Tangled Threads

Elemental Assassin, Book 4

By: Jennifer Estep

Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang

Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

"I'd rather face a dozen lethal assassins any night than deal with something as tricky, convoluted, and fragile as my feelings. But here I am. Gin Blanco, the semi-retired assassin known as the Spider. Hovering outside sexy businessman Owen Grayson's front door like a nervous teenage girl. One thing I like about Owen: he doesnt shy away from my past - or my present. And right now I have a bulls-eye on my forehead.

"Cold-blooded Fire elemental Mab Monroe has hired one of the smartest assassins in the business to trap me. Elektra LaFleur is skilled and efficient, with deadly electrical elemental magic as potent as my own Ice and Stone powers. Which means there's a 50-50 chance one of us won't survive this battle.

"I intend to kill LaFleur - or die trying - because Mab wants the assassin to take out my baby sister, Detective Bria Coolidge, too. The only problem is, Bria has no idea I'm her long-lost sibling... or that I'm the murderer she's been chasing through Ashland for weeks. And what Bria doesn't know just might get us both dead."

Listen to more in the Elemental Assassin series.

©2011 Jennifer Estep (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Estep has truly hit the jackpot with this outstanding series!" ( Romantic Times)

My green eyes rolled back again.

An okay series but the author repeats description and the narrator is very monotone so sometimes I find myself nodding off. Gin is a very inept assassin, she barely manages to scrape out of the situations she gets herself into, all without any preplanning at all on her part. She is just lucky she has an air element to patch her back up, otherwise she would have been dead long before now. On a positive note the love interest is much more interesting and likable than the first. Anyway I bought the whole series with a sale, on a whim that I would like it and as to date it is touch in go. Good enough to continue since I paid good money, but one I am more reluctant to listen to. I know that I may get negative reviews for my opinion but then again I might save someone from making the same mistake I did by buying the whole thing. Always listen to the first book before buying the whole series, even if they are on sale.

Mmm... Owen

It's getting harder and harder not to spoil during these reviews but here I go....

Gin has stepped up her game on the take down Mab Monroe front. She is taking out Mab's men left and right and now Mab has brought in Elektra, an out of town assassin, in hopes of taking out the Spider.

The assassin's name hints at her elemental power, electricity. And Gin gets a few shocks from Elektra. But have no fear, Gin is the still the baddest ass assassin in Ashland. With her ice magic becoming just as strong as her stone and she is learning that she just might have what it takes to finally take out old Mab.

Gin and her gang (Finn, Jo-Jo, Sophia, Rosalind and Xavier) work on helping free an innocent little girl that Mab's men have taken while trying not to get themselves or the little girl killed.

Gin and Bria work together again and secrets are found out.

On the romance side Owen is back. Mmmm... Owen. He could not be more perfect for Gin. He doesn't guide her by her past and is front and center to help her with her present.

Gin might be a "retired" assassin but the bad guys of Ashland better look out cuz the Spider is now doing her job for free and she is every as bit as dangerous if not more.

Still loving this series and now that I've gotten then review out of the way I can power through the next book, Spider's Revenge.

assassin vs. assassin

Tangled Threads is the fourth book in the Elemental Assassin series. In the fourth, installment Gin is close to telling her long lost baby sister that she's alive. She has kept the secret that shes. Broad long lost sister. She knew if she told it would put Bria in danger. That was only one reason though. She was afraid her sister wouldn't except her, after all she was the Spider, an assassin, while Bria is a cop. The story line gets better with each book and this one don't disappoint. Its everything, action, humor, and heated romance. These books are absolutely brilliant.

The story gets better with every book!

I really enjoy this series. Gin Blanco is a loveable assasin. It's best to start at the beginning with Spider's Bite so you can really get into the book. Gin gets stronger with each book and this one does not disappoint. I highly recommend the series.

4.5 Stars

Tangled Threads is book 4 in the Elemental Assassin series. It is Urban Fantasy set in Ashland, Tennessee, USA. The main character is 30-year-old Gin Blanco/Genevieve Snow. She is a stone and ice elemental. Her assassin name is The Spider, but at the end of book 1, Gin retired. Now more than anything she is working cases to help people, pro-bono, and is not taking contract kills anymore. Tangled Threads takes place at Christmas time. In this book, Gin goes up against a powerful assassin named Le Fleur, who was hired by Mab Monroe to kill both the Spider and Gin’s sister Bria. There is also a new love interest. So far, this has been my favorite book of the series. The only thing that isn’t working for me is the continued theme of the bad guys being into and threatening child grape. I can understand that being in one book, maybe even two, but to have that many bad guys into that kind of thing just seems like lazy writing. It’s like the author knows that she doesn’t have to explain or even show how the bad guys are bad, just use the child abuse reason and there is no question they are bad and only one sentence is needed to prove they are bad. I hope that we can move on to other things as the series progresses. The narration was good as usual. Overall, I give this book 4.5 stars.

More of the same

Nice continuation of the overall storyline however it basically follows the same basic outline as the previous books which might bore some readers/listeners.
Frankly, I was disappointed with the first fight in this book because Gin announces herself to her enemies before attacking them which seemed very unlikely given the situation and the fact that shes an assassin. Jennifer goes on and on about how Gin slips from shadow to shadow silently ... and then she gives up her chance for a surprise attack on purpose - not very likely or wise. But it sort of fits to the pattern. Gin seems to have a death wish and only succeeds with luck and the convenient late minute thought and action that saves her in the end.

Very good storyline

Ik like the story, a lot. But what is the problem is you listen to it 4 books in a row? You hear to much the same facts. I suppose if you listen to it with several time between the books it’s not so irritating but if you you from one book to the other, because i want to know how it goes any further, then it’s annoying. Simple put. I know what happened in the first books so it’s not always nice to rehear the same everytime. I find the story very, very good and so i still keep listening to the next one but i’m a bit frustrated when it comes again, everything that happened before..
The performance is good, a bit slow but that isn’t bad. You get used to it after a while. English is not my basic language so it’s a slow pace for me. She is doing a good job. I like her in the mc.

Easy listening fun

If you could sum up Tangled Threads in three words, what would they be?

Cheeky, simple, escape

If you’ve listened to books by Jennifer Estep before, how does this one compare?

This is the continuation of a series that, like the wheel of time, likes to repeat many of the same phrases and is therefore annoying or frustrating to some. I do not fall into that group - the series doesn't take itself too seriously and when listened to with moderate attention, becomes a fun tale.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Lauren Fortgang?

Likely as I will listen to the remaining books in the series. She is easy to listen to, but is fairly dismal with any 'sexy' scenes.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No

Any additional comments?

Take the book for what it is and you won't be disappointed - not too serious, fun and dangerous. :)

Love the spider books

I am hooked on these books and their characters. Part thriller part fantasy very fun listening with lots of action one oft favorites is Sophia the dwarf

Great series

The Elemental Assassin books are great. very engaging with interesting strong characters and good story lines. a perfect mix of fantasy, action and romance. And I love having a series with a strong, add kicking female as the lead character