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The Hunted Assassin
His name is an alias. His pretense is a disguise. His very existence on Taloo Station is no accident.
Martin Wheeler—AKA Jaxon Rasner, is hiding from his past. After nearly a decade of living in obscurity, a team of killers is sent to end his life. Making matters worse, his estranged daughter is brutally abducted.
Marked for death, he must return to the life he left behind as he races for survival throughout the Outer Ring, where he has no choice but to embrace the killer within.
Martin Wheeler—AKA Jaxon Rasner, is hiding from his past. After nearly a decade of living in obscurity, a team of killers is sent to end his life. Making matters worse, his estranged daughter is brutally abducted.
Marked for death, he must return to the life he left behind as he races for survival throughout the Outer Ring, where he has no choice but to embrace the killer within.
- GenresScience Fiction
338 pages, Paperback
Published June 28, 2016
About the author
Paul B. Kohler
39 books204 followersPaul B Kohler is the International Bestselling author of the highly acclaimed novel Linear Shift. His recent work includes Turn, Detour, and Reversion, from The Humanity's Edge Trilogy, along with several short stories. His short story, Rememorations, was included in The Immortality Chronicles - The Best Anthology of the Year as voted in the 2016 Preditors and Editors Readers Poll. Rememorations was also nominated for Best American Science Fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 1, 2017
The more I read this the greater my dislike became. Ultimately I skimmed through the back half of the book and considered it done. I think we were supposed to like/admire the hero, but he seemed pretty despicable to me. Some good action scenes kept me involved at first, but after a while I decided this was a throwaway book - one not good enough to donate to the library for fund-raising.
July 12, 2016
https://koeur.wordpress.com/2016/07/2...
Publisher: GED
Publishing Date: June 2016
ISBN: 9781940740157
Genre: SciFi
Rating: 3.6/5
Publishers Description: Martin Wheeler—AKA Jaxon Rasner, is hiding from his past. After nearly a decade of living in obscurity, a team of killers is sent to end his life. Making matters worse, his estranged daughter is brutally abducted.
Review: This was a fun read. Constant movement, harrowing escapes and a conspiracy where the mole is easy to figure out based on his code name. Jaxson used to be a government assassin until he opted out and hid from his past living an anonymous life on a space station…selling tea.
The fight scenes lacked a sense of believability, from choices made to simple gun operation. Take for instance his second fight with armed assassins. He reloads his gun twice but only has two clips. That action would require 3 clips if one was in the gun (which it was). He is pinned down by sniper fire outside his apartment and a lady gets shot right between the eyes by sniper fire. Somehow he manages to allude sniper fire, while standing and shooting up at the snipers without a rifle and kills them all. Riiiiiight. During this melee he finds the time to chamber a round without a reload. Why he would need to with a semi-automatic without losing a round already in the chamber is beyond reasoning.
Phrasing was used repeatedly to expedite the scenes. In particular the dreaded “Actually”, Used 27 times. I hate this word as it is never needed and is a know-it-alls crutch to imply that they are knowledgeable and that you should believe what they say.
On the plus side the character development was pretty good and the players, interesting in their own way. The world building was great with a multitude of venues and ring colonies (including the moon) where all aspects of humanity are represented. From scum filled Ring colonies housing gambling, prostitution, drug running and slavery to fairly benign places to work and settle down.
This gets close to 5 stars with concerted effort in the firearms department and a better editor (lots of grammatical errors).
Publisher: GED
Publishing Date: June 2016
ISBN: 9781940740157
Genre: SciFi
Rating: 3.6/5
Publishers Description: Martin Wheeler—AKA Jaxon Rasner, is hiding from his past. After nearly a decade of living in obscurity, a team of killers is sent to end his life. Making matters worse, his estranged daughter is brutally abducted.
Review: This was a fun read. Constant movement, harrowing escapes and a conspiracy where the mole is easy to figure out based on his code name. Jaxson used to be a government assassin until he opted out and hid from his past living an anonymous life on a space station…selling tea.
The fight scenes lacked a sense of believability, from choices made to simple gun operation. Take for instance his second fight with armed assassins. He reloads his gun twice but only has two clips. That action would require 3 clips if one was in the gun (which it was). He is pinned down by sniper fire outside his apartment and a lady gets shot right between the eyes by sniper fire. Somehow he manages to allude sniper fire, while standing and shooting up at the snipers without a rifle and kills them all. Riiiiiight. During this melee he finds the time to chamber a round without a reload. Why he would need to with a semi-automatic without losing a round already in the chamber is beyond reasoning.
Phrasing was used repeatedly to expedite the scenes. In particular the dreaded “Actually”, Used 27 times. I hate this word as it is never needed and is a know-it-alls crutch to imply that they are knowledgeable and that you should believe what they say.
On the plus side the character development was pretty good and the players, interesting in their own way. The world building was great with a multitude of venues and ring colonies (including the moon) where all aspects of humanity are represented. From scum filled Ring colonies housing gambling, prostitution, drug running and slavery to fairly benign places to work and settle down.
This gets close to 5 stars with concerted effort in the firearms department and a better editor (lots of grammatical errors).
July 1, 2016
This book is a radical change from my usual romance genre, but it was a exciting change for me. This good sized novel was well written, suspenseful and kept me on the edge of my seat wondering who was after the hero, Jaxon Rasher.
Through flashbacks to the hero's past, we learn about his previous missions, his previous relationships and lots of unfinished business in his life. Jaxon has been living a lie for the past 8 years.
Some quotes from the story:
"Martin repacked his satchel with all the weapons that he'd scavenged from the assassins before doing a final pass through of the warehouse, hoping to pilfer any additional items he might need."
"If you ask me, you look like some kind of techno-nerd. Because that suit looks out of this world. I've been up on this rock looking down on earth for coming up on six years now and boy, let me tell you. That is on fancy, suit yer wearin' there."
"They've told me that you are a positive thinker. Always looking at the bright side of things."
"...her raging fear jackknifing into righteous joy at seeing life fill his eyes."
I have also read and thoroughly enjoyed a previously released set of books called Borrowed Souls. I will definitely be looking for more books by this talented author Paul Kohler.
Through flashbacks to the hero's past, we learn about his previous missions, his previous relationships and lots of unfinished business in his life. Jaxon has been living a lie for the past 8 years.
Some quotes from the story:
"Martin repacked his satchel with all the weapons that he'd scavenged from the assassins before doing a final pass through of the warehouse, hoping to pilfer any additional items he might need."
"If you ask me, you look like some kind of techno-nerd. Because that suit looks out of this world. I've been up on this rock looking down on earth for coming up on six years now and boy, let me tell you. That is on fancy, suit yer wearin' there."
"They've told me that you are a positive thinker. Always looking at the bright side of things."
"...her raging fear jackknifing into righteous joy at seeing life fill his eyes."
I have also read and thoroughly enjoyed a previously released set of books called Borrowed Souls. I will definitely be looking for more books by this talented author Paul Kohler.
August 1, 2016
THE HUNTED ASSASSIN by Paul B Kohler is the story, of Martin Wheeler aka Jaxon Rasner, who has lived the past eight years in willing obscurity, only to be found and forced into the life he abandoned all eight years ago.
As someone who seems to have embraced the simple life, readers are drawn to Jaxon and his reluctance to return to his dark past. As Jaxon is forced deal with his past resurfacing, I believe in the end Jaxon finds what he really wanted, a balance between his past and his present. Kohler description of the various sites in space and particularly the logistics of action sequences on spacecraft/space station are well written and I had no problem following the action and picturing the settings. The assortment of supporting characters also were interesting and there was a good balance of characters we understand their motives and actions and those that are wild cards. The plot was a little formulaic and predictable, but still pleasing to follow.
I would definitely read another book about Jaxon Rasner in the future and I would recommend THE HUNTED ASSASSIN as a action-packed space suspense with a satisfying conclusion.
Thank you to Global Endeavor Publishing, Paul B Kohler, and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
As someone who seems to have embraced the simple life, readers are drawn to Jaxon and his reluctance to return to his dark past. As Jaxon is forced deal with his past resurfacing, I believe in the end Jaxon finds what he really wanted, a balance between his past and his present. Kohler description of the various sites in space and particularly the logistics of action sequences on spacecraft/space station are well written and I had no problem following the action and picturing the settings. The assortment of supporting characters also were interesting and there was a good balance of characters we understand their motives and actions and those that are wild cards. The plot was a little formulaic and predictable, but still pleasing to follow.
I would definitely read another book about Jaxon Rasner in the future and I would recommend THE HUNTED ASSASSIN as a action-packed space suspense with a satisfying conclusion.
Thank you to Global Endeavor Publishing, Paul B Kohler, and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
July 17, 2016
The Hunted Assassin by Paul Kohler The Hunted Assassin by Paul Kohler is a breath-holding, suspense-filled book. I sped through it so fast, my kindle could barely keep up. I read this exciting story in one sitting. I gave it five stars.
Martin Wheeler aka Jaxon Rasner had worked for the Global Security Agency (GSA) as a trained assassin. He & a partner, Gillette faked their deaths to get out of the agency. Otherwise their minds & memories would have been 'wiped'. He hid out on space station Taloo for eight years until a team of assassins came after him.
Can he escape the assassins? Can he avoid being scooped up again by the GSA that has a mole determined to sabotage his mission? Can he keep his team alive & find his missing daughter?
I received a complimentary copy from Global Endeavor Publishing & NetGalley. That did not change my opinion for this review.
Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Hunted-Assassi...
Martin Wheeler aka Jaxon Rasner had worked for the Global Security Agency (GSA) as a trained assassin. He & a partner, Gillette faked their deaths to get out of the agency. Otherwise their minds & memories would have been 'wiped'. He hid out on space station Taloo for eight years until a team of assassins came after him.
Can he escape the assassins? Can he avoid being scooped up again by the GSA that has a mole determined to sabotage his mission? Can he keep his team alive & find his missing daughter?
I received a complimentary copy from Global Endeavor Publishing & NetGalley. That did not change my opinion for this review.
Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Hunted-Assassi...
July 27, 2016
From the very start the title comes into play and the hunt has begun. Martin Wheeler a former operative of the security organisation GSA, is running a coffee shop on a space station but finds his past from ten years ago is catching him up, but this time he is the target. Moving at a fast pace the author delivers several great action sequences as Martin defies the attempts on his life. This is combined with a description of life on a space station in the future to make his escape from danger all the more exciting. Not content with just trying to murder the author introduces some serious twists to the story with Martin’s estranged daughter being brutally abducted. This is very cleverly worked in with the normal everyday problems we see today on present Earth – greed, corruption, drugs and violence. In all this is a very exciting look at life in the future and tells us that even although many space stations and a city on the moon can be built no one has been able solve these very old society issues.
July 8, 2016
*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
This was a fantastic science fiction thriller/mystery book. I really enjoyed the characters and the plot was engaging throughout. I had no issues with the writing and found it easy to get into the flow of the plot + writing. Some of the plot points were a bit predictable but it was still enjoyable to watch it all unfold. Overall I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.
This was a fantastic science fiction thriller/mystery book. I really enjoyed the characters and the plot was engaging throughout. I had no issues with the writing and found it easy to get into the flow of the plot + writing. Some of the plot points were a bit predictable but it was still enjoyable to watch it all unfold. Overall I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.
April 2, 2020
Great story!
I thoroughly enjoyed this and had a hard time putting it down. Good cast of characters and some nice twists. I recommend this to anyone that likes a bit of sci-fi intrigue.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and had a hard time putting it down. Good cast of characters and some nice twists. I recommend this to anyone that likes a bit of sci-fi intrigue.
July 6, 2017
Very cool!
This is a very good read. Different from what I'm use to reading. It kept me wanting to continue to find out what was going to happen next.
This is a very good read. Different from what I'm use to reading. It kept me wanting to continue to find out what was going to happen next.
August 24, 2017
Good read.
Moved right along, no over flow of tec. Jargon .l would read additional books by this author. Could have used more detail on Pablos' death.
Moved right along, no over flow of tec. Jargon .l would read additional books by this author. Could have used more detail on Pablos' death.
February 19, 2018
Good read
Enthralling story, really enjoyed it. Liked the character development and intrigue. Fast paced action, and variety of the locals involved.
Enthralling story, really enjoyed it. Liked the character development and intrigue. Fast paced action, and variety of the locals involved.
January 6, 2019
Excellent read
Really enjoyed the tale and style of writing ... characters well rounded and story line had lots of twists and turns ... enjoy!
Really enjoyed the tale and style of writing ... characters well rounded and story line had lots of twists and turns ... enjoy!
May 12, 2019
Nothing new, a very cliche action novel ... No suspense no surprise...
March 27, 2020
Action packed
Great spy book, lots of action and intrigue. Good science fiction space ships and Ray guns. The ending was a surprise. Great fun.
Great spy book, lots of action and intrigue. Good science fiction space ships and Ray guns. The ending was a surprise. Great fun.
April 23, 2020
Great read!
I should have been in bed asleep several hours ago. Started reading this book and couldn’t put it down until the end.
I should have been in bed asleep several hours ago. Started reading this book and couldn’t put it down until the end.
December 28, 2020
Easy reading and fun
Ok story line, nice easy writing style. Perfect for lockdown in these troubled times. Word1 word2 word word word word
Ok story line, nice easy writing style. Perfect for lockdown in these troubled times. Word1 word2 word word word word
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August 16, 2016I got this book for free in exchange for an honest review. I will give a short review for now which I usually don't do. I will not rate it for now. I have not been able to finish it as it isn't interesting me.
At 67 chapters it is currently not something I have the time or patience for at the moment. I feel it contains way too much filler and action sequence filler for me to get into it.
I do love Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Spy stuff, Space dramas, Star Wars and Star Trek but at 20% in I've decided this is too slow of a crawl and hasn't drawn me in. If you do like Star Wars or Star Trek or spy novels in general you may enjoy this. It kind of feels like Han Solo fanfiction to me.
I like that the environments are rich, very urban for space (think Star Trek Deep Space 9). The action scenes are numerous and well written (so far). The characters are rather bland, predictable and stock tropes. The bad guys are disposable goons. Conversations and characters are both dull and stereotypical.
So far the plot feels too genre fiction to me and I do feel I may read this when I have more time but right now I am not a fan.
I do feel guilty for not giving it a longer chance but it is a long read for me. Its a simple read as there isn't any significant plot development up to 18% in. However this is why it is not drawing me in enough to devote time to it as I like to read books thoroughly.
I don't know how someone read it in 6 hours but kudos to you. Its taken me more than that and I'm just not feeling it.
If (but I think its when) I pick this up again I will re-review it but right now I've got to put it off as I'm not enjoying it.
This may be good for a long plane ride or waiting for a doctors appointment for me (and I feel bad for giving this honest review). Once I run out of other things to review I'll get back to this. Eventually.
At 67 chapters it is currently not something I have the time or patience for at the moment. I feel it contains way too much filler and action sequence filler for me to get into it.
I do love Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Spy stuff, Space dramas, Star Wars and Star Trek but at 20% in I've decided this is too slow of a crawl and hasn't drawn me in. If you do like Star Wars or Star Trek or spy novels in general you may enjoy this. It kind of feels like Han Solo fanfiction to me.
I like that the environments are rich, very urban for space (think Star Trek Deep Space 9). The action scenes are numerous and well written (so far). The characters are rather bland, predictable and stock tropes. The bad guys are disposable goons. Conversations and characters are both dull and stereotypical.
So far the plot feels too genre fiction to me and I do feel I may read this when I have more time but right now I am not a fan.
I do feel guilty for not giving it a longer chance but it is a long read for me. Its a simple read as there isn't any significant plot development up to 18% in. However this is why it is not drawing me in enough to devote time to it as I like to read books thoroughly.
I don't know how someone read it in 6 hours but kudos to you. Its taken me more than that and I'm just not feeling it.
If (but I think its when) I pick this up again I will re-review it but right now I've got to put it off as I'm not enjoying it.
This may be good for a long plane ride or waiting for a doctors appointment for me (and I feel bad for giving this honest review). Once I run out of other things to review I'll get back to this. Eventually.
June 28, 2016
Great Action-Packed Science Fiction Story
“Those were mere peasants. They were local workers from my home village, and the loss of their lives mean nothing to me. All I want is my revenge. I want Jaxon Rasner dead!”
Jaxon is a dead man walking. Eight years ago, he and a colleague faked their deaths to get away from “the company.” When he’s forced out of hiding, shock reverberates, from the fellow agents who’d heard of him to the beautiful Camille, who as his former fiancée has a more personal, vested interest in his unexpected “resurrection.”
Jaxon has to complete the current mission. Camille is an unwilling teammate, refusing to forgive him for faking his death and hurting her. Too much is at stake for Jaxon to allow personal feelings to get in the way. He has to save lives, even though an enemy may be closer than he realizes.
If you’re looking for more Paul Kohler, his shorter works are also amazing. Borrowed Souls is a riveting short story. It offers a cross-section of life in a bureaucracy, with a petty, tyrannical functionary as a boss.
“[He] was trying to fit his head through the neck of his secretary’s blouse. It would have fit, too, if it weren't for her still being in it.”
Linear Shift is a series of four short stories. Single father Peter tries to raise two teens, loses his job, and is on the edge of losing his home. When a face from his military past surfaces with the answer to all of his problems, Peter embarks on an exciting secret mission.
“Those were mere peasants. They were local workers from my home village, and the loss of their lives mean nothing to me. All I want is my revenge. I want Jaxon Rasner dead!”
Jaxon is a dead man walking. Eight years ago, he and a colleague faked their deaths to get away from “the company.” When he’s forced out of hiding, shock reverberates, from the fellow agents who’d heard of him to the beautiful Camille, who as his former fiancée has a more personal, vested interest in his unexpected “resurrection.”
Jaxon has to complete the current mission. Camille is an unwilling teammate, refusing to forgive him for faking his death and hurting her. Too much is at stake for Jaxon to allow personal feelings to get in the way. He has to save lives, even though an enemy may be closer than he realizes.
If you’re looking for more Paul Kohler, his shorter works are also amazing. Borrowed Souls is a riveting short story. It offers a cross-section of life in a bureaucracy, with a petty, tyrannical functionary as a boss.
“[He] was trying to fit his head through the neck of his secretary’s blouse. It would have fit, too, if it weren't for her still being in it.”
Linear Shift is a series of four short stories. Single father Peter tries to raise two teens, loses his job, and is on the edge of losing his home. When a face from his military past surfaces with the answer to all of his problems, Peter embarks on an exciting secret mission.
July 30, 2016
“The Hunted Assassin” eBook was published in 2016 and was written by Paul B. Kohler (http://paul-kohler.net). Mr. Kohler has published 7 novels.
I received a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence, Mature Language and Mature situations. This Science Fiction Spy Thriller is set on at various locations through out the Solar System. The main character is Martin Wheeler aka Jaxon Rasner.
Rasner has been in hiding for eight years when suddenly he is attacked by trained assassins. Without the special training he had received in his former life as a Special Ops specialist, he would have been dead.
He evades the killers, though not without loosing people close to him. he is reluctantly drawn back into the his former Spec Ops career as the only way to find out who is after him.
I was not too disappointed with the 6 hours I spent reading this 338 page novel. The story was OK. I give this novel a 3.4 (rounded down to a 3) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I received a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence, Mature Language and Mature situations. This Science Fiction Spy Thriller is set on at various locations through out the Solar System. The main character is Martin Wheeler aka Jaxon Rasner.
Rasner has been in hiding for eight years when suddenly he is attacked by trained assassins. Without the special training he had received in his former life as a Special Ops specialist, he would have been dead.
He evades the killers, though not without loosing people close to him. he is reluctantly drawn back into the his former Spec Ops career as the only way to find out who is after him.
I was not too disappointed with the 6 hours I spent reading this 338 page novel. The story was OK. I give this novel a 3.4 (rounded down to a 3) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
March 15, 2018
This begins with an explosion of action and since then on, it keeps going, fast and gripping. My big complaint is that it lacks scientific accuracy, which threw me out of the story more than once.
If you are looking for entertainment, and are not bothered by unrealistic science, this book is a good way of getting it.
If you are looking for entertainment, and are not bothered by unrealistic science, this book is a good way of getting it.
November 23, 2016
I don't know why I just didn't enjoy this one but if you a fan of action-Packed Science fiction I would recommend giving it a try.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews