When a da Vinci masterwork is stolen from a private collector, Puller Monk is assigned to the case. Monk's private demons have worked for him before. No ordinary agent, he plays by his own rules. He's just what the FBI needs. Because what they're looking for is no ordinary thief…
A young chameleon assassin, she was bred to kill. An American sleeper spy, she answers to many names, adapts to each identity, and is trained in every deadly art. Only a select few know who she really is. Only they know her ultimate objective: take out Puller Monk.
A killing game begins between the agent and the sleeper. Both are the hunted. Both are the hunter. But when Monk finds himself seduced by his own past he also finds himself doomed by the dark side that was once his only salvation.
I read this sometime back in 2006-07 because it was in stock at the community college bookstore where I worked. Don't ask me how or why I remembered it today. I think I enjoyed it.
I read this book without reading the first one, I just happened to pick it up at a book store and didn't know there was a first book (I'm a sucker for spy novels).
The book is fresh, easy to read, paced well and fun but no real surprises. The characters are developed enough for you to care about but not too much (again, I never read the first installment). For example I never cared about the hero's girlfriend, but found the villainess of the story much more fascinating. Actually I would wish Mr. Riehl could write a book about the villainess and her training / recruitment.
My predecessors mentioned the FBI procedures, I don't know if all they are accurate or not and would not even dare to guess, but they seem logical and make sense.
I like this series, I'm just sad there are only two books. This one was written in 2005, but there hasn't been another since. Hopefully, there will be more adventures in the future for FBI agent, Puller Monk!
A terrific international mystery with lots of possible realistic implications. Mr.Riehl's authentic descriptions of some of the locations let's the reader feel he is right there! Can't wait to get more in the Puller Monk series! Pat G.