Kill Chain

Evan Delaney #5

by Meg Gardiner

When Evan Delaney's father disappears, the cops think he's fled the country to avoid prosecution. But Evan is sure he's been abducted or killed for reasons associated with his work for Naval Intelligence. As Evan hunts for clues, she's attacked by an armed man. The attacker ends up dead—and turns out to be a federal agent. Now Evan is on the run, implicated in his murder. And then she's contacted by a sinister duo—a madam and gigolo mother-and-son team who claim her father was mixed up in their very dirty business. Can Evan save her father's reputation—and his life?

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Crime, Suspense, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Adult

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Meg Gardiner is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of seventeen thrillers. Shadowheart, her latest novel, is part of the UNSUB series featuring FBI agent Caitlin Hendrix. The Real Book Spy calls it “A mind-trip of a story.” Booklist says, “As always, the writing is exquisite and the story is perfectly crafted.” UNSUB, the first novel in the series, won the 2018 Barry Award for Best Thriller. The Dark Corners of the Night was bought by Amazon Studios for development as an hour-long television drama.

Heat 2 is a prequel/sequel to the film Heat, co-authored with the film’s writer/director, Michael Mann. Booklist’s starred review calls it “Riveting… the fully fleshed human stories support and even transcend the often-breathtaking action.” The Associated Press says, “Slick as a Neil McCauley heist and as intense as a Vincent Hanna chase, ‘Heat 2’ is just dynamite.” It debuted at #1 on the NYT best seller list.

Meg is the author of the Evan Delaney series, the Jo Beckett novels, and several stand alones. China Lake won the 2009 Edgar award for Best Paperback Original. The Nightmare Thief won the 2012 Audie Award for Thriller/Suspense audiobook of the year. Phantom Instinct was one of O, the Oprah magazine's "Best Books of Summer."

Meg was born in Oklahoma and raised in Santa Barbara, California. A graduate of Stanford Law School, she practiced law in Los Angeles and taught writing at the University of California Santa Barbara. She's also a three-time Jeopardy! champion. She lives in Austin, Texas.

Find Meg on Facebook: Facebook.com/MegGardinerBooks Twitter: @MegGardiner1 and Instagram: @Meggardiner1.




Series:
* UNSUB
* Evan Delaney
* Jo Beckett

Reviews

[Anne (Booklady) Molinarolo · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this (the last?) installment of the Evan Delaney Series we readers finally discover why Jax Riviera and Tim Green keep popping into Evan Delaney's life. There is a connection to a mother and son prostitute ring and a failed off the books ops - "Riverbend." Phil Delaney is being prosecuted for revealing classified information and he's been kidnapped by the Sangers. The price is, you guessed it, the Riverbend file that Jax has had hidden all of these years as an insurance policy. Evan must travel to Bangkok, Singapore, and London to get all of Jax's encrypted flash drives before time runs out - Jax has hidden a virus in the encryption that will erase the entire file unless the next drive is installed within a specific timeline. Rio Sanger tells Evan that Phil Delaney only has 72 hours to live without water - she wants that file. So does another interested party that doesn't care about Evan, her father, or an innocent little girl. Jesse Blackburn is working against his fiance, because he promised Phil that he would keep Evan clear from Riverbend, because it would start the "kill chain." Does Evan stay out of the way? No!

Though Evan Delaney have been featured in other Meg Gardiner books as the author told me in her blog's Q & A, the ending of Kill Chain left me cold. I didn't like the way she left Evan - too many questions were left unanswered and more were raised. Gardiner says she'll revisit Evan Delaney/Jesse Blackburn in the near future, but will she? She's written several stand alones and is well through another series, but no Evan Delaney. If a series is coming to an end, I'd like all of the threads tied together, regardless if I like the way those threads are woven.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephen King recommended book and author. King says this about the Evan Delaney series: "Simply put, the finest crime suspense series I've come across in the last twenty years...your basic can't-put-'em-down thrill rides."

10/13/13. A thrill a minute; I could hardly put this book down. I'm so disappointed Gardiner hasn't written any more books in this series. Don't leave us hanging, Meg! So much still has to be resolved. And I'm sure our hero and heroine are going to up for another thrilling ride!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. In this 2007 book, Evan Delaney's father's vehicle is located at the bottom of a ravine with Phil nowhere to be found. Federal agents think Phil is on the run to escape prosecution but Evan knows he is in trouble. To find him, she has to tangle with a deadly madam and her meth-infused son who are hell bent on finding a video.

I read lots of books by Meg Gardiner but this is the first one I've read in the Evan Delaney series. I had no trouble following along with the story. I have to say I personally didn't like the ending but the story was exciting and almost non-stop action. In the last few chapters, I had to slow my reading down and remember to breathe. For readers who love action, this is the book for you.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this entire Evan Delaney series.

[Celia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This certainly charges along at a good pace, and a lack of knowledge of the Evan, the main character (who's starred in four previous novels of Gardiner's) isn't a big deal. It's the premise of the book and the actual plot I had a problem with - completely overcomplicated and ridiculous. As an example, it involves a madam who stunts the growth of several of her prostitutes so that they always look small and young to attract customers. But they're also described as wizened and with rotting teeth, so I'm not really sure how their small stature is going to overcome those issues with customers. It's things like that - ideas that the author seems to have thought, "Wow, that's so cool/creepy" and thrown into the story without thinking about practicalities. There's also a lengthy chase across several countries tracking down USB flashdrives for a program with a timer counting down on our heroine's laptop - she plays the sensitive videos on these flashdrives in places like aeroplanes. Man, I know I'd like to be sitting next to someone who's playing a video of someone being murdered. Yeah - it just didn't hit the mark.

[Kurt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final (for now) Evan Delaney thriller is a rip-roaring thrill ride. Whereas the earlier books in the series were more straight-ahead mysteries in and around California, Kill Chain is a globe-trotting high stakes thriller that has more in common with The Bourne Identity than Ms. Marple. Once the action takes off, the story doesn't let up until the tense, exciting end. I've enjoyed the writing in all of Meg Gardiner's books that I've read, but reading the last few so close together really highlighted how much skill and self-assuredness she's acquired as her career has gone on. Her latest book has a crossover appearance by Evan Delaney, but I can't imagine how maddening it must have been for people that read Kill Chain when it came out to have the somewhat open-ended ending of the book not be followed up which she puts out a bunch of Jo Beckett books. Now I'm going to be added to the group of those waiting with bated breath to see where Evan goes from here.

[Anne Peachey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kill Chain is a tale of danger, suspense and evil.
Gardiner brings Evan Delaney to life trying to uncover the mystery of her fathers seemingly death in an accident where there is no body.
She does not believe he is dead and is dragged into a plot of kidnapping for an object she has no idea that exists.
She has 72 hours to find this object or the death of herself and her loved ones will begin.
Only Evan Delaney can break the 'Kill Chain'.
Another terrific read that will have you sitting on the edge of your chair.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only thing I disliked about this book is that the author left the characters in limbo and has not written another book in the series.

[Plum-crazy]

I had high hopes for this book, a new author & a series that sounded right up my street. It's got a ringing endorsement by Stephen King, who highly recommends it, especially for fans of Janet Evanovich (that's me!) & Lee Child (me again!!) so how could I not love it? Well, quite easily as it turned out...

I wasn't worried about this being the fifth Evan Delaney story - usually this makes no difference to me whatsoever as I frequently end up reading a series out of sequence - but I got to chapter 3 & gave up...felt like I should already "know" the characters & of course didn't.

[Hapzydeco · Rating 2 out of 5]

Must have missed Gardiner’s clues because I was clueless from the beginning to the end of this addition to the Evan Delaney series. At times this book did not make sense plus the plot became too far out there. Delaney deserves better treatment.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say that Meg Gardiner gets better with each book she completes. I completed this book several weeks ago and I can still remember the rush to get to the end.

[Rebo · Rating 3 out of 5]

In terms of the plot, this is one of Meg Gardiner's best. However, I was disappointed by the relatively small amount of Jesse and crushed by the cliffhanger ending, forcing me to drop the score.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evan is out to save her father

[Adriana Ivan]

http://prefatadecarte.blogspot.ro/201...

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

All along I’ve enjoyed getting to know the characters in these novels, so after reading the other books in this series I had to read the last one! Maybe it’s been too long in between (or my memory isn’t what it used to be) but I found it difficult to get back into the series. The author does tie up some loose ends, but then again, she leaves some threads hanging. I need a nice big ending bow and I didn’t get that here. Perhaps Ms. Gardiner will entertain us with another book in the series and she has certainly left the door open.

The characters in the book are complex, interesting and some are quite detestable. Although we all know (or at least read) about things going on in our countries it was shocking to read about a woman who keeps her prostitutes looking young and small so they are more attractive to certain clientele. I agree with some other readers who found some parts of the plot to be implausible but there was enough reality to still make the book worth reading.

Was it my favorite book in the series, definitely not. Is it worth reading, most definitely yes. If you are good at skipping over the parts that seem a bit unrealistic you will enjoy this book a good deal. I received a copy of Kill Chain through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Meg Gardiner for the opportunity.

[Antonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mag Gardiner is alway a really really good read - interesting, fast paced and tightly written. And I liked the Evan Delaney series because of its characters - just so... you know between relatable and heroic or plain bonkers. The stakes in each one of them are impossibly high and the motivations of the protagonists / antagonists a tad iffy but that's what a good thriller is for.
Most of this book was Evan travelling being pursued by almost super-human people. Stuff of my nightmares...
Unfortunately, I was a bit stressed out by life when reading it so it just added to the stress, hence only three stars even though it probably deserves more for what it is: a really really exciting thriller. (Which is why I did not stop but read on despite being stressed by it... once started I needed to know how it'll end. And Meg Gardiner is ever so good with cliffhangers). I'd like a follow-up but so far, there is none.

[Julie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The action does not stop in Gardiner's last Evan Delaney book. (Unfortunately, I read this before reading Crosscut, but it has not diminished my enjoyment of Crosscut). Phil Delaney has been kidnapped and his one call is to Jesse to make sure he keeps Evan away from what is going on. However, Evan gets involved and starts following the chain of evidence left by Jax to get the ransom for her father's life. The problem: she has only 72 hours and is currently wanted for questioning for the murder of a government official. As Evan tracks down and solves the puzzles Jax has left, she discovers more about her father's past. A gritty novel, this book packs one heck of a climax. The only thing that it left me wanting was an Evan Delaney #6!

[Alina Geambasu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mă așteptam să fie un roman polițist, dar am constatat că este o combinație – aventură, acțiune, suspans, romantism. Avem de-a face cu agenți secreți, traficanți de droguri, răpiri puse în scenă de matroana unui bordel, agenți CIA și miniștrii șantajați pentru că au practicat sex cu minori, trădări, scene șocante sau emoționante etc. Recomand cartea tuturor fanilor Lisa Jackson, Alex Kava, Iris Johansen, Gayle Lynds, Elizabeth Lowell.
Recenzia mea completă o puteți citi aici: https://literaturapetocuri.ro/lantul-...

[Robert Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

+Gardiner keeps the suspense at a peak throughout this novel. Evan Delaney's father Philip is missing after an auto accident. Evan & Jesse Blackwell get busy defending charges brought against him. Black ops, corrupt government official, distant places like Bangkok and London, cached video files, unknown family ties, and amoral people are all part of it. Other primary characters are P J Blackwell, Rio Sanger, her son Christian and some altered cohorts, Jax Rivera, Georgia Delaney and FBI & CIA agents as well as bogus agents.+

[David Burnworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not going to give much away. If you have been reading this series this will be something you all understand. Phil is Kidnapped. Jax and Evan set out to rescue him. Phil made Jessie promise to keep Evan out of it. In the process, Jessie turns Evan in, in the midst of all of this Evan and Jax leave the country. The action continues in this with so much excitement. There is a rescue, several deaths, Evan discovers some huge family news. Jax is missing and Jesse and Evan seems to be over?

[Becky Schulman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evan Delaney's father is missing. The authorities think it is suicide, but Evan is sure that he has been kidnapped. Once this proves to be true, Evan has 72 hours to put together all of the clues she has been given that will lead her to her father and break the kill chain.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series, especially this book which was suspenseful the whole way through. I hated the ending though...too many things left unanswered. Also, I think a whole series with Jax and Tim North would be a great series!

[Angela Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find track target kill; races relentlessly without a pause for breath. From the depths of darkness the clock runs on without time zone allowances. Evan's father has gone. Life is cheap, the hitman's guide leaving a trail of blood, guts and drugged grooming, survival is virtually hopeless.

[Hans-jörg Berger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Turbulente Story mit interessanten Schauplätzen. Für meinen Geschmack teilweise überdreht. So sprang bei mir der Funke zu 5 Sternen nicht ganz über. Alles in allem aber ein gelungener Schluss der Delany-Reihe.

[Tomi · Rating 1 out of 5]

This might have been okay if I had read the earlier stories…but I doubt it. It jumped around a lot, often making very little sense. The ending was crap. There was gratuitous sex. Many events and technological bits were just impossible. Yucky. No more of this author for me.

[Roxie Gallinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with lots of twists and turns that keep you turning page after page

[Conni Harness · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK good book until the end. As others had said action just doesn't stop until end. But then nothing. All I got to say is there better be another book. No resolution - nothing!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast read, hard to put down, but the ending left something to be desired.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

It sucked that Phil was sacrificed. And Meg must have relationship issues to keep Evan & Jesse apart. Just sheesh

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book by this author. Tragic story of family gone bad. Ending was a surprise.