Fox Hunter

Charlie Fox Thriller #12

by Zoë Sharp

‘The dead man had not gone quietly… There was a time when I would have given everything I owned to be the one responsible for that.’

Charlie Fox will never forget the men who put a brutal end to her military career, but she vowed a long time ago she would not go looking for them.

Now she doesn’t have a choice.

Her boss and former lover, Sean Meyer, is missing in Iraq where one of those men was working as a private security contractor. When the man’s butchered body is discovered, Charlie fears that Sean may be pursuing a twisted vendetta on her behalf.

Sean’s partner in their exclusive New York close-protection agency needs this dealt with—fast and quiet—before everything they’ve worked for is in ruins. He sends Charlie to the Middle East with very specific instructions:

Find Sean Meyer and stop him. By whatever means necessary.

At one time Charlie thought she knew Sean better than she knew herself, but it seems he’s turned into a violent stranger. As the trail grows more bloody, Charlie realises that unless she can get to Sean first, the hunter may soon become the hunted.

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

388 pages, Paperback

First published August 8, 2017

About the author

Zoë Sharp spent most of her formative years living aboard a catamaran on the northwest coast of England. She opted out of mainstream education at the age of twelve and wrote her first novel at fifteen. She became a freelance photojournalist in 1988 and started writing her Charlie Fox crime thriller series after receiving death-threats in the course of her work.

Reviews

[Maureen Carden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm waffling between four and five stars because I was ready for a couple of story arcs to finish in this 11th Charlie Fox novel. It's just that I'm not sure they really are finished and if they are I'm not sure I approve of the resolution. But nonetheless, there are endings, satisfying paybacks, and new beginnings.
I'd be more accepting of all this if Ms. Sharp promises she has another Fox in the pipeline. Yeah, yeah, I know I should try writing a book myself and see how quick I am to judge. I'm sorry, I'll admit it, I think all of my favorite authors should be chained to their desks at least eight hours a day with no vacations or sick days.
Charlie Fox is a close protection specialist. To give a quick summary she was gang raped by four fellow trainees during British Special Forces training. She was chucked out of the training and service with her life and reputation in tatters. Her lover at the time, Sean Meyer, found his career in tatters too and blamed Charlie. Years later they reconnect; the lies were resolved, they fell in love again and started working for Parker Armstrong's close protection agency in New York. Their happiness does not last long before Sean is shot in the head, goes into a coma and wakes up hating Charlie again. But after awhile they reach equilibrium in working together again. There, a quick summary of the last several books. Although of course you should read them because they are so great.
Armstrong sends Charlie to Iraq after Sean because he fears Sean has gone off the rails on a revenge mission. One of Charlie's rapists has been found brutally tortured and murdered. Armstrong sends Charlie on a bring 'em back alive mission. Or not.
Sharp paints Charlie as a woman almost as tough as any I've seen, but she does have a compassionate loving side. She just won't let get it get in the way of business. I've always liked Sean, but I'm not sure I approve of the motivation he has for going after Charlie’s attackers. I understand that Sharp is being accurate in her depiction of personality changes after a head injury, but sometimes I want to go all Cher on him, slap him and yell "Snap out of it". Which of course shows a defect in my character.
I've not read many books set in Iraq yet, especially one from the view point of a civilian contractor. I could feel the heat, taste the dust and see the despair in the wreckage of a country. This book is James Bondish on how it goes from one exotic location to another. Just not the glamorous locations.
Fast-paced and exciting, Fox Hunter lived up to its name as a thriller. I hope the wait is not as long for the next Charlie Fox book.
I think I'll go with five stars, it isn't fair to deduct because I don't like cliff-hangers.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Woman Reading (is away exploring) · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Charlie Fox on a rescue mission through the Middle East and beyond

If Fox Hunter (#12) is your introduction to Charlie Fox, then you’ll be treated to a fast-paced, tension-filled, James Bond-like adventure with a woman who is ruthless, lethal, and single-minded in her hunt for Sean Meyer, a junior partner with her employer, the Armstrong - Meyer close protection firm. Her first lead is in Iraq, which has long anchored the USA’s list of “no - go countries for tourists - proceed at your own risks.” Given her previous experience in war - torn Middle Eastern countries (with Truth And Lies as the most recent trip), Charlie is undeterred from going despite being injured in Absence of Light (#11). Once there, she views the mutilated body of Michael Clay, one of four men for whom Charlie has solid reason to wish that she had been the perpetrator. But it’s Sean who is under suspicion as he was the last person seen near the body. Charlie’s intention is to find and extract Sean before stories of this psychotic-looking death damage her firm’s prestigious reputation. But senior partner, Parker Armstrong, seems to favor a search and curtail mission, even if it requires Charlie executing her former army trainer / mentor / live-in partner. I know that his partnership with Sean hasn’t lived up to anybody’s expectations given events since Third Strike, but really, Parker, what on earth could you be thinking of by suggesting assassination? This was my second reading of Fox Hunter and it was still a page turner.

If you’re already an admirer of the intriguing and complex Charlie Fox, then Fox Hunter is so much more than a manhunt through Iraq, Jordan, and Bulgaria, while racing against two other equally lethal parties who are on Sean’s trail. Charlie’s story comes full circle as long-running themes of justice, men who hate women, and women finding their place in “traditional” male-dominated fields play out in Charlie’s story.

Spoilers for the entire series ---->
Justice vs. Vengeance for the Men Who Hate Women

When I finished Killer Instinct (#1), Charlie reminded me of Stieg Larsson’s Lisbeth Salander from the Millennium series. Both women are amateur sleuths who get pulled into a murder mystery, have fighting skills, ride motorcycles, and have been victims of men who hate women. They differ significantly, however, in their views of justice and vengeance. Lisbeth eventually became a no-holds barred vigilante fighting on behalf of victimised women. Charlie struggled to define her boundaries.

About 8 years before the time of Fox Hunter, Charlie had been brutally assaulted and left for dead by 4 fellow trainees in the army Special Forces program. Her life was saved by the accidental presence of another trainee. Like many other women across the world, the attack soon became her word against theirs as witnesses changed their testimonies to versions less damning to her rapists. Her situation worsened as the commanding officer in charge publicly sided with her attackers. The result was Charlie’s very ignominious expulsion from the army and a defeated civil lawsuit. Oh yes, Charlie had more than enough reasons wishing to be the justice that was wreaked upon Clay. But Charlie has long feared the damage to her soul if she pursued her own vengeance and that has stayed her hand.

“Killing because your life—or that of another—is in immediate danger is one thing. I’d been trained to accept that possibility right from the start of my army career. But appointing yourself judge, jury, and executioner is quite another. As is doing it anyway, only to discover that it doesn’t trouble your conscience nearly as much as it should.”

“Sean had once told me that killing without hesitation or fear was something you got used to. Something that got easier over time. That the danger sign was if you started to enjoy it.”

And yet, Charlie avenged Sean’s shooter in Fifth Victim when the opportunity arose. Charlie is complex so yes, she’s giving off inconsistent messages. Part of me wished that she could have taken that step of vengeance for herself instead of only on her partner’s behalf. I know that sounds bloodthirsty but crime fiction is popular because it satisfies the desire for justice to prevail when the truthful reality is known to be - “life is not fair.” [Yes, I know that our democratic societies don’t punish rape by death, but once the full extent of the crime / conspiracy was revealed in Fox Hunter, well who would blame Charlie for seeking her own version of justice?]

Sean has certainly killed for less cause than this during the series. It’s been long made plain that pre-coma Sean was comfortable with his killer instinct to the point that I have wondered at his lack of concern about facing murder charges. In Die Easy, Charlie had the disappointed expectation that pre-coma Sean, once they had reunited, had avenged her by killing her attackers.

In Fox Hunter, it looked as though Sean was pursuing justice for them. Since post-coma Sean was less predictable to Charlie, she also stated,

”Justice restores balance, vengeance just tips you further into the void.”

Sean Meyer

I had wondered after reading Fifth Victim why Zoe Sharp had let Sean recover instead of die from his brain injury in Fourth Day. After reading the last 3 books, it was because Zoe Sharp could increase the emotional tension in the stories (Die Easy made me feel really tense and uneasy), have Sean be the catalyst for events in Fox Hunter, and also because, more significantly, he represented the coming of full circle for Charlie.

Yes, Sean was her romantic partner for most of the series. But to me, he represented the part of Charlie that housed her killer instinct. Charlie has been wrestling with her lethal abilities since her army days, letting them come out only under strictly defined legal circumstances. This part of her conscience has the voice of her father, the surgeon who holds life as sacred, and from whom Charlie has long sought approbation. This is why the words between Sean and her father were so acrimonious in Third Strike.

Sean has represented to me what Charlie could so easily become, especially if she had completed the Special Forces training and worked in that capacity. By Die Easy, post-coma Sean certainly recognized that Charlie had become him and a far cry from the idealistic and trusting 21-year old with whom he had a relationship during his army days. Post-coma Sean is no match for Charlie; she physically subdued him at least once in each book since he recovered. Charlie is the student who surpassed the master and it seems to me as though that’s the reason that he ended their relationship. I am disappointed in Sean. It’s ironic that Sean said that he felt that they were a disaster waiting to happen - in other words, he fears her to some degree when she finally stopped fearing him.


Women finding their place in male-dominated societies

The story of Najida was brutal for both the initial rape and then the aftermath with her family. The harsh truth is that her story can’t be dismissed as fiction because Muslim women who have been raped have had acid thrown on their faces and / or been the victim of honor killings. Charlie empathised with Najida because she recalled the parallels in their experiences - that essentially they had been victimised twice. What does that say about our advanced democratic nations that it still occurs now? Until men learn that respecting women does not equal costing them their self-worth, things won’t change. I never did understand Sean’s self-blame and anger for being the cause of Charlie’s gang rape; it made no sense to me since he had neither participated nor orchestrated it.

Given this heavy and very current topic, it was a bonus that the women in Fox Hunter joined forces. It was sweet because in earlier books, Charlie recounted that the two other females in the Special Forces training program had watered down their testimonies so that that her rapists look less guilty during the civil lawsuit. Charlie had speculated that the brass had encouraged their testimonies in exchanged for favorable placement.

By the end of Fox Hunter, I was surprised that Charlie had quit. Not because, it seemed an unnatural response for her but because it potentially signalled the end of the series. Oh no, say it ain’t so! I had emailed Zoe Sharp last year, and she had written back that she was working on book #13. Charlie had built a reputation for herself through her close protection career. I thought that several options could be available to her - such as the help from the PR specialist in Die Easy - and that Charlie could carve for herself her own place in the male-dominated industry. Find out for yourself in
Bad Turn.



0) Trial Under Fire 🌟🌟🌟🌟½
1) Killer Instinct 🌟🌟🌟½
2) Riot Act 🌟🌟🌟🌟
3) Hard Knocks 🌟🌟🌟🌟½
4) First Drop 🌟🌟🌟🌟
5) Road Kill 🌟🌟🌟🌟½
6) Second Shot 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
7) Third Strike 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
8) Fourth Day 🌟🌟🌟🌟
9) Die Easy 🌟🌟🌟🌟½
11) Absence of Light 🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Aisling · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge fan of Lee Child's Jack Reacher series, I wanted this book solely on the fact that the quote on the front of this book by Mr. Child says: "If Jack Reacher were a woman, he would be Charlie Fox." And wow does Ms. Sharp not disappoint. Everything great about the Reacher books is true here--pulse pounding action, complex mystery and brilliant hero(ine). Charlie Fox is like a British and female version of Reacher; she is contained and lethal, principled and somewhat unpredictable. Sharp does atmosphere (Iraq, Jordan, Bulgaria) so well I felt the heat or bitter cold. Dialogue is whip smart. But add to that; a truly great writer can make the 12th in a series readable as a stand alone. How in the world did no one tell me about this series before? SO, so happy I found a new series as awesome as the Reacher series and this one's a kick-ass woman! Five stars unreservedly.

[Craig Sisterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the searing heat of the Iraqi desert to the snow-capped mountains of Eastern Europe, Zoe Sharp takes readers on a helter-skelter, action-packed ride with this latest instalment in her exciting series featuring Charlie Fox. It's been four years since the last Charlie Fox adventure, but Sharp brings her back with a vengeance, delivering a real corker of a tale for long-time fans and new readers alike.

FOX HUNTER is the twelfth book in Sharp's long-running series, which began back in 2001, and manages to be a great standalone read as well as progressing various character arcs from throughout the previous books. The spectre of Charlie's ignominious exit from the British Army has hung over her journey as a close-protection specialist, and really comes to the forefront in FOX HUNTER as she's forced to confront her ugly and traumatic past. Face to face, in some cases, at last.

There's a heck of a lot to like about FOX HUNTER. There's action aplenty, and a great sense of place. I could feel the heat shimmering off the pages when Charlie was roaring around Kuwait and Iraq, trying to track down her mentor and former lover Sean Meyer, while dealing with betrayals, ambushes, and various groups scrabbling to gain any advantage in the ongoing war zone.

Charlie Fox is a terrific character; strong, capable, principled, with an ugly past that damaged her before she healed herself. She's often been compared to Jack Reacher by reviewers, and Lee Child himself has even said 'if Jack Reacher was a woman, he'd be Charlie Fox'. I'd certainly recommend the series, and this book, to fans of Reacher who are looking for 'similar but different' books to enjoy, but I do think it's doing Charlie Fox a little bit of a disservice to just think of her as a female spin on Reacher. She is her own woman, a unique and intriguing character on many levels.

Just how healed Charlie Fox may or may not be is put to the acid test in FOX HUNTER, as she's forced to confront the events of the past, and the men who were in control of those events. And her.

There's a great sense of adventure in this book, it's a kind of rollicking chase story that reminds me a little of a James Bond movie or those classic 1960s-1970s British adventure-thrillers, just with a modern feel and spin. Charlie Fox goes careening around Iraq and Kuwait, then further afield, in her hunt for both Sean Meyer, and whatever and whoever Sean may be hunting himself. But does she really know what is going on? Just how much did that head wound change Meyer's personality?

Action-packed, adrenalin-filled, but with plenty of depth and thoughtfulness in among the explosions, gun battles, and hand-to-hand combat too. A very good read.

[Best Crime Books & More · Rating 5 out of 5]

So after a particularly lengthy wait for most between the last Charlie Fox book and this one we finally see book 12. Having been on a recent Fox binge I was fully up to date with the series and ready to go with the latest, and thankfully it was as good as I had hoped. However, yeah, I know it’s just a fancy but, I am unsure how I feel having finished the book. I read it in two sittings and just one day and it was certainly the typical pacey and adrenaline packed type of book you would expect. The ending has left me somewhat curious, is this the end for Charlie? Or is this the opener for a totally new path for her? I still don’t know whether I can answer that but I would love to see the latter as I am a huge fan of this series.

This latest bout sees Charlie running after Sean in Iraq to try and get to the bottom of his alleged vendetta. The Iraq setting makes for a much more high-octane setting than usual and as such it feels like a much edgier book. There is also an element of the characters feeling altogether more sinister and I include Charlie in that. Charlie’s life has never been easy but this latest trip seems to be pushing her almost over the edge. I liked the addition of Luisa Dawson and thought her and Charlie made a good pairing. There was also the long-awaited back story featuring Charlie and her past assault. I won’t go in to too much detail for fear of spoilers but hence to say it was in my mind a very satisfying conclusion to this element of the story.

This has been a fantastic series and although I’m not sure whether this is the end, if we do see the return of Charlie (which I sincerely hope we will) then there are all kinds of possibilities that lie ahead. I felt like this was so much better than some of her previous books just because it had that danger element with the characters and it makes you feel as the reader you never quite know if the good guys will remain that way. An absolute corker of a read and one that was well worth waiting for.

[Skip · Rating 4 out of 5]

When one of the four men who altered Charlie Fox's life and ended her military career is found brutally tortured to death in Iraq where he was working as a private security contractor, Charlie and the head of the private security company fear that her boss and former lover Sean Meyer may be pursuing justice for Charlie. Sean was shot in the head in an earlier novel, which changed his personality, creating doubts about what he might be capable of doing. Charlie spends most of the book trying to catch up to him, and the other three men, finding a trail that leads back to criminal activity, and several former acquaintances: one with a sense of honor, and the rest with none. I liked the feel for the various Middle Eastern countries and the mountainous area in Bulgaria, and Charlie's new sidekick, Luisa Dawson. 4.5 stars.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be one of the best in the Charlie Fox series - loved it! Charlie is the female Jack Reacher!

Suspenseful and thrilling with back story building throughout. Charlie has not had an easy life and the way things go in this book, just piles on. Good thing she is an expert in self defense using anything at hand. She is up against lots of foes and maybe allies or are they foes too in the Middle East and northward! Who can she trust to watch her back? Does she trust her ex Sean? Or is he just another one of the bad guys.

2 thumbs up and 5 stars

[Seeley James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book will keep you up all night. I've always been a huge Zoe Sharp fan who inhales every Charlie Fox novel as it rolls off the presses. Read this book and you'll be hooked on Charlie Fox for life. Despite being twelfth in a series, this book can stand alone. An avid reader will find the answers to a lot of series-questions. At the same time, a new reader will enjoy it as a deep dive into a trauma both personal and societal.

Friends and lovers seem like strangers, victims are victimized, muddy accusations cover horrid violence, ancient artifacts are plundered -- this story covers everything. FOX HUNTER takes tough issues head on without preaching or ducking away from the truth. Ms. Sharp expertly contrasts brutality against women by exposing cultural differences between Western and Islamic societies that are sickening in their similarity.

This book is so good you'll give it to friends as a Christmas present. But why wait?

[RachelW (BamaGal) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The vague summary for this entry in the series really doesn’t do justice to how much was really packed into the storyline. I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of action, good plotline, demons from Charlie’s past being laid to rest, and some definite changes coming to her future. Parker turned out to be quite the smarmy weasel and jerk; and Sean, lets just say that despite the break he gave to Charlie at the end I don’t think the fat lady has sung on their relationship. But then, where Sean is concerned I’ve always thought Charlie was a glutton for punishment.

So here I am, caught up on this series finally; and lucky me, #13 is due to be released in the very near future.

[Roman Clodia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like other Sharp/Fox fans, I've been waiting for this book for what feels like forever - and then gulped it down in a day when I really should have been doing more pressing work things! Is it sharp (ha!), slick, grippingly tense, smart and addictive? Well, of course! But it also seems to mark either an end to the series with a definite valedictory feel or else a new direction for both the books and Charlie herself.

Whereas the earlier books had a cool, indie feel to them, this one is much more big-budget Hollywood as Charlie jumps between Iraq, Jordan and Bulgaria. Her new alliances, too, with a (female) military contractor and a (female) CIA boss makes this feel more 'big-stage' than before, with an explicit 'sisters are doing it for themselves' feel in the final third as old-friend Madeleine ventures out from behind her desk and joins the other three in an all-girl quartet.

The return of old friends and old enemies adds to the end-of-an-era feel and if the series ends here, I'd be pretty happy with where the story arcs go.

I have some niggles, though, which constitute spoilers so please only click if you've read the book or don't mind: how can Charlie seriously believe that Sean could do what is done to Clay? How can she take on a mission which may end in his assassination? How can Parker lie to and betray Charlie in the way it turns out he has at the end? All these points made me feel that the characters we've lived with through this series have changed significantly here, though Charlie's distrust of Sean has its roots in their past, and I could accept this change as looking forward to their separation.

As Charlie rides off into the sunset, almost literally, the story could end here, or could move into a new phase - either way, these 12 novels are a blast!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I've been waiting years for another Charlie Fox book, and Fox Hunter does not disappoint.

This story picks up not long after the last. While it's been a long time since I read that, there is plenty of context to recall key characters and events. When Charlie finds out that someone has tortured and killed one of the men who years before had brutalized her and ruined her army career and that her former lover Sean had been seen nearby, she feels compelled to find out just what happened. She would like to believe that Sean wouldn't stoop to such barbarism, but his personality had changed after the events of the last book and she couldn't be sure.

The trail takes her into war-torn Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, and Bulgaria as she tries to catch up with Sean. Along the way, she uncovers seemingly unrelated but puzzling plots and she ends up revisiting some characters from old books and meeting a few new ones.

I won't spoil what happens or what Sean's involvement is, but Charlie is her usual, satisfying kickass self who uses her experience and smarts to uncover the truth. As with the other stories in this series, it's not all pretty and neat, and there's no guarantee of happy endings for all the good guys.

I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves tough female protagonists in dark suspense/thriller stories and hope that we won't have to wait so long for the next book.

[Cardyn Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Fox Hunter Zoe Sharp executes a masterful blend of misogyny and sexism in stark contrast with the self-confident agency of Charlie Fox - who is smart and bold; vulnerable and insecure - and other featured female characters as a merit-based rebuttal to institutionalized gendered biases, discrimination, oppression, and negative stereotypes.

Survivors of sexual assault may want to consider where they are in their recovery before reading Fox Hunter. Refreshingly, any details of the pivotal backstory sexual assaults are referred to obliquely by the survivors and not by the perpetrators, which delivers a haunting impact throughout the jam-packed action of the narrative.

Despite obvious storyline resolutions, the ending is more of an emotional cliffhanger that seems to suggest the closing of one phase of Charlie's life and the potential for new beginnings elsewhere.
(Yes, please.)

[Hobart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
I honestly had given up on seeing another Charlie Fox novel -- which was a cryin' shame, but I get that authors have to move on sometimes. But then a couple of weeks ago, when I logged onto NetGalley to take care of something, there it was on the front page -- and I jumped to request it (despite promising myself I was taking a NetGalley break to catch up on other things).

“You were a soldier, Miss Fox , and you are now a bodyguard. There is an old saying that is true in both cases : To survive—to protect a life— you have to be lucky every day. But your enemies, they have to be lucky only once.”

Following his near-miraculous recovery from the injuries no one expected him to survive, Charlie Fox's love/boss, Sean, hasn't been the same. Now, it looks like he's settling old debts -- not necessarily his own. The fact that he's doing that is bad enough -- it's not quite de rigueur for someone in his position to go around exacting vengeance. But the way these debts are being settled (if that's what's happening) speaks to someone not in full control. Charlie fights for the opportunity to do the boots-on-the-ground investigation to prove that it's not Sean's handiwork.

This ground is Kuwait and Iraq, and before she knows it, Charlie is dealing with soldiers/mercs that she's annoyed in the past, Russians with a grudge, Iraqis trying to defend cultural artifacts and certain three-letter agencies mucking around in it all -- and every sign is that Sean's up to exactly what Charlie is convinced he's not doing. Before the book ends, she'll come face to face with multiple faces from her past (none of which she ever wanted to encounter again) and will be forced to reassess some of the most formative events of her past and career.

For those new to Charlie Fox -- this would make a pretty good entry point, by the way -- she's former British Army, who received some special forces training, before her career was derailed. Since then she's done plenty of work as a bodyguard and worked other types of security. She's stubborn, loyal, inventive and tenacious. And deadly -- it eats away at her, but when push comes to shove, Charlie's as lethal as you can find.

Killing because your life—or that of another—is in immediate danger is one thing. I’d been trained to accept that possibility right from the start of my army career. But appointing yourself judge, jury, and executioner is quite another. As is doing it anyway, only to discover that it doesn’t trouble your conscience nearly as much as it should.

Sharp has given Charlie a strong voice -- one you can believe can accomplish all she needs to, yet one that's entirely human.

The new characters are well developed -- and we see plenty of old faces, too. One unexpected antagonist is almost too evil to be believable (but, sadly, I imagine that plenty of Armed Forces have people just like him). There's one death that was a real gut-punch for the reader (or at least this one) -- that's a testimony to Sharp's skill that she can create someone like that in a brief period.

I don't remember any of the previous novels being all that tied to current events, but Fox Hunter clearly took place post-Brexit and during the Trump administration. I'm not saying that's bad, but oddly specific -- and changes when the rest of the books happened as well, because this didn't take place long after Die Easy despite the 5 years between the novels -- I'd have had an easier time swallowing the book without that specificity, but not much -- I note it because I found it strange.

That aside, this is exactly what Charlie Fox readers have come to expect from her -- she takes the proverbial licking and keeps on ticking, and kicking, swinging and everything else. Best of all, she thinks -- she plots, she improvises, she keeps on trying. Not to sound cliché, but this damsel finds herself in plenty of distress -- and gets herself out of it (occasionally with help -- but not in a Nell Fenwick sort of way; more like Lt. Templeton Peck way). Plenty of action, plenty of violence, plenty of suspense -- all with some character development, moving ongoing story arcs forward (while re-evaluating everything before).

Not much else to ask for -- except another volume soon.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from W. W. Norton & Company via NetGalley in exchange for this post -- thanks to both for this.
N.B.: As this was an ARC, any quotations above may be changed in the published work -- I will endeavor to verify them as soon as possible.

[Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well holy sh*tballs! What a book! Set in Iraq, the reader is faced with the past, revenge, shame, relationships, survival, trust and a search for the truth. Boom! Boom! BOOM!

There was a #killerhook right from the start that pulled me in to this fast-paced, action packed opening and from then on, my heart was racing as I turned each page! The narrative is tight, descriptions vivid and the action sequences had me feeling each blow by blow account! Wow! Wow! Wow! This was my first experience of the Charlie Fox series, despite NUMEROUS recommendations from others…but I tell you what, I will definitely being going right back to the start to devour this series!

Character-wise, I totally immersed myself in those the reader was introduced to. So many great peeps to talk about, but as I don’t want to ruin anything, I will touch upon a few. Charlie Fox, for instance is just su-bloody-perb! She is not a lady to be messed with! Stubborn, determined and totally kickass….yeah, I may just want to be her when I grow up! And for some reason, I pictured the author – Zoe Sharp, in my mind everytime I read the name Charlie Fox! She has integrity, independence, courage, strength but I also get the feeling she is a little more vulnerable in this book than she may have been in others.

There were a few strong, female leads who really shone – alongside the main one of course! I loved Luisa Dawson, Madeleine and of course, Aubrey Hamilton – each were courageous, forthright, clever, cunning and pretty kickass in their speciality! Parker was a fab character too and one who I assume struggled with separating his personal and professional side internally! Sean Meyer was one I started out not liking very much, to him being redeemed slightly in my eyes and then…well…not sure how I felt about him by the end. The baddies were superb…we were on a race to figure out which one was worse/responsible and I just LOVED how it all came together.

I really could rave about this book for ages! It was an intense, compelling and totally engrossing read. The twists and booms were exciting and nail-biting. The action sequences had me feeling each blow by blow account. It was just…well…bloody amazing! This book could easily be read as a stand-alone but I suspect, like me, you will want to go back to the start and read this series from the very beginning!

[The Cats’ Mother · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a four year gap (during which Ms Sharp also disappeared from social media, without explanation), Charlie Fox is back for her 12th outing. This is set only a few weeks after the last book, "Absence of Light" and while this could conceivably be read as a standalone, there are lots of references to events in several of the the earlier books - and it's such a great series, why wouldn't you start at the beginning? I struggled a bit remembering who everyone was, but with 975 books on my 'own but not read yet' list do not have time to reread them all to refresh my memory!

Charlie is sent to Iraq by her boss at the close protection agency, Parker Armstrong, to find Sean, her former colleague and lover, who has recovered physically from his brain injury, but not his memory or former personality. One of the men who gang-raped her in the army has been found dead, horribly mutilated, and Parker, suspecting Sean is exacting a brutal revenge on her behalf, asks her to stop him by any means necessary. Discovering that the dead man had been working as a private military contractor under another former acquaintance (from book 2) she traces his steps and finds links to more brutal rapes, Russian ex-soldiers, the CIA and the smuggling of priceless antiquities, and other characters from earlier books reappear. I don't want to spoil anything so will say no more, but the plot is rather like a James Bond story as she chases Sean all over the place.

This was another excellent instalment in Charlie's story - rather dark, as the demons from her past (both psychological and human) reappear and are finally dealt with. There was a little bit too much soul-searching about whether or not she has actually lost her own soul (the one thing keeping her from psychopathy is that she does actually care about it). I love her sarky one-liners, and enjoyed the new (and returned) female characters. The ending was satisfying, and I hope it won't be so long until the next one (and that Charlie will finally move on and find a more worthy love interest!)

[Neil Plakcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, an amazing effort by Zoe Sharp. Each chapter kept me turning the pages, with lots of twists and turns in the plot. Not a typical outing for Charlie Fox; instead of protecting someone, she's hunting for her ex, Sean Meyer, who's gone to ground in the Middle East and may be killing the former soldiers who raped Charlie so many years ago.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent Charlie Fox thriller. I've loved following Charlie and seeing how she has changed and adapted and grown as a person. She is smart, determined and kick ass. Can't wait for the next book!

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars rounded up to 5 Stars. Instead of the game of Where's Waldo Charlie is embroiled in a mission of Where's Sean? Instead of Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego Charlie is trying to solve Where in the World is Sean Meyer? Gosh I really like Charlie and all her challenges but the saga between her and Sean really is getting a little old and frayed. It seems it is well past time to put this plot to bed since realistically there can be no HEA for Charlie and Sean only MEA (Misery Ever After). They both lack complete trust in each other. So hopefully the ending holds true and Charlie will be be embarking on new adventures without the encumbrance of Sean Meyer haunting her psyche.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming to a series part way through is always a risk. I do consider myself quite the expert though and rarely find myself reading the first book in a series (the fourth, yes. Or even the seventh!). However, at no point, while reading Fox Hunter did I feel I had ‘missed something’. The author does an excellent job of providing her reader with all the necessary background information to keep the story flowing and the reader engaged. Does that mean that I will pass on the opportunity to read the first eleven books in this series? No, I would jump at the chance to read more (even if I’m breaking all the rules by reading out of sequence!).

Charlie Fox is my kind of character. I always swoon a little over a strong, kick-ass, female protagonist and Fox ticked all the boxes for me. I was glad to see Sharp hadn’t taken the route other authors seem to feel is necessary and given her feisty lead an equally tough male partner of the romantic sense. I expect that may have been the case in previous novels as a relationship with her intended target, Sean Meyer, is referred to on several occasions. It all feels very much like ancient history though and Fox is a realist, knowing to leave the past in the past. Plus Sean’s traumatic accident and head injury mean he’ll never be the same man again.

The plot was fast-paced with some wonderfully choreographed gunfights. I could easily picture the action in my mind and was drawn into the dangerous world of close protection. There are several well-written characters who really stood out for me. Particularly Fox’s newbie sidekick, Luisa Dawson, their loyal escort and driver, Moe and the mysterious Aubrey Hamilton.

Would I recommend this book? I would. I thoroughly enjoyed my introduction to Charlie Fox and Sharp’s writing. I don’t read enough of this type of crime fiction, tending to stick to my serial killer thrillers and police procedurals – what a mistake! I will be making of point of adding more of the Charlie Fox series to my TBR in the future. Thrilling, fast paced and well written. What more could you want!

Four out of five stars.

I chose to read and review a copy of Fox Hunter. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Kristy Hilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series!

It's been a long wait for this book. The good news is that it is another fantastic addition to the series. The bad news is I've finished it already. I must admit I'm stumped as to where the author is going with the relationship between Charlie and Sean. It looks like I'll be waiting a while to find out where a Charlie's life will lead her next. Please write quickly Zoe Sharp! I wouldn't mind another Kelly Jacks novel either, while you're at it.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delighted to find this is a series...Finally, a badass female main character who isn't one-sided. Charlie is complex, conflicted, and has issues. But she's also relentless, principled, smart, and engaging. Definitely starting the series from the beginning!

[Drystonewaller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Realising that I hadn't read Fox Hunter was akin to discovering my favourite toffee hidden amongst the usual abandoned soft centres in a box of Christmas chocolates...absolute joy, along with, "how did I miss that?"
Settling down to read another of Zoe's books has been my idea of a good read. I haven't had to wait for it to, 'get going'...immediately we are straight into the action and the pace continues throughout the book. The main protagonist Charlie Fox continues to deliver action, suspense, thoughtfulness and an edginess that makes me think I'd like to meet her but would be unnerved by her ability to read every one of my motives and actions!
Learning of not only what actually happened to Charlie but what the motivation behind that was has been an insight, albeit an uncomfortable one. In truth though for anyone with open eyes...not a real surprise, sadly. This doesn't detract from the story in any way...for me it rounds off Charlie's character and gives further insight into her personality and the inner strength she possesses.
For those who haven't read a Zoe Sharp book, I don't think you will be disappointed. For those who have, what are you waiting for?

[Randy Overbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of thriller writer Zoe Sharp for years and have read several of her books, enjoying every one, especially the Charlie Fox series. Just to name a few, in First Drop, she took her readers on a dizzying roller coaster ride in the middle of an assassination attempt of a teen Charlie is guarding, and in Road Kill readers get strapped in for an electrifying ride atop a few sleek motorcycles when Charlie infiltrates a biker gang, almost becoming road kill herself in the process. But in Fox Hunter, the latest in the series, Sharp has outdone herself. In this twelfth entry, Charlie Fox is sent on a mission to rescue—or apprehend—her old mentor and lover, Sean Meyer, who may have gone off the reservation and tortured and killed a man from their mutual past. A man Charlie has every reason to be glad is dead. Her search takes her from the scorched landscapes of the Iraqi desert and up to the snowy mountains of Bulgaria. Along the way she encounters a Russian hit squad, an Iraqi teen raped and then disfigured and abandoned by her own family, black market antiquities smugglers and a former client, a major crime boss. One aspect that makes Ms. Sharp’s writing so sterling is her ability to transport the reader vividly to the settings of her narratives, whether it be the sights and smells of Disney World in First Drop or the twisting switchbacks of the Irish countryside in Road Kill. In Fox Hunter, the scenes of the desert are real, I swear I could feel the hot sun and the grit of the sand in my face (and it was in the middle of a freezing January). Of course, my teeth practically chattered when I was riding alongside Charlie atop a snowmobile up the frozen slopes to a mountain fortress.
Did I mention that Charlie Fox is one tough broad? There’s a reason why Lee Child calls Charlie Fox a female Jack Reacher.
If you’ve not yet had a chance to discover this brilliant British writer, you’ve been missing some really great rides. And Fox Hunter would be a great place to start. But so would First Drop or Die Easy or Hard Knocks. You get the picture. By all means, if you want a thriller with a kick ass heroine, add Zoe Sharp to your list of must read

[Dolly Sandor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve waited 5 years for this book. Not as bad as those waiting for GRRM, but it felt like it to me!

What I liked: I think Fox Hunter is a resolution to Charlie’s past and maybe her future. She’s been through so much and just when we thought things were going her way, BAM. It’s been an up and down ride for the last couple of books. I mean, Sean, is/was/maybe her guy. I can’t explain that because it would give away spoilers not only for this book but the previous ones as well. Speaking of which, you’ll want to start at the beginning of the series with, Killer Instinct, and don’t forget to read the short stories and novellas.

Charlie is a badass but it wasn’t always the case. She learned, she adapted, and she overcame all circumstances. That’s not to say her current life is all roses but she’s come a long way from the first book.

I wouldn’t say this series is romantic suspense but more like a thriller/suspense series with touches of romance. It’s exactly the type I like to read. Ms Sharp doesn’t pull back from the gritty, seamy sides of life either. Her characters are well developed but not perfect by any means. Yes, you can be sympathetic to Charlie and her circumstances but she’s more than willing to mix it up and not feel sorry for herself. In Fox Hunter, Ms Sharp revealed so many surprises, I couldn’t count. The ending was superb!

What I didn’t like: I say the ending was superb BUT, I don’t want to wait for the direction Charlie goes in next. Dang, I wanna know now!

The early books are set in England and Ms Sharp’s descriptive abilities made me feel I was there. The latest books have been set out of New York City and I felt right at home. I wonder where Charlie is going to end up and why.

I feel like I inhaled Fox Hunter. I was immersed, mesmerized, entertained and, very surprised. I couldn’t ask more from a story!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

Highly Recommended!! (Please start at the beginning to fully enjoy the writing and the stories).

[Gloria Feit · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the publisher: Zoe Sharp’s tough-as-nails Charlie Fox returns this summer in the latest thriller in this energetic series: “Fox Hunter,” which finds the indomitable ex-special forces soldier on a mission into the Iraqi countryside to track down a missing comrade-in-arms. Special forces soldier-turned-bodyguard Charlotte “Charlie” Fox can never forget the men who put a brutal end to her military career, but a long time ago, she vowed she would not go looking for them. Now she doesn’t have a choice. Her boss, Sean Meyer, is missing in Iraq, where one of those men was working as a private security contractor. When the man’s butchered body is discovered, Charlie fears that Sean may be pursuing a twisted vendetta on her behalf. Charlie’s “close protection” agency in New York needs this dealt with - - fast and quiet - - before everything they’ve worked for goes to ruins. They send Charlie to the Middle East with very specific instructions: Find Sean Meyer and stop him - - by whatever means necessary. At one time Charlie thought she knew Sean better than she knew herself, but it seems he’s turned into a violent stranger. He was always ruthless, but is he capable of such savage acts of slaughter? As the trail grows ever bloodier, Charlie realizes that she is not the only one after Sean and, unless she can get to him first, the hunter may soon become the hunted.

In its early pages, this newest Charlie Fox novel describes a series of suspense-filled, exciting chase scenes, the initial outcome not a good one. We are allowed to see occasional displays of Charlie’s vulnerability, especially apparent where Sean is concerned.

The only blurb on the front cover, from Lee Child, captures her completely: “If Jack Reacher were a woman, he’d be Charlie Fox.” What more can - or needs to - be said?

Highly recommended.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are times in an agent’s life when they become the hunted…

My thanks go out to my contacts at Pegasus Books, Iris Blasi, Katie McGuire, and Maia Larson, for my advance copy of this book. You ladies rock!

Charlotte “Charlie” Fox is a former Special Forces soldier who now works for a protection agency in New York. She has been dispatched to Iraq looking for her boss, Sean Meyer, who has been missing for some time. Charlie’s nightmares are just starting.

Back when she was Special Forces, Charlie had been attacked and raped by four fellow soldiers: Donalson, Hackett, Morton, and Clay. Even worse was the fact that she was the one who had been raked over the coals in court. A victim of rape, she was twisted by the court as being the precipitator of the rape. Men couldn’t be expected to control themselves when a woman was flaunting her sexuality. In the end, she was the one who had to leave the Military.
She is now aware that of the four, Morton was now deceased. Clay has just been discovered tortured to death in Iraq, where he was working in security. It is believed that Sean Meyer was the man who had victimized Clay…

Charlie’s story is a non-stop roller coaster of danger, intrigue, imprisonment, and bloody shootouts that spread into neighboring Kuwait. She flies back and forth from Iraq to the United States, always with a battle to fight and mysteries to unravel.

The showdown will find her facing a person from her past and the cold realization of exactly how deep the rape attack and the four men’s slap on the wrist really goes…

This was my first experience with Charlie Fox and the story is as action-packed as any I have ever read. The reveal is chilling, and the characters well rounded. I will give this book four stars!

Quoth the Raven…

[Any Length · Rating 5 out of 5]

spoiler alert
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ok, so I am totally absorbed in the Charlie Fox series and am like so many hoping for a happy ending and something great and I am not disappointed with the book as it is a great read. Flying from one country to the next, fighting the fight, taking a few hits, and not quite recovered from her last injuries Charlie is at her best. She works her way through all the mysteries and solves all the puzzles. BUT! At the end the readers do not get their Sean back and Parker doesn't step gracefully into the background. There is no couple living happily ever after. Instead Sean takes off and the split appears to be final for now. (maybe one day he recovers happier memories of Charlie and himself being a good couple.) Charlie realises that Parker used her. And she rides off into the sunset without a job but still with good prospects. She has made a name in the industry for herself. People respect her. Great potential for future books.
We are at a crossroads. Either this is the end of Charlie Fox, which I would be rather cut up about. Or we will get another book one day which can lead into any and all directions. The choices are Zoe Sharp's. Or maybe Charlie Fox is such an independent character that she dictates to Zoe Sharp what she will be doing in the future - when she is good and ready to let the readers know. The possibilities are endless and quite frankly I will take anything at all. I am a Charlie Fox addict and can't bear the idea that I am now down to "Absence of Light" to keep me going till hopefully Charlie Fox will come back to give us the next piece of her life.
PLEASE!!! Zoe, keep writing. We love your work. We need more!!!!

[Karen Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fox Hunter is the twelfth book in Zoe Sharp's series about Charlie Fox, it's also the first I've read but luckily can be read as a standalone.
It's been a little while since I've read an action thriller but what a way to return to the genre! I was gripped by Fox Hunter from the very start. I must admit I was at a slight disadvantage not having read the earlier books but Zoe Sharp cleverly brings new readers up to speed organically through her plot building without having to constantly rehash the previous stories for long term fans. In this book Charlie is sent to Iraq to track down her former lover, Sean. He's not the man she used to know following his almost fatal shooting in a previous book - but has he really become a twisted killer?
I'm a huge fan of the television series, Homeland and Fox Hunter has some of the same elements of that show; high octane action, uncompromising violence, dangerous locations and the feeling that you never really know who you can trust. Charlie's mission takes her from one seemingly impossible situation to another, she seems to be in almost constant danger in this blisteringly fast paced thriller.
The pulse racing tension never comes at the expense of characterisation however. Charlie Fox is an unforgettable protagonist. She is highly capable, an efficient killer with a sharp mind. Her back story means she is also a very real character and relatable even though not many of us are ever going to have to face the extreme situations she finds herself in. Her instinctive ability to take a life isn't something she takes for granted, she's a survivor but killing another human - even one who was trying to kill her - affects her deeply. In Fox Hunter she learns more about her past, the shocking truth is handled with a searing honesty and never feels gratuitous. It's not just Charlie though, I absolutely loved all the strong female characters in this book, Luisa Dawson, Aubrey Hamilton and Madeleine. It's so refreshing to read an action thriller where the women take centre stage and aren't love interests, secretaries or sidekicks. They are all complex, interesting and believable women, their relationships with one another may sometimes be more than a little fraught and though the respect between them may be grudging at times, it's earned as they learn what they are each capable of.
Fox Hunter has the grit and glamour of a big screen action thriller, with its global locations and international cast of antagonists; it also has a thoughtful, poignant storyline that looks at revenge, justice and redemption, and examines the process of trying to move beyond horrific events that threaten to define not just the past but the present and future too. I really enjoyed this book, the gripping action, detailed and nuanced characterisation and fascinating narrative make this a superlative thriller and one I thoroughly recommend.
All my reviews are originally published on my blog at www.hairpastafreckle72.blogspot.co.uk

[Grace Koshida · Rating 4 out of 5]

Former British Special forces soldier-turned-bodyguard Charlie Fox can never forget the four men who raped her and ended her military career. But when one of the men (Clay) working as a private security contractor in Iraq is found brutally tortured to death, Charlie fears that her boss and former lover Sean Meyer may be pursuing a twisted vendetta on her behalf.

Charlie is sent by her New York agency boss Parker Armstrong to find Sean and stop him, by whatever means necessary. At one time Charlie thought she knew Sean better than she knew herself, but after recovering from a near fatal head injury, he has turned into a violent stranger.

As the trail for Sean leads Charlie to neighbouring Kuwait and then to Jordan, she realises that Russian goons and American three-letter agencies are also searching for him. The theft of Iraqi cultural artifacts is linked with Clay and the other men responsible for her attack.

This is an excellent non-stop thriller full of plenty of action, danger, violence and betrayal and is a welcome return of this resilient, tough female protagonist.

I received this book for free from Netgalley and Pegasus Books in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now if you’ve seen any of my other reviews, you may have spotted that I’m a bit of a sucker for the old action thriller. I loved reading Tom Clancy when I was younger, and have more recently come to really enjoy getting back into reading books which combine action with a really good story and compelling characters. When I was offered the opportunity to read Fox Hunter, not only the latest in a highly acclaimed series, but featuring a kick-ass female lead to boot I didn’t hesitate. I’d heard author Zoe Sharp on a couple of panels at crime festivals over the past couple of years, and heard her read a passage from the book at Noir at the Bar in Harrogate earlier this year. Not easy listening by any sense, a very harrowing subject made perhaps more real and brutal when read aloud, but I knew instinctively that I wanted to read this book.

Now, I’ll admit it. I am so far behind in catching up after the best part of a 17 year reading hiatus that I feel like I will never catch up. This, I’m ashamed to say, is my very first Charlie Fox book. But what a book it was. If you are going into this new to the series then be aware that this may contain spoilers for issues which are hinted at but not necessarily disclosed in the prior books. I am only saying that due to things I have read about the book from the author herself. I sadly can’t speak from experience. However, that said, I don’t for a minute believe them to be detrimental to going back and reading the other books. Because they haven’t been disclosed in full before, I don’t think they will spoil my enjoyment when I go back and read the others. Because I will do that as this book rocked.

Sent to Iraq to try to find her former colleague and lover, Sean Meyer, Charlie Fox is immediately plunged into the middle of a very serious situation. Meyer is suspected of having committed a very violent crime, one which Charlie has every reason not to want to see resolved. But Charlie is a professional and knows that the key to the whole investigation lies in finding Meyer and proving his innocent. For if there is one thing she is sure of it’s that Meyer can’t have changed that much to have committed the crime he is accused of. Nothing about the case is plain sailing and Charlie really doesn’t know who to trust as even the ‘friendly’ fire proves to be a great threat. Faced with some old adversaries and men she would rather forget, Charlie may be heading into a fight from which there is no return.

Oh lordy. Well – advance warning. This book contains some pretty strong violence and some really difficult and hard to read situations, described in a way that, while not overly gratuitous, ensure that there are no pulled punches. The reader will feel every last strike. Starting from the initial crime scene where Charlie comes face to face with someone from her past, to the scenes in which a local girl describes a rather brutal attack, even to a scene in which Charlie and Dawson are ambushed while trying to track Meyer, there is no let up and no hiding from the brutal truth. And I wouldn’t expect it. War is violent and those who seek to profit from it, be their allies or otherwise, are not going to be offering tea and biscuits. But you know what? It doesn’t have to be because Charlie Fox can hold her own.

I loved reading this book. Coming to get to know a female character who, while bruised and battered and not completely infallible, was every bit as strong and savvy as her male counterparts. Even though this case gave her every reason to crumble, forced her to confront parts of her history that she would rather have remained long-buried, she still faced them head on. When in combat, under ambush, she proved to be highly proficient in use of fire arms and pretty hand with her fists too. What she lacks in brute force, she more than makes up for in intellect, often blindsiding her opponents with her cunning and intelligence. That is her biggest asset and her greatest weakness as readers of the book will discover. It’s the part of her that her opponents fear the most. She is such a hard-ass character, but not without humanity and it is a beautiful thing to read. Lee Child has likened her to a female Jack Reacher. Maybe she is, maybe she isn’t. What she most definitely is, is a dang good action hero. I’m a fan.

One of the great things about this book for me has been the styling that Zoe Sharp has adopted. It is very no-nonsense in tone, quite matter of fact, a fact which proves highly effective with the first person narrative style. The book is told from Charlie’s point of view, and she is a no nonsense woman. And yet it is littered with very astute observations – of landscape, emotion and atmosphere – something no doubt drawn from the author’s own experiences as a photo-journalist. It makes the narrative flow perfectly and each chapter seems well matched in terms of length and pace to drive the story forward. There doesn’t seem to be a superfluous word here (something probably quite ironic given the length of this review) and I felt myself being pulled from chapter to chapter, keen to read onward, desperate to know what happened and how Meyer, and now Charlie, had found themselves drawn into this big mess.

If you want to read a book which is packed with action, but which also takes time to explore the brutality of war and the kinds of atrocities all too often carried out by those who are sent to ‘aid’ the civilians caught up in conflict, then absolutely pick up this book. If you don’t like heart-stopping action, tension, truly compelling stories, a plot which grabs you from the off and a heroine who is kick ass, witty, intelligent and more than a match for any opponent – well you probably want to steer clear. For those with sense, and good taste, give the book a go.

Fans of the series will love it. I loved it. Highly recommended.