L.A. Clayton https://www.authorlaclayton.com is the author of four novels. Ten Seconds to Dead was published in 2020 and is the first book of her Ten Second series. Due to scenes of violence and mature situations, I categorize this novel as R. The primary character is Katherine ‘Kate’ Edison.

Edison has just finished law school and passed the bar on her first try. Her father would have been proud of her, but he is gone. He died in front of her. Now she is ready to follow in his footsteps. He was a CIA man.

Since her father’s death, she has been preparing to be a CIA agent. She secures an interview, and it is going well. As she leaves, she is covertly contacted by the AGI, the Alternate Government Initiative. AGI is an ultra-secret US government agency. They want her as an agent, just like her father was before her.

Edison accepts the AGI offer and undergoes rigorous training. Even before she has finished her training, she is catapulted into the field. She faces danger in both the training and missions. She begins to sense that something is wrong. She soon begins to fear that she has been deceived. That she is not really working for a government agency. Can she discover the truth and survive?

I enjoyed the 10+ hours I spent reading this 389-page thriller and mystery. The story is filled with action, suspense, and intrigue. I like the chosen cover art, and I give this novel a rating of 5 out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

I started reading this book and found that it was not for me. It didn't seem fair for me to review a book that I didn't finish.

This started out just ok, but as it continued I became more interested. The information about the CIA and the things that normal citizens don't know was fascinating. I felt like the heroine was interesting and funny. This book was interesting and entertaining and made you think about things.

The first few chapters of this book really hook the reader into the story. However, mid way the story becomes quite unrealistic and I was just no longer engaged in the story.

On page 1, sixteen-year-old Kate Edison watches as her father succumbs to a heart attack. On the next page, Kate, now 26, begins the interview process for a CIA position, where her father worked before his death. Between her studies, over the years, to become an exceptional job candidate and her photographic memory, she earns an offer to join the CIA.

And then L. A. Clayton kicks this adventure into high gear. The author creates a stunning and complex plot moving at a relentless pace. Well-developed characters, inventive and heart-stopping situations, and twists that challenge expectations make this an exhilarating read. To call Ten Seconds to Dead a thriller is truly an understatement, and L. A. Clayton’s storytelling prowess may become addictive for the die-hard thriller fan.

5 Stars

This is the first book in the Ten Seconds series by L.A. Clayton.

Wow. Just wow. This is like watching an entire series of Alias all in one go! Just a wonderful read. I am excited to see what more this debut author has to offer. She already has put the finishing touches on book two of this series. I got a sneak peek at the end of this book and am ready to dive into TEN SECONDS TO PANDEMIC right now. How fitting that it really resonates with the pandemic we are currently facing. Maybe Clayton has a bit of a prophetess in her.

Basic premise: Kate has wanted to be a part of the CIA since she was 16 and her father, who was also in the CIA, died unexpectedly. She goes through the rigors of testing and comes out on top only to have the choice taken away from her. She is forced into an ultra covert agency that initially looks on the up and up and eventually she realizes what she has really gotten herself into.

The action in this is kick butt awesome and I was glued to the page the entire time. It was an unputdownable read for sure! I particularly liked the addition of Officer Lyons, the man who brought her in for the original CIA testing. He was majorly miffed when it seemed she dropped out from the running the minute she crossed the threshold to be invited to be a part of the CIA. Having him in the story really grounded it for me and made look forward to every time he had an appearance.

I wanted this book to last longer than it did even though it is nearing 400 pages. I just couldn’t get enough of this story! So excited to find a great author who just gets me and gives me the types of stories I like.

If you enjoy a good romantic suspense thriller, definitely give this one a try, you won’t be disappointed! This is more suspense & thriller than romance but there is a nice romance element to this book.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

I wasn't sure about this book, with the tone of the writing in the first chapter. But once I hit the second and third chapters I was hooked! I loved all of the information about the CIA and all the things that normal citizens don't know. I really liked the heroine and that she had humor in her thoughts. It was an entertaining and actually interesting read that makes you think about what if?? I for sure will be reading anything else L.A. Clayton writes!