Thank you to Penguin for the arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a definite page turner with lots of twists and surprises along the way. I found it so gripping and difficult to put down.
I really enjoyed the idea of the book. Its an angle that I've never really been taken down before and I just found it fascinating.
When things start to seem a bit unrealistic or even completely impossible, it all gets explained and makes perfect sense.
Thoroughly enjoyable.

A fabulous read! A really cracking thriller that's pacy and full of action with a brilliant twist midway through that I absolutely didn't see coming. This is the perfect summer read.

This was everything you need for a thriller and crime story. It is not as black and white as you first think and like most typical thrillers, is full of twists. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

Hannah has her sights on Ricky but it’s not as straight forward as it seems. I don’t want to give too much away but I devoured this book in a day.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I read this novel as part of Penguin Michael Joseph blog tour and today is my turn to review this suspenseful and utterly wonderful thriller. It is not very often that I give 5 stars to a book wishing I could give it 6.
The writing style is fantastic, the plot keeps you guessing and then guessing some more right to the end, the character development is fabulous. The book starts as chilling, the main character seems thirsty for revenge and bloodthirsty but throughout the book as you learn the main characters story you start to sympathise with the leading female characters. They are in fact remarkably strong both physically and emotionally which is amazing under the circumstances and are there to avenge their close family members deaths.
There are enough twists and turns in the plot for this novel to keep your attention and interest throughout, and it is rather unputdownable. It makes a perfect read for all thriller genre fans and while it is my first book that I’ve read by Ashok Banker, I’m hoping to read more after this.

I didn’t know what to expect when I started A Kiss After dying but it blew all expectations. It was intriguing, captivating and constantly kept me engaged wanted to keep flipping the pages. It had a good amount of twists and turns with it being around revenge which I really like in books. The characters were very well written. The author did an amazing job and knew how to give the readers that wow moment. An exciting and page turning read! You won’t be disappointed.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher in exchange of my honest review, it was an amazing read that I will pick up again!!

This is a story about Hannah. She seems shy. Some would even say spiky. People don't pay much attention to Hannah.
Which is exactly how she's planned it.
It's also a story about Ricky. Ricky is anything but shy. Rich, charming, good-looking, Ricky has never had a problem getting what he wants.
And now he wants Hannah.
There's a spark between them from the moment they meet. Even Hannah can't resist a man like Ricky for long.
But this is not a love story.
In fact, it's a little like Hannah. First you'll be intrigued. But you'll soon realise she knows something you don't.
And then, when you least expect it, that spark between them will go up in flames . .

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.


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Wow, wow, wow!!!! This is heading to the top of my reads of 2022. How many times can I writer make you go "huh?!!" in a book. Ashok Banker clearly thinks an unlimited amount!!

The premise, girl seeking revenge is not new nor is girl being a trained assassin but Ashok somehow makes you feel like it is new. This is like nothing you've read before. What a gift to be able to that.

Read this book, be prepared to hold your breathe and enjoy the ride.

A Kiss After Dying is a 3.5⭐️ rounded up to 4⭐️
This book is one I thought I was going to love but left me a bit underwhelmed. The first part was great if a little too over descriptive but it just lost its way a little in the writing style for me and became far too unbelievable. It’s a shame as half way through there is a “what!!” moment that made me take more interest but on the whole I wasn’t a lover. The storyline was good it was just too descriptive and unbelievable which is a shame but I can definitely see this working as a film rather than a book.
Hannah was the better character throughout for me and enjoyed her part in it, the twist in the middle I definitely didn’t see coming which got massive bonus points.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

I was completely gripped by Ashok Banker's tale of ice cold revenge and retribution.

From the opening chapters, where a honeymooning couple have their sights set on murder, we swiftly move to Zurich, where billionaire playboy Ricky sets his sights on a fellow student, the shy and forgettable Hannah. The two of them hook up, but Hannah - or whoever she really is, because 'Hannah' is just a role she is inhabiting - has a long term goal, to get her revenge on Ricky's father by killing Ricky. Hannah believes that Ricky's father Roger murdered her father and her brother, and she has spent years plotting her revenge.

Hannah is a wonderful character to read about, with echoes of Villanelle from Killing Eve - there's nothing she can't or won't do in order to achieve her murderous aim. You name it, she's an expert in it; surgery, Krav Magra, extreme swimming, she can do it all. She is super smart and ambitious, running rings around Ricky, who believes he's in control of the relationship, but we know that really, Hannah is calling the shots.

But wait, there's more to the book than that, and when Hannah's adventures in Zurich are over, Kiara's adventures in California are just beginning.....

The story completely carried me along, I was desperate to find out what was going to happen to Hannah and Ricky. The story spans the globe in an international jet setting scenario, where the rich and powerful can bend the truth to achieve their aims.

I would definitely read more from Ashok - thank you to Penguin Michael Joseph for inviting me on the blog tour.

The description of this story had me intrigued from the second I’ve read it and when I got to the 25% mark, I was so hooked that I couldn’t put it down!

Just like most stories, it started slowly, but it picks up quickly at a full speed limit.

So many unexpected turns and twists. Revenge and hate can really change people into something else altogether.

How the revenge is plotted is so unexpected, and the story itself it’s something different from what I usually read.

That being said, I was intrigued to see how it will end. My theories were all over the place as the author has built a world where you are given so many variables.

A must read story that needs to be discovered and discussed!

🆓📖Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

The description to A Kiss After Dying had me intrigued, I had no idea what to expect and the story did not disappoint. It turned out to be a revenge thriller with plenty of twists and turns. I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for my ARC.

A good read.
The ultimate vengeance. A family torn apart,plotting a deadly revenge.
This author knows how to deliver a wow I did not see that coming moment.
Action, revenge,family, secrets this book has all.

Fast paced thriller with lots of twists and turns. A little disappointed in the ending, somehow was expecting more!!

I think this is the first novel I’ve come across from this author, definitely the first one I’ve read and it was AWESOME!

Hannah is quiet – the kind of woman who not many people notice. Ricky is rich and a bit of a playboy; eventually he notices Hannah and she falls under his spell – or does she? There’s more to Hannah than meets the eye and reading this novel will lead you there.

I was bowling along quite nicely, enjoying reading this one and considering it to be a fairly gentle read when – BAM! – it suddenly took a wild swerve and left me with my jaw hanging open! From there on, the surprises just kept coming; one or two which were expected but, for the most part, completely out of the blue. I can now understand just why Ashok Banker is described as ‘an internationally acclaimed author’ – trust me, it's all true and if you haven’t come across his work before, then please do add this one to your wishlist. You will be shocked and amazed but the one thing you won’t be is disappointed. An extremely exciting and worthwhile read; nothing less that a full house of glowing stars will do!

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this novel via NetGalley; this is – as always – my honest, original and unbiased review.

From the prologue of A Kiss After Dying, I couldn’t wait to get stuck in. This story no is about Hannah, she’s shy and some may say spiky. People don’t pay attention to her which is exactly how she likes it. It’s how she planned it. It’s also a story about Ricky. Outgoing, charming and good looking. He always gets what he wants. And now he wants Hannah and she can’t resist him. But this isn’t a love story. It will intrigue and mesmerise. It’s unpredictable but will thrill you to the end. Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Michael Joseph UK and the author for the chance to review.

Well... this took me all round the houses and back again delivering shock after surprise all the way through.
We start at college with Hannah and Ricky. Ricky wants Hannah, he doesn't know it yet, she hasn't engineered it yet, but she will... and then shenanigans will ensue.
But the why will be so much sweeter than you will imagine... as will the revenge that will be served up.
Honestly. I really don't want to say to much about this book. It is one of those books that you really need to go in knowing as little as you can so you can be hit with what the author serves up at exactly the right times for maximum impact. For that reason too, it's extremely hard to formulate a spoiler free review. So I will be deliberately oblique...
Characters are brilliant. A fascinating display of social and moral justice and injustice. With secrets, lies and duplicitous behaviour aplenty. They in themselves would keep a book club in discussions for many an hour.
The story is both interesting and intriguing and held me captive throughout my time reading. Culminating in an ending that was perfect...
And to top it all, there's a thing that really makes me want to re-read the whole book. I just wish I had the time...
All in all, a cracking engaging read that really kept me on my toes and challenged me as a reader all the way through. No mean feat these days. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This is one of those books you just don’t want to end but race through anyway. A highly original concept that sees Hannah seeking revenge. With meticulous planning she inveigles herself into the life of Ricky, a playboy billionaire who has the pick of all the girls who throw themselves at his feet. Hannah therefore plays hard to get and unbeknown to Ricky reels him in slowly but surely in order to gain revenge for herself and her family. However, the story has many layers, parts and twists and without giving away any spoilers I can’t reveal any more of the story. It is brilliantly written with wonderfully descriptive pages throughout that leave the reader with a vivid picture at every turn. The storyline is extremely clever, shocking and surprising and while not condoning murder it makes you understand that in some cases, this is the only revenge for extreme cruelty, dishonesty and destruction, and not least of all, death itself.

I had read the synopsis of A Kiss After Dying and thought it immediately sounded like a book,I would enjoy. And initially, that was the case. I was eager to see how it would all play out, but to be completely honest, I was bored by the halfway mark. I found the characters to be irritating, and I just couldn’t engage with the story at all. While it wasn’t for me, I still think fans of crime fiction will definitely enjoy this revenge thriller.

Looking at all the reviews I was really expecting something "WOW", I understand that the scene has to be set and after the introduction I was waiting for it to explode, but after pages and pages of description it didn't hook me, maybe it just wasn't the right time for me to read this book I may give it another go in the future, sorry.