The Mark of the Assassin

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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.

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Book Review: The Watchers by Andrew Mark Olsen
The Watchers
A compelling and refreshing story
A real page turner
terrific exhilarating romantic fantasy

The Watchers
Mark Andrew Olsen
Manufacturer: Bethany House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Mystery | Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0764228188
Release Date: 2007-03-01

Book Description

Just below the surface among the family of God lives another family tree--one traced in spirit, invisible and ageless, known as the Watchers. For two thousand years they've seen beyond the veil separating this world from the next, passing on their gift through a lineage mostly overlooked. Throughout history they've scouted the borders of the supernatural frontier, but now their survival hangs by a thread. And their fate lies in the hands of a young woman, her would-be killer, and a mystery they must solve.... "Congratulations. You just reached my own little corner of cyberspace. Who am I? Abby Sherman, that's who. Who are you? And why are you checking me out? Drop me a few pixels, and let's find out!" With that innocent invitation, Abby Sherman unwittingly steps in the crosshairs of history, and thus begins her harrowing tale--taking her from ocean-front Malibu to the streets of London, the jungles in West Africa, the Temple Mount, Jerusalem, and to the very gates of heaven itself! A sneak preview of eternity becomes her one-way ticket to danger—and discovery…. Two lives collide in a globe-circling adventure involving both peril and discovery: Abby, a young woman whose visions of heaven turn her into a Web-celebrity; and Dylan, a troubled young man sent by an ancient foe to silence her. From California beachfronts to Nigerian rain forests to Jerusalem and back again, The Watchers is high-octane blends of action, mystery, and spiritual battle spanning centuries. A woman's awe-inspiring vision launches her on a quest through distant lands and ancient history, face-to-face with eternity and into the arms of a family line on the brink of annihilation... A man who is hired to exterminate her discovers the folly of blind loyalty, then learns how to wage war in a realm he never believed had existed... An extraordinary saga of the unseen war against evil, the reality of the supernatural, and the transforming power of forgiveness

Customer Reviews:

Book Review: The Watchers by Andrew Mark Olsen.......2007-06-14

Abby Sherman doesn't know what's happening to her. Strange vision-like dreams interrupt her dreams each night. A typical teenager, she posts these occurrences on her blog, hoping someone else out there will relate to what she's experiencing.

Suddenly her world is turned upside-down and she is the only one that can find out why. Abby sets off on a journey that will forever change her life and the lives of those she encounters. She must travel across the world and back with the one man she fears the most - the man sent to silence her. Can she find the answers she so desperately seeks?

Andrew Mark Olsen, author of The Assignment brings readers another thrilling spiritual adventure in The Watchers. Filled with suspense and intrigue, this book will draw readers in and keep them on the edge of their seat until the very end.

Olsen is a gifted writer whose creativity can make the reader feel as if he or she is witness to a real-life drama instead of a novel. I thoroughly enjoyed The Watchers. It is well written and gives a glimpse into the spiritual dimension that we don't often think about.

The Watchers.......2007-04-22

This is a book hard to put down.....a story of international intrigue, a fight between the forces of good and evil, a deeply troubled family and a soldier of fortune. Mark Olsen's style reminds me of the "Left Behind" series as it quickly moves the reader from one place to another in the same time frame, keeping us in suspence as it looks to faith in Jesus Christ as the saving grace.

A compelling and refreshing story.......2007-04-06

Abby Sherman's spiritual visions have seemingly come from nowhere and are about to lead her on the greatest adventure of her life. When she decides to share these visions on her blog, she has no idea that she will soon become a world-wide internet celebrity. Dylan Hatfield is an ex-military assassin for hire, and his latest mark is this young woman whose visions are causing global ripples of colossal proportions. Soon their paths will collide on a journey that will lead them around the world as they strive to uncover the mystery and origins of the Watchers, a unique group of women blessed with spiritual sight. All the while they must rely on God to lead and deliver them as spiritual and physical forces seek to destroy them from all sides.

Mark Andrew Olsen's latest is a compelling and refreshing story that grabs hold from page one and doesn't let go. Olsen effortlessly weaves numerous plotlines into a cohesive and intriguing tale that is full of action, intrigue, and suspense. This is an intense and fast-paced read that is interwoven with the essential spiritual elements of redemption, love, and sacrifice. Abby Sherman and Dylan Hatfield are fascinating characters that embark on a life-changing, spiritual journey that will challenge and inspire the faith of readers. This is one is highly recommended and not to be missed. (From Christian Review of Books)

A real page turner.......2007-03-30

From California, to the jungles of Nigeria, to the holy city of Jerusalem, The Watchers is a wild ride of action-packed suspense. Not since Frank Peretti's This Present Darkness and Ted Dekker's Martyr's Song series, have I read a book that so compellingly weaves the spiritual world--visions of heaven and the battle between angels and demons--into the physical.

Abby Sherman is a typical twenty-something girl who loves the Lord and is trying to figure out what to do with her life. But plans for the future seem ironic when Abby finds herself infected with a mysterious, deadly disease, giving her only a short time to live--all because of a vivid dream that she posts to her blog. Not only does the post attract the attention of thousands of women who also experienced the same dream--making Abby an Internet celebrity--but it draws the attention of an evil that wants her silenced. Abby knows her purpose, that with whatever time she has left, she is to discover the true meaning of this mysterious dream and how the women who experience it are connected.

Dylan Hatfield is a veteran black-ops assassin who prides himself on killing only those who deserved the judgment given them: Men who commit genocide, and terrorists who endanger the security of the free world. So when he is given the assignment to silence a young, seemingly innocent girl, he is hesitant to accept the job. A rather unpleasant ultimatum if he refuses, really peaks Dylan's curiosity. What makes this girl so dangerous? Now the question is, when the truth confronts him, will he be able to determine whose side he is really on?

Not for the faint of heart (let's just say I'll never look at seagulls feeding on the beach the same way again!), The Watchers is a page-turner.

Armchair Interviews says: Don't miss it!

terrific exhilarating romantic fantasy .......2007-03-17

Twentyish Abby Sherman is undecided what she will do with her life, but the deeply religious young woman is not concerned as she believes the Lord will show her the way. However, Abby is shocked to find out she has been contaminated with an inexplicable, deadly disease and given a short time to live. She posts her story including some strange dreams onto her blog. Thousands of women claim the same experience turning Abbey's blog into a popular site and her into an online star. Abby feels she owes it to everyone to learn the truth before she dies and make it clear on her blog that she intends to pursue this quest.

Black Ops sniper Dylan Hatfield is assigned to kill Abby. He internally objects because he feels she has done nothing wrong to deserve death. He decides before completing this distasteful project, he will at least learn why this Abby is considered a danger needing elimination though he also fears the truth will make him aware that perhaps he is playing for the wrong team.

At times graphic, WATCHERS is a terrific exhilarating romantic fantasy with the emphasis on the action on the mortal and supernatural planes. The story line is fast-paced yet quite vivid and needs a warning label: once started one can not stop reading this book. Abby is a strong female lead who wants to do good deeds before dying although she confesses to herself that she would like to know why for closure purposes too. Dylan in some ways is the more fascinating character as he has always been the loyal soldier willing to die for his mission, but has doubts about the honor of this assassination. Readers will appreciate this strong thriller that circles this world and that beyond.

Harriet Klausner

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Conspiracy Insanity
Starting to Believe in Conspiracy Against the U.S. Government
Nothing to Kill or Die For
There is hope in speaking truth to power
This book asks very disturbing and challenging questions

Who Killed John Lennon?
Fenton Bresler
Manufacturer: St Martins Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312034520

Customer Reviews:

Conspiracy Insanity.......2006-03-15

Have we really come to this?

John Lennon was murdered by a clearly-deranged fan in 1980. Anyone who believes that Lennon was a grave enough threat to the USA and the world obviously has a bizarrely inflated opinion of the former Beatle.

John was practically in hiding for the five years before his death and had distanced himself from the hippie peace movement which had faded away during the disco era. Upon releasing his return album, "Double Fantasy," he and Yoko gave many interviews about how they'd settled into private life and made a fortune off real estate and such. Come on, people, one of the main reasons his killer struck was because John had become such a sell-out.

Even back then, the "bed-ins" for peace and all the anti-war posturing came off as more silly and mischevious than dangerous and anti-American.
He loved America, he loved New York. We'd been out of Vietnam for five years.

Documenting all the movements and rantings of John's crazy killer doesn't make his horrible crime a CIA conspiracy.

Wherever John is, he's probably laughing.

Starting to Believe in Conspiracy Against the U.S. Government .......2005-11-13

Today marks the 25th Anniversary of John Lennon's death. I got Bresler's book from the library and read about half of his book last year and I must admit I'm starting to believe that his death was politically motivated. Not only that, he gives hard evidence that this government, particually the CIA, ordered Mark Chapman as a hitman to kill John Lennon (there is good reason why: They were getting revenge for not kicking Lennon out of the country for his actions against Vietman; since that England was not involved). When I read that the first person that came to mind as a conspirator was the lame-duck President of that time, Jimmy Carter. Why? Because he was in the same position as the other white Southern President before him, Lyndon Johnson: President about to leave office, decides to take out the biggest peacekeeper(s) in America (in LBJ's case-Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy) because in their eyes, their agendas were a threat to National Security while the FBI and CIA's powers are in the hands of the President. In the book the author gives an idea who was behind the conspiracy and picks an unlikely choice: The Y.M.C.A. since that it helped Chapman in the midst of his troubles. I know that I'm maybe crazy and Carter can deny all he wants just like Fidel Castro can deny that he was involved in President Kennedy's death.
Speaking of that, in Bresler's book he brings up another distrubing fact that Chapman was under "mind control" to kill Lennon and there can be a possibility that's what happened to Lee Harvey Oswald when he shot Kennedy and in the book, he states that Chapman was like Oswald: Running into one disater after another.
Not only does he talk about Chapman's behavior, Bresler portrayes Lennon as a musician who became an enemy of himself and began to gather demons (which included his "Beatles are more popular than Jesus" interview, the nude photos that he did with Yoko Ono while still married, and evenually his fight to stay in America). Out of all the things Lennon did to offend the American physic and sealing his fate of an early death, none was more damning than the Rolling Stone interview that Jan Wierner did in 1970 in which Lennon ranted about America being "f-ing pesants" and ended his sentence by saying "the (American) dream is over." In my opinion, I think he deserved to die.
Another story the author brings up about Lennon came in the next year when he and Yoko Ono were at a Vietman protest on the University of Michigan campus and what they didn't know was that two CIA officers were spying on them. For those that aren't convinced yet that the CIA was involved in Lennon's death should consider this: His death occurred four years after the same agency try to kill another peace-searching musician, Bob Marley and failed as he survived despite being wounded.
To close it out, I will try to get back to the library soon and finish up this somewhat fascinated and intriging book.

Nothing to Kill or Die For.......2002-01-21

This well researched book explores a possible political component to the 1980 murder of John Lennon. Outspoken and involved in political causes, the late former Beatle had a dossier by the FBI. He was considered an insurgent rebel by many politicos of the day.

Bresler's book does an excellent job of following the man who killed John Lennon. He accurately chronicles the assassin's movements during the latter part of 1980 and his boyhood overidentification with the former Beatle. Bresler does not skip a beat, his work takes his readers along that sad, psychotic trail Lennon's killer took in late 1980.

The assassin, caught in a love-hate obsession concerning John Lennon appears to be confused about his own identity. A former Beatles fan, the killer would, by 1966 turn against them because of John Lennon's comment that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus. Irate and confused, the killer appeared to try to suppress his natural love for their music while justifying his hatred of John.

It is indeed the killer's behavior that calls attention to his desire to emulate the late Beatle. The assassin marries a woman who is Japanese; he expresses an enjoyment for the same types of art and music that Lennon publicly endorsed. By late 1980 the lines between reality and fantasy blurred; on his last day of work, the killer signed out of his company log book as "John Lennon." He then left Hawaii where he was then living for New York. An extremely confused man, he overidentifies with Holden Caulfield, the young protagonist of "Catcher in the Rye" infamy. He, like Holden declares a moratorium against "phonies" and in his mind, John Lennon is one of those phonies His fantasies ultimately consume him and the results are...devastating.

Bresler does an excellent job of chronicling the series of events that took place when and after John Lennon was murdered; he also does an excellent job of debunking many of the tabloid biographies of the day, e.g. Goldman and Guiliano's biographies of the late Beatle. John's youngest son, Sean, for example comes down hard on the Goldman book which portrays John as punitive and uncomfortable around children as a "total lie." He said that John did indeed enjoy being kissed by Sean and his older half brother Julian and that Goldman's statement otherwise was untrue.

I was impressed with the accuracy and objectivity of this work. It will certainly hold a reader's interest and is an invaluable source of information. I'm lucky to have this. It would be nice to see this back in print.

There is hope in speaking truth to power.......2001-02-13

John Lennon's death never DID make sense to me outside of the context of some kind of conspiracy. When he died, I was 27 years old. I had lived through the trauma of JFK's, RFK's and MLK's assassinations. I did not believe they were lone nut killings either, they were too important, and the question "who benefits?" usually leads to an obvious motive and an obvious suspect, even if it can't be proven. Once he was dead, I understood that John Lennon was the last hope of a dying spirit, the spirit of the 60s, the hope of a generation that had dreamed of creating a world of freedom, love and non-violence. That, to me, was the motive of a generation unwilling to pass the torch of life onto the next generation, the very baby boom they had created at the end of WWII to expand their own egos, yet were unwilling to acknowledge as having minds of their own and perhaps valid resentments having grown up with the values of a war torn parentage. This book dovetails nicely with the other books I have read and reviewed (see more about me) and the evidence is startling and massive to validate Bresler's theory that Chapman was, indeed, a mind controlled killer. The fact is, the CIA's shenanigans go far beyond MK-ULTRA, and have not stopped yet. They are gathering power as you read this, and looking the other way will not stop them. I'm not sure what will, but letting anyone else do your thinking for you won't. Learn as much as you can and know your own mind. Question authority, as the mantra from the 60s challenged, and do not allow the dreams and visions of the flower children to be silenced. They are not dead. They did take root. The toxic poison that surrounds us all is a deadly threat, but as long as we are open to learning and knowing and speaking truth to power, there is hope.

This book asks very disturbing and challenging questions.......1999-10-27

When I first saw this title I said, "No, no, no. I'm not ready for this. I still haven't come to terms with several other murder conspiracies and I don't need this one." I was inclined to take the story at face value, that which was offered by the major media at the time. I certainly did not want to think there was something more sinister behind the Lennon killing. When I picked up the book out of curiosity I found not the ravings of a "conspiracy nut," but a very coherent and rational investigation into the murderer. It had been "an open and shut" case, so few questions were ever raised about it. But the book reminded me that some of the reports about it had made me wonder at the time. I had not pursued the questions then and believed that I was being told the truth. Like others who loved John Lennon, I was grief stricken at the time and not inclined to ask a lot of questions. But when news reports described Chapman's movements the week of the murder, they said he traveled to Hawaii, to Chicago, sold some paintings, then came to New York. I wondered: if this guy is such a loser as they describe, who can barely get a job, where does he get the money to travel widely and deal in art? This book picks up that thread and examines Chapman, where he came from, how he spent his life before he entered history as another "lone assassin" and where, indeed, he did find the means to travel and purchase expensive works of art. The resulting picture is not pretty, does not inspire confidence in our government agencies. Some of the FBI documents on the surveillance of Lennon, which were obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, reflect the frightening cloak-and-dagger mindset of agents of the bureau as they watch and take notes on Lennon as he goes to the deli to buy yogurt during a recording session, or whatever else his daily routines entailed. Whatever your final conclusion, it is hard not to be disturbed by how these people are spending your tax money. I wish the book were still in print.

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The Curse of Cain
A Fast-paced Civil War Thriller

The Curse of Cain
J. Mark Powell , and L.D. Meagher
Manufacturer: Forge Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

On April 14, 1865 John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater, or so the history books tell us .... but what if there was a second gunman who actually pulled the trigger?The Curse of CainLike The Day of the Jackal, The Eagle has Landed, and The Key to Rebecca, The Curse of Cain is the cat and mouse story of a ruthless professional assassin hired to kill the Union President and the Confederate agent dispatched by Jefferson Davis to thwart his plan.Like Forsyth's Jackal, Follett's Needle, and Higgins's Devlin, the assassin-Basil Tarleton-is a charming agent of death. Jack Tanner-a Confederate era Jack Ryan, is willing to forego matters of the heart in order to carry out his mission and save the life of the President of an opposing nation.Set in the closing weeks of the Civil War and against the backdrop of the notorious Lincoln conspiracy (and subsequent cover-up) as well as the actual Confederate intelligence network that existed in Washington, D.C. at the time, Powell and Meagher tell a heart-stopping tale of suspense and intrigue. This dangerous mission follows assassin and pursuer, as they close in on their targets in enemy territory where exposure means certain death.The Curse of Cain races to the page-turning climax on that fateful night at Ford's Theater.

Customer Reviews:

The Curse of Cain.......2005-09-08

It is an excellent read. The authors took the Lincoln assassination and by moving the facts a few degrees gave it a whole new perspective. The authors obviously did mountains of research to make the story and characters as historically correct as possible. Character development is great and I had trouble putting the book down.

A Fast-paced Civil War Thriller.......2005-04-22

Almost since the moment Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, writers and historians have argued about the possibility of Confederate involvement in the president's killing. A large part of the issue has centered on whether the South stood to gain anything by Lincoln's death - at least in the minds of those high up in the Jefferson Davis administration. Though we may never reach a consensus, there is much to recommend the argument that the South was better off with Abraham Lincoln alive than dead. This is the underlying assumption of this new and exciting novel by J. Mark Powell and L. D. Meagher.

In The Curse of Cain, Powell and Meagher put a new twist on the Lincoln conspiracy. In their version of the story, the assassination is indeed the result of Southern malfeasance. But the chief instigator, a Confederate congressman, is actually a loose cannon, and when his own government learns that he has hired an assassin to eliminate Lincoln, they send an agent to find the killer before he brings the "Curse of Cain" down upon them all.

Powell and Meagher have built their story around a plausible idea, and have constructed a well-paced narrative with just the right mix of action and intrigue. Their heroes include the Confederate agent, Kate St. Claire, who spends her time cultivating contacts in the upper strata of Washington society; and Jack Tanner, a no-nonsense detective in the Confederate provost guard. Their villains are Basil Tarleton, a cold-blooded killer; and John Wilkes Booth, his reluctant cohort who wants only to capture the president. These people move about in a deadly game of cat and mouse, each team set against the other, but both with the ultimate goal of saving the Confederacy.

The Curse of Cain is a fast-paced adventure with heart-stopping action and surprises at every turn. It is a great read, and would make an excellent addition to any collection of Civil War literature.

Left Behind Series: Left Behind, Tribulation Force, Nicolae, Soul Harvest, Apollyon, Assassins, The Indwelling, The Mark, Descration, Remnant, Armegeddon, Glorious Appearing (Complete Set 1 - 12)

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Left Behind Series: Left Behind, Tribulation Force, Nicolae, Soul Harvest, Apollyon, Assassins, The Indwelling, The Mark, Descration, Remnant, Armegeddon, Glorious Appearing (Complete Set 1 - 12)
Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
Manufacturer: tyndale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000MEDQEG

Product Description

12 trade paperbacks. Entire series. 12 Titles in Left Behind Series (1 Thru 12) - Left Behind - Tribulation Force - Nicolae - Soul Harvest - Apollyon - Assassins - The Indwelling - The Mark - Descration - Remnant - Armegeddon - Glorious Appearing.

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The Mark of the Assassin
Daniel Silva
Manufacturer: Villard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Spy Stories & Tales of Intrigue | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0297817892

Book Description

Contemporary thriller, in which a secret world organisation of wealthy capitalists hires a former KGB assassin to subvert world peace. To the assassin his trademark 3 gunshots in the face of his victim are just another killing: a million dollars in the bank. To thePresident of the United States they mean revenge. To the arms manufacturer they mean salvation. To a secret group of wealthy world Capitalists they mean success. But to the man from the CIA they are the mark of the assassin. In his 1st novel since his debut, The Unlikely Spy, Daniel Siva returns with a tale as frighteningly plausible as today's headlines, confirming him as a thriller writer in the top rank. The story begins with the explosion of an American airliner with 300 passengers aboard off Long Island. To the assassin his job has only just begun and each death leads to another then another. Ultimately, in a chase across 3 continents, it becomes a battle between the assassin and the only man who knows his true identity.

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Disappointing
Too much fluff

Unlikely Assassins
M. E. Cooper
Manufacturer: J. Flores Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 091875125X

Book Description

The shocking true story of a couple killed by their teenage daughter. The Stepps were considered the 'ideal' American family, until the morning their bodies were discovered, stabbed and shot. The FBI profiled two men high on drugs as the killers. The community was stunned to learn the honor student, Gold Award girl scout daughter was responsible, aided by her best friend. This book is optioned for an upcoming Movie of the Week.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing.......2006-01-16

I would assume that the majority of people interested in this book have some connection with Stillwater. As someone born and raised in Stillwater, I would have liked a little more insight into how the 'dynamics' of Stillwater, OK played into the murders. Stillwater is a very conformist town and these girls never fit in. Did being social outcasts in high school play a role?

I was in high school with both girls although I was a grade behind them. My only memory of Francine is when she ran for student council. I remember that the general attitude was "who does she think she is?" and "how dare she?" Unpopular girls weren't 'allowed' to try for things reserved for popular girls in Stillwater High School.

Too much fluff.......2002-09-24

The story itself is interesting but the book contained too much "filler". Elaborate detail about subjects that did not contribute to the book in a meaningful way. If you reduced the book to "non-fluff" then it would only be about 35 pages in length. One could read the same story from newspaper articles and have learned as much - without wading through background info that was not pertinent to the story's viability.

Book also contained an unacceptable number of typographical and grammatical errors that interrupted the reading flow.

Average customer rating:
10 Titles By Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins Left Behind Series (1-10) : 1. Left Behind 2. Tribulation Force 3. Nicolae 4. Soul Harvest 5. Apollyon 6. Assassins 7. The Indwelling 8. The Mark 9. The Desecration 10. The Remnant
Tim LaHaye , and Jerry B. Jenkins
Manufacturer: Tyndale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VVMP6K

Product Description

multiple books ship as one item. save on shipping/handling charges.

2 Titles in Michael Osbourne Series - The Marching Season - The Mark of the Assassin

Average customer rating:

2 Titles in Michael Osbourne Series - The Marching Season - The Mark of the Assassin
Daniel Silva
Manufacturer: Ballantine
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000IT98U6

Product Description

Two massmarket paperbacks.

9 LITLE LEFT BEHIND, TRIBULATION FORCE, NICOLAE, SOUL HARVEST,APOLLYON, ASSASSINS,THE INDWELLING, THE MARK,& THE REMNANT (LEFT BEHIND BOOK, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10(NO INCLUDE # 9))

Average customer rating:

9 LITLE LEFT BEHIND, TRIBULATION FORCE, NICOLAE, SOUL HARVEST,APOLLYON, ASSASSINS,THE INDWELLING, THE MARK,& THE REMNANT (LEFT BEHIND BOOK, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10(NO INCLUDE # 9))
LAHAYE JENKING
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VA6CWO

Product Description

NINE BOOKS THE LEFT BEHIND BY LA HAYES & JENKINS.1 THRU 10 MISSED #9.

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