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Victor the Assassin #2.5
Gone by Dawn
An ebook-exclusive short story you won't one to miss - one terrifying night in the life of antihero hitman Victor, from thrilling bestseller Tom Wood.
The hitman known as Victor is on the run in Bulgaria. Bloodied and broken, he knows retribution at the hands of his enemies is right behind him. Yet when a young woman shows him kindness he's not used to in a small town on the border, he delays his escape so he can return the favour.
But this town is not all it seems, the night promising to dissolve into violence... and come what may, he must be gone by dawn.
Taking place between the events of The Enemy and The Game, Gone By Dawn is a gripping short story ideal for readers new to the Victor series and an absolute must-read for fans.
48 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 21, 2018
196 people are currently reading
451 people want to read
About the author
Tom Wood
23 books1,293 followersHe is the author of the Victor series of 10 novels and 2 ebook novellas. Tom also wrote the standalone thriller A Knock at the Door under the pseudonym T W Ellis
Victor 10, TRAITOR, is out now in UK, IE, AS & NZ.
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Victor 10, TRAITOR, is out now in UK, IE, AS & NZ.
Subscribe to Tom's newsletter to stay up-to-date, and have the chance of winning signed copies and more: tomwoodbooks.com/newsletter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
December 11, 2018
Well a very quick read, one day.
A quick story, with Victor in Bulgaria recovering from an attack, when some characters had caught up with him and he just escaped suffering from head and ear injuries.
I personally would loved to have known more about what happened just before!
But an interesting and as usual action filled story.
One young lady befriends him and buys him some food, he is a loner, survives by himself. He not used to people buying food for him, or not noticing him, which he usually likes.
Just this little offer of food leads to the events ahead.
Four stars as Tom Wood never fails, just want the next book
A quick story, with Victor in Bulgaria recovering from an attack, when some characters had caught up with him and he just escaped suffering from head and ear injuries.
I personally would loved to have known more about what happened just before!
But an interesting and as usual action filled story.
One young lady befriends him and buys him some food, he is a loner, survives by himself. He not used to people buying food for him, or not noticing him, which he usually likes.
Just this little offer of food leads to the events ahead.
Four stars as Tom Wood never fails, just want the next book
December 4, 2018
Really enjoyed this one! Echoes of Jack Reacher’s nomadic tendencies can be seen in Victor, and plenty of action made this small book sing. Off to find the rest of the series to catch up!
April 6, 2019
Excellent short
I've been a fan of this series since I picked up the first book simply based on it's title. Now nine books and two shorts in, I'm as enraptured today as I was that very first time. The character, Victor, is singly the most fascinating protagonist I've ever had the pleasure to meet. His main concern is surviving in a world where letting down your guard is punishable by death, and he has absolutely no compunction about killing anyone, but he's the least psychotic character in the story. As an assassin, you'd expect him to be irredeemable but he's usually the most honest and decent person involved in whatever situation he's in. In this story he begins by waking up on a bus, injured and trying to escape an Israeli hit team, and attracts the attention of a young woman, which quickly becomes one strange turn of events after another. An enjoyable read, over much too quickly, but all in all, satisfying. Now to wait for Mr. Hinshelwood to produce the next installment of the saga.
I've been a fan of this series since I picked up the first book simply based on it's title. Now nine books and two shorts in, I'm as enraptured today as I was that very first time. The character, Victor, is singly the most fascinating protagonist I've ever had the pleasure to meet. His main concern is surviving in a world where letting down your guard is punishable by death, and he has absolutely no compunction about killing anyone, but he's the least psychotic character in the story. As an assassin, you'd expect him to be irredeemable but he's usually the most honest and decent person involved in whatever situation he's in. In this story he begins by waking up on a bus, injured and trying to escape an Israeli hit team, and attracts the attention of a young woman, which quickly becomes one strange turn of events after another. An enjoyable read, over much too quickly, but all in all, satisfying. Now to wait for Mr. Hinshelwood to produce the next installment of the saga.
December 17, 2018
Excellent and extraordinarily satisfying Victor short story that I read with dinner then wished it was a full length book.
Serves as a great fill in for fans of the series and equally would work well as a taster for anyone who would like to know if it suits them before committing to the series. Which they probably will after this to be honest as it's great.
Not many writers can get the scope and feel of their character and story into a short but this one can so it works brilliantly.
Very entertaining. Recommend for old and new readers alike.
Serves as a great fill in for fans of the series and equally would work well as a taster for anyone who would like to know if it suits them before committing to the series. Which they probably will after this to be honest as it's great.
Not many writers can get the scope and feel of their character and story into a short but this one can so it works brilliantly.
Very entertaining. Recommend for old and new readers alike.
November 28, 2018
Victor goes Reacher - with a dark twist!
A small town in the middle of nowhere. A damsel in distress. And a dangerous man obliged to help her. Sounds familiar? Well Tom Wood successfully manages to turn that premise - cultivated by Lee Child - completely on its head.
Wood has always been in a league of his own when it comes to setting a scene or establish characters and he puts this skill to use here. Creating a bloody, twisted und and suspense-riddled night of mayhem in just over 50 pages that brings Victor further beyond his emotional threshold than ever before. A must-read for every thriller fan!
A small town in the middle of nowhere. A damsel in distress. And a dangerous man obliged to help her. Sounds familiar? Well Tom Wood successfully manages to turn that premise - cultivated by Lee Child - completely on its head.
Wood has always been in a league of his own when it comes to setting a scene or establish characters and he puts this skill to use here. Creating a bloody, twisted und and suspense-riddled night of mayhem in just over 50 pages that brings Victor further beyond his emotional threshold than ever before. A must-read for every thriller fan!
February 2, 2020
A short story in the series Victor the Assassin. I've already read the rest of the series so this was a slight backtrack for me as I'm sure it was for anyone up to date with the series but it was a very entertaining quick read. Once again Victor shows both his cold, hard killer side and his more human side.
A good addition to the series.
A good addition to the series.
September 25, 2019
Injured and on the run in Bulgaria, Victor intends to be across the border before dawn, whatever happens. An unexpected encounter and ending up in the middle of an armed robbery threaten to derail his plans somewhat.
Picking up right where The Enemy left off, this little interlude packed quite a punch. Have I mentioned how much I'm enjoying this series?
Picking up right where The Enemy left off, this little interlude packed quite a punch. Have I mentioned how much I'm enjoying this series?
October 22, 2019
A great short story. And one that really shows off Victor's umm... questionable morals.
October 30, 2019
Victor rules
Great short story. Unlikely hero. Different to the norm but a recommended read.Victor the assassin is a most moralistic man
Great short story. Unlikely hero. Different to the norm but a recommended read.Victor the assassin is a most moralistic man
October 3, 2020
It’s Tom Wood; it’s Victor - what more must be said?
Every Tom Wood story is a gem, they simply vary in their lustre, their sparkle, the cut.
This is one of his best. It’s succinct, but don’t let it’s brevity fool you, as to the richness of the content. It tells more about the protagonist - Victor, needless to say - than many other authors could shoehorn into a trilogy replete with backstories, up to and including first childhood memories.
That Wood has never foisted such backstories upon us - not once, in all of those marvellously entertaining, intelligent and complex novels - is one of the most tantalising elements of the Victor legend.
Who is he, this nameless man?
For he is nameless, make no mistake. We are told, often, throughout the series, that “Victor” is but a name which he chose for himself, and not that which he was given at birth. His true name has been lost to him and to us; washed away by the tides of blood and destruction, which have shaped him into that which he has become, just as his true face has been lost, albeit under all those surgeons’ careful, artful blades - so many procedures, so many years.
What propels him onward? What is driving him from job to job, hunting those who have earned the price on their head, while he is hunted in turn, having earned his own price, many, many times over.
The answer to the first is a mystery, and I believe it is best it remains so. The answer to the second is less so. He is an apex predator, an atavistic creature, stripped of the morality and conscience, which binds the animal that is man to social mores and concepts of good and evil. He simply is.
But then along comes this little gem, and the latter question becomes more complex. The answer less direct, the truth less obvious in a way which we have not really been presented with since the first novel - a debut which blazed with action, intelligence a strange humanity, which took a character who should be repellent to most of us, and made us want him to survive and find vengeance for the one who showed him kindness and concern.
Echoes of that humanity resound throughout this short, short story, enriching it and transmuting the base lead of simple words into something absolutely breathtaking. Who knew the philosophers stone created diamonds, and not gold? (Apologies - I had to shove that in, otherwise my metaphors were well and truly mixed! ;) ).
Victor remains a mystery, of course, even after all the dust settles and the last body has fallen. But he IS a bloody good mystery (figuratively and literally).
Long past time that Victor made his debut, on film or television. Amazon, Netflix, HBO - all the streaming services - what aren’t you seeing about the richness and complexity; the utter compelling lure of Wood’s writing, and the singular character he has created?
This gem alone, cut and polished by a craftsman at the top of his game, sparkles brighter than most entire novels.
It’s Tom Wood; it’s Victor. What more must be said?
Magnificent.
Every Tom Wood story is a gem, they simply vary in their lustre, their sparkle, the cut.
This is one of his best. It’s succinct, but don’t let it’s brevity fool you, as to the richness of the content. It tells more about the protagonist - Victor, needless to say - than many other authors could shoehorn into a trilogy replete with backstories, up to and including first childhood memories.
That Wood has never foisted such backstories upon us - not once, in all of those marvellously entertaining, intelligent and complex novels - is one of the most tantalising elements of the Victor legend.
Who is he, this nameless man?
For he is nameless, make no mistake. We are told, often, throughout the series, that “Victor” is but a name which he chose for himself, and not that which he was given at birth. His true name has been lost to him and to us; washed away by the tides of blood and destruction, which have shaped him into that which he has become, just as his true face has been lost, albeit under all those surgeons’ careful, artful blades - so many procedures, so many years.
What propels him onward? What is driving him from job to job, hunting those who have earned the price on their head, while he is hunted in turn, having earned his own price, many, many times over.
The answer to the first is a mystery, and I believe it is best it remains so. The answer to the second is less so. He is an apex predator, an atavistic creature, stripped of the morality and conscience, which binds the animal that is man to social mores and concepts of good and evil. He simply is.
But then along comes this little gem, and the latter question becomes more complex. The answer less direct, the truth less obvious in a way which we have not really been presented with since the first novel - a debut which blazed with action, intelligence a strange humanity, which took a character who should be repellent to most of us, and made us want him to survive and find vengeance for the one who showed him kindness and concern.
Echoes of that humanity resound throughout this short, short story, enriching it and transmuting the base lead of simple words into something absolutely breathtaking. Who knew the philosophers stone created diamonds, and not gold? (Apologies - I had to shove that in, otherwise my metaphors were well and truly mixed! ;) ).
Victor remains a mystery, of course, even after all the dust settles and the last body has fallen. But he IS a bloody good mystery (figuratively and literally).
Long past time that Victor made his debut, on film or television. Amazon, Netflix, HBO - all the streaming services - what aren’t you seeing about the richness and complexity; the utter compelling lure of Wood’s writing, and the singular character he has created?
This gem alone, cut and polished by a craftsman at the top of his game, sparkles brighter than most entire novels.
It’s Tom Wood; it’s Victor. What more must be said?
Magnificent.
December 29, 2020
Really enjoyable. Haven’t read any Victor the Assassin for so long that I’d forgot how enjoyable Wood’s writing is. A quick read but immensely enjoyable, with richly developed characters and a fast paced plot that is unputdownable.
June 14, 2020
I do hope we get to read more of Victor soon.
April 2, 2023
ebook Review - “Gone by Dawn” is an ebook-exclusive short story by bestselling author Tom Wood about one terrifying night in the life of hitman Victor the Assassin. Victor is on the run in Bulgaria, bloodied and broken, he knows his enemies are right behind him seeking retribution from a recent assassination. Yet when a young woman shows him the kindness he’s not used to in a small town on the border, he delays his escape so he can return the favor. But the small town is not all it seems, and the night ends up being laden with violence and fierceness unlike anything the town’s people had ever seen — all because of Victor’s presence. Thus, he must be ‘gone by dawn’. This ebook-only takes place between the second book in the series, “The Enemy” and the third book, “The Game.” Gone By Dawn, (2.5 in the series) is a gripping ebook short story for readers new to the Victor series and an absolute must-read for current Victor fans.
April 13, 2021
This is a short story and falls as #2.5 in the Victor the Assassin series by Tom Wood. At about an hour to read, these shorts are a nice bonus for fans of the series – but would also make great teasers for those who wanted to check out Wood’s writing.
This book spans a few hours immediately after the end of The Enemy. There’s a tiny reference that some might consider a spoiler, so be aware of that – but you kind of have to know to realize it if that makes sense. While beginning with a bit of humor, this is absolutely the tale of an antihero. When Victor fails to act, he goes slightly overboard to make up for it and discovers a surprise when enacting his vengeance.
I’m ready for book 3 (which I already grabbed in audio), The Game.
This book spans a few hours immediately after the end of The Enemy. There’s a tiny reference that some might consider a spoiler, so be aware of that – but you kind of have to know to realize it if that makes sense. While beginning with a bit of humor, this is absolutely the tale of an antihero. When Victor fails to act, he goes slightly overboard to make up for it and discovers a surprise when enacting his vengeance.
I’m ready for book 3 (which I already grabbed in audio), The Game.
May 6, 2019
Whats not to like! The short story is about Victor, the book is by Tom Wood. It helps to fill gaps between the novels, buy it, read all the books about Victor, 'nuff said!
A disclaimer - I like this character - a lot - so I can't imagine not giving any book 5 stars at the moment. I like the authors work and I would put him alongside John Sandford (Prey novels) and Daniel Silva (Gabriel Allon books) These are three authors whose books I reread between waiting for the next one
A disclaimer - I like this character - a lot - so I can't imagine not giving any book 5 stars at the moment. I like the authors work and I would put him alongside John Sandford (Prey novels) and Daniel Silva (Gabriel Allon books) These are three authors whose books I reread between waiting for the next one
May 29, 2023
Was it a one hit fluke then? I can't advance it's like a poor version of John Reacher with a female sidekick. Not continuing.
December 8, 2018
Excellent
Another excellent Victor story from Tom Wood, far to short but keeps you going while waiting for the next full length effort.
Victor rules, OK!!
Another excellent Victor story from Tom Wood, far to short but keeps you going while waiting for the next full length effort.
Victor rules, OK!!
December 20, 2018
A different read, makes Victor more human!
December 8, 2018
An excellent short story
This is a fantastic short story that captures the character Victor the assassin perfectly. A great tale, beautifully written. Thanks, Tom Wood!
This is a fantastic short story that captures the character Victor the assassin perfectly. A great tale, beautifully written. Thanks, Tom Wood!
November 29, 2018
Fantastic!
Huge fan of the series this short story takes place in.
This one offers a rare and beautiful insight to the mind of my favourite anti-hero.
Huge fan of the series this short story takes place in.
This one offers a rare and beautiful insight to the mind of my favourite anti-hero.
June 24, 2020
Awesome writing as usual. Not enough Victor novels and should be made into films
March 5, 2020
Gone by Dawn picks up right where The Enemy ended. Victor is on a bus, bleeding, escaping from the kidon that is out to kill him. He falls asleep. When he wakes a young woman, high on something, is staring at him. When she instigates a conversation, he goes along quietly to keep from drawing attention. When he gets off the bus, she follows. He almost gets away from her at a café but she follows him outside. In the minutes it takes for him to go back inside with her, a four man team of thieves is robbing the café.
Victor needs to be gone by dawn. No one has a good night.
A quick, brutal story highlighting Victor's thought processes. Perfectly keeping in line with everything we've seen from him in the first two novels and a short story. This is an exceptional series.
Victor needs to be gone by dawn. No one has a good night.
A quick, brutal story highlighting Victor's thought processes. Perfectly keeping in line with everything we've seen from him in the first two novels and a short story. This is an exceptional series.
April 23, 2022
First, I think I'm being generous with 3 stars. I'm partly unhappy because of the story/writing and secondly because I thought this novella was over 50 pages. Turns out 1/4 of the novella was an intro into another book. I am disappointed to be scammed by this novella.
As far as the story, the Victor in this story is not the same Victor as in the first 2 books. This doesn’t feel like it was written by the same author. It reads like the author is giving someone a chance to write novella between his 2nd and 3rd book (after the fact because this was published 6 years after the second book). If that is the case, then that is good cause but this book reads like the writer hadn’t read the 2 previous books. The story mentions the most recent events in book 2, but I don't think it captured the character of Victor in books 1 and 2.
2.5 stars at best but I rounded up because I’m hoping the author was trying to help a mentee. If not, this is barely 2 stars and I definitely wasted money. I don’t feel like it was money well spent. I would not recommend buying. It added nothing to Victor's story.
As far as the story, the Victor in this story is not the same Victor as in the first 2 books. This doesn’t feel like it was written by the same author. It reads like the author is giving someone a chance to write novella between his 2nd and 3rd book (after the fact because this was published 6 years after the second book). If that is the case, then that is good cause but this book reads like the writer hadn’t read the 2 previous books. The story mentions the most recent events in book 2, but I don't think it captured the character of Victor in books 1 and 2.
2.5 stars at best but I rounded up because I’m hoping the author was trying to help a mentee. If not, this is barely 2 stars and I definitely wasted money. I don’t feel like it was money well spent. I would not recommend buying. It added nothing to Victor's story.
December 28, 2018
A well written, nicely paced short story (50 pages) which is the second short story in the Victor series, after Bad Luck In Berlin. The story opens with Victor on a bus, wounded – after barely escaping a death squad in Bulgaria – in need to get out of the country before the sun comes up. Of course, events do not allow for a straightforward exodus inasmuch as Victor attempts to keep a low profile.
While I can’t really say too much more on the story itself without spoilers, I can say that what makes this story intriguing is that Victor was caught off-guard and is making assumptions as to who had commandeered the hit and thinking of who to go after, once distanced from the immediate danger. As we find out at the end, Victor will need to re-think his assumptions.
Looking forward to the next chapter in this evolving “mini-series”. Should be fun!
While I can’t really say too much more on the story itself without spoilers, I can say that what makes this story intriguing is that Victor was caught off-guard and is making assumptions as to who had commandeered the hit and thinking of who to go after, once distanced from the immediate danger. As we find out at the end, Victor will need to re-think his assumptions.
Looking forward to the next chapter in this evolving “mini-series”. Should be fun!
May 25, 2019
A nice, short addition to the series that gives more insight into Victor's character.
This short story follows right after the ending of the 2nd book and involves a seriously injured Victor. (Not that he is any less lethal with such bad injuries).
I really liked how this story was about Victor being "impulsive" and actually acting out on his emotions, which doesn't happen often in the other full novels of the series. We all know Victor isn't a good person and will never be one, but Wood shows us that Victor is still a human being who is prone to introspection and has hard limits. The mention of a certain character at the end of the story was a pleasant surprise, and I can't wait to see what will happen when that person finally confronts Victor.
I'm desperately waiting for a new installment in the series!
This short story follows right after the ending of the 2nd book and involves a seriously injured Victor. (Not that he is any less lethal with such bad injuries).
I really liked how this story was about Victor being "impulsive" and actually acting out on his emotions, which doesn't happen often in the other full novels of the series. We all know Victor isn't a good person and will never be one, but Wood shows us that Victor is still a human being who is prone to introspection and has hard limits. The mention of a certain character at the end of the story was a pleasant surprise, and I can't wait to see what will happen when that person finally confronts Victor.
I'm desperately waiting for a new installment in the series!
August 5, 2023
Daggum!!!
There is just a little something that I can’t explain as far as I believe Wood’s series about Victor is Fantastic, but I can’t quit reading and I have figured out why. Maybe the negatives are we all know Victor would never live this long, he recuperates way too quickly, too many things just “work” in his favor, BUT….I can’t wait for the next one because I want to know ABOUT Victor!! I can’t wait to see what his origins are about, how and where he grew up, and where he learned his preservation skills!! It’s killing me and the books are always page turners. I know it sounds oxymoronic, but it’s true….I’ve never read about another main character or series this deep that I don’t know about the protagonist (antagonist as Wood would want Victor called). It’s great and it works though!
There is just a little something that I can’t explain as far as I believe Wood’s series about Victor is Fantastic, but I can’t quit reading and I have figured out why. Maybe the negatives are we all know Victor would never live this long, he recuperates way too quickly, too many things just “work” in his favor, BUT….I can’t wait for the next one because I want to know ABOUT Victor!! I can’t wait to see what his origins are about, how and where he grew up, and where he learned his preservation skills!! It’s killing me and the books are always page turners. I know it sounds oxymoronic, but it’s true….I’ve never read about another main character or series this deep that I don’t know about the protagonist (antagonist as Wood would want Victor called). It’s great and it works though!
February 1, 2019
A strange story of a one night affair that portrays Victor in an almost uncharacteristic manner. For those readers who have followed Victors escapades, they may be left puzzling over Victors persona, but then that is possibly what he would want anyway. Those reading about Victor for the first time will be left with a different image of him than that portrayed in his previous exploits.
January 6, 2022
This is short story from the Victor the Assassin Series. Entertaining quick read. Spoiler alert: Victor is injured and on the run. A young girl takes an interest in him. He tries to evade her but they end up together in the wromg restaurant at the wrong time. That's when things get interesting. Enjoy.
November 25, 2022
There's a James Bond novella than may have been an inspiration for this short book. In it, Bond comes across a girl being terrorized in an abandoned motel. Bond saves the day, of course, and fucks the night away. Victor rarely gets lucky without paying for it, and the girl doesn't fare as well as Bond's.
February 21, 2025
These glimpses of Victor having a conscience - even if it is a bit skewed - are my favourites. Here we have 48 pages of Victor avenging a perfect stranger simply because she bought him food, whilst on a deadline to leave Bulgaria before Mossad catch up to him. Slots perfectly between book 3 and 4, picking up right where the end of The Enemy left off.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews