The Kill Clause
Paige, a hit woman, has a new target on her list just before Christmas. While ignoring a flood of calls from her ex-husband, Julian, she arrives at the target's house and makes a shocking discovery: the man is not alone. His young daughter is with him.
Risking the wrath of her organization, Paige abandons the job. She returns on Christmas Eve, but the situation is even more complicated. The girl is still present, along with another person Paige never expected to see. To stay alive, Paige must outsmart her superiors and confront the ghosts of her past.
- Paige - Hired assassin for ‘The Company’
- Bryce - Paige’s current target
- Apple - Bryce’s daughter, 4
- Nora - Owner of ‘The Company’
- Buz - Nora’s assistant
- Drake - Paige’s mentee
- Julian - Paige’s Ex husband
- Paige sneaks into Bryce’s house to kill him but when she sees Apple she leaves.
- Julian texts Paige a knife and a Santa emoji. Confused, she ignores it.
- Paige and Julian met on her first assignment in Vegas, fell for each other and got married.
- Nora summons Paige to her office to discuss her failure to kill Bryce and questions whether she’s losing her edge.
- Buz warns Paige to be careful.
- Paige goes to Bryce’s house on Christmas Eve to finish the job but Apple is still there.
- Paige realizes Julian’s text was a warning about the Kill Clause in their contracts - if someone is no longer valuable to The Company, they’re eliminated. Julian was warning her she’s in danger.
- Someone else shoots Bryce and then aims the gun at Paige.
- The killer, who Paige recognizes as Drake, starts choking her but Julian arrives and shoots him.
- Paige and Julian escape to a safe house but Nora finds them quickly
- Julian tells Paige he has kept detailed notes on all the work he’s done for Nora to use as a bargaining chip to get them both out of the Kill clause.
- Paige and Julian escape the house but Nora catches them.
- A shot rings out and Nora crumples to the ground, shot by Buz.
- Buz reminds Paige and Julian of the NDA they signed, thanks them for their service and lets them leave.
I loved the idea of The Kill Clause, but the book fell apart for me. The Company itself is almost completely underdeveloped. We learn a little about how the team is chosen, but we're left in the dark about The Company's true motives. Are they targeting genuine bad guys, or are they just assassins for hire to the highest bidder?
Because this central concept was left so vague, the story felt unfinished. The ending felt too clean and unearned, simply because the biggest part of the plot—the company—was never truly explored or resolved. While the writing style is good, the lack of answers made what could have been a great book feel more like an incomplete first draft. I love Lisa Unger but sadly this book was not a hit for me.
- Paige - Alive - Relieved to no longer work for ‘The Company’
- Julian - Alive - Excited to start a normal life with Paige
- Bryce - Dead - Shot in the head by Drake
- Drake - Dead - Shot in the head by Julian
- Nora - Dead - Shot by Buz
- Buz - Alive - Now the head of ‘The Company’
- Gun violence
- Death
- Drugs
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
ISBN: 9781662526954
Publication Date: December 1, 2025
Note: Details are for the original edition. Other formats, editions, and audiobook versions may be available.
