Killing It Blog Tour

Hey everyone,

So today I’m going to be bringing you all a wonderful sneak peek of Killing It by Asia Mackay.

Every working mum has had to face it.
The guilt-fuelled, anxiety-filled first day back in the office after maternity leave.
But this working mum is one of a kind.

Meet Alexis Tyler.
An elite covert agent within Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

Her first project back is a high-stakes hit of global significance and the old boys network of government espionage is far from ready for the return of an operational mother. But woe betide anyone who ever tells Alexis Tyler ‘you can’t’.

She will have it all. Or she’ll die trying . . . 

When Bonnier Zaffre contacted me about this book I was really intrigued. Although it isn’t a YA book, the idea of a new mum also being a spy sounded hilarious and amazing, so I signed up to be part of the blog tour straight away. It sort of reminded me a little bit of the movie, The Kingsmen in the way it takes someone who sounds like an implausible candidate for the job and shows you how stereotypes of being a spy can be subverted and altered.

So that’s me done introducing the book. I don’t want to waffle on too much, so instead I’ll just leave you with a little taste of what to expect. Killing It has just been released on July 12th in the UK so I urge everyone to go out and grab a copy and start reading 😀

And if you enjoyed this preview I suggest checking out some of the other stops on the #KillingIt blog tour. It’s going to be so so good 😀

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I pull my pistol out of my striped Cath Kidston nappy bag. A half-eaten rice cake is stuck to the barrel. Fabulous. Keeping my gun clean used to be not only a matter of pride but one of professionalism. And now here is my beautiful custom-made snub-nosed .38 suffering the indignity of having small snacks crushed on to it. Looking closer, I see that the formula container has leaked and powder is caught between the ridges on the handgrip. Nightmare to clean. At least if anyone looks too closely they will just assume it’s cocaine.

I stare at myself in the mirror and take a deep breath. I always knew this was going to be tough. This was the life I chose when I came back to work. Plan a hit, stalk a target, pull the trigger and still make it home in time for bath time.

When you become the elite of the elite, you really do believe you can do anything. But now here I am. Admiring my injuries in a Starbucks toilet, officially under investigation at work and very aware of the fact that someone wants me dead.

‘I’m sorry little one, I’m doing my best.’ I look down at the perfect, chubby-cheeked baby lying on the hard, plastic changing table. I still can’t believe she’s mine. Blissfully unaware of the morning’s drama, she is safe, and that’s all that matters. If I can survive the week, I have a chance. That is all I need. A few more days to work out who wants my name in the mud and my body in the ground.

‘Let’s get you all nice and clean.’ I reach into the bag and take out a nappy and wipes.

I try to make sense of it all as I change her. The men today were nobodies. Toy soldiers blindly following the orders of an unknown general, doing his dirty work while he stays hidden in the shadows. To defeat him I have to unmask him.

I stare down at my baby daughter and stroke her cheek. I’m grateful I got away with my life but I can’t help feeling a little insulted such low-calibre professionals have been sent to do the job. Underestimated to the bitter end.

The nappy changed, I pull her little tights back on and adjust her corduroy dress. She looks up at me, chewing on her fist. Big blue eyes watch as I check my gun again, load it and lock it back into place. I need to work fast. My need to stay alive is more than just a selfish desire to continue enjoying life. I have someone relying on me now. Someone whose life will be inextricably changed if I’m taken out of it.

I lift up my shirt and look at the large purple bruise forming across my midriff. My enemies have got it wrong if they think that becoming a mother has made me weaker. I stare down at her as she holds my little finger. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for her. Climb mountains. Fight tigers. Track down and kill every single fucker trying to tear us apart. I will show them all.

I look at my watch. Shit. But first I have to get to Monkey Music.

Want to talk some more about this book? Leave some comments below and join in the discussion. I always love hearing people’s thoughts, especially when I upload a blog tour post. Thanks so much for reading, and until next time <3