No Matter the Cost

I went into *No Matter the Cost* expecting a standard romantic suspense, but Anna Hackett delivered a story that’s equal parts gritty thriller and fiery romance. The premise—two assassins who’ve tried to kill each other—sounds like a trope, but Hackett gives it fresh legs by making their history messy and unresolved. Claire isn’t just out for blood; she’s out for justice, and that moral gray area makes her compelling. Ryan West’s narration of the Reaper is pitch-perfect—his voice drips with the kind of controlled fury you’d expect from a man who’s spent a lifetime hiding in the shadows. Erin Mallon, meanwhile, nails Claire’s icy determination and simmering rage, her performance making it hard not to root for her even when she’s making terrible decisions. That said, the production isn’t perfect. There’s a moment midway where the audio cuts out briefly, which is jarring in a story that’s otherwise tightly paced. The romance also feels a bit rushed in the final act, as if Hackett was worried readers wouldn’t buy into it otherwise. But those quibbles don’t ruin the experience. This audiobook is a wild ride—tense, sensual, and impossible to pause once it starts.