Sleeping with Strangers

Book Description

From Thieves' Paradise to Drive Me Crazy to Chasing Destiny (which reached #6 on the New York Times list—his eighth bestseller), Eric Jerome Dickey has captivated audiences with his edgy, steamy books.

Dickey's fans will be delighted by this fast-paced, deadly, and sensual read that gives them the chance to catch up with some of their favorite characters while introducing a great new bad-boy narrator: a hit man who goes by the name of Gideon. He's a man who lives off the grid, drifting along while making love on the run as he works as a hit man—enacting the revenge of the broken-hearted . . . for a price.

With a supporting cast of grifters and killers, broken-hearted squares and streetwalkers, and three very different women who each want to become Gideon's leading lady, this is a world that thrives on the darker passions of revenge and desire.

Get ready for another scorching hot read full of twists and surprises from an author who keeps climbing higher on the bestseller lists with each new book.

Customer Reviews:

HOR-RI-BLE!!! .......2007-09-26

I was misled by the reviews of this book. I am mad I bought it. This book is horrible! Too much unneeded information. I had to skip to the end I was sick of hearing about British people and how they live and what they're saying who cares! Stick to the story! Not a good one Eric, very disappointed.

NEEDED COFFEE.......2007-09-24

I love EJD, but this was not his best. This book bored the living daylights out of me. It took forever for it to get going? The plane ride was too long. I'm glad that a friend let me borrow this book(she didn't like it either!!!! Won't read or buy the 2nd one.

Walking with Enemies.......2007-09-21

This book is hot, hot, hot. Very unpredictable and fascinating, I give it 2 thumbs up!!!!!!! Mr. Dickey you are the best.

Penthouse personals.......2007-09-17

Apparently I was supposed to guess that SLEEPING WITH ENEMIES was the first of two novels along with WAKING WITH ENEMIES and that if I wanted to know the ending of the first I had to read the second. I don't see any reason why a resolution would take more than a hundred pages. The book is rather short as is.

Unfortunately, that's not the only thing wrong with the book. Most authors skirt the issue when dealing with sex scenes, or come at them from a different angle. Not so with Eric Jerome Dickey. His rival those in the Penthouse personals. By the time we get to the third one, they've lost all the luster they might have once had.

Otherwise, this is not a bad novel. Dickey tries to show us why his contract killer is the way he is. His mother was a prostitute for one thing, and she was the one who started him on the road to perdition. She also sexually abused him, and he wants to see her dead. There are also some likable characters, especially Lola, the motormouth woman he meets on the plane to London and Mrs. Jones, who just won't stop crying. Of course, he beds both of them.

The other plot line is that Gideon (He got the name from a hotel Bible) is himself being hunted by another hit man as part of a clean-up operation from Gideon's involvement in the murder of The Big Bad Wolf, a rapper at war with another hiphop artist named Sledgehammer. There is an especially gruesome flashback, where we see Gideon dispose of The Big Bad Wolf and his posse with a sledgehammer.

Dickey is also adept at describing London. For one thing, I had no idea there were still red light districts in the city. It sounds a lot like Amsterdam, another city Dickey takes us to in flashback.

Perhaps it's my own fault for not reading the Amazon synopses, but I don't plan on ordering the second book. By the time I'd get around to reading it, I would've forgotten about the first one.

Loved it!!.......2007-09-06

This book was excellent. Intrigue, mystery, sex, lost love, etc. It has a fast pace and I couldn't stop listening (had it in the audio version). I can hardly wait for the sequel. It's already ordered.

Average customer rating:

Super!!
I love Saint
lost
Starts great
Very good read

Saint
Ted Dekker
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Showdown
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Three
Obsessed

ASIN: 1595540067

Book Description

"We call you Saint."

The name ignited a light in Carl's mind. Saint. He'd been covertly recruited for Black Ops and given his life to the most brutal kind of training any man or woman could endure. He was here because he belonged here. To the X Group.

An assasin. The most effective killer in the world. And yet . . . Carl Strople struggles to retain fleeting memories that betray an even more ominous reality. He's been told part of the truth--but what's the rest?

Invasive techniques have stripped him of his identity and made him someone new--for this he is grateful. But there are some things they can't take from him. The love of a woman, unbroken loyalties to his past, the need for survival.

From the deep woods of Hungary to the streets of New York, Saint takes you on a journey of betrayal in a world of government cover-ups, political intrigue, and one man's search for the truth. In the end, that truth will be his undoing.

Customer Reviews:

Super!!.......2007-09-04

I've read almost all of Ted's books and this one has another entertaining storyline. Starts off very unique and exciting from page one. Quick pacing throughout. A joy to read.

I love Saint.......2007-09-04

Like so many here, I really was drawn into the story from the start. I immediately loved Saint and felt anguish with the turmoil he went through. I haven't read any of the other stories yet (Red, Black, White). I didn't even know this story was connected to the other novels. But overall I didn't have trouble following along with what was happening. Ted filled in the spots where explanation was needed. The only problem I had was with the ending, like others have mentioned. First, let me say it was very good. It just felt rushed. Like the book needed to finish somehow and a bunch of events happened in a few pages. I liked the ending, don't get me wrong. Just wish it would have been dragged out a little. Ted Dekker is on top of my list of writers and I haven't been disappointed. I can't wait to read the next one and see what happens to Saint. He's the kind of character you can fall in love with and want to help if you could. Read this novel, you'll love it!

lost.......2007-08-02

I loved the beginning of this book, I was hooked but towards the end I felt lost and annoyed. References to characters that were not discussed in this book, such as "Black" and "White", Project Showdown and some "great evil" which was not dicussed at all that had occurred in Paradise 12 years earlier. The end was dumb, seriously, I felt lost and confused. I felt that if this book had been a sequel to a previous work than I should be been informed of such.

Starts great.......2007-07-15

It is important to realize that this book is a sequel to Showdown. However, I had no real clue to this until about the middle. The beginning 1/2 of the book was terrific, decribing in detail the extreme training in an ultra secret CIA-sanctioned global assassination group. Suddenly, after a fairly plausible decription of creating a perfect assassin, who could control his breathing, and heart beat, so as to hit a target exactly at 2000 yards, we are plopped into a continuation of Showdown, where the action suddenly becomes supernatural. The switch to a different playing field is too abrupt for me and would not be understandable at all for those not familiar with Showdown. I had to go back and re-read the last chapters of Showdown to remember what was going on. In the first 1/2 of the book I would have thought I was reading Koontz - very scary and very good. The second 1/2 may have been good on a different level - more mystical, spiritual, and Bible based - but I just was not ready for it. The ending was not very satisfactory and completely unresolved - I suppose because it leads into Dekker's next novel, Skin. Dekker is one of my favorite authors, because of his creativity and Biblical analogies, so I hated to down rate him, but I was hoping for better. I am looking forward to better in the future.

Very good read.......2007-07-14

This book follows Showdown, which is still connected to the circle trilogy of Black, Red and White. I really enjoyed this book and found it to be an easy read because it was fast paced, always something happening which made it hard to put down. I think this book was much better than Showdown but it is necessary to read Showdown to understand what is happening in Saint. I would recommend this book, if you have read the others first.

Average customer rating:

A vehicle for Eisler's personal politics
"Mr. Softy" John Rain has got to go!
Barry takes a breather....
Aptly Entitled Novel - The John Rain We Knew is Gone
My Favorite Author

Requiem for an Assassin
Barry Eisler
Manufacturer: Putnam Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Killing Rain (John Rain Thrillers)

ASIN: 0399154264
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Book Description

If you had to kill three people to save your best friend's life, would you do it?

When John Rain decides to get out of the business, his hand is forced by rogue CIA operative Jim Hilger. Hilger kidnaps Dox, Rain's trusted partner and closest friend, and offers Rain a choice: carry out a final assignment, or bear the responsibility for Dox's murder.

For a professional like John Rain, the choice ought to be easy: Do the job-a series of three hits-then walk away. But how does Rain know Jim Hilger won't kill Dox anyway, once the assignment is complete? How does he know that each of the hits isn't simultaneously a setup for Rain himself? And what will he do when he finds out that among the targets of this lethal game of extortion is someone else Rain cares about deeply?

From the urban canyons of Silicon Valley and New York to the lush forests of Bali, the boulevards of Paris, and the old killing fields of Vietnam, Rain must grapple with his age, his enemies, and most of all, his conscience in a battle that not even Rain-"the stuff great characters are made of" (Entertainment Weekly)-can hope to survive intact.

Customer Reviews:

A vehicle for Eisler's personal politics.......2007-10-08

Barry Eisler is not shy about his left wing politics, nor his hate of the Bush administration. Frankly, I could care less what he thinks. His Rain books have been exceptionally original and well written. I have read each of them and I have thouroughly enjoyed them, until now.

While this story was probably the least gripping in the series, it may still have been an enjoyable read if not for Eisler's frequent spewing of vitriol aimed at the Bush administration. His liberal tirades are so frequent and full of vinegar that they progress from mildly annoying to childish to flat out distractions.

On the strength of his other works, I MAY consider reading another Eisler book in the future, but this one could well leave a bad enough aftertaste that I change my mind. There are plenty of great writers today that are content to keep their politics out of their stories, and after all, I don't need to pay $20 to hear Eisler spit this crap out...I can turn on the TV and listen to Keith Olbermann or some other idiot.

"Mr. Softy" John Rain has got to go!.......2007-10-05

I love John Rain the Bad guy..and have looked forward to Barry Eisler's new book being release; so, am disappointed with his efforts to show John Rain's emotional side..if he is going to make John Rain soft, then he might as well kill him off. Better yet, kill off his new girlfriend..the blond, what's her name..don't like her at all! Dox is great in this book and without him it would not have been worth reading. As always, the descriptions of all the exoctic places John visits are wonderful and the action scenes are great too..new gadgets, intrigue..still works..I just don't need to worry that Rain is going all soft and mushy on us.

Barry takes a breather...........2007-10-03

I love this series so much so that I had Requiem ordered in hardcover in the US and sent to me in Australia, where it is still not available. It gets 4 stars as compared to other authors but I'd probably give it only 3 if compared to other books in the series. Rain seems to be getting a bit soft with age. Please don't let this turn into a sappy story of an old battered warrior finding love and understanding in the twilight years... yawn! Don't get me wrong, this book is still good and I will continue reading future books in the series... but hope they acknowledge an assassin can never go back to being a normal civilian. If the twists and turns eventually bring Rain to save his son and start a fatherly relationship then I am burning my collection of this series!

Aptly Entitled Novel - The John Rain We Knew is Gone.......2007-10-02

Jerry Saperstein's review entitled "The Wussification of John Rain is Complete" is a classic and is not to be improved upon. I agree with all of his comments and mourn the passing of the John Rain that ruled the first four novels that Eisler wrote. The softer, gentler, although still deadly, John Rain is not a welcome addition to the line.

My Favorite Author.......2007-08-30

I liked all the John Rain novels and my only "regret" is that there are not a hundred John Rain titles. Of all my favorite authors, Eisler is the best, in my opinion. He makes the entire story interesting, taking us to foreign locales that most of us have never seen, plus the John Rain character as a guy who is so deep into his way of life that although he wants to get out, what can he do when one of his best friends is at the mercy of an arch-villain? So he keeps on going in his line of work. And hopefully Mr Eisler will come out with one per year.....or maybe five.

The Last Assassin (John Rain Thrillers (Hardcover))

Average customer rating:

disappointing
A roller coaster, but with bullets and knives!
You'll Enjoy This One Too
The Best Series
A Very Human Assassin

The Last Assassin (John Rain Thrillers (Hardcover))
Barry Eisler
Manufacturer: Putnam Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: B000N3T40Q

Book Description

Barry Eisler has been compared to Forsyth, Ludlum, le Carré, Ian Fleming, and Graham Greene. But his latest thriller brings Eisler into a league of his own. When Japanese/American contract killer John Rain learns that his former lover, Midori, has been raising their child in New York, he senses a chance for reconciliation, perhaps even for redemption. But Midori is being watched by Rain's enemies, and his sudden appearance puts mother and child in terrible danger. To save them, Rain is forced to use the same deadly talents he had been hoping to leave behind. With the help of Tatsu, his friendly nemesis in the Japanese FBI, and Dox, the ex-marine sniper whose good ol' boy persona masks a killer as deadly as Rain himself, Rain races against time to bring his enemies into the open and eliminate them forever. But to finish the job, he'll need one more ally: Israeli intelligence agent Delilah, a woman who represents an altogether different kind of threat . . .

Customer Reviews:

disappointing.......2007-10-07

I like the John Rain series, but having built up two really credible opponents (the guy who makes Rain's fight or flight reflex "sing" in an earlier book, and Yamaoto), they get finished off in ways that seem to avoid a simple one-on-one confrontation with both sides at their peak. What the point of building up Yamaoto as possessing martial arts skills on a par with Rain's if you're just going to shoot him from a mile away and then finish him off in hospital?

A roller coaster, but with bullets and knives!.......2007-06-27

Just when I thought the action in a John Rain thriller couldn't get any better... it does! Times a thousand.

As if the stakes for Rain weren't always high, Eisler's gone and propelled them to the stratosphere with THE LAST ASSASSIN. Rain's lost love Midori and their newborn son are threatened by Rain's old nemesis, Yamaoto, the yakuza boss turned politician with a major axe to grind with Rain.

Now, Rain must protect his family by removing the threat, but doing just that introduces a brand new one: ending all contact with Midori and his baby boy... maybe forever.

The third act of this book was an absolute freaking roller coaster, but with bullets and knives. I simply could not put this book down.

You'll Enjoy This One Too.......2007-05-25

First of all, I would not read this book if you have not read the previous John Rain books in the series. This story is not the same unless you have followed it up to this point. It is precisely because I had read the previous books leading up to this book that I enjoyed The Last Assassin. The action is good and is classic Eisler and the change of location to New York and Barcelona was nice as well, although no John Rain book would be complete without spending some time in Tokyo. This is a good book in an entertaining and original series. I applaud Eisler for the depth his characters have taken on over the books, especially as the reader sees Rain struggle between his current life and the life he hopes to have. Bottom line, read the prior books and you'll enjoy this one too. On to Book Six for me.

The Best Series.......2007-05-16

The other reviewers have done a great job in sizing up John Rain. Yes, read the books in order to get the full effect. If you like the genre, then the John Rain series is definitely worth the read. I consider it the best. Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon is also very good, but I give the nod to Rain.

A Very Human Assassin.......2007-05-07

I have read all of the John Rain books. It is really best to read them in sequence and the payoff is a lot of interesting and fun stuff with a remarkable character. Each book envelopes you in the story so you can't wait to see what's next. It's really neat if you have been to some of the places Eisler describes. His word pictures of Shinjuku and the Rappongi are masterful. I would not, however, be able to afford Rain's taste in scotch! Can't wait till the next one.

Average customer rating:

First rate story
Silva's a Five-Star
Not Free SF Reader
Artistic dagger combined with a musical edge!
Surprising plot, good characters

The English Assassin
Daniel Silva
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Kill Artist
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Prince of Fire
The Unlikely Spy

ASIN: 0451208188
Release Date: 2003-02-25

Amazon.com

The English Assassin brings back Gabriel Allon, the appealingly melancholy art restorer with a double life as an Israeli secret agent, first introduced in 2000's The Kill Artist. Gabriel is sent to Zurich under a pseudonym to restore a Raphael belonging to a prominent Swiss banker and art collector, Augustus Rolfe, but upon arriving he finds Rolfe lying in a pool of blood. When Gabriel tries to leave Zurich, the Swiss police capture him immediately--and moreover, they know his real identity. He's released through some diplomatic string-pulling, but he soon discovers that Rolfe had requested a meeting with Israeli intelligence, for reasons unknown, just before his death.

Rolfe's daughter, Anna, is a world-class violinist attempting to rebuild her career after an accident that nearly destroyed one of her hands. But her physical scars are nothing compared to those on her psyche, left by her mother's suicide when Anna was a teenager. Temperamental and mistrustful, she nevertheless believes Gabriel's story, and reveals that Rolfe owned a secret collection of priceless French Impressionist paintings, apparently stolen by his murderers.

As Gabriel begins to put together the pieces of the puzzle, he faces two adversaries: a powerful group of men who would do anything to bury the past forever, and a hired killer who's planning a spectacular murder. Like The Kill Artist, The English Assassin balances fascinating characters, authentic-sounding historical detail, and plenty of glamorous international intrigue on the edge of a knife-keen plot. --Barrie Trinkle

Book Description

A master writer of espionage" (Cincinnati Enquirer), Daniel Silva makes his Signet debut with his most acclaimed novel to date...

Framed for the murder of a millionaire banker, Israeli spy by trade and art restorer by preference, Gabriel Allon, will have to fight for his life-against an assassin he himself helped train.

Customer Reviews:

First rate story.......2007-10-08

This is my first Daniel Silva read. Excellent story line, good character development. I look forward to buying another Silva book!

Silva's a Five-Star.......2007-10-02

I got hooked on Daniel Silva's writing with his latest book - The Secret Servant. I've done a lot of research into the politics and history of the Jewish people, Israel, Europe and the Middle East, and Silva's research is impeccable. His writing, too, is delicious - he has a way of painting a brilliant, detailed visual scene without bogging down his narrative, and that's a gift I wish more writers had. I haven't finished the English Assassin yet, but it delves into some of the most embarrassing truths about even "neutral" European nations' involvement in the theft of Jewish treasures during the Nazi era. The historical detail, woven into a tightly paced international thriller, makes for a fascinating read!

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

A Library Journal quote on the back of this suggest unrelenting action. Complete crud. Matthew Reilly is unrelenting action, Robert Ludlum could lay some claim to that, too.

There is almost more describing of picnic lunches and wine bars than action, in this book. It is a spy novel, with the odd hit, kidnapping and a couple of scenes of tortue and interrogation near the end.

A story about an Israeli intelligence agent, who works in the art world, he tries to get back some art works that have come to light, stolen from his people by the ratzis with the assistance of the Swiss.

He runs into an English acquaintance who is a professional hitter, working at odds to him. The Englishman bows out when he finds out what he is working on.

In some ways, barely even a thriller at all, it is just a spy novel.

Artistic dagger combined with a musical edge!.......2007-05-11

Daniel Silva has done it once again. I found myself catching up a bit, only recently reading, "The Kill Artist." I haven't exactly read the Allon books in order, but now I'm ok! This installment races through with the right rhythm at all the right times. But I thought there was maybe one or two questions that were left unanswered. If that doesn't concern you, you'll still enjoy "The English Assassin."

We find Gabriel Allon assigned to reluctantly clean some work of a Swiss Master, so to speak. He really doesn't want to do it. What makes matters worse, is that Allon walks right into a room where the client, Augustus Rolfe, is lying dead. Gabriel is framed for the murder. What's going on? Enter Anna Rolfe, exquisite musician. She wants answers as much as the next person about her father's murder. Do the answers lie in Switzerland? Good luck, because for some people in Switzerland, there is no past. You may find an answer or two lies with the Nazis, and from there a hidden secret nobody should know about. Protect the girl, and find some art work, return them to the rightful heirs. And yes, there is indeed an English Assassin, and Gabriel knows full well who he is, and how he does it! It really gets good!

I've read up to "A Death in Vienna" since I've started reading Silva, and this does indeed give me reason to read "Prince of Fire." Between that and "The Confessor," my first Silva read, I filled in a few blanks. Silva is indeed crafty with his craft! A couple of questions unanswered won't kill me. I just considered this a great thriller, with a hint of a musical edge! Quite the haunting notes from the great composer.

Surprising plot, good characters.......2007-03-02

Very worthy espionage/thriller. I very much enjoyed this book! I read it in two days. Originally I let it sit on my nightstand for months because I thought it would be another novel about stolen Jewish money stashed by nazis in Swiss bank accounts. But it turned out to be so much more. The assassin angle was not overdone, in fact it was light on details which can bore me anyway. Yet the assassins were interesting characters both. This definitely makes me want to read more Daniel Silva. I also enjoy David Lindsey's writing, and Aaron Elkins writes a good forensic mystery.

Average customer rating:

Disatisfying Ending
Exciting CIA spy novel
The Mark of the Assassin pits 2 great assassins together
Everything you would want in a thriller...
Almost Terrible

The Mark of the Assassin
Daniel Silva
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451209311
Release Date: 2003-09-02

Amazon.com

Bestselling novelist Daniel Silva (author of The Unlikely Spy) draws upon his experience as a foreign correspondent and a Washington journalist in The Mark of the Assassin. Set in London, Cairo, Amsterdam, and Washington, the story line follows CIA case agent Michael Osbourne as he attempts to locate the terrorists who shot down an airliner off the coast of Long Island. Osbourne has two main antagonists: Delaroche, a KGB-trained expert assassin ordered to kill the handful of people who know the truth, including Osbourne, and the corrupt political culture of Washington, which ominously stymies him at every turn. There's a love story at the core of this book, as well as a brave attempt by Osbourne to reconcile a mystery in his past with a present he has not fully accepted. The prose is slick, and readers will find themselves racing through these pages as the body count grows and the conclusion nears. The Mark of the Assassin is a worthy effort from a rising star.

Book Description

When a commercial airliner is blown out of the sky off the East Coast, the CIA scrambles to find the perpetrators. A body is discovered near the crash site with three bullets to the face: the calling card of a shadowy international assassin. Only agent Michael Osbourne has seen the markings before-on a woman he once loved.

Now, it's personal for Osbourne. Consumed by his dark obsession with the assassin, he's willing to risk his family, his career, and his life-to settle a score...

Customer Reviews:

Disatisfying Ending.......2007-09-09

I give this book mixed reviews. It began slowly, building the pace and setting the stage. But I found the wife's whining truly annoying. Her reaction when she found out that her boyfriend-turned-husband is actually a spy was laughable. Makes me think Silva doesn't really know women very well.

The middle is when the book starts to kick into gear. I loved everything about the middle, especially after we meet October. I loved all the character developments, meeting each member of the Society and discovering their machinations.

The ending was also pretty awesome, the action really brisk. I enjoyed the mano-a-mano fight between October and Michael.

But I have some MAJOR nitpicks which I'm going to go into some SPOILER-FILLED detail:

1. I absolutely DETESTED it that none of the bad guys got their proper comeuppance. Not a one! Even Vandenberg's death left me severely disatisfied. At least I would have liked to have seen Tyler exposed and stripped of her power.

2. I hated Max's death. HATED IT. It was just over-the-top. Why did the good guys suffer so much casualties and the bad guys only ONE???

3. I hated Elizabeth's initial reaction to finding out about the source of the leak in her law firm. Please, lady! Do the right thing! She had to be guilted into helping out the Washington Post?

4. I hate Elizabeth's character. How many times was she all, "Michael, I need you NOW! Or, Michael, come home NOW!" Whiny little beeyatch. I wanted her dead.

Is the sequel any better? Does it address item #1 at least? I read the blurb and it doesn't seem to. ::sigh::

2. I

Exciting CIA spy novel.......2007-06-12

Silva was beginning to shine in this novel! It was substantially better than his first novel, The Unlikely Spy, but still feels a little formula driven. However, it is very well written and exciting. He has good character development but not on the sophisticated level that his later Allon books will demonstrate.

Retrospectively, you see Silva's talent and innovation start to break through. He is some where between Ludlum and Vince Flynn with this book. To truly see Silva's excellence you need to get into his Allon books. That is where you see the passion and excellence of craft, breaking moulds and forging a new path. His Allon books have such sophisticated character development that they really don't compare well to other authors in this genre.

He must be getting some insight from Mossad operatives, but he doesn't acknowledge that assistance. His complex Allon is exceptionally intriqueing as a main character- he is decisive and bold, yet plagued by the demons of his past assignments. How he relates to his mentor is layered by so many emotions and factors that it captivates you in a subtle way.

Great read but he continues to improve with every book!

The Mark of the Assassin pits 2 great assassins together.......2007-03-25

this Daniel Silva novel is a treasure. I had to worry about Michael Osbourne getting out of his league when he went after Delarouche. The 2 assassins are experts and imminently dangerous. Killing in this book is sometimes just a clean-up operation...sometimes...it's kill or be killed

Everything you would want in a thriller..........2006-12-08

After reading the entire Gabriel Allon series by Daniel Silva, I decided to check out his other books. The Mark of the Assassin is everything you would want in a thriller.

Michael Osbourne is a former CIA field agent who is now assigned desk duty in their Counterterrorism Department in Langley, VA. He is married to Elizabeth--a high-powered DC lawyer and the daughter of an influential US senator. When a US plane is brought down by a stringer missile over the Atlantic, Osbourne is brought in on the case. Originally, it looks to be the work of an Arab terrorist group, the Sword of Gaza. But there is one thing about the case that bothers Michael: one of the terrorists is found dead in the Atlantic and he was killed with three gunshot wounds to the face. From past cases, Osbourne knows this is the trademark of a former KGB assassin. Unfortunately, Osbourne doesn't know his name, his identity, or who hired him, although he doesn't believe he was hired by the Sword of Gaza.

Silva weaves a tale that involves a secret organization called The Society. "The Society's founding creed declared peace was dangerous. Its members believed constant controlled global tension served the interests of all." This group is made up of powerful men in business and government, with far-reaching results and lots of cash funding. While Osbourne isn't aware of the existence of the The Society, he realizes that he's been pitted against a formidable foe. The Society also realizes that Osbourne is incredibly intelligent and has been well-trained for his profession. The competition makes for an exciting plot.

The Mark of the Assassin is interesting in that it gives us an inside look at the life of a CIA agent. Silva also shows the difference between a field agent and a desk agent--they're two different worlds. This book also includes some of the characters I've come to enjoy in his Allon series including CIA executive, Adrian Carter. Unfortunately, The Mark of the Assassin does not tie up everything in a neat little package at the end, but that is actually a good thing as Silva has written a sequel to this story. It's already on my list.

Almost Terrible.......2006-11-28

Ok, so this book was not terrible. But I found the characters and plot cliched. The protagonist is the least clearly defined character. Silva reveals the bad guys way too early in the story, and some of the writing was absurd. For example, the Assassin (supposedly the best in the world) disguises himself as a young bicycle messenger dude, repleat with earings, colorful clothes, walkman, etc. Then when his hit goes awry and two adults who did not see the incident suddenly appear on the bike path, he speaks to them in a highly formal, educated manner that made me laugh considering his cover.

With Ludlow, Forsythe, and Clancy, you get the feeling that they are insiders to the spy game who really know what they are talking about. With Silva, you get the feeling that all he has done is read Ludlow, Forsythe, and Clancy.

Some of the reviewers here suggest this is not Silva's best, so I may give him another chance. But this book is a must not read.

Average customer rating:

What if the Girl You Loved was a Scorpion
Deadly Bad Guys, Thrills, Chills and a Scorpion
Doggone Good Sea-Going Adventure Tale
Simply a Fantastic, Wild Ride!
She loves me, she loves me not

Scorpion
Jack Stewart
Manufacturer: Bootleg Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 097452462X
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Book Description

The blast ricochets through the plane. A Bomb. Bill Broxton looks to the last row in first class, checks to see if the prime minister is safe. Broxton works for the DEA and his assignment is to protect the Prime Minister of Trinidad from an assassin's bullet. Prime Minister Ramsingh has been shutting down the Salizar drug cartel's money laundering operations in Trinidad and Attorney General George Chandee, who is secretly working with the drug lords, has hired Scorpion, a professional assassin to take him out. After a harrowing ride, the pilot lands the plane safely. The Scorpion's first attempt on the prime minister has failed, but he will try again. And Broxton must stop him.

Customer Reviews:

What if the Girl You Loved was a Scorpion.......2006-11-30

Scorpion is a sea going adventure story that takes place in the Caribbean. The Prime Minister of Trinidad has been targeted by a drug cartel because he has been trying to close down their operation in his country. The bad guy drug smugglers have hired the international assassin called the Scorpion to deal with the PM and the U.S. Government has sent DEA agent Bill Broxton to protect the PM. However, the PM doesn't want American assistance and to make matters even worse for Broxton, the assassin is the woman he wants to marry, only he doesn't know it. Fortunately for Broxton, another lady enters his life, so his heartbreak will be brief, but his actions will put her in jeopardy.

And that, my friends, is a very brief description of what goes on in the beginning of this action-adventure thriller. Sailboats, smugglers, an evil woman assassin, a guy too good for his own good and more. This is just a super book and I really liked it.

Deadly Bad Guys, Thrills, Chills and a Scorpion.......2006-09-21

SCORPION is a stay up all night thriller that moves from Trinidad in the Southern Caribbean to South Texas, to Venezuela and back to Trinidad and you can feel the heat and humidity of those places as you read. Mr. Stewart puts you right into the action as you move through the pages, so when you join DEA agent Bill Broxton as he tries to stop an assassin, be prepared for some serious escape time.

DEA agent Bill Broxton has been assigned to protect the Prime Minister of Trinidad from the Scorpion, an assassin hired by the Salizar drug cartel, because his girlfriend Dani, who he soon hopes to make his bride, is the daughter of the American Ambassador. It's because Broxton is so close to the ambassador that makes him perfect for the assignment, as the Prime Minister has refused American help, instead turning to his own Justice Minister for security.

So Broxton is supposed to use his connection with ambassador to get close to the PM, however Dani isn't as pure as the driven snow. Broxton may be carrying a torch in his heart and a ring in his pocket, but she's been carrying an assassin's guns and playing the field. She is the Scorpion who has been hired to take out Broxton's charge. And who is she working for? None other than the justice minister in charge of keeping the P.M. safe.

SCORPION has it all, foreign intrigue, deadly bad guys, a good guy in over his head, romance, terrific chase scenes and best of all, an ending you'll never see coming. I couldn't put this one down and I don't think you will be able to either.

Doggone Good Sea-Going Adventure Tale.......2005-09-23

Bill Broxton is a DEA agent who has been assingned to protect Prime Minister Ramsingh of Trinidad. His superiors want the man protected, because he has been co-operating in the war against drugs. They've learned that the drug barons from the Salazr Cartel want the prime minister dead, but Ramsingh complicates Broxton's life by refusing his protection, as he believes his own justice minister can do the job.

Meanwhile the drug lords have hired the international assassin called the Scorpion to assissananate Ramsingh and guess who is part of the cartel. You guessed it, none other than that justice minister who Ramsingh is counting on for protection. Now make the mix here a bit more interesting by making the Scorpion the girl Broxton wants to marry and you really have the makings of a good story. One I couldn't put down.

This book takes place in the Caribbean and Mr. Stewart uses quite a bit of sailing terms in the book, but he does it in such a way that it adds, rather than detracts from the story. It's easy to see he knows what he's talking about when he describes the scenes at sea. In addition to the convincing scene setting and description, Stewart has also painted people we care about and who seem real. I enjoyed this sea-going adventure story and I think you will too.

Simply a Fantastic, Wild Ride!.......2005-07-03

"Scorpion" is about DEA agent Bill Broxton. His assignment, protect the Prime Minister of Trinidad against evil drug smugglers who are using that country to transfer their drugs to the United States. However the international assassin called the Scorpion has been hired to kill the PM and unknown to Agent Broxton the Scorpion is none other than the woman he loves. Fortunately for him, another woman enters her life, unfortunately for him, she is married to one really bad cop named Earl. Earl and the Scorpion team up and now there is nothing between them and the PM except a determined Bill Broxton. Oh, did I forget to mention that the PM doesn't want Broxton's help? Well, he doesn't, but he's getting it anyway in this book that I couldn't quit. Just simply a fantastic, wild ride.

She loves me, she loves me not.......2005-06-23

Scorpion is one of those stories where the characters (good and bad) are all interconnected and intermixed as to be improbable.

One of the book's tensions is between the a DEA analyst who is assigned to protect the PM of Trinidad, and the US Ambassador's daughter, who is a master assassin. They also happened to be best buds growing up together.

Then there is a Texas Sheriff, who is real crooked, leaves a string of dead bodies behind, flies to Trinidad to catch up to a wife he really doesn't like.

I think the book's basic idea is okay, but the characters and the pacing just didn't work for me.

Average customer rating:

I should have paid attention to the 1 star reviews
awful
Is Thor worth a second chance?
Page-Turning Junk Food for Action Fans
Good book/read

Path of the Assassin
Brad Thor
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0743436768

Book Description

Brad Thor's national best-selling debut, The Lions of Lucerne, was hailed as "high-voltage entertainment reminiscent of Robert Ludlum" (Literary Journal). Now, he again delivers a non-stop action as one man's quest for revenge thrusts him into a battle to save his country....

After rescuing the President from kidnappers, Navy SEAL turned Secret Service agent Scot Harvath shifts his attentions to rooting out, capturing, or killing all those responsible for the plot. As he prepares to close out his list, a bloody and twisted trail of clues points toward one man -- the world's most feared, most ruthless terrorist, Hashim Nidal. Having assembled an international league of Islamic terrorist networks in an ingenious plot to topple both Israel and America, Harvath and his CIA-led team must reach Nidal before it's too late. One problem remains -- they have no idea what the man looks like. With no alternative, Harvath is forced to recruit a civilian -- a woman who has survived a brutal hijacking and is now the only person who can positively identify their quarry.

From the burning deserts of North Africa to the winding streets of Rome, Harvath must brave a maelstrom of bloodshed and deception -- before a madman's twisted vision engulfs the world in the fires of all-out war....

Download Description

"When Brad Thor arrived on the scene with his hard-hitting debut novel, The Lions of Lucerne, he was greeted with an enthusiasm rarely seen since John le Carré's heyday. ""A roller-coaster of a debut,"" pronounced Kyle Mills. And Nelson DeMille, the master of the genre himself, welcomed Thor as ""a savvy new novelist"" with a knack for action scenes that ""will give the reader a case of vertigo."" Now, Thor and his indomitable hero Scot Harvath are back, raising the stakes and taking on one of the world's most deadly terrorist organizations bent on stoking a global holy war of apocalyptic proportions. After rescuing the President from kidnappers, Navy SEAL turned Secret Service agent Scot Harvath shifts his attentions to rooting out and capturing or killing all those responsible for the plot. As he prepares to close out his list, a bloody and twisted trail of clues points toward one man -- the world's most feared, most ruthless terrorist, Hashim Nidal, who has assembled an international league of Islamic terrorist networks in an ingenious plot to topple both Israel and America. Harvath and his CIA-led team must reach Nidal before it's too late. One problem remains -- they have no idea what the man looks like. Only one person can positively identify Harvath's quarry -- Meg Cassidy, a beautiful hijacking survivor. Together, Scot and Meg must untangle a maddening web of global intrigue stretching across four continents. From Macau, Jerusalem, and Chicago to Libya, Capri, and Rome, Harvath and Cassidy find themselves locked in a desperate race against time to sort the pieces of a deadly puzzle that will test not only their physical and mental limits, but also the growing bond they feel for each other. "

Customer Reviews:

I should have paid attention to the 1 star reviews.......2007-10-05

thankfully, I got the book cheap because otherwise I would be furious. I'm already upset that I wasted some of my life trying to read this book. Finally, after 200 pages, I had to stop. The dialogue is juvenile.Harvath is the only one who can do things correctly; he's the only one among trained agents who can think; he's the only one who can shoot straight (oh, except for the convenient beautiful woman who just happens to take on armed terrorists). Please, don't make the mistake I made: pay attention to those 1 star reviews. Save your money for something that is worth it.

awful.......2007-09-24

true one can glean some interesting information about weaponry,warfare and such but Thor needs a couple of years in writing 1,2,3,4 until he gets it right.
very formulaic and ultimately boring.

Is Thor worth a second chance?.......2007-09-11

I wanted to like this book based on the fact that according to his biography, Mr. Thor seems to be considered a knowledgeable person regarding terrorism. I am therefore willing to give him another chance since this book was one of his earlier releases and the fact that I believe some of the best ways to explore what possible terrorist scenarios we could face as a nation are through novel form.

I am not the type of person who expects Les Miserables or Atlas Shrugged kind of character development and dialogue in thriller and spy novels. That being said however I thought the characters lacked much depth at all and the dialogue was extremely sophomoric throughout most of the book. The overall premise of the story I thought was interesting and could have made for a much better book.

I will give Thor another chance at some point but if I feel the same way about the next book after fifty pages I'll have to give up. There are too many other great thriller/spy novel authors like Daniel Silva and Vince Flynn just to name a couple.

Page-Turning Junk Food for Action Fans.......2007-08-12

This isn't a great book by any stretch of the imagination. But it's a fun book, and sometimes its OK to have some fun while you're reading. If you like James Bond, Die Hard movies, or mid-80s Arnold Schwarzeneggar movies, you're going to like this book. There's lots of chases, guns, macho posturing, and humor. There's an attractive female, too! No sex, but that's OK, because if you like chases, guns, and taking it to the bad guys, this book has it.

What it doesn't have is good writing. It has long, long, chases and fights that are about as suspenseful as an episode of Barney. The reason there is no suspense is that the author never makes us feel as if the protagonists are in actual danger. There were times when I'd skip ahead six pages because that's how long the chase would go on for. Really, I get kind of tired reading about a car chase in which all the roads are named, but nothing happens to the plot. Oh, except the bad guy got away. Again.

Fun, but not something you proudly display on your shelf.

Good book/read.......2007-07-25

I really enjoy the Scot Harvath series. I think I like the Mitch Rapp series a bit more, by Vince Flynn. But I think Brad Thor does a good job with this character and his plots/books. Path of the Assassin is a good book and reads fast with action and drama to spare. Just what I need to "escape" for awhile in an alternate reality. A+

Average customer rating:

Andrew Britton is great
Plaudits for Sequel
Non-stop action!
predictable, but page turner
Second Effort

The Assassin
Andrew Britton
Manufacturer: Kensington
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0758213344

Customer Reviews:

Andrew Britton is great.......2007-08-10

I'm anxiously awaiting the next Andrew Britton book. Look out Tom Clancy, this guy is going to steal your spotlight!

Plaudits for Sequel.......2007-08-09

For those of you who have read The American this is a worthy followup.the gripping narrative will keep you enthralled and wondering where all of the story is going.the tecnical knowledge of Mr.Britton is impressive in its context.well worth a read and I,for one,am looking forward to a third book that is in the works. Arthur h.Rutledge

Non-stop action!.......2007-05-13

I was turned on to this author after I read his first book The American. This was a great continuation of characters with the same action and surprises. The main character is kind of like a Jack Bauer type and the action is is non-stop. If you like action, suspense and a little romance - this is the book to read. Very hard to put down!!!

predictable, but page turner.......2007-05-07

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

Second Effort.......2007-03-31

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.

Average customer rating:

Verbose
fast-paced and frightening.
Great book -- comic book character or not!
Great book
Entertaining & fast moving

Assassin: A Thriller (Hawke)
Ted Bell
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0743466721

Book Description

ALEX HAWKE RETURNS IN TED BELL'S EXPLOSIVE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Clive Cussler called Ted bell's action thriller Hawke "rich, spellbinding, and absorbing." Now, a desperate race to avert an assault on America has Bell's brilliant intelligence agent battling terrorists on a breathtaking worldwide scale.

Alexander Hawke, a direct descendant of the legendary pirate Blackhawke, is an expert on espionage and terror. A shadowy terrorist kingpin has orchestrated the systematic slaying of American diplomats, and as the death toll mounts, Hawke is called upon to avert a cataclysmic attack -- while avenging a sensless crime that has left him devastated. From London to Indonesia, from Washington to the Florida Keys, Assasin is a "fast and furious" (Publishers Weekly) adventure with a hero who has redefined today's action thriller.

Download Description

" Alex Hawke is back. In this explosive,jaw-tightening follow-up to Ted Bell's ""rich, spellbinding, and absorbing"" (Clive Cussler) debut national bestseller, Hawke, fearless intelligence operative Lord Alexander Hawke matches wits with a cunning and bloodthirsty psychopath in a desperate race to avert an American Armageddon. In an elegant palazzo on the Grand Canal, an American ambassador's tryst turns deadly. In the seamy underbelly of London, a pub-crawling killer is on the loose. And in a storybook chapel nestled in the Cotswolds, a marriage made in heaven turns to hell on earth. Isolated incidents? Or links in a chain of events hurtling towards catastrophe? So begins Assassin, the tour de force thriller that heralds the return of every terrorist's worst nightmare, Alex Hawke. "

Customer Reviews:

Verbose.......2007-08-11

Mr. Bell certainly likes to see himself write. He could have cut out a hundred pages and still have too many. It was very difficult getting through the overuse of adjectives. I will not be reading any other Bell tomes.

fast-paced and frightening........2007-08-08

Ted Bell can really write. This series is exciting and somewhat scary. He's created a great heroic figure in Alex Hawke. The storyline is, hopefully, not out of tomorrow's headlines. We'd better start paying much more attention to the Islamic radical jihad against our Western way of life. Good book, but very scary in its implications and possibilities.

Great book -- comic book character or not!.......2007-07-29

This was the third Alexander Hawke book I've read (previously Spy and Pirate: A Thriller (Hawke)) and this was my favorite so far.

I see the critics talk about how Hawke's larger than life persona has reached comic book status. I say pour on some more Mr. Bell!

Bell brings a very plausible plot (terror, nukes, pox, etc.) togtether in an interesting international adventure story.

I can hardly wait for the new book!

Wish I could get a copy of "Hawke" the original book.

Great book.......2007-07-03

I really enjoyed this follow up to Hawke. The adventure was great, and it wasn't trying too hard to be "bond-like" Highly recommended

Entertaining & fast moving.......2007-06-22

A thriller with action throughout the globe. Hawke has his usual characters with him & then some. The two stories taking place within one novel are fast paced & entertaining. The book is well written without much in the way of waste. The only problem I have is Alex Hawke is too large for life. I'd much prefer if Mr. Bell would tone him down a bit. His character is larger than James Bond to the point he's approaching comic book hero status

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