A Shot to Kill is a wildly entertaining short story by a budding author with admirable creativity. Kronos Ananthsimha introduces a different breed of anti-heroes in his protagonist, Slade Heller. Heller feels like a character straight out of a Tarantino movie; dark, violent, and bordering on the edge of sociopathic tendencies. A largely unexplored combination of traits in a leading character. Kronos’s genius lies in making the dark protagonist surprisingly appealing despite the scary blend of characteristics.
The short story shows Slade Heller being tasked with assassinating an enforcer for the Colombian drug cartel. Heller’s orders come from his handler in a PMC known as Elysium Group. As he makes a dangerous and classy entry into Florida, his mission is immediately blown and the action kicks into high-gear with the cold efficiency of a well-oiled machine.
In a span of almost 50 pages, Slade Heller utilizes a variety of weapons to take out his targets. From the armor piercing rounds of FN Five-Seven to kitchen knives and meat cleavers, Heller creates a symphony of bloody unadulterated violence befitting a man of his disposition as a highly trained killer with little remorse. The action sequences are written with a keen focus on easy readability and visualization.
It is best read between two full-length thrillers for a quick and effective adrenaline shot to the heart to psyche you up for the next book on your TBR list. At the same time, the cryptic hints about Heller’s past coupled with the promise of bigger action in follow-up stories will undoubtedly whet your appetite to read more of this enthralling new enigmatic assassin.
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