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Nick Mason #2
Exit Strategy
In the stunning follow-up to the New York Times bestseller The Second Life of Nick Mason , the remarkable hero fights to take back control from the crime lord who owns his life, as he races to complete a daring and dangerous new mission...
Nick Mason has been given a true mission Infiltrate WITSEC, the top-secret federal witness-protection program that has never been compromised, locate the three men who put his boss Darius Cole behind bars for life, and kill them.
But first he has to find them—they’re ghost prisoners locked down around the clock in classified “deep black” locations by an battalion of heavily armed U.S. marshals charged with protecting them—and the clock is ticking. Cole is appealing his conviction, and these witnesses are either his ticket to freedom or the final nail in his coffin. If they testify, Darius Cole will never step foot in the outside world again. If they are killed, he will walk out a free man.
As he risks everything to complete his mission, Mason finds himself being hunted by the very man he replaced, the ruthless assassin who once served, then betrayed, Darius Cole. Rather than waiting to be Mason's next victim, he has escaped witness protection to hunt down and kill Mason himself.
In an action-packed journey that leads from a high-security military installation in the Appalachian Mountains to a secret underground bunker hidden far below the streets of New York City, Nick Mason will have to become, more than ever before, the lethal weapon that Darius Cole created.
Nick Mason has been given a true mission Infiltrate WITSEC, the top-secret federal witness-protection program that has never been compromised, locate the three men who put his boss Darius Cole behind bars for life, and kill them.
But first he has to find them—they’re ghost prisoners locked down around the clock in classified “deep black” locations by an battalion of heavily armed U.S. marshals charged with protecting them—and the clock is ticking. Cole is appealing his conviction, and these witnesses are either his ticket to freedom or the final nail in his coffin. If they testify, Darius Cole will never step foot in the outside world again. If they are killed, he will walk out a free man.
As he risks everything to complete his mission, Mason finds himself being hunted by the very man he replaced, the ruthless assassin who once served, then betrayed, Darius Cole. Rather than waiting to be Mason's next victim, he has escaped witness protection to hunt down and kill Mason himself.
In an action-packed journey that leads from a high-security military installation in the Appalachian Mountains to a secret underground bunker hidden far below the streets of New York City, Nick Mason will have to become, more than ever before, the lethal weapon that Darius Cole created.
320 pages, Paperback
First published May 16, 2017
499 people are currently reading
1388 people want to read
About the author
Steve Hamilton
50 books1,677 followersTwo-time Edgar Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of the Nick Mason series, The Lock Artist, and the Alex McKnight series. AN HONORABLE ASSASSIN (Mason #3) coming August 27, 2024!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 401 reviews
September 25, 2017
Steve Hamilton is one of a handful of authors who can leave my pulse pounding when I'm done reading his books. I'll honestly never understand why he isn't more famous, because not only does he know how to write an action scene, he's a fantastic storyteller, one who creates thrillers with immense depth and characterization. Exit Strategy, the second book in his new series featuring Nick Mason, once again proves Hamilton is at the top of his form.
Nick Mason was in the middle of a long prison stint when he caught the eye of hardened criminal Darius Cole, who was imprisoned possibly for life but yet still ruled the entire system. Somehow Cole is able to pull enough strings to get Mason released years ahead of time, but of course, for a price: Cole essentially owns Mason—whatever he orders Mason to do, he must do, or he'll either find himself back in prison, or dead.
This time he has been given a seemingly impossible task: kill the three witnesses responsible for putting Cole in jail in the first place, to whom the government is turning once again for a retrial. Of course, these aren't ordinary witnesses—they're buried deep inside the federal witness protection program in sites unknown to almost everyone. But Cole has amazing information sources, so Mason is sent on a number of hunting expeditions taking him to both rural and urban locations. If Mason is successful, Cole might be set free; if any of the witnesses survive to testify, it could guarantee Cole's imprisonment for life—and destruction of everything Mason holds dear.
While Mason pursues his tasks knowing what is on the line, he is still trying to find a way out of Cole's clutches. He wants a life that is his, one that doesn't force him to jump every time his cell phone rings, one which doesn't allow him to come clean to those he cares about. But that kind of life is only possible if he can guarantee that Cole is destroyed, which, of course, can only bring about his own destruction.
The clock is ticking, and what Mason doesn't count on is that as he hunts the witnesses is he is being hunted at the very same time, by one of the three men he will need to kill. This ruthless assassin who once performed the very same lethal tasks for Cole that Mason does now isn't content to wait for Mason to try and kill him—he decides to take the fight to Mason as well.
If Cole is freed from prison, will Mason ever be free, or will he then become dispensable? Can Mason complete the mission he has been given without turning into the cold-hearted monster who controls him? Can he complete the mission before he becomes the target? Is there a price too high for his freedom?
Hamilton ratchets up the suspense little by little, and keeps the action flowing throughout. There are some fantastic action and chase scenes in this book, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. Mason is one of those characters like Jeff Lindsay's Dexter who is a true criminal, but you root for him anyway. You want him to win, even though he is doing some of the same things the book's villains are doing.
That you care about this flawed character is truly a testament to Hamilton's skill as a writer. While I hope he'll one day return to Paradise, Michigan, home of his series of books featuring private investigator Alex McKnight, it is always great to see what he can do with a new series or a standalone book.
Even if you didn't read The Second Life of Nick Mason, which is this book's predecessor, if you're a fan of crime novels and thrillers, you'll find this one gets your adrenaline pumping and doesn't let go. And can you ask for anything more?
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
August 12, 2017
The first book in this new series by Steve Hamilton is The Second Life of Nick Mason. Someone has Nick in chains and he will do whatever they tell him to protect his ex-wife and daughter. His goal is to break free and get his old life back. Quoting from my review: “While I'm eager to see if he makes it, I have reservations.” With this second book’s title Exit Strategy, I hoped that's what Nick had found. Now I think Nick’s life is hopeless. He’s a killer, and I have no sympathy for him.
Steve Hamilton writes well, and I enjoyed his Alex McKnight series. For me, this new series is not as likeable. The pace was quick, but there wasn't a lot of tension. There are lots of dead bodies! Some of the situations were a bit cliched and maybe unbelievable. There was not much backstory from the first book, so it’s best to read these in order.
I’ve tried to see where Hamilton can go with future books in the Nick Mason series. All I can see is more killing, more jerking of his chain, and more desperation. It feels like a dead end, literally. Maybe the next book will be titled Only One Way Out or Nick Mason Gives Up. I'm not sure I will read the next book.
Steve Hamilton writes well, and I enjoyed his Alex McKnight series. For me, this new series is not as likeable. The pace was quick, but there wasn't a lot of tension. There are lots of dead bodies! Some of the situations were a bit cliched and maybe unbelievable. There was not much backstory from the first book, so it’s best to read these in order.
I’ve tried to see where Hamilton can go with future books in the Nick Mason series. All I can see is more killing, more jerking of his chain, and more desperation. It feels like a dead end, literally. Maybe the next book will be titled Only One Way Out or Nick Mason Gives Up. I'm not sure I will read the next book.
May 18, 2017
I've been a long time fan of Steve Hamilton's Alex McKnight series, so I was intrigued when the first Nick Mason book, The Second Life of Nick Mason was published. Nick Mason went to Supermax for a crime he had committed but he came to the attention and then the protection of Chicago crime boss Darius Cole. Cole arranged for Mason's sentence to be vacated. The price large, Cole now owned Mason body and soul. He also owned the life of Nick's ex-wife and nine year old daughter.
So here we are to the second book. Which does not really do a great job of explaining the backstory. A bit more information would have made this a better read for those who are picking it up as a standalone. But please, don't let that stop you from picking up this thriller.
Nick is now a hit-man for Darius Cole. Not a fun job to have on one's resume. Especially since he is going after Federally protected witnesses. Which puts him in direct conflict with the US Marshall's office. Not good. Besides having the of brains of not wanting an entire federal agency devote the rest of their lives to running him down, Nick has enough humanity left not to want to kill innocents.
Hamilton does a fabulous job in putting us on Mason's side. Especially since the people against him are decent upright women and men. But yes, we are rooting for Mason to kill some folks. Good writing there.
This is a book that tears along at break-neck speed. Exciting and action packed. It is the second book in a series that takes an unexpected direction.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
So here we are to the second book. Which does not really do a great job of explaining the backstory. A bit more information would have made this a better read for those who are picking it up as a standalone. But please, don't let that stop you from picking up this thriller.
Nick is now a hit-man for Darius Cole. Not a fun job to have on one's resume. Especially since he is going after Federally protected witnesses. Which puts him in direct conflict with the US Marshall's office. Not good. Besides having the of brains of not wanting an entire federal agency devote the rest of their lives to running him down, Nick has enough humanity left not to want to kill innocents.
Hamilton does a fabulous job in putting us on Mason's side. Especially since the people against him are decent upright women and men. But yes, we are rooting for Mason to kill some folks. Good writing there.
This is a book that tears along at break-neck speed. Exciting and action packed. It is the second book in a series that takes an unexpected direction.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
March 31, 2017
In this second book of the series, Nick Mason has become a killer but he is not the only assassin in this book. He and his handler Quintero both work for Darius Cole, a crime boss who runs his Chicago criminal operation from prison. That's where Nick met him and the price Nick paid for his early release was 20 years worth of indebtedness to Cole. Nick wants to exit this arrangement. Strangely, he never contemplates suicide, which would have both solved his problem and lessened the number of dead bodies, but also would have shortened the book series.
"Before Gordie could reach for his Ruger, Burke swung the toolbox, shattering both the radius and the ulna bones in the big man's forarm, then quickly closed in on him in the confined space, broke two of his fingers and took the gun away. He hit him in the face with it until his nose cartilage was pulverized and several of his teeth were lying on the bathroom floor." That's what you get in this book. If it isn't what you want, move on to another book. This should be a movie, and probably will be, but it just wasn't my kind of book. I found the first book entertaining, but the unbelievability factor was ramped up too high for me this time and it was just nonstop action and brutality with an extremely high body count.
This book was more cartoonlike and less plausible than the first book. After Nick has been bleeding on his girlfriend's floor for a while, and he then tries to send her away because someone is going to kill her, she actually says to Nick "but what about us" (they have been together for maybe 2 weeks) and he, of course in his manly way, replies "there is no us". If this were a movie, at that point the entire audience would be laughing hysterically. However, I am sure there is an audience for both the movie and this series, which I assume will continue after this book. It just wasn't for me.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
"Before Gordie could reach for his Ruger, Burke swung the toolbox, shattering both the radius and the ulna bones in the big man's forarm, then quickly closed in on him in the confined space, broke two of his fingers and took the gun away. He hit him in the face with it until his nose cartilage was pulverized and several of his teeth were lying on the bathroom floor." That's what you get in this book. If it isn't what you want, move on to another book. This should be a movie, and probably will be, but it just wasn't my kind of book. I found the first book entertaining, but the unbelievability factor was ramped up too high for me this time and it was just nonstop action and brutality with an extremely high body count.
This book was more cartoonlike and less plausible than the first book. After Nick has been bleeding on his girlfriend's floor for a while, and he then tries to send her away because someone is going to kill her, she actually says to Nick "but what about us" (they have been together for maybe 2 weeks) and he, of course in his manly way, replies "there is no us". If this were a movie, at that point the entire audience would be laughing hysterically. However, I am sure there is an audience for both the movie and this series, which I assume will continue after this book. It just wasn't for me.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
August 22, 2017
After enjoying Nick Mason #1, I couldn't wait for #2...and what a disappointment! Multiple senseless deaths, kidnappings, white slavery, butcher killers, everyone under bribes or coercion. All topped off by one of the most dreadful of endings. Exit strategy??? Where??? So bad, this drops from 4-stars to a deserved 1. #3 can't be this dreadful! 2 of 10 stars
May 21, 2018
I have mixed feelings about this book. Overall, not bad. Very three-star worthy, but not a standout.
There was a good mix of suspense and action, and it moved at a good clip. Violent, yes, but I’m down with the blood and gore, and the exploding heads (yes, exploding heads). Having said that, it’s the second book in the series and I don’t love or even really care much about Nick Mason. I thought he was interesting in the first book and that he would be better developed in subsequent stories, but I'm not finding that to be the case.
Another problem lies in the “relationshippy” parts of the book. You know… not romance per se, but at least attraction. Again, I’m generally ok with this kind of thing in a crime-thriller, but something about this one just felt off. Contrived. It just left me feeling not much of anything at all.
I am sad that I don’t care for Nick, but I ADORE Hamilton’s other series character Alex McKnight. The good news is, another McKnight is forthcoming! I can (anxiously) wait.
There was a good mix of suspense and action, and it moved at a good clip. Violent, yes, but I’m down with the blood and gore, and the exploding heads (yes, exploding heads). Having said that, it’s the second book in the series and I don’t love or even really care much about Nick Mason. I thought he was interesting in the first book and that he would be better developed in subsequent stories, but I'm not finding that to be the case.
Another problem lies in the “relationshippy” parts of the book. You know… not romance per se, but at least attraction. Again, I’m generally ok with this kind of thing in a crime-thriller, but something about this one just felt off. Contrived. It just left me feeling not much of anything at all.
I am sad that I don’t care for Nick, but I ADORE Hamilton’s other series character Alex McKnight. The good news is, another McKnight is forthcoming! I can (anxiously) wait.
May 28, 2017
Nick Mason was released from prison to a situation where he is truly owned by Darius Cole, a crime boss that would make Al Capone blush. Cole controls what Mason does and who he sees, telling him that if he does not do what he's told his ex-wife and daughter will be killed. Mason has very specific skills as an assassin and Cole starts using those skills to get rid of witnesses prior to his retrial. But Nick believes he has found a way out of this life.
I ran through the pages just hungering to finish this page-turner. Excellent writing, a cast of interesting characters and non-stop action make this book a keeper.
I ran through the pages just hungering to finish this page-turner. Excellent writing, a cast of interesting characters and non-stop action make this book a keeper.
July 10, 2017
I won an ARC of this novel in a goodreads drawing.
After the events of the last novel, which I haven't read yet, Nick Mason finds himself at the beck and call of a Chicago crime lord. The results of this relationship are so heinous that Mason decides to escape, and that means killing his boss.
Pretty good.
After the events of the last novel, which I haven't read yet, Nick Mason finds himself at the beck and call of a Chicago crime lord. The results of this relationship are so heinous that Mason decides to escape, and that means killing his boss.
Pretty good.
June 25, 2017
Steve Hamilton knows how to write a thrilling, fast-paced crime novel. The 2nd installment of the Nick Mason series - 'Exit Strategy' - IS a fast-paced crime novel. These are the positive points.
So if you are a lover of the genre and you like Hamilton's style, you should definitely give it a try.
But after having finished the book today, there are some major issues I have with it:
[Spoilers ahead! You have been warned!]
It is totally unbelievable that Nick Mason has changed from a low-level car thief to a high-level assassin. Not just because it doesn't fit his character at all, which has slowly been developed in the first novel. But most of all because there is no way he could have learned all the skills necessary in such a short time. At one point, he literally performs a military (!) mission. On his own. Against half a dozen US marshalls in three cars, one helicopter, and a bunch of soldiers from a military camp. No. Fucking. Way.
But even worse is the way Hamilton treats Mason's love interest, Lauren. After having developed their relationship in a believable and really beautiful way in the first novel, she is now disposed and never heard of again after the first few chapters. This is unworthy. And again not very believable for Nick Mason to act the way he does, beginning with his decision to drive to her house after having been severely wounded, and thus endanger her, ending with his decision to simply send her away.
The next point is the abundance of - definitely interesting - characters who unfortunately don't have enough room to breathe and develop: Burke, Harper, Greenwod, and Eddy too! Hamilton should either have left them out, or he should have worked on them. The way it is, they are just empty plot devices with no soul.
But the biggest flaw of all is the ending. I didn't fucking believe my eyes when I read it! This comes directly out of all the cheap tv shows I've learned to loathe over the course of the last years: Cole isn't the real boss, and the whole organization is much bigger and much more clandestine than we thought. This is not a twist, but a cheap plot device which has no other function than setting up the next part of the series - which will surely be even more over the top than this one. Sorry, Mr. Hamilton, but I actually feel insulted by this ending.
All in all, this novel feels rushed, its characters are partly unbelievable, partly shallow, and never fully developed, its plot is far-fetched. Which is a pity, because I have liked all of Hamilton's novels so far - including the first Nick Mason which isn't a perfect book, but in contrary to its successor has a heart and a soul.
So if you are a lover of the genre and you like Hamilton's style, you should definitely give it a try.
But after having finished the book today, there are some major issues I have with it:
[Spoilers ahead! You have been warned!]
It is totally unbelievable that Nick Mason has changed from a low-level car thief to a high-level assassin. Not just because it doesn't fit his character at all, which has slowly been developed in the first novel. But most of all because there is no way he could have learned all the skills necessary in such a short time. At one point, he literally performs a military (!) mission. On his own. Against half a dozen US marshalls in three cars, one helicopter, and a bunch of soldiers from a military camp. No. Fucking. Way.
But even worse is the way Hamilton treats Mason's love interest, Lauren. After having developed their relationship in a believable and really beautiful way in the first novel, she is now disposed and never heard of again after the first few chapters. This is unworthy. And again not very believable for Nick Mason to act the way he does, beginning with his decision to drive to her house after having been severely wounded, and thus endanger her, ending with his decision to simply send her away.
The next point is the abundance of - definitely interesting - characters who unfortunately don't have enough room to breathe and develop: Burke, Harper, Greenwod, and Eddy too! Hamilton should either have left them out, or he should have worked on them. The way it is, they are just empty plot devices with no soul.
But the biggest flaw of all is the ending. I didn't fucking believe my eyes when I read it! This comes directly out of all the cheap tv shows I've learned to loathe over the course of the last years: Cole isn't the real boss, and the whole organization is much bigger and much more clandestine than we thought. This is not a twist, but a cheap plot device which has no other function than setting up the next part of the series - which will surely be even more over the top than this one. Sorry, Mr. Hamilton, but I actually feel insulted by this ending.
All in all, this novel feels rushed, its characters are partly unbelievable, partly shallow, and never fully developed, its plot is far-fetched. Which is a pity, because I have liked all of Hamilton's novels so far - including the first Nick Mason which isn't a perfect book, but in contrary to its successor has a heart and a soul.
March 23, 2017
Read this review and more at www.TheRealBookSpy.com
Several months ago, Nick Mason made a life-altering deal with Darius Cole, the kingpin of a vast criminal organization. Terms were simple–Cole would help secure an early release for Mason, who still had twenty years left on his prison sentence for past crimes, in exchange for his services remaining on Cole’s payroll for the next two decades.
In theory, the deal sounds pretty good. Especially when you add in that Mason gets ten thousand dollars a month deposited into a secret bank account for him to use. He also gets to live in a beautiful, luxurious townhouse that overlooks Lake Michigan on the north side of Chicago, and access to an unlimited supply of fast, expensive cars.
Mason took the deal, in part, to be close with his wife and daughter, and walked out of jail after the police officer who testified against him had a sudden change of heart and changed his story, thanks to the “urging” of Cole’s crew.
However, while he may be out of prison, Nick Mason is far from a free man. In fact, he’s anything but…
Mason simply traded in one sentence for another and now lives imprisoned to Cole and the tasks he assigns, which are becoming increasingly more dangerous. What started as carrying out petty crimes soon blossomed into breaking and entering, stealing, and, eventually, killing.
A former career criminal on Chicago’s south side, Cole tabbed Mason to be his new muscle, and with a single phone call sends Nick off to handle various problems as they arise. That’s the catch, really, to Mason’s new life. The Darius Cole-issued phone is to be on his person at all times, no excuses. When it rings, he’s to answer and then immediately follow any instructions, day or night, no questions asked.
After the events of last year’s novel, The Second Life of Nick Mason., which features Nick running errands for Cole while also taking on a unit of dirty cops and trying to get his wife (who has since moved in with another man) back, Steve Hamilton raised the stakes considerably in his latest thriller.
This time around, Cole–who, thanks to a technicality, was just awarded a new trial after previously being sentenced to two life terms–tasks Mason with tracking down and eliminating the three men scheduled to testify against him in court. The catch is that each man is currently being protected inside the WITSEC program, which has never been infiltrated before.
Wasting no time to draw readers in, Exit Strategy opens with a bang as Mason goes after the first witness. But, once the good men and women of the Federal Witness Protection Program put the puzzle pieces together and realize Cole’s plan, they harden down security for the remaining two witnesses, securing them in a pair of off-the-books military bases guarded by both U.S. Marshalls and armed military personnel.
With the odds stacked so firmly against him, Mason’s assignment is nearly impossible. Failure to succeed would mean bad things for his ex-wife and daughter, though, who Cole keeps under surveillance and promises to harm should Nick ever fail to follow orders, get caught by the police, or try to run from their agreement.
While making plans to take out the highly-guarded witnesses, Mason also starts developing an exit strategy, determined to leave his life as Cole’s criminal errand boy behind and to keep his family safe once and for all.
Hamilton brilliantly weaves Mason’s personal life with his professional life, and while he’s an anti-hero, the author still finds ways to make readers root for his main character. We’ve all done things we regret, making it easy to connect with that side of Mason. But what if your mistake led to you going to prison for nearly thirty years, wrecking your family and hurting everyone you love in the process?
To most, Cole’s offer would seem like a lifeline worth grabbing hold of, which Mason does, only to find out it puts the very people he so badly wants to win back in danger. Nick’s heart is in the right place, but he can’t catch a break, which will make readers long for his freedom and family nearly as much as he does.
Written with blazing-fast pacing, Exit Strategy is Hamilton’s most gritty, action-packed novel so far. Between the many blood-pumping action sequences and relentless suspense, the pages practically turn themselves as Hamilton will have readers racing to see if Nick Mason can actually pull off the impossible–leading up to a shock ending that will have fans begging for the next novel.
Whatever you’re looking for, Exit Strategy has a little something for everyone and delivers enough thrills to keep even the pickiest crime fans happy. Circle the date on the calendar, Steve Hamilton’s latest one-night-read is not to be missed!
Book Details
Author: Steve Hamilton
Series: Nick Mason #2
Pages: 304 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 0399574387
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Release Date: April 4, 2017
Order Now: http://amzn.to/2mHLBIi
Several months ago, Nick Mason made a life-altering deal with Darius Cole, the kingpin of a vast criminal organization. Terms were simple–Cole would help secure an early release for Mason, who still had twenty years left on his prison sentence for past crimes, in exchange for his services remaining on Cole’s payroll for the next two decades.
In theory, the deal sounds pretty good. Especially when you add in that Mason gets ten thousand dollars a month deposited into a secret bank account for him to use. He also gets to live in a beautiful, luxurious townhouse that overlooks Lake Michigan on the north side of Chicago, and access to an unlimited supply of fast, expensive cars.
Mason took the deal, in part, to be close with his wife and daughter, and walked out of jail after the police officer who testified against him had a sudden change of heart and changed his story, thanks to the “urging” of Cole’s crew.
However, while he may be out of prison, Nick Mason is far from a free man. In fact, he’s anything but…
Mason simply traded in one sentence for another and now lives imprisoned to Cole and the tasks he assigns, which are becoming increasingly more dangerous. What started as carrying out petty crimes soon blossomed into breaking and entering, stealing, and, eventually, killing.
A former career criminal on Chicago’s south side, Cole tabbed Mason to be his new muscle, and with a single phone call sends Nick off to handle various problems as they arise. That’s the catch, really, to Mason’s new life. The Darius Cole-issued phone is to be on his person at all times, no excuses. When it rings, he’s to answer and then immediately follow any instructions, day or night, no questions asked.
After the events of last year’s novel, The Second Life of Nick Mason., which features Nick running errands for Cole while also taking on a unit of dirty cops and trying to get his wife (who has since moved in with another man) back, Steve Hamilton raised the stakes considerably in his latest thriller.
This time around, Cole–who, thanks to a technicality, was just awarded a new trial after previously being sentenced to two life terms–tasks Mason with tracking down and eliminating the three men scheduled to testify against him in court. The catch is that each man is currently being protected inside the WITSEC program, which has never been infiltrated before.
Wasting no time to draw readers in, Exit Strategy opens with a bang as Mason goes after the first witness. But, once the good men and women of the Federal Witness Protection Program put the puzzle pieces together and realize Cole’s plan, they harden down security for the remaining two witnesses, securing them in a pair of off-the-books military bases guarded by both U.S. Marshalls and armed military personnel.
With the odds stacked so firmly against him, Mason’s assignment is nearly impossible. Failure to succeed would mean bad things for his ex-wife and daughter, though, who Cole keeps under surveillance and promises to harm should Nick ever fail to follow orders, get caught by the police, or try to run from their agreement.
While making plans to take out the highly-guarded witnesses, Mason also starts developing an exit strategy, determined to leave his life as Cole’s criminal errand boy behind and to keep his family safe once and for all.
Hamilton brilliantly weaves Mason’s personal life with his professional life, and while he’s an anti-hero, the author still finds ways to make readers root for his main character. We’ve all done things we regret, making it easy to connect with that side of Mason. But what if your mistake led to you going to prison for nearly thirty years, wrecking your family and hurting everyone you love in the process?
To most, Cole’s offer would seem like a lifeline worth grabbing hold of, which Mason does, only to find out it puts the very people he so badly wants to win back in danger. Nick’s heart is in the right place, but he can’t catch a break, which will make readers long for his freedom and family nearly as much as he does.
Written with blazing-fast pacing, Exit Strategy is Hamilton’s most gritty, action-packed novel so far. Between the many blood-pumping action sequences and relentless suspense, the pages practically turn themselves as Hamilton will have readers racing to see if Nick Mason can actually pull off the impossible–leading up to a shock ending that will have fans begging for the next novel.
Whatever you’re looking for, Exit Strategy has a little something for everyone and delivers enough thrills to keep even the pickiest crime fans happy. Circle the date on the calendar, Steve Hamilton’s latest one-night-read is not to be missed!
Book Details
Author: Steve Hamilton
Series: Nick Mason #2
Pages: 304 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 0399574387
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Release Date: April 4, 2017
Order Now: http://amzn.to/2mHLBIi
June 6, 2018
This fast moving novel is hard to put down, as Nick moves from one insane situation to the next. But you find yourself rooting for this hired killer who list wants to stop and get his old life back. I think we will see more of Nick.
December 9, 2017
I really wanted to enjoy this novel since the author is actually the friend of a friend of mine. I tried one of Steve Hamilton’s novels a couple of years ago and didn’t like it, wasn’t able to finish it. I figured I’d try him again, give him a second chance. I picked up “Exit Strategy.”
There wont be a third novel. He is 0-for-2.
Personally, I’m not a fan of his writing style. Something about the way he words things I find cumbersome. Also, I found the ‘action scenes’ wordy and hard to follow. But, honestly, a writer’s style is subjective.
Three things that caused me to give up on this novel after about 75 pages.
One: I felt nothing for the protagonist or any of the other characters. I’m very big on being able to feel something for the people I’m reading about. I want to cheer the good guy and boo the bad guy. I want to feel something on some level for the protagonist. I want to feel somehow connected.
I felt NOTHING for Nick Mason.
Two: ***Spoiler**** The first few chapters read like Die Hard. Nick Mason goes into a skyscraper. He kills his intended target while neutralizing 9 US Marshals. Gun fights, shootouts, explosions, bombs going off in less than 10 minutes, jumping through windows, hand to hand combat. Good stuff. Then, after leaving, our protagonist, who is wounded, decides to go to his girlfriend’s house to be stitched up. Then, gets shocked when the bad guys come to kill her.
Does the expression DUH come to mind.
How someone so proficient can make a stupid mistake like that is mindboggling. There’s poetic license but that’s just too extreme.
***end spoiler****
Three: I’m not a moron. But I sure felt like one reading this book.
True, I didn’t read the first Nick Mason novel. However, about 85% of novels I read feature recurring characters and with the exception of the late Vince Flynn and Brad Thor, I’ve never read any of them in order. Yes, it helps if you do. But a good author, a talented author, something Mr. Hamilton is not in my opinion, allows you to pick up the series at any point.
I don’t know what Nick Mason;s background was. I don’t know who these other people were who were around him: Cole, Quintero, Lauren, Diana, Greenwood, etc… Apparently Lauren is his girlfriend but I didn’t realize that until reading a review from someone else here on Goodreads. I also don’t understand why he lives with Diana if Lauren is his girlfriend. I also don’t understand who Quintero is. He sends Mason on this mission, stitches him up and saves his life. Then, 15 pages later, he is the one sent to kill Lauren.
Maybe this is explained later but after struggling through 1/3 of this and being totally confused, I really didn’t care.
I’ve read 2 Steve Hamilton novels. They’ve gotten a combined grand total of TWO stars. And that’s really 2 stars too many
There wont be a third novel. He is 0-for-2.
Personally, I’m not a fan of his writing style. Something about the way he words things I find cumbersome. Also, I found the ‘action scenes’ wordy and hard to follow. But, honestly, a writer’s style is subjective.
Three things that caused me to give up on this novel after about 75 pages.
One: I felt nothing for the protagonist or any of the other characters. I’m very big on being able to feel something for the people I’m reading about. I want to cheer the good guy and boo the bad guy. I want to feel something on some level for the protagonist. I want to feel somehow connected.
I felt NOTHING for Nick Mason.
Two: ***Spoiler**** The first few chapters read like Die Hard. Nick Mason goes into a skyscraper. He kills his intended target while neutralizing 9 US Marshals. Gun fights, shootouts, explosions, bombs going off in less than 10 minutes, jumping through windows, hand to hand combat. Good stuff. Then, after leaving, our protagonist, who is wounded, decides to go to his girlfriend’s house to be stitched up. Then, gets shocked when the bad guys come to kill her.
Does the expression DUH come to mind.
How someone so proficient can make a stupid mistake like that is mindboggling. There’s poetic license but that’s just too extreme.
***end spoiler****
Three: I’m not a moron. But I sure felt like one reading this book.
True, I didn’t read the first Nick Mason novel. However, about 85% of novels I read feature recurring characters and with the exception of the late Vince Flynn and Brad Thor, I’ve never read any of them in order. Yes, it helps if you do. But a good author, a talented author, something Mr. Hamilton is not in my opinion, allows you to pick up the series at any point.
I don’t know what Nick Mason;s background was. I don’t know who these other people were who were around him: Cole, Quintero, Lauren, Diana, Greenwood, etc… Apparently Lauren is his girlfriend but I didn’t realize that until reading a review from someone else here on Goodreads. I also don’t understand why he lives with Diana if Lauren is his girlfriend. I also don’t understand who Quintero is. He sends Mason on this mission, stitches him up and saves his life. Then, 15 pages later, he is the one sent to kill Lauren.
Maybe this is explained later but after struggling through 1/3 of this and being totally confused, I really didn’t care.
I’ve read 2 Steve Hamilton novels. They’ve gotten a combined grand total of TWO stars. And that’s really 2 stars too many
June 22, 2017
The non-stop violence and death in this one was breath-taking. But for all that, I couldn't put it down. In fairness, most of the awful mayhem and sadism was not excessively graphic or described with any more gore than your average book about crime bosses and their minions, but there was a LOT of it. Nick Mason can actually out "Reacher" Jack Reacher, and that's saying a lot. Like Reacher, he's incredibly resourceful, smart, and cage-fighting masterful, but he goes way farther than Jack in this intriguing series. Again, to be fair, Jack is his own master with nothing that can be held over his head. Nick has an ex-wife and daughter he literally has to kill other people to protect--again and again and again. (They're always very bad people, and Nick goes to great lengths to protect innocent lives...although it doesn't always work.)If Nick doesn't carry out his orders, the lives of his family will be forfeit. This sets up a plot loaded with tension, awful choices, and many physical and bloody confrontations, with few heroes on either side of the law. But boy howdy, this is a heck of a series. You can't help but root for Nick in his struggle to get out of this horrible, hopeless violent trap he's in. This one has a tough ending, but the next one should be very interesting. I can't wait to see what the author has in mind for Nick's next life. His "2nd" life of the first two books leads me to believe that the 3rd is going to be a doozy!
March 28, 2017
What an exciting story this is, with action packed verse and complete characters that you want to follow! This is my first book by this author but I will definitely be going back to read his other one and any that follow! This story pulled me in immediately. The main character is Nick Mason, a man who had a wife and daughter before going to prison, where he meets Darius Cole, a man who gets him released from prison early. Of course this is not free, he now is 'owned' by Cole,and must be his hitman on the outside. This is a deal Nick is finding very hard to keep and remain human. His ex-wife and daughter are used to threaten him, and all the targets he is sent to kill are men who are going to reveal all about Cole in court and are under witness protection. This book moves very quickly, I could not put it down when I started reading until I hit the end. I thank Netgalley, publisher Putnam's Sons and author Steve Hamilton for the chance to read this story, as I become a fan of this author's work!
July 8, 2017
I didn't love Nick Mason in the first book; I think I understand him more in this second book. When the main character is an indentured assassin there is an expected level of violence and body counts, so that isn't a shock; but it is raw and oppressing (probably Steve Hamilton's point) for Mason and the other characters and depressing in the quantity and breadth for this reader.
Books are often selected from loyalty to an author (this series) and for the opportunity for resolution of wrongs, for triumph of good over evil or for uplifting effort, heart and determination. In this case
Books are often selected from loyalty to an author (this series) and for the opportunity for resolution of wrongs, for triumph of good over evil or for uplifting effort, heart and determination. In this case
June 3, 2018
An utter crock! Poorly conceived, poorly written and completely implausible. How do these things get published?
August 16, 2017
This is the second book in a series featuring Nick Mason, a man recently released from prison thanks to the machinations of Darius Cole, a powerful Chicago drug lord. Cole didn't arrange for Nick's release because he's such a great guy, but because he wants Mason to kill Cole's enemies for him. Nick doesn't want to do any of this but Cole has leveled threats against his ex-wife and daughter to keep Nick on his payroll. Mason now realizes he was better off staying in prison because his indentured servitude to Cole is becoming increasingly more dangerous.
In Exit Strategy Cole has been awarded a new trial based on a technicality. He tasks Mason with tracking down and killing the three men scheduled to testify against him in court. Each of the witnesses is being protected by the agents of the Federal Witness Protection program, which has never been infiltrated before. In between tracking down witnesses, Nick desperately tries to put together an exit strategy that will get him out from under the life that threatens to destroy him.
This is a remarkably fast paced action thriller with lots of violence and killing. The author does a fantastic job of giving us characters that are both surprising and absolutely distinct from others in the genre. This book tears along at break-neck speed, leading to an unexpected conclusion. Nick Mason is not a heroic character but he's definitely a fascinating one. I can't wait to see what happens to him in the next book.
In Exit Strategy Cole has been awarded a new trial based on a technicality. He tasks Mason with tracking down and killing the three men scheduled to testify against him in court. Each of the witnesses is being protected by the agents of the Federal Witness Protection program, which has never been infiltrated before. In between tracking down witnesses, Nick desperately tries to put together an exit strategy that will get him out from under the life that threatens to destroy him.
This is a remarkably fast paced action thriller with lots of violence and killing. The author does a fantastic job of giving us characters that are both surprising and absolutely distinct from others in the genre. This book tears along at break-neck speed, leading to an unexpected conclusion. Nick Mason is not a heroic character but he's definitely a fascinating one. I can't wait to see what happens to him in the next book.
December 12, 2017
This book I can truly say was full of mayhem, murder, mystery and suspense. It starts off slow but continually gains momentum.
Nick Mason is a man released from prison by a major criminal mind, Darrius Cole, to do his bidding. He’s trapped in a forever murder cycle and tired of being a beck and call boy but the powers that be have eyes on his ex-wife and daughter and will kill them without thinking twice about it. His assignments recently pertain to killing people that knows Darrius’ criminal kingpin and can put him under the prison and straight into Hell. He’s tired an$ want out but never understands until it’s too late that he sold his soul to the devil.
Nick Mason is a man released from prison by a major criminal mind, Darrius Cole, to do his bidding. He’s trapped in a forever murder cycle and tired of being a beck and call boy but the powers that be have eyes on his ex-wife and daughter and will kill them without thinking twice about it. His assignments recently pertain to killing people that knows Darrius’ criminal kingpin and can put him under the prison and straight into Hell. He’s tired an$ want out but never understands until it’s too late that he sold his soul to the devil.
August 23, 2018
Exit Strategy (Audio CD) by Steve Hamilton.
This was a Nick Mason novel. The theme of this story was Nick getting out of prison but with major complications. Those complications have been set by another man behind bars. Darius Cole is imprisoned but he still has hold of the reins that will determine Nick's life outside of prison. At this point Nick has had more than he can tolerate of prison life and so he agrees to be manipulated by Cole.
The action is non-stop and the story line kept me focused. This story did seem far fetched. Still it was a good story.
This was a Nick Mason novel. The theme of this story was Nick getting out of prison but with major complications. Those complications have been set by another man behind bars. Darius Cole is imprisoned but he still has hold of the reins that will determine Nick's life outside of prison. At this point Nick has had more than he can tolerate of prison life and so he agrees to be manipulated by Cole.
The action is non-stop and the story line kept me focused. This story did seem far fetched. Still it was a good story.
July 16, 2018
This more than the first Nick Mason delivered a real change of pace relative to Hamilton's other books. Explosive, bone-crunching action, dodgy moral foundation and a pervasive sense of claustrophobia kept me turning the page, hoping for a satisfying conclusion. Instead you get a gleefully cavalier attitude towards the supporting cast and a genuine sense that anything could happen now. Efficient and entertaining.
June 11, 2017
Steve Hamilton is a very good writer, there is no doubt. This Mason thriller series is very well written and thought out but I am not getting nearly the same enjoyment as I do from his mysteries. It's a lot of non-stop well written violence. There basic plot issues that nag at you when reading too, The unbelievable factor is pretty high regarding Mason's skill vs. the world. It's also hard to buy his job and threat over his head as a good idea that anyone would use. It's not a slog but it has that same feeling that you wish it were over. It's good but the series is not clicking with me. The fact that I love the author adds an extra kick to psyche because it feels like I should enjoy these more. The books are so short though so that makes it easier to forgive and get through. I'll probably give in and read the next one.
July 3, 2017
This well-constructed thriller will have your adrenaline pumping from the very beginning. This is apparently the second in a series about Nick Mason, and I did not read the first, but had no trouble catching on.
Nick Mason had been incarcerated for felony murder when a fellow robbery conspirator killed someone while the robbery was being committed. Mason got released from federal prison in Terre Haute after serving five and a half years, thanks to an unwritten contract he made with a very powerful prisoner, Darius Cole. Cole orchestrated Mason’s release so Mason could work for him on the outside. For getting his life back (in a way), Mason agreed to be on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, to do whatever was asked of him, “no matter what it was.”
In essence, and in spite of being opposed to murder, Mason became Cole’s “angel of death,” performing executions of those Cole wanted eliminated. But, “…even though Mason killed people, complete strangers, he lived by a code: No innocent victims.”
Another of Cole’s “employees,” Marcus Quintero, provides Mason with his assignments and the weaponry to carry it out. In the first operation we read about as the book opens, Mason has to get through between ten and twelve “high-end guys” to get to the target. This is considered to be not a problem for Mason, even though he was not an assassin prior to his conviction for robbery.
This target, as well as the second assigned to Mason, is set to testify against Cole in his upcoming retrial. Cole has no intention of letting these potential witnesses live to do that, in spite of their being very heavily protected. Somehow, with all Cole’s connections on the outside, he manages to find out where these men are and exactly how they are guarded. He also has a bead on every aspect of Mason’s life in order to keep Mason under his thumb. So, for example, when Mason is sent out on a job, if he doesn’t do what he has been told to do, Mason understands that Quintero’s job is to go take out Mason’s ex-wife and daughter, both of whom are the most important people in Mason’s life. It was to continue to see them and to protect them that Mason made the deal with Cole and continues to honor it.
Nevertheless, Mason keeps trying to come up with an “exit strategy” to get himself out of this situation. Cole’s tentacles are pretty deep, however, more so than Mason had imagined possible.
Discussion: This book has excellent discussions of the legal issues surrounding Cole’s retrial, and a fun look at the culture of Southside Irish Chicago. Hamilton is also to be commended for integrating into his story some important aspects of policing in Chicago, such as the much maligned honor code and the notorious secret detention and interrogation site at Homan Square.
But Cole’s success at infiltration and compromising people seems a little improbable, as does Mason’s success as an assassin against huge odds. Nevertheless, it makes for exciting reading.
Hamilton is also very good at making a killer (Nick Mason) sympathetic. This aspect helps offset the gritty, dark, and violent aspects of the story.
Evaluation: This thriller will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat.
Rating: 3.5/5
Nick Mason had been incarcerated for felony murder when a fellow robbery conspirator killed someone while the robbery was being committed. Mason got released from federal prison in Terre Haute after serving five and a half years, thanks to an unwritten contract he made with a very powerful prisoner, Darius Cole. Cole orchestrated Mason’s release so Mason could work for him on the outside. For getting his life back (in a way), Mason agreed to be on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, to do whatever was asked of him, “no matter what it was.”
In essence, and in spite of being opposed to murder, Mason became Cole’s “angel of death,” performing executions of those Cole wanted eliminated. But, “…even though Mason killed people, complete strangers, he lived by a code: No innocent victims.”
Another of Cole’s “employees,” Marcus Quintero, provides Mason with his assignments and the weaponry to carry it out. In the first operation we read about as the book opens, Mason has to get through between ten and twelve “high-end guys” to get to the target. This is considered to be not a problem for Mason, even though he was not an assassin prior to his conviction for robbery.
This target, as well as the second assigned to Mason, is set to testify against Cole in his upcoming retrial. Cole has no intention of letting these potential witnesses live to do that, in spite of their being very heavily protected. Somehow, with all Cole’s connections on the outside, he manages to find out where these men are and exactly how they are guarded. He also has a bead on every aspect of Mason’s life in order to keep Mason under his thumb. So, for example, when Mason is sent out on a job, if he doesn’t do what he has been told to do, Mason understands that Quintero’s job is to go take out Mason’s ex-wife and daughter, both of whom are the most important people in Mason’s life. It was to continue to see them and to protect them that Mason made the deal with Cole and continues to honor it.
Nevertheless, Mason keeps trying to come up with an “exit strategy” to get himself out of this situation. Cole’s tentacles are pretty deep, however, more so than Mason had imagined possible.
Discussion: This book has excellent discussions of the legal issues surrounding Cole’s retrial, and a fun look at the culture of Southside Irish Chicago. Hamilton is also to be commended for integrating into his story some important aspects of policing in Chicago, such as the much maligned honor code and the notorious secret detention and interrogation site at Homan Square.
But Cole’s success at infiltration and compromising people seems a little improbable, as does Mason’s success as an assassin against huge odds. Nevertheless, it makes for exciting reading.
Hamilton is also very good at making a killer (Nick Mason) sympathetic. This aspect helps offset the gritty, dark, and violent aspects of the story.
Evaluation: This thriller will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat.
Rating: 3.5/5
December 3, 2018
Made quick work of this one, the sequel to The Second Life of Nick Mason. In what I am seeing as Hamilton's style, this one moves right along with no hiccups. Needless to say these two books comprise a rather unusual story. Like it's not what I expected at all, which is just great. In all, it certainly gives me plenty to think about.
Now I have three hard-and-fast rules. This book only reinforces them, not that they need reinforcement. Here they are:
1. Never sit in front of a window.
2. Never sit with my back to a door.
3. Always know where the nearest exit is.
Now here's a spiffy quote from the book: "I don't have to be the Angel of Death . . . I just have to have him on my payroll." Now who do ya think that sounds like?
Cheers and Happy Reading!
JIM in MT (writing as Adam James)
http://adamjames.blackdogebooks.com/
Now I have three hard-and-fast rules. This book only reinforces them, not that they need reinforcement. Here they are:
1. Never sit in front of a window.
2. Never sit with my back to a door.
3. Always know where the nearest exit is.
Now here's a spiffy quote from the book: "I don't have to be the Angel of Death . . . I just have to have him on my payroll." Now who do ya think that sounds like?
Cheers and Happy Reading!
JIM in MT (writing as Adam James)
http://adamjames.blackdogebooks.com/
August 18, 2017
As a long-time and devoted fan of Steve Hamilton, it took all my willpower to read this one through to the end. Even more violent than the first Nick Mason, there isn't much good about this book. Compared to his Alex McKnight series, there is no humor, no sympathetic characters, too many improbable situations and cliched writing, in general over-the-top in many ways. This is the end of the series for me...Steve, please let Nick Mason meet his demise in the next one and bring back Alex.
December 18, 2017
A Ludlumesque comic book of absurd action, likely to disappoint those readers that enjoyed the attention to character and story that went into the Alex McKnight series.
May 21, 2017
While Nick Mason is the hero of this tense, compelling tale he is not a hero in the text book sense. For those who may have missed the lauded series debut Mason is a man who has served five years of a 25 year to life sentence for a killing he did not commit. Embittered and eager to get out to see his 9-Year-old daughter again he agrees to do whatever Darius Cole asks - even murder.
Exit Strategy opens with Mason being given an almost impossible task. He is told to infiltrate the top secret federal witness protection program, find the three men who put Cole behind bars and kill them so they cannot testify against Cole in a federal court trial that has Cole appealing his conviction. Now, if the only punishment for Mason failing to do this were Mason's life that would be one thing. But the stakes are even higher - the lives of Mason's ex-wife and daughter.
Mason is pushed to the limit having to deal with not only Cole's henchmen but also a frightening Irish assassin. To muddy the waters even further Mason is not only the hunter but the hunted - the man he replaced has escaped the witness protection program and intends to kill Mason.
While listeners are gasping for breath they learn that Cole's Chicago enterprise is merely a branch of an international crime syndicate headed by a mastermind who is wanted by governments around the world. This major domo has plans for Mason.
Narrator Ray Porter has taken home many an Earphones Award and listeners will immediately know why as he hooks them with an opening sentence and doesn't let go until the conclusion.
Enjoy!
Exit Strategy opens with Mason being given an almost impossible task. He is told to infiltrate the top secret federal witness protection program, find the three men who put Cole behind bars and kill them so they cannot testify against Cole in a federal court trial that has Cole appealing his conviction. Now, if the only punishment for Mason failing to do this were Mason's life that would be one thing. But the stakes are even higher - the lives of Mason's ex-wife and daughter.
Mason is pushed to the limit having to deal with not only Cole's henchmen but also a frightening Irish assassin. To muddy the waters even further Mason is not only the hunter but the hunted - the man he replaced has escaped the witness protection program and intends to kill Mason.
While listeners are gasping for breath they learn that Cole's Chicago enterprise is merely a branch of an international crime syndicate headed by a mastermind who is wanted by governments around the world. This major domo has plans for Mason.
Narrator Ray Porter has taken home many an Earphones Award and listeners will immediately know why as he hooks them with an opening sentence and doesn't let go until the conclusion.
Enjoy!
May 16, 2017
In Exit Strategy, Steve Hamilton has created a dynamite followup to The Second Life of Nick Mason which introduced us to the titular hero.
Nick Mason traded his life to criminal kingpin Darius Cole in exchange for his freedom. The freedom to see his family, an ex-wife and a young daughter. Now, whenever Nick’s phone rings, he must do Cole’s bidding with no questions asked. In The Second Life of Nick Mason, Mason learns he has traded one cage for another. In Exit Strategy, Nick must keep doing increasingly dangerous jobs, including killing the people in witness protection who stand between Darius Cole and freedom.
Exit Strategy starts with a bang, literally, as Nick finds himself sent to gun down one of the witnesses from Darius Cole’s trial who is back in Chicago in preparation to testify again at the retrial. Nick must continue to perform his tasks while searching for a way out of his seemingly impossible predicament. Each step seems to take him further away from the man he thought he was. His latest task sets him on a collision course with a dangerous assassin: the man he replaced in Cole’s organization.
The first Nick Mason book gives us some background on how Nick came to be in his current predicament and what he was willing to trade to see his family again. In this book, the action leaps off the page from the very beginning and continues at a breakneck pace all the way to the end. Nick has to compromise his morals to the point where it’s unclear they still exist. What is clear is that failure to follow Cole’s instructions place the lives of his family in jeopardy, as well as anyone else who is close to him. Nick is placed in the impossible situation of helping Cole win his freedom, which will only put Nick further under Cole’s thumb.
Hamilton does a great job of keeping the action moving from beginning to end. He never lets you feel comfortable that anyone is safe and the surprises keep coming all the way to the end. This is turning into a really good series and Nick Mason is a great creation. I can’t wait to read the next one. Highly recommended.
I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book.
Nick Mason traded his life to criminal kingpin Darius Cole in exchange for his freedom. The freedom to see his family, an ex-wife and a young daughter. Now, whenever Nick’s phone rings, he must do Cole’s bidding with no questions asked. In The Second Life of Nick Mason, Mason learns he has traded one cage for another. In Exit Strategy, Nick must keep doing increasingly dangerous jobs, including killing the people in witness protection who stand between Darius Cole and freedom.
Exit Strategy starts with a bang, literally, as Nick finds himself sent to gun down one of the witnesses from Darius Cole’s trial who is back in Chicago in preparation to testify again at the retrial. Nick must continue to perform his tasks while searching for a way out of his seemingly impossible predicament. Each step seems to take him further away from the man he thought he was. His latest task sets him on a collision course with a dangerous assassin: the man he replaced in Cole’s organization.
The first Nick Mason book gives us some background on how Nick came to be in his current predicament and what he was willing to trade to see his family again. In this book, the action leaps off the page from the very beginning and continues at a breakneck pace all the way to the end. Nick has to compromise his morals to the point where it’s unclear they still exist. What is clear is that failure to follow Cole’s instructions place the lives of his family in jeopardy, as well as anyone else who is close to him. Nick is placed in the impossible situation of helping Cole win his freedom, which will only put Nick further under Cole’s thumb.
Hamilton does a great job of keeping the action moving from beginning to end. He never lets you feel comfortable that anyone is safe and the surprises keep coming all the way to the end. This is turning into a really good series and Nick Mason is a great creation. I can’t wait to read the next one. Highly recommended.
I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book.
April 28, 2018
Wow! I didn't see that coming!
This second book with Nick Mason as the anti hero is a thriller and has more twists and turns than that Land Rover advertisement climbing all of those steps filmed in China. And that's a lot of twists and turns.
There are a lot of characters that don't see the last page in this book and that surprise ending leaves you wanting to read the next one which is not listed on Hamilton's web site but is listed on the dust jacket.
There are three women in Nick's life, there are five who are out to get Nick either to kill him or do him great physical harm. Some do.
Nick has a passion to be free, to have more than mobility, to be free of obligations and being at the beck and call of his master. That is the goal of his exit strategy. You'll have to read the book to find out if it works and how he gets to where it is he gets to and why he's heading to Jakarta.
This second book with Nick Mason as the anti hero is a thriller and has more twists and turns than that Land Rover advertisement climbing all of those steps filmed in China. And that's a lot of twists and turns.
There are a lot of characters that don't see the last page in this book and that surprise ending leaves you wanting to read the next one which is not listed on Hamilton's web site but is listed on the dust jacket.
There are three women in Nick's life, there are five who are out to get Nick either to kill him or do him great physical harm. Some do.
Nick has a passion to be free, to have more than mobility, to be free of obligations and being at the beck and call of his master. That is the goal of his exit strategy. You'll have to read the book to find out if it works and how he gets to where it is he gets to and why he's heading to Jakarta.
June 2, 2019
It is hard for me to believe that the author of this series is the same author of the Alex McNight series. It was a struggle to get thru this book -some of the things that good ole Nick Mason had to do is a bit far fetched, to say the least. For me, I'll be going to the Alex McNight series and not even bothering picking up the third in this series
July 14, 2017
the second entry in an excellent new series. Nick Mason is an involving character. Highly recommended, book and series.
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