Book Summary and Reviews of Somebody Worth Killing by Jessica Payne

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Janie-Hickok-Siess

An Original, Riveting, & Emotionally Resonant Surprise
If readers are looking for a fast-paced, inventive and highly entertaining yet suspenseful thriller, Somebody Worth Killing is the perfect book!

I'm thrilled to know that she is penning a sequel. Nadia's story, related in first-person, is engrossing and sneakily thought-provoking. Nadia is self-aware. She knows she's a psychopath who needs to kill to keep "the monster" that exists inside her satiated. To her, it feels like a pot is on the verge of boiling over, pressure welling up inside of her. She feels compelled to do horrible things in order to feel normal, but killing lets her feel okay again. And she's pretty sure that urge to kill is genetic. She believes her grandmother killed her abusive husband many years ago . . . and recognized the monster dwelling within Nadia. Sadly, her elderly grandmother now has dementia and resides in a care facility, although Nadia attempts to extract information and guidance from her during her increasingly rare lucid moments.

Nadia is, however, adamant about a couple of things. First, she is ?????? a sociopath. "I do feel things. Sometimes. For some people," she explains. Those people include her two young daughters to who she is devoted and her husband, Brian. Nadia has a happy domestic life in which she is a typical wife and mother, except for the secret, sound-proof room within her house that is well-hidden and only she can access. And also except for, of course, her profession. Although Brian, her friends, and her extended family believe she is a wildly successful event planner, she actually goes on business trips that are assignments to assassinate bad people. bad people. Nadia has very specific standards. "I only kill bad people."

Things become complicated when Nadia discovers that misogyny is hindering her career advancement, She learns from her friend, confidant, and fellow assassin, Ian, that she isn't being offered the most demanding and high-paying assignments. They are going to her male colleagues due to a perception that because she is a woman, a wife, and a mother, she won't or shouldn't take on more difficult jobs. Perhaps there is a fear that she will refuse assignments that require her to travel, leaving her family at home. She confronts her handler -- "Have I been mommy-tracked?" -- advocating for herself and lands a much-coveted assignment, but it's a doozy. She kill her own husband! He's not a bad person. Or is he? And if he is, can she actually assassinate him, leaving her daughter without their father? After all, if he is a fraud who has fooled her for years into believing that he is a good guy . . . ? It's a conundrum.

Payne's tale of marriage, family, and trust is full of shocking twists. She challenges readers to ponder -- along with Nadia - how important it is to know about one's life partner and have. And consider what they would do if they realized their partner was harboring hugely significant secrets.

Thankfully, there's more to Payne's deftly plotted and clever story. Readers just have to wait for the sequel. The publication date won't arrive a minute too soon.

thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.

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.

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