Kill for Me

Author/Guide: Tom Wood

Why a Booktrail?

2000s: Guatemala City is not the place to be for some

ISBN: 978-0751572476
Genre: Hitman/Gangster, Thriller

Comment

What you need to know before your trail

For years, two sisters have vied for the turf of their dead crime boss father. Across the streets of Guatemala City, bodies have piled up; the US Drug Enforcement Agency, operating far from its own borders, is powerless to stop the fighting.

But now one sister has a weapon that could finally win the war – a cold, amoral hitman known, fittingly, as ‘Victor’.

Freed from previous employers the CIA and MI6, Victor is a killer for-hire whose sense of self-preservation trumps all else. Yet as betrayal and counter-betrayal unspool in the vicious family feud, Victor finds himself at the centre of a storm even he could be powerless to stop.

Travel Guide

Guatemala City

When reason was exhausted and emotion failed there was one final card to play.”

This is the rule for the Guatemala City in the novel that is. It’s a dangerous place to be. “Multiple assaults rifle roared in a maelstrom of gunfight. This was rage, this was vengeance.

In this country, you don’t know who your enemies are exactly as there are enemies everywhere hiding in the shadows, switching sides and guerillas running the show and trying to claim people and places for themselves.

“The strong bonds of brotherhood are forged by living and fighting alongside comrades”

Guns can be bought easily on the streets of the city. Whilst the streets are never rally named and places mentioned, it;s the shadows, the danger and violence which stand at every corner, and cover the city ina dark cloak.

Guatemala is a city of “Concrete buildings and characterless streets awash in a blood-orange light”

Booktrailer Review

Susan: @thebooktrailer

A funny thing happened with this book. I read it, totally loved it, had a feeling that the author would be like Indiana Jones, only to then meet him at Harrogate and find that he’s one of the nicest and funniest people out there. He also has a very nice collection of hats fyi.

Now this novel…..Very Tarantino and with as much grit and adventure than you can throw a stick at. Eighth in the Victor series and boy, these characters aren’t getting any nicer to like! However, they’re gripping to read about even if I did sweat with the violence added to the humidity of the Guatemala city setting. Setting is not a huge part of the story but it captures nicely a part of the world where gritty story lines and shadowy characters explore with an added sense of excitement.

Death and killings stalk the streets and the off beaten track here. Victor is in danger from the get go and the pace never lets up. He’s a dark horse that one -but he seems to develop to another level in this book as many scenes and scenarios seem more personal and inward looking. A gritty, fast-paced and gripping read. Too much here to review but one to read if you like your thrillers hard hitting, hot and humid and your characters emotionally and professionally complex.