‘Wow! Double wow!! Triple wow!!!… This book took me for a ride on a rollercoaster… This book definitely gets a place in my top for 2020…. If this is what Winter is like, I don’t like the other seasons anymore.’ B for Book Review, 5 starsA girl with wide brown eyes looks into the camera. Below her picture, a clock ticks down. Cold traces the back of my neck, pricks my hairline. I will find you, … my neck, pricks my hairline. I will find you, I whisper.
It has been ten years since Winter – a headstrong loner with a broken past – was pulled off a mountain by special forces with the aim of turning her into the Secret Service’s most effective field agent. Now, she has just two weeks to bring down the head of a formidable criminal organisation, Alek Konstantin, before an innocent girl is murdered by a twisted killer in front of an online audience of millions.
Going deep undercover disguised as a paid assassin – alias Snow White – Winter’s aim is to infiltrate the Konstantin’s inner circle. Calculating, charismatic and totally in control, he holds the girl’s fate in his hands. But every time Winter gets close to him, he melts away. He’s like a shadow, and yet he knows things about Winter – dark secrets she’s never told anyone. Who is he, and how can she reach him in time to save the girl?
Then Winter finds the body of a man from her past, stuffed in a dumpster with a bullet through his forehead, and things begin to fall into place. But with the girl’s death growing closer with every tick of the clock, and Winter’s protective shell starting to crack, does she have what it takes to bring down Konstantin before the clock hits zero?
Impossible to put down, Winter Dark is an action-packed, twisty and unputdownable read with a heroine you won’t forget. Perfect for fans of Linda Howard, Sandra Brown and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Please note: this book contains scenes of a sexual nature.
What readers are saying about Winter Dark:
‘A clever, original spy thriller… There are nods to Bond and Bourne throughout Winter Dark… She could seduce Bond and leave him heart broken. She could outfight Bourne and leave his legs broken… Winter Dark is a gripping, pacy and highly original thriller. Highly recommended.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘Razor sharp and bullet fast: a thrill a minute! Alex Callister has created a heroine with a whip-smart brain… I could not put it down!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘This book was really good! I love the main character! I can’t wait to read more of the stories! The book is full of action-packed thrills and rides!’ Goodreads reviewer
‘Winter is a badass character. There will be a movie made about this book… The author set out to create a female James Bond and pretty much hit it spot on… The book is a page-turner… Looking forward to the next in the Winter series’ Goodreads reviewer
‘A high-octane thriller… It is a thrill-a-minute, edge-of-your-seat thriller that will have you quickly turning the page… will keep you entertained and engrossed until it’s thrilling denouement. A great read that will spike your blood pressure accordingly – not for the faint-hearted!’ Goodreads reviewer
‘I wound up wrapped up in the story and couldn’t put it down.’ Goodreads reviewer
‘Lots of twists, lots of action… Exciting new hero who works outside the box with her supporting crew fights through a maze of adventures keeping the reader guessing.’ Goodreads reviewer
‘Loved it! I want more! Can’t wait for the next instalment.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘It is hard to put this one down! Lots of twists in this quite different and spectacular read! RECOMMEND HIGHLY!!!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 starsmore
Ok – I’m a fan of kick-butt heroines. I’m a fan of spy books. I’m a fan of James Bond. I don’t mind suspending disbelief in the interest of action, if it makes for a fun read. I liked this one because it encompasses all of those things…
It’s not going to change your life. It is going to let you escape it for a while in a world you’re unlikely to ever actually visit – which is a very good thing, because someone is constantly trying to kill Winter in the most inventive ways possible. It’s a fun, high-octane, full-on action adventure spy story – there are explicit moments (sex and violence), that often made Winter feel like a female action hero created by teenage boys, and I wouldn’t call it the most original thing I’ve ever read, but there’s enough intrigue and snarky one-liners and pull-no-punches action sequences that I didn’t even mind.
This is my particular flavor of brain candy – the reading equivalent of a Michael Bey movie. Stuff blows up. Bad guys aren’t always bad. There are great sarcastic lines. The women are all gorgeous and insanely omni-talented while wearing heels and having great hair. It’s a fun, fast read and I’m definitely in for more!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
This was a cracking read with some fabulous new characters. A modern take on the classic Bond novels with a female lead, the eponymous Winter – kick ass, sassy, funny, flawed. Winter could break Bond’s heart and break Bourne’s legs.
In Callister’s world, all those stories of the dark web and organised crime have been taken to their logical murderous conclusion.
A real pageturner. Recommended.
Timely and thought-provoking, this new thriller series is one to keep an eye on. The female protagonist is someone to root for (plus she has many mad skills), and the plot is quick and action-packed. The first book in a series is sometimes rough, but that’s not the case here. It took me a little while to get all of the characters at GCHQ straight, but that was minor. If this introduction is any indication, I will be looking forward to the rest of the series. For more thoughts, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC of this book.
Winter Dark by Alex Callister
The Winter Series #1
Excellent story that grabbed my attention immediately and kept it till the last page. I am glad this is a series because I really would like to see what will happen next.
What I liked:
* Winter: strong, lethal and smart she works for GCHQ as an operative – would have liked to know more about the ten years between the prologue and beginning of this story. She reminds me a bit of La Femme Nikita
* Alek: I do like a bad guy with heart…he is a man I would love to get to know better.
* The dynamics between Winter & Alec – do wonder if they will get together again or not
* Wanting to know more about Simon, Max, Leon, Roman and a few others that were mentioned in the story
* That there are levels of “bad” and sometimes the person you think is The Prince of Darkness might have redeeming qualities
* The pacing of the story
* Great debut novel that makes me want to read more
What I didn’t like:
* The truly bad guys – wanted them taken out in the worst way
* Having to wait for the next book in the series
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more books by this author? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4.5 Stars
A female James Bond, a little McGyver, Winter is a master hacker, combat trained for anything she may have to face, probably an IQ too high to be counted, is the first line of defense for London.
This is a debut novel and the first in the Winter series. There’s lots of action in this futuristic tale .. a time when you can buy a murder online … where hackers take control of the country. One man has escaped identification … an extremely wealthy man, a powerful man, who is the heart of the dark web… and the multiple crimes committed.
Only one person has seen his face …. Winter. And she’s now on the run.
This is not exactly my cup of tea, although it seems to be well written. The action begins on age 1 and continues to the surprising ending. Winter is an interesting character, but I didn’t find her likable. She seems to be a little arrogant, a little overbearing. I would recommend this one for anyone who enjoys thrillers and spy games.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this suspense thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
An action packed start to a new series !
Winter is a female James Bond with more than 7 lives !
The story is full of twists and turns and you find yourself scrambling to catch up to Winter.
I dont want to give too much away, so pick up your copy and start reading! Time will fly!
Can’t wait for the next installment.
Thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read Winter Dark, Book 1