Reaper

Alex King #5

by A.P. Bateman

The most callous and resourceful woman imaginable has escaped the net. MI5 agent Alex King shut down her venture, exposed her as a murderer and an international criminal. And now she has the woman he loves.
Her freedom comes at a price. But a man with King’s skills can prove invaluable. His enemy knows the inner workings of the Russian mafia, and now she has a man who can shut them down for her while she takes over their syndicates. A man with no choice but to do her dirty work.
King takes on the most ruthless men imaginable. But he discovers enough about his tormentor and the secrets hidden in her past to take the fight to her.
From tranquil Sweden, to the forests of France, the hills of Tuscany and the Caucasus Mountains of Georgia, King fights hard to keep his fiancée alive and buy enough time to turn the tables on her captor.

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 16, 2018

About the author

A P Bateman is the author of seventeen novels, with twelve of his titles reaching No.1 in Amazon's paid top 100 categories in all Amazon regions and four titles reaching No.1 in Kindle sales in the USA, UK, Canada and Australia.

He has a background in close protection and investigations which has given him a unique insight into the scenarios and locations his characters find themselves in.

His hobbies are swimming, driving, archery, shooting and food; his passions are travel and writing.

He has recently released his seventeenth novel - "Hunter Killer" - the twelfth book in the highly acclaimed Alex King series.

You can keep up with A P Bateman and discover more at his Facebook page: @authorapbateman or his website: www.apbateman.com

Reading Order:

The Rob Stone Series:
1) The Ares Virus
2) The Town
3) The Island

The Alex King Series:
1) The Contract Man
2) Lies and Retribution
3) Shadows of Good Friday (A series prequel)
4) The Five
5) Reaper
6) Stormbound
7) Breakout
8) From the Shadows
9) Rogue
10) The Asset
11) Last Man Standing
12) Hunter Killer

Standalone Novels:
Hell's Mouth
Unforgotten

Short Stories:
The Perfect Murder?
Atonement (an Alex King thriller)

Reviews

[Jim A]

Continuation of The Five. King has set about killing people to satisfy Helena's death list in an effort to have Helena free Caroline.

I really hate continuation novels as so many small details from the previous thriller have slipped from memory. And then, this one seems more like a TV soap opera than an action thriller.

Bateman had a good thing going with the first of the series. Then he seems to have lost his way.

[Dave McIlmoyl]

Being a fan of murder mysteries and spy novels has its downside. You sometimes get a book like this. It is reasonably well written, except for a marked propensity to use the wrong words. Being a grammar nazi I find this maddening. For instance, there is no excuse for using pray when you mean prey. I found five or six instances of this. While the book is fast paced and has interesting characters, the hero, in this case Alex King of MI5, can take on 50 enemy agents single handed. There is a bit of a buddy relationship with a former SAS soldier, and Alex is on a quest to rescue his fiancé (another MI5 agent by the way) who was captured by the godless Russians. But really, taking on 50 ex-spetsnaz working for Russian gangsters, or 40 Mafia gangsters, is too much like reading a Max Bolan novel. I give the book credit for its pace and imaginative story line but poor editing and the Superman type persona of the hero strains credibility even in a novel of escapist fiction.

[Jeffrey H. Bryden]

Good story line as usual, but...

It's hard to keep involved with Bateman's intricate plots and action when typos and inappropriate words keep "butting in!". For just a few dollars and a few hours time, an editor or proofreader could clean these stories up. These ongoing errors remind me of the job interview where the candidate had a piece of spinach stuck in his teeth...hard to remember anything else.

[Nic Webb]

Thoroughly loved reading this book as I have each of the books in this series.

Feels like a grittier James Bond with loads of action but also gives you great insight into Kings character and work life with just enough technical detail to add to the story. Really think this would make an awesome film or series really hope someone does.

I've already downloaded the next one and will do so with at least a couple more to take on holiday and can't wait to see where the Reaper story goes.

Great books My Bateman, I look forward to many more.

[andrew holling]

I enjoyed the book, great story telling and King himself is a great anti hero.
Only 4 stars because of the constant referral to the cliche
"To save the woman he loves".
Seemed like every chapter and by the end of the book was really annoying. Even the antagonist used the phrase or something similar.
Sorry if it seems picky but it did really grate and for me took the edge off the book.
Wont stop me reading and enjoying the others in the series though.

[jody raymond]

kinda dumb story line

Alex risks everything to free a captive fiancée, and at the end when all is said and done she decides to leave him, not asking him to go and run her security, just leaving to ‘try’ and help sex slaves because she saw a few where she was held. Granted it’s horrible, but It’s also a billion dollar industry under the cover of the wealthiest and run by the deadliest people on the planet and she, an untrained Caroline, thinks she can help…just stupid.

[Jeff Benham]

While Alex is out wiping up terrorists, Helena kidnaps Caroline. If Alex ever wants to see her again, he needs to do some favors for Helena. Nothing much, just take out the heads of Russian mafia. Meanwhile, MI5 wants to find Helena and doesn't seem too concerned about Caroline. Rashid is loyal to Alex and knows what a wild goose chase they are on. He might have to disappear for awhile to go help Alex.

[Peter WOOD]

What a super escape into unrivalled machismo. I am sure our British agent secretly wants to be called James. Loved it though, still plenty of political and social comment, along with the selective morality dilemmas. If you haven't read the series in order pop on to Goggle and get started with #1. Already started #6.

[i.s. wallace]

Yet another excellent novel from A P Bateman featuring Alex King. This is a direct follow on from The Five so you really need to read that first and I don’t think this would be readable as a standalone book. In saying that it is still full of excitement and tension as are all the Alex King books and came across as really well written and researched. It is well worth the effort of reading.

[Steve Sinnott]

Another great read

This was a book that ruined my sleep 🤣🤣
I actually finished reading at 4am and had to be up and out at 7.30 am .
Brilliant engaging story and great characters that you are mentally cheering on.
Thanks for writing your books

They should be made into a series and a film.

[David Macmillan]

Thrilling ride

After reading The Five and living it I dived straight into The Reaper to find out the conclusion. I wasn't disappointed that's for sure. The detail and sometimes with subtlety is a credit to the author. It held me from start to finish.

[Mrs A. J. Turbfield]

Definitely my favourite f this series. Have done little else but read since start ing it.

Highly recommended but would like to query proof reading as small
grammatical errors are present. Only enough to detract frustrating m text.

[Ramona]

Full on Action

Great characters, story and writing style. Like a bullet with a lot of targets. You get some character knowledge/ background, and it helps you see what's coming- the Reaper!

[Christopher Seymour]

Very good

So far I have read two of this series and plan to get the rest. The writing is fluid and taut, the action believable if a bit far fetched and the lead character likeable. Personally I really like Rashid. Very good stuff.

[Monroe Bryant]

Another King adventure

Full of action and violence, sometimes excessive, still liked it. Some things are unbelievable but, this is a novel and meant to intertwined, which it does. On to the next one.

[CyclingMinstrel]

I enjoyed the story, as per other novels in the series, but my Kindle edition was full of typos, which became a distraction at times. I used the “Report Content Error” feature on my Kindle, but I never know if anyone actually looks at those or not.

[David Patsel]

another good book

The writing is good, the plot a little thin. Alex King wading through the Russian mob while looking for his finance. Some of this book gets a little tedious. The action is good and lots of it too. Recommend this one

[john parry]

Good very good

Is this the last one, I have enjoyed this series.
I enjoy the ruthlessness of the main character
Bring more...

[Christopher Bellin]

Awesome, as always

The Alex King stories keep it moving. This one ends with two great lines, one from Caroline & the response from King. And happens to nicely set up the next book.

[tom]

Excellent

Really enjoyed the book , haven't read others in the series but want to read more, kept me turning the pages

[Julie Arnold]

Okay

Another great Alex King novel, but it was a bit long winded in places. Still enjoyable and worth the read.

[terry cook]

Intrigue

Couldn't out it down,eagerly waiting for book 6. Hopefully on kindle unlimite d .very keen to keep reading this series and impressed by the knowledge of the author

[Alan Gregory]

Another great read

I love the twists and turns in these stories and how Alex goes about reaping ( excuse the pun )the baddies

[Janette Govan]

Up there with the best action thrillers

AP Bateman is right up there with Brad Thor
Love the characters
The high speed pace
Hope Alex and Caroline get married eventually!

[Kevin Byrne]

Outstanding

It's extremely difficult to keep up with the twists and turns of this book
An edge of the seat thriller that keeps the reader guessing on till the last page.
Loved it.

[Adrian Dumitru]

Again better then the last - more action.

Rashid is a true friend and i like him more and more and i think he could deserve a book of his own.

Curios to see how much better is the next one!

[pierre bovington]

good yarn

Alex King is near enough the perfect bloke.
Bateman writes great adventure stories.
Highly recommended for the adrenaline rush.
Check out the whole series.

[barbara]

Loved the series and feel like i have travelled far and the background has been well researched such a great series looking forward to reading the next very compulsive reading characters are well established great all round !

[Elite Group]

This time it’s personal

This is the fifth and latest in the Alex King series. Tragedy has struck the lives of both Alex and his partner Caroline in the past but never has the risk to their personal safety been greater than now. Caroline has been kidnapped by a cold, calculating woman who has a grudge and the grudge is against King. She uses her hold to make him do her bidding which is essential to dispose of her criminal opponents. Will King save Caroline in time?

I have read all of A P Bateman’s different series and am hard pushed to choose which is my favourite. I guess that each one is my favourite during the time I am reading it and then I switch allegiances. That should give you some idea of the pleasure I get from these thrillers and my respect for Bateman, who seems to improve over time like a good wine. Each is better than the last. I don’t know how he will top this one though!

The writing is crisp and taut and the characters are very well drawn. Intuitively the reader knows what actions the main protagonists will take and the pages (and time) fly past as you become absorbed in the plot which is fast and free-flowing. I read this is two sittings and couldn’t wait to get back to the action.

Although this novel can be read as a stand-alone it would help if you read the others first and, for those who enjoy this genre and haven’t yet read the first four in the series, what a treat there is in store…..

First class, action-packed fiction. Go and buy it.

mr zorg

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

[Jeff & Steph]

Action packed

A great fast moving plot full of action. Impossible to put down. A great coffee break read at work. Highly recommended.