Spree

Codename: Chandler #2

by J.A. Konrath, Ann Voss Peterson

THE BEST HAS JUST MET HER MATCH...

Super spy and assassin Chandler has just barely averted nuclear annihilation when the very organization she works for has her brought in on treason charges, trussed up for interrogation. After a run-in with Chicago Homicide cop Jack Daniels, Chandler discovers one of her sisters, Fleming, has been transferred to a black ops site where the modus operandi is torture and death.

Chandler launches a breakneck mission to infiltrate an impossibly secure prison--putting her on a collision course with a squad of violent psychopaths trained to negate her precise skill set. As old enemies reemerge and new ones appear around every corner, Chandler will rely on the help of unexpected allies, including an ex-mob enforcer named Tequila and a firefighter named Lund. But even they may not be enough to stop what lurks within the unlisted military base: a rogue government agency plotting to destabilize the entire nation--and conquer the world.

SPREE by Peterson and Konrath
She will rock you...

If you are a more sensitive (or adventurous) reader, this handy scale rates specific categories from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest) to give you some idea if this is your kind of book.

Bad Language - 6
Scary - 4
Violent - 8
Funny - 4
Sexy - 7
Crossovers - The Codename: Chandler series features characters from Peterson's Val Ryker series, and Konrath's Jack Daniels series.

Genres: Thriller, Action, Fiction, Suspense, Mystery, Crime, Espionage

383 pages, ebook

First published November 27, 2012

About the author

Joe Konrath has written over twenty novels in the Lt. Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels thriller series. They do not have to be read chronologically to be enjoyed, but the order is: Whiskey Sour, Bloody Mary, Rusty Nail, Dirty Martini, Shot of Tequila, Fuzzy Navel, Cherry Bomb, Dead On My Feet, Serial Killers Uncut (with Blake Crouch), Shaken, Stirred (with Blake Crouch), Dying Breath, Everybody Dies, Rum Runner, Last Call, White Russian, Shot Girl, Chaser, Old Fashioned, Bite Force, and Witch Brew. More coming soon.

Wow, that's a lot of Jack.

If you like your thrillers on the dark side, check out the Konrath Dark Thriller Collective, which includes the books The List, Origin, Afraid, Trapped, Endurance, Haunted House, Webcam, Disturb, What Happened To Lori, The Nine, Second Coming, and Close Your Eyes.

Joe also wrote the Stop A Murder mystery puzzle series, where you become the sleuth and solve brain teasers to try and catch a killer.

He also wrote the sci-fi trilogy, Timecaster, Timecaster Supersymmetry, and Timecaster Steampunk. Even if you don't think you like sci-fi, give them a try. They feature Joe's well-known characters from his other series, and are insane.

With Ann Voss Peterson he wrote the Codename: Chandler thrillers, including Flee, Spree, Three, Hit, Exposed, Naughty, Fix (with F. Paul Wilson), Rescue, and Free.

And, finally, he writes erotica under the pen name Melinda DuChamp, also with Ann Voss Peterson. Those books are probably too spicy for you, so only the brave and bold should seek them out.

Joe writes a lot. You should probably read everything.

You can visit Joe and sign up for his newsletter at www.JAKonrath.com/mailing-list.php

Reviews

[Tracy T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book 2 in this trilogy! Loved it! (audible review)

Wow this was as good as the first book. Action packed bad ass bitches! Loved it.

The narration by Angela Dawe was pretty good too!

I highly recommend this trilogy.

[Angel Gelique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come....

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay, I have thrown in the towel. I wanted to like this book. Super-secret assassin for a super-secret agency (named Hydra by the way so I'm not sure if the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. are aware of them or not)...hunted by people from her own country.

I mean I'm a succor for the story type, I've read others from about the same point of view by other writers and liked them. I've read Mr. Konrath's other series (Jack Daniels) and mostly liked those.

This/these books didn't make "my" cut. I read the first and went a "barely made it" 3 stars. Here we took the story where it left off and basically slid downhill.

With almost every "spy/fi, action, thriller cliche going the book maintains it's action oriented path and still manages to be boring.

Also...and I can't really give a spoiler here as I set the book(s) aside and returned them somewhere between a third and halfway through this one...Mr. Konrath can't seem to decide which character the book is actually about. Jack Daniels keeps popping up!. She had a few big scenes in the first book and now she's back here. I mean is "Chandler" a super "bad-ass" assassin or not. She doesn't act or sound like it most of the time and now she's being mentored by a "Chicago cop" (Konrath's words, not mine. I'd say police officer of course).

Also Harry McGlade made a short apperance in the first story. IN THIS BOOK he's playing a fairly key role and shows up A LOT. Let's be up front. I detest the Harry McGlade character. I guess he's supposed to be a likable "scuz". Well here's news. He's just a "scuz". There's nothing likable about the scumball. Had I been in Jack's shoes I'd have at least cut ties with the scum-sucking dirt sac long ago. At most I may have shot him.

These books hit me a lot like a kid setting up a Dungeons and Dragons game and reusing all the same "non-player characters" in every scenario.

Of course we also run into Tequila from Shot of Tequila, another of Mr. Konrath's prior works. I have never read however so i can't comment too much on the short (again) bad-ass mercenary.

Have you noticed how every one is "super bad-ass"?

Chandler is we are told (all through the first novel) the product of endless hours, days, weeks and months of training. She's the deadliest thing since foxglove tea. She's a peerless assassin with weapons, hands of whatever. Mr. Konrath drops all kinds of martial arts terms during the fight scenes.

Yet still still she's fought to almost a stand still by Jack...her butt get's kicked by another agent in this book and then Tequila almost mops the floor with her.

Look, I'm tired. the book is disjointed. The plot is at times silly and the characters are so thin that turning the pages too fast will blow them away.

While I like a lot of the "plot points" the way the get handled is just...sad and slow. And that's sad and slow in the midst of action scenes.

I'm really sorry, but while I've liked other books by Mr. Konrath these I have returned. Can't recommend them.

[Sbeam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have given more stars but the first half of the book was so dull. Then picked up so much as to be unbelievable like so many of these books are. I still enjoy them.

[Antonio · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fastest paced spy thriller I have ever read. There was non stop action from the beginning to the end of the book and there was no lost tension. Actually in the line with previous book (Flee). I can't wait for the next in the series (Three).

This is my assessments of this book Spree by J. A. Konrath and Ann Voss Peterson according to my 7 criteria:
1. Too long and Strenuous action - exciting - 5 stars
2. Boring - fun - 5 stars
3. Not difficult to read (as for non English native speaker] - 4 stars
4. Predictable (common) - good story (unusual) - 5 stars
5. Shalow story - has a deeper meaning - 4 stars
6. The story is mass and Unfinished - The story is clear, understandable and well rounded story - 4 stars
7. Dry and uninspired style of writing - Smooth style with humorous and fun characters - 3 stars

Total 4.28 stars

[Laz the Sailor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm copying the same review into both book #2 and #3, as they are really one long story.

The first book was an exciting thriller pitting our heroine against a large and hidden opponent. The book ends after Chandler saves the world.

Books #2 and #3 are a non-stop roller-coaster ride as Chandler and her teammates try to figure out how and why the events from the first book happened, why do so many people want to kill them, and what are the bad guys going to do next.

These are exciting, gasp-inducing, and exhausting. There is no challenge too daunting, no injury that can't be overcome, and even death can be cheated. There is so much happening that I became immune to the thrills.

But wow what a ride.

[Maggie Deaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Ops, corrupt politicians, and no way out

Another fast and sizzling tale of corruption, deception, murder, and mayhem among the those tasked with protecting our country and preserving our freedoms, even as they break every rule in the law book. And, what of the operatives following the orders they are given by these " elected officials high up the food chain"? Well, they are just beginning to realize that there may be little to no difference between the " good " guys and the " bad "... So, now what? Read " THREE " to see where it gods from here....

[Matthew O'Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As many of my reviews have said, I love J.A. Konrath. So there was no doubt I was going to like this book.

However, what really turned me on was that it felt like I was reading a novelization of a great 90s action film. Over the holidays and the last few weeks, I have been rewatching some of my favorites - Die Hard, Patriot Games, etc. - and I found that reading Spree put me in the same mindset.

Crazy action sequences, dope fight scenes, some inlaid romance - this book hit all of those marks.

Two books in, I'm really digging this series.

[Steve Coughlan]

The fast paced thrill-a-minute grab of the first book is over now... the tempo continues, but now I'm getting used to it. The plot complexity went up by an order of magnitude... the stakes are... higher? It feels chauvinistic to say that given the stakes in the first book, but hey... cliff-hangers gonna cliff-hang. Interesting new characters. Lots of self-reflection, as the superhuman heroine fleshes out her dimensions. All in all, a satisfying sequel, and plenty of reason to keep on truckin'.

[Mia Mar · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75

this is the second time i’ve read the series. it’s a lot of fun. there aren’t enough books with badass female assassins. i love the research that has gone into the books with weapons and combat. but i get bummed when the facts don’t jive. gasoline goes bad after a number of months. it’s not good over years. and this trope always makes me mad - people don’t fall in love after spending a few hours together 🙄 the twist at the end was satisfying tho.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

and this latest installment Chandler sets out to save her sister's life with the aid of a very talented man. of course her sister ends up falling for the man which is okay with Chandler. it's an interesting story line I'm hoping in the next book Chandler evaluates herself perception and maybe gives love a chance. this is a very entertaining read filled with action murder and Mayhem

[Bradley L. Stout · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Over the top"

If you can turn off your logic sensor it is an entertaining read. Morality and ethics are noticeably absent from the mind of the triplets(?) as one would expect in trained assassins but this is also a poor illustration for young minds already desensitized by todays tv, movie, and video games. I don't recommend this book to young people.

[Lauren M. Rudd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, so the first one was a little far fetched, esp at the end hanging off building scene BUT in book 2, hopping on a stroller gliding down street shooting bad guys was too much. The only reason I read these was because Jack was in them. Loved the Jack Daniels series and Phineas Troutt.

[james woodworth · Rating 2 out of 5]

An awful book. Like another reader, I wanted to like this book, but the premise is so unlikely, and the characters so unlikable, that I could only get through half of this book before I chucked it. I just couldn't stomach it any longer.

[Dayla Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Killing Spree

I enjoyed this book. It was somewhat farfetched but an exciting, keep you guessing mystery. I will read more of this series.

[Cami Lanham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. I love anything by JA Konrath. He's my favorite author.

[Robert Bradberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action

Great action, characters, and James Bond-like impossible
plot. So if you like action Bond style (that means pauses for
casual sex) you'll love this series.

[Michael Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

non-stop action/ cliff hangers. Fun read.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chandler doing the impossible, there was no other way, to get information. They had drugged and taken his sister, but where.

[Holt R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay I guess. The over the top action was getting old so I'm glad to get away from these characters for a while.

[Ann Keeran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three Sisters

Three sisters left in the secret program, multiple agendas are coming to light. Will the sisters survive? Should they? Spree!

[Nogueira · Rating 4 out of 5]

As good as the first... Will write full review after vacations

[Lars]

Nonstop action... how is this not a Netflix series?

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another quick, action-filled read collaboration between J.A. Konrath and Ann Voss Peterson.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun but could have done without the graphic sex scenes. What can I say, I am a prude.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chandler just cannot catch a break, but luckily, she has Jack, Harry, and Tequila on her side. Jack can only do so much, but she does at least provides Chandler with a couple of back ups. Harry is still a sleeze, but you know that about him and he is consistent. Tequila is still bad a$$ and almost too good to be true.

When Chandler awakens in the hospital and finds out that "men in black" are there to question her and Fleming, before she gets a chance to recover, she again finds herself fighting for her freedom, and eventually, her life. Fleming is taken from the hospital before she can get to her so Chandler finds herself doing something she was not trained for and that is mounting an assault on a black ops site to rescue her sister. She can't do it alone, and she can't trust the agency she worked for. When Jack puts her in touch with Tequila, she has to learn to trust a stranger to back her up. When she meets David, she extends that trust to another person, but at a cost.

When she finds out exactly who is responsible for her cover being blown and that her whole life has been orchestrated from birth, the betrayal and resulting catastrophe might just be impossible to overcome.

Just when I keep thinking things cannot get more fantastical, well, they do.

[Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Female superspy Chandler is back, and this time she's launching a desperate rescue mission. She must work against the clock to save someone who was believed to have been KIA. All in a day’s work, seeing as Chandler recently foiled a plot unleashed by the most unlikely of enemies. These books are really fast-paced. Chandler can barely catch her breath before another task pops up.

Unfortunately, saving the world in Flee did not mean medals for Chandler and Fleming (her handler). The latter is sent to a black site, a secret prison on U.S. soil. Desperate to save her sister from sure death, Chandler enlists the help of a few interesting people. One of them is a guy named Tequila (it appears that's his real name). He’s such an old, short chap that Chandler doubts his ability to help her. She gets her ass kicked by him for the assumption. In fact, surprising as it sounds Chandler kept losing fights during the first parts of Spree. How often do you see the likes of Batman or the Black Widow losing a fight? While trying to save Fleming at the start, Chandler confronted a highly-skilled operative. He boasted a combat skill set that effectively nullifies her own. Only Tequila's help enables Chandler to learn how to defeat this nullifying enemy.

Chandler also gets the help of a firefighter called Lund, who lives near the black site. The two fall for each other, but there are many obstacles standing in the way of a successful relationship between them. Chandler herself is an obstacle. She begins to feel that The Instructor (her former teacher) has stripped her humanity. For the first time, Chandler wishes that she could be a normal person.

Also returning to help is Jack Daniels, a skilled female cop who has helped Chandler in the past. It is interesting that the Codename: Chandler trilogy has characters from books by different authors. For me, that's a first. I haven't read another novel like this. Another character from another book that appears in Spree is Harry McGlade. He’s a private investigator, and is said to be perhaps the most offensive human being ever born. Rather than being unlikable, I found McGlade quite amusing. He spews insults all the time without it bothering him in the slightest. McGlade is one-of-a-kind, that’s for sure.

Hammett, who survived the events of the first book, is back for revenge as well. She has the same goal: to get Fleming out of the prison, but for different reasons. I should mention this novel has one of the most electrifying fight scenes I've read about or seen. Chandler's clash against Hammett is pulse-accelerating, to say the least. Other fights were awesome too, including one where Chandler brings a knife to a balisong fight. She ends up being saved by a salamander. Cool. By the way, can you guess who Hammett hooks up with in Spree? The pair may be kindred spirits, given how unlikable they are.

Unfortunately, my opinion of Chandler was a bit tainted after the ending. She makes a difficult decision with potentially hellish consequences. It sets into motion the events of the last entry in the Codename: Chandler trilogy. There was no choice, but still. Despite the slim chances, Chandler has proved smart enough to have found another way.

Spree is an excellent sequel to Flee, in much the way The Dark Knight topped Batman Begins. There's so much action and suspense in this novel. I highly, highly recommend it. Fans of Jason Bourne, James Bond, and spy novels will find this second entry in the Codename: Chandler trilogy immensely satisfying. This second installment also improves on the first in another way. Spree has chapters that you can navigate through. Not only that, some chapters start with a “nugget of wisdom” from The Instructor, the man who trained Chandler, Fleming, and Hammett. Some of those are quite witty.

My rating: ★★★★ 1/2
4.5 stars - A fantastic page-turner!

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Setting: Baraboo, Wisconsin – black ops site in abandoned weapons factory – the woods, town, hotel, horse farm, country home, hot air balloon fair around it;

Theme: rescuing sister; power; evil

Characters:
Chandler: she and Fleming saved London, exploding the bomb before it landed; separated; taken to hospital; detained; Chandler gets free, and then works on freeing her sister; with Fleming’s push, begins to dream of a normal life, perhaps with Lund… hmmm; at end, when Instructor threatens to kill Lund, she chooses Lund’s life, and kills president – and Instructor has her finger prints on phone, video tape of her statement,

Fleming: saved the world; knows the cell activation codes – both of phone recovered as well as the president’s phone; ‘they’ (secret government agency) wants the codes; she is taken to Baraboo, not knowing that Chandler is right behind, trying to free her; for a highly trained operative, she almost breaks a bit too easily for me; when Tequila finds her, she is naked, legs beaten, tazed, has killed one black op with scalpel meant for her, and knocked out another with cattle prod and alcohol/burning;

Hammett: when realizes sisters are alive, assigned by ‘ the only person who scares her’ to retrieve Fleming alive; given a team; and she strikes; in end – when she is as vulnerable as sisters to being arrested, she seems to agree to work with sisters;

Jack Daniels and Harry McGlade: help arm Chandler with information and weapons;

Rochester: sent by ?? to take Chandler in; uses a jailhouse rock type of attack/defense (close in fighting – tapping a rhythm – quick/short stabs) that stymies Chandler – fighting on Ltrain electric tracks; she gets away from him; then after learning the basics, takes him down;

Ratzenberger: VP; when president killed, he sworn in – and he plans on taking power, ruling the world, at the sacrifice of millions;

The Instructor: at end we find out he is directing Fleming; he manipulates Fleming and Chandler to code in the destruct of the phone while president holding it – killing the president, and he keeps the evidence that would convict them;

David Lund: local firefighter; meets Chandler who is checking out Baraboo, and does what he can to help her… seeing her as the good guy; provides horses for escape; food; a place to stay… but when she kills the president (to preserve his life), and then later kills a guard in cold blood, he walks away from her : (

Tequila Abernathy:ex-mob enforcer; teaches Chandler basics of jailhouse rock; comes out of retirement to help Chandler (for $5,000 a day) at jack Daniel’s request; gymnast body; short; intelligent; is the one to actually retrieve Flemming – carrying out her naked body… she and Tequila have mad passionate sex – but not a deep commitment;

Malcolm: black ops guy, who doesn’t have the sense god gave a duck – cruel streak… he gets hers…

Summary:
With lots of guns, fighting, coming close to dying over and over again… trash talk, removing of chip from stomachs with anesthesia, etc –

And the surprise of the Instructor (who in the last book, appears to be another victim of Hammett) being the orchestrator of it all hmmmm

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Info: Genre: Spy Thriller
Reading Level: Adult—explicit sex scene
Recommended for: Fans of thrillers, adrenaline junkies
Trigger Warnings: murder, torture, threat of sexual assault

My Thoughts: While as entertaining as Flee was, it wasn't quite as good at holding my attention. Nonetheless, we learn more about the various characters, have a couple more run-ins with Harry McGlade (who is incredibly amusing) and spend lots of time observing some really sick psychos. Most of this book is set near the Wisconsin Dells, an absolutely beautiful place, so it was fun to read about that, and also fun to think about Hammett and her merry band of psychopaths meeting up in a clown motel...

So, still a great read for people who like a high-octane thriller, adrenaline junkies, and fans of Konrath's body of work. This book also had an explicit sex scene that felt sort of added on which I skipped through, since it didn't really add anything to the story. Next up is the brick of a book Three, which is over 600 pages. Watch for that review!

Series Information: Spree is the second book in the Codename: Chandler series.
Book 1: Flee read and reviewed 5/17/13, review linked here where formatting allowed
Exposed is a novella featuring Chandler, and may be read after Flee; I will not be reading it right now
Book 3: Three, to be read next

Disclosure: I purchased this book for myself so I could read the whole series after receiving the third book through Vine. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Superspy and assassin Chandler has just barely averted nuclear annihilation when the very organization she works for has her brought in on treason charges, trussed up for interrogation. After a run-in with Chicago Homicide cop Jack Daniels, Chandler discovers one of her sisters, Fleming, has been transferred to a black ops site where the modus operandi is torture and death.

Chandler launches a breakneck mission to infiltrate an impossibly secure prison—putting her on a collision course with a squad of violent psychopaths trained to negate her precise skill set. As old enemies reemerge and new ones appear around every corner, Chandler will rely on the help of unexpected allies, including an ex-mob enforcer named Tequila and a firefighter named Lund. But even they may not be enough to stop what lurks within the unlisted military base: a rogue government agency plotting to destabilize the entire nation—and conquer the world.

[Nikki Wilde · Rating 5 out of 5]

It will never be said that Konrath's novels are boring. I'll tell you that. From the second you start reading this book it's knock down, drag out action. Spree starts exactly where Flee left off. I loved Flee. Spree was just as good.

I don't want to go into too much detail in case some haven't yet read any of the Chandler series. Basically, Chandler is a super secret spy working for a government agency that almost no one knows exists. She needs to save one of her 3 remaining sisters from a black site. Complications arise as they always do for her and the action is full tilt ahead.

Love Chandler, love that she's like a superhero. She has to be because the kind of butt whooping she takes in most scenes she has to be. No normal person could go through all of what she does. Still, it's awesome and fast paced and exciting to read through.

I think my one complaint is all the weapons talk. There were so many different guns and knifes I had no idea what was going on. I'd have had to stop every few pages to look up what they were talking about. So... for me that was a little bit of a downside. AR-7, Ghost Hawk knives... it was all over my head. I got the 9MM reference though.

I love the characters. I love the new characters that were introduced. I had wanted to read Ann Voss Peterson's Pushed Too Far before reading this one but the time constraints were a lit tricky to work out. I'll definitely be going back to read that though. I believe a lot of characters in this were also in that novel.

I'm very excited for Three, the next (and maybe even the last) novel in the Chandler series.