Hi, I'm Mark and I'm a killer..
Book Review: Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart
Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart
Published: June 11, 2024 by G.P. Putnam's Sons
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Synopsis:
Mark was the most dangerous killer-for-hire in the world. But after learning the hard way that his life’s work made him more monster than man, he left all of that behind, and joined a twelve-step group for reformed killers.
When Mark is viciously attacked by an unknown assailant, he is forced on the run. From New York to Singapore to London, he chases after clues while dodging attacks and trying to solve the puzzle of who’s after him. All without killing anyone. Or getting killed himself. For an assassin, Mark learns, nonviolence is a real hassle.
Rating:
Review:
A few years ago I read another book by Rob Hart that I wasn’t too impressed with. I thought the idea was fabulous but the execution was a bit bland. This one was a pleasant surprise!
Mark is a really good character. He is nuanced and layered but guarded. I enjoyed getting to know him through the course of the book. This was helped by how the book was structured. We would have a chapter or two of the timeframe of Mark’s career or right before he decided to quit. Slowly we could put all the pieces together. We learned about how Mark got into the career killer life. We learned about some of the pivotal moments he had during his career. We saw what led him to the desire to quit. It was a heartbreaking story.
The pace of this book is lightning fast. When the synopsis says that Mark is on the run, so is the book. We don’t get to sit still because he doesn’t. It was really nice to feel the urgency that the character’s are supposed to be feeling.
The ending took me a little bit by surprise but I don’t think it should have. The red herrings were good and well laid. They fooled me into thinking that I knew the answer. But in the end the answer was much more mundane. I can’t say how I feel about that honestly. I was a little disappointed but a little intrigued at the same time. The ending is ultimately the reason for the 4 star. The book was an exciting ride, but the answer to who is after Mark made me go “Oh. Well, ok then.”