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A Beautiful Place to Die: A non-stop action thriller novel

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When you wound an angel, you unleash a demon.

It was supposed to be a simple assignment, get a DNA sample from a young boy, but it turns into a deadly trap. With a price on the boy’s head and a target on her back, Kiku must not only shield him from the ruthless Russian mafia but also from a traitor within the Yakuza itself. Torn between love and honor, duty and scorn, Kiku must decide where her loyalties lie before it’s too late.

If you have plans, cancel them! You won’t be able to stop reading, so get ready to strap in, buckle up, and hang on for an action-thrill ride of your life!

Award-winning, Wall Street Journal bestselling author Christopher Greyson breaks the mold for action-thrillers. Join Kiku as she races across the globe from Chicago to Hong Kong, the streets of Japan, and the tundra of Russia, taking on the mob, Yakuza, black market, and anyone else who stands in her way!

Praise for A Beautiful Place to

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Kiku is an unstoppable, forceful female on her own quest for questionable revenge. Talk about a page turner, a rollicking rollercoaster ride from the first page to the last page with more to come. Mr. Greyson has done it again with this his latest book. Kiku is one of the best female characters to grace the literary world in recent memory. If you're not reading Greyson you're missing out on hours of reading pleasure - all his books are terrific and I can't wait for the sequel. — H.B. Levesque

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Un-put-down-ably terrific! Mr. Greyson has penned another winner! Action-packed and non-stop chaos reign as Kiku has a mission. And what a mission it is. This one is inventive, beautifully detailed, authentic, and a white-knuckle ride from beginning to end. A terrific start to the series. — Colorado Avid Reader

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Kiku makes 007 seem tame! — Amazon review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazing! I love this book! Christopher Greyson books are an addiction! If you love suspenseful and exciting books, try this series! — Dana Chiaramonte

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This needs to be a movie! Absolutely perfect. — Sarah Trala

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Kiku a force to be reckoned with! Totally loved, loved, loved this! — Judith Marshall

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I read this book, ignoring chores and everything but sleep. I'm ordering the next book right now. — Bonny French

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An adrenaline rush! — Darrell Williams

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spectacular! This was a magnificent book and I had trouble getting anything done until it was finished. — Amazon Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A true nonstop action read. Once you start you can't put it down. Kiku is lethal but also has a heart. — Amazon Review

From multi-award-winning Wall Street Journal bestselling author Christopher Greyson comes this spellbinding tale with jaw-dropping secrets, a colorful ensemble of characters, and a protagonist you’ll root for from the first page to the last.


Grab your copy and start reading today!

Look for other standalone books by the Wall Street Journal bestselling author.

The Girl Who Lived
And Then She Was Gone (Prequel)
Girl Jacked
Jack Knifed
Jacks Are Wild
Jack and the Giant Killer
Data Jack
Jack of Hearts
Jack Frost
Jack of Diamonds
Captain Jack
Pure of Heart

KIKU – The Yakuza War Trilogy
A Beautiful Place to Die
Kindle the Fires of War
Dance of Death

266 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2022

508 people are currently reading
338 people want to read

About the author

Christopher Greyson

64 books1,079 followers
My name is Christopher Greyson, and I am a storyteller.

Since I was a little boy, I have dreamt of what mystery was around the next corner, or what quest lay over the hill. If I couldn’t find an adventure, one usually found me, and now I weave those tales into my stories. I am blessed to have written over twenty novels.

My love for tales of mystery and adventure began with my grandfather, a decorated World War I hero. I will never forget being introduced to his friend, a WWI pilot who flew across the skies at the same time as the feared, legendary Red Baron. My love of reading and storytelling eventually led me to write and it’s the best job I’ve ever had.

I love to hear from my readers. Please visit ChristopherGreyson.com, where you can become a preferred reader, download an exclusive Jack Stratton mystery, and receive advanced notifications of book releases and more! Please follow Detective Jack Stratton on Twitter @chris_greyson and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ChristopherG.... Thank you for reading my novels. I hope my stories have brightened your day.

Sincerely,

Christopher Greyson

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5 stars
755 (60%)
4 stars
363 (28%)
3 stars
113 (9%)
2 stars
12 (<1%)
1 star
11 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
Profile Image for Sean Peters  (A Good Thriller).
833 reviews117 followers
March 28, 2025
When you wound an angel, you unleash a demon.

It was supposed to be a simple assignment, get a DNA sample from a young boy, but it turns into a deadly trap. With a price on the boy’s head and a target on her back, Kiku must not only shield him from the ruthless Russian mafia but also from a traitor within the Yakuza itself. Torn between love and honor, duty and scorn, Kiku must decide where her loyalties lie before it’s too late.

Yes action packed, a girl on the run and it seems tobe n being chased by everyone, who to trust?

Filled with pace, fights,whether gunfights, knife fights and much more.

Interesting, different, reasonable story.

Three stars

1 review
August 11, 2023
Story was not finished

This was a good story but the book ended before the story did. This was just a teaser to buy more books, which I will not do. I have eliminated author from future buys.
Profile Image for Alicia Huxtable.
1,915 reviews60 followers
September 1, 2024
Great writing

I enjoyed this book, it kept me guessing and then BAM, I think it rocked me as much as Kiku and Alex.
746 reviews12 followers
March 4, 2022
Kiku was introduced to me in the Jack Stratton series but here I get an in depth look at who she really is.
The softer side of her is shown by her love for a man and compassion for a boy. Don’t think this makes her weak. Kiku is still an assassin you don’t want to mess with. She’s a complex character who is scary and intriguing. Every time I think I have her figured out she surprises me. The one thing I know, don’t betray her or you better watch your back.
This book is a wicked ride through America, Japan, and beyond. Full of nonstop action it grips you from the very beginning and you won’t put it down until the end.
Highly recommended.
416 reviews1 follower
March 23, 2022
Christopher Greyson writes stories of intrigue, peppered with a surprises, romance and drama and “A Beautiful Place to Die: A Kiku - Yakuza Assassin” is no exception! This is an action packed and interesting read! The story is impressive, fantastic and a romantic tale. There are twists, turns and suspense, as we follow the main characters through an emotional path. The characters are really well drawn in this story. Even the secondary characters are interesting on their own.
Kiku is a skilled assassin who has been assigned to guard a 13 year old boy. Ummm, Kiku doesn’t know why she got this assignment until she discovers he may be the son of her lover, heir to the Yakuza throne with a price on his head and they both become targets. And, the story takes off!
We get to read about one of the best female characters, ever. She is ruthless, capable and hard-hearted.
Through Christopher Greyson’s wonderful talent, we are shown how the characters learn about themselves, each other and they grow stronger and embrace relationships. It is exciting to see into her world and watch as she wrecks havoc on anyone and anything in her path.
The book is a page turner from page one! Their characters have depth, the story is riveting and uncertainty fills one with worry, tension and you just keep reading and reading! Thank you Christopher Greyson for a fast paced, action filled story!
Profile Image for S.
Author 11 books20 followers
June 1, 2022
Is this a movie yet? This needs to be a movie.

I love a book that paints such a perfect scene I lose myself. A Beautiful Place to Die does that with every page. I started it before work this morning, and just finished. It’s 9:30 p.m. I don’t know what to do with myself now. Absolutely perfect. The character development is superb, interactions are realistic, just enough comic relief to keep me from losing my mind, action scenes are well thought out and clear. Not ONCE did I have to stop and reread sections for clarity, which is amazing because I do that with nearly every book.

I’ll say it again, this needs to be a movie if it isn’t already. I’m geeked for the next book.
77 reviews
May 3, 2022
Wow and then Wow again. What a book. I couldn't put it down, it was so exciting and fast paced. I knew I would like it because I liked Kiku in the Jack Stratton books but this was beyond anything I would have expected! Great writing. I have already downloaded book 2 and certainly will also get book 3. It looks like a continuing story so I imagine lots of excitement ahead. Will be hoping for more after that. What a woman!
772 reviews
July 13, 2023
A great new protagonist - Asian assassin Kiku. Interesting back story about the Japanese crime dynasty and their codes of honor, duty, and obedience. Kiku's newest assignment cuts her to the bone and she comes to realize no matter what she does, there is no satisfactory outcome. There are several twists and turns, betrayals, and a disease kid at the heart of the problems. Fast and engaging read.
Profile Image for Cody .
499 reviews5 followers
March 22, 2025
Not very realistic

I'm just not into these tiny women assassins who can do the near, physically impossible. For example, when that huge Russian is choking her. Her throat would have been crushed in no time flat. And the car chase scene, a 13 year old driving and her grabbing the wheel?! Yeah, I don't think so.
Yes, it's an exciting read. But just too many ,suspend belief moments, for me.
I'm not interested in continuing this series.
37 reviews
May 10, 2025
The book has no ending. It's a cliffhanger so have to read more books.

I hate it when there's no warning that a book doesn't have the ending but makes you buy more & more books to get the satisfaction of how the story concludes. A waste of my time!
He wrote a lot of books with the character Kiku. So do I have to read them all to find out what happens to her??? No thanks!
Huge disappointment!
Profile Image for Annemarie .
972 reviews22 followers
September 14, 2025
I found this to be a bit slow off the mark, but it picked up nicely.

Somehow, the Russians keep discovering where Kiku and Alex are. No matter what evasive measures she uses, they find them. When she finds the hidden tracker and discovers who is aiding the Russians, Kiko makes the wrong assumption. When she realises her mistake, Kilo wonders how she can make things right and exact her revenge.
107 reviews1 follower
March 12, 2022
Kiku a force to be reckoned with

Totally loved loved loved this! So unexpected to see an adventure starring the mysterious Kiku from the Jack Stratton series.

Can't wait to delve more into her world and watch as she wreck havoc on anyone and anything in her path.

This was action packed and enjoyed learning more about Kiku.
38 reviews2 followers
March 25, 2022
I’ve read all of Christopher Greyson’s books and have loved them all. This book is no exception. KIKU IS KICK ASS! I first met the mysterious Kiku in the Jack Stratton series. In this book we learn more about her childhood, what makes her tick and what she will do to protect those she loves. She’s a force to be reckoned with. Read this book.
49 reviews1 follower
June 17, 2023
a full train ride of action

Sooo good. I’m not sure how to describe all the feelings this book brought forth. The action was terrific the protagonist even better. You were made to feel how each character felt. I loved how the fighting made you feel even more for the characters. Good versus evil in spades. I can’t wait to read the next book.
91 reviews1 follower
July 18, 2023
A lot of killing, but wow !!

A truly powerful depiction of the arrogance of the Japanese warlord mentality. Nothing is as prideful as the the untainted blood of the Japanese ... all others of mixed race are dogs to be used and abused.
I enjoyed the tale of Kiku and her battle to save Alex from his grandfather's wrathful pride.. it really is non-stop action !
136 reviews
September 2, 2023
non stop action!

I was loving every part of the story. Top notch writing. Wonderful killer protagonist. Plenty of plot twists. And then it left me hanging….needing to read the next book to hopefully come to some conclusion. So on to Amazon to buy the next kindle book and get right back to reading.
Profile Image for Joe Cochran.
295 reviews4 followers
December 12, 2023
This was not only a good read but a fun read as well. I really enjoyed this book, the action and the storyline worked very well together. I can't say enough about this and how impressed I was. It flowed so easily that I was actually disappointed when I had come to the end. Highly recommended for action readers.
Profile Image for W. Hunt.
Author 1 book4 followers
June 7, 2025
not a bad way to spend a few hours

Some intriguing ideas, and the action is pretty much non-stop. A few Yakuza cliches, but enough twists to keep it interesting. Characters are standard for a story like this, but are NOT stock. Ends with the expectation you’ll buy the next book to find out what’s next.
Profile Image for Farhan.
358 reviews7 followers
March 20, 2022
Solid 5/5. What an amazing book.. what action.. what characters! Cannot wait to read the rest of the two books of the series. Kiku is bound to be the next super heroine character. Why is this book not being considered for a movie or TV series?
39 reviews
April 8, 2022
Can't wait to read the next book...

I read this book, ignoring chores and everything but sleep. I'm ordering the next book right now. I forgot how talented Greyson was and is. The Yakuza book #1 was so well crafted, I ate the story up.
1 review
September 13, 2022
As always, A treat to read.


Christopher Greyson is a master story-teller. I was hooked on to the Jack Stratton series.. Now I am a big fan of Kiku as well!
Waiting for more to read by Christopher Greyson
Profile Image for Jim E..
342 reviews7 followers
June 20, 2023
I really enjoyed the Jack Stratton books, so I decided to give this one a go. I did not like it very much. The plot was out of this world unbelievable and there was too much killing and violence for my taste. I should have known this by the title of the book.
Profile Image for Lynne Alexander Hollingsworth.
43 reviews3 followers
June 22, 2023
awesome

Excellent exciting story. I recommend it highly. Don’t read late at night because you won’t be able to put it down . I want more! I hop I get to read all of the other books.
Profile Image for Conrad Samayoa.
Author 11 books2 followers
June 22, 2023
What a treat. Kiku, the main character, is not only smart but lethal. So much info on the Japanese mob and Japanese culture. The novel is fast paced and the end is unexpected. I could not put it down. Conrad
288 reviews1 follower
June 22, 2023
Who Would Win in a Fight Between....

Plenty of fights: fistfights, knife fights, gunfights, in action packed thriller with engaging characters, unexpected turns and multiple missing body parts.
791 reviews
July 27, 2023
A Beautiful Place to Die -

This was a good book. I gave it 4 stars just because it was a "cliff hanger". The reader has to read the next book for a resolution. That said, it was well written and hard to put down.
Profile Image for Cedrick Wilson.
Author 6 books7 followers
August 1, 2023
It's a typical story of a bad ass killer who has to reluctantly watch over a child and while the child is annoying at first, the killer starts to like them. The author did a good job of making it action packed and giving us a different background. What I didn't like was the cliffhanger.
5 reviews
August 27, 2023
Great read

This book was definitely a great action-packed read. Keep reading a very interesting book. I didn't want to stop reading it to sleep. It's a page turner. I can hardly wait for the next book in this series.
2 reviews
May 4, 2024
Amazing!

As always, Greyson did not disappoint with this one! Very action packed and it was great after reading the Jack Stratton books to follow up with one on Kiku! I can’t wait to read the next one.
Profile Image for Nicola Anderson.
268 reviews6 followers
March 27, 2025
Brilliant

What a fantastic read Christopher, I enjoyed the book in one sitting. The characters were well written and interesting, I hate the Yakuza not very nice people and they rule through tyranny and fear.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews

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