REVIEW: Killing Sarai by J.A. Redmerski

July 3, 2013 Julie Uncategorized 3

Killing Sarai

by J.A. Redmerski

Romantic Suspense

ABOUT THE BOOK

From the author of the New York Times, USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling novel, THE EDGE OF NEVER, comes a story of passion and survival…

Sarai was only fourteen when her mother uprooted her to live in Mexico with a notorious drug lord. Over time she forgot what it was like to live a normal life, but she never let go of her hope to escape the compound where she has been held for the past nine years.

Victor is a cold-blooded assassin who, like Sarai, has known only death and violence since he was a young boy. When Victor arrives at the compound to collect details and payment for a hit, Sarai sees him as her only opportunity for escape. But things don’t go as planned and instead of finding transport back to Tucson, she finds herself free from one dangerous man and caught in the clutches of another.

While on the run, Victor strays from his primal nature as he succumbs to his conscience and resolves to help Sarai. As they grow closer, he finds himself willing to risk everything to keep her alive; even his relationship with his devoted brother and liaison, Niklas, who now like everyone else wants Sarai dead.

As Victor and Sarai slowly build a trust, the differences between them seem to lessen, and an unlikely attraction intensifies. But Victor’s brutal skills and experience may not be enough in the end to save her, as the power she unknowingly holds over him may ultimately be what gets her killed.

This is their story…

REVIEW

I’ve heard so much about JA Redmerski and even though The Edge of Never had been on my Kindle for months, I just never found the time to pick it up. I saw Killing Sarai in my Facebook book club and wanting something a little sad and dark to read, impulsively one-clicked and the rest is history. I have since read, and totally fell in love with, The Edge of Never as well. But I’ll review that next week because there is just so much to say.

Sarai is a lot of things: young American woman, hostage in Mexico, prisoner, concubine to a dangerous drug lord, escapee, and more importantly, in this book, she’s a woman in love.

With a cold-blooded murder who will just as soon kill her as look at her.

But although Sarai sees that, she’s not deterred. Because she’s an accomplished liar and she has no trouble recognizing help when she sees it.

“…Victor… I should tell you, I’ve been a liar for the past nine years of my life. Everything I said and did and expressed was a lie. I like to think I’ve mastered it by now.” She pauses and I don’t have to wonder long where she’s going with this. “I’ve noticed that every time you talk to that man, Niklas, about me, that you’re lying to him.” She cranes her head backward to see me behind her. “Thank you for that.”

I’m not sure if this story is one of Stockholm Syndrome, mostly because Sarai is not really coerced into anything. She leaves her capture, she gets into the car with the man, Victor. She threatens him and tries to force him to save her. He does capture her and tie her up, but I’m pretty sure it’s mostly to keep her out of the way as he goes about his business. He never kidnapped her.

On first impression it seems Victor is changing Sarai, but I think the take home message is that Sarai was always this person. She fears nothing. It is Sarai who is changing Victor.

“There is a stark difference between fear and uncertainty, Sarai. You fear nothing but are uncertain of everything.”

“How can you believe that?”

“Because you didn’t go to the police. Because you made no effort to contact anyone else that you knew and you have had dozens of chances to do so. Because you get back in the car, with me, a killer. Because you know that I will kill you without thinking twice about it and I would not be remorseful, yet you’re lying next to me. Here in this bed. Alone and willingly.”

Victor is one screwed up dude. He’s a scary competent killer, he’s part of a secret organization, he’s an assassin and has been since he was a child. And he’s falling in love with Sarai and that scares the shit out of him. Not for his own life, which will definitely be on the line if he lets her walk away from this whole affair, but for hers. He can’t stand the thought of her being part of what he is, yet at the same time he can’t stand her not being part of him either.

This book ends with a lot of questions but I wouldn’t call it a cliffhanger. Yes, the next book is set up, so you are left wanting more. But the major conflicts in this story are resolved completely. It was satisfying for me.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J.A. Redmerski, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of THE EDGE OF NEVER lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas with her three children and a Maltese. She is a lover of television and books that push boundaries and is a huge fan of AMC’s The Walking Dead.