Seventeen: Last Man Standing - John Brownlow

Thriller

Rating: 8.5/10

Being a spy isn’t what you think. It’s boring.  Not boring as in dull, but mind-crushingly, ass- clenchingly, teeth-grindingly tedious.

At least that’s what our unnamed narrator, rogue operative and world’s most feared assassin would have you believe.  It’s more like John Wick meets Deadpool on the page!

We open with our guy carrying out a mysterious mission that showcases his particular skillset in spectacular fashion.  When he meets up with his handler to debrief, his handler has another job ready and waiting. He chooses to move forward although his gut is telling him something is off.  Less than twenty-four hours later, with two attempts on his life narrowly escaped, off turns out to be an understatement.

Now having irritated everyone in the spy world, his handler offers him an ultimatum, kill the one who had your job before, and all will be forgiven. As he sets out to get it done, who’s the cat and who’s the mouse in this mission flip flops in dizzying fashion.

Action is hard to write, but this authors staccato writing style masterfully executes every scene. Layer in witty and smart characters, epic rivalries and unlikely friendships, this book was an absolute blast!  Reading can indeed be fun. More please!

My thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and the author for the advance readers copy.

Book Pairing(s): Safecracker by Ryan Wick, I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes, The Short Drop by Matthew Fitzsimmons