Killing State

Killing State

By Jude O'Reilly
A gripping action thriller for fans of Mark Dawson and David Baldacci
Genre
Thriller
Publication Date
24th February, 2026
Series
A Michael North Thriller:
Book 1
of 03
About the Book

‘Starts off like a fired bullet and never lets up’ David Baldacci
‘A terrific future-shock thriller full of pace, tension, character, and emotion’ Lee Child
‘Slick and fast-paced… Do yourself a favour and buy this book!’ LJ Ross

What if the woman you’re ordered to kill is the one you want to protect?

Michael North is an assassin who works in the shadows of the British state. He’s efficient, disciplined, and very good at eliminating bad men who need to disappear. He doesn’t ask questions – because questions get you killed.

Until this time.

When North is ordered to assassinate Honor Jones, an MP who won’t stop digging into the machinery of power, something doesn’t add up. Honor isn’t corrupt or dangerous. She’s just asking the wrong questions about the wrong people.

As North closes in, the line between hunter and protector begins to blur. Honor Jones is closer to exposing the truth than she realises… and the forces she’s up against will destroy anyone who stands in their way.

From the corridors of Westminster to the covert world of black ops, this is a fast-paced thriller about power, conscience, and what happens when a professional killer decides not to pull the trigger.

Perfect for fans of the relentless action and morally complex heroes of David Baldacci, Lee Child, Stephen Leather and Mark Dawson.

Readers and reviewers love Jude O’Reilly:
‘Thought-provoking, pacy and thrilling’ Sunday Mirror
‘A nail biting, high-octane thriller’ The Sun
‘A high-octane plot about the dark heart of British political power’ Sunday Times
‘Fast-paced and packed with action’ Mick Herron
‘A gritty, action-packed, page-turner’ Andy McNab

About the Author
Jude O'Reilly is the author of two memoirs, three action adventure thrillers, and two crime thrillers. The crime thrillers are due this year and next. Before she became a writer she was a journalist with the Sunday Times, ITN's Channel 4 News and BBC 2's Newsnight. Her memoir, Wife in the North, was a UK and German bestseller and sold into ten countries. It was also a Radio 4 Book of the Week and serialised in the Sunday Times and the Daily Telegraph. She's an award winning short story writer and lives in the North East of England with her husband, three kids and a poodle.

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