Four and a Half Stars - Rated 
After Nadia Stafford took justice into her own hands, she had to leave the police force. She finally ends up becoming a hitwoman for a small mafia family, whilst at the same time trying to keep her tourist lodge solvent. However, when one of her hits is mistaken for the work of a serial killer, she joins forces with five other assassins to stop the killings before they are all exposed.
Nadia as a heroine is a bit of an enigma. Even though we're in her head, there are still parts of her that remain a mystery. And I liked this. I liked having to think about her motivations. As a hitwoman she's decisive and professional, but there's something inside her that's not functioning quite properly. I'm hoping we gradually find out more about her in upcoming books. I wonder, if she'll ever have to confront all the things she's denied.
Of the other hitmen - Jack, Evelyn, Quinn and Felix - we spend most time with Jack, who is Nadia's mentor, and Evelyn who was Jack's mentor.
...Jack said, "You saw my note, right? It said 'wait'."
"That was a note? I thought it was a haiku."
Jack brings new meaning to the word taciturn. Whilst he uses the minimum number of words to get his point across, and none if he can say what he wants to non-verbally, his presence looms large on the page. He remains a complete professional, focused on the job at hand, and yet there is a chemistry between him and Nadia that is almost tangible - probably moreso because the two of the them don't acknowledge it. Yep, I think I'm gonna be a Jack/Nadia shipper.
Kelley Armstrong writes characters who feel like real people, whether they're an ex-cop hitwoman, or the world's only female werewolf. In Exit Strategy this is emphasized in the 'victim vignettes'. Two or three pages we spend with the victims of the serial killer before they're murdered, as they just go about their daily lives. In just a few pages they become real people, not just red shirts. By the time you get to page 287 and read about Gracie and Cliff you'll be biting your fingernails.
One of the most memorable scenes for me in Bitten (Otherworld Bk1) has nothing to do with werewolves. It's the scene where Elena is pursued by a killer through an airport parking lot. You were there with her, and Exit Strategy has a similar feel. Would I recommend this book to everyone - no. If the reason you read Kelley Armstrong's books is for the urban fantasy element, then this one might not be for you. If on the other hand it's for her dialogue, and the way she makes characters come alive on the page, then give it a try.
Nothing like her other series - Rated
I bought this book having no idea what it was about, only knowing that it wasn't from the world of Elena, Paige, Jaime etc.
So I was a bit surprised to learn that the book wasn't in any way supernatural and is actually quite a mainstream mystery novel. What makes it stand out is that the main characters are all hitmen.
But for those who read Anita Blake, the main relationship was very Anita and Edwardesque.
Worth reading if you like detective stories with a twist, but there's not much more to it.
Not what I expected, but pleasantly surprised - Rated 
I confess I didnt even stop to read the back of this book before i bought it because i've been most impressed by Kelley Armstrong's previous work.
So, for the first few pages, I was confused that no-one had any paranormal abilities.
What i did notice though, was that I couldnt put it down!
It was fun, interesting, well thought out and different.
And that is Kelley Armstrong all over.
I'll certainly be buying the next one in the series and anything else she cares to write.
Delighted!
Entertaining new series - Rated
The latest tale by Kelley Armstrong that's not set in her Otherworld setting. Now whilst I do love her work I did feel a little disappointed by her latest offering to the readers in that series feeling that she'd let the principle antagonist out of the box without bringing a lot of her trademark quips. This tale though, lent a complete freedom to the author and restored my faith in her talent, not that the other tale wasn't good but I did feel that I had a different grasp on the situation to what I was presented. Here Im on an even footing and as such just couldn't get enough of this novel, feeling quite sad at the conclusion as I really could have done with a bit more. Exciting characters ooze throughout the novel and as such will keep the mystery moving at a fast clip right up to its conclusion. Just warm up that hot tub as I need to relax after this roller-coaster of a novel.
Slow and pretty dull - Rated 
A former female cop, who has turned assassin, teams up with other hit-men to eradicate someone thought to be giving them a bad-name! In theory, this could have been a good story, despite the scenario being somewhat far-fetched.
However, I found the plot to be very simple, and flawed in places, and the writing to be unexceptional. It also ended up being a long journey getting to the very predictable conclusion. In other words, this is a slow 500 pages which is not very challenging.
Judging by other reviews, Armstrong appears to be a popular author. Based on this effort, however, I must say I saw little depth in her language and plot-manipulation skills. 5/10
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