Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Allbooks, John Helman highly recommends this one, September 7, 2007
Genre: Crime, Suspense, Thriller
Title: The One Minute Assassin
AUTHOR: Troy Cook
Politics do make for strange bedfellows. John Black is a man who believes he has some control over his own destiny. He tracks down dead-beat dads and encourages them to live up to their obligations. He stridently avoids politics and politicians despite his mother being a United States Senator and his sister being the Mayor of the city of Los Angeles who is running for governor of California in a special election. John Black's life begins to change when the leading candidates in the race begin to die. His desire to protect the life of his sister leads his life into following new avenues he never thought he'd try. The only way to find what destination any of the characters reach is to read this book and relish each page.
Troy Cook is the author of the previously published 47 Rules of Highly Effective Bank Robbers, which has won several awards and received rave national reviews. Mr. Cook has worked on 80 feature films including writing and directing his first at age 24. His film work in many exotic locations has acquainted him with many unsavory people and organizations. He has also survived political upheavals such as riots, demonstrations and coups. This has led Mr. Cook to devote his time to the writing of novels.
This is an extremely well-written book with many exciting twists and turns of plot and character. The characters are well conceived and developed. It is as though the reader is an intimate part of the storyline and can empathize with all the players in the action - good or bad. This is a rare thing in many books written today. Mr. Cook's ability to interweave the action into this finished quilt makes this a book that is highly recommended by this reviewer. I do look forward to further adventures of John Black and company. Reviewer: John Helman, Allbooks Review.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Troy Cook with The One Minute Assassin has evolved into a smooth and confident writer., August 26, 2007
Troy Cook former feature film writer and director and winner of several awards for his first novel 47 Rules of Highly Effective Bank Robbers which was selected by Library Journal as one of the best debuts of the year delivers another great read with his The One Minute Assassin.
Cook's novel is a whirlwind story of political intrigue mixed in with two clumsy assassins, an ex-football player, Dennis Nalen also known as Nails and his skinny friend, Barry Jones. Both are even thinking of unionizing their line of work! These two killers have been hired by Richard Steel or as he likes to call himself, "Tricky Dick," who along with several others, is vying for the post of Governor for the State of California. It seems there was a recall election when the current Governor was caught "with his pants down, groping like a madman."
The mission of these comically inept villains is to eliminate Steel's competitors in the race for Governor. As for Steel, he is a lobbyist for Pfester Pharmaceuticals who has cultivated a cozy relationship with the Russian Mafia. Apparently, two members of this illustrious syndicate are sitting on the board of directors of the company and they also have tie-ins with all the big unions of California. They would like nothing better than having one of their own sitting in the Governor's chair and being leader of the sixth largest economy in the world-the State of California.
One of Steel's opponents is Eleanor Black, mayor of Los Angeles and if elected would be the first female Governor of California. Many of Ms. Black's relatives have been involved in politics for the past fifty years including her mother who is a senator and is known as the barracuda. However, her brother, John Black a PI who specializes in child molestation cases, wants nothing to do with politics particularly with its backstabbing and corruption. However, all of this is about to change when his sister is the target of an assassination attempt. As a result, Black and his Australian side-kick and Crocodile Dundee look alike but even more menacing are called upon to use all of their quirky and unconventional talents to find out who is trying to put his sister out of commission.
Cook effectively builds convincing tension with his wry humor commentary concerning the Russian Mafia's twisted morality, casual murder and the inane world of California politics. Moreover, the journey to the end of the mystery with its several comic scenes proves to be more satisfying than the actual ending, wherein Cook's cast of distinctive characters seem to be continuously crossing each others paths as the investigation of the assassination attempt on Ms. Black's life proceeds.
Cook with The One Minute Assassin has evolved into a smooth and confident writer and one who deservedly merits to be named "Author to Watch," by Library Journal.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Politicians, assassins, Russian Mafia, etc., October 21, 2007
The recall of a corrupt administration has left California politics wide open. It seems like everyone files for the office of governor, but someone is determined to win. Some of the leading candidates start to have "accidents." A couple inept criminals, Barry and his sidekick Nails, are helping things along with the assistance of Sparky, a studio special effects technician with a knack for blowing things up and access to weapons from the studio props department.
When an attempt is made on the life of the Los Angeles mayor, her brother John and his dangerous associcate Harley are drawn into events. Harley is a modern day vigilante wirh his own means for dealing with bad guys.
The story has lots of action as various people are shot or shot at. There is an added complication when a 16-year old friend of John's niece wants to crawl into his bed.
John has never liked politicians, an attitude that has given him a problem with his mother who is a US Senator, but he is thrust into events to aid his sister and protect his niece. He acquires a friend in the media along the way.
The story is an action adventure suitable for light reading. It is well written and will hold your attention as it winds towards a blazing finish. The story has language, some sexual content mainly by reference, and considerable violence. I would rate it PG-13.
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