for the people he love. He is so intense that everyone is afraid of what he plans then end up having lots of fun. Leland just doesn't do things by halves. It's all or nothing at all, and 99,9% of the time it's all. I just adore his ridiculous booty!
Am I sensing an Everly and Micah book in the horizon?? I can't wait for even more Hitman shenanigans!

[Abigail | mooretoread | · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love this chaotic crew so much! This was exactly what I needed to read right now. I was laughing and smiling the whole time- the humor and banter in Alice’s books never let me down. I actually feel like this one really hit all the feels too. Jackson and Leland as dads was just the best. I love Waylon so much!

I need a Micah and Everly story asap! I’ll be happy if this series never ends!

[Sudsana Reads (mostly smut) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Feelings? Not really my thing. I’d rather pester the ones I love.”

📗4.5 stars. 1st March, 2026. Enjoyed this series a lot! It got grating at times (yes, Leland 🙄), and almost every book was high angst except 1. But surprisingly, it was also very heartwarming. The found family vibes really carried it. Castle used to be my fav, but Ellis stole that spot easily. Best couple was Tavish & Ellis. Tavish’s redemption arc was awesome. Leland’s book had great sex, but i hated how the SCs got robbed of it in theirs. Still, so glad i picked this up.

But what bothers me the most abut this series is that the fucked up monster lucas gets to live on. Jail is not a good comeuppance. He needed to stop living, violently.

🔹Story- 4⭐, Characters- 5⭐, Sex- 3.2⭐, Epilogue- n/a HFN→HEA⭐

●This finale starts with some chaotic domestic fluff. Leland’s sad yet hilarious attempt at parenting Weyland while the kid just wanted to invite a friend over! Aw poor child 😭 So obviously Leland overcompensated with skydiving and a posh dinner. We get a soft little moment. So sweet and funny!🥺

●Leland meets a deranged villain who is his “admirer.” This being the series finale, it’s the most action packed and dangerous.

●It’s focused a lot on how much Leland loves his kid and does anything to protect him. And how Jackson loves them all. It about how this found family (every SC) fit in the cog and play their part. ♥

●OMG Tavish was so silly and funny here. It just goes to show how good some of these characters redeem themselves. And Tavish and Ellis get some page time where he crochets the cute man a rainbow dragon and they share half of cookies! Ellis is just. so. cute!! Man i’m so bummed their book dropped the ball… Feel like i’ve been robbed of an amazing story.

●What i loved this time was seeing just how competent Leland is. The way he saves Cam was very thorough.

●“Chapter 14: WHAT THE FUCK.” 😂

●There’s 2 sex scenes. First at 61%. They watch tv and talk while doing it so it’s barely there. There’s no other indication than an occasional 1-2 words. They carry their convo as usual. 2nd one at the very last chapter. The series ends with a good one. Which also makes me think that books about SCs were deliberately done badly so that the main MCs get to have good ones. Just a tin foil theory. :)

Some issues:
♦️Since we don’t have any epilogues, we don’t know what happened to Weyland after Bennet was released from prison in the future. It just ends as in, in the present, hence HFN. Again, dunno if the fucker lukas ever died. May he never rest in peace.

♦️As usual, a very gut wrenching flashback.
♦️Absolutely disliked Dt. Patel. But i noticed Michael dropped the accent on her, which was strange.

Tropes & tags: PI x Assassin, killer “admirer”, found family, adopted kid, parenting, funny, brush teeth together, lap sitting, mid angst, horrible flashback, strict roles Jackson /t Leland /b, 1st person dual pov, HFN.
CW: Child being murdered (mentioned, in a flashback), gun violence, blood & gore.

[Readbookswithcats · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 8th book in the Hitman Guide’s series. This is about Leland and Jackson and their new son that they illegally adopted, Waylon. After an almost kidnapping on Waylon and an actual kidnapping on his friend, Leland and Jackson hunt the people responsible. They get mixed up in a big mafia family and this mysterious, masked man, who “helps” Leland, while also trying to goad Leland to become the Hitman he once was. The masked man’s obsession starts to threaten all who Leland hold’s dear and he can’t have that.

1000% adore this series!!! I am so happy the audio book is already out and I didn’t have to wait for Michael to narrate!! Leland is still in my top 5 favorite characters of all time!! I adore him and Jackson!! Waylon is adorable and sweet and there is a new (Spoiler) kitten!!!! All my favorite people show up, including blow up Rhonda and blow up Randy and THE FENCE!!!!
Another perfect book and they just get better!!!! 🫶🏻🫶🏻

[Chloe (ChloeReadsQueer)]

I went into The Hitman's Guide to Stately Fences and Killer Defenses with cautious optimism, especially after re-reading and enjoying the previous two installments more than I remembered, but this time the experience left me largely disengaged.

As I read, I felt a persistent sense of stagnation, as if the characters ended the book in almost the exact same emotional and narrative space where they began: one step forward, two steps back. The dynamic that once felt charming and chaotic now struck me as repetitive, and the story itself began to feel stale. I found myself questioning whether Alice Winters still had genuinely fresh adventures planned for these characters, or if it might have been better to let them rest rather than stretching the series further.

Aside from what felt like a light tease toward a potential Mica/Emery development (which was admittedly the only element that briefly caught my interest), the book failed to offer anything meaningfully new. The antagonists changed, but the formula did not, and there was no real growth, revelation, or narrative hook to keep me invested or curious about what might come next. It felt like the same conflicts playing out on a slightly altered stage, without adding depth or direction to the overarching story.

The narration itself was competently done, and I can’t fault the narrator’s performance; it was solid and professional. Unfortunately, even that wasn’t enough to elevate the material or fully hold my attention. While I did manage to finish the audiobook, it was more out of habit and commitment to the series than genuine engagement. By the end, I was left not with anticipation, but with a lingering sense of fatigue; disappointed not because the book was outright bad, but because it felt unnecessary.

[Chelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so happy that Leland and Jackson and the gang are back for a new book. This book was sooo good. I absolutely loved it. This book was hilarious which is the usual for Alice Winters books. I very highly recommend this series/book to everyone. I can't wait the audio of this book it will be amazing.

Thanks to the author for the ARC.

[lovesbooks1986 · Rating 5 out of 5]

mother

So Leland has an “admirer” trying to get him to come out of retirement.

This whole story was an adventure loved every minute of it, laughed a lot especially chapter 14 that was the best chapter of them all.

From the first book Leland always thought he was alone and now in this book you see has a lot of people who will be by his side including Tavish.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another instalment of hijinx and mayhem from the chaos master and his poor suffering hubby. With cameos from the whole gang and a new threat, this gives you all you expect from Alice. Adventure, found family, craziness and a dash of love thrown in.

[Michelle Thorne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another laugh out loud, 5 Star addition to the series!! I love everything about this crazy group of characters, they truly are the greatest found family ever. They are back saving the day and creating chaos. Be warned this book will make you LOL for real, so drink at your own risk!

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.25 stars

The Hitman’s Guide to Stately Fences and Killer Defenses is the eight book in Alice Winter’s Hitman’s Guide series. We have seen Leland and Jackson come a long way, and now they are settled into a (somewhat) normal life together. I mean, Leland is a chaos gremlin and they are constantly shooting at things, so it isn’t exactly calm, but it is much more of a regular life than Leland ever imagined or dreamed for himself. Then, suddenly, things erupt into chaos, as someone from Leland’s past unexpectedly appears back in his life.

This was a fun visit back to the world of this series and I continue to really like these stories. This is one is going to be best enjoyed by those who have followed along with at least some of the Hitman books, and I think there is lot to offer here.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.

[isthisakink · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5. Because this was fantastic and exactly everything I needed and I loved every word. Sincerest thanks for making a truly awful all-nighter/next day better.

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gotta love Leland and Jackson plus all the crew. The crack me up all the time. If you are looking for a quick read with lots of jokes, Leland madness, dead bodies, a mystery, and of course The Fence, this is the book for you. IRL i would strangle Leland in a heartbeat but on the page i absolutely love his insane antics.

[Jacqueleen the Reading Queen♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

let's just say many drivers looked at me funny while I listened to this book on my commute to work and was basically in hysterics half the time. full rtc

[Katie Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved being back with leland Jackson and friends

the story was absolutely incredible it had funny moments intense moments and edge of the seat moments Ioved every moment of this story

[Doctor Emeritus · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hitman's Guide to Stately Fences and Killer Defenses is a warm, funny, and surprisingly grounded five‑star entry that feels like a love letter to the entire Hitman universe. Winters assumes you’ve read the previous books, and I’m treating earlier installments as fair game rather than spoilers, which matches how the story itself is structured. I read it slowly as I know there isn't a next installment waiting for me.

One of the most refreshing parts of this installment is Leland’s emotional arc. For once, he isn’t spiraling or whining about feelings, and the result is a version of him that feels steady, capable, and still wonderfully chaotic. His humor is intact, his devotion to Jackson and Waylon is unwavering, and his emotional clarity gives the book a calm center amid the usual disaster.

Waylon is an excellent addition to the regular cast, and his presence makes Jackson and Leland feel like a complete family. Some of the best moments in the book are the quiet, domestic ones, where a gay couple is portrayed as normal, loving, and deeply connected without the narrative needing to justify it. Waylon fits into their world with ease, and the three of them together create some of the most emotionally satisfying scenes Winters has written.

Henry finally gets more love in this book, and it is a joy to see him move closer to the foreground. Even though he isn’t the central focus, his scenes carry weight, humor, and a sense of history that enriches everything around him. He feels less like a side character and more like an essential pillar of this world. His active choice to engage in "shenanigans" was a nice change, versus his reluctance in past novels.

Tavish and Ellis remain an adorable, chaotic pair, and their stability adds a nice counterpoint to Jackson and Leland’s brand of madness. At the same time, Winters is clearly and carefully foreshadowing something between Micah and Everly. Given her pattern of planting seeds a book or two ahead, their interactions feel like deliberate groundwork for a future story.

And then there is The Fence. At this point, the joke is so old that Winters has literally put it in the title, and I felt myself groaning every time it appeared. I am completely with Jackson here and would be thrilled if the damn thing finally burned down.

The plot is brisk, funny, and full of the escalating nonsense that defines this series, but it also has a softness that feels like a reward for readers who have stuck with these characters. The Hitman books can be uneven, but this one is undeniably a high note and feels like a celebration of the found family Winters has built.

My only real wish is that, at some point, Waylon had called Jackson or Leland “dad.” The emotional groundwork is there, the relationship is there, and that single word would have landed with incredible force. Even without it, though, the family dynamic is one of the book’s most rewarding elements.

The final stretch of the book gives Jackson, Leland, and Waylon a sense of stability that feels like a genuine ending. The way they move together as a family, instinctively protecting one another and planning a future that includes all three of them, makes the closing chapters feel like a soft landing. If this were the last time we saw these characters, it would be a fitting and emotionally satisfying place to leave them.

The Micah and Everly setup is unmistakable. Their shared scenes are small but loaded, from the way Micah relaxes around Everly to the hints that Micah sees more in him than just another survivor. It works beautifully as a tease for whatever Winters might write next, but if this truly is the end of the Hitman series, those threads will feel deliberately, and a bit frustratingly, unresolved.

I give Winters credit for introducing Colby (under an alias) early in the book. In past novels, the villain comes out of nowhere and isn't someone that we could easily have guessed. Here, there are lots of red herrings, and I was absolutely down with that. Detective Patel's arc was decent, although it was kind of left hanging as to why she went rogue without her partner.

The Hitman’s Guide to Stately Fences and Killer Defenses leaves the cast in a hopeful, stable, and emotionally complete place. It isn’t officially labeled as the final book, but if it were, it would be a fitting and satisfying close to a series that has always balanced absurdity with heart. If you’ve read the others, this one is absolutely a must‑read and a well‑earned high note to end on.

[Samantha Ortega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Author

FR- Alors alors.... alors The Hitman's Guide est une série que j'aime beaucoup.

Je ne vais pas m'étendre sur le pourquoi du comment, quand on en arrive à 8 tomes dans une série, les gens savent un peu de quoi on parle. Ce tome 8 ne fait pas exception à la règle.  On y retrouve tous les éléments qu'on aime dont le coté complètement loufoque de Leland.

The Hitman's Guide to Stately Fences and Killer Defenses ne peut que ravir les fans de la série.

Alice Winters nous propose un tome dans la lignée des précédents et réunis toute l'équipe sur la majorité du roman. J'aima vraiment plusieurs personnages secondaires de cette série et c'est toujours un plaisir de les retrouver. Ils sont tous aussi tarés les uns que les autres et j'ai énormément rit pendant ma lecture.

Alors oui parfois c'est too much. Mais c'est ce qu'on aime dans cette série.

Les situations plus rocambolesques les unes que les autres s'enchainent et Alice Winters nous régale des loufoqueries de ses personnages. Cependant l'intrigue est vraiment bien amenée et le méchant m'a vraiment intriguée toute ma lecture.
C'était également un plaisir de voir Waylon évoluer au sein de sa nouvelle famille et de s'affirmer de plus en plus. Leland va avoir du fil à retordre avec lui.

La fin du roman laisse supposer qu'il s'agira du dernier tome, bien qu'Alice Winters n'ai rien dit dans un sens ou dans l'autre. J'espère cependant avoir un dernier tome sur Everly et Micah

En résumé, The Hitman's Guide to Stately Fences and Killer Defenses est un excellent tome dans une excellente série.
ENG-So, so... so, The Hitman's Guide is a series I really enjoy.

I won't go into the whys and wherefores; when a series reaches eight books, people know what they're talking about. This eighth book is no exception. It has all the elements we love, including Leland's completely wacky personality.

The Hitman's Guide to Stately Fences and Killer Defenses is sure to delight fans of the series.

Alice Winters delivers a book in keeping with the previous ones and reunites the whole team for most of the novel. I really like several of the secondary characters in this series, and it's always a pleasure to see them again. They're all equally crazy, and I laughed a lot while reading it.

So yes, sometimes it's a bit much. But that's what we love about this series.

The increasingly outlandish situations unfold one after another, and Alice Winters delights us with the eccentricities of her characters. However, the plot is very well-developed, and the villain truly intrigued me throughout my reading.

It was also a pleasure to see Waylon grow within his new family and become more and more assertive. Leland is going to have his hands full with him.

The end of the novel suggests that this will be the final volume, although Alice Winters hasn't said anything one way or the other. I do hope, however, that there will be a final volume focusing on Everly and Micah.

In short, The Hitman's Guide to Stately Fences and Killer Defenses is an excellent installment in an excellent series.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

a fantastic novel. It’s a fast paced, white knuckle roller coaster narrative ride that keeps the reader on the edge of the seat.

Rating: 4.75🌈

The Hitman's Guide to Stately Fences and Killer Defenses is the eighth book in the suspense filled , violent, and often hilarious series by Alice Winters.

It’s followed the tumultuous path that Leland “The Sandman”, a lonely contract hitman, finds himself on when he meets an equally lonely PI named Jackson who’s caught on a backyard fence while on a job. Book after book, they find themselves together, working through deep issues (and criminal investigations) towards a complex relationship. One that brings them a strange wonderful future of odd mixture of friends, found family, scary happenings and hilariously funny stories. It’s found them engaged then happily married, with dogs and an illegally adopted teenage son.

Book eight brings in all the many characters from their multiple stories when Waylon, 15 yr old illegally adopted son of Jackson and Leland, is threatened along with his new best friend.

Who is behind the newest danger to Leland and Jackson’s family and life is one of the best elements of this story. There’s so much to it. It’s all the various characters, their partners coming to help. And a new police officer who’s highly suspicious of Leland and his past to add additional tension and drama to the already established growing suspense and anxiety about the situation.

Winters has written a fantastic novel. It’s a fast paced, white knuckle roller coaster narrative ride that keeps the reader on the edge of the seat. With her dialogue that has elements of pain, hilarity and life’s deepest realities. Guns, dogs, friends , love and family. Maybe blow up dolls. And a car. And now a cat.

And with those final reminiscences from Jackson as he watches his “boys” walking ahead, if this is where Winters leaves them, I’m happy.

There’s no indication that this is the finale but somehow it feels like it. While there’s a few things where the author could return to this universe to open up a new chapter, that last sentence feels like a closing scene.

I’m good with that. They are in a wonderful place.

A great story in a highly recommended series.

Cover by Natasha Snow Designs

The Hitman’s Guide series:
The Hitman’s Guide to Making Friends and Finding Love
The Hitman’s Guide to Staying Alive Despite Past Mistakes
The Hitman's Guide to Tying the Knot Without Getting Shot
The Former Assassin's Guide to Snagging a Reluctant Boyfriend
The Hitman's Guide to Righting Wrongs While Causing Mayhem
The Hitman's Guide to Codenames and Ill-Gotten Gains
The Mercenary's Guide to Mishaps and Romance
The Hitman's Guide to Stately Fences and Killer Defenses #8

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Leland. I mean, that’s nothing new obviously, it’s just that there was something about him in this story that really got to me. We all know how protective he is of Jackson, and now Wayland, but the way he is with all his friends in this book kind of made me see him a little differently. It’s not that he did anything out of the norm, really. I guess it could just be me reacting to the state of *flails hands* and thinking how wonderful it is that someone cares so much about other people!

This was a really great addition to The Hitman’s Guide series. It was so fun having the entire gang together for most of the book, helping Leland on his quest to find out who was trying to pull him back into his old life. There’s laughter and suspense, and some of the over-the-top silliness we’d expect in this series. But there’s a serious undertone, as this mystery person doesn’t seem to care who he hurts, as long as he gets what he wants, and what he wants is Leland.

As with all the Hitman’s book, the story was engaging, the characters entertaining, and I was left, as always, hoping this series would never end. But if it does, and this was the last book, (I have no idea if it is or isn’t!), it gave me such a feeling of contentment for Leland and Jackson.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leland and Jackson as Dads!

I’m so happy that there’s another book of Leland and Jackson! It’s crazy how big their family has grown but I am here for it! I love that Leland now has a million people to bully who all stick around him even when they always seem to get into the most insane things. This latest installation was no different because Leland is once again thrown into some dangerous adventures with his friends while trying to dodge a nosey detective. I love how much of this book was about Leland and Jackson being great fathers (if you ignore all the weapons and whatnot). I also found myself really enjoying Ellis being the most normal person and trying to make Tavish be a better friend. This book had all the humour that Alice Winters usually puts in her books and I loved every moment of it. Even though I am not usually a crime/suspense reader Alice Winters’ characters are also extremely competent and funny which makes me less stressed about the actual suspense parts. Plus this book has lots of mentions of “The Fence” which is still standing and probably will forever!

[Molly Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

The latest instalment of the Hitmans Guide brings Leland and his friends together once again. Waylon is adjusting to his new life with his dads, Leland & Jackson, when their life gets in the way once again. When someone wants the SANDMAN to return to work it takes the work of the entire crew to stop them from making that happen. It is fun to see how big of a role each of these players play in each story and how they all need the other to let the chaos play as beautiful as it was meant to.
Loved that throughout this series you see the growth of each of these men while this still maintain who they are at the heart of it all. Leland learning feelings are a good thing has me cackling each time cause yeah maybe he's a little broken. This found family is one that will always remain one that you will not be able to forget, even though yeah sometimes you want to block out theirs songs (looking at you Leland) that randomly pop in my head and do not leave. Let's hope Micah gets a book in the future as well, the more we see from him the more I want to get to know him.

[Cynic530 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series and these characters so much, yet I am rarely able to give any individual book in the series a 5-star rating. This book is no exception.

In this particular installment, a couple of things didn’t work for me. First, the way Leland and the gang managed to get away with so much right under Detective Patel’s nose felt unrealistic, even for this world. Second, Leland’s repeated hesitation to kill the primary antagonist just didn’t make any sense. I’m usually happy to go along with the farcical antics in these books - after all, that’s part of what makes the series fun - but these two plot points stretched my suspension of disbelief too far, even in a completely fictional universe.

While it didn’t hit 5 stars for me, it was still really enjoyable. I love the characters and the found family vibes. I hope this series is able to continue with many more entries. I just hope that the author is either able to add new adversaries or make old ones from Leland’s past seem more natural, rather than trying to retcon Leland’s past just to keep things going.

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did really enjoy being back in Lelands world with the group and their shenanigans, they just seem to get more ridiculous every book and I’m constantly shaking my head at the shit they get up too 😅🙈 At this point, I am also pretty sick of hearing about the bloody fence and I’m with Jackson, the stupid thing needs taking to a scrap yard to be crushed 🤣 But I know so many love that part of the story so I’ll let it slide

The reason I haven’t given it 5⭐️ is because it’s getting a bit old with the ‘people from Leland/ Jackson’s past’ coming back to haunt them now. Especially when it’s people who are in their 30’s/ 40’s or whatever and that Lucas knows about (don’t get me started on him, still alive and having a hold over Leland 😒)
it’s just not really very believable that they are coming for them after 10-15 years of dealing with them and how are they finding out who Leland is. It’s all a bit strange to me and hard to follow.

And yet here I am continuing to listen because Michael is amazing at narrating these books 😅

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun!

The entire gang are back for another action filled adventure that also includes plenty of laughs and lots of mayhem. Leland is in the sights of a very unsavoury person who ensures that Leland becomes the next target of a very unscrupulous villain. It’s not only Leland but the rest of his found family who are also dragged in. With plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting and exciting I couldn’t put this book down. I was fully engaged from start to finish and as with previous books by this very dependable author I had absolutely no idea who the villain was. There’s the usual hilarious shenanigans, Leland gets to sing again, Waylon still seems stunned about everything that happens around him, Henry finds himself in a Disney costume and Sasquatch Jackson gets to make another appearance. I’ve loved all the books in this series and this is another fantastic addition to it.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always thrilled to go back to Alice Winters’ Hitman World. In book number ,,, I don’t know…we join Leland, Jackson et all on a crazy journey filled with laughs with a few bodies thrown in along the way. The consequences of Waylon making a new friend is that The Hitman Gang is pulled into a trafficking group, but who the real bad guy is is in question when there are so many of them to choose from. This book had me guessing as to what was really going on right up until the end and I loved it. The Author gives us her usual crazy fun dialogue between all of the characters who will usually never admit how much they actually love their dysfunctional found family. These books, not only in this series but all of the Author’s current series are always a pleasure to read and I’m always sad when I finish my current book as I know it will be a while before I can jump back into their incredible imagination again. Another highly recommended read