Assassin

Makedde Vanderwall #6

by Tara Moss

Former model turned forensic psychologist and PI Mak Vanderwall is missing, presumed dead in Paris. By hiring a hit man to kill her, the powerful and corrupt Cavanagh family aimed to silence her for good. But after narrowly escaping death, Mak has taken over her would-be killer's world. She is very much alive. And transformed ...

Back in Sydney Mak's former flame, criminal profiler Andy Flynn is on the trail of a vicious rapist and murderer with possible ties to the infamous 'Stiletto Killer'. He may have struck before and will certainly do so again. And while Andy struggles to cope in a world without Mak, little does he realise she is on her way back. And this time she's ready to make her own justice.

Genres: Crime, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Australia, Action, Audiobook

397 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2012

About the author

Tara Moss is an internationally bestselling author, documentary host and human rights advocate. She is the author of 15 books, published in 19 countries and 13 languages. Her latest, The Italian Secret, follows on from the internationally bestselling historical thrillers The War Widow, and The Ghosts of Paris, both set in the postwar 1940s and featuring '‘staunchly feminist, champagne-swilling, fast-driving Nazi hunter’ investigator' PI Billie Walker.

Moss is an outspoken advocate for the rights of women and children, and people with disabilities, and has also published two best-selling non-fiction books, The Fictional Woman and Speaking Out - A 21st Century Guide for Women and Girls.

She has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2007 and as of 2013 is UNICEF Australia’s National Ambassador for Child Survival, and has visited Australian hospitals, maternity wards and schools as well as Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon in her UNICEF role. In 2015 she received an Edna Ryan Award for her significant contribution to feminist debate, speaking out for women and children and inspiring others to challenge the status quo.

Her in-depth novel research has seen her tour the FBI Academy at Quantico, spend time in squad cars, morgues, prisons, the Hare Psychopathy Lab, the Supreme Court and criminology conferences, take polygraph tests, shoot weapons, conduct surveillance, pass the Firearms Training Simulator (FATSII) with the LAPD, pull 4.2 G’s doing loops over the Sydney Opera House flying with the RAAF, and acquire her CAMS race driver licence. She has hosted the true crime documentary series Tough Nuts – Australia’s Hardest Criminals on the Crime & Investigation Network, ‘Tara Moss Investigates’ on the National Geographic Channel and the author interview show Tara in Conversation on 13th Street Universal. In 2014 she was recognised for Outstanding Advocacy for her blog Manus Island: An insider’s report, which helped to break information to the public about the events surrounding the alleged murder of Reza Barati inside the Australian-run Manus Island Immigration Detention Centre.

She has earned her private investigator credentials (Cert III) from the Australian Security Academy.

Moss is a dual Australian/Canadian citizen. Visit her at TaraRaeMoss.com

Recent Awards and Accolades:

2012 Australia’s 20 Most Influential Female Voices

2013 Australia’s Most inspiring Women ‘who push boundaries, create change and motivate’

2014 Outstanding Advocacy Award for Manus Island: An insider’s report

2014 Cosmo’s The Women Who Made 2014 Better for The Fictional Woman

2014 Influential Women of 2014, alongside Malala, Laura Bates, Angelina Jolie and more

2014 The Hoopla‘s The Female Eunuch Award for The Fictional Woman

2015 Best Designed Non-Fiction Book Award, for The Fictional Woman designed by Tara Moss and Matt Stanton

2015 Part of the University of Sydney’s Leadership for Good

2015 Edna Ryan Award - ‘Grand Stirrer Award’ for making a feminist difference by speaking out for women and children, for a significant contribution to feminist debate and inciting others to challenge the status quo

2016 Champion of the West award for community service

2017 The Order of Lambrick Park

2018 International Top 50 Diversity Figures in Public Life ‘recognises the achievements of individuals who have used their position in public life, for example as a campaigner, politician or journalist to make an impact in diversity.’ Listed alongside Malala Yousufzai, Angelina Jolie, Bernie Sanders, Emma Watson, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet and more.

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good, exciting story in which Makkede becomes decidedly more proactive. In fact she is fighting for her life and she fights hard and dirty. I had my usual issues with Tara Moss's writing style. She gives far too much extraneous detail and does it in the third person rather than letting the reader discover what matters through the characters. Sadly it made me want to skim whole paragraphs. The ending of the book, which appears also to be the ending of the series, was sweet but totally implausible.
Conclusion: Yes it's a good book and worth a read but I am not rating it up there with my favourites:)

[Lynxie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makedde Vanderwall's series has come to a close.

A pretty spectacular close too.

Mak is harder, grittier and downright ballsy in this book, she's taking a stand against the big baddies and she's doing it her way.

Considering it has been five years since I read the last Mak book(Siren), I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly it all came flooding back to me. Tara weaves little tidbits of information into the story but it doesn't feel like you're being drip fed it. It reads well.

I liked how we got to see Mak grow and change in this book, far more than the other books. And while one of the twists I picked very early on, the way I thought it'd go, was certainly not the way the story went.

I always had a bit of a soft spot for Andy, and this book cemented that for me. He's raw and real, both incredibly strong, yet vulnerable at the same time. Rough around the edges, but sweet and gentle too. He felt very real in this book. More so than Mak and any of the other characters.

Overall, this felt like a strong and fitting end to Mak's tumultuous journey, but it didn't blow my mind so I can't give it 5 stars. It fell just a little shy of amazing.

A quick and easy read, pick it up today but probably not until you've read the other books in the series first.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though it’s a long time since the previous book in the Makedde Vanderwall series, it was easy to pick up. And this one would have to be the best of the lot!

Mak, former model, and now PI, is missing, presumed dead. She stirred up a whole HEAP of trouble with the Cavanagh’s in the previous book, Siren, and now they want her dead! The hit man the powerful head of the Cavanagh family, Jack, hired to kill Mak in Paris, has notified them the job is done, but hasn’t collected his final payment….

Back in Australia, Mak’s ex, criminal profiler Agent Andy Flynn, now based in Canberra, is on the trail of a vicious rapist and killer, and when contacted by his former boss in Sydney, Detective Inspector Kelley, with his request for Andy to come to Sydney to view a crime scene, as Kelley’s and Flynn’s cases appeared to have the same MO, he didn’t hesitate. Taking Agent Dana Harrison with him, and leaving his fledgling unit, Serial Violent Crime Profiling, (SVCP) in the hands of another team member, they headed for Sydney, and the horrors of perhaps finding a serial killer.

Andy’s good friend, and former partner in Sydney, Detective Senior Constable Jimmy Cassimatis was also on the case, and on contacting him, was invited to dinner that night, to catch up with his wife and finally meet the newest member of the family, as he hadn’t been to Sydney in some time. Andy was looking forward to it.

The novel goes between Mak in Paris (yes, she has survived, but at extremely great cost) and Andy in Sydney and Canberra. Mak has to stay one step ahead of her hunters, and cannot even let her father know she is alive, let alone Andy. So she is well and truly on her own. She finds she is able to do what she has to do to stay alive, and becomes tougher and stronger than ever before. The darkness and raw intensity hits her and the readers head on…..

Mak is a wonderful heroine, tough, loyal to those she cares for, but determined to do what she has to do to prevent the killers getting away with murder again. The conclusion to this powerful thriller is one I loved; shocking and dark, but brilliant! I’m sad the series is finished, but highly recommend this book, and her previous books, to all who haven’t read Tara Moss before!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Assassin is book six in the Makedde Vanderwall series by Tara Moss. Makedde Vanderwall was missing in Paris. Federal Agent Andy Flynn was starting a new federal profiling unit in Canberra and worrying about his ex-girlfriend Makedde. Federal Agent Andy Flynn was called by his ex-boss to help into the investigation of the death of a young woman. Federal Agent Andy Flynn started to feel dissolution with the beating that his unit was receiving when NSW enforcement unit removes the surveillance on the primary suspect of murdering a young woman. The readers of Assassin will continue to follow the twist and turns in Federal Agent Andy Flynn investigation on the death of the young women and to find out is Makedde Vanderwall live or dead.

Assassin is the first book I have read of Tara Moss, and I will differently read more of her books. I enjoy reading a book that has a and female leadThe Assassin was well written and researched by Tara Moss. I like Tara Moss describing her settings. I love the Tara Moss portrayed her characters and the way they interact with each other. Tara Moss did a great job in intertwining two plots throughout Assassin. The conclusion of Assassin was a surprise to me. The readers of Assassin will learn about the role and procedures of a profiler in law enforcement.

I recommend this book.

[MarciaB - Book Muster Down Under · Rating 4 out of 5]

How far would you go for revenge? For Survival?

Former model turned forensic psychologist and PI Mak Vanderwall is missing, presumed dead in Paris. By hiring a hit man to kill her, the powerful and corrupt Cavanagh family aimed to silence her for good. But after narrowly escaping death, Mak has taken over her would-be killer’s world.
She is very much alive. And transformed …

Back in Sydney Mak’s former flame, criminal profiler Andy Flynn, is on the trail of a vicious rapist and murderer with possible ties to the infamous “Stiletto Killer”. He may have struck before and will certainly do so again. And while Andy struggles to cope in a world without Mak, little does he realise she is on her way back. And this time she’s ready to make her own justice.

I chose this book as part of a GR reading challenge and read it in two days, whilst still trying to do everything else that a wife and mother is expected to do.

Although I originally felt that I didn’t have a connection with the main characters, more than likely due to me not having read the previous books in the series, the author was able to draw me in to the story in the way she weaves some of their history into it.

This is the first Tara Moss book that I have read and I found that she has a really smooth, easy-to-read way of writing. She has woven a great story of intrigue and suspense with a supercharged plot, but seeing as it is a new release and in order not to spoil the story for the rest of you, I will not elaborate.

Let’s just say that I was not expecting the ending, and neither will you.

[Helensvale Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tara Moss takes her research seriously for her novels and an authenticity shines through in her writing. The Makedde Vanderwall series (Fetish, Split, Covert, Hit & Siren) are action packed, unpredictable, emotional, romantic and include a lot of real life detail. Assassin is the final instalment and rewards fans of the series with a truly surprising and violent fatal ending.

It has been so long since the previous book but thanks to great writing I found it easy to pick up with the story. Mak has certainly grown up. She is a vigilante, full of fight and out for justice. Her family and friends think she must have been murdered as no one has heard from her since she fled the country after getting mixed up in the Stiletto killer murder investigation. However, she is alive laying low in Paris plotting her next and final moves to disclose the truth and bring the killers down once and for all.

Her ex-love criminal profiler Andy Flynn has buried himself in his work as thinking of Mak and her possible fate is to much for him to bare. When the Stiletto killer case reappears he is forced to face his fears head on. It's this case and its links to Mak that has him spiralling out of control. The novel jumps between Mak in Paris and Andy in Sydney as they both struggle with their work and their feelings for each other. Assassin is the darkest of all of the books in the series - with raw intensity that will leave you satisfied with how the story ends.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is possibly my favourite from the Mak Vanderwall series. I love her as a vigilante and I love her little surprise. The ending has me thinking this is probably the last one in the series though which is upsetting. Tara Moss is a fantastic writer and I hope this isn't the last we see of Mak and Andy

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of all the books, this would have to be my favourite. Mak annoyed me a bit in earlier books as she was a little naïve. In this book that is gone completely as she takes over Luther Hand's computer and goes on the run.

I am glad I got to the end of the series. It was interesting and this book was worth working up to.

[Bill Porter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very readable if somewhat formulaic. Unfortunately I read this in the same week that Peter Temple died, whose style I much preferred, and who then cast a shadow over 'Assassin' as I skimmed through it.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than the last 2 books in the series but not as good as the first 3. This series was very up & down for me but overall I'm glad I read it.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked reading these books though I’m not blown away but the plot . But good read just the same

[Dorothy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got less than half way through this book before I started skimming.

Moss obviously did very thorough character development and research, but (like Tom Clancy) she needs to learn that the reader doesn't care - we want to know ONLY the bits that are relevant to the story. She slips constantly into the pluperfect to share more background research, or document a character's backstory. Also, she writes these asides as bald facts, in her voice, instead of letting the character share their story.

The same goes for descriptions. Instead of showing how her character experiences the scene, her descriptions sound like a travel guide ("She arrived at La Rambla, the popular tree-lined pedestrian mall flanked by single lines of traffic on both sides, that stretched about twenty blocks, from Placa de Catalunya to the seaport").

That made it hard to get into the characters' heads or feel immersed in the story, and it also meant that the action didn't really get started until well into the book - by which time I didn't care what happened to them. And I found it hard to believe in a lead character who was traumatized by having sex with a baddie (in order to escape) but who seemed to be able to kill and kill again without feeling the slightest reaction.

[Xanthi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this on audiobook and I need to say something about the narration. The narrator was obviously Canadian. Although she didn't quite say 'aboot' for 'about', there was a slight hint of the 'ou' sound in words that was a dead give away. That didn't bother me but what did was her pronunciation of Australian cities such as Canberra and Melbourne. They were both mispronounced over and over again, and worst of all, the Australian characters were mispronouncing these names. Some of the story takes place in Barcelona and the narrator pronounces it as the locals do (BarTHelona), so why not Canberra and Melbourne?

The narration aside, the story itself was a lot of action, violence, and intrigues. The Mak character was larger than life now, with all sorts of skills and knowledge - none of it terribly credible but most thriller heroes and heroines rarely are 'normal' or 'ordinary', are they?

Right up to the end, I suspected that the author would choose to leave an ambiguous ending - is Mak alive or dead? Is this the last book for this character or not?. I won't spoil things here by answering that. Just read the book and enjoy the ride.

[Tyson Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trying to read with a newborn in your arms is tricky. You try to get them to sleep and then realise you haven't been reading all of that time. You try to feed them and realise that Zaphoid was right, a third arm does come in handy. This all adds up to making it hard to enjoy a good book.

The fact that I did enjoy this book shows just how good it was, because my reading has been very interrupted. Mak is back in what appears to be the finale in the Vanderwall series. Since the last book, Mak has been hiding out in Spain, but it isn't long before assassins get wind of her location and she is headed back to Australia.

If this is the end of the series (I'm going by the novel, I haven't heard Tara mention anything on this) then I think it ended appropriately. Some authors, TV shows and musicians drag out a series for too long. Tara has avoided that nicely. Now the only question is, will she continue in the crime genre, or will her paranormal novels be the focus now?

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well the series is over......what a way to go out. Guns blazing, pistol fighting, suicide, wow absolutely loved this series.

Makedde was such a strong woman through out these books. The things she went through, the things she saw, something no woman...no man for that matter should have to deal with but she went through it all and this book was more of Mak doing it all alone.

It's sad to think that she had to go through all that and had to in the end become an assassin herself just so she could have her freedom back, just so she could survive and also the life of her unborn child.

Loved the ending, I'm so glad that even with every thing she went through she was finally able to have her happy ever after with the love of her life Andy. Loved the epilogue but it was way too short, would love to be able to read more of Mak and Andy's life together now in their new country with their child.

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.

Tara Moss is a truly great writer. The best Makadde Vanderwall book out of them all. It's been a wild ride with Mak, and I've loved watching her grow and evolve. Most people would have probably crawled into the fetal position and never moved again after all she's been through, but Mak kept coming back with a vengeance again and again. The ending of Siren left my mind exploding and even though I had a fair idea of what was to come in Assassin, it still blew me away by how fantastic it was. As I powered through the chapters I tried to figure out how it would all end. Many scenarios ran though my head but the final climactic scene still shocked me. The ending was satisfying but I'm devastated this is the last book. There could have been so much more.

[Book Compulsion · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this novel overwhelmed..... Noooooo!!!!!! I want more. Don't end it there!

As usual, Moss lures me in and takes me on an exhilarating ride of emotions: one moment I'm holding my breathe, moments later rage builds and then.....tears.

Mak is pure Amazonian. Beauty and brains.....and now wealth. A lethal combination......

[K.L. Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet again Tara moss brings the character of Mak Vanderwall to life in this stunning final piece of the six book puzzle.

Thank you for your worlds, your world and your passion.

[Cecilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant way to end our adventures with Mak! Darker and more dangerous than ever, this will leave your heart pumping and certain that this was the only way it could all end.....

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well paced, undemanding and enjoyable. A small part here and there bordered on being a database dump of the author's research; I prefer the show not tell approach.

[Kirsten · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yeah nah. Hard to follow and stay engaged. Unbelievable actions on behalf of the main character. Not a fan.

[Tatterededges · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this mainly because it’s the last book in the series and I’d already pushed through the other 5.

This book was much better than the previous offering. Book 5 annoyed the crap out of me, but it’s still average written, far fetched nonsense.

The book is set in Australia and it’s obvious that the author has never actually lived here. Or maybe she did and just didn’t pay attention. She gets a lot of things wrong.

Australia’s police isn’t set up the same way as the US, so the idea of “the feds” coming in to assist on a homicide case is pretty silly. Why she didn’t just set the whole book in the US is a bit of a mystery. Likewise a whole bunch of people running around with Smith and Wesson’s doesn’t ring true either.

I don’t really understand the motives of the characters in this book. Why would Jack put out a hit on Makedde if 1. He was out of money and 2. The police and media had dropped the story? Why didn’t Makedde go after Damian since he was the one who actually committed the crime. How did she get on to the guy to make the fake passport, it’s not like they’re advertising in the yellow pages?

Stop, you’re overthinking it.

I liked that Makedde was a bit tougher and a bit more gritty this time around. I liked that there was less of her seeking trouble for the sake of it, and that most of what she does was born out of necessity. That said, it’s was all just a bit to easy. This woman just is inherently good at everything which is a shame because real character development comes from them having flaws and making mistakes.

And they all lived happily ever after and never mentioned that Makedde is basically a spree killer living off the proceeds of crime with not one, but two cops.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. What a finalé. No spoilers, but I enjoyed this final book in the Makedde Vanderwall series. I like how her character has developed over the series from beautiful model and potential victim through psychology student and PI to become this tough, no-nonsense woman with serious skills.

What I didn't like was the change in narrator for this audiobook version. I mean, it makes sense to have a Canadian considering that is where Makedde (and Tara) was born, but seeing that much of the book is set in Australia, it would be good if they could at least attempt to pronounce things correctly and also not have the Australian police all talking with accents like a bad US cop show.

[Nada · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Tara Moss herself states, the protagonist, Mak, is a flawed character and yet, for me, endearing and authentic. Driven to breaking point, what would anyone do?! I love a strong character and Mak's survival skills are impressive.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good read. You could actually read book 6 and know the whole story from book 1 to 5. Bit slow at the start but more interesting from half way onwards.

[Rhiannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I didn't realise this was part of a series until I finished it. It worked. I enjoyed the novel without having read the first 5 books.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy read but not as good as the rest of the series. Loved the first 4 in the series

[Josephine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a compelling read, easy story without too much complexity, strong female character. It’s the first Tara Moss book I’ve read, I will be looking for more.

[Rob Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping read - great for holiday time. Excellent end to the series.

[Lisa Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've enjoyed all the Makedde Vanderwall series, but I found this one a little harder to get in to.
Once I really got into it, I enjoyed it, however I just felt it was a bit of a slow starter.