The Hit List: You live an ordinary life, so why does someone want you dead?

by Holly Seddon

What would you do if you found your own name on a hit list? Seddon addresses this terrifying question in an explosive novel. One of the most exciting, brave and clever books I have ever read. The Hit List is my book of the year. Gillian McAllister, author of How to Disappear

This novel kept me guessing to the end. A twisty, intelligent thrill ride. Excellent! Will Dean, author of Black River

This meticulously plotted novel will suck you ever deeper into its dark underbelly. Sinister, clever and utterly compelling. Lesley Kara, author of WHO DID YOU TELL?

On the anniversary of her husband's accidental death, Marianne seeks comfort in everything Greg left behind. She wears his shirt and cologne, reads their love letters and emails. Soon she's following his footsteps across the web, but her desperation to cling to any trace of him leads her to the dark web. And a hit list with her name on it.

To try to save herself from Sam, the assassin hired to kill her, Marianne must first unpick the wicked web in which Greg became tangled. Was Greg trying to protect her or did he want her dead?

A gripping and emotional ebook bestseller about a woman who discovers a shocking secret about her late husband that will hook you from the first page

'Smart, twisty and totally compelling.' Jane Fallon

'Dark, twisty, beautifully written and very clever. Loved it!' Claire Douglas

A beautifully written book that tackles complex issues on a very personal level. A dark, fast-paced thriller with a hard-hitting emotional impact. Nikki Smith, author of All In Her Head.

• ISBN10: 1409195503
• ISBN13: 9781409195504
• Publish Date: 15 April 2021 (first published 28 August 2020)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Orion Publishing Co
• Imprint: Trapeze
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

[zooloo1983]

I went into this book blind, I saw this was a “listen now” on NetGalley and thought why the heck not. I loved the cover and I briefly looked at the blurb. When you see the opening line saying someone wants you dead and there is a hit list, I was intrigued. I did not expect the journey down the dark web and the truths we would learn.

The narration done by 5 different people really brought the characters to life. It added to the story to have a different voice for them. This story, however, is really Sam’s story. Yes, we start our adventure meeting Marianne, who is at the anniversary of Greg, her husbands’ death or was it murder? We follow her and Sam in the first part of the book. The second part it’s Sam and Greg’s story and the final part is well just explosive.

It took me a while to get into the book, because well my reading mojo has gone, but the book kept its grips in me. I mean how would you feel if you ever found a way to get on to the dark web and then on a website, a hit list and find your name. Marianne then enters a world she is just not ready for. I know I wasn’t ready for it!

My heart broke for Greg, just a guy trying to do the right thing. His intentions are there but he is sucked into a dirty, lewd world that I did not see coming for miles. This was hard to listen to at some points, well mainly because you know he has died. But more, as you see who he is, what is trying to do, not how Marianne saw him and all the guilt he carries with him.

I love how everything was kept hidden from the reader. Holly slowly started linking the people and the storylines together. She teases it out slowly ensure you are hooked, ensure you are enveloped in the characters lives before she practically implodes their (and your) worlds.

Despite everything we learn about Sam, I have to say I liked her. Believe it or not, she had morals and she has a code. It is not until later on that we see the bigger picture of what her little missions impacted, but by then it is too late. But not only in what she is engineering but how her life outside of this has been impacted

The clanger in the final part, I did not have a scooby. Maybe I should have but I didn’t, I loved that I learned everything when Marianne did. Head blown. It is the cat and the mouse story, but do you even know who the cat really is?

This is my first book by Holly and I have a few more I will be checking out. The writing is engaging and it really does make you question, I mean what the frick would you do? As I said earlier, the audiobook was really brought to life by the narrators and I do love productions where we have more that one narrator. It gives the story a bit more oomph as the voices add their own spice to the story. I am looking forward to my next outing with Holly and her books.