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Tom Rollins Thriller #3
Hard To Kill
One man can’t start a war. But he can end it.
Laying low in Mexico, Tom meets Carmen who is searching for her little sister, Rosa, recently abducted and trafficked by a vicious gang. Tom sees that Carmen is likely to get herself killed and decides he is duty bound to help her.
The hunt for Rosa pits them against a terrifying Mexican cartel and ultimately leads them back to US and a criminal conspiracy to open a vast stretch of the border for the trafficking of guns, drugs and women.
The cartel leaders stand to make billions, but Tom’s relentless one-man campaign is making them nervous, so they bring in some elite talent to solve the problem. Meanwhile, Tom’s old enemies in law enforcement realise he’s back in the US and send a hit team to finish him off.
Caught between cartel sicarios and ex-military assassins, Tom will need every one of his formidable skills if he is to survive his deadliest adventure...
Hard to Kill – book 3 of the superb Tom Rollins action thriller series. Perfect for fans of Lee Child, Jason Kasper & David Archer.
Laying low in Mexico, Tom meets Carmen who is searching for her little sister, Rosa, recently abducted and trafficked by a vicious gang. Tom sees that Carmen is likely to get herself killed and decides he is duty bound to help her.
The hunt for Rosa pits them against a terrifying Mexican cartel and ultimately leads them back to US and a criminal conspiracy to open a vast stretch of the border for the trafficking of guns, drugs and women.
The cartel leaders stand to make billions, but Tom’s relentless one-man campaign is making them nervous, so they bring in some elite talent to solve the problem. Meanwhile, Tom’s old enemies in law enforcement realise he’s back in the US and send a hit team to finish him off.
Caught between cartel sicarios and ex-military assassins, Tom will need every one of his formidable skills if he is to survive his deadliest adventure...
Hard to Kill – book 3 of the superb Tom Rollins action thriller series. Perfect for fans of Lee Child, Jason Kasper & David Archer.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 22, 2021
2277 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
July 13, 2022
If you are in the mood for a hard-edged, action-packed thriller, you might want to take a look at Heatley’s latest Tom Rollins thriller, third in the series, and which works just fine as a standalone. Take an ex-black ops asset, plant him Mexico where he can’t help but stumble across a cartel human trafficking operation where young girls are kidnapped and sold into cross-border brothels. Though Rollins is apparently on the run himself from matters that played out in the earlier books in the series, he can’t just sit on his hands when he could be a one-man wrecking crew to such an operation. It’s a fairly short, quick read with nearly no let up in the action and there’s no question about who the good guys and the bad guys are.
September 27, 2024
I really loved this series. I can't find #4 so I'll switch to another series but for anyone interested this Hard to Kill novel has an excellent story teller vocal and it really helps bring you into the action.
August 30, 2021
Tom Rollins is a drifter, formerly CIA black ops, now living off the grid, somewhere in Mexico for the time being.
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Read the interview with Paul Heatley!
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I'm immediately reminded of Jack Reacher (the drifter part), but also of the cleaner, John Milton (especially hiding in Mexico, which is what John does as soon as he's going off grid). That was my immediate characterization - and I think it is spot on. Only with a little more chivalry knight going on (well, obvious chivalry, that is).
Tom is a true hero.
So we get a story with a strong hero, fighting on behalf of the weak (this time, against a Mexican drug cartel). It's not new, but a formula that's proven to work time and time again. The plot is missing some of the twists you would expect from Jack Reacher, but it's solid plot with a protagonist that's immediately likeable.
There's a saying: No good deed goes unpunished. Tom learns that firsthand when he rescues a group of women from some sex trafficker, only to discover that one of them had let herself be captured - in search of her little sister. Well, desperate times call for desperate measures, so Tom employs his skill set. And when he does, the fun is really starting.
Tom Rollins doesn't take shit from anyone.
Although the good Samaritan act is slightly unnerving to me. Yes, he's a hero, he really is the good one, but I think he's overdoing it a little. It's not a big deal, but it's something that's souring my reading fun a little bit.
There's also the fact that this story is told mostly in simple present, and I have to admit that I don't like this particular tense for stories. It kind of feels awkward.
On the plus side is the fast paced action. The bad guys get hit really hard, and as you would expect, Tom's past comes back to bite him in his rear so he soon has hands full hitting the bad guys, dodging his former colleagues and keeping the girl safe. I'm fairly certain this could be drafted into a movie script without much ado, and if you're a visual reader, you'll probably already have the movie rolling in your head. And it might look like one of those 80's action movies, the Schwarzenegger, Stallone, Lundgren kind. You know, great movies if you just want to have a good time watching the hero fighting everyone between him and the girl.
Time for Tom to gear up. It's s one man's war, after all!
*****
This is part three of a series - I haven't read the first two parts, but after this book, I'm really inclined to catch up.
It's an enjoyable read, fast paced action with a likeable hero. Fans of Reacher, Milton and others like them will probably like it.
Please also like this review on my Blog.
******************************
Read the interview with Paul Heatley!
******************************
I'm immediately reminded of Jack Reacher (the drifter part), but also of the cleaner, John Milton (especially hiding in Mexico, which is what John does as soon as he's going off grid). That was my immediate characterization - and I think it is spot on. Only with a little more chivalry knight going on (well, obvious chivalry, that is).
Tom is a true hero.
So we get a story with a strong hero, fighting on behalf of the weak (this time, against a Mexican drug cartel). It's not new, but a formula that's proven to work time and time again. The plot is missing some of the twists you would expect from Jack Reacher, but it's solid plot with a protagonist that's immediately likeable.
There's a saying: No good deed goes unpunished. Tom learns that firsthand when he rescues a group of women from some sex trafficker, only to discover that one of them had let herself be captured - in search of her little sister. Well, desperate times call for desperate measures, so Tom employs his skill set. And when he does, the fun is really starting.
Tom Rollins doesn't take shit from anyone.
Although the good Samaritan act is slightly unnerving to me. Yes, he's a hero, he really is the good one, but I think he's overdoing it a little. It's not a big deal, but it's something that's souring my reading fun a little bit.
There's also the fact that this story is told mostly in simple present, and I have to admit that I don't like this particular tense for stories. It kind of feels awkward.
On the plus side is the fast paced action. The bad guys get hit really hard, and as you would expect, Tom's past comes back to bite him in his rear so he soon has hands full hitting the bad guys, dodging his former colleagues and keeping the girl safe. I'm fairly certain this could be drafted into a movie script without much ado, and if you're a visual reader, you'll probably already have the movie rolling in your head. And it might look like one of those 80's action movies, the Schwarzenegger, Stallone, Lundgren kind. You know, great movies if you just want to have a good time watching the hero fighting everyone between him and the girl.
Time for Tom to gear up. It's s one man's war, after all!
*****
This is part three of a series - I haven't read the first two parts, but after this book, I'm really inclined to catch up.
It's an enjoyable read, fast paced action with a likeable hero. Fans of Reacher, Milton and others like them will probably like it.
Please also like this review on my Blog.
December 29, 2021
This is a great book in a great series. Hard To Kill by Paul Heatley is the third book about ex CIA agent Tom Rollins. In this book he is still trying to keep under the radar from the CIA since he "left" them. It starts at a motel in Mexico where he gets involved in trafficking and then it's almost non stop action and a wild ride. These books are well written and hard to put down, I actually started book 4 directly when this was finished. I need to know what will happen to Tom. I really recommend this author.
November 21, 2023
Better
Seems like they get better and better... or maybe that is just me getting more used to the writing style. Still not a fan of the weird, clipped sentences but am more acclimated to them.
Seems like they get better and better... or maybe that is just me getting more used to the writing style. Still not a fan of the weird, clipped sentences but am more acclimated to them.
August 26, 2021
This is book three of the Tom Rollins Thriller series and sees the main character Tom wandering around Mexico, as he struggles to say goodbye to someone really important to him. He is also a wanted man, having gone AWOL from a mission he was sent on in Afghanistan. A black ops mission where he disagreed with his superior officer and tried to make complaints through official channels, all to no avail. He has been helped in his attempts to keep under the radar, by a hacker called Cindy, who provides him with alternative identities and keeps an eye out for anyone tracking him. Unfortunately, Tom has a massive enemy on his back, in the States, from his actions in stopping a recent terrorist attack. The man works for the CIA and is climbing the ladder, wanting more and more power under his hands. When Tom ends up with a situation happening in the sleazy hotel room next to him, he can’t ignore it and makes a move, rescuing five young women who have been kidnapped and were due to be trafficked to brothels either in the States or Mexico. All but one of the young women are happy to get back home, but Carmen is determined to find her sister Rosa, who was taken nearly two weeks before, and Tom can’t leave her to fumble about in this dangerous world on her own.
The gang responsible for the abductions is actually a very dangerous Mexican cartel and their head man Miguel is not happy when he gets the news. He sets his most trusted men to find out what has happened to his product, following Tom and Carmen’s trail as they look for Rosa. The cartel trafficking trail leads them from a cartel bar, to cartel run brothels and then to young women trafficked across the border to Arizona and beyond. With Carmen along for the journey, he can’t just use his fake papers Cindy provided him with and this causes his identity to be flagged up by the very man behind the terrorist attack that Tom recently foiled, which put his plans back months if not longer and for which he holds Tom responsible. His uses his position within the CIA to arrange a hit team of Tom’s former black ops colleagues, who are a bit more interested in the murder and mayhem side of what they do than the legality of their actions. Tom is going to have to use up every one of his nine lives, if he is to get Carmen’s sister back safely, against a Mexican cartel and a team of CIA black ops assassins, as well as numerous security teams at the location they end up in. I wish I had found this author before now, as this book is full of action, covers some sickening subjects such as human sex trafficking by cartels and rich people, as well as assassination teams and terrorist attacks. Tom is a man without a job or any role left in his old life, but he has a protective and determined side, to do what is right, no matter the cost to himself! I missed the first two books in the series and have gone ahead and bought them, so I can catch up on how the character developed and came to be in the position he is now. I look forward to seeing what will come next for Tom Rollins and another thrilling read! I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
The gang responsible for the abductions is actually a very dangerous Mexican cartel and their head man Miguel is not happy when he gets the news. He sets his most trusted men to find out what has happened to his product, following Tom and Carmen’s trail as they look for Rosa. The cartel trafficking trail leads them from a cartel bar, to cartel run brothels and then to young women trafficked across the border to Arizona and beyond. With Carmen along for the journey, he can’t just use his fake papers Cindy provided him with and this causes his identity to be flagged up by the very man behind the terrorist attack that Tom recently foiled, which put his plans back months if not longer and for which he holds Tom responsible. His uses his position within the CIA to arrange a hit team of Tom’s former black ops colleagues, who are a bit more interested in the murder and mayhem side of what they do than the legality of their actions. Tom is going to have to use up every one of his nine lives, if he is to get Carmen’s sister back safely, against a Mexican cartel and a team of CIA black ops assassins, as well as numerous security teams at the location they end up in. I wish I had found this author before now, as this book is full of action, covers some sickening subjects such as human sex trafficking by cartels and rich people, as well as assassination teams and terrorist attacks. Tom is a man without a job or any role left in his old life, but he has a protective and determined side, to do what is right, no matter the cost to himself! I missed the first two books in the series and have gone ahead and bought them, so I can catch up on how the character developed and came to be in the position he is now. I look forward to seeing what will come next for Tom Rollins and another thrilling read! I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
August 20, 2021
This is book 3 in the Tom Rollins series and follows on the same vein as the 1st 2, non-stop action and thrills. This time Tom is in Mexico and gets involved with helping a woman find her younger sister who has been snatched by a cartel as part of a human trafficking and prostitution operation. What starts in Mexico then leads across the border into Arizona.
At the same time, the FBI agent who is so desperate to track down and kill Tom is still on his tail and employs a team to kill him.
Yet again, this was a gripping read. Starts off straight into the action and never lets up. It's violent yet enthrallingly so, and for me at least, I never want to put the book down. Thankfully the first 3 books have been released quickly so hopefully there won't be a long wait either for the next one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
At the same time, the FBI agent who is so desperate to track down and kill Tom is still on his tail and employs a team to kill him.
Yet again, this was a gripping read. Starts off straight into the action and never lets up. It's violent yet enthrallingly so, and for me at least, I never want to put the book down. Thankfully the first 3 books have been released quickly so hopefully there won't be a long wait either for the next one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 23, 2022
I received this book for an honest review:
This is book number three in the series I missed book number two. Here Tom is in Mexico thinking everything will be quiet when he comes across a woman named Carmen who is looking for her sister. You find out that she was taken by a cartel and Carmen decides to go after them to get her sister back. Knowing she won’t make it Tom decides to help her. The Cartel at first thinks they are being attacked by another Cartel when they discover it is only one man. Tom is also still being hunted by the government. Carmen is a little upset with Tom for all of the killings he does so he does hold back a little. This is another good back in the series and is fast-paced and full of action. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars.
This is book number three in the series I missed book number two. Here Tom is in Mexico thinking everything will be quiet when he comes across a woman named Carmen who is looking for her sister. You find out that she was taken by a cartel and Carmen decides to go after them to get her sister back. Knowing she won’t make it Tom decides to help her. The Cartel at first thinks they are being attacked by another Cartel when they discover it is only one man. Tom is also still being hunted by the government. Carmen is a little upset with Tom for all of the killings he does so he does hold back a little. This is another good back in the series and is fast-paced and full of action. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars.
May 28, 2024
In this book some of the pending threads from the first book in the series are finally closed.
In his way back to US from Mexico, Tom is involved in a "border plot" (close to the border, it's always similar, mexican cartes smuggling arms, girls, drugs...to US) and decides to act.
What I'm still trying to imagine is the source of funds for Tom as it looks like he has money enough to pay for whatever he needs (clothes, accomodation.....).
In other series, it's mentioned the source of these funds (being in US payroll, parents money, business....) but not for Tom; since he is AWOL I think he cannot simply use ATMs to get money when needed but it's already three books in the series with Tom spending money in his trips....
In his way back to US from Mexico, Tom is involved in a "border plot" (close to the border, it's always similar, mexican cartes smuggling arms, girls, drugs...to US) and decides to act.
What I'm still trying to imagine is the source of funds for Tom as it looks like he has money enough to pay for whatever he needs (clothes, accomodation.....).
In other series, it's mentioned the source of these funds (being in US payroll, parents money, business....) but not for Tom; since he is AWOL I think he cannot simply use ATMs to get money when needed but it's already three books in the series with Tom spending money in his trips....
August 23, 2021
Tom Rollins is spending some time off in Mexico, living under the grid with a fake identity when he meets a young woman desperate to find her younger sister who was kidnapped by a dangerous Mexican cartel. Once again Tom wants justice and decides to help her. His actions caught the eye of an old enemy, so now Tom has to face several menaces at the same time.
This was a very exciting journey, I really enjoyed it because it was fast-paced and full of action like a movie. I could visualise each of every scene. Tom Rollings is resourceful, brave, but fights with no mercy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a very exciting journey, I really enjoyed it because it was fast-paced and full of action like a movie. I could visualise each of every scene. Tom Rollings is resourceful, brave, but fights with no mercy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 29, 2022
After reading the first two books in the series, I knew what to expect - fast paced no nonsense storytelling, no pretentious writing, staccato sentences. Paul believes in telling the goddam story rather than boasting of his writing skills. He is to the point which is expected from this genre. On the lines of Jack Reacher, Tom Rollins is in a random town and stumbles across a crime, gets embroiled in it. This time, he's up against trafficking cartels from Mexico who are in bed with the people from North of the border. Plus there are old enemies too. So you got to read the first two books in order to understand the connection between all. Will go for 4th one soon.
March 26, 2025
Pretty good!
If you like drama, intrigue and 1 amazing good guy, this story, this series is for you. If you like the Widow books,.this is similar.. Good stuff and impossible situations. Wonder if there is this type of person roaming the states in real life. Hmm but then there would have to be corrupt law enforcement and on up the line. I guess I'm happy to get my thrills thro Paul Heatleys books. Read on...
If you like drama, intrigue and 1 amazing good guy, this story, this series is for you. If you like the Widow books,.this is similar.. Good stuff and impossible situations. Wonder if there is this type of person roaming the states in real life. Hmm but then there would have to be corrupt law enforcement and on up the line. I guess I'm happy to get my thrills thro Paul Heatleys books. Read on...
August 18, 2021
Gets straight to the action and doesn't let up! Fast-paced reads are totally my jam, and this book did not disappoint! The short, action-packed chapters reminiscent of James Patterson in the world of sex trafficking and Mexican cartels will keep you turning the pages. Carmen and Tom had great chemistry, and they made a perfect team.
September 1, 2021
This genre of books is one of my favourite.
Admittedly it's a format that has been visited before but one I never tire off if it is done well and this is definitely up there with the best..
Very likeable main character and a strong plot made for a great weekend escapism read and I will certainly look out for more by this author.
Admittedly it's a format that has been visited before but one I never tire off if it is done well and this is definitely up there with the best..
Very likeable main character and a strong plot made for a great weekend escapism read and I will certainly look out for more by this author.
November 16, 2021
Excellent thriller.
A first class thriller that has a wanted special forces agent AWOL from a previous mission doing a good turn for a female in search of her sister. A turn that puts him up against gangsters and former colleagues wanting to kill him resulting in a fast moving storyline with plenty of action. A good read.
A first class thriller that has a wanted special forces agent AWOL from a previous mission doing a good turn for a female in search of her sister. A turn that puts him up against gangsters and former colleagues wanting to kill him resulting in a fast moving storyline with plenty of action. A good read.
April 6, 2022
Pretty good action story. Definitely helps to begin this series with the first book. Characters and backstory are important. Not great literature but plenty of narrow escapes, bad guys getting their due by good guys delivering justice and revenge. This series will probably die out quickly. One dimensional.
July 11, 2023
I'm 3 books on now. Just downloaded no.4.
I'll be honest. I was a bit unsure when I started book 1 whether it was a writing style in could get with.
I didn't give a star rating for those first 2 books because I was still getting in to it.
I have got in to it. I like it.
I love to read series of books about the same character. I like Tom.
Hope you do too.
I'll be honest. I was a bit unsure when I started book 1 whether it was a writing style in could get with.
I didn't give a star rating for those first 2 books because I was still getting in to it.
I have got in to it. I like it.
I love to read series of books about the same character. I like Tom.
Hope you do too.
September 28, 2021
Exciting. Fast Paced.
Hard To Kill is a fast paced, exciting good guy story. CIA black ops soldier turned deserter does a good deed. This leads to a cartel hunting him as well as his former Captain out for blood. Action packed adventure keeps your interest to the end.
Hard To Kill is a fast paced, exciting good guy story. CIA black ops soldier turned deserter does a good deed. This leads to a cartel hunting him as well as his former Captain out for blood. Action packed adventure keeps your interest to the end.
January 22, 2023
Over the top action with a story that cleans Tom’s history and gets rid of his enemies. He is a killer but cannot get past the death of his brother’s wife who Tom knew for a week while on leave and finds out later she married his brother.
January 27, 2023
Action Packed
I really enjoyed this series. It is action packed and a book that is hard to put down. Mr. Healthy keeps the book moving and there are few dull moments and ends the book with you wanting more.
I really enjoyed this series. It is action packed and a book that is hard to put down. Mr. Healthy keeps the book moving and there are few dull moments and ends the book with you wanting more.
December 8, 2023
Action packed thriller
I am pretty picky about the books that I read. I favor protagonists that are simple, hard nosed fighters, and Heatley delivers just that with his Tom Rollins series.
I am pretty picky about the books that I read. I favor protagonists that are simple, hard nosed fighters, and Heatley delivers just that with his Tom Rollins series.
April 2, 2025
Carmen is annoying, inept, sanctimonious, and a moron. A huge handicap and impediment to operations. The blowhard Eric just needs a fluffy white cat to pet nefariously while he tells everyone to leave him now. What a douche.
May 26, 2025
good story
I really like Tom Rollins as a reluctant hero. The authors style of writing still makes it difficult for me to get into if I focus too hard, but all-in-all, the story is well written.
I really like Tom Rollins as a reluctant hero. The authors style of writing still makes it difficult for me to get into if I focus too hard, but all-in-all, the story is well written.
August 22, 2021
This story is well written and entertaining, easy to read and has a very good pace. The plot, however, is depending on the main character making some stupid mistakes in order to get all the action.
September 25, 2021
My new action hero!
I read all three books in this series in one week. I enjoyed these books. Looking forward to hearing more about Tom's adventures.
I read all three books in this series in one week. I enjoyed these books. Looking forward to hearing more about Tom's adventures.
October 3, 2021
Enjoyable
I am actually enjoying this series. Easy reading plenty of action and not too much waffle. A good bedtime read read with a pinch of salt
I am actually enjoying this series. Easy reading plenty of action and not too much waffle. A good bedtime read read with a pinch of salt
November 1, 2021
Good read
Enjoyed every page. So hard to put down my kindle . Good story line through out.
Look forward to the next book.
Enjoyed every page. So hard to put down my kindle . Good story line through out.
Look forward to the next book.
December 24, 2021
action
This is a great series that has several plot twists in each novel. I’m looking forward to several sequels. It’s a book you can’t put down until you read it all.
This is a great series that has several plot twists in each novel. I’m looking forward to several sequels. It’s a book you can’t put down until you read it all.
February 1, 2022
Great storytelling from Paul Heatley, action from page1 till the last page.
Read book 1 to 4 with the hero Tom Rollins,
It was so good did not watch evening tv
Read book 1 to 4 with the hero Tom Rollins,
It was so good did not watch evening tv
April 13, 2022
Tom Rollins is Action
The book was full of action and eventful. Trouble always finds him! He is an honorable man put into difficult situations but what a ride!
The book was full of action and eventful. Trouble always finds him! He is an honorable man put into difficult situations but what a ride!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews