Fight To Survive

Once again, one of my favourite authors has delivered another cracking book to add to his already impressive back catalogue.
I have read and thoroughly enjoyed every book by this author, since the early days when he used to self-publish, before he got his well deserved break and became a full-time author. And I have to say that although he set his own bar very high from the off, with Gray Justice still being one of my favourite books, he has continued to impress me with every new release. This book, the third outing for Eva Driscoll was no exception.
Time has passed since the shenanigans that occurred in the previous book and Eva has reinvented herself once again in her ongoing challenge to evade the ESO. Sadly, her freedom is shattered when she receives a communication from them and she is devastated to find that they have known her whereabouts throughout. But, this time, they don't want to kill her, they want to employ her, they need her special skill set for a very high risk operation to extract a valued defector from North Korea. Given no option other than to accept, Eva travels there but, as you can expect, things go south and she finds herself in prison. Not only does she need to escape and fulfil her mission, what she discovers going on in the prison shocks her to her core and it becomes her personal mission to do something about it and bring justice to the victims. All without getting killed in the process...
I have the longest TBR, but there are a handful of authors who fail to play by the rules and it is usually all I can do to finish my current read before diving straight in as soon as I get my mitts on their next book. This author is obviously one of these, something I really don't mind too much as he is also someone who has never let me down. His attention to detail and the obvious research he has done into each and every subject covered in his books shines through. Couple that with fascinating and interesting plots, played out by cracking characters and we have my royal trifecta of things I need to make a good book a great read! The only downside to his writing being so good is that some of the things he writes about feel so real, so credible and consequently, that makes the books a bit scary at times as these things either already do, or could easily happen.
We also have a fair bit of emotional fallout in this book, after the events of what happened in the previous, and this is also handled extremely well.
To be honest, I could bang on forever about how brilliant this author is, how great both this and the Tom Gray series are, but if you haven't got the message from what I have already written then I am not sure what else will persuade you. A little tip though - this series contains characters from the Tom Gray one, so as well as being better off reading the first two in this series before this one, you could do yourself a favour and read all the Tom Gray books (in order obviously) first.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Fight to Survive starts out very slow with an unrealistic fight scene where a female protagonist knocks out a man who is 6'2 and 230 pounds. The author is trying too hard to create a story that is politically correct which comes off as contrived and unrealistic. The author's writing style is very slow and hard to read. I would not recommend this book to others.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange of honest review.

This is the first time I have read book by Alan McDermott and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The main character Eva Driscoll is a former spy who is hiding from an agency called ESO but they find her and ask her to do one last job for them.

The mission does not go as expected and Eva had to take help from her former colleagues cum friends to cum out on top of the mission.

Overall well paced and characters are etched out well.

I look forward to reading other book in this series.

FIGHT TO SURVIVE Alan..McDermott
Eva is ex CIA what she thought she was doing with the hidden bank accounts, in reality she was being watched. Now they want her to do a mission in North Korea, danger is two fold. Can she keep the agency thinking she was still working for them, and work with the ones that captured her. What she sees will torment her forever, Some parts was a little unrealistic, but overall the tension and fear was well done by the author. Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion by Net Galley and Amazon UK .

Eva’s blackmailed into a doing a mission for the very last people she’d thought she’d ever work for again, but of course there is always a twist as per. The mission goes south but her need for retribution following the horrors she encounters leads to her reversing the hold over her, pursuing the evil doers and of course the usual mayhem follows. The third book in the series also develops a new relationship between Eva and a trusted ally which is the backdrop to an otherwise all action adventure in keeping with the character and the series. Have enjoyed them all and grateful for an early read so thank you to Amazon Publishing and Net Galley.

I had previously read the first book in Alan McDermott’s Eva Driscoll series, “Run and Hide,” which I had found lacking in several areas. I skipped book 2 but decided to take a chance on book 3, “Fight to Survive.” While it is slightly better than the first in the series, it still has a way to go before I could recommend this book.

Mr. McDermott has slimmed down his cast of thousands to a manageable group of characters, which is an improvement. Eva Driscoll, ex-CIA assassin and a millionaire hundreds of times over, is the main character and we see the story primarily through her eyes. Other characters get their turns, in order to flesh out the story. The author has also pared down the habit of retelling the exact scene more than once through the eyes of a second character, committing the act only once this time around.

Unfortunately, the improvements ended with those categories. The plot ranges from one unbelievable chapter to the next. If you can swallow the basic premise – ex-assassin who has stolen over $100 million from the bad guys is allowed to live even though they know where she is and could hack her bank accounts at any time – then I suppose the rest of the book will be acceptable. At best, this is escapist fodder on steroids.

Fortunately for Mr. McDermott, he does have talent in putting together descriptive battle scenes and inventive plots and has proven that there is a market for this genre. If you like a book that jumps from one over-the-top action scene to the next, this is definitely the book for you. For me, I can suspend disbelief for only so long. Thus, depending upon your tastes, you may like it or hate it. Three stars.

My thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance complimentary copy of this book.

Having missed the previous books in this series, It took a little time for me to get into the flow of the story. The beginning seemed a little contrived as Eva has to be convinced to “get back in the saddle”. Twists and turns abound as Eva must endure conflicts with the bad guys and the good guys. Enjoyable thriller.

Brilliant action packed story. Loved the scenery and drama throughout. Grest characters who i would like to hear more about

McDermott has done it again and delivered a solid third entry into his Driscoll series. Without a doubt, this is the most action packed of the trilogy. The action never seems to stop, but it is well interlaced with moving the plot forward.

This book does a masterful job of blending the series-long saga of the ESO with a stand alone plot revolving around North Korea. Both narrative threads are equally as interesting and well detailed. To fully understand the ESO plot, you would need to read the first two books in the series. However, you could read this as a stand alone, and still understand it well. While it does not end on a major cliffhanger, there is definitely potential for a sequel.

I felt this book had the strongest characterization of the three. We got to know Eva on a deeper level - her thoughts, motivations, and core values. I thought the romance element was a bit superfluous, but it was not too over the top. The secondary characters, such as Sonny, also had plenty of moments to shine and grow.

I definitely recommend this book and hope to see more in the series!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Book three in the Eva Driscoll series, about a former CIA assassin with a conscience, is another rollicking adventure requiring heavy suspension of disbelief. If you can cope with that, it’s thoroughly enjoyable. It would help to have read the earlier books, as there is an ongoing backstory, and recurring characters, but it’s not essential.

Set two years after the events of Seek & Destroy, Eva is living quietly on her own in Melbourne, avoiding attachments as she mourns the loss of her lover Carl, but can’t help getting involved to help a neighbour in trouble. When the Executive Security Office - the shadowy band of billionaires who really run the world - call her up with a job offer she can’t refuse, Eva realises her safety has been an illusion and that if she wants to keep the fortune she stole from them, she will have to comply.

The mission - to retrieve a nuclear scientist willing to defect from North Korea - rapidly goes badly wrong, and she is captured, tortured and transferred to a secret prison. When she finds out what is going on there, she is determined to bring it down, so escapes with the target and blackmails the ESO into going back in - this time on her own terms, and with trusted friends. Will she save the innocent prisoners and avoid the ESO’s evil schemes without triggering an international incident?

I like Eva as a heroine - super tough, resourceful and courageous, this time we see her softer side. She actually feels bad about having to kill the vicious guard dogs who would’ve ripped her to shreds, and loses sleep over the innocent victims of the terrible regime. Her exploits resemble a James Bond movie (fortunately without the love scenes) and the fast paced action had me tearing through this to find out what happened. I appreciate the author not ending this on a cliffhanger - the story is wrapped up with some baddies left alive to be dealt with in future books - which I will once again be hanging out to read.

Eva’s first trip into North Korea was interesting - I can’t imagine why anyone would choose to go there on holiday, but am sure the author has done his research and believe that’s what it would be like. I was happy that New Zealand got a mention as Sonny’s new home - I wanted to visit his restaurant! - and particularly liked the gift that Len left him in his will - what a great idea! I would’ve liked to find out the fate of some of the minor characters but will assume they all got the fate they deserve.

Overall this was a well written solid four star read, suitable for those who don’t take their action adventures too seriously. My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Fight To Survive is published on August 6th.

Book Review: Fight To Survive (Eva Driscoll #3) by Alan McDermott

All three books in the series have the plot centered on a mysterious superpower pulling the strings of governments and military industrial complexes - the ESO.

Much of ESO time and resources seem to be dedicated to a permanent pursuit, making life hard for the larger than life feisty and heroic strong female lead character and her friends - insignificant pawns in the big scheme of global influence.

Run and hide, be found, run again, then counter-attack and avenge - seek and destroy.

Even for the most creative writer, there would be a limit.

In Book 3, Alan McDermott digs deep and adds considerable spice to his creative juices.

The intense, fast-paced non-stop action takes the reader to Australia, North Korea and China.

Eva Driscoll, revealed as a Korean speaker, is co-opted into infiltrating Kim Jong Un's hermit kingdom to shepard the escape and defection of a top scientist. Things fall apart and she finds herself incarcerated in the Land of the Morning Calm's deepest, darkest hole - where she lands in a dream prison block - good food, showers, clean prison garbs and polite prison guards.

And where something far more sinistre is happening.

The book lags towards the end as those fast-paced non-stop action sequences transform into a shopping spree as though in Gibraltar - and cringeworthy expressions of adolescent infatuation.

Also, the reader would have to suspend disbelief as a bunch of western foreigners freely roam about doing their espionage business in two of the most oppressive police states where their own citizens have few rights and freedom is non-existent.

One would have thought Kim's dogs along with People's Liberation Army operatives were to be far more savage and dreaded than the ESO.

The author's easy-reading writing style is definitely a redeeming quality.

Review based on an advance reading copy provided by NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas & Mercer and the author.

Absolutely devoured this book in a day, I love Eva Driscoll's character and yet again this book has it all, action packed from start to finish, the ESO dragging Eva back into their ploys but Eva seeing right through them and playing them at their own game. Eva even showed her more sensitive side in this and hopefully a new romance.

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It would make a good pay tv movie. It was a well written book.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this arc.

I've read and enjoyed the first book of the Eva Driscoll series and some how missed the second book, but that didn't stop or even slow me down reading this third adventure. I sucked this one down in an afternoon thanks to the easy-reading style of the author. And what an action packed read it was! NOTE: suspend any belief /need for realism of logic, geo-politics, human physiology, knowledge of computer science, banking, weaponry, etc. you may have and just enjoy the ride!.

Eva Driscoll is an ex-CIA trained assassin / Superwoman and has been living the "quiet life" in Australia hiding from her former employer -- the super secret ESO. Or so she thought.... But Eva was not made for the "quiet life"..... And so Fight To Survive begins!

A great beach read or airport book for those not really into chic-lit or rom-coms (though there is a little romance thrown in but not enough to detract from the action.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Fight to Survive is the latest book in the Eva Driscoll series by Alan McDermott and it is another action packed; adrenalin filled thriller where you hardly have time to take a breath.

As with the previous books the author gets the pacing spot on as Eva and her friends attempt to extract a high level North Korean spy.

If you like your books non stop then this is definitely one for you

ietly hiding out in Australia for the last 2 years. Or so she thinks!

When a neighbour needs assistance from her abusive husband Eva gets involved and before she knows it the ESO are back in her life and making her an offer she really, really cannot turn down.

She is still feeling the loss of Carl and her other friends are scattered to the winds, their final destinations not known to even her. But the ESO is now asking her to do a job for THEM and she alerts the team and manages to get some of them together to pull off the job.

North Korea is not exactly a tourist destination and Eva is quickly captured, along with her extraction target - how on Earth is she getting out of this one?

Eva and the team are back for some fast paced, adrenaline-fuelled, James Bond-esque adventures. We get to see her softer, kinder side when dealing with non combatants and guard dogs. Thankfully no cliffhangers but enough threads to lead on to the next story.

Fight to Survive is the third installment in author Alan McDermott's Eva Driscoll series. It has been 2 years since Eva Driscoll thought she had gotten out from under the constant surveillance of ESO (Executive Security Office) which basically controls the highest levels of government agencies around the world. Eva is living off the grid in Melbourne, Australia trying to avoiding attachments as she mourns the loss of her lover Carl.

But, when she steps into a domestic situation, ESO is quick to remind her that she hasn't gotten away from them and her safety has been all but an illusion. But, this time, they don't want to kill her, they want to employ her. They need her special skill set for a very high risk operation to extract a valued defector from North Korea. As if this was going to be anything but easy, Eva is quickly captured, tortured, and sent to a political prisoner camp where she witnesses some really horrible things before escaping.

Not only does she need to escape and fulfill her mission, what she discovers going on in the prison shocks her to her core and it becomes her personal mission to do something about it and bring justice to the victims. She collects Sonny Barnes, who is now living in New Zealand, as well as Farooq Naser, an exceptional encrypted software expert, in order to take down the prison that appears to be selling organs to rich Chinese and others who need a transplant quickly. Sonny, like Eva, is mourning the loss of his best friend Len who died on their last mission.

I will say this again, this is a series in which you need to suspend reality and all logic in order to enjoy the book. There are some emotional moments in this book. How can there not be after what Eva, Sonny, and Farooq experienced in the previous installment? Is it too soon for Eva to move on after she put her heart into loving Carl? I absolutely believe that you should read the books in order. Yes, the author does a good job of explaining what ESO is, and why they are so damn intent on taking Eva out, but to understand what has happened to drive Eva vs ESO is definitely necessary.

There are two things that really itched my crawl. Why in any Gods name would you travel to North Korea? What would drive a person to put their lives on the line in order to believe that you won't be spied on, bugged, and arrested if you step one foot over the line? The second part is the human organ trafficking that is a real thing folks. It is scary. You can blame countries like China and Pakistan, but there are rich people all over the world who are just as guilty for not wanting to wait on a donor list for a new organ.

The ending is a bit on the curious side. Will there be a fourth installment? Do we, as readers, really need a fourth book in order to be satisfied? Or, do we want one final Eva vs ESO battle royal in which anything can happen?

Ex-CIA assassin Eva Driscoll has found a new life in Australia and believes she’s outrun the Executive Security Office, the most powerful and secretive organization on the planet. But the ESO has been watching her every move and when they approach her with a high-risk mission in North Korea, Eva is forced to co-operate with the organization she once vowed to destroy.
But releasing a high-ranking defector proves costly, and Driscoll is captured and imprisoned in a secret camp on the Chinese border.
This is the third book in the series & I feel that whilst it could be read on its own it would be better to have read the earlier books as some threads do run from book to book. I really enjoyed the book but felt as with the earlier books in the series I had to suspend belief at times. Twists & turns along the way all added to my enjoyment. A well written, fast paced story
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

An action-packed and easy to read book, with good characters and interesting setting. No literary masterpiece, but great entertainment like it's supposed to be.

Another corker

"Fight To Survive" is the third in the Eva Driscoll series. After opening the kindle to decide what to read, it was so exciting to encounter Eva once more. Just like meeting an old friend again.

Eva has decamped to Australia in the vain hope that she can escape from the clutches of the Executive Security Office who, she knows, will one day want to get even with her for past misdemeanours. Once the ESO has demonstrated its power and long arms, Eva is persuaded to travel to North Korea to make contact and bring back a defector. Getting into the country is easy; getting out proves to be a little more challenging.

There are very few authors who can maintain high-quality writing after the first novel, but McDermott is an exception. His writing is crisp and taut and never flags. The pace is varied, but interest is prolonged by the twists and subplots. The language used is straightforward and free-flowing but never panders to or patronises the reader.

This thriller can be read as a stand-alone novel, but the reader would be missing two genuine, literary treats so my suggestion would be to start at the beginning of the series and work up to this one. The ending suggests that there will be another Eva Driscoll novel, so my recommendation is not to waste any time but to get reading.

mr zorg

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

It is unusual to have a female spy carry a series in the manner in which Alan McDermott has developed this series. He has given us a heroine that is tough and not afraid to die for her beliefs, not your usual female character. Our spy works for a controlling group, or they think she works for them. She uses their muscle and resources to fight against what she feels is corrupt and unjust. But, she finds herself in a foreign prison camp with only herself to count on to escape. It's really great to see this character assess and prioritize actions and events to achieve her escape and complete her mission. This is definitely a series to follow and enjoy.

The author does good work.This is the first novel I have read by this author, and I will look forward to reading his other books. The character development was delightful, and the action scenes were exceptional.A real page turner.

In the book Fight to Survive, author Alan McDermot continues the story of ex-CIA agent Eva Driscoll as she tries to begin a new life by hiding from the ESO. But they find her and threaten her to get her to work for them. It’s simple, get a man out of North Korea. But simple things have a way of becoming complicated with Eva. Great story and I would recommend this book. Look forward to reading the next book in the series. I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Having read the first Eva Driscoll thriller, I missed out on the second, but this story is a standalone read, with all the necessary backstory.

Eva is attempting to stay under the radar, but her compassionate nature, which is at odds with her profession, forces her to do the right thing, but at what personal risk? Her next assignment comes from the organisation she is hiding from, they make it impossible for her to refuse, but are they organising her demise? What follows is a well researched, action-packed extraction from North Korea, it doesn’t go to plan, and when she escapes against the odds, why would she ever go back?

The characters are realistic, and there is a return of some old friends, the violence is believable, but not too explicit. The plot is fast-paced and relentless, there is no time to get bored. The twists are well-thought-out and give this series its edge.

The perfect series, for lovers of international and political thrillers.

I received a copy of this book from Thomas and Mercer via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Alan McDermott writes a good story, weaving action and narrative at a good tempo. This book is no exception.

If you're not already a reader, you will need to consider whether to read from book one in his back catalogue, but either way,you'll definitely be hooked.

Fabulous story, great plot. Really great author, and story. Look forward to reading more by Alan McDermott.

This is the 3rd book in the Eva Driscoll series and it does not disappoint. I have now read them all. Well written and packed with suspenseful action.

Another in the Eva Driscoll series from Alan McDermott. Thoroughly enjoyable read although a bit far fetched in parts. Recommended reading

Fight To Survive is the third book in the Eva Driscoll series. I haven't read the first two books, but felt this book did stand alone. I liked the fast pace and all action of this thriller and look forward to reading the first two books soon.

Received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Typical fast paced crime drama. The third in a series, but it’s very possible to read it as a stand alone.

Author Alan McDermott (http://alanmcdermottbooks.co.uk) published the novel “Fight to Survive” in 2019. He has published a dozen novels. This is the third of his "Eva Driscoll" thrillers.

I categorize this novel as “R” because it contains scenes of Violence. This novel continues the story of the ESO and former CIA agent Eva Driscoll.

Driscoll had thought she had escaped the ESO. She still wants to destroy them, but they pressure her into working for them. The ESO needs someone smuggled out of North Korea. As risky as this mission is she has little choice but to accept it.

What she finds in North Korea is something that she feels compelled to destroy - a prison that is selling organs. She compiles the ESO to back her so that she can free the prisoners in North Korea. Driscoll pulls most of her old team back together to strike inside of North Korea.

They not only want to free the captives, but they also need to find a way to free themselves from ESO surveillance. Driscoll knows she can't trust the ESO. Will she and her team be able to pull off the rescue and escape the ESO?

I enjoyed the 5+ hours I spent reading this 262-page thriller. I thought that this was a good thriller. I have read all three of the 'Eva Driscoll' books ("Run and Hide" and "Seek and Destroy" were the other two). I have also read a couple of McDermott's other novels ("Gray Salvation" and "Trojan"). I judge them all to be well written and enjoyable. The cover art is a little plain, but not bad. I give this novel a 4 out of 5.

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In the third of this series, Eva Driscoll get's caught up in a mission into North Korea and ends up in a jail with a difference. This was a fast action read.

An wonderful story that will captivate your attention until the end! You’ll forget the world is going on around you as you immerse yourself in this story.