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Strike Me Down
From the critically acclaimed author of Leave No Trace, the “nail-biting page-turner that grabs you early and never lets go” (The Real Book Spy), comes a visceral thriller where a high stakes crime triggers a woman’s complicated and potentially deadly search for the truth.
Nora Trier catches thieves. As a forensic accountant and partner in her downtown Minneapolis firm, she’s unearthed millions in every corner of the world. She prides herself on her independence, the most essential currency of accounting, until her firm is hired by Strike.
An anti-corporate, feminist athletic empire, Strike is owned by Logan Russo, a brash and legendary kickboxer, and her marketing genius husband, Gregg Abbott. They’re about to host a major kickboxing tournament with twenty million dollars in prize money, and the chance for the champion to become the new face of the company. Gregg suspects his wife already has a new face in mind—a young trainer named Aaden, for whom Logan feels an unexpected connection.
Days before the tournament begins, it’s discovered that the prize money is missing. Gregg hires Nora’s firm to find both the thief and the money but Nora has a secret connection to Strike that threatens her independence. Her partner pressures her into taking the case anyway, hinting he has information about Strike that could change the course of the investigation in a shocking and deadly way.
A tense and unpredictable thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last page, Strike Me Down reveals the remarkable power of Mindy Mejia’s writing which “crosses back and forth between exquisite literary descriptions and thrilleresque escapes and acts of violence” (New York Journal of Books).
Nora Trier catches thieves. As a forensic accountant and partner in her downtown Minneapolis firm, she’s unearthed millions in every corner of the world. She prides herself on her independence, the most essential currency of accounting, until her firm is hired by Strike.
An anti-corporate, feminist athletic empire, Strike is owned by Logan Russo, a brash and legendary kickboxer, and her marketing genius husband, Gregg Abbott. They’re about to host a major kickboxing tournament with twenty million dollars in prize money, and the chance for the champion to become the new face of the company. Gregg suspects his wife already has a new face in mind—a young trainer named Aaden, for whom Logan feels an unexpected connection.
Days before the tournament begins, it’s discovered that the prize money is missing. Gregg hires Nora’s firm to find both the thief and the money but Nora has a secret connection to Strike that threatens her independence. Her partner pressures her into taking the case anyway, hinting he has information about Strike that could change the course of the investigation in a shocking and deadly way.
A tense and unpredictable thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last page, Strike Me Down reveals the remarkable power of Mindy Mejia’s writing which “crosses back and forth between exquisite literary descriptions and thrilleresque escapes and acts of violence” (New York Journal of Books).
337 pages, Hardcover
First published April 7, 2020
About the author
Mindy Mejia
10 books1,123 followersMy name is Mindy Mejia and I’m a writer. I write because, ever since I was six years old, my favorite game has been pretend. My life doesn't have symmetry, theme, symbolism, or meditated beauty and I gravitate toward these things like a houseplant to the sun. I love the perfect words; I love how 'fierce' and 'confounded' and 'swagger' look on the page and how my chest expands when I read them. I write because I believe in the reality of my fantasies, the truth in my fabrications. I’ve always had stories sneaking around my head, thrillers like LEAVE NO TRACE and EVERYTHING YOU WANT ME TO BE, and sometimes I inhabit those stories more than my own life. (Best not to mention that last part to my husband, kids, or boss.)
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June 12, 2020
Sexy, violent, controversial, heart throbbing page-turner! Let the games begin !
A smart, unconventional, sexy, too much independent and powerful forensics accountant Nora Trier who catches thieves and put them behind the bars is not the kind of heroine we get used to read! Now she is hired to find missing 20 million dollars prize money of anti-corporate feminist athletic empire named “STRIKE”!
But we have a conflict of interest: because this means Nora will work for her idol and trainer Logan Russo: a legendary, vicious, famous kickboxer and her husband, marketing genius of their company Gregg Abbott, the very same man she had a hot, memorable one night stand at Atlanta (Yes, Georgia will be both of their minds forever!) Did you whistle? Yes, it’s getting hot in here so take off all your clothes and keep on singing and dancing because we have some fast paced, entertaining, surprising, twisty crazy train ride in our hands.
It’s so much different from regular thriller books you already read lately. There is betrayal, violence, lots of ass-kicking, powerful heroines, lies and mind games! So get your pop-corn and sodas (my choice is today a chilled delicious glass of Sancerre) sit on your ass and keep flipping the pages. I guarantee that it’s more enjoyable than the last action movies streaming right now or any other criminal series.
The best thing about the book is the other tricked us so many times. We feel like we already found who was the responsible of that great scheme but bammm you feel another punch on your face that you didn’t ever imagine and never ever see it coming. So keep your attention and have fun to be fooled because sometimes killing your spidey senses ( or as I say my spider senses) and turn off your brain cells, not speculating so much is the best way to relax!
I read “Everything You Want me to Be” and “Leave No Trace’ before. I loved both of them and the author really surprised me by trying a new recipe, something original, unique and more fun so I loved the way she created something freshly baked from the oven and I happily devoured it! She achieved a great job!
Special thanks to NetGalley, Atria/Emily Bestler Books for sharing this epic book’s ARC COPY with me and thanks to Mindy Mejia for creating a different story for her previous works and achieving a challenging but successful job.
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A smart, unconventional, sexy, too much independent and powerful forensics accountant Nora Trier who catches thieves and put them behind the bars is not the kind of heroine we get used to read! Now she is hired to find missing 20 million dollars prize money of anti-corporate feminist athletic empire named “STRIKE”!
But we have a conflict of interest: because this means Nora will work for her idol and trainer Logan Russo: a legendary, vicious, famous kickboxer and her husband, marketing genius of their company Gregg Abbott, the very same man she had a hot, memorable one night stand at Atlanta (Yes, Georgia will be both of their minds forever!) Did you whistle? Yes, it’s getting hot in here so take off all your clothes and keep on singing and dancing because we have some fast paced, entertaining, surprising, twisty crazy train ride in our hands.
It’s so much different from regular thriller books you already read lately. There is betrayal, violence, lots of ass-kicking, powerful heroines, lies and mind games! So get your pop-corn and sodas (my choice is today a chilled delicious glass of Sancerre) sit on your ass and keep flipping the pages. I guarantee that it’s more enjoyable than the last action movies streaming right now or any other criminal series.
The best thing about the book is the other tricked us so many times. We feel like we already found who was the responsible of that great scheme but bammm you feel another punch on your face that you didn’t ever imagine and never ever see it coming. So keep your attention and have fun to be fooled because sometimes killing your spidey senses ( or as I say my spider senses) and turn off your brain cells, not speculating so much is the best way to relax!
I read “Everything You Want me to Be” and “Leave No Trace’ before. I loved both of them and the author really surprised me by trying a new recipe, something original, unique and more fun so I loved the way she created something freshly baked from the oven and I happily devoured it! She achieved a great job!
Special thanks to NetGalley, Atria/Emily Bestler Books for sharing this epic book’s ARC COPY with me and thanks to Mindy Mejia for creating a different story for her previous works and achieving a challenging but successful job.
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March 6, 2020
“It’s not what you know. It’s what you can prove.”
Strike Me Down is a mystery about $20 million that's gone missing.
Nora, a forensic accountant, finds herself drawn into a game of cat and mouse between a superstar kick boxer, Logan Russo, and her husband Gregg, the man behind the scenes.
This is a difficult review to write. I have loved Mejia's previous books and this book checks all of the boxes that I usually look for in a good mystery/thriller: It’s well-written and smart. The mystery is intriguing, the characters intelligent and the female characters are kick-ass (literally). But something was missing. When I am reading a book that I love, I am usually still thinking about it when I am not reading it. With this book, I would put it down and not really think about it again until I had time to read. It is in no way bad, it’s just lacking book magic.
My issues stem from feeling disconnected and distant from the characters. The narrative alternates between Nora and Gregg. Told from their first-person perspectives, controlling every word and detail of the plot, I never felt I knew them. Also lacking was the charisma associated with Logan’s character. Nora is infatuated with Logan, and Gregg frequently references how she has this ability to draw others in and make them believe and listen to her message. She is so charismatic that Gregg has created an empire from her image, but on the pages, she falls flat.
I also wasn’t feeling the tension that should have been emanating from the pages. There are some tense moments towards the end, but for the most part, I felt like the tension and suspense were lacking.
There are some strong moments, and I grew to like and understand Nora’s character. Strike Me Down is tautly written and interesting, but at the end of the day, I wasn't captivated.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Strike Me Down is a mystery about $20 million that's gone missing.
Nora, a forensic accountant, finds herself drawn into a game of cat and mouse between a superstar kick boxer, Logan Russo, and her husband Gregg, the man behind the scenes.
This is a difficult review to write. I have loved Mejia's previous books and this book checks all of the boxes that I usually look for in a good mystery/thriller: It’s well-written and smart. The mystery is intriguing, the characters intelligent and the female characters are kick-ass (literally). But something was missing. When I am reading a book that I love, I am usually still thinking about it when I am not reading it. With this book, I would put it down and not really think about it again until I had time to read. It is in no way bad, it’s just lacking book magic.
My issues stem from feeling disconnected and distant from the characters. The narrative alternates between Nora and Gregg. Told from their first-person perspectives, controlling every word and detail of the plot, I never felt I knew them. Also lacking was the charisma associated with Logan’s character. Nora is infatuated with Logan, and Gregg frequently references how she has this ability to draw others in and make them believe and listen to her message. She is so charismatic that Gregg has created an empire from her image, but on the pages, she falls flat.
I also wasn’t feeling the tension that should have been emanating from the pages. There are some tense moments towards the end, but for the most part, I felt like the tension and suspense were lacking.
There are some strong moments, and I grew to like and understand Nora’s character. Strike Me Down is tautly written and interesting, but at the end of the day, I wasn't captivated.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 10, 2020
Although not her typical story, Strike Me Down is a sexy, sleek spy-type thriller full of suspense. I'm not typically drawn to the financial thriller, but being that this is Mindy Mejia, of course I had to give it a try. The story is well-written and intricately plotted, and if this is your typical sub-genre to read, I think you'll appreciate some of the finer details more than I was able to. The core mystery involves a missing $20 million, and this was the driving factor in my journey with this novel. My greatest concern was that we were told how charismatic and powerful Logan and Gregg are, but I wasn't able to feel it shown in their actions. Overall, another thought-provoking book from the author, and I look forward to reading what she produces next.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
January 17, 2020
3.5 stars
This is a book that wastes no time grabbing your attention. After reading the blurb, you have a fair idea of the initial set-up. Then you read the first few pages. Wait…what? No worries, that’s just a little taste of what’s to come. The story then goes back in time to the previous week & how it all began.
Nora Trier used to be your average CPA. That was before she was named as the whistle-blower in a case that brought down a major corporation & made her a pariah, both personally & professionally. But her brains & tenacity were just what a man named Jim Parrish was looking for & she soon embarked on a new career as a forensic accountant. Now she’s one of 4 partners in a firm with an impressive reputation for uncovering fraud.
The secret to her success? Opportunity….pressure….rationalization. Find the person with all three & you’ve found your thief.
Which is exactly what their newest client needs. Gregg Abbott & his wife Logan Russo are the sole owners of Strike, a billion dollar athletics empire with a problem. One week from now they are hosting an international kick boxing tournament that is sold out. Just one tiny issue…the $20 million prize purse is missing.
Nora has reservations about taking the job & we soon learn why. But her partners are keen & in short order, she’s heading an investigation into the company that will dig up all it’s dirty little secrets.
I was a huge fan of this author’s previous book so was thrilled to get my grubby mitts on this one. Just a heads up…this is a big departure. Initially the investigation takes a backseat as it’s interspersed with extensive history on the principal characters including their childhoods, relationships & memories. This was a bit frustrating for a couple of reasons. First, the opening pages piqued my spidey senses so I was desperate for present day events to unfold. Second, despite all the personal information we’re given, oddly enough I never really connected with any of the characters. Part of that is necessary as it soon becomes clear at least one of them is lying. By obscuring their inner thoughts & motivations, the reader is kept guessing as to who did what until the final pages. But it also prevented me from feeling like I got to know them.
Nora is a coolly professional woman with no time or talent for social skills. She wears her business suits like armour but that facade begins to crack when her personal connections to the investigation threaten everything she’s worked for. As events take a deadly turn, a different Nora begins to emerge as she’s forced to fight for her life.
The investigative aspect of the plot is very well done. There’s enough detail re: accounting practices & financial data to allow you to understand what they’re doing but it never feels didactic. The story behind the missing $20 million is full of twists, lies & hidden agendas. All the characters have rational explanations for their actions. So who’s telling the truth? I’m betting your won’t have it completely figured out before you reach the big finale.
This is a book that wastes no time grabbing your attention. After reading the blurb, you have a fair idea of the initial set-up. Then you read the first few pages. Wait…what? No worries, that’s just a little taste of what’s to come. The story then goes back in time to the previous week & how it all began.
Nora Trier used to be your average CPA. That was before she was named as the whistle-blower in a case that brought down a major corporation & made her a pariah, both personally & professionally. But her brains & tenacity were just what a man named Jim Parrish was looking for & she soon embarked on a new career as a forensic accountant. Now she’s one of 4 partners in a firm with an impressive reputation for uncovering fraud.
The secret to her success? Opportunity….pressure….rationalization. Find the person with all three & you’ve found your thief.
Which is exactly what their newest client needs. Gregg Abbott & his wife Logan Russo are the sole owners of Strike, a billion dollar athletics empire with a problem. One week from now they are hosting an international kick boxing tournament that is sold out. Just one tiny issue…the $20 million prize purse is missing.
Nora has reservations about taking the job & we soon learn why. But her partners are keen & in short order, she’s heading an investigation into the company that will dig up all it’s dirty little secrets.
I was a huge fan of this author’s previous book so was thrilled to get my grubby mitts on this one. Just a heads up…this is a big departure. Initially the investigation takes a backseat as it’s interspersed with extensive history on the principal characters including their childhoods, relationships & memories. This was a bit frustrating for a couple of reasons. First, the opening pages piqued my spidey senses so I was desperate for present day events to unfold. Second, despite all the personal information we’re given, oddly enough I never really connected with any of the characters. Part of that is necessary as it soon becomes clear at least one of them is lying. By obscuring their inner thoughts & motivations, the reader is kept guessing as to who did what until the final pages. But it also prevented me from feeling like I got to know them.
Nora is a coolly professional woman with no time or talent for social skills. She wears her business suits like armour but that facade begins to crack when her personal connections to the investigation threaten everything she’s worked for. As events take a deadly turn, a different Nora begins to emerge as she’s forced to fight for her life.
The investigative aspect of the plot is very well done. There’s enough detail re: accounting practices & financial data to allow you to understand what they’re doing but it never feels didactic. The story behind the missing $20 million is full of twists, lies & hidden agendas. All the characters have rational explanations for their actions. So who’s telling the truth? I’m betting your won’t have it completely figured out before you reach the big finale.
November 25, 2020
Deception.
A Husband and Wife team whose business is in trouble. 20 Million Dollars has gone missing! Each suspects the other.
That is where Nora Trier, a Forensic Accountant comes in.
Gregg Abbot hires Nora to find the missing money. Time here is of the essence. Gregg and his wife Logan Russo own Strike - an athletic empire which is holding a tournament to find the new face of the business. The prize - you guessed it: $20 Million. If the money isn’t found in five days, the gig will be up.
“Strike Me Down” centers around the forensic investigation, the tournament, and you guessed it: Nora, Gregg and Logan.
While I enjoyed this novel, there were a couple of factors that kept me from loving it. One is that I guess the outcome from the very beginning and the second was that I felt like a key ingredient was missing throughout. I often guess the ending and that doesn’t impact my enjoyment, but whatever was missing here, just left me wanting. That said, I enjoy Mindy Mejia’s writing and will definitely be on the lookout for her next novel.
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Mindy Mejia for the arc.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 11.22.20.
A Husband and Wife team whose business is in trouble. 20 Million Dollars has gone missing! Each suspects the other.
That is where Nora Trier, a Forensic Accountant comes in.
Gregg Abbot hires Nora to find the missing money. Time here is of the essence. Gregg and his wife Logan Russo own Strike - an athletic empire which is holding a tournament to find the new face of the business. The prize - you guessed it: $20 Million. If the money isn’t found in five days, the gig will be up.
“Strike Me Down” centers around the forensic investigation, the tournament, and you guessed it: Nora, Gregg and Logan.
While I enjoyed this novel, there were a couple of factors that kept me from loving it. One is that I guess the outcome from the very beginning and the second was that I felt like a key ingredient was missing throughout. I often guess the ending and that doesn’t impact my enjoyment, but whatever was missing here, just left me wanting. That said, I enjoy Mindy Mejia’s writing and will definitely be on the lookout for her next novel.
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Mindy Mejia for the arc.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 11.22.20.
January 16, 2023
This was such fun! Forensic accountant Nora Trier has devoted her life to finding and prosecuting fraud. She’s flattered and surprised when the co-owner of feminist fitness empire Strike comes to her with a problem: he needs Nora to find a missing twenty million dollars, and find it fast.
The #1 suspect is his co-owner—and wife—Logan Russo. Nora knows she should say no: Logan is her trainer, and her idol. And worse, Nora once had a one-nightstand with Logan’s husband, before she knew who he was. But Nora can’t resist. As she investigates, it’s clear something strange is going on with this case—and Nora soon realizes it’s personal, and goes beyond just business. This is a matter of life and death. A thrilling, gritty psychological suspense with a fascinating setting; you’ll be amazed at how riveting accounting is in Mejia’s hands. (Who knew?)
Note: Sensitive readers should presume all the content warnings that typically accompany a murder investigation apply here; additionally, it's no spoiler to say the protagonist has an open marriage, which many readers want to know about up front.
I enjoyed getting to talk with Mindy in What Should I Read Next #278: The art of cheat reading.
The #1 suspect is his co-owner—and wife—Logan Russo. Nora knows she should say no: Logan is her trainer, and her idol. And worse, Nora once had a one-nightstand with Logan’s husband, before she knew who he was. But Nora can’t resist. As she investigates, it’s clear something strange is going on with this case—and Nora soon realizes it’s personal, and goes beyond just business. This is a matter of life and death. A thrilling, gritty psychological suspense with a fascinating setting; you’ll be amazed at how riveting accounting is in Mejia’s hands. (Who knew?)
Note: Sensitive readers should presume all the content warnings that typically accompany a murder investigation apply here; additionally, it's no spoiler to say the protagonist has an open marriage, which many readers want to know about up front.
I enjoyed getting to talk with Mindy in What Should I Read Next #278: The art of cheat reading.
January 4, 2020
Mindy Mejia’s latest whodunit, financial thriller draws readers into the high stakes world of kickboxing. Whip-smart, expertly plotted and entirely unpredictable, STRIKE ME DOWN is unlike anything I’ve ever read. A must read!
February 21, 2022
This book was just ‘Okay’ to me. It follows Nora, a fraud tracker who is in over her head. She’s been asked to find missing money from a famous boxers gym. Turns out Nora is super familiar with the Gym, and it’s owners. The main themes were money, murder and sex. There weren’t enough plot twist to keep me interested. Oh well, on to the next one! 😉😃
April 14, 2020
Nora Trier is a forensic accountant. She prides herself on her lack of bias and her ability to stay completely independent in her cases. As such, she's able to catch a lot of criminals. That all changes when Strike, a large athletic and kickboxing company hires Nora's firm. They are headed by Logan Russo, a bold famous athlete and hero to the world, and her husband, Greg Abbott, who runs the marketing side of the company. Strike is ready to launch their biggest event yet--a kickboxing tournament, Strike Down, with fighters all over the world competing for twenty million dollars in prize money. But there's a small problem: the money is missing. Greg suspects his wife has taken it, sabotaging her own company. Nora's firm places her in charge of finding the missing funds--just days before Strike Down--and are unaware of own her ties to Strike. As the clock ticks down, Nora begins to unravel a web of secrets that threatens her independence--and her life.
"Numbers, like people, have no inherent quality. Their value lies only in their relation to others and what they represent. Good. Bad. Strong. Weak. These are descriptions given by the counter. The counter weaves a story into the number, a narrative combining quantity and quality, fact and fiction. Numbers by themselves are invisible, much like the counters."
This was certainly an intriguing book with an interesting premise. Nora and her firm are given only a few days to find the money missing from Strike's coffers. Strike is run and controlled solely by Logan and Greg, without outside influence from shareholders. As such, they are self-made. But that's also made them vulnerable to such a theft. I honestly would have liked to see more of the forensic accounting pieces--I'm a big dork. For instance, Nora's company has a computer named Inga who searches emails for clues and patterns. I would have been fine seeing and learning more about Inga at work.
"Five days. Twenty million dollars. The pressure was indisputably on."
The book, however, was focused more on personalities, with much of the story told via Nora and Greg's eyes. This would have been fine, but I never really felt much of a connection with either of these characters. Or Logan Russo, either, despite her portrayal as a dynamic, forceful heroine who has impacted a generation of kickboxers and athletes. Nora makes a series of bad decisions and seems oddly obsessed with Logan for no real reason--a weird focus that is never really explained. She has a past that has led her to her role in forensic accounting, but it never really leads to much in the end. Greg is a focused businessman on the outs with his wife, and I never felt much sympathy with him. And Logan, as mentioned, who is supposed to be the core of this book, just falls flat until nearly the end of the novel.
"For forty years she'd been invisible, a quality she'd not only taken for granted, but turned into her greatest asset. She was the unseen eye, the counter nobody counted, who wove numbers into dark and avaricious stories."
Overall, the book is just weird. I feel bad putting that in a review without much further explanation, but I don't want to put spoilers. It's strange. Yes, it's compelling, in some ways, but I never felt like I needed to get back to reading it. I was interested about what happened to the money, but also had a good inkling early on about what really went down (and was proved right). Maybe if you connect more with the characters, this will be a true page-turner. It's still a tense read and different, for sure. I did enjoy the ending, and I actually felt something for the characters there. Therefore, this one squeaks by at 3 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books.
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"Numbers, like people, have no inherent quality. Their value lies only in their relation to others and what they represent. Good. Bad. Strong. Weak. These are descriptions given by the counter. The counter weaves a story into the number, a narrative combining quantity and quality, fact and fiction. Numbers by themselves are invisible, much like the counters."
This was certainly an intriguing book with an interesting premise. Nora and her firm are given only a few days to find the money missing from Strike's coffers. Strike is run and controlled solely by Logan and Greg, without outside influence from shareholders. As such, they are self-made. But that's also made them vulnerable to such a theft. I honestly would have liked to see more of the forensic accounting pieces--I'm a big dork. For instance, Nora's company has a computer named Inga who searches emails for clues and patterns. I would have been fine seeing and learning more about Inga at work.
"Five days. Twenty million dollars. The pressure was indisputably on."
The book, however, was focused more on personalities, with much of the story told via Nora and Greg's eyes. This would have been fine, but I never really felt much of a connection with either of these characters. Or Logan Russo, either, despite her portrayal as a dynamic, forceful heroine who has impacted a generation of kickboxers and athletes. Nora makes a series of bad decisions and seems oddly obsessed with Logan for no real reason--a weird focus that is never really explained. She has a past that has led her to her role in forensic accounting, but it never really leads to much in the end. Greg is a focused businessman on the outs with his wife, and I never felt much sympathy with him. And Logan, as mentioned, who is supposed to be the core of this book, just falls flat until nearly the end of the novel.
"For forty years she'd been invisible, a quality she'd not only taken for granted, but turned into her greatest asset. She was the unseen eye, the counter nobody counted, who wove numbers into dark and avaricious stories."
Overall, the book is just weird. I feel bad putting that in a review without much further explanation, but I don't want to put spoilers. It's strange. Yes, it's compelling, in some ways, but I never felt like I needed to get back to reading it. I was interested about what happened to the money, but also had a good inkling early on about what really went down (and was proved right). Maybe if you connect more with the characters, this will be a true page-turner. It's still a tense read and different, for sure. I did enjoy the ending, and I actually felt something for the characters there. Therefore, this one squeaks by at 3 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ PaperBackSwap ~ Smashbomb
March 11, 2020
It's not often I stay up later than usual and finish a book in bed, even if there are just a couple of chapters to go. Add this one to the short list of those that made the trip upstairs.
Mostly that's because the story is so unique - when was the last time you saw a character who's an international kickboxing phenom (female, no less)? Ditto for one who's a cracker-jack forensic accountant (also a female)? Throw in the the sudden disappearance of $20 million and husbands and wives who, let's say, don't seem well suited to each other, and you've got the makings for a page-turner.
The company at which the money went missing is Strike, a multimillion dollar joint creation of that aforesaid phenom, Logan Russo, and her husband, Gregory Abbott. The company is wildly successful, cashing in big-time on Logan's fame. Now, they're throwing a huge tournament with $20 million in prize money plus the chance to replace Logan as the new "face" of the company. But therein lie a couple of issues: First, Gregg suspects Logan has the hots for one of their young trainers and wants him as her replacement. Second, and most pressing, is the disappearance of all that prize money.
Enter Nora's firm, which has built a reputation for digging through numbers to expose corporate theft and fraud. Gregg contacted them, knowing of their expertise through a prior meeting (and one-night stand) with Nora away from their Minneapolis base. Understandably, Nora - who's also a member of the local Strike gym and can hold her own with a kickboxing bag - is hesitant to accept Strike (and Gregg) as a client. But her partner gives her the green light and she gives in - despite concerns expressed by her husband, Mike, with whom she has a self-described "open marriage" as well as a 10-year-old son.
Her hardest task may be determining who to believe; Gregg and Logan are pointing fingers at each other. Nora's investigation becomes central to the story, which shifts in perspective from Nora to Gregg. By the end, the whole thing took a couple of very dark turns, all leading up to an exciting ending that showcases all of Nora's considerable talents.
Honestly, I'll be the first to say I probably wouldn't want to hang out with any of this crew; I love strong women, but Logan and Nora take it to a whole 'nother level. Neither is even close to perfect (although they're at the top of their respective games career-wise) - but then neither are any of their male counterparts - not at Strike and not at Nora's firm. Still, there's something riveting about each and every one, adding interest, intrigue and hints of unspoken love interests that may be lurking in the background (or perhaps just in my own mind).
All in all, I found it well worth reading. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.
Mostly that's because the story is so unique - when was the last time you saw a character who's an international kickboxing phenom (female, no less)? Ditto for one who's a cracker-jack forensic accountant (also a female)? Throw in the the sudden disappearance of $20 million and husbands and wives who, let's say, don't seem well suited to each other, and you've got the makings for a page-turner.
The company at which the money went missing is Strike, a multimillion dollar joint creation of that aforesaid phenom, Logan Russo, and her husband, Gregory Abbott. The company is wildly successful, cashing in big-time on Logan's fame. Now, they're throwing a huge tournament with $20 million in prize money plus the chance to replace Logan as the new "face" of the company. But therein lie a couple of issues: First, Gregg suspects Logan has the hots for one of their young trainers and wants him as her replacement. Second, and most pressing, is the disappearance of all that prize money.
Enter Nora's firm, which has built a reputation for digging through numbers to expose corporate theft and fraud. Gregg contacted them, knowing of their expertise through a prior meeting (and one-night stand) with Nora away from their Minneapolis base. Understandably, Nora - who's also a member of the local Strike gym and can hold her own with a kickboxing bag - is hesitant to accept Strike (and Gregg) as a client. But her partner gives her the green light and she gives in - despite concerns expressed by her husband, Mike, with whom she has a self-described "open marriage" as well as a 10-year-old son.
Her hardest task may be determining who to believe; Gregg and Logan are pointing fingers at each other. Nora's investigation becomes central to the story, which shifts in perspective from Nora to Gregg. By the end, the whole thing took a couple of very dark turns, all leading up to an exciting ending that showcases all of Nora's considerable talents.
Honestly, I'll be the first to say I probably wouldn't want to hang out with any of this crew; I love strong women, but Logan and Nora take it to a whole 'nother level. Neither is even close to perfect (although they're at the top of their respective games career-wise) - but then neither are any of their male counterparts - not at Strike and not at Nora's firm. Still, there's something riveting about each and every one, adding interest, intrigue and hints of unspoken love interests that may be lurking in the background (or perhaps just in my own mind).
All in all, I found it well worth reading. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.
May 15, 2020
Tl;dr: Mindy Mejia has written another great thriller that stands genre conventions on their heads, and Stike Me Down is a fantastic, remarkable read.
Mindy Mejia has written another great thriller. This one is about forensic accounting and kickboxing--yes, you read that right. And guess what? The forensic accounting stuff is *more* interesting than the kickboxing! I loved the heroine, Nora, though I suspect a few readers may object to her lifestyle choices (she's in an open marriage, but the subject is handled with thoughtfulness and insight) The thriller part is shockingly intense, considering most of it revolves around remotely tracking money, but this story of a kickboxing legend, her husband, 20 million missing from the company, and Nora's investigation--and involvement--is riveting. I read this in one long gulp, preordered the book, and plan to talk it up at the library and bookstore when they reopen. Very highly recommended for those looking for a well written thriller that doesn't have a typical plot and features a strong, smart, female lead. In fact, highly recommended in general because did I mention Strike Me Down is awesome?
Ok, for those in the back, Strike Down is awesome and you need to read it.
Mindy Mejia has written another great thriller. This one is about forensic accounting and kickboxing--yes, you read that right. And guess what? The forensic accounting stuff is *more* interesting than the kickboxing! I loved the heroine, Nora, though I suspect a few readers may object to her lifestyle choices (she's in an open marriage, but the subject is handled with thoughtfulness and insight) The thriller part is shockingly intense, considering most of it revolves around remotely tracking money, but this story of a kickboxing legend, her husband, 20 million missing from the company, and Nora's investigation--and involvement--is riveting. I read this in one long gulp, preordered the book, and plan to talk it up at the library and bookstore when they reopen. Very highly recommended for those looking for a well written thriller that doesn't have a typical plot and features a strong, smart, female lead. In fact, highly recommended in general because did I mention Strike Me Down is awesome?
Ok, for those in the back, Strike Down is awesome and you need to read it.
December 30, 2019
This is something completely different then Mindy Mejia's previous novels I have read.
Strike Me Down is a spy time of thriller that definitely leaves you on the edge of your seat with suspense. I have to say that this was a super quick read and was a fun ride!
I loved how Mindy used kick ass female characters in this novel and plot surrounding martial arts! It' something different and unique that we don't usually see in our thrillers!
This was a fun one and recommend reading if you want a quick legal thriller!
3.5 stars
Thank you to Atria and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review,
Publication date: 4/7/20
Published to GR: 12/29/19
Strike Me Down is a spy time of thriller that definitely leaves you on the edge of your seat with suspense. I have to say that this was a super quick read and was a fun ride!
I loved how Mindy used kick ass female characters in this novel and plot surrounding martial arts! It' something different and unique that we don't usually see in our thrillers!
This was a fun one and recommend reading if you want a quick legal thriller!
3.5 stars
Thank you to Atria and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review,
Publication date: 4/7/20
Published to GR: 12/29/19
January 27, 2024
Thriller and accountants shouldn't be words in the same sentence, but this worked.
And...
In a web of lies, a “forensic” accountant needs to track down $20 million in a week.
So...
With at least one dead body, the disappearance of a celebrity, a huge conflict of interest and a ticking clock, the main character (the forensic accountant) needs to get to the truth and the money fast.
Told through several characters points of view...
Which...
May have slowed the story down a bit, well…bogged it down, more like it…
But...
There was an energy here that made you want to find out who did this, and why.
So...
If you are up for getting to solving the mystery part of the story, skip along, and give it a try.
And...
In a web of lies, a “forensic” accountant needs to track down $20 million in a week.
So...
With at least one dead body, the disappearance of a celebrity, a huge conflict of interest and a ticking clock, the main character (the forensic accountant) needs to get to the truth and the money fast.
Told through several characters points of view...
Which...
May have slowed the story down a bit, well…bogged it down, more like it…
But...
There was an energy here that made you want to find out who did this, and why.
So...
If you are up for getting to solving the mystery part of the story, skip along, and give it a try.
April 17, 2021
I keep wavering on how to rate this book. If there were a way to give it half stars, it would be more in the 3½ range. I know a lot of people ask how do you give a half rating. It's hard to explain. I liked this one, but I didn't like this one.
Overall, this is a great story. It's unique. It's mostly exciting. It's a race against time. I had no problems reading this book. BUT, if I'm honest. The who did not surprise me. I had it figured out pretty early. I think that kind of killed the book for me. I was just reading to see how it all played out at that point.
This book is full of strong characters. Honestly, I just wasn't all that invested in them. I didn't get a connection to them. I think that is a result of the writing style. I have read a few books from this author, and for the most part, I have wavered on her books. Her writing style either works for you or it doesn't. It definitely just didn't work for me in this book.
This will be one of those books where you either really like it or don't. I don't foresee too many being in the middle like I am. It's hard to separate my personal tastes in writing from the story since the writing didn't really make the story better for me.
Overall, this is a great story. It's unique. It's mostly exciting. It's a race against time. I had no problems reading this book. BUT, if I'm honest. The who did not surprise me. I had it figured out pretty early. I think that kind of killed the book for me. I was just reading to see how it all played out at that point.
This book is full of strong characters. Honestly, I just wasn't all that invested in them. I didn't get a connection to them. I think that is a result of the writing style. I have read a few books from this author, and for the most part, I have wavered on her books. Her writing style either works for you or it doesn't. It definitely just didn't work for me in this book.
This will be one of those books where you either really like it or don't. I don't foresee too many being in the middle like I am. It's hard to separate my personal tastes in writing from the story since the writing didn't really make the story better for me.
March 28, 2020
2.5 ...because I like Mindy Mejia's books.
This book is about:
...and a fraud investigation on Strike (a word you will read about 1234589 million times in the story), an elite brand of urban gyms, fancy protein bars, smoothies and more...
Someone took a big chunk of cash. Who could have done that?
I probably read it wrong.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I am sorry I did not like this one. I will still read Mindy's books in the future.
This book is about:
...and a fraud investigation on Strike (a word you will read about 1234589 million times in the story), an elite brand of urban gyms, fancy protein bars, smoothies and more...
Someone took a big chunk of cash. Who could have done that?
I probably read it wrong.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I am sorry I did not like this one. I will still read Mindy's books in the future.
March 19, 2020
Wavering between 3.5 and 4 stars. Need to think on this a bit...
And after further though I'm settling on 3.5 based on how quickly I forgot what this was even about :-/
In true Mejia style, she created another kick-ass and take-no-names female protagonist, which to me was the shining star of this book. The plot came out swinging as well, but further in I found myself struggling to stay focused.
Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad read. I've just had better experiences with this author, and hope to again with her next book.
ARC provided by NetGalley
And after further though I'm settling on 3.5 based on how quickly I forgot what this was even about :-/
In true Mejia style, she created another kick-ass and take-no-names female protagonist, which to me was the shining star of this book. The plot came out swinging as well, but further in I found myself struggling to stay focused.
Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad read. I've just had better experiences with this author, and hope to again with her next book.
ARC provided by NetGalley
September 24, 2020
UGH. First half had me super into it - 4/5 stars. The second half fell off a cliff and by the time I got to the last few chapters ....... I was just disgusted that I’d kept reading because it was like the author ran out of time and just starting pulling random old drafts out and pasting stuff in just to finish. So disappointed that I dedicated days to reading this when my time is so precious. I can appreciate a quality thriller. This was NOT one of them.
May 6, 2020
Strike Me Down tempted me with the premise of a protagonist named Nora who catches thieves and upends millions of dollars. While I could see many people loving this type of legal spy thriller, as I attempted twice to get into it, I just don’t think this one was for me.
*thank you Atria for the gifted copy for review. All opinions are my own
*thank you Atria for the gifted copy for review. All opinions are my own
June 15, 2020
If you want something original, suspenseful, well-written and utterly unputdownable - here you go! Loved every page.
September 17, 2021
*3.5 stars. I liked the plot and thought the forensic accounting side of things was interesting, but I didn’t like the characters or connect with them.
March 3, 2020
2.50-ish stars rounded up.
This is not a mystery thriller. It’s sort of a legal/investigative drama. I kept waiting for it to ramp up and it didn’t (for me). Perhaps if a reader goes in to it knowing it’s a drama not a thriller they would feel more satisfied. 🤷♀️
This is not a mystery thriller. It’s sort of a legal/investigative drama. I kept waiting for it to ramp up and it didn’t (for me). Perhaps if a reader goes in to it knowing it’s a drama not a thriller they would feel more satisfied. 🤷♀️
December 14, 2023
This was so bad lol I had to work to finish it - felt all over the place and some explanations went on too long. This book didn’t sit right with me the second I read that they were hosting a massive kickboxing convention during Fourth of July in MN, if you’re a Minnesotan you know why it’s impractical and hard to believe lol If you want a good thriller/mystery set in Minnesota read anything Allen Eskens :)
April 26, 2020
3.5 stars
Domestic drama meets financial thriller in the latest from Mejia. I love the concept of this. That fitness guru you're fascinated with and look up to. The unconventional familial relationships. The large prize money missing. Embezzlement. Conspiracy theories. Gimme all of it!
Mejia brings us two very strong female characters in Nora and Logan. Both fierce, independent and extremely good at their jobs. Personally, I miss my kickboxing days so reading this got me a bit amped up and so ready to get back to the gym already! And this is where I felt a bit of a bond with these ladies. There was some underlying tension that just seemed weird at first with a bit of hero worship tendencies. However, I did enjoy how this led to seeing the softer side of some of these characters.
Now, in spite of that, it's hard to really get that feel for Logan and Gregg - these characters come across one way, but it's more told to you rather than shown so they fell a bit flat for me. Too many coincidences in how every one ties in together? I dunno. I did enjoy the entire concept being this story line. I wasn't particularly surprised towards the end. However, I did enjoy the ride to get there.
Domestic drama meets financial thriller in the latest from Mejia. I love the concept of this. That fitness guru you're fascinated with and look up to. The unconventional familial relationships. The large prize money missing. Embezzlement. Conspiracy theories. Gimme all of it!
Mejia brings us two very strong female characters in Nora and Logan. Both fierce, independent and extremely good at their jobs. Personally, I miss my kickboxing days so reading this got me a bit amped up and so ready to get back to the gym already! And this is where I felt a bit of a bond with these ladies. There was some underlying tension that just seemed weird at first with a bit of hero worship tendencies. However, I did enjoy how this led to seeing the softer side of some of these characters.
Now, in spite of that, it's hard to really get that feel for Logan and Gregg - these characters come across one way, but it's more told to you rather than shown so they fell a bit flat for me. Too many coincidences in how every one ties in together? I dunno. I did enjoy the entire concept being this story line. I wasn't particularly surprised towards the end. However, I did enjoy the ride to get there.
June 13, 2020
i finished this but skimmed towards the end; it is tragically dull. a forensic accountant mystery is not my cuppa.
January 4, 2020
Who said numbers are boring? Take a kick-boxing tournament, $20 million of missing prize money, a tenacious forensic accountant…and you’ve got yourself one heck of a spectacular, original thriller. Mindy Mejia’s STRIKE ME DOWN is fast-paced, masterfully woven and wholly unexpected, with an ending that’ll make your jaw drop. An absolute must read.
May 6, 2020
Normally, a book about forensic accounting and kickboxing wouldn’t be for me. I’m the least athletic person on earth and accounting is...accounting. But since Mindy Mejia is the author of said book, I knew I was in for a thrilling time, no matter the subject. In STRIKE ME DOWN, Nora Trier’s firm has been hired to track down missing money (twenty million dollars, to be exact) that has been allocated for winners of Strike Down, an epic kickboxing tournament hosted by athletic empire Strike. Nora, already drawn to Logan Russo, one of Strike’s owners, fears she won’t be able to remain impartial during the investigation, but as she delves deeper into tracing the money, she finds herself more invested in the outcome than she ever could have imagined. Despite my initial judgement of both forensic accounting and kickboxing, I found myself completely intrigued by both of these worlds, which Mejia brings to vivid life. I also loved that the glass-encased Minneapolis skyway was used as a central image in the book, one that, to me, served as a potent metaphor for several of the story’s themes and plot lines. This book is unlike any thriller I’ve ever read, and at times, the search for the money (and what its disappearance might signify) was as riveting as any missing person investigation. Mejia has created an empowering, unique story with complex and alluring characters. Being a suspense writer myself, I often have a hunch as to where a thriller might be going, but with this one, I had no idea, and it was such a fun and fascinating ride from beginning to end.
June 22, 2020
An interesting forensic accounting book. More about following the money and clues than finding a killer. More of a suspense story where you just have to finish it to find out who did it!
Some twists that were unusual and unexpected. A bit different but interesting nonetheless.
Strike is a company that has health clubs all over the US. The clubs feature kickboxing workouts and empowering people from all walks of life whoever they are.
The concept is smart. The face of the clubs is Logan Russo, tough, outspoken and a huge kickboxing star.... A legendary champion.
Strike is sponsoring the biggest kickboxing championship ever. It will take place in a football stadium and have 20 million dollars in prize money. Plus, one of the winners will have a chance to be the new face of Strike marketing, which will launch a new star in the kickboxing world.
There is just one problem-all the prize money is missing. It is found to be gone a few days before the tournament.
Parrish Forensic Accounting is called in to try and find out what happened to the money.
Nora Trier is in charge of the work to be done to trace missing millions. The clock is ticking.
Nora gets pulled in to a world that is very different from her own and the risks keep escalating.
She is part investigator and part accountant and will need every lie detecting trick learned in the courtroom and out. Who is guilty? Who is not? Which people are lying? How can 20 million go missing without any trace? Impossible.
Some twists that were unusual and unexpected. A bit different but interesting nonetheless.
Strike is a company that has health clubs all over the US. The clubs feature kickboxing workouts and empowering people from all walks of life whoever they are.
The concept is smart. The face of the clubs is Logan Russo, tough, outspoken and a huge kickboxing star.... A legendary champion.
Strike is sponsoring the biggest kickboxing championship ever. It will take place in a football stadium and have 20 million dollars in prize money. Plus, one of the winners will have a chance to be the new face of Strike marketing, which will launch a new star in the kickboxing world.
There is just one problem-all the prize money is missing. It is found to be gone a few days before the tournament.
Parrish Forensic Accounting is called in to try and find out what happened to the money.
Nora Trier is in charge of the work to be done to trace missing millions. The clock is ticking.
Nora gets pulled in to a world that is very different from her own and the risks keep escalating.
She is part investigator and part accountant and will need every lie detecting trick learned in the courtroom and out. Who is guilty? Who is not? Which people are lying? How can 20 million go missing without any trace? Impossible.
March 23, 2020
3.5 stars. A fast-moving financial thriller with kick-ass (literally!) characters and enough twists to keep you guessing. Enjoyable to read, but I never really connected with any of the characters.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book
March 29, 2020
Thriller and accountants shouldn't be words in the same sentence, but this worked.
Nora has become a forensic accountant, going after frauds and other financial mysteries, and she's good. But is she good enough to find 20 million dollar that went missing when the only suspects are her client and his wife, who happens to be Nora's idol?
You know... I liked this. I enjoyed the read, the idea was good. I was just not into the execution. The first big flaw is that it goes too slowly. And the accounting bit isn't the one to blame. To be honest, it wasn't complex at all. Also, we have a suicide that is beyond weird, so it had enough elements to make the initial part move. It was all instinging, And yet, we reach like 40% of the book and it still didn't feel like it had begun. Nora even concludes this closer to the end that she was just doing the basic, or something. Even to me the reader it also felt that.
I think the other part I didn't enjoy was the thing with Logan, the wife. Nora admired her to insane levels and it was bizarre for me. I know it fits the purpose of the story but some parts made me uncomfortable because Logan seemed the only thing Nora was really interested in. She was cold toward her friends, her husband, the men she flirted with, and I'm not even sure I'd describe her passionate about her job, but she'd sound a little too much when it came to her fantasy about Logan.
This is a good book but not so exciting. It did keep me interested in the solution to the mystery but it lacked those moments of boom that makes your heart race when reading thrillers. There were plot twists, I can't say I predicted some of the important ones, but it didn't dazzle me either. Mindy Mejia is insanely talented and her books usually give the feels, but this one lacked the something more I already expect from this author.
It's still a solid 3, considering the book itself and not my expectations, it was a nice read, but there are many better, even by this same writer.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
Nora has become a forensic accountant, going after frauds and other financial mysteries, and she's good. But is she good enough to find 20 million dollar that went missing when the only suspects are her client and his wife, who happens to be Nora's idol?
You know... I liked this. I enjoyed the read, the idea was good. I was just not into the execution. The first big flaw is that it goes too slowly. And the accounting bit isn't the one to blame. To be honest, it wasn't complex at all. Also, we have a suicide that is beyond weird, so it had enough elements to make the initial part move. It was all instinging, And yet, we reach like 40% of the book and it still didn't feel like it had begun. Nora even concludes this closer to the end that she was just doing the basic, or something. Even to me the reader it also felt that.
I think the other part I didn't enjoy was the thing with Logan, the wife. Nora admired her to insane levels and it was bizarre for me. I know it fits the purpose of the story but some parts made me uncomfortable because Logan seemed the only thing Nora was really interested in. She was cold toward her friends, her husband, the men she flirted with, and I'm not even sure I'd describe her passionate about her job, but she'd sound a little too much when it came to her fantasy about Logan.
This is a good book but not so exciting. It did keep me interested in the solution to the mystery but it lacked those moments of boom that makes your heart race when reading thrillers. There were plot twists, I can't say I predicted some of the important ones, but it didn't dazzle me either. Mindy Mejia is insanely talented and her books usually give the feels, but this one lacked the something more I already expect from this author.
It's still a solid 3, considering the book itself and not my expectations, it was a nice read, but there are many better, even by this same writer.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
Shelved as 'dnf'
March 1, 2021DNF @22%
2020; Atria/Emily Bestler Books
I went into this audiobook right after finishing another audiobook, and was already having a tough tie with Strike Me Down. I did not tag it as "currently reading" as I wasn't even sure I was going to make it past the 10% mark. But I really should track all of my reading just to see what worked and didn't work for mr. I have been wanting to read Mejia since I saw her cover of Everything You Want Me to Be, and seen it on so many lists. Mejia's writing is well done, and I still want to read her other books. It was the genre of finance and technology suspense that just did not grab me. I stopped at 22% as I did not want to force myself to read this one only to not try another one of the author's books. Take a look at other reviews that may give you a better idea of what this book is like if this is your genre.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2020; Atria/Emily Bestler Books
I went into this audiobook right after finishing another audiobook, and was already having a tough tie with Strike Me Down. I did not tag it as "currently reading" as I wasn't even sure I was going to make it past the 10% mark. But I really should track all of my reading just to see what worked and didn't work for mr. I have been wanting to read Mejia since I saw her cover of Everything You Want Me to Be, and seen it on so many lists. Mejia's writing is well done, and I still want to read her other books. It was the genre of finance and technology suspense that just did not grab me. I stopped at 22% as I did not want to force myself to read this one only to not try another one of the author's books. Take a look at other reviews that may give you a better idea of what this book is like if this is your genre.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
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