Fraternity of the Stone [Hardcover]

David Morrell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1986

Drew MacLane is a star agent in Scalpel, a clandestine, government-sanctioned organization named for its purpose: precise surgical removal. Assassination. Then MacLane decides to stop killing. He withdraws from the operation and retreats to a monastery, where for six years he lives the life of a hermit. But then someone tracks him down, leaving a trail of bodies. Someone who knows all about him–and will stop at nothing to destroy him.

In this novel of thrilling suspense, a former killer is drawn back into that electrifying world where no one is as he seems–and where life’s most horrifying, harrowing game is played.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“[David] Morrell (best known for First Blood) returns to his favorite revenge theme in [this] thriller, which focuses on a hit man who renounces violence only to be flushed out of his monastic retreat back to the counterterrorist circuit.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Those who appreciate a good spy novel are going to have to clear more space on the shelf. David Morrell’s Fraternity of the Stone . . . establishes Morrell as a force to be reckoned with. . . . The plot works marvelously and should not be missed by anyone who enjoys a good spy thriller.”—Sunday News (Ridgewood, N.J.) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

"As cunningly woven as a spider's web."
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Drew Maclane was a star agent--until the day the killing had to stop. He withdrew and for six years lived the life of a hermit in a monastery. But someone has tracked him down, leaving a trail of corpses. Someone who knows all about him, who knows how to draw him back into that electrifying world where no one is as he seems, and where life's most horrifying and harrowing game is played.... --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 375 pages
• Publisher: New English Library Ltd (March 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0450390683
• ISBN-13: 978-0450390685
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,374,081 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Heart of Stone, February 20, 2004

By 

J. H. Minde "Everything I need is right here" (Boca Raton, Florida and Brooklyn, New York) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Fraternity of the Stone (Mass Market Paperback)

THE FRATERNITY OF THE STONE is quality writing, right up there along with all the earlier Morrell books, THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE ROSE and THE LEAGUE OF NIGHT AND FOG, with which it forms a loose trilogy.

In THE FRATERNITY, Drew MacLane, an antiterrorist agent, renounces his former vocation and becomes a Carthusian monk. After six years of hermitage and isolation he finds himself at the center of a complex plot, when all his monastic brethren are killed in a search and destroy mission focused upon him.

Drew leaves the monastery and reenters the mundane world in order to hunt the hunters. What results is a tautly written book with enough action and fascinating details on tradecraft to keep any reader fascinated.

The plot is not quite as engaging as THE LEAGUE, which had some truly O. Henry elements. However, it is a dynamic story which moves at a strong pace throughout. Particularly entertaining are Drew's reactions to the outside world after so many years as a recluse. Morrell is not only observing here; he is making social commentary.

Definitely worth the time and effort.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting book, May 20, 2000

By 

Melvin Hunt (Cleveland,, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fraternity of the Stone (Mass Market Paperback)

I bought this book after reading "The League if Night and Fog". Drew had once led a life as an assasin for the C.I.A. He retreated to a monastery to escape the evlils of his previous life. He was nearly the victim of a mass killing. Thanks to his mouse he escaped being poisoned. It was very unique how the author managed to make the Ayatollah Khomeini the target of Drew's assasination attempt. It was also interesting how civilization had changed since Drew had been in the monastery. The appearance of the killer Preist eho turned into Drew's protector was a good addition to the story. Drew later discovers that he is betrayed by his mentor. He gains vengance and takes the blame for the death of the Priest and has to flee for his safety. A very good story that turns into a very good sequel. Buy thid book and then read the League of Night and Fog.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another David Morrell thrill-ride!, December 9, 1999

By 

Steve Lindaman (Ackley, Iowa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fraternity of the Stone (Mass Market Paperback)

I have previously read other Morrell books and somewhat expected this one to be a little less delivering when I started. Boy was I wrong! Morrell takes us through the first few chapters giving the necessary background info while weaving in the events of the present, set in a monastery. The story then takes off as the ex-master assassin Drew is forced to run for his life from the monastery escaping those who had killed off all the monks. He is forced back into an unfamiliar society searching for friends. He is stabbed in the back and rekindles an old love while learning of an underground fraternity of priests dedicated to protecting the Church at any cost. I felt this book was an excellent showing by Morrell-twisting the usual violence and chaos in with the usage of religion, immense inner struggle, and an interesting new story involving the protection of the entire Catholic Church. A highly recommended action-packed book!