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The Bowin Novels #1
The Abomination Assignment
What do a Palestinian gunman in Hamburg, an al-Qaida operative in Amsterdam, a Saudi bomber in Montreal and an American self-proclaimed "Prophet of the People" with a WMD and bad intentions have in common? Dr. Thomas Bowin, noted neuroscientist and occasional government-sanctioned assassin is on a mission to hunt them down. Add the Prophet's naked handmaiden, a seductive spy and a beautiful Royal Canadian Army Special Operations Command major. Tom Bowin's adventures are as interesting as they are violent.
313 pages, Paperback
First published December 12, 2010
4 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Lee Holz
17 books101 followersLee Holz is a novelist, poet, lawyer and opera fan and eclectic reader. He lived in Europe for many years, and his travels took him to Australia and more than thirty other countries on five continents.
Lee lives on an island with his feline buddy "far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife."
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lee.Holz.Far...
Lee lives on an island with his feline buddy "far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife."
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lee.Holz.Far...
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 7, 2011
Tom is an assassin. I have never been an assassin so perhaps I shouldn't judge, but The Abomination Assignment sure felt real to me. Either a tremendous amount of research went into the writing, or perhaps it was based on personal experience (I suspect both.) Either way, the story was believable and engrossing. I would have liked to see the book split in two. First of all, because we don't actually get into the abomination part until the second half of the book. Also, a lot of things happen in the first portion, and I wanted to see them fleshed out. For example, I would have loved to go with Tom on his early training missions and experience the thrill of his first kills. The second half of the book deals with the actual assignment as well as a growing love interest. The story is told in retrospect, reminding me of an operative being debriefed, and as such has little conversation. It is the story itself and the action that makes this book a page-turner. I recommend The Abomination Assignment to anyone who enjoys a good thriller.
June 8, 2014
Meet Tom Bowin, neuroscientist and part-time assassin for the US Government.
In this, the first in Lee Holz's series, we are taken on a rollercoaster journey to a number of Bowin's killing assignments. Holz takes time out to describe the circumstances that shaped the assassin's philosophy and his peculiar moral code. Along the way, we meet Al-Quada killers, religious nutcases and a rather fetching female Canadian army officer.
I am looking forward to devouring more in this fast-paced series. If you love guns, black ops and lots of bad guys getting taken out, Lee Holz's Bowin books are most likely for you.
In this, the first in Lee Holz's series, we are taken on a rollercoaster journey to a number of Bowin's killing assignments. Holz takes time out to describe the circumstances that shaped the assassin's philosophy and his peculiar moral code. Along the way, we meet Al-Quada killers, religious nutcases and a rather fetching female Canadian army officer.
I am looking forward to devouring more in this fast-paced series. If you love guns, black ops and lots of bad guys getting taken out, Lee Holz's Bowin books are most likely for you.
May 9, 2011
A thrilling, believable adventure with interesting characters. Would recommend this highly.
July 12, 2011
If you are interested in the world of state-sanctioned killings, in the way an assassin who targets terrorists works, this is the book for you. You get a rare insight into a world most of us know little or nothing about. The Abomination Assignment is a detached recounting of the life of a hired assassin. One reviewer compared it to a “debriefing” and I think that’s a good term to describe it.
What intrigued me about this book is the cool, detached way the narrator describes the hero whose job it is to kill, often single-handedly by stealth, his human targets. Even the love relationships between Thomas Bowing and the women in the story are described in a dispassionate way. That detachment is also the thing that troubled me about the book. Sure, Thomas Bowing kills “bad guys” and is convinced he is doing the right thing. It’s a dirty job but someone has to do it, he feels. Killing terrorists before they can strike could save thousands of lives.
That said I did miss getting a closer picture of the psychological impact such a life must have on a human being. All through the novel, I felt removed from the characters. They didn’t really engage me. They seemed one-dimensional and emotionally superficial. You would think that killing for a living would have some emotional impact on the human psyche. We get some glimpses of Thomas’s feelings of isolation but that’s about it. Then again, perhaps the detachment, the complete acceptance of that kind of an existence, is the prerequisite for an assassin. Perhaps I’m being unrealistic when I expect a human being who kills for a living to be psychologically scarred.
This was a difficult book for me to rate. As a novel, The Abomination Assignment wasn’t entirely convincing. If I merely judged it on its literary merit, I would give it 2 or 3 stars at the most. But that is entirely my opinion. Other people may look at it differently. As an unusual document of some of the clandestine operations of part of the government or private contractors in our society, it is a fascinating work and deserves to be read. So, I guess I settled for 4 stars.
What intrigued me about this book is the cool, detached way the narrator describes the hero whose job it is to kill, often single-handedly by stealth, his human targets. Even the love relationships between Thomas Bowing and the women in the story are described in a dispassionate way. That detachment is also the thing that troubled me about the book. Sure, Thomas Bowing kills “bad guys” and is convinced he is doing the right thing. It’s a dirty job but someone has to do it, he feels. Killing terrorists before they can strike could save thousands of lives.
That said I did miss getting a closer picture of the psychological impact such a life must have on a human being. All through the novel, I felt removed from the characters. They didn’t really engage me. They seemed one-dimensional and emotionally superficial. You would think that killing for a living would have some emotional impact on the human psyche. We get some glimpses of Thomas’s feelings of isolation but that’s about it. Then again, perhaps the detachment, the complete acceptance of that kind of an existence, is the prerequisite for an assassin. Perhaps I’m being unrealistic when I expect a human being who kills for a living to be psychologically scarred.
This was a difficult book for me to rate. As a novel, The Abomination Assignment wasn’t entirely convincing. If I merely judged it on its literary merit, I would give it 2 or 3 stars at the most. But that is entirely my opinion. Other people may look at it differently. As an unusual document of some of the clandestine operations of part of the government or private contractors in our society, it is a fascinating work and deserves to be read. So, I guess I settled for 4 stars.
November 29, 2011
enjoyed the story. Holz places his characters in locations he clearly knows well and writes with passion about them. Tom Bowin, the main character, has a background which, in my view, would make his part-time government role challenging to sustain, ethically. But one man’s ethics are…well, you get the picture. History has plenty of such examples. Still, he appears to be a decent Joe, and his rationale and motivations are closely justified.
The main plot is thoroughly credible and well backed up with scientific collateral. Although it wasn’t in my branch of science, I found it convincing. The US governmental dilemma about whether to break the law to ensure US security comes in for deep and well-informed debate, and the arguments are well presented, from both sides; they are a useful reminder of the moral dilemmas of Western countries.
For a man who leads a fairly monastic life, Tom seems to get plenty of sex. Though a lot is left to the imagination, the groundwork builds well. There is quite a lot on the softer side of relationships too, and I think this would give the book appeal to women. Chick-lit it certainly isn’t – there is plenty of blood and guts, with well-thought-out action sequences. Food and wine are important too, and it’s clear that the author has discriminating taste and wide knowledge of the subject.
I reviewed the Kindle version, on a laptop with the Kindle app, and it took some getting used to. Despite having to read it at the desk, I was drawn in and was startled when I realised I’d finished reading it.
For me, this fell a tad short of 4 stars, but it rates well above a 3 star, so it's a 4. It’s good holiday or weekend reading, and I will read the next in series. I also gave me the itch to visit French Canada, which says something about Holz’s ability to pen portraits!
The main plot is thoroughly credible and well backed up with scientific collateral. Although it wasn’t in my branch of science, I found it convincing. The US governmental dilemma about whether to break the law to ensure US security comes in for deep and well-informed debate, and the arguments are well presented, from both sides; they are a useful reminder of the moral dilemmas of Western countries.
For a man who leads a fairly monastic life, Tom seems to get plenty of sex. Though a lot is left to the imagination, the groundwork builds well. There is quite a lot on the softer side of relationships too, and I think this would give the book appeal to women. Chick-lit it certainly isn’t – there is plenty of blood and guts, with well-thought-out action sequences. Food and wine are important too, and it’s clear that the author has discriminating taste and wide knowledge of the subject.
I reviewed the Kindle version, on a laptop with the Kindle app, and it took some getting used to. Despite having to read it at the desk, I was drawn in and was startled when I realised I’d finished reading it.
For me, this fell a tad short of 4 stars, but it rates well above a 3 star, so it's a 4. It’s good holiday or weekend reading, and I will read the next in series. I also gave me the itch to visit French Canada, which says something about Holz’s ability to pen portraits!
January 31, 2013
I can say this book is thriller that you going to love the people who work for who.,Tom is a scientists and then wants grants to do his jobs.and now he does free hanging which is rock climbing with out help, now his boss said he challenge him and then he does and wins a game of racket ball.Now Tom is assassin or some one to do the dirty work for the government with out getting caught.He is trained and then now he has to tell his school he had to do something you see he professor and then does some research on body's and then he has a 3rd field he a loner but can kill you with out you knowing it .Now you love to see what happen in the story and it great book to read . Now he has pole who want to kill other and then a lady come to the compound at the lab and bring s in stuff that would kill and one and every one. The next Jamestown suicide or is it you will get through the book and see how Tom will end up
I got the book and then did review for the books and then i will post it over the net
I got the book and then did review for the books and then i will post it over the net
September 17, 2012
Dr. Thomas Bowin is a skilled assassin in the war on terror. The reader is allowed into the action of some secret operations. There were some grammatical and usage errors, but none made the book uneasy to read. Mechanics were good.
I liked Dr. Bowin because he was an unlikely ops man. He was no James Bond. He was described as ordinary in appearance, on the short side, nondescript. The book could have been on the blah side except for Dr. Bowin's intelligence and integrity. Quiet and ordinary people with intelligence and integrity may not cause tingles up the leg, but they can make the world a better and safer place in which to live. Good read, Mr. Holz. I look forward to reading more of your books. Thank you.
I liked Dr. Bowin because he was an unlikely ops man. He was no James Bond. He was described as ordinary in appearance, on the short side, nondescript. The book could have been on the blah side except for Dr. Bowin's intelligence and integrity. Quiet and ordinary people with intelligence and integrity may not cause tingles up the leg, but they can make the world a better and safer place in which to live. Good read, Mr. Holz. I look forward to reading more of your books. Thank you.
February 14, 2013
This is an absolutely excellent book. I was enthralled from page one. The action just got better and better as I moved through the book, which dealt with very contemporary issues: Homeland security, secretive government agencies, and international political implications. And all of this involved people who seemed very real to me. The adrenalin rush they felt as they went about their dangerous missions was felt by me, too, the reader. If this were a movie, and it very well could be, I would give it the big thumbs up.
March 12, 2014
This is a fascinating book. Holz takes us readers deep into the covert world of assassination and meticulously details ever aspect it. We know the thoughts, the plans, the reactions, the specifics of each sanctioned act. And we also get to look into the life and relationships of the man using the knife, or gun. The amount of research that went into this book is obvious and appreciated. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good spy thriller that concentrates on assassination.
December 3, 2011
I enjoyed this book because of its detail about international anti-terrorism and the apparent insider knowledge of the author's. Holz's scene and character descriptions are excellent. The book was too ambitious, however, in its scope. Holz weaves two books into one. I have ordered his next book in the series and will start reading it soon.
May 8, 2011
Marked to read
August 2, 2018
A Powerful Exciting Story!
I loved this book. It was full of action and drama. I loved the love story in between all the excitement! the author describes everything in great detail. A great book!
I loved this book. It was full of action and drama. I loved the love story in between all the excitement! the author describes everything in great detail. A great book!
October 9, 2017
Meh
It's an alright read but pretty predictable. The presence of several grammatical and misused words makes it a low rate took.
It's an alright read but pretty predictable. The presence of several grammatical and misused words makes it a low rate took.
January 16, 2017
Neat little story. It is not my usual type of book but my fiance told me it was cleverly written: which it is.
May 13, 2013
I almost gave up on this book several times but I like to give the author a chance, especially a fellow indie author. It was tough going but I was determined to finish the book. The author overly explained everything and in detail. One example was a dining scene where each dish and the waiter was described in detail so that I thought he was going to be one of the main characters, but he wasn't. Sentences were very long, sometimes as long as a whole paragraph. There were several different stories that didn't have anything to do with each other. I kept thinking they were going to somehow or other tie together but it never happened. I found myself skipping some of the details and over explaining. When the book finally got near the climax each plan was explained in detail. I liked the basic plot and since this was the author's first book, he probably learned how to tighten things up a little better in later books.
June 12, 2011
I think Tom Bowin's adventures would work much better as short stories rather than in novel format. As a whole, it feels disjointed and sporadic, and the first half of the novel doesn't work at all with the second half - where the bulk of the storyline takes place. I actually didn't like the romantic relationships at all. But I think a farm owning scientist, who dabbles in covert assassination assigments, would work very cleverly as a series of short stories.
I won a copy of this through goodreads first-reads giveaway.
I won a copy of this through goodreads first-reads giveaway.
June 9, 2011
Overall, I can't say I was impressed. Even though the book is written entirely in the third person, it exposes no motivation for any character other than Dr. Bowin and is merely concerned with the assassination of three unrelated protagonists. It also seems entirely formulaic, like it was generated by a computer, and there are only a few plot kinks in place of any real twist, so there are no surprises to be found.
If you are looking to kill some time, go ahead, pick it up and give it a read. But don't expect to find much suspense or any big thrills.
If you are looking to kill some time, go ahead, pick it up and give it a read. But don't expect to find much suspense or any big thrills.
September 9, 2013
An Edge of Your Seat Thriller!!
It's not often I come across a book and get the feeling the author may have actually been the protagonist. Lee Holz has written a thrilling masterpiece. His main character, Tom Bowin is a breath of fresh air in the spy/assassin genre. Lee's knowledge of the secret agencies that collaborate within the boundaries of Washington, D.C., leaves me with the impression he may have worked for one of them. I loved this book and can not wait to read the entire trilogy. Great job Lee, well done!
It's not often I come across a book and get the feeling the author may have actually been the protagonist. Lee Holz has written a thrilling masterpiece. His main character, Tom Bowin is a breath of fresh air in the spy/assassin genre. Lee's knowledge of the secret agencies that collaborate within the boundaries of Washington, D.C., leaves me with the impression he may have worked for one of them. I loved this book and can not wait to read the entire trilogy. Great job Lee, well done!
May 9, 2011
A thrilling, believable adventure with interesting characters. Would recommend this highly.
May 8, 2011
Marked to read
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews