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Beginner's Luck: A debut fast-paced thriller set in Iceland
It’s summer in Iceland. The land of Fire and Ice is beautiful and serene. Peaceful… But not for Hildur. In the undying light of an Icelandic summer, Hildur is on her first assassination mission, with the power and weight of the organisation behind TESS – The Elite Scandinavian Syndicate. They are the powerhouse of the Nordic region, and no one can match them. So, when Hildur ends up on the run across this rugged landscape she once called home, will her training be enough to keep her alive in her fight for survival? Will the land she once called home hurt or heal her? Iceland will provide you with 24 hours of daylight throughout this fast-paced thriller. Hildur has choices to make, and will have to run across the country to escape the consequences. Will you run with her?
167 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 13, 2021
16 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 13, 2021
The Watcher The. Ready. Waiting for the target. Hildur is tracking her current target in the picturesque Iceland. Hired to kill. She is on the lookout for anyone that might increase the body count. Trained in body and mind, she is after a hacker part of a larger network. Unassuming and attuned to blending in, most do not suspect who she is until it is too late.
An operative part of a clandestine organization called TESS, Hildur’s loyalty is tested when she decides to lie to protect someone.
A mission goes wrong putting Hildur and another operative Hans in a dangerous situation. Fighting for survival and not able to trust their own organization to get them out. Hildur is on the run, with no one to protect her, she is alone, having to use her skills to battle against those out to destroy her.
Hildur. A fascinating and complex character that blurs the lines of good and bad. Although she may seem slightly psychotic at times, there is an enticing aspect to her. For some reason, you are rooting for her, and you don’t know why… Throughout the story there are flashbacks to her training that provides insight to what Hildur is about to do.
Hans and Hildur would be considered the protagonists with a dark side to them. They are not what you would traditionally consider the ‘good guy’. Instead, they are trained killers that have empathy, fighting an organisation that will take out anyone that threatens to get in their way, directly or indirectly. Their targets are not necessarily criminals. TESS borders the grey, the person in charge crosses the lines, and does not care who the collateral damage is going to be.
It is not a complicated plot line, not a mystery to be solved, or a psychological profile dug into. Instead, it is a cut and dry action thriller with Hildur and Hans taking out those that are coming after them.
It is not the who, it is about the why. What triggered her organisation to suddenly come after her?
Those looking for a solid action adventure with realistic fight scenes and a strong female character, give this one a try. I have a feeling, there may be more coming…
An operative part of a clandestine organization called TESS, Hildur’s loyalty is tested when she decides to lie to protect someone.
A mission goes wrong putting Hildur and another operative Hans in a dangerous situation. Fighting for survival and not able to trust their own organization to get them out. Hildur is on the run, with no one to protect her, she is alone, having to use her skills to battle against those out to destroy her.
Hildur. A fascinating and complex character that blurs the lines of good and bad. Although she may seem slightly psychotic at times, there is an enticing aspect to her. For some reason, you are rooting for her, and you don’t know why… Throughout the story there are flashbacks to her training that provides insight to what Hildur is about to do.
Hans and Hildur would be considered the protagonists with a dark side to them. They are not what you would traditionally consider the ‘good guy’. Instead, they are trained killers that have empathy, fighting an organisation that will take out anyone that threatens to get in their way, directly or indirectly. Their targets are not necessarily criminals. TESS borders the grey, the person in charge crosses the lines, and does not care who the collateral damage is going to be.
It is not a complicated plot line, not a mystery to be solved, or a psychological profile dug into. Instead, it is a cut and dry action thriller with Hildur and Hans taking out those that are coming after them.
It is not the who, it is about the why. What triggered her organisation to suddenly come after her?
Those looking for a solid action adventure with realistic fight scenes and a strong female character, give this one a try. I have a feeling, there may be more coming…
August 27, 2021
For a debut book this is outstanding, a fast paced thriller that keeps your attention. Not only is it refreshing to have a main character who is not the stereotypical white male assassin, but also it gives an uncomplicated view of the world of professional assassins. The descriptions of the Icelandic landscape make this novel come alive with the author's intrinsic knowledge and love of the country.
March 25, 2021
Great story
An enjoyable read. A great story that keeps you engaged and interested. I enjoy the no frills style of writing just a proportionate amount of description brings the characters and scenes to life leaving the reader to concentrate on the story.
An enjoyable read. A great story that keeps you engaged and interested. I enjoy the no frills style of writing just a proportionate amount of description brings the characters and scenes to life leaving the reader to concentrate on the story.
February 16, 2021
Great debut book, it kept me awake and I couldn't put it down, I was eager to see what happens next. Interesting characters and unpredictable plot. Looking foward to the rest of the series.
May 19, 2021
Absolutely fantastic book. First time reading M. Furtek’s work and I’m a fan already. Paints a great picture of Iceland and it’s a great story. Recommend 👍🏽
May 20, 2021
Gripping thriller from a debut author. I’m very intrigued to see how this story may continue and where it takes us. Absolute page turner, couldn’t put it down.
July 27, 2021
A good fast-paced thriller with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. At just under 200 pages you will probably finish the book quicker than you think!
April 16, 2021
This is a gripping debut Novella. The story has you engrossed from start to finish. We are introduced to Hildur, on her first assassination mission. She has had the training. She is prepared. Working for TESS -The Elite Scandinavian Syndicate. But are they good or bad?
It’s summer in Iceland where daylight is 24 hours long, all Hildur has to do is go in and accomplish her mission and leave, whilst remaining undetected. All seems to be going well until as she leaves the building she is hit, by an electric car, their engines so quiet she hadn’t even thought to look. When she wakes up she is in a hospital bed, luckily she only has concussion, but the problem is the man who hit her had stayed, he had found her gun and syringe by her side on the floor. What can she do? She tells him she is undercover and he agrees to stay quiet. But Hildur knows if her bosses find out they won’t be happy.
It’s only later when her handler finds out that someone knows, and that Hildur had lied to her that the real problems start. Hildur and Hans are on there way to another job, they had trained together and at times he really annoyed Hildur, but he knows something is wrong.
It’s not long before not only are Hildur and Hans are targets but also the man and his family who had knocked Hildur over. What can they do?
I really enjoyed this and hope that is the start of a new series as I for one would love to know what happens to Hildur after this? It would also be interesting to find out more of her backstory, how did she end up working for TESS.
If you are looking for a quick novella to while away a few hours grab yourself a copy of this. Meet Hildur and the beautiful landscapes of Iceland. You will be hooked.
I would like to thank the author for my copy of this, all thoughts and opinions are my own and in now way influenced.
It’s summer in Iceland where daylight is 24 hours long, all Hildur has to do is go in and accomplish her mission and leave, whilst remaining undetected. All seems to be going well until as she leaves the building she is hit, by an electric car, their engines so quiet she hadn’t even thought to look. When she wakes up she is in a hospital bed, luckily she only has concussion, but the problem is the man who hit her had stayed, he had found her gun and syringe by her side on the floor. What can she do? She tells him she is undercover and he agrees to stay quiet. But Hildur knows if her bosses find out they won’t be happy.
It’s only later when her handler finds out that someone knows, and that Hildur had lied to her that the real problems start. Hildur and Hans are on there way to another job, they had trained together and at times he really annoyed Hildur, but he knows something is wrong.
It’s not long before not only are Hildur and Hans are targets but also the man and his family who had knocked Hildur over. What can they do?
I really enjoyed this and hope that is the start of a new series as I for one would love to know what happens to Hildur after this? It would also be interesting to find out more of her backstory, how did she end up working for TESS.
If you are looking for a quick novella to while away a few hours grab yourself a copy of this. Meet Hildur and the beautiful landscapes of Iceland. You will be hooked.
I would like to thank the author for my copy of this, all thoughts and opinions are my own and in now way influenced.
November 4, 2021
A breezy action-packed and unpredictable page-turning spy thriller that could go anywhere next…
After assassin and super killing machine ‘Hildur’ is befallen to a somewhat freak accident the circumstances after place her in danger and ultimately onto a journey of trying to escape a net closing in around her. Danger and deception are following and around near enough every corner there are challenges and mystery.
M.J. Furtek does a great job of keeping the reader on the edge while only really revealing information as the characters find it out. There’s a heap of mystery and intrigue here, intrigue to know who exactly is leading the chase and it keeps you turning pages albeit quickly. Based in Iceland there are some nice descriptive visuals paired with a remote Island feel which is perfect for a chase story accompanied by some clever spy-esque sequences – perhaps a perfect combination. This could easily be Jason Bourne with the whole mystery element along with the tones that are on point while being paired with that European landscape/feel.
With short but breezy chapters and a modern writing style that hooks you in from the very start, this is a spy chase thriller that will guarantee to entertain, immerse and leave readers wanting more by the end – I know I did.
After assassin and super killing machine ‘Hildur’ is befallen to a somewhat freak accident the circumstances after place her in danger and ultimately onto a journey of trying to escape a net closing in around her. Danger and deception are following and around near enough every corner there are challenges and mystery.
M.J. Furtek does a great job of keeping the reader on the edge while only really revealing information as the characters find it out. There’s a heap of mystery and intrigue here, intrigue to know who exactly is leading the chase and it keeps you turning pages albeit quickly. Based in Iceland there are some nice descriptive visuals paired with a remote Island feel which is perfect for a chase story accompanied by some clever spy-esque sequences – perhaps a perfect combination. This could easily be Jason Bourne with the whole mystery element along with the tones that are on point while being paired with that European landscape/feel.
With short but breezy chapters and a modern writing style that hooks you in from the very start, this is a spy chase thriller that will guarantee to entertain, immerse and leave readers wanting more by the end – I know I did.
July 30, 2021
Brilliant, it’s so nice to read a well written, well-structured book. The main character Hildur is fascinating. Despite her line of “work” she discovers, as most of us do, that some lines are not to be crossed. The storyline grips you and the short chaptered, ‘show not tell’ style makes it a real page turner. The beautiful backdrop of Iceland, where she grew up, adds tension with its sparse and chilling landscape. I really enjoyed this book. It’s a Good read!
February 6, 2023
Great read for those who are looking for action-driven thriller in the beautiful landscape settings. Thanks to short chapters, this book is also an easy to follow, fast-read. I really liked the “accidental” part of the plot, becoming a leading driver of events and I think an author did a great job plotting the story around it. I definitely recommend this book for readers looking for a light spy-thriller in original settings.
May 1, 2023
A great read!
This is probably the first book that I’ve read about a female assassin (although I have watched Killing Eve.) The author had a fluent writing style and I’d love to read more of his work in the future!
This is probably the first book that I’ve read about a female assassin (although I have watched Killing Eve.) The author had a fluent writing style and I’d love to read more of his work in the future!
March 3, 2021
I really enjoyed this book and really hope that there’s a sequel at some point. I want to know more about Hildur and where life takes her next. Beautifully written, I flew through it.
July 27, 2021
Read it almost in one sitting, can't wait for the sequel! Great debut by MJ Furtek
May 19, 2021
This is a well written, fast paced, page turning thriller. Couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen.
The main character, Hildur is an intriguing character and I look forward to the next book to discover more about her.
The stunning landscape of Iceland is vividly captured, both its beauty and its challenges.
Very impressed and looking forward to the next book!
The main character, Hildur is an intriguing character and I look forward to the next book to discover more about her.
The stunning landscape of Iceland is vividly captured, both its beauty and its challenges.
Very impressed and looking forward to the next book!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews