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Carter Blake #3
Winterlong
It's been five years since Carter Blake parted ways with top-secret government operation Winterlong. They brokered a deal at the time: he'd keep quiet about what they were doing, and in return he'd be left alone. But news that one of Blake's old allies, a man who agreed the same deal, is dead means only one thing: something has changed and Winterlong is coming for him.
Emma Faraday, newly appointed head of the secret unit, is determined to tie up loose ends. And Blake is a very loose end. He's been evading them for years, but finally they've picked up his trace. Blake may be the best there is at tracking down people who don't want to be found, but Winterlong taught him everything he knows. If there's anyone who can find him—and kill him—it's them.
It's time for Carter Blake to up his game.
Emma Faraday, newly appointed head of the secret unit, is determined to tie up loose ends. And Blake is a very loose end. He's been evading them for years, but finally they've picked up his trace. Blake may be the best there is at tracking down people who don't want to be found, but Winterlong taught him everything he knows. If there's anyone who can find him—and kill him—it's them.
It's time for Carter Blake to up his game.
406 pages, Hardcover
First published June 30, 2016
58 people are currently reading
3473 people want to read
About the author
Mason Cross
24 books482 followersFor the latest updates, exclusive giveaways and a free short story, join the Mason Cross Readers Club.
Mason Cross was born in Glasgow in 1979. He studied English at the University of Stirling and has worked variously as a tax officer, events coordinator, project manager and pizza delivery boy. He has written a number of short stories which have been published in Ellery Queen, Scribble and First Edition.
His story 'A Living', was shortlisted for the Quick Reads 'Get Britain Reading' Award. His first novel, The Killing Season was longlisted for the 2015 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, and his second, The Samaritan was selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club in Spring 2016. The third book in the series, The Time to Kill was released in 2016 and published in the US under the title Winterlong in 2017, followed by Don't Look For Me and Presumed Dead. He lives near Glasgow with his wife and three children.
You can find him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to varying extents (usually when he's distracting himself from doing the actual writing), and he also has a blog.
You can find out more about Mason Cross and the Carter Blake series by visiting his website.
Mason Cross was born in Glasgow in 1979. He studied English at the University of Stirling and has worked variously as a tax officer, events coordinator, project manager and pizza delivery boy. He has written a number of short stories which have been published in Ellery Queen, Scribble and First Edition.
His story 'A Living', was shortlisted for the Quick Reads 'Get Britain Reading' Award. His first novel, The Killing Season was longlisted for the 2015 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, and his second, The Samaritan was selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club in Spring 2016. The third book in the series, The Time to Kill was released in 2016 and published in the US under the title Winterlong in 2017, followed by Don't Look For Me and Presumed Dead. He lives near Glasgow with his wife and three children.
You can find him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to varying extents (usually when he's distracting himself from doing the actual writing), and he also has a blog.
You can find out more about Mason Cross and the Carter Blake series by visiting his website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
March 2, 2020
THEY TAUGHT HIM TO KILL. NOW THEY WANT HIM DEAD!!
'One of the best new series characters since Jack Reacher' Lisa Gardner.
So true, add this with many other action authors characters is now one of my favourite
It's been five years since Carter Blake parted ways with top-secret government operation Winterlong. They brokered a deal at the time: he'd keep quiet about what they were doing, and in return he'd be left alone.
But news that one of Blake's old allies, a man who agreed the same deal, is dead means only one thing - something has changed and Winterlong is coming for him.
Emma Faraday, newly appointed head of the secret unit, is determined to tie up loose ends. And Blake is a very loose end. He's been evading them for years, but finally they've picked up his trace. Blake may be the best there is at tracking down people who don't want to be found, but Winterlong taught him everything he knows. If there's anyone who can find him - and kill him - it's them.
It's time for Carter Blake to up his game.
High-stakes action, blistering tension and a deadly game of cat and mouse, THE TIME TO KILL is the must-read new thriller from Mason Cross:
OMG.... These books get better and better, this is a notch better than the last two five star books I have read from Mason Cross, book 1 and Book 2.... Here we have number 3....
So why is this the best so far ?
It answers a lot of questions, re...Carter Blake's background, add history to the story that has kept you guessing in the last two books.
It brings history, the truth and some rather nasty characters from the past.
The conclusion is a cat and mouse chase, man on the run, the hunter becoming the hunted, but then becoming the hunter!
Heart pumping action, you have fist pump "yes", added with great smile's with quite a few nice surprises.
North by Northwest with Jason Bourne... all in one
I cannot recommend these books enough, read in four days, hardly any sleep, and hated I had to fit work in between my reading.
Next book started..... Five stars...
'One of the best new series characters since Jack Reacher' Lisa Gardner.
So true, add this with many other action authors characters is now one of my favourite
It's been five years since Carter Blake parted ways with top-secret government operation Winterlong. They brokered a deal at the time: he'd keep quiet about what they were doing, and in return he'd be left alone.
But news that one of Blake's old allies, a man who agreed the same deal, is dead means only one thing - something has changed and Winterlong is coming for him.
Emma Faraday, newly appointed head of the secret unit, is determined to tie up loose ends. And Blake is a very loose end. He's been evading them for years, but finally they've picked up his trace. Blake may be the best there is at tracking down people who don't want to be found, but Winterlong taught him everything he knows. If there's anyone who can find him - and kill him - it's them.
It's time for Carter Blake to up his game.
High-stakes action, blistering tension and a deadly game of cat and mouse, THE TIME TO KILL is the must-read new thriller from Mason Cross:
OMG.... These books get better and better, this is a notch better than the last two five star books I have read from Mason Cross, book 1 and Book 2.... Here we have number 3....
So why is this the best so far ?
It answers a lot of questions, re...Carter Blake's background, add history to the story that has kept you guessing in the last two books.
It brings history, the truth and some rather nasty characters from the past.
The conclusion is a cat and mouse chase, man on the run, the hunter becoming the hunted, but then becoming the hunter!
Heart pumping action, you have fist pump "yes", added with great smile's with quite a few nice surprises.
North by Northwest with Jason Bourne... all in one
I cannot recommend these books enough, read in four days, hardly any sleep, and hated I had to fit work in between my reading.
Next book started..... Five stars...
March 25, 2016
A new author for me, but I saw the blurb and was intrigued.
It took less than two paragraphs for something to click in my mind and I knew that this was going to be my kind of thing. Sometimes in your reading life you need a proper thriller. You need gun fights and secret government agencies and life or death situations. This is all of those things done well. I liked 'Carter Blake' (real name: unknown); he manages to be intelligent, capable, and dangerous without being an arsehole. Or sexist. Or condescending. Or stupidly invincible. In the inevitable comparison with Reacher, he wins, for me, specifically for these reasons.
In any case, I'm a convert. I've already bought the two series openers: The Killing Season and The Samaritan. As escapist reading, these are going to be just right.
Many thanks to Mason Cross (brilliant name, btw), Orion, and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
It took less than two paragraphs for something to click in my mind and I knew that this was going to be my kind of thing. Sometimes in your reading life you need a proper thriller. You need gun fights and secret government agencies and life or death situations. This is all of those things done well. I liked 'Carter Blake' (real name: unknown); he manages to be intelligent, capable, and dangerous without being an arsehole. Or sexist. Or condescending. Or stupidly invincible. In the inevitable comparison with Reacher, he wins, for me, specifically for these reasons.
In any case, I'm a convert. I've already bought the two series openers: The Killing Season and The Samaritan. As escapist reading, these are going to be just right.
Many thanks to Mason Cross (brilliant name, btw), Orion, and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2016
This is the third Carter Blake novel, following on from, “The Killing Season” and “The Samaritan.” I enjoy this series and it is, very much, a series. You can read this as a stand-alone novel, but it makes more sense if you read the earlier books first, so you have an idea of where Carter Blake has come from. As a quick recap, Blake once worked for a deeply undercover organisation named, “Winterlong,” and was responsible for dangerous, undercover missions across the globe. He has since left and is working independently, but now Emma Faraday has been imported from the CIA as the new director of the shadowy organisation and Blake is a tie to the past of the this most secret organisation and needs to be erased…
Indeed, the book begins with another agent from Winterlong, who finds that hiding – even in the wastelands of Siberia – is not enough to keep him safe. Discovered and killed, the agents now move on to locating Blake. The previous Winterlong operative, who used to be one of the agents now looking for him, is being blamed for the past murder of Senator Jack Carlson and his wife. Meanwhile, unaware of events, Blake is embarking on a new mission; to discover the whereabouts of Scott Bryant, a senior develop at a software company, who has disappeared with valuable software called, “MeTime,” which is expected to revolutionise social networking.
Scott Bryant is a mere innocent compared to Carter Blake, and it is not long before Blake tracks him down and prepares to return him, and the software, to California. However, this is when the novel really kicks into action and it becomes apparent that someone is out to kill Blake. The two men are forced on the run and this enables the author to explore how an outsider views Blake, and what he does, and to force Blake to look at himself. There is also the story of what happened in the past to Senator Jack Carlson and the two storylines unfold as only any Carter Blake novel can - with endless twists and turns, some good exploration of character and a lot of action. I really enjoyed this novel and ended up feeling quite sorry for Emma Faraday, as it becomes obvious that it will not be easy to erase the past, or Blake himself. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
Indeed, the book begins with another agent from Winterlong, who finds that hiding – even in the wastelands of Siberia – is not enough to keep him safe. Discovered and killed, the agents now move on to locating Blake. The previous Winterlong operative, who used to be one of the agents now looking for him, is being blamed for the past murder of Senator Jack Carlson and his wife. Meanwhile, unaware of events, Blake is embarking on a new mission; to discover the whereabouts of Scott Bryant, a senior develop at a software company, who has disappeared with valuable software called, “MeTime,” which is expected to revolutionise social networking.
Scott Bryant is a mere innocent compared to Carter Blake, and it is not long before Blake tracks him down and prepares to return him, and the software, to California. However, this is when the novel really kicks into action and it becomes apparent that someone is out to kill Blake. The two men are forced on the run and this enables the author to explore how an outsider views Blake, and what he does, and to force Blake to look at himself. There is also the story of what happened in the past to Senator Jack Carlson and the two storylines unfold as only any Carter Blake novel can - with endless twists and turns, some good exploration of character and a lot of action. I really enjoyed this novel and ended up feeling quite sorry for Emma Faraday, as it becomes obvious that it will not be easy to erase the past, or Blake himself. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
July 2, 2016
Oh my gosh I LOVE the Carter Blake thrillers, seriously, they are completely insanely addictive and so much fun. GREAT travel book is The Time to Kill, reading it as I did on two buses and a train trying to get home in the early hours of one morning. But I digress…
The real point about this and the previous Carter Blake books from Mason Cross is the sheer depth of character you get for what is, at its heart, a rollercoaster action filled thrill ride of the highest order. We care as readers, its not just about the action and there is always a beautifully placed back story that makes things even more intriguing and a differing supporting cast that feeds into the whole thing perfectly. On which note I should say I really rather liked Scott, he was cool, loved the interaction between the pair – really great stuff.
In this case the indomitable and intelligently compelling Mr Blake is being hunted down by his old agency – he knows too many secrets, they are really a bit perturbed at this idea. Enter Emma Faraday (another pretty cool character who frankly, I had some sympathy for considering who she was after) who is as determined to “get her man” as he is to avoid such an eventuality. Cue lots of really heart stopping shenanigans. Fun see? You will blow through this one in record time and come out the other side somewhat exhausted but most definitely very happy.
Carter Blake gets compared to Reacher an awful lot (he’s better) – for me he is more Jack Bauer (he’s still better) but you should probably ignore both of those and just let this series be what it is. A set of bloody brilliant thrillers with heart, more complex at the roots than they appear on the surface, that honestly I hope go on for as long as the aforementioned Reacher has. Longer. Its fine. Carter can kill people with the zimmer no problem.
Highly Recommended.
The real point about this and the previous Carter Blake books from Mason Cross is the sheer depth of character you get for what is, at its heart, a rollercoaster action filled thrill ride of the highest order. We care as readers, its not just about the action and there is always a beautifully placed back story that makes things even more intriguing and a differing supporting cast that feeds into the whole thing perfectly. On which note I should say I really rather liked Scott, he was cool, loved the interaction between the pair – really great stuff.
In this case the indomitable and intelligently compelling Mr Blake is being hunted down by his old agency – he knows too many secrets, they are really a bit perturbed at this idea. Enter Emma Faraday (another pretty cool character who frankly, I had some sympathy for considering who she was after) who is as determined to “get her man” as he is to avoid such an eventuality. Cue lots of really heart stopping shenanigans. Fun see? You will blow through this one in record time and come out the other side somewhat exhausted but most definitely very happy.
Carter Blake gets compared to Reacher an awful lot (he’s better) – for me he is more Jack Bauer (he’s still better) but you should probably ignore both of those and just let this series be what it is. A set of bloody brilliant thrillers with heart, more complex at the roots than they appear on the surface, that honestly I hope go on for as long as the aforementioned Reacher has. Longer. Its fine. Carter can kill people with the zimmer no problem.
Highly Recommended.
April 6, 2016
This is a gripping and compelling thriller that had me reading until the end of the book. It had a slow start when I wondered if I was going to like the book but once it hits its stride, I was hooked. It begins with the murder of a man in Russia by what looks like a group of professionally trained assassins. We then encounter Carter Blake. not his real name, who used to work for a secret black ops organisation known as Winterlong but now helps find dangerous serial killers and takes on contracts via a middleman to do what he does best, find people.
Engaged by a tech company to find Scott Bryant who has stolen critical software, Carter finds it easy to locate the man in Seattle. Having received information on the killing of Jake Martinez, Carter knows he will be the next to be murdered. There are secrets he knows about Winterlong and he has detailed info on a memory stick known as the black book. Winterlong is ostensibly after Blake because he went rogue and murdered a senator and his wife. Trying to take Scott back, all hell breaks loose at Seattle airport where the pair are shot at and a taxi driver is killed. With hair raising events on a train, and a rising body count, Carter tries to protect Scott and stay alive himself. There is a explosive finale in a upstate New York farm owned by Carter.
The author does a really good job in ratcheting up the tension in the story whilst slowly dripfeeding the backstory of how Carter became involved wih the Senator and events in Afghanistan where Carter nearly died. With a fast paced narrative and a well plotted story of a ruthless black ops organisation determined not be exposed for its murky world of unaccountable killing, you cannot help but become engaged. The hero is a good guy who puts himself in danger to protect Scott. In the end, despite his flaws, Scott plays an invaluable role in exposing Winterlong's dark history. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC via netgalley.
Engaged by a tech company to find Scott Bryant who has stolen critical software, Carter finds it easy to locate the man in Seattle. Having received information on the killing of Jake Martinez, Carter knows he will be the next to be murdered. There are secrets he knows about Winterlong and he has detailed info on a memory stick known as the black book. Winterlong is ostensibly after Blake because he went rogue and murdered a senator and his wife. Trying to take Scott back, all hell breaks loose at Seattle airport where the pair are shot at and a taxi driver is killed. With hair raising events on a train, and a rising body count, Carter tries to protect Scott and stay alive himself. There is a explosive finale in a upstate New York farm owned by Carter.
The author does a really good job in ratcheting up the tension in the story whilst slowly dripfeeding the backstory of how Carter became involved wih the Senator and events in Afghanistan where Carter nearly died. With a fast paced narrative and a well plotted story of a ruthless black ops organisation determined not be exposed for its murky world of unaccountable killing, you cannot help but become engaged. The hero is a good guy who puts himself in danger to protect Scott. In the end, despite his flaws, Scott plays an invaluable role in exposing Winterlong's dark history. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC via netgalley.
July 21, 2023
Karteris Bleikas man labai patinka, kad jis yra žmogiškas, kad jo personažas primena Artūrą Bišopą, vyruką, kurio vaidmenį atliko vienas iš mano mėgstamiausių aktorių Jason Statham filme "Mechanic: Resurrection". Viską apskaičiuojantis, žingsnis po žingsnio išsiaiškinantis ko jam reikia. Bet padarantis klaidų, turintis subtilų humoro jausmą ir be abejo žavus žaliaakis.
Smagu, kad dar bus 2 knygos, kurias dar galėsiu perskaityt ir sužinoti tolimesnius jo gyvenimo epizodus.
Smagu, kad dar bus 2 knygos, kurias dar galėsiu perskaityt ir sužinoti tolimesnius jo gyvenimo epizodus.
June 13, 2021
Aš myliu šią seriją, dievinu Bleiką (tikiuosi mano vyras niekada šito neperskaitys 🙈🙊) ir tiesiog užmerkiau akis prieš erzinančius dalykus, kurie pasitaikė šioj daly. Ši dalis skiriasi nuo kitų tuo, kad pagaliau mes daugiau sužinome apie patį Bleiką, kuo jis užsiėmė anksčiau, ir ima aiškėti tam tikri dalykai, apie kuriuos buvo užsiminta ankstesnėse knygose, bet taip ir likę jie nepaaiškinti. Apie Bleiką nieko naujo negaliu pasakyti, nenoriu kartotis, jis vis dar toks pats seksualus, drąsus, geras, bebaimis, tikras Džeimsas Bondas. Knyga pilna veiksmo, gaudynių, žudynių, lyg žiūrėtum gerą veiksmo filmą 🙂 o dabar apie erzinančius dalykus.. tas visas "bondiškumas" pradeda po truputį erzinti. Žinau ,kad dabar pati sau prieštarauju, na bet negali juk jam visada taip sektis, super herojus, kuris įveikia visas kliūtis, rembo, kuris sudoroja visą taip pat, kaip ir jis, apmokytą ir ištreniruotą karių būrį.. bet, nepaisant to, tai viena iš mylimiausių mano serijų, kai nesinori apkrauti galvos, o tiesiog atsipalaiduoti, apie nieką negalvoti ir gerai praleisti laiką.
November 12, 2019
Anyone for a sweaty-palmed roller coaster ride?
This series is insanely addictive! I loved the glimpses into Carter Blake's background and discovering where he acquired both his strong moral compass and his VERY useful skillset. In Winterlong the author has Blake clashing with the organization that helped train him to become the near-perfect, deadly operative he is. I was on the edge of my seat! I knew there was no chance Blake would be killed ... but still! WOW!!
There is enough information in book #3 that one can read it as a stand-alone and not end up feeling lost. (I HIGHLY recommend reading the first two books as well, though.)
if you like compelling reads that don’t slow down for a minute, this is your kind of book!
This series is insanely addictive! I loved the glimpses into Carter Blake's background and discovering where he acquired both his strong moral compass and his VERY useful skillset. In Winterlong the author has Blake clashing with the organization that helped train him to become the near-perfect, deadly operative he is. I was on the edge of my seat! I knew there was no chance Blake would be killed ... but still! WOW!!
There is enough information in book #3 that one can read it as a stand-alone and not end up feeling lost. (I HIGHLY recommend reading the first two books as well, though.)
if you like compelling reads that don’t slow down for a minute, this is your kind of book!
July 3, 2016
I could rave on to you and extol the virtues of this brilliant high octane thriller but why bother as the writing, the book, and the author speaks volumes. I highly rated The Samaritan by Mason Cross and was excited to receive a complimentary copy of "The Time to Kill" from those good folks at netgalley due for release late June here in the UK.
We once again meet Carter Blake, skilled man hunter, and ex special forces operative. Some readers may try to draw similarities between Blake and Jack Reacher but there is no comparison Blake is a much more articulate, intelligent, withdrawn, sensitive individual the total antithesis of Lee Child's Reacher. Blake had an arrangement with "Winterlong" his highly secretive ex employees that in return for not disclosing sensitive information he would be allowed to live a life of seclusion in any way he chose. However the new head of Winterlong, Faraday, is about to break that agreement as she sends out a highly trained group of killers/operatives to deal with the "Blake" problem in the only way she views as appropriate....execution.
This is a thrill a minute ride as Blake attempts to keep one step ahead of the assassins journeying east to his hideaway in New York where surprises await all involved. We also learn a little more of Blake's past as Mason Cross skilfully unravels events that occurred five years previously and expertly weaves this story into the present. This is a modern thriller and yet at times the tension reminded me so much of great stories from the past.....John Buchan's classic The 39 Steps when Richard Hannay is forced to flee north to Scotland hotly perused by a sinister bunch of anti government spies....Marathon Man by William Goldman when Tom "babe" Levy is forced to flee the scurrilous spectre of his father's suicide when a visit from his brother starts an horrific chain of events and the "marathon run" must now run for his life!
So a highly recommended 5 star review from me and I shall now seek out "The Killing Season" the first in the series and the only Carter Blake adventure I have not yet read. If you enjoy high octane thrills, if you like to burn the midnight oil then I implore you to make the acquaintance of Mr Blake....but be very careful!
We once again meet Carter Blake, skilled man hunter, and ex special forces operative. Some readers may try to draw similarities between Blake and Jack Reacher but there is no comparison Blake is a much more articulate, intelligent, withdrawn, sensitive individual the total antithesis of Lee Child's Reacher. Blake had an arrangement with "Winterlong" his highly secretive ex employees that in return for not disclosing sensitive information he would be allowed to live a life of seclusion in any way he chose. However the new head of Winterlong, Faraday, is about to break that agreement as she sends out a highly trained group of killers/operatives to deal with the "Blake" problem in the only way she views as appropriate....execution.
This is a thrill a minute ride as Blake attempts to keep one step ahead of the assassins journeying east to his hideaway in New York where surprises await all involved. We also learn a little more of Blake's past as Mason Cross skilfully unravels events that occurred five years previously and expertly weaves this story into the present. This is a modern thriller and yet at times the tension reminded me so much of great stories from the past.....John Buchan's classic The 39 Steps when Richard Hannay is forced to flee north to Scotland hotly perused by a sinister bunch of anti government spies....Marathon Man by William Goldman when Tom "babe" Levy is forced to flee the scurrilous spectre of his father's suicide when a visit from his brother starts an horrific chain of events and the "marathon run" must now run for his life!
So a highly recommended 5 star review from me and I shall now seek out "The Killing Season" the first in the series and the only Carter Blake adventure I have not yet read. If you enjoy high octane thrills, if you like to burn the midnight oil then I implore you to make the acquaintance of Mr Blake....but be very careful!
April 11, 2022
very entertaining. really enjoying this series so far!
June 4, 2017
Gostei, mas não me agarrou tanto como os anteriores da série. Por isso, 3,5 para este.
March 24, 2018
3.5 estrelas
Foi o menos interessante destes 3 primeiros livros, mas teve a vantagem de dar a conhecer um pouco mais de Carter Blake no aspeto pessoal. Aqui o protagonista está em mais evidência que no livro anterior. Os leitores ficam também a conhecer um pouco mais da Carol, a mulher em quem ele pensa de vez em quando e já referida nos livros anteriores. Também aqui se fica a conhecer a sua experiência com a organização Winterlong, que já tinha sido referida antes.
O que achei mais difícil e que tornou este livro menos apelativo foi o enredo, a linguagem, de espionagem, etc... A minha parte preferida foi mesmo quando
Foi o menos interessante destes 3 primeiros livros, mas teve a vantagem de dar a conhecer um pouco mais de Carter Blake no aspeto pessoal. Aqui o protagonista está em mais evidência que no livro anterior. Os leitores ficam também a conhecer um pouco mais da Carol, a mulher em quem ele pensa de vez em quando e já referida nos livros anteriores. Também aqui se fica a conhecer a sua experiência com a organização Winterlong, que já tinha sido referida antes.
O que achei mais difícil e que tornou este livro menos apelativo foi o enredo, a linguagem, de espionagem, etc... A minha parte preferida foi mesmo quando
April 27, 2016
This is book three in the Carter Blake series and I have read and loved the first two so my expectations were high. I might be a pushover as I was hooked by the end of the prologue. There was a different feel to this one with Blake being hunted rather than the hunter. The narrative switches back and forth between current time and five years ago and the author keeps the tension high in both storylines. I felt as if we got to know Carter Blake better in this book, even if we still don't know his 'real' name, and I definitely have a full blown crush on him now. This will definitely be a big hit with fans of the series so far and while it would work well as a standalone book I suspect readers will go on to read the other two as well. Mason Cross has delivered another cracker of a read here and I'm hoping there's plenty more to come from Carter Blake in the future.
I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review. My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for the ARC.
I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review. My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for the ARC.
January 12, 2023
Pirmoji 2023 metų knyga verta aukščiausio balo. Tai trečioji knyga apie Karterį Bleiką. Iki tol knygose galėdavome pasijausti lyg veiksmo filme. Netrūkdavo greičio, veiksmo gausos, susišaudymų, gaudynių bei kitų kvapą gniaužiančių mometų. Kas šiek tiek liūdino, kad pagrindinis veikėjas vis palikdavo kaip viena neįminama mįslė. Norėdavosi daugiau asmeninių momentų, kad geriau galėtume jį pažinti.
Nežinau, ar autorius sąmoningai ar ne, bet būtent šioje dalyje ,,Metas žudyti" beveik visa knyga skirta jam. Karteris Bleikas neeilinis vyras, jo profesija nekasdieniška, o patirti išgyvenimai ir įgūdžiai išskirtiniai.
Daug metų Bleikas stengėsi išlikti nematomas, tačiau Samariečio bylai negalėjo būt abejingas. Jo byla pagrindinį veikėją iškėlė į dienos šviesą. Tapo matomas bei pažeidžiamas. Nors manė, kad turi kozerį prieš buvusius darbdavius, vyras greit suvokė, kad padėtis pasikeitė ir jis bus medžiojamas tol kol bus sugautas ir neutralizuotas, nes toks pavojingas ,,ginklas" negali laisvai vaikščioti gatvėmis.
Jaudulio bei veiksmo šiai knygai tikrai netrūko. Tačiau labai daug atsakymų suteikta apie Karterį. O kad jau autorius praskleidė paslapties uždanga apie mūsų pamėgtą paslaptingą pagrindinį veikėją, galime nieko nelaukti ir tęsti kvapą gniaužiančius nuotykius.
Nežinau, ar autorius sąmoningai ar ne, bet būtent šioje dalyje ,,Metas žudyti" beveik visa knyga skirta jam. Karteris Bleikas neeilinis vyras, jo profesija nekasdieniška, o patirti išgyvenimai ir įgūdžiai išskirtiniai.
Daug metų Bleikas stengėsi išlikti nematomas, tačiau Samariečio bylai negalėjo būt abejingas. Jo byla pagrindinį veikėją iškėlė į dienos šviesą. Tapo matomas bei pažeidžiamas. Nors manė, kad turi kozerį prieš buvusius darbdavius, vyras greit suvokė, kad padėtis pasikeitė ir jis bus medžiojamas tol kol bus sugautas ir neutralizuotas, nes toks pavojingas ,,ginklas" negali laisvai vaikščioti gatvėmis.
Jaudulio bei veiksmo šiai knygai tikrai netrūko. Tačiau labai daug atsakymų suteikta apie Karterį. O kad jau autorius praskleidė paslapties uždanga apie mūsų pamėgtą paslaptingą pagrindinį veikėją, galime nieko nelaukti ir tęsti kvapą gniaužiančius nuotykius.
December 7, 2023
Gruodį labai jau aptingau ir pamečiau knygų skaitymo tempą, tad labai nepelnytai Cross knyga gulėjo neskaitoma.
Ką aš galiu pasakyti, Karteriui Bleikui jaučiu tokį prielankumą, kokio nesu jautusi jokiam kitam knyginiam personažui. Cross knygos tiesiog tobulai tinka tiems, kas mėgsta trilerius, bet per jautrūs Carter'io kuriamoms žiaurioms, detaliai nupasakotoms žmogžudystėms, kur nuo išdarkytų lavonų žiaugčioja net patys knygos veikėjai tyrėjai. Čia to nerasite ir man tai ne minusas, greičiau pliusas, nes knyga įdomi, įtraukianti ir be to. Gaila, dėl tų neskaitadienių nepajutau įtampos ir negaliu atsakyti, kiek čia to veiksmo buvo, nes man viskas išsitempė ir išsikraipė, bet dėl to įvertinimo mažinti negaliu ir nenoriu. Labai rekomenduoju atrasti Cross, kas dar to nepadarė ir tikrai verta seriją skaityti iš eilės.
Ką aš galiu pasakyti, Karteriui Bleikui jaučiu tokį prielankumą, kokio nesu jautusi jokiam kitam knyginiam personažui. Cross knygos tiesiog tobulai tinka tiems, kas mėgsta trilerius, bet per jautrūs Carter'io kuriamoms žiaurioms, detaliai nupasakotoms žmogžudystėms, kur nuo išdarkytų lavonų žiaugčioja net patys knygos veikėjai tyrėjai. Čia to nerasite ir man tai ne minusas, greičiau pliusas, nes knyga įdomi, įtraukianti ir be to. Gaila, dėl tų neskaitadienių nepajutau įtampos ir negaliu atsakyti, kiek čia to veiksmo buvo, nes man viskas išsitempė ir išsikraipė, bet dėl to įvertinimo mažinti negaliu ir nenoriu. Labai rekomenduoju atrasti Cross, kas dar to nepadarė ir tikrai verta seriją skaityti iš eilės.
November 29, 2020
este terceiro livro tem um início muito bom mas passando o primeiro terço, a acção começou a arrastar-se tendo um final muito previsível.
April 24, 2019
Another great Carter Blake story! The only thing I would suggest read books 1 & 2 before picking up number 3 !!
September 3, 2016
‘The Time To Kill’ is the third book in the Carter Blake series. He’s not a cold-blooded killer, this guy, but instead specialises in finding people who try to stay hidden. Inevitably, a few of them end up dead, but this twist gives the story a different dynamic to the standard ‘Bourne Yet Again’ narrative.
Carter Blake is more about smarts, planning and strategy than fist fights and car chases. As such, ‘The Time To Kill’ is more intellectually engaging than many of these 'rogue agent' thrillers – it develops the characters into credible people within the mythology of the series and it doesn’t stretch the suspension of disbelief beyond breaking point with super-human performance. Missing the first two books in the series didn’t stop me thoroughly enjoying this one – everything you need to know is fully explained.
Author Mason Cross writes crisp, pacey copy. For its genre, which typically leans towards slick but superficial novellas, this is quite a lengthy thriller with unusually well-developed characters. Cross maintains the tension by chopping between the hunter-hunted present-day narrative and flashbacks to an undercover assignment in the Middle East which went horribly wrong. We learn who betrayed Carter Blake in the past as he rattles across America towards a lethal ambush in the present – so there’s plenty of scope for cliff-hanger chapter endings and some satisfying action set pieces.
‘The Time To Kill’ hardly pushes the boundaries of the genre, but it’s polished, extremely proficient and ultimately enjoyable. I’ve added the two earlier books to my TBR stack…
8/10
There's a longer version of this review over at https://murdermayhemandmore.wordpress...
Carter Blake is more about smarts, planning and strategy than fist fights and car chases. As such, ‘The Time To Kill’ is more intellectually engaging than many of these 'rogue agent' thrillers – it develops the characters into credible people within the mythology of the series and it doesn’t stretch the suspension of disbelief beyond breaking point with super-human performance. Missing the first two books in the series didn’t stop me thoroughly enjoying this one – everything you need to know is fully explained.
Author Mason Cross writes crisp, pacey copy. For its genre, which typically leans towards slick but superficial novellas, this is quite a lengthy thriller with unusually well-developed characters. Cross maintains the tension by chopping between the hunter-hunted present-day narrative and flashbacks to an undercover assignment in the Middle East which went horribly wrong. We learn who betrayed Carter Blake in the past as he rattles across America towards a lethal ambush in the present – so there’s plenty of scope for cliff-hanger chapter endings and some satisfying action set pieces.
‘The Time To Kill’ hardly pushes the boundaries of the genre, but it’s polished, extremely proficient and ultimately enjoyable. I’ve added the two earlier books to my TBR stack…
8/10
There's a longer version of this review over at https://murdermayhemandmore.wordpress...
January 4, 2022
This is my third Mason Cross book. Cross is an excellent story teller with stories that are interesting and fast-paced which grab the readers' attention and don't let go until the end. This story too starts in Russia (Tyumen) and moves to various cities in the US, from the West then to the East Coast. I must admit that I was hooked and couldn't put the book down.
However, for all its excitements and twists and turns, the story is full of plot holes and unrealistic. The premise that a black ops organization can operate in the US soil and against US citizens is illogical as this is illegal under the US law and there is no way this will be allowed. That the hero keeps using the same identity as Carter Blake and travels via plane using his ID is also illogical. I find that Carter's decision to escape Seattle and travel to NY via train to be rather unbelievable as trains and airports are the first place the authorities will look for when chasing wanted persons. Another unbelievable aspect of the story is the personality of the Winterlong's team members. Almost all of them seem to be some sort of psychopath and bloodthirsty killers who are out of control and trigger happy. It is highly unlikely that a black ops unit will admit such indisciplined and out of control cowboys to conduct highly secret and sentitive missions.
However, for all its excitements and twists and turns, the story is full of plot holes and unrealistic. The premise that a black ops organization can operate in the US soil and against US citizens is illogical as this is illegal under the US law and there is no way this will be allowed. That the hero keeps using the same identity as Carter Blake and travels via plane using his ID is also illogical. I find that Carter's decision to escape Seattle and travel to NY via train to be rather unbelievable as trains and airports are the first place the authorities will look for when chasing wanted persons. Another unbelievable aspect of the story is the personality of the Winterlong's team members. Almost all of them seem to be some sort of psychopath and bloodthirsty killers who are out of control and trigger happy. It is highly unlikely that a black ops unit will admit such indisciplined and out of control cowboys to conduct highly secret and sentitive missions.
February 13, 2017
Winterlong is the name of a government black special ops organization currently looking to cut the only two loose ends left that could incriminate them for past illegal operations. Former Winterlong operative Carter Blake is one of those loose ends who has survived by holding evidence against his former employer in a mutual assured destruction standoff. Unfortunately, a new director has different ideas about dealing with it's two loose ends forcing Blake on the run in an epic David and Goliath battle of survival. This is book #3 of an original and explosive take on a man who finds people that don't want to be found. I would suggest reading the series in order for continuity. You most assuredly will not be disappointed.
March 14, 2017
It was 2 years ago that I found Mason Cross' first Carter Blake novel, The Killing Season. I gave it 4 stars and then followed it up with The Samaritan, Carter Black #2. That also got 4 stars. Now, 2 years later I have just finished The Time To Kill and it also has 4 stars. A rut? Well if so it's a great rut to be in.
Carter Black is smart, talented, highly adept at finding people and keeping himself alive. His past exploits for a secret government organization has put him both peril and the training has helped to save his life as well as the life of others. The book is, as those before it, kick ass.
Carter Black is smart, talented, highly adept at finding people and keeping himself alive. His past exploits for a secret government organization has put him both peril and the training has helped to save his life as well as the life of others. The book is, as those before it, kick ass.
June 13, 2017
""O Fugitivo" é o 3º volume a série "Carter Blake" do autor Mason Cross. Este livro veio a revelar-se uma boa surpresa e algo diferente (no bom sentido) daquilo a que o autor nos tem habituado a ler sobre Blake e os seus métodos de trabalho."
Opinião completa em: http://sinfoniadoslivros.blogspot.pt/...
Opinião completa em: http://sinfoniadoslivros.blogspot.pt/...
March 12, 2018
I found this story tedious and repetitive and gave up on it after about sixty pages. I hadn't read the earlier two stories in the series but there was nothing which made me feel in any way engaged with any of the characters so, with lots of more appealing books on my tbr pile, I was not inclined to persevere with a story which didn't engage my attention!
Read
March 29, 2023Found confusing from the start and Blake was killed in the beginning??
November 28, 2021
Pirmas sakinys: Amerikietis įėjo į užeigą "Pas Anatolijų" penkios minutės po pirmos nakties.
Tai turėjo būti paskutinė trilogijos apie Karterį Bleiką dalis. Šia prasme autorius sąžiningas: nors geri skaitytojų atsiliepimai leido/privertė Mason Cross parašyti dar du romanus ir yra planų šeštajam, tačiau "Metas žudyti" atskleidžiama viskas, kas buvo užuominomis minima "Žudymo sezonas" ir "Samarietis".
Kaip pirmosios dvi, trečioji dalis parašyta pagal panašią formulę: istorija pakaitomis pasakojama iš kelių perspektyvų (Karterio Bleiko, buvusių bendražygių ir naujos organizacijos vadovės Emos Faradėj), blogiukai beveik nugali mūsų gerietį, naobettačiau Karteris Bleikas, nors ir beveik pričiuptas, knygos pabaigoje vis dar gyvas, o persekiotojai – nebe.
Pagrindinis skirtumas: pirmoji dalis – tipinis veiksmo trileris, antrojoje yra šiek tiek daugiau policijos procedūrų, o trečioji – trileris apie persekiojimą. Be to, šioje dalyje, skirtingai nuo "Žudymo sezonas" ir "Samarietis" šalia pagrindinio veikėjo nebėra stiprios moters detektyvės. Tačiau moteris bus ketvirtoje dalyje – spėju pagal pavadinimą "Neieškok manęs".
P. S. Ar atkreipėte, kad lietuviškame viršelyje, pavadinkime, serijos ženklas kiekvienoje dalyje šiek tiek skiriasi. Be abejo, be to, kad skiriasi skaičiai. Perskaitęs jau tris dalis, galėčiau jau bandyti paaiškinti, kas ir kodėl ten paslėpta. Jeigu viršelio dailininkas Zigmantas Butautis iš tiesų norėjo kažką tuo parodyti :)
Tai turėjo būti paskutinė trilogijos apie Karterį Bleiką dalis. Šia prasme autorius sąžiningas: nors geri skaitytojų atsiliepimai leido/privertė Mason Cross parašyti dar du romanus ir yra planų šeštajam, tačiau "Metas žudyti" atskleidžiama viskas, kas buvo užuominomis minima "Žudymo sezonas" ir "Samarietis".
Kaip pirmosios dvi, trečioji dalis parašyta pagal panašią formulę: istorija pakaitomis pasakojama iš kelių perspektyvų (Karterio Bleiko, buvusių bendražygių ir naujos organizacijos vadovės Emos Faradėj), blogiukai beveik nugali mūsų gerietį, naobettačiau Karteris Bleikas, nors ir beveik pričiuptas, knygos pabaigoje vis dar gyvas, o persekiotojai – nebe.
Pagrindinis skirtumas: pirmoji dalis – tipinis veiksmo trileris, antrojoje yra šiek tiek daugiau policijos procedūrų, o trečioji – trileris apie persekiojimą. Be to, šioje dalyje, skirtingai nuo "Žudymo sezonas" ir "Samarietis" šalia pagrindinio veikėjo nebėra stiprios moters detektyvės. Tačiau moteris bus ketvirtoje dalyje – spėju pagal pavadinimą "Neieškok manęs".
P. S. Ar atkreipėte, kad lietuviškame viršelyje, pavadinkime, serijos ženklas kiekvienoje dalyje šiek tiek skiriasi. Be abejo, be to, kad skiriasi skaičiai. Perskaitęs jau tris dalis, galėčiau jau bandyti paaiškinti, kas ir kodėl ten paslėpta. Jeigu viršelio dailininkas Zigmantas Butautis iš tiesų norėjo kažką tuo parodyti :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2019
There are a few things I like better when reading than being pleasantly surprised. I’m not talking about pulling the rug out from under me or setting up some miraculous save at the last minute. I’m talking about when the author sets up a chain of events that at once makes sense but also strays far from the norm of the genre.
This book managed to do that twice.
Not only is it kosher to lay out this grand government conspiracy that’s been at the heart of the series for the first two books, but it’s fucking awesome to dismantle that conspiracy as of this book, book three. Not in book ten or fifteen—Cross burnt the “Big Bad” to the ground before I even realized how easily it could be burned. The second great twist was to not have somebody on the inside to switch allegiances, which is what I was expecting. Nope, the bad guys stayed bad and the neutral guys stayed neutral. For once, there wasn’t a sudden ally coming to the rescue.
All this would mean nothing if Cross hadn’t set up Carter Blake as a complex character with complex motivations in the first two books along with hints of the Winterlong Conspiracy. It also would mean nothing if the rest of the series didn’t have a direction for the future and a talented author to plot it.
Awesome fucking book, this one.
This book managed to do that twice.
Not only is it kosher to lay out this grand government conspiracy that’s been at the heart of the series for the first two books, but it’s fucking awesome to dismantle that conspiracy as of this book, book three. Not in book ten or fifteen—Cross burnt the “Big Bad” to the ground before I even realized how easily it could be burned. The second great twist was to not have somebody on the inside to switch allegiances, which is what I was expecting. Nope, the bad guys stayed bad and the neutral guys stayed neutral. For once, there wasn’t a sudden ally coming to the rescue.
All this would mean nothing if Cross hadn’t set up Carter Blake as a complex character with complex motivations in the first two books along with hints of the Winterlong Conspiracy. It also would mean nothing if the rest of the series didn’t have a direction for the future and a talented author to plot it.
Awesome fucking book, this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2020
Topthriller, derde boek van deze schrijver met dezelfde hoofdpersoon. Vanaf het begin spannend, je kan hem niet laten liggen. Carter Blake is een ex-geheim agent, zijn eigen foute organisatie wil hem vermoorden. Het boek gaat over de jacht op hem. Heel goed geschreven, net zo lekker als de boeken over Jack Reacher. Carter Blake lijkt wel op Jack, net zo’n goed werkend geweten.
April 8, 2023
"Winterlong" is the second book I have read by Mason Cross depicting 'Carter Blake and as the previous, the book started off slow and seemed a bit confusing with an over abundance of character's which was somewhat confusing keeping a "who is who" itinerary without back tracking. Quite frankly I was considering a "did not finish" but the story progressed along and was action packed which kept my attention.
Carter Blake was a likable character, tough and ruthless, my kind of hero! The book had an exploding ending which probably leaves room for another sequel.
My initial thoughts were a weak 3 star review with the slow start to a solid 4 star with the explosive ending.
Carter Blake was a likable character, tough and ruthless, my kind of hero! The book had an exploding ending which probably leaves room for another sequel.
My initial thoughts were a weak 3 star review with the slow start to a solid 4 star with the explosive ending.
March 8, 2017
«As leituras de O Caçador e de O Samaritano, o primeiro e segundo livros da série #Carter Blake, respectivamente, eram mais do que bons pronúncios para me atirar à leitura de O Fugitivo, o terceiro desta série. E lá fui cheio de vontade.
Blake tem uma nova missão: encontrar Scott Bryant, informático que roubou um software com um grande potencial. Uma tarefa relativamente fácil para alguém que está habituado a presas mais difíceis e experientes... Mas um pequeno detalhe, um pequeno descuido pode colocar a vida de Blake e dos que lhe estão próximos em perigo...
A exposição a que se sujeitou quando procurou apanhar o Samaritano (livro anterior) trouxe consequências, e a vida Carter vai ficar de pernas para o ar!
As mortes sucedem-se! A mensagem é simples e clara ... Winterlong não poupará ninguém para atingir Blake!
O "nosso" lobo solitário enceta uma luta desigual contra uma organização que o formou e que não se inibe de o atacar em força dispondo dos melhores meios técnicos e humanos. No meio de grandes e pequenas conspirações, Blake arrisca-se a submergir neste mar de forças que teima em o fustigar.
Qual será a melhor solução para Carter? Lutar ou fugir?
Apesar da narrativa seguir o encadeamento do livro anterior, reparei que o autor teve o cuidado de contextualizar o leitor e decerto este livro poderia ser lido sem conhecimento prévio do livro anterior. Contudo sou da opinião que se devem ler os livros seguidos, sempre que possível, recebendo dessa forma uma perspectiva mais completa da evolução da escrita do autor.
Mais uma vez, Mason Cross, apostou numa perspectiva diferente como já tinha antecipado na opinião do livro anterior! Desta vez a acção está centrada na personagem principal.
Parece-me que a intenção passou por aprofundar o conhecimento que temos de Carter, sem contudo descurar a acção característica dos livros do autor e nos entreter com linhas (...)
Ler mais em:
Opinião: O Fugitivo de Mason Cross |Livros e Marcadores
Blake tem uma nova missão: encontrar Scott Bryant, informático que roubou um software com um grande potencial. Uma tarefa relativamente fácil para alguém que está habituado a presas mais difíceis e experientes... Mas um pequeno detalhe, um pequeno descuido pode colocar a vida de Blake e dos que lhe estão próximos em perigo...
A exposição a que se sujeitou quando procurou apanhar o Samaritano (livro anterior) trouxe consequências, e a vida Carter vai ficar de pernas para o ar!
As mortes sucedem-se! A mensagem é simples e clara ... Winterlong não poupará ninguém para atingir Blake!
O "nosso" lobo solitário enceta uma luta desigual contra uma organização que o formou e que não se inibe de o atacar em força dispondo dos melhores meios técnicos e humanos. No meio de grandes e pequenas conspirações, Blake arrisca-se a submergir neste mar de forças que teima em o fustigar.
Qual será a melhor solução para Carter? Lutar ou fugir?
Apesar da narrativa seguir o encadeamento do livro anterior, reparei que o autor teve o cuidado de contextualizar o leitor e decerto este livro poderia ser lido sem conhecimento prévio do livro anterior. Contudo sou da opinião que se devem ler os livros seguidos, sempre que possível, recebendo dessa forma uma perspectiva mais completa da evolução da escrita do autor.
Mais uma vez, Mason Cross, apostou numa perspectiva diferente como já tinha antecipado na opinião do livro anterior! Desta vez a acção está centrada na personagem principal.
Parece-me que a intenção passou por aprofundar o conhecimento que temos de Carter, sem contudo descurar a acção característica dos livros do autor e nos entreter com linhas (...)
Ler mais em:
Opinião: O Fugitivo de Mason Cross |Livros e Marcadores
June 14, 2016
Thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishers for an ARC of The Time to Kill in return for an honest review.
What an explosive book!
Synopsis:
“It’s been five years since Carter Blake parted ways with top-secret government operation Winterlong. They brokered a deal at the time: he’d keep quiet about what they were doing, and in return he’d be left alone.
But news that one of Blake’s old allies, a man who agreed the same deal, is dead means only one thing – something has changed and Winterlong is coming for him.
Emma Faraday, newly appointed head of the secret unit, is determined to tie up loose ends. And Blake is a very loose end. He’s been evading them for years, but finally they’ve picked up his trace. Blake may be the best there is at tracking down people who don’t want to be found, but Winterlong taught him everything he knows. If there’s anyone who can find him – and kill him – it’s them.
It’s time for Carter Blake to up his game.”
Well I have to start by being totally honest and my first thoughts on seeing reviews of Mason’s other books was “uh oh might not be for me”…others describe his books as “high octane thrillers” and my immediate thought was James Bond type scenarios – not my type of book at all! BUT those thoughts were quickly cast aside as I started the book! High octane – yes; compelling thriller – yes – but also gut wrenchingly addictive! I loved it!
Despite never having read any of Mason’s books before and having absolutely no background knowledge of Carter, there was enough backfill within the book to keep me up to speed with what was what – but more importantly to ensure that I quickly added the previous two books onto my wish list!
Carter drew me in immediately – I don’t picture him as an alternative James Bond type at all, there is the fast paced corrupt Government agencies, shoot outs and nail biting cat and mouse chases but in amongst this Blake still manages not to be the Bond stereotype that I detest – he is human, he is not an invincible superhero – he’s a good guy trying to do the right thing.
The writing was fast paced and so much so that I had to slow myself down at times as I wanted to keep up the pace of the storyline! For those who haven’t read the rest of the series there is enough information there that you are not left feeling confused; I found it easy to connect with the characters and really feel the intensity that Carter felt as he pitted himself against the bad guys!
Heart pounding, gut wrenching, sweaty palm kind of book – what a hell of a rollercoaster!
Strong 4 stars from me!
What an explosive book!
Synopsis:
“It’s been five years since Carter Blake parted ways with top-secret government operation Winterlong. They brokered a deal at the time: he’d keep quiet about what they were doing, and in return he’d be left alone.
But news that one of Blake’s old allies, a man who agreed the same deal, is dead means only one thing – something has changed and Winterlong is coming for him.
Emma Faraday, newly appointed head of the secret unit, is determined to tie up loose ends. And Blake is a very loose end. He’s been evading them for years, but finally they’ve picked up his trace. Blake may be the best there is at tracking down people who don’t want to be found, but Winterlong taught him everything he knows. If there’s anyone who can find him – and kill him – it’s them.
It’s time for Carter Blake to up his game.”
Well I have to start by being totally honest and my first thoughts on seeing reviews of Mason’s other books was “uh oh might not be for me”…others describe his books as “high octane thrillers” and my immediate thought was James Bond type scenarios – not my type of book at all! BUT those thoughts were quickly cast aside as I started the book! High octane – yes; compelling thriller – yes – but also gut wrenchingly addictive! I loved it!
Despite never having read any of Mason’s books before and having absolutely no background knowledge of Carter, there was enough backfill within the book to keep me up to speed with what was what – but more importantly to ensure that I quickly added the previous two books onto my wish list!
Carter drew me in immediately – I don’t picture him as an alternative James Bond type at all, there is the fast paced corrupt Government agencies, shoot outs and nail biting cat and mouse chases but in amongst this Blake still manages not to be the Bond stereotype that I detest – he is human, he is not an invincible superhero – he’s a good guy trying to do the right thing.
The writing was fast paced and so much so that I had to slow myself down at times as I wanted to keep up the pace of the storyline! For those who haven’t read the rest of the series there is enough information there that you are not left feeling confused; I found it easy to connect with the characters and really feel the intensity that Carter felt as he pitted himself against the bad guys!
Heart pounding, gut wrenching, sweaty palm kind of book – what a hell of a rollercoaster!
Strong 4 stars from me!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews