The Assassin

Stephen Coonts returns with his most compelling novel to date. All the elements of the espionage thriller are in place: angry terrorists, Russian dissidents, a captivating secret agent, and, yes, the mysterious woman he falls for, who may have connections with the enemy. Only a gifted performer could bring such an incredible story to life and, equally important, make it believable. Dennis Boutsikaris is the right man for the job. He provides realistic accents for the colorful characters that abound. Furthermore, he knows exactly when to ratchet up the tension and bring listeners to the edge of their seats. Ultimately, Boutsikaris makes the unbelievable seem like breaking news. Incredible! L.B. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

June 9, 2008
Bestseller Coonts’s exciting third thriller to star reformed burglar turned CIA operative Tommy Carmellini (after The Traitor
) raises a timely issue—the lack of well-to-do Americans on combat duty in the war against terrorism. When an Iraqi bomb kills Huntington Winchester’s only child, a Harvard med student who joined the navy out of patriotism, the grieving father decides he and his privileged friends aren’t doing enough to defend civilization against the jihadist threat. Winchester gets tacit approval from one of those friends, the unnamed U.S. president, for him and some other well-to-do types to finance their own private war. When al-Qaeda mastermind Abu Qasim discovers the identities of those in Winchester’s group and targets them, Carmellini and his CIA boss, Adm. Jake Grafton, determine to set a trap that involves Qasim’s possible daughter. Though the constant switching between various points-of-view distracts at times, the action moves swiftly to its Hollywood ending. Author tour.