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Tim Stevens
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Severance Kill (Martin Calvary Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Tim Stevens (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 1,578 ratings

FROM THE AUTHOR OF RATCATCHER AND OMEGA DOG








Martin Calvary is going to Prague to kill a man.

First he has to rescue him.



Calvary works for The Chapel, a branch of British Intelligence that identifies enemies of the state who are beyond the reach of the law, and eliminates them. Permanently.



But Calvary has had enough of the killing and wants out. His employers make him an offer: if he carries out one more assassination, he’s free to leave. If he refuses, evidence of his involvement in all the previous killings will be passed on to the police and he’ll become a wanted criminal facing life in prison.



Trapped, Calvary travels to Prague to carry out the hit. The target is Sir Ivor Gaines, a retired senior British diplomat and Cold War traitor who escaped justice more than twenty years ago. But Calvary discovers he’s not the only one with an interest in Gaines. Also hunting him are the city’s gangland boss, and the local branch of the successor organisation to the Soviet KGB…



Calvary’s hit on Gaines fails, and he’s plunged into a race against time to locate and terminate the man before either Prague’s premier organised crime family or the Russians discover just why Gaines is so important, and what the explosive repercussions would be were he to be taken to Moscow. Haunted by the memory of a terrible error he made five years ago, Calvary must track down Gaines to achieve severance not only from his job, but from his past itself.



Severance Kill is the first book in the Martin Calvary action thriller series, which continues with Annihilation Myths.
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    Martin Calvary Action Thriller Book 1
  2. Print length
    269 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    12 Nov. 2013
  6. File size
    691 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 3 books in this series.
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00AB1ZGX4
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 12 Nov. 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 691 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 269 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ Martin Calvary Action Thriller Book 1
  • Customer reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 1,578 ratings

About the author

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Tim Stevens

Tim Stevens

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Tim Stevens was born in England and grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa. He lives near London with his wife and daughters, and works as a doctor in the NHS.

His debut novel is the acclaimed thriller RATCATCHER, featuring the hunter of rogue spies John Purkiss. Five further Purkiss thrillers, DELIVERING CALIBAN, JOKERMAN, TUNDRA, CRONOS RISING and NEMESIS, are also available. Another series, with former assassin Martin Calvary, began with SEVERANCE KILL and continues with ANNIHILATION MYTHS.

Tim is the author of the Joe Venn American crime thrillers OMEGA DOG, DELTA GHOST, ALPHA KILL, SIGMA CURSE, EPSILON CREED and GAMMA BLADE, as well as the short espionage novel REUNION.

To sign up to Tim Stevens's mailing list and get two free novels, DELIVERING CALIBAN and DELTA GHOST, as well as a free John Purkiss short story, SPIKED, exclusive to subscribers, copy and paste this link into your browser: http://eepurl.com/zph89.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
1,578 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's plot engaging with its twists and turns, and appreciate its fast-paced narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The writing is well-executed, and customers are deeply involved with the characters, with one review highlighting the hero's skills as a multi-talented assassin. The violence level receives mixed reactions from customers.

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35 customers mention ‘Plot quality’35 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the plot of the book, describing it as a well-constructed thriller with twists and turns that keep readers thinking.

"...But, the quality of writing, the story line, the characters and the pace soon had me gripped...." Read more

"...As usual, Stevens presents a complex plot with several complicated set pieces that never become confusing, and the major characters are for the most..." Read more

"...the first nove O have read by this author and he certainly delivers in the action area. In fact this was the problem....he delivers too much...." Read more

"...this, and found it to be a very entertaining to read, with an interesting storyline...." Read more

33 customers mention ‘Readability’33 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly entertaining, with one describing it as a real page turner.

"...I rarely give five stars, but Tim Stevens' book is well worth it." Read more

"Wow, what a ride. This was a hard hitting, fast, thrilling book that started galloping like a racehorse from the beginning and never let up...." Read more

"I have just finished reading this, and found it to be a very entertaining to read, with an interesting storyline...." Read more

"Excellent, Definitely a 5 Star book and I don't fo many of those. One of the best books i have read this year, no question!..." Read more

15 customers mention ‘Pacing’15 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book's pacing, noting it's gripping from the start and keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

"...quality of writing, the story line, the characters and the pace soon had me gripped. I rarely give five stars, but Tim Stevens' book is well worth it." Read more

"...Pacey and well written, this is a thoroughly efficient thriller." Read more

"Wow, what a ride. This was a hard hitting, fast, thrilling book that started galloping like a racehorse from the beginning and never let up...." Read more

"...The book flows along at a nice pace, with some twist and turns to a (mostly) convincing conclusion...." Read more

8 customers mention ‘Character development’8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding them engaging, with one review highlighting the hero's skills as a multi-talented assassin.

"...But, the quality of writing, the story line, the characters and the pace soon had me gripped...." Read more

"...The hairy mafia monster with the family values is a fairly effective stock villain; but the Russian intelligence chief, not quite old enough to be..." Read more

"...In fact this was the problem....he delivers too much. The hero is a multi talented assassin ....an expert at most things it seems....but..." Read more

"...You get a real feeling for all the main characters I will definitely be purchasing others in the "Calvary" series" Read more

4 customers mention ‘Writing quality’4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well written, with one mentioning it's an easy read.

"...But, the quality of writing, the story line, the characters and the pace soon had me gripped...." Read more

"...Pacey and well written, this is a thoroughly efficient thriller." Read more

"A realy good read,well written,agood plot,what more can i say,ten more words to say I liked the book,well done,good read" Read more

"Easy read...." Read more

10 customers mention ‘Violence level’6 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the violence level in the book, with some appreciating its intensity while others find it excessive.

"Wow, what a ride. This was a hard hitting, fast, thrilling book that started galloping like a racehorse from the beginning and never let up...." Read more

"...This is bloody dangerous, because to release the hammer you have to pull the trigger while lowering the hammer gently to prevent the pistol firing,..." Read more

"...Prague as a backdrop is perfect, the violence matches the ruthlessness of the people involved, but the plot twists ensure you can't stop reading...." Read more

"...local gangsters then takes you on a quite mesmerising and exhausting journey of violence and heroism. Could not happen in reality but enjoy the ride." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Tel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well Worth a Read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 August 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I started by thinking how improbable it would be for a Government to have its own assassination team. But, the quality of writing, the story line, the characters and the pace soon had me gripped. I rarely give five stars, but Tim Stevens' book is well worth it.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Philip Challinor
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good and sharp
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 March 2013
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    An ex-soldier turned secret-service assassin, the delightfully-named Martin Calvary is reluctantly dispatched to the Czech Republic for what his obnoxiously smug superior promises will be one last job: the revenge killing of an elderly British expatriate. Thanks to the involvement of Russian intelligence and the local mafia godfather, matters do not go according to plan; but then again, it all depends what the plan really is. As usual, Stevens presents a complex plot with several complicated set pieces that never become confusing, and the major characters are for the most part plausible and interesting. The hairy mafia monster with the family values is a fairly effective stock villain; but the Russian intelligence chief, not quite old enough to be old-school and not young enough to be new-school, is much more subtly drawn and, at least for the present reviewer, equals the hero in intelligence and ruthlessness and perhaps even surpasses him in pathos. Like many who drift into espionage, Calvary has suffered the traumas of war; but Calvary's trauma is a rather more complex and interesting one than the usual business of seeing a friend killed or accidental participation in collateral damage. Pacey and well written, this is a thoroughly efficient thriller.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • E Griffith
    3.0 out of 5 stars Over the top....
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 January 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoy this sort of novel usually....set in the murky world of espionage and assassinations with an anti hero fighting impossible odds to achieve his aim. This is the first nove O have read by this author and he certainly delivers in the action area. In fact this was the problem....he delivers too much. The hero is a multi talented assassin ....an expert at most things it seems....but nevertheless gets himself injured several times along the way fighting a multitude of both Russian gangsters and Russian spies and special forces. The whole tale revolves around long car chases around Prague destroying most of the cities vehicles in the process and building up an amazingly high death count. So much, in fact, that it takes the story from being good, escapist, edge of the seat reading to a totally over the top unbelievable video game style romp.
    It was OK but just too over the top making it a bit of an action farce.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • somnus
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cracking fast paced spy novel
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 April 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Wow, what a ride. This was a hard hitting, fast, thrilling book that started galloping like a racehorse from the beginning and never let up. The synopsis has been adequately described by others I won't go into it again. This book roared along from one tense situation to another for Martin Calvary, a very reluctant ex assassin and the hero. It has all the ingredient for an exciting 'can't put it down' story. No needless long drawn out dialogue enough information about where it is set (Prague) and really gets down to the nitty gritty. Quite violent in parts but this adds real juice to the yarn. I thoroughly enjoyed it and suffice to say, I stayed up until 3am to finish it, Great book that I would recommend without hesitation. Suffice to say I have now bought the next book!
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Andean Fire
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good Book, with an interesting storyline
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 November 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I have just finished reading this, and found it to be a very entertaining to read, with an interesting storyline. I was not familiar with Tim Stevens prior to reading this book, but I also have several other books (including this series) that I intend to read. I am not going to fill this review with spoilers (hate that), but there is a passing resemblance to Bond. The phrase "couldn't put it down" is used a lot in reviews, well in my opinion every book can be put down. However, in the case of this book, I did find myself reading on after the end of a chapter to find out what happened next or thinking about reading it again when I was doing something else.

    Strangely, I wasn't gripped by the first chapter, but definitely become more and more involved as I continued to read. The author certainly knows the location well (or has at least researched) enough to satisfy the test of anyone who has been there (least ways I didn't notice anything that wasn't correct). The book flows along at a nice pace, with some twist and turns to a (mostly) convincing conclusion.

    I did notice two and only two errors in the whole book, which in fairness to the author there was an update made available after I had started reading, so it could well be error free now. I mention this because although I have been fairly lucky in this respect, I understand (from reviews) that it can be a problem with some books.

    It might just be worth giving it a go if you like this type of book.
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  • Dave Arthur
    5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant 5* book with an excellent plot
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 August 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent, Definitely a 5 Star book and I don't fo many of those.
    One of the best books i have read this year, no question!
    The plot zings along, I like the author's characterisation.
    The twists and turns keep you thinking right to the end of the book
    You get a real feeling for all the main characters

    I will definitely be purchasing others in the "Calvary" series
    2 people found this helpful
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  • LDC
    4.0 out of 5 stars Really entertaining
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 January 2022
    Verified Purchase
    If you can get over the hero being indestructible ( his bones must be made of rubber) then this is a highly entertaining read. Prague as a backdrop is perfect, the violence matches the ruthlessness of the people involved, but the plot twists ensure you can't stop reading. Read this in 24 hours and there aren't that many books in this genre that can make me do that. Will go on to read the rest as I want to see if the hero has a few more layers to his character.
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Free
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 August 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Enjoyed this book very much. The reader is kept moving and wondering on every page. Quite exhausting physically. You feel as though you are right there in the midst of the action. A very different style for me but I got really involved with the characters.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Richard GAVIN
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it. An intriguing read of suspense
    Reviewed in Australia on 19 June 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Loved it. An intriguing read of suspense. A thriller. Like Martin. Will now purchase all the other Martin Calvary books.
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  • Dan
    5.0 out of 5 stars 5 star book
    Reviewed in Canada on 31 July 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed Severance Kill. Fast moving book with an enormous amount of action. Calvalry is a great protagonist.
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  • AYYAMPALAYAM RAGHAVENDRA RAO
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in India on 14 September 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Interesting...
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  • O. Barnack
    5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful Nonstop Actioner
    Reviewed in the United States on 4 December 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This novel, about an assassin chasing quarry, starts with action that continues straight through to the end. Reading it is like watching a destruction derby, with good guys and bad guys as moving parts. The author lays on movement, action and violence, providing plenty of graphic bloody details, offering an expert's lesson in anatomy. Action hurtles forward at breakneck speed, abetted by frequent changes in viewpoint from hunter to hunted during the numerous chases.

    In the first few chapters, I experienced some confusion sorting out the characters and their relationships. It soon became clear that the novel involves four separate groups of people with exotic names (e.g.,Yaroslavovna, Tamarkin, Oleg, Arkady, Blazek, Grechko) and even a Welshman named Dafyydd Llewellyn. For a while I considered the possibility the names were an inside joke I didn't get. I was relieved to find that, after I read on, everything fell into place.

    The main character is Martin (AKA Calvary) who works for an ultra-secret branch of British Intelligence service (codename Chapel). He was hired from the Army after proving his talents during combat. He knows his handler but little else about Chapel. Martin is intelligent, skilled with weapons, willing to risk his life to serve his country. He has killed several men and is close to burnout, but Chapel will not release him until he performs one more job. The target is a former British diplomat named Gaines, once a double agent for the Russians.

    The action starts. In a nutshell's nutshell, it goes something like this: Martin locates Gaines, pursues him, Russians join the chase and interfere, organized crime figures join the chase and interfere, underground activists join the fray on Martin's side, and the story works its way to a conclusion, with a twist at the end, and then another twist. What I left out in the framework just given is the violent action at each intersection of parties, which includes car chases, shootouts, foot chases, stabbings, scuffles, torture, grenade launching, and the like.

    Steven's writing is superb, intelligent and filled with energy. The entire enterprise is tight and well-edited, without a wasted word. Overall, an impressive book. Highly recommended.
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  • K.Visweswaran.
    3.0 out of 5 stars Routine James Bond ,Except Bond replaced by someone else .
    Reviewed in India on 28 July 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Bang Bang ,James Bond story .
    Real Fiction ,No questions on Logic or Reality .
    Still OK to read ,But with patience.
    Report

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