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Assassins Anonymous #3
Three Hitmen and a Baby
Welcome back to Assassins Anonymous, where family is everything and danger lurks around every corner.
Assassins Anonymous isn't just a weekly recovery meeting for reformed killers—it's also a family.
When Valencia receives troubling news that her brother has gone missing, she wants rush off to LA to find him. But she can’t bring her baby girl, Lucia. Enter the other members of Assassins Anonymous—Mark, Astrid, and Booker, who offer to watch the toddler while she's gone. After all, they're three of the deadliest, most highly skilled people on the planet; what could go wrong?
Turns out, a lot. Shortly after Valencia leaves, Mark is summoned to the lair of Zmeya, a Russian mob boss calling in a deadly favor—she wants him to kill Astrid, his protege and friend. Mark refuses, but Zmeya reveals that she knows the identity of Mark’s ex-girlfriend . . . and his son. Either Astrid goes, or they do.
Meanwhile, Lucia spikes a dangerously high fever, and when Booker and Astrid take her to urgent care, they realize too late, that their fabricated identities are a real liability. Also, they don't know Valencia’s last name, let alone Lucia's. They can hardly blame the staff for calling the NYPD.
Suddenly the splintered group is on the run from both the Russian mob and the police, dodging bad guys and do-gooders while trying to find refuge in a city full of surveillance cameras—all without killing anyone. That is, until Zmeya captures Sara and Bennett, and Mark is ready to throw his sobriety out the window.
Assassins Anonymous isn't just a weekly recovery meeting for reformed killers—it's also a family.
When Valencia receives troubling news that her brother has gone missing, she wants rush off to LA to find him. But she can’t bring her baby girl, Lucia. Enter the other members of Assassins Anonymous—Mark, Astrid, and Booker, who offer to watch the toddler while she's gone. After all, they're three of the deadliest, most highly skilled people on the planet; what could go wrong?
Turns out, a lot. Shortly after Valencia leaves, Mark is summoned to the lair of Zmeya, a Russian mob boss calling in a deadly favor—she wants him to kill Astrid, his protege and friend. Mark refuses, but Zmeya reveals that she knows the identity of Mark’s ex-girlfriend . . . and his son. Either Astrid goes, or they do.
Meanwhile, Lucia spikes a dangerously high fever, and when Booker and Astrid take her to urgent care, they realize too late, that their fabricated identities are a real liability. Also, they don't know Valencia’s last name, let alone Lucia's. They can hardly blame the staff for calling the NYPD.
Suddenly the splintered group is on the run from both the Russian mob and the police, dodging bad guys and do-gooders while trying to find refuge in a city full of surveillance cameras—all without killing anyone. That is, until Zmeya captures Sara and Bennett, and Mark is ready to throw his sobriety out the window.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published June 16, 2026
About the author
Rob Hart
58 books1,141 followersRob Hart is the author of the USA TODAY bestseller ASSASSINS ANONYMOUS. He also wrote THE PARADOX HOTEL, which was nominated for. Lambda Literary Award, as well as THE WAREHOUSE, which has been sold in more than 20 countries. He also wrote the Ash McKenna crime series, the short story collection TAKE-OUT, the novella SCOTT FREE with James Patterson, and, with Alex Segura, the comic book BLOOD OATH and the novel DARK SPACE.
His short stories have been published widely, including “Due on Batuu,” set in the Star Wars universe, which appeared in FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, and "Take-Out," which appeared in BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES 2018.
He’s worked as a political reporter, the communications director for a politician, and a commissioner for the city of New York. He is the former publisher at MysteriousPress.com and class director at LitReactor. He lives in Jersey City.
His short stories have been published widely, including “Due on Batuu,” set in the Star Wars universe, which appeared in FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, and "Take-Out," which appeared in BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES 2018.
He’s worked as a political reporter, the communications director for a politician, and a commissioner for the city of New York. He is the former publisher at MysteriousPress.com and class director at LitReactor. He lives in Jersey City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
June 23, 2026
One thing you can take away from this book is that a child spiking a fever will absolutely ruin your whole day/ week😅 I SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE 😭
This may be odd to say, but this series about assassins in a recovery group called Assassin's Anonymous is so comforting to me😅
Mark continues to be such a complex character.. he killed more than 100 people but.. I can fix him😌 If you like the John Wick movies, you will love this series! Book 1 continues to be my favorite but this was very entertaining as well!
Excited for the next installment and possibly an upcoming movie adaptation????
___________________________________________________________
pre-read
MARK IS BACK LET'S GOOOOOO!!
This may be odd to say, but this series about assassins in a recovery group called Assassin's Anonymous is so comforting to me😅
Mark continues to be such a complex character.. he killed more than 100 people but.. I can fix him😌 If you like the John Wick movies, you will love this series! Book 1 continues to be my favorite but this was very entertaining as well!
Excited for the next installment and possibly an upcoming movie adaptation????
___________________________________________________________
pre-read
MARK IS BACK LET'S GOOOOOO!!
June 17, 2026
I really enjoy this suspense series with its unique concept: professional assassins who want to give up that life and enter an AA-type program. It has drama and excitement and lots of heart. I highly recommend the series for some entertaining summer reading but do start with book #1, Assassins Anonymous, for the full character and plot development.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new thriller.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new thriller.
June 28, 2026
In this third installment of the Assassin’s Anonymous group, several of the members are tasked with babysitting a toddler. Soon, following a series of poor decisions and dumb mistakes, the entire gang of former hitmen find themselves pursued by the police and an assortment of Russian gangsters. As the noose around them tightens, this unique 12-step group begins looking for a way that they can keep out of trouble without losing their sobriety by killing someone.
While I enjoyed the first part of this novel, I felt it began to drag a little before the book’s midpoint. Indeed, every chapter seemed to end with the roof caving in on the 12-step protagonists; and, then, miraculously, there would be some sort of “escape door” appearing out of nowhere. Aside from the beer truck that whisked several of them around an NYPD city dragnet, there was the unexpected merchant ship that took the same group to safer ground up the coast, as well as a secret tunnel under an apartment that led to Chinatown. All in all, this predictable scenario took away from the overall story.
Despite enjoying the first two books of this series, I found the “Three Hitmen” to be a more tedious read.
While I enjoyed the first part of this novel, I felt it began to drag a little before the book’s midpoint. Indeed, every chapter seemed to end with the roof caving in on the 12-step protagonists; and, then, miraculously, there would be some sort of “escape door” appearing out of nowhere. Aside from the beer truck that whisked several of them around an NYPD city dragnet, there was the unexpected merchant ship that took the same group to safer ground up the coast, as well as a secret tunnel under an apartment that led to Chinatown. All in all, this predictable scenario took away from the overall story.
Despite enjoying the first two books of this series, I found the “Three Hitmen” to be a more tedious read.
June 3, 2026
Long live Kitty Smalls!
April 24, 2026
⋆˙⟡ ── ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ 5★
ⓘ 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊.
This was so good! I read this in one sitting. A quick, easy, action-packed, high stakes, suspenseful, thriller that keeps you on your toes. I didn’t realize this was the third book in a series, but you really don’t even need to read the first two to understand the characters or the story.
The concept of a group of reformed assassins in an “alcoholic’s anonymous” type setting is actually funny, but it’s also a nice way of exploring how people aren’t just who they appear to be on the surface. While I don’t know the growth these characters have gone through since the beginning of the series, it’s not hard to see that they have. The POV ping pongs between two of the characters (Astrid and Mark), but it’s not hard to keep up with at all. In fact, it keeps you engaged to the story as a whole.
ⓘ 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊.
This was so good! I read this in one sitting. A quick, easy, action-packed, high stakes, suspenseful, thriller that keeps you on your toes. I didn’t realize this was the third book in a series, but you really don’t even need to read the first two to understand the characters or the story.
The concept of a group of reformed assassins in an “alcoholic’s anonymous” type setting is actually funny, but it’s also a nice way of exploring how people aren’t just who they appear to be on the surface. While I don’t know the growth these characters have gone through since the beginning of the series, it’s not hard to see that they have. The POV ping pongs between two of the characters (Astrid and Mark), but it’s not hard to keep up with at all. In fact, it keeps you engaged to the story as a whole.
July 3, 2026
Absolute banger of a book! My favorite of the series so far, and that is saying a lot because I’ve loved them all. The characters were fabulous as always, the plot was exciting, and I just couldn’t put the thing down. The subject is dark, but the humor and heart throughout make this series so very readable. In fact, I read it in one sitting, and cannot wait for the next book! At this point, Rob Hart can just take all my money, really.
June 21, 2026
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader. If you like this post, you might like others on that site. Consider checking it out!
---
What's Three Hitmen and a Baby About?
After the events of The Medusa Protocol, things have really settled down for the members of the recovery group. Up until the events of this novel, of course. Valencia gets word of some family trouble in California, and she needs to go help—but she can't take her three-year-old with her. So Mark, Booker, and Astrid, her "uncles" (yes, even Astrid—Lucia's not so great with gender concepts), volunteer to watch her. How hard could it be?
Spoken like people who haven't spent that much time on their own with a toddler. Incidentally, 12-Step rules or not. If you're going to watch someone's child for a few days—you'd better know their last name. Our trio learns that the hard way. I'll leave it at that.
At the same time, one debt that Mark owes a Russian mobster becomes due. They (on behalf of someone else) want Astrid dead. And who better to take care of that than her friend, Mark. They don't care that Mark isn't killing anymore, and they'd care even less to learn that Mark was her sponsor. And you don't have to be a Friend of Bill to know that the relationship between sponsor and sponsee isn't supposed to be ended with a murder. Then again, the mobster knows about Mark's ex- and their child. So, he does have two compelling reasons to throw his sobriety out the window.
All in all, these three (ex-)hitman have quite the struggle.
Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?
I can't imagine stopping this series now. When the publicist emailed me about the book, I jumped on it without thinking.
I kept going because the story wouldn't let me go. We get the comedy of these (former) professional killers being utterly inept when it comes to taking care of a toddler. And then this between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place that Mark finds himself in.
What's the Underlying Theme?
This book is about a couple of things at the core—there's the found-family connection between the members of this group—and a couple of other people they've collectively added along the way. But that's something that's been part of this series from the beginning (and will almost certainly continue to be).
The other core of this book is making amends. Step 9 of Assassin's Anonymous—like all 12-Step Programs—is making amends. Now, it's impossible to make amends to those they've killed. So they've each had to come up with ways to do that. Sometimes, it's service. Sometimes, it's talking to loved ones of the victim.
Not only do we see some attempts at amends to victims. We also see the toll that not being able to make them takes on members of the group. The nightmares, the way they're haunted not by their past sins but their inability to do anything to ameliorate the situation or amend for them.
So, what did I think about Three Hitmen and a Baby?
I had a blast with this—and I'm having a hard time coming up with new things to say about this series (seriously, this would've been posted a week ago otherwise).
I do think this is slightly more successful than The Medusa Protocol overall, which is not to cast aspersions on book two. There's less globe-trotting in this book than in either previous book, but that doesn't keep the cast from being international. It just ramps up the pacing. This all happens in a much more contained period of time, keeping the pressure on throughout. There's little downtime or breathing room (and most of that involves entertaining a three-year-old).
Hart really has the balancing act between light-hearted moments, soul-searing introspection/disclosure, and action down pat. The jokes about John Wick and other action films keep coming and haven't lost their punch. There's a great scene where Mark and Booker talk about their preferred entertainment and critique action tropes that I've read at least three times, just to watch Hart fill out these characters a bit (particularly Booker, we know Mark well enough now).
The way this one resolved was rewarding both plot-wise and character-wise, and did set up book four in a pretty solid manner, too.
This one really shouldn't be missed, my friends/readers/utter strangers who happen to see this.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Putnam | G.P. Putnam’s Sons via NetGalley in exchange for this post which contains my honest opinion—thanks to both for this.
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader. If you like this post, you might like others on that site. Consider checking it out!
---
What's Three Hitmen and a Baby About?
After the events of The Medusa Protocol, things have really settled down for the members of the recovery group. Up until the events of this novel, of course. Valencia gets word of some family trouble in California, and she needs to go help—but she can't take her three-year-old with her. So Mark, Booker, and Astrid, her "uncles" (yes, even Astrid—Lucia's not so great with gender concepts), volunteer to watch her. How hard could it be?
Spoken like people who haven't spent that much time on their own with a toddler. Incidentally, 12-Step rules or not. If you're going to watch someone's child for a few days—you'd better know their last name. Our trio learns that the hard way. I'll leave it at that.
At the same time, one debt that Mark owes a Russian mobster becomes due. They (on behalf of someone else) want Astrid dead. And who better to take care of that than her friend, Mark. They don't care that Mark isn't killing anymore, and they'd care even less to learn that Mark was her sponsor. And you don't have to be a Friend of Bill to know that the relationship between sponsor and sponsee isn't supposed to be ended with a murder. Then again, the mobster knows about Mark's ex- and their child. So, he does have two compelling reasons to throw his sobriety out the window.
All in all, these three (ex-)hitman have quite the struggle.
Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?
I can't imagine stopping this series now. When the publicist emailed me about the book, I jumped on it without thinking.
I kept going because the story wouldn't let me go. We get the comedy of these (former) professional killers being utterly inept when it comes to taking care of a toddler. And then this between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place that Mark finds himself in.
What's the Underlying Theme?
This book is about a couple of things at the core—there's the found-family connection between the members of this group—and a couple of other people they've collectively added along the way. But that's something that's been part of this series from the beginning (and will almost certainly continue to be).
The other core of this book is making amends. Step 9 of Assassin's Anonymous—like all 12-Step Programs—is making amends. Now, it's impossible to make amends to those they've killed. So they've each had to come up with ways to do that. Sometimes, it's service. Sometimes, it's talking to loved ones of the victim.
Not only do we see some attempts at amends to victims. We also see the toll that not being able to make them takes on members of the group. The nightmares, the way they're haunted not by their past sins but their inability to do anything to ameliorate the situation or amend for them.
So, what did I think about Three Hitmen and a Baby?
I had a blast with this—and I'm having a hard time coming up with new things to say about this series (seriously, this would've been posted a week ago otherwise).
I do think this is slightly more successful than The Medusa Protocol overall, which is not to cast aspersions on book two. There's less globe-trotting in this book than in either previous book, but that doesn't keep the cast from being international. It just ramps up the pacing. This all happens in a much more contained period of time, keeping the pressure on throughout. There's little downtime or breathing room (and most of that involves entertaining a three-year-old).
Hart really has the balancing act between light-hearted moments, soul-searing introspection/disclosure, and action down pat. The jokes about John Wick and other action films keep coming and haven't lost their punch. There's a great scene where Mark and Booker talk about their preferred entertainment and critique action tropes that I've read at least three times, just to watch Hart fill out these characters a bit (particularly Booker, we know Mark well enough now).
The way this one resolved was rewarding both plot-wise and character-wise, and did set up book four in a pretty solid manner, too.
This one really shouldn't be missed, my friends/readers/utter strangers who happen to see this.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Putnam | G.P. Putnam’s Sons via NetGalley in exchange for this post which contains my honest opinion—thanks to both for this.
July 2, 2026
I really do love this series so much. It's heartfelt in the weirdest way, as well as excellent crime fiction. You really come to love the characters with each entry, and the story beat of sobriety among killers is implemented so well.
Mr. Hart please write as many of these as publishers will allow, and please please please give us a book from Booker and Valencia's POV.
Mr. Hart please write as many of these as publishers will allow, and please please please give us a book from Booker and Valencia's POV.
June 16, 2026
Read Completed 6/16/26 | 3 stars | Book #128 of 2026
Well, this just wasn't very thrilling for me. It almost felt like two different books, the first half being about babysitting and running from the police, and the second half digging into a deeper plot, but they really don't have anything to do with each other. The sequels in this series really haven't had the charm that the first book did, and I almost wish each book was about a different character here.
I'm honestly getting a little tired of these stories and this plot because it's really not going anywhere. For as high stakes as this was, I wasn't getting a lot of emotional investment about it. We really did not need Astrid's POV in here whatsoever and it was boring. I would have rather heard from Booker than these two again because they're not deep enough to carry these books anymore.
Well, this just wasn't very thrilling for me. It almost felt like two different books, the first half being about babysitting and running from the police, and the second half digging into a deeper plot, but they really don't have anything to do with each other. The sequels in this series really haven't had the charm that the first book did, and I almost wish each book was about a different character here.
I'm honestly getting a little tired of these stories and this plot because it's really not going anywhere. For as high stakes as this was, I wasn't getting a lot of emotional investment about it. We really did not need Astrid's POV in here whatsoever and it was boring. I would have rather heard from Booker than these two again because they're not deep enough to carry these books anymore.
May 30, 2026
This very fast paced third entry in the Assassins Anonymous series almost seems to be two stories in one book. The first story, which deals with the baby, is rather slapstick and, honestly, I think is only there because of the title and as filler. The second story, having to do with the deal Mark made in a previous book, is much more interesting and moves the group’s story forward nicely. Because the author is extremely talented at giving the reader both brief yet thorough background information, this book can also be considered a standalone. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book!
My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.
My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.
June 17, 2026
This is book three of the Assassins Anonymous series and I love these books. They are so funny. This time our assassins are tasked with babysitting Valencia’s toddler for the weekend. What could go possibly wrong? As usual, someone is out to kill someone and Mark and the gang need to deal with it without killing anybody. These books are entertaining and fun to read. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5 stars
The nitty-gritty: Mark, Astrid and the gang return in the third installment of Rob Hart's high octane Assassins Anonymous series. Get ready for a wild ride!
Once again, Rob Hart hits it out of the park with this third installment of his riotously fun, high stakes spy thriller series. I always know I’m in for a good time when I start one of these books, and Three Hitmen and a Baby was no exception. I’ll try to make this as spoiler free as possible, although I might have to mention a few events from the previous books. As you can tell by the title, this installment features Valencia’s baby Lucia—who isn’t really a baby anymore—and Hart does a brilliant job of using her to create some very funny situations.
The story picks up three years after the ending of The Medusa Protocol. The members of Assassins Anonymous—Mark, Astrid, Booker, and Valencia, all former assassins, CIA operatives and spies, who have decided to leave their old lives behind and stop killing—are gathering for their weekly AA meeting in the very secure basement of the Church of St. Jude in Chelsea, New York. Everything seems to be status quo, until Valencia finds out that her brother is in trouble. She has no choice but to help him, and so she decides to leave little three-year-old Lucia in the capable hands of her friends for a few days.
At the same time, Mark gets a disturbing text from an old adversary and must drop everything to meet with her. This leaves Astrid and Booker to watch over Lucia, who suddenly comes down with a high fever. The two panic and take her to urgent care, but a series of misunderstandings and bumbling explanations put them in hot water—the hospital staff thinks Lucia has been kidnapped—and from there, Astrid and Booker must figure out how to evade the police and keep Lucia safe. Not to mention the fact that Valencia will kill them if anything happens to her.
That’s the set-up in a nutshell, and the rest of the story is full of hijinks, evading the police, near misses and very dangerous situations. It’s worth mentioning that although the characters have committed to turning their lives around, each one is still a wanted man or woman, which is why many of them use fake names and try to stay under the radar as much as possible. Mark in particular was one of the most dangerous assassins in the world when he was working for the Agency. Known as the Pale Horse, he not only has a reputation as a brutal killer, but he’s sort of famous for it in certain circles. Getting caught by one of the many organizations who are after them (including a group of deadly Russian mobsters) could be devastating for their loved ones, who end up being used as bargaining chips in the story.
If you love tech toys and spy gear, you’ll have a blast with this series. Mark has not only rigged the church basement with a high tech security system, but he has a safe house that no one knows about but him. You might wonder how a group of ex-assassins, who still find themselves in dangerous situations, manage to avoid killing but are still able to best the bad guys. Hart comes up with some awesome scenarios that explain just this, including a stash of non lethal but very effective weapons that they have at their disposal. One of my favorite parts of the story is when the gang is suiting up for a showdown and choosing their weapons, arguing over who gets to the use the large target net gun or the flash-bang grenades, lol.
One of the series’ strongest elements is the humor. Hart perfectly melds life-and-death situations with laugh-out-loud dialog, striking the perfect balance and creating a multilayered story that was not only entertaining but emotionally satisfying as well. Each character has a nicely developed backstory, what made them become assassins in the first place and what happened to change that—and if you read the first two books you’ll understand their motivations—and this makes Hart’s assassins extremely relatable and sympathetic. Mark has killed hundreds (if not thousands) of people, and yet the reader is rooting for him to make it out alive.
If you haven’t started this series, please go back and read Assassins Anonymous and The Medusa Protocol before you pick up Three Hitmen and a Baby, although Hart does include some brief sections that will catch up new readers. If I have any complaints about this book, it’s that I didn’t think these recaps were necessary. I understand that the publisher is trying to hook new readers by making book three easy to jump into, but rehashing the “twelve steps” of AA and revisiting Astrid’s emotional journey, which was the focus of The Medusa Protocol, made me roll my eyes. You will miss so much by starting this book first, trust me.
The final showdown is tense and thrilling, and both Mark and Astid have a couple of heartbreaking decisions to make at the end. It seems that Hart wrapped everything up—I absolutely loved the way Three Hitmen and a Baby ended! However, I can’t help but think there’s also a bit of a possible lead-in to the next book, if indeed the author has one planned. I swear I’ll never get tired of these characters and their crazy lives, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for more.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
The nitty-gritty: Mark, Astrid and the gang return in the third installment of Rob Hart's high octane Assassins Anonymous series. Get ready for a wild ride!
Once again, Rob Hart hits it out of the park with this third installment of his riotously fun, high stakes spy thriller series. I always know I’m in for a good time when I start one of these books, and Three Hitmen and a Baby was no exception. I’ll try to make this as spoiler free as possible, although I might have to mention a few events from the previous books. As you can tell by the title, this installment features Valencia’s baby Lucia—who isn’t really a baby anymore—and Hart does a brilliant job of using her to create some very funny situations.
The story picks up three years after the ending of The Medusa Protocol. The members of Assassins Anonymous—Mark, Astrid, Booker, and Valencia, all former assassins, CIA operatives and spies, who have decided to leave their old lives behind and stop killing—are gathering for their weekly AA meeting in the very secure basement of the Church of St. Jude in Chelsea, New York. Everything seems to be status quo, until Valencia finds out that her brother is in trouble. She has no choice but to help him, and so she decides to leave little three-year-old Lucia in the capable hands of her friends for a few days.
At the same time, Mark gets a disturbing text from an old adversary and must drop everything to meet with her. This leaves Astrid and Booker to watch over Lucia, who suddenly comes down with a high fever. The two panic and take her to urgent care, but a series of misunderstandings and bumbling explanations put them in hot water—the hospital staff thinks Lucia has been kidnapped—and from there, Astrid and Booker must figure out how to evade the police and keep Lucia safe. Not to mention the fact that Valencia will kill them if anything happens to her.
That’s the set-up in a nutshell, and the rest of the story is full of hijinks, evading the police, near misses and very dangerous situations. It’s worth mentioning that although the characters have committed to turning their lives around, each one is still a wanted man or woman, which is why many of them use fake names and try to stay under the radar as much as possible. Mark in particular was one of the most dangerous assassins in the world when he was working for the Agency. Known as the Pale Horse, he not only has a reputation as a brutal killer, but he’s sort of famous for it in certain circles. Getting caught by one of the many organizations who are after them (including a group of deadly Russian mobsters) could be devastating for their loved ones, who end up being used as bargaining chips in the story.
If you love tech toys and spy gear, you’ll have a blast with this series. Mark has not only rigged the church basement with a high tech security system, but he has a safe house that no one knows about but him. You might wonder how a group of ex-assassins, who still find themselves in dangerous situations, manage to avoid killing but are still able to best the bad guys. Hart comes up with some awesome scenarios that explain just this, including a stash of non lethal but very effective weapons that they have at their disposal. One of my favorite parts of the story is when the gang is suiting up for a showdown and choosing their weapons, arguing over who gets to the use the large target net gun or the flash-bang grenades, lol.
One of the series’ strongest elements is the humor. Hart perfectly melds life-and-death situations with laugh-out-loud dialog, striking the perfect balance and creating a multilayered story that was not only entertaining but emotionally satisfying as well. Each character has a nicely developed backstory, what made them become assassins in the first place and what happened to change that—and if you read the first two books you’ll understand their motivations—and this makes Hart’s assassins extremely relatable and sympathetic. Mark has killed hundreds (if not thousands) of people, and yet the reader is rooting for him to make it out alive.
If you haven’t started this series, please go back and read Assassins Anonymous and The Medusa Protocol before you pick up Three Hitmen and a Baby, although Hart does include some brief sections that will catch up new readers. If I have any complaints about this book, it’s that I didn’t think these recaps were necessary. I understand that the publisher is trying to hook new readers by making book three easy to jump into, but rehashing the “twelve steps” of AA and revisiting Astrid’s emotional journey, which was the focus of The Medusa Protocol, made me roll my eyes. You will miss so much by starting this book first, trust me.
The final showdown is tense and thrilling, and both Mark and Astid have a couple of heartbreaking decisions to make at the end. It seems that Hart wrapped everything up—I absolutely loved the way Three Hitmen and a Baby ended! However, I can’t help but think there’s also a bit of a possible lead-in to the next book, if indeed the author has one planned. I swear I’ll never get tired of these characters and their crazy lives, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for more.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for an advance copy for the latest entry in this popular series about a group of professional assassins trying to give up the life, to care for others the way they used to eliminate people, and those outside forces that keep trying to bring them back to their old life.
Action heroes have a lot of tropes, tropes that never really are deviated from. They are stoic, usually to hide uncertain accents. They are usually men, though the fairer sex is starting to make some strong inroads. They either don't work, are retired, or or close to retiring, though one action hero was a chef. Violence is always present, in their past, their future, and their present. A few try to renounce their actions, but few work on it as hard as the characters in this book. And few have to put up with so many people trying to bring them back to the world they were so good at. Three Hitmen and a Baby by Rob Hart is the third book in the Assassins Anonymous series, about a group with a particular set of skills trying to make a better future for themselves, even as outside forces and good old American health care make this extremely difficult.
Mark was once one of the preeminent killers on the planet, a man whose name was used by other killers to scare each other. Now Mark is working to make restitution, mostly to himself, and help others. Mark runs the support group Assassins Anonymous, where killers can come, not be judged and helped to put away the sword, drink coffee and work on themselves. Astrid, a killer probably better than Mark, but you know sexism, Booker, a basher Natalia are part of the support group, a family who looks out for each other. Natalia has some business on the West coast, a brother in trouble but has a daughter Lucia, who she can't leave behind. The others offer to watch Lucia, thinking what is the worse that could happen. Lucia gets sick, and a hospital visit, with a child of unknown origin and dodgy id's soon puts them in the sights of law enforcement. At the same time Mark is approached by Russian gangsters with a simple demand. Put Astrid down, or the family he left behind will be eliminated. Pursued both forces on both sides, the group tries their best to live up to their ideals, but the specter of violence hangs over them, and that specter is getting real close.
I really love this series, and much of it is because Rob Hart is a very gifted writer. Hart can set a scene, drop in action from the best of the eighties, and break your heart all in the same paragraph. Hart has a very good grasp of these characters, what they are capable of, and what lengths they will go to protect each other. More importantly what they won't do. It's easy to writer about violence, but to write about the effect on the person, the affect on the community of people around that person is hard. Hart does this so well, without giving up suspense, or narrative drive. One is forced to keep reading just to see what is coming, with a good balance of points of view, and different narratives.
A series that is easy to recommend. One that should be streaming by now. Good characters, a great idea, and a serious effort not to make things easy by blowing everything up. Hart has really mastered his own kind of thriller, and I can't wait for more.
Action heroes have a lot of tropes, tropes that never really are deviated from. They are stoic, usually to hide uncertain accents. They are usually men, though the fairer sex is starting to make some strong inroads. They either don't work, are retired, or or close to retiring, though one action hero was a chef. Violence is always present, in their past, their future, and their present. A few try to renounce their actions, but few work on it as hard as the characters in this book. And few have to put up with so many people trying to bring them back to the world they were so good at. Three Hitmen and a Baby by Rob Hart is the third book in the Assassins Anonymous series, about a group with a particular set of skills trying to make a better future for themselves, even as outside forces and good old American health care make this extremely difficult.
Mark was once one of the preeminent killers on the planet, a man whose name was used by other killers to scare each other. Now Mark is working to make restitution, mostly to himself, and help others. Mark runs the support group Assassins Anonymous, where killers can come, not be judged and helped to put away the sword, drink coffee and work on themselves. Astrid, a killer probably better than Mark, but you know sexism, Booker, a basher Natalia are part of the support group, a family who looks out for each other. Natalia has some business on the West coast, a brother in trouble but has a daughter Lucia, who she can't leave behind. The others offer to watch Lucia, thinking what is the worse that could happen. Lucia gets sick, and a hospital visit, with a child of unknown origin and dodgy id's soon puts them in the sights of law enforcement. At the same time Mark is approached by Russian gangsters with a simple demand. Put Astrid down, or the family he left behind will be eliminated. Pursued both forces on both sides, the group tries their best to live up to their ideals, but the specter of violence hangs over them, and that specter is getting real close.
I really love this series, and much of it is because Rob Hart is a very gifted writer. Hart can set a scene, drop in action from the best of the eighties, and break your heart all in the same paragraph. Hart has a very good grasp of these characters, what they are capable of, and what lengths they will go to protect each other. More importantly what they won't do. It's easy to writer about violence, but to write about the effect on the person, the affect on the community of people around that person is hard. Hart does this so well, without giving up suspense, or narrative drive. One is forced to keep reading just to see what is coming, with a good balance of points of view, and different narratives.
A series that is easy to recommend. One that should be streaming by now. Good characters, a great idea, and a serious effort not to make things easy by blowing everything up. Hart has really mastered his own kind of thriller, and I can't wait for more.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Welcome to Assassins Anonymous, where anyone is welcome as long as you have a desire to stop. Come for the therapy, stay for the camaraderie. In Rob Hart’s Three Hitmen and a Baby, we follow our group of reformed assassins trying to live day by day as their former life is following them around every corner and tries to grab them back in its clutches.
It’s been three years since the incidents of The Medusa Protocol. The group still meets weekly, and they share with each other with whatever is fogging their mind. When the group is tasked with watching Valencia’s child Lucia while she deals with family issues, what was supposed to be an easy task turns into a nightmare where their particular set of skills are their only hope in getting them out of this debacle. Meanwhile, Mark has to deal with someone from his former life cashing in on a deal made years ago. Will our group make it, or better yet, will they make it while their enemies remain alive?
Like the rest of the books in this series, it’s always fun to dive into the human condition at a philosophical and psychological level, and see how they’re coping with their addiction. Despite being out of the game, they still struggle with thoughts of their former life and if what they’re doing is enough, or even doing anything. While they use humor as a defense mechanism, which leads to some great banter, they’re trying their best to keep their walls up, otherwise it’ll come crashing down. The harder they try, the more they need each other.
What helps is that everyone has made Lucia the center of their world. While she is only three, she has them wrapped around their fingers, and they're willing to protect her, no matter the costs. Also, Lucia's love for Bluey, and later Mark's, was appreciated, considering that a children's television show has some big life themes being explained and experienced by cartoon Australian dogs. It may be a show for children, but everyone, regardless of age, can learn the life lessons they impart.
In this story, it’s amazing to see how their problems could have been easily remedied, which is pointed out by several other characters later. It's also interesting to see how much their assassin life is still a part of them. They can leave that lifestyle behind, but it is just as much a part of them as anything else. The way they dissect everything going on around them and plan for future scenarios is fun to read. Everything is so fast paced for them that sometimes, when there is nothing happening, their intrusive thoughts come back to haunt them.
While the events at the end may be a bit emotional, I still don’t think that this group will be deterred by it. If anything, they’ll keep going to their meetings, and wonder what happens next. To quote Dominic Toretto from the Fast and Furious franchise, "You don't turn your back on family, even when they do." I like to think that Mark would appreciate this quote, considering he likes watching movies.
I received an advance reader copy of this book from Rob Hart and Putnam Books via NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. My intentions are to write feedback that reflects my genuine thoughts and is written with the book’s genre and target audience in mind. I aim to review fairly and respectfully, focusing on the story’s purpose.
It’s been three years since the incidents of The Medusa Protocol. The group still meets weekly, and they share with each other with whatever is fogging their mind. When the group is tasked with watching Valencia’s child Lucia while she deals with family issues, what was supposed to be an easy task turns into a nightmare where their particular set of skills are their only hope in getting them out of this debacle. Meanwhile, Mark has to deal with someone from his former life cashing in on a deal made years ago. Will our group make it, or better yet, will they make it while their enemies remain alive?
Like the rest of the books in this series, it’s always fun to dive into the human condition at a philosophical and psychological level, and see how they’re coping with their addiction. Despite being out of the game, they still struggle with thoughts of their former life and if what they’re doing is enough, or even doing anything. While they use humor as a defense mechanism, which leads to some great banter, they’re trying their best to keep their walls up, otherwise it’ll come crashing down. The harder they try, the more they need each other.
What helps is that everyone has made Lucia the center of their world. While she is only three, she has them wrapped around their fingers, and they're willing to protect her, no matter the costs. Also, Lucia's love for Bluey, and later Mark's, was appreciated, considering that a children's television show has some big life themes being explained and experienced by cartoon Australian dogs. It may be a show for children, but everyone, regardless of age, can learn the life lessons they impart.
In this story, it’s amazing to see how their problems could have been easily remedied, which is pointed out by several other characters later. It's also interesting to see how much their assassin life is still a part of them. They can leave that lifestyle behind, but it is just as much a part of them as anything else. The way they dissect everything going on around them and plan for future scenarios is fun to read. Everything is so fast paced for them that sometimes, when there is nothing happening, their intrusive thoughts come back to haunt them.
While the events at the end may be a bit emotional, I still don’t think that this group will be deterred by it. If anything, they’ll keep going to their meetings, and wonder what happens next. To quote Dominic Toretto from the Fast and Furious franchise, "You don't turn your back on family, even when they do." I like to think that Mark would appreciate this quote, considering he likes watching movies.
I received an advance reader copy of this book from Rob Hart and Putnam Books via NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. My intentions are to write feedback that reflects my genuine thoughts and is written with the book’s genre and target audience in mind. I aim to review fairly and respectfully, focusing on the story’s purpose.
July 2, 2026
If you are looking for an offbeat series that combines thrills, kills and dark humor, while holding up a magnifying glass to the deeply clandestine role of a hired killer, then Rob Hart’s wonderfully entertaining Assassins Anonymous series is for you. The third and latest installment is THREE HITMEN AND A BABY, a title that I am sure Hart conceived of with tongue firmly in cheek.
Mark is the leader of the Assassins Anonymous meetings, which provide a safe place for current and former hitmen seeking to leave the life or just commiserate about their prior experiences and new challenges trying to make it in the real world. He was once known as The Pale Horse, an internationally recognized hitman of serious renown who is now struggling to stay clean of killing.
Two of Mark's protégés and mentees, Astrid and Booker, are offered the opportunity to care for Lucia, the toddler daughter of fellow group member Valencia, who gets called away after being notified that her brother has gone missing. You would think that three adults watching a child would be an easy assignment. You would be wrong. First, Mark somehow gets pulled back into a deadly war with the Russian mob in New York City, which might lead him to break his personal rule of no killing. That leaves the troubled Astrid, who is still stinging from her own mentee being killed under her watch in the previous novel, and Booker, who is not comfortable around babies, to hold down the fort.
Lucia ends up getting very sick after being put down to sleep. No one knows what to do, and since Valencia is unreachable, Astrid and Booker take her to the emergency room. Unfortunately, they do not know the child’s legal last name, they don’t have a birth certificate or proof of any family relationship, and they lack medical coverage. But they made the right decision bringing her in because she has a fever of 103.
Once Lucia gets out of treatment and her temperature drops, security and law enforcement are called as it is believed that Astrid and Booker are either kidnappers or child traffickers. They cannot afford to be brought into custody, so they grab Lucia and head out on an adventure that is intensely suspenseful and at times laugh-out-loud funny.
Meanwhile, Mark survives his initial skirmish with the Russians but now learns that they are targeting his ex-girlfriend and son. So he ushers them off to a cabin in upstate New York that has a serious security system. Believing they will be safe there, he can help Astrid and Booker evade the authorities and continue to keep Lucia safe until Valencia returns.
Unfortunately, Mark gets word that his family’s cover has been blown, and the Russians are about to grab them. He wants to take care of this on his own, but Astrid, Booker and a few others from their group will not let him do that. So they all head to the deep woods of upstate New York for a memorable showdown with some really bad killers.
THREE HITMEN AND A BABY is pure entertainment and can be enjoyed on its own without having read the prior entries in the series. If that’s the case, I can only hope that you will pick up ASSASSINS ANONYMOUS and THE MEDUSA PROTOCOL once you have finished this summer delight.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
Mark is the leader of the Assassins Anonymous meetings, which provide a safe place for current and former hitmen seeking to leave the life or just commiserate about their prior experiences and new challenges trying to make it in the real world. He was once known as The Pale Horse, an internationally recognized hitman of serious renown who is now struggling to stay clean of killing.
Two of Mark's protégés and mentees, Astrid and Booker, are offered the opportunity to care for Lucia, the toddler daughter of fellow group member Valencia, who gets called away after being notified that her brother has gone missing. You would think that three adults watching a child would be an easy assignment. You would be wrong. First, Mark somehow gets pulled back into a deadly war with the Russian mob in New York City, which might lead him to break his personal rule of no killing. That leaves the troubled Astrid, who is still stinging from her own mentee being killed under her watch in the previous novel, and Booker, who is not comfortable around babies, to hold down the fort.
Lucia ends up getting very sick after being put down to sleep. No one knows what to do, and since Valencia is unreachable, Astrid and Booker take her to the emergency room. Unfortunately, they do not know the child’s legal last name, they don’t have a birth certificate or proof of any family relationship, and they lack medical coverage. But they made the right decision bringing her in because she has a fever of 103.
Once Lucia gets out of treatment and her temperature drops, security and law enforcement are called as it is believed that Astrid and Booker are either kidnappers or child traffickers. They cannot afford to be brought into custody, so they grab Lucia and head out on an adventure that is intensely suspenseful and at times laugh-out-loud funny.
Meanwhile, Mark survives his initial skirmish with the Russians but now learns that they are targeting his ex-girlfriend and son. So he ushers them off to a cabin in upstate New York that has a serious security system. Believing they will be safe there, he can help Astrid and Booker evade the authorities and continue to keep Lucia safe until Valencia returns.
Unfortunately, Mark gets word that his family’s cover has been blown, and the Russians are about to grab them. He wants to take care of this on his own, but Astrid, Booker and a few others from their group will not let him do that. So they all head to the deep woods of upstate New York for a memorable showdown with some really bad killers.
THREE HITMEN AND A BABY is pure entertainment and can be enjoyed on its own without having read the prior entries in the series. If that’s the case, I can only hope that you will pick up ASSASSINS ANONYMOUS and THE MEDUSA PROTOCOL once you have finished this summer delight.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
July 3, 2026
I feel like this is simultaneously the best and worst book in the series so far. The concept of the book was really cool and fun: Valencia is out of town and has Booker, Astrid and Mark watch Lucia while she’s gone. However, the three of them get hunted by the NYPD because they think they kidnapped Lucia(a black dude and two white people with a Hispanic toddler who don’t know her last name). Meanwhile, Mark has Sarah and Bennett, his ex and son, threatened by the Russian mafia in an attempt to get him to kill Astrid.
The problem? The setup makes NO sense in execution. Astrid, a black market trauma surgeon, doesn’t think to give Lucia a Tylenol(the most famous over the counter fever breaker) when she gets a fever. “I was a black market trauma surgeon” and you never had a patient get a fever? Cuz that’s fairly common after a surgery, especially one done on the black market I’d imagine. Booker, former special forces, also doesn’t think of Tylenol.
The NYPD are FAR more of a threat in this book to the former two greatest assassins in the world and a former tier one operator that Mark constantly says he doesn’t know if he could beat in a fight. The NYPD get dangerously close to taking them out on more than one occasion, and it really makes me doubt just how good they really were. Especially when Mark and Astrid both evaded the Agency successfully for years. Keep in mind that the Agency is a combination of multiple international governments, agencies and conglomerate corporations. But the NYPD is just that good apparently. And the resolution to that conflict in the story is lazy at best.
Mark’s plot is a LOT more interesting. He actually has to face Sarah and Bennet, and the resolution to that is pretty heavy with major implications for the rest of the series. If this book focused only on Mark and his POV, I think I would be a lot less harsh on this book. I have no idea why Astrid is still a POV character, as all her POV chapters just rehashed her trauma from the second book, and I’m kind of getting tired of it. Astrid was a really cool and unique character in the first book up until the reveal that she was Azreal(second best assassin in the world). Her plot line in the second book was pretty cool and I like her backstory well enough(even if I feel it doesn’t make much sense with how she’s characterized in the first book, nor her dynamic with Ravi), but this book was a worse and repeated rehash of that backstory.
In the future, I’d prefer more books with Mark’s single POV(especially after the ending of this book), or some Booker POV chapters(he has the potential to be much more than just Mark’s heavy hitting, big, black best friend), or even a POV from Valencia. In fact, Valencia went to California to deal with her little brother getting involved with a gang. Ideally, this book would’ve been Mark trying to figure out how to save Sarah and Bennet without killing Astrid while the second POV dealt with Valencia struggling to get her brother out of the gang life. That seems a much more focused and better written book.
Much like the Walt Longmire series(though for very different reasons) I know not why I continue with this series. But I will continue.
The problem? The setup makes NO sense in execution. Astrid, a black market trauma surgeon, doesn’t think to give Lucia a Tylenol(the most famous over the counter fever breaker) when she gets a fever. “I was a black market trauma surgeon” and you never had a patient get a fever? Cuz that’s fairly common after a surgery, especially one done on the black market I’d imagine. Booker, former special forces, also doesn’t think of Tylenol.
The NYPD are FAR more of a threat in this book to the former two greatest assassins in the world and a former tier one operator that Mark constantly says he doesn’t know if he could beat in a fight. The NYPD get dangerously close to taking them out on more than one occasion, and it really makes me doubt just how good they really were. Especially when Mark and Astrid both evaded the Agency successfully for years. Keep in mind that the Agency is a combination of multiple international governments, agencies and conglomerate corporations. But the NYPD is just that good apparently. And the resolution to that conflict in the story is lazy at best.
Mark’s plot is a LOT more interesting. He actually has to face Sarah and Bennet, and the resolution to that is pretty heavy with major implications for the rest of the series. If this book focused only on Mark and his POV, I think I would be a lot less harsh on this book. I have no idea why Astrid is still a POV character, as all her POV chapters just rehashed her trauma from the second book, and I’m kind of getting tired of it. Astrid was a really cool and unique character in the first book up until the reveal that she was Azreal(second best assassin in the world). Her plot line in the second book was pretty cool and I like her backstory well enough(even if I feel it doesn’t make much sense with how she’s characterized in the first book, nor her dynamic with Ravi), but this book was a worse and repeated rehash of that backstory.
In the future, I’d prefer more books with Mark’s single POV(especially after the ending of this book), or some Booker POV chapters(he has the potential to be much more than just Mark’s heavy hitting, big, black best friend), or even a POV from Valencia. In fact, Valencia went to California to deal with her little brother getting involved with a gang. Ideally, this book would’ve been Mark trying to figure out how to save Sarah and Bennet without killing Astrid while the second POV dealt with Valencia struggling to get her brother out of the gang life. That seems a much more focused and better written book.
Much like the Walt Longmire series(though for very different reasons) I know not why I continue with this series. But I will continue.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Three Hit Men And A Baby is the third book in the assassins anonymous thriller series by Rob Hart. Mark, Booker and Astrid all agree to share babysitting duties with little Lucia while Valencia goes back to California to deal with family issues. The night they leave Mark leaves Booker and Astrid in his apartment as he says he has a previous engagement but refuses to say what that is. What it is is a Russian terrorist tells him that she’s calling in her favor that he owes her and all he has to do is kill Astrid. he immediately lets her know that’s not happening and this is what she says either they go or your son and his mom does. while doing that Booker and Astrid are trying to get medical attention for little Lucia, who woke up with a raging fever and throwing up. everything seems like it’s going to plan until they need her last name. their association is through HMA, where they don’t share last names in the names they do give each other may not even be the real names. This causes the nurse to be suspicious she calls the security guard and then puts a call into the police. This is why Booker Astrid and Lucia are covertly trying to make it to Booker‘s house on Staten Island. Mark sent either Sarah or Kayla because both names were used, but in the book I believe it’s Sarah though and Mark son Benton to his cabin to keep them safe unfortunately they’re not the only ones going there. when Astrid finally learns who beat Mark up she decides to slip away to deal with these people herself the last thing she wants is for them to be hurt the way Chi-Chi was something she cannot forgive herself for. The only thing is when Valencia finds out what is happening she rings the alarm bell and everyone sends on New York there’s a lot that happens but eventually they get a game plan and hope to get out of this with minimal violence and hopefully no debts. I have read all three of the assassins anonymous action thrillers in each book is either better or just as good as the last one I really root for these characters who have done the ugliest thing a human can do to another but wants to be different and strive for that no matter what the cost and having them have to tend to a toddler rob heart style was just genius when the series started and Valencia was pregnant I had hoped we would have a three men and a baby story and now we do and I loved every minute of it. what I didn’t love is how marks baby mama Sarah and or Kayla was so crappy to him I get it he killed her brother but there’s reasons for that and then to turn her back on him not because of something he did to her but what his job was and what he did to others.she rathers Brinton somehow have no father as opposed to telling him Mark’s his father it’s just ridiculous because when kids grow up without a parent something to create a fanciful relationship with the missing parent. and will always for the rest of their life wonder “what if they had been with me.“ not to mention they will harbor ill feelings once they learn the parent that was there stop them from having a relationship.#NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer,#MyHonestReview,
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Mark began the meeting by reciting the creed and Astrid read the twelve steps. Valencia, with her little daughter Lucia, came in late and sat in the circle after parking Lucia on the sofa with a Bluey episode.
When Mark concluded his opening remarks and asked for discussion, Valencia spoke up. She was having a hard time tracking her brother who lived in L.A., a long way from New York City. He seemed to have some dodgy friends who might be leading him into a gang, and Valencia was very worried for his safety. But there was no way she was going to drag her little child into her brother's mess.
Booker, Mark, and Astrid, came up with a solution-they were all seasoned assassins who had given up their jobs after turning their lives around and joining Assassins Anonymous. Valerie figured that she could find her brother in a few days-if she allowed her friends to babysit Lucia, who they all adored, they could help her while working on their amends to the people they harmed. Piece of cake!
Of course they forgot that the "anonymous" part of their relationship meant no last names or real personal knowledge. Valencia left Lucia with the other attendees, and after they successfully brought her to one of their fortified hiding places and fed her lots of pizza, she spiked a very high fever. Since none of them had any parenting skills or ideas of how to treat her, they headed to a close walk-in clinic. The nurse started asking easy questions like Lucia's last name, their relationship to the girl, and her medical history. They had no idea of the answers and had to make a run for it before Lucia was put into state custody, and suddenly their survival skills kicked in big time.
To make things worse, the Russians had it in for Mark and Astrid who blew up the Russian Mafia"s Coney Island restaurant, and they were out for revenge. While the assassins had taken a vow to no longer murder their enemies, they still could use non-lethal force in self-defense. And Mark, aka The Pale Horse, might have been the greatest hitman alive, but he was also a parent, though he'd never met his son. When the assassins find out that Mark's child is being held alongside his mother in a Russian trap, their new "sobriety" is challenged. Must they sacrifice their personal resolve to do better when faced with impossible circumstances, or is there another way to get the job done?
This is the third book in The Assassins Anonymous series, and it's just as good as the first two. Members of the group, skilled, seasoned killers, have made a pledge to turn their lives around after hitting rock bottom, and are determined to keep it. Unfortunately, they haven't been forgotten by the organizations that employed them or by enemies they've made along the way. There is visible growth surrounding the characters in the three books, and it will be interesting to see how Hart will document their further struggles. Down will come baby, cradle and all?
When Mark concluded his opening remarks and asked for discussion, Valencia spoke up. She was having a hard time tracking her brother who lived in L.A., a long way from New York City. He seemed to have some dodgy friends who might be leading him into a gang, and Valencia was very worried for his safety. But there was no way she was going to drag her little child into her brother's mess.
Booker, Mark, and Astrid, came up with a solution-they were all seasoned assassins who had given up their jobs after turning their lives around and joining Assassins Anonymous. Valerie figured that she could find her brother in a few days-if she allowed her friends to babysit Lucia, who they all adored, they could help her while working on their amends to the people they harmed. Piece of cake!
Of course they forgot that the "anonymous" part of their relationship meant no last names or real personal knowledge. Valencia left Lucia with the other attendees, and after they successfully brought her to one of their fortified hiding places and fed her lots of pizza, she spiked a very high fever. Since none of them had any parenting skills or ideas of how to treat her, they headed to a close walk-in clinic. The nurse started asking easy questions like Lucia's last name, their relationship to the girl, and her medical history. They had no idea of the answers and had to make a run for it before Lucia was put into state custody, and suddenly their survival skills kicked in big time.
To make things worse, the Russians had it in for Mark and Astrid who blew up the Russian Mafia"s Coney Island restaurant, and they were out for revenge. While the assassins had taken a vow to no longer murder their enemies, they still could use non-lethal force in self-defense. And Mark, aka The Pale Horse, might have been the greatest hitman alive, but he was also a parent, though he'd never met his son. When the assassins find out that Mark's child is being held alongside his mother in a Russian trap, their new "sobriety" is challenged. Must they sacrifice their personal resolve to do better when faced with impossible circumstances, or is there another way to get the job done?
This is the third book in The Assassins Anonymous series, and it's just as good as the first two. Members of the group, skilled, seasoned killers, have made a pledge to turn their lives around after hitting rock bottom, and are determined to keep it. Unfortunately, they haven't been forgotten by the organizations that employed them or by enemies they've made along the way. There is visible growth surrounding the characters in the three books, and it will be interesting to see how Hart will document their further struggles. Down will come baby, cradle and all?
June 28, 2026
4 1/2 Stars
If you are looking for an offbeat series that combines thrills, kills and dark humor and actually holds up a magnifying glass to the deeply clandestine role of hired killer, then Rob Hart’s “Assassins Anonymous” series is for you.
His latest, and third release in this wonderfully entertaining series, is entitled THREE HITMEN AND A BABY --- a title I am sure Hart devised with tongue firmly in cheek. Mark is the central character and current group leader of the Assassins Anonymous meetings that provide a safe place for current and former hitmen seeking to leave the life or just commiserate about their former experiences and new challenges trying to make it in the real world. Mark was once known as Pale Horse, an internationally recognized hitman of serious renown who is really struggling to stay clean of killing.
Two of his proteges and mentees, Booker and Astrid, are offered the opportunity to care for the toddler daughter Lucia of another one of their fellow group members, Valencia, who gets called away after receiving a call that her brother has gone missing. You would think three adults watching a child would be an easy assignment. You would be wrong. First, Mark gets somehow pulled back into a deadly war with the Russian mob in New York City, which might lead to him breaking his personal rule of no killing. That leaves the troubled Astrid, who is still stinging from her own mentee being killed under her watch in the previous novel, and Booker who is not comfortable with babies.
Lucia gets very sick after they put her down to sleep and they do not know anything else to do, considering Valencia is unreachable, so they take her to the local emergency room. Unfortunately, they never thought about the fact that they do not know the child’s legal last name, have a birth certificate of proof of any family relationship, or any medical coverage. It was a good thing they did bring her in because she had a temperature of one hundred and three. Once she gets out of treatment and her temperature drops, security is called as well as law enforcement who believe that Astrid and Booker are either child nappers or traffickers. They cannot afford to be brought into a police precinct, so they grab Lucia and go on the run with her on an adventure that is intensely suspenseful and at times laugh out loud funny.
Meanwhile, Mark survives his initial skirmish with the Russians but now finds his ex-wife and child have been targeted by them. He ushers them off to a cabin in upstate New York that has a serious security system. Believing they will be safe there, he can help Astrid and Booker evade NYPD Law Enforcement and continue to keep Lucia safe until Valencia eventually returns.
Unfortunately, Mark gets word that his families cover has been blown, and the Russians are about to grab them. He wants to this on his own, but his colleagues including Astrid, Booker, and a few others from their group will not let him do so and they all head to the deep woods of upstate New York outside of the small village of Keene for a memorable showdown with some really bad Russian killers. THREE HITMEN AND A BABY is pure entertainment and can be enjoyed on its’ own without having read the prior novels in the series. I can only hope that, if this is the case with you loyal reader, that you will remedy that predicament at once after you have finished this summer delight.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
If you are looking for an offbeat series that combines thrills, kills and dark humor and actually holds up a magnifying glass to the deeply clandestine role of hired killer, then Rob Hart’s “Assassins Anonymous” series is for you.
His latest, and third release in this wonderfully entertaining series, is entitled THREE HITMEN AND A BABY --- a title I am sure Hart devised with tongue firmly in cheek. Mark is the central character and current group leader of the Assassins Anonymous meetings that provide a safe place for current and former hitmen seeking to leave the life or just commiserate about their former experiences and new challenges trying to make it in the real world. Mark was once known as Pale Horse, an internationally recognized hitman of serious renown who is really struggling to stay clean of killing.
Two of his proteges and mentees, Booker and Astrid, are offered the opportunity to care for the toddler daughter Lucia of another one of their fellow group members, Valencia, who gets called away after receiving a call that her brother has gone missing. You would think three adults watching a child would be an easy assignment. You would be wrong. First, Mark gets somehow pulled back into a deadly war with the Russian mob in New York City, which might lead to him breaking his personal rule of no killing. That leaves the troubled Astrid, who is still stinging from her own mentee being killed under her watch in the previous novel, and Booker who is not comfortable with babies.
Lucia gets very sick after they put her down to sleep and they do not know anything else to do, considering Valencia is unreachable, so they take her to the local emergency room. Unfortunately, they never thought about the fact that they do not know the child’s legal last name, have a birth certificate of proof of any family relationship, or any medical coverage. It was a good thing they did bring her in because she had a temperature of one hundred and three. Once she gets out of treatment and her temperature drops, security is called as well as law enforcement who believe that Astrid and Booker are either child nappers or traffickers. They cannot afford to be brought into a police precinct, so they grab Lucia and go on the run with her on an adventure that is intensely suspenseful and at times laugh out loud funny.
Meanwhile, Mark survives his initial skirmish with the Russians but now finds his ex-wife and child have been targeted by them. He ushers them off to a cabin in upstate New York that has a serious security system. Believing they will be safe there, he can help Astrid and Booker evade NYPD Law Enforcement and continue to keep Lucia safe until Valencia eventually returns.
Unfortunately, Mark gets word that his families cover has been blown, and the Russians are about to grab them. He wants to this on his own, but his colleagues including Astrid, Booker, and a few others from their group will not let him do so and they all head to the deep woods of upstate New York outside of the small village of Keene for a memorable showdown with some really bad Russian killers. THREE HITMEN AND A BABY is pure entertainment and can be enjoyed on its’ own without having read the prior novels in the series. I can only hope that, if this is the case with you loyal reader, that you will remedy that predicament at once after you have finished this summer delight.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
June 29, 2026
Rob Hart’s third book in his Assassins Anonymous series is his best yet. For a group that is well versed in weapons and various methods of murder, they are woefully unprepared to take care of a three year old. Valencia, one of the members, has to go out of town for family related business but is having trouble finding someone to watch her daughter Lucia. No problem. Mark, Booker and Astrid can handle it. Almost from the first moment things go wrong. Mark gets a call from Zmeya, a powerful boss in the Russian mafia. She is calling in a favor that he owes her. He is given forty-eight hours to kill Astrid or they will go after his former girlfriend Sara and the son that he has never met. While he is at his meeting, Lucia runs a high fever. With no experience with children, Booker and Astrid take her to an urgent care. When they can not provide Lucia’s last name or her date of birth, the nurse on duty reports it as a possible child abduction. Evading the police is no easy task with cameras on almost every street corner of the city. If they are apprehended, their fake identities would never stand up to close scrutiny. Until Valencia returns and clears up the situation they have to find somewhere safe to hide. Mark must also send Sara and their son to a safe location until he can find a way to deal with Zmeya without killing Astrid. They have all taken a pledge to never kill again, but the temptation is strong when loved ones are threatened.
Mark was once known as the Pale Horse, one of the most feared assassins in the world. He worked for a government agency until he found Assassins Anonymous and love with Sara. In an act of violence that affected her family it destroyed their relationship. Astrid was once Azrael, the Angel of Death. She also had a connection to the agency. As long as they lived quiet lives under the radar they were left alone, but being wanted by the police has brought them to the agency’s attention. They both know too much to remain free, adding more complications to the situation. This group has gone through a lot together and they have become family. As they work to solve their problems, Lucia is always with them. Beside mobsters and police, they also have to deal with feeding, naps and potty emergencies, adding a touch of the everyday to the constant chases and evasions. They receive help from Lulu, a diner owner whose business hides a cellar that could equip an army. Rob Hart’s characters may have been assassins with violent pasts, but they are trying their best and you can not help falling in love with them all. Hart opens with a shocking death and follows up with a story filled with tension, action and moments of humor. It will leave you wanting another meeting with Assassins Anonymous. I would like to thank NetGalley and G P Putnam & Sons for providing this book.
Mark was once known as the Pale Horse, one of the most feared assassins in the world. He worked for a government agency until he found Assassins Anonymous and love with Sara. In an act of violence that affected her family it destroyed their relationship. Astrid was once Azrael, the Angel of Death. She also had a connection to the agency. As long as they lived quiet lives under the radar they were left alone, but being wanted by the police has brought them to the agency’s attention. They both know too much to remain free, adding more complications to the situation. This group has gone through a lot together and they have become family. As they work to solve their problems, Lucia is always with them. Beside mobsters and police, they also have to deal with feeding, naps and potty emergencies, adding a touch of the everyday to the constant chases and evasions. They receive help from Lulu, a diner owner whose business hides a cellar that could equip an army. Rob Hart’s characters may have been assassins with violent pasts, but they are trying their best and you can not help falling in love with them all. Hart opens with a shocking death and follows up with a story filled with tension, action and moments of humor. It will leave you wanting another meeting with Assassins Anonymous. I would like to thank NetGalley and G P Putnam & Sons for providing this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Fast forward three years from the last amazing outing for the Assassins Anonymous gang- former assassins who have all foresworn off further killing and have formed a recovery group to support this decision and to encourage making amends to the families of their victims. Much like Alcohols Anonymous, they have steps to their program, sponsors, and much to emotionally process. Their attempts to stay clear of killing often falls into direct conflict with violent people from their past out to get them.
Mark, the group’s leader after his sponsor Kenji killed and then sacrificed himself to save Mark’s life, has invested in a new secure group meeting space and works hard to hold this “family of choice” together and focused on staying free of killing. Mark, a renown assassin who operated under the code name Pale Horse and worked for a contract group known as the Agency that claimed (falsely it turns out) that their killings were picked for world good, has in turn sponsored another agency staffer Astrid into the group.
Valencia who opted to become a single Mom faces a crisis involving her younger brother in L.A. which her mom has begged to her to sort out. She decides reluctantly she’ll entrust her adorable toddler daughter Lucia to the care of Mark, Astrid and Booker. But immediately as Valencia takes off, two separate crises emerge. Lucia comes down with a fever and when Astrid and Booker take her in the middle of the night to an urgent care, the nurse rightly suspects they’re not her parents as they don’t even know her last name, birthdate or weight. They must escape to take Lucia into hiding and dread Valencia finding out.
Meanwhile, Mark gets called off in the late evening by a text message he refuses to share more about with Astrid and Booker. Turns out that Mark, to locate Astrid in a black ops prison and thus save her life in the group’s last outing, had committed a favor to an elderly Russian powerbroker, known as the Zmeya, and she orders him as that favor to assassinate Astrid. She also threatens Mark’s ex-finance and the son of his she had after splitting up with him and raising as a single mom.
The group has 48 hours to figure out how to keep everyone safe, and to do so without killing anyone, and the breathless action commences. The characters are all so flawed, so endearing and so striving in their efforts to be better people – and you cannot help but root wildly enthusiastically for them all. Plus, each outing reveals more layers of their past histories, their personalities and their vulnerabilities- all of which makes you feel even more connected to them.
Another magnificent Assassins Anonymous adventure!
Thanks to Putnam and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.
Mark, the group’s leader after his sponsor Kenji killed and then sacrificed himself to save Mark’s life, has invested in a new secure group meeting space and works hard to hold this “family of choice” together and focused on staying free of killing. Mark, a renown assassin who operated under the code name Pale Horse and worked for a contract group known as the Agency that claimed (falsely it turns out) that their killings were picked for world good, has in turn sponsored another agency staffer Astrid into the group.
Valencia who opted to become a single Mom faces a crisis involving her younger brother in L.A. which her mom has begged to her to sort out. She decides reluctantly she’ll entrust her adorable toddler daughter Lucia to the care of Mark, Astrid and Booker. But immediately as Valencia takes off, two separate crises emerge. Lucia comes down with a fever and when Astrid and Booker take her in the middle of the night to an urgent care, the nurse rightly suspects they’re not her parents as they don’t even know her last name, birthdate or weight. They must escape to take Lucia into hiding and dread Valencia finding out.
Meanwhile, Mark gets called off in the late evening by a text message he refuses to share more about with Astrid and Booker. Turns out that Mark, to locate Astrid in a black ops prison and thus save her life in the group’s last outing, had committed a favor to an elderly Russian powerbroker, known as the Zmeya, and she orders him as that favor to assassinate Astrid. She also threatens Mark’s ex-finance and the son of his she had after splitting up with him and raising as a single mom.
The group has 48 hours to figure out how to keep everyone safe, and to do so without killing anyone, and the breathless action commences. The characters are all so flawed, so endearing and so striving in their efforts to be better people – and you cannot help but root wildly enthusiastically for them all. Plus, each outing reveals more layers of their past histories, their personalities and their vulnerabilities- all of which makes you feel even more connected to them.
Another magnificent Assassins Anonymous adventure!
Thanks to Putnam and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Assassins in recovery are tumbling towards relapse
Four one=time killers have formed a local chapter of Assassins Anonymous, a recovery program for those who want to leave that life (and especially the killing) behind...which is far easier said than done. Mark aka the Pale Horse, Valencia, Booker and Astrid find themselves in a series of quandries. First Valencia hears that her younger brother out on the West Coast has fallen in with the wrong crowd and needs to head out to talk some sense into him...but what to do Lucia, her young daughter? The other three volunteer to take care of the girl...how hard can it be for just a couple of days? Valencia heads off, and things go south quickly. Lucia spikes a temperature and when Booker and Astrid bring her to a nearby clinic (Mark has been summoned to repay a favor to a Russian crime boss) and are suspected of trafficking the little girl. Being on the run from the police is bad enough, but since the favor Mark was asked to do was to kill Astrid (if he doesn't his ex-girlfriend and son will pay the price) the three of them are also trying to stay one step ahead of Russian thugs with orders to kill them, and do both without putting Lucia in danger (because if anything happens to her even if they survive the police and the Russians Valencia will rain hell down upon them). When all of the choices on the table are bad ones, and the only possible solutions seem to involve backsliding into killing again, what is a reformed killer to do?
Three Hitmen and a Baby, the third book in the Assassins Anonymous series, is like its predecessors a blend of humor and thriller. There are two stories unfolding, the comedic mismatch of three trained assassins and the care of a Bluey-watching pink-adoring girl and the life-and-death stakes confronting two of the four killers as the past reaches out and messes with their present. Lots of action, made all the more interesting as the group tries to achieve their desired results while using only non-lethal methods, and plenty of funny moments that stop just shy of farcical...think Jack Reacher or the Avengers mashed up with Three Men and a Baby. Themes of addiction, recovery, found family and redemption are woven into the tale, and while occasionally the jokes are a bit repetitive, but overall I found it a fun page-turner. Fans of the series will certainly enjoy this latest outing, and readers who enjoy Carl HIassen, Tim Dorsey and Deanna Raybourn are likely to find it of appeal as well. My thanks to NetGalley and G. P. Putnam's Sons for allowing me access to the novel in exchange for my honest review.
Four one=time killers have formed a local chapter of Assassins Anonymous, a recovery program for those who want to leave that life (and especially the killing) behind...which is far easier said than done. Mark aka the Pale Horse, Valencia, Booker and Astrid find themselves in a series of quandries. First Valencia hears that her younger brother out on the West Coast has fallen in with the wrong crowd and needs to head out to talk some sense into him...but what to do Lucia, her young daughter? The other three volunteer to take care of the girl...how hard can it be for just a couple of days? Valencia heads off, and things go south quickly. Lucia spikes a temperature and when Booker and Astrid bring her to a nearby clinic (Mark has been summoned to repay a favor to a Russian crime boss) and are suspected of trafficking the little girl. Being on the run from the police is bad enough, but since the favor Mark was asked to do was to kill Astrid (if he doesn't his ex-girlfriend and son will pay the price) the three of them are also trying to stay one step ahead of Russian thugs with orders to kill them, and do both without putting Lucia in danger (because if anything happens to her even if they survive the police and the Russians Valencia will rain hell down upon them). When all of the choices on the table are bad ones, and the only possible solutions seem to involve backsliding into killing again, what is a reformed killer to do?
Three Hitmen and a Baby, the third book in the Assassins Anonymous series, is like its predecessors a blend of humor and thriller. There are two stories unfolding, the comedic mismatch of three trained assassins and the care of a Bluey-watching pink-adoring girl and the life-and-death stakes confronting two of the four killers as the past reaches out and messes with their present. Lots of action, made all the more interesting as the group tries to achieve their desired results while using only non-lethal methods, and plenty of funny moments that stop just shy of farcical...think Jack Reacher or the Avengers mashed up with Three Men and a Baby. Themes of addiction, recovery, found family and redemption are woven into the tale, and while occasionally the jokes are a bit repetitive, but overall I found it a fun page-turner. Fans of the series will certainly enjoy this latest outing, and readers who enjoy Carl HIassen, Tim Dorsey and Deanna Raybourn are likely to find it of appeal as well. My thanks to NetGalley and G. P. Putnam's Sons for allowing me access to the novel in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC provided by Putman Publishing via Netgalley for an honest review.
This third addition to the Assassins Anonymous series was just as good as the other two. I really enjoyed this action packed series that also has a lot of heart. The characters have all seen and done some horrible things, but are determined to continue their recovery and sobriety and hopefully not have to kill anyone along the way. The found family aspect of this story is really what holds it all together, as well as the humor and witty banter among the group.
The premise of this book was great. How much trouble could a toddler be, when you are a reformed assassin? Apparently a lot. I loved little Lucia, and the interactions between her and the adults in her life were precious. Even when they were running for their lives, their first priority was that Lucia felt safe, and protected. There were many sweet and tender moments that were nice additions to the high octane pace of the rest of the story.
The story is told through both Mark and Astrid’s perspectives. Both of these characters are richly drawn and feel real. They struggle with maintaining their sobriety, ie not killing, especially Mark. With his family threatened, Mark really struggles to contain the urge to just kill them all, and he is certainly capable of it. Astrid’s struggle is slightly different, as she faces the possibility of death, which she considers might be the best thing for everyone.
There is a large cast of secondary characters that add a lot to the story. I especially liked the addition of Edith, who is a driver, but also a fledgling assassin. I hope we get to see a bit more of her. I am also hoping that Booker and even Valencia get a story of their own, I would love to learn more about them both.
The story is a super fast read. Most chapters end with a bang and make you want to keep reading. I loved all of the non lethal weapons that the gang come up with to take on the Russian mob. They take great pains to make sure that no one dies, even when the bad guys are doing their best to kill them.
A great addition to the series. You don’t necessarily need to read these books in order, but it does help to start at the beginning. You get a better understanding of the characters and of the group dynamic if you read the first book. I am looking forward to seeing where this series will go next, especially with that ending. Highly recommend if you like fast paced stories that are action packed but still have a lot of humor and great characters.
https://elnadesbookchat.com
This third addition to the Assassins Anonymous series was just as good as the other two. I really enjoyed this action packed series that also has a lot of heart. The characters have all seen and done some horrible things, but are determined to continue their recovery and sobriety and hopefully not have to kill anyone along the way. The found family aspect of this story is really what holds it all together, as well as the humor and witty banter among the group.
The premise of this book was great. How much trouble could a toddler be, when you are a reformed assassin? Apparently a lot. I loved little Lucia, and the interactions between her and the adults in her life were precious. Even when they were running for their lives, their first priority was that Lucia felt safe, and protected. There were many sweet and tender moments that were nice additions to the high octane pace of the rest of the story.
The story is told through both Mark and Astrid’s perspectives. Both of these characters are richly drawn and feel real. They struggle with maintaining their sobriety, ie not killing, especially Mark. With his family threatened, Mark really struggles to contain the urge to just kill them all, and he is certainly capable of it. Astrid’s struggle is slightly different, as she faces the possibility of death, which she considers might be the best thing for everyone.
There is a large cast of secondary characters that add a lot to the story. I especially liked the addition of Edith, who is a driver, but also a fledgling assassin. I hope we get to see a bit more of her. I am also hoping that Booker and even Valencia get a story of their own, I would love to learn more about them both.
The story is a super fast read. Most chapters end with a bang and make you want to keep reading. I loved all of the non lethal weapons that the gang come up with to take on the Russian mob. They take great pains to make sure that no one dies, even when the bad guys are doing their best to kill them.
A great addition to the series. You don’t necessarily need to read these books in order, but it does help to start at the beginning. You get a better understanding of the characters and of the group dynamic if you read the first book. I am looking forward to seeing where this series will go next, especially with that ending. Highly recommend if you like fast paced stories that are action packed but still have a lot of humor and great characters.
https://elnadesbookchat.com
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Three former assassins agree to babysit a toddler. What could go wrong?
Absolutely everything.
Three Hitmen and a Baby is the third book in the Assassins Anonymous series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. Mark, Astrid, Booker, Valencia, and little Lucia make up one of the strangest found families I’ve ever encountered, and I mean that in the best possible way. They’re flawed. They’re dangerous. They’re trying very hard not to kill anyone. Add a sick toddler, the Russian mob, the NYPD, and several questionable childcare decisions, and you have a wonderfully chaotic time.
I love these books because they have the same over-the-top action-movie energy as John Wick, which the story actually mentions. That made me laugh because I had already been thinking it. The action is fast, the threats keep multiplying, and the characters are constantly forced to improvise their way out of situations that would send most people into hiding forever. It’s all so visual that I could practically hear the dramatic movie score playing in my head.
The premise is funny and fun, especially as three deadly assassins attempt to care for Lucia without basic information, such as her last name. Apparently, expertly handling weapons does not prepare a person for urgent-care paperwork. Who knew? The humor fades somewhat once the more serious drama takes over, but the emotional stakes give the story more depth than its delightfully ridiculous setup might suggest.
The found-family dynamic is what makes this series work for me. Mark, Astrid, Booker, and Valencia have all done terrible things, and none of them is pretending otherwise. Still, they care about one another, protect one another, and challenge each other to keep choosing a different life, even when returning to old habits would be much easier. Their version of love may involve fake identities, criminal organizations, and the occasional threat, but it is love.
I also adored the fast pace and dark wit threaded through the dialogue, action, and narrow escapes. This is the kind of book that demands popcorn. You sit down planning to read a few chapters, and suddenly you’re halfway through, fully invested in whether a group of retired killers can save their friends, protect a baby, and maintain their sobriety from murder.
Three Hitmen and a Baby delivers non-stop action, sharp humor, and unexpected depth. If you want pure entertainment with heart and hilarity, this series is absolutely unmissable.
Absolutely everything.
Three Hitmen and a Baby is the third book in the Assassins Anonymous series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. Mark, Astrid, Booker, Valencia, and little Lucia make up one of the strangest found families I’ve ever encountered, and I mean that in the best possible way. They’re flawed. They’re dangerous. They’re trying very hard not to kill anyone. Add a sick toddler, the Russian mob, the NYPD, and several questionable childcare decisions, and you have a wonderfully chaotic time.
I love these books because they have the same over-the-top action-movie energy as John Wick, which the story actually mentions. That made me laugh because I had already been thinking it. The action is fast, the threats keep multiplying, and the characters are constantly forced to improvise their way out of situations that would send most people into hiding forever. It’s all so visual that I could practically hear the dramatic movie score playing in my head.
The premise is funny and fun, especially as three deadly assassins attempt to care for Lucia without basic information, such as her last name. Apparently, expertly handling weapons does not prepare a person for urgent-care paperwork. Who knew? The humor fades somewhat once the more serious drama takes over, but the emotional stakes give the story more depth than its delightfully ridiculous setup might suggest.
The found-family dynamic is what makes this series work for me. Mark, Astrid, Booker, and Valencia have all done terrible things, and none of them is pretending otherwise. Still, they care about one another, protect one another, and challenge each other to keep choosing a different life, even when returning to old habits would be much easier. Their version of love may involve fake identities, criminal organizations, and the occasional threat, but it is love.
I also adored the fast pace and dark wit threaded through the dialogue, action, and narrow escapes. This is the kind of book that demands popcorn. You sit down planning to read a few chapters, and suddenly you’re halfway through, fully invested in whether a group of retired killers can save their friends, protect a baby, and maintain their sobriety from murder.
Three Hitmen and a Baby delivers non-stop action, sharp humor, and unexpected depth. If you want pure entertainment with heart and hilarity, this series is absolutely unmissable.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you’re in the mood for something a little different, come to Assassins Anonymous with Mark, Astrid, Booker, Valencia, and Lucia. The Medusa Protocol by Rob Hart is unique and filled with dark wit, action, and thrills. Valencia receives news that her brother has gone missing. She can’t take her young daughter, Lucia, with her. Mark, Astrid, and Booker agree to watch her while Valencia is in California. What could possibly go wrong?
Mark is summoned by a Russian mob boss, Zmeya, calling in a favor. She wants him to kill someone. This time it’s Astrid. When Mark refuses, Zmeya threatens his ex-girlfriend and son. Meanwhile, Lucia gets a fever and Astrid and Booker take her to a medical clinic. Unfortunately, they don’t know Lucia’s last name. Soon the New York police department is searching for them. While on the run, they try to find a safe place in a city full of surveillance cameras.
The story is told from the points of view of Mark and Astrid. There’s plenty of action in this dynamic story along with non-lethal and lethal weapons. Rob Hart creates dialogue that has readers laughing and engaging with the characters as they fly through the pages. However, it is also full of serious topics as the protagonists are tested. Can they hang onto their sobriety?
The author does a great job of building suspense, developing unique characters, and delivering satisfying plot twists with some surprises along the way. The pace is generally fast and readers are in for a wild ride. However, it seemed to drag in pacing a time or two. Actions have consequences, forgiveness, found family, unlikely friendships, making amends, trust, and more themes run through the story.
Overall, this is an entertaining, suspenseful, and over-the-top action-filled thriller with dark wit, a great sense of place, and a unique premise. I am looking forward to finding out what happens in the next book. This novel works as a standalone novel, but readers will get more background and backstories if they start with book one.
Putnam – G.P. Putnam’s Sons and Rob Hart provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for June 16, 2026.
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My 3.87 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Mark is summoned by a Russian mob boss, Zmeya, calling in a favor. She wants him to kill someone. This time it’s Astrid. When Mark refuses, Zmeya threatens his ex-girlfriend and son. Meanwhile, Lucia gets a fever and Astrid and Booker take her to a medical clinic. Unfortunately, they don’t know Lucia’s last name. Soon the New York police department is searching for them. While on the run, they try to find a safe place in a city full of surveillance cameras.
The story is told from the points of view of Mark and Astrid. There’s plenty of action in this dynamic story along with non-lethal and lethal weapons. Rob Hart creates dialogue that has readers laughing and engaging with the characters as they fly through the pages. However, it is also full of serious topics as the protagonists are tested. Can they hang onto their sobriety?
The author does a great job of building suspense, developing unique characters, and delivering satisfying plot twists with some surprises along the way. The pace is generally fast and readers are in for a wild ride. However, it seemed to drag in pacing a time or two. Actions have consequences, forgiveness, found family, unlikely friendships, making amends, trust, and more themes run through the story.
Overall, this is an entertaining, suspenseful, and over-the-top action-filled thriller with dark wit, a great sense of place, and a unique premise. I am looking forward to finding out what happens in the next book. This novel works as a standalone novel, but readers will get more background and backstories if they start with book one.
Putnam – G.P. Putnam’s Sons and Rob Hart provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for June 16, 2026.
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My 3.87 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Things change for most people when they have children. For this group it’s another layer of having to keep their noses clean. After all, Lucia is someone they all love and care about, even if she is Valencia’s daughter.
Mark, Pale Horse, is a former hit man for the Agency. A super-secret government agency that employs people to take care of problems. In Mark’s case, he was expected to make those problems go away permanently. Astrid was also employed by the Agency. They are both “retired” now and attend the weekly meetings of Assassins Anonymous, a ten step program for former paid killers.
When Valencia gets called away to California unexpectedly, to deal with some family issues, the group steps up to take care of Lucia. It will only be a few days, and really what can happen in a few days? Mark, Booker, and Astrid head to Target to load up on toddler food and clothing and go back to Mark’s apartment. Mark gets a call when they arrive back there and has to leave abruptly. Then Lucia gets sick, running a fever. Booker and Astrid aren’t quite sure what to do, so they run Lucia over to the nearest urgent care.
But things go sideways when they can’t come up with Lucia’s last name, and then make the mistake of saying they were caring for her while a friend is away. They have to plow there way out of there, which puts them on NYPD’s radar. Things continue to go downhill from there, involving the Russian mafia, a diner owner/fixer, and Mark’s ex and son.
As with the last two books, this is a truly wild series. Each one can standalone, but it’s so much better to read all of them. Mark is a very flawed but stand-up guy trying to find his way after retirement. Astrid, Booker, Valencia, and the others are also broken people, restarting their lives the best way they know how.
Rob Hart is a master of keeping the book rolling along. Each chapter keeping you engaged to get to the next. Yes, these books contain some blood and gore, and some heavy subjects, but they’re good. They are page turners. Quick to read.
Can’t wait for the next one in the series!
Mark, Pale Horse, is a former hit man for the Agency. A super-secret government agency that employs people to take care of problems. In Mark’s case, he was expected to make those problems go away permanently. Astrid was also employed by the Agency. They are both “retired” now and attend the weekly meetings of Assassins Anonymous, a ten step program for former paid killers.
When Valencia gets called away to California unexpectedly, to deal with some family issues, the group steps up to take care of Lucia. It will only be a few days, and really what can happen in a few days? Mark, Booker, and Astrid head to Target to load up on toddler food and clothing and go back to Mark’s apartment. Mark gets a call when they arrive back there and has to leave abruptly. Then Lucia gets sick, running a fever. Booker and Astrid aren’t quite sure what to do, so they run Lucia over to the nearest urgent care.
But things go sideways when they can’t come up with Lucia’s last name, and then make the mistake of saying they were caring for her while a friend is away. They have to plow there way out of there, which puts them on NYPD’s radar. Things continue to go downhill from there, involving the Russian mafia, a diner owner/fixer, and Mark’s ex and son.
As with the last two books, this is a truly wild series. Each one can standalone, but it’s so much better to read all of them. Mark is a very flawed but stand-up guy trying to find his way after retirement. Astrid, Booker, Valencia, and the others are also broken people, restarting their lives the best way they know how.
Rob Hart is a master of keeping the book rolling along. Each chapter keeping you engaged to get to the next. Yes, these books contain some blood and gore, and some heavy subjects, but they’re good. They are page turners. Quick to read.
Can’t wait for the next one in the series!
June 23, 2026
Valencia's brother goes missing, and she can't bring her toddler with her to investigate. The other members of Assassins Anonymous offer to watch over the girl. Mark, Astrid, and Booker figure they can keep the girl safe, but of course, everything goes wrong. Mark is summoned to the Russian mob boss Zmeya's lair and is tasked with killing his protege, Astrid. If he doesn't, Zmeya will kill Mark's ex-girlfriend and son. In the meantime, Booker and Astrid have to take the toddler to urgent care when he gets a fever, and their lack of names inspires the medical staff to call the NYPD. On the run from everyone, how will they keep safe and refrain from killing anyone?
While this book follows in a series, it's easy enough to pick up context and relationships in this book without relying on prior novels. Mark is trying hard to keep his sobriety; he and the other assassins in the group are well aware of how easy it will be to fall back to old training and kill everyone in the way. They model the group on Alcoholics Anonymous, with a little more information about each other, like where safe houses and neutral alliances to turn to. Mark, Astrid and Booker figure caring for a little girl is easy, and Valencia is like family. It's a terrible comedy of errors that has the NYPD thinking Astrid and Booker are child traffickers, while Mark is figuring out how to keep everyone alive.
The book moves at a rapid pace through a week's time. The network the group has mobilized quickly, and they all offer each other support. Both Mark and Astrid are willing to give their lives for the group and innocent people caught in the crossfire, trying to make amends for the past. The Russian mob and the Agency are not willing to let them go, escalating the dangers as the week progresses. We get a cinematic finale and a conclusion that still leaves room for more. This means there's going to be more adventures with this cast, which I'm happy with.
While this book follows in a series, it's easy enough to pick up context and relationships in this book without relying on prior novels. Mark is trying hard to keep his sobriety; he and the other assassins in the group are well aware of how easy it will be to fall back to old training and kill everyone in the way. They model the group on Alcoholics Anonymous, with a little more information about each other, like where safe houses and neutral alliances to turn to. Mark, Astrid and Booker figure caring for a little girl is easy, and Valencia is like family. It's a terrible comedy of errors that has the NYPD thinking Astrid and Booker are child traffickers, while Mark is figuring out how to keep everyone alive.
The book moves at a rapid pace through a week's time. The network the group has mobilized quickly, and they all offer each other support. Both Mark and Astrid are willing to give their lives for the group and innocent people caught in the crossfire, trying to make amends for the past. The Russian mob and the Agency are not willing to let them go, escalating the dangers as the week progresses. We get a cinematic finale and a conclusion that still leaves room for more. This means there's going to be more adventures with this cast, which I'm happy with.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I've been following the Assassins Anonymous series since the beginning, and with Three Hitmen and a Baby, Rob Hart returns to his group of reformed killers for what feels like the third and fina installment. The premise is irresistible on paper: three of the world's most dangerous people are left babysitting a toddler while Valencia rushes to LA to find her missing brother. What could go wrong? Quite a lot, as it turns out.
The idea of highly trained assassins being undone by a feverish child is fun, though it does require some suspension of disbelief. These are people who can neutralize a threat in seconds, yet apparently can't think to search online when a toddler spikes a fever?
Hart juggles multiple storylines competently, and the commitment to non-lethal takedowns adds a fun constraint to the action sequences. That said, the tension stretches credulity at times — watching three elite killers repeatedly navigate overwhelming opposition while refusing to use lethal force starts to feel more like a running gag than a genuine thriller element. The series also leans heavily on its established world: newcomers will likely feel lost without the context of the first two books.
Ultimately, Three Hitmen and a Baby feels more like a crowd-pleasing victory lap than a bold new chapter. It's entertaining, fast-paced, and has genuine heart — but it doesn't push the premise anywhere particularly new. If you've loved the series so far, I'd say pick it up. It's an easy, thrilling read that delivers exactly what fans are expecting — no more, no less.
A big thank you to Putnam and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The idea of highly trained assassins being undone by a feverish child is fun, though it does require some suspension of disbelief. These are people who can neutralize a threat in seconds, yet apparently can't think to search online when a toddler spikes a fever?
Hart juggles multiple storylines competently, and the commitment to non-lethal takedowns adds a fun constraint to the action sequences. That said, the tension stretches credulity at times — watching three elite killers repeatedly navigate overwhelming opposition while refusing to use lethal force starts to feel more like a running gag than a genuine thriller element. The series also leans heavily on its established world: newcomers will likely feel lost without the context of the first two books.
Ultimately, Three Hitmen and a Baby feels more like a crowd-pleasing victory lap than a bold new chapter. It's entertaining, fast-paced, and has genuine heart — but it doesn't push the premise anywhere particularly new. If you've loved the series so far, I'd say pick it up. It's an easy, thrilling read that delivers exactly what fans are expecting — no more, no less.
A big thank you to Putnam and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
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April 27, 2026Thanks to Putnam and NetGalley for an advanced digital ARC.
It's Tuesday so that means it is time for the weekly Assassins Anonymous meeting. New location since their old meeting place was blown up in the last book. The circle has grown a bit and the coffee is better since Astrid sabotaged the "pod" machine. The meeting starts the usual way - but it is soon revealed that Valencia needs to head to California to find her missing brother. However, she needs someone to watch three year old Lucia. Mark, Astrid, and Booker volunteer - after all, they are Lucia's honorary "uncas". (Astrid can't convince her that she is really an aunt...). Valencia heads to the airport and the rest of the crew head to Target to stock up on supplies. If only they had bought something for a fever...
Thus begins another hilarious, thrilling adventure in the lives of our recovering assassins who have agreed to stop killing people. Though shooting them with a nail gun is allowed as long as it isn't a lethal shot. As many others have mentioned, these books have a John Wick feel to them - and I like John Wick. Ergo - I like these books also.
This is the third book in the series and it takes place about two to three years after the last book (based on Lucia's age). As others have mentioned, you could read this as a standalone. The author explains some of what happened in the first two books. But you would miss out on a lot of the details so I recommend reading the other two first.
There were a couple of details that wrapped things up a bit too easily so we'll have to see if Hart decides to unravel those in another book or leave it as it is. I would certainly be willing to take another peek at the characters to see where they end up next.
It's Tuesday so that means it is time for the weekly Assassins Anonymous meeting. New location since their old meeting place was blown up in the last book. The circle has grown a bit and the coffee is better since Astrid sabotaged the "pod" machine. The meeting starts the usual way - but it is soon revealed that Valencia needs to head to California to find her missing brother. However, she needs someone to watch three year old Lucia. Mark, Astrid, and Booker volunteer - after all, they are Lucia's honorary "uncas". (Astrid can't convince her that she is really an aunt...). Valencia heads to the airport and the rest of the crew head to Target to stock up on supplies. If only they had bought something for a fever...
Thus begins another hilarious, thrilling adventure in the lives of our recovering assassins who have agreed to stop killing people. Though shooting them with a nail gun is allowed as long as it isn't a lethal shot. As many others have mentioned, these books have a John Wick feel to them - and I like John Wick. Ergo - I like these books also.
This is the third book in the series and it takes place about two to three years after the last book (based on Lucia's age). As others have mentioned, you could read this as a standalone. The author explains some of what happened in the first two books. But you would miss out on a lot of the details so I recommend reading the other two first.
There were a couple of details that wrapped things up a bit too easily so we'll have to see if Hart decides to unravel those in another book or leave it as it is. I would certainly be willing to take another peek at the characters to see where they end up next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When Valencia needs to leave town and tend to a family issue, she asks her three reformed assassin buddies (Mark, Astrid, and Booker) to watch Lucia, her toddler. Lucia spikes a fever, so Astrid and Booker take the child to urgent care. Not knowing pertinent information about Lucia makes the staff believe the child was kidnapped and an Amber Alert is initiated. Meanwhile, the Russian mob tells Mark to murder Astrid or they’ll kill his ex-girlfriend and her son.
Hart has found his stride with the Assassins Anonymous series, infusing each book with thrills, chills, humor, and heart. He keeps the series fresh by exploring how maintaining sobriety, i.e. not killing, raises the stakes, creates internal tension, and increases complexity.
Not only are the main characters in the support group multi-layered and fascinating, the other characters such as mob enforcer Slava, driver Edith, and diner owner/armorer Lulu continue to surprise and delight while enhancing the New York story world. Hart masterfully handles the large cast. Special shout out to Mark’s cat Kittie Smalls (formerly P. Kitty.)
This dual point-of-view installment alternates between Mark and Astrid’s perspectives, which allows for sewing secrets and driving the drama into multiple directions. Hart ends most chapters on a point of tension, creating a page turner.
The dynamics between the characters make the ASSASSINS ANONYMOUS series extra special. I am hoping Hart sells the film rights.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to G.P. Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Hart has found his stride with the Assassins Anonymous series, infusing each book with thrills, chills, humor, and heart. He keeps the series fresh by exploring how maintaining sobriety, i.e. not killing, raises the stakes, creates internal tension, and increases complexity.
Not only are the main characters in the support group multi-layered and fascinating, the other characters such as mob enforcer Slava, driver Edith, and diner owner/armorer Lulu continue to surprise and delight while enhancing the New York story world. Hart masterfully handles the large cast. Special shout out to Mark’s cat Kittie Smalls (formerly P. Kitty.)
This dual point-of-view installment alternates between Mark and Astrid’s perspectives, which allows for sewing secrets and driving the drama into multiple directions. Hart ends most chapters on a point of tension, creating a page turner.
The dynamics between the characters make the ASSASSINS ANONYMOUS series extra special. I am hoping Hart sells the film rights.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to G.P. Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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