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The Last Assassin
With the help of a beautiful Iranian girl, CIA agent Peter Randall investigates a group of seven powerful Iranians whose mission is to assassinate seven world leaders, including the U.S. president. Reprint.
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
4 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Easterman
49 books58 followersA pseudonym used by Denis M. MacEoin (aka Jonathan Aycliffe).
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 3, 2010
“The Last Assassin”, by Daniel Easterman: A book review by Justin von Trapp.
The world and the powerful nations that hold it in stability are held in stunning vulnerability in “The Last Assassin” by Daniel Eastermam. Set in the 1970’s amid the savage and opportunistic espionage involving Iran, the U.S.A., and Israel, one never knows what will emerge from the twisting and shadowy setting. The main character is a disillusioned CIA agent living in Terhan as a revolution staged by a stringent orthodox Islamic régime is overtaking the country. While the already liquid world turns to vapor our hero Peter Randall finds a lead on a mysterious group of militant religious fanatics who’s effectiveness and secret influence is terrifying everyone encountering them.
**SPOILER ALERT** After they realize his knowledge of their existence, the faction, known to the CIA as the Qolhak Group, make effective assassinations on peter’s most valued relationships. These moves set Peter on an personal, trying and fear filled investigation that sends him from Tehran to America and back again. The the group is revealed to be clearly more than a match for even the CIA and throws the agency into a desperate confusion resulting in unsuccessful and un-insightful attempts of dealing with the dangerous terrorists. Then, the CIA, considering Randall as a liability to their vision of a solution, try to hunt him down to be captured or killed. Randall is able to elude them and the Qolhak assassins sent from Iran or already planted in America. Finally, after an escape from america back to Iran and with the help of a few trusted friends and eventually the Mossad (Israeli intelligence) he tries to destroy the powerful and deeply evil group.
After much hard work of Randall’s to reveal this secretive organization, it is discovered to be a religious sect dating far into the past. Powerful in intervals throughout history and believed to be annihilated by Ghengis Khan, but rising and falling again and again after, under a shroud of efficiency and convoluted religious claims and beliefs. They have been known most infamously as the Assassins. The name from which our english term is taken. ** END OF SPOILER**
The book is written mostly in a frank and “to the point” way, which helps the book race along at its engaging pace. The use of imagery and the flow of a situation is clearly an appreciation of the author and is used well, yet expendable. The greatest qualities about his book is the amount of contextual, historical and cultural detail and information given for every meaningful subject throughout the story combined with the great insight into the culture, language and religion of Iran and more briefly, the other middle eastern countries surrounding it. It is also a book that I would suggest to one who would like to know more about the secret world of espionage during the 70’s. Altogether a stunningly informative book.
The book was not intended to be uplifting but a journey into darker worlds we will possibly never know. I would give it two stars out of five (one being detrimental and five being practically divine). The characters are not extravagant, but many are fairly admirable. A good book for learning, especially for us Americans who have a very stable life style. It is window to view a battle fought in silence to decide whether a war will start or not in a strange culture. Within, death, war and worse is just around the corner and uncertainty is the only certainty.
The world and the powerful nations that hold it in stability are held in stunning vulnerability in “The Last Assassin” by Daniel Eastermam. Set in the 1970’s amid the savage and opportunistic espionage involving Iran, the U.S.A., and Israel, one never knows what will emerge from the twisting and shadowy setting. The main character is a disillusioned CIA agent living in Terhan as a revolution staged by a stringent orthodox Islamic régime is overtaking the country. While the already liquid world turns to vapor our hero Peter Randall finds a lead on a mysterious group of militant religious fanatics who’s effectiveness and secret influence is terrifying everyone encountering them.
**SPOILER ALERT** After they realize his knowledge of their existence, the faction, known to the CIA as the Qolhak Group, make effective assassinations on peter’s most valued relationships. These moves set Peter on an personal, trying and fear filled investigation that sends him from Tehran to America and back again. The the group is revealed to be clearly more than a match for even the CIA and throws the agency into a desperate confusion resulting in unsuccessful and un-insightful attempts of dealing with the dangerous terrorists. Then, the CIA, considering Randall as a liability to their vision of a solution, try to hunt him down to be captured or killed. Randall is able to elude them and the Qolhak assassins sent from Iran or already planted in America. Finally, after an escape from america back to Iran and with the help of a few trusted friends and eventually the Mossad (Israeli intelligence) he tries to destroy the powerful and deeply evil group.
After much hard work of Randall’s to reveal this secretive organization, it is discovered to be a religious sect dating far into the past. Powerful in intervals throughout history and believed to be annihilated by Ghengis Khan, but rising and falling again and again after, under a shroud of efficiency and convoluted religious claims and beliefs. They have been known most infamously as the Assassins. The name from which our english term is taken. ** END OF SPOILER**
The book is written mostly in a frank and “to the point” way, which helps the book race along at its engaging pace. The use of imagery and the flow of a situation is clearly an appreciation of the author and is used well, yet expendable. The greatest qualities about his book is the amount of contextual, historical and cultural detail and information given for every meaningful subject throughout the story combined with the great insight into the culture, language and religion of Iran and more briefly, the other middle eastern countries surrounding it. It is also a book that I would suggest to one who would like to know more about the secret world of espionage during the 70’s. Altogether a stunningly informative book.
The book was not intended to be uplifting but a journey into darker worlds we will possibly never know. I would give it two stars out of five (one being detrimental and five being practically divine). The characters are not extravagant, but many are fairly admirable. A good book for learning, especially for us Americans who have a very stable life style. It is window to view a battle fought in silence to decide whether a war will start or not in a strange culture. Within, death, war and worse is just around the corner and uncertainty is the only certainty.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2023
"Ο τελευταίος δολοφόνος", εκδόσεις Καρρέ.
Προ αμνημονεύτων ετών (καλοκαίρι του 2010) είχα διαβάσει το "Η νύχτα του έβδομου σκότους" του ίδιου συγγραφέα, από το οποίο φυσικά δεν θυμάμαι απολύτως τίποτα, αλλά για να του έβαλα τρία αστεράκια σημαίνει ότι μάλλον δεν με είχε εντυπωσιάσει και τόσο. Και επίσης έχω διαβάσει το "Το δωμάτιο της Ναόμι", ένα πραγματικά πολύ δυνατό και ατμοσφαιρικό μυθιστόρημα τρόμου, που βέβαια έγραψε με το ψευδώνυμο Τζόναθαν Άικλιφ. Οπότε το "Ο τελευταίος δολοφόνος" ουσιαστικά αποτελεί την τρίτη επαφή μου με το έργο του συγκεκριμένου ανθρώπου: Και μπορώ να δηλώσω ιδιαίτερα ικανοποιημένος. Ήταν όπως ακριβώς το περίμενα, δηλαδή περιπετειώδες, αγωνιώδες και χορταστικό, γεμάτο ένταση, δεκάδες δυνατές σκηνές και εικόνες, καθώς και φοβερά σκηνικά και εξαιρετική ατμόσφαιρα. Εντάξει, ίσως εδώ κι εκεί να γίνεται κομμάτι υπερβολικό και όχι τόσο πειστικό, ίσως σε μερικά σημεία να υπάρχουν κάποιες κουραστικές λεπτομέρειες ιστορικής και θρησκευτικής φύσεως, αλλά γενικά νομίζω ότι ο συγγραφέας έκανε πολύ καλή δουλειά με το υλικό του. Εννοείται μιλάμε για ένα περιπετειώδες θρίλερ χαρακτηριστικό δείγμα της δεκαετίας του '80 -που ως επί το πλείστον διαδραματίζεται στα τέλη της δεκαετίας του '70-, οπότε αρκετά ζητήματα που έχουν να κάνουν με τη γεωπολιτική και όλα αυτά, να είναι πλέον κάπως ξεπερασμένα. Όμως ο συγγραφέας με την εθιστική γραφή του και τη γρήγορη και χορταστική πλοκή του κατάφερε να με καθηλώσει και να με τσιτώσει. Για μένα, πρόσημο θετικό.
Προ αμνημονεύτων ετών (καλοκαίρι του 2010) είχα διαβάσει το "Η νύχτα του έβδομου σκότους" του ίδιου συγγραφέα, από το οποίο φυσικά δεν θυμάμαι απολύτως τίποτα, αλλά για να του έβαλα τρία αστεράκια σημαίνει ότι μάλλον δεν με είχε εντυπωσιάσει και τόσο. Και επίσης έχω διαβάσει το "Το δωμάτιο της Ναόμι", ένα πραγματικά πολύ δυνατό και ατμοσφαιρικό μυθιστόρημα τρόμου, που βέβαια έγραψε με το ψευδώνυμο Τζόναθαν Άικλιφ. Οπότε το "Ο τελευταίος δολοφόνος" ουσιαστικά αποτελεί την τρίτη επαφή μου με το έργο του συγκεκριμένου ανθρώπου: Και μπορώ να δηλώσω ιδιαίτερα ικανοποιημένος. Ήταν όπως ακριβώς το περίμενα, δηλαδή περιπετειώδες, αγωνιώδες και χορταστικό, γεμάτο ένταση, δεκάδες δυνατές σκηνές και εικόνες, καθώς και φοβερά σκηνικά και εξαιρετική ατμόσφαιρα. Εντάξει, ίσως εδώ κι εκεί να γίνεται κομμάτι υπερβολικό και όχι τόσο πειστικό, ίσως σε μερικά σημεία να υπάρχουν κάποιες κουραστικές λεπτομέρειες ιστορικής και θρησκευτικής φύσεως, αλλά γενικά νομίζω ότι ο συγγραφέας έκανε πολύ καλή δουλειά με το υλικό του. Εννοείται μιλάμε για ένα περιπετειώδες θρίλερ χαρακτηριστικό δείγμα της δεκαετίας του '80 -που ως επί το πλείστον διαδραματίζεται στα τέλη της δεκαετίας του '70-, οπότε αρκετά ζητήματα που έχουν να κάνουν με τη γεωπολιτική και όλα αυτά, να είναι πλέον κάπως ξεπερασμένα. Όμως ο συγγραφέας με την εθιστική γραφή του και τη γρήγορη και χορταστική πλοκή του κατάφερε να με καθηλώσει και να με τσιτώσει. Για μένα, πρόσημο θετικό.
October 24, 2025
A long and sometimes gritty read with astory founded inthe turmoil of 1970s poltics between the USA and Iran (and the Muslim world in the MiddleEast) and a plot to kill PresidentCarter. A little known Ismaili sect, the Irshadis are implicated for their fundamentalist beliefs aboutthe return of aMahdi to ptomote a whollyMuslimworld following Holy jihad. Certainly scary in places but Peter Randall survives all to 'save' the western world. Interesting Iranian history woven throughout.
June 4, 2018
การดำเนินเรื่องหลักๆจะอยู่ในอิหร่านระหว่างช่วงที่เปลี่ยนแปลงการปกครอง พระเอกเป็นเจ้าหน้าที่ CIA ที่เข้าไปเกี่ยวข้องกับศาสนาโบราณของเปอร์เซีย ที่เป็นกลุ่มสมาคมลับที่ส่งนักฆ่าไปก่อวินาศกรรมและลอบสังหารประธานาธิบดีอเมริกา แต่ในระหว่างการสืบสวนพระเอกกลับถูกตามล่าจากทั้งฝ่ายอิหร่านและต้นสังสังกัดของตัวเอง
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September 21, 2020Tantos nombres, tengo que memorizarlos como la lista del cole.
July 15, 2016
Occasionally informative and interesting but mostly lacks depth in both it's dull characters and narrative.
July 8, 2018
I can't remember this one really well, but I recall I liked it a lot. The cover's really cool too.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews