Customer Reviews

Assassin

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This is the first Hagberg book I have picked up, and based on the references to previous books about McGarvey, I will be hounding the local librarian to get all of the previous Kirk McGarvey books soon. I enjoyed the brisk plot with the intertwined subplots that only served to add to the main plotline, rather than detract from it. After reading this book, I feel that I 'know' the main character, even without reading the previous adventures of Kirk McGarvey. This is somewhat of an accomplishment (although some of the more experienced McGarvey fans may have found the character references tiring). The book was an exciting read until the very end, when I feel that the author abruptly wrapped the main plotline. It's almost as if the author noticed the page count and then decided to get out of the book as quickly as possible. However, even this annoyance does not budge me from my rating of a 10. I now have three authors on my personal 'watch list'

Assassin is a difficult book to get into, the hook is not as enticing as it could have been, so it took me several weeks of picking it up to take the hook. Once it got to the point and the action started I had trouble putting the book down. The introduction of McGarvey's daughter I though was an interesting touch and I enjoyed the rest of the book. I thought the end was a bit anticlimactic with the two villains not putting up the fight I probably expect from fictional villains. Over all not the worst read but not his best work.

I got this one for Christmas and read it on the plane ride home because it was only slightly more entertaining than the inflight magazine or the guy sitting next to me. Where to start? Two-dimensional characters, implausible plot (how hard is it really to destroy an armoured TRAIN?!!), outrageous coincidences, a hero I couldn't have cared less about, silly and misinformed integration of the Internet into the plot, the list goes on. Its unfortunate because I think the author was onto something good by writing about the dangers of another Stalin emerging from Russia's current crisis.

Hagberg, once again, has Kirk McGarvey on the edge of danger. His works are so well researched and spell binding. Most works involving a central character usually, at this point, start to lose their freshness. Not so with Hagberg and McGarvey, still a joy to read.

I read this book a while back. I would consider this one of the best books I have read. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a thrilling book.

The Story is so unbelievable . Reminded me those stories of "mission Impossible" Every one knows every thing ahead of time. No secretes. As if it is one big script that all the participants in the story were reading ahead of time, so each one knows exactly the role of the others..

Couldn't finish it. Got up to page 150 ,and gave up. I tried to anticipate what the ending would be. Skipped to the last paragraph, and sure enough . It ended the way I thought it would. No surprises.

Save your money.

I felt the same reading another of Davids book, but decided to give him another chance.

Now I just erased him from my to read list.

David Hagberg is a good writer. However, some times the plot leaves a lot to be desired. In this particular book, many times the plot has big gaping holes and implausible scenarios. At times it is hard to believe that experts in the military\intelligence arena could be so dumb. The hero, McGarvey is likeable and cool. The story started off well and the trouble in post cold-war Russia is believable. However, it could have been developed much more intelligently. Looks like Hagberg simply did not care enough about certain details, which matter to habitual spy-genre readers. Not being able to blow up the train - COME ON!!!! The french girl is hopeless.

Still an absorbing read (exploits readers who are so caught up with the genre that they would gobble up anything), enough to pick up another ones of Hagberg's works, and going by reviews there seems to be better stuff from him, some of it writing as Sean Flannery.

From the ashes of the old Russian regime rises a new threat to democracy. His name is Yevgenni Anatolevich Tarankov, nicknamed the Tarantula, and he's poised to take the world's second most powerful country back into the dark ages. The CIA, however, is not about to let this happen without a fight. Enter Kirk McGarvey, an ex-CIA operative who is given the task of stopping the Tarantula any way he can. But when Tarankov is alerted to McGarvey's presence by the KGB, McGarvey becomes the hunted man

Mr. Hagberg is without-a-doubt one of the finer action authors working today, and Kirk is right up there with Dirk Pitt, James Bond, Phillip Mercer, Kurt Austin and other literary He Men...only the big difference between those guys and Kirk is simple: He almost despises who he is and what he has become, yet he understands his duty and accepts responsibility when he has to. His experiences haven't been made any easier by the way he has been treated as a scapegoat by the US Government, either...all of these things factor into his decision to accept a job to assassinate the 'Tarantula', a Russian who is poised to not only win in the popular election, but who promises a whole new 'Cold War' with the Western world, one which he intends to win at ALL COSTS.

But as with most charges given him by the Government, part-way into it, the rules change and suddenly the target knows what Kirk is planning, and does a little 'planning' of his own. This poor guy just cannot catch a break! But thank heavens Mr. Hagberg knows just how to treat the situation with just the right amount of thrills and chills to make it all worth reading. Is this Kirks best adventure to date? Not really. But is IS a fun read. And to those readers who just cannot get over any and all of the 'supposed' weapons flaws, get over it. It is only a problem to those who cannot except a fictional story to begin with. JUST ENJOY THE STORY. If you want one of Kirks best stories, make sure you find 'White House' and soon.

Having thought about trying a Hagberg novel in the past, I decided to take a chance on Assassin and picked it up from the bargain-book table. While not a spectacular read, it was definitely worth the money. The story itself puts ex-CIA assassin Kirk McGarvey in a situation where he must contemplate coming out of retirement due to a rapid deterioration of the political landscape in Russia and the seemingly irreversible rise of an evil leader of Russia. Although the plot pushes the envelope of reality a bit, the story is nonetheless within the spectrum of believability. McGarvey portrays a cool, confident, cerebral agent, yet also displays emotion sufficient to indicate that more than ice water runs through his veins. I felt that the story moved along with a reasonable pace, with sufficient action and suspense. All-in-all, even though this was not in the ranks of the best spy novels that I've read, there clearly is enough here to be of interest, and enough to make my pick up another of Hagberg's books.