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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Third and final book in the Nadia Stafford thriller series about a female hitwoman.
My Take
No, no, no, no, no, nooooooo. I don't want this to be the end!! I love this series!! Besides, what about the Contrapasso??? Now that Armstrong has let this particular cat out of the bag, she can't leave it there… Okay, so I'm whining. I like this series! How often do you get a story, let alone a series, about a contract killer who's a woman?
Wild Justice is a story you simply can't stop and put down. It's like the rest of this series, and not at all what you would expect from Armstrong, although it does bear the hallmark of her excellent writing abilities. Then there are those twists she introduces. God knows I was clueless, refusing to believe for pages until Armstrong led me along her path of clues!
It's kinda too bad that Nadia has a moral streak, as the trigger event hits really hard and simply gets worse when Jack shows up with an unexpected "gift". It'll be a rough trip down memory lane, but worth it for the truth that emerges. It's that initial truth, about a serial bad guy who could'a, should'a, been taken down at the start that hurts the most.
It's amazing how very careful Jack is with Nadia—and it makes me want to go back to the beginning with Exit Strategy, 1, and re-explore how we first learn about Jack mentoring Nadia. Was Jack's telegraph-style of speech there, and I simply missed it? Was the basis for the camaraderie between Nadia and Jack laid there as well? I know I wouldn't mind a re-read.
It's a slow dance Armstrong has us waltzing through with its close steps and suggestive moves, its careful building to its unexpectedly expected result. And still Armstrong continues to twist and turn, using Quinn and his regrets, Nadia reacting in the guy role, and Jack the timid one. Armstrong had me wallowing in indecision, but eventually Nadia's choice, her explanations, rang true, and I had to admire her reasoning. Dang, Armstrong's good!
Wow, we get Jack's background, and it's much rougher than I had expected. Makes me feel bad for the guy.
Okay, hitman humor. The superior, first-rate versus the third-rate, and it's just sad. There's something to be said for reading, and these two should have read their Nadia Stafford books *shakes her head with very little regret*. Although, Jack, Nadia, and Quinn had their own snafus…!
That scene after the fancy dinner...smokin'! Even if there was some nasty fall-out. If you're interested in relationship alternatives, a different way of approaching one, do read Wild Justice.
Oh, it's a little scary how clueless Nadia is, and yet, why would she think anything else?
It's a good ending. One that leaves an opening for more, although I'm not sure that's not just me being hopeful…
The Story
A hit goes bad, and Nadia zones out, the bad result triggering her memories of the murder of her young cousin two decades ago.
Memories that seem so appropriate when Jack hands his "gift" to her. It should be so easy…
The Characters
Nadia Stafford, a.k.a., Dee, is an ex-cop who runs a wilderness lodge northeast of Toronto when she's not under contract. Emma and Owen Walden are the cook and all-round handyman who handle things when she's gone. Scout is the dog Jack gave her last spring. Neil is a cousin who was a newbie on the force those 20 years ago along with fellow cops, Myron Young and cousin Pete. Dr. Foster was the good-intentioned family physician.
Jack, in truth John Daly, is Nadia's mentor; Evelyn is Jack's mentor and middleman. Felix is a hitman friend who's into the toys. Quinn, a.k.a., the Boy Scout, is a Virginia-based U.S. marshal who moonlights as a vigilante hitman. He's also Dee's ex-boyfriend these days.
Amy is Nadia's twenty-year-dead, naive cousin; Uncle Eddie was Amy's father and a cop. Drew Aldrich is the man who killed her, and his premium defense team included Lawrence Webb and Sebastian Koss, who is now a big-time victim's advocate. Shannon Broadhurst was a victim, one who realizes, now, the truth of the situation.
Paul Tomassini, nephew to a New York mafia don, is Dee's exclusive middleman. Roland, another middleman, runs third-rate hitmen, like Mark Lewiston. Duncan is another middleman, very professional, and a good friend of Evelyn's.
Alan Wilde is a hit. Rose Wilde is his timid wife while Hannah is their three-year-old. David Miller, a.k.a., James Emery, is a fake cop in Newport who's living in Cleveland.
The Contrapasso Fellowship is an urban legend among cops and hitmen, a "club composed of former judges, lawyers, and law-enforcement officers who hire assassins to right judicial wrongs." Henry Bryant is hiding in the Contrapasso. Diaz is another member.
The Cover
The cover has a soft black background with a partial view of Nadia in a too-big khaki trenchcoat, holding a really big gun. A very determined-looking lady.
The title is a combination of what occurs within the boards and is definitely a Wild Justice.
My Take
No, no, no, no, no, nooooooo. I don't want this to be the end!! I love this series!! Besides, what about the Contrapasso??? Now that Armstrong has let this particular cat out of the bag, she can't leave it there… Okay, so I'm whining. I like this series! How often do you get a story, let alone a series, about a contract killer who's a woman?
Wild Justice is a story you simply can't stop and put down. It's like the rest of this series, and not at all what you would expect from Armstrong, although it does bear the hallmark of her excellent writing abilities. Then there are those twists she introduces. God knows I was clueless, refusing to believe for pages until Armstrong led me along her path of clues!
It's kinda too bad that Nadia has a moral streak, as the trigger event hits really hard and simply gets worse when Jack shows up with an unexpected "gift". It'll be a rough trip down memory lane, but worth it for the truth that emerges. It's that initial truth, about a serial bad guy who could'a, should'a, been taken down at the start that hurts the most.
It's amazing how very careful Jack is with Nadia—and it makes me want to go back to the beginning with Exit Strategy, 1, and re-explore how we first learn about Jack mentoring Nadia. Was Jack's telegraph-style of speech there, and I simply missed it? Was the basis for the camaraderie between Nadia and Jack laid there as well? I know I wouldn't mind a re-read.
It's a slow dance Armstrong has us waltzing through with its close steps and suggestive moves, its careful building to its unexpectedly expected result. And still Armstrong continues to twist and turn, using Quinn and his regrets, Nadia reacting in the guy role, and Jack the timid one. Armstrong had me wallowing in indecision, but eventually Nadia's choice, her explanations, rang true, and I had to admire her reasoning. Dang, Armstrong's good!
Wow, we get Jack's background, and it's much rougher than I had expected. Makes me feel bad for the guy.
Okay, hitman humor. The superior, first-rate versus the third-rate, and it's just sad. There's something to be said for reading, and these two should have read their Nadia Stafford books *shakes her head with very little regret*. Although, Jack, Nadia, and Quinn had their own snafus…!
That scene after the fancy dinner...smokin'! Even if there was some nasty fall-out. If you're interested in relationship alternatives, a different way of approaching one, do read Wild Justice.
Oh, it's a little scary how clueless Nadia is, and yet, why would she think anything else?
It's a good ending. One that leaves an opening for more, although I'm not sure that's not just me being hopeful…
The Story
A hit goes bad, and Nadia zones out, the bad result triggering her memories of the murder of her young cousin two decades ago.
Memories that seem so appropriate when Jack hands his "gift" to her. It should be so easy…
The Characters
Nadia Stafford, a.k.a., Dee, is an ex-cop who runs a wilderness lodge northeast of Toronto when she's not under contract. Emma and Owen Walden are the cook and all-round handyman who handle things when she's gone. Scout is the dog Jack gave her last spring. Neil is a cousin who was a newbie on the force those 20 years ago along with fellow cops, Myron Young and cousin Pete. Dr. Foster was the good-intentioned family physician.
Jack, in truth John Daly, is Nadia's mentor; Evelyn is Jack's mentor and middleman. Felix is a hitman friend who's into the toys. Quinn, a.k.a., the Boy Scout, is a Virginia-based U.S. marshal who moonlights as a vigilante hitman. He's also Dee's ex-boyfriend these days.
Amy is Nadia's twenty-year-dead, naive cousin; Uncle Eddie was Amy's father and a cop. Drew Aldrich is the man who killed her, and his premium defense team included Lawrence Webb and Sebastian Koss, who is now a big-time victim's advocate. Shannon Broadhurst was a victim, one who realizes, now, the truth of the situation.
Paul Tomassini, nephew to a New York mafia don, is Dee's exclusive middleman. Roland, another middleman, runs third-rate hitmen, like Mark Lewiston. Duncan is another middleman, very professional, and a good friend of Evelyn's.
Alan Wilde is a hit. Rose Wilde is his timid wife while Hannah is their three-year-old. David Miller, a.k.a., James Emery, is a fake cop in Newport who's living in Cleveland.
The Contrapasso Fellowship is an urban legend among cops and hitmen, a "club composed of former judges, lawyers, and law-enforcement officers who hire assassins to right judicial wrongs." Henry Bryant is hiding in the Contrapasso. Diaz is another member.
The Cover
The cover has a soft black background with a partial view of Nadia in a too-big khaki trenchcoat, holding a really big gun. A very determined-looking lady.
The title is a combination of what occurs within the boards and is definitely a Wild Justice.
Okay... I really loved this one and stayed up extra-late to finish it. It wraps up the trilogy nicely and, though I like the characters, I'm satisfied leaving them here. Also, lots of thematic similarities between this and _Bitten_ (the first book in another of Armstrong's series) -- childhood sexual assault, love triangles with hidden relationships, and a deep love of the outdoors (to name a few). Highly recommended to fans of the _Women of the Otherworld_ series and folks who loved the TV show "Alias", though be sure to read the first two books in the trilogy first. :)
Jack brings Nadia an offering, a file on the man who raped and killed her cousin and got away with it. If she wants, she can kill him, or Jack will do the honour. But stirring up the past brings Nadia face to face with some harsh truths and someone is out to get her.
It’s been such a long time since the last Nadia Stafford book, I had given up hope of getting more but I am so glad Kelley Armstrong decided to finish off her story. I always enjoyed the tenuous relationship between Nadia and her mentor, Jack, and here we get some closure and well as delving into her uncomfortable past, the very reason she became a professional killer in the first place.
If you never liked Jack, you may be in for a disappointment. This is mostly about the tentative relationship between him and Nadia. He is still gruff and economical with his words, but his sentences do get longer…well, yes he speaks in sentences. In the previous book, Nadia had realised she wanted more from him than the fatherly, mentor role he provided but was clear that he didn’t want the same. He’s a lone wolf, but one that’s aging in a profession that doesn’t take kindly to age. That foundation is built upon in Wild Justice and I thoroughly enjoyed the dynamics between them.
As for the thriller side. They’re hitmen (or hitpersons, not sure what you’re meant to call them) so there is a certain amount of subterfuge and killing, but I think Kelley’s voice shines through it all. Nadia is often the first to point out the clichés or schoolboy errors that others might make or think about when it comes to her profession. The warmth in her characters is the same as her other series, and makes this trilogy one to read even if thrillers aren’t your thing.
It’s been such a long time since the last Nadia Stafford book, I had given up hope of getting more but I am so glad Kelley Armstrong decided to finish off her story. I always enjoyed the tenuous relationship between Nadia and her mentor, Jack, and here we get some closure and well as delving into her uncomfortable past, the very reason she became a professional killer in the first place.
If you never liked Jack, you may be in for a disappointment. This is mostly about the tentative relationship between him and Nadia. He is still gruff and economical with his words, but his sentences do get longer…well, yes he speaks in sentences. In the previous book, Nadia had realised she wanted more from him than the fatherly, mentor role he provided but was clear that he didn’t want the same. He’s a lone wolf, but one that’s aging in a profession that doesn’t take kindly to age. That foundation is built upon in Wild Justice and I thoroughly enjoyed the dynamics between them.
As for the thriller side. They’re hitmen (or hitpersons, not sure what you’re meant to call them) so there is a certain amount of subterfuge and killing, but I think Kelley’s voice shines through it all. Nadia is often the first to point out the clichés or schoolboy errors that others might make or think about when it comes to her profession. The warmth in her characters is the same as her other series, and makes this trilogy one to read even if thrillers aren’t your thing.
Great series. I wish it had been more than just a trilogy. There is a reason why Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors and it isn't because she has a great first name. ;)
How is it that a "heroine" who kills people for a living, and her mentor, who also kills people for a living, can become so likable, and one can begin to root for them? As a real-life experience, it's a terrible thing to be involved in, but as escapist fiction, it seems to appeal to some atavistic part of me that wants to administer the ultimate punishment to truly evil people...to simply remove them from the earth. Perhaps that is why Nadia seems so interesting, because she only targets those who have done horrific things, and who have escaped justice. Still, I'm a little troubled that I found it entertaining.
It's been awhile since I read the first two books in the series, but it didn't take long for me to fall back into a rhythm with these characters. No matter if she's writing about werewolves, witches or (in this case) hitmen, Kelley Armstrong always tells an intriguing story. This is a great finish to a great series. I can't wait to read more of her non-fantasy books.
I am a really big fan of Kelley Armstrong. I fell in love with her writing from her paranormal series, Women of the Otherworld, but because I’ve loved her work so much I couldn’t pass up her Nadia Stafford novels. Even though it’s been a few years since book two, Wild Justice starts off with action right from the beginning. Hitwoman extraordinaire Nadia has a hit go wrong, something that almost never happens to her. As she tries to sort through her emotions, her mentor and friend Jack shows up with answers to one of the mysteries that has haunted her family for years, the man who killed her cousin. As Nadia and Jack unravel the mystery suddenly they become targets of a killer. They fight for answers and for the potential feelings they have been harboring over the years. This is probably one of the few series where I actually cheer how deadly the heroine in. Normally I’m a fan of a little less bloodshed but Ms. Armstrong is such a compelling author I fall in love with her characters. I really hope there will be more from Nadia, she’s lots of fun!
This was one of those books that come to you at the right time. I have absolutely loved this series, but this book was by far the best.
I am a HUGE fan of Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series. Kelley is superb with a paranormal thriller story. She is just as superb with a normal thriller.
One wouldn't think that a hit woman would be a sympathetic character, but then who'da thunk that a reader would want to cheer on a serial killer (Dexter anyone?).
I started at the end of the trilogy and I'd love to read the first two, but I don't think it's necessary (but the first two are on the WWBL). Kelley does enough backstory that the reader is aware and this could be read as a standalone.
Nadia takes only the jobs that she sees necessary and they are against people who fall through the cracks of justice. Vigilante, yes, but understandable.
Kelley writes an intricate, but never convoluted novel. A superb turn-the-page-fast-I-NEED-to-know-NOW thriller.
One wouldn't think that a hit woman would be a sympathetic character, but then who'da thunk that a reader would want to cheer on a serial killer (Dexter anyone?).
I started at the end of the trilogy and I'd love to read the first two, but I don't think it's necessary (but the first two are on the WWBL). Kelley does enough backstory that the reader is aware and this could be read as a standalone.
Nadia takes only the jobs that she sees necessary and they are against people who fall through the cracks of justice. Vigilante, yes, but understandable.
Kelley writes an intricate, but never convoluted novel. A superb turn-the-page-fast-I-NEED-to-know-NOW thriller.