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Eva Driscoll #4

When Death Strikes

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Eva Driscoll and Simon ‘Sonny’ Baines are living the good life. They have money and each other, but most importantly, their enemies think they are dead.

Their new life is shattered when a bar room brawl thrusts them back into the spotlight, and they must evade a psychotic cartel boss and his skilled tracker if they are to survive. But those are not the only dangers they face. Eva and Sonny must battle their way through unforgiving landscapes, but just when they think they are safe, their world turns upside down once more.

Tom Gray and his daughter, Melissa, are keeping their heads down in a small Canadian town. Life is good, if not a little boring, until Melissa is targeted by a school bully. That seemingly innocuous encounter leads the ESO to Gray, and this time there’s nowhere to run.

When Death Strikes is the fourth instalment of the gripping Eva Driscoll series from million-copy bestseller Alan McDermott.

319 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 27, 2021

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About the author

Alan McDermott

31 books773 followers
Alan McDermott is a full time author from the south of England, married with beautiful twin daughters. He used to write critical applications for the NHS, but now he spends his days writing action thrillers.

His debut novel, Gray Justice, has been very well received and earned him membership of http://independentauthorsinternationa.... He was subsequently picked up by Thomas & Mercer, who published his first 10 books.

Alan's 7th novel Trojan was shortlisted for an ITW thriller award.

In March 2020 he release a new standalone called Motive, and the 7th Tom Gray will be released on June 4th 2020.

The reading order of Alan's books can be found at www.alanmcdermottbooks.co.uk

You can follow Alan on Twitter through his @Jambalian account and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GrayJustice

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5 stars
731 (69%)
4 stars
273 (25%)
3 stars
44 (4%)
2 stars
8 (<1%)
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1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
Profile Image for Kath.
3,146 reviews
August 16, 2021
Eva and Sonny are living their best life now that their enemies think they are dead. They have money and false identities but it's all a bit sedentary compared with what they are used to. And it's not long after Sonny voices this and wishes for a bit of excitement that he is reminded of that old adage - be careful what you wish for - as they are set upon in a bar and Eva is taken captive and Sonny taken to his death...
But their captors don't realise who they are dealing with. Even a psychotic cartel is no really match to Eva and Sonny as we soon discover...
Meanwhile we flip to Canada where old friend (and star of another cracking series if you haven't already indulged) Tom Gray is living under the radar with daughter Melissa. They have been keeping their heads down but circumstances threaten to bring that safety to an end.
Maybe the ESO aren't as gullible as our heroes think they are... but what is their end game? I'm not saying here, you'll have to read to find out. Suffice to say, you're in for one heck of a ride...
It's no secret that I am a big fan of this author. I have read and loved every one of his books. His plotting, pacing, characterisation are all perfect. As is his attention to detail. You can see how much care he takes over his research. It shines through in every book. It's a high octane, thrill a minute, white knuckle ride that will have you reading with your heart in your mouth pretty much all the way through. Yes there are the occasional slower paced moments which I found vital for my own well being - allowing me small respite before it all kicked off again.
And the ending... ooo... so very satisfying. Closing this chapter nicely but, at the same time, without being a cliffhanger, making me hanker for the next installment. Which I really hope won't be too long coming.
Profile Image for Kath Middleton.
Author 23 books158 followers
July 25, 2021
Eva and Sonny are hiding out in South America but someone fancies Eva. There’s a fight and she’s abducted to the home of a middle-grade drug baron. Between her and Sonny she manages to escape but their cover is blown and the big boss knows about them. This is a real heart-in-the-mouth adventure thriller and we once again meet an old friend. If you love your fiction high octane, this one will really float your boat. It did for me.
Profile Image for The Cats’ Mother.
2,358 reviews196 followers
July 22, 2025
When Death Strikes is the fourth instalment of the Eva Driscoll series about an ex-CIA assassin on the run from a shadowy cabal of powerful billionaires. I read the first three several years ago, then like so many of my thriller series, got behind and kinda forgot about it, but then saw the next three were available on Kindle Unlimited. I don’t think you need to have read the previous books to enjoy this - but they’re fast-paced action-packed adventures so if you like that sort of thing, why wouldn’t you?

Eva and Sonny escaped the tentacles of the ESO and are travelling quietly through South America minding their own business, when a local gangster decides to pick her up in a bar - and when she’s not interested, knocks Sonny out and kidnaps her. This sets off a chain of events which alerts the ESO command to their presence, and the chase is on. Meanwhile their friend Tom Gray is hiding out in Canada with his daughter, but he too upsets the wrong person and once more becomes a target.

If you like kick-arse morally grey heroines - and I so do - Eva Driscoll is up there with the best of them. I’ve forgotten most of what happened in the earlier books - and haven’t read any of the Tom Gray series, but it didn’t matter, the plot stands alone. The villains are despicably evil, but all get what they deserve - unfortunately with a fair amount of collateral damage… I enjoyed the South American setting, and the banter between the leads - as well as the strength of their relationship. There’s a bit too much reliance on coincidence in the plot, and plenty that’s pretty implausible, but if you can overlook this, it’s a gripping read and I’m not going to wait another six years to read the next one!

Profile Image for John Podlaski.
Author 8 books69 followers
December 6, 2021
I have enjoyed all four books in the Eva Driscoll series and can't believe the author leaves such a large cliffhanger at the end of book 4...is this the end? Will another book be added to the series? Will a new series begin?

Eva, Sonny, and Tom are once again at the mercy of the ESO and must complete a task if they want to see their loved ones again. This time, the ESO wants a drug cartel leader killed in South America. He had already slaughtered a Seal team sent in to terminate him. Unfortunately, this same cartel boss is also hunting them throughout the country. There are edge-of-your-seat instances where readers are captivated by the many twists, turns, and escapes taking place. Eva, Tom, and a new character, Travis, are facing extreme odds in this caper. Will they succeed and see their loved ones again? Will they vanish again from the reaches of the ESO and live normal lives?

Well done Alan McDermott! The stories move at an exciting pace without errors or distractions in the text or formatting. I highly recommend WHEN DEATH STRIKES and the Eva Driscoll series for anyone wanting to read about a strong female protagonist on steroids...one, who makes Rambo look weak!
Profile Image for Tony Hisgett.
3,049 reviews37 followers
October 13, 2021
There is an intense start to the book that builds for nearly a dozen chapters, then it suddenly goes off at a couple of tangents. I presumed these different storylines would eventually come together, but I didn’t particularly like this way of constructing the story.
Also there are timing details that really don’t bear close examination e.g. they find one of Eva’s hairs and from the ‘back of beyond’ they get it to a suitable Lab to do a DNA profile. Then a search on international databases flags Eva, all in just a few hours.
However the thing that irritates me most is the way the author tries to make the story work by including too many 'improbables'. By halfway through the book I'd lost count of the number of times unlikely things just happened at the right moment. I nearly gave up on the book, but fortunately the last dozens or so chapters were better. If possible I would have given 2.5 stars.
Profile Image for Shelley.
5,631 reviews489 followers
September 14, 2021
*Source* Kindle Unlimited
*Genre* Thrillers / Suspense
*Rating* 3.5-4

*Thoughts*

When Death Strikes is the fourth installment in author Alan McDermott's Eva Driscoll series. The story opens with Simon "Sonny" Baines and Eva Driscoll in Lima, Peru where they've been hopping between countries trying to remain in hiding and out of the limelight. Between the two of them, they've lost everyone they've known, while others are in hiding from their ESO (Executive Security Office) nemesis. ESO believes that the stunt that Eva pulled off in a previous novel actually worked and they are supposed to be dead along with Tom Grey. ESO controls the media, banks, law enforcement, and governments.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
Profile Image for Simon Howard.
Author 31 books3 followers
October 10, 2021
In When Death Strikes we find Eva and Sonny leading a pretty good life, hiding out from the nefarious ESO yes, but with money and anonymity they are enjoying each others company and moving around as freely as they can. However one nasty confrontation that leads to a bar fight sees all that change, not only are they on the ESO's radar again, but on the run from a highly dangerous cartel boss and his skilled tracker.... meanwhile Tom Gray and his daughter having been living the quiet life in a small town in Canada under assumed names, that all comes crashing down as a bullying incident at Melissa's school leads the ESO to their door, this time for all four there is nowhere to run.
This is the fourth Eva Driscoll book and they just keep getting better and better, this has lots of the twists and turns that you expect from a thriller and hard hitting action that you would expect also. The plot is an ongoing one and the pace is breakneck and perfect. As always the action is handled perfectly and Is believable. The characters are well realised with Eva being as driven now as she was in the first book, Simon 'Sonny' Baines has grown a lot through out the series and is with a laid back out look a perfect foil for Eva's intensity, while Tom is a lot more weary in this book and his sole focus is keeping his daughter safe. All in all this is a fantastic read and I eagerly await the next book
4 reviews
August 28, 2024
After thoroughly enjoying the first 3 books in this series, I was disappointed with this one. First, it has too many characters and subplots. The story is often told from the viewpoint of a secondary character who will never appear again. I would much prefer to know the thoughts of the main characters. Second, instead of outsmarting the opposition, as they had done in the previous installments, the heros were constantly saved by coincidences. That removed my greatest source of enjoyment in reading a thriller — seeing how smart people outsmarted other smart people. There were still enough good moments for 2 stars but, in my opinion, not more than that. I hope the last 2 books in the series are better than this one.
7 reviews
March 21, 2024
Unputdownable

It got going from the get-go and didn't stop. Very believable story, well thought out and very plausible. AD's knowledge of weaponry is excellent - worryingly so?!
Finished the book in a week and despite the very early hour ensured that I had purchased book 5 so that I had it uploaded ready for the next night.
AD is a true master novelist and I will continue to read every book he writes.
You will not be disappointed but make sure you start any of his series at book 1as they do contain references to earlier stories.

371 reviews4 followers
September 4, 2021
5 Stars

Another great read - I have really enjoyed both the Eva Driscoll and Tom Gray series of books. The action in this book was non stop and once again the main characters were able to demonstrate how well they work together. The new guy, Travis certainly held his own and proved his worth. I very much look forward to the next book. As usual, a big thank you to the author Alan McDermott and from me a well deserved 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👍
107 reviews
September 9, 2021
Another exciting read from Alan McDermott. Brilliantly written, as ever. Alan comes up time and again with a new plot involving ESO and their interfering and control of society. Eve and Sonny are enjoying a peaceful tour when everything changes on the whim of a sadistic drug dealer who takes a fancy to Eve.
One question for author Alan. Why does an English writer use American spelling, is it because it’s aimed at an American audience or because it’s set in America?
1 review
August 31, 2021
Alan has once again let his larger-than-life characters take us on an adventure. Heroic players but still very relatable, Eva and Sonny drew me in and kept me reading. I love twists that are not predictable - Alan tells a great story and has added enough plot twists to keep me guessing. A great, fun read!
70 reviews
September 2, 2021
Book 4 in this series doesn't disappoint, its up there with the best thriller reads. There's plenty of action front start to finish. You feel an attachment to the characters and you feel with them in their actions all the way.
I've read both series of Tom Gray and Eve Driscoll and Alan McDermott brilliantly writes a gripping story. Looking forward to his next one.
957 reviews
September 5, 2021
Eva and Sonny just out for a meal and trouble finds there unforgiving enemies hem in trouble with the cartel and also !a real fast paced book and read in one day Alan is a great writer and really draws you into the book ,takes me a while to come back to reality brilliant read soo looking forward to next .Hope they find peace one day and Grey and his daughter .
Profile Image for David Titcombe.
16 reviews1 follower
September 8, 2021
Another Great Read from Either Alan McDermott

I have followed all of Alan McDermott's books and they get better and better. They story line is strong and follows on from the previous book. If you like action books or books dealing with ex-special forces you will like these. My suggestion is start with the Gray novels then carry on with Eve Driscoll books. Stunning
Profile Image for Amanda.
101 reviews2 followers
September 12, 2021
Wow another action packed book in the Eva Driscoll series, her and Sonny are trying to still lie low but get caught up with some drug lord and things escalate.
Expect lots of fighting, ESO involvement and also seeing Tom Gray again, I loved the ending but now itching to read what happens next!!
I loved all Tom Gray books and Eva Driscoll series just as good
Profile Image for Matthew.
37 reviews
November 14, 2021
Another thrilling page turner

After a few years on the run, coincidence plays its part and Eva Driscoll, Sonny Baines and Tom Gray are reunited in another adventure. Page turner of a thriller, featuring advanced technologies and old fashioned tradecraft and some unsavoury characters as well as the all seeing ESO. Highly recommend.
Profile Image for Cherie Melbourne.
1,429 reviews15 followers
March 6, 2023
When Death Strikes

Another absolute page turner from Alan McDermott. Poor Eva, Sonny and Tom with Melissa trying to live a quiet existence. Apparently with Eva and Sunny , have trouble will find seems to be part of who they are, by drug lords and in jungles.
I really love this series.
Profile Image for Alistair Birch.
Author 4 books8 followers
August 31, 2021
I read the whole book within a day and thoroughly enjoyed everything about it. I already knew the characters and once again Alan McDermott delivered a gripping thriller. Drug lords, old foes and some curve balls along the way.
95 reviews
September 5, 2021
Brilliant as usual!

The eagerly awaited fourth book in the series didn't disappoint. I read it in four days! Great storyline and what we have come to expect. Alan is a master author and the scene is set for book five. I can't wait!
100 reviews
September 28, 2021
Superb

Having read all of the Eva Driscol books, I couldn't wait to read this latest book. A great plot, and main characters already known,it was easy to just fall straight into the story. This was a brilliant read and highly recommend.
2 reviews
October 12, 2021
Another excellent read. I have enjoyed both Eva and Tom's journeys throughout the various books and the introduction of Travis has added another dimension. The ending of this volume has set it up very nicely for their next adventure. Thoroughly looking forward to the next installment.
Profile Image for G S.
573 reviews5 followers
October 5, 2022
WHEN DEATH STRIKES BOOK 4

Wow another exciting read this just keeps getting better. Eva and Sonny have their work cut out for them. Poor Melissa will ever have a real life if this keeps up.
2 reviews
December 31, 2022
Very stimulating. I was engrossed from the first page to the last page . Didn't want it to finish. T


The story line is captivating. Love miss Driscoll she can handle everything thrown at her , plus her associates. Glad. I bought the e,book look forward to more.















Profile Image for Lynn Bennett.
183 reviews1 follower
May 6, 2023
Another brilliant tale.

Once again Eva, Sonny and Tom are forced into a situation they don’t want or need. They are a great team and now they have another recruit in Travis. A great fast pacing read.
Profile Image for Mike Eccles.
232 reviews3 followers
September 10, 2023
Fast and furious

Eva Driscoll and friends find themselves in wildly unexpected circumstances. A sequence of events leads them through tough experiences with a very unexpected climax (for them that is!)
1,343 reviews
January 29, 2024
Really enjoying this series. Eva and Sonny Baines are drawn back into the ESO's web and have no option but to do what they are asked to do. They are shocked to find what lengths the ESO will go to to keep them in their stick web. A great read.
45 reviews
September 2, 2021
Bloody amazing

I can’t wait for the next chapter in the lives of Eva Driscoll and Simon (Sonny) Baines, it is riveting reading.
5 reviews6 followers
September 8, 2021
Great read.

Looking forward to the next book in the series. Non stop action, good to have old friends reunited and new friends added.
2 reviews
September 10, 2021
Great read

Gave me everything I've come to expect from Alan.
Ready for the next one now.
As usual love the army humour
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews