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Richard Paladin #1
Killer Protocols
Richard Paladin works in the shadows eliminating terrorists, spies, and just general riff-raff who threaten the security of the United States. At least, he assumed that's who he'd be killing when he was hired into a secret department of the Environmental Protection Agency. But when one of his "clients" turns out to be a seemingly harmless Missouri housewife, then he's ordered to eliminate the owner of the local northern Virginia bar he frequents, he starts to ask himself a few questions—like what any of this has to do with the U.S. Government's reluctance to sign the Kyoto Protocol. Still, if he can run the gauntlet of spies and goons who keep cropping up unexpectedly, he might just be able to hold onto his job and keep doing what he loves—arranging fatal accidents and suicides. Because Richard Paladin hasn't got a clue what he would do for a living if he loses his job as a government killer.
282 pages, Paperback
First published March 9, 2012
1 person is currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
David E. Manuel
9 books13 followersDAVID E. MANUEL grew up in Houston, Texas and attended the University of Houston, receiving degrees in history and political science. After college, he worked for a few years in the corporate office of an offshore drilling company. In the mid-1980s he moved to the Washington DC area and took a job with the U.S. Government.
David lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and their English Shepherd, Falco, who, as far as we know, is not a secret government agent.
David lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and their English Shepherd, Falco, who, as far as we know, is not a secret government agent.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 22, 2014
This was fun, rather tongue-in-cheek at times, 3.5+. Paladin is a great character, as amoral & opinionated as they come - kind of a Parker (Richard Stark) but with a better sense of humor & a different job.
I almost gave this book just 3 stars because it was a bit long-winded, but possibly I'm a bit spoiled by the Leonard & Westlake (Stark) novels I've been reading lately. As the author's first book, it was excellent & I expect the next to be even better.
I almost gave this book just 3 stars because it was a bit long-winded, but possibly I'm a bit spoiled by the Leonard & Westlake (Stark) novels I've been reading lately. As the author's first book, it was excellent & I expect the next to be even better.
June 6, 2012
David E. Manuel is a member of the pulp fiction group on Goodreads and provided me with a copy of this, his debut novel, free of charge through the groups fourm. Killer Protocols is the first in an apparent series of books featuring government hitman Richard Paladin and also the first self-published novel I've read.
This was less pulpy noir and more popular fiction in the vein of Lee Child than I am used to and prefer but still I enjoyed it. Richard Paladin is probably one of the most unique characters that I remember reading; he's a universal bastard, an equal opportunities hater, a man who's angry about everything and will not hesitate to rant in a way that could easily offend the delicate sensibilities of some less hard boiled raders than myself and whose sole response to this anger is physical hurt, he is a man conflicted, who lies to himself (and you the reader) and when confronted with the horrible truth of his past actions simply has a beer and wishes he could get back to killing.
He has the personality of an older man but the body of a young man and it is this conflict that rings untrue for me, the speach patterns and thought processes don't seem authentic enough for a young guy just kicked out of the army.
Richard documents the minutiae of running a internet search without leaving a trace, how to follow a subject and how to lose a tail amongst other things on his tour of duty; key ingredients in this kind of hitman/espionage thriller I'd imagine but again it's not what I usually read, even having trouble with the same aspects of classics such as The Thirty-Nine Steps.
As mentioned by others there's a fair amount of socio-political commentary contained within this book, least of all is the damning indictment of the entire country of America for creating a perception of themselves as a place where the events of this book actually seem plausible and innocent people can be officially murdered simply for signing anti-government petitions. Actually isn't that the way Hitler worked?
There's some fat that could do with some trimming but at $3 for the ebook i'd say it's well worth it for the days reading you'll get.
This was less pulpy noir and more popular fiction in the vein of Lee Child than I am used to and prefer but still I enjoyed it. Richard Paladin is probably one of the most unique characters that I remember reading; he's a universal bastard, an equal opportunities hater, a man who's angry about everything and will not hesitate to rant in a way that could easily offend the delicate sensibilities of some less hard boiled raders than myself and whose sole response to this anger is physical hurt, he is a man conflicted, who lies to himself (and you the reader) and when confronted with the horrible truth of his past actions simply has a beer and wishes he could get back to killing.
He has the personality of an older man but the body of a young man and it is this conflict that rings untrue for me, the speach patterns and thought processes don't seem authentic enough for a young guy just kicked out of the army.
Richard documents the minutiae of running a internet search without leaving a trace, how to follow a subject and how to lose a tail amongst other things on his tour of duty; key ingredients in this kind of hitman/espionage thriller I'd imagine but again it's not what I usually read, even having trouble with the same aspects of classics such as The Thirty-Nine Steps.
As mentioned by others there's a fair amount of socio-political commentary contained within this book, least of all is the damning indictment of the entire country of America for creating a perception of themselves as a place where the events of this book actually seem plausible and innocent people can be officially murdered simply for signing anti-government petitions. Actually isn't that the way Hitler worked?
There's some fat that could do with some trimming but at $3 for the ebook i'd say it's well worth it for the days reading you'll get.
May 21, 2012
David Manuel hit it out of the park with his first novel, Killer Protocols. I was sucked in from the very first page and my interest was kept up steadily until the last.
The basic premise is that Richard Paladin is a Government assassin, and of all government agencies, he is an assassin for the EPA! Richard is given targets, and he eliminates them, but he is largely in the dark regarding the reasoning behind his contracts. Richards story is basically him investigating and coming to terms with what he has been doing for the EPA, and how his contracts relate to the bigger picture.
Manuel's writing style is not only interesting, but also he is able to interject social commentary into the plotline that is not only hilarious, but also dead-on accurate. Richard's commentary on Bill O'Reilly was priceless, but my absolute favorite was Richards opinion of NYC, as stated on page one: "Best I can tell New Yorkers are a bunch of loud-mouthed, shit-for-brains assholes who think getting mugged is a cultural experience."
LOL!! If you have know anything about NYC, how can you not love that?
In conclusion, if you want a good thriller/spy novel with great social commentary, you cannot go wrong with Killer Protocols.
The basic premise is that Richard Paladin is a Government assassin, and of all government agencies, he is an assassin for the EPA! Richard is given targets, and he eliminates them, but he is largely in the dark regarding the reasoning behind his contracts. Richards story is basically him investigating and coming to terms with what he has been doing for the EPA, and how his contracts relate to the bigger picture.
Manuel's writing style is not only interesting, but also he is able to interject social commentary into the plotline that is not only hilarious, but also dead-on accurate. Richard's commentary on Bill O'Reilly was priceless, but my absolute favorite was Richards opinion of NYC, as stated on page one: "Best I can tell New Yorkers are a bunch of loud-mouthed, shit-for-brains assholes who think getting mugged is a cultural experience."
LOL!! If you have know anything about NYC, how can you not love that?
In conclusion, if you want a good thriller/spy novel with great social commentary, you cannot go wrong with Killer Protocols.
February 21, 2013
Killer Protocols is not the sort of novel I would usually read. Thus, I was (wrongly) expecting to slog through a story on the premise of having committed myself to the act of doing so. Instead, I've spent every spare minute (and I don't get many) reading this book, significantly in the middle of the night, which seems most fitting, given the genre.
The plot is truly compelling, although it really shouldn't be, in the sense that it is told through matter-of-fact, first person narrative with barely any variation in emotion. The main character (Richard Paladin) is fascinating, with his cold, stark perspective on life, which obviously shapes his approach to his work, and even the way he questions the orders he is given. That said, there are couple of nice little twists in there where we get to see a little deeper into Paladin's soul, and some wonderfully subtle, dry humour.
I can't say much more than this without giving the story away, but I have to admit I'm hooked and eager to read the rest of the Richard Paladin series.
The plot is truly compelling, although it really shouldn't be, in the sense that it is told through matter-of-fact, first person narrative with barely any variation in emotion. The main character (Richard Paladin) is fascinating, with his cold, stark perspective on life, which obviously shapes his approach to his work, and even the way he questions the orders he is given. That said, there are couple of nice little twists in there where we get to see a little deeper into Paladin's soul, and some wonderfully subtle, dry humour.
I can't say much more than this without giving the story away, but I have to admit I'm hooked and eager to read the rest of the Richard Paladin series.
January 2, 2013
“Killer Protocols” by David E. Manuel is a very competent and professional piece of work and a gripping read. I discovered the book on an indie review website and decided to give it a try on the basis that I had not read any crime fiction or thriller for some time.
I was pleasantly surprised right away when I found myself not being pushed into an action packed and fast paced adrenalin rush of a story but to be presented with a solid set up of the main character, Richard Paladin, an undercover agent working for the U.S. government as killing machine: A likeable if somewhat cranky and at times opinionated and testosterone filled hero. As the reader knows who does the killing the story is not an ordinary whodunit but a more complex mystery about why our man is ordered to kill these people and just how legitimate his ‘employers’ are.
The supporting characters are another asset to the book, they are well portrayed and given enough colour and flesh to make them more than just décor, in fact, Manuel has an outstanding talent for description and setting up scenes without rushing. There is also a lot of wit and humour in Paladin’s perception of his surroundings, making for an easily flowing and enjoyable reading experience.
The writing style reminded me at times of Andy McNab, another great author who slowly and carefully establishes the story before picking up pace. Once various strands of the story suddenly come together I could not put the book down until I finished it in one sitting.
I am not sure if all hard-core fans of the genre will appreciate the initial slow pacing but I would urge you to give it a try, the build-up pays off perfectly later on in the book, bringing more depth to the characters and making the plot richer and believable.
I am not a massive thriller fan but “Killer Protocols” reminded me just how exciting a good suspense read can be. This book being the first in a series has done a great job at getting me hooked and looking forward to more. I have tried but failed to find a fault with this book and I will recommend it warmly to others.
5 out of 5
I was pleasantly surprised right away when I found myself not being pushed into an action packed and fast paced adrenalin rush of a story but to be presented with a solid set up of the main character, Richard Paladin, an undercover agent working for the U.S. government as killing machine: A likeable if somewhat cranky and at times opinionated and testosterone filled hero. As the reader knows who does the killing the story is not an ordinary whodunit but a more complex mystery about why our man is ordered to kill these people and just how legitimate his ‘employers’ are.
The supporting characters are another asset to the book, they are well portrayed and given enough colour and flesh to make them more than just décor, in fact, Manuel has an outstanding talent for description and setting up scenes without rushing. There is also a lot of wit and humour in Paladin’s perception of his surroundings, making for an easily flowing and enjoyable reading experience.
The writing style reminded me at times of Andy McNab, another great author who slowly and carefully establishes the story before picking up pace. Once various strands of the story suddenly come together I could not put the book down until I finished it in one sitting.
I am not sure if all hard-core fans of the genre will appreciate the initial slow pacing but I would urge you to give it a try, the build-up pays off perfectly later on in the book, bringing more depth to the characters and making the plot richer and believable.
I am not a massive thriller fan but “Killer Protocols” reminded me just how exciting a good suspense read can be. This book being the first in a series has done a great job at getting me hooked and looking forward to more. I have tried but failed to find a fault with this book and I will recommend it warmly to others.
5 out of 5
August 27, 2013
This is an excellent thriller, though I didn’t like Richard Paladin. He’s a man’s man – the testosterone-packed kind who swills beer for breakfast, works up a sweat at the gym, runs miles every day, and has a view of life that’s completely opposite to mine. But it stands to reason that Paladin (not being exactly the suave James Bond type) isn’t my kind of guy. I’m a woman, though a woman who enjoys a good thriller, and Killer Protocols definitely falls into that category. Notwithstanding my feelings about Paladin, he’s a very well flushed out character, unusual for this action-driven genre in which characterization is traditionally sketchy.
Manuel not only does a first-class job in creating well-rounded, believable characters, he paints a superb picture of American life, both through his character’s observations and through his meticulous attention to location details. I haven’t hung out at the kind of bar Paladin frequents (doubt women would be welcome), but I’ve stayed in the kind of hotels he stays in, driven on some of those roads, and Emanuel’s descriptions of Washington are spot-on.
I’m an environmentalist, so I was particularly interested in Paladin’s cover being a job with the Environmental Protection Agency. Except Paladin isn’t sure what his job at the EPA entails. This puts him in a sticky position down the line, but that’s as much as I’ll say about the plot as this is a thriller and it wouldn’t do to throw out spoilers. You’ll have to read the book and find out what that’s all about, and I highly recommend you do. It’s a well-written story that not only entertains, but captures aspects of the American culture beautifully. Despite not being head over heels in love with Paladin, I can’t wait to see what he’ll get up to in the next book of the series.
Manuel not only does a first-class job in creating well-rounded, believable characters, he paints a superb picture of American life, both through his character’s observations and through his meticulous attention to location details. I haven’t hung out at the kind of bar Paladin frequents (doubt women would be welcome), but I’ve stayed in the kind of hotels he stays in, driven on some of those roads, and Emanuel’s descriptions of Washington are spot-on.
I’m an environmentalist, so I was particularly interested in Paladin’s cover being a job with the Environmental Protection Agency. Except Paladin isn’t sure what his job at the EPA entails. This puts him in a sticky position down the line, but that’s as much as I’ll say about the plot as this is a thriller and it wouldn’t do to throw out spoilers. You’ll have to read the book and find out what that’s all about, and I highly recommend you do. It’s a well-written story that not only entertains, but captures aspects of the American culture beautifully. Despite not being head over heels in love with Paladin, I can’t wait to see what he’ll get up to in the next book of the series.
November 29, 2012
Shades of Mickey Spillane. Richard Paladin is a misanthrope who calls ‘em like he sees ‘em. He sees himself as a true American patriot who knows what’s wrong with America today – almost everything! Imagine a government assassin with Archie Bunker's attitude (reference too dated?) and a mild case of narcissism… and yet, surprisingly, he’s a very likable character!
A good solid story told in an easy to read style, neither hurried nor slow. I got the impression that author David E. Manuel was having a great time telling this story which, while not a satire per se, does have strong elements of satire in it.
The plot unfolds in a believable manner with a few twists and surprises along the way. About half way through I had some inkling as to where it was all going to end but it wasn't what I would consider predictable.
If you are very easily offended then you probably won’t like it but if you can stand a little gentle nudging at whatever personal beliefs you may hold (Paladin is an equal opportunity offender and will almost certainly hit close to some opinion you hold dear) then give it a try.
There is some strong language, as well as violence but it’s much less explicit than one might expect for a novel of this kind.
***I was given a free eBook copy of this book with the understanding that I would post an honest review after I’d finished reading it. There were no conditions given (nor promises made) as to whether the review would be good, bad, or indifferent, only that it would be my honest opinion.
A good solid story told in an easy to read style, neither hurried nor slow. I got the impression that author David E. Manuel was having a great time telling this story which, while not a satire per se, does have strong elements of satire in it.
The plot unfolds in a believable manner with a few twists and surprises along the way. About half way through I had some inkling as to where it was all going to end but it wasn't what I would consider predictable.
If you are very easily offended then you probably won’t like it but if you can stand a little gentle nudging at whatever personal beliefs you may hold (Paladin is an equal opportunity offender and will almost certainly hit close to some opinion you hold dear) then give it a try.
There is some strong language, as well as violence but it’s much less explicit than one might expect for a novel of this kind.
***I was given a free eBook copy of this book with the understanding that I would post an honest review after I’d finished reading it. There were no conditions given (nor promises made) as to whether the review would be good, bad, or indifferent, only that it would be my honest opinion.
November 28, 2012
Review of Killer Protocols by David E. Manuel
5 Stars
Another can’t-put-it-down, read-in-one-sitting thriller/adventure/mystery, with a subtle touch of humour that caught me up and occasionally made me laugh out loud-AFTER I caught the joke! “Richard Paladin,” our protagonist, is a cynical yet patriotic (believe me, it’s possible) Federal government bureaucrat-or so he seems. Richard Paladin is not even his real name, but it is the appellation by which he is known to his coworkers at an “outpost” of the Environmental Protection Agency. In actuality, he is a well-paid government assassin-or so he believes. His supervisor is his “handler,” providing him with aliases and credit cards, and with assignments to remove terrorists within the boundaries of the U.S.
I won’t spoil this very enjoyable story line, but do know that Paladin is a truly original character, and this plot line is amazing. I really want to see him return for a new round of adventure and excitement, and his trademark subtle cynical humour, leavened with his patriotic devotion to his nation.
- - -
I reviewed an e-book copy, received from the author, via the Goodreads Group Making Connections, in return for my fair and impartial review.
5 Stars
Another can’t-put-it-down, read-in-one-sitting thriller/adventure/mystery, with a subtle touch of humour that caught me up and occasionally made me laugh out loud-AFTER I caught the joke! “Richard Paladin,” our protagonist, is a cynical yet patriotic (believe me, it’s possible) Federal government bureaucrat-or so he seems. Richard Paladin is not even his real name, but it is the appellation by which he is known to his coworkers at an “outpost” of the Environmental Protection Agency. In actuality, he is a well-paid government assassin-or so he believes. His supervisor is his “handler,” providing him with aliases and credit cards, and with assignments to remove terrorists within the boundaries of the U.S.
I won’t spoil this very enjoyable story line, but do know that Paladin is a truly original character, and this plot line is amazing. I really want to see him return for a new round of adventure and excitement, and his trademark subtle cynical humour, leavened with his patriotic devotion to his nation.
- - -
I reviewed an e-book copy, received from the author, via the Goodreads Group Making Connections, in return for my fair and impartial review.
May 21, 2012
I have a soft spot in my heart for amorality. I'm not sure what that says about me :-). So, I'm a big fan of John Locke and Richard Stark and books like Six Bad Things (Hank Thompson, #2) and Hardcase which are fast paced studies of the anti-hero.
Paladin, while a bit tamer than, say Parker, hit the spot for me. He's not evil but he's not Mr. Manners either. I look forward to his further adventures.
Paladin, while a bit tamer than, say Parker, hit the spot for me. He's not evil but he's not Mr. Manners either. I look forward to his further adventures.
September 29, 2013
Killer Protocol, the first in the Richard Paladin series, is a suspenseful and engaging thriller that keeps you guessing all the way through. The protagonist, Paladin, is a lonely and cynical person, which is probably a good thing as he is a government hit man. So when this hot-blooded assassin's inner humanity begins to force him to question some of the targets being selected for him, the foundations of his life and number of people he can trust starts to wither, forcing him to use all of his skill to tackle the various known and unknown enemies now occupying his world.
A thoroughly enjoyable thriller, I look forward to reading more Paladin...
A thoroughly enjoyable thriller, I look forward to reading more Paladin...
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October 30, 2012A crackling good yarn. This Manuel lad can really go places. Reminds me a lot of Matt Helm books back in the day, with a little Robin Moore :The Devil To Pay" type writing. Just dont want to see Mr Paladin at my door if you get my drift. This kid could wright for the old late 50s and 60s magazines Argosy and For Men Only. Talk later.
June 9, 2012
Of course I think it's awesome. I wrote it.
August 9, 2013
I selected this book as my August KOLL book from Amazon. My view on this book changed several times during the course of reading this story. At first I was very put-off by Richard Paladin, the main character and EPA assassin. He came across as a poor man's Will Robie or John Rain. Paladin seemed very crude and rude, very much a racist. One reviewer remarked his views were like Archie Bunker's from the 70's TV show "All in the Family". Well, that is a polite way of putting it. I just got the impression that the Paladin character was not as sophisticated as Will Robie in
or John Rain in
.
Early in the book he sets out to kill a woman, but she gets killed in a car accident caused by some thoughtless jerk. So Paladin just decides on his own to go ahead and kill this guy because he was a heartless uncaring guy. H'mm, that doesn't feel right, is this sometime that a hero would do? Later on he made a comment where he wished he had a formula for cancer. Not a cure for cancer mind you, but he wanted to use cancer to kill someone and not have it traced back to him. Really? How grown up is this guy?
I think 3 stars is more than generous here. Based on all the books I have read, I just do not see a 5 star review in this book. After all, this is the author's first book. Let's give him something to aim for. This was a nice try to develop a crude leading character. Can't really call him a hero can we? Anti-hero? Not sure. Paladin comes across as a bit of an under-achiever. The few people he did kill where killed very simply, not much thought put into any of his efforts.
Maybe I am spoiled by assassins like Will Robie, John Rain, or to go old school: like Matt Helm in
.
Oh, there was a thread out there somewhere about tough guy characters in books. Like John Rain, Will Robie, Mitch Rapp, Dirk Pitt, Repairman Jack and so on. The author said he thought his character Richard Paladin was the best of the lot. No, sorry. Not even close. Your guy needs to be a little more developed, be cooler, not so crude, read some more (get that IQ up a tad), and learn his trade better. Will I read another Paladin story? Maybe, but not for a long time. Nothing really special about this guy.
or John Rain in
. Early in the book he sets out to kill a woman, but she gets killed in a car accident caused by some thoughtless jerk. So Paladin just decides on his own to go ahead and kill this guy because he was a heartless uncaring guy. H'mm, that doesn't feel right, is this sometime that a hero would do? Later on he made a comment where he wished he had a formula for cancer. Not a cure for cancer mind you, but he wanted to use cancer to kill someone and not have it traced back to him. Really? How grown up is this guy?
I think 3 stars is more than generous here. Based on all the books I have read, I just do not see a 5 star review in this book. After all, this is the author's first book. Let's give him something to aim for. This was a nice try to develop a crude leading character. Can't really call him a hero can we? Anti-hero? Not sure. Paladin comes across as a bit of an under-achiever. The few people he did kill where killed very simply, not much thought put into any of his efforts.
Maybe I am spoiled by assassins like Will Robie, John Rain, or to go old school: like Matt Helm in
.Oh, there was a thread out there somewhere about tough guy characters in books. Like John Rain, Will Robie, Mitch Rapp, Dirk Pitt, Repairman Jack and so on. The author said he thought his character Richard Paladin was the best of the lot. No, sorry. Not even close. Your guy needs to be a little more developed, be cooler, not so crude, read some more (get that IQ up a tad), and learn his trade better. Will I read another Paladin story? Maybe, but not for a long time. Nothing really special about this guy.
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July 4, 2015I love a good thriller, I was hooked on page 1. Love the sarcastic understones
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews