He's 17, 'Jones', American, obnoxious, kills with audacity, he's the best, top of his game, a gun for hire usually by the security services, unofficially of course. To keep us safe. Naturally. However, an assignment in Berlin is not his finest hour, have we witnessed a chip in his titanium armour? He has another job, his target the one who came before him - 16. Is there an 18 trying to ride his coat tails? Are his days numbered? He enters the gladiatorial arena, it's a fight to the death.... but who is the Emperor giving the thumbs up or down?

If you want to grab a readers attention authors could do worse than look at how John Brownlow does it. Yanked in by a chain! I love the tone, there's a wry, dry humorous tone in the beginning which I really appreciate although things alter later on when things go Pete Tong and 17 is operating in, lets say, an improvised manner.

It's most definitely a thriller, in places it's movie worthy and it would not be PG. The plot is fast paced throughout and what emerges is unbelievably believable! You feel as if the author writes with authority, he seems to have the knowledge of the more covert agencies (maybe even an ex operator???) so you can definitely buy into the 'truth' at the heart of the novel. Let's face it we've all been duped one way or another by our governments from time to time!. It's action packed and how, it's vivid, it has multiple twists and turns as a dangerous cat ( a big one, not domestic!) and mouse game emerges, then alliances form of expediency. The chapters are short and sharp, it's full of tension and frequently the chapters end on cliff hangers.

As 17's backstory emerges and you learn his raison d'etre, you know you shouldn't root for him but you do have much sympathy.

Overall, an exciting thriller and I look forward to reading more by this author.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Excellent story about an assassin whose life gets extremely complicated when he encounters sixteen. Well written and excellent plot, highly recommended to lovers of thrillers.

Very enjoyable read.

Got my interest from the start and kept it thoughout.

Well written and quite intriguing at times.

When I first started reading this book I thought it was just a run-of-the-mill brutal, violent thriller and the writing was at best third rate. I am glad that I continued because for me the book got a lot better and the writing certainly did. Probably the former was reliant on the latter but I am glad I stayed with it.
Unbelievable and predictable to a large extent but nevertheless an exciting and enjoyable read.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Hodder & Stoughton for the grant of an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

A fast-moving action-packed thriller. It wasn't really my cup of tea, but it would be unfair to mark it down for that. Yes it is unbelievable, and yes it is predictable and formulaic, but the idea is clever and readers who enjoy this sort of thing will love it!

I read on my commute. Sometimes it is the only time I have, ducking into a tunnel on the train, when no one can reach me and I have a few precious minutes to immerse myself. One such journeys, only the very best, the most gripping, cause me to be startled when my station is announced. For the first time, I nearly didn't get off in time.

Seventeen is one of those books that Tom Cruise will turn into a film, stuffed with secret service, assassins and an underworld the world's governments pretend doesn't exist. It is filled with detailed descriptions of guns, stake outs, checking the fine detail and then the finer detail. It is an assassin's handbook. And it is quite brilliant.

I have a personal criticism, and it is entirely personal as it appears to be very much the fashion right now having read several books that are written the same way, and that is to mix the first person with the third, depending on who is speaking. In this case, this only starts up half way through the book so it jars and grates and feels like the easy way around a problem in the narrative. I don't like it, it feels lazy, like the author has been backed into a corner and it is the quick way out to avoid re-writing it.

However, that being said, I will read this again and I am going to buy it for friends because it is so good. It will give them all a great excuse for being back late from work having missed their stop completely.

Seventeen or Jones? Call him either and neither is really him. He is seventeenth on the list of assassins available for hire by individuals or governments. The story is a tangled web of brutal assassinations as ‘seventeen’ tries to get rid of his rival, sixteen, and commits many atrocities in the process. Some of the story may be possible, most is a stretch of the imagination. It is brutal not compulsive and does not build up to any exciting or unexpected ending. The story has no point. I am unable to recommend it.

Read this one as i tend to enjoy the reluctant-operative-on-a-mission genre (Reacher, Orphan X, Allon etc) so i figured it would be a fair but unoriginal addition to the trope. BUT, while it shares the operative+mission premise, Seventeen has a very different angle - in that the (anti)hero protagonist is 1) very much still active in his field rather than a renegade and 2) not in the least remorseful about his occupation as killer for hire. Even if he does end up going rogue and operating solo, he is still very morally suspect and largely unapologetic.
As a result, it felt fresh - a fun, pacey, cat-and-mouse type thriller with engaging characters and a thoroughly enjoyable read. I hope this one doesn't get lost in the ether as it actually brings something a bit different to the table

I really enjoyed this book. It moves along at an incredible rate, with lots of twists and turns. The remaining passages give a lot on insight to the lead character. It is an altogether well written book. Governments sometimes need plausible denial, and this book delves into what can sometimes go wrong. It's a tale betrayal, revenge and retribution. I found the spacecraft descriptions enlightening. I have no hesitation in recommending this book

Not sure if it was a file/download issue but there were lots of gaps, stop/starts which really ruined the flow. I would love the chance to read a better version as the description of the book appeals to me.

An mazing mystery thriller! The name of the book was enough for me to be interested in this book and when I started reading it, I couldn't stop. Each page makes you want to glue eyes to them and it does the genre justice.
Absolutely recommended!

This was such an exciting and interesting thriller. Anyone who reads and loves thrillers should read this one!!

What a brilliant book this was to read! I liked that it was written in the first person rather than the more usual third person - it made the book feel a lot more personal as if they were really telling their story. Great characters, great storyline that kept you utterly captivated wanting to read on until the end.

I’m not going to lie, I picked this book up purely because of the title. Something about it caught my attention and made me want to know more. I didn’t read the blurb, and to be honest, I’m glad, as I don’t feel it does the book justice (you might want to work on that FYI).

Told from the perspective of Seventeen, current top assassin and otherwise nameless spook (think modern day Bond meets Jack Reacher with a personality), this is an action-packed and fast-paced read which covers a lot of ground.

Brownlow writes with authority on a myriad of subjects, without throwing all his research in to an explanation. It’s interesting, very amusing in places, and I instantly warmed to Seventeen, who in theory, shouldn’t be a likeable character. In fact, I kind of miss him now I’m done with the story.

If you like action reads, then this is definitely one to check out. I’ll certainly be keeping an eye on the author’s future work.

When I first started reading this, I wondered why I'd requested it because I'm not a huge fan of spy thrillers. But I was gripped right from the start by the characterisation and as I read on, the plot hooked me in and kept me desperate for more.

It's got everything you could want - intrigue, assassination, big governmental plots plus the odd woman with a mysterious past. I loved, loved, loved it!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC without obligation.

Spies and assassins.

Each one kills the one before.

So Seventeen must kill Sixteen, but will be hunted down by Eighteen

Where will it all end?

Sixteen people have done this job before me.
I am 17. The most feared assassin in the world.
But to be the best you must beat the best.
My next target is 16, just as one day 18 will hunt me down.
It's a dog-eat-dog world and it gets lonely at the top.
Nobody gets to stay for long.
But while we're here, all that matters is that we win.
The plot is perfectly paced, holds your interest, and keeps you guessing. It’s a page turner, for sure! This novel, and its unforgettable characters, know no boundaries.

Action packed thriller, told from an accomplished assassin's point of view. At first I struggled with the hitman's 'voice' as he made flippant remarks and cheesy jokes, but I am glad that I stuck with it as his patter improved and he had an interesting story and exciting rollercoaster adventure to tell. Just when you think he can't get into a worst or more impossible situation, he does, repeat. A real page turner to see what happens next and how it will all end up. Many thanks to Netgalley UK and the publisher for the Advanced Reader copy.

Great thriller. Seventeen took over when Sixteen suddenly disappeared. He has continued as the leading practitioner in his field. Assasination. Only now he has a difficult job - he needs to kill Sixteen. He'll need to find him first - and when he does he will discover why he disappeared so suddenly. Pacy and entertaining thriller.

An action packed, suspenseful book with a quick moving plot. Many readers will enjoy this book and find it ‘unputdownable’.