Customer Reviews

The Assassin

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Ryan Kealey was written off by the American espionage agencies as yesterday's news, but they brought him back as the only person capable of defeating a protégé turned rogue killing machine. Though some died, he saved the lives of many world leaders (see THE AMERICAN). Now over a year has passed since he faced his mirror image and though a hero, he is classified once again as unusable though the brass honored his request to return to the fold.

The CIA learns from a reliable source Iran plans to bomb the United Nations just in time to influence the tight presidential election between the incumbent saddled with the Iraq war albatross and the popular Governor of California. However, whereas all American Intel tries to prevent the catastrophe from happening, Kealey thinks that a UN bombing is a red herring. He believes there will be a bigger target on a 9/11 scale though he is not sure what is intended with his worst nightmare being international terrorist and grandmaster criminal William Vanderveen is behind the horrific event; no one in any of the western intelligence agencies take his theory seriously except England's assistant chief, Naomi Kharmai.

THE ASSASSIN is a non-stop action thriller that never slows down from the opening moments in the White House and in Baghdad. Readers will wear seat belts as they come along for a ride that makes DC superhero The Flash look like the Turtle. Though characterizations are either thin or stereotyped including the lone star hero, fans of terrorist vas counterterrorist chess matches will want to read Andrew Britton's incredibly exhilarating novel.

Harriet Klausner

The Assassin is "the best" of Tom Clancy, Michael Connelly, and Robert Ludlum all rolled into a single book. Fast paced, richly colored, characters to love, hate, and suspect, twists you don't see coming, and a compelling and entertaining story that makes you think.

The Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister is nearly killed by bombs planted in the Babylon Hotel. Over 20 people, most of them American reporters, die in the explosion. And this after the American President has promised a withdrawal of troops.

Who are the killers and where are they? The situation needs to be dealt with--and quickly--the presidential election is mere months away.

In Washington, CIA's Deputy Director of Operations, Jonathan Harper, assists the president keep his promises and deal with Rachel Ford, a former congresswoman, long on the proper education and political maneuvering and short on experience.

A highly skilled but stressed CIA agent, Ryan Kealey, must separate fact from fiction, and friend from foe in Iraq, London, Germany, and other parts of the world. He must find those responsible for the bombing, and uncover the real plans--rather than the apparent ones the powerful are buying into. If he fails, the deaths of twenty people will be barely a footnote to the disaster that follows.

At age 24, Andrew Britton's second novel is rich in its descriptive quality and characterizations. As you read you find yourself wondering how much is fiction and how much parallels what's going on in our world today.

You'll be captivated by Ryan Kealey as he struggles with his demons, stays true to his mission, and deals with the inevitable obstacles thrown up by his enemies and his government.

Armchair Interviews says: The Assassin is a pageturner that uses fiction to help the reader confront the struggle between good and evil in our world today.

This book picks up where "The American" left off. President Dave
Brenneman is locked in a struggle with California governor Richard Fiske.
The issue in the election is the Iraq war.Ryan Kealey returns in this book
as the hero. He is reunited with his partner Naomi Kharmai. They make the
discovery that William Vanderveen(jason March) is still alive. He has him a new partner Yasmin Raseen. She is a stone killer like him.Ryan and Naomi
discover a plan to cause death and destruction at the U.N. The former Vice
President of Iraq has initiated this plan as a method to return to power.
Kealey and Kharmai can get no one to believe them. They are running out of time to stop this catastrophe from happening. This book has an action packed ending.Be sure to read this book to see who wins the confrontation between Kealey and Vanderveen. A definite good book.

A good beach read. Lots of action,most of it improbable, but keeps you reading.

I liked The American but I found this book tedious, very long and basically over the top. SPOILER ALERT: He really lost me when they broke into the German Embassy. There was never a doubt that Ryan Kealy would ever lose or die, it was like reading a cartoon, very disappointing and over done.

Synopsis

A bomb is detonated in a Baghdad Hotel in an attempt to assassinate the Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq. More than 20 casualties, most of them security personnel and American reporters, are killed but the target survives.

In Washington DC, with the elections about two months away, the White House and the CIA are scrambling to adopt the appropriate political spin on the events and up to their necks in damage control. President Dave Brenneman has promised to withdraw American troops from the war in Iraq and his chances for reelection hinge on this central issue. Meanwhile, he must face not only the popular Governor from California, but members from within his own staff to keep his campaign on track.

The president turns to Ryan Kealy, a highly decorated CIA agent relegated to obscurity behind a desk, to uncover the truth and the ulterior motives behind the assassination attempt.

Kealy uncovers an elaborate plan to attack and assassinate members of the UN, but has a difficult time convincing the powers that be of an improbable scheme that would rival the 9/11 attack on Washington and New York. * * *

My Two Cents Worth

This is a novel that could be taken directly from today's headlines. It is fresh and engaging, and uncovers a multitude of plausible actions and motives that our culture could be faced with. This is my first Britton book and it will not be the last. He never plays loose with the facts and spins a tight and convincing tale that is high-octane entertainment.

He starts with a satisfying core of characters, brought to life with crisp dialogue and a clear stake in the action. He paces the action with a sense of urgency that builds as the elaborate plot is uncovered from destinations around the globe and culminates on the streets of New York City. There is never a lull in the action, prompting the reader to keep this book within arm's reach at all times. It captivates you from the opening chapter and refuses to let you rest.

This is one of those rare books that you will think of the next time you visit your local bookstore, and you will find yourself wanting to buy the hardcover to take its place among the Ludlum, Grisham and Baldacci volumes. I highly recommend Britton's The Assassin.

Paperback
586 pages
6 1/4 hours

This book continues with some of the same characters from his first, The American. The writing is crisper. The dialog better. That the villain survived such a long fall off a Maine cliff stretches belief but certainly we feel he is a dangerous adversary. With this book the author enters the second tier of espionage writers.

I like the author's writing style and the book was good but as others have said it has some glaring research flaws and I hope he listens and does the research in the future. Most of these authors that write thrillers especially the spy/action type like this have this flaw that separates them from the Barry Eisler's in the field. As a reader of these type of novels I must say errors in operational details or lack of good spycraft etc are the biggest reasons most writers never get to the level of Eisler, do the research please we want to enjoy your books! This author has potential and I will read on to see if he improves. I for one hope so I need more good books to read and these have potential!

This is the second Britton book, and you should do them in order...but you don't have to.

Pros: Nearly everything (if you've done the first book). Appealing familiar characters, a good quick, nearly blazing pace, good dialogue, and the plot holds together pretty well. If you like the CIA terrorist action packed genre (like Brad Thor)...this is it.


Cons: Maybe a bit too predictable, but hey, I want some escapism....sure I want the good guys to win.

Comments: I loved the characters, and I'm involved with them, I could have gone on with them for a long time. Its a shame that Britton died so young (27). Think about it, he created all this by the age of 27. Most writers would have loved to create something like this by any age. Still, his family says he left a lot of work behind, maybe we'll have enough to keep us going for awhile.

Very well written thriller with a highly developed plot. Complex and deep character development. CIA agent Kealey sees terrorist threat and Washington will not listen. The clock ticks... With shocks up to the very end, highly recommended. A truly great read.
Great Thriller with Non-Stop Plot.