This “taut and twisty” thriller by the New York Times–bestselling author “blends cutting-edge surveillance technology with traditional spycraft” (Publishers Weekly). The spy twins known as Jack and Jill were born into the world of global espionage. Often estranged, always connected by a legacy they can’t escape, the siblings have eluded many who want them dead. But now they face a threat unlike … But now they face a threat unlike anything they’ve known before.
When a powerful assassin broker dies, the world’s deadliest killers are suddenly free to pursue their own vendettas and political agendas. The US government has mobilized its own killers to preemptively hunt down and destroy each potential threat. The most dangerous on the list are Jack and Jill.
As they board a flight to Berlin hoping to meet the father they never knew, they must not only evade US operatives, but also a high-level Russian operation determined to secure their skills. Caught between two superpowers with unlimited resources, brother and sister will match wits against the world in a high-octane chase across Europe. And the only way out may be an unholy alliance that could change the balance of global power forever.
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Fast, Exciting, and Razor Sharp: Taylor Stevens is my favorite writer, with her ability to humanize even sociopathic killers and stories grounded in meticulous research to eliminate the head-banging shortcuts so many authors take for the sake of thrills. She combines elegance and economy of prose for a read that is rich, exciting, and razor sharp. In the second installment of the Jack and Jill series, the battling assassin twins accept an invitation proffered at the end of Liars’ Paradox, followed by more than one interested party. If you enjoy a good cat and mouse free for all, this is your jam.
Very good book
Why oh why do I sit down with an espionage novel? Murder mysteries are bad enough; authors keep throwing me red herrings, and while I may not fall for them all, I have to take too much time thinking about each – most of the time adopting the wrong one as my solution to the crime. But espionage novels? The ONLY guarantee I have is that I truly do NOT know which friends are really enemies, which enemies are really friends … and when those relationships will suddenly change.
My most recent look into this genre was Taylor Stevens’ “Liars’ Legacy”. Jack and Jill are brother and sister, brought into the trade young by their superspy mother. At least I know THEY won’t betray each other!! At least I THINK they won’t … But then, there are multiple agencies involved here. Some seem to want to recruit them to their cause, some seem to want to eliminate them – and even then, I’m not sure that those 3rd parties won’t change their minds / direction. And let’s throw in another complication, the agencies seem to have separate teams with separate goals … and there’s this nasty “parent” angle again …
Ms. Stevens does employ a writing technique which I see more in the various romance sub-genres than in mystery / suspense – switching viewpoints and narrators in each chapter. It does allow for the story to be told from multiple vantagepoints, and it eliminates the conceit of the omniscient 3rd person narrator. If the reader is familiar with this style of storytelling and likes it – awesome. If not, this may not be the novel for you.
I cannot clearly and coherently sum up this novel without providing massive spoilers. Heck, given its clandestine nature, I’m not sure I could do so even providing MASSIVE spoilers – spy novels just DO that to me. HOWEVER, I CAN tell you that I enjoyed every page of Ms. Stevens book and that I am looking forward to its sequel. There IS going to be a sequel, isn’t there, Taylor??
RATING: 5 stars.
“Liar’s Legacy” is a fast-moving storm of a book! Filled with Steven’s usual delights of action and intrigue, the story line takes you places you just don’t see coming. À la Clancy’s “Clear and Present Danger”, Stevens takes a few opening chapters to introduce all the players, who then coalesce into a hard-charging (and rather unpredictable) adventure. My suggestion: Read Liar’s Paradox first, and then read Liar’s Legacy. Then READ THEM BOTH AGAIN because you’re sure to have missed something! Can’t wait to see where the twin’s story takes them next!
Liar’s Legacy by Taylor Stevens
Jack & Jill Thriller #2
Though I ended up loving this book it took almost halfway into the story to finally figure out what was going on even though I had read the first book and the book description. When I finally “got it” I could not put the book down and read through the night.
What I liked:
* Jack, Jill and Holden: Intriguing intelligent and lethal people that I want to know more about.
* Jack is a bit of an enigma and yet I do like him…he seems more of a pacifist than his sister Jill but boy can he be lethal when necessary!
* Jill is a bit more emotional, or seems so, with issues from childhood that have left a different kind of mark than those left on her brother.
* Holden is a man I would love to get to know better. I wonder if and definitely hope that he and Jill will find a way to an eventual romantic relationship.
* Kara was a mystery for much of the book. As I got to know her I really liked her and do hope that she will show up in book three.
* The fact that though assassins the characters are “real” and not without soul/heart
* The story – once I “got it”
* The sleuthing that took place when my brain decided to see why the twins were named Jack and Jill and how they might tie into the children’s nursery rhyme of the same name.
What I did not like:
* The political types who put their agenda before the people they were in charge of
* The fact that life has little value to others – at least at times
* Having to say goodbye without knowing about Dmitry, wondering what will happen next and having to wait for book three to find out.
Did I like this book? Yes
Do I want to read more in this series? Definitely
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4.5 Stars
Liar’s Legacy starts off strong and the action continues to the last page.
I loved it.
Jack and Jill are trained killers, they are twins and they live their life like no other.
It was a fun fast paced read !! Cant wait for book 3. Sign me up !
This is book 2 in the Jack and Jill series, though you could read it as a standalone, you would get more out of Liars Legacy if you read book one.
Thanks to Net Galley and Kensington books for another great read in the Jack and Jill series.
Loved this book. Even better than the first Jack and Jill Thriller, I can’t wait for the next.