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Elayna Miller #1
Kill Girl
“Nancy Drew meets Rainbow Six.” -Amazon review. “A fun, captivating read…” -Amazon review. Elayna Miller kills people for a living, but only when they really deserve it... Once one of the CIA’s most talented agents, Elayna Miller struck off on her own for moral reasons. Now surrounded by a like-minded team, she selects her cases carefully and only kills those who really have it coming. KILL GIRL is the first novel in the Elayna Miller series. If you enjoy fast-paced, intelligent storytelling with well-rounded, complex characters, you’ll love Kill Girl. “Reminds me of Janet Evanovich and her awesome Stephanie Plum books, except Elayna Miller is an even more interesting character...”- Amazon review. “What a great book, kept me on the edge of my seat...” -Amazon review. When her latest case leads Elayna Miller to Mexico, it also takes her in an unexpected direction, toward her past. In the aftermath, Elayna has to confront the fact that no one she loves is as safe as she has believed, and her team will never be the same again. A fast-paced, engaging book with tons of action! You’ll be rooting for Elayna Miller… Join the scores of other readers who have fallen in love with Elayna Miller, and grab your copy of KILL GIRL today!
453 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 4, 2016
358 people are currently reading
473 people want to read
About the author
Jill M. Beene
15 books205 followersBe sure to follow me on Goodreads to get every update! I live in sunny California with my handsome husband and my slobbery English Mastiff, Rupert. I've always loved stories and wanted to write novels. When I'm not getting words on the page, I'm walking my dog or cooking something (hopefully) delicious. Feel free to ask me a question or connect with me here, but you can also find me on Instagram or my website, JillMBeene.com. I so appreciate my readers! Thank you!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
November 2, 2017
Elayna Miller is a former CIA operative who now works freelance on her own with a handpicked (and quirky and fun) team so she can choose who she agrees to kill (a girls gotta have some morals). Lots of action, adventure, twists and turns sprinkled with humor and witty dialogue. Great characters. Really enjoyed this kindle freebie.
February 23, 2016
I loved meeting Elayna and her crew! This book kept me entertained the whole way through. I can't wait for book #2
November 3, 2018
Formerly CIA, now a free lancer Elayna and her team find trouble. A well written story that keeps your interest from start to finish.
February 24, 2021
I’m not an assassin for hire kind of girl, so this wasn’t really for me. But the storyline was fun. More swearing than I like, which would go along with the merc/assassin territory.
January 14, 2017
A fun new read
I've been into the whole "spy" genre lately, so I was excited to see a book combining romance and the spy world.
The book was well written, well paced, the characters were engaging, and the book was entertaining! I highly recommend this book. I'm excited to read the sequel :-)
I've been into the whole "spy" genre lately, so I was excited to see a book combining romance and the spy world.
The book was well written, well paced, the characters were engaging, and the book was entertaining! I highly recommend this book. I'm excited to read the sequel :-)
February 9, 2018
Good read involving a woman Elayna Miller a former CIA agent that now works independently on projects she deems worthy. Her team is like family. It is kind of a quirky read. For example the author takes her time revealing that the agent she is describing early on is actually a woman. I enjoyed it as a light and enjoyable read.
April 13, 2016
I have now read this book 2x and enjoyed it both times. Awaiting the next book! Kept me entertained, I laughed, a few times I got a bit nervous for our heroine but loved every minute. A few words I had to look up which is always good (get my brain working). Really enjoyed it.
January 18, 2017
Great read
Once I started reading I couldn't put this book down. The right amount of action mixed with good character development. I can't wait for the next because I'm curious about Camilla.
Once I started reading I couldn't put this book down. The right amount of action mixed with good character development. I can't wait for the next because I'm curious about Camilla.
August 3, 2016
Fantastic book! I could not put it down. It had great comedy and also lots of twists and turns.
I would highly recommend this book to everyone. My husband can't wait to read it now.
I would highly recommend this book to everyone. My husband can't wait to read it now.
April 22, 2017
very good
May 18, 2025
Elayna Miller is a very professional assassin, trained by the CIA, but she went freelance after six years -- which she says the Company actually likes, because they can put additional distance between you and them but still employ your skills. She has a rather personal approach to her work, though. She only hits the Bad Guys. And she spaces out the jobs she’s paid big money for with pro bono hits: People who got away with things because of money and connections, cases where the police and everyone else knew they were guilty but couldn’t find the necessary evidence to prosecute, not to mention drug dealers, human traffickers, and the like. She also has a small crew of specialists -- a hacker, an electronics near-genius, a redneck explosives expert -- and they’ve become like family.
At the moment, they’re stuck trying to get some good information in a case of industrial espionage in Chicago (not every job is a hit) where the probable target is the owner’s son, who has been dealing on the side with Mexican trafficker and they think they’ve caught a break when he goes off to his seaside villa on the Mexican coast -- but the situation suddenly turns into something else and Layna (as everyone calls her) is on the run, one of her people has been grabbed, apparently by the CIA, and the others have been captured -- though she’s no longer sure by whom.
Now the gloves are off and Layna is determined to get her people back and get vengeance for the way they’ve been treated. She’s not the sort of person you can cross without lethal consequences. But things don’t end there, either. Well, that’s what safe houses are for, and she has several of them. She also has other resources, such as her brand new (and very attractive) employee, whose also not the sort you can trifle with. And neither of them are quitters.
I can’t say much about the plot in a story like this, obviously, but I will say that it’s an exciting, high-action thriller, a mix of cold-blooded realism and tecno-fantasy -- but this is definitely not an adventure of the James Bond school. There are a couple of sequels, too, and they’re on my To Read list.
At the moment, they’re stuck trying to get some good information in a case of industrial espionage in Chicago (not every job is a hit) where the probable target is the owner’s son, who has been dealing on the side with Mexican trafficker and they think they’ve caught a break when he goes off to his seaside villa on the Mexican coast -- but the situation suddenly turns into something else and Layna (as everyone calls her) is on the run, one of her people has been grabbed, apparently by the CIA, and the others have been captured -- though she’s no longer sure by whom.
Now the gloves are off and Layna is determined to get her people back and get vengeance for the way they’ve been treated. She’s not the sort of person you can cross without lethal consequences. But things don’t end there, either. Well, that’s what safe houses are for, and she has several of them. She also has other resources, such as her brand new (and very attractive) employee, whose also not the sort you can trifle with. And neither of them are quitters.
I can’t say much about the plot in a story like this, obviously, but I will say that it’s an exciting, high-action thriller, a mix of cold-blooded realism and tecno-fantasy -- but this is definitely not an adventure of the James Bond school. There are a couple of sequels, too, and they’re on my To Read list.
December 29, 2021
WOW!! Is All I Can Say For The Moment…
Although this is not my typical genre of preference, every once in a while I like to take a break outside of it, and read something with a different twist. THIS book definitely provided that. Intrigue, drama, suspense, and a really well written storyline.
For some parts of the book, it’s pretty easy to see where it’s headed. Others-not so much. Those are the parts that grabbed me and reeled me in. Like on the edge of my seat hooked!
A few parts are a bit graphic and so violent, that I’m not so sure it’s appropriately labeled for YA. I had a hard time reading a couple of the scenes that played out, but actually added to the depths of the book. They were spaced out enough I didn’t feel as if I wouldn’t be able to make it through the book from being overly and unnecessarily violent. Obviously with the main character being in the profession she’s in, you expect it to go that direction every once in a while.
The only real issue I had at times was the use of formal vs. informal sentence structure. It came across as stilted and forced. The average person doesn’t speak without the use of contractions in they’re grammar, and the switching back and forth between the two threw off the flow of reading. Not sure why it stood out so much at times.
Definitely would recommend this to anyone looking for a face-paced thriller.
You can see this particular series easily expanded upon, without feeling it should’ve been limited to a trilogy or less. I’ll be picking up the next one for sure!
Although this is not my typical genre of preference, every once in a while I like to take a break outside of it, and read something with a different twist. THIS book definitely provided that. Intrigue, drama, suspense, and a really well written storyline.
For some parts of the book, it’s pretty easy to see where it’s headed. Others-not so much. Those are the parts that grabbed me and reeled me in. Like on the edge of my seat hooked!
A few parts are a bit graphic and so violent, that I’m not so sure it’s appropriately labeled for YA. I had a hard time reading a couple of the scenes that played out, but actually added to the depths of the book. They were spaced out enough I didn’t feel as if I wouldn’t be able to make it through the book from being overly and unnecessarily violent. Obviously with the main character being in the profession she’s in, you expect it to go that direction every once in a while.
The only real issue I had at times was the use of formal vs. informal sentence structure. It came across as stilted and forced. The average person doesn’t speak without the use of contractions in they’re grammar, and the switching back and forth between the two threw off the flow of reading. Not sure why it stood out so much at times.
Definitely would recommend this to anyone looking for a face-paced thriller.
You can see this particular series easily expanded upon, without feeling it should’ve been limited to a trilogy or less. I’ll be picking up the next one for sure!
November 11, 2021
This was just not very good.
The plots and the setups and the reasoning were by turns too little thought out (for example, if they’re high tech enough to be using robots, they should be high tech enough to use heat detection technology to spot people in a hidden part of the building) or stretch the bounds of credibility too much (the whole depiction of the CIA was a little too tinfoil hat to believe, for instance).
Didn’t really care for any of the characters. Side characters were annoying, not endearing. Main character was not badass. She mostly just got beaten up a lot and everyone plotted circles around her while she bumbled along late in the race of wits.
Probably most egregious to me was that the description paints the whole premise as being a moralistic killer who executes the deserving after due investigation. But instead, she seems to kill indiscriminately for shallow reasons and certainly the punishment doesn’t seem to fit the crime—oh, this old acquaintance spared my life but I’ll kill him in revenge for him following orders to take a dude in! This old woman crossed us so even though she’s cooperating, I’ll just casually kill her! And that scene where she and the hero are proudly swapping war stories (this scene just made me cringe, by the way) about their “pro bono kills”, him murdering a drunk driver was apparently considered justice.
The plots and the setups and the reasoning were by turns too little thought out (for example, if they’re high tech enough to be using robots, they should be high tech enough to use heat detection technology to spot people in a hidden part of the building) or stretch the bounds of credibility too much (the whole depiction of the CIA was a little too tinfoil hat to believe, for instance).
Didn’t really care for any of the characters. Side characters were annoying, not endearing. Main character was not badass. She mostly just got beaten up a lot and everyone plotted circles around her while she bumbled along late in the race of wits.
Probably most egregious to me was that the description paints the whole premise as being a moralistic killer who executes the deserving after due investigation. But instead, she seems to kill indiscriminately for shallow reasons and certainly the punishment doesn’t seem to fit the crime—oh, this old acquaintance spared my life but I’ll kill him in revenge for him following orders to take a dude in! This old woman crossed us so even though she’s cooperating, I’ll just casually kill her! And that scene where she and the hero are proudly swapping war stories (this scene just made me cringe, by the way) about their “pro bono kills”, him murdering a drunk driver was apparently considered justice.
January 3, 2021
Another hit from Jill Beene!
This was a great book! I don't have high expectations of indie authors, but Beene is turning out to be one of my favourite authors, even including the traditionally published ones. I love the depth of her characters and their relationships, and the way she effortlessly weaves humour in regardless of the genre. I also really liked the fight about what love really is - the note made me cry, but she was absolutely right in the end, and I'm glad she had both the perspective and the guts to put that into the book. Real love is complex but it still exists, and we should not be blinded by pretty words disguising selfish actions. I'll admit the torture scene had me squeamish, and I'm definitely not up to such a violent / thrill-filled lifestyle, but i also thought that it seemed more believable and realistic than many of the special ops books I've read are. I hope she goes on to write many, many more books!
This was a great book! I don't have high expectations of indie authors, but Beene is turning out to be one of my favourite authors, even including the traditionally published ones. I love the depth of her characters and their relationships, and the way she effortlessly weaves humour in regardless of the genre. I also really liked the fight about what love really is - the note made me cry, but she was absolutely right in the end, and I'm glad she had both the perspective and the guts to put that into the book. Real love is complex but it still exists, and we should not be blinded by pretty words disguising selfish actions. I'll admit the torture scene had me squeamish, and I'm definitely not up to such a violent / thrill-filled lifestyle, but i also thought that it seemed more believable and realistic than many of the special ops books I've read are. I hope she goes on to write many, many more books!
April 13, 2025
This story is a fast-paced and engaging novel that blends action, suspense, and intriguing characters.
Elayna is a fascinating protagonist—strong, sassy, and assertive—but her character might feel a bit “girlie” for some readers who expect a more hardened, traditional action hero.
Her multifaceted nature and quick wit make her relatable and fun to follow.
The writing is sharp, and the dialogue is crisp, contributing to the novel’s fast pacing.
The team dynamics add depth, and the characters are well-rounded, making the stakes feel real.
While the plot is captivating, a few moments in the book could benefit from more thoughtful editing. The periods of waiting did also slow the pacing. Perhaps the author’s choice for the effect.
Despite this, Kill Girl offers an interesting narrative with plenty of action, humour, and even romance.
It’s a solid start to the Elayna Miller series, and fans of clandestine ops thrillers will enjoy it.
Elayna is a fascinating protagonist—strong, sassy, and assertive—but her character might feel a bit “girlie” for some readers who expect a more hardened, traditional action hero.
Her multifaceted nature and quick wit make her relatable and fun to follow.
The writing is sharp, and the dialogue is crisp, contributing to the novel’s fast pacing.
The team dynamics add depth, and the characters are well-rounded, making the stakes feel real.
While the plot is captivating, a few moments in the book could benefit from more thoughtful editing. The periods of waiting did also slow the pacing. Perhaps the author’s choice for the effect.
Despite this, Kill Girl offers an interesting narrative with plenty of action, humour, and even romance.
It’s a solid start to the Elayna Miller series, and fans of clandestine ops thrillers will enjoy it.
November 15, 2021
While this book did not shy away from the violence and murder, I do not think there was too much either. The MC is a little too moral (within some contexts) after being a CIA agent for many years, and had a bit too much self-questioning for me to believe her background, but it seemed to me this is not a "heavy" book, so that was alright, given the type of book it is.
I enjoyed the secondary characters, though again, all a little too "light-hearted" for the backgrounds they have.
I suppose if you were to read this, know that it is much more romantically inclined than spy inclined. A pleasant beach-read. There were some interesting beats that need to be answered in later books, so I may give #2 a try.
I enjoyed the secondary characters, though again, all a little too "light-hearted" for the backgrounds they have.
I suppose if you were to read this, know that it is much more romantically inclined than spy inclined. A pleasant beach-read. There were some interesting beats that need to be answered in later books, so I may give #2 a try.
May 30, 2022
5star to all the books in the series
Excellent book!
Love the entire series!
I usually just write a review for the first book if I enjoyed it,and then give 5 stars to all the other books in the series.
This book drew me in from the very start.
I love books with sassy,assertive strong well written female lead
As the series continues the stories and character come to life and it keep getting better, humour, romance and action what more can you want form a book. I hope the Ms Beene continued to write more books in this series. I would definitely recommend all the books in the series.
Excellent book!
Love the entire series!
I usually just write a review for the first book if I enjoyed it,and then give 5 stars to all the other books in the series.
This book drew me in from the very start.
I love books with sassy,assertive strong well written female lead
As the series continues the stories and character come to life and it keep getting better, humour, romance and action what more can you want form a book. I hope the Ms Beene continued to write more books in this series. I would definitely recommend all the books in the series.
September 27, 2020
Talented writer who has a way with words and knows how to capture her audience. If you like assassins, fast action, the dynamics of a quirky team and don’t mind graphic violence and heavy language, this is for you. This book ended up not being my cup of tea but I love this author’s other individual books such as A Sharpened Axe.
Content:
Violence - heavy with graphic violence including torture, many kills etc
Language - Heavy on f***, d*mn, a**, and other crude language
Sexual - innuendos, talk of past sexual relationships, groping, kissing etc.
Substance abuse - drinking, drunk , hangovers
Content:
Violence - heavy with graphic violence including torture, many kills etc
Language - Heavy on f***, d*mn, a**, and other crude language
Sexual - innuendos, talk of past sexual relationships, groping, kissing etc.
Substance abuse - drinking, drunk , hangovers
December 30, 2020
This was pretty disappointing, tbh. The main character was just not as badass as advertised. "I'm a super ninja assassin that can kill people in the blink of an eye!" But every 3 mins she is having a breakdown and whining about how she isn't good enough. She falls into like every trap imaginable and is WAAAY too trusting to this random dude she JUST hired. The action is subpar and the believability (that may not be a word but it should be) is super low. I have a vague curiosity regarding who Camilla is gonna turn out to be, but not even close to enough to read the next book. I enjoyed this author's other books but this one was just not doing it for me.
February 28, 2021
An exciting and adventurous story with a good ending.
This was a great read that makes you wonder if it could be even a little reflective of our own CIA. Layna, the heroine of this story is former CIA and current assassin with a conscience. She has her own team of dedicated and innovative assistants who help her bring justice while working to keep her safe (and alive). There is non-stop action, suspense, plot twists, camaraderie and even morality woven through this story. I really enjoyed this book.
This was a great read that makes you wonder if it could be even a little reflective of our own CIA. Layna, the heroine of this story is former CIA and current assassin with a conscience. She has her own team of dedicated and innovative assistants who help her bring justice while working to keep her safe (and alive). There is non-stop action, suspense, plot twists, camaraderie and even morality woven through this story. I really enjoyed this book.
May 3, 2021
Beene has a way with banter!
Jill, I just wanted to say this is the second book I have read that has been written by you, and all I want is more. I enjoy your characters and the banter is so fun and thrilling.
If you are on the fence about reading the first book in this series, just do it. It is a good time and I can't wait to read some more.
Thank you for sharing your talent.
Jill, I just wanted to say this is the second book I have read that has been written by you, and all I want is more. I enjoy your characters and the banter is so fun and thrilling.
If you are on the fence about reading the first book in this series, just do it. It is a good time and I can't wait to read some more.
Thank you for sharing your talent.
June 24, 2021
Ahh the Joy of a Well Written Story!!!
Loved loved loved this new series!! Great lead character $ supporting characters. Plot line was good with plenty of twists & turns. *Spoiler Alert*:
Liked the Surprise romance that came well past the middle of the book!! What a great way to sneak that in!! Tooled the book in a whole new direction & I loved it!! I feel like I got 2 books for the price of 1!!
Loved loved loved this new series!! Great lead character $ supporting characters. Plot line was good with plenty of twists & turns. *Spoiler Alert*:
Liked the Surprise romance that came well past the middle of the book!! What a great way to sneak that in!! Tooled the book in a whole new direction & I loved it!! I feel like I got 2 books for the price of 1!!
July 17, 2021
4.5 stars!
I really enjoyed this book. I usually stick to fantasy romance, but I wanted something different for once, and when this popped up on Kindle unlimited, I figured why not. I personally found the first 40% slightly less enthralling than the rest; it wasn't boring, but it wasn't a burning page-turner, either. But when Hyde appeared, I'll admit I got much more into it. Definitely moving on to book two!
I really enjoyed this book. I usually stick to fantasy romance, but I wanted something different for once, and when this popped up on Kindle unlimited, I figured why not. I personally found the first 40% slightly less enthralling than the rest; it wasn't boring, but it wasn't a burning page-turner, either. But when Hyde appeared, I'll admit I got much more into it. Definitely moving on to book two!
July 4, 2020
Enjoyed it
Definitely more suspense than romance, but that isn’t a complaint. I enjoyed all the characters in the book, and the relationships they share. The action was believable, and the plot was fast-paced and unpredictable. I’ll certainly be reading more of this series, and this author.
Clean, with vague references to sex but nothing graphic.
Definitely more suspense than romance, but that isn’t a complaint. I enjoyed all the characters in the book, and the relationships they share. The action was believable, and the plot was fast-paced and unpredictable. I’ll certainly be reading more of this series, and this author.
Clean, with vague references to sex but nothing graphic.
August 17, 2020
Read far into the night
As I write this, we are still in lock down due to the nasty virus. Books and my dog keep my sanity. This book filled hours of good reading and strong characters. I already have the second book. This book is well edited so there are no distractions. Thanks Jill and keep writing.
As I write this, we are still in lock down due to the nasty virus. Books and my dog keep my sanity. This book filled hours of good reading and strong characters. I already have the second book. This book is well edited so there are no distractions. Thanks Jill and keep writing.
January 24, 2021
Book was entertaining. Read after A Sharpened Axe. I would not put this book in the same category with A Sharpened Axe. Definitely more graphic in terms of violence and language. I did enjoy the characters and they grew as the story continued. I will read the next book. If ex CIA with morality is your thing, you will be entertained with this one.
August 7, 2023
Yayyy for Kill Girl
I really enjoyed the characters, including Bruno for all of us dog lovers.
The relationships between Elayna and other characters were varied and genuine.
However, most of all, it was the exciting, tender, and insightful story that has me rushing to get " Fury Girl."
I really enjoyed the characters, including Bruno for all of us dog lovers.
The relationships between Elayna and other characters were varied and genuine.
However, most of all, it was the exciting, tender, and insightful story that has me rushing to get " Fury Girl."
May 26, 2025
She’s meant to be the most amazing ex CIA agent. But she literally gets caught every 2 seconds, cries every 2 seconds, and relies on everyone else. Didn’t seemed too concern about her teammates getting taken and would rather drink and sleep than rescue them. Hyde also weird protective creepy - I hate that type of possessiveness because she spoke to a man? Not for me.
June 2, 2025
Clean, But Serious, Action
Kill Girl starts with a serious twist on a contract killer, then gets even more interesting as twists add up, bodies drop, and you wonder who to trust. It is great action that is clean (no big bedroom scenes or language) and a thrill to read. Elayna Miller is a hero you can cheer for and wonder why she hasn’t joined the IMF yet!
Kill Girl starts with a serious twist on a contract killer, then gets even more interesting as twists add up, bodies drop, and you wonder who to trust. It is great action that is clean (no big bedroom scenes or language) and a thrill to read. Elayna Miller is a hero you can cheer for and wonder why she hasn’t joined the IMF yet!
Read
March 23, 2021Not really my thing. Not sure how it ended up on my reading list but I should have downloaded a sample first. My advice it to download a sample to see if this is your kind of thing because we all have different tastes.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews