Assassin's Shadow

Dusky MacMorgan #5

by Randy Striker, Randy Wayne White

With his New York Times bestselling Doc Ford novels, author Randy Wayne White has been hailed as “the best new writer since Carl Hiaasen” (Denver Post). But decades ago, under the pen name Randy Striker, he was already delivering non-stop thrills with ex–Navy SEAL Dusky MacMorgan, who finds that seduction can be the deadliest thrill of all. MacMorgan has been many things to many people in his warrior, adventurer, lover, hell-raiser, and hero. Now, the U.S. government wants him to be something else—an assassin.   At the ultra-exclusive Florida resort of St. Carib, the rich, famous, and elite flock to have their bodies sculpted and scalpeled to perfection. An odd destination for MacMorgan, but that’s where he’s landed in his quest to take out a cabal of international terrorists before they can wipe out the resort’s entire coddled client list.   But MacMorgan never expected to fall for a woman whose beauty is beyond reckoning—and he never expected to become a target for assassination himself.

Genres: Fiction, Adventure, Action, Mystery, Thriller

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 1981

About the author

A pseudonym used by Randy Wayne White

Series:
* Dusky MacMorgan

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars. Shallow, male Mary Sue hero with unbelievable back story inexplicably attracts beautiful women while drinking too much, dipping snuff, staying up all night for a week to take down an international crime ring. Clichés, stereotypes, and racist descriptions abound.

[Bruce Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charter boat Captain Dusky MacMorgan is hired by the CIA to thwart an assassination attempt on an island near Boca Grande, Florida. Along the way he falls for a waitress named Marina, enrolls in a week-long fat farm on St. Caribe island, becomes the enemy of a Mediterranean instructor named Matrah, befriends fat farm client and movie star Sonya, and befriends German instructor Heinrich. Dusky finds himself the hunted as well as the hunter when the assassin leaves him a note. This is the last of 6 Dusky MacMorgan novels Randy Wayne White wrote before he started writing the Doc Ford series.

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Randy Wayne at his loosey-goosiest writing-wise. There is a plot, but all is clearly structured for certain introductions, motivations, sexual activity, wrap-up and ending. All too predicable.

The writing is good. Particularly White's writing of Florida's landscape.
Characters are also well written.

The overall story isn't far from a badly written Jack Higgins tale.

Bottom line: I recommend the book: 5 out of 5 points.

[Gilbert G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi Folks, this book is only a few hundred pages, but, it is full of excitement and intrigue. It’s fun because Randy Wayne White (his real name) writes stories about the islands that we have spent many years that we have enjoyed. You may have vacationed in the many Keys that his stories revolve around.
It’s a very, very fast read but also a novel that will grab you and not let you go until the very last page!
If you have the time, give it a try👍👍

[Ralph Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly entertaining.

[Robert Kemp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable for what it is, good guy gets the bad guy and the girl. I enjoy the series as it is the early work of Randy Wayne White.

[Maureen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad, but not that great either….

[Linda Rawlins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Assassin's Shadow written by Randy Wayne White as Randy Striker was a great fast read about an ex-SEAL by the name of Dusky MacMorgan. Retired and secluded off a private island near Key West, he is content with the isolation of the sea, until he received a visit from one of his former commanding officers. He was given a mission to assassinate another assassin who works for FEAT. Freelance Extortion and Terrorism. The assassination is to take place at St. Carib, an exclusive island near Key West where the very rich and famous go for physical recreation. Dusky needs to complete his mission before his target completes theirs only his mission becomes complicated by two beautiful women. Dusky doesn't know who to trust or who to love and then he becomes the hunted!

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

#5 in the Dusky MacMorgan series. MacMorgan is the hero of a quickie series of 7 thrillers written in 1981-2 by Randy Wayne White as Randy Striker.

Dusky MacMorgan accepts an assignment to protect a terrorist target, an Israeli diplomat, and to assassinate the assassin in a way to send a message. His handler for a change is not 'Stormin' Norm Fizer because Fizer has previously disappeared on the mission. Dusky meets Marina, the estranged wife of a prime suspect, who may herself be a suspect.

[Christian · Rating 1 out of 5]

When writing this book Randy Wayne Write was still developing his skills as a writer, and a lot of the concepts used here are later going into full bloom with the Doc Ford Series.

My copy of the book had an introduction by RWW essentially explaining why this book is pretty much mediocre.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read of Randy Wayne White writing as Randy Striker. I found I quite good and a page turner. I am a fan of the Doc Ford series and this character is not as polished but I plan to read more.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

AKA Randy Wayne White

[Billy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this one. Found myself vacillating between several possible scenarios for the confrontation with the assassin.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun read with a hilarious view of "fat camps" for the wealthy! Great Beach reading...enjoying the entire 7 in this series.

[Jim Felton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read, quick and interesting. Now on to the next . . . . . .

[Lchamp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, quick read. One of our favorite authors had to start somewhere...

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

2008

[Byron Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast fun read. Randy Striker is a guilty pleasure.

[Mark Lindsey]

I enjoyed it. After I finish the Travis McGee series I think I'll give some more of these a try.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fifth book in the series I have read. Found it and the previous one's all to be very good reading. I would recommend to all, and look forward to the next