The Killing Kind

By: Chris Holm

Narrated by: Will Collyer

Length: 8 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

A hit man who only kills other hit men winds up a target himself.

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 hit man entrepreneur of sorts - he hits only other hit men. For 10 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.

©2015 Chris Holm (P)2015 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"The author's amazing talent for writing and limitless genius for storytelling guarantees readers a wild ride." ( The New York Journal of Books)

A new Bourne?

Not quite a four but I rounded up. Entertaining and thrilling! A Bourne-like character for those who like cinematic action in their novels.

Good Book

This is a good book not a waist time. I'm going to read the 2nd installment of this series.

God stuff

Liked a lot. very exciting. A lot of twists and turns. Characters almost believable but good.

You won't want to stop listening!

I think the worst part about this audiobook is that it's too good! I couldn't stop listening to it, and I finished it too quickly. I will listen again and I anticipate it being equally as entertaining the second time through.

Chris Holm has a way of depicting action through his writing that really builds the scene in the minds eye. I could see the rooms and locations these events occurred in as I continued on my feet at my job. His writing certainly made me forget I was at work. I consistently found myself on autopilot, only focusing on the narrative rather than the labor in front of me.

I particularly love that this novel shifts perspectives. I don't want to give much away, but scenes are narrated from one angle and then those same events continue or pick up with another person at the same place, same time. Along the way, each of the characters independent experiences of the events are explained from their eyes. It's good fun!

As far as performance, this is my favorite narration among the modest collection of audiobooks I've listened to. I think Will Collyer does a great job.

Sophomoic Effort

What did you like best about The Killing Kind? What did you like least?

The story was ok, but could have been so much more. This seemed like this writiers first book and he has a lot to learn about writing suspense.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Th e narration was very good, but the story was slow and at times uninteresting

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Narrator did all he could.

Do you think The Killing Kind needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

A follow up book would be good, but it has to get a WHOLE lot better for me to try this author again.

Any additional comments?

I cannot recommend this book.

loved it

I am ago caught with my other favorites (Gray Man, Orphan X, Tier 1, Pike Logan, Dalton Fury's Delta series and Victor the Assassin) and had been dying to find other series to rip into... oh am I glad I tried this. great character... great story... finished in 2 days.
What a great movie this would make...enjoy.

Plot Holes You Could Walk Through

Our hero is a wounded combat vet who came home from over there with a skill set that he couldn't commercialize, so he and a friend started hunting down other assassins. It's an interesting premise, but the plot holes in this one are so big, and the resolution of the critical conflict so unbelievable that it makes it difficult to credit what was otherwise a novel approach to the assassin for hire genre.
If you like Tom Wood, Mark Greaney, Mark Dawson, et al., you're apt to be feeling a little lost when this one is done.

A Solid Story

I thought the characters were interesting and well developed. This was a basic former government special forces agent using their skills to protect others. Still, the author weaved an interesting story with a lot of action. Narration kept the story moving along…Good listen.

An excellent hitman story

I like anti hero stories and this one had an interesting twist. The reader did a very good job performing the book and I had no difficulty identifying the characters by their voices. I will be getting the next book in the series.

Well Done Chris!

I met Chris at Left Coast Crime 2016. He was entertaining and fun to be around. I pleased to report that his book is every bit of good! Enjpy!