[.ca] Assassin (Cd) (Unabr.) (ISBN 159737363X)

fast-paced action-adventure thriller:
American Ambassador to Italy, Stanfield goes out for a late drink after a tryst with his mistress, but is killed by a smart missile that specifically targeted him. Alex Hawke and Dr. Victoria Sweet exchange "I Dos" when a sniper kills the bride. In Saudi Arabia, American Ambassador Butch McGuire drops dead from having his internal organs fried. Secretary of State Consuelo de Los Reyes asks the grieving Hawke to join Jack Patterson on investigating the assault on the United States diplomatic corps. Hawke agrees. However, in the meantime in Maine a female teen babysitter slaughters Deirdre Slade and her two preadolescent children; the victims are the loving family of a diplomat. The Sweet killing evidence points to Cuban exile Scissorhand while the ambassador murders look like the work of bin Wazir. Though he prefers to go to "Little Havana" to confront Scissorhand, Hawke lets friends handle that while he tries to stop further assassinations from occurring even as the intrepid ambassador to France Duke Merriman dies from phosphorus fire. ASSASSINS is an exciting action-packed and nonstop tale starring a terrific series of heroes and an even better band of killers. The story line is chilling in many ways as the assassins are pretty women who one would never suspect as killers yet their loyalty is to bin Wazir or his superior, his father-in-law the Emir, a believer in a Moslem only world. The satirical spoofing of the first novel (see HAWKE) never occurs, as this is more of a straight shooter. The dual plots come together although the Sweet murder seems overkill and pale vs. the more clever kills. Action-adventure readers will enjoy this testosterone vs. estrogen thriller. Harriet Klausner

Favorite Thriller of All Time:
A lifelong thriller junkie, I thought I'd read the best: Forsythe, Ludlum, Alastair Maclean, and Le Carre. I have to put this author in that league. This is an amazing book. It is, from first page to last, riveting. And, because of the humor and quirkiness of the great supporting cast, tremendous fun as well as a heartstopping action adventure. This is my personal favorite, but read the whole Alex Hawke series. You will NOT be disappointed!

Fast fun:
A sequal to HAWKE by Mr. Bell, ASSASSIN is a thriller of great magnitude. With a cast of colorful characters worthy of a Carl Hiassen novel, this rollicking fast-and-furious page turner will keep you on the edge of your seat. Leave it to Ted Bell to turn something as non-dramatic as a wedding ceremony into one of the most riveting opening sequences ever put on paper. Also recommended: SKINNY DIP and THE BARK OF THE DOGWOOD.