In the Company of Killers - DISCUSSION discussion

What impact do you think Nora Kessler will have on Victor’s Order, positive or negative? What about on Izabel?

I think Nora will have a positive effect on Izabel and Victor's Order. Positive in that she will train Izabel so Izabel is one step close to being a top notch Order operative. She is also beneficial to the Order since she has no ties to the outside world, she's basically the perfect Killer.

Will Fredrik Gustavsson ever find love? Or do you think he should stay away from women altogether?

Like Izabel says, Fredrik needs love. Period. So I'm crossing my fingers that he does find love! Except not with Emily lol (if she's really just a waitress) It would really be disappointing if Fredrik ends up with a normal person.

Do you think Nora was right in telling Izabel that her relationship with Victor is pretty much doomed?

Yes. Izabel needs to think, she needs to weigh the possibilities. She needs to grow. I don't have a problem with anything Nora did, quite frankly.

Will Izabel ever tell Victor her dark secret? Or will he find out on his own?

I'm thinking (and hoping) Victor will find out on his own. He's smart. That'll throw a kink in the road mwuahahah, some issues between Victor and Izabel would make their relationship more realistic. Victor can really be a pushover when it comes to her...

What do you guys think?

I think Nora will have both a positive and negative effect, I agree that she's the perfect Killer. And man, she didn't break under Fredrik's torture, that deserves a round of applause. She's like the female Victor, without any emotional ties. But, she also seems to like provoking Izabel, making Izabel more impulsive. Could that lead to something?

Fredrik is my favorite after Victor, so I'm hoping he does find love and happiness. But I'm in no hurry to rush it. I think of each book as an episode, I'd like to see relationships develop and/or break over the span of the series, not just one book. What happened in The Swan and The Jackal broke my heart, but I like the sense that death is very real. It doesn't just happen to the bad guys and the villains, it can happen to someone very close to the main characters. I agree that if he develops a relationship with that shy waitress, I'll be disappointed. That would be very anticlimactic.

I'm very excited to see where the story will go next. Keep up the amazing work J.A.!

J.A. wrote: "Madeleine wrote: "What impact do you think Nora Kessler will have on Victor’s Order, positive or negative? What about on Izabel?

I think Nora will have a positive effect on Izabel and Victor's Ord..."

Thanks! I was wondering, who will be after Izabel for the profiles on the ITCoK website?

J.A. wrote: "Madeleine wrote: "J.A. wrote: "Madeleine wrote: "What impact do you think Nora Kessler will have on Victor’s Order, positive or negative? What about on Izabel?

I think Nora will have a positive ef..."

If only there was another Michael Fassbender out there :)

I've been thinking about what kind of impact Nora will have on The Order & at first I want to say that it will be positive but then I think about how she sort of freaked out when she knew Victor was not going to give her the job. “Let’s go,” he says, and walks with me toward the wide open door.
I follow alongside him, looking back at Nora as she tries to get to her feet.
“You need me!” she shouts. “You know I’m a rare and valuable weapon, Faust!"

I think she is a lot more emotional & desperate than she thinks & I think that could cause some trouble.

I see Nora as a 'valuable' addition to the Order - no matter what, Izabel ( I love her) is not ready to take on individual missions -training wise, but also emotionally - she's still impulsive and she believes she's better than she actually is :-)
It takes a strong individual not to break under Fredrik's questioning and Nora proved them all wrong. She outsmarted most of them, even Victor, as he didn't guess what her request would be. But, I want to believe she has a hidden reason for wanting in the order so badly.

Also, I just have to say this, me and another fan of the series, always saw Michael Fassbender as Fredrik, so image our shock when we checked out the pinterest board ;-) lol
<3

i strongly believe nora is very valuable to the order. Extremely intelligent and very experienced , she knows what to get out of people and does so in a very effortless way. She is brilliant , i feel she is the "push" the order needs to be even more powerful. Great read i really enjoy this series

Hum… Let’s answer those questions.

1) The “right” thing to do would be for Izabel to tell Victor her secret, but I do agree that Victor finding it out on his own could bring some drama to the story. Or not. Victor is too damn centered and rational to make a big deal out of it. Or not.

2) I haven’t given much thought to the U.S. Intelligence thing yet. It could be a possibility to work things out in the end, but I just don’t know yet. What I DO know and hope is for Dorian to be brought back to the Order.

3) Niklas HAS to come back. Here is one of those WTF moments for me. I wish I could slap Victor, but I also absolutely understood what he did and why he did it. He killed his OWN father in the name of his love for Niklas. As much as it breaks my heart, Claire was only damage control, and I can’t blame Victor for doing what he did. Niklas HAS to find a way to understand that as well and forgive his brother. He almost did EXACTLY THE SAME THING. With a plus. At the time he KNEW Victor had some sort of feeling for Sarai. Victor did NOT know that Niklas was in love with Claire (it wouldn't have matter, but still). Jessica, put this brain of yours to work and work this one out NOW! And PLEASE don’t forget your heart in the process!

4) I was torn about the decision of not killing Nora (truth to be told only because I wanted to kill the bitch myself). But giving it a second thought, now I can only see Nora causing a positive impact in Victor’s Order, especially if she does help Izabel to develop her abilities. She is the female version of Victor and they need someone cold and unbiased in their Order. As much as cold and centered Victor can be, he IS affected by his love for Izabel and Niklas. Nora, at least for now (we don't know this for sure), isn’t affected by anything.

5) BRING ME SOME BADASS FEMALE OR OTHERWISE LEAVE MY JACKAL ALONE! HATED THAT EMILY GIRL! CAN I RIP THAT SWEET SMILE OUT OFF HER FACE NOW? ABSOLUTELY HATED HER!!! (I have no idea why! Just hated her!)

6) Again. They need someone unbiased, impartial, cold and heartless to tell them the truth they need to hear. Do I agree with her? No. It’s her point of view. Doesn’t mean it is the right one. But I do hope that what she said cause an impact on Izabel’s way of seeing things. She chose to be part of this world. It came with a price and she needs to pay the price. I still think every one of them have their qualities that only adds to the Order. I like that explosive side of Izabel. But she HAS to learn to control it and to use it on her favor and not as an impulsive and immature girl. I do hope Nora can teach her to control it by saying exactly what Izabel doesn’t want to hear. I’m starting to get really fond of Nora.

Fernanda wrote: "5) BRING ME SOME BADASS FEMALE OR OTHERWISE LEAVE MY JACKAL ALONE! HATED THAT EMILY GIRL! CAN I RIP THAT SWEET SMILE OUT OFF HER FACE NOW? ABSOLUTELY HATED HER!!! (I have no idea why! Just hated her!)..."

Omg I was thinking the same thing!

I know this is an unpopular opinion but I liked Emily.

I loved the end of the book, seeing Fredrik interact with a normal girl (if she is just a normal girl) had me turning off my Kindle with a big smile on my face, maybe a sweet girl is what he needs to balance him, bring him back to life but of course not making him look like a weak person, but to heal that part of him.

I actually like Fredrik with a ' normal' girl, he had only messed up relationships so far; like it or not IMO he needs a regular love interest to keep the little humanity he still has left.

Personally I don't like Fredrik with a 'normal' girl because the excitement would be lost for me. A couple of people voiced that Fredrik went 'soft' in The Swan and the Jackal because of Cassia (before we found out who she actually was). Cassia was the typical 'normal-like' girl, and Fredrik did go soft when Cassia was around. It also makes me think of Dorian and his 'normal' ex wife who got kidnapped.

The other badass women in the series (Izabel, Nora) would eclipse the normal girl.

My problem isn't the soften thing. Every one of them softened at some point or will be eventually. Victor did, Niklas did, Dorian kind of did. And Fredrik needs to be. I liked Cassia and really liked that side of Fredrik (I like every side of him, but that's beside the point!) The thing is I didn't think Cassia was 100% sweet, like boring sweet. At least I didn't feel that way. And my problem isn't the "normal" thing either. It's the excess of sweetness. I NEED SOME EMOTION! I need boldness, or explosive reactions, or sarcasm, or brilliance, or anything. 100% of sweetness is boring. And I felt Emily was that kind of girl. Or could be my jealous speaking for me. Anyway... Bring some emotion to Emily and I can give it a second thought. Otherwise, let me kill her, PLEASE?????

But Emily just appeared at the end of the book, you can't judge a character based on a few pages, maybe we won't read about her again or maybe we will, we will just have to wait...

All I'm gonna say now is WOW!

Marisol wrote: "But Emily just appeared at the end of the book, you can't judge a character based on a few pages, maybe we won't read about her again or maybe we will, we will just have to wait..."

That's why I said I don't know why I hated her (I really don't have a reasonable motive). I just hated her! Maybe it IS my jealousy getting the best of me. I just hate her!!! LOL

J.A. wrote: "I love reading all of your thoughts (when I can, anyway!), but let me say this about Fredrik - obviously I won't tell you who he will end up with (if anyone), but what I have in store for him is so..."

AND I ABSOLUTELY HATE YOU! (No, I don't! But you know what I mean. Panic mode on!)

Lets think back for a moment - 1st off we don't know what JA has planned for the characters - it's a thriller series, so, IMO, a happily ever after doesn't have exist for all the characters. 2nd, let's think about how Nora spied on the group -by changing her appearance, by posing as different people - so to say we don't like Emily when we basically don't now ANYTHING about her, IMO, that's just pushing it.

We are all entitled to our own opinions. For you, I guess we're 'just pushing it', but I made a judgment from the first impression we got of Emily, which was a shy, nervous, constantly blushing girl. Sure that might not be how she really is, but for now that's what we have, so that's why I dislike her. She may change, and my opinion may change as well, but as of now my opinion stands.

Of course we all have different opinions - that's the beauty of reading. :-)

Alexandra wrote: "Lets think back for a moment - 1st off we don't know what JA has planned for the characters - it's a thriller series, so, IMO, a happily ever after doesn't have exist for all the characters. 2nd, l..."

Hum... thinking back, as you said, only made me have almost 100% sure that I won't hear from Emily again. Well, at least not a diferent Emily anyway, cause if Jessica already did that with Nora, I dont think she will do it again with Emily, cause she is just not this kind of author. The first impression Emily gave me wasn't a positive one. For several reasons and for NO REASON AT ALL. I just did not connect with her. As I said, give her something more and I'll give her a second chance. She was just too sweet for me, especially after reading about Izabel, Seraphina and Nora. Blame Jessica for this, but she gave me too many badass female characters to love and now I got used to that. Sweetness will only get me bored.

But lets forget Emily, cause now all my attention is on rereading all the books to figure out what the hell was already revelead. Especially beacause I KNOW we wont have a happy end for all of them. I'm frightened as hell now. I'm panicking. I'm gonna kill Jessica. I WILL!!!!

Madeleine wrote: "We are all entitled to our own opinions. For you, I guess we're 'just pushing it', but I made a judgment from the first impression we got of Emily, which was a shy, nervous, constantly blushing gir..."

Exactly!

I just completed all four books in the series. Although this is not what I usually read, I very much enjoyed the thriller and action aspects. My favorite book was The Swan and The Jackal. Very well written, J.A. Redmerski.

Regarding the discussion questions,

I find Nora a very intriguing character, as readers, I believe we are suppose to get the impression that Nora is cunning and impartial. While I do see her as a positive addition to the Order because of her lack of emotional ties, I feel as though she is still hurting from losing her sister, even after she got her revenge on Victor. Nora is a master of disguise, perhaps she is cloaking the emotion of loathing? I think she may have a deeper motive in joining the Order.

Also I did not think much about the end of Seeds of Iniquity until I read all of the comments on here. For me, it was a casual acquaintance between Fredrik and Emily. Something, I suppose, to give the readers a sense of hope for Fredrik's future. But not in the way that he would end up with Emily. If I had to pick a side however, I would not want him to be with her.

Minou, you didn't have to call Fernanda out. If Jessica feels uncomfortable, she will say something.

Fernanda, Minou was not being judgmental at all. Don't be so quick to throw shade.

Now, let's all move forward from this!!

You're right. I'm sorry, Fernanda. :)

Minou wrote: "You're right. I'm sorry, Fernanda. :)"

Apologies accepted as I hope you accept mine. You expressed your reaction. I expressed mine. But I had already moved forward. As I said, let's keep the fun, the lightness and the focus here. ;-)

So I might be completely off base here, but I like Nora Fredrik together. I thought it was poetic that he couldn't break her and the other person he couldn't break was Serphina. This is my really crazy thought, I thought the blonde in the flashback might have even been Nora. I'm probably grasping at straws though.

Ashley! I thought the same thing that the blond girl on Fredrik's flashback was Nora, I was too chicken to say it here, i don't know why, but now that you've written it...
that would definitely be an interesting thing to witness ;)

I thought the blonde in the flashback was Nora, as well.

Nora and Fredrik together? WOW. JUST WOW...
Yeah, I think that blonde girl was Nora. And I want Fredrik back. I miss him. I miss seeing him with Sarai.

I'm sorry to bother you but I'd like to send an e-mail to the author... I'm an Italian fan and I need to share my thoughts and thank her :) . Where can I send it?
Because I haven't found any contact yet :)
Thank you! :) :)

Livvie wrote: "Nora and Fredrik together? WOW. JUST WOW...
Yeah, I think that blonde girl was Nora. And I want Fredrik back. I miss him. I miss seeing him with Sarai.

I'm sorry to bother you but I'd like to send..."

If you go to the author's website she requests contact via social media. FYI :)
She lists links to all her social media sites.

Hi! I'm new and I just finished The Swan & the Jackal.

"Will Fredrik Gustavsson ever find love? Or do you think he should stay away from women altogether?"
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I'm so broken-hearted for him right now. I can't accept that Cassia really is gone! My mind is thinking of any possible scenario where she isn't dead. Maybe when the cleaners got the body they found out she's still alive and they tell Izabel. Maybe she's out there now, hidden by Izabel, in a hospital, maybe she's in a coma. Gosh! I so effing want to re-write the end of that book!

But dang it all. I salute J.A. Redmerski. Your books kick a$$.