The Denver Assassins Club has one rule for its members: Step out of line and you become the next target.Ember Clarke is a nimble killer-for-hire. She only accepts jobs to snuff out dirtbags who deserve it, like the serial rapist currently in her crosshairs; the latest of her contracts. But when a rival Club hitman shows up to steal the contract — and put a knife in her back — she has no choice … and put a knife in her back — she has no choice but to add another stiff to her body count.
But she quickly learns that the Club will not tolerate killing another member, even in self defense.
Her punishment?
A grueling six-week gauntlet of being stalked by her peers, starting with an eagle-eyed sniper from another branch of the Club.
Can Ember turn the tables on the first of six, or will this hunter’s next bullet have her name on it?
In Ember’s new world, it’s kill-or-be-killed.
And there are plenty who want to kill her.
Get started with Six Assassins today!
###
Primary Target is the first book in the pulse-pounding Six Assassins crime and action thriller series. If you like gritty noir heroes, shocking twists and turns, action adventure, and pages so riveting they practically flip themselves, you’ll love Jim Heskett’s and Nick Thacker’s epic six-part tale.
From Amazon and USA Today Bestselling Authors Jim Heskett and Nick Thacker, authors of the well-loved Harvey Bennett Thrillers series, comes a brand-new thriller series, for fans of Harlan Coben, Stieg Larsson, and Vince Flynn.
Buy Primary Target and lock and load today!
more
I received an ARC from the author at my request and this is my honest opinion. This is another awesome thriller by Jim Heskett and Nick Thacker. There are plenty of twists and turns, intense action, surprises, and just all-round good reading. The story is character-driven and doesn’t slow down from the beginning to the end. That’s one thing I enjoy about the stories from these authors; there’s no filler. You know, those pages and pages that do nothing to advance the story but just add to the word count. With Heskett/Thacker, if they take the time to write it, it’s going to advance the story and advance it well. I also enjoyed a cameo appearance by one of my favorite Heskett characters. I hope there are more cameos in future books.
I don’t know if the serial style of books is coming back (the ones where each book finishes its part of the story so that the reader is not left with a cliffhanger, but you have to finish the series to get the overall big picture.) or not, but I seem to be seeing more of it lately. At first, I didn’t think I would like it but I really do. I think because the books are being released fairly close together and because each “chapter” is a full story unto itself.
If you haven’t read anything by either of these authors, this series is a good place to start. I think you will be really glad you did.
Awesome! goodread. Outstanding author collaboration, Jim Heskett and Nick Thacker. Descriptive writing, creativity and imagination, 5 stars Primary Target.
I read this book based on the title and topic, assassins. I had no idea what to expect, was blown away with the plot. I always read the author’s spiel last, it gives away to much of the story as it did with Primary Target.
I definitely recommend this book! I highly recommend never reading the author’s description.
Primary Target – a review by Rosemary Kenny
Ember Clarke (not her real name), works undercover as an assassin for hire with the local Boulder branch of the DAC, when a mission goes wrong and suddenly she’s the eponymous Primary Target of not one, but six other members of the Club, a week apart.
Nick Thacker and Jim Heskett are a creative dream pairing who will really get your pulses pounding and your heart racing…but fear not, it’s not the Covid-19 creeping up on you – you won’t even be aware of it until after you’ve finished Primary Target.
Get a copy today and keep your doors locked and the curtains closed while you read it – just in case!
I enjoyed this action packed military thriller. I like the whole series. Worth the read.
Jim Heskett and Nick Thacker grabbed my attention at the beginning and kept it till the end. There was lots of action. I found the concept of The DAC intriguing. I found Ember a very complicated character and wondered what she was hiding. There was a twist that I did not see coming, so that gets a WELL DONE! I felt there was a question that Ember was not asking “who set me up?” maybe she wasn’t, I’m just not sure, I feel she was. At the end there are many questions left opened. I will forewarn you this is a continuing series. In my opinion it was slow moving in parts, but I think part of that is because this is the first book in the series, so things are being set up for the next book. I read on Kindle Unlimited.
Original story line, great premise for all 6 books in the series.
No spoilers here: If you are looking for an intense, edge of your seat, action packed spy thriller kind of book, you found it, and this IS the best place to start as this is the first book in this new six book series! The authors do an impressive job with an easy to follow, gripping storyline and well developed characters that come to life in your mind. Plenty of action and twists to make you just want to not stop. This is one of those “just one more chapter” books that will keep you reading when there might be something else you should be doing. Get involved with this “assassins club” and get a well written satisfying read! Both of these authors are amazing writers both independently and together. So stop now, get this book and then be ready to move on to book two. You just won’t want to wait. I received a complimentary ARC and this is my honest review.
Ember Clarke, assassin, who happens to make some enemies and is now in a fight for her life thanks to the sentence handed down by the ruling board of the Assassins Club. She must face 6 assassins over 6 weeks to live. I really like her character. She is a strong woman who won’t kill just to kill even with her life on the line. We find out more about Ember and others in this part of the series. Ember is strong and smart. Despite fighting for her life she is still trying to keep prior promises she has made. Great action scenes.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
I thought Ember would make a good side story when she was first introduced. She didn’t disappoint.
Primary Target (Six Assassins Book 1), my 30th read from author Jim Heskett. An excellent read! The problem with writing a successful book is amplified in a successful series, the reader’s expectations are that this book will be even better than the last. This is a good book, and I anticipate a good series, that you can’t wait to turn the next page and read more. Come on book 2! (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 – July 24, 2018).
Get ready for an action packed thriller like no other! Heskett and Thacker are each exciting authors in their own rights…..pair them up as a team and wow! Unbelievably good.
This is book one of an ongoing series that I can’t wait to read the next chapter of. The twists encountered left me going — didn’t see that coming. I read a lot and it’s hard to make me say that.
I received a free advanced copy to review but this is my own honest opinion.
This is a different kind of murder mystery: “Kill or be killed”
Ember Clarke is an assassin for hire and a member of the The Denver Assassins Club. The thing about this club is they have rules: 1. only one assassin is assigned a target. 2. You don’t kill members of the club. And Ember has her own #1 Rule: she only assassinates those who deserve it.
Book #1 starts out when a fellow club member shows up during her attempts to fullfil a contract. And, unfortunately, she accidentally kills the guy because he’s trying to kill her. Then Ember agrees to the club’s ruling: accept being stalked by six of her peers. Book #1 follows the attempt by Assassin #1. The proposed remaining five books of the series follows the stories by the other five assassins.
It’s going to be interesting to follow the other books in the series.
When Ember accidentally kills a fellow assassin who was aiming to take out her contract, the disciplinary action of the Denver Assassins Club is swift and decisive. Ember is given a “black spot” a sanctioned hunt by a series of assassins over a period of weeks, but that’s not all. It appears that Ember’s past has come back to haunt her and add a whole extra set of complications.
I loved this first book in the Six Assassins series. Ember is a kick-ass assassin with a moral code and a vulnerable streak and her story unfolds with all the vivid action of the best cinematic action thrillers.
I can’t wait for the next installment.
Really good book for first in a series! Looking forward to seeing where the authors take the characters, and, possibly, any new characters they introduce!! A female assassin is such a great character!!
I enjoyed Primary Target. It is well written and has lots of excitement. I liked the FBI twist.
The ending left me a bit unsatisfied, however. There were too many unfinished threads and not enough finished ones.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader copy of this book.
Wow! What a ride that was. I’m still spinning from it.
Ember Clarke made a mistake that could cost her life. Being an assassin, she was doing her job and accidentally killed another assassin who wasn’t supposed to be there. That’s the short story of it. She was brought up on charges by the Denver Assassins Club Review and given the black dot, which means that she’s going to have six hits put out on her for the next six weeks. One a week. It’s combat; kill or be killed.
I’d read about her in a previous novel and thought she was just okay, but as I read this novel, I saw a side to her that changed my mind. It’s hard for me to like macho women. I’m not a feminist by a long shot, but with her, it was perfect. She’s beautiful, tough, witty, and smart, yet isn’t above using her female assets to get what she needs. She’s resourceful and quick. What I didn’t see about her was the truth. People aren’t always who they profess to be. Shazam!!!
And I got another huge surprise. I should’ve known by the hints that were given, but for some reason or another, I didn’t make the connection until it was said outright. It added more to the excitement and anticipation that was already present throughout the book, but it made me wonder just how all of this is going to end. You never know who your neighbors are, do you?
There are a couple of stories going on here, but they’re both centered around Ember. They’re suspenseful, kept me at the edge of my seat, and made me want to read the next novel right now. I know this series is six books; one for each week, but I’ve also read enough novels by Jim Heskett to know he doesn’t have a problem killing his protagonists. That just adds more intrigue and makes me want to find out more. I’m not so sure she’s going to survive this. The first week was rough and she’s got five more to go. I’m anxious to read the next book in the series.
The life of an assassin. Some have scruples others don’t. Interesting take on some of the characters. Nick Thacker and Jim Heskett did a great job in putting this story together. We got a glimpse of Layne my favorite character in the Layne Parrish series showing up as one of Ember’s neighbors. Hoping we see more of him in the future. Ember is going to need all the help she can get. Having survived the first assassin she only have five more to go. On top of it all her standing with the FBI doesn’t look to good at this time either. This book is the first book in a series of six and all will be published by June 9 so you will not have to wait to long to see how it all ends. Looking forward to reading the second one in the series.