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Judd Ryder & Eva Blake #2
The Assassins
Six master assassins--each a legend in the dark corners of international espionage--band together to steal a fortune from the middle of a war zone. But the mission goes tragically wrong, and they retreat into the shadows.
Now THE ASSASSINS are back.
Former military spy Judd Ryder is walking to his D.C. home when he spots a man coming out of his row house, who looks like Ryder and is wearing his clothes. As Ryder slows to follow, the imposter is killed in a hit-and-run that's no accident. Was the man the intended victim, or was it Ryder himself? Soon Ryder learns that the key to the mysterious events of the past and to his double's murder is an infamous Cold War assassin, the Carnivore. Two of the last people to see the Carnivore were Ryder and CIA trainee Eva Blake, and someone is using them to lure him out.
From Washington D.C. to Marrakech and Baghdad, the assassins wage a final battle--this time against one another--fighting for their reputations and Saddam Hussein's long-missing billion-dollar fortune. In the end, only one can be left standing. Caught in the crossfire, Judd and Eva go on the run while desperately unraveling the tangled past and battling not only for their lives, but for their destinies.
Now THE ASSASSINS are back.
Former military spy Judd Ryder is walking to his D.C. home when he spots a man coming out of his row house, who looks like Ryder and is wearing his clothes. As Ryder slows to follow, the imposter is killed in a hit-and-run that's no accident. Was the man the intended victim, or was it Ryder himself? Soon Ryder learns that the key to the mysterious events of the past and to his double's murder is an infamous Cold War assassin, the Carnivore. Two of the last people to see the Carnivore were Ryder and CIA trainee Eva Blake, and someone is using them to lure him out.
From Washington D.C. to Marrakech and Baghdad, the assassins wage a final battle--this time against one another--fighting for their reputations and Saddam Hussein's long-missing billion-dollar fortune. In the end, only one can be left standing. Caught in the crossfire, Judd and Eva go on the run while desperately unraveling the tangled past and battling not only for their lives, but for their destinies.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2015
139 people are currently reading
929 people want to read
About the author
Gayle Lynds
74 books236 followersNew York Times bestseller Gayle Lynds is the award-winning author of ten international espionage novels. Library Journal calls her “the reigning queen of espionage fiction.” The London Observer says she’s a “kick-ass thriller writer.” Lee Child calls her “today’s best espionage writer.”
Born in Omaha, NE, and raised in Council Bluffs, IA, Gayle graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in journalism. While there, she often sneaked into classes and readings at the renowned Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She was blessed by remarkable teachers — among them were John Irving in rhetoric and Kurt Vonnegut in a literature class. For her, the university was a lively petri dish of books, writing, and adventure.
Gayle officially began her writing career as a reporter for The Arizona Republic, where a series of her investigative pieces made such an impact that they led to changes in state legislation. Later she took a job as an editor with rare Top Secret security clearance at a private think tank that did government work. Assorted shadowy figures passed through, and not only ideas but engineers and artists seemed to bounce off the walls. She was inspired. She wanted to write about what she was seeing and experiencing.
Expressing her love of mainstream literature, she wrote short stories that were published in literary journals. Simultaneously, she wrote male pulp novels in the Nick Carter series. Soon the two forms began to jell in her mind. The first novel under her own name, Gayle Lynds, was Masquerade, a New York Times bestseller that Publishers Weekly later listed as one of the top ten spy novels of all time.
Others of her novels have been prize winners. The Last Spymaster won Best Novel from both the American Authors Association and the Military Writers Society of America. The Book of Spies was a finalist for both the Nero and Audie awards. The Coil won Best Contemporary Novel from Affaire de Coeur. Mosaic was RT Thriller of the Year. Mesmerized was a Daphne du Maurier Award finalist. With Robert Ludlum, she created the Covert-One series, one of which, The Hades Factor, was a CBS miniseries.
Gayle’s previous husband was Dennis Lynds, an award-winning detective novelist who died in 2005. They had lived several decades in Santa Barbara, CA, where they raised their children. In 2011, a new stage of her life began when she married John C. Sheldon, a long-time resident of Maine. A retired judge, John is a former prosecutor and defense attorney and Visiting Scholar to Harvard Law School. Today they live on fourteen acres of oaks, maples, hemlocks, and white pine outside Portland. A voracious reader, John had never written fiction when they met. Now they have collaborated on three short stories.
Gayle is a member of the Association for Intelligence Operatives and cofounder (with David Morrell) and former copresident of International Thriller Writers, Inc. ITW’s annual celebration is ThrillerFest, held every July in New York City.
Born in Omaha, NE, and raised in Council Bluffs, IA, Gayle graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in journalism. While there, she often sneaked into classes and readings at the renowned Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She was blessed by remarkable teachers — among them were John Irving in rhetoric and Kurt Vonnegut in a literature class. For her, the university was a lively petri dish of books, writing, and adventure.
Gayle officially began her writing career as a reporter for The Arizona Republic, where a series of her investigative pieces made such an impact that they led to changes in state legislation. Later she took a job as an editor with rare Top Secret security clearance at a private think tank that did government work. Assorted shadowy figures passed through, and not only ideas but engineers and artists seemed to bounce off the walls. She was inspired. She wanted to write about what she was seeing and experiencing.
Expressing her love of mainstream literature, she wrote short stories that were published in literary journals. Simultaneously, she wrote male pulp novels in the Nick Carter series. Soon the two forms began to jell in her mind. The first novel under her own name, Gayle Lynds, was Masquerade, a New York Times bestseller that Publishers Weekly later listed as one of the top ten spy novels of all time.
Others of her novels have been prize winners. The Last Spymaster won Best Novel from both the American Authors Association and the Military Writers Society of America. The Book of Spies was a finalist for both the Nero and Audie awards. The Coil won Best Contemporary Novel from Affaire de Coeur. Mosaic was RT Thriller of the Year. Mesmerized was a Daphne du Maurier Award finalist. With Robert Ludlum, she created the Covert-One series, one of which, The Hades Factor, was a CBS miniseries.
Gayle’s previous husband was Dennis Lynds, an award-winning detective novelist who died in 2005. They had lived several decades in Santa Barbara, CA, where they raised their children. In 2011, a new stage of her life began when she married John C. Sheldon, a long-time resident of Maine. A retired judge, John is a former prosecutor and defense attorney and Visiting Scholar to Harvard Law School. Today they live on fourteen acres of oaks, maples, hemlocks, and white pine outside Portland. A voracious reader, John had never written fiction when they met. Now they have collaborated on three short stories.
Gayle is a member of the Association for Intelligence Operatives and cofounder (with David Morrell) and former copresident of International Thriller Writers, Inc. ITW’s annual celebration is ThrillerFest, held every July in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
June 12, 2016
Hired assassins have two main goals; find and kill the target, and receive payment in full. Six assassins were in Baghdad seeking their final payment through their only means possible by looting the National Museum. With inside help they take possession of an ancient tablet estimated to be worth some $12 million. When former military spy Judd Ryder learns that one of the assassins had a watch on his home he seeks help from Tucker Andersen, a CIA black unit that specializes in counter operations. Together they soon realize there is something major about to take place and they will need every skill to locate the well organized and mysterious assassins. Author Gayle Lynds, a bestselling author of award-winning international espionage novels is back with yet another electrifying, pulse pounding spy thriller. Easily a top read of the year, The Assassins is highly recommended and one not to be missed!
** A special thank you to the author for providing me a copy of her newest novel. I have written an honest review. **
** A special thank you to the author for providing me a copy of her newest novel. I have written an honest review. **
July 2, 2015
Interesting premise to the story. Several assassins work together for a job in the middle east that goes bad. Salvaging what they can, they each go back to their secret lives. In the current day the past comes back and envelops them all again.
Enter the main characters from other books by this author, Judd and Eva. I've never read other books in the series. I think I might have felt more invested in the characters and the story would have felt more alive for me if I had. It is evident there is a lot of history between the characters, and maybe that's why the book felt a bit flat for me. The author can certainly write well, and the story had a great premise.
There were times I felt disconnected. In my opinion, book plot could have been tighted up a bit. There were times with too much detail I felt wasn't really necessary.
Overall, not bad from the viewpoint of a reader who didn't read any other books with the same characters...maybe it would have been better if I had.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Enter the main characters from other books by this author, Judd and Eva. I've never read other books in the series. I think I might have felt more invested in the characters and the story would have felt more alive for me if I had. It is evident there is a lot of history between the characters, and maybe that's why the book felt a bit flat for me. The author can certainly write well, and the story had a great premise.
There were times I felt disconnected. In my opinion, book plot could have been tighted up a bit. There were times with too much detail I felt wasn't really necessary.
Overall, not bad from the viewpoint of a reader who didn't read any other books with the same characters...maybe it would have been better if I had.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 9, 2020
I had a copy of The Assassins on my shelf for quite a bit of time. I did not get around to it, but it always looked very appealing to try. Once I read the first few pages, I kicked myself for not having read it earlier. The Assassins is a fun, adventurous, action thriller comprising of mysterious and venerable assassins who are pitted against each other over pieces of a cuneiform tablet tracing its financially rich history back to Saddam Hussein. Pulling former spy Judd Ryder, and current CIA cadet Eva Blake into the fold, The Assassins is an adrenaline pumping pedal to the medal globe trotting adventure that must be read by all fans of the genre.
The Assassins starts with a group of assassins sneaking into Saddam’s backyard to retrieve the cuneiform as payment for wetwork on his behalf. Set during the America- Iraq war, the assassins are caught in the middle of crossfire between the two nation armies, and barely escape with their lives while the tablet is broken into pieces and each assassin retains a piece or two. Fast forward years later, an attempt is made on one of the assassins with a loud bang for message. At the same time, Judd Ryder is returning back from Baghdad, seeking a life of peace after witnessing a lifetime of violence in his 20 ish years. He finds himself doubled by another entity, and sees his double brutally murdered in front of his eyes. With his instincts kicking in and realizing this was no coincidence, he sets off to find out who is behind an attempt on his life. Teaming up with Eva and an assassin from the mix, both of whom are involved in the thick of it as much as Judd, he and his partners try to figure out who is behind the mysterious threat, and what is the endgame. The story keeps the reader hooked, with mysteries clearing up bit by bit to keep the suspense, until the very climax, when every solved clue fits together to form the big picture. The story skillfully weaves through plotlines for different assassins while advancing the events ahead in the direction of the major plotline.
The action is fast-paced with accurate weaponry and sound tactics in the field, making for excellent shootouts and combat sequences. The author displays keen knowledge of weapon systems and spycraft which help to solidify the story as a grounded and gritty, but fun adventure. Even with locales as Washington D.C, and Baghdad, the story felt very fresh and unique with the perspective of the assassins competing against one another and the cuneiform, which remains a huge mystery for the majority of the plot. There are moments of sheer uncertainty and excitement stemming from the unpredictable nature of the assassins and the spies. Trust No One fits right into the plot of The Assassins. The adventurous part is a result of the globetrotting journey, exploring exotic locales such as Marrakech and Baghdad in pursuit of the assassins and the truth behind the invisible threat that scales to incorporate geopolitical repercussions. I felt myself immersed in the pages next to the locals on the street with the characters. Such is the level of attachment I grew to the excellent writing of Gayle Lynds.
The characters feel realistic and form relatable bonds and relationships that feel natural with respect to the plot. In the world of cunning killers, trust and bonds can corrupt easily. The author shows the fluid nature of trust in the world of assassins in a fantastic manner one would expect in top-notch espionage novels.
The Assassins is a top-notch action adventure with an abundance of exciting plot twists, adrenaline pumping shootouts, lethal and dubious assassins, and a mysterious tablet that holds the riches for the last man standing in a no-holds barred fight to the death. Even without having read the first book, I jumped into this one with no issues at all. It merits enough to stand on its own with absolute ease.
The Assassins starts with a group of assassins sneaking into Saddam’s backyard to retrieve the cuneiform as payment for wetwork on his behalf. Set during the America- Iraq war, the assassins are caught in the middle of crossfire between the two nation armies, and barely escape with their lives while the tablet is broken into pieces and each assassin retains a piece or two. Fast forward years later, an attempt is made on one of the assassins with a loud bang for message. At the same time, Judd Ryder is returning back from Baghdad, seeking a life of peace after witnessing a lifetime of violence in his 20 ish years. He finds himself doubled by another entity, and sees his double brutally murdered in front of his eyes. With his instincts kicking in and realizing this was no coincidence, he sets off to find out who is behind an attempt on his life. Teaming up with Eva and an assassin from the mix, both of whom are involved in the thick of it as much as Judd, he and his partners try to figure out who is behind the mysterious threat, and what is the endgame. The story keeps the reader hooked, with mysteries clearing up bit by bit to keep the suspense, until the very climax, when every solved clue fits together to form the big picture. The story skillfully weaves through plotlines for different assassins while advancing the events ahead in the direction of the major plotline.
The action is fast-paced with accurate weaponry and sound tactics in the field, making for excellent shootouts and combat sequences. The author displays keen knowledge of weapon systems and spycraft which help to solidify the story as a grounded and gritty, but fun adventure. Even with locales as Washington D.C, and Baghdad, the story felt very fresh and unique with the perspective of the assassins competing against one another and the cuneiform, which remains a huge mystery for the majority of the plot. There are moments of sheer uncertainty and excitement stemming from the unpredictable nature of the assassins and the spies. Trust No One fits right into the plot of The Assassins. The adventurous part is a result of the globetrotting journey, exploring exotic locales such as Marrakech and Baghdad in pursuit of the assassins and the truth behind the invisible threat that scales to incorporate geopolitical repercussions. I felt myself immersed in the pages next to the locals on the street with the characters. Such is the level of attachment I grew to the excellent writing of Gayle Lynds.
The characters feel realistic and form relatable bonds and relationships that feel natural with respect to the plot. In the world of cunning killers, trust and bonds can corrupt easily. The author shows the fluid nature of trust in the world of assassins in a fantastic manner one would expect in top-notch espionage novels.
The Assassins is a top-notch action adventure with an abundance of exciting plot twists, adrenaline pumping shootouts, lethal and dubious assassins, and a mysterious tablet that holds the riches for the last man standing in a no-holds barred fight to the death. Even without having read the first book, I jumped into this one with no issues at all. It merits enough to stand on its own with absolute ease.
January 2, 2016
I love a good book. I mean, I really, really love a good book!
My favorite feeling is when you find a book that is so good, that grabs you so tightly and doesn’t let go, you just can’t put it down. I often celebrate that feeling by embracing it and staying up all night to finish the story. It’s become somewhat of a ritual for me, yet it only happens a few times a year.
This year alone, I’ve pulled all-nighters on Kyle Mills’ The Survivor, Brad Thor’s Code of Conduct, Paul Cleave’s Trust No One, and Ted Bell’s Patriot. So, last night when I put on a pot of coffee at three in the morning, I knew The Assassins by Gayle Lynds was something special.
I filled my mug to brim with piping hot coffee, and then lost myself in Lynds’ incredible story of espionage, intrigue, and nonstop action. It was the perfect end to 2015, a year that’s been nothing short of amazing for fans of thrillers.
Thankfully, I’d saved one of the years very best for last.
Return to the Genre
Before The Assassins, Gayle Lynds last published novel was The Book of Spies, which came out in 2010. During her five year absence, the genre has missed her.
Before stepping away from publishing due to health reasons Lynds, who has been praised by some of the biggest authors in the thriller genre, and received her fair share of prestigious awards, especially for her earlier work, was widely regarded as one of the best spy-thriller authors alive.
Now Gayle is back with a new book, and she’s once again proven why her name belongs at the very top of the genre with other legends such as Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum, Vince Flynn, Brad Thor, Kyle Mills and James Patterson.
Gayle Lynds
Bestselling author Gayle Lynds (Photo from GayleLynds.com)
The Story
The Assassins opens on the darkened streets of Baghdad, back in 2003. Six of the world’s best, most well trained, and effective killers make their way across the dangerous streets using the darkness of the night to conceal them. Moving in the shadows, the assassins travel to a museum for a rendezvous with an Afghani general.
Originally, the team of assassins was assembled to complete “assignments” for Saddam Hussein, which they did perfectly. However, they were still owed a significant portion of money from Saddam, whose regime had recently been toppled by the Americans.
So there they were, covertly navigating the streets to rightfully take what was theirs before it was gone for good.
Once in the museum, the general led them to a safe. Inside the safe was a tablet made of limestone worth an estimated $12 million, which was nearly the amount still owed to them.
Taking the ancient artifact, the team began to exit the museum when, suddenly, everything went wrong. Shots rang out as bullet casings rained down on their location, some of them finding the flesh of the assassins.
Half of the team was injured, but they kept fighting. They made their way to the street where their leader, Burleigh Morgan, was critically shot in the back. Morgan hit the ground, dropping the tablet, which shattered on impact.
Months later, having nearly recovered from his injuries, Morgan reached out to his five teammates. He requested they all send him their potions of the tablet, which they’d each taken off the street in Baghdad, so he could have it reassembled and appraised.
Ultimately, a deal between all of the team members could not be reached. The ancient tablet was never sold.
Morgan went on with his life and years later, now in his seventies, was finally happy. He had a wonderful gal, and was enjoying the warmth of a fireplace in Paris when an anonymous email detailing the names of his fellow assassins changed everything. Someone knew far too much, but how?
Back in Washington, Judd Ryder, a former spy, returned home from an assignment in Baghdad one day early. Upon his arrival, he watched a man exit his home wearing his clothes. The man, who looked strikingly similar to Judd, was rundown by someone on snowmobile and killed right in front of Ryder.
Judd soon realized that the dead man was pretending to be him while he was away on assignment. On him, the double carried a fake ID with Ryder’s name on it. The impostor had picked up Judd’s dry cleaning, stayed in his home, and even made his way to the grocery store around the same time Judd typically did.
Many questions suddenly filled Judd’s head, but one in particular bothered him the most. Did the man on the snowmobile intend to kill the double, or did he intent – and believe he had successfully killed – Judd Ryder?
The two story lines are intertwined masterfully, connected by a killer called the Carnivore – a legend among assassins. He’s the perfect bad guy for such a story, and Lynds does a fantastic job fleshing out her characters.
What I loved
This story has it all. Suspense, action, and an old-school spy vibe that newer authors just can’t replicate. Lynds keeps the reader guessing until the final page, which will satisfy even the pickiest of readers.
One of my favorite things about the book was the pacing of the story, which makes words like fast and blazing seem obsolete. Lynds utilizes short chapters, which I personally love, making it infinitely harder to put the book down.
In fact, if you’re able to set The Assassins down and walk away, I question whether you’re a fan of thrillers. It’s that good.
Another thing worth noting is the fun, brilliantly written dialogue between the assassins. Specifically the banter between two of the teammates, a former Jihadist, and a retired member of the Israeli Mossad, which is a real strong point early in the novel.
I could go on and on detailing things I loved about this book, but I don’t want to spoil it or give anything away. Instead, I’ll just suggest everyone grab a copy if The Assassins and read it for themselves.
Why You Should Read It
In a genre that’s dominated by men, Gayle Lynds packs a mean punch – and she throws it with the kind of expert precision that is bound to make other authors jealous.
Simply put, this isn’t just one of the true must-read novels of 2015, it’s one of the few books I plan to read over and over again for many years to come
Forget Game of Thrones, this is a game of spies, and it rocks from beginning to end!
Order The Assassins from Amazon today!
Book Details
Author: Gayle Lynds
Pages: 416 (hardcover)
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: June 30, 2015. AVAILABLE NOW!
Read more at: www.TheRealBookSpy.com
My favorite feeling is when you find a book that is so good, that grabs you so tightly and doesn’t let go, you just can’t put it down. I often celebrate that feeling by embracing it and staying up all night to finish the story. It’s become somewhat of a ritual for me, yet it only happens a few times a year.
This year alone, I’ve pulled all-nighters on Kyle Mills’ The Survivor, Brad Thor’s Code of Conduct, Paul Cleave’s Trust No One, and Ted Bell’s Patriot. So, last night when I put on a pot of coffee at three in the morning, I knew The Assassins by Gayle Lynds was something special.
I filled my mug to brim with piping hot coffee, and then lost myself in Lynds’ incredible story of espionage, intrigue, and nonstop action. It was the perfect end to 2015, a year that’s been nothing short of amazing for fans of thrillers.
Thankfully, I’d saved one of the years very best for last.
Return to the Genre
Before The Assassins, Gayle Lynds last published novel was The Book of Spies, which came out in 2010. During her five year absence, the genre has missed her.
Before stepping away from publishing due to health reasons Lynds, who has been praised by some of the biggest authors in the thriller genre, and received her fair share of prestigious awards, especially for her earlier work, was widely regarded as one of the best spy-thriller authors alive.
Now Gayle is back with a new book, and she’s once again proven why her name belongs at the very top of the genre with other legends such as Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum, Vince Flynn, Brad Thor, Kyle Mills and James Patterson.
Gayle Lynds
Bestselling author Gayle Lynds (Photo from GayleLynds.com)
The Story
The Assassins opens on the darkened streets of Baghdad, back in 2003. Six of the world’s best, most well trained, and effective killers make their way across the dangerous streets using the darkness of the night to conceal them. Moving in the shadows, the assassins travel to a museum for a rendezvous with an Afghani general.
Originally, the team of assassins was assembled to complete “assignments” for Saddam Hussein, which they did perfectly. However, they were still owed a significant portion of money from Saddam, whose regime had recently been toppled by the Americans.
So there they were, covertly navigating the streets to rightfully take what was theirs before it was gone for good.
Once in the museum, the general led them to a safe. Inside the safe was a tablet made of limestone worth an estimated $12 million, which was nearly the amount still owed to them.
Taking the ancient artifact, the team began to exit the museum when, suddenly, everything went wrong. Shots rang out as bullet casings rained down on their location, some of them finding the flesh of the assassins.
Half of the team was injured, but they kept fighting. They made their way to the street where their leader, Burleigh Morgan, was critically shot in the back. Morgan hit the ground, dropping the tablet, which shattered on impact.
Months later, having nearly recovered from his injuries, Morgan reached out to his five teammates. He requested they all send him their potions of the tablet, which they’d each taken off the street in Baghdad, so he could have it reassembled and appraised.
Ultimately, a deal between all of the team members could not be reached. The ancient tablet was never sold.
Morgan went on with his life and years later, now in his seventies, was finally happy. He had a wonderful gal, and was enjoying the warmth of a fireplace in Paris when an anonymous email detailing the names of his fellow assassins changed everything. Someone knew far too much, but how?
Back in Washington, Judd Ryder, a former spy, returned home from an assignment in Baghdad one day early. Upon his arrival, he watched a man exit his home wearing his clothes. The man, who looked strikingly similar to Judd, was rundown by someone on snowmobile and killed right in front of Ryder.
Judd soon realized that the dead man was pretending to be him while he was away on assignment. On him, the double carried a fake ID with Ryder’s name on it. The impostor had picked up Judd’s dry cleaning, stayed in his home, and even made his way to the grocery store around the same time Judd typically did.
Many questions suddenly filled Judd’s head, but one in particular bothered him the most. Did the man on the snowmobile intend to kill the double, or did he intent – and believe he had successfully killed – Judd Ryder?
The two story lines are intertwined masterfully, connected by a killer called the Carnivore – a legend among assassins. He’s the perfect bad guy for such a story, and Lynds does a fantastic job fleshing out her characters.
What I loved
This story has it all. Suspense, action, and an old-school spy vibe that newer authors just can’t replicate. Lynds keeps the reader guessing until the final page, which will satisfy even the pickiest of readers.
One of my favorite things about the book was the pacing of the story, which makes words like fast and blazing seem obsolete. Lynds utilizes short chapters, which I personally love, making it infinitely harder to put the book down.
In fact, if you’re able to set The Assassins down and walk away, I question whether you’re a fan of thrillers. It’s that good.
Another thing worth noting is the fun, brilliantly written dialogue between the assassins. Specifically the banter between two of the teammates, a former Jihadist, and a retired member of the Israeli Mossad, which is a real strong point early in the novel.
I could go on and on detailing things I loved about this book, but I don’t want to spoil it or give anything away. Instead, I’ll just suggest everyone grab a copy if The Assassins and read it for themselves.
Why You Should Read It
In a genre that’s dominated by men, Gayle Lynds packs a mean punch – and she throws it with the kind of expert precision that is bound to make other authors jealous.
Simply put, this isn’t just one of the true must-read novels of 2015, it’s one of the few books I plan to read over and over again for many years to come
Forget Game of Thrones, this is a game of spies, and it rocks from beginning to end!
Order The Assassins from Amazon today!
Book Details
Author: Gayle Lynds
Pages: 416 (hardcover)
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: June 30, 2015. AVAILABLE NOW!
Read more at: www.TheRealBookSpy.com
July 18, 2015
This thriller from pro Gayle Lynds is her best yet and displays her mastery of international political threats. Although several characters populate the pages, they and the plot are easy to follow.
Two tiny details took me out of the book when I read them: the answering machine (feels old-tech) and p. 156 "the stench of cordite" (cordite has not been used since WW I or so--per forensics experts at CrimeSceneWriters--where's the editor on this?).
Again, these are small points in an excellent novel that moves quickly and takes readers deep into the Iran-Iraq situation. I recommend it.
Two tiny details took me out of the book when I read them: the answering machine (feels old-tech) and p. 156 "the stench of cordite" (cordite has not been used since WW I or so--per forensics experts at CrimeSceneWriters--where's the editor on this?).
Again, these are small points in an excellent novel that moves quickly and takes readers deep into the Iran-Iraq situation. I recommend it.
September 30, 2015
Recently retired from military intelligence Judd Ryder is walking
home when he sees a man wearing his clothes step out of his house.
Moments later he is killed in a hit and run. Now Judd doesn't know
if the stranger is the victim or if he was. Searching the body he finds
a phone number for Eva Blake his former CIA trainee girlfriend. What
they both don't known is that they have been unwittingly trapped in a
battle to the death against six professional assassins and only one will
be left standing. Welcome back Gayle Lynds, it's been a long time and I
for one missed your books. I see that you have a new husband and you gave
him some credit for helping with the book. All I can say is that you both
did an outstanding job and I hope that the wait isn't as long for the
next one. I gave it a 5
home when he sees a man wearing his clothes step out of his house.
Moments later he is killed in a hit and run. Now Judd doesn't know
if the stranger is the victim or if he was. Searching the body he finds
a phone number for Eva Blake his former CIA trainee girlfriend. What
they both don't known is that they have been unwittingly trapped in a
battle to the death against six professional assassins and only one will
be left standing. Welcome back Gayle Lynds, it's been a long time and I
for one missed your books. I see that you have a new husband and you gave
him some credit for helping with the book. All I can say is that you both
did an outstanding job and I hope that the wait isn't as long for the
next one. I gave it a 5
August 20, 2015
Another fast-paced novel from Gayle Lynds! In the opening pages, which take place in 2003 in Baghdad at the site of the National Museum of Iraq, the reader is introduced to the eponymous killers, the best in the world at what they do, whose mission it is to steal a cuneiform tablet which will in turn lead them to the many tens of millions, if not billions, of dollars that had belonged to the now-dead Saddam Hussein.
Jumping to the present time, with a hit-and-run murder quickly taking place, the novel brings the reader to Washington, D.C. and nearby spots in Maryland and Virginia, as well as Marrakech, Iraq and Beirut, with plenty of bloodshed, a lot of weaponry, and some fascinating history along the way. The author manages a seemingly impossible task: to humanize each paid killer, among them Judd Ryder, a 34-year-old former member of US Army Intelligence who had done ‘blood work’ in Pakistan and Iraq; Tucker Andersen, from a secret CIA unit; Burleigh Morgan, a Brit from the old East End; a former KGB member; an Israeli; a former Cosa Nostra killer; others including “the Padre,” “the Carnivore, “the Choirmaster,” a former Islamic Jihad, as well as a couple of women who are no less fearless than the men. Each also, it appears, has a target on his/her back, often from one or another of their own group. As the author says, “an assassin could never be too careful with his friends.”
I must admit to at times having difficulty keeping up with just who is who in this cast of characters, each having at least one alias and various very professional disguises, but that in no way took away from the suspenseful ride. Spy thrillers generally are not among my favorites, but Gayle Lynds transcends the genre, with terrific characters and an imaginative plot, and I greatly look forward to any future books she writes, in this series or otherwise.
Highly recommended.
Jumping to the present time, with a hit-and-run murder quickly taking place, the novel brings the reader to Washington, D.C. and nearby spots in Maryland and Virginia, as well as Marrakech, Iraq and Beirut, with plenty of bloodshed, a lot of weaponry, and some fascinating history along the way. The author manages a seemingly impossible task: to humanize each paid killer, among them Judd Ryder, a 34-year-old former member of US Army Intelligence who had done ‘blood work’ in Pakistan and Iraq; Tucker Andersen, from a secret CIA unit; Burleigh Morgan, a Brit from the old East End; a former KGB member; an Israeli; a former Cosa Nostra killer; others including “the Padre,” “the Carnivore, “the Choirmaster,” a former Islamic Jihad, as well as a couple of women who are no less fearless than the men. Each also, it appears, has a target on his/her back, often from one or another of their own group. As the author says, “an assassin could never be too careful with his friends.”
I must admit to at times having difficulty keeping up with just who is who in this cast of characters, each having at least one alias and various very professional disguises, but that in no way took away from the suspenseful ride. Spy thrillers generally are not among my favorites, but Gayle Lynds transcends the genre, with terrific characters and an imaginative plot, and I greatly look forward to any future books she writes, in this series or otherwise.
Highly recommended.
July 25, 2015
The assassin's. Gayle Lynds
An excellent espionage thriller wrapped in historical fact and fiction. A stand alone novel, where all of the characters past is detailed. Fast paced, action packed, twists and turns to the very end. I'm sure there will be a sequel! Enjoyed tremendously!!! Gayle lynds has hit the mark again!!
An excellent espionage thriller wrapped in historical fact and fiction. A stand alone novel, where all of the characters past is detailed. Fast paced, action packed, twists and turns to the very end. I'm sure there will be a sequel! Enjoyed tremendously!!! Gayle lynds has hit the mark again!!
June 13, 2015
Who says women can't write a good thriller? No one told Gayle Lynds that because she has delivered another winner with enough action and twists and turns to make any thriller lover happy. You won't go wrong with this one and yes guys, women can too write spy novels.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
June 20, 2015
The Assassins: Gayle Lynds
Makeup artists create new images for actors and actresses in order to play roles in a television series, movie or Broadway show. Many can make two people look alike, body doubles and make people think that they are either one in the same or two different people. What happens when one man goes to the cleaners to get his clothes and learns he was there already? What happens when he returns home and sees himself coming out of the building and he or his double winds up dead? Judd Ryder is the former US military spy is sees the man or his double leaving his house. But, worse witnessing his murder as the man is run down. Who or Why?
What happens when six internationally highly skilled assassins try to find out just where Saddam Hussein hid a huge fortune from invading forces? Trying to find the location using any means available what happens sets off a chain of events that is deadly. As the story unfolds the reader will learn who the real target was: Judd or the double? Needing help he contacts his past government employer Tucker who reveals that other events similar to that have been happening all over the world and the main focus is the assassin known as the Carnivore who just might be behind it all. Illusive, undetectable and his physical appearance unknown the clock is ticking as they try and find him but first Tucker meets with another assassin The Padre. All the Intel and protection, guards and security cannot stop what happens after their meeting as the Padre might be a coldblooded assassin but his Intel is priceless and the cost this time is the Carnivore. When Ryder contacts the only person other than Tucker that he thinks he can trust, CIA trainee, Eva Blake, knowing that other than him she was the only one who had any contact with this assassin, the reader might conclude as Ryder does that he and Eva are the real targets to get this old assassin out front and center. The six deadly assassins work together to reach their goal. But, when others are involved and more bodies fall can anyone identify the Carnivore and is he hiding in plain site? What about Ryder and Eva just how far will they have to run? The battle weighs from Washington D.C. to Marrakech to Baghdad and across many continents hoping that someone can find the missing 12 million dollar fortune. A simple contest to prove who is the best as six deadly assassins in April of 2003 decide to go after what they claim Saddam Hussein owes then and never paid after the Americans managed to take all of his assets.
Stealing the limestone tablets was the start but when Eva Blake is lured from her place on the Farm’s training program by someone named Frank Smith what happens sets in motion a chain of events that will lead not only her but Tucker and Judd to three deadly killers and one who might turn out to be their greatest ally. Wanting to know what happened and who killed Burleigh Morgan and blew up his car the response by two deadly killers will greatly change the dynamics of everything. Things heat up and truths are told and one deadly killer takes matters into his own hand and someone is seriously injured. As Tucker and Judd face off with two killers after entering the home of Martin Chapman and taking him out, the events that follow will lead to getting part of the tablets, placing them in more danger and hopefully keeping Tucker alive.
Trying to find where Saddam hid the billions of dollars he managed to steal from the Shah is the primary focus of this novel and that of six assassins that each one their own share. But things change as we meet Katia and Peter learn about their pasts and their link to the present. But, as they blend and Katia learns just why this man sought her out, why he claimed to care for her the real motive comes to light and events change as lies, deceptions and the Peter’s real identity is revealed as the Krot a deadly killer. Just why did he seek out Katia or Francesca as she called herself? Just who was he really after and why? When events spiral even more out of control the bodies fall and the real plot is revealed as someone is behind a blackmail scheme to flush out all of the assassins one at a time hoping that each one will kill off another and present him with his pieces of the tablet. But, what happens when the last two are standing? Which one will win it all?
Ryder, Eva and one deadly assassin hope to outfox and outsmart the mastermind behind it all as a man named Seymour going under an alias hopes to have the power of the Iranian government and the Shiites in his hand. Power plays, murder, greed, hate, revenge for the deaths of many and six assassins that started it all but who will get the coveted prize? Untraceable emails that described one high profile wet job that was to be carried out by one assassin at a time. The information provided would include contact information, time, place and details about the hit. Hired for murder and one was the U.S. government. Imagine these jobs or murders placed in a book or Catalog called the Associates Catalog and for the coveted tablet pieces the winner gets the book. As one killer explains it all we learn how the chain of events began with getting in touch with the Krot or Peter, next the Padre and Eli who never succeeded and finally the doubles created by the Padre and of course the Carnivore and Morgan. The last Chapman. How they all link together and the final outcome is yet to be revealed. Author Gayle Lynds weaves the tale by flashing back to where it all began with Saddam Hussein and how his career began where the six met up and why they decided to go after his money. Saddam hired an international financier who convinced the Shah of Iran to deposit much of his fortune in a bank in Iraq. Hiring family members to monitor the money Saddam became paranoid and decided to deal with it all on his own. The man behind it Rostan Rahim and the final fate they hope would be six dead financiers or six dead assassins.
As each player tries to get the pieces of the tablet and avoid the fate of those before we learn what happens to Pyotr or Peter and Katia as she learns the truth behind Pyotr, his attention towards her and her fate is sealed.
But, can two major players work together to get the end result? What part does Judd Ryder play and who will wind up with the entire tablet as someone thought out of the loop returns, the fate of someone close to them guarded and the end result you just won’t believe. Meet the man named Al-Sabah and find out just who he really is and what happens when he learns one mission failed. But, there is much more at stake as the author presents us with the plan that Al-Sabah has outlined and hoping to attack and work with the Mullahs to integrate Iraq with Iran. As one man runs for power another hopes their money and political strength will deliver Iraq right into Iran’s arms. Imagine what would happen if this comes to pass! The author reminds readers that only Saddam and his head financier knew all the parts were and that the financier divided the money into six sections and hired five more financiers but only Saddam and one other person knew where all the parts were. Just who the mastermind was that created the maze will not be revealed as author Gayle Lynds creates a plan and an ending that will test Eva to the core, place her under someone’s control and hopefully allow Judd and one other deadly assassin to hopefully survive. But, will the head of Catapult and his assistant Gloria rise to the occasion, trust the call they get from Eva and send in the troops? One killer facing off with another and the prize at hand. One wanting to become part of the new government and the other preventing exposure. One man’s plan to make sure his candidate is Prime Minister and another realizing just what the master deception was and the major lies that were told. An ending that is electrifying and filled with twists, surprises as both Judd and Eva decide on their fates, another faces the future but in a different way and author Gayle Lynds will hopefully bring back both Judd and Eva to let readers know their final fate. Who lives? Who gets the tablet and what will they learn when all the pieces fit together? The Assassins: Six deadly men, plus Judd, Eve, Tucker and more: Whose side do you want to be on? When the makeup artist finishes the next time: Just whose image will he recreate?
Fran Lewis: Just reviews
Makeup artists create new images for actors and actresses in order to play roles in a television series, movie or Broadway show. Many can make two people look alike, body doubles and make people think that they are either one in the same or two different people. What happens when one man goes to the cleaners to get his clothes and learns he was there already? What happens when he returns home and sees himself coming out of the building and he or his double winds up dead? Judd Ryder is the former US military spy is sees the man or his double leaving his house. But, worse witnessing his murder as the man is run down. Who or Why?
What happens when six internationally highly skilled assassins try to find out just where Saddam Hussein hid a huge fortune from invading forces? Trying to find the location using any means available what happens sets off a chain of events that is deadly. As the story unfolds the reader will learn who the real target was: Judd or the double? Needing help he contacts his past government employer Tucker who reveals that other events similar to that have been happening all over the world and the main focus is the assassin known as the Carnivore who just might be behind it all. Illusive, undetectable and his physical appearance unknown the clock is ticking as they try and find him but first Tucker meets with another assassin The Padre. All the Intel and protection, guards and security cannot stop what happens after their meeting as the Padre might be a coldblooded assassin but his Intel is priceless and the cost this time is the Carnivore. When Ryder contacts the only person other than Tucker that he thinks he can trust, CIA trainee, Eva Blake, knowing that other than him she was the only one who had any contact with this assassin, the reader might conclude as Ryder does that he and Eva are the real targets to get this old assassin out front and center. The six deadly assassins work together to reach their goal. But, when others are involved and more bodies fall can anyone identify the Carnivore and is he hiding in plain site? What about Ryder and Eva just how far will they have to run? The battle weighs from Washington D.C. to Marrakech to Baghdad and across many continents hoping that someone can find the missing 12 million dollar fortune. A simple contest to prove who is the best as six deadly assassins in April of 2003 decide to go after what they claim Saddam Hussein owes then and never paid after the Americans managed to take all of his assets.
Stealing the limestone tablets was the start but when Eva Blake is lured from her place on the Farm’s training program by someone named Frank Smith what happens sets in motion a chain of events that will lead not only her but Tucker and Judd to three deadly killers and one who might turn out to be their greatest ally. Wanting to know what happened and who killed Burleigh Morgan and blew up his car the response by two deadly killers will greatly change the dynamics of everything. Things heat up and truths are told and one deadly killer takes matters into his own hand and someone is seriously injured. As Tucker and Judd face off with two killers after entering the home of Martin Chapman and taking him out, the events that follow will lead to getting part of the tablets, placing them in more danger and hopefully keeping Tucker alive.
Trying to find where Saddam hid the billions of dollars he managed to steal from the Shah is the primary focus of this novel and that of six assassins that each one their own share. But things change as we meet Katia and Peter learn about their pasts and their link to the present. But, as they blend and Katia learns just why this man sought her out, why he claimed to care for her the real motive comes to light and events change as lies, deceptions and the Peter’s real identity is revealed as the Krot a deadly killer. Just why did he seek out Katia or Francesca as she called herself? Just who was he really after and why? When events spiral even more out of control the bodies fall and the real plot is revealed as someone is behind a blackmail scheme to flush out all of the assassins one at a time hoping that each one will kill off another and present him with his pieces of the tablet. But, what happens when the last two are standing? Which one will win it all?
Ryder, Eva and one deadly assassin hope to outfox and outsmart the mastermind behind it all as a man named Seymour going under an alias hopes to have the power of the Iranian government and the Shiites in his hand. Power plays, murder, greed, hate, revenge for the deaths of many and six assassins that started it all but who will get the coveted prize? Untraceable emails that described one high profile wet job that was to be carried out by one assassin at a time. The information provided would include contact information, time, place and details about the hit. Hired for murder and one was the U.S. government. Imagine these jobs or murders placed in a book or Catalog called the Associates Catalog and for the coveted tablet pieces the winner gets the book. As one killer explains it all we learn how the chain of events began with getting in touch with the Krot or Peter, next the Padre and Eli who never succeeded and finally the doubles created by the Padre and of course the Carnivore and Morgan. The last Chapman. How they all link together and the final outcome is yet to be revealed. Author Gayle Lynds weaves the tale by flashing back to where it all began with Saddam Hussein and how his career began where the six met up and why they decided to go after his money. Saddam hired an international financier who convinced the Shah of Iran to deposit much of his fortune in a bank in Iraq. Hiring family members to monitor the money Saddam became paranoid and decided to deal with it all on his own. The man behind it Rostan Rahim and the final fate they hope would be six dead financiers or six dead assassins.
As each player tries to get the pieces of the tablet and avoid the fate of those before we learn what happens to Pyotr or Peter and Katia as she learns the truth behind Pyotr, his attention towards her and her fate is sealed.
But, can two major players work together to get the end result? What part does Judd Ryder play and who will wind up with the entire tablet as someone thought out of the loop returns, the fate of someone close to them guarded and the end result you just won’t believe. Meet the man named Al-Sabah and find out just who he really is and what happens when he learns one mission failed. But, there is much more at stake as the author presents us with the plan that Al-Sabah has outlined and hoping to attack and work with the Mullahs to integrate Iraq with Iran. As one man runs for power another hopes their money and political strength will deliver Iraq right into Iran’s arms. Imagine what would happen if this comes to pass! The author reminds readers that only Saddam and his head financier knew all the parts were and that the financier divided the money into six sections and hired five more financiers but only Saddam and one other person knew where all the parts were. Just who the mastermind was that created the maze will not be revealed as author Gayle Lynds creates a plan and an ending that will test Eva to the core, place her under someone’s control and hopefully allow Judd and one other deadly assassin to hopefully survive. But, will the head of Catapult and his assistant Gloria rise to the occasion, trust the call they get from Eva and send in the troops? One killer facing off with another and the prize at hand. One wanting to become part of the new government and the other preventing exposure. One man’s plan to make sure his candidate is Prime Minister and another realizing just what the master deception was and the major lies that were told. An ending that is electrifying and filled with twists, surprises as both Judd and Eva decide on their fates, another faces the future but in a different way and author Gayle Lynds will hopefully bring back both Judd and Eva to let readers know their final fate. Who lives? Who gets the tablet and what will they learn when all the pieces fit together? The Assassins: Six deadly men, plus Judd, Eve, Tucker and more: Whose side do you want to be on? When the makeup artist finishes the next time: Just whose image will he recreate?
Fran Lewis: Just reviews
June 21, 2017
I bought this book because I enjoy stories about assassins. The blurb promised six of them. Alas, I had to struggle to finish it. Linds is a decent writer, but emotionally, her writing leaves me cold. I couldn't get into the two protagonists, former spy Judd Ryder, and CIA trainee Eva Black, who can't seem to decide whether to have a romance or not. Not even by page 400! There are a multitude of other characters, every one of which has a name, even minor characters. The only two characters I did care about (which I won't name in order to avoid spoilers) were killed off part way through the book.
Gayle Linds is a former intelligence officer, so if you like international intrigue served up with plenty of technical details, you may enjoy this book. But if you want to identify with engaging characters who pull you into a story, this book is a dud.
Gayle Linds is a former intelligence officer, so if you like international intrigue served up with plenty of technical details, you may enjoy this book. But if you want to identify with engaging characters who pull you into a story, this book is a dud.
July 11, 2015
I have had many thoughts about The Assassins and the characters in this story as I was reading. But, as I was at the last part of the book and the action and story intensified, which is saying a lot given how action-packed and intense the entire book is, I thought it is almost over and I just want to slow down my reading so it lasts longer. I loved it! I received a copy of The Assassins from NetGalley and though I don't always like the books I have to review, I love it when they are great. The Assassins is the 2nd book in the Judd Ryder and Eva Blake series and it just gets better and better.
The Assassins starts a few months after where The Book of Spies left off. Though you could read them alone you miss out on so much by not being introduced to the characters in the first book. Judd has been in Iraq doing community service work and Eva has been training at the CIA farm. Just as Judd arrives home from his trip things go a bit haywire as he sees what looks like his exact double killed in front of his own home. As incredible as that is the story just gets more incredible as six assassins, including The Carnivore that we were introduced to in The Book of Spies, square off against each other.
Judd Ryder is a deep, flawed character who you don't know whether to cheer for or worry about because he seems to be on a precipice between good and bad. At the same time you can't help liking him. He feels pain and strives to do what is right but has some serious shadows in him that make watching him tackle the situations they face worth it. The Carnivore is someone you shouldn't like but somehow you can't help it. Even in The Book of Spies you find yourself drawn to him despite him being an assassin. He has rules that show his humanity even as he is "wiping" someone. Tucker has a huge fight on his hands in this series. He seems to be fighting for everything but his marriage, though he knows his wife is a bit fed up with his always working. His fight gets even more life-threatening in The Assassins and we really see the brighter side of Judd here as he worries for his friend. Eva, we have always worried for her but want her to be ahead. She deserves it after everything we know she has gone through in The Book of Spies. Another reason to read it first is to see the evil normal people can do to each other.
After my experience with these last two books by Gayle Lynds I look forward to reading more by her and definitely to see what Judd chooses for his life. Review can also be seen at LadyTechie's Book Musings http://ladytechiesbookmusings.blogspo... .
The Assassins starts a few months after where The Book of Spies left off. Though you could read them alone you miss out on so much by not being introduced to the characters in the first book. Judd has been in Iraq doing community service work and Eva has been training at the CIA farm. Just as Judd arrives home from his trip things go a bit haywire as he sees what looks like his exact double killed in front of his own home. As incredible as that is the story just gets more incredible as six assassins, including The Carnivore that we were introduced to in The Book of Spies, square off against each other.
Judd Ryder is a deep, flawed character who you don't know whether to cheer for or worry about because he seems to be on a precipice between good and bad. At the same time you can't help liking him. He feels pain and strives to do what is right but has some serious shadows in him that make watching him tackle the situations they face worth it. The Carnivore is someone you shouldn't like but somehow you can't help it. Even in The Book of Spies you find yourself drawn to him despite him being an assassin. He has rules that show his humanity even as he is "wiping" someone. Tucker has a huge fight on his hands in this series. He seems to be fighting for everything but his marriage, though he knows his wife is a bit fed up with his always working. His fight gets even more life-threatening in The Assassins and we really see the brighter side of Judd here as he worries for his friend. Eva, we have always worried for her but want her to be ahead. She deserves it after everything we know she has gone through in The Book of Spies. Another reason to read it first is to see the evil normal people can do to each other.
After my experience with these last two books by Gayle Lynds I look forward to reading more by her and definitely to see what Judd chooses for his life. Review can also be seen at LadyTechie's Book Musings http://ladytechiesbookmusings.blogspo... .
September 8, 2015
Are you ready for explosions, gunfire, non stop action and intrigue? Do you love a story where you don’t know who to trust? Throw in six world class Assassins in an agreement of convenience that goes horribly wrong and you have the adrenalin fuelled start to The Assassins by Gayle Lynds.
Enter Judd Ryder, retired US military intelligence who upon walking home one evening, sees a man killed in a hit and run. But this is no ordinary man. Judd has a doppelgänger. The man exited his house wearing Judd’s clothes which makes him wonder who was the real target – the stranger or him?
What follows is a highly entertaining, fast paced thriller, a lot like watching a Hollywood action movie except you are reading. Be prepared, the pace is relentless, the characters are interesting and their motivations are not always as they seem. The whole story is a puzzle that is well structured and leads you nicely to the climax.
It also leaves you happy that your life is nothing like the dangerous rollercoaster Judd and Eva are riding.
melissa-sargent.com
LOVEthatBOOK
Enter Judd Ryder, retired US military intelligence who upon walking home one evening, sees a man killed in a hit and run. But this is no ordinary man. Judd has a doppelgänger. The man exited his house wearing Judd’s clothes which makes him wonder who was the real target – the stranger or him?
What follows is a highly entertaining, fast paced thriller, a lot like watching a Hollywood action movie except you are reading. Be prepared, the pace is relentless, the characters are interesting and their motivations are not always as they seem. The whole story is a puzzle that is well structured and leads you nicely to the climax.
It also leaves you happy that your life is nothing like the dangerous rollercoaster Judd and Eva are riding.
melissa-sargent.com
LOVEthatBOOK
September 13, 2015
I enjoyed this latest novel from Lynds. I hadn't realised it was the second in a series and we'd had a chance to meet Judd and Eva before so now I want to go back and read its predecessor (The Book of Spies).
Of course the players have changed since my previous foray into the genre (over a decade or two ago). We're no longer dealing with the Russians or Eastern Europe. It all kinda comes down to Iran and Iraq and the Middle East.
The novel was well-paced and I was keen to understand who was after the assassins and why, expecting a few twists and turns.
And I really enjoyed the characters, though probably liked a couple of the secondary characters (CIA agent Tucker Anderson and assassin, The Carnivore) as much as Eva and Judd - and feel relieved they obviously featured in The Book of Spies and will undoubtedly appear in the next in the series.
Read the full review on my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
3.5 stars
Of course the players have changed since my previous foray into the genre (over a decade or two ago). We're no longer dealing with the Russians or Eastern Europe. It all kinda comes down to Iran and Iraq and the Middle East.
The novel was well-paced and I was keen to understand who was after the assassins and why, expecting a few twists and turns.
And I really enjoyed the characters, though probably liked a couple of the secondary characters (CIA agent Tucker Anderson and assassin, The Carnivore) as much as Eva and Judd - and feel relieved they obviously featured in The Book of Spies and will undoubtedly appear in the next in the series.
Read the full review on my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
3.5 stars
June 6, 2015
The Assassins opens in 2003 with the theft of a stone tablet from the National Museum of Iraq by six assassins. In the process the tablet is shattered and each man takes a number of pieces. Now the assassins are being blackmailed into hunting each other and retrieving the pieces.
Eva Blake, a CIA trainee, and Judd Ryder, a former agent, who were introduced in The Book of Spies, are pulled into the hunt. Having worked with one of the assassins in the past, they are forced to work with him again to find who is behind the killings and what their true purpose is. From Washington to Marrakech and back to Baghdad, where it all began, there are twists and turns as each assassin meets his end, leading to an explosive conclusion.
Eva Blake, a CIA trainee, and Judd Ryder, a former agent, who were introduced in The Book of Spies, are pulled into the hunt. Having worked with one of the assassins in the past, they are forced to work with him again to find who is behind the killings and what their true purpose is. From Washington to Marrakech and back to Baghdad, where it all began, there are twists and turns as each assassin meets his end, leading to an explosive conclusion.
January 20, 2016
What a really good book. I thought the premise was pretty cool; the world's best assassins joining forces to steal an artifact from Saddam Hussein's trove of priceless items, only to be caught red-handed. The ensuing fight or flight responses proved to start a cataclysmic string of events, all related to the robbery, that could very well mean certain death for all of them. But knowing these are the worlds best at what they do, how will their expertise in shadow warfare help them to figure out who is coming after them, and at what cost? How can they defend against the unseen, and can they trust each other any longer? What if greed and jealousy has caused one to turn against the rest? Read this book and you will find out!! You won't be disappointed!
July 19, 2015
The Assassins takes you from the countryside of Maryland to the busy markets of
Marrakech and on to the streets of Baghdad. Each area is described so vividly that you feel you are walking beside the characters of the book.
Gayle Lynds has you wondering who is really who. She brings in the use of facial
prosthetics and other covert operation tricks of the spy trade to keep you turning the pages. The blend of political powers, historical detail of the city of Babylon and the Hanging Gardens, the plots and twists with flat out danger at every move for all involved is a very thrilling read.
Marrakech and on to the streets of Baghdad. Each area is described so vividly that you feel you are walking beside the characters of the book.
Gayle Lynds has you wondering who is really who. She brings in the use of facial
prosthetics and other covert operation tricks of the spy trade to keep you turning the pages. The blend of political powers, historical detail of the city of Babylon and the Hanging Gardens, the plots and twists with flat out danger at every move for all involved is a very thrilling read.
December 18, 2015
As usual, Gayle Lynds delivers. The plot revolves around the hidden billions that Saddam Hussein looted from Iraq and hid from everyone.
He used six financial wizards to hide the money for him...then used six assassins to eliminate the financial wizards so no one will know exactly where the money is. Then the six assassins are trying to get the rest of their money for the job. Eventually the assassins turn on each other in their search for the money, mix in political intrigue and you get the idea.
He used six financial wizards to hide the money for him...then used six assassins to eliminate the financial wizards so no one will know exactly where the money is. Then the six assassins are trying to get the rest of their money for the job. Eventually the assassins turn on each other in their search for the money, mix in political intrigue and you get the idea.
July 29, 2015
An exhilarating ride, the Assassins races from the streets of Washington D.C. to London to Marrakech and ending in Bagdad. This book has everything - a gripping spy story where the stakes are unbelievably high, interagency politics that could undermine the mission, and a love story - two love stories, one tragic. I couldn't put this down. Another classic spy novel from Gayle Lynds.
May 25, 2016
Saddam's hidden treasures
I just recently found Gayle Lynds but am delighted to have done so and am reading through her books as fast as I can. She writes great espionage thrillers with the addition of strong women agents sometimes missing in others. I am looking forward to reading more of her books.
I just recently found Gayle Lynds but am delighted to have done so and am reading through her books as fast as I can. She writes great espionage thrillers with the addition of strong women agents sometimes missing in others. I am looking forward to reading more of her books.
August 18, 2015
Spy thrillers are not my usual choice of genre, but I couldn't put Gayle Lynd's book down! I loved it when she left me 'hanging' with her plot twists and introduction to the characters. Well written and very enjoyable! Can't wait to see what Judd and Eva will do next!
June 29, 2015
Read my review this week on bookreporter.com .
June 30, 2015
A page turning thriller.really well written.
Read
July 16, 2015excellent.
September 28, 2015
Very good action book
October 4, 2015
Good book, lots of action, great characters.
Read
February 24, 2016I liked it, would like to read about the characters in it again and set in 2016
November 20, 2022
The second book in the Judd Ryder & Eva Blake series. Fun and exciting.
September 15, 2015
This is the first Gayle Lynds' books that I have read. I really liked the premise, six assassins come together for a job, which goes awry. Fast forward in time and a mysterious email threatens to expose the work of all six as well as those that hired them.
I felt the book moved very well through the first half or so, and then it took a minor left turn into snoozeville. The middle of the book was a little slow compared to the rest, but the book finished with a bang! All in all, I enjoyed it, and will look forward to reading it again. Also, I can't wait to start on the rest of Lynds' novels!
I received a copy of this book as a Goodreads give away in return for my thoughts and opinions.
I felt the book moved very well through the first half or so, and then it took a minor left turn into snoozeville. The middle of the book was a little slow compared to the rest, but the book finished with a bang! All in all, I enjoyed it, and will look forward to reading it again. Also, I can't wait to start on the rest of Lynds' novels!
I received a copy of this book as a Goodreads give away in return for my thoughts and opinions.
September 23, 2016
I picked this book up while at work because I needed something to read on my lunch break and it caught my eye. I wasn't going to buy it but after getting a chapter in I couldn't help myself. This book is packed with action from cover to cover - I liked that. It's a nice, easy read too. The plot has all the right twists and is timed well. Even the characters are relatable despite half of the cast being killers. I can't say that it'll stick in my mind forever but it was an enjoyable read.
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