Katya made a bargain with Kadinsky, an evil Russian mobster. Her sister Nadia has been trained as an assassin (among others things and he has agreed that they will both be free when she completes 10 missions. This one is different- a weapon known as the Rose is 66 meters (duh) under water and Nadia must retrieve it. I was surprised at how much I liked this- it's twisty and entertaining. No spoilers.

Gritty. 66 Metres is gritty.

Exactly what is expected in the shadowy world of crime families, covert operatives, and terrorists looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and those who crave only power.

There are no good guys. Only those with agendas—be they escaping past demons or seeking to possess future riches.

There are no friendships… only alliances.

And they are temporary.

Nadia Laksheva is our protagonist, trapped into service for five years in this dangerous world to pay off a debt, and free older sister, Katya, one of several concubines [sex slaves] kept by Russian crime boss, Kadinsky.

I respect Nadia. She never gives up or gives in. Despite her tenth and last op going horribly wrong through no fault of her own, Nadia knows to not deliver “the package” to Kadinsky is a death sentence for her sister…and for her when she is eventually found. She’s knows trusting Kadinsky at all is a leap of faith… and a lot of hope

That being said, I’m still not sure if I like Nadia. Don’t misunderstand me, she’s not a bad person. But she’s in her own head a bit too much… dwelling… on past events and past conversations. She’s searching for wisdom, at the age of twenty-three (initially eighteen), she does not possess, and it leads to hasty/bad decisions—which is how she ended up in debt to Kadinsky. To be fair, I’m not sure if Nadia ever had a clear path to a different life. Between finding out the truth about her father only after he was killed, and the prickly relationship she had with her mother, she didn’t have much guidance. But, I don’t have to like her to be in her corner. She is no wimp, and somehow needs a break from the death and madness.

Former MI6 operative, Jake Saunders, is coerced back into service to recover ‘the package’ Nadia is hiding. Jake has issues of his own he needs resolved and goes on the hunt for Nadia. However, he becomes conflicted—how can he complete his assignment AND save Nadia?

Sound simple enough? It isn’t. The devil’s in the details…and there are lots of details.

66 Metres has a large cast of thugs, henchmen, hit-men, terrorists, corrupt officials, and rubes who pass through, some only lasting for a scene or two. However, the author has done a masterful job of making these brief appearances memorable. It’s even possible to see ‘human’ sides to some of the baddies and better understand their motives.

Well, except for pond scum Slick and Pox, who had no redeeming social value. And Kadinsky.

One of the best parts of this read is the significance of the title. It doesn’t only have meaning for the protagonist, but all the divers in the book understand… and respect the depth of 66 metres. The author gives readers a great visual when Nadia sits outside the ice cream parlor and imagines herself at the base of a twenty-story building with the roof being the water’s surface. The thought made Nadia shiver…and me too!

Fans of international crime and intrigue will enjoy this read, but I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well-written story with a complex plot, and twists and turns on ever page. I’m looking forward to reading book 2, 37 Hours.

So this is going to be a very odd for me to write but as I like to be honest on this blog, I feel it is only fair that I continue doing that. In that vein, the first thing to say is that I did not finish this book and will probably not return to the book in the future. What is very important to know is that the reason for this is not because the book is bad but simply that it is not the right book for me. But what I do know is that a lot of people, including people who read this blog, are very likely to love this book and so I wanted to share the book with you.

I feel that if I had continued this book, I would likely have given it four stars as it is superbly written. The book is intense and emotional. It truly pulls you into the story and lets you become invested in the story. It is full of in depth descriptions too which really make you feel like you could be watching a TV show or a film. And it is for this reason that I would highly recommend this book to people who love James Bond and films like it. It is full of action, tense drama, deception and a heist of kind.

For me though, it was the real-ness of everything that had me pulling back a little. Some of the scenes were very graphic and detailed and I found it was just too intense for me. Furthermore, this type of mafia story just doesn’t work for me. Not because it doesn’t seem real but because it scares me instead of entertains me. I love a good crime thriller but this type of action book was just too much for me. I am still intrigued enough in the story that I want to read on and find out what happens and this is yet another reason that I know this book is a good book. Thus I would still really recommend it if you like high-action books that are rich in enthralling scenes and intense moments.

I would like to start by saying that I don't have much experience of reading spy thrillers, this however certainly didn't put me off of reading 66 Metres as I found the blurb to be so intriguing.

Nadia is devoted to her sister Katya and she has one last mission to do at the hands of Kadinsky to free them both from his evil clutches forever. However the mission proposed is the deadliest one yet, a mission to retrieve The Rose, a weapon capable of great destruction when in the wrong hands.

I found 66 Metres to be fast paced from the offset, the constant cat and mouse chases were exhilarating and exhausting in equal measure. There is a great many characters and they all added to the storyline. J.F Kirwan has a great skill for creating a 'baddie' and an unlikeable character or two as well.

Nadia is on the wrong side, I guess we could say she is a baddie but some of that is down to circumstance and I really liked her character and warmed to her as every page of the book turned.

There is a lot about diving in the book, and as someone who doesn't even particularly like swimming I wondered if this would put me off this book. The opposite is true, I think when an author writes about a subject with such great passion that rubs off on the reader. These scenes were some of the best in the book. I could just imagine being down under the sea, perhaps better to not be followed by trained assassins but still....

This book has a hurtling pace with little let up. I found it absorbing and exhilarating and I can't wait to read the next one.

5☆ Jam Packed Full of Action, Thrills & Suspense! Prepared to be left breathless!

66 Metres is the first book in the Nadia Laksheva spy thriller series.
It was action packed, thrilling, a race against time, good vs bad, it was real adrenaline rush.

There was a fair amount of deep sea diving, which actually took my breath away. I felt as though it was me going underwater.
It was a lil claustrophobic but in a good way as it felt so real.

When Nadia and her sister get caught up in the underground world that belonged to Russian Mobster Kadinsky.
He sees potential in Nadia. She had lots of potential. He would train her for 10 missions over 5years then he would let her go and her sister.
Katya is Nadia's Sister. She is Kadinsky play thing. She is his 'whore'.
So Nadia agrees in the hope that Kadinsky is a man of his word. After all he certainly isn't a man to be messed with he oozes danger and power!

Nadia is very strong, level headed, kick ass spy, extremely good at her job, she is great at shooting targets and her love for deep sea diving simply shines through. However she does have this vulnerable side that makes the reader really warm to her.

So when Nadia' s final mission is played out.
Things don't quiet go to plan.
There is double crossing, murder, and then there is 'The Rose' which is what Nadia is sent to recover.
When she finds out Exactly what the Rose is she is petrified of it getting into the wrong hands.
But she also knows Katya & her freedom depends on it.

From the minute the Rose enters Nadia' s hands things just keep getting more and more dangerous!

When Nadia dumps the Rose at the bottom of the ocean with a tracker device she realises it's gone down 66Metres.
Although she is a fantastic diver.... 66 Metres is extremely dangerous.
She needs help but who can she trust.
With no one to turn too she has to use her gut instinct as time is running out!

There are several characters within the story, Jake is an Ex agent of M16, however he is never really free of them.
Jake is one of the best divers but he takes risks, very scary risks. So when an agent approaches Jake for one last mission... uncover the Rose... he can't say no!!
Jake is haunted by his past so he is a little bit of a live wire.

I have to admit I wasn't sure about this book to start with and nearly stopped reading.
 But I am soooo glad I continued as it was an action packed adventure that held my attention, had me on the edge of my seat, championing Nadia to succeed and be free.
It had the perfect blend of action, thrills, delightful twists, and pulse racing moments.

The deep diving literally had me breathless. It made me feel like it was me in the diving suit!
Kirwan intricately detailed every little detail making it feel so real!
For that I applaud him! 👏 I've never read a book where I've felt so involved.

Nadia is one hell of a main character who grew from strength to strength.
I just can't wait to see what's next in store!

If you are looking for a book that is jam packed full of Thrills, Suspense & Action that has a spy feel and a Kick Ass Women Main Character... Then you should definitely give this book a read!

“She’d been fourteen when two men in combat fatigues and balaclavas burst into the kitchen where she and her father were enjoying breakfast. She could have darted for it, threatened them, helped him. But she hesitated. The moment slipped past. They threw a black hood over his head, cuffed him, and dragged him away to be interrogated, tortured, executed and buried in the woods. A single thought haunted her ever since. Had he known they would come?”

Nadia promised 5 years of her life and 10 ops to the Russian mob for her and her sister to walk away, but something has gone wrong with her final op. She is left alone with a valuable device called the Rose, that has resulted in several dead colleagues. She has a few days to retrieve the Rose from the bottom of the ocean at a depth of 66 metres which is a dangerous dive that she needs help with. Who can she trust? Can she return the device to her boss before she and her sister are killed?

Jake is a former employee of MI6 due to a mission gone bad, and they want him back to find a girl and recover the Rose. As an experienced diver, Jake agrees to this one last mission in exchange for the service resolving a personal matter, but he isn’t prepared for Nadia. A strong, determined, and vulnerable young woman who has a lot to lose if she cannot complete her mission. How can he do this one last job without putting Nadia’s life in danger?

In book one of the Nadia Laksheva spy thriller series, Kirwan takes the reader to Russia, London and exotic places following Nadia Laksheva, Russian spy, who is an exceptional protaganist in the story. The reader roots for Nadia because she sacrifices her life to save her sister and when the going gets tough, she takes it all in stride. Jake’s character is a good complement to Nadia because he is determined to help her no matter what the cost.

This is a great first novel to the series. It is fast-paced and the scuba diving scenes are very lifelike. The idea that you don’t know who to trust in the story is a gripping plot line. I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series. If you like spy thrillers with strong female protagonists, great escape sequences and a bit of scuba diving, you will enjoy this novel.

If you've been following my blog for a while, you'll know that I am a HUGE fan of J.F.Kirwan and this series. Now, usually I would suggest reading book serial's in order and, whilst you can get away with reading the second book in this series BEFORE the first one (just like I did), I found that I was unable to enjoy the first book as much as I would have liked because I knew what was going to happen later on down the line. Make sense? Let me just clarify though, that it totally my error and in no way a critique of the author.

My stupidity aside, let's just focus on the storyline itself - intense!! Never in a million years did I think I would adore a spy series, but I do! Yes, because my own stupidity with the book order left a bad taste in my mouth, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was great to see how Nadia was in the beginning of the series, and she happened to be on the path that was going to haunt her for the rest of her life. I'll say it again - INTENSE!!

The psychological element to this storyline was exceptionally clever. I never expected a lot of the things that happened as my mind was in such a head funk, I wouldn't have even been able to tell you where I lived, never mind trying to work out where the storyline was going. I mean c'mon!!

J.F.Kirwan is a fantastic author, he really knows how to pull his readers in with his fast paced, chilling and devastatingly inviting storylines - you know you probably shouldn't be head over heels in lust with this book, but you just cannot help it. In my eyes, that is an example of an author who knows his craft and knows how to use it to his advantage.

'66 Metres' isn't my most favourite of the three books, but it is still an enlightening teaser for what's to come later on. If you find yourself enjoying this book, you'll absolutely love the next book in the series.

Brilliant.

66 Metres is the first book in the Nadia Laksheva spy thriller series and now I am left thinking why didn't I read this book sooner! This is definitely what I call a crime thriller.

First of all I have to say that I love the fact this book features a strong kick ass main character….Nadia. Who we meet her at the age of 18 after her father’s death she learns that her dad was a killer. and her mother is dying. Nadia’s character is quickly built up in the first few chapters giving us plenty of background information. She finds herself working for Russian mafia Kadinsky for five years in hope that he will let herself and her sister free.

The question she keeps asking herself is can she kill?!

I was totally sucked in right from the start and devoured it one one afternoon, I found myself flying through the pages. Even though it is full of characters that you will like and dislike. I found this an easy, gritty, unputdownable read.

The author’s scuba diving experience is shown throughout the the plot. Transporting us around the world to London Russia the Isles of Scilly and Penzance in Cornwall….I do love that place! The descriptions made me feel right there in the story.
But making this a rather unique with plenty of action at sea rather than on land which is what you would expect to find in a spy thriller.

It is a fast paced, action thriller right from the word go…...a brilliant start to a series. Which I highly recommend giving it 4.5 stars.

I would like to thank Rachel Gilbey for inviting me to take part in this fab Blog Tour

I managed to go about reading this series a bit backwards, I started with book two by mistake and then, of course, couldn't wait to read book three but I knew that I couldn't not read this one and I am so glad I circled back to do so! Whilst I understood everything that happened in subsequent books reading this just slotted some pieces together for me in terms of relationships and motivations.

I feel like I got to know Nadia really well by reading this book and finding out about more about her background and how she got mixed up with Kadinsky. Her relationship with her sister was lovely to see, they are both in a bad position but are always trying to protect one another.

It was also brilliant to see how Nadia and Jake’s relationship started out and that even though they were on different sides that they could recognise the connection between them.

I was kind of surprised to have a bit of a soft spot for a character who seemed to hover on the line between sides, Lazarus. His reserved power and his vulnerability made him fascinating to read about, he might not have always followed the law but his own morals made you respect him.

As ever with a book by Mr Kirwan the suspense and the action were top notch, the story is cleverly plotted and you find yourself immersed immediately into what’s going on.

I really can’t say much more except that this is a brilliant start to an amazing series and you are missing out if you don’t pick up this book!

66 Metres introduces us to Nadia Luksheva, who has been forced to undertake missions to keep her sister safe from harm. For the past five years, Nadia has been working for Kadinsky, who's been holding her sister prisoner as an incentive. But now Nadia has just one last mission to complete and she and her sister will be allowed to go free.

Nadia is instructed to retrieve a device, a military weapon called The Rose. But as is always the case with things like these, there are of course a whole bunch of other people who'd love to get their hands on a weapon like The Rose. It seems Nadia will have little choice but to trust just one man and as it happens, he's been sent to spy on her.

66 Metres is a well-paced spy thriller. There are a lot of players in this story, most of them with bad intentions. Stating the obvious. . Yet Nadia's character manages to stand out from the crowd effortlessly. Her background alone makes for a fascinating story. She's determined not to turn out like her father, who was a killer. So far, despite all the circumstances she's found herself in, she's been able to stay true to herself. Even after everything she's been through, she still firmly knows the difference between right and wrong. But when pushed, how far will she go to protect her sister?

Like I mentioned, The Rose is the perfect weapon for any terrorist and thus a hot commodity. We get most of the usual suspects chasing it down, from a rogue CIA operator to MI6 to a bunch of mean and cruel Russians. There's also quite a lot of diving going on. For someone who knows nothing about any of that (eek, water!), I thought I might either get bored or freaked out. But that didn't happen. I've actually learned quite a lot and the underwater scenes really added to the atmosphere.

All in all, 66 Metres is a highly entertaining and complex tale full of deceit, backstabbing and the games powerful people play that takes us from London to Frankfurt to the Scilly Islands to Russia. Fabulous locations and a well-crafted story that would make for a super spy thriller movie. This is the first instalment in the Luksheva series and I very much look forward to reading the follow-up, 38 Hours.

66 METRES by J.F. Kirwan is a spy thriller with a difference and a must-read for fans of the genre.

Nadia's life in Russia has never been normal with a killer for a father and a cold, distant mother. Her love for her sister is what keeps her going and when their lives are threatened, Nadia signs away her life for five years to gain freedom for her and her sibling.

Five years of training and missions for a Russian criminal thug has certainly taken its toll but as Nadia finds herself diving into the Thames to retrieve a package known as The Rose, this will be her final operation and she can live a happy, quiet life with her sister. But Nadia should know that nothing is ever straight-forward and so begins a dangerous, action-packed race against time ...

66 METRES by J.F. Kirwan was such an interesting and different read, especially with the added detail of diving and all that entails. Nadia has had such a harsh life and even though she has become hardened and tough from what her life has become, there is still a sense of vulnerability and she has retained the element of knowing right from wrong which is often missing from main characters in this genre.

The plot is well-paced, and while it did take me a little while to get into the story, I soon couldn't put it down.

66 METRES by J.F. Kirwan is a masterly story of hardship, danger, lies, and power and is definitely worth a read.

I am so glad I signed up to all three of these books. Kirwan's writing style is pleasantly quirky. He writes short sentences at times, packed with information that makes you reread the sentence to fully digest it. He writes freely, and I really enjoyed immersing himself in his world. I am terrified of drowning, and diving is a huge no-no for me, but the diving scenes in this were both beautiful and exciting. It's little wonder, given his background, that he could write them so well. I am really looking forward to reading the next book now. Nadia is a fantastic badass character, and the whole book is a suspend reality and enjoy adventure, which is thrilling. It is a little far fetched, but it's a spy thriller, of course it is! I am interested to see what happens next..watch this space for the next review! Thanks to HQ for my Netgalley copy.

I am often a bit reluctant about starting a new series because often they start good and go downhill or they just mean that I'm committed to reading too many books in order to keep up. There aren't that many series that I read and follow but something about the blurb for 66 Metres appealed to me.

I have dived before, quite a few times before I unfortunately got the bends (long story but it was because I was dehydrated from being seasick rather than anything I did) but that scared me enough to put me off diving again. But I loved doing it and so I have to admit that I really enjoyed the diving scenes in this book, of which there are many, they felt realistic and the author clearly knows what he is talking about. My dives were more about looking at pretty fish so not really similar to the dives in the book, although I did do a shipwreck dive, but because I'm not a spy there was none of the excitement as there was in the book.

Nadia was a character that I wasn't completely sure about. Although she was forced into the situation that she was in in order to protect someone that she loves she has a constant battle with herself over whether she was a good person or if she could be a killer. She's clearly smart and desperate to be out of the situation that she is in but will that desperation cause her to break her own ethics and will she drag totally innocent people into her dangerous world in order to complete her mission?

The book is well paced, there is plenty of action to keep the reader hooked but there are also slower sections where we learn more about the main characters. I really enjoyed reading 66 metres and I'm really looking forward to finding out what comes next for Nadia in book two.

Thank you to the publisher Carina for a copy of 66 Metres. All thoughts are my own and I was under no obligation to review.

I am actually on the blog tour for this book and the two that follow in the series and I had finished the book that I had in my bag and thought I would just start this one in preparation.

I found Nadia quite an interesting character and also felt that she didn’t have much of a choice with her chosen career. With her father being an assassin it’s maybe what you are used to.

Although diving features quite heavily in this book (66 meters is the depth at which air begins to become toxic to deep-water divers) I felt the author wrote the story well with enough descriptions to help you along the way!

I’m looking forward to reading the next instalments.

Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to have read this book.
This is the first in a new series by the author, featuring Nadia Laksheva as our new favorite spy (stand back James!)
The book was well written, and took me on a roller coaster ride from the beginning to the end.
Worth the effort!