‘Masterfully paced…a cinematic and action-packed read that will have readers following Nadia to the ends of the Earth!’ – BestThrillers.comThe only thing worth killing for is family.Everyone said she had her father’s eyes. A killer’s eyes. Nadia knew that on the bitterly cold streets of Moscow, she could never escape her past – but in just a few days, she would finally be free.Bound to work for … finally be free.
Bound to work for Kadinsky for five years, she has just one last mission to complete. Yet when she is instructed to capture The Rose, a military weapon shrouded in secrecy, Nadia finds herself trapped in a deadly game of global espionage.
And the only man she can trust is the one sent to spy on her…
The gripping first novel in a thrilling new series from J. F. Kirwan. Perfect for fans of Charles Cumming, Mark Dawson and Adam Brookes.
‘A hearty mix of suspense, action, and a bit of espionage.’ Kirkus Reviews
more
Gritty. 66 Metres is gritty.
Exactly what is expected in the shadowy world of crime families, covert operatives, and terrorists looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and those who crave only power.
There are no good guys. Only those with agendas—be they escaping past demons or seeking to possess future riches.
There are no friendships… only alliances.
And they are temporary.
Nadia Laksheva is our protagonist, trapped into service for five years in this dangerous world to pay off a debt, and free older sister, Katya, one of several concubines [sex slaves] kept by Russian crime boss, Kadinsky.
I respect Nadia. She never gives up or gives in. Despite her tenth and last op going horribly wrong through no fault of her own, Nadia knows to not deliver “the package” to Kadinsky is a death sentence for her sister…and for her when she is eventually found. She’s knows trusting Kadinsky at all is a leap of faith… and a lot of hope
That being said, I’m still not sure if I like Nadia. Don’t misunderstand me, she’s not a bad person. But she’s in her own head a bit too much… dwelling… on past events and past conversations. She’s searching for wisdom, at the age of twenty-three (initially eighteen), she does not possess, and it leads to hasty/bad decisions—which is how she ended up in debt to Kadinsky. To be fair, I’m not sure if Nadia ever had a clear path to a different life. Between finding out the truth about her father only after he was killed, and the prickly relationship she had with her mother, she didn’t have much guidance. But, I don’t have to like her to be in her corner. She is no wimp, and somehow needs a break from the death and madness.
Former MI6 operative, Jake Saunders, is coerced back into service to recover ‘the package’ Nadia is hiding. Jake has issues of his own he needs resolved and goes on the hunt for Nadia. However, he becomes conflicted—how can he complete his assignment AND save Nadia?
Sound simple enough? It isn’t. The devil’s in the details…and there are lots of details.
66 Metres has a large cast of thugs, henchmen, hit-men, terrorists, corrupt officials, and rubes who pass through, some only lasting for a scene or two. However, the author has done a masterful job of making these brief appearances memorable. It’s even possible to see ‘human’ sides to some of the baddies and better understand their motives.
Well, except for pond scum Slick and Pox, who had no redeeming social value. And Kadinsky.
One of the best parts of this read is the significance of the title. It doesn’t only have meaning for the protagonist, but all the divers in the book understand… and respect the depth of 66 metres. The author gives readers a great visual when Nadia sits outside the ice cream parlor and imagines herself at the base of a twenty-story building with the roof being the water’s surface. The thought made Nadia shiver…and me too!
Fans of international crime and intrigue will enjoy this read, but I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well-written story with a complex plot, and twists and turns on ever page. I’m looking forward to reading book 2, 37 Hours.
Enjoy!
Bound to work for Kadinsky (a Russian crime boss) for five years, Nadia (the main protagonist) has just one last mission to complete, which will free both herself and her sister, however it isn’t going to be an easy mission and Nadia will find herself trapped in a web of scuba diving and espionage!
I have to admit that it was the title of the book that grabbed my interest first. I had no idea what it meant until i read the book and now I do! 66 Metres is a really good thriller, fast paced with many twists that surprised me and enough intrigue that left me anticipating what was going to happen next. I’m anxious to read his next book in the series and I’m hoping to see a movie possibility also.
The first in a spy thriller trilogy featuring protagonist Nadia Laksheva, this book is a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns. It is fast-paced and unpredictable, and will be a hit amongst fans of authors like Blake Banner, Mark Dawson, and Caroline Mitchell.
Unusually, a large portion of Nadia’s story takes place underwater, where the energy and descriptive writing makes you feel like you are right there with her. It was no surprise to find out that the author himself is an experienced scuba diver. Perfectly paced with a gritty and likeable main character, this is a gripping thriller which will have you immediately wanting to read the second book in the series.
JF Kirwin has created an amazing thriller that keeps you in suspense all the way through. This book is masterfully written and it’s easy to get lost in the pages. The characters are created with care, for example, Nadia is a character with a lot of depth. She isn’t inherently good, not always working to do the right thing but still manages the human aspect that makes her likeable. The sense that these are real people carries a lot of the story.
The book itself is fast-paced. The opening line really says it all and it holds true throughout the book. This is a great setup for a solid series, the tone perfect for the genre. What I find interesting in this book is that it doesn’t read like a regular thriller, it reads like the starting journey of the character, which is exactly what it is. I’m really excited to read the next book in the series and see where Nadia ends up next.
British author J.F. Kirwan, now living outside of Paris, has written academic articles about preventing disasters in nuclear power plants, oil rigs, and aircraft (his work experience has been in air traffic and nuclear power safety), four text books on human error, and nine novels – including his NADIA LAKSHEVA SPY THRILLER SERIES, of 66 METRES is Book 1. He also writes under the nom de plume Brian Kirwan, publishing two series – The CHILDREN OF THE EYE series of two books, and the four book series EDEN PARADOX. He is trained in psychology and is a scuba diver and traveler as well as a productive author. Of note, ’66 metres is the depth at which air starts to become toxic to divers.’
One of Kirwan’s many skills is his ability to magnetize the readers attention with the opening lines of his books, and that most assuredly is the case in 66 METRES – ‘The only thing worth killing for is family. Her father’s words to her, the day they’d come for him. She’d been fourteen when two men in combat fatigues and balaclavas burst into the kitchen where she and her father were enjoying breakfast. The armed commandos hadn’t seen his pistol lying beneath a folded newspaper. While her father struggled with the men, his eyes flicked between her and the weapon. She could have darted for it, threatened them, helped him. But she hesitated. The moment slipped past. They threw a black hood over his head, cuffed him, and dragged him away…to be interrogated, tortured, executed and buried in the woods. A single thought haunted her ever since. Had he known they would come?’ And so we meet the title character, Nadia, and the saga opens.
The provided synopsis of the book’s tale serves the novel well: ‘Everyone said she had her father’s eyes. A killer’s eyes. Nadia knew that on the bitterly cold streets of Moscow, she could never escape her past – but in just a few days, she would finally be free. Bound to work for Kadinsky for five years, she has just one last mission to complete. Yet when she is instructed to capture The Rose, a military weapon shrouded in secrecy, Nadia finds herself trapped in a deadly game of global espionage. And the only man she can trust is the one sent to spy on her…’
Kirwan stands tall among thriller authors, clearly one of the gifted ones, and this opening novel seduces the reader into following this exceptional series through to the end. First class novel – and a highly recommended one!