Book Summary and Reviews of Somebody Worth Killing by Jessica Payne

Reader Reviews

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Linda_B1

A wild ride from start to finish!
This was a very engaging and enjoyable read that made me feel like I knew what was going on right up until the end when it caught me by surprise. There were several "twist" reveals that made me feel very cock because I knew every one of them in advance...until the very last one that I did not see coming at all! The characters were well developed and left me wanting to get to know them better in the next installments, which is always a great sign for a series.

I received this book as an advance reader copy and my review is solely my own opinion and is completely optional.

Cresta_F

Wouldn't We All Like to be Like Nadia at Times?
I very much enjoyed Somebody Worth Killing and have to admit that perhaps we all have, deep down in our soul, wanted to kill somebody who truly deserved it. Perhaps not, that might just be my dark side coming out. It was so interesting to see how Nadia juggled her normal family life and her vocation, although how she managed to stay alert after a night out wreaking murder and mayhem is hard for me to imagine. I did not see the ending coming and would like to read a sequel, if one is planned.

I appreciate NetGalley for sending me this ARC and am providing this review in accordance with the agreement.

Kathy_D

More Nadia, please!
Nadia is not your typical working mom. She is an assassin for hire who loves her job, her family, and can kill people without a second thought- but only if they are what she calls a VBP, Very Bad Person, who does very bad things. This story is told solely from Nadia's point of view, which allows us into her innermost thoughts. We hear her sometimes struggle to keep her "monster" alter-ego under control.

Then she gets a kill assignment that turns her whole world upside-down and threatens to forever change her life. Fast-paced and filled with twists and turns, I didn't want this book to end. More Nadia, please.

Linda_Monaco

Unique Killer
Somebody Worth Killing is a book that you will speed read. It's a psychological thriller that's fast paced, humorous and the action is propelled by some very morally complex characters. How can that wonderful mom who cooks, cleans, jogs, participates in PTA, and dearly loves her family be a hired assassin? Is it genetic, perhaps an inherited family trait that makes a person feel compelled to kill? Is the killing justified if the targets are truly bad, evil individuals? Is a hired assassin just another type of serial killer? This book hooked me from the first chapter. The plot twists and turns kept me reading into the night. If you like a good mystery with some humor thrown in, you will want to get your hands on this book.

Kathleen_G

Moral Murder, Unexpected Ending
Somebody Worth Killing is a tense, morally complex thriller that pulls you in with its provocative premise and refuses to let you settle into easy answers. From the start, the story challenges the reader to consider an unsettling question: are there people whose deaths might feel justified?

It reminded me a bit of Dexter, especially in its portrayal of a killer with a moral code – someone who targets only those she believes deserve it. What makes this story especially compelling, though, is how her family keeps her grounded, giving her a sense of control over the darker impulses she calls her inner "monster." That balance between ordinary life and hidden darkness adds a layer of tension that runs throughout the novel.

The novel's strength lies in its psychological depth. I felt confident as the plot unfolded that I had the ending figured out…I was completely wrong! The story leads you down one path, giving just enough clues to make you think you are ahead of it, only to pull the rug out from under you in a way that feels earned rather than gimmicky.

The pacing is deliberate, building tension steadily rather than relying on constant action. That slower build allows the ethical dilemmas to fully develop, making the payoff more impactful. The writing is sharp and observant, particularly when it comes to the internal conflicts of the characters.

In the end, Somebody Worth Killing lingers - not just because of the twists, but because it forces you to sit with uncomfortable questions about justice, control, and whether a moral code is enough to justify something inherently dark.

If you enjoy thrillers that are as thought-provoking as they are suspenseful, this one is well worth the read.

Lyris

Portrait of a Good Killer
Our heroine, Nadia kills her sister's abusive boyfriend and discovers her life's work. She will kill people who do bad things to other people. It's a noble calling - and there's good money in it.

It helps that she's a psychopath and has no feelings of guilt or shame. In fact she feels cleansed afterward and if she goes too long without a good hit job, she begins to unravel mentally.

She's also a wife and mom and has everyone completely fooled into believing her night jobs are actually wedding planning events.

All is well until she gets an assignment to kill someone she knows (and whom she doesn't believe is really a bad person doing bad things to others.) After many twists and turns to the story and we are left somewhat hanging at the end – perfect for another book to continue the saga.

As someone who reads lots of books about serial killers, I really enjoyed this one – especially with its different version of psychopathy and hints that she may have inherited it from her now (maybe) demented grandmother.

This is a very fun read and I highly recommend it.

...17 more reader reviews