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Assassins Are Our Greatest Assets A Dark Gripping Crime Thriller Corporate Strategy Meets Cold-Blooded Murder A Novel Guide to Terminating Employees
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 7, 2026
This is the second book in the series after 'Sixty is the new assassin'. The books are connected and should be read in sequence.
In the first book, Ishmael Dollah decides to intervene with a few others considering his son's best interests. He later discovers that some of his assumptions were incorrect. There are some loose threads from his actions which he intends closing now. There are a few new threads as well - a maid abused and a friend seeking Ishmael's advice to address a work situation. Inspector Julia is a new promising character. She is pursuing an investigation into two deaths which she suspects to be murder.
As with the first book, this is a light read despite several murders across both books. The procedures are just about enough to support the plot. Ishmael is an interesting character. I would have liked to see Julia's character developed better but maybe it is left for the next book. It would have also been good to have more complexities to the scenarios which are mostly simplistic. That said, there is a charm to this as well, and I prefer it to far fetched twists. The parallels with workplace methods is interspersed well and is often amusing (starting with the title!).
An easy read which is building into a good series.
I received a free electronic copy of the book to provide a review.
In the first book, Ishmael Dollah decides to intervene with a few others considering his son's best interests. He later discovers that some of his assumptions were incorrect. There are some loose threads from his actions which he intends closing now. There are a few new threads as well - a maid abused and a friend seeking Ishmael's advice to address a work situation. Inspector Julia is a new promising character. She is pursuing an investigation into two deaths which she suspects to be murder.
As with the first book, this is a light read despite several murders across both books. The procedures are just about enough to support the plot. Ishmael is an interesting character. I would have liked to see Julia's character developed better but maybe it is left for the next book. It would have also been good to have more complexities to the scenarios which are mostly simplistic. That said, there is a charm to this as well, and I prefer it to far fetched twists. The parallels with workplace methods is interspersed well and is often amusing (starting with the title!).
An easy read which is building into a good series.
I received a free electronic copy of the book to provide a review.
March 10, 2026
4 Stars
One Liner: A lighthearted and fun read
Ishmael Dollah has decades of corporate experience and is now settling into his retirement. But when something threatens his son’s happiness, he has to take up his assassin tools once again. This time, Inspector Julia Binti Shafiq of Singapore CID takes up the case and is determined to find the truth.
Who will win this round?
The story comes in Ishmael’s first-person POV and Julia’s third-person POV.
My Thoughts
Well, this can work as a standalone, but it will be more enjoyable if you read the first book too. The story takes off within days after the previous one ends.
The POVs have been reduced, with the first-person limited to the MC, and the new character getting a third-person voice. I like this better than the multiple first-person POVs in book one. That said, the internal monologue of Julia has to either continue in the third person or be italicized when it switches to the first-person POV. Otherwise, it gets confusing.
The MC’s narration is casual and quirky. He is a successful CEO but a ‘simple man’ with a smart brain when it comes to things he enjoys. I like how he pokes fun at insecurity in men by talking about himself, too.
The MC’s wife has been modeled after the author’s wife (they love baking), and it was cute to see him promote his wife’s real-life baking business.
Since this is a humorous cozy, the murders are simplistic. I wouldn’t mind if the MC faced a few challenges in the next book. It would develop the character arc. He is a planner, so more time is spent on doing the foundational work. This may not appeal to all readers, but I like it. The better the plan, the higher the success rate!
Given the author and the MC’s career and experience in the corporate world, there are many lessons, comparisons, and observations about the similarities between a CEO and an assassin. Some of it reminded me of my MBA classes, lol.
The book is set in Singapore, and we get to virtually visit some places and have an idea of the city and the country’s legal systems. Of course, food is integral to the book, and an array of dishes is mentioned!
According to the note at the end, there are three more books in the series, with two already scheduled for this year and next year. Looking forward to reading those!
To summarize, Assassins Are Our Greatest Assets is a lighthearted, quirky, and entertaining book about a CEO-turned-assassin. It’s got a good pace and can be finished in a couple of sittings.
My thanks to the author’s wife for a complimentary copy of the book. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.
One Liner: A lighthearted and fun read
Ishmael Dollah has decades of corporate experience and is now settling into his retirement. But when something threatens his son’s happiness, he has to take up his assassin tools once again. This time, Inspector Julia Binti Shafiq of Singapore CID takes up the case and is determined to find the truth.
Who will win this round?
The story comes in Ishmael’s first-person POV and Julia’s third-person POV.
My Thoughts
Well, this can work as a standalone, but it will be more enjoyable if you read the first book too. The story takes off within days after the previous one ends.
The POVs have been reduced, with the first-person limited to the MC, and the new character getting a third-person voice. I like this better than the multiple first-person POVs in book one. That said, the internal monologue of Julia has to either continue in the third person or be italicized when it switches to the first-person POV. Otherwise, it gets confusing.
The MC’s narration is casual and quirky. He is a successful CEO but a ‘simple man’ with a smart brain when it comes to things he enjoys. I like how he pokes fun at insecurity in men by talking about himself, too.
The MC’s wife has been modeled after the author’s wife (they love baking), and it was cute to see him promote his wife’s real-life baking business.
Since this is a humorous cozy, the murders are simplistic. I wouldn’t mind if the MC faced a few challenges in the next book. It would develop the character arc. He is a planner, so more time is spent on doing the foundational work. This may not appeal to all readers, but I like it. The better the plan, the higher the success rate!
Given the author and the MC’s career and experience in the corporate world, there are many lessons, comparisons, and observations about the similarities between a CEO and an assassin. Some of it reminded me of my MBA classes, lol.
The book is set in Singapore, and we get to virtually visit some places and have an idea of the city and the country’s legal systems. Of course, food is integral to the book, and an array of dishes is mentioned!
According to the note at the end, there are three more books in the series, with two already scheduled for this year and next year. Looking forward to reading those!
To summarize, Assassins Are Our Greatest Assets is a lighthearted, quirky, and entertaining book about a CEO-turned-assassin. It’s got a good pace and can be finished in a couple of sittings.
My thanks to the author’s wife for a complimentary copy of the book. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.
February 5, 2026
This book had me completely hooked and I was done with it in a sitting. It’s a sharp look at ambition, the use and misuse of power in the corporate world and how far people could go to protect their family and friends.
Since this is the second book in a five-part series, I found it easy to slip back into the story because I already knew the characters and understood Ishmael Dolah's instinct, resolve and ruthlessness. That familiarity made everything feel more intense. And I loved the introduction of Inspector Julia. At their core, both Dolah and Inspector Julia are idealists who believe in justice even when their choices aren’t entirely right.
Yet again, I found myself admiring Dolah’s clarity, discipline, and confidence which has clearly helped him grow as an assassin. His relationship with Nysa felt more raw and real in this book. Love them as a couple.
The real tension lies in the moral questions in the protagonist’s choices. They had me raise my eyebrow more than once. Sheesh trusts us reader to wrestle with these dilemmas and decide for ourselves where the line between right and wrong truly lies.
And I must add that although it has been years since I last visited Singapore, thanks to Sheesh, the city feels familiar. Overall, a gripping and thrilling read. Eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series
Since this is the second book in a five-part series, I found it easy to slip back into the story because I already knew the characters and understood Ishmael Dolah's instinct, resolve and ruthlessness. That familiarity made everything feel more intense. And I loved the introduction of Inspector Julia. At their core, both Dolah and Inspector Julia are idealists who believe in justice even when their choices aren’t entirely right.
Yet again, I found myself admiring Dolah’s clarity, discipline, and confidence which has clearly helped him grow as an assassin. His relationship with Nysa felt more raw and real in this book. Love them as a couple.
The real tension lies in the moral questions in the protagonist’s choices. They had me raise my eyebrow more than once. Sheesh trusts us reader to wrestle with these dilemmas and decide for ourselves where the line between right and wrong truly lies.
And I must add that although it has been years since I last visited Singapore, thanks to Sheesh, the city feels familiar. Overall, a gripping and thrilling read. Eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series
April 9, 2026
Retired CEO-turned-assassin Ishmael Dollah sets out to take down James Hong, who has caused serious problems for Ishmael’s family. Hong’s gossip about an affair between Ishmael’s daughter-in-law Marianna and her colleague was pure fiction, but even other than that, he’s a nasty man who stands in the way of Marianna’s promotion.
Hong must die.
Even while Ishmael is busy making plans to murder James Hong, an old friend confides in him, telling him about the problems he’s facing at work because of a virulent but well-connected colleague. And, unknown to Ishmael, an Inspector of Singapore Police, Julia, has smelt a rat…
The premise is an unsettling one: how the principles that go into making a successful career in the corporate world can be applied to the perfect murder. It’s rather grim, but it is quirky and clever, all right. The planning and the execution are complex but neat, and Ishmael (who is the narrator for most of the book, barring the shorter chapters that feature Inspector Julia), while not particularly relatable for me, is an interesting character with a wry sense of humour.
The crime angle of the book, which is the main plotline, is good. What I found boring after a while is the rest of it. Ishmael’s relationship with his wife Nysa, while endearing, begins to pall after a while, with the same sort of dialogues, the same sort of interactions, cropping up again and again. She is a researcher, and there is a lot of talk surrounding various contracts with authors, publishers, etc—most of it fairly repetitive and not really impacting the main story. The same goes for the many meals they share, the again-and-again "I'm going out, I'll be back, don't wait up" sort of conversations.
When I reviewed Sixty is the New Assassin back in December 2024, this is part of what I wrote:
What didn’t work for me that well was the somewhat repetitive nature of Ishmael’s personal life. The meals at home, the running, the conversations with Nysa, the allusions to their love life: after a while it began to pall, because it was all the same thing again and again. Fortunately, since the book isn’t very long, it’s not terribly taxing, but still: I do wish a more strict editor had suggested changing these interactions a bit, making it less a repeat of all that had gone before.
That, however, was for a debut novel. If the book otherwise is good, I tend to cut some slack for minor problems (which I feel an editor ought to have noticed and pruned). But this is no longer a debut. And the problem is still there, along with rather more typos than I am willing to forgive. Someone did a bad job of the proof-reading here.
Anyhow, an entertaining, easy read despite those issues.
Hong must die.
Even while Ishmael is busy making plans to murder James Hong, an old friend confides in him, telling him about the problems he’s facing at work because of a virulent but well-connected colleague. And, unknown to Ishmael, an Inspector of Singapore Police, Julia, has smelt a rat…
The premise is an unsettling one: how the principles that go into making a successful career in the corporate world can be applied to the perfect murder. It’s rather grim, but it is quirky and clever, all right. The planning and the execution are complex but neat, and Ishmael (who is the narrator for most of the book, barring the shorter chapters that feature Inspector Julia), while not particularly relatable for me, is an interesting character with a wry sense of humour.
The crime angle of the book, which is the main plotline, is good. What I found boring after a while is the rest of it. Ishmael’s relationship with his wife Nysa, while endearing, begins to pall after a while, with the same sort of dialogues, the same sort of interactions, cropping up again and again. She is a researcher, and there is a lot of talk surrounding various contracts with authors, publishers, etc—most of it fairly repetitive and not really impacting the main story. The same goes for the many meals they share, the again-and-again "I'm going out, I'll be back, don't wait up" sort of conversations.
When I reviewed Sixty is the New Assassin back in December 2024, this is part of what I wrote:
What didn’t work for me that well was the somewhat repetitive nature of Ishmael’s personal life. The meals at home, the running, the conversations with Nysa, the allusions to their love life: after a while it began to pall, because it was all the same thing again and again. Fortunately, since the book isn’t very long, it’s not terribly taxing, but still: I do wish a more strict editor had suggested changing these interactions a bit, making it less a repeat of all that had gone before.
That, however, was for a debut novel. If the book otherwise is good, I tend to cut some slack for minor problems (which I feel an editor ought to have noticed and pruned). But this is no longer a debut. And the problem is still there, along with rather more typos than I am willing to forgive. Someone did a bad job of the proof-reading here.
Anyhow, an entertaining, easy read despite those issues.
January 22, 2026
I’m pleased to have started off my year with this book! I had enjoyed the previous book in the series, Sixty is the New Assassin, and this new one is a perfect sequel to it.
The story continues from the previous book. Ishmael Dollah is back and how! Within the serene and comfortable setting of his home in Singapore, where he enjoys his retired life with his wife, Nysa, he encounters another threat, propelling him to take action. But his previous assignments, to put it eloquently, have caught Inspector Julia’s eye. She is sharp, irritatingly persistent, and will not rest until she finds the perpetrator.
Let me begin my review by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The narrative follows a very casual approach. It is witty, dotted with humour, and makes reading so easy that you don’t realise how many pages you’ve turned. The story is fluid and holds the reader’s interest through and through.
The character of Dollah goes from being a novice in getting rid of ’employees’ in the previous book to being much more experienced and confident in this one. The method in which he plans- using his old acquaintances, cleaning up his digital footprints, etc., is simply praiseworthy. Dollah makes sure he is at the top of his game. The book ends with a promise of a more interesting continuation in the series.
I especially found the feelings Dollah has for Nysa heartwarming and loved how he unabashedly expresses them in random places in the book.
“I washed up and went to the living room seeking light.
I found Nysa.”
How charming! Another one of the quotes that will, hopefully, summarise the suave writing in the book:
“Strange that smoke helps one see so clearly.”
Assassins Are Our Greatest Assets follows an old-school writing style that is gripping and fast-paced for the genre. Also, the story is set in Singapore, and I have to thank the author for describing it so beautifully. The lanes, the people, the parks- all come together to complete the story. I’m itching to visit the city!
Final Verdict
Assassins Are Our Greatest Assets is a fast-paced, witty thriller with breathtaking Singapore vibes. I would highly recommend this series, especially if you’re into crime/murders.
January 6, 2026
I loved Ishmael Dollah... I thought he was twisted and amoral and absolutely lovable. And I absolutely loved the first book Sixty Is The New Assassin.
So i wasn't sure if the second book in the Corporate Assassin series would be able to live up to the first. But how wrong i was!!!
Inspector Julia! Holy smokes.... She deserves a book on her own. And not just one... Several!
If you haven't read Sixty... Do yourself a favour and read it today! Then sit back and enjoy Assassins Are Our Greatest Assets.
If you are a fan of a dark and comical story... Or if you've lived in Singapore, this book will wing its way into your heart. (And stomach... Don't even get me started on that).
So i wasn't sure if the second book in the Corporate Assassin series would be able to live up to the first. But how wrong i was!!!
Inspector Julia! Holy smokes.... She deserves a book on her own. And not just one... Several!
If you haven't read Sixty... Do yourself a favour and read it today! Then sit back and enjoy Assassins Are Our Greatest Assets.
If you are a fan of a dark and comical story... Or if you've lived in Singapore, this book will wing its way into your heart. (And stomach... Don't even get me started on that).
January 16, 2026
Sometimes I wonder at myself, but I found book two even more hilarious than book one. But then I am writing a ‘comedy’ about a serial killer, so maybe I just have a warped (and dark) sense of humour.
In book one, retired CEO-turned-assassin Ishmael Dollah dispatched his first two victims and is getting pretty good at it. It’s all in the planning you see. It must be meticulous. Leave no stone unturned, though I think he needs to improve his disposal methods. Not of the bodies, but of his clothing and murder tools ie the evidence.
We now have a potential third target – the man who spread the false rumours about his son’s wife having an affair and almost destroyed their marriage. The man is a trouble maker and needs to go. Deserves to go in fact. So Ishmael decides to set him up online. It’s called catfishing apparently – I learned a lot if I ever decide to assassinate anyone (I’m joking).
In the meantime Inspector Julia Binti Shafiq of Singapore CID is looking at CCTV of who was coming and going on the evenings of the first two killings from book one. There is only one person she sees both times, but no-one believes her. She needs to get on with her other cases she is told by her boss, and forget about what’s been and gone. And one of those cases revolves around a domestic help who was bullied and starved by her employers.
We follow both threads and wonder if they will come together. That remains to be seen.
I loved this series. It’s just up my street. And who else spotted that Ishmael’s wife Nysa is going to order their son’s birthday cake from Sinsations, which is owned by the author’s wife Radhika in real life. I hope we get to see his cake on Instagram! Her cakes are amazing.
Many thanks to the author for inviting me to submit a review of book two in the series.
In book one, retired CEO-turned-assassin Ishmael Dollah dispatched his first two victims and is getting pretty good at it. It’s all in the planning you see. It must be meticulous. Leave no stone unturned, though I think he needs to improve his disposal methods. Not of the bodies, but of his clothing and murder tools ie the evidence.
We now have a potential third target – the man who spread the false rumours about his son’s wife having an affair and almost destroyed their marriage. The man is a trouble maker and needs to go. Deserves to go in fact. So Ishmael decides to set him up online. It’s called catfishing apparently – I learned a lot if I ever decide to assassinate anyone (I’m joking).
In the meantime Inspector Julia Binti Shafiq of Singapore CID is looking at CCTV of who was coming and going on the evenings of the first two killings from book one. There is only one person she sees both times, but no-one believes her. She needs to get on with her other cases she is told by her boss, and forget about what’s been and gone. And one of those cases revolves around a domestic help who was bullied and starved by her employers.
We follow both threads and wonder if they will come together. That remains to be seen.
I loved this series. It’s just up my street. And who else spotted that Ishmael’s wife Nysa is going to order their son’s birthday cake from Sinsations, which is owned by the author’s wife Radhika in real life. I hope we get to see his cake on Instagram! Her cakes are amazing.
Many thanks to the author for inviting me to submit a review of book two in the series.
February 19, 2026
Ishmael Dollah retires after 14 years as a powerhouse CEO… and pivots to professional assassin like he’s launching a new subsidiary. No messy spirals. No sloppy rage. He builds kill plans like quarterly forecasts — efficient, calculated, ruthless. Threaten his son’s happiness? He doesn’t debate. He deletes.
What makes it addictive is the calm. Each hit doesn’t rattle him — it refines him. You can feel that electric hum of purpose flick back on.
Then Inspector Julia Binti Shafiq enters — sharp, intuitive, relentless — and suddenly the screws tighten. The cat-and-mouse tension? Delicious.
The prose is clean and surgical, the pacing snaps, and that moral line blurs so smoothly you don’t realize you’ve crossed it until you’re standing in the dark with Ishmael.
Corporate strategy meets cold-blooded precision. Business is booming… and so is the body count. 😌. Five stars. No hesitation.
What makes it addictive is the calm. Each hit doesn’t rattle him — it refines him. You can feel that electric hum of purpose flick back on.
Then Inspector Julia Binti Shafiq enters — sharp, intuitive, relentless — and suddenly the screws tighten. The cat-and-mouse tension? Delicious.
The prose is clean and surgical, the pacing snaps, and that moral line blurs so smoothly you don’t realize you’ve crossed it until you’re standing in the dark with Ishmael.
Corporate strategy meets cold-blooded precision. Business is booming… and so is the body count. 😌. Five stars. No hesitation.
January 2, 2026
The best thing about Shesh's books, be it this one or the previous book, is his writing style. It is different and engaging. The writing flows and entertains, as all good fiction writing should. Shesh's wordsmithery is something I always look forward to. Recommended!
March 27, 2026
A unique crime fiction book! Loved the corporate analogy and sharp pacing in the book. It is rare that we root for the antagonists ( anti hero in this case) and i was doing exactly the same. I look forward to Ishmael's professional journey as an assassin.
April 13, 2026
After unexpectedly coming across Shesh’s first book, Sixty is the New Assassin, I found it to be a solid debut. And so, I was excited to get the opportunity to read the sequel. While the second book was enjoyable, I still find myself biased toward the first.
Dollah’s meticulous planning continues to be engaging, especially since I was already familiar with his character. I also appreciated the incorporation of his corporate experiences and anecdotes, which shapes his reality and his decisions. One of the most refreshing aspects, however, is his relationship with his wife, he loves, respects, and adores her in a way that feels genuine and understated. It’s not often that you see such a tender portrayal of a man in his 60s in love.
That said, I do have a few reservations. In the first book, what truly stood out was Dollah’s own discovery of becoming an assassin. In the sequel, since the character and his peculiarities are already established, the repeated focus on his routine felt a little excessive.
I also wished Dollah had a stronger motivation beyond his personal agenda for loved ones. While I understand the moral grey area,I hoped there was a deeper driving force this time. I also felt like the character of Inspector Julia lacked depth. And her dynamic with Dollah felt underexplored, there was clear potential for something more layered there.
Overall, it’s an engaging read, but for me, the first book still stands out as the stronger of the two.
Dollah’s meticulous planning continues to be engaging, especially since I was already familiar with his character. I also appreciated the incorporation of his corporate experiences and anecdotes, which shapes his reality and his decisions. One of the most refreshing aspects, however, is his relationship with his wife, he loves, respects, and adores her in a way that feels genuine and understated. It’s not often that you see such a tender portrayal of a man in his 60s in love.
That said, I do have a few reservations. In the first book, what truly stood out was Dollah’s own discovery of becoming an assassin. In the sequel, since the character and his peculiarities are already established, the repeated focus on his routine felt a little excessive.
I also wished Dollah had a stronger motivation beyond his personal agenda for loved ones. While I understand the moral grey area,I hoped there was a deeper driving force this time. I also felt like the character of Inspector Julia lacked depth. And her dynamic with Dollah felt underexplored, there was clear potential for something more layered there.
Overall, it’s an engaging read, but for me, the first book still stands out as the stronger of the two.
January 16, 2026
Retired from a high profile career as CEO and saviour of not one but several sinking corporates, overhauled and brought back into the profit making world, Ishmael Dollah has chosen to roll up his boots and enjoy a blissful existence of lounging in his study, and partaking of a succession of delights concocted by his wife of many years, interspersed with serious attempts at fitness with daily morning runs, and weekly tennis matches. But fate has other plans in store. His blissful, though monotonous existence, is interrupted by troubles in the married life of his only son. Not one to leave things to chance, Ishmael investigates and decides to intervene. Used to hiring and firing, downsizing the workforce, and taking swift action, he turns back to the familiar corporate strategy- research, investigate, plan and act, but this time, for so heinous a crime, permanent action is called for and thus is born the Corporate Assassin.
The current book takes off from here and is much faster-paced than the first in the series. All doubts, hesitation, debates between right and wrong are over, now it is Plan and Act. Once again, his daughter in law is the target and his goal is to save her from all unnecessary angst by taking quick action. And action, he does take. But this time, another angle is introduced. The police have a new young recruit, Inspector Julia Binti Shafique, who is much like a dog with a bone in its mouth. No amount of tugging can detach her from her bone (idea) that “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” (Singapore). Can he deflect her instincts?
Between all this planning and action are interspersed verbal images of Singapore at dawn, at dusk, by the river, in the fancy condos and huge malls, which you may be familiar with, but also the dimly lit, dustbin lined, dingy lanes, which the reader is unlikely to know. The food courts, where you can safely leave a mobile to reserve your table, relaxed driving with courteous drivers on the road (long forgotten in other parts of the world), and delicious laksas and roti-pratas specific to the cultural mix of the city.
The author’s tongue in cheek humour is a major source of enjoyment. Here are some samples:
Referring to his friends: “They trusted you and were very understanding if you murdered someone. They had also murdered a few people themselves and were not inclined to throw stones”.
When assessing risks: “Fake it till you make it. That was the name of the game”.
When seeking reassurance, while running along the riverside boardwalk, “If I, a glorified canal can be marketed as a river, it seemed to say, you can do anything you want”.
When the tables are turned against you: “Whenever you are feeling down or worried or depressed, read the Economist”. Its pages are suffused with so much gloom and fear, that the problems you are facing almost seem like blessings.”
There are several such gems scattered through the pages.
All in all, a great read. I am eagerly awaiting the next in the series.
The current book takes off from here and is much faster-paced than the first in the series. All doubts, hesitation, debates between right and wrong are over, now it is Plan and Act. Once again, his daughter in law is the target and his goal is to save her from all unnecessary angst by taking quick action. And action, he does take. But this time, another angle is introduced. The police have a new young recruit, Inspector Julia Binti Shafique, who is much like a dog with a bone in its mouth. No amount of tugging can detach her from her bone (idea) that “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” (Singapore). Can he deflect her instincts?
Between all this planning and action are interspersed verbal images of Singapore at dawn, at dusk, by the river, in the fancy condos and huge malls, which you may be familiar with, but also the dimly lit, dustbin lined, dingy lanes, which the reader is unlikely to know. The food courts, where you can safely leave a mobile to reserve your table, relaxed driving with courteous drivers on the road (long forgotten in other parts of the world), and delicious laksas and roti-pratas specific to the cultural mix of the city.
The author’s tongue in cheek humour is a major source of enjoyment. Here are some samples:
Referring to his friends: “They trusted you and were very understanding if you murdered someone. They had also murdered a few people themselves and were not inclined to throw stones”.
When assessing risks: “Fake it till you make it. That was the name of the game”.
When seeking reassurance, while running along the riverside boardwalk, “If I, a glorified canal can be marketed as a river, it seemed to say, you can do anything you want”.
When the tables are turned against you: “Whenever you are feeling down or worried or depressed, read the Economist”. Its pages are suffused with so much gloom and fear, that the problems you are facing almost seem like blessings.”
There are several such gems scattered through the pages.
All in all, a great read. I am eagerly awaiting the next in the series.
February 4, 2026
Having thoroughly enjoyed the entertaining, darkly humorous and fast-paced Sixty is the New Assassin, the author's debut, I was eagerly awaiting the next instalment and Assassins Are Our Greatest Assets lived up to its promise and more.
In the first book we met Ishmael Dollah, former CEO who's living a relaxed but somewhat boring retired life. But when he gets some hint of trouble in his daughter-in-law, Marianna's life, he decides to intervene and uses all he knows from the corporate world to ‘help’, with the result that his life takes a very unexpected, but exciting turn. In Assassins Are Our Greatest Assets, Marianna is facing troubles anew with a colleague sullying her name at work. Ishmael feels called upon once again to rid her of this problem.
This time, he dives in more confidently, his plans becoming more sophisticated and complex, and while the reader may still raise their eyebrows at his doings, we can't help but read on to see how things play out, and whether he succeeds. And all this unfolds while Dollah is also living his usual life enjoying the delicious meals his wife Nysa makes, advising her with work contracts when she needs his help, and enjoying his games and runs.
Alongside, in interludes between the chapters, we meet a new character, Inspector Julia Binti Shafiq. A tenacious officer, she has caught a whiff of something wrong in Ishmael's previous doings, though not quite what or who. But she isn't one to let go easily, and presses on, even though she has another rather serious case on hand.
Do Ishmael's plans work out? Does the Inspector catch on to him?
Assassins Are Our Greatest Assets is every bit as exciting and fun, in fact even more so than the first book as we watch Ishmael make and put into action his plans,using as always the rules and methods of the corporate world but adapted to these new ‘problems’. He does his research thoroughly, prepares well and even manages to address contingencies, but for all the success he has, he isn't infallible either, but in a different way than we think or expect, and which gives the book another interesting touch.
The entry of Julia into the scheme of things brings with it new developments and a surprise twist, giving a different direction to Ishmael's story.
I really enjoyed the writing which draws one in right from the start and keeps one glued all through, humorous and fun. I also loved the allusions and references peppered throughout the book, whether to popular self help books or a certain very wise green jedi or a special Singapore bakery business! Food too, there is plenty of, and all so delicious sounding that it makes one hungry. And then of course, there's Singapore itself, with its different shades and facets, where on the one side are its malls where a phone left to claim a table is safe while on the other, a space that should be safe turns out not to be for those at the other end of the spectrum, and oftener than one realises.
Assassins Are Our Greatest Assets is a fun ride from start to finish, and I'm thrilled to know that there are three more books on the way. Can't wait to see where Ishmael's adventures take him next!
In the first book we met Ishmael Dollah, former CEO who's living a relaxed but somewhat boring retired life. But when he gets some hint of trouble in his daughter-in-law, Marianna's life, he decides to intervene and uses all he knows from the corporate world to ‘help’, with the result that his life takes a very unexpected, but exciting turn. In Assassins Are Our Greatest Assets, Marianna is facing troubles anew with a colleague sullying her name at work. Ishmael feels called upon once again to rid her of this problem.
This time, he dives in more confidently, his plans becoming more sophisticated and complex, and while the reader may still raise their eyebrows at his doings, we can't help but read on to see how things play out, and whether he succeeds. And all this unfolds while Dollah is also living his usual life enjoying the delicious meals his wife Nysa makes, advising her with work contracts when she needs his help, and enjoying his games and runs.
Alongside, in interludes between the chapters, we meet a new character, Inspector Julia Binti Shafiq. A tenacious officer, she has caught a whiff of something wrong in Ishmael's previous doings, though not quite what or who. But she isn't one to let go easily, and presses on, even though she has another rather serious case on hand.
Do Ishmael's plans work out? Does the Inspector catch on to him?
Assassins Are Our Greatest Assets is every bit as exciting and fun, in fact even more so than the first book as we watch Ishmael make and put into action his plans,using as always the rules and methods of the corporate world but adapted to these new ‘problems’. He does his research thoroughly, prepares well and even manages to address contingencies, but for all the success he has, he isn't infallible either, but in a different way than we think or expect, and which gives the book another interesting touch.
The entry of Julia into the scheme of things brings with it new developments and a surprise twist, giving a different direction to Ishmael's story.
I really enjoyed the writing which draws one in right from the start and keeps one glued all through, humorous and fun. I also loved the allusions and references peppered throughout the book, whether to popular self help books or a certain very wise green jedi or a special Singapore bakery business! Food too, there is plenty of, and all so delicious sounding that it makes one hungry. And then of course, there's Singapore itself, with its different shades and facets, where on the one side are its malls where a phone left to claim a table is safe while on the other, a space that should be safe turns out not to be for those at the other end of the spectrum, and oftener than one realises.
Assassins Are Our Greatest Assets is a fun ride from start to finish, and I'm thrilled to know that there are three more books on the way. Can't wait to see where Ishmael's adventures take him next!
March 22, 2026
Totally a nonsense read. Plz avoid.
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