I love the Maggie Costello series from Sam Bourne, aka Jonathan Freedland, and To Kill A Man is a terrific read that works perfectly as a stand-alone. Bourne takes real life contemporary events and weaves them into politically charged thrillers that are perfect for keeping the reader hooked and which are intelligent and utterly compulsive.

Maggie Costello, our protagonist, is a foreign policy expert, but these days her skills are far more in demand as a fixer; a skilled PR expert who can anticipate and defuse crises before they happen.

Maggie is being courted by the front runner for President of the United States of America, but though he is a popular candidate, Maggie doesn’t take to him. He is slightly too familiar and yet he won’t pin down his offer to Maggie and all that is combining to make her feel uneasy.

Natasha Winthrop is a human rights lawyer who has recently been quoted as a potential Presidential candidate. A high-flyer, her recent performances in front of a Senate committee have led to her being widely tipped as a candidate for the Presidential race. It doesn’t hurt that she is both young and attractive.

Then Natasha is violently attacked in her own home by a masked intruder. In the process of defending herself she kills her attacker. In this age of #MeToo it does not take long before she is being hailed as something of a heroine which only ramps up when it is revealed that her would-be rapist was wanted for multiple rapes and murder. Then leaks start appearing all over the media that can only have come from inside the investigation and none of them reflect well on Natasha. She drafts Maggie in to help her manage the process and her profile. The unspoken aim is to make sure she is still able to run for President if she chooses to do so.

With a narrative that is both tense and fast paced, this is a brilliant thriller that goes inside the murky world of political campaigning, data mining and fake news all wrapped up in the horrifying truth that is the real statistical evidence of rape in the Unites States.

This is one of Bourne’s real strengths. He builds on a base of actuality to extrapolate a thesis that becomes all too plausible and that makes his novels all the more thrilling and not a little frightening. The reader will recognise similarities to real life events when reading this explosive thriller.

As Maggie investigates Natasha’s life and background, she finds a lot to trouble her and make her re-evaluate her first impressions. What she finds out leads her to a fascinating moral dilemma and will certainly keep the reader poised on tenterhooks.

Sometimes the book will take a slightly fantastical turn, but that just makes it the more exciting and I’m more than happy to let it carry me away, because as we have recently learned, today’s fantasy is tomorrow’s horrible reality.

Verdict: This book carried me with it all the way. I love this series and Maggie Costello is a brilliant character and this book is one of the best political thrillers I have read. Intelligent, plausible and thought provoking, it’s a must read for me.

This is the first Sam Bourne book that I have read, and I can say I did really enjoy it.
I was offered a free copy in return for an honest review.

Natasha Winthrope is a Lawyer and an up incoming rising star in politics, when she is attacked in her home by a masked man. During the attack she defends herself which ends with the intruder dead.

At first it seems that its self defense right, he broke into her home late at night and he turns out to be wanted for rape and murder. But when trouble shooter Maggie Costello comes to help clear Natasha's name Maggie finds some well kept secrets from Natasha's past and comes to learn her real motives.

There are plenty of twists and turns throughout that lead you guessing to what really happened and why. I can say I did really enjoy the story and the thriller side. The only reason I give this a 3 star and not a 4 star is because around the 40% mark I felt there was about 15% where it was just filled with so much unnecessary information that I found myself losing interest. It did pick up again around 60% in and then I didn't put it down.

I don't often read books with politics, but this was well written and I did really enjoy the ending.
Thank you Quercus for offering me a free copy through Netgalley!

This is absolutely not the type of book I would normally read but I was emailed a proof and it made reference to Homeland and Scandal, both television series I love so I thought I would give it a go and I’m so glad I did! Loved the character of Maggie and found the twists and turns of the plot really gripping. I did not know who to trust and am still unsure as to what Natashas true character is. I will definitely continue with this series in the future and plan to go back and read the other books in the series that I have missed. Thanks to Netgalley, Quercus and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

For once the precis and comments about the book don't leave you with the feeling 'is this the same book'?
I could provide a paragraph of superlatives but just think of as many as you can and it won't be enough.
You never quite know where the book is going and who is deceiving who.
A wonderful read and definitely worth at least 5 stars. I loved every minute of it

To Kill a Man is a terrific and gripping thriller that I devoured with relish. If I could award this ten stars I would!!
Following in the wake of the #MeToo movement,the storyline is so relevant and empowering with two female characters who are strong independent women with high flying careers. Both of them but particularly Natasha Winthrop make ideal role models for younger generations; Natasha is a human rights lawyer and a rising star, possibly in the running as a candidate for presidency whilst Maggie Costello is formidable in her role as troubleshooter in the world of politics. Kick ass women you do not want to mess with and I loved them both!
When these two women’s worlds collide following Natasha’s arrest for killing an intruder/sexual attacker in her home, the race is on to discover what really lies behind the events of that fateful evening. A random act of violence or something else?????
With a narrative that is fast paced and tense this thriller tackles the world of politics where the stakes are high and fake news and data hacking are the order of the day. Whilst this dark side of the internet is exposed I found myself easily drawn into this murky world of political intrigue and male abuses of power, rapidly turning the pages, loving each turn of events. This is primarily about women taking back control from men who think they have the right to act and treat women in any way they please. The author pulls no punches in detailing the extent of sexual violence, assault and rape that goes unpunished; the statistics are shocking. Be warned as some of the scenes in this thriller are graphic but are in keeping and necessary to the plot. I found this to be a highly addictive read and a brilliant piece of fiction yet never lost sight of the very real nature of this type of offence and the important messages being conveyed. The way the plot unfolds means you are constantly intrigued and there are a couple of twists thrown into the mix which make this thriller an exceptional read.
The publisher Quercus kindly invited me to read this title and I can’t thank them enough for the privilege and opportunity to discover a ‘new’ author. Cannot recommend this highly enough!! My thanks also to Netgalley for providing a platform to review this book.

This is another in a series of thrillers featuring Maggie Costello, a fast-paced read which really gets under the skin of its protagonist.  Still set in the world of Washington politics, the book opens with the vividly-realised death of an intruder, killed by aspiring politician Natasha Winthrop during a break-in to her house. Nothing is quite what it seems though, and as the story unfolds, the reader is left guessing about Natasha’s motives. Maggie Costello becomes enmeshed in Natasha’s life as she tries to defend her against conspiracy theories and the machinations of her political rivals. 

Like the others in this series, To Kill A Man is rooted in current political issues, in this case focused on the #MeToo movement, highlighting the reality of the abuse many women face in the workplace alongside a well-drawn plot with a big twist at the end. At times I found this quite a challenging read, asking myself was it appropriate for a man to be writing so powerfully about sexual harassment, rape and assault, but I was glad to see a range of acknowledgements from the author at the end, reflecting his meticulous research and clearly stating that episodes of sexual harassment and assault, whilst fictionalised, were based on victims accounts.  Highly recommended.
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This is totally out of my comfort zone but I couldn't help being hooked and turning pages as fast as I could.
It's a powerful and gripping story, a rollercoaster of emotions that takes your breath away.
The author is a talented storyteller that delivers a complex plot and a cast of well thought characters.
It was an excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I didn’t realise that this was the latest in a series of books until I finished it and read a few reviews. I may not have jumped to read it if I had realised that but as it turns out it read perfectly well as a standalone. Natasha Winthrop is assaulted in her home and her attacker dies as a result of her defending herself. Maggie Costello is called to investigate. This felt very current and there was certainly a #MeToo element to it. Both women were really great characters and I would like to read more of the Maggie Costello books. I don’t read many ‘political’ thrillers but I really enjoyed this and I think it will appeal to a broad band of readers. I am of course still left with the question Who exactly is Natasha Winthrop?

Sam Bourne certainly knows how to grab the attention of the reader. From when his heroine, the beautiful Natasha Winthrop, is raped early in the novel to the ultimate discovery of what really happened the pace never slows. Natasha is viewed as a potential Presidential candidate and hires Maggie Costello, a brilliant lawyer, to ensure her reputation isn't tarnished by all the rumours that inevitably surround the incident. But Maggie is nothing , if not forensic, in carrying out background investigations on Natasha and comes up with truly surprising results. Sam Bourne's storyline is extremely contemporary in that the Me Too movement and fake news feature strongly. Nor, amongst the other presidential candidates do we need to look far to see the parallels in modern day USA. A book that, for certain, shall keep you hooked. Fluid writing, well defined characters and lots of intriguing twists.

To Kill a Man by Sam Bourne
Having read a few of Sam Bourne’s books I was delighted to find he had a new book out and I wasn’t disappointed. He writes superbly well both as Jonathan Freedland and Sam Bourne. I really enjoyed Pantheon, The 3rd Woman and The Righteous Men. Although I had not read To Kill the President and or To Kill the Truth it did not matter at all. The story revolves around Natasha Winthrop, a high powered, beautiful lawyer tipped to run for the Presidency.
The novel opens with a shocking assault upon Natasha in her own home and the author highlights the difficulty in prosecuting rape cases and also the definition of self-defence. It is a fascinating story but as it deals with the terrible subject of rape and sexual abuse is not for the faint hearted.
It is a thrilling read with a number of twists and turns and it keeps you desperately turning the pages to reach the page to reach the denouement. In the age of #MeToo it is a very important story to tell. The figures quoted which relate to rape convictions are terrifyingly low. Many thanks to the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book which I would highly recommend.

A very powerful read. It is raw and honest, unflinching in its brutality and descriptions of the abuse inflicted upon mainly women, rapes in exchange for work, roles in films, and the grooming of young women by gangs of men that have been notorious in this country.
It is set in America, the background is a forthcoming presidential election. A female lawyer, Natasha Winthrop, is brutally attacked in her home late at night, and she kills the intruder in self defence. Later on, she is charged with murder, and the book turns into a fascinating account of ingenious plot twists, the Me Too movement and a scary look at the Dark Web.
I am struggling how to categorise this book. If I call it a feminist read, then men will be deterred from reading this plea, for them to be more respectful to women. If I call it a murder mystery, then the harm and grief experienced by women and girls, this message could be lost.
This novel is like a chameleon, it changes from a he said/ she said, to a quality novel of reparation and revenge.
It is very topical and powerful, sometimes unnerving and creepy, and treads a fine line between explanation and exploitation. The opening sexual assault was very well written, and boy, did it make me feel soiled and threatened just reading it!
A genuinely fascinating read, with plenty of twists and red herrings. You couldn't guess the ending!! A five star read, that despite the subject matter, I loved reading. It made me so angry that women think so little of themselves, and that men are so exploitive. Thought provoking.

I enjoyed reading this book and I felt that the story was well executed.

The characters had depth and added a lot to the overall sense of the book and it was very enjoyable to keep turning the pages.

This is very prescient and topical - anyone familiar with current US politics will pretty much be able to name the real life counterparts of some of the characters. It's also a strong, well-paced and tense thriller with some great female leads. Plenty of serious issues to chew on and a ripping good yarn to boot.

This is the first Sam Bourne book that I have read and it will not be my last!!

Natasha Winthrop is an up and coming Lawyer, when she is attacked by a masked intruder in her own home, she reaches out for the first object to defend herself, but ends up killing the intruder!!

When the police investigate, it seems like this simple case of a woman defending herself has inconsistencies, the intruder is wanted for rape and murder and had been lured to the house by Natasha.

Natasha seeks help from Maggie Costello, well known as a trouble shooter who looks into Natasha’s life, she feels like Natasha is hiding something and goes delving into her past. when Maggie is under attack she still carries on looking into the link between the attacker and Natasha.

This book had me in the edge of my seat, frantically turning the pages, gripped from start to finish. There are plenty of twists along the way leading to an unexpected ending.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

If, like me, you regularly watched every episode of the TV series Scandal, then you are going to love this new novel by Sam Bourne. The protagonist is Maggie Costello who, like Olivia Pope on TV, is hired to solve the problems of Washington elite. She is the best at her job so when rising star Natasha Winthrop is arrested for killing an intruder in her house, she has no choice but to ask for Maggie’s help. As Maggie investigates, a darker and more complex truth comes to light, a truth that puts her in danger.

Let me give you a fair warning. As the author addresses themes of rape and sexual assault and highlights the holes in the American justice system when it comes to prosecuting rapists, some of the scenes may result thought-provoking, uncomfortable, and not easy to read (although they are not detailed). The plot is intriguing, twisty, complex, and, above all, timely: the author writes about fake news, #metoo movement, behind the scene of a presidential campaign, and how social media can easily influence people.

I really liked the character of Maggie Costello. She is a wonderful and brilliant character, determined to find out the truth. This is my first novel by this author, but I am really looking forward to read the other novels featuring this character.

To Kill A Man is a refreshing and fast-paced political thriller full of suspense and surprises with vivid and intriguing characters and a fantastic and unexpected ending that make this novel a must-read. Highly recommended!!!

An extremely compelling and convincing chiller from an author I am ashamed to say I have not read for at least five years.
To Kill a Man is a multi-themed thriller in which all the tangled threads eventually weave together to make an unmissable read.
We meet Maggie Costello, trouble shooter, again as she is hired to help alleged murderer and lawyer Natasha Winthrop. When Natasha gives Maggie access to all of her files, Maggie finds secrets, surprises and a lot of trouble.
Some scenes and descriptions are quite graphic and disturbing and one of the central themes is very worrying as the statistics quoted are true.
Although disturbing, this is a compulsive read and one which I recommend – but I did ski, some of the graphic scenes.

I seem to be the exception to the rule about this book because I just could not engage with it all all. Very confusing . Unlikeable characters. Sorry just not for me. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

I found this book very hard to follow. So many different characters and going back and forth in time and to different places. If this was made more clear I think I would have enjoyed the book a lot more.

My thanks to Quercus Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘To Kill A Man’ by Sam Bourne in exchange for an honest review.

This is the fifth in his series of political thrillers featuring Washington troubleshooter, Maggie Costello. However, it works fine as a stand-alone as enough background is provided. A couple of years ago I read the third in the series, ‘To Kill the President’, and found it a total page turner. So I very much welcomed reading this in advance.

Natasha Winthrop is a human rights lawyer widely tipped as a potential candidate for President. In the opening chapter Natasha is violently assaulted in her home. She defends herself against the intruder and kills him. She is quickly hailed as a #MeToo heroine, especially given that her attacker was wanted for multiple felonies including murder.

Then the police identify inconsistencies in Winthrop's story that suggest that the attack might not have been as random as it first seemed. There are also leaks about her personal life. Natasha engages the services of Maggie Costello to investigate who might be targeting her.

This again proved to be a total page turner. A fast paced political thriller with plenty of surprises. Incorporating the #MeToo movement as part of the narrative allowed Bourne to include some thinly veiled references to real world cases. The figures provided with respect to prosecutions relating to such crimes was truly chilling. Warning for some quite raw scenes. However, I felt that they were essential to the plot and not gratuitous.

I adore Maggie Costello as a character. She is fiercely principled and highly intelligent. After finishing this I was comforted by knowing that I have three novels in the series to read while waiting hopefully for Book 6.

Interesting, although at times confusing. Great message to get across about rape and the percentages of prosecution. Very relevant in these #metoo days. Maybe a more 'straightforward' case would have helped the message though. I'm docking a star for that, as it confuses the idea the book should stand for.