The Assassini [Paperback]

Thomas Gifford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1991

It is 1982.  In the Vatican, priestly vultures gather around the dying Pope, whispering the names of possible successors.  In a forgotten monastery on Ireland's gale-swept coast, a dangerous document is hidden, waiting to be claimed.  And in a family chapel in Princeton, New Jersey, a nun is murdered at her prayers.  Sister Valentine was an outspoken activist, a thorn in the Church's side.  When her brother, lawyer Ben Driskill, realizes the Church will never investigate her death, he sets out to find the murderer himself--and uncovers an explosive secret.The Assassini.  An age-old brotherhood of killers.  Once they were hired by princes of the Church to protect it in dangerous times.  But whose orders do they now obey?

The Assassini marks the triumphant retum of a master at the peak of his powers--the first novel in more than a decade from the acclaimed author of The Wind Chill Factor.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Gifford's ( The Wind Chill Factor ) splendid thriller--his first novel in 11 years--takes place as the Catholic Church prepares to elect a new pope and an ancient and deadly secret society, its roots deep in Church history, takes murderous action. An ambitious monsignor and a well-connected lay power broker are executed in New York City; hours later, a radical activist nun writing a book on the Church's role in WW II is killed in Princeton, N.J. The nun's brother, lawyer Ben Driskill, a cynical ex-Catholic and former Jesuit seminarian, determines to avenge her murder. He must track down the meaning of the tattered WW II photo his sister left behind, featuring one of the two likeliest candidates for the papacy, and discover why she was investigating the suicide in Princeton of a visiting priest 50 years earlier. Driskill's perilous journey takes him to Egypt, Paris, Ireland and Rome, where another American nun is asking similar questions. As their paths converge, dark secrets from the Church's history in WW II are revealed. Despite the fact that many readers will identify the mysterious "Archduke" well before the somewhat overwrought conclusion, Gifford delivers a classic thriller: well-written, plausible and thought-provoking. 50,000 first printing; $50,000 ad/promo.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"A classic thriller."--Publishers Weekly.

"Adds new meaning to the word riveting."--Atlanta Journal And Constitution.

"Masterfully plotted and brilliantly told, The Assasini's suspense is unrelenting and its satisfaction is guaranteed."--Ross Thomas author of The Fourth Durango

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 688 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (July 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553287400
• ISBN-13: 978-0553287400
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.2 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #924,018 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An intriguing and believable Vatican mystery, February 1, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Assassini (Paperback)

That Thomas Gifford was met by stiff opposition during his nine years of impeccable research for this work of art speaks volumes about the internal workings of the Catholic Church. It lends credibility to this intriguing array of subplots and characters, while verifying what the rest of the world already knows: that the Church is only marginally unlike any other major multinational corporation. This is a brilliant mystery containing many interesting characters illuminated by a rich tapestry of historical events. Like any roller-coaster ride, the initial pace is slow...but this is a small price to pay for the thrill of this gem.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a book to read, not skim, December 11, 2004

By 

Julia M. Walker (NY Finger Lakes) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Assassini (Paperback)

This thriller is also packed with impeccable research on a vast swath of church history. If you aren't looking for a 24-hour head-spin (The DaVinci Code) and aren't obsessed with leprechauns, you'll be rewarded by Gifford's (Gifford, by the way, is dead) careful plotting, excellent character deveopment, and witty use of history and mystery. The settings alone make the book a good read. As a whole, it's a great read, if reading is what you want.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A ride that only accelerates as the story proceeds..., April 23, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Assassini (Paperback)

This book was worth the struggle to get through the first 100 or so pages. Slow to develop, but once the story gets going, it is tough to put down. Gifford has a gift for imagery as well as weaving an intriguing plot. I recommend this book; do not give up if you feel bored to begin with