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Bad Turn

(Charlie Fox #13)

Zoë Sharp (Goodreads Author)

4.85 · Rating details · 33 ratings · 30 reviews

Charlie has quit her job in close protection, been turned out of her apartment, and is apparently out of options. Why else would she be working for a shady arms dealer?

House-sitting in rural New Jersey has to be the pits—TV and TV dinners. A far cry from Iraq... Bulgaria... Afghanistan. Unlucky or not, she happens to be around at the right time to foil a violent kidnap att ...more

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Expected publication: September 27th 2019 by ZACE Ltd

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· 33 ratings · 30 reviews

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Aug 04, 2019 Maureen Carden rated it it was amazing

Shelves: just-so-damn-good, thriller, wild-ass-adventure

In Bad Turn (Charlie Fox # 13) close protection specialist Charlie Fox has found herself without a job, a home; but with a non-compete clause and a good chance of deportation all because she resigned from her job with Armstrong -Meyer. Parker Armstrong did not take too well to Charlie quitting and the other partner, Sean Meyer has disappeared completely.
Oh yeah, Charlie lost her firearms license too; which would have come in handy when she drove up on an attempted kidnapping in the wilds of New In Bad Turn (Charlie Fox # 13) close protection specialist Charlie Fox has found herself without a job, a home; but with a non-compete clause and a good chance of deportation all because she resigned from her job with Armstrong -Meyer. Parker Armstrong did not take too well to Charlie quitting and the other partner, Sean Meyer has disappeared completely.
Oh yeah, Charlie lost her firearms license too; which would have come in handy when she drove up on an attempted kidnapping in the wilds of New Jersey.
By foiling the kidnapping of Helena Kincaid, wife of arms dealer Eric Kincaid, Charlie is offered a job on Helena’s personal security staff. Charlie finds it difficult to rate Helena’s greatest threats; from within her family, from other arms dealers, or from enemies not even on the Kincaids’ radar. Charlie might even have to put herself into the threat category.
Charlie and her principals travel to Europe; Charlie again shows crazy moxie and courage to foil another kidnapping attempt. Charlie is at all times a multifaceted woman, capable of tremendous toughness and an equal amount of compassion, but she is always aware of rule number two, protect your principal at all costs. Charlie is also well aware of the number one of close protection, go for the protection first; a rule that Charlie counters on all occasions with nerve and verve.
The action is almost non-stop with the author Zoe Sharp always coming up with original action sequences.
Armstrong makes a timely appearance. I’m hoping it’s not for “closure.” Conrad Epps, mysterious government agent shows up again, never a good occurrence, but always interesting. He is worried his undercover agent within the Kincaid organization has gone native. What Epps won’t tell Charlie has immense fallout leaving no one untouched.
I see the character of Charlie Fox compared to some of the top fictional male action heroes. The reviewers and blurbs have it wrong. The men should be compared to Charlie Fox.
Don’t be put off by this being the thirteenth book in the series. Sharp gives you all the information you need to know about Charlie, but oh those other books. I’m a big library user, but I just realized I own every Fox book from paperback to hardback to e-book. The only author for whom I can make this claim.
Thanks to Zoe Sharp for providing me an ARC, in exchange for a fair and hones review. ...more

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Jul 29, 2019 RachelW (BamaGal) rated it really liked it

This is the Charlie Fox I like. Working for herself (well, under a bit of duress) and not in the convoluted entanglements of working for Parker. And as much as I liked Sean and Charlie together, their relationship the last few books had been been too full of suspicion and drama. Charlie is on her own again, kicking butt and doing it under her own rules. That’s just the way I like it. Nice twist at the end. I had completely forgotten and wasn’t expecting it. I’m hopeful that Charlie is finally fr ...more

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Aug 08, 2019 Woman Reading rated it it was amazing

Shelves: thrillers, 4-and-half-to-5-stars-stellar

Charlie Fox is absolutely my favorite female protagonist! I was so pleased and privileged to receive this ARC provided by the talented Zoe Sharp.

Bad Turn is written as a standalone thriller, even though this is the 13th novel. This page-turner starts with Charlie in less than fortunate circumstances (no job, no home, and no weapons), which are then further complicated by the return of a shadowy and powerful character from Third Strike (book #7). As Charlie ruminates -

“ You know what they say -

...more

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Jul 29, 2019 The Cats Mother rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2019-ukcbc-authors, action-or-suspense-thrillers, arc-or-netgalley, authors-from-ukcbc, series, continue-this-series, read-in-2019

I feel very privileged to have received an ARC direct from the author, as this is my absolute favourite series, bar none, and this latest instalment reminds me exactly why. It is the thirteenth book in the Charlie Fox series, and there's also a prequel novella and some short stories. I've read them all and highly recommend starting at the beginning to get her full story; having said that, if you dive straight into this one there is enough backstory to get by.

Bad Turn is set a few months after th I feel very privileged to have received an ARC direct from the author, as this is my absolute favourite series, bar none, and this latest instalment reminds me exactly why. It is the thirteenth book in the Charlie Fox series, and there's also a prequel novella and some short stories. I've read them all and highly recommend starting at the beginning to get her full story; having said that, if you dive straight into this one there is enough backstory to get by.

Bad Turn is set a few months after the events of Fox Hunter, with Close Protection Specialist Charlie reduced to house-sitting in rural New Jersey after losing her job, home and support system in New York. When she intervenes in the attempted kidnapping of a wealthy arms dealer's wife, he offers Charlie a job as her bodyguard, and given the only alternative is a return to her disapproving parents in England, she accepts. Unfortunately, she will soon discover she's caught up with some very nasty people, and can't trust anyone, so will need all her considerable skills to survive and get the job done.

I absolutely loved this - an adrenaline rush that starts with a bang within the first few pages and does not let up until the end. I like the fact that it is all told from Charlie's point of view, (traditional past tense, thankfully) so we get not only a first hand view of every action sequence - and there are plenty - gun battles, car chases, fight scenes and explosions, but we are also treated to her razor-edged sarcastic humour. An unusual mix of grump and kindness, she just will not give up, and is frighteningly hard on herself, and then when she finally seems to be moving on from Sean, which I was glad about, her job still comes before her happiness.

There were plenty of twists, as we soon discover all is not as it seems, and I didn't guess the big one at all. I loved some of the new characters, like Mo, and was pleased to see the return of an old one. I enjoyed the descriptions of Italy and France - loved the escape in a Fiat Cinquecento! - and that even after 14+ adventures Charlie is still finding new ways to thwart the bad guys. Really my only complaint is how long we have to wait between books - which is why getting my hands on this ARC was so exciting - Thank you Zoë!
Bad Turn is published on Septermber 27th 2019. ...more

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Aug 06, 2019 Diane rated it it was amazing

Charlie Fox is back with a vengeance. We've had to wait a couple of years since Fox Hunter, wondering if quitting her job, and accepting that Sean as she knew him has gone, would mean the end of our adventures together and author Zoe Sharp would be exploring new characters. But Charlie is here in full kick-ass mode, in another winning chapter. The full-throttle (Fireblade?) adventure never lets up its pace, the setting is well-realized (more than I ever wanted to know about guns), and the comple ...more

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Jul 27, 2019 K, Nz rated it it was amazing

Advance Reader Copy and this is an honest review.

Loved it, the story flowed at breakneck speed, not that I wanted to take a break from it.
Trademark twists and turns, and clever turns of phrase, Charlie still has heart and principles in spite of sometimes awful odds.

SO good to be able to read this instalment in the series, that meets the need I have for a well-written story. There's a reason why Zoë Sharp is my favourite author.

As per usual I want to know what happens next.....

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Jul 31, 2019 Judith Baxter rated it it was amazing

was so excited to receive my ARC copy of Zoe Sharp’s latest book. Bad Turn is book 13 in the Charlie Fox series. Yes, thirteen!

At the end of the last book Charlie gave notice to her Boss Parker Armstrong and as a consequence has no job, nowhere to live and because of a non-competition clause in her contract with Armstrong Meyer, she can’t get another job in close protection in the US. So we find her house sitting in rural New Jersey, bored with this dull life so different to what she is used to was so excited to receive my ARC copy of Zoe Sharp’s latest book. Bad Turn is book 13 in the Charlie Fox series. Yes, thirteen!

At the end of the last book Charlie gave notice to her Boss Parker Armstrong and as a consequence has no job, nowhere to live and because of a non-competition clause in her contract with Armstrong Meyer, she can’t get another job in close protection in the US. So we find her house sitting in rural New Jersey, bored with this dull life so different to what she is used to.

However, one day she drives into an ambush and immediately jumps into protective mode, not knowing who the ambushed victims are and as she is unarmed, risking her life. Her firearms were returned to Armstrong when he gave her notice to vacate the apartment in which she was living

It happens that the ambush victim is Helena, wife of a well-known arms dealer, James Kincaid and because of the ambush, Charlie is offered the job of protecting the wife. She has no option but to agree. The owners of the house she is house-sitting are due back from Europe shortly and she has no other job opportunities on the horizon.

Enter Conrad Epps, a player in the CIA, NSA, DIA or something connected with Homeland Security. Epps it was, who had tracked Charlie to a nightclub where she worked security in the Meatpacking District in New York. Epps had a job more to her skill set and which she is unable to reject because he can have her deported if she does refuse.

So this is why she is now whiling away her days in rural New Jersey. The house owners return and Charlie takes up residence in the palatial house of the arms dealer.

And this is where we reconnect to the Kick-ass Charlie we know. She has to use all her skills to protect her principal from several sources who try to get to her husband through her. Charlie outmanoeuvres them. Epps has an inside person in the Kincaid organisation but doesn’t tell her who it is. and it wasn’t until the end that I realised who that person was. Well written Ms Sharp.

It is well known by my followers that I am a Charlie Fox fan and this book doesn’t disappoint. As always, the characters are well rounded and believable. The plot is fast and furious. Charlie puts herself in danger to protect Helena and at times James as well. Somehow they manage to come out at the end of the story unscathed.

I thoroughly recommend this book and as always, look forward to the next in the series. ...more

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Aug 04, 2019 Karmen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction

An absolute page-turner. I received an advanced reader copy of this book and was immediately pulled into the story. Bad Turn is a pacy thriller with intriguing characters and quite a few twists.

Charlie Fox, a woman of many talents, finds herself in a tricky situation. While guarding the wife of a wealthy arms-dealer, she needs to both figure out who she's actually spying on and who she can trust. Things get even more complicated once people from her past start catching up.

I found myself unable t ...more

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Aug 08, 2019 Elizabeth Robinson rated it it was amazing

(I received an advanced reader's copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. THANK YOU, Zoe!!)
Charlie Fox is back! This was a thrilling read from the first chapter to the last sentence. Charlie is hired to be a bodyguard for an arms dealer's wife, but is given a secret assignment as well. A character from a previous book is back, for better or for worse, and we are introduced to many new ones, all well-drawn and believably motivated. The action (and there is plenty of it! ...more

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Aug 09, 2019 Hermann.Sch. rated it it was amazing

I came across my first Zoë Sharp/Charlie Fox novel (Hard Knocks, #3) several years ago in the lost-and-left-behind-books library of my holiday hotel in Italy and have been addicted ever since. All twelve novels, a handful of short stories and the prequel to the series are absolutely great stuff and I highly recommend them to anyone who likes high velocity thrillers.
Charlie Fox is witty, lethal - and female. She’s back, and that’s good.
Her new adventure “Bad Turn”, the 13th of author Zoë Sharp’s ...more

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Aug 09, 2019 Jenni rated it it was amazing

I have read and loved every novel in this series, and this one did not disappoint. Charlie Fox's life appears to have taken a turn for the worse when she comes upon an attempted kidnap scene and uses the tools at hand to rescue the victim. The ups and downs of her life are in sharp focus as she embarks on her next assignment. If you've followed the series, the reader has already seen leaps and bounds of growth in Charlie, and yet, she still has room to grow.

Zoe Sharp's writing is crisp, packed ...more

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Aug 07, 2019 Linda rated it really liked it

RTC

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Aug 10, 2019 Any Length rated it it was amazing

Wow, another page turner by Zoe Sharp giving us the newest instalment on Charlie Fox's adventures in the close protection detail business - oh, let's call a spade a spade -she is a body guard. And a damn good one.
Charlie happens upon a kidnapping attempt and comes to the rescue. Who would blame her? She does what comes naturally. She body guards. Anyway, Charlie ends up as close protection detail of Helena Kincaid, wife of an arms dealer and daughter of an even bigger fish in the arms dealing s Wow, another page turner by Zoe Sharp giving us the newest instalment on Charlie Fox's adventures in the close protection detail business - oh, let's call a spade a spade -she is a body guard. And a damn good one.
Charlie happens upon a kidnapping attempt and comes to the rescue. Who would blame her? She does what comes naturally. She body guards. Anyway, Charlie ends up as close protection detail of Helena Kincaid, wife of an arms dealer and daughter of an even bigger fish in the arms dealing sea - a mafia linked arms dealer in semi-retirement who still meddles in the family business. Toss in a very savvy secretary and another body guard who is strangely relaxed, slouching around most of the time and way to lax with his words calling everyone "Dude", and another kidnapping attempt follows and the excitement hits the fan. All this is spiced up with our old "friend" Epps making an appearance and Charlie finds herself a number of hairy situations where she has to use wit and her abilities to get out alive. The story takes us from rural USA to Italy via Switzerland to France and back to the USA. A wild ride through the pages if ever there was one. Toss in a little romantic interlude for Charlie and I am "not kissing and telling you who with"!!! You'll just have to get the book and read for yourself.
A definite page turner. I couldn't tear myself away. And am now sitting in a holding pattern for the next Charlie Fox book. Can't wait. This book has just fanned my absolute addiction to this character and Zoe Sharp's talent for hooking the reader in from the very first sentence is just beyond this world.
I am ever so pleased and grateful to have been given an advance copy of this book which has not influenced my review at all, the book is brilliant and I would recommend it to anyone who likes to be entertained with a thrilling book that nevertheless has a bit of humour tossed in at the right places. Well done, Zoe Sharp. Keep writing. We are want to know what Charlie Fox gets up to next. ...more

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Aug 19, 2019 Drystonewaller rated it it was amazing

At last...my diet of so-so books is over and I can feast once more upon a thoroughly satisfying and fulfilling Charlie Fox book! The only issue I had was life getting in the way of wanting to just immerse myself in the world Zoe Sharp creates so vividly.
For years I have searched for the kind of female lead that didn't trip over her skirts in a crucial moment and need to be rescued by a bloke! Then Charlie Fox came along...the kind of alter ego, protagonist...a female character to look up to that ...more

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Aug 09, 2019 K.D. Kinchen rated it it was amazing

Bad Turn - Review

Zoë Sharp has done it again and turned out another stonking-good read. I absolutely loved Bad Turn. I raced through it in a little over 24 hrs because I simply could not put it down. I had to know what happened after every chapter ending and I was reading well into the night – there goes my beauty sleep, thanks Zoë!
If you looked up “Page-turner” in the dictionary I would not be at all surprised to see a picture of the front cover of Bad Turn in lieu of a definition.
If you like t Bad Turn - Review

Zoë Sharp has done it again and turned out another stonking-good read. I absolutely loved Bad Turn. I raced through it in a little over 24 hrs because I simply could not put it down. I had to know what happened after every chapter ending and I was reading well into the night – there goes my beauty sleep, thanks Zoë!
If you looked up “Page-turner” in the dictionary I would not be at all surprised to see a picture of the front cover of Bad Turn in lieu of a definition.
If you like the Charlie Fox series, this is a must-read, but even if you’ve never read a Charlie Fox book before, this is still a must-read. There is just enough of Charlie’s backstory trickled in here and there to stop you feeling lost, but not so much it holds up the pace and she is such an engaging character you can root for her from the get-go.
This is a five-star book for sure. I can’t wait to read the next one!

ALERT! SPOILERS MAY FOLLOW!

This book is the best Charlie Fox book so far. With Sean out of the picture, Charlie is standing on her own two feet and forging ahead with life on her own terms and I think the book is all the better for it. The development with Parker is an interesting twist and I’m looking forward to seeing where Zoë takes this next.
Charlie gets to show us again just how good she is and that her bodyguarding job is more than just a pay-cheque, an aspect of her character that I have always admired and is one of the aspects which sets her apart from her male counterparts.
I also really enjoyed the introduction of new characters such as Schade, who was just too cool for school and who, I’m hoping, will reappear in future books and the amazing Mrs Heedles, who I loved from the get-go. Her gentle humour was brilliant, she came across like a favoured Auntie, who it turns out is quite an ass-kicker in her own right and I was thrilled she had such a pivotal role in the story (not going to spoil that bit!)
The pace of this book was relentless and I finished it in a little over 24 hrs. I could not put it down, I read until 2:30am the first night and was really sad it was finished as soon as it was. Though that did mean the next night I could catch up on my beauty sleep!
It’s an elegantly crafted thriller, engaging and enticing and I could not recommend it more.
...more

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Jul 28, 2019 Sue rated it really liked it

I would like to thank Zoe Sharp for the ARC of Bad Turn. The book was an easy and fast read. I downloaded the book Friday evening and had finished it by mid morning Saturday. Reading the description I knew there had to be more to the storyline for Charlie to go to work for an arms dealer and was not disappointed. I enjoyed the story and the introduction of new characters of Eric and Helena Kincaid and Mo Heedles. ( I would love to see Mo show up in future books!) Considering that Helena was the ...more

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Aug 19, 2019 pshumes rated it it was amazing

Zoe Sharp and Charlie Fox never disappoint. If you want a fast action, intriguing story this book is the one to pick up. But be prepared, you are not going to want to put it down. The characters are very real and I enjoy the addition of new and strong supporting characters, such as Mo. I have enjoyed this series since ‘discovering’ it many years ago before the books were easily available in the US. In fact, I had my sister purchase the newest releases in Great Britain and bring them to me when s ...more

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Aug 14, 2019 Lorna rated it it was amazing

I received an advanced copy of this book to prereview and potentially pick up any mistakes. Not much chance of that as I devoured it whole. I love this series of books and have been subscribed to the authors newsletter awaiting each new instalment.
This book did not disappoint. The story, I don’t want to get into, I think it is better to watch it unfold and let the twists and turns take you. It’s another chapter in the life of a character that I enjoy watching develop, she stays true to the path ...more

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Aug 11, 2019 BerkeleyHapa rated it it was amazing

I was excited to receive an ARC of this latest Charlie Fox novel as she is one of my favorite characters. While she has become an expert at both self-defense and tactical protection, she worries that the level of violence in her life may be stripping away her soul. Charlie is at a crossroads in her life; still mourning her lost relationship, she has quit her job over trust issues. Although she wants to get out of close protection work, she accepts a position for the wife of an arms dealer withou ...more

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Aug 18, 2019 Anne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: thriller

One of my favorite authors is Zoe Sharp and, if you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her kick-butt character Charlotte “Charlie” Fox, you are in for a treat. In Bad Turn, her 13th outing, Charlie has quit her highly effective job in close protection with the Armstong-Meyer Agency following a dangerous assignment in the Middle East (Fox Hunter, 2017). At loose ends, Charlie is house sitting in western New Jersey when she rescues Helena Kincaid, the wife of an arms dealer, from a violent kidnap ...more

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Aug 11, 2019 Jodi Pratt rated it it was amazing

Another extremely satisfying, intricate, action-packed story, including threads that keep Charlie connected to her past. Even when the alliances among unscrupulous players dissolve and reform several times, Charlie's professional commitment to her principal does not waver, sometimes challenging her personal ethics. Author Sharp allows Charlie to grow; in Bad Turn, she is learning the hard lessons from what she views as past mistakes, especially now that her future is no longer clear.

If you haven ...more

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Aug 17, 2019 Cathy Holgate rated it it was amazing

I have read all the books by zoe sharp I could find, she is defiantly my favourite author. When I read her books I get completely lost in the story, always a sign of a really good writer for me.
Bad Turn is the latest book about Charlie Fox, who is a completely engaging character. Her world is always full of action, interesting characters (I really like Mo in this one!), and plot twists. Charlie is very capable, well trained and independent but also has great humour, vulnerabilities and immense ...more

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Aug 19, 2019 Kevin Reade rated it it was amazing

I have read this book as I was lucky enough to get an ARC from the author Zoe Sharp. I have been reading her books ever since I picked one up in a bookstore on a whim and have read all of her books since, which is a testament to the authors writing. In this new book - Bad Turn - Charlie, the main character, gets thrown into another adventure in her occupation as a bodyguard and shows everyone that she knows her job and is very good at it. The book is a page turner, skilfully written to easily pi ...more

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Aug 10, 2019 Jami rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 20, 2019 Amanda Vogt rated it it was amazing

I received an ARC of this book and was so thrilled to have Charlie Fox, my favorite female protagonist, back. And Charlie is all grown up! She’s world-weary, disillusioned and ready to impose her will on the baddies. Charlie Fox is at her best in this #13 in the series. She has shaken off the men who held her back and caused her to doubt herself. She’s fully aware of her capabilities as a close protection specialist and no one is more deadly. Yet she’s principled and loyal to her client.
The twis ...more

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Aug 18, 2019 Jan rated it it was amazing

“Bad Turn” by Zoë Sharp takes you on a fast paced ride down the back roads of America and western Europe with Charlie Fox, in a high-stakes protection job where nothing is as it seems. Lots of plot twists that keep you turning the pages and guessing who the bad guys are and how she is going to survive. Charlie not only can multi-task but she can singularly take down the bad guys with wit, skill and a laser focus that gets the job done.
Get your self a drink (tea perhaps) and something to eat. Yo ...more

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Aug 10, 2019 B rated it it was amazing

Charlie finds herself in the deep end once again. After being forced to take an assignment she didn't want, Charlie is stuck in the middle of a fight between a reluctant gunrunner and some clients that just won't take no for an answer. And on top of that she doesn't know who's really friend or foe.

Lots of action and the twists that we've come to expect in Charlie Fox's world. 4 1/2 stars.

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Aug 10, 2019 Carien rated it really liked it

As usual, I was totally swept up in the story and didn't come up for air until the last page. Charlie is such a wonderful character and I have there with her since the first book was released!

Carien Nel

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Aug 10, 2019 Harvey Williamson rated it it was amazing

I have read the entire series and love the books. I read this advance copy in 2 days it is a great read! I recommend this book and the entire series.

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Charlie Fox rated it it was amazing
Aug 13, 2019

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About Zoë Sharp

Zoë Sharp

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Zoë Sharp spent most of her formative years living aboard a catamaran on the northwest coast of England. She opted out of mainstream education at the age of twelve and wrote her first novel at fifteen. She became a freelance photojournalist in 1988 and started writing her Charlie Fox crime thriller series after receiving death-threats in the course of her work.