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Amsterdam Assassin #4
Ghosting: A Katla novel
Assassin Katla's sabbatical year turns out to be her biggest challenge yet…
After her narrow escape from the intense investigations by combined intelligence forces, freelance assassin and corporate troubleshooter Katla Sieltjes takes a sabbatical to thwart the relentless scrutiny by the authorities.
But there's no rest for the wicked.
An unexpected pregnancy, a brother in peril, a secretive consultant, and an assiduous infiltrator conspire to force Katla to renege on her vows and once again do what she does best: solving problems in her own unparalleled way.
Ghosting is the fourth novel in the Amsterdam Assassin Series.
With authentic details and brisk action against the backdrop of the notorious Dutch capital, featuring a devious heroine and a supporting cast of singular characters, Ghosting gives a rare glimpse into local Dutch culture, Jamaican gangs, computer hacking, forensic sciences, martial arts, foreign intelligence services, the psychology of social engineering, and the brutal efficacy of disciplined violence.
This e-book features a glossary.
After her narrow escape from the intense investigations by combined intelligence forces, freelance assassin and corporate troubleshooter Katla Sieltjes takes a sabbatical to thwart the relentless scrutiny by the authorities.
But there's no rest for the wicked.
An unexpected pregnancy, a brother in peril, a secretive consultant, and an assiduous infiltrator conspire to force Katla to renege on her vows and once again do what she does best: solving problems in her own unparalleled way.
Ghosting is the fourth novel in the Amsterdam Assassin Series.
With authentic details and brisk action against the backdrop of the notorious Dutch capital, featuring a devious heroine and a supporting cast of singular characters, Ghosting gives a rare glimpse into local Dutch culture, Jamaican gangs, computer hacking, forensic sciences, martial arts, foreign intelligence services, the psychology of social engineering, and the brutal efficacy of disciplined violence.
This e-book features a glossary.
440 pages, ebook
Published December 1, 2015
4 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Martyn V. Halm
9 books63 followers
Martyn enjoys reading reviews of his work, but doesn't 'respond' to them, so if you want to get a response, please provide direct feedback by sending an email to katlasieltjes@yahoo.com
Friend requests are welcome, but preferably from people with a compatible taste in books.
A Brief Bio:
Martyn V. Halm lives in Amsterdam, with his two children, one cat, two rats, and countless imaginary characters vying for attention.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
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December 28, 2015This copy was provided to me by the author as an Advanced Readers Copy to provide an honest review.
I am a big fan of the Amsterdam Assassin since I discovered the series a few years ago. The series revolves around Katla a freelance assassin and her blind boyfriend Bram. This is the fourth instalment in terms of full length novels and four shorter “Kill-Files”. In addition to a separate standalone title “In Pocket”. I am keeping this review spoiler free.
Ghosting is a massively multi layered story with some massively unpredictable twists throughout. The previous three books in the series have been massively significant in building up to this story and the scene has now been set. Bram has asked Katla to take a break from her employment of choice. However the DEA have other ideas and are out to catch her out at any cost.
The book itself is absolutely my favourite of the series so far, it manages to take the best parts of the previous outings and the increased character development brings the reader even closer to characters. This book has giving more of a background to the main characters and it feels as though these characters have evolved greatly since I was first introduced to them back in the first book “Reprobate”.
Martyn introduces the various main plots and allows the story to build around these main arcs. In this outing we have the two main events being the arrival of Zephs brother from the Caribbean, the DEA chasing Katla, Off these two main arcs there are a number of events which are linked and the the desperation of the DEA to catch Katla is almost sickening and there is no level they will not sink to. By the end of the book I found myself hating the American characters and hoped that they would get what they deserve.
The interactions between the characters is first rate and you really get a feel for the emotions experienced between the participants in the conversation. The expanded character development really explored the history of each main character and as a reader I better understood why certain characters react in the way that they do. The explanation of Katla’s history whilst not vital gave a huge insight into her character and without wishing to publish spoilers her history is fundamental to this story in lots of aspects.
With respect to the ending I was truly expecting a kind of “expendables” ending but the story evolved to be so much more than a gun fest with a very cleverly crafted dynamic ending. The ending was highly believable and did not feel in any way contrived or a requirement for a suspension of reality. A truly great story which brings together the stories of the first three books in a dramatic climax and takes the story forward into a new era which I will look forward to experiencing in due course.
I will look forward to seeing how Martyn Halm takes this story forward now as he has hugely changed the dynamic of the series in this story and am sure that we have not seen the last of Katla, Bram, Zeph and the DEA agents who have brought this story to life.
Martyn V Halm as an author really encourages you to go on a journey with the characters and this book is no exception and in fact in this case it is more of a roller coaster. If you have not read any of these books I urge you to do so and would recommend starting with the first novel in the series Reprobate.
I am a big fan of the Amsterdam Assassin since I discovered the series a few years ago. The series revolves around Katla a freelance assassin and her blind boyfriend Bram. This is the fourth instalment in terms of full length novels and four shorter “Kill-Files”. In addition to a separate standalone title “In Pocket”. I am keeping this review spoiler free.
Ghosting is a massively multi layered story with some massively unpredictable twists throughout. The previous three books in the series have been massively significant in building up to this story and the scene has now been set. Bram has asked Katla to take a break from her employment of choice. However the DEA have other ideas and are out to catch her out at any cost.
The book itself is absolutely my favourite of the series so far, it manages to take the best parts of the previous outings and the increased character development brings the reader even closer to characters. This book has giving more of a background to the main characters and it feels as though these characters have evolved greatly since I was first introduced to them back in the first book “Reprobate”.
Martyn introduces the various main plots and allows the story to build around these main arcs. In this outing we have the two main events being the arrival of Zephs brother from the Caribbean, the DEA chasing Katla, Off these two main arcs there are a number of events which are linked and the the desperation of the DEA to catch Katla is almost sickening and there is no level they will not sink to. By the end of the book I found myself hating the American characters and hoped that they would get what they deserve.
The interactions between the characters is first rate and you really get a feel for the emotions experienced between the participants in the conversation. The expanded character development really explored the history of each main character and as a reader I better understood why certain characters react in the way that they do. The explanation of Katla’s history whilst not vital gave a huge insight into her character and without wishing to publish spoilers her history is fundamental to this story in lots of aspects.
With respect to the ending I was truly expecting a kind of “expendables” ending but the story evolved to be so much more than a gun fest with a very cleverly crafted dynamic ending. The ending was highly believable and did not feel in any way contrived or a requirement for a suspension of reality. A truly great story which brings together the stories of the first three books in a dramatic climax and takes the story forward into a new era which I will look forward to experiencing in due course.
I will look forward to seeing how Martyn Halm takes this story forward now as he has hugely changed the dynamic of the series in this story and am sure that we have not seen the last of Katla, Bram, Zeph and the DEA agents who have brought this story to life.
Martyn V Halm as an author really encourages you to go on a journey with the characters and this book is no exception and in fact in this case it is more of a roller coaster. If you have not read any of these books I urge you to do so and would recommend starting with the first novel in the series Reprobate.
December 7, 2015
The author offered me an ARC and I gladly accepted.
Ghosting might be the best one yet. Fourth in the Amsterdam Assassin Series, it tells how our freelance assassin Katla deals with arising problems while keeping her promised sabbatical to boyfriend Bram. It might be spoiler-y and not much of a review, instead of my impression.
It intoduces many new characters and also an unexpected change of path for Katla. Some of her and Bram's past were also explored, which I enjoy. Though I miss Zeph and Bram's interaction a bit.
Getting to the ambush, I was hoping to see a Katla-Bram vs them-all fight, but ah, it wasn't to be. After the ambush, I felt a bit of lull in the story but soon it picks up again.
Anyway, I gave it a five-star because, as I said, it might be the best one out of the four books. Katla is on a break, but it doesn't tone down the action and violence happening through out the story, there is just less death than usual. The culture surrounding the characters, the society, the jazz musicians, Rastas and Amsterdam in general feels as authentic as ever. I especially enjoy where we got to see more of Bram-senpai in action in the dojo.
Everything ties up and wraps neatly in the end. The ending itself was not satisfying, but I'm too happy with the rest to dwell much on it. And I believe there will be a fifth book, maybe, so those loose thread, might be dealt with there. Like, the marriage and the baby.
As Katla seems relieved on the gyneacologist visit, I wonder if she thinks Bram's cataracts is genetic. And I'm glad about Daniel showing up, because I'm not too eager to see a further development in Anouk and Katla's intimacy.
My thoughts are all over the place, but this is what I can come up withh on a Monday, freshly finished with the book. I cannot recall everything that I like and don't really like.
Still, a recommendation to everybody. I promise you, it's worth a read though you might want to start with the first book.
Ghosting might be the best one yet. Fourth in the Amsterdam Assassin Series, it tells how our freelance assassin Katla deals with arising problems while keeping her promised sabbatical to boyfriend Bram. It might be spoiler-y and not much of a review, instead of my impression.
It intoduces many new characters and also an unexpected change of path for Katla. Some of her and Bram's past were also explored, which I enjoy. Though I miss Zeph and Bram's interaction a bit.
Getting to the ambush, I was hoping to see a Katla-Bram vs them-all fight, but ah, it wasn't to be. After the ambush, I felt a bit of lull in the story but soon it picks up again.
Anyway, I gave it a five-star because, as I said, it might be the best one out of the four books. Katla is on a break, but it doesn't tone down the action and violence happening through out the story, there is just less death than usual. The culture surrounding the characters, the society, the jazz musicians, Rastas and Amsterdam in general feels as authentic as ever. I especially enjoy where we got to see more of Bram-senpai in action in the dojo.
Everything ties up and wraps neatly in the end. The ending itself was not satisfying, but I'm too happy with the rest to dwell much on it. And I believe there will be a fifth book, maybe, so those loose thread, might be dealt with there. Like, the marriage and the baby.
As Katla seems relieved on the gyneacologist visit, I wonder if she thinks Bram's cataracts is genetic. And I'm glad about Daniel showing up, because I'm not too eager to see a further development in Anouk and Katla's intimacy.
My thoughts are all over the place, but this is what I can come up withh on a Monday, freshly finished with the book. I cannot recall everything that I like and don't really like.
Still, a recommendation to everybody. I promise you, it's worth a read though you might want to start with the first book.
December 1, 2015
The latest in the Amsterdam Assassin series is the best yet. Like the others, it strikes a balance between action thriller and psychological suspense. The immersion in Japanese culture as well as Amsterdam life is masterful. There are layers upon layers of complex manipulation, making the imagery of strategy games, both chess and the Japanese game of go, key elements in setting the tone. As always, Halm writes both love scenes and fight scenes with intimate realism and finesse. Neither the sex nor the violence is gratuitous. Both are part of the development of deep and intriguing characterization. Halm portrays the protagonists and antagonists in their full humanity, with no sense that one side of the law or the other is inhabited by morally superior people. It’s not even clear that there really are two sides to the law. The story reveals a multi-dimensional moral universe, nothing as simple as good vs. evil or cops vs. criminals, in a plot that flows from Jamaica to the Netherlands and back with unending suspense.
I recommend beginning this series at the beginning and reading the short fiction as well. All the prior works lead up to this one. Though each novel tells its own complete tale and reaches a resolution, reading the books in sequence lets the reader follow a unique and compelling set of characters through a larger—and habit-forming—story.
I recommend beginning this series at the beginning and reading the short fiction as well. All the prior works lead up to this one. Though each novel tells its own complete tale and reaches a resolution, reading the books in sequence lets the reader follow a unique and compelling set of characters through a larger—and habit-forming—story.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews