Book Review: Exit Strategy by Lena Diaz

Kerry Hammond is here with a book review of Exit Strategy, the first book in a new series by Lena Diaz, along with an interview with the author.

Exit Strategy is the first book in the Exit Inc. thriller series by Lena Diaz. I really loved the book and had a great time reading it. The characters were wonderful, both heroes and villains. The action was non-stop, and it kept me on the edge of my seat. The scenes were so well written that I wonder if the author spent any amount of time hanging from a zip line for research. The romance was well-placed and well-done. It was a great addition to the storyline, and I only needed a moderate amount of ice water to cool down. The book was a thriller, in the sense that the reader knows a lot of the underlying information at the beginning, and follows along as the hero chases down the bad guys. But as the story progressed, the information that was revealed added to the twists and turns of the book, and I quickly realized that there was another mysterious dimension to the storyline.

The story revolves around Sabrina Hightower, a young woman who has recently lost her parents in an accident. Her grandfather, who was more of a parent to her than her own were, has gone missing and she fears he may be dead. In the middle of the night, she hears an intruder in the house. The next thing she knows, she’s being carried away by Mason Hunt. Mason works for a secret, government sanctioned hit squad whose job it is to take out terrorists and other criminals hiding in plain sight among normal, everyday citizens. He has actually been sent to kill Sabrina, but believes that the exit order issued against her is false and that she may be innocent. This fact makes him question his past missions and the work he’s done for Exit Inc.

When Mason’s boss realizes he’s gone rogue, he sends out other agents to not only take him out, but to make sure that they take out Sabrina too. The two are running from the bad guys, but also trying to figure out why a fake order was issued, and whether or not Sabrina’s grandfather’s disappearance is tied up in the whole thing. Sabrina is no weak female, she can shoot a gun and defend herself. She’s a strong character who is not looking for a man to save her life, but soon realizes she may need a little help to stay alive.

I really haven’t had this much fun with a romantic thriller since my last Sandra Brown book. I will absolutely read the next book in the series, all the while wondering who should play Mason in the movie version.