Number Six: The Villains Series, Book 3

I strongly believe reviews will differ based on whether one has read the Red Files series and the Villains Series. Thus, my experience will be from the POV of living in both those worlds before getting to Number Six. To have been familiar with both main characters previously (along with other characters mentioned and their engagement with the protagonists) will inevitably change the experience you have. The meaning behind Ottilie Zimmermann's relationship with Michelle Hastings and how each time the name Catherine Ayers presents itself will pause the reader to live in the Red Files for a moment, settle their emotional regulation, and then return to the present storyline. How one would detest Phylis Kennsington and adore little Huxton! Then there is Amelia, inserting her influence and goodness. Snakepit is heading back to its roots. Having an emotional connection with all of these easter eggs will intensify the reader's experience. And, this is all by default! We have not even addressed the journey Winter takes you on with the two MCs. Two successful bad*ss women who approach power and control very differently. You will admire their ability to "read between the lines" and articulate their thoughts & feelings in delicacy. A wonderful dance of emerging desires and unforgiven exposure. I'm completely envious of the gift both women poses in their painfully accurate sensemaking of cues and non-verbal meanings. Also, deductive reasoning couldn't be more sexy. A playful challenge…

Lee Winter has done it again. As a longtime fan who has devoured all of her books, I had high expectations for Number Six, the third installment in the Villains Series following The Fixer and Chaos Agent. Having read the first two books twice, I was eager to see how this new story would unfold—and it did not disappoint. What makes Number Six so compelling is its unexpected but deeply satisfying romance. Ottilie Zimmermann, a pragmatic, CIA-trained former personal assistant to the CEO of The Fixers, is a woman of discipline, routine, and emotional distance. She has no real family, and only one close friend—the grandmother of her former boss. Then there’s Monique Carson, a confident and unapologetic sex worker who caters exclusively to women. She enjoys her job, has no romantic entanglements, and, like Ottilie, has only one true friend. On the surface, these two couldn’t be more different. Yet, what sparks between them isn’t physical attraction in the usual sense—it’s intellectual stimulation. Their conversations are electric, layered, and full of an intensity that builds over time. As someone who relates to the sapiosexual aspect of their relationship, I found this connection utterly compelling. Beyond the romance, Winter gifts us with some truly fun and unexpected moments that align perfectly with each character’s profession. Monique’s work leads to some entertaining sexual fantasies being played out, including one particularly amusing scene where she helps a vice…

I purchased the audio version, so I know that my review is based in part (large part) by the amazing work of Angela Dawes' performance. The nuance she offers is so revealing to the MCs' personalities. What a pleasure.