Codename Villanelle

Unrepentant murderess Oxana Vorontsova was plucked from a brutal Russian prison by Konstantin (the death broker for a cabal of powerful businessmen) and reborn as the elite assassin Villanelle. After years of killing beneath the radar, Villanelle becomes visible to a worthy adversary when she assassinates controversial Russian political agitator, Viktor Kedrin, in London. In the assassination's fallout, Eve Polastri's failure to accurately assess the threat to Kedrin results in her dismissal from MI6 and leaves her determined to catch the killer who destroyed her career. Eve is hired by a covert government task force hunting Villanelle's shadowy employers, and she jumps on her nemesis' trail with zeal. In the meantime, Villanelle continues eliminating her employer's targets in Shanghai and Odessa, where she takes thrill-seeking risks that could come back to haunt her. Detailed portrayals of Villanelle's globe-hopping hits and Eve's strategic hunt create strong suspense, but character-driven readers may find the key players predictable. Still, this is a promising series setup, especially if the coming episodes add layers to these deadly femmes. An upcoming BBC America series based on the Jennings novels may spur interest.--Tran, Christine Copyright 2018 Booklist

Jennings (Man Booker-nominated Atlantic) strikes a delicate balance of hired killer versus intelligence officer in this series launch starring the icy Villanelle, a relentlessly focused, talented, and highly trained international assassin with an astonishingly high success rate. After Villanelle's latest high-profile kills, however, Eve Polastri, an MI5 operative, is recruited by the British Secret Intelligence Services specifically to hunt down this elusive assassin. With Eve just steps behind her every move, Villanelle's expert actions in targeting subjects worldwide marked for death bring her closer to capture-and to a confrontation with Eve. As Villanelle toys with her trackers, this dangerous cat-and-mouse game upends all rules of play. Verdict Fans of Stieg Larsson will adore both the steely, resourceful Villanelle and the determined Eve. This finely tuned, knife-edge thriller with two equally unflinching women refuses to sacrifice an ounce of adrenaline while allowing the characters room for depth and complexity. Highly recommended. [This title is the basis for BBC America's Killing Eve, starring Sandra Oh.-Ed.]-Julie Kane, Washington & Lee Lib., Lexington, VA © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.