Reborn

Antique Assassin #1

by Ryan Bennett

Reborn is the first book in the Antique Assassin / Dexter O'Kane Crime Thriller Adventure series.
A rip-roaring, high-octane, Missouri-sized thriller, featuring two friends, a love interest, one serial killer, and dysfunctional families, with little hope of redemption.
Dexter O'Kane and John Wood are best friends, yet they couldn't be more different. Dexter the cowboy. A small town guy and owner of a rusty gold collecting business from LeClaire, Missouri, dealing with a failing business, and the deaths of his family. John the practical one. A fat single guy with an addiction to Diet Cherry Coke and video games always choosing the safe route.
Together, they are faced with a life changing opportunity. A business venture like nothing they'd ever conceive. But will they accept?
So when Dexter and John witness a murder. And, Dexter meets a mystery woman in a bar. The boys will need to be reborn. Taken down a road less travelled. The road of justice.
Chockfull of action and laughs, Reborn is the introduction to Dexter and John to the thriller scene. It will never be the same.

312 pages, Paperback

First published July 15, 2015

Reviews

[Jason Meuschke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than most first novels by an indie author. Some of it might've been a bit silly. Some of it might've been a bit too coincidental. But all of it was fun none the less and I loved the concept of antique pickers having a side gig as assassins for the greater good. Reborn is a fast read, (don't let my start/end dates fool you) and an enjoyable story worth your time. I look forward to seeing what comes next and how the author has improved over time!

[Abigail · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay. The writing was fine, but not the best; some of the characters felt a bit forced (particularly Maria); and some of the pacing felt a bit odd, particularly in how quickly everyone got on board the whole murdering someone thing. I also wouldn't really describe the main character as an assassin, given his target, but then again, Antique Vigilante or Antique Hitman doesn't have quite the same ring. I think my biggest problem was actually with the person reading the audiobook. It just wasn't a good fit for what I like to listen to. That being said, when I sped up the book and listened at about 1.3-1.5x, that really helped. That being said, for the flaws I do see here, I also did finish it, even though it's a little outside my usual genres, so it was gripping in its own way. There were a couple of nice twists in there too, so that was good. Probably a good fit for some people, just not right for me.

[J.R. Underdown · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a 3.5 really. The concept is interesting and the characters have their moments, but some of the shifts in motives seem sudden and some of the confrontations feel repetitive. Not a bad first novel and I would be interested in continuing on in the series.

[Norma · Rating 3 out of 5]

"So...um...this can't be good."
What to say? Is this a mystery? A thriller? A comedy? Or just plain very, very bad?
Six months after his wife and son are killed in a car accident, Dexter O'Kane is still grieving, smoking marijuana and broke. Plus, if things don't soon get better , he and lifelong friend, John, will lose their Antiques Adventures business and they, plus saleswoman Maria.'I got babies to feed' Gonzales, will all be out of a job. Looking for quick profit sales items, John and Dex go on a picking expedition only to witness their mark's murder by a bearded man. More murders are witnessed on subsequent days and, rather than go to the police, the couple decide to get rid of inconvenient bodies and turn assassins themselves, As John says to Dex, "Pickers by day and justice fighters by night. That has a nice ring to it." With promise of payment by a new girlfriend, they start their crime solving careers. It could solve all their problems. Pity about Maria...

This is a quick and easy read, and quite fun if comic book scenarios with two dimensional, trigger happy rather dumb protagonists are your penchant. Yes, I think I'll opt for black comedy. I confess to quite enjoying it in all of it's unlikely silliness even though I couldn't actually recommend it to anyone other than, perhaps, an already psychotic pre-teen. My thanks to Book Review 22 for the gift of Antique Assassins - it's silly but it's fun. Oh, go on, then, give it a try and see what you think. After all, we all need a little silliness in our lives.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small town 'Pickers' turn assassins. Who would have thought of this as a story concept? Dex's family, his wife and son, are killed in a freak accident. Or was it? At the funeral, a strange man approached Dex telling him that the deaths weren't an accident, but buried in his own grief he ignores him and moves on.
While he and his partner John are doing an arranged pick, the farm owner is brutally killed by an old man with a beard. These killings keep up and they are always when Dex and John are around. Dex meets a distraught woman in his local tavern and they seem to connect. Samantha has had several family members murdered and can't figure out why. Samantha asks Dex where she can hire a hit man to take out this bearded killer. So, Dex and John have new jobs, as the town's assassins.
I can't say that I didn't enjoy the book. It was interesting, in a disturbing way. Lots of thrilling and turn page moments but I had a hard time with some of it. I've lived in back woods communities and I know the mentality. I could totally see a couple of guys sitting around drinking and making plans to kill the killers, but to actually execute it? And what is with John and his disappearing barrel? A little too creepy and not very realistic. But still creepy in an, I got to see where this goes way.
If you're into good ole boys drinking, planning and chasing the bad guys, this is the book for you.

[Jacqueline Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

warning…when starting this book make sure you don’t have anywhere you need to be or anything you need to do because you won’t want to stop reading until you’ve finished it all. I don’t know why I was so pulled into this book because it certainly isn’t my normal reading fare at all, but I was in the mood for something a little different, and something just intrigued me with Dexter, his tragic loss and his special friendship with John… also because of how clever and unique it is to have a MC who deals with antiques! That is a hobby as mine as well so I liked getting a glimpse in that world alongside one filled with the darker side of life – as in the worst! “Hired Gun” starts off with a heart-wrenching beginning and just keeps going through some crazy, exciting developments that I admit stretch the limits of credulity at times, but is still all in good fun. The characters of Dexter, John, Samantha, [and the others] were likable and believable even when acting in very unbelievable ways, and I think what I liked the most about this book was just the overall feel the author managed to create where it felt like we are really a part of the book, inside Dexter’s mind -this is written from his first-person pov- and feeling what he’s feeling, yet we are at a safe distance from the actual danger unlike him. Vicarious cheap thrills, if you will. It’s fun to be the ‘good’ anti-hero… who hasn’t wanted to exact revenge at one point on their life? 3.5 stars

[Ellen Pennino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read some of the reviews on Amazon before reading this book, and I have to say that I don’t think it is as bad as some of the reviews seem to suggest. This isn’t some serious, dramatic tome steeped in the gritty hardline reality of law, justice, and life… it has more sass and a rebellious attitude that makes these characters Dexter and Jon so appealing. They aren’t these perfect role models, and the book doesn’t try to act like something its not. After all he has gone through and is experiencing emotionally, mentally, and financially, it’s no big surprise that Dex self-medicates with booze and weed. This might be a stretch, but if someone wants to watch a show like “ER” or “Grey’s Anatomy”, but watches “Scrubs” – they may think its not a good show because it isn’t what they were expecting. That doesn’t mean it’s not a good show! This is more of a dark humor, noir-ish, pocket-mystery occasional slapstick sort of feel, but with intriguing storyline. I thought the storytelling was good (does need a good editor) and it kept my attention. Even if it is part of a series we are not left hanging, fortunately! I finished in the course of a few evenings and was genuinely surprised at a few things that happened. Entertaining and unpredictable, and not afraid to take chances by having people behave differently than the typical clichés of the genre and I liked that.

[Danielle Hudson · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Hired Gun” seems to have something of everything: heartbreak and tragedy, friendship, family bonds, crime, action, mystery, thriller and lots of ‘wtf’ moments right up to the end. It was an easy read that held on to my attention – despite some structure/editing weaknesses with punctuation and tightness. It will not be for everyone, but I thought it was a good book to just to get lost in and just enjoy the wild ride. Some parts were pretty uncomfortable, but nothing too graphic. Sometimes I thought some conversations felt too simple and almost artificial… lacking a genuine emotional depth, and the final climax and resolution seemed very rushed - almost glossed over. But I do think that readers who enjoy snarky, entertaining crime thrillers and flawed, morally questionable characters as leads won’t be too bothered by the book’s technical weak spots, and instead will just enjoy the rollercoaster ride and see where it takes them. I would be interested in reading more in this series. Recommend for ages 18+.