A Hired Kill

Suspense, action, memorable characters, and a sense of urgency make A Hired Kill by Steven Konkoly a must-read for those who enjoy thrillers. This book picks up immediately after book one in the Garrett Mann series. After FBI Special Agent Mann and his team raid an underground facility in New Mexico, the sole survivor they found reveals there’s an even greater threat.

It was the training ground for hundreds of cartel gunmen who have disappeared into the United States. Their mission is unknown. Additionally, Mann and his team are still hunting the last one of three serial killers who have killed extensively in Mexico and the USA. However, there’s more to that story than a single fugitive. There seems to be a tie to powerful government officials.

Garrett doesn’t always share information with others. However, he works well with others to gain cooperation and sometimes shows a somewhat dry and sarcastic sense of humor. Sometimes they come across as insults to those not used to his brand of humor. His flaws make him seem more realistic and relatable. I particularly enjoyed his independent thinking and willingness to listen to recommendations from others. The secondary and tertiary characters have varying levels of depth, but I wanted a little more. There are a lot of characters in this novel, but many of them were also in book one and some others are familiar characters from other series by this author. However, a much-needed character list is not provided for those who are new to this series.

This book starts strong and keeps up a blistering pace throughout the novel. However, I feel that those who haven’t read book one will be somewhat lost, as no recap is provided. I was hooked from the beginning with a plot that has several twists and turns along the way. While the action is over-the-top, it was so full of excitement, drama, and danger that I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next. At the same time, it was somewhat unsettling when you examine the thoughts, behaviors, and actions of many of those in power. I believe a list of acronyms would be valuable for many readers.

Konkoly continues to bring great characters, an intriguing plot, and heart-pounding action together in exhilarating novels. The gripping scenes and great plot kept me on the edge of my seat. He has become one of my favorite authors and I look forward to reading more from him.

Overall, this book was intense, suspenseful, action-packed and violent with compelling characters, high-stakes, and a story that is unsettling, gripping, and thought-provoking. If you enjoy thrillers, then look no further than this series. I’m looking forward to reading book three. I highly recommend reading book one before reading this one.

Thomas and Mercer and Steven Konkoly provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for May 27, 2025.