In Cold Blood (A Beatrix Rose Thriller)

Read all the Milton series and loved it.Beatrix is another incredible character with a flawed background and a compelling story. Just finished the second Beatrix book and looking forward to the third.

Take it as it is; is a novel to pass a good time reading it. I read it passing time in airports and flights.
It is easy to predict the outcome. The main character is the classic ex-spy protecting family; so the former all mighty ex-agent has to be more devilishly cleaver than the bad guys to do it so. The twist: A female main character written by a man.
I gave it four starts because sometimes it’s just fun to read fun predictive things. I’m not jumping to buy the rest of the books do. (The story is unfinished; this is just a self contained chapter of a bigger history).

Beatrix Rose is unlike any character I have ever known -- a caring mother and a deadly assassin. Mark Dawson made me believe in Beatrix and her world. The book moves as a pretty swift pace while describing its various settings so well that I thought I was there. I came to care about these characters and am not happy that there will definitely be an end to Beatrix's story. Fortunately, there are two more books remaining in the series!

In Cold Blood returns the reader to the murky world of C, Group 15 and renegade/retired operative John Milton. This time however the focus is on a previous "Number 1", Beatrix Rose and her quest for revenge on those who've wronged her.
It's a good stand-alone read but I'd highly recommend that readers acquaint themselves with the John Milton novels beforehand.
Not an onerous task as the JM books are a cracking read and difficult to put down.
That's part of the strength of this book too; there's nothing superfluous, the story isn't padded out with inconsequential guff and when MD goes into necessary character detail/backstory it's sharp and to the point.
I don't think that Beatrix is a particularly nice person and you certainly wouldn't want to be on her to-do-list but being a fan of the anti-hero, I definitely am in her corner.
I think any feedback should be balanced; but I'm hard-pressed to come up with any negatives. I've given the book 5 stars as it kept me up past me bedtime and has me hankering for more.

This character is so different from (or as Mark would different to) other characters I have read in this genre. She is not only tormented, but terminal. The follow on books about the daughter Isabella are (if possible) even better. I don't know how this guy turns stuff this good out as fast as he does. I have read all of Beatrix and Isabella, and am working my through Milton. Keep them coming Mr. Dawson.

Really enjoyed reading this book although I admit I'm annoyed that I now have to get the next book to find out what happens - that said, I no longer want to get books in which you are left hanging and having to buy the next one. I love series if the characters are good, but not when they don't end. Great story, lousy end as you don't know!

The storyline is pretty interesting but I didn't get involved enough for me to reach the point where I couldn't put the book down until I had finished it. Withou giving the storyline away, I can say there were a few points where the action was a "stretch" to accept. Part of the story seemed to be following right along the line of the movie "Captain Phillips". I would read the series if I could check it out from a library but I was not impressed enough by the first book to buy futher books in the series.

Both of course I'm an assasin with a year to live and I must kill allthe bad guys and enjoy the love of my daughter whose just been rescued from evil. Of course. Attila wasplagued by these contradictios but a Hun knows how to play the game.

Hard to put down. An intriguing character...Beatrix Rose movie trilogy anyone? Well crafted with details and action interspersed to make an eminently readable experience for anyone who likes thriller or action genre. I now embark on volume two.

I have been looking for a good spy, assassin,secret agent series. I found it. The story moved quickly, not lagging as so many do. The fact that it was a female agent added to the storyline. Strong woman, Mother,and wife. I love Beatrix.

Loved this story as it was full of intrigue and suspense. The author described the settings with such clarity that I felt I was part of the scene and traveling along with the characters. One of the best books I have read!

Aftrr getting hooked on the John Milton series by Dawson I can say t his book is just as intriguing. After meeting Beatrix in one of the Milton books I was excited to learn more about her. An exciting read from start to finish. Can't wait tor the next installment

Loving wife. Devoted Mother. Stone cold killer.

Beatrix Rose had a great life. A working mom, she had a nice little home, a wonderful husband, a beautiful daughter and a stable government job.

It just happens that the job was as the number one assassin for the British government.

When an assignment reveals that Beatrix' boss is dirty, her team is sent to make sure that Beatrix and that information disappear. Though her husband is killed and daughter kidnaped, she reminds her old unit why she was known as "Number One".

This book (and series) is an absolute E-Ticket ride. Tough, smart and incredibly skilled, Beatrix Rose is also a surprisingly complex character who will pull one in and not let go.

Just read it, then get out your the store gift card and get the rest of the series.

Like the old potato chip commercial: you won't be able to have just one.

I'm glad Mark has decided to tell the story of Beatrice. She is a very real character and her mission is as much justice as it is revenge. I'd recommend In Cold Blood to anyone. Be prepared to not be able to put it down and to have to read the read the rest of the trilogy.

To me this book should have been a chapter in a larger story which I feel the author intended to get readers to buy more of his books. Also, Beatrix just seemed to be way to adept at all kinds of violent acts to be believable and what mother would teach a 12 to 13 year old to use weapons to kill people instead of using her smarts and skills to make arrangements to keep her daughter safe and happy after her (Beatrix's) death.

Why not War & Peace or Hamlet? Really, Mark, you're better than this. Beatrix Rose is a great character, and deserved more attention. This book seamlessly integrated with the on-going John Milton storyline, but was somehow slightly dissatisfying. I think the issue was that the story was quite predictable...not much new ground was covered. Perhaps the author should give himself an extra couple of months to work on each new "chapter" in the saga, and develop plot devices that move in unexpected ways. Clearly I think he has the skill and talent to accomplish this (or why else would I have read all his published works), but In Cold Blood is like Dawson Lite.

Good story line but a little short. So obvious that the first book was prelude to the second book that the ending is almost disingenuous. I felt manipulated. It would require buying a second book to read what should have been the ending in the first book.

Does this plot sound familiar? A beautiful blonde named Beatrix, formerly a member of an elite group of assassins, is betrayed by her boss and a handful of deadly colleagues. Her husband is killed and her daughter is taken. Years later, she is determined to exact revenge on the ones responsible, and she proceeds to go after them, one by one, crossing their names off a list after she has dispatched them. This is, of course, the basic plot of the Kill Bill movies, with Uma Thurman playing Beatrix Kiddo. It is also the plot of this book, where the beautiful blonde is now called Beatrix Rose, a character introduced in the John Milton novels by the same author, and now elevated to lead-character status. (No plagiarism is involved, of course; I think the author intends the similarities to be something of a homage to Quentin Tarantino.)

The way in which Beatrix Rose goes about her deadly vengeance, however, is different than in the movies. In this book, she takes off to Somalia in search of one of the former operatives, now held captive by terrorists along with the crew of a pirated ship; she is determined not to let the terrorists kill him, though, as she feels a need to do the job personally. Presumably in the remaining two books of the trilogy, as yet unread by me, she rounds up the remaining operatives who betrayed her and also the boss, Control (read: Bill). There are other distinctions, too, of course: Ms. Rose is a former government agent, and she has a time deadline hanging over her head, but I won't go into details there for fear of revealing what is probably intended as a major spoiler.

Despite the somewhat derivative nature of the book, it was quite entertaining. The author certainly knows how to write, and succeeds here in crafting a book that keeps your attention throughout. There is pretty much non-stop action, not terribly realistic but fun to read; in this respect this series seems similar to the Codename: Chandler novels by Konrath and Voss, although the plot details there are completely different than here. The descriptions of Morocco and Somalia were vivid, enough to convince me that the author has done considerable research. All told, I enjoyed this book, will certainly read the remaining two in the trilogy (thank you, the store prime lending library) and will also look into the John Milton novels as well.

I mourned the completion of Dawson's John Milton series, then downloaded In Cold Blood, the first Beatrix Rose thriller. Within minutes I was caught up in Rose's world and Milton was but a distant memory.

Lethal assassin Beatrix is a woman on a mission, and that mission is revenge. Betrayed by Control, she is out to get him and the five ex-agents that killed her husband and caused her to be separated from her daughter for a decade.

But she has a secret. Time is of the essence. She's not only up against five of the deadliest killers in the world and a corrupt master spy; she's racing to complete her mission before the cancer that's racking her body finishes her off.

As he did Milton, Dawson writes Rose as a character haunted by demons of her past. He presents her flaws and all, building a multi-dimensional person whom we get to know as well as we know our good friends. His finest ability as an author is to make the reader forget very early on that Rose is a cold-blooded killer who strikes first and skips the questions. But the reader cheers her on anyway, because we come to understand and like her so quickly and completely.

I'm on to Beatrix Rose 2 and beyond, and continuing to hope that we see her or Milton in a theater someday soon.

Good thing there are sequels, because you will never get enough of his characters. You want them to succeed, you want to follow their missions. These books are not full of fluff. You get full explanations of cities, culture, and countries. Mark is an incredibly smart man, research for his books amazingly outstanding. Once you've read one, (start Book One, John Milton) guess what? You're an addict too!

In some ways this is a review of all 3 books but I will not put in any spoilers so feel free to read.Wow, this is the first book by Mark Dawson I have read and so I have now read the next 2 in the series. I was captivated by the story and the characters and became more and more engrossed with Beatrix Rose. Such great suspense and action throughout the books and they certainly take you all over the world with the action and adventure as Rose begins her hunt, taking it to the ultimate frightening and amazing conclusion. Without giving anything away, the final chapters in the 3rd book are really good full of such poignant feelings but with action to the very end.

All the main characters fascinated me, Pope, Isabella, Mohammad and of course Rose and her struggles. Mark Dawson writes a great book, if there were any typos I certainly did not notice in my reading frenzy. I loved the way his writing made the whole Marrakech living/style come alive and vibrant, it made me want to visit there, it seemed full of life, noise and zest.

Beatrix skill as a trained assassin certainly handles some amazing situations and the author develops some very difficult situations for her to overcome but then plans and executes them well to make them credible and full of action.

Thank you Mark

I felt this was up there with Jack Reacher quality in terms of characters, plot development and quality, the only thing is the books are not as long, I did not see that as a drawback, just an observation. Sure unlike some books you always knew what the ultimate aim was but the way each one develops is great. My type of story and the good guys/gals were my type of characters, considering this was from Kindle Unlimited I am totally happy with them and now must try the John Milton series

Let's mention one thing first, I started this book only three days ago, and have finished already, and have ordered the next two in the series.

A fast paced, action packed, thriller, with a great female action lead Beatrice Rose.

REVENGE IS A DISH BEST SERVED COLD

The new book from acclaimed writer Mark Dawson , IN COLD BLOOD is an action-packed thriller about ruthless betrayal and bloodthirsty vengeance.

Beatrix Rose was the most dangerous assassin in an off-the-books government kill squad until her former boss betrayed her. A decade later, she emerges from the Hong Kong underworld with payback on her mind. They gunned down her husband and kidnapped her daughter, and now the debt needs to be repaid. It’s a blood feud she didn’t start but she is going to finish.

Beatrix has already crossed one name off her Kill List. Her second target is a mercenary being held hostage by Somali terrorists. Can she infiltrate the most dangerous failed state on the planet and scrub him off the List, too?

Packed with explosive action and page-turning suspense, this is the must-read first novel in a brand new series and I look forward to reading Mark Dawson's successful series of books on John Milton series.

An easy four stars for me, and highly recommended

This was a very exciting book. Learning what happened to Beatrix after John Milton rescued her and recruited her help was very satisfying. Although, you don't need to read that story before reading this book. Beatrix is definitely one lady that can take care of herself and she is teaching her daughter to be the same way. She is on a mission to avenge herself and what happened to her family in the past. There seems to be action on almost every page. When there isn't we are being introduced to an exciting culture that is foreign to most westerners. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

Author Mark Dawson introduces a new series featuring English assassin Beatrix Rose who has recovered her kidnapped daughter after an eight-year absence and is ready to slay, one by one, the six people responsible. She’s already slashed the throat of one (Oliver Spenser) in Russia. And she’s got a rose tattoo to commemorate it. Five tattoos — and deaths — to go.

At 170 pages, In Cold Blood still seems too long. Perhaps it’s because so much of the novella is taken wholesale from Quentin Tarrantino’s bloody Kill Bill sagas — right down to the female protagonist’s name, which is Beatrix in both cases. Well, except for the plotline dealing with the Somali pirates. That’s lifted from Captain Phillips.

Still, it’s not really fair to blame In Cold Blood for not being The Count of Monte Cristo or The Princess Bride. Like beach reads and fan fiction, In Cold Blood and its five sequels (one for each assassination target) will provide mindless fun for those who want their heroines kick-ass and not too introspective.

Book 1, in the Beatrix Rose trilogy

Be warned, once you start with the first book you will flip pages till you have reached the final chapter in book 3. This is a great series where the author takes the time to set up the stage in order to hook you up in his world then bang he pushes you into gritty action and one of those thrilling moment you will not want to let go. Yes that good.

Beatrix Rose, the protagonist, is an assassin with six names on her hit list. She has pay back on her mind and in “In Cold Blood” she goes after her first target, a mercenary held hostage by Somali terrorists. Although this is the first installment there is a whole back story I seemed to have missed out on. Mr. Dawson does allude to the past from time to time but not enough to fill the void. I guess those who have read other books may know more about Beatrix and conclude this series is a spin-off of another series. Time will tell for the novice.

This is a quick read, not taxing at all and packed with explosive action from start to finish. This propulsive thriller has an interesting lead character in Beatrix, she is direct and all business she plain does her move without a second thought and as the most dangerous assassin in a government kill squad she is not a kind of person you want to play with. Following her on her deadly quest is exciting and very captivating.

Very good quite entertaining

I finished reading IN COLD BLOOD by Mark Dawson, a Kindle Unlimited choice, quite a while back. Here is my overdue review.
This exciting espionage thriller opens with intrigue and mystery and with excellent creative scene setting and characters, it kept my attention throughout. There are plenty of unexpected twists and turns and a satisfying ending. It is a good action packed adventure.
For me, there was something missing... an ability to empathize with Beatrix Rose, maybe.
Would I read another novel from the pen of Mark Dawson? You betcha I would.

Secrecies aren’t the best policies... or are they?

As the most dangerous assassin in a government kill squad, Beatrix Rose isn’t the kind of person you want to upset. Ambushed and betrayed by her team, she’s driven underground and plans revenge.
Years later, she emerges from the Hong Kong underworld with payback on her mind and a list of six people who must pay for what they did to her. With their lives. (the store Blurb)

For as long as I can remember, my mother, who reads murder, thrillers and mystery and thriller novels, always mentions that amazing stories never needs introductions of their characters, the scenes or the environment. Up until now, I personally had never read, from those three categories (only), one that didn’t need some type of introduction or background. That being said, I was surprised, if not flabbergasted when I started reading Mark Dawson’s In Cold Blood: the action, the negotiating and especially the intrigue starts right from the first page. The beginning of a new series, the Beatrix Rose Thrillers, is certain to catch the attention of many new readers of this genre and especially those whose devotion is to thrillers and action.

**Received a copy in exchange for an honest review. Read and reviewed by Kathleen for Alpha Book Club**

I really loved to have Beatrice Rose have her own story after being reunited with her daughter. I read the three book series deal about Beatrix right after she ran from Group 15, and went to Hong Kong. It gives a good detailed account of her life there hiding from Group 15 killers who were after her. Beatrix was first introduced in the Mark Dawson books about about John Milton. Don't miss out on reading the Beatrice Rose books or the John Milton books. You won't be disappointed at all.

It's all been said, many times, but I'll say it again. This is a well done, well written, well paced, well developed, well.. you get the idea. It's a good, good book. I immediately liked Beatrix. She has more character flaws than San Andreas, is a quirky parent at best, and it all works very well. I also loved the protagonist in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - another quirky (very different) female hero and Beatrix holds her own in comparison.

The action is good, she is an over-the-top but not too much hero that we can not only cheer, she is also believable. Part of the believability comes from the combination of who she is, the essence of her mission and the external focus in time constraints that make it a do-it-now or forget it situation.

This is my first, will I read the others? Silly question... of course I'll read the next two and ask Mr. Dawson to keep writing in this series.

Bottom line (literally and figuratively) This is a series and an author to follow.

I first read about Beatrix Rose in "Ghosts", the fourth installment in Mark Dawson's John Milton series, so when I finished that series, I jumped right into the Beatrix Rose series. I was fortunate enough to be able to read all three of them, back to back, over two days, and equally fortunate not to mind seeing the dishes pile up and the dust settle on the furniture! If you are like me, there are some books that bring on the comment - "Don't bother me, I'm reading!" - and these three are definitely in that category.

Do not hesitate - get this series and be prepared to be deliciously entertained. The excitement never fades out throughout the whole book and will leave you hungering for more. And if you have not discovered the John Milton series, do so as soon as you can. You will not be sorry!

OK read. Slow then interesting then back to slow. Storyline wasn't anything new, but had it moved faster and had the dialogue been less boring I would have tacked another star on. The rest of the books in the series were worse. So no redemption there.

Interesting, fast paced, action adventure spy novels with a decent female lead. Read all three straight through, waiting for the Isabella Rose third novel release (April 6 I think) to start the continuation of the series.

Read and enjoyed these books, then read the Soho Noir series, which was even better.

I just started the John Milton series, B. Rose was a spin-off from them, so I am excited by the prospect of binge reading his story.

4.5 STARS
After being double crossed by her corrupt commanding officer, her husband gunned down and her daughter kidnapped, they made a big mistake when they left her for dead, because after almost a decade Beatrix Rose emerges from the Hong Kong underworld with one thing set on mind, ‘revenge’. There are six names on her personal Kill List, and it’s time for payback.

In Cold Blood by Mark Dawson is the first installment of the Beatrix Rose Series, which is packed with explosive action, thrilling suspense and one strong dangerous character that is out for blood named, Beatrix Rose.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher thru NetGalley for an honest review.

I am reading the Beatrix Rose stories because I got hooked on her daughter, Isabella Rose and couldn't find anymore on her. Isabella gives all the credit for her success to her mother, Beatrix. Beatrix was an agent with a highly respected covert operations group in England. There are only 15 agents at any time. Beatrix was betrayed and is finding the agents responsible and wants to kill them. She is ill, fighting cancer and still goes after them. I am hooked on Beatrix now and have already downloaded the second book. You will love this author, no matter what you read.

As a feminist and a semi-professional reader of mysteries and thrillers (I teach a college class on them every other year or so) I should be unqualifiedly thrilled to find a series featuring a woman who is also a mother and a professional assassin. To find three such series may, however, trip alarm bells rather than celebratory peals.

Mark Dawson’s Beatrix Rose, Russell Blake’s Jet, Iris Johansen’s Catherine Ling – an embarrassment of riches or simply embarrassing?

Well …. Here’s the thing: do they have to be so glibly sketched? Is a woman assassin inherently too off-putting to depict in detail?

Now I’m not looking for nuance. I read mysteries and thrillers because they are undemanding. If I want intellectual rigor, I can always pick up Paradise Lost. But I do want to find some element of what TS Eliot calls the objective correlative. “Woman” isn’t an abstraction to most people – on the contrary. But “woman assassin” needs some grounding to be anything other than an oxymoron.

All three of these authors tacitly acknowledge this by giving the three women the same – and I mean almost exactly the same – anchor to reality: a child. For Jet and Beatrix Rose, there are Hannah and Isabella, their daughters, and for Catherine Ling there is her son, Luke. None of these three kids gets much ink, although Luke is beginning to emerge as a major character, as opposed to a major concern. Hannah is a toddler who weeps silently and bravely says “O’tay” when her mother throws her over a raging river tied to a spear – oh wait, that’s another tale – while Isabella is a gun-obsessed blank canvas.

But that’s not the most telling similarity. Each child was taken from her or his mother at a very young age and kept hidden by people who wish to destroy the hero. While this solves some practical problems (how to be an assassin while changing diapers) and soothes some aesthetic objections (all three women make early bids for domesticity, only to be thwarted), it bugs me that each kid becomes more an accessory, a merit badge denoting womanhood, than a creature of flesh and blood.

Characters need ink to live, and in these three series not only the children suffer from anemia. Catherine Ling is the closest to a real character, although I don’t like the elements of romance and magical realism that Johansen uses to get her there. Jet wins the cardboard cutout prize, despite Blake’s disingenuous prefaces urging the reader to see everything as a fun ride.

Beatrix Rose, I am sorry to say, is very close to a cartoon action figure. The cancer gives only the most superficial layer of complexity, as it raises more questions than it resolves. Yes, it puts a tight timeline on the narrative, but Dawson should have parked Rose somewhere without socialized medicine if he wants us to believe she missed early treatment because of poverty. (She’s in Hong Kong for 8 years while Isabella is a prisoner of the UK foster care system.) As it is, Beatrix Rose spends more time worrying about pain management than about her daughter.

How much does gender have to answer for here? Alex Berenson’s John Wells is a father, but his failures as such fit into the context of a carefully constructed and deeply flawed character, whose struggles we read about in detail. Dawson’s own John Milton is a morally conflicted protagonist who – while no one’s father – struggles to balance the needs of other individuals against the necessities of what he once believed was the greater good. Can we not have a woman of equal complexity?

That said, I would still pick this series as my favorite of the three, albeit more for its potential than for what it presently offers. While there’s only one installment left in the trilogy, I can continue to hope that Dawson chooses to invest the time and attention he gives to John Milton’s history and interiority. If he does, it will be a memorable novel.

I had an opportunity to listen to this story on Audible and deliberately listened to the Audible version before reading the book. I enjoyed it so much, as soon as I finished the Audible, I purchased the first 3 books in the series, kindle version.
The twists and turns of the story caused Rose to react in ways that fit, yet not knowing what was happening next or how she would react definitely kept me awake and listening long after I should have been in bed.
It's hot weather this week, so I'll have an excuse for not having slept, when I really have been staying up helping Rose get more revenge. Can't wait to see what happens next.
As always, thanks, Mark for a good read.

I was first introduced to Mark Dawson through the free novella, "1000 Yards" - which introduces the John Milton character. I jumped into "In Cold Blood" - wanting to read another Dawson novel and finding this one was available through the Kindle Lending Library.

The story is formulaic in its approach, so no great surprises here. It's simply a well written story arc that engages the reader, just don't expect a bunch of weird twists and turns. While in some ways this is missed, the story works wonderfully as an engaging action thriller. The story takes place in North and East Africa. I've spent considerable time in the latter and found Dawson's descriptions vivid, engaging and wonderfully descriptive. Dawson does a wonderful job of creating questions that keep you reading in this novel, as well as connections to the wider Rose-Milton story that push you to want to read more from those books as well.

All told, it's a great and enjoyable read. Well worth diving in to and I look forward to reading more from Dawson!

This author creates a vivid imagery for readers in this novel. It sort of reminds me of the Kill Bill movies by Quentin Tarantino, who happens to be a groundbreaking writer and director.
Beatrix is definitely out for blood in this mystery thriller, but her time is limited. You will have to read “In Cold Blood” to find out why.
I think you will find it interesting.
Jeannie Walker (Award-Winning Author) "Fighting the Devil" - A True Story of Consuming Passion, Deadly Poison, and Murder

It had lots of action and characters but with her disease I didn't expect another story. In my opinion, the story doesn't match up to Mr. Dawson's others. However, should the main character continue to live, I will purchase other books in the series because I do like his writing.

Great read! I love all the books that I have read by this author. The characters are complex and the action is fast-paced. The only drawback in this series is that I have a hard time with her feats of daring--not because she is a woman but because she has an illness that I know quite a bit about--someone with this diagnosis wouldn't be able to do what she does. But it won't stop me from reading the rest of them!! I usually have issues with "medical" shows and movies for the same reason. Well worth the read!

Wow, yet another brilliant piece of work by Mark Dawson! Well written and very well researched,even from the military aspects, the story is fast paced and the characters just seem SO REAL. (I have to confess I am a fan of Mr Dawson’s work and am always waiting for the next one.)
If you like James Patterson, then you’ll love Mark Dawson, in my opinion, far superior in his telling of the story.
You’ll realize I haven’t told you anything about the actual story here................................
well you will just have to read it.

Believe me, you WILL enjoy!”

Beatrix Rose is another hit! Mark Dawson has done it again! I thought after the John Milton character it couldn't get any better.. Beatrix is right up there and this series holds very tight to the Milton series. Beatrix was an original member of the 15. I can't wait to read the other 2 books in the series. Please please give this author a chance I promise you will not regret it.. Beatrix has a larger back story than Milton, so there is a bit more to sink your teeth into... A solid 4.5 stars across the board! An outstanding simple read!

This book is the first book in the Beatrix Rose series which is a character from the author's John Milton series. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to follow the story line If I hadn't read the entire Milton series but the author did a really nice job of providing you with enough of Beatrix's past to allow you to follow the story line. I was immediately drawn into the story and Mark did a great job of developing the characters so that you got a real sense of them as people.

I especially liked the balance that Mark struck between richly describing the scene, using words to equip your imagination to vividly immerse you in the story, and keeping the story moving along at the right pace for a thriller. The quality of the narration was on par with the book. This is especially important to me. The story length was on the shorter end of the range so this made it perfect for my commute to work. I found myself looking forward to the commute to find out what was around the corner for Beatrix. I am looking forward to the next book in the series!

Beatrix Rose taught John Milton a lot of his skills so it is appropriate that she saves his butt and his team in the Milton series book 4. She used to be Number One before Control decided she had to be sanctioned. The hit team was not as good as Beatrix but was good enough to kidnap her daughter and put her on ice for ten years. Now she is back with a list and attitude and is busy crossing off her to dos. Will she be able to get to her target and save hostages too. You know the answer to that of course but the ride is the fun part.

i can not rate mark dawson highly enough all his book are brillant and in cold blood was a brillant read about a women who wants revenge on the people who killed her husband and toke her daughter to stop her comeing after them it gets you from page one and dont let you go a big problem when you read at night because you wont put it down to go to sleep can not wait to read the next book in the series i have not been able to read any orther book by any one since i found mark dawson work i rate him up there with (lee child) and (vince flynn) no orther aurthor has made me want read all there book one after the orther mark dawson as made me want to do it if you have never read any of his book do so as you will not be disspointed

Beatrix is a secret agent betrayed by her team mates. She is dedicated to hunting them down for revenge. Clearly derivative from Kill Bill movies it moves well and reads shorter then its claimed 200 pages. Lots of action and usual terrorist sterotypes.

There's always a good plot, search for those who have to pay for having killed her husband and very good description of places. Security forces and investigation procedures are interesting and realistic. Recommend to all who like thrilling crime and security investigation.

This was a fun thrill ride full of action and satisfying amounts of revenge. The writing is great and the story keeps you tuned in to enjoy all the action. This is my first book by Mark Dawson and it certainly will not be my last. I quickly started into book two on Beatrix Rose's quest for revenge to keep the story rolling. I am liking it so much that I am set on going back and reading the John Milton books where this character was introduced.

As a fan of the John Milton series I was both intrigued and wary of this short-story spin off with the Beatrix Rose character we were introduced to in the latest Milton novel. I am delighted to report that any worries I had were entirely misplaced as In Cold Blood is another mesmerising read from Mark Dawson.

Unlike a lot of short story writers he refrains from going for the all-out, non-stop but mostly pointless action that really serves no purpose in the stories being written. This is a well paced thrill ride throughout and each part seems well thought out and well delivered.

Without wishing to reveal the storyline there is a great little sub plot with the character Joyce whom Beatrix is seeking revenge upon which to a point humanises his character and left me feeling sympathetic towards him even though he is, by all accounts, a ruthless assassin that was involved in the murder of Beatrix's husband. This is very clever writing as it gives another side to the whole story and it is not solely about one woman's revenge.

This is the first in what I believe is to be a trilogy of Beatrix Rose short stories and if the follow up are on par with this, then I am very much looking forward to reading them as soon as they are available.

Highly recommended book from, in my opinion, a very skilled and wonderful author

Good, not great. The author spends an inordinate amount of prose setting the scene in a level of detail that I found unnecessary to the plot. In the end, this ended up being a pretty standard revenge potboiler. Doubt I will continue the series. The Nathan McBride series is in a similar vein and far more engaging.

What a bizarre tale of suspense and revenge. Non stop action from start to finish. The author did a fantastic job of developing the characters. The female lead character is so full of hate and revenge the reader can almost feel her pain.

Meet the next Lisbeth! Beatrix Rose has been dealt some tough crap, but she is one spunky, intelligent, lethal weapon who doesn't mince words. She has an objective and there are no distractions. Her daughter, Isabella, is one of the few people she trusts. With her in mind, all of Beatrix' goals are for seeking revenge in the kidnapping that took place 10 years ago.

An exceptional thriller in the "Beatrix Rose" series by Mark Dawson. A compelling story about a former government assassin who has been united with her daughter after she was taken eight years earlier.

With In Cold Blood, Dawson begins an always exciting and fast-paced tale of calculated revenge wrought by Beatrix Rose, a former assassin, upon a five-person hit team and "Control" who had sent them to Rose's home kill her. While she fought to save her family, the team killed her husband and kidnapped her daughter. In Cold Blood begins eight years later. Now living in Marakech and having been reunited with her daughter, Beatrix Rose plots her revenge on those that had destroyed her life. Not with the rashness of an eye-for-an-eye senseless violence, but rather a considered, strategic and tactical design to silence those who bear the responsibility for her suffering. I found In Cold Blood to be an enthralling page-turner. And another Mark Dawson read that I heartily recommend.

An exceptional "spy" thriller! I've read many thrillers such as this, some even more detailed, that, however, does make them a good story. This one is, and exceptional enough I plan to immediately continue with the series!

This is a book about violence. The lead character is extremely violent. The villains are extremely violent. If you like realistic war stories, with lots of shooting, lots of deaths and other casualties, this will be a good read for you.

it was a pretty good read with a long buildup and a quick conclusion. I thought the ending was a bit disappointing as it seemed liked the ending of a TV drama, where it is necessary to 'tune in' next time.

This book is really unsettling and give you an inkling into the world of Special-Ops operations, sanctioned and not sanctioned by governments. The mistakes and misinformation that happen in any of these Operations. It starts out slow but but builds to flat out action.

A woman... deadly assasin... assasins group who betrayed her... daughter kidnaped... list of targets to kill... cover with a picture of a woman holding a katana... if her name was Beatrix that woman would be the one from kill bill... wait what?

Beatrix is a caring mother willing to do anything to protect her daughter. The catch? She’s an ex-assassin out for revenge. Years ago, when he daughter was young, others like Beatrix (assassins) were sent to her home to kill her. They took her daughter from her and killed her husband. Now, after finally being reunited with her beloved daughter, she’s out for blood. But there’s a time limit! Since Beatrix is diagnosed with lung caner she only has a year to enact her revenge.

I enjoy all of Mark Dawson’s novels because of the vivid imagery. Here’s an author that takes the time to set you up in his world before pushing you over the edge. If you’re someone who doesn’t mind a bit of gritty action or enjoys a good thrill, then this definitely the novel for you.

Beatrix Rose is on a mission. She must find the people who killed her husband and separated her from her daughter. She found one of them in Somalia and left his body there. Her battle rages on, not only against the operatives but also against the cancer that is trying to end her life before she finishes her mission.

When you buy this book (and you should), save yourself aggravation and buy all three, In Cold Blood, Blood Moon Rising and Blood and Roses. These books are thrilling. The characters are charismatic and unique; the plot fascinating. Mark Dawson is my new favorite author. When you have finished with these three, try the John Milton series by the same author. You won't be disappointed!!!

I saw an ad online saying “if you like reading Jack Reacher novels, you’ll like Mark Dawson”. It wasn’t an understatement.

I have read a number of Dawson’s John Milton books and now I’m hooked on Beatrix Rose. The book is fast paced and full of action. You won’t want to put it down.

The book really races and I just want to read other Beatrix rose thriller now. I only hope she recovers from her illness. Pleas do not kill her.

If it can be given more than 5 stars I certainly will give that to this book and really enjoyed reading this book.
I hope one day her daughter also joins her in thrashing the bad elements.
Sarma

I'm a big fan of Mark Dawson's books in general, and in particular thought Ghosts was a breakthrough in the strength of the narrative in the Milton series. I was therefore delighted when I learnt that Dawson had taken the other main protagonist from that book and given her a lead role in this novel. The action is fast and furious as ever, and the book itself reads like the script for a Hollywood action thriller. Although it doesn't quite reach the highs of Ghosts in my opinion, as a stand-alone book it's still a great read.

Mark Dawson displays his talent again with Beatrix Rose. Very fast pace and upbeat and this novel is one you will get so engrossed in I finished it in two days! Everyone likes a revenge story!!! a typical what goes around comes around story!!! Don't mess with Beatrix...she is worse than a mama bear!!!

I've read all the John Milton series books and these follow that same path. Beatrix is a former spy out for revenge. The books are fast paced and a great read. I've read them all in order starting with the John Milton series, I think it's helpful to know some of the backstories but not essential.

Scary, scary Lady. Loved every second of this book, if the author made any mistakes e.g. weapons, locations, etc etc. I do not care,
this was as good a read as anything produced by De Silva, Sandford, Lee Childs, Tom Clancy, et al. Great escapism, total absorbtion in this book. I think I read it in five minutes, late for Doctor appointments, even burned my toast! well done Mark Dawson, I read all of John Milton series, the first one was a bit average but then I got into him. Can't wait for the next Beatrix Rose #2.

Beatrix Rose was briefly introduced to us in the John Milton series by Mark Dawson. I really enjoyed Milton's assassin with a conscience character but the feeling you get when you finish a book didn't last long as my attention was immediately grabbed by Beatrix Rose. Another great character and the last person you would ever want hunting you down! A professional killer at the top of her game, on the trail of revenge and she delivers big time.
The story runs at a great pace, you will devour this book and immediately reach for the next.

I quite enjoyed this book and am now reading more of the author's work. The pace was perfect and the characters were introduced fairly naturally -- all in all, a quick and action-packed read. Mostly, I was happy that no unnecessary romance felt forced upon the reader.

Kick ass and she does...

I've read all the John Milton books and found Beatrix Rose to be a really intriguing character. Awesome to see Mark Dawson develop her further. Alas there are only three books but boy to they cover a lot of ground!! I love the spy/thriller genre and Dawson does not disappoint. After a lifetime of reading about kick ass male characters, it's refreshing to have such a strong female character at the center of a fast moving storyline. A mother and wife, ice cold assassin who’s out for blood! Buy the three book set – they won’t disappoint.

This book steams along at Mark Dawson's electric pace. Love the writing style which is light, punchy and engaging. Could not stop reading until I had finished it. Little bit predictable as the character is "a la John Milton" but in the absence of said Milton, then Beatrix carries the burden of entertaining me extremely well. Loved the scene setting and just enough extraneous detail to make the surroundings interesting.
More please...........SOON!

This first book of Mark's new series is as gripping as all of his other character John Milton. From the moment she was introduced in the John Milton series I was hoping that she would feature more in Mark's writing, so when I heard that she was going to be explored in depth with her own series I was thrilled.

Mark is not your average writer, he great writing style builds the picture before the hell breaks loose in the thriller that follows.

Beatrix Rose is not your average mother, she is a former agent now seeking revenge from the people who destroyed her life as well as rebuilding her relationship with her daughter.

This is definitely a book that once you pick it up will struggle to put it down

Once again Mark Dawson provides another great read.It is both a rare and somewhat dangerous pursuit to find myself reading my Kindle as I walk home from the tube station…but this book made me do just that!
Just desperate to get the next part of this gripping story-line. It will be fascinating to see where we are taken next, Mark leaves some tantalising threads to work on, so please, hurry up!

Beatrix Rose is a very interesting character. Her history is both epochal and tragic. She recognizes that and takes life as it is. However, she also has not forgotten how she got where she is and she focuses on correcting, actually eliminating, the cause of her tragedy.

From start to finish "In Cold Blood" by Mark Dawson is a thrill ride that you won't want to get off of. The action is tense and exciting, the pace perfect and the writing sharp. Mr. Dawson lends his writing a level verisimilitude that is refreshing in a genre that sometimes can seem filled with cliches and worn out ideas. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

WOW!! It would be trite (and inaccurate) to say I couldn't put it down...

...but after reading page after page after page till 3 in the morning, and finally prying it from my fingers to get some sleep...

...his femme fatale heroine woke me up at 6 to finish the book before work the next day.

Now that's a thriller!! Don't miss this thrill ride by a master of the genre (and a really great, engaging guy - send him an email, and see what happens!)... and just like any good roller coaster, your heart will be pounding in your chest - and you'll be begging for another trip around!

I found this book totally engrossing. Had a couple of late dinners since I couldn't put it down to prepare anything. Wish Rose wasn't running out of time due to cancer. That means there won't be an ongoing source of new material. Maybe Mark will have her daughter pick up the thread, she's clearly being groomed for it. Thanks Mark, for a great read.

I am a fan of Mark Dawson. I bought this book and read it the first day... couldn't put it down. I love this character and this story. Exciting and enjoyable read. Excellent writing... very descriptive and accurate and real. I love the adventure and excitement on every page. I can't wait for the other books in the trilogy. Don't hesitate... buy this book!

I do all the time. Hardly a day goes by that I don't mutter something like I'd like strangle so and so, or worse. Beatrix Rose has a bad case of it and with good reason. In this fast-paced action packed novel Beatrix Rose delivers justice to the scum that done her wrong. The writing style is sparse and to the point yet it manages to fully tell the story. There's not much excess verbiage.

This was the first book of Mark Dawson's that I read. The character of Beatrix rings of authenticity and emotion. She is more ruthless than her male counterparts but has incredible deep feelings for family and friends. I read it in one day! I am really looking forward to the next book in the series.
Based on this book and the reviews, I am now reading the John Milton series.
Mark Dawson ranks along side my favourite fiction authors.

Dawson further develops the interesting character of Beatrix Rose in this thriller. He does this in part by highlighting something that is relatively unknown to the public at large; some of the more shadowy intelligence/special operations units routinely include women. Women can go places with less fanfare than men in many circumstances. Additionally, they are much harder to profile as operators.

A father whose family has been harmed is an intimidating force. A mother whose family has been betrayed and harmed is an unsurpassed force of terrorizing vengeance. Great action balanced with just a touch of warmth. Plus, another potential betrayal lurking behind the scene. Can't wait to start the next book!

I thought the transition from Milton to Rose was handled well. The story is presented reasonably well and there is certainly enough content in this version to not leave you irritated when it ends and you are forced to wait a very short amount of time for the next installment. I commend the author for not leaving the readers hanging for such a long period of time that they lose the previous details.

This was my first for Mark Dawson books. I ended up reading all 3 in the series. I am hoping the author will do follow up books on Isabella because I have a daughter the same age and the ending of the series left me grieving for Isabella. I need more!!!!!

She is a kickass killer with a daughter training up behind her. The reason for this is deep and logical and a great backdrop. The book rockets along and I've just read the next book in the series too. At the end of this book I had no choice but to read the next. I love Beatrix Rose and I love her sanctuary in Marrakesh although I fear it will not remain a sanctuary for long! I had never heard of Mark Dawson before this book.

It was a little short. While the story and action were good, it felt a bit rushed at the end. I am looking forward to the rest of the series as I've read all of his other books. This was worth the purchase.
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Mark Dawson has given us a first class spin-off from the John Milton series. With Beatrix as the former agent bent on revenge the action is fast-paced and the story extremely well written. Looking forward to the next instalment.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the John Milton series from Mark Dawson. Beatrix Rose is a complex character, a force of nature. I could not stop reading this book. Do yourself a favor and check this novel out!

I continue to be impressed at how Mark Dawson continues to improve with each thriller. I didn't think he could surpass his success with Ghosts but in Cold Blood is brilliantly executed. I can't wait for the next in this and the John Milton series.

Very entertaining read. Not sure I buy into the relationship between mother and daughter, but enjoyed the locations and environment. It will be fun to see how the story develops. Will certainly read the next installment.

Be warned if you read Mark Dawson’s books you will get hooked!
The story of one woman’s revenge is gripping, his research, spot on
If you enjoy reading novels by David Baldacci & Michael Connelly, this is definitely one for you