The Killing Kind (A Michael Hendricks Novel, 1) - Hardcover

Holm, Chris

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0316259535 ISBN 13: 9780316259538

Publisher: Mulholland Books, 2015

Synopsis

A hitman who only kills other hitmen winds up a target himself.
- Winner of the Anthony Award for Best Novel- Nominated for the Lefty Award for Best World Mystery Novel- Nominated for the Best Thriller Barry Award- Nominated for the Macavity Award for Best First Mystery
Michael Hendricks kills people for money. That aside, he's not so bad a guy.
Once a covert operative for a false-flag unit of the US military, Hendricks was presumed dead after a mission in Afghanistan went sideways. He left behind his old life--and beloved fiancée--and set out on a path of redemption...or perhaps one of willful self-destruction.
Now Hendricks makes his living as a hitman entrepreneur of sorts--he only hits other hitmen. For ten times the price on your head, he'll make sure whoever's coming to kill you winds up in the ground instead. Not a bad way for a guy with his skill-set to make a living--but a great way to make himself a target.

About this title

About the Author:

Chris Holm is an award-winning short story writer whose work has appeared in a number of magazines and anthologies, including Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, Needle: A Magazine of Noir, and The Best American Mystery Stories. His critically acclaimed trilogy of Collector novels, which blends fantasy with old-fashioned crime pulp, appeared on over forty Year's Best lists. He lives in Portland, Maine.

Review:

"Chris Holm's The Killing Kind is my favorite thriller of the fall lineup. Here's a solid gold premise: an assassin who only kills other assassins. . . . The cat-and-mouse game that follows is pure joy. . . . This novel is so fast-moving, so expertly arranged, every piece fitting together with a well-oiled snap, that it feels weaponized. Read it. Or else."―Benjamin Percy, New York Times Book Review (Editors' Choice)

"Pure thriller with a smart, vicious twist . . . What makes this book sing [is] its lean action, breakneck execution, and a nervy concept that's almost too perfect. . . . The book has plenty of sly humor, sharp dialogue, and even the occasional yanked heartstring. And there's a rhythm to it, relentless and breathtaking."―Jason Heller, NPR

"The writing is tight and tense . . . This is a fun spin on crime fiction."―Jeff Ayers, Associated Press

"With The Killing Kind, Chris Holm has created a story of rare, compelling brilliance, with a concept so high you'll need oxygen to finish it. Hit man against hit man, one pure silk and evil, the other not exactly good, but we root for him anyway as the classic antihero. This is a one-sitting, extravagant, mind-blowing reading pleasure with a stable of characters who come across as all flesh, bone and folly. You will never look at men hired to kill other humans the same way. You won't merely read this book, you will inhale it."―David Baldacci, bestselling author of The Escape

"Chris Holm loads an ingenious premise-an assassin who kills only other assassins-into a high-powered story that goes off like a rocket. His protagonist, Mike Hendricks, is an all-American anti-hero with his own code of justice, living on stolen time. The Killing Kind is sleek and smart, and will stay with you long after you've finished reading."―Joseph Finder, New York Times bestselling author of The Fixer

"An ultra-strategic cat-and-mouse game of mind-blowing proportions. . . . Holm is terrific at rendering characters with empathy and humor. . . . You'll want to go along for the ride - but keep that seat belt fastened."―Daneet Steffens, Boston Globe

"I love Chris Holm. He can evoke a landslide of character in a single detail. The Killing Kind crackles with muscle and moxie and wit. I will read it again and again."―Chelsea Cain, author of the New York Times bestseller One Kick

"Fast-paced . . . A skillfully woven cat-and-mouse thriller . . . [Holm's] style here is clean and uncluttered, no-nonsense but flexible enough to serve up either high-octane violence or straight-faced dark humor. . . . The Killing Kind is the kind of well-wrought entertainment that builds an enthusiastic fan base."―Michael Berry, Portland Press Herald

"A premise as intriguing as it is original . . . [Holm] brilliantly unleashes a cross-country game of cat-and-mouse in which the predator becomes the prey. . . . The Killing Kind is an intelligent and droll shot of adrenaline that aims high and more than makes the mark."―John Valeri, Hartford Books Examiner

"An adrenaline-packed read from start to finish, this first installment in what we hope is a new series is a must for thriller fans."―Jordan Foster, Strand Magazine

About this edition

• Publisher: Mulholland Books
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0316259535
• ISBN 13: 9780316259538
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 320