Venomous

Adam Black #3

by Karl Hill

A horrific crime. A woman abducted. A journey into darkness.  Venomous  is a fast-paced crime thriller by Karl Hill. Black is back and he’s facing his toughest challenge yet. Tasked with uncovering crucial information from a psychopath nicknamed the Red Serpent, Adam Black infiltrates one of Scotland’s hardest prisons. A young woman has been abducted and the Red Serpent may have the answers to her whereabouts. But the clock is ticking. When Black is betrayed, his only option is to break out of prison in order to find the woman and the identity of her abductor. Can Black rescue the woman and stop a deranged psychopath? Will he make it out of this alive? Black knows one thing for sure...there will be bloodshed.

Genres: Thriller

Kindle Edition

Published December 7, 2020

Reviews

["Avonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com

VENOMOUS (Adam Black Book #3) by Karl Hill is the latest fast paced thriller in the Adam Black series by this new to me author and I cannot believe I have not read this series before now. Similar to a Jack Reacher archetype lone wolf, one-man justice system, Adam Black is back. Even though this is the third book in the series, it is easily read as a standalone and I am looking forward to going back to read books one and two.

Adam Black is a retired SAS officer recruited by the Colonel for a secret operation to save the life of the Prime minister’s daughter who has been abducted.

The abduction is identical to the serial killer, The Red Serpent’s previous abductions and murders, but the psychopath has been convicted and in prison for the last six months. Adam Black is tasked with infiltrating Shotts prison and finding out what the Red Serpent knows about this new abduction.

As Black works to get closer to The Red Serpent, he is betrayed. Now he must find a way to escape.
On the run from authorities, Black is determined to save the Prime Minister’s daughter and discover the identity of the current killer.

I love this type of thriller for the pure escapism. The strong main character who is a killing machine with his own set of morals. This book does contain a lot of blood and violence as others in this sub-genre. The author’s writing effortlessly pulled me in and I just fell into the story with all the action, secrets, plot twists and a hero to cheer for. I love Adam Black and I hope to be reading many more of his adventures.

I highly recommend this book, series and author!

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 5 out of 5]

Venomous is the third instalment in the Adam Black series and sees our hero back with a bang! His latest mission involves a psychopathic criminal and prisoner at Shotts jail, The Red Serpent, who is sixth months into a lengthy term having been convicted of the abduction and murder of ten women in and around the Glasgow area. Found naked and mutilated these ten victims, their details and information such as case notes, medical reports and psychologists’ opinions have taken up an entire wall and most of the floor in Adam’s living room. He is later called in when the Chief Constable receives a note, apparently from Oliver Pritchard, aka The Red Serpent, and it seems to indicate that he is about to strike again but how when the evil, demented Pritchard is locked up? Shortly after the message was received they realise a young woman disappeared after a night out to a club in Edinburgh with friends on the 26th December. With a distinctive and highly original signature/modus operandi they are hoping that the woman is safe but they will immediately know if her corpse turns up whether it was The Red Serpent’s handiwork or not.

Is there a copycat killer on the loose or was the wrong man convicted of the crimes to start with? The possibility also remains that Pritchard may have a partner or protege on the outside and is guiding them through how to kill using his unique MO. Adam Black is asigned the mission of infiltrating the prison with the goal of becoming friends with Pritchard in the hope that he’ll confide in where this recent abductee is and exactly who it was that kidnapped her. It's not going to be easy and time is of the essence so Black gets started right away on gaining the apparent serial killer's trust. This is a compulsive, addictive and pacy addition to the series and is every bit as scintillating as the previous books, if not more so. The narrative is twisty and written in such a way that you become immersed almost instantaneously in the plot and the clever use of short, snappy chapters builds the tension slowly but surely as the story progresses. You are barely given a moment to breathe throughout the action-packed, high-octane tale. A nailbiting, riveting page-turner that provided some much-needed escapism. Highly recommended.

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

Venomous is the third book in the Adam Black series, about a former Special Forces soldier turned lawyer, turned violent vigilante who goes after untouchable evildoers following the murder of his wife & child. You don’t need to have read the first two to enjoy this one, but Black’s character and motivation will make a lot more sense if you have. This one is the darkest and most brutal yet, but also the most gripping as he finds himself in one inextricable situation after another. The front blurb recommends this for fans of Lee Child, and I think the comparison with Reacher is fair, while not being a carbon-copy.

The daughter of the British Prime Minister has been kidnapped, and the evidence points to a sadistic serial killer known as the Red Serpent - but he’s already been locked up in the notorious Shott’s prison for six months for murdering ten women. With time running out, a secret plan is hatched to get a man inside to befriend him, so the mastermind calls on fearless Adam Black to use his very particular set of skills - but not everyone in on the plan wants him to succeed...

This was a superbly paced action thriller, and while the violence/body count and swearing would deter some readers, it’s not actually gratuitous and Black only kills real baddies. There are plenty of red herrings and well executed smoke & mirrors, and I didn’t guess who was behind it all until nearly the end. Sure, there was a bit of reliance on coincidence, and most of the plot was extremely far fetched, but I don’t mind an escape from reality in these troubled times. This would make a very good TV series especially if they kept the Scottish settings.
4.5 stars rounded up for sheer entertainment.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for the ARC which allowed me to give an honest review.
Venomous is published on December 9th.

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adam Black is notified when a young woman goes missing. She's not just anyone ... she is the Prime Minister's daughter.

Because of the way she was taken, and with notes delivered to the police, their first suspect is The Red Serpent ... but he's in prison. Is there a copycat? Did he have a partner who is now continuing the terror?

Black and his mentor, a man high in government, have a plan. Black will need to infiltrate one of Scotland's hardest prisons .... make 'friends' with the man known as The Red Serpent, deliver whatever he uncovers to his boss ... and then wait for them to have him released.

Things are not going to plan. His mentor is killed, leaving Black at the mercy of others ... who have no intention of letting Black out of prison.

When Black is betrayed, his only option is to break out prison in order to find the woman and the identity of her abductor.

Lots of action ... lots of graphic violence .... this is a real heart-stopper. Although third in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. Black is a unique character with quite a back story, which is touched upon here. Characters, both good and bad, are deftly drawn. As a reader, I had to remind myself often to just breathe.

Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books for the digital copy of this excellent crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Rebecca Charlesworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic read from Karl Hill, our vigilante with a heart Adam is up to his usual tricks, ridding the world of scum that totally deserve to be rid of. If Adam is to help with the capture of the latest scum bag then he will have to go completely in to scum territory with very little back up from people who can help get him out of the situation. But black is in a race against time that just doesn’t seem possible to get the deed done. A series of “unfortunate” events seems to constantly hinder Black’s attempts. The Adam Black books are brilliant reads and take you on a rollercoaster ride, buckle in tight and get ready for the ride.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adam Black has once again been tasked with solving the unsolvable. A young woman has been abducted and the key to her safety is embedded in the psyche of an incarcerated serial killer, The Red Serpent. The only way to infiltrate the mind of this madman is to get as physically close to him as possible; Black is going to prison.

I love this series! Adam Black is the one-man wrecking machine, but will this be the challenge he just can’t overcome?

[Caroline Kerdouci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was definitely reading outside my comfort zone when I decided to pick up the third book in the Adam Black series by Karl Hill. Whilst it would probably make sense to read the previous two novels prior to reading Venomous, I didn’t find myself at a disadvantage at all, quickly losing myself in a storyline that promises to be fast paced, action packed, grisly and gruesome.

I don’t know what I expected as I began reading but I found myself gripped by events almost immediately. My first introduction to Adam Black had me envisioning a (very much!) darker version of a James Bond type figure with his clandestine meeting with another ex army man Colonel Mackenzie. Gradually as I came to understand more of this action hero’s background, I was able to put all the violence into perspective. His latest mission, which would seem only he is deemed suitable for, with any chance of completing successfully involves an individual known as the Red Serpent. Currently six months into his jail time at Shotts prison, convicted of the kidnap and murders of ten women in Glasgow, Oliver Pritchard is one seriously evil, twisted individual, like all notorious serial killers are. His MO is most distinctive which makes the fact another woman has been kidnapped, disappearing after a night out in Edinburgh with friends highly disturbing to say the least. Is this a case of the wrong man being convicted, a sign that a copycat killer is at large or is the Red Serpent not working alone, communicating with an outside person who is of an equally disturbed mind? Adam Black is tasked with entering this harshest of environments and ‘befriending’ the psychopathic Oliver in order to locate the woman’s whereabouts and identify her abductor. With the refrain ‘tick tock time is running out’ reverberating with every turn of the page, Black is under intense pressure to say the least. That pressure and race against time transfers itself to the reader so that I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my own veins! Prepare to be shocked, thrilled, chilled and horrified with every twist and turn.

This is a storyline not for the faint hearted. I don’t think I could have prepared myself for a more brutal, edge of your seat thriller and would go as far to say this is easily the goriest, most bloodthirsty thriller I’ve laid my eyes on. From Hill’s pen drip words that transform themselves into scene after scene full of excruciating, barbaric violence that had me wincing with imaginary pain. I wasn’t sure how much of these stomach churning descriptions I could tolerate before my stomach was telling me to stop reading but my head was definitely ignoring that advice! Bizarrely, I was completely addicted, marvelling at Black’s capacity to take on anyone and anything that stands in his way. He reminded me of a modern day Houdini such were his attempts to evade those determined to bring him down. His fearlessness knows no bounds! He’s a character I wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley or cross swords with but somehow you realise deep down he’s the good guy, his past as a captain in the SAS and family tragedy shaping him into the man he is today.

I think I was so mesmerised by the amount of often gratuitous violence that I forgot to even attempt to make sense of the complex storyline, encompassing the world of politics, double crossings, plenty of depraved behaviour, an intuitive journalist and of course murder. Aside from the Red Serpent you will discover he isn’t the only rotten apple in the barrel as Black struggles to determine who he can trust. Frankly there are enemies approaching from all directions which heightens the tension and the intrigue turning Black’s mission darker and more complicated by the minute.Action packed from start to finish I cannot believe how much I LOVED this thriller, violence and all! The ending is simply BRILLIANT leaving the reader desperate for more. I have to be honest and declare that if I were perusing the bookshelves in a store this is a title my eyes would sweep past, believing it more suited to male readers. How wrong could I be? When time allows I shall thoroughly enjoy discovering more of Adam Black and what drives him forward and would say to anyone unsure if this is the kind of book they’d enjoy, just bite the bullet and dive right in. You won’t be disappointed! Karl Hill has won himself another fan. My thanks to Bloodhound books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Alyson Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adam Black now works in Glasgow as a solicitor, a far cry from his days as a Captain in the SAS, receiving the Military Cross and fighting all over the world. Colonel Stewart Mackenzie heads up a clandestine government department and summons Black. It’s a question of National Security, he tells him. And Black is the only man deemed up to the job. Sadly, after a gruelling career, the murder of his family and his despatch of some very dangerous people, he is so good at this work purely because he is damaged and doesn’t actually care about his own life as long as he completes his mission successfully. Ten young women have been murdered, two per year, by a killer dubbed the Red Serpent by the press based on the tattoos he left on his victims. His name was Oliver Pritchard and six months ago he was caught and imprisoned. Now another girl has gone missing and no ordinary girl at that. It looks like the Red Serpent is back but that’s impossible, so it is a copycat or worse still, an accomplice? The job of finding out is handed to Adam Black. The first letter to the police has already arrived and if the killer sticks to the same MO as in the past, they have two months from the date of the letter before she dies. When Black is told the name of the missing girl he realizes how important his task really is. The story moves on to a beauty salon where Pauline Jardine is being threatened by Danny Brogan and his trained thug Johnstone for non-payment of a dodgy loan. Enter Black and rapidly exit two nasty little oiks who definitely get what they deserve as Black thoroughly enjoys himself. The attempted murder charge leads to placing him in Shotts prison with the worst criminals in the land - exactly where he needs to be. It may not be such a clever plan though, since Rachel Hempworth, a simple newspaper reporter, has seen through the charade. She’s one of those nuisance journalists, always out to support the “little man” against the government and oppression, and her meddling could spell real problems for Black. Added to the mix are Chief Constable Divers, head of Police Scotland with a few shady secrets of his own and a slimy Whitehall civil servant only out for himself in the underhand backstabbing world of politics. One prison guard poses a real threat to Black’s safety, as do a number of Brogan’s relatives in the jail, none of which makes his mission any easier and it looks like Pritchard is up to something as well. Black has to step in when Pritchard falls under attack and hopes it will make him open up to him. When a recorded monthly telephone call, the only time the man ever utters a word, reveals there may be more then just one serpent, the police investigation led by Divers and DI Vanessa Shaw grows ever more alarming, especially when the second expected letter deviates from what has gone before. When someone leaks to the press, life behind bars turn very nasty, and Black finds himself completely alone. This is only just the beginning as events spiral explosively out of control in the prison. He will have to get out of there to save the girl and clear his name, and time is running out. Tick tock.
The tension really racks up as the reader has idea who can be trusted and who cannot as the main story gets underway in a highly complex plot. It is true action hero stuff, very bloodthirsty in places, fast paced and violent with some incredible fight scenes that clearly demonstrate Black’s rigorous training and ability to stay alive through whatever means available. The man is super-human at times! The story keeps up a furious pace with shocking turns and revelations along the way, and the final showdown is a belter with some huge surprises in store as the truth is finally laid bare.
I don’t generally go in for a lot of action hero type thrillers but this story very quickly pulled me right into a fascinating world of murder, deception, depravity and double crossing that I was quite unable to resist! 5*

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vote: Adam Black to replace 007.

Adam Black is back in this third instalment of The Adam Black series, and boy, it doesn’t disappoint.

His newest mission comes from high above, when the prime minister’s daughter has been abducted. He knows that time is of the essence, and unfortunately the only way he can begin this mission is by getting himself incarcerated at her majesty’s pleasure. A place you would think is the last situation he would ever want to find himself in.

This may well be one of his most difficult challenges yet, and when he finds himself as the main suspect in the case he is trying to solve, he knows he must to whatever it takes, by whatever means possible.

You know the body count will rise and it definitely will not be pretty, but Adam will always do whatever it takes regardless of the costs.

This is not a read for the faint-hearted, but if you want a read that will have you gripped from the very first page all the way through to the end, and a read that will have you perched on the edge of your seat, then this is for you.
But with fast paced twists and turns, just hold on tight.

Fantastic writing again from Karl Hill, can’t wait for more from Adam Black.

You could read this as standalone read but I highly Recommend reading the first two in the Adam Black series. Those being......

UNLEASHED https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/191341970...

VIOLATION https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/191341987...

[Sallie Greenhalgh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t read the previous Adam Black books and I wondered whether coming in at book 3 would be a problem - it wasn’t! I didn’t need to have any previous knowledge of the main protagonist- he clearly had a history but I was given enough information to understand, and thoroughly enjoy the book.
You need a fairly strong stomach as there is a fair amount of violence but it is not unnecessarily graphic - the story requires you to understand the depths Adam Black has to go to and I found myself ‘on his side’ very quickly. Sent to prison to gain information from a prisoner he is left high and dry when his man on the outside is killed. The twists and turns in this book are like being on a massive rollercoaster and I never saw the next twist coming.
I am now off to read the two previous books as I want to find out more. A real page turner but perhaps not to be read late at night on your own!

[Danny Matheson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third in the Adam Black series and very possibly the best of the trio. Firstly I would say that you don't have to have read the other two to enjoy this book however once you have read it you'll want to read the others. It's a full on, action packed, full of suspense thriller.

Adam Black, a former member of the SAS, is a man with no fear. He also has special skills which allow him to undertake extremely dangerous missions. In this case he is hired to find and rescue a woman that has been kidnapped and very likely to be killed. She is no normal woman! The very nature of this mission means that it is potentially the most dangerous Black has encountered.

The author, Karl Hill, knows how to keep you gripped with his storylines and certainly does just that in this book. You will not want to put this novel down until it is finished and even then you'll be disappointed that it is finished.

Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the ARC which I've reviewed voluntarily

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hadn’t read anything by this author before but will definitely be looking at the rest of this series. This is the third book in the Adam Black series and it’s a humdinger. Well written, fabulous plot, side plots, twists and turns it has it all.

Briefly, Black is part of a secret government unit and he violently attacks two gangsters so that he receives a sentence that puts him inside the prison where a serial murderer is incarcerated. But when things go wrong his only option is to escape.

I loved this book and couldn’t give it anything less than 5*
.

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this suspenseful thriller. This is my first book by this author and I look forward to reading more from him. This is a well written story that has details that made the story feel realistic. The characters are engaging and connectable. They made great characters that made me want to read the story and made the story for me. I enjoyed the twists and turns that kept me turning pages fast. This is a fast paced story that I highly recommend. A story of a psychopath and lots of action. This made a great afternoon read!

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely awesome!

Another young woman has been abducted and it looks like the attacker known as The Red Serpent has struck again - but how can that be? He is locked up in Shotts Prison and hardly likely to volunteer his help. This is where Adam Black comes in. He needs to get himself inside that prison and quickly in order to find out what's going on, but when he needs to get back out again it doesn't seem as easy as it should have been . . .

I read a fair amount of crime thrillers each year and it takes a lot to surprise me; not once, but twice, my jaw literally dropped open at where events led in this novel (actually causing my OH to enquire if I was alright!). This series just gets better and better! One of the highlights, for me, is the locations in these books; I live not too far from Eaglesham and, until now, they have all been known to me. This time round the story ventures into pastures new which was just as exciting!

Usually in thrillers, I'm either sure of who is the guilty party or I have it narrowed down to two or three suspects. Not this time. As I got nearer the end I was aware of part of my brain frantically trying to work out who was going to pop up as my reading speed increased - along with my heart rate - the nearer I got to the end and the final revelation. What a truly enigmatic read with an ending which left me dumbstruck. If you are the type of reader who enjoys an unpredictable roller-coaster of a read, then this is one for you! Worth so much more than the five glowing stars I can give, and I really cannot recommend this highly enough.

[jody raymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read but a Sloppy ending

Adam Black is by far the best character I’ve read since Jack reacher. Old Jack reacher written by Lee child not new woke Jack reacher written by stupid son Andrew. The only questionable part about this book was the ending where he was at gunpoint the woman took the gun off him to fire three shots of a pilot, and he didn’t use it opportunity to attack and the second time when she turned around to face another attacker, fired two shots into him in black said in the two seconds that it took he didn’t have time to pull his gun so he attacked her physically. If you have enough time to cover the distance to make a Physical attack. I’m pretty sure Adam Black can pull his gun a lot faster than that. Ending could’ve been much much better.

[john alder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non Stop 5 Star Action

Wow, where do I start? It was almost impossible to put this book down at any point. Time really stands still as the non stop action and riveting storyline keeps you completely engrossed. So many twists and turns. All of the Adam Black books are excellent and each of them have a completely different story. I am really glad that I have followed the books in the order they were written. A huge thank you to the author Karl Hill and from me, a well deserved 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Electric, pulsating read

If I could give this book 10 stars I would. I just love Adam Black. His character is captivating. A great, great plot. I'm just glad I started from the very first book, which you don't have to do, but explains how his World evolved to this. Please Karl Hill, don't let this be the last we see of Adam Black.

[Alec Crombie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phew! What a wild ride.

For heaven's sake don't read the first book in this series. I did and have done nothing else but read all three back to back. I thought Jack Reacher was awesome, now I know he's a pussy cat! If you are rotten to the core then you deserve to meet someone like Adam Black. No spoilers, if you want action read this!!!

[Kim Hammork · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravo, Loved It

I don't know how I found you, but I'm sure happy I did. I read all 3 books in 5 days. Well written, great story. I didn't want to put it down. I hope to hear more from you soon.

[barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

First class action read the plot was soo involved not sure who good and bad guys are was shocked at the near end as i thought it was the end of Adam but glad it wasn't really great read and can't wait for more pls .

[gordon morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written

Very good series of books as a Scotsman love the locations. Well written with good depth of characterisation 4 stars

[Jen]

DNF, concepts too violent for me and story not grabbing me either.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant fast-paced thriller .

[barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant read very fast paced .
The prime minister's daughter is missing and the suspect is already in prison .Adam gets arrested to get close to the killer to try and find out where the missing girl is .
There is soo much going on and Adam is left to his own devices to escape prison .
Brilliant read loved every second and well worth a read .

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fast paced thriller with lots of action and lots of violence. Adam Black is the perfect character for this thriller. I am still reeling.