To Kill a Man is Mr Bourne’s latest explosive political thriller with non-stop action and breakneck pace that is cleverly plotted and absolutely riveting from beginning to end. It isn’t necessary to have read any of the previous instalments in the Washington trouble-shooter Maggie Costello series as you are provided with plenty of backstory. It centres around high-flying, beautiful lawyer Natasha Winthrop who has everything going for her and possibly plans to run for president in the future. When she is violently attacked in her own home she manages to overpower the masked perpetrator and kill them in self-defence; he had planned on raping her. Before long it’s all over social media and people are quick to hail her as a courageous heroine having taken down a merciless rapist. However, when the police are called in to investigate a seemingly open and shut case they find many inconsistencies in Natasha’s account of what actually happened that night. The case flips completely on its head when it appears that the rapist was lured there by Natasha, but why?

This is a refreshingly original story that looks at the issues of toxic masculinity, when an act can be considered self-defence and when it falls outside of the legal definition. It’s thought-provoking, topical and an absolutely fascinating case to follow with you held captive every step of the way. It begins with one of the biggest, most shocking bangs I've come across of late and is raw and intense. Given the story addresses rape and sexual assault this is not for the faint of heart as although the descriptions are not gratuitous they are very detailed; Bourne also mentions the difficulty in prosecuting rapists. The author highlights just how terrifyingly easy it is to find information about people through technology and in particular social media if you know what you're doing. It's a disturbing, chilling and fast-flowing read with twists and turns aplenty and one that discusses timely, ripped from the headlines topics. This is a superbly written story and the characterisation is both vivid and vibrant. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

Great political thriller !!
Loved the characters and story twists were great

Recommend

This is a very modern story about politics but also about technology used as a weapon. The details of sexual assault and rape or alleged rape are quite detailed but I felt that they added to the story and were not gratuitous.
I found it gripping and was very keen to pick it up again.
The use of the websites and social media to get information on individuals was frighteningly possible and added to the tensions as the book develops.
The main character, the investigator is believable and vulnerable as facts emerged.
Thoroughly recommended.

I'm not sure why, but I've never read a Sam Bourne book before. However, on the strength of this one, he definitely has a new fan and I'm looking forward to reading the back stories of some of the characters.
It was interesting to read a novel based on such contemporary topics - Cambridge analytica, #metoo, rapes as headlines in India etc - and the polarised views these elicit. I found it particularly interesting that it was a male author writing about both male and female rape, and highlighting the grey areas that can exist - is it okay for women to abduct and rape a male rapist, possibly kill them?
I didn't completely buy into the story of Natasha's childhood change of fortune, but that is a small complaint in a complex story.
Thank you to netgalley and Quercus books for an advance copy of this book.

Future Presidential candidate Natasha Winthrop is violently assaulted in her own home. In self-defence she kills her attacker. At first social media is quick to hail her as a #MeToo heroine for taking down a rapist with previous form. But then certain information comes to light suggesting the attack isn't a random one and Winthrop isn't as innocent as she first appeared. Who is Natasha Winthrop? Former White House trouble-shooter investigates who she really is and what really happened on the night of the attack. Riveting, smart and an extremely cleverly crafted thriller. I loved loved loved it.

TO KILL A MAN
by
Sam Bourne


It seems appropriate that I began this book on Woman’s day as this superb tale features a subject relevant, awkward and newsworthy, rape!
Natasha Winthrop is at the top of her game. A smart , good looking top attorney who has the respect of her peers, tipped to be a candidate for presidency. The opening chapter is an edge of the seat intro to an intricately written and plotted tale. When a masked man gains access to Natasha’s home and is killed in the ensuing struggle as she fights off his attempt to rape her surely it is self defence? The police appear sceptical, finding holes in Natasha’s testimony, suggesting that the dead man was the victim, in the flat by invitation.
Natasha calls in Maggie Costello to assist her fight for justice. An experienced ‘fixer’and researcher, and a solver of political crises, Maggie is a woman to have on your side. Familiar with the Senate and the White House and their occupants she is a woman who takes no prisoners.
Maggie is immediately intrigued with Natasha’s predicament. Why are the police spending more time talking Natasha’s evidence apart than is seemingly necessary. The victim is named as a renowned rapist who has never been found guilty. They rarely are! Why? Lack of evidence as the only witness is the victim of sexual assault.
When Natasha is taken into custody, she gives Maggie total access to her records including passwords. A woman with nothing to hide? Maggie has a sneaking doubt that there must be clues in the vast organised files she trawls through.
This is one of the best books I have read of late. It is a wonderful story that twists and turns taking the reader on a twisting fascinating route to find the truth. And when the truth is revealed it is not at all as expected. The finale is stupendous!
Writing is of the highest standard as one would expect from this skilled writer and journalist with wonderful characterisation, vivid and interesting. This is thriller writing at its best without the over stressing of blood and gore. I found I related to this story more than I usually would do with a thriller. It is different, riveting, absorbing and revealing. I cannot wait to read another of Sam Bourne’s books.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. This book was very good. Great storyline and characters. Quite a fast paced book with a lot going on. Well worth 5 stars.

Great current writing obviously inspired by re ent/ current events and a story told really well
A start to the book you wont forget thats for sure
I liked Maggie and would read more in the series
The only thing that let it down was at the end I did find some of it a bit unbelievable
All in all though a very good read

This is a book with a very contemporary theme dealing as it does with male arrogance towards women. It is set in a Washington DC political context which is also well used in the story. If the justice system cannot bring rapists to justice because of lack of witness evidence,is revenge the only answer. Natasha is not whom she seems but is certainly set on rev engine a childhood abuse. It goes wrong and she brings in the influential Maggie who discovers more than was intended. Natasha is a presidential hopeful,using her sudden celebrity to coldly promote her cause. The characters are well drawn,the storylines gradually revealed,all leading to a gripping tale of wider significance as it challenges common assumptions. I recommend it without hesitation.

This is my first Maggie Costello book and when I realised it was part of a series I was a little apprehensive but I loved the blurb so was looking forward to reading it.

This is definitely a book with the finger on the pulse of the news & is very relevant in the #metoo age. I found it very refreshing to see a man write the struggles a woman has on a daily basis so well & it was dealt with very sensitively & accurately.

I love how Sam Bourne writes. I previously read and loved The Righteous Men. Straight away I was intrigued...it was an amazing opening and drew you right into the story.

Not knowing Maggie Costello before is no issue because Sam Bourne cleverly inserts little explanations about Maggie's character and career in job interviews and when meeting new characters. It was very well done and I appreciated it as a new reader.

Maggie was an intriguing and well developed character and you instantly felt like you knew what character she was and where she was coming from....I really liked her and this was important when I'm reading a book where her motives are the primary focus.

Natasha was also a great character. She was drawn exceptionally well and I could really picture her and how she was. I wasn't a huge fan but I liked that I didn't know what to make of her personality wise.

The only thing that was slightly unclear was what happened to Stuart?! However, rather than being annoying or distracting it just made me really want to read the other books to find out!

How come Liz could find things out in seconds that Maggie couldn't though? That really perplexed me!

However despite little nitpicking, I cannot state enough how well drawn these characters are...and I found them very relatable even though the careers & some situations they were in were not relatable at all and that's complete credit to the author for that.

Although I guessed some twists early on...there was alot that I couldn't piece together and was waiting eagerly to see what direction this was going in at all.

I also enjoyed the little snippets about the political climate...I knew straight away who they were indicating the president was and could see how it related to current news events...which I loved and felt like an "in joke" with both the author and the characters and the reader. I also thought the mention of the separation of parents and children on the borders was brilliant and something which is unbelievable that it has happened in this day and age and should be highlighted at every available opportunity...credit to Sam Bourne for doing just that.

During some of Maggie's investigation I did get a bit lost. I had literally no idea what she was looking at during her search of an office...and that's not something I usually struggle with. Think it was perhaps a little wordy and needed more hints of what was happening straight away so we could join the dots a little bit easier. The 2nd search made alot more sense! There was also flashes to other countries that were a little bit jarring & took you out of the narrative but when it all came together. .the excerpts were definitely worth that!

I did really struggle through certain descriptions of abuse in the book & there was a few harrowing chapters where I wasn't sure I could carry on. Sam Bourne is great at painting the picture but during those scenes I wish he wasn't so good....those chapters were really really hard going...which they are meant to be. I just wasn't expecting that horror.

The statistics he used were horrifying and being true...also something that everyone should be aware of. The way he wove them into the story was fantastic and again huge credit to him for highlighting this.

There is definitely a respect of women shown throughout his writing & the fb live bit is both harrowing, heart pounding & extremely relatable for most women. With so much media attention going to show us that there is absolutely no difference between the sexes (tho not getting into that debate here)...Sam Bourne shows both strength & weakness on both sides & dealt with both very respectfully & as a female reader I really appreciated that.

Overall the tone of the book is absolutely great and the story very intriguing and I hated having to put it down and looked forward to coming back to it.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publishers for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Natasha Winthrope is a rising star in American politics. She hears an intruder at her home and she is violently assaulted by them. She gets something to defend herself with and the next thing she knows is that the intruder is dead. Natasha is called a have a go hero. A woman who fought back. But then inconsistencies start to appear in her story. It looks like this might ot be as random as it first appeared. Maggie Costello is called in to investigate. She finds intriguing gaps in Natasha's life

I have only read one other book by the author but I don't know why I never read anymore. This is a fast paced read wit a great plotline and characters. I like Maggie Costello. She's determined to find out the truth even though she becomes a target. I'm not usually keen on books that evolve politics. But when the book is well written, it doesn't seem so bad. The twists just kept coming. I was hooked from the beginning, needing to know what Natasha's secret (if any) was. I did not expect the ending either. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Quercus Books and the author Sam Bourne for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an excellent novel that I had a great time reading. Exquisite character development and fast flowing story make this book a success

Natasha Winthrop is a lawyer in Washington, has appeared on national televised hearings and its even been whispered that she could run for high office. She is also the target of hate tweets. Working at home one evening, she hears noises, and is attacked by a man dressed all in black. After freezing, too scared to move, she struggles desperately and manages to grab something to hit her attacker. He doesn’t move, and she realises he’s dead. At first she’s cited as a heroine, especially when it’s revealed that the man had a criminal history. However, things change when leaks come to the press - that Natasha knew the man, that she let him in, that she set it all up. When she’s arrested, she contacts Maggie Costello, well known in Washington as tenacious, a peace maker and troubleshooter. Maggie is given access to Natashas life, to help her find who is setting her up. But Maggie finds inconsistencies, feeling she’s not getting to the truth, but is determined to keep going, even when she becomes a target herself.
I’ve read previous books about Maggie, and this is as good as any of those. As always, it’s very well written, the characters are well rounded and believable, and the machinations of politics in the USA come over very strongly. I find the subject of rape always uncomfortable to read about and this was no different but it’s very believable especially at this time with the #me too campaign.. But the twists and turns along the way made me keep on to the unexpected ending.

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review.

To Kill a Man - Sam Bourne

What a read - as exhaustive and uncomfortable as it was to read at times I’m so glad this author had the confidence and knowledge to write about such a powerful topic as female abuse.

The novel begins with the attempted rape of a highly regarded young female lawyer, Cynthia Wright, when a stranger breaks into her house. She manages to stop him by striking a fatal blow to his head during the struggle.

We soon learn that Cynthia is a potential presidential candidate and things on that fateful night may well not have been as clear cut as they at first appeared.

As the story unravels Cynthia’s story and backstory become muddied, undeniably a victim, there is consistently an undercurrent of secrecy and darkness about her character too. Could this all have been a ploy for the presidential race?

Enter Maggie Costello - Washington’s finest troubleshooter and we’re back to a somewhat steadier ground.

I’ve enjoyed all of Sam Bourne’s Maggie Costello novels, the twists and turns as he negotiates the at times slimy world of politics in the ‘free’ world and this book similarly did not disappoint.

The author struck a different chord with this novel and it was easy to believe as he says in his acknowledgements that he spoke to real women about their experiences of abuse by a higher ranked male in the workplace.

I would encourage anyone who loves a thrill and a bracing read to buy this book.

Five stars and I can’t wait for the next one Mr Bourne! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️