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A review by karlou
Fox Hunter by Zoë Sharp
5.0
Fox Hunter is the twelfth book in Zoe Sharp's series about Charlie Fox, it's also the first I've read but luckily can be read as a standalone.
It's been a little while since I've read an action thriller but what a way to return to the genre! I was gripped by Fox Hunter from the very start. I must admit I was at a slight disadvantage not having read the earlier books but Zoe Sharp cleverly brings new readers up to speed organically through her plot building without having to constantly rehash the previous stories for long term fans. In this book Charlie is sent to Iraq to track down her former lover, Sean. He's not the man she used to know following his almost fatal shooting in a previous book - but has he really become a twisted killer?
I'm a huge fan of the television series, Homeland and Fox Hunter has some of the same elements of that show; high octane action, uncompromising violence, dangerous locations and the feeling that you never really know who you can trust. Charlie's mission takes her from one seemingly impossible situation to another, she seems to be in almost constant danger in this blisteringly fast paced thriller.
The pulse racing tension never comes at the expense of characterisation however. Charlie Fox is an unforgettable protagonist. She is highly capable, an efficient killer with a sharp mind. Her back story means she is also a very real character and relatable even though not many of us are ever going to have to face the extreme situations she finds herself in. Her instinctive ability to take a life isn't something she takes for granted, she's a survivor but killing another human - even one who was trying to kill her - affects her deeply. In Fox Hunter she learns more about her past, the shocking truth is handled with a searing honesty and never feels gratuitous. It's not just Charlie though, I absolutely loved all the strong female characters in this book, Luisa Dawson, Aubrey Hamilton and Madeleine. It's so refreshing to read an action thriller where the women take centre stage and aren't love interests, secretaries or sidekicks. They are all complex, interesting and believable women, their relationships with one another may sometimes be more than a little fraught and though the respect between them may be grudging at times, it's earned as they learn what they are each capable of.
Fox Hunter has the grit and glamour of a big screen action thriller, with its global locations and international cast of antagonists; it also has a thoughtful, poignant storyline that looks at revenge, justice and redemption, and examines the process of trying to move beyond horrific events that threaten to define not just the past but the present and future too. I really enjoyed this book, the gripping action, detailed and nuanced characterisation and fascinating narrative make this a superlative thriller and one I thoroughly recommend.
All my reviews are originally published on my blog at www.hairpastafreckle72.blogspot.co.uk
It's been a little while since I've read an action thriller but what a way to return to the genre! I was gripped by Fox Hunter from the very start. I must admit I was at a slight disadvantage not having read the earlier books but Zoe Sharp cleverly brings new readers up to speed organically through her plot building without having to constantly rehash the previous stories for long term fans. In this book Charlie is sent to Iraq to track down her former lover, Sean. He's not the man she used to know following his almost fatal shooting in a previous book - but has he really become a twisted killer?
I'm a huge fan of the television series, Homeland and Fox Hunter has some of the same elements of that show; high octane action, uncompromising violence, dangerous locations and the feeling that you never really know who you can trust. Charlie's mission takes her from one seemingly impossible situation to another, she seems to be in almost constant danger in this blisteringly fast paced thriller.
The pulse racing tension never comes at the expense of characterisation however. Charlie Fox is an unforgettable protagonist. She is highly capable, an efficient killer with a sharp mind. Her back story means she is also a very real character and relatable even though not many of us are ever going to have to face the extreme situations she finds herself in. Her instinctive ability to take a life isn't something she takes for granted, she's a survivor but killing another human - even one who was trying to kill her - affects her deeply. In Fox Hunter she learns more about her past, the shocking truth is handled with a searing honesty and never feels gratuitous. It's not just Charlie though, I absolutely loved all the strong female characters in this book, Luisa Dawson, Aubrey Hamilton and Madeleine. It's so refreshing to read an action thriller where the women take centre stage and aren't love interests, secretaries or sidekicks. They are all complex, interesting and believable women, their relationships with one another may sometimes be more than a little fraught and though the respect between them may be grudging at times, it's earned as they learn what they are each capable of.
Fox Hunter has the grit and glamour of a big screen action thriller, with its global locations and international cast of antagonists; it also has a thoughtful, poignant storyline that looks at revenge, justice and redemption, and examines the process of trying to move beyond horrific events that threaten to define not just the past but the present and future too. I really enjoyed this book, the gripping action, detailed and nuanced characterisation and fascinating narrative make this a superlative thriller and one I thoroughly recommend.
All my reviews are originally published on my blog at www.hairpastafreckle72.blogspot.co.uk