Art of the Kill
The man who terrorized Artemisia Vane never expected her to fight back. Neither did she—until she held a knife to his throat.
Left to die on the streets of Santa Fe, Art is recruited into a shadow program that turns broken girls into weapons. Her handlers think they own her. They are wrong. Art is using them, converting every brutal lesson into fuel for her own vendetta.
Hunted by her creators and desperate to protect her family, Art discovers the deadliest threats are the ones at her back. In a lethal web of deception, she must face the brutal truth: vengeance demands a devastating price.
“Art of the Kill is a fast, fun, exciting read.”
“The characters are well developed, but I hope the next book helps us get to know the “villains” a little more. The pacing is quick, and the action is well written, with enough detail that I felt like I was really there.
Art’s character is very strong, and reading her journey feels like watching her grow up. The story had me rooting for different characters at different times, but always for Art, whose motivation never changed but got more complicated. I appreciated that the author didn’t shy away from talking about the violence she suffered, both emotionally and physically, at the hands of people throughout her life.
Joe Cooke’s writing style is action-based and sparse, which makes this book a perfect candidate for the small or big screen (are you listening, Hulu?). I could really see it playing out in my mind.
I recommend this book for anyone looking for a quick read that will leave you wanting more. Can’t wait to dive into some of the author’s earlier work, and I’m on board for more Art adventures!”
-Katie C
“WOW! I LOVED it!”
“Finished Art of the Kill today. WOW! I’m buying copies for the guys on my firefighting crew to read between assignments. I loved the pace and the characters!”
-Carter J
“Every time I had to put this book down, I got mad.”
I didn’t want to stop reading! I want more. I even want more backstory of the other characters!”
-Gary E
“I like this book a LOT.”
“It’s not my preferred genre at all, and I was hooked. A great read.”
-Zibby W