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chelseamayxxx's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
 I almost gave up on this book, but very glad I didn't!
The start is a little slow as far as Mr Snow is concerned it's more 'the life and times of an ex-pat English teacher living in the Ukraine'. Meanwhile, there is an ongoing and interesting storyline revolving around the 'bad guys' and you start to wonder exactly when these two themes will meet. Once they do eventually meet it turns into an enjoyable tale you just need to keep reading. Xx
The start is a little slow as far as Mr Snow is concerned it's more 'the life and times of an ex-pat English teacher living in the Ukraine'. Meanwhile, there is an ongoing and interesting storyline revolving around the 'bad guys' and you start to wonder exactly when these two themes will meet. Once they do eventually meet it turns into an enjoyable tale you just need to keep reading. Xx
sarahs_bookish_life's review
4.0
Cold Blood is an exciting and fast paced story which any fans of authors like Andy Mcnab and Stephen Leather will love.
Aidan Snow used to be in the SAS but having left that life behind has started a new career as a teacher. Unfortunately sometimes events from the past don't stay buried and they return to haunt us.
I have to say to start with I did slightly struggle to get into the story as it is so fast paced. It jumps around from different characters and to different countries. Once I got into it though I was well and truly hooked.
Aidan Snow is a really interesting character who I felt great empathy for. He is trying to get on with his life and seems to be quite settled with the direction his new career has taken him. Due to an old nemesis who wants an eye for an eye, Aidan has to rely on his time in the SAS to out wit his enemy to try and save himself.
Cold Blood is jam packed full of action and is great for anyone who likes an edge of your seat read.
Aidan Snow used to be in the SAS but having left that life behind has started a new career as a teacher. Unfortunately sometimes events from the past don't stay buried and they return to haunt us.
I have to say to start with I did slightly struggle to get into the story as it is so fast paced. It jumps around from different characters and to different countries. Once I got into it though I was well and truly hooked.
Aidan Snow is a really interesting character who I felt great empathy for. He is trying to get on with his life and seems to be quite settled with the direction his new career has taken him. Due to an old nemesis who wants an eye for an eye, Aidan has to rely on his time in the SAS to out wit his enemy to try and save himself.
Cold Blood is jam packed full of action and is great for anyone who likes an edge of your seat read.
nietzschesghost's review
3.0
'Cold Blood' is the first book of a new political espionage series featuring ex-SAS trooper Aidan Snow, who is now working as a physical education teacher in Ukraine.
I thoroughly enjoy my spy thrillers, but I found this one a little tame if i'm honest. I know this is the series opener and we obviously need to get to know lead character Mr Snow in order to decide whether we are to continue with the rest of the series, but I felt this was much more of a character based story with a lack of attention given to the plot until the very last minute. The premise is most definitely a sound and tasty one, However, the slow pace made getting through most of the book a chore rather than a pleasure. It certainly did not have the requisite thrills, spills and chills to label it a thriller. There was also an issue with many characters being introduced, most of whom were completely unnecessary to the unfolding story. One thing I will say is that the setting came across as very authentically described, so I wasn't surprised to learn the author had lived in Kiev, Ukraine in the 1990s. It does however jump around unexpectedly between characters and countries which is not always easy to follow. I did like Shaw's writing style, but with the other issues it wasn't much of a redeeming feature. Hopefully it'll be a feature I continue to enjoy in upcoming books. I have high hopes for this author as he appears to have all of the components to create a bestseller if he can just execute his idea well enough!
You may really appreciate this is you like your thrillers relatively slow and more character based than anything else. I won't write off this series as of yet with it just being the first book, I hope that the following books are much more tense and suspenseful than this one was, and that the monotony of the scene setting disappears as we progress. As I have a fascination with eastern european countries and cultures, the setting really piqued my interest massively, and i'm pleased to say that the author made the most of it. I look forward to revisiting Ukraine in future books!
Many thanks to HQ Digital for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
I thoroughly enjoy my spy thrillers, but I found this one a little tame if i'm honest. I know this is the series opener and we obviously need to get to know lead character Mr Snow in order to decide whether we are to continue with the rest of the series, but I felt this was much more of a character based story with a lack of attention given to the plot until the very last minute. The premise is most definitely a sound and tasty one, However, the slow pace made getting through most of the book a chore rather than a pleasure. It certainly did not have the requisite thrills, spills and chills to label it a thriller. There was also an issue with many characters being introduced, most of whom were completely unnecessary to the unfolding story. One thing I will say is that the setting came across as very authentically described, so I wasn't surprised to learn the author had lived in Kiev, Ukraine in the 1990s. It does however jump around unexpectedly between characters and countries which is not always easy to follow. I did like Shaw's writing style, but with the other issues it wasn't much of a redeeming feature. Hopefully it'll be a feature I continue to enjoy in upcoming books. I have high hopes for this author as he appears to have all of the components to create a bestseller if he can just execute his idea well enough!
You may really appreciate this is you like your thrillers relatively slow and more character based than anything else. I won't write off this series as of yet with it just being the first book, I hope that the following books are much more tense and suspenseful than this one was, and that the monotony of the scene setting disappears as we progress. As I have a fascination with eastern european countries and cultures, the setting really piqued my interest massively, and i'm pleased to say that the author made the most of it. I look forward to revisiting Ukraine in future books!
Many thanks to HQ Digital for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
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