‘The Final Hour’ by Tom Wood

Published by Sphere,
24 June 2017.
ISBN: 978-0-7515-7014-4 (HB)

Published by Sphere,
22 March 2018.
ISBN: 978-0-7515-6567-6 (PB)

Victor, a murky and anti-hero assassin, hired by the good, the bad and the ugly, resurfaces in this thriller by the bestselling author of A Time to Die and The Darkest Day. 

Antonio Alvarez, now a high-ranking operative in the CIA seeking the closure on Victor he was hitherto denied owing to lack of authority, is determined to clean out the Augean stables.  He launches a no-holes barred hunt for Victor who evaded him during a covert operation in Paris. The only person Victor feels he can confidently turn to for help is Constance Raven, a ruthless, cold hitwoman.  Once instrumental in saving her, he now wants her to reciprocate —by ‘liquidating’ him.

This is the first book in the series that I’ve read so references to past incidents in the earlier books were lost on me. Anyone coming new to this may also find him/herself challenged by the volume of detail /research and the large cast of characters.

The tightly told tale is interestingly bold on a number of levels and certainly action packed – like a non-stop adventure movie - punctuated with multiple threads and twists and turns; the dialogue is believable and moves the story along, although some readers may consider that the interaction between Victor and Raven relies more on physical than on oral dynamics.  

Tom Wood is a master of this genre and loyal fans will be salivating for more.

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Reviewer: Serena Fairfax

Tom Wood was born and raised in Staffordshire and now lives in London. Before taking up writing he was employed as a bookseller, cleaner, factory worker, labourer, supermarket cashier and video editor.

tomwoodbooks.com

Serena Fairfax spent her childhood in India, qualified as a lawyer in England and practised in London for many years. She began writing by contributing feature articles to legal periodicals   then turned her hand to fiction. Having published nine novels all, bar one, hardwired with a romantic theme, she has also written short stories and accounts of her explorations off the beaten track that feature on her blog. A tenth, distinctly unromantic, novel is a work in progress. Thrillers, crime and mystery narratives, collecting old masks and singing are a few of her favourite things.

www.serenafairfax.com