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Last Man Standing #1
Zeventien
Zeventien is uitverkoren om de meest gevreesde huurmoordenaar ter wereld te worden. Zestien andere huurmoordenaars gingen hem de afgelopen decennia voor. Maar omdat er maar een de beste kan zijn, moet Zeventien zijn concurrentie uitschakelen. Zijn doelwit is zijn voorganger, nummer Zestien. Net als hij ooit ook het doelwit van Achttien zal zijn.
Maar de moord op Zestien verloopt niet volgens plan en er ontspint zich een spectaculair duel tussen twee moordenaars, beiden zijn op de top van hun kunnen. Wanneer het gevecht een status quo bereikt, wordt duidelijk wat het echte doelwit is. De twee moeten de handen ineenslaan om de echte vijand te verslaan en een veel ingrijpendere ramp te voorkomen.
Maar de moord op Zestien verloopt niet volgens plan en er ontspint zich een spectaculair duel tussen twee moordenaars, beiden zijn op de top van hun kunnen. Wanneer het gevecht een status quo bereikt, wordt duidelijk wat het echte doelwit is. De twee moeten de handen ineenslaan om de echte vijand te verslaan en een veel ingrijpendere ramp te voorkomen.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 17, 2022
334 people are currently reading
1802 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 340 reviews
April 14, 2022
He's 17, 'Jones', American, obnoxious, kills with audacity, he's the best, top of his game, a gun for hire usually by the security services, unofficially of course. To keep us safe. Naturally. However, an assignment in Berlin is not his finest hour, have we witnessed a chip in his titanium armour? He has another job, his target the one who came before him - 16. Is there an 18 trying to ride his coat tails? Are his days numbered? He enters the gladiatorial arena, it's a fight to the death.... but who is the Emperor giving the thumbs up or down?
If you want to grab a readers attention authors could do worse than look at how John Brownlow does it. Yanked in by a chain! I love the tone, there's a wry, dry humorous tone in the beginning which I really appreciate although things alter later on when things go Pete Tong and 17 is operating in, lets say, an improvised manner.
It's most definitely a thriller, in places it's movie worthy and it would not be PG. The plot is fast paced throughout and what emerges is unbelievably believable! You feel as if the author writes with authority, he seems to have the knowledge of the more covert agencies (maybe even an ex operator???) so you can definitely buy into the 'truth' at the heart of the novel. Let's face it we've all been duped one way or another by our governments from time to time!. It's action packed and how, it's vivid, it has multiple twists and turns as a dangerous cat ( a big one, not domestic!) and mouse game emerges, then alliances form of expediency. The chapters are short and sharp, it's full of tension and frequently the chapters end on cliff hangers.
As 17's backstory emerges and you learn his raison d'etre, you know you shouldn't root for him but you do have much sympathy.
Overall, an exciting thriller and I look forward to reading more by this author.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
If you want to grab a readers attention authors could do worse than look at how John Brownlow does it. Yanked in by a chain! I love the tone, there's a wry, dry humorous tone in the beginning which I really appreciate although things alter later on when things go Pete Tong and 17 is operating in, lets say, an improvised manner.
It's most definitely a thriller, in places it's movie worthy and it would not be PG. The plot is fast paced throughout and what emerges is unbelievably believable! You feel as if the author writes with authority, he seems to have the knowledge of the more covert agencies (maybe even an ex operator???) so you can definitely buy into the 'truth' at the heart of the novel. Let's face it we've all been duped one way or another by our governments from time to time!. It's action packed and how, it's vivid, it has multiple twists and turns as a dangerous cat ( a big one, not domestic!) and mouse game emerges, then alliances form of expediency. The chapters are short and sharp, it's full of tension and frequently the chapters end on cliff hangers.
As 17's backstory emerges and you learn his raison d'etre, you know you shouldn't root for him but you do have much sympathy.
Overall, an exciting thriller and I look forward to reading more by this author.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
July 19, 2022
A spy thriller!
Seventeen refers to the number of the current pre-eminent assassin in the murky world of black ops. Let’s call him Jones as it the only name he uses although we know it’s not his real name. He gets an assignment in Berlin to kill some VIPs, it’s a walk in the park for him. When he calls his handler, known only as Handler, he gets another job at short notice. He is to intercept a ‘brush pass’ at the Berlin Tiergarten (basically the zoo). This job is not so neat but he gets it done as he is a consummate professional. Only as he is decompressing in the hotel after a busy day he nearly succumbs to a beautiful woman who turns out to be an aspiring Eighteen!
His next assignment from Handler sets his spidey senses tingling though. He is to kill Sixteen - the top assassin before him who dropped completely off the radar 8 years ago. If he doesn’t accept the job he will be finished anyway and someone will be gunning for so him he has no choice but he doesn’t understand why this has to happen now, after all this time.
Jones takes his time in tracking down Sixteen and getting the lie of the land. I enjoyed this part of the story a lot. A successful spy/assassin is more than just a killing machine, they have to be logical, analytical and make connections between disparate sets of data. It reminded me a lot about how Jack Reacher thinks. Jones knows Sixteen is a formidable opponent but even so he is shocked at just how formidable.
The two have a few run-ins, neither getting the upper hand, until they have a frank discussion and realise perhaps they are both being played and the stakes are potentially world changing. Who is gaming who? Who can they trust? Will either of them actually live long enough to find out?
I’m on a real roll here, this was yet another rather different, very entertaining, action packed thriller. I also loved the writing style - short, sharp and blunt. The dialogue is crisp and quite snarky in places which I love. You can’t help liking this bad boy and rooting for him as his motives become slightly more righteous. Action junkies should love this one! Many thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
Seventeen refers to the number of the current pre-eminent assassin in the murky world of black ops. Let’s call him Jones as it the only name he uses although we know it’s not his real name. He gets an assignment in Berlin to kill some VIPs, it’s a walk in the park for him. When he calls his handler, known only as Handler, he gets another job at short notice. He is to intercept a ‘brush pass’ at the Berlin Tiergarten (basically the zoo). This job is not so neat but he gets it done as he is a consummate professional. Only as he is decompressing in the hotel after a busy day he nearly succumbs to a beautiful woman who turns out to be an aspiring Eighteen!
His next assignment from Handler sets his spidey senses tingling though. He is to kill Sixteen - the top assassin before him who dropped completely off the radar 8 years ago. If he doesn’t accept the job he will be finished anyway and someone will be gunning for so him he has no choice but he doesn’t understand why this has to happen now, after all this time.
Jones takes his time in tracking down Sixteen and getting the lie of the land. I enjoyed this part of the story a lot. A successful spy/assassin is more than just a killing machine, they have to be logical, analytical and make connections between disparate sets of data. It reminded me a lot about how Jack Reacher thinks. Jones knows Sixteen is a formidable opponent but even so he is shocked at just how formidable.
The two have a few run-ins, neither getting the upper hand, until they have a frank discussion and realise perhaps they are both being played and the stakes are potentially world changing. Who is gaming who? Who can they trust? Will either of them actually live long enough to find out?
I’m on a real roll here, this was yet another rather different, very entertaining, action packed thriller. I also loved the writing style - short, sharp and blunt. The dialogue is crisp and quite snarky in places which I love. You can’t help liking this bad boy and rooting for him as his motives become slightly more righteous. Action junkies should love this one! Many thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
July 19, 2022
The story of two contract killers who go up against each other. Not my usual sort of read but WOW!!!! High octane action throughout. I felt like an invisible bystander witnessing first hand the mayhem that ensued. Definitely not what I was expecting IT WAS SO MUCH MORE!!!. A rocket powered thriller which definitely left me wanting more but let my heart rate get back to normal first WOW WOW WOW!!!!!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.
July 17, 2022
3.5/5
The book tells the story of Seventeen, the ultimate badass and the best hitman in the world. Why Seventeen? Well, he’s the 17th person in history to receive this distinction. Governments call on his services when diplomacy fails. Every other high-profile hit man has a target put on his back. Realistically, there’s only one person who’s not afraid of him - Sixteen, his predecessor who disappeared some time ago.
When Seventeen is tasked with finding and killing him, the mission goes awry, and the hunter becomes the hunted. But there’s another layer to the story and a nice (though not really surprising) twist waiting for both readers and Seventeen.
Let’s be clear right here and now - Seventeen is a congenial, fast-paced, undemanding thriller in which the thrills come from well-executed nonstop action. Although the story doesn’t attempt to delve deeply into the characters' souls, it makes them sympathetic and fun to read about. Seventeen isn’t very complicated, but if you like James Bond movies and the like, you’ll get a kick out of watching it play out.
Seventeen is tightly plotted and a lot of fun. With its short chapters and edge-of-your-seat action, it’ll make commute or leisure time more exciting and enjoyable.
The book tells the story of Seventeen, the ultimate badass and the best hitman in the world. Why Seventeen? Well, he’s the 17th person in history to receive this distinction. Governments call on his services when diplomacy fails. Every other high-profile hit man has a target put on his back. Realistically, there’s only one person who’s not afraid of him - Sixteen, his predecessor who disappeared some time ago.
When Seventeen is tasked with finding and killing him, the mission goes awry, and the hunter becomes the hunted. But there’s another layer to the story and a nice (though not really surprising) twist waiting for both readers and Seventeen.
Let’s be clear right here and now - Seventeen is a congenial, fast-paced, undemanding thriller in which the thrills come from well-executed nonstop action. Although the story doesn’t attempt to delve deeply into the characters' souls, it makes them sympathetic and fun to read about. Seventeen isn’t very complicated, but if you like James Bond movies and the like, you’ll get a kick out of watching it play out.
Seventeen is tightly plotted and a lot of fun. With its short chapters and edge-of-your-seat action, it’ll make commute or leisure time more exciting and enjoyable.
August 16, 2023
THE RICHARD AND JUDY BOOK SUMMER 2023 CLUB PICK
WINNER OF THE 2023 CWA IAN FLEMING STEEL DAGGER AWARD
HIS DAYS ARE NUMBERED. BUT SO ARE YOURS !!
Call me Seventeen. I have no other name, not any more.
Sixteen killers have done this job before me. Officially, I don't exist, but every government uses me. I'm the most feared hitman in the world.
But nobody gets to do this job for long. Because to be the best, you must beat the best, and there are rivals on my tail.
My days are numbered. But until then, it's one hell of a ride.
A gripping, high paced re-invention of the hitman novel. It's a real action packed rollercoaster, full of authentic emotion and high-octane action. The tension explodes off the pages; John Brownlow is a master of suspense and action thriller.
Ordered Agent Eighteen !!
An explosive 518 pages. Four stars.
WINNER OF THE 2023 CWA IAN FLEMING STEEL DAGGER AWARD
HIS DAYS ARE NUMBERED. BUT SO ARE YOURS !!
Call me Seventeen. I have no other name, not any more.
Sixteen killers have done this job before me. Officially, I don't exist, but every government uses me. I'm the most feared hitman in the world.
But nobody gets to do this job for long. Because to be the best, you must beat the best, and there are rivals on my tail.
My days are numbered. But until then, it's one hell of a ride.
A gripping, high paced re-invention of the hitman novel. It's a real action packed rollercoaster, full of authentic emotion and high-octane action. The tension explodes off the pages; John Brownlow is a master of suspense and action thriller.
Ordered Agent Eighteen !!
An explosive 518 pages. Four stars.
December 25, 2022
This is the story of the present day spy/assassin, #17, in a list of famous operators (like 007). Before the present spy/assassin can operate, his predecessor has to eliminated. Seventeen has been given the assignment to eliminate #16, who disappeared and was never terminated. A more believable OrphanX? The way the book started was a little disconcerting. I thought it was going to be a satire on the whole genre. As I read on it got interesting and found that the book was packed with action and the author has a great ability to tell the story with a great sense of humor and a lot of sarcasm. A truly enjoyable read if you like action books.
August 5, 2024
4,5* Най-после книга със силни персонажи, които са готови на всичко, за да постигнат целта си. Напрежение през цялото време и неочакван финал. Хареса ми!
August 15, 2022
Seventeen may be John Brownlow's debut novel but he's a screenwriter and it shows; this high-octane, addictive thriller is a cinematic treat. Written in the first person, the opening chapter immediately introduces us to the brash, sardonic Seventeen. He directly addresses the reader, informing us that there were sixteen assassins before him and the number is a badge of honour, signifying that the wearer is the most deadly, the most feared and consequently, the best. He names the first as most likely being real-life spy, Zigmund Markovich Rosenblum (Sidney Reilly) who inspired Ian Fleming's James Bond but the others are as anonymous as he is. It's evident right from the start that this is a precarious role – after all, three through fifteen are confirmed dead, while Sixteen mysteriously chose to disappear...
The immediacy of the narration places us right in the heart of the action as he coldly carries out his most recent assignment. It's bold and brutal, yet for all his ruthlessness, there are also moments which indicate he isn't entirely merciless and this morality establishes that he is a far more interesting character. The only name we ever know him by is one of his aliases, Jones but despite this anonymity, there are points in the novel where he looks back at his past. These chapters are particularly revealing and really quite poignant. The explanation as to how somebody might become a hired assassin is fascinating and although there is always a risk that flashback chapters can detract from the pace of a thriller, these insights actually create a richer, more authentic experience.
Of course, a spy thriller demands action and Seventeen certainly doesn't disappoint. There's a brief but pivotal scene in Berlin's Tiergarten which is surely a playful homage to classic Cold War espionage fiction. However, he makes mistakes in Berlin and his shortcomings raise alarm bells with his boss, known only as Handler. What follows is a personal confrontation as he hunts down Sixteen, knowing that more than one person is waiting for a moment of weakness that will allow them to become Eighteen. Without giving anything away. I enjoyed the introduction of other characters and the wry interplay between them. Action thriller fans who want an intense thrill-ride will be more than satisfied but the witty dialogue and emotional scenes mean this isn't mindlessly frantic and instead the storyline is intriguingly suspenseful. Meanwhile, the personal toll of a job that requires a person to become a shadow is examined too and there's a vulnerability to 'Jones' which provides a refreshing counterpoint to his undoubted proficiency and masterful survival skills.
The short, propulsive chapters are a clever mix of explosive action and quieter scenes which demonstrate how he watches his target and prepares for a hit, while the inevitable twists and turns ensures that this exhilarating rollercoaster is dripping with tension throughout. Seventeen is a compelling, hugely entertaining read from start to finish. Move over Bond and Bourne; there's a new spy in town!
The immediacy of the narration places us right in the heart of the action as he coldly carries out his most recent assignment. It's bold and brutal, yet for all his ruthlessness, there are also moments which indicate he isn't entirely merciless and this morality establishes that he is a far more interesting character. The only name we ever know him by is one of his aliases, Jones but despite this anonymity, there are points in the novel where he looks back at his past. These chapters are particularly revealing and really quite poignant. The explanation as to how somebody might become a hired assassin is fascinating and although there is always a risk that flashback chapters can detract from the pace of a thriller, these insights actually create a richer, more authentic experience.
Of course, a spy thriller demands action and Seventeen certainly doesn't disappoint. There's a brief but pivotal scene in Berlin's Tiergarten which is surely a playful homage to classic Cold War espionage fiction. However, he makes mistakes in Berlin and his shortcomings raise alarm bells with his boss, known only as Handler. What follows is a personal confrontation as he hunts down Sixteen, knowing that more than one person is waiting for a moment of weakness that will allow them to become Eighteen. Without giving anything away. I enjoyed the introduction of other characters and the wry interplay between them. Action thriller fans who want an intense thrill-ride will be more than satisfied but the witty dialogue and emotional scenes mean this isn't mindlessly frantic and instead the storyline is intriguingly suspenseful. Meanwhile, the personal toll of a job that requires a person to become a shadow is examined too and there's a vulnerability to 'Jones' which provides a refreshing counterpoint to his undoubted proficiency and masterful survival skills.
The short, propulsive chapters are a clever mix of explosive action and quieter scenes which demonstrate how he watches his target and prepares for a hit, while the inevitable twists and turns ensures that this exhilarating rollercoaster is dripping with tension throughout. Seventeen is a compelling, hugely entertaining read from start to finish. Move over Bond and Bourne; there's a new spy in town!
September 2, 2022
Seventeen is a top tier assassin, not someone you want coming after you.
As I started reading this I was reminded of the Tom Wood ”Victor” series and was worried it would follow the same plot lines. But no, this quickly turns into a game of cat and mouse between two deadly assassins. Plenty of tradecraft and background stuff in here wrapped into a very entertaining plot. It’s clever stuff and there are plenty of satisfying “reveals” and strong side characters.
Clever, page turning thriller.
As I started reading this I was reminded of the Tom Wood ”Victor” series and was worried it would follow the same plot lines. But no, this quickly turns into a game of cat and mouse between two deadly assassins. Plenty of tradecraft and background stuff in here wrapped into a very entertaining plot. It’s clever stuff and there are plenty of satisfying “reveals” and strong side characters.
Clever, page turning thriller.
August 22, 2022
Film rights to ‘Seventeen‘ have already been sold and it’s easy to see why because this is one heck of a ride.
The reader first meets Seventeen, as he is know, during a mission. But it’s pretty much all downhill for him from there. There seem to be things going on that he isn’t being made aware of, things that could lead to disastrous events. Then, in the midst of all of that, suddenly his next mission involves his predecessor. Sixteen disappeared years ago. To be the best, you have to beat the best and so Seventeen needs to eliminate Sixteen, just like Eighteen will one day kill Seventeen. Right now, Seventeen may be the most feared assassin in the world but the job is turning out to be a bigger struggle than he bargained for.
John Brownlow is definitely an author who knows how to get the reader’s attention from the get-go. From the moment Seventeen was introduced to me, I couldn’t help but like him. He has such a delightful sense of humour which immediately won me over. He’s quick-witted, determined, possibly slightly psychopathic. But for someone who isn’t supposed to have any feelings, certain moments seem to be getting to him. Will they be getting in the way of him accomplishing his mission?
Throughout the mission, Seventeen reflects on his life and how he got to be this big, bad assassin. It really helped to get a decent feel for this character, to know where he came from, to see how he came to travel this path few of us would ever consider.
Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. The short and snappy chapters really make this such an addictive read. It’s vivid and utterly believable. ‘Seventeen‘ is tense, fast-paced and action-packed and I can absolutely see how well it will translate to the big screen. Shooting scenes, and blowing stuff up, and chases with whatever available mode of transport … it all keeps you on the edge-of-your-seat. There never seems to be any time to catch your breath. Let’s not forget the wonderful cast of secondary characters, although in this world of espionage you never know who you can trust.
It’s a bit like James Bond without the fancy gadgets, or maybe like Jason Bourne. But I’d like to think that Seventeen can hold his own just fine in the spy environment. That said, I was never really sure I knew where things would end up. It’s such an unpredictable and dangerous lifestyle, and I couldn’t even hazard a guess as to who would survive this crazy cat-and-mouse game.
Admittedly, I don’t know much about the spy genre. I just know what I like and I know I liked this. It was a fun and thrilling ride which I really enjoyed.
The reader first meets Seventeen, as he is know, during a mission. But it’s pretty much all downhill for him from there. There seem to be things going on that he isn’t being made aware of, things that could lead to disastrous events. Then, in the midst of all of that, suddenly his next mission involves his predecessor. Sixteen disappeared years ago. To be the best, you have to beat the best and so Seventeen needs to eliminate Sixteen, just like Eighteen will one day kill Seventeen. Right now, Seventeen may be the most feared assassin in the world but the job is turning out to be a bigger struggle than he bargained for.
John Brownlow is definitely an author who knows how to get the reader’s attention from the get-go. From the moment Seventeen was introduced to me, I couldn’t help but like him. He has such a delightful sense of humour which immediately won me over. He’s quick-witted, determined, possibly slightly psychopathic. But for someone who isn’t supposed to have any feelings, certain moments seem to be getting to him. Will they be getting in the way of him accomplishing his mission?
Throughout the mission, Seventeen reflects on his life and how he got to be this big, bad assassin. It really helped to get a decent feel for this character, to know where he came from, to see how he came to travel this path few of us would ever consider.
Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. The short and snappy chapters really make this such an addictive read. It’s vivid and utterly believable. ‘Seventeen‘ is tense, fast-paced and action-packed and I can absolutely see how well it will translate to the big screen. Shooting scenes, and blowing stuff up, and chases with whatever available mode of transport … it all keeps you on the edge-of-your-seat. There never seems to be any time to catch your breath. Let’s not forget the wonderful cast of secondary characters, although in this world of espionage you never know who you can trust.
It’s a bit like James Bond without the fancy gadgets, or maybe like Jason Bourne. But I’d like to think that Seventeen can hold his own just fine in the spy environment. That said, I was never really sure I knew where things would end up. It’s such an unpredictable and dangerous lifestyle, and I couldn’t even hazard a guess as to who would survive this crazy cat-and-mouse game.
Admittedly, I don’t know much about the spy genre. I just know what I like and I know I liked this. It was a fun and thrilling ride which I really enjoyed.
October 25, 2023
2,5 Sterne 🌟
Anfangs finde ich solche Thriller immer spannend und rasant. Ab der Miite flaut das dann immer ab und ich fange an mich zu langweilen, weil es sich dann so zieht und ganz viel erklärt wird. Hätte mein Mann nicht mitgelesen, wäre das wieder ein Abbruch geworden.
Anfangs finde ich solche Thriller immer spannend und rasant. Ab der Miite flaut das dann immer ab und ich fange an mich zu langweilen, weil es sich dann so zieht und ganz viel erklärt wird. Hätte mein Mann nicht mitgelesen, wäre das wieder ein Abbruch geworden.
March 4, 2025
Really two and a half stars. This spy thriller started off good, but I liked it less the further I read. The story got too preposterous, with way too many lucky breaks and perfect situations that helped the main protagonist. Lots of action and violence that, frankly, got boring for me to read. Fans of movies about assassins might like it better than I did.
March 26, 2023
Die Geister
Seventeen ist der Nachfolger von Sixteen. Um seinen Platz musste er nicht kämpfen, denn Sixteen verschwand einfach. Jetzt hat gibt es einen neuen Auftrag in Berlin. Danach soll Seventeen im Vorbeigehen nur noch eine Kleinigkeit erledigen. Und gerade diese vermeintlich einfache Sache geht irgendwie schief. Der gnadenlose Killer Seventeen kommt ins Grübeln. Ist das immer so richtig, was er tut, selbst wenn es für die gute Sache oder die gute Seite ist? Aber er darf nicht schwach werden. Wer schwach wird mal sich selbst eine Zielscheibe auf die Brust. Noch gibt es einen nächsten Auftrag: Sixteen.
Mit Seventeen startet der Autor eine neue Thriller Reihe. Auftragskiller, die von Vermittlern für Regierungen losgeschickt werden, um Aufgaben zu erledigen, von denen nie jemand zugeben würde, dass es sie überhaupt gibt. Nachdenken und ein Gewissen entwickeln darf man da nicht. Gerade das jedoch scheint Seventeen zu geschehen. Er wird die Bilder nicht mehr los und sein Agent wird misstrauisch und versorgt Seventeen mit dem Auftrag, der unerfüllbar sein dürfte. Er soll Sixteen aufspüren und erledigen. Wäre das nicht doch eine Gelegenheit auszusteigen? In Seventeen kommen Erinnerungen hoch, wer er war, wie er geworden ist, was er ist.
Das klug gestaltete Cover sollte man sich genau ansehen, nachdem die leuchtende Grundfarbe die Aufmerksamkeit geweckt hat. Natürlich muss man es zur Abwechslung mal mögen, sich unter Tötungsmaschinen zu bewegen. Dann hat man hier spannende Lesestunden und eine tolle Ablenkung vom Alltag. Ein Killer mit Gewissen und ein Killer im Ruhestand treten zum großen Duell an. Mit Härte, aber auch mit Humor und Aberwitz schildert der Autor das Geschehen. Da geht es schnell von einem Ende der Welt zum anderen. Und doch gibt es auch nachdenkliche Momente, denn auch ein Auftragskiller wird nicht einfach so geboren. Sie haben eine Geschichte und etliches davon wollen Sixteen und Seventeen hier loswerden. Schön, dass auch ein paar starke Frauen mitmischen, die eine echte Bereicherung bilden. Eine neue Reihe, deren Auftakt sehr gelungen ist und bei der man gespannt sein kann, wie der Autor sie fortsetzen will.
Seventeen ist der Nachfolger von Sixteen. Um seinen Platz musste er nicht kämpfen, denn Sixteen verschwand einfach. Jetzt hat gibt es einen neuen Auftrag in Berlin. Danach soll Seventeen im Vorbeigehen nur noch eine Kleinigkeit erledigen. Und gerade diese vermeintlich einfache Sache geht irgendwie schief. Der gnadenlose Killer Seventeen kommt ins Grübeln. Ist das immer so richtig, was er tut, selbst wenn es für die gute Sache oder die gute Seite ist? Aber er darf nicht schwach werden. Wer schwach wird mal sich selbst eine Zielscheibe auf die Brust. Noch gibt es einen nächsten Auftrag: Sixteen.
Mit Seventeen startet der Autor eine neue Thriller Reihe. Auftragskiller, die von Vermittlern für Regierungen losgeschickt werden, um Aufgaben zu erledigen, von denen nie jemand zugeben würde, dass es sie überhaupt gibt. Nachdenken und ein Gewissen entwickeln darf man da nicht. Gerade das jedoch scheint Seventeen zu geschehen. Er wird die Bilder nicht mehr los und sein Agent wird misstrauisch und versorgt Seventeen mit dem Auftrag, der unerfüllbar sein dürfte. Er soll Sixteen aufspüren und erledigen. Wäre das nicht doch eine Gelegenheit auszusteigen? In Seventeen kommen Erinnerungen hoch, wer er war, wie er geworden ist, was er ist.
Das klug gestaltete Cover sollte man sich genau ansehen, nachdem die leuchtende Grundfarbe die Aufmerksamkeit geweckt hat. Natürlich muss man es zur Abwechslung mal mögen, sich unter Tötungsmaschinen zu bewegen. Dann hat man hier spannende Lesestunden und eine tolle Ablenkung vom Alltag. Ein Killer mit Gewissen und ein Killer im Ruhestand treten zum großen Duell an. Mit Härte, aber auch mit Humor und Aberwitz schildert der Autor das Geschehen. Da geht es schnell von einem Ende der Welt zum anderen. Und doch gibt es auch nachdenkliche Momente, denn auch ein Auftragskiller wird nicht einfach so geboren. Sie haben eine Geschichte und etliches davon wollen Sixteen und Seventeen hier loswerden. Schön, dass auch ein paar starke Frauen mitmischen, die eine echte Bereicherung bilden. Eine neue Reihe, deren Auftakt sehr gelungen ist und bei der man gespannt sein kann, wie der Autor sie fortsetzen will.
November 15, 2022
Seventeen is an assassin, the best in the world. Most of the other top assassins were killed by their successor, but Seventeen inherited the title from the previous master assassin, Sixteen, who suddenly disappeared one day. No-one knows what happened to him. Seventeen is sent on a mission in Berlin to assassinate a group of corrupt business people, & although the job is a success, he is immediately diverted to retrieve a 'package' which is due to be passed between two people in a public place. Seventeen follows the man who retrieves the 'package' & kills him, but the man desperately keeps saying the word "parachute" to him - he has no idea what it could mean but it disturbs him.
After speaking to Handler, the person who facilitates the jobs for him, Seventeen is given his most challenging mission to date. Handler wants him to find Sixteen & eliminate him. Seventeen knows that if he fails, his position at the top will be insecure & open to challenge, so he reluctantly accepts. He manages to track Sixteen down but the mission doesn't go as planned & Seventeen begins to wonder exactly which of them is the target.
This sounded like a fast-paced action-packed read, but the first half was surprisingly mundane. You have your Ethan Hunt/Jason Bourne-type main character & the narrative is from his point of view, including some chapters which fill in some background information. He's not particularly likeable or unlikeable, just a bit bland. Kat, a young woman he meets, is the usual 'woman who hasn't any training but manages to escape being killed by highly trained professionals'. Somewhere around the 48% mark, I was really beginning to regret not DNF-ing this one, but the author actually pulled it round in the second half of the book, & I ended up being glad I hadn't quit.
If you like action thrillers which don't worry too much about characterisation, you'd probably enjoy this. I rated it 3.5 stars (rounded down) as although the second half was much better than the first, it wasn't quite the pacy, punchy read I was expecting.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
After speaking to Handler, the person who facilitates the jobs for him, Seventeen is given his most challenging mission to date. Handler wants him to find Sixteen & eliminate him. Seventeen knows that if he fails, his position at the top will be insecure & open to challenge, so he reluctantly accepts. He manages to track Sixteen down but the mission doesn't go as planned & Seventeen begins to wonder exactly which of them is the target.
This sounded like a fast-paced action-packed read, but the first half was surprisingly mundane. You have your Ethan Hunt/Jason Bourne-type main character & the narrative is from his point of view, including some chapters which fill in some background information. He's not particularly likeable or unlikeable, just a bit bland. Kat, a young woman he meets, is the usual 'woman who hasn't any training but manages to escape being killed by highly trained professionals'. Somewhere around the 48% mark, I was really beginning to regret not DNF-ing this one, but the author actually pulled it round in the second half of the book, & I ended up being glad I hadn't quit.
If you like action thrillers which don't worry too much about characterisation, you'd probably enjoy this. I rated it 3.5 stars (rounded down) as although the second half was much better than the first, it wasn't quite the pacy, punchy read I was expecting.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
December 11, 2023
I bought this book in Dover on our way back from a trip to England with our students and we entered the bookshop there and I really wanted to buy some books and this was one of them. And I'm really glad I did buy this one!
The name is not known, but the number is. Agent 17 is behind the event you know, but you don't know him. 16 were before him, and now there is the most feared assassin, agent 17. But then, he gets the assignment to take out agent 16. The one before him.
I absolutely loved this spy thriller about assassins getting assignments but ultimately they tend to be screwed over themselves. The characters are worked out well and you get to know them more as you read on. The story develops into a true cat and mouse game between assassins making it very fast paced with thrilling turns around each corner. The action just comes alive through the pages and that's something I really appreciate - forming a mental film of the story and with this book it worked really well.
Luckily for me, there is a book 2. Now, I've got to go to a bookstore again!
5/5 ⭐
The name is not known, but the number is. Agent 17 is behind the event you know, but you don't know him. 16 were before him, and now there is the most feared assassin, agent 17. But then, he gets the assignment to take out agent 16. The one before him.
I absolutely loved this spy thriller about assassins getting assignments but ultimately they tend to be screwed over themselves. The characters are worked out well and you get to know them more as you read on. The story develops into a true cat and mouse game between assassins making it very fast paced with thrilling turns around each corner. The action just comes alive through the pages and that's something I really appreciate - forming a mental film of the story and with this book it worked really well.
Luckily for me, there is a book 2. Now, I've got to go to a bookstore again!
5/5 ⭐
May 23, 2024
#Seventeen – John Brownlow
#HodderAndStoughton (2022)
Despite proverbs claiming otherwise, neither money nor the love thereof is the root of all evil, power is. Money may buy power, however, often bearing the appearance of hired muscle: the paid assassins. The ones whose names you may never know, but whose actions will echo across the globe.
They have no names, simply because they relinquish the names together with their previous lives. The names belong to the persons that they once were. Known by numbers only, and reminiscent of the classic “Highlander” motto, there can be only one. Fourteen was eliminated by Fifteen, and Fifteen by Sixteen. Seventeen is now the most feared assassin in the world, receiving his instructions from a person known only as Handler. But, unlike his predecessors, he did not secure his position by killing Sixteen. Sixteen simply disappeared. But now he is back, and only one man will be left standing.
Assassin novels thrive on deception, intelligence, counterintelligence, fast-paced action, violence, and thrill-a-minute high speed chases. This is no exception, but the elected technique to not name the characters adds to the mystery and suspense of this novel.
Seventeen, the first-person narrator, is known only by his chosen alias, Jones. He does reveal his past in flash back chapters, but at his own pace and selectively so. His habit of addressing the reader directly, such as: “You’re probably thinking…” (79) creates a certain intimacy, a sense of inclusion, if you will. His dark sense of humour and irony are subtly exposed in these comments: “There are four stages to a hitman’s career: 1. Who is Jones? 2. Get me Jones! 3. Get me someone like Jones! 4. Who is Jones?” (46); “I take it flat out, soar over the tips, and land among dinosaurs.” (248) and “Lebanon is a country where children’s exam results are celebrated by firing AK-47’s, and a really good result calls for an RPG.” (269)
The pace is relentless, the scenes described with cinematic clarity, and the one life-threatening situation follows the other with clockwork regularity – there is even a chase by a real, very annoyed, bear. Short chapters and time jumps ensure that the tempo does not waver, the shortest chapter (62) consisting of only two words.
Seventeen has the closing word, reminding any reader wishing to argue that the novel is unrealistic to bear in mind that “Behind the scenes you know are the killers you don’t”.
But somewhere Eighteen is waiting, biding his time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #Uitdieperdsebek
#HodderAndStoughton (2022)
Despite proverbs claiming otherwise, neither money nor the love thereof is the root of all evil, power is. Money may buy power, however, often bearing the appearance of hired muscle: the paid assassins. The ones whose names you may never know, but whose actions will echo across the globe.
They have no names, simply because they relinquish the names together with their previous lives. The names belong to the persons that they once were. Known by numbers only, and reminiscent of the classic “Highlander” motto, there can be only one. Fourteen was eliminated by Fifteen, and Fifteen by Sixteen. Seventeen is now the most feared assassin in the world, receiving his instructions from a person known only as Handler. But, unlike his predecessors, he did not secure his position by killing Sixteen. Sixteen simply disappeared. But now he is back, and only one man will be left standing.
Assassin novels thrive on deception, intelligence, counterintelligence, fast-paced action, violence, and thrill-a-minute high speed chases. This is no exception, but the elected technique to not name the characters adds to the mystery and suspense of this novel.
Seventeen, the first-person narrator, is known only by his chosen alias, Jones. He does reveal his past in flash back chapters, but at his own pace and selectively so. His habit of addressing the reader directly, such as: “You’re probably thinking…” (79) creates a certain intimacy, a sense of inclusion, if you will. His dark sense of humour and irony are subtly exposed in these comments: “There are four stages to a hitman’s career: 1. Who is Jones? 2. Get me Jones! 3. Get me someone like Jones! 4. Who is Jones?” (46); “I take it flat out, soar over the tips, and land among dinosaurs.” (248) and “Lebanon is a country where children’s exam results are celebrated by firing AK-47’s, and a really good result calls for an RPG.” (269)
The pace is relentless, the scenes described with cinematic clarity, and the one life-threatening situation follows the other with clockwork regularity – there is even a chase by a real, very annoyed, bear. Short chapters and time jumps ensure that the tempo does not waver, the shortest chapter (62) consisting of only two words.
Seventeen has the closing word, reminding any reader wishing to argue that the novel is unrealistic to bear in mind that “Behind the scenes you know are the killers you don’t”.
But somewhere Eighteen is waiting, biding his time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #Uitdieperdsebek
February 20, 2024
I would be interested to try this author again. He writes in 2-3 page chapters which is very digestible but also seems to quicken the pace of the action. I like my protagonists smart-mouthed, witty and largely devoid of morals. The main character, Seventeen, checks these boxes as he undertakes a number of covert missions that eventually seem to intertwine and come to a head. Very cool ending. Will definitely keep my eye out for a second installment.
June 4, 2023
Ich tue das Einzige, was mir einfällt. Als ich an der Küche vorbeikomme, schnappe ich mir die Kaffeekanne und werfe damit nach der Frau. Praktisch im selben Moment schleudert sie mir das Telefon entgegen. […]
Ich weiß nicht, woher die Frau die Kraft nimmt, aber Wut und Kummer haben ihr einen Arm verliehen, mit dem sie für jede Baseballmannschaft ein Gewinn wäre. Das Gerät fliegt mit wild herumwirbelnden Kabeln auf mich zu wie eine Art überdimensionierter Wurfstern. Und trifft mich mitten auf der Stirn. (Auszug S.28)
Der Mann, der da gerade ziemlich peinlich zu Boden geschickt wird, ist übrigens ein Auftragskiller. Und nicht irgendeiner, sondern der Beste der Branche. Sein Name ist eine Nummer – Seventeen. Er ist der 17. einer illustren Reihe absoluter Profis. Ein Freelancer, der Aufträge von überall her durch seinen Agenten Handler annimmt. Gerade hat er in einer Vorstandsetage eines Unternehmens in Berlin einen Job ausgeführt, als er auf unerwartete Probleme beim Abgang stößt. Doch er wird fliehen können und wenige Stunden später sogar noch einen zweiten Job annehmen. Einen sehr blutigen sogar, weil die Zielperson glaubt, mit dem Schlucken eines Datenträger noch irgendetwas verhindern zu können. Die Art und Weise des zweiten Auftrags machen Seventeen etwas skeptisch, was für eine Art Auftrag das gerade war, aber ihm bleibt nicht viel Zeit zum Nachdenken.
Handler vermittelt ihm seine nächste Aufgabe. Eine verdammt heikle und unangenehme. Vor ihm als No. 17 gab es entsprechend sechzehn andere Auftragskiller an der Spitze. Fünfzehn sind tot, die meisten nicht freiwillig aus dem Leben geschieden. Nur Sixteen lebt noch und ist ein Mysterium. Vor vielen Jahren hat er sich einfach aus dem Staub gemacht, ist spurlos von der Bildfläche verschwunden. Nun erhält Seventeen den Auftrag, ihn aufzuspüren und zu erledigen. Andernfalls könnten andere denken, dass die Zeit für No. Eighteen gekommen sei. Doch Seventeen weiß, dass Sixteen eine verdammt schwierige Aufgabe sein wird.
Als ich an meinem Versteck vorbeikomme, halte ich den Atem an. Fast rechne ich damit, dass er dort wartet und an meiner Stelle schießt.
Als das nicht geschieht, bin ich fast enttäuscht.
Vielleicht ist dieser Kerl trotz allem nur ein Mensch. (Auszug S.123)
Autor John Brownlow hat unter anderem das Drehbuch für die Fernsehserie „Fleming“ über Ian Fleming und die Entstehung von James Bond geschrieben. Für sein Romandebüt „Seventeen“ bewegt er sich in ähnlichen Gefilden. Im Gegensatz zu 007 ist Seventeen auf der dunklen Seite der Branche. Was allerdings nicht heißt, dass die meisten seiner Aufträge nicht von irgendeiner Regierung kommen, die sich aber nicht exponieren will. Seventeen ist ein absoluter Profi, seine Aufträge erledigt er kühl und zuverlässig, hinterfragt sie auch nicht groß, versucht allerdings, Kollateralschäden zu vermeiden. Seine Tarnung ist größstmögliche Auffälligkeit. Er hat es an der Spitze geschafft, aber seine Nachfolger sind stets auf der Lauer, Unachtsamkeit wird in der Branche grausam bestraft.
Das äußerst Unterhaltsame an diesem Roman ist die gewählte Perspektive und Erzählweise. Brownlow lässt Seventeen als Ich-Erzähler durch den Plot führen, der den Leser auch direkt anspricht und Einblicke ins Business und seinen Gemütszustand gibt. Das ist streckenweise zynisch, großspurig, aber auch ironisch und komisch. Rasante Action und brutale Szenen werden durch Slapstick und Komik gebrochen. Nach einer kurzen Einführung gibt Brownlow mit der Story direkt Vollgas und bleibt fast ununterbrochen auf dem Gaspedal.
„Seventeen“ ist nicht der ganz hintergrundfreie Actionroman. Es geht natürlich um Täuschung und Verrat und die ganzen Manöver haben irgendwie mit einem drohenden Krieg und dem noch fehlenden Anlass (man erinnere sich an Massenvernichtungswaffen) zwischen den USA und dem Iran zu tun. Doch das Politthrillerelement wird nicht überstrapaziert. Im Allgemeinen ist „Seventeen“ einfach ein famoser, äußerst unterhaltsamer Thriller, der einfach nur Spaß macht und unkonventionell über weite Strecken ein Feuerwerk abbrennt (das Ende hätte hingegen vielleicht noch unkonventioneller ablaufen können).
Ich weiß nicht, woher die Frau die Kraft nimmt, aber Wut und Kummer haben ihr einen Arm verliehen, mit dem sie für jede Baseballmannschaft ein Gewinn wäre. Das Gerät fliegt mit wild herumwirbelnden Kabeln auf mich zu wie eine Art überdimensionierter Wurfstern. Und trifft mich mitten auf der Stirn. (Auszug S.28)
Der Mann, der da gerade ziemlich peinlich zu Boden geschickt wird, ist übrigens ein Auftragskiller. Und nicht irgendeiner, sondern der Beste der Branche. Sein Name ist eine Nummer – Seventeen. Er ist der 17. einer illustren Reihe absoluter Profis. Ein Freelancer, der Aufträge von überall her durch seinen Agenten Handler annimmt. Gerade hat er in einer Vorstandsetage eines Unternehmens in Berlin einen Job ausgeführt, als er auf unerwartete Probleme beim Abgang stößt. Doch er wird fliehen können und wenige Stunden später sogar noch einen zweiten Job annehmen. Einen sehr blutigen sogar, weil die Zielperson glaubt, mit dem Schlucken eines Datenträger noch irgendetwas verhindern zu können. Die Art und Weise des zweiten Auftrags machen Seventeen etwas skeptisch, was für eine Art Auftrag das gerade war, aber ihm bleibt nicht viel Zeit zum Nachdenken.
Handler vermittelt ihm seine nächste Aufgabe. Eine verdammt heikle und unangenehme. Vor ihm als No. 17 gab es entsprechend sechzehn andere Auftragskiller an der Spitze. Fünfzehn sind tot, die meisten nicht freiwillig aus dem Leben geschieden. Nur Sixteen lebt noch und ist ein Mysterium. Vor vielen Jahren hat er sich einfach aus dem Staub gemacht, ist spurlos von der Bildfläche verschwunden. Nun erhält Seventeen den Auftrag, ihn aufzuspüren und zu erledigen. Andernfalls könnten andere denken, dass die Zeit für No. Eighteen gekommen sei. Doch Seventeen weiß, dass Sixteen eine verdammt schwierige Aufgabe sein wird.
Als ich an meinem Versteck vorbeikomme, halte ich den Atem an. Fast rechne ich damit, dass er dort wartet und an meiner Stelle schießt.
Als das nicht geschieht, bin ich fast enttäuscht.
Vielleicht ist dieser Kerl trotz allem nur ein Mensch. (Auszug S.123)
Autor John Brownlow hat unter anderem das Drehbuch für die Fernsehserie „Fleming“ über Ian Fleming und die Entstehung von James Bond geschrieben. Für sein Romandebüt „Seventeen“ bewegt er sich in ähnlichen Gefilden. Im Gegensatz zu 007 ist Seventeen auf der dunklen Seite der Branche. Was allerdings nicht heißt, dass die meisten seiner Aufträge nicht von irgendeiner Regierung kommen, die sich aber nicht exponieren will. Seventeen ist ein absoluter Profi, seine Aufträge erledigt er kühl und zuverlässig, hinterfragt sie auch nicht groß, versucht allerdings, Kollateralschäden zu vermeiden. Seine Tarnung ist größstmögliche Auffälligkeit. Er hat es an der Spitze geschafft, aber seine Nachfolger sind stets auf der Lauer, Unachtsamkeit wird in der Branche grausam bestraft.
Das äußerst Unterhaltsame an diesem Roman ist die gewählte Perspektive und Erzählweise. Brownlow lässt Seventeen als Ich-Erzähler durch den Plot führen, der den Leser auch direkt anspricht und Einblicke ins Business und seinen Gemütszustand gibt. Das ist streckenweise zynisch, großspurig, aber auch ironisch und komisch. Rasante Action und brutale Szenen werden durch Slapstick und Komik gebrochen. Nach einer kurzen Einführung gibt Brownlow mit der Story direkt Vollgas und bleibt fast ununterbrochen auf dem Gaspedal.
„Seventeen“ ist nicht der ganz hintergrundfreie Actionroman. Es geht natürlich um Täuschung und Verrat und die ganzen Manöver haben irgendwie mit einem drohenden Krieg und dem noch fehlenden Anlass (man erinnere sich an Massenvernichtungswaffen) zwischen den USA und dem Iran zu tun. Doch das Politthrillerelement wird nicht überstrapaziert. Im Allgemeinen ist „Seventeen“ einfach ein famoser, äußerst unterhaltsamer Thriller, der einfach nur Spaß macht und unkonventionell über weite Strecken ein Feuerwerk abbrennt (das Ende hätte hingegen vielleicht noch unkonventioneller ablaufen können).
November 20, 2022
Op vele platforms zie je dat dit boek de vergelijking krijgt met James Bond. En dat is het ook wel, alleen vond ik dit verhaal nog beter. De schrijfstijl lag mij enorm waardoor ik dus best heel enthousiast te noemen ben. Wat een heerlijk boek met zulke sterke, leuke personages en een heel knap verhaal.
Vanaf de eerste pagina’s zat ik gelijk in dit verhaal. Zoals elk goed verhaal, is er een aanloop en verwacht dus niet meteen omver geblazen te worden door de ene actie na de andere. En toch, ik zag het allemaal voor mij, zelfs de personages die nog volop hun karakter en verleden moesten blootgeven, kregen toch al een gezicht. Alsof ik een boek lang een super goeie serie gebinged heb.
Je merkt dat de auteur weet hoe hij een scenario moet schrijven want dit boek voelde aan als een film/serie. Het is, eenmaal van start, heel beeldend en het tempo ligt mede door de korte hoofdstukken, hoog. Net zoals in films heb je misschien de neiging om even je wenkbrauwen te fronsen bij al die actie, maar de auteur komt er, dankzij zijn schrijfstijl, meer dan mee weg.
Dit is een boek dat ik ook meteen cadeau zou doen aan bv mijn vader. Een lees die je meesleurt in boeiende actie. Ik ben fan.
Vanaf de eerste pagina’s zat ik gelijk in dit verhaal. Zoals elk goed verhaal, is er een aanloop en verwacht dus niet meteen omver geblazen te worden door de ene actie na de andere. En toch, ik zag het allemaal voor mij, zelfs de personages die nog volop hun karakter en verleden moesten blootgeven, kregen toch al een gezicht. Alsof ik een boek lang een super goeie serie gebinged heb.
Je merkt dat de auteur weet hoe hij een scenario moet schrijven want dit boek voelde aan als een film/serie. Het is, eenmaal van start, heel beeldend en het tempo ligt mede door de korte hoofdstukken, hoog. Net zoals in films heb je misschien de neiging om even je wenkbrauwen te fronsen bij al die actie, maar de auteur komt er, dankzij zijn schrijfstijl, meer dan mee weg.
Dit is een boek dat ik ook meteen cadeau zou doen aan bv mijn vader. Een lees die je meesleurt in boeiende actie. Ik ben fan.
July 27, 2022
Seventeen is a fast paced action thriller in the Bourne Identity style. Our main character is a spy/hitman type who is commissioned by unspecified governments to undertake contract assassination work. He claims to have no name any more; he is known just by his number: Seventeen.
The novel is narrated in the first person, pretty much in the form of a confession to camera - so various usages of the second person to represent direct speech to the reader; plenty of exposition and explanation, and also reflection on the events that are unfolding, reassuring the reader that Seventeen will come through it all unscathed to be able to do the telling. Maybe this is meant to create immediacy, but it actually feels a bit like Masterchef.
Seventeen is supposed to be the best in the industry - having taken over from Sixteen after the latter upped and disappeared. Seventeen is one of these perfect spies who can predict everyone's precise moves, can trace anyone through conveniently inserted unique details, whose gun never jams and whose memory is infallible. And you kinda go along with it because the premise seems interesting for a while.
After about a third of the novel, it becomes quite clear how it is all likely to pan out - and that requires the key characters to behave quite inconsistently with what they have said and done up to that point; and to know things they could not possibly know. The absence of fixed names becomes a narrative problem as characters have to address one another using pseudonyms they could not have known. It becomes progressively less interesting and descends into silliness. By the end, I really couldn't suspend disbelief and the final scenes - full of explosions and gunfire - just seemed to be included as a contractual requirement. Every action movie needs a fiery crescendo.
Seventeen is a quick, easy read. It is mostly entertaining. But it is also fundamentally flawed and something of a cliche.
The novel is narrated in the first person, pretty much in the form of a confession to camera - so various usages of the second person to represent direct speech to the reader; plenty of exposition and explanation, and also reflection on the events that are unfolding, reassuring the reader that Seventeen will come through it all unscathed to be able to do the telling. Maybe this is meant to create immediacy, but it actually feels a bit like Masterchef.
Seventeen is supposed to be the best in the industry - having taken over from Sixteen after the latter upped and disappeared. Seventeen is one of these perfect spies who can predict everyone's precise moves, can trace anyone through conveniently inserted unique details, whose gun never jams and whose memory is infallible. And you kinda go along with it because the premise seems interesting for a while.
After about a third of the novel, it becomes quite clear how it is all likely to pan out - and that requires the key characters to behave quite inconsistently with what they have said and done up to that point; and to know things they could not possibly know. The absence of fixed names becomes a narrative problem as characters have to address one another using pseudonyms they could not have known. It becomes progressively less interesting and descends into silliness. By the end, I really couldn't suspend disbelief and the final scenes - full of explosions and gunfire - just seemed to be included as a contractual requirement. Every action movie needs a fiery crescendo.
Seventeen is a quick, easy read. It is mostly entertaining. But it is also fundamentally flawed and something of a cliche.
July 31, 2022
I was lucky enough to win a copy of this from Hachette Australia and I am so glad I did, otherwise I may have missed this one! Spy thrillers/espionage isn’t really a genre that pops up in my bookstagram algorithm or talked about in my circles much, but I feel like I’m missing out after reading this.
This book is, in a single word, entertaining. Entertainment is exactly what I want out of a fiction read. I don’t read to dissect and critique a novel on a granular basis (Advanced and Extension English in high school was more than enough of that nonsense, thank you). I read because I want to enjoy getting lost in a story. Big tick for this book!
The short chapters were perfect for keeping the pace and the action going. I would find myself reading in bed and doing the whole ‘just one more chapter’ thing about 6 times before I realise how much I am going to hate myself in the morning from staying up too late.
The plot is just crazy enough to make you wonder how real some of these roles and events are. Are all the characters and individual events believable? Not really. Is the overall plot just crazy enough to make you question how real it is? You bet it is!
Seventeen is out now if you want to check it out for yourself. It’s one of my favourites of the year so far.
This book is, in a single word, entertaining. Entertainment is exactly what I want out of a fiction read. I don’t read to dissect and critique a novel on a granular basis (Advanced and Extension English in high school was more than enough of that nonsense, thank you). I read because I want to enjoy getting lost in a story. Big tick for this book!
The short chapters were perfect for keeping the pace and the action going. I would find myself reading in bed and doing the whole ‘just one more chapter’ thing about 6 times before I realise how much I am going to hate myself in the morning from staying up too late.
The plot is just crazy enough to make you wonder how real some of these roles and events are. Are all the characters and individual events believable? Not really. Is the overall plot just crazy enough to make you question how real it is? You bet it is!
Seventeen is out now if you want to check it out for yourself. It’s one of my favourites of the year so far.
May 7, 2023
I know that the main character is meant to be obnoxious and egotistical BUT I found it very hard to read. I consistently found myself rolling my eyes during scenes of his dialogue, which to note I’ve never had that experience with another book.
I bought this book at an airport right before my plane took off, so I can’t be too mad with the fact that I didn’t love it. The plot is interesting which is why I’m rating it higher than a one, but I feel like the main characters ego could be turned down a few notches.
I bought this book at an airport right before my plane took off, so I can’t be too mad with the fact that I didn’t love it. The plot is interesting which is why I’m rating it higher than a one, but I feel like the main characters ego could be turned down a few notches.
January 16, 2023
Fast, engaging, from-the-hip prose filed with internal dialogue that is initially engaging, but eventually wears on the reader.
The point of view ricochets like an out-of-control racquetball. That gets tiring. That, along with major plot discontinuities and the hero's dumb fumbles and overall improbabities made me put this down without finishing.
The point of view ricochets like an out-of-control racquetball. That gets tiring. That, along with major plot discontinuities and the hero's dumb fumbles and overall improbabities made me put this down without finishing.
March 23, 2023
DNF 42%
May 20, 2025
“Being a spy, it’s not what you think.”
I was sent a copy of this book by HarperCollins Canada in exchange for an honest review.
I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
Content Warnings: Death, violence, mention of the death of a parent, and sexual assault
I'm a big fan of spy thrillers, so I was interested in seeing what this book had in store. I liked the sarcasm and bluntness of Jones, the main character. However, I would have liked for the side characters to have had more growth. In the beginning, you're immediately thrown into the action with Jones on a mission. From there, the action and violence continue, which at times felt a bit boring due to how constant it was, not allowing the reader time to recover between scenes. In terms of writing, I appreciated the short chapters, which added to the fast-paced vibe of the story. I also enjoyed learning more about the world of undercover assassins and how Jones came to join it. It had a variety of rules and subdivisions that were intriguing to read about.
I was sent a copy of this book by HarperCollins Canada in exchange for an honest review.
I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
Content Warnings: Death, violence, mention of the death of a parent, and sexual assault
I'm a big fan of spy thrillers, so I was interested in seeing what this book had in store. I liked the sarcasm and bluntness of Jones, the main character. However, I would have liked for the side characters to have had more growth. In the beginning, you're immediately thrown into the action with Jones on a mission. From there, the action and violence continue, which at times felt a bit boring due to how constant it was, not allowing the reader time to recover between scenes. In terms of writing, I appreciated the short chapters, which added to the fast-paced vibe of the story. I also enjoyed learning more about the world of undercover assassins and how Jones came to join it. It had a variety of rules and subdivisions that were intriguing to read about.
November 2, 2022
I have a love/hate for assassin characters and their books, mainly because the main characters are often cocky, arrogant, annoying, always get the ladies blech blech blech. But also the stupid "I zoomed into the screen in the background of the video. Enhanced to 100. Reversed it. Uploaded to Google. Enhanced. And now I know the exact location of this person." No lie, that was an entire chapter that could have entirely been omitted.
Wait, what did I enjoy of the book? jokes.
The politics, when first introduced, I reeeally liked what it could've brought to the plot. But I feel like once it was revealed that's all there was. It didn't get any deeper which kind of meant the last third of the book was meh for me.
Wait, what did I enjoy of the book? jokes.
The politics, when first introduced, I reeeally liked what it could've brought to the plot. But I feel like once it was revealed that's all there was. It didn't get any deeper which kind of meant the last third of the book was meh for me.
October 5, 2025
I've read dozens of spy novels over the years. I haven't read any that were better than "Seventeen". John Brownlow knocked it of the park.
"Seventeen" is a "two elite assassins trying to kill each other" novel. Several qualities set it apart from all the others:
- The writing is as good as it gets.
- The short chapters cause the story to speed along.
- The characters are nuanced and interesting.
- There are twists galore.
- At least half of the 158 chapters are cliffhangers.
- The ending is very satisfying.
The book is 444 pages. Usually, I am complaining about books of this length needing to be 100 pages shorter. But this one is so good I didn't mind the length. There are very few wasted words.
John Brownlow accomplishes what Max Allan Collins so deftly accomplishes in his Quarry novels: he somehow finds a way to make a soulless, amoral hit man at least likable enough that you root for him.
I was halfway through the book when I ordered the sequel on eBay. I knew even then I would want to find out what happens in book two. I give this one my highest recommendation.
"Seventeen" is a "two elite assassins trying to kill each other" novel. Several qualities set it apart from all the others:
- The writing is as good as it gets.
- The short chapters cause the story to speed along.
- The characters are nuanced and interesting.
- There are twists galore.
- At least half of the 158 chapters are cliffhangers.
- The ending is very satisfying.
The book is 444 pages. Usually, I am complaining about books of this length needing to be 100 pages shorter. But this one is so good I didn't mind the length. There are very few wasted words.
John Brownlow accomplishes what Max Allan Collins so deftly accomplishes in his Quarry novels: he somehow finds a way to make a soulless, amoral hit man at least likable enough that you root for him.
I was halfway through the book when I ordered the sequel on eBay. I knew even then I would want to find out what happens in book two. I give this one my highest recommendation.
January 4, 2023
Sit down, grip the armrest…chapter 1 done and you know you’re in for a long hard ride.
Book2 slows the pace, almost too slow, until…
The count down / flashback to growing up was well done.
The overuse of … and then it hit me … is to be expected in a book like this.
It’s as good as you get for this genre, just not my wheelhouse.
3 stars
“I can see why you chose to become someone else.”
“Just fucking get it done.” That’s one thing a leader or boss or manager could say to really really piss me off.
Book2 slows the pace, almost too slow, until…
The count down / flashback to growing up was well done.
The overuse of … and then it hit me … is to be expected in a book like this.
It’s as good as you get for this genre, just not my wheelhouse.
3 stars
“I can see why you chose to become someone else.”
“Just fucking get it done.” That’s one thing a leader or boss or manager could say to really really piss me off.
January 11, 2023
I give this book a 3.5. The story line it’s self is very interesting and reminds me a lot of a James Bond movie. The main characters dry humor reminds me of a character that Ryan Reynolds would play. It’s fast pace and has short chapters which makes it a quick read. The main reason this book didn’t get a higher score is because I think some parts mainly in the middle of the book drag on. Other then that though it has a great plot with fun characters and lots of action! Would definitely recommend if you like fast pace books with some mystery!
April 30, 2023
Eigentlich bin ich kein so großer Fan von Agenten-Thrillern, aber dieser hier hat mir wirklich gefallen. Ich mochte den Ton, der teils etwas sarkastisch war, aber auch die tiefgründigeren Passagen. Das Tempo ist sehr wechselhaft, mal gibt es Momente, in denen sich die Action fast überschlägt, mal hängen wir den Gedanken und Planungen von 17 hinterher. Dennoch blieb die Story durchgehend super spannend mit einigen Twists. Insgesamt war positiv überrascht!
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