FBI special agent Garrett Mann and his Artemis task force are back in action, and there is lots of action!
Artemis was originally founded to track a trio of serial killers active both sides of the US-Mexican border. His FBI team is supplemented by ex-Mexican police looking to avenge the deaths of family members at the killers' hands. In book 1, their mission led the team to raid an underground facility in New Mexico, and the clean-up there hints that a major threat to the country is in the works. As Artemis continues to track the last member of the serial killer team, they also finds themselves working to stop a larger conspiracy. A Hired Kill is fast-paced, intense, and suspenseful thriller. The writing is skillful, with chapters ending in "cliffhangers" that make it almost impossible to not at least start the next one. The focus is on action, but there was enough character development to keep me vested in their fates.
I alternated between listening to the audiobook (narrated by Steve Corona, who really brought the story to life) and reading the book, mostly listening to it in the car and at the gym. As book 2 in the series, any reader will be better off reading the book 1 first, but it's not essential to follow the story (what happened in book 1 and Artemis's mission are explained well enough). I see there will be a book 3, and I will definitely be reading (or listening to) it!!

A Hired Kill is book 2 in the new Garrett Mann series by Steven Konkoly.
This story is very well written with tons of meticulous details.
A entertaining, interesting, and well-plotted mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Thank You NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Steven Konkoly clearly didn’t come to play with A Hired Kill. This second installment in the Garrett Mann series picks up with zero chill—immediate chaos, high-stakes cartel drama, and that familiar sense that everyone in power is either complicit, clueless, or conveniently missing. In other words, it’s Tuesday in America.

The book launches with an underground sicario training facility raid (because why not start off spicy?), and from there, it’s a relentless dive into a political and moral gray zone. Garrett Mann is the type of protagonist we love—layered, battle-worn, and operating with a code that makes sense even when everything else is off the rails. He’s not just trying to stop the bad guys; he’s untangling a whole web of corruption that reeks of government rot, media manipulation, and a touch of old-school spycraft.

Let’s talk pace: this book moves. The action sequences aren’t gratuitous; they’re tactical and sharp, with real consequences. Konkoly has clearly done his homework in intelligence and military ops, but he doesn’t get lost in the jargon (well, okay—some acronyms could’ve used a glossary, but nothing unmanageable if you’re paying attention).

What elevates this book isn’t just the action—it’s the tension between loyalty and betrayal, trust and survival. Mann isn’t a superhero; he bleeds, emotionally and physically. And that vulnerability makes you root for him hard.

Now, minor critique? This isn’t a series you jump into blind. You’ll be fine eventually, but if you didn’t read A Clean Kill, expect to play a little mental hopscotch while keeping track of characters, cover-ups, and subplots. That said, Konkoly rewards your patience with a tightly woven payoff that sticks the landing.

Final Verdict:
A Hired Kill is what happens when you give a thriller grit, brains, and a protagonist who doesn’t just punch through walls—he questions the system that built them. If Jack Reacher and Jason Bourne had a morally nuanced baby with a security clearance, Garrett Mann would be it. And we’d follow him anywhere… just preferably with backup.

I found the story a bit difficult to follow as there were so many groups, acronyms and characters but finally I got the hang of it and understood the plot and all that was brought with it. A Hired Kill is the ideal read for those who love action, a lot (and I mean a lot of) of fights, weapons, strategizing attacks, and political back and forth.
I thank the author, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Who can be trusted?

FBI Special Agent Garrett Mann heads a special task force known as ARTEMIS. He and his team recently uncovered an underground facility in New Mexico where the Mexican cartel Triada was training assassins to further hone their deadly skills and learn blend in within the US, for reasons unknown. When they raided the facility they discovered all of the current "trainees" dead, killed with a poisonous gas released to keep them from falling into the FBI's hands (as well as all electronics wiped clean). All the trainees, that is, but one, a woman who Mann needs to persuade to tell his team everything she knows about what was being done at the facility and, perhaps more importantly, why. The survivor is able to help with the former but not the latter. A tech expert working with Mann's team uncovers the likely address of the last Triad serial killer, but when the FBI executes a raid its a disaster. Mann and his team drill down on hunting the killer now in the wind but aren't liking what they find....there may be ties between their target and people high up in the government. Can ARTEMIS find and stop the killer, shine a light on the growing conspiracy they've uncovered, and live to tell the tale when they don't even know whom they can trust?
With its intricate plot and fast-moving pace, A Hired Kill is the second installment in author Steven Konkoly's series featuring protagonist Garrett Mann. The action is non-stop and there are plenty of unexpected plot twists and turns as the suspense builds. Mann is a strong leader with his share of humanizing flaws, and his team a solid group of dedicated investigators. The level of action and intricacy of the story are the driving force within the book, and the author's military background injects a note of realism into the unfolding story. Readers in search of a thriller with conspiracy theories, murkiy alphabet agencies, a storyline on which one needs to stay focused, and unexpected turns will find A Hired Kill to be a good match. Fans of the author's other works as well as readers of Vince Flynn, Jack Carr and David Baldacci will also not be disappointed if they grab a copy. My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for allowing me access to Mr. Konkoly's latest in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately I had to DNF this book, because it just wasn't for me. There were so many characters and organizations to keep track of, and I didn't like the writing style, This is actually the second book in a series, which I missed somehow, so that's my bad. I also found the plot hard to follow. Like I said before, this just isn't my type of book but I think my husband might like it, so I may recommend it to him instead! Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and to NetGalley for the advanced copy!

To be honest, I initially signed up to review the Audiobook version. 13% into the book and I just could not hold my attention span. I don't know the reason, and don't want to point fingers. That's when I decided to pick up the Kindle version instead and continued reading.

I received an ARC of this book, and I am leaving an honest review at the end of my reading. Thank you, NetGalley!

For someone who hadn't read the first book, it was hard to follow when references to the La Triada or ARTEMIS were liberally made, and derivatives in the plot that had me super confused each time, thinking out aloud if I am missing the plot or jumping in and out of the story and trying to catch up.

For someone from a non-North American audience, I thought the frequent Spanish phrases, which I obviously do not understand, made comprehending the audiobook and staying focused on the story a challenge, despite the obvious linguistic distraction. However, unlike other authors, there was often no translation provided nor allegory to be surmised.

I thought reading the Kindle version would be a better idea and simply look up the translations via a web search, however, I found myself losing the plot often to the point of giving up the book entirely midway.

This book was interesting and full of adventure. I enjoyed the storyline, and the FBI/military aspect was well written. The tactics described were very easy to visualize in my mind, and I enjoyed the style of writing. Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer and Steven Konkoly for the ARC.

I received an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This story begins with Garrett and the rest of the ARTEMIS team at a site that they found in New Mexico. At this location they discovered one person alive and the remainder killed by poison gas. This one person they held to get information regarding what was going on the New Mexico site. Go forward a few months and the team is now in Sacramento where they expect to take down a serial killer named Raul. He along with two individuals were killers for the Jaurez cartel. Garrett's team had individuals from Mexico because their role was to eliminate the Assassins. Before they could go to Raul's house they were delayed by Federal agents who were looking for illegal immigrants and unauthorized weapons. Luckily, Serrano and the other Mexicans were at another location along with the weapons. Because of this, Garrett and his team weren't able to raid Raul's house. Unfortunately for the other Federal agents that controlled the raid, the house was booby trapped and resulted in multiple deaths and injuries. Because of this incident Garrett was called back to D.C to talk to his boss.

While Garrett was in D.C., his boss Dana O'Reilly was attacked by Raul while two other individuals were also target by the group known as AXIOM. With O'Reilly injured, James her boss, now took over working with Garrett.

Read along and discover who wanted AXIOM to perform a task, what the task was and how Garrett and his team with a few new additions attempted to foil their effort.

The story will have you wondering what next and wonder how it all ends. The ending answers all and it shouldn't be missed.

Get this book, you won't be sorry!

Suspense, action, memorable characters, and a sense of urgency make A Hired Kill by Steven Konkoly a must-read for those who enjoy thrillers. This book picks up immediately after book one in the Garrett Mann series. After FBI Special Agent Mann and his team raid an underground facility in New Mexico, the sole survivor they found reveals there’s an even greater threat. It was the training ground for hundreds of cartel gunmen who have disappeared into the United States. Their mission is unknown. Additionally, Mann and his team are still hunting the last one of three serial killers who have killed extensively in Mexico and the USA. However, there’s more to that story than a single fugitive. There seems to be a tie to powerful government officials.

Garrett doesn’t always share information with others. However, he works well with others to gain cooperation and sometimes shows a somewhat dry and sarcastic sense of humor. Sometimes they come across as insults to those not used to his brand of humor. His flaws make him seem more realistic and relatable. I particularly enjoyed his independent thinking and willingness to listen to recommendations from others. The secondary and tertiary characters have varying levels of depth, but I wanted a little more. There are a lot of characters in this novel, but many of them were also in book one and some others are familiar characters from other series by this author. However, a much-needed character list is not provided for those who are new to this series.

This book starts strong and keeps up a blistering pace throughout the novel. However, I feel that those who haven’t read book one will be somewhat lost, as no recap is provided. I was hooked from the beginning with a plot that has several twists and turns along the way. While the action is over-the-top, it was so full of excitement, drama, and danger that I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next. At the same time, it was somewhat unsettling when you examine the thoughts, behaviors, and actions of many of those in power. I believe a list of acronyms would be valuable for many readers.

Konkoly continues to bring great characters, an intriguing plot, and heart-pounding action together in exhilarating novels. The gripping scenes and great plot kept me on the edge of my seat. He has become one of my favorite authors and I look forward to reading more from him.

Overall, this book was intense, suspenseful, action-packed and violent with compelling characters, high-stakes, and a story that is unsettling, gripping, and thought-provoking. If you enjoy thrillers, then look no further than this series. I’m looking forward to reading book three. I highly recommend reading book one before reading this one.

Thomas and Mercer and Steven Konkoly provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for May 27, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

Here's a book with an OK plot and some good action, but even though the storytelling is pretty linear, it's a mess. There are descriptions within descriptions, and so many names for characters, organizations, systems etc., that you may want to take notes. Readable and entertaining, but messy.

I really wanted to like this book, because the plot sounded super promising and right up my alley. Action, espionage, covert operations… what’s not to love? But honestly, this one just didn’t click for me. I don’t think it was a bad book by any means—it just wasn’t for me.

I even tried switching to the audiobook, thinking it might help me get more into it, but that didn’t work either. The narration felt just as choppy as the story itself. Everything moved in these quick, staccato bursts, which made it hard to stay engaged. On top of that, there were so many characters and agency abbreviations being thrown around that I kept losing track of who was who and what was going on.

I should probably mention this is the second book in a series—and I didn’t read the first one. That might have been part of the issue, because I definitely felt like I was missing some important background. Maybe with that context, it would’ve felt more cohesive.

So, while I think fans of fast-paced thrillers might enjoy this more than I did, I personally just couldn’t get into it. Not a total miss, but not a hit for me either.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC and audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

The story introduces Garrett Mann, a former CIA operative who’s now working as a professional assassin. Mann is a calculative and lethal person, but he's not a mindless killer. He’s sharp and methodical and carries the weight of his past while sticking to a personal code that guides how he handles complex, dangerous jobs. What starts as a straightforward assignment quickly pulls him into a deeper mess of deception and hidden agendas. The story kicks off with a routine contract that quickly spirals into a web of deception and shadowy alliances. It is a crisp action thriller with morally grey and fuzzy undertones. The story moves fast, packed with gritty action and believable spycraft. There’s a moral ambiguity throughout the story that adds depth and character, and the action rarely slows down. The plot unfolds with cinematic precision, keeping tension high without sacrificing character development. Mann’s internal conflict adds depth to the otherwise relentless action. The story is a compelling blend of espionage, suspense, and character-driven storytelling — a must-read for fans of covert ops thrillers, conspiracies, and flawed but fascinating protagonists.

I I found this plot full of non stop action to the end pages.
I enjoyed reading this author books and recommend them.
As all the others this author has written.
Given arc by Net Galley and Thomas Mercer

After FBI special agent Garrett Mann executes a deadly raid on an underground facility in New Mexico, the sole survivor’s testimony reveals a greater threat to come.
The covert lair was a training ground for hundreds of cartel sicarios, who have since disappeared into the US, their ultimate mission still unknown. When another FBI raid goes catastrophically wrong, Mann finds himself on the trail of the Bureau’s original target—a moonlighting serial killer who leads the agent into a nightmare that’s darker and more extensive than Mann ever feared.

I found this book very confusing. I discovered that this is book two in a series but the author seems to expect that the reader has read the first book, which I haven't. I didn't like any of the characters and I thought the actual storyline was weak and difficult to follow. Not for me.

A fantastic follow up to A Clean Kill. Steven Konkoly delivers a faced paced thriller, with a great cast of characters, a solid plot line, and a whole lot of action to keep you turning the pages. I stayed up later than normal just to finish it because I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep. A Hired Kill comes out on May 27th, so buy the 1st book now and read it. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the ARC of this great thriller and I highly recommend reading it. Thank you Steven for writing another killer thriller and I also recommend reading any of his books, especially The Black Flagged series.

A Hired Kill (2025) by Steven Konkoly is the second book in a thriller series featuring FBI Special Agent Garrett Mann. Special Agent Mann is heading an off the books task force known as ARETIMAS. The discovery of an underground training facility in New Mexico sets off a series of violent confrontations with mercenaries hired by Axiom to end ARETIMAS. Garrett becomes aware there is a mole in their midst, and a fateful ambush requires them to find and stop Axiom. An action-packed hunt and counter offence moves across America as the highly placed secret organisation is determined to take out Garret’s team. Although a series, there is no need for any prior knowledge of the preceding book for this top-class action thriller, with a four and a half star read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement. With thanks to Thomas & Mercer and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.

Honestly.. this book was extremely confusing. I feel the timeliness jumped all over the place and a lot of the storyline was unnecessary to the overall story..

A Hired Kill is an intense, action-packed thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. As the sequel to A Clean Kill, this book picks up right where the first left off, following FBI agent Garrett Mann and his team as they uncover a dangerous conspiracy. The story is full of military-style action, government intrigue, and unexpected twists.
Konkoly’s writing is sharp and gripping, making it hard to put the book down. While there are a lot of characters to keep track of, the fast-paced plot and high stakes make it worth the ride. If you enjoy thrillers with political drama, secret missions, and nonstop suspense, this book is for you. I highly recommend reading the first book before diving into this one for better context. Overall, A Hired Kill is a must-read for fans of action-packed, high-stakes thrillers!
Read now title

A thrilling sequel to the first book in the series (A Clean Kill). An action packed story; with plenty of characters - so many that I finally gave up trying to keep track. Reading the first book in the series is definitely a requirement to keeping the many characters straight and understanding the background of this book. If you enjoy military detailed action, government agency drama and political driven villains, then you will enjoy this read.