Overview. 

This was an exciting read. It had me turning the pages anxiously wanting to know what happened next.

Story.

London is a spy. She works for the CIA and has been sent to Korea with a special mission–to destroy a particular weapon that the North Koreans have been developing.

But London is a damaged young woman after abuse, and has decided that being alone is safe. She has no fear of dying, and in fact looks forward to it and fully expects to die on one of her missions.

Then she meets the Commander. He is a South Korean, leading a small group of men, who are devoted to him. He observes how she handles a persistent soldier from the US army who is pestering her, and becomes fascinated with her.

London tries to reject the offered friendship of the Commander, but he is understanding of her problems, although he doesn’t know any details. He gently tries to get her to trust him, much like winning the trust of a frightened deer.

She, in spite of not wanting to like him, finds herself being drawn to him in a way she finds unsettling.

But her mission is dangerous, and she expects not to survive it. She has not reckoned with the Commander, though. He manages to extricate her, but she has to go into hiding as she is pursued by an assassin after her mission to destroy the weapon.

Blurb

Alone Trained to survive. Destined to be alone. Until him.

London moves through the world as a ghost—unseen, unstoppable, untraceable. Trained for precision, she leaves no loose ends. But the military town of Cheondochon, South Korea changes everything.

Posing as a saloon girl at the Whiskey River, she hides in plain sight, where deception is her greatest weapon—until the Commander crosses her path.

He sees through her disguise, sensing the predator beneath the surface. Their connection is undeniable, dangerous—an attraction that threatens to dismantle her mission and expose the secrets she has buried deep.

Then the operation unravels.

A brutal attack by a DPRK assassin after she takes out a secret super engine, forces her to confront a past she thought was dead. Killing the man who once controlled her should have been justice—but instead, it shatters everything. Her mind fractures, her memories slip away, and the Commander makes an impossible choice. Hidden among monks in Japan, she rebuilds, heals, remembers.

Now, in England, she waits—not as an assassin, not as an agent, but as a woman. Waiting. Hoping. Longing for the day the Commander finds her. When he does, can London face the one mission that ever truly mattered – love?

Characters

London. This is not her real name, as we learn later in the book. She is a hard woman, made so by her difficult past. She is dangerous, clever and a killer for the CIA. She slips in and out of places unseen, if she so wishes. She knows she is safest when she is working alone. In spite of being a hard character, I found myself liking her. 

The Commander. London realises this man is her equal in combat skills, sneaking, bushcraft and spying. She hopes they won’t be pitted against each other and that his death isn’t what she is required to accomplish.

On his part, the Commander hopes the same thing. He quickly realises that she has been badly damaged by her past and wants to help her. 

In spite of being a tough soldier, he is kind and sympathetic, coaxing her from her skewed view of the world.

I liked him a lot.

Joe. Joe is also working for the CIA and is the man who organises London’s missions. Unknown to her, Joe is in love with London.

Claire is also a CIA agent, posing as an American woman running an American bar. She dislikes London, partly because of Joe’s infatuation.

Writing.

Ms Page has given us a page turner. After the first few pages, I was gripped by the story, thanks to the excellent way the characters were portrayed,  and the pace of the action. There were also a few quiet moments that were well written, showing the softer side of these tough people.

The grammar was good, and there were few, if any, typos.

Just one factual error that didn’t spoil it for me, and wouldn’t be noticed by most people. Ipswich, UK, isn’t a seaside town! Not far away, though.

An enjoyable read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good adventure story.

I give it 5*

 My ranking of books.

In order to get a particular number of stars, it is not necessary to meet all the criteria. This is a guide only.

5* Exceptional. Wonderful story. Setting well drawn, and characters believable–not perfect, but with flaws. Will keep you up all night. No typos or grammatical errors.

4* A thoroughly enjoyable read. Great and original story. Believable setting and characters. Very few grammatical errors or typos.

3* I enjoyed it. Good story. Characters need some development. Some typos or grammatical errors.

2* Not for me. Story not very strong. Unbelievable and flat characters. Setting not clearly defined. Many typos or grammatical errors.

1* I hated it. Story almost non-existent. Setting poor. Possibly couldn’t finish it.