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There are currently 21 member reviews
for Somebody Worth Killing
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Laura J. (Bellevue, WA)
Captivating
Somebody Worth Killing by Jessica Payne is a fast-paced psychological thriller that keeps the tension high from beginning to end. Jessica Payne does an excellent job creating morally complicated characters and weaving together suspense, manipulation, and emotional intensity without relying on unnecessary twists. The pacing is sharp, making it difficult to put down, and the short chapters add to the feeling of urgency.
What stood out most was how the novel explores obsession, revenge, and the gray areas between justice and morality. The characters feel unpredictable in the best way, keeping readers constantly questioning motives and loyalties. While dark at times, the story remains engaging and entertaining throughout. Fans of domestic thrillers and psychological suspense will likely enjoy the clever storytelling and mounting tension. A gripping and addictive read that delivers plenty of surprises without feeling overdone.
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Ruthie A. (Jersey City, NJ)
Fast and Fun
Nadia is a suburban mom of two girls, the wife of a man who loves her and who she loves, as much as she can. Nadia is also a psychopath and an assassin for hire. She has mastered her secret life and is for the most part, happy. A wrench gets thrown into the works when she is offered a job that has her shocked and confused.
This novel is very fast moving. Nadia is full of energy and so is her story. She keeps herself under control but killing bad people and we come along for the ride. The story is told from her point of view only (finally, a book from one perspective) and she goes from cool and organized to confused and slightly crazed. I love that we get to see all the little details about how she manages her family and her job, and keeps all the balls in the air. Despite her job, she is a very likeable killer.
The writing is well suited to the pace of the story, short on descriptions and focused on the action. While a bit predictable is was nonetheless a fun and engaging read.
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Barbara B. (Harlingen, TX)
Somebody Worth Killing by Jessica Payne
Nadia only seems to be a normal wife and mother. She is also an assassin for hire. She only kills bad people. She loves her job until her next contract is to kill her husband.
I loved the twists and turns in this book. The author kept me guessing with every page.. And then the story just stopped with a happy ending but with more issues unsolved than answered. As much as I loved reading the book the end disappointed me. Do I have to buy another book---------
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Nina W. (Milwaukee, WI)
Wait for the twist
In the beginning, I thought the plot predictable. I could see it coming. But then a dizzy twist while picking up speed! I was delighted! In a nod to the author, fiction means to me that readers who comment that it is not like true life are missing the point. It's fiction! So, I enjoyed how it all resolved. And…I loved Gran! I bet you will too!
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Margaret S. (Lincoln, NE)
A fun read
I couldn't put this book down, despite the impossibility of it all. For example, a hired killer is the mother of young children. She even travels out of town. She even travels out of town for jobs. There is not much more I can say without spoiler.
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Leslie T. (COLUMBUS, IN)
abrupt ending .
I was disappointed in Somebody Worth Killing. Interesting premise of a female assassin who only kills "bad" people, although it really seemed unlikely to me that a true psychopath could form the emotional attachments that Nadia has with her family. I felt the ending of the book was very abrupt and it caught me off guard. I understand that the author is setting up the stage for a sequel, but it just seemed clumsy. I tend to like bad-ass women characters so I wasn't happy to not feel attached to the character.
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Ruth K. (Greensboro, NC)
Another ok mystery
This sounded like a good premise for a book. Nadia is a devoted mother of two small girls and loyal wife who is also a contract killer of what she believes are 'bad' people. Or at least that, and the fact that she's a psychopath (and everybody agrees she's a little different), is her justification. And then she's contracted to kill her own husband and is unable to do so until she establishes why he deserves it.
The author takes much too long with Nadia's indecisiveness and the story began to drag for me. Once I put it down, I was disinclined to pick it back up. I found the characters to be very superficial. Nadia is a hired assassin with just enough conscience to love her husband and children. Her husband is a ' management consultant' who frequently takes last minute work trips that she never questions in 10 years of marriage. I'm fairly sure that a hit man, or woman in this case, would have sharper powers of deduction in everyday life to have noted something amiss. And her husband never notices anything slightly 'off' about his wife in all that time either? Nor do two small children ever discover her hideaway closet with all the tools of her trade in playing around the house. This and all the other situational conveniences in the story left me a little underwhelmed. The ending was a huge disappointment as it obviously left room for at least one sequel and possibly a series. It's a mildly fun read if you're for mindless entertainment.
Readers of light mysteries and beach reads will enjoy this book. If you prefer something with more substance and believability, move on.
