A secret plot to start a war. Two old enemies must work together to foil it.Under any other circumstances, hired assassin Cassandra Wu would be trying to kill her partner. But that’ll have to wait. Right now, they need to stop a war. After escaping U.S. custody in a deadly battle that leaves three FBI agents dead and another wounded, Wu is kidnapped by The Peacemakers, a Deep State organization … Deep State organization dedicated to achieving peace on earth. Unfortunately, to bring that about they must initiate WWIII: Wu must assassinate an impossible target, the Russian president.
Former British SAS sniper turned freelance assassin, Nero, is in hiding for crimes committed in the U.S. when former lover and FBI operative Ellie Millard pays him a visit and blows his cover. She forces him to choose: work for us and stop Wu, or go to prison.
The last time Nero saw his arch enemy Wu, she almost succeeded in killing him. As Nero moves behind enemy lines in Siberia to track the elusive Wu, he uncovers a secret web of deep state operatives about to pull the strings on a deadly plot.
To stop them, Nero realizes the only other person he can trust is the one he’s been sent to destroy: Cassandra Wu.
Will Nero and Wu be able to put aside their differences and combine forces to stop The Peacemakers? Or will the temptation to kill each other prove too great?
If you like the thrills of Jack Reacher or the intense action of John Wick, then you’ll burn through The Peacemaker.
Buy The Peacemaker today and hang on. It’s a rough ride!
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This book picks up with Albert Westwood aka Nero who evaded an FBI takedown in the states with Casey Wu. He is laid back minding his own business laying low in the backwoods. When the FBI give him a choice prison or help chasing a ghost. The book travels across continents and involves lots of shootouts and double crossing. He doesn’t know if he’ll live or die. But he doe know things are not what that seem. Lots of lies and mistrust lead him to take his own path and do what he feels is right.
The Peacemaker – a review by Rosemary Kenny!
Blair Howard is on top form as usual, with his George Smiley-like, almost noir spy-thriller, The Peacemaker, Book 1 in his exciting new series of the same name.
The eponymous sarcastically-named covert terrorist group is determined to take out key figures in the Government’s ‘alphabet’ agencies, including assassin Cassandra Wu and her colleague, Albert Westwood, aka Nero, a former British SAS agent.
The action is multi-continental and the pace never slows for an instant, even when Wu is captured.
How is Wu freed and by whom?
When do Wu and Nero decide to put aside their differences and start to work together as in the past? Why is FBI Agent Ellie Millard involved?
What lengths is the evil Peacemaker organisation willing to go to, to achieve their targets?
Get your copy of this riveting spy-thriller today!
The Peacemaker, my twenty-fifth read from author Blair Howard. Well-written and enjoyable, edge of your seat fiction, the first in his new series. Narrator Tom Lennon’s excellent narration, as always, adds to the enjoyment of the book. I look forward to his next book. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 – July 24, 2018).
I received this book for free. I am voluntarily posting this review and any opinions expressed herein are my own.
This is an action-packed story from beginning to end with so many curve balls thrown at you, you’re unsure who to trust or who to really root for or what conspiracy theory to believe. Lots of fun and intrigue.
The narrator, Tom Lennon, overall did a good job. His downfall is his attempt at accents. For example, I did not know, from his narration, that Nero, the MC, was British until it was revealed in the description late in the story.
The Peacemaker by Blair Howard is a fast paced story about 2 ex M15 agents turned hired assassins that once worked together, then swore to kill each other, only to find themselves having to depend on each other in order to best an enemy that they never expected. This book takes off quickly and doesn’t let up, so don’t pick it up if you don’t have the time to enjoy it for a while. Characters flesh out very realistically and the plot is eerily believable. Mr Howard knows his stuff!
I can’t wait to see what’s next!
I was given a promotional copy of this book at no cost for the purpose of review. My review is a reflection of my experience with the book. I received no compensation for this review and I am not required to give a positive review. I am not associated with the author in any way.
Who would expect that a book centered around a couple of assassins would have me rooting for them to complete their mission and for them to work together? But that is the case with this story which features Cassandra Wu (former CIA) and Albert “Nero” Westwood (former SAS sniper), both turned assassins.
As the plot of The Peacemakers to start WWIII unfolds, Casey and Nero find that they need to work together, at least temporarily, to dismantle the plot. There are several characters they have to deal with who may or may not be good guys or actually a part of The Peacemakers.
The story takes us to several international settings and there is plenty of action, deceptions, and twists along the way. It won’t be easy to put the book down until you get to the end.
Nero, a legendary international name among covert operatives and assassins. He had become a ghost with authorities still hunting him. With one nemesis dead and another ex-friend in jail, he had not expected Ellie to turn up on his doorstep, especially alone. This is definitely and action-packed, page turner that will keep you engrossed, with a twisty, intricate plot that is a little too possible.
Nero and Cassandra are the bad guys, right? There are terrorists and plot twists that keep you guessing until the end. Blair Howard can really write a book. You will not be able to put this down until the end.
I always enjoy Blair Howard’s books, and I’ve read quite a few. This book is a spin off from The Assassin, Harry Starke Genesis Book 3 where we first meet Wu and Nero, and it’s the first in a new series. The story is packed with action and twists and turns. You never know who to trust. Nero takes you on a wild ride, and you can never guess what will happen next.
I gave this book four stars instead of five because I found it difficult to follow sometimes. There were so many characters from so many alphabet agencies that I got confused about which ones were the good guys. (Of course, that’s part of the story.) I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
I received an ARC from the author at my request and this is my honest opinion. Once again Mr.Howard has created an amazing story. There are wonderful characters, some good, some not so good, and some you aren’t sure of where they stand. There is more action than your favorite shoot ’em up and spy movie combined. I would love to see this story on the big screen. It would make a terrific movie. In fact, I have casting suggestions if anyone’s interested. Anyway, the story is very intriguing and grabbed my interest from the very beginning and I stayed hooked until the very end. I will say, the “voice” or story-telling style of The Peacemaker is much different from the Harry Starke and Kate Gazzara stories. Instead of being told in the first person, it’s told in the third person. Not what I’m used to from Mr. Howard, but it works well. I can see this becoming a very successful series and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book. Be sure and check it out. Oh, and for those reviewers who were complaining that some of the actions in this book were a little outlandish; have you not ever read Ian Fleming? I think he must have invented outlandish and Mr. Howard picks up the ball and runs with it!
This is a terrific read. The action is nonstop. It pits the assassin, Nero against a clandestine organization, Peacemakers, who want “peace” by, basically, genocide. Cassandra Wu is a major player in this one through no fault of her own. When I got to the end of the book, I wanted more! Hurry and get this book. You don’t want to miss this great read!
Red Robin
We first met Cassandra Wu and Albert Westwood in The Assassin (Harry Starke Genesis Book 3) but that is the only tie Harry has to them. Wu and Westwood are assassins and enemies, wanted for murder in Tennessee. Wu is captured and returned to the US where she is kidnapped by an unkown group called the Peacemakers. Westwood, known as Nero, has “retired” to the woods of Idaho where his former lover FBI agent Ellie Millard finds him and gives him an ultimatum: Find Wu or go to prison. The story that follows is full of action, international intrigue, the latest spy technology, and lots of blood. Wu and Nero are forced to work together to prevent WWIII. Totally different from Harry Starke with an international setting, I found this book easy to read and compelling with great characters. Thanks to Blair Howard for allowing me to read an ARC copy of this great book.
The Peacemaker, the first novel in a new series by Blair Howard, will have you flipping the pages to find out what happens next. Bodies are flying all over the place as assassin Cassandra Wu and a former British SAS sniper known as Nero declare an uneasy truce to deal to stop the Peacemakers before they succeed in their quest to achieve peace on earth through another world war.
As with all of Blair’s novels, this one won’t disappoint. With a formidable plot and larger-than-life characters, you’ll find yourself switching your loyalties as the story progresses. With a timely twists here and there, you’ll really enjoy this one! I can’t wait for the release of the next one in the series!
Another thrilling heart pounding fast actioned book. The twists and turns that you don’t expect leave you wondering who is really who they say they are. The plot thickens with excellence. Must read. Honest opinion. Received a Arc copy.
I was lucky enough to have gotten a ARC copy of this book from the author. I am volunteering to leave this review. Fantastic book plenty of action and suspense. Great series.
A plot to start WW 3, stolen nuclear missiles and a plan to take over the world. The Peacemaker and this organization are head of this devious plan. A number of high ranking officials in a number of organizations around the world are involved. Casey Wu, a trained assassin, is hired by the Peacemaker to take out a High ranking official. Westwood, aka Nero, also a trained assassin, is brought out of retirement to kill Wu. This is a page turning thriller with a lot of action.
I am a great fan of the Harry Starke and Kate Gazzara novels from this author, unfortunately for me this first book in a new genre (international special agent thriller) doesn’t quite work as well.
The characters of Nero and Cassandra Wu are quite well defined but I did find that some of the other characters were rather sketchily described, sometimes making it rather tricky to differentiate between them.
Don’t get me wrong, this is still a good book, and an exciting story with lots of twists and turns, and where the reader is never quite sure who is on which side. With this being the first book in the series, I am very hopeful that subsequent books will raise this series to the heady heights achieved by the author’s other offerings.
I received an advance copy of this book, but have voluntarily written this honest review.
If you read the Harry Starke series, you might remember Casey Wu and Albert Westwood, you might even have thought that would be the end of them. And if so, you were very wrong. The Peacemaker, what this reader hopes to be a new SERIES starring Wu and Westwood. Full of action, intrigue, life and death. This book trots the globe with a fantastic plot, great character and life like descriptions. Watch yourself, there are enough twists and turns to keep you wondering who are the bad guys and who are the good guys! As an ARC reader for Blair Howard, I was given a free copy of this book for a fair and honest review. In all fairness and honesty, this was a great page turning book.
Nero was an old war horse. A relic of tradecraft, and loyal to his own ideals. Self serving, yet still interested in taking down the Peacemakers- or at least surviving himself
Old friends, lovers and foes alternate between lethal and cooperative allies.
Frantic and frenetic action adventure and psychological thriller!