Captive Target (Six Assassins Book 4)

This is my favorite Six Assassins book so far. There was some action but not as much as the previous books, yet I found it more intense than the previous books. I find that there are like four different stories going on, I believe they are all going to collide in book six. I have a feeling we are going to see Ember’s temper in Vendetta Target (Six Assassins #4). If you have not read previous Six Assassins Books I would highly recommend doing so before starting Captive Target. In my opinion Jim Heskett and Nick Thacker know how to write intense stories with twist and action. The stories are complicated yet easy to follow. I find myself wrapped up in the characters of Six Assassins. The one thing I was wondering since Primary Target is who set Ember up. I’ve had my theories but two were disproved my main suspect seems to be coming true. Since there are two books left we will have to see. May 19, 2020 can not come fast enough. I read on Kindle Unlimited.

Another great segment in a captivating series. Like the books before in this series you won’t want to put it down. Heskett and Thacker have really outdone themselves. I can’t wait for the next book.

I received an advanced reader copy but the opinions and review are my own honest comments.

I tried to pace myself when I started this book, thinking I could draw it out a little more, maybe dig deeper into the psyches of the characters, gain a little more understanding about the works with all of this black dot combat, but it was no use. I got to maybe 35% of the book and didn’t want to put it down. Any interruption I got from somebody was met with a look if not a growl. I did not want to be bothered with my own life while Ember Clarke’s life was in the balance.

Ember is captured by her next assassin, held in a basement, and controlled by this weird magnetic device thing that paralyzes her. Veronica, her captor, has an ax to grind and there’s no way on earth Ember is going to escape, no matter what she does to help herself. As long as Veronica has the fob that kicks on the magnetism that knocks Ember to the ground with a push of a button, there’s no hope. The room she’s in is solid and as the days go by, the future continues to grow bleaker and bleaker.

Meanwhile, Gabe is doing everything possible (and then some) to find out who has her and where she’s being kept. This guy is going to extremes. But as things go when I get wrapped up in characters in novels, I went from “what the hell…?” to “what the f—…?!?!” I was completely floored. I didn’t see that coming. It was a heck of a twist and a major surprise. My only thought now is that there isn’t a place hot enough in hell for Marcus Lonsdale.

As for Isabel, she’s a lot smarter than I gave her credit for. I’m not saying she’s dumb because she isn’t. She’s at a disadvantage. It’s her against the world and nobody is helping her. When another surprise character from another series (the first was Layne Parrish) shows up in this book, I thought for sure it was lights out for Ember. If Veronica didn’t get her, this one would. The surprise character does not miss. But Isabel…yeah, I have to give her an A for ingenuity.

But there’s even more to all of this because David Wellner, the president of the Denver Assassins Club, continues to surprise me. I had him pictured as this dowdy, middle-aged guy, with a bit of a belly, and thinning hair–kind of geeky with a grandpa thing going on. As this series progresses, he’s putting me on edge more and more. I don’t know if he’s just paranoid, overly paranoid, or just trying to get back his manhood. Not sure if any of that is true, but he seems to be mentally teetering. He did things that I didn’t think he would ever do. He was a bit of a sleepy character at first and is quickly turning into someone you do not want to cross.

Then Zach Bennett, Ember’s love interest. He’s a college student and a scientist and is in way over his head. His character is evolving from a studious kid who doesn’t do much other than study and work into a man who wants answers. He’s finally taking a stand and it isn’t easy for him.

Somehow all of these stories are going to come together. It’s been working up to something huge from the first book and the tension keeps building. I think I may have mentioned in my review of the previous book in the series that the tension is tangible. It was then and it is now. Just multiply it by ten.

I’ve skimmed over other reviews of other books in this series and one of them said it was beautiful. I couldn’t disagree more. Beautiful is blue skies, birds singing, butterflies, and violins. This is raw, sit-at-the-edge-of-your-seat-while-you-wait-for-the-next-thing-to-happen (and it doesn’t take long), tenuous, and yelling while you read and Metallica is blasting. (I don’t actually listen to music while I read, but you get my point). I got curious looks and “whats?” from my husband while I was reading this and all I could do was give him the hand. I didn’t want to talk about it with someone who has no idea about what’s going on or can’t relate on any level. Just leave me alone and speak no more until I’m done.

This was a crazy good book and I’m ready for the next in the series. Four down, two to go, and I’m still not sure how this is all going to end. I have my guesses, but it’s not up to me. I’ll get my answers in the last book.

*The books in this series need to be read in order