Beatrix Rose has been betrayed. Her husband has been murdered and her daughter, Isabella, has been abducted. She flees to the Hong Kong underworld to plot her revenge.
Those who wronged her will pay, because Beatrix is the most dangerous woman you’ve ever met. She was an assassin for The Firm, the beyond top secret agency that did the dirty work for the British Secret Services.
And you know what they say about payback…
Beatrix has found work in the Hong Kong underworld. But when she has a difference of opinion with her employer, the ruthless Mr. Ying, she finds herself in a headlong flight for justice against a man with no scruples.
Alliances are formed and broken. Friends become enemies. Enemies become friends. And nothing is what it seems.
Can Beatrix save herself and her loved ones in the face of insurmountable odds?
This three novella box set is the first full volume of Beatrix Rose’s HONG KONG STORIES. It includes WHITE DEVIL, NINE DRAGONS and DRAGON HEAD.
If you want to read more of Beatrix’s adventures, the suggested order is:
Mark Dawson was born in Lowestoft and grew up in Manchester and Chicago. He has worked as a lawyer and currently works in the London film industry. His first books, "The Art of Falling Apart" and "Subpoena Colada" have been published in multiple languages.
He is currently writing two series. Soho Noir is set in the West End of London between 1940 and 1970. The first book in the series, "The Black Mile", deals with the (real life but little known) serial killer who operated in the area during the Blitz. "The Imposter" traces the journey of a criminal family (think The Sopranos in austerity London and you'd be on the right track).
The John Milton series features a disgruntled special agent who aims to help people to make amends for the terrible things that he has done. Mark, as a child of the 80s, will freely admit that he watched a lot of The Equalizer in his youth.
Introducing Beatrix Rose, she is an impressive assassin who used to work for the Government Agency ‘Group Fifteen’ Those of you who have read the John Milton series by Matt Dawson will probably of heard of her. She was their number one agent before Milton and was in part responsible for training him. After stumbling upon some incriminating information she was betrayed and lost everything. This included her daughter Isabella.
Beatrix flees to Hong Kong and she has some scores to settle. She is not the sort of person you betray and when she sets herself a target she is going to fulfil it. She is never one to flippantly make threats.
While she is making plans on how to find her daughter we see her tackle triads by going straight to the source as she mainly works alone. Her vice of smoking opium could leave her vulnerable. Betray her at your will and she will show you no mercy, she also possesses an icy cold stare as she takes on her prey.
Setting: Hong Kong; modern day. Former assassin Beatrix Rose is in hiding in Hong Kong after being betrayed by her employers, a branch of the British Secret Service, who killed her husband and kidnapped her four-year-old daughter. Beatrix meets local man Jackie Chau in a bar but doesn't want to get involved with anyone - but when three triads come into the bar to attack Jackie, Beatrix is drawn into the ensuing fight. Recognising her talents, Jackie tempts her into using her skills for money - which she needs to continue funding private investigators searching for her missing daughter. So Beatrix returns to what she knows best - killing people for money! But she does have a conscience and is also susceptible to the local gang culture where triad leaders try to eliminate each other for a step up the ladder of power, which puts Beatrix in grave danger at every turn.... This excellent read was actually a set of three closely-linked stories, which follow on from each other. Great characters and setting - can almost smell the won-tons and other street food and the generally steamy environment! - and looking forward to reading more about Beatrix. A word of warning: Lots of gratuitous and graphically-described violence if that's not your thing!! - 8.5/10.
Beatrix Rose was introduced to the reader in Book 4 (Ghost) of the author's John Milton series. As I enjoyed that series I decided to hunt these books as well. This Hong Kong series is 3 novellas put together as one easy to read book, and introduces the reader to Beatrix from the time of her escape from the Group. These prequels are also set before her own series of books which deal with the aftermath of Ghost. Although an enjoyable read, I didn't find these novellas quite in the same league as the Milton series, but it is often the way when moving from one series to another. Initially it did seem slightly confusing, but maybe that was just background and scene setting. The style of writing is the same, so if you have enjoyed the Milton series, you will also enjoy these.
I had just finished the last book in the John Milton series by Mark Dawson (so far) and needed something similar to read. Fortunately I had learned about Beatrix Rose in the 4th book in Milton's series, Ghost, and I immediately found volume 1 of Beatrix Rose's Hong Kong stories and bought it.
Beatrix is similar to John in that they both had previously worked as secret assassins for the British government and both had undergone the same training. However she has a different motivation than John has. Their employer had killed her husband and were currently holding her daughter as a hostage to keep Beatrix from revealing their former boss's malfeasance.
The Hong Kong stories are fairly short and easy to read. I couldn't stop myself from reading them every chance I had. If you liked the Mark Dawson's Milton series, you will definitely enjoy this volume of 3 stories. If you haven't read the Milton series yet, you're lucky that you have so many more of Dawson's books to look forward to reading. They're really quite entertaining and addicting.
This is my second foray into this Hong Kong Stories first read 2 years ago and really thought it was great i am working my through this series and enjoying it all over again
I've read Mark Dawson's original Beatrix Rose trilogy and found the main character intriguing, the storyline well developed and the action intense. This prequel to the trilogy was nearly as good as the trilogy. Since this ending has left an opening for a sequel, I hope the author will continue with this character.
Recently I'd just finished reading the last of the wonderful, amazing John Milton series of books by the same author and I have to say, I believe, Jack Reacher has finally been outshone by John Milton. I was hungry to read more of Mark Dawson and turned to his Beatrix Rose character. Although "The Dragon and the Ghost" is published 3rd in the series in fact it should be read first. It covers the real beginning of her journey in the depths of Hong Kong. Beatrix is a great character, the book has a wonderful, believable story line with plenty of action and tension, and once again the author doesn't waste words, he gets right to the point. After reading this one I'm now eager to read more about Beatrix Rose and then after that follow up with stories about her daughter, Isabella Rose. The Dragon and the Ghost is a highly recommended good read.
I guess one already needs to be enamoured with the author's universe to appreciate/forgive this prequel. I thought it would kick-start a new reading frenzy, but instead it had me curse and shout at the main characters and the clumsy plotting and dialogue. Jackie Chao (who looks like Jackie Chan....*eye roll*) saying "Beatrix" in every other sentence sent me in to a blind rage.
There's a promise of good action, but it's muddled by a bewildering chain of events and decisions on behalf of Beatrix. I want to believe the "triade" angle, but it's so lazy and stereotypical (white shirts and meat cleavers? Come on....) and don't get me started on how lazy (and weirdly racist??) the description of Hong Kong life is.
I want to unwind with a book and this did the opposite.
This is another good story in the Beatrix Rose series. Beatrix hides out Hong Kong trying to determine where her daughter is located. Her daughter was kidnapped and she’s been on a search ever since. While struggling with her own demons Beatrix meets a man who needs her help. This is a tale that will go from Hong Kong to Cuba and back again. What I particularly like about this book is the human side of Beatrix. She is an amazing strong person, with little compunction about protecting the people that are important to her. This is another one of Dawson’s books that is hard to put down.
Let me tell you a secret. I love winter because as a passionate gardener Winter time is the only time when I have time to indulge in another passion: reading murder mysteries, and discovering Mark Dawson and his series about John Milton was a windfall. After reading all of the John Milton Series by Mark Dawson, I asked him on Twitter @pbackwriter what he recommended next. He promptly answered and suggested his Beatrice Rose Series. The series has met and exceeded my expectations. You will be swept away from the first page and then read the entire series like I did.
These were an excellent set of novellas. It shows how desperate one person can get after losing the people she loves. And almost losing herself. And, she doesn't even care. She's had her revenge on the people in Hong Kong who have wronged her and now she is content to wallow in her sorrows. Until one man comes to save her. Will she let him help her? Even with the action and the killing, there was the gut wrenching emotion just beneath the surface of these stories that added an extra layer to Beatrix. And, how hard everyday was for her.
I love John Milton and I love Mark Dawson (I'm a member of the Self-Publishing Formula Group), and now I can add the Beatrix Rose thrillers to the list. I'd read some of the others and somehow missed this one first time around. Dawson's use of tarnished killers as leads is tried and true and Beatrix allows him to delve into the drug intoxication world (he's already done alcohol with Milton). The story lines, plots and action scenes are similar in both series, so if you're a fan of one, don't miss the other.
Listened to these a while back and forgot to check in, so happy to say the stories were excellent if a bit of a stretch logistically. I was glad to hear her in full ability again, but sad for Grace who she tried to save but for some really bad guys. Seems our own govt. provides bad guys as well, all for $$ which is the bane of human existence. So glorified and so unimportant after basic needs are met. I didn't see her getting crossed happening, a rare mistake for her, and fortunately not her end as she has a daughter to find~
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Love John Milton? Who trained him? You guessed it. It was Beatrix. She washed him out of Group 15 in the selection process, citing well you know Milton don't you?
These are the stories of the aftermath of Ross's life that you'll want to read before In Cold Blood. I didn't and am just getting around to the Hong Kong Series. Should have started here.
I think for a new spin-off series from the Group 15 series this is brilliant. A wronged agent who ostensibly forced to live off the grid, but has unique, useful skills that can be used by government agencies or underworld organisations with no compunction to do anything but deal with rivals in such a way.
Also, the protagonist is dealing with the loss of her daughter because of her previous employment.
I think I might like the Beatrix Rose series more than the author's John Milton series. She's such a complicated character with flaws and issues, who doesn't always make the right decision. There were times in this book where the narrative felt a little overwritten and thus paced a little slowly for my tastes in thrillers, but it was otherwise an entertaining read that revealed more about one of my favorites among Mark Dawson's characters.
I very rarely post bad reviews for anything. Who wants to hear my whining? Not me.
In this case I felt totally stitched up by the pretense of a trilogy when in fact it is a single story, brutally chopped in three pieces with no flow or artistic merit.
The author wrote well, plotted well, but ultimately treated their customers like mugs.
I post this so other writers can think about treating their readers with a bit more respect.
Beatrix Rose is an amazing woman who is a trained government assassin and betrayed by her boss. Her boss had her husband murdered and kidnapped her daughter. Beatrix flees her country and ends up in Hong Kong where she tries to stay hidden. She becomes an assassin for the triad. Mark Dawson writes his stories so compellingly that you want to see what will happen next. These are three great stories that you do not want to miss. Happy reading! 😊
Another fun Beatrix Rose read...this one covers some of her actions while hiding out in Hong Kong...I love all the story telling but could do with out self-destructive behavior (drug use) and the beating a character endures is so unrealistic in terms of that character's ability to recover quickly and move on...just wish the author would keep to realism enough to make these stories feel real...but otherwise great writing to tell a fun exciting story. FAST read for sure.
The detail and research that Dawson must have done to bring this book alive, in the unforgiving Hong Kong districts Beatrix was forced to live in hiding from Control, are phenomenal. Because of this whilst reading this adrenaline fuelled mind blowing novel, I was living there rather than lying on my comfy sofa reading it. Another great, unforgettable read from this author.
These three novellas may rate 2-1/2 stars. Deadly female assassin leaves bodies of bad guys scattered around Hong Kong as she tries to keep two steps ahead of her former MI6 bosses who want her dead. Very little character development and some serious plot holes, but enough thrills to keep the pages turning.
Beatrix Rose has been betrayed. Once a coveted assassin for a clandestine agency in the British government. They murdered her husband, but we're unsuccessful in killing her. The have her young daughter. She's on the run. Her whole world is in the throes of violence, and now sadly addiction.
While there were no characters that endeared themselves to me, the main characters were well developed and interesting. The storyline was intriguing, and there was plenty of action. The Hong Kong backdrop added an exotic element to the story. Overall, it was an entertaining read.
Yet again Mark Dawson serves up a storyline that captivates the imagination of the reader and leads them on a journey through the dark underworld that is alive with criminal gangs that treat ordinary people as puppets whose only purpose in life is to do what ever they are told by these criminals to make them money.
Not the first I’ve read about Beatrix cut certainly not the best, hence the two stars only I didn’t like her very much don’t quite know why but that said I’m now reading the Tempest which is another Beatrix. So while I didn’t like the other book, which I read to the end, I’m still interested in her story.
I have read most of Dawson's books and read this series of novellas featuring Beatrix Rose In Hong Kong with great pleasure. Beatrix drags herself out of deadly situations and uses her formidable skills to settle scores with energy and skill. Could not put it down.
Reading Marks books out of sequence but really enjoying them. This was a great trilogy of stories that I read one after the other on the same day. Doo enjoyable that I am now planing to purchase the next volume. Give this set a read, you will not be disappointed.
Hoping to find out where assassin's have taken her daughter to, Beatrix goes to work. For a triad leader. In need of money, her job is to eliminate anyone she's asked to. I've read this book before but thought it had another title. I think I was deceived.
Brilliantly wrote so many sides to this story and this was the only beatrix rose book I have read if all the others are like this I will be so pleased I started to read them a big well done sir