I love reading debut novels. Discovering a new favorite author is always a treat. And in Never Miss by Melissa Koslin, I did just that! A debut? Wow, I never would have guessed. The plot is intriguing, the suspense non-stop, and the characters are wonderfully complex. I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by Koslin.
Former CIA sniper Kadance Tolle possesses a special set of skills and a rare pedigree. She comes from a family of assassins, and by saving Lyndon Vaile’s life she risks being found by them. Despite the danger, Kadance feels compelled to help Lyndon discover who is after him–and his research that seems to prove that the Ebola virus was manmade and is about to be weaponized.
With shadowy figures pursuing them and a Mastermind watching their every move, Kadance and Lyndon must scramble to stop an impending bioattack at the State of the Union address. But their warnings fall on deaf ears, and it becomes increasingly clear that there’s no one they can trust — except perhaps each other.
Strap in for a breakneck story that will have you up all night, hurtling toward the last page as the clock ticks and time runs out.
Melissa Koslin is a fourth-degree black belt in and certified instructor of Songahm Taekwondo. In her day job as a commercial property manager, she secretly notes personal quirks and funny situations, ready to tweak them into colorful additions for her books. She and Corey, her husband of twenty years, live in Florida, where they do their best not to melt in the sun.
My Impressions:
Never Miss by Melissa Koslin is an exceptional debut novel. This romantic suspense has all the requisite elements of the genre — engaging characters, a twisting plot, and an interesting premise. But there is nothing formulaic about this novel. What makes the book better is how the author handles the characters. I found them unique and wonderfully complex. While I enjoyed the race against time story line, I was more intrigued by the development of the characters — individually and in their relationship. Kadance is a woman with a past, a now retired sniper on the run from those who would exploit her skills. Lyndon is a deceptively geeky scientist who is determined to find answers to a deadly virus. Together they are an unstoppable team. The two are wonderfully quirky and dangerous making them my favorite couple this year. There is a pandemic aspect to the novel which some may not enjoy in light of the past year. But I didn’t have any trouble reading about the weaponization of a virus. In fact, the Covid info from the past year made the book very credible and chilling. Never Miss is Christian fiction and the faith message is strong. It is also fresh given the employment of the two characters — a dedicated scientist and a former assassin.
If you are a fan of the romantic suspense genre, Never Miss is a must-read. A fresh voice is always welcome, and I look forward to more great books by Koslin.
Highly Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
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