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The Kill Club
Jazz will stop at nothing to save her brother.
Their foster mother, Carol, has always been fanatical, but with Jazz grown up and out of the house, Carol takes a dangerous turn that threatens thirteen-year-old Joaquin’s life. Over and over, child services fails to intervene, and Joaquin is running out of time.
Then Jazz gets a blocked call from someone offering a solution. There are others like her—people the law has failed. They’ve formed an underground network of “helpers,” each agreeing to eliminate the abuser of another. They’re taking back their power and leaving a trail of bodies throughout Los Angeles—dubbed the Blackbird Killings. If Jazz joins them, they’ll take care of Carol for good.
All she has to do is kill a stranger.
Their foster mother, Carol, has always been fanatical, but with Jazz grown up and out of the house, Carol takes a dangerous turn that threatens thirteen-year-old Joaquin’s life. Over and over, child services fails to intervene, and Joaquin is running out of time.
Then Jazz gets a blocked call from someone offering a solution. There are others like her—people the law has failed. They’ve formed an underground network of “helpers,” each agreeing to eliminate the abuser of another. They’re taking back their power and leaving a trail of bodies throughout Los Angeles—dubbed the Blackbird Killings. If Jazz joins them, they’ll take care of Carol for good.
All she has to do is kill a stranger.
362 pages, Paperback
First published December 17, 2019
About the author
Wendy Heard
7 books1,049 followersWendy Heard is the author of acclaimed suspense and thriller novels for adults and teens. Wendy has spent most of her life in Los Angeles, California, which is on fire more than she would honestly prefer, and can often be found haunting local hiking trails and bookstores. She loves all things vintage and has a collection of thrillers and adventure books from the 80s. You can hear more from Wendy (and play some fun, murdery fiction games) through her newsletter at www.wendyheard.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 473 reviews
September 27, 2019
If the movie The Box had an elicit affair with Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train, The Kill Club would be the murderous revenge-filled wife.
The first half of this book had me held in rapt attention, flipping pages with abandon.
With The Kill Club, Wendy Heard has offered up a gripping and thought-provoking plotline with a badass main character.
Would you be willing to kill a toxic person from a stranger's life in exchange for an equally bad person being eliminated from yours? A bit of quid pro quo, execution style.
"First rule of murder club, don't talk about murder club."
Sign me tf up! Hell yeah, can I get a two-for-one discount?
The second half of the book quickly becomes frenzied and rash. I didn't find it nearly as riveting as the first half. It was wordy at times causing me to do a bit of skimming.
Although I hadn't guessed the unmasking at the end, I still didn't find it to be a gasp-worthy revelation.
All in all this is a terrific thriller with a fresh plot. I look forward to what comes next from this author.
3.5 Stars rounded down ⭐⭐⭐
** I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. **
The first half of this book had me held in rapt attention, flipping pages with abandon.
With The Kill Club, Wendy Heard has offered up a gripping and thought-provoking plotline with a badass main character.
Would you be willing to kill a toxic person from a stranger's life in exchange for an equally bad person being eliminated from yours? A bit of quid pro quo, execution style.
"First rule of murder club, don't talk about murder club."
Sign me tf up! Hell yeah, can I get a two-for-one discount?
The second half of the book quickly becomes frenzied and rash. I didn't find it nearly as riveting as the first half. It was wordy at times causing me to do a bit of skimming.
Although I hadn't guessed the unmasking at the end, I still didn't find it to be a gasp-worthy revelation.
All in all this is a terrific thriller with a fresh plot. I look forward to what comes next from this author.
3.5 Stars rounded down ⭐⭐⭐
** I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. **
December 18, 2019
So you decided to make a deal with the devil....but the devil doesn't deliver his end.. or does he? Welcome to The Kill Club.
"First rule of murder club, don't talk about murder club." I loved this line! Wendy Heard has dished out a thrilling ride with this book. Upon starting it, the overall theme rang a bit similar to another book I had just read- The Other People ( which I loved, by the way). Yet the concept may be similar, the story line went into a completely different direction.
Random murders are happening all over the city. People are terrified to leave the house, as people are being killed off in very public places. There is a serial killer on the loose that leaves his calling card...a playing card at the scene of the crime. Every victim is killed by an injection of poison that brings them to a painful death. By the way, if my Starbucks tastes at all funky, it will promptly go in the trash...just saying...yet the detectives are stumped, because the killer seems to get a bit sloppy at times and sometimes he is "dead on" perfect in his techniques.
I loved Jasmine- a gritty, hard working girl, that has seen some very dark things in her life. Working long days at Trader Joe's she is just trying to make ends meet. When her brother Joaquin's life is in danger, she feels she must do whatever it takes to save him. Would she have to draw the line at murder? Would you?
"First rule of murder club, don't talk about murder club." I loved this line! Wendy Heard has dished out a thrilling ride with this book. Upon starting it, the overall theme rang a bit similar to another book I had just read- The Other People ( which I loved, by the way). Yet the concept may be similar, the story line went into a completely different direction.
Random murders are happening all over the city. People are terrified to leave the house, as people are being killed off in very public places. There is a serial killer on the loose that leaves his calling card...a playing card at the scene of the crime. Every victim is killed by an injection of poison that brings them to a painful death. By the way, if my Starbucks tastes at all funky, it will promptly go in the trash...just saying...yet the detectives are stumped, because the killer seems to get a bit sloppy at times and sometimes he is "dead on" perfect in his techniques.
I loved Jasmine- a gritty, hard working girl, that has seen some very dark things in her life. Working long days at Trader Joe's she is just trying to make ends meet. When her brother Joaquin's life is in danger, she feels she must do whatever it takes to save him. Would she have to draw the line at murder? Would you?
September 30, 2023
“The Kill Club” by Wendy Heard is a variation of Patricia Highsmith’s “Strangers on a Train”. The major differences are that the Kill Club is an organized group, and no one knows who is involved, other than the organizers.
Desperate Jasmine aka “Jazz” is at the end of her rope. Her brother is a diabetic and stuck with his adoptive mother Carol. Carol is a religious enthusiast who speaks in tongues and believes that God will cure anything, and modern medicine is useless. Jazz tries to get her brother, Joaquin his insulin in any way possible. She is twenty-eight years old, works at Trader Joes, and plays in a band. Oh, and she knows how to fight, mostly in a boxing way. She’s the heroine all readers root for.
As a result of a random event, she comes into possession of a flip phone left by a person who pushed her as he was running away. The phone rings and through a scrambled voice the caller says that she can make her problems with Carol “go away”. All she has to do is kill a random person. Once she does that, Carol will be eliminated. Jazz has a moral dilemma, she would do anything for her brother to protect him, but her internal ethics give her pause.
Meanwhile, the police have a serial killer known as the Blackbird killer. Jazz inadvertently gets mixed up in the serial killings. Because of her past, she has little faith in the police so doesn’t get the police involved.
I love the pace of this thriller. Plus, I never guessed who was behind the serial killings aka the Kill Club. This is not only a page turner, but it’s a character driven story that is entertaining and captivating. I highly recommend it for a fantastic thriller read. I listened to the audio performed by Almarie Guerra.
Desperate Jasmine aka “Jazz” is at the end of her rope. Her brother is a diabetic and stuck with his adoptive mother Carol. Carol is a religious enthusiast who speaks in tongues and believes that God will cure anything, and modern medicine is useless. Jazz tries to get her brother, Joaquin his insulin in any way possible. She is twenty-eight years old, works at Trader Joes, and plays in a band. Oh, and she knows how to fight, mostly in a boxing way. She’s the heroine all readers root for.
As a result of a random event, she comes into possession of a flip phone left by a person who pushed her as he was running away. The phone rings and through a scrambled voice the caller says that she can make her problems with Carol “go away”. All she has to do is kill a random person. Once she does that, Carol will be eliminated. Jazz has a moral dilemma, she would do anything for her brother to protect him, but her internal ethics give her pause.
Meanwhile, the police have a serial killer known as the Blackbird killer. Jazz inadvertently gets mixed up in the serial killings. Because of her past, she has little faith in the police so doesn’t get the police involved.
I love the pace of this thriller. Plus, I never guessed who was behind the serial killings aka the Kill Club. This is not only a page turner, but it’s a character driven story that is entertaining and captivating. I highly recommend it for a fantastic thriller read. I listened to the audio performed by Almarie Guerra.
January 6, 2020
“First rule of murder club, don’t talk about murder club.”
As you may have guessed simply from the title The Kill Club by Wendy Heard is not a new or overly original plot but one that tackles the idea of the characters killing a stranger in order for another person to kill the horrible person in their life. Regardless of this idea being done before Wendy Heard still made a compelling story with her version.
Jazz and her younger brother grew up in foster care but now that Jazz has aged out her thirteen year old brother is still in the care of their terrible foster mother, Carol. Jazz does everything she can from the outside to see her brother gets his medication and stays in school but Carol continues to mistreat him and despite the calls to child services nothing is done.
When Jazz picks up a burner phone she never expected it to ring and someone invite her to join a network of killers promising that if Jazz completes her mission someone will take care of Carol. All Jazz needs to do to save her brother is to kill a stranger but can she actually complete the mission or should she turn the evidence over to the police?
The Kill Club had a nice fast pace to it as you learned of the characters and their situations and the action begins. The story also had plenty of twists and turns added into the mix that kept the pages turning once the characters begin to learn about the club and all that it offered. Despite the lack of originality with the plot this was still quite the solid read overall.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
As you may have guessed simply from the title The Kill Club by Wendy Heard is not a new or overly original plot but one that tackles the idea of the characters killing a stranger in order for another person to kill the horrible person in their life. Regardless of this idea being done before Wendy Heard still made a compelling story with her version.
Jazz and her younger brother grew up in foster care but now that Jazz has aged out her thirteen year old brother is still in the care of their terrible foster mother, Carol. Jazz does everything she can from the outside to see her brother gets his medication and stays in school but Carol continues to mistreat him and despite the calls to child services nothing is done.
When Jazz picks up a burner phone she never expected it to ring and someone invite her to join a network of killers promising that if Jazz completes her mission someone will take care of Carol. All Jazz needs to do to save her brother is to kill a stranger but can she actually complete the mission or should she turn the evidence over to the police?
The Kill Club had a nice fast pace to it as you learned of the characters and their situations and the action begins. The story also had plenty of twists and turns added into the mix that kept the pages turning once the characters begin to learn about the club and all that it offered. Despite the lack of originality with the plot this was still quite the solid read overall.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
December 23, 2019
The first rule of murder club ...What happens in murder club, stays in Murder club.
could you murder a stranger if in return a stranger would murder someone who is harming you? That is the premise of this highly addictive game of cat and mouse. Jazz is running out of options as to what to do about her younger brother Joaquin and his foster mother who refuses to give him the insulin he needs to survive. When she receives a mysterious phone call with a solution to her problem, she is tempted. BUT can she kill a complete stranger even if that means she will be rid of Carol forever? Could you if you were in Jazz’s shoes?
This is my second book by Wendy Herd. Both books have been captivating thrillers with unique premises and complex characters. I was completely sucked into Jazz’s Life, her hopes and her obstacles. The idea of a string of murders across the LA area seeming to be connected but with many contradictions was extremely intriguing. My heart was racing as Jazz got herself deeper and deeper into this crazy trap. Throughout the story I was not entirely sure of the good guys and the bad guys were, and if I’m being honest I still don’t. A compelling and disturbing story that had me on the edge of my seat and an ending that left me satisfied.
This book in emojis 📱 💉 🥊 ☠️
🎧🎧🎧 The audiobook was narrated by Almarie Guerra. This is the first book I listen to from her and I think she did an excellent job. There are so many characters and different perspectives and she gave each of the characters a unique voice.
*** Big thanks to Harlequin and Harper Audio for my copy of this book ***
could you murder a stranger if in return a stranger would murder someone who is harming you? That is the premise of this highly addictive game of cat and mouse. Jazz is running out of options as to what to do about her younger brother Joaquin and his foster mother who refuses to give him the insulin he needs to survive. When she receives a mysterious phone call with a solution to her problem, she is tempted. BUT can she kill a complete stranger even if that means she will be rid of Carol forever? Could you if you were in Jazz’s shoes?
This is my second book by Wendy Herd. Both books have been captivating thrillers with unique premises and complex characters. I was completely sucked into Jazz’s Life, her hopes and her obstacles. The idea of a string of murders across the LA area seeming to be connected but with many contradictions was extremely intriguing. My heart was racing as Jazz got herself deeper and deeper into this crazy trap. Throughout the story I was not entirely sure of the good guys and the bad guys were, and if I’m being honest I still don’t. A compelling and disturbing story that had me on the edge of my seat and an ending that left me satisfied.
This book in emojis 📱 💉 🥊 ☠️
🎧🎧🎧 The audiobook was narrated by Almarie Guerra. This is the first book I listen to from her and I think she did an excellent job. There are so many characters and different perspectives and she gave each of the characters a unique voice.
*** Big thanks to Harlequin and Harper Audio for my copy of this book ***
December 26, 2019
Favorite Quotes:
“Okay,” I say, and in that one word is contained an ocean of acceptance. This is where I am. This is what I’m doing.
I think about what the reporter said, that the people who have been killed have had records of stalking, domestic violence. It actually sounds like the voice on the phone is who they say they are. They invented a serial killer. The police are searching LA for a murderer that doesn’t exist.
I don’t know how I feel about this, morally. Is it bad to kill someone like Carol? Does she deserve the death sentence? Do I have any feelings about her being dead? … I remember the guy I saw die at Villains. I heard him scream. It’s definitely not painless. But then I remember Carol with her baseball bat crunching through my bones like glass, and I think, Good.
How is she so put-together at six in the morning? When I work early shifts at Trader Joe’s, I look like an orphan in a Christmas movie.
My Review:
This book was devilishly clever and fiendishly addictive, I was taut with tension and unable to put my Kindle down without deeply resenting the intrusion to my reading. The main character of Jasmine was deeply flawed and horribly unlucky, and though well-intentioned she was a total screw up in every arena. I cringed for her while simultaneously wanting to give her a smack to the back of the head. The storylines were highly active, heartbreaking, twisted, brutal, gripping, and fraught with tension with unexpected and greatly welcomed glints of snarky levity and sharply edged wit. This was my first exposure to the cunning storytelling of Wendy Heard and I was an instant fangirl, I greedily want to amass all her clever words.
“Okay,” I say, and in that one word is contained an ocean of acceptance. This is where I am. This is what I’m doing.
I think about what the reporter said, that the people who have been killed have had records of stalking, domestic violence. It actually sounds like the voice on the phone is who they say they are. They invented a serial killer. The police are searching LA for a murderer that doesn’t exist.
I don’t know how I feel about this, morally. Is it bad to kill someone like Carol? Does she deserve the death sentence? Do I have any feelings about her being dead? … I remember the guy I saw die at Villains. I heard him scream. It’s definitely not painless. But then I remember Carol with her baseball bat crunching through my bones like glass, and I think, Good.
How is she so put-together at six in the morning? When I work early shifts at Trader Joe’s, I look like an orphan in a Christmas movie.
My Review:
This book was devilishly clever and fiendishly addictive, I was taut with tension and unable to put my Kindle down without deeply resenting the intrusion to my reading. The main character of Jasmine was deeply flawed and horribly unlucky, and though well-intentioned she was a total screw up in every arena. I cringed for her while simultaneously wanting to give her a smack to the back of the head. The storylines were highly active, heartbreaking, twisted, brutal, gripping, and fraught with tension with unexpected and greatly welcomed glints of snarky levity and sharply edged wit. This was my first exposure to the cunning storytelling of Wendy Heard and I was an instant fangirl, I greedily want to amass all her clever words.
Want to read
June 16, 2019Feeling lucky to get the ARC! Wendy Heard is amaaaazing.
February 8, 2019
Wendy Heard has a real knack for creating characters who are as unique as they are compelling, with real-life flaws and big, strong voices. Jazz in The Kill Club has a gritty, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo vibe, and she drives the action in this full-throttle thriller all the way to the deliciously dark end. I can’t wait to see what Heard comes up with next.
November 21, 2020
I knew from the synopsis that this would be a tough one for me. Child abuse is always a difficult subject to read about, but religiously motivated child abuse really makes my blood boil. The only reason I picked up this book despite my reservations was out of hope that I would get to read something terrible happen to Jazz’s fanatically religious and abusive former foster mom, Carol.
Thankfully, I managed to get through the book with minimal anger and frustration at what a terrible person Carol was, since she wasn’t actually in the book that much. The main focus was Jazz, the protagonist, who I thought was great. I mentioned in my review of Dread Nation, which I read just last month, that I love an angry female protagonist, and it doesn’t get much angrier than Jazz. She’s angry, she’s tough, she’s flawed, she’s gay… basically everything I need in a protagonist. I couldn’t help but root for her.
Most of the chapters were written in Jazz’s first-person perspective, but there were scattered chapters throughout written in the third-person perspective of various secondary and minor characters: other members of the titular murder club, victims of the club’s murders, police involved in the investigation. These characters weren’t as fleshed out as Jazz, so I didn’t feel much of a connection with them, but I thought their points-of-view added something valuable to the story by widening its scope.
Despite The Kill Club’s unique premise, which was the main reason I picked this book up in the first place, the plot was definitely a weak spot for me. I think this book would have benefited from at least fifty, if not a hundred more pages; I love a fast-paced mystery/thriller, but the pacing of The Kill Club was so fast it didn’t allow for enough plot development. The romance was rushed. Plot twists were either easy to predict or lacked proper buildup that would have made them more impactful. And in general, there just wasn’t enough time to explore the, again, very unique and interesting premise. I have mixed feelings about the ending, but I think I mostly liked it. It was exciting and unexpected.
Normally plot doesn’t matter nearly as much to me as characters, but mysteries and thrillers rely heavily on plot, and The Kill Club really only had one standout character, Jazz. It was a fun and easy read, something you could distract yourself with for a weekend – I know a lot of us could use a good distraction these days – but it won’t make it onto the list of my favorite mysteries and thrillers.
Thankfully, I managed to get through the book with minimal anger and frustration at what a terrible person Carol was, since she wasn’t actually in the book that much. The main focus was Jazz, the protagonist, who I thought was great. I mentioned in my review of Dread Nation, which I read just last month, that I love an angry female protagonist, and it doesn’t get much angrier than Jazz. She’s angry, she’s tough, she’s flawed, she’s gay… basically everything I need in a protagonist. I couldn’t help but root for her.
Most of the chapters were written in Jazz’s first-person perspective, but there were scattered chapters throughout written in the third-person perspective of various secondary and minor characters: other members of the titular murder club, victims of the club’s murders, police involved in the investigation. These characters weren’t as fleshed out as Jazz, so I didn’t feel much of a connection with them, but I thought their points-of-view added something valuable to the story by widening its scope.
Despite The Kill Club’s unique premise, which was the main reason I picked this book up in the first place, the plot was definitely a weak spot for me. I think this book would have benefited from at least fifty, if not a hundred more pages; I love a fast-paced mystery/thriller, but the pacing of The Kill Club was so fast it didn’t allow for enough plot development. The romance was rushed. Plot twists were either easy to predict or lacked proper buildup that would have made them more impactful. And in general, there just wasn’t enough time to explore the, again, very unique and interesting premise. I have mixed feelings about the ending, but I think I mostly liked it. It was exciting and unexpected.
Normally plot doesn’t matter nearly as much to me as characters, but mysteries and thrillers rely heavily on plot, and The Kill Club really only had one standout character, Jazz. It was a fun and easy read, something you could distract yourself with for a weekend – I know a lot of us could use a good distraction these days – but it won’t make it onto the list of my favorite mysteries and thrillers.
October 18, 2020
Jazz is just trying to keep her brother safe from their foster mom and gets wrapped up in a murder for hire scheme in Los Angeles. Very fast read, couldn't put it down!
December 13, 2019
4.5 stars. What a story! This thriller/mystery kept me on the edge of my seat for pretty much the whole book. Jasmine Benavides aka Jazz has tried everything to no avail through the proper channels of police, child protection, etc. to help her younger brother, living with an abusive foster/adoptive mother Carol who withholds his diabetes medication. A mysterious organization contacts Jazz and promises a "permanent" solution to Carol. The catch? For someone else to kill Carol, she has to kill someone else's Carol. Relentless pacing, great flawed characters. Loved the lesbian and bisexual representation and the focus on working class East LA with a noticeable attempt to not pretend there isn't a substantial homeless population in the city. I wished the book had committed to the moral grey area of the organization and Jazz herself a bit more, but that's the only thing stopping me from giving this 5 stars.
February 17, 2020
This is the story of Jazz who would do absolutely anything for her little brother Joaquin. Worried about his safety at the hands of their diabolical foster Mom, who refuses to give him his insulin because "God" will manage his diabetes, Jazz has run out of options. She then receives a phone call with a solution to end it all and make her brother safe again but with one condition. The Kill Club asks - how far would you go to protect someone you love?
Author Wendy Heard creates unique, compelling characters and the story pretty much had me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book.
This is an intense story with crazy twists and turns!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin/MIRA for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Author Wendy Heard creates unique, compelling characters and the story pretty much had me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book.
This is an intense story with crazy twists and turns!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin/MIRA for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
October 21, 2023
This writeup goes all over the place. I'm in a mood.
Who knew there were so many books about more-or-less-anonymous crime? Examples include the uber classic Strangers on a Train; The Chain by Adrian McKinty; and here we have The Kill Club.
Somebody has been wronged, and the justice system has failed. In desperation, this person figures out how to exact vengeance using a convoluted system of exchange. He or she identifies candidates to participate in a pay-it-forward campaign of mostly anonymous killing, where an otherwise powerless victim (B) first helps out someone else (A) before yet another person (C) solves (B)'s problem by wiping each other's foes off the face of the earth. Since none of these people are connected in the real world, they should get away with the crime.
The weakest part of these plots is always the system of exchange. If somebody IRL ever 1) figures out how to do this anonymously, 2) picks the right people who won't fuck it up, chicken out or report it to the cops, and 3) employs the easiest, most foolproof method of murder... this could conceivably be an Actual Thing, Lord help us. Personally, I've pissed in enough people's cornflakes to earn a spot on the naughty list and I really don't want to be taken out by some covert, sneakypete killing where I don't even see it coming.
Speaking of which, am I the only person who gets bothered by that in movies? I've watched a million action flicks and I'm always sad for the ones who get taken out when they aren't even looking. It's like, damn - X number of years on this planet; parents, friends, significant other, kids, finally got a good job that pays beaucoup bucks and all he has to do is patrol some rich guy's perimeter, and then BOOM. Shot in the back. So unfair. If I'm ever in a situation like that, I hope I at least get one good swing in so I know I did something before getting my ticket punched.
I digress. Anyhoo, there's a lot of movies and books out there along the lines of this plot, and some are better than others. I think Patricia Highsmith did it first, and probably came up with the best SOE. Her plot's crime unravelled because one player's mind unravelled. Other stories fall apart for other reasons. The Kill Club was weak because of the frustrating MC Jazz, who kept failing the assignment. It became tedious and frustrating.
You know what would be neat? A book where the whole system actually works. The powerless victims win, the bad guys all lose. The end. If/when that book comes out, somebody let me know.
Who knew there were so many books about more-or-less-anonymous crime? Examples include the uber classic Strangers on a Train; The Chain by Adrian McKinty; and here we have The Kill Club.
Somebody has been wronged, and the justice system has failed. In desperation, this person figures out how to exact vengeance using a convoluted system of exchange. He or she identifies candidates to participate in a pay-it-forward campaign of mostly anonymous killing, where an otherwise powerless victim (B) first helps out someone else (A) before yet another person (C) solves (B)'s problem by wiping each other's foes off the face of the earth. Since none of these people are connected in the real world, they should get away with the crime.
The weakest part of these plots is always the system of exchange. If somebody IRL ever 1) figures out how to do this anonymously, 2) picks the right people who won't fuck it up, chicken out or report it to the cops, and 3) employs the easiest, most foolproof method of murder... this could conceivably be an Actual Thing, Lord help us. Personally, I've pissed in enough people's cornflakes to earn a spot on the naughty list and I really don't want to be taken out by some covert, sneakypete killing where I don't even see it coming.
Speaking of which, am I the only person who gets bothered by that in movies? I've watched a million action flicks and I'm always sad for the ones who get taken out when they aren't even looking. It's like, damn - X number of years on this planet; parents, friends, significant other, kids, finally got a good job that pays beaucoup bucks and all he has to do is patrol some rich guy's perimeter, and then BOOM. Shot in the back. So unfair. If I'm ever in a situation like that, I hope I at least get one good swing in so I know I did something before getting my ticket punched.
I digress. Anyhoo, there's a lot of movies and books out there along the lines of this plot, and some are better than others. I think Patricia Highsmith did it first, and probably came up with the best SOE. Her plot's crime unravelled because one player's mind unravelled. Other stories fall apart for other reasons. The Kill Club was weak because of the frustrating MC Jazz, who kept failing the assignment. It became tedious and frustrating.
You know what would be neat? A book where the whole system actually works. The powerless victims win, the bad guys all lose. The end. If/when that book comes out, somebody let me know.
December 17, 2019
4.5 stars. This fantastic thriller felt like a mix of Strangers on a Train and Stephen White's Kill Me (which I wholeheartedly recommend if you liked this book.) Jasmine "Jazz" Benavides is trying to figure out how to save her younger brother, Joaquin, from their religious nut foster mother, Carol, who won't give him his insulin, when she finds herself in the middle of an organization that will get rid of Carol for her if she kills someone else first. When things go wrong, Jazz becomes a target and is caught up in a race to both save Joaquin and evade the Kill Club.
My eyes were glued to the page as the story raced along, and if you are looking for an exciting thriller, look no further. As it entertains, this book also highlights stories of injustice like Jazz's, which might just be dire enough to kill for. It's hard to know who to sympathize with at times, but Jazz is always easy to root for. I loved this book and can't wait to read more from Wendy Heard.
*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
My eyes were glued to the page as the story raced along, and if you are looking for an exciting thriller, look no further. As it entertains, this book also highlights stories of injustice like Jazz's, which might just be dire enough to kill for. It's hard to know who to sympathize with at times, but Jazz is always easy to root for. I loved this book and can't wait to read more from Wendy Heard.
*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 16, 2019
An unputdownable thriller that's also an incisive look at the failings of the foster care/child protectives services systems and a love letter to East LA. I cannot overstate how much I enjoyed this book; I literally got a sunburn because I could not stop reading it. Move indoors? That would slow me down, better to keep going. SO DAMN GOOD! Can't wait for more from Wendy Heard!
June 16, 2020
This book was such a wild ride
December 9, 2019
This book reminds me of something that I just can't *quite* put my finger on and it's driving me crazy! This is one of those ripple effect kind of books. You do one thing then that thing make another thing happen and so on and so forth. When you're desperate, why wouldn't you take what seems like a fairly reasonable, albeit deadly, deal? There are rules set in place of course... and you must follow them, but sometimes you're just damned if you do and damned if you don't.
I flew through the first 75% of the this book. When the big reveal came, I was like.. wait, who? Somehow I was at a complete loss - that's how little this character seemed to take my notice. Oopsie! So I was fairly disappointed there. But then of course, it hit me and I was all DOH! In any case, regardless of a rather muted reveal and a couple of questionable things... I really enjoyed this book.
Moderately paced, addictive and I just fell in love with Jazz and Joaquin. And I also really liked the ending, regardless of the slight predictability. Ya Heard? *wink*
I flew through the first 75% of the this book. When the big reveal came, I was like.. wait, who? Somehow I was at a complete loss - that's how little this character seemed to take my notice. Oopsie! So I was fairly disappointed there. But then of course, it hit me and I was all DOH! In any case, regardless of a rather muted reveal and a couple of questionable things... I really enjoyed this book.
Moderately paced, addictive and I just fell in love with Jazz and Joaquin. And I also really liked the ending, regardless of the slight predictability. Ya Heard? *wink*
November 5, 2019
Well that was a wild ride! I could not flip the pages quick enough while reading this crazy suspense/thriller. Wendy Heard created an action packed, intense, and chilling story with a very likable main character - Jazz. This was an interesting read, with a clever and thought-provoking plot, and I would have probably given it a 5 star rating however, I was left a little unsatisfied with the ending. I am not sure if I missed something when reading the second part of the book (maybe I was flipping those pages too fast) but I did not fully understood the motive of the main villain, the mastermind/creator of the murder club. Overall, this book is an excellent read for all the adrenaline-craving readers, and I will definitely read other books by this author.
Thank you NetGalley, Harelquin - Mira Books, and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you NetGalley, Harelquin - Mira Books, and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 18, 2022
This book was nothing that I expected. I loved the storyline, which was gripping from the very beginning. There are people dying in public places and everyone doubts that there is a serial killer. Only that there's not.
I love books with flawed characters because they are closer to reality, and this book just had that. At times, I felt sorry for the main character, Jasmine, because even if she was a mess, more mess always awaited her. She loved her brother and I felt her hatred towards her foster mother for denying insulin to him. I mean, why? Why adopt kids if this is how you are going to treat them?
This was a page turner and I would have finished it in one sitting if I didn't have to work. There was a lot of tension going throughout the story with all the twists and turns. It highlighted the failures of foster care systems and how they impact the kids. I was mostly on the edge of my seat. Definitely recommended.
I love books with flawed characters because they are closer to reality, and this book just had that. At times, I felt sorry for the main character, Jasmine, because even if she was a mess, more mess always awaited her. She loved her brother and I felt her hatred towards her foster mother for denying insulin to him. I mean, why? Why adopt kids if this is how you are going to treat them?
This was a page turner and I would have finished it in one sitting if I didn't have to work. There was a lot of tension going throughout the story with all the twists and turns. It highlighted the failures of foster care systems and how they impact the kids. I was mostly on the edge of my seat. Definitely recommended.
December 19, 2019
The Kill Club by Wendy Heard is a psychological thriller.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Harlequin - MIRA, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
People are being poisoned in public places, and the police fear there is a serial killer on the loose. Mind you, most of these people deserve to die. Someone out there is a vigilante, killing those who the law has not punished. In reality, there is not one killer, but many. To avoid detection, individuals are killing people that are totally unknown to them, so that someone else will kill their nemesis. The person behind all this is not even getting their hands dirty.
Jazz is approached when it becomes evident that her abusive foster-mom Carol is not going to provide her "brother" with much needed insulin. All Jazz has to do is kill someone, and someone else will kill Carol. But can she do it? Can she kill another human being to save Joaquin? You bet she can.
Unfortunately, things do not go smoothly with the "assignment" that Jazz is given, and soon Jazz is the one being hunted.
My Opinions:
Take "Strangers on a Train" by Patricia Highsmith...and kick it up a number of notches.
This was a wild, fast, and compelling read. It also ended up being rather emotional. I didn't want to put it down. Even though the premise of the book was a little dark, and a little scary, this was actually a fun read, mostly due to the characters.
I absolutely loved the characters. Jazz was wonderful. She is tough, she is scarred, she has not had much of an up-bringing, but her heart is enormous, and the raporte she has with Joaquin was great, and felt real, as did her budding relationship with Sofia. The characters all had a realistic feel about them.
I can't wait to see what Wendy Heard comes out with next!
For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
June 25, 2022
Netgalley audiobook
german and english review
actual rating: 4.5 stars
WOW!!!
Das Buch, die Geschichte, war eine absolute Achterbahnfahrt der Gefühle.
Sind wir ehrlich, ich wollte das Buch hauptsächlich wegen dem Cover. Aber die Story klang einfach auch super interessant. Dass ich dann allerdings auf so eine verrückte und rasante Fahrt geschickt werde, damit hab ich absolut nicht gerechnet.
Das Buch ist so gut. Ich LIEBE Jazz als Hauptcharakter. Und Joaquin. Ich kann es garnicht oft genug sagen wie wichtig mir solche familiären Beziehungen in Büchern sind.
Die Story hatte durch weg immer wieder Überraschungen für einen, es wurde nie langweilig, es war immer wieder etwas los.
Einfach großartig!!!
Das Hörbuch war auch wirklich gut, die Sprecherin hat mir wirklich richtig gut gefallen. Hatte sie schon öfter bei Hörbüchern und sie gehört eindeutig zu meinen Favoriten.
***
WOW!!!
This book, the story, what a rollercoaster ride through every emotion.
Let's be honest, I first noticed the cover and had to have it. Then the story sounded super intriguing. That I was in for the craziest and most fast paced adventure actually surprised me.
This book is so good. I LOVE Jazz as a main character. And Joaquin. I can't say it often enough but family relationships like that are the most important to me.
The story itself was full of surprises at every turn, never a dull moment, there was just always something going on.
Just incredible!!!
The audio book was so good as well, I just really like the narrator, I had her on a few other audio books and she is totally one of my faves.
german and english review
actual rating: 4.5 stars
WOW!!!
Das Buch, die Geschichte, war eine absolute Achterbahnfahrt der Gefühle.
Sind wir ehrlich, ich wollte das Buch hauptsächlich wegen dem Cover. Aber die Story klang einfach auch super interessant. Dass ich dann allerdings auf so eine verrückte und rasante Fahrt geschickt werde, damit hab ich absolut nicht gerechnet.
Das Buch ist so gut. Ich LIEBE Jazz als Hauptcharakter. Und Joaquin. Ich kann es garnicht oft genug sagen wie wichtig mir solche familiären Beziehungen in Büchern sind.
Die Story hatte durch weg immer wieder Überraschungen für einen, es wurde nie langweilig, es war immer wieder etwas los.
Einfach großartig!!!
Das Hörbuch war auch wirklich gut, die Sprecherin hat mir wirklich richtig gut gefallen. Hatte sie schon öfter bei Hörbüchern und sie gehört eindeutig zu meinen Favoriten.
***
WOW!!!
This book, the story, what a rollercoaster ride through every emotion.
Let's be honest, I first noticed the cover and had to have it. Then the story sounded super intriguing. That I was in for the craziest and most fast paced adventure actually surprised me.
This book is so good. I LOVE Jazz as a main character. And Joaquin. I can't say it often enough but family relationships like that are the most important to me.
The story itself was full of surprises at every turn, never a dull moment, there was just always something going on.
Just incredible!!!
The audio book was so good as well, I just really like the narrator, I had her on a few other audio books and she is totally one of my faves.
December 17, 2019
This book was a bit of a slow starter for me and definitely seemed like a slight rip-off of The Chain Similar premise--an anonymous person contacts you to kill someone, and in turn someone in your life that you want to be rid of will be killed. I had a lot of logistical questions about this book, and the ultimate person behind the murder club was a head-scratcher and didn't make much sense.
I liked Jazz and Joaquin and their parts of the story elevated the tale beyond all of the cat-and-mouse chasing. Overall though, the suspense and mystery are not the strong portion of the tale, the relationships are. I might check out another book by this author in the future, I just think that the suspense needs to be fine-tuned quite a bit more in a further novel.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own. Thank you to Harlequin/MIRA for the opportunity to participate in the blog tour.
I liked Jazz and Joaquin and their parts of the story elevated the tale beyond all of the cat-and-mouse chasing. Overall though, the suspense and mystery are not the strong portion of the tale, the relationships are. I might check out another book by this author in the future, I just think that the suspense needs to be fine-tuned quite a bit more in a further novel.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own. Thank you to Harlequin/MIRA for the opportunity to participate in the blog tour.
January 13, 2020
3.25/5
- enjoyable but kind of lost footing in the second half
- enjoyable but kind of lost footing in the second half
July 29, 2022
Kill Club ist ein wirklich cooler Action-Pageturner, der mich von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite gut unterhalten hat.
Die Protagonistin Jazz war ein starker Charakter, die nicht nur mit ihrer lässigen Optik gepunktet hat, sie war einfach jemand, die wusste, was sie will und die ich das auch nimmt – in diesem Fall ihren jüngeren Bruder, den sie nur zu sich nehmen kann, wenn seine Pflegemutter stirbt.
Dabei ist Jazz keine gewissenlose Tötungsmaschine, nur sehr tough – und als sich der Kill Club bei ihr meldet, der ihr anbietet, ihre Pflegemutter von einem Fremden verschwinden zu lassen, sagt sie bereitwillig zu – wobei sie eigentlich keine andere Wahl hat, denn der Kill Club ist gnadenlos.
Das Prinzip des Kill Clubs fand ich sehr cool. Auch, wie die Leute kontaktiert werden und wie die Morde ablaufen, fand ich erfrischend anders.
Dass man nicht nur aus der Sicht von Jazz gelesen hat, sondern immer wieder auch von Personen, die einen Mord für den Club ausführen sollen, fand ich sehr interessant und hat dem Buch zusätzliche Spannung beschert.
Was mir an der Geschichte besonders gut gefiel, war das Verhältnis zwischen Jazz und ihrem kleinen Bruder. Es war herzlich, aber nicht kitschig – und ich habe Jazz wirklich angenommen, dass sie viel für ihn empfindet und wie wichtig er ihr ist. Die Sache mit seinem Diabetes fand ich gut beschrieben. Etwas schade war, dass er im Laufe der Geschichte etwas in den Hintergrund gerückt ist, aber es war natürlich nötig, damit die Story sich entwickeln konnte.
Selbst eine Prise Romantik gab es in der Geschichte, was dem Ganzen zusätzliche Würze verlieh, weil es aus einer Richtung kam, die ich so am Anfang nicht vermutet hatte.
Kill Club ist kein blutiger Thriller, obwohl ich die Morde nicht unbedingt als „unbrutal“ einstufen würde. Am meisten punktet das Buch aber mit der Action, mit der es aufwarten kann. Es ist permanent etwas passiert und man wollte immer wissen, wie es weiter geht.
Punktabzug gibt es aber für das Ende. Ich fand die Auflösung rund um den Kill Club okay, aber irgendwie absurd und nicht nachvollziehbar genug ausgearbeitet. Der Showdown war gut, aber der Teil danach erschien mir fast schon etwas zäh.
Insgesamt war es aber ein richtig gutes Buch, das ich auf jeden Fall empfehlen würde. Ich hoffe, von der Autorin wird es noch weitere Übersetzungen ins Deutsche geben.
Die Protagonistin Jazz war ein starker Charakter, die nicht nur mit ihrer lässigen Optik gepunktet hat, sie war einfach jemand, die wusste, was sie will und die ich das auch nimmt – in diesem Fall ihren jüngeren Bruder, den sie nur zu sich nehmen kann, wenn seine Pflegemutter stirbt.
Dabei ist Jazz keine gewissenlose Tötungsmaschine, nur sehr tough – und als sich der Kill Club bei ihr meldet, der ihr anbietet, ihre Pflegemutter von einem Fremden verschwinden zu lassen, sagt sie bereitwillig zu – wobei sie eigentlich keine andere Wahl hat, denn der Kill Club ist gnadenlos.
Das Prinzip des Kill Clubs fand ich sehr cool. Auch, wie die Leute kontaktiert werden und wie die Morde ablaufen, fand ich erfrischend anders.
Dass man nicht nur aus der Sicht von Jazz gelesen hat, sondern immer wieder auch von Personen, die einen Mord für den Club ausführen sollen, fand ich sehr interessant und hat dem Buch zusätzliche Spannung beschert.
Was mir an der Geschichte besonders gut gefiel, war das Verhältnis zwischen Jazz und ihrem kleinen Bruder. Es war herzlich, aber nicht kitschig – und ich habe Jazz wirklich angenommen, dass sie viel für ihn empfindet und wie wichtig er ihr ist. Die Sache mit seinem Diabetes fand ich gut beschrieben. Etwas schade war, dass er im Laufe der Geschichte etwas in den Hintergrund gerückt ist, aber es war natürlich nötig, damit die Story sich entwickeln konnte.
Selbst eine Prise Romantik gab es in der Geschichte, was dem Ganzen zusätzliche Würze verlieh, weil es aus einer Richtung kam, die ich so am Anfang nicht vermutet hatte.
Kill Club ist kein blutiger Thriller, obwohl ich die Morde nicht unbedingt als „unbrutal“ einstufen würde. Am meisten punktet das Buch aber mit der Action, mit der es aufwarten kann. Es ist permanent etwas passiert und man wollte immer wissen, wie es weiter geht.
Punktabzug gibt es aber für das Ende. Ich fand die Auflösung rund um den Kill Club okay, aber irgendwie absurd und nicht nachvollziehbar genug ausgearbeitet. Der Showdown war gut, aber der Teil danach erschien mir fast schon etwas zäh.
Insgesamt war es aber ein richtig gutes Buch, das ich auf jeden Fall empfehlen würde. Ich hoffe, von der Autorin wird es noch weitere Übersetzungen ins Deutsche geben.
January 23, 2020
I had high hopes for this book because the concept was so interesting and it had so much potential. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The writing and Jazz's character in particular felt like this book should have been YA. It was leaning younger for me. I didn't totally hate this book but I thought a lot of twists were predictable and it didn't impress me much (feeling my inner Shania Twain right now haha).
December 27, 2019
That was fun! Reminded me a bit of The Chain. I really enjoyed the characters. There was even a fight scene with a titty twister 🤣 I managed to binge this in one day with very little free time. If you’re looking for something quick, light & over-the-top, I recommend this one!
December 20, 2019
Random murders are happening all over Los Angeles. People are being killed in very public places. These murders are linked and the police are advising people that there is a serial killer on the loose, Victims are injected with a poison that results in a very painful death. "The Blackbird" leaves his calling card, a playing card, at the scene of the crime. The killer is slick, until he starts to make mistakes. Jazz, a young woman who was raised in foster care, is trying to take care of her young brother who has been adopted by their foster mother, Carol. She is a religious fanatic and refuses to fill his prescriptions for insulin or even take him to a doctor's appointment. Jazz finds out that she has pulled Joaquin from school and moved from her house. Jazz is worried that he will die. Enter, the murder club, as she calls it. Would you be willing to kill a person who is a danger from a stranger's life in exchange for an equally bad person being eliminated from yours? A bit of quid pro quo. Jazz agrees, as she wants to get rid of Carol, once and for all. Things do not always work out as planned. People get nervous, someone knows someone else, you stick the needle in the wrong spot. What is happening. I love the line, "First rule of murder club, don't talk about murder club." that Jazz coins. What follows is a twisty, thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish.
I loved the character of Jazz. She was a tough, kick-ass heroine, who only gets involved in order to save her brothers life. We learn more and more about Jazz and her relationship with Carol and Joaquin, that just made me love Jazz more and dislike Carol immensely. She was not an inherently bad person, but has very dangerous beliefs, bordering on mental health concerns. Jazz is afraid to develop relationships with anyone due to her past, but when she finally takes a chance, it leads her down a path she can't turn back on. The plot of this book was well-written. It started with a bang and got even more frenzied as the story went on. I had no idea who was behind the Kill Club, or the Blackbirds until the final reveal and it blew me away. This was a story that I was not expecting and I am glad I read/listened to it. I recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced thriller with a satisfying ending.
The audiobook was narrated by Almarie Guerra. This is a narrator that I have never listened to before, but thoroughly enjoyed. She is a bilingual voice actress and her accent for Jazz was wonderful, and not too heavy. Her voices were subtle, yet recognizable. Her expression, pacing and intonation added much to the read/listen experience. I will definitely watch for more books narrated by Almarie Guerra. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
I loved the character of Jazz. She was a tough, kick-ass heroine, who only gets involved in order to save her brothers life. We learn more and more about Jazz and her relationship with Carol and Joaquin, that just made me love Jazz more and dislike Carol immensely. She was not an inherently bad person, but has very dangerous beliefs, bordering on mental health concerns. Jazz is afraid to develop relationships with anyone due to her past, but when she finally takes a chance, it leads her down a path she can't turn back on. The plot of this book was well-written. It started with a bang and got even more frenzied as the story went on. I had no idea who was behind the Kill Club, or the Blackbirds until the final reveal and it blew me away. This was a story that I was not expecting and I am glad I read/listened to it. I recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced thriller with a satisfying ending.
The audiobook was narrated by Almarie Guerra. This is a narrator that I have never listened to before, but thoroughly enjoyed. She is a bilingual voice actress and her accent for Jazz was wonderful, and not too heavy. Her voices were subtle, yet recognizable. Her expression, pacing and intonation added much to the read/listen experience. I will definitely watch for more books narrated by Almarie Guerra. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
August 7, 2019
You’re gonna want to get comfortable when you read this book, because once you start, you *will not* be able to stop. THE KILL CLUB, Wendy Heard’s sophomore thriller, is a breathless, chilling adventure through an LA terrorized by a series of murders the police have dubbed the Blackbird Killings. Jazz would do anything to protect her much younger brother Joaquin, so when she receives an anonymous call from someone offering a permanent solution to her problem with her abusive foster mother, Jazz can’t pretend she’s not interested. The problem is—in order for her foster mother to be “taken care of,” Jazz herself must murder a stranger. What follows is a pitch-dark, terrifying story that explores what we’re capable of when our backs are against the wall. A lot of books are slapped with the label “thriller,” but I’ve honestly never read a novel that deserves the classification more. With intricate and masterful plotting, surprises around every corner, and an ending that chilled me to the bone, Wendy Heard has delivered a brilliant, original story with thrills for days. Beyond all the ways this book will give me nightmares, though, I was so absorbed by the poignant relationship between Jazz and Joaquin. The love between them is realistic and palpable, and it makes us root for Jazz even harder as she sacrifices nearly everything for her brother’s safety. Jazz is a vividly portrayed and exciting heroine; her wit and snark continually made me chuckle, even when another gasp was only a page away. Thank you so much to Mira Books and Harlequin for an opportunity to read this book early. I’ll surely be shouting my love for it from the rooftops until its pub date on December 17 and beyond.
May 29, 2019
I flew through reading this intense thriller focused on finding out what was ultimately going to happen to Jazz and her friend Sophia and their brother and daughter, respectively. The main character Jazz, is a very layered character-she seemed much more alive to me then anyone of the others. Unfortunately, behind all the action(I mean this book is action-packed), I did not feel the resolution of the plot was justified. The premise of the story is fantastic. Who would not want your mortal enemy, a scum bag, your abuser, the serial rapist, vaporized by some anonymous person? The problem is once you agree to belong to the "murder club" you are expected to do your part and kill someone's nemesis and if you fail-woe to you. The villain twist is not explored as much as it could have been. I don't quite understand the villain's motivation and that caused me to drop my rating. I still would recommend but for me, this book was not as good as Wendy Heard's first one.
Thank you to Net Galley and publisher for a chance to read and review.
Thank you to Net Galley and publisher for a chance to read and review.
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July 22, 2019You know... I think I'll pass on this club
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