S.L. Pierce

3.5/5
A bit over dramatic for a synopsis, don't you think? Anyway, it looks like the last few books I've read had hired killers in them... I know, I can't help my secret fascination with Mr.&Mrs.Smith, plus I'm a die hard fan of Angelina Jolie.

This book was a very good thriller, nothing paranormal, no plot bunnies, I even got a few helpful tips out of it (like how to bypass a password on someone's computer).

Gwen Michaels is an interesting character, an assassin who retired from her career of torture and killings for the government. She leads a quiet life in California with a nice house, good job and a lovely husband, Jack. Until a hired gun tries to shoot her in her own kitchen.

After getting rid of his body, Gwen grabs her husband and goes into hiding trying to investigate who contracted the killer for the hit.

I did like how cold and methodical Gwen was, I liked how she didn't make a huge drama out of her past while she was telling her husband about it. She was very good at what she did and she liked it. Too much. This is why she retired.

Jack is a bit one-dimensional but still he deals with Gwen's secrets well and tries to aid his wife in her investigation. He actually reminded me of a teenage boy, excited to do his first prank.

I didn't like the cop nosing around Gwen. He just didn't have enough storyline to develop, so he felt totally irrelevant to the plot.

Otherwise, great pace, solid writing and a very enjoyable read!… (mehr)

The Hate:
This story was gritty, edgy, and graphic. But what a story! What would you do if you lost everything and had nothing else to lose?

Lisa Mills is still grieving the loss of her husband six months prior when her daughter is sexually assaulted and murdered by a pedophile, Ray Smutres.

As often happens, the court system failed the victim, and the murderer walks out of the court scott free. Lisa is distraught and snaps inside courtroom and tries to kill ray by impaling a pen in his throat. Her novice attempt is easily thwarted and Ray is rushed from the courtroom by his attorney while Lisa is being physically restrained by a bailiff.

When she arrives home, she has to sit through the perfunctory condolences offered by her neighbors and the police officers who failed her. It is at that moment when Lisa decides that she will be the harbinger and bringer of vengeance.

She embarks on a journey of macabre retribution.

The Hate was a dark and dismal tale about what could happen when a person is fed up with a criminal justice system allows repeat criminals to escape justice.

This was a novella length book but most definitely a powerful story of desperation and vigilante justice.… (mehr)

Book Description:
A former government assassin...

Two men who weren't supposed to be seen together...

A cop who won't let go...

High tech industrial espionage....

Deception...

Betrayal...

Secrets is a fast paced thriller that will keep you guessing to the very end.

Gwen Michaels moved to California two years ago to start fresh, hoping her past could stay secret forever. But when a hired killer shows up, she assumes her cover is blown. When it turns out the man knows nothing of her past, the search is on for who wants her dead, and why.

My Thoughts:
Gwen Michaels is an ex assassin for the U.S. Government living a “normal” life in middle class American with her husband until someone breaks into her home and tries to kill her.

The foiled attempt on her life thrusts her into a world filled with secrets ... secrets capable of rivaling her own.

Everyone in this story has secrets. You almost feel a bit schizophrenic reading this story because it seems disorganized at times because of the way it diverges to reflect the secrets and motives of the secondary characters. The seconary characters are skillfully integrated into the story and you're just not sure who is responsible for the botched hit on her.

Gwen follows the clues as if she were playing a real life version of the board game Clue. Is it Colonel Mustard in the library with the led pipe or Ms. Scarlet in the lounge with the smoking revolver?

Of course...not literally Colenel Mustard and Ms. Scarlet...but you get the picture.

You discover "who done it" at the very end but even then “reveal” was not as simple as finding the murder weapon in Clue because it was intertwined with the secrets and motives of others.

Definitely a very fast paced thriller with enough suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat. Brilliant job, Ms. Pierce.… (mehr)