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Caine: Rapid Fire #2
Cold Kill
A betrayed assassin. A savage Russian commander. Who will be the victor in a brutal game of death?
Thomas Caine is being hunted.
To protect a friend, the vengeful assassin has taken on a sinister branch of the Russian Mafia. Blood has been spilled, and these ruthless gangsters know better than anyone that revenge is a dish best served cold...
Caine soon finds himself captured in the frozen mountains of Siberia. With no equipment, no supplies, and no weapons, he must survive in this icy wasteland, as a crack team of Russian mercenaries hunts him down. These expert killers are led by an infamous manhunter known as The Iron Wolf… a cold-blooded Spetsnaz commander who collects trophies from his human prey...
Can Caine outwit this lethal pack, and prove himself the ultimate predator in a ghastly game of death?
Praise for the Thomas Caine series:
"Up there with Lee Child and Vince Flynn!"
"An adrenaline fueled rush!"
"Move over Jason Bourne... here comes Thomas Caine!"
166 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 14, 2018
759 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Warren
19 books119 followersAndrew Warren was born in New Jersey, but currently resides in the warmer climate of Southern California. He studied film, English and psychology at the University of Miami, and has over a decade of experience in the television and motion picture industry, where he has worked as a post-production supervisor, story producer and writer.
His passion for writing and traveling led Andrew to Japan. As soon as he set eyes on the country he fell in love with it, and felt compelled to use it as the setting for a series of novels. It took a few years, but Tokyo Black was the result of that trip.
Andrew’s writing skills have seen him write for Youtube Red's "Fight of the Living Dead," MangoTV's "Sons of Earth", and Discovery's "True Nightmares".
His love of the Far East extends to all varieties of Asian cuisine, and he scours Southern California looking for the best ramen, dumplings and beef noodle soup. All in the name or research, of course!
His fascination for the spy thriller genre was born from a love of James Bond films. Growing up, he knew that he was never going to be a muscle-bound giant, like Schwarzenegger or Stallone. Instead, he opted for charm and sophistication, with a smattering of brains and super-cool spy gadgets.
When he’s not working or writing classic spy thrillers, Andrew likes to relax at home with his pet dachshund, Ares, and his cat, Mina. He is currently working on the next Thomas Caine thriller, which will be set in East Africa.
Andrew loves to hear from his readers. Feel free to contact him here:
www.andrewwarrenbooks.com
facebook @andrewarrenbooks
andrew@andrewarrenbooks.com
His passion for writing and traveling led Andrew to Japan. As soon as he set eyes on the country he fell in love with it, and felt compelled to use it as the setting for a series of novels. It took a few years, but Tokyo Black was the result of that trip.
Andrew’s writing skills have seen him write for Youtube Red's "Fight of the Living Dead," MangoTV's "Sons of Earth", and Discovery's "True Nightmares".
His love of the Far East extends to all varieties of Asian cuisine, and he scours Southern California looking for the best ramen, dumplings and beef noodle soup. All in the name or research, of course!
His fascination for the spy thriller genre was born from a love of James Bond films. Growing up, he knew that he was never going to be a muscle-bound giant, like Schwarzenegger or Stallone. Instead, he opted for charm and sophistication, with a smattering of brains and super-cool spy gadgets.
When he’s not working or writing classic spy thrillers, Andrew likes to relax at home with his pet dachshund, Ares, and his cat, Mina. He is currently working on the next Thomas Caine thriller, which will be set in East Africa.
Andrew loves to hear from his readers. Feel free to contact him here:
www.andrewwarrenbooks.com
facebook @andrewarrenbooks
andrew@andrewarrenbooks.com
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
December 2, 2019
My first book by this author, a second in the series but a novella/short story to try...
Survival of the fittest in the meanest environment moves fast in this military-grade tale of revenge. Thomas Caine is a mysterious character who will surely be liked by fans of Mark Greaney’s The Gray Man series, although a little way to go to reach those standards. Caine, a former CIA paramilitary operative, was framed and is living the life of a smuggler in Pattaya. But he’s lured into a trap and is then dropped out of a plane into the Siberian wilderness. Rudov,the father of a man Caine had previously killed, has assembled a crack team of Russian special forces commandos to hunt Caine in the wild and bring back his head. This hunt is led by an infamous manhunter – The Iron Wolf – who eats his victims’ hearts.
Roduv is shown to be a rather nasty character, he has an exotic trophy room where he keeps the heads of his enemies. The Iron Wolf proves to be a savage adversary, as he easily kills his own men just to get to Caine a bit faster.
Though some scenes are explosively awesome and sometimes over-the-top in the style, Cold Kill had its fair share of emotions. The women are portrayed as strong, capable and even fearsome style dialogues that make the action perfectly dramatic. The character of Caine shows that the line between good and evil is small and blurry, and yet it exists. Mr.Warren has the goods to be at the top of the genre but we can expect his calibre to increase a lot more as his books have started coming out just a few years ago. Anyone looking for a fun way to spend a long evening, then you will enjoy this short story.
I think the author will approve as he writes more with Thomas Caine, really well paced, strong characters, and a main character to like.
3.5 stars for me... Don't forget a short story as well.
Survival of the fittest in the meanest environment moves fast in this military-grade tale of revenge. Thomas Caine is a mysterious character who will surely be liked by fans of Mark Greaney’s The Gray Man series, although a little way to go to reach those standards. Caine, a former CIA paramilitary operative, was framed and is living the life of a smuggler in Pattaya. But he’s lured into a trap and is then dropped out of a plane into the Siberian wilderness. Rudov,the father of a man Caine had previously killed, has assembled a crack team of Russian special forces commandos to hunt Caine in the wild and bring back his head. This hunt is led by an infamous manhunter – The Iron Wolf – who eats his victims’ hearts.
Roduv is shown to be a rather nasty character, he has an exotic trophy room where he keeps the heads of his enemies. The Iron Wolf proves to be a savage adversary, as he easily kills his own men just to get to Caine a bit faster.
Though some scenes are explosively awesome and sometimes over-the-top in the style, Cold Kill had its fair share of emotions. The women are portrayed as strong, capable and even fearsome style dialogues that make the action perfectly dramatic. The character of Caine shows that the line between good and evil is small and blurry, and yet it exists. Mr.Warren has the goods to be at the top of the genre but we can expect his calibre to increase a lot more as his books have started coming out just a few years ago. Anyone looking for a fun way to spend a long evening, then you will enjoy this short story.
I think the author will approve as he writes more with Thomas Caine, really well paced, strong characters, and a main character to like.
3.5 stars for me... Don't forget a short story as well.
February 12, 2018
Excellent , quick moving thriller!! This is the second story in Thomas Caine novellas and it grabs your attention and drags you along through ice and snow as soon as you start reading!
The story begins after Caine, back-stabbed by his own country and running from them,has killed and dismantled many in the Russian mafia. This leaves many serious killers hunting him,but after receiving a note from a scared young boy he must take action to help him. Caught, drugged and parachuted into the coldest, worse landscape on the planet, Caine must fight to stay alive in the cold with one of the best known killers, The Iron Wolf, hunting him.
There is so many twists and turns as we fight through the frozen tundra, meeting one good soul in the shape of a North Korean woman refugee to assist Caine. The action is quick and heart-stopping,as Caine attempts to escape using misdirection and violence when called for. Great characters who are well-developed so we like them or hate them as we understand what they are about.
A very thrilling, suspenseful ride that I recommend to all thriller readers, you will not be able to put this book down until you read the exciting ending!!
I received an advance copy of this story from author Andrew Warren, and I thank him as I enjoyed this fast paced story and now give you my thoughts!!
The story begins after Caine, back-stabbed by his own country and running from them,has killed and dismantled many in the Russian mafia. This leaves many serious killers hunting him,but after receiving a note from a scared young boy he must take action to help him. Caught, drugged and parachuted into the coldest, worse landscape on the planet, Caine must fight to stay alive in the cold with one of the best known killers, The Iron Wolf, hunting him.
There is so many twists and turns as we fight through the frozen tundra, meeting one good soul in the shape of a North Korean woman refugee to assist Caine. The action is quick and heart-stopping,as Caine attempts to escape using misdirection and violence when called for. Great characters who are well-developed so we like them or hate them as we understand what they are about.
A very thrilling, suspenseful ride that I recommend to all thriller readers, you will not be able to put this book down until you read the exciting ending!!
I received an advance copy of this story from author Andrew Warren, and I thank him as I enjoyed this fast paced story and now give you my thoughts!!
February 5, 2018
THE COLDEST KILL.
“Mokroye Delo”. – Russian intelligence term to describe “wet affairs,” or assassinations and black ops targeting their enemies.
“vyshaya mera” – the highest form of punishment.
Russian spies despise two things with a passion. Fellow Russians who betray them and any enemy who has achieved victory over them. For such people there is only one recourse in their eyes, the highest form of punishment. Whether it be the legendary GRU funeral furnance, or 9 grams through the face after an extended beating in the Lubyanka basement or some other method, there are a few constants. An inevitable blackness, a element of torment every step of the way and most importantly of all, someone is going to pay, one way or another. It is this concept, vyshaya mera, that author Andrew Warren takes to new heights, with his new novella, COLD KILL.
Mr Warren is one of the rising stars of indie spy fiction. Making Ian Fleming type tropes work in the hard Post 9/11 world with a style and grace few authors could equal, the Thomas Caine saga utilizes a potent blend of jaw dropping settings, ultra fast paced action and surprisingly complex and epic plotting to put itself in a class of its own. Focusing on the life of former CIA Paramilitary officer Thomas Caine who finds himself set to do battle in a covert world war that could decide the future of the geopolitical order, in this novella we go back in time when Caine was a fugitive from the law and made to take part in a most dangerous game across the coldest killer known to man. Siberia. Now to the review. Does the man with nothing but ice in his veins make for a superior killer?
We begin the novel in a St Petersburg night club. A man’s there to visit the owner. He’s escorted into the staff area which contains a secure office and conference area. The man in question is formerly of the legendary Spetsnaz GRU and has been contacted by the club owner, a former FSB officer turned head of the largest crime organization in Russia. The criminal kingpin has found out that an American expat in Thailand murdered his son but not before misdirecting him and damaging his organization’s operations in the land of smiles.
Details are hashed out and the former Spetsnaz soldier takes his leave. Across the continent Thomas Caine is hanging out with his lover and her younger brother when suddenly, the building which the latter steps into seemingly spontaneously bursts into flame. Running inside, Caine finds a team of firemen inside who are in fact Spetsnaz operators. Trying to fight them off, they manage to subdue him and whisk him away to parts unknown. Meanwhile in a small countryside town, an operator for the feared FSB Alfa unit decides to take part in an unofficial job for a private client.
After a job interview that turns violent, he’s accepted by the GRU man and given his marching orders. And several thousand miles away, Caine wakes up finding that he’s landed in Siberia and that the father of someone he killed wants to give him the highest form of punishment. Oh, and also that there’s a team made up of some of the most competent soldiers mother Russia has produced coming to kill him. As Caine races through the snow and as the stakes rise with the temperature dropping, only one question remains. Who will end up stone cold dead?
In terms of plot, Cold Kill is testament to the authors maturing writing abilities. This story is a far superior work to the original first novella “The Devil’s Due,” where Mr Warren was getting into the swing of things as a writer. As a story, it’s a homage to “The most dangerous game,” but a cut above other imitations as like the original story, the hunting party is Russian. But there’s more to it than that. Tactics, strategy as each side tries to leverage their advantages against the other. Metaphorical curveballs that knock the players plans out of whack. And of course, Warren’s trademark, amazing action scenes, all set on a perfect white snowy canvas that he gleefully paints with blood.
Action and setting? Pretty good. The author vividly brings to life the inhospitable terrain of Siberia which so many people hear about but few people go to. More than just gulag camps, Siberia is full of varied environments, mountains, forests, lakes, rivers and small forgotten villages that are thousands of miles from each other. And the author pulls off his impressive immersive trick with aplomb, transporting you into the setting and making you feel like you’re tripping over the snow covered roots along with Caine while .338 Lapua Magnum rounds crash through the trees. The action scenes are also a cut above the first novella. Whether it be a brutal fight in the snow with one of the most devastating close quarter combat weapons devised, a fiery ambush with a vacuum bomb, or a climactic sniper duel with the pinnacle of Russian firearms technology, going up against an old war horse that’s never lost its bite, Cold Kill lives up to its promise to provide the shot of literary adrenaline that thriller readers look for in this day and age.
Research? The author packed the perfect amount into this novel. Guns, tactics and cold weather warfare training, lets start at the beginning. In this story, the author captures the harsh culture in Russian special forces units and the inter – service rivalries between the GRU and the FSB. He even gives an accurate representation of their kit and equipment, two highlights being the GM – 94 thermobaric grenade launcher that launches devastating vacuum bombs, and the ORSIS T – 5000 sniper rifle, which has become the terror of Ukraine. The author even went so far feature one of the legendary tools of Spetsnaz GRU, namely a shovel. For those unfamiliar with the shovel, the scene where it’s broken out has to be seen to be believed. Apart from that, the story features a surprise appearance from the Koreans of Russia, one who has found the freedom they always sought in the harsh cold nature of Siberia. They provide a critical plot point in the story and their plight is presented with excellent accuracy.
Characters? More standouts than the previous novella, which is understandable as this story is somewhat longer with a slightly bigger cast of characters. But for brevity's sake, I’ll focus on three. Caine, Yuri and Bora. First Caine. Unlike in the third full length novel where he’s at the top of his game, being the mostly smooth master government assassin that he was when he worked at the CIA, here, Caine is still not quite up to that level yet. But in this story, we get to see the slight reemergence of that deadly competence, where he begins to destroy a superior adversary through quick thinking and drawing on the training he has. His humanity also begins to return with two standout scenes where the Rick Blaine fugitive cynicism he’s holding onto melts away.
Next, there’s Yuri. Yuri is an FSB Alfa Operator who in his off duty hour decides to take an employment opportunity for one night only. That job puts him face to face against a killer far more experienced than he. Soon, realizing the folly of the hunt they’re embarking on and angry that the man commanding them misled them, Yuri finds himself trapped for the long haul. Being the kind of person who hasn’t experienced the sort of suffering Caine has seen, Yuri begins to break down as the night goes on and the opponent he’s facing proves more resilient than he. A sympathetic professional, who just wants to make it back home once the gunfire has stopped, he provides a fine foil to the GRU man who has led him to the most dangerous night of his career.
Finally, we have Bora. Bora is a North Korean who worked at one of the covert timber camps that the DPRK supplies slaves to in real life. Having escaped that hell, unlike many of her compatriots who have fled to the west or the ROK, she grew to love the harsh, but true freedom of Siberia, where no one could lord over her ever again. But when a rather exhausted American stumbles into her life, with a bunch of cut throat Russians on her tail, Bora is is a tough old bird and decisively goes to war despite lacking the training the wolves at her door have. As a character she averts many cliché tropes surrounding North Korean protagonists, giving as good as she gets even with a homicidal Russian coming after her, and her final fate is one of the most ponigient that the author has written.
Constructive criticism? Not much save that maybe Yuri or Bora deserved a little more character development, but understandably due to the format of the novella, the author put as much as he could in.
As I close this story and find myself smiling at the skill the author used in making the title far more meaningful than just some cool sounding buzzword, I am impressed with how far Andrew Warren has come in such a short time. Cold Kill delivers on its promise of a shot of literary adrenaline and then some. Smooth, fast paced plotting. A cast of characters whose lives and deaths are memorable even if they only appear in the literary version of a quick photo. A fully realized setting with impressive real world detail from the weapons and environment. And of course, action that flies off the page, the way classic old school spy novels did in a way contemporary novels can't quite match. With this bit of Caine’s past revealed, we can now head back to the present where a war is about to begin.
VERY RECOMMENEDED.
“Mokroye Delo”. – Russian intelligence term to describe “wet affairs,” or assassinations and black ops targeting their enemies.
“vyshaya mera” – the highest form of punishment.
Russian spies despise two things with a passion. Fellow Russians who betray them and any enemy who has achieved victory over them. For such people there is only one recourse in their eyes, the highest form of punishment. Whether it be the legendary GRU funeral furnance, or 9 grams through the face after an extended beating in the Lubyanka basement or some other method, there are a few constants. An inevitable blackness, a element of torment every step of the way and most importantly of all, someone is going to pay, one way or another. It is this concept, vyshaya mera, that author Andrew Warren takes to new heights, with his new novella, COLD KILL.
Mr Warren is one of the rising stars of indie spy fiction. Making Ian Fleming type tropes work in the hard Post 9/11 world with a style and grace few authors could equal, the Thomas Caine saga utilizes a potent blend of jaw dropping settings, ultra fast paced action and surprisingly complex and epic plotting to put itself in a class of its own. Focusing on the life of former CIA Paramilitary officer Thomas Caine who finds himself set to do battle in a covert world war that could decide the future of the geopolitical order, in this novella we go back in time when Caine was a fugitive from the law and made to take part in a most dangerous game across the coldest killer known to man. Siberia. Now to the review. Does the man with nothing but ice in his veins make for a superior killer?
We begin the novel in a St Petersburg night club. A man’s there to visit the owner. He’s escorted into the staff area which contains a secure office and conference area. The man in question is formerly of the legendary Spetsnaz GRU and has been contacted by the club owner, a former FSB officer turned head of the largest crime organization in Russia. The criminal kingpin has found out that an American expat in Thailand murdered his son but not before misdirecting him and damaging his organization’s operations in the land of smiles.
Details are hashed out and the former Spetsnaz soldier takes his leave. Across the continent Thomas Caine is hanging out with his lover and her younger brother when suddenly, the building which the latter steps into seemingly spontaneously bursts into flame. Running inside, Caine finds a team of firemen inside who are in fact Spetsnaz operators. Trying to fight them off, they manage to subdue him and whisk him away to parts unknown. Meanwhile in a small countryside town, an operator for the feared FSB Alfa unit decides to take part in an unofficial job for a private client.
After a job interview that turns violent, he’s accepted by the GRU man and given his marching orders. And several thousand miles away, Caine wakes up finding that he’s landed in Siberia and that the father of someone he killed wants to give him the highest form of punishment. Oh, and also that there’s a team made up of some of the most competent soldiers mother Russia has produced coming to kill him. As Caine races through the snow and as the stakes rise with the temperature dropping, only one question remains. Who will end up stone cold dead?
In terms of plot, Cold Kill is testament to the authors maturing writing abilities. This story is a far superior work to the original first novella “The Devil’s Due,” where Mr Warren was getting into the swing of things as a writer. As a story, it’s a homage to “The most dangerous game,” but a cut above other imitations as like the original story, the hunting party is Russian. But there’s more to it than that. Tactics, strategy as each side tries to leverage their advantages against the other. Metaphorical curveballs that knock the players plans out of whack. And of course, Warren’s trademark, amazing action scenes, all set on a perfect white snowy canvas that he gleefully paints with blood.
Action and setting? Pretty good. The author vividly brings to life the inhospitable terrain of Siberia which so many people hear about but few people go to. More than just gulag camps, Siberia is full of varied environments, mountains, forests, lakes, rivers and small forgotten villages that are thousands of miles from each other. And the author pulls off his impressive immersive trick with aplomb, transporting you into the setting and making you feel like you’re tripping over the snow covered roots along with Caine while .338 Lapua Magnum rounds crash through the trees. The action scenes are also a cut above the first novella. Whether it be a brutal fight in the snow with one of the most devastating close quarter combat weapons devised, a fiery ambush with a vacuum bomb, or a climactic sniper duel with the pinnacle of Russian firearms technology, going up against an old war horse that’s never lost its bite, Cold Kill lives up to its promise to provide the shot of literary adrenaline that thriller readers look for in this day and age.
Research? The author packed the perfect amount into this novel. Guns, tactics and cold weather warfare training, lets start at the beginning. In this story, the author captures the harsh culture in Russian special forces units and the inter – service rivalries between the GRU and the FSB. He even gives an accurate representation of their kit and equipment, two highlights being the GM – 94 thermobaric grenade launcher that launches devastating vacuum bombs, and the ORSIS T – 5000 sniper rifle, which has become the terror of Ukraine. The author even went so far feature one of the legendary tools of Spetsnaz GRU, namely a shovel. For those unfamiliar with the shovel, the scene where it’s broken out has to be seen to be believed. Apart from that, the story features a surprise appearance from the Koreans of Russia, one who has found the freedom they always sought in the harsh cold nature of Siberia. They provide a critical plot point in the story and their plight is presented with excellent accuracy.
Characters? More standouts than the previous novella, which is understandable as this story is somewhat longer with a slightly bigger cast of characters. But for brevity's sake, I’ll focus on three. Caine, Yuri and Bora. First Caine. Unlike in the third full length novel where he’s at the top of his game, being the mostly smooth master government assassin that he was when he worked at the CIA, here, Caine is still not quite up to that level yet. But in this story, we get to see the slight reemergence of that deadly competence, where he begins to destroy a superior adversary through quick thinking and drawing on the training he has. His humanity also begins to return with two standout scenes where the Rick Blaine fugitive cynicism he’s holding onto melts away.
Next, there’s Yuri. Yuri is an FSB Alfa Operator who in his off duty hour decides to take an employment opportunity for one night only. That job puts him face to face against a killer far more experienced than he. Soon, realizing the folly of the hunt they’re embarking on and angry that the man commanding them misled them, Yuri finds himself trapped for the long haul. Being the kind of person who hasn’t experienced the sort of suffering Caine has seen, Yuri begins to break down as the night goes on and the opponent he’s facing proves more resilient than he. A sympathetic professional, who just wants to make it back home once the gunfire has stopped, he provides a fine foil to the GRU man who has led him to the most dangerous night of his career.
Finally, we have Bora. Bora is a North Korean who worked at one of the covert timber camps that the DPRK supplies slaves to in real life. Having escaped that hell, unlike many of her compatriots who have fled to the west or the ROK, she grew to love the harsh, but true freedom of Siberia, where no one could lord over her ever again. But when a rather exhausted American stumbles into her life, with a bunch of cut throat Russians on her tail, Bora is is a tough old bird and decisively goes to war despite lacking the training the wolves at her door have. As a character she averts many cliché tropes surrounding North Korean protagonists, giving as good as she gets even with a homicidal Russian coming after her, and her final fate is one of the most ponigient that the author has written.
Constructive criticism? Not much save that maybe Yuri or Bora deserved a little more character development, but understandably due to the format of the novella, the author put as much as he could in.
As I close this story and find myself smiling at the skill the author used in making the title far more meaningful than just some cool sounding buzzword, I am impressed with how far Andrew Warren has come in such a short time. Cold Kill delivers on its promise of a shot of literary adrenaline and then some. Smooth, fast paced plotting. A cast of characters whose lives and deaths are memorable even if they only appear in the literary version of a quick photo. A fully realized setting with impressive real world detail from the weapons and environment. And of course, action that flies off the page, the way classic old school spy novels did in a way contemporary novels can't quite match. With this bit of Caine’s past revealed, we can now head back to the present where a war is about to begin.
VERY RECOMMENEDED.
February 16, 2018
A great thriller.
Thomas Caine is captured by the Russian mob. Instead of simply killing him, they fly him to Siberia so a squad of Spetsnaz can hunt him down.
Very exciting, and you can feel the cold along with Caine. The action never lets up.
Thomas Caine is captured by the Russian mob. Instead of simply killing him, they fly him to Siberia so a squad of Spetsnaz can hunt him down.
Very exciting, and you can feel the cold along with Caine. The action never lets up.
January 30, 2018
Cold Kill is an entertaining action-packed novella from start to finish perfectly structured for a short read in a single setting. The story is the second in Andrew Warren’s prequel novella series (Rapid Fire) featuring his CIA secrete agent Thomas Caine, with a gruesome man-hunting-man adventure set in the cold wastelands of Siberia.
The story opens in the aftermath of Caine upsetting and dismantling Russian Mafia operations in Thailand and killing a few Russian thugs in the process, so naturally the bosses back in St Petersberg want revenge. After the Russians kidnap and drug Caine, they parachute him into the subzero wilderness and then send in a team of Russian Special Forces soldiers to hunt him down like an animal.
Andrew Warren normally writes pacey espionage adventure novels with lots of intrigue, adventure, betrayals and geopolitics abound, so Cold Kill is a bit of a departure for the author. This is more a survival story, where the dangers at not only the men hunting Caine, but the extreme weather. The action scenes are great and Caine is inventive in how he – barely – keeps himself one step ahead of his enemy, taking them down one by one in a series of clever traps.
Warren’s specialty is Far East settings, and he delivers again in this department bringing some rather nice North Korean history to the story. His also incorporate elements of serial killer thriller fiction, with some utterly depraved individuals who act more like animist shamans than the professional killers they profess to be.
Andrew Warren writes fiction that is entertaining and suspenseful, and he delivers on both fronts with this excellent addition to his Thomas Caine series.
The story opens in the aftermath of Caine upsetting and dismantling Russian Mafia operations in Thailand and killing a few Russian thugs in the process, so naturally the bosses back in St Petersberg want revenge. After the Russians kidnap and drug Caine, they parachute him into the subzero wilderness and then send in a team of Russian Special Forces soldiers to hunt him down like an animal.
Andrew Warren normally writes pacey espionage adventure novels with lots of intrigue, adventure, betrayals and geopolitics abound, so Cold Kill is a bit of a departure for the author. This is more a survival story, where the dangers at not only the men hunting Caine, but the extreme weather. The action scenes are great and Caine is inventive in how he – barely – keeps himself one step ahead of his enemy, taking them down one by one in a series of clever traps.
Warren’s specialty is Far East settings, and he delivers again in this department bringing some rather nice North Korean history to the story. His also incorporate elements of serial killer thriller fiction, with some utterly depraved individuals who act more like animist shamans than the professional killers they profess to be.
Andrew Warren writes fiction that is entertaining and suspenseful, and he delivers on both fronts with this excellent addition to his Thomas Caine series.
August 4, 2024
Very, very good-read on, please.
This is the second book in the series, but it felt like a stand-alone book. Ex-CIA hero Thomas Caine is a guy you want on your side.
I don 't know why I felt this story started slow. It has some action right away in a very interesting place, a bar made out of ice, or maybe cut into the ice. It was somewhere in Russia and had a bunch of rough men. Then, and I won't spoil it, a few things happen, and now our hero is in Siberia with poor clothes and no weapons and he is being hunted by well-armed and highly trained men.
From here on I loved this book, tons of action, he is fighting the elements and these well-armed military men. And it ends with a bang.
If you like action books you'll love this book. I have found a new author I really like and I will read the rest of the series.
Also available as Kindle Unlimited if you are in that program.
Caine reminds me of my main character in my crime/thriller series, the Kill Crime series, just published. Also in Kindle Unlimited.
Have a great day,
Review by Mike Slavin author of award-winning Kill Crime (action-packed thriller on Amazon to buy or KU)
PS: Pace and action reminded me of a lot of my own books.
This is the second book in the series, but it felt like a stand-alone book. Ex-CIA hero Thomas Caine is a guy you want on your side.
I don 't know why I felt this story started slow. It has some action right away in a very interesting place, a bar made out of ice, or maybe cut into the ice. It was somewhere in Russia and had a bunch of rough men. Then, and I won't spoil it, a few things happen, and now our hero is in Siberia with poor clothes and no weapons and he is being hunted by well-armed and highly trained men.
From here on I loved this book, tons of action, he is fighting the elements and these well-armed military men. And it ends with a bang.
If you like action books you'll love this book. I have found a new author I really like and I will read the rest of the series.
Also available as Kindle Unlimited if you are in that program.
Caine reminds me of my main character in my crime/thriller series, the Kill Crime series, just published. Also in Kindle Unlimited.
Have a great day,
Review by Mike Slavin author of award-winning Kill Crime (action-packed thriller on Amazon to buy or KU)
PS: Pace and action reminded me of a lot of my own books.
March 11, 2018
Russian mobster Sergei Rudov has ex-pat Thomas Caine kidnapped in Thailand for killing his psychotic son Alexei last seen in Andrew Warren's "Devil's Due". He's drugged, thrown in a plane and parachuted into a sub zero Siberian wilderness where he's relentlessly pursued by a specialized team of Russian man hunters. How he survives and overcomes his pursuers make for a gripping novella about a former Spec Ops/Green Beret on the run, fighting for his life. This is a fast and furious military/spy thriller that delivers the goods!
February 7, 2018
The spy who killed his way out of the cold!
Andrew Warren returns with a searing thrill-ride through the pitiless plains of Alaska. Thomas Caine is hunted by highly trained killers, whose commander would happily rip his heart out. It ensues a desperate, bloody and flaming battle for survival. Andrew Warren at his brilliant best!
Andrew Warren returns with a searing thrill-ride through the pitiless plains of Alaska. Thomas Caine is hunted by highly trained killers, whose commander would happily rip his heart out. It ensues a desperate, bloody and flaming battle for survival. Andrew Warren at his brilliant best!
February 8, 2018
An excellent thriller that gets your attention from the get-go. The plot is filled with twists and turns that leave the reader convinced that Caine is done-down and out. The ending was unexpected and left me wishing that Caine would get things straightened up with the government.
May 9, 2018
"A man’s power, his very soul, lives in the heart.”
I’m glad to say this book is wholly better than book 1, more in-depth characters wise, the description of a high powerful struggle and strength to stay alive, despair and hopelessness, linked only by pain and terror.
A very realistic plot that the main character pulled me along with him, feel the cold in Siberia, suffer the hunt... thoroughly enjoyed reading! Book 3 sounds promising, with Aiden Bailey as co author, whom I greatly admire too!
I’m glad to say this book is wholly better than book 1, more in-depth characters wise, the description of a high powerful struggle and strength to stay alive, despair and hopelessness, linked only by pain and terror.
A very realistic plot that the main character pulled me along with him, feel the cold in Siberia, suffer the hunt... thoroughly enjoyed reading! Book 3 sounds promising, with Aiden Bailey as co author, whom I greatly admire too!
February 16, 2018
Thomas Caine is hunted and captured. To help a friend he takes on the Mafia. Such excitement and suspense in a book to keep your interest. Received a free copy and reviewed because it was outstanding.
February 17, 2018
"I don't believe in angels."
Alexi, son of Sergei Rudov, head of the Rudov crime family, is dead, killed by Thomas Caine. Time for revenge. Simple murder is not enough: Sergei wants Caine to feel the terror of the hunt before displaying his head for personal future satisfaction. But first Caine must be found, captured and then dropped, weaponless and poorly attired, into the frozen wastes of Siberia to try to run from the small but heavily armed team of specially trained killers sent to dispatch him. But "Zasko and the others had underestimated their target."
Cold Kill is a quick and engrossing thriller, filled with imaginative ways to die. The action is almost constant but never boring and still there is time for character development, making the main protagonists come alive amidst the icy starkness of the killing terrain.
Recommended.
Alexi, son of Sergei Rudov, head of the Rudov crime family, is dead, killed by Thomas Caine. Time for revenge. Simple murder is not enough: Sergei wants Caine to feel the terror of the hunt before displaying his head for personal future satisfaction. But first Caine must be found, captured and then dropped, weaponless and poorly attired, into the frozen wastes of Siberia to try to run from the small but heavily armed team of specially trained killers sent to dispatch him. But "Zasko and the others had underestimated their target."
Cold Kill is a quick and engrossing thriller, filled with imaginative ways to die. The action is almost constant but never boring and still there is time for character development, making the main protagonists come alive amidst the icy starkness of the killing terrain.
Recommended.
April 24, 2018
Survival of the fittest in the meanest environment moves fast in this military-grade tale of revenge. Thomas Caine is a mysterious character who will surely be liked by fans of Mark Greaney's The Gray Man series. Caine, a former CIA paramilitary operative, was framed and is living the life of a smuggler in Pattaya. But he's lured into a trap and is then dropped out of a plane into the Siberian wilderness. Rudov(the father of a man Caine had previously killed) has assembled a crack team of Russian special forces commandos to hunt Caine in the wild and bring back his head. This hunt is led by an infamous manhunter - The Iron Wolf - who eats his victims' hearts.
Roduv is shown to be beyond just an oligarch. He has an exotic trophy room where he keeps the heads of his enemies. The Iron Wolf proves to be a savage adversary, as he easily kills his own men just to get to Caine a bit faster.
Thomas Caine is an enigma that Andrew Warren has done a brilliant job in by not spilling all the beans of his character in the writing process. Mr.Warren knows how to provide worthwhile entertainment and has created a version of Ludlum's Jason Bourne in Caine that has the capacity to grab a wider audience due to the simplicity of prose.
Though some scenes are explosively awesome and over-the-top in the style of a short Micheal Bay movie, Cold Kill had its fair share of emotions. The women are portrayed as strong, capable and even fearsome. Mr. Warren fills the pages with plenty of Fleming style dialogues that make the action perfectly dramatic. The character of Caine shows that the line between good and evil is small and blurry, and yet it exists. Mr.Warren has the goods to be at the top of the genre but we can expect his calibre to increase a lot more as his books have started coming out just a few years ago.
Anyone looking for a fun way to spend a long evening, will not be disappointed by reading this book.
Roduv is shown to be beyond just an oligarch. He has an exotic trophy room where he keeps the heads of his enemies. The Iron Wolf proves to be a savage adversary, as he easily kills his own men just to get to Caine a bit faster.
Thomas Caine is an enigma that Andrew Warren has done a brilliant job in by not spilling all the beans of his character in the writing process. Mr.Warren knows how to provide worthwhile entertainment and has created a version of Ludlum's Jason Bourne in Caine that has the capacity to grab a wider audience due to the simplicity of prose.
Though some scenes are explosively awesome and over-the-top in the style of a short Micheal Bay movie, Cold Kill had its fair share of emotions. The women are portrayed as strong, capable and even fearsome. Mr. Warren fills the pages with plenty of Fleming style dialogues that make the action perfectly dramatic. The character of Caine shows that the line between good and evil is small and blurry, and yet it exists. Mr.Warren has the goods to be at the top of the genre but we can expect his calibre to increase a lot more as his books have started coming out just a few years ago.
Anyone looking for a fun way to spend a long evening, will not be disappointed by reading this book.
May 3, 2018
I was given this as an audio book to listen to and as I have never read or listened to any of Andrew's other books I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. I am glad I did listen to it as it is a really good book, full of action and suspense.
The book follows a man called Thomas Caine after he has been taken by the Russian Mafia and left in the middle of Siberia to be chased and hunted by a group of dangerous hunters. He then spends the rest of the book trying to evade them and not get anyone else killed at the same time.
Even though this is book two in the series you don't really need to have read the first one, or any previous books starring Caine as there is enough information in the first chapter that you can work out his history and what he has done previously to warrant the kind of attention he gets in this book.
I listened to the audio version of this book and thought the narrator was really good. He managed to use different voices for each character and also got the American, Russian and Korean accents as well as male and female voices, which added so much to the story and I will be keeping an eye out for more by him as well.
The book follows a man called Thomas Caine after he has been taken by the Russian Mafia and left in the middle of Siberia to be chased and hunted by a group of dangerous hunters. He then spends the rest of the book trying to evade them and not get anyone else killed at the same time.
Even though this is book two in the series you don't really need to have read the first one, or any previous books starring Caine as there is enough information in the first chapter that you can work out his history and what he has done previously to warrant the kind of attention he gets in this book.
I listened to the audio version of this book and thought the narrator was really good. He managed to use different voices for each character and also got the American, Russian and Korean accents as well as male and female voices, which added so much to the story and I will be keeping an eye out for more by him as well.
September 7, 2020
This book was recommended by author friend, Mike Slavin. My main criticism is that it ended too quickly – of course not a real critic when I knew it was a novella. This is the second in the Thomas Caine series, but I read it first. The book is basically a nonstop trek through the coldest forests, with Caine being chased non-stop. He is “dropped off” without appropriate clothing for Siberian winter, and no weapons…. And set up to be tracked like an animal by a really really ‘bad guy, ” a former SPETZNAZ guy named “the iron wolf,” Basically, he is a marked man because he took out a bunch of Russian Mafioso in Southeast Asia, and now the Russian Mob boss is out to take revenge. And the Russian boss is even mor evil than the SPEZNAZ hunter-killer. Probably one of the best action scenes is when Caine “wakes up” in a metal box that has been air-dropped out of an airplane into the Siberian snow. The plot moves very, very fast. Easy to follow, because all of the mercenaries want to kill Caine. And the action-packed ending is breath-taking .
January 13, 2020
Cold Kill (Caine: Rapid Fire #2) - a review by Rosemary Kenny
Rapid Fire is an apt subtitle for Andrew Warren's Cold Kill, as the all-action thrills start from the first chapter and doesn't let up for a minute.
A vendetta that sees a deadly enemy, the so-called, Hannibal Lecter-like Iron Wolf, from Caine's past use him as his drugged, unarmed and ill-prepared prey, in a deadly cat and mouse chase through Russia's Siberian wastelands.
Can Caine survive the revenge-seeking killer, with his team of ruthless mercenaries?
Will he survive the inhuman cold with his unsuitable clothing and lack of any weapons?
Why not turn up the heating and fix yourself a hot toddy and perch on the edge of your seat, which is where you're guaranteed to end up while you enjoy this gritty spy-drama set in an icy Hell and get the best experience possible, with Cold Kill? It's a great sequel that will leave you eager for more!
Rapid Fire is an apt subtitle for Andrew Warren's Cold Kill, as the all-action thrills start from the first chapter and doesn't let up for a minute.
A vendetta that sees a deadly enemy, the so-called, Hannibal Lecter-like Iron Wolf, from Caine's past use him as his drugged, unarmed and ill-prepared prey, in a deadly cat and mouse chase through Russia's Siberian wastelands.
Can Caine survive the revenge-seeking killer, with his team of ruthless mercenaries?
Will he survive the inhuman cold with his unsuitable clothing and lack of any weapons?
Why not turn up the heating and fix yourself a hot toddy and perch on the edge of your seat, which is where you're guaranteed to end up while you enjoy this gritty spy-drama set in an icy Hell and get the best experience possible, with Cold Kill? It's a great sequel that will leave you eager for more!
May 16, 2018
I had requested and received audiobook version of this book for free from the narrator, in exchange for an unbiased review.
This is a fast paced thriller that does have some entertainment value. It kept me interested in learning how it ends and thus I did listen to it fully. Only drawback is, it didn't have anything unique. The main character is your typical "assassin story" characters, Russian characters are mostly stereotypical too. The story follows a set formula and didn't quite surprise me. Not saying that it was boring. It is full of action and moves at a fast pace. Just that, as soon as the book finished, I moved on to the next book. There wasn't anything memorable about it.
The narration was done well. And no audio quality issue. Andrew Tell's voice is well suited for books of this genre.
This is a fast paced thriller that does have some entertainment value. It kept me interested in learning how it ends and thus I did listen to it fully. Only drawback is, it didn't have anything unique. The main character is your typical "assassin story" characters, Russian characters are mostly stereotypical too. The story follows a set formula and didn't quite surprise me. Not saying that it was boring. It is full of action and moves at a fast pace. Just that, as soon as the book finished, I moved on to the next book. There wasn't anything memorable about it.
The narration was done well. And no audio quality issue. Andrew Tell's voice is well suited for books of this genre.
February 14, 2018
This was an excellent read. From start to finish I couldn't put it down. Thomas Caine has a personality you wouldn't want to cross, he is a ruthless killer. (With a soft spot that not many see). I love to see him in action. And this novella has plenty. I will be waiting for the next novel to come out. I just love this character!
I was given an ARC from the author for an honest review. My opinions are truly my own.
I was given an ARC from the author for an honest review. My opinions are truly my own.
April 5, 2018
Thomas Caine finds himself being hunted by a team of Russian Spetsnaz Commandos. A Russian Mafia leader seeks revenge for the murder of his son. Caine is kidnapped and shipped to Siberia as the prey in a deadly game of hide and seek with the Spetsnaz. The action is fast and relentless, the story exciting. I may have to look further into this Thomas Caine series. This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.
January 1, 2020
Revenge is on the mInd of Sergei rudov.
Thomas Caine killed sERGEI'S brother Alexi, and Sergei just found out it is Caine
Sergei has Caine kidnapped and airdropped into Siberia, in order to be hunted down and killed.
Sergei wants Caine to know real fear.
Sergei does this to his enemies and then has their heads stored in a subzero vault trophy room
Caine receives help from an unexpected source and then turns the tables on Sergei
Thomas Caine killed sERGEI'S brother Alexi, and Sergei just found out it is Caine
Sergei has Caine kidnapped and airdropped into Siberia, in order to be hunted down and killed.
Sergei wants Caine to know real fear.
Sergei does this to his enemies and then has their heads stored in a subzero vault trophy room
Caine receives help from an unexpected source and then turns the tables on Sergei
January 23, 2022
lot’s of action.
Caine with lots of action, with fights and more fights and more killing. Most of the people that Caine kills you would think needs killing. I’ve read all the Caine books and there isn’t a lot of difference in any of them, just different places the action takes place in. The Caine character has not shown any growth in personality or trying to develop his life. Just read the action and don’t expect much more that what is written from each book.
Caine with lots of action, with fights and more fights and more killing. Most of the people that Caine kills you would think needs killing. I’ve read all the Caine books and there isn’t a lot of difference in any of them, just different places the action takes place in. The Caine character has not shown any growth in personality or trying to develop his life. Just read the action and don’t expect much more that what is written from each book.
February 16, 2018
Thomas Caine, former covert operative, betrayed by his own handler. Hunted, no one voluntarily leaves....alive. Fortunately, they think his dead. He now utilizes his old tools of his trade. But, he has a conscious, New rules. But if you go after someone he cares about, he comes after you. This is an extremely fast paced action thriller! A stupendous read!
May 16, 2020
Like chewing gun for your reading muscles
This book proves that not every book had to be a Pulitzer Prize winner to be a good read. The plot was linear, which I like. Also the ending didn't have any illogical turn, like a new character or an asteroid hitting earth.
So, good fun read, clever plot.
This book proves that not every book had to be a Pulitzer Prize winner to be a good read. The plot was linear, which I like. Also the ending didn't have any illogical turn, like a new character or an asteroid hitting earth.
So, good fun read, clever plot.
February 25, 2018
Good character development, interesting plot
I read the Kindle edition this book. The main character battles against Russian mobsters in the severe cold of Siberia. This is an author I will remember and come back to.
I read the Kindle edition this book. The main character battles against Russian mobsters in the severe cold of Siberia. This is an author I will remember and come back to.
March 2, 2018
4.5*
I have found this book much better than the first with grammatical and spelling errors corrected.
The book is more enjoyable and fast paced with more action and the lead character showing more resourcefulness than the first book showed.
I have found this book much better than the first with grammatical and spelling errors corrected.
The book is more enjoyable and fast paced with more action and the lead character showing more resourcefulness than the first book showed.
November 18, 2019
Thriller readers
Will enjoy the characters, action and unusual locations in this story. The author has created a number of different scenarios enhance the story by allowing for twists that aren't anticipated.
Will enjoy the characters, action and unusual locations in this story. The author has created a number of different scenarios enhance the story by allowing for twists that aren't anticipated.
December 8, 2019
Scary killers against killers
Very fast moving, original plotting, with master killers, Russians, winter in Russia. Wonderful, believable characters and story- almost like out of the evening news!
Very fast moving, original plotting, with master killers, Russians, winter in Russia. Wonderful, believable characters and story- almost like out of the evening news!
December 13, 2019
I got a lot out of this book---
I love it when I read a book and I learn something from it---
I am now a huge fan of Caine.
He reminds me a lot of the person that played Spencer for hire on the old TV show.
I love it when I read a book and I learn something from it---
I am now a huge fan of Caine.
He reminds me a lot of the person that played Spencer for hire on the old TV show.
May 1, 2020
Cold Kill - Great Description
Caine finds himself trapped in a Russian forest, pursued by Russian mobster planning to kill him as revenge for a previous killing he had done. But his skills are too much for even the worst Russia can offer. ENJOY!
Caine finds himself trapped in a Russian forest, pursued by Russian mobster planning to kill him as revenge for a previous killing he had done. But his skills are too much for even the worst Russia can offer. ENJOY!
February 11, 2021
3.75 stars. Fast-paced thrill ride. Simple plot - get the bad guys before they get you. Novella #2 in the Rapid Fire thriller trilogy featuring ex-CIA operative, Thomas Caine. Good enough for me to eventually read #3, I think.
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