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Max Thorne #3
Agent Assassin
Can an assassin have a conscience?
While hunting for the truth about his past, former Russian FSB agent Max Thorne has lost any sense of innocence or hope. But striving for redemption, he joins the Special Operations Team, an elite international assassins team so secret even top level FSB brass doesn’t know it exists and so deadly that few leave alive.
Reeling from inexcusable mistakes and now working with even darker forces, Max is confronted with insidious choices and inescapable scenarios. With no way out, will Max be able to suppress his conscience to execute his harrowing assignments? Or, will he fail, putting his family in peril and betraying his own?
Join Max as he faces the darkness that is the secret service the only way he knows how ... head on.
While hunting for the truth about his past, former Russian FSB agent Max Thorne has lost any sense of innocence or hope. But striving for redemption, he joins the Special Operations Team, an elite international assassins team so secret even top level FSB brass doesn’t know it exists and so deadly that few leave alive.
Reeling from inexcusable mistakes and now working with even darker forces, Max is confronted with insidious choices and inescapable scenarios. With no way out, will Max be able to suppress his conscience to execute his harrowing assignments? Or, will he fail, putting his family in peril and betraying his own?
Join Max as he faces the darkness that is the secret service the only way he knows how ... head on.
375 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 23, 2019
30 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Ethan Jones
110 books661 followersEthan Jones is an international bestselling author of over 50 assassin thriller and suspense novels. His books have sold over two hundred thousand copies in over seventy countries. Ethan has lived in four continents. He has worked for the American Embassy and does mission work around the globe. He’s a lawyer by trade.
His goal is to provide clean, clever and white-knuckled entertainment for his valued readers. Free of sex, language, or excessive violence, but full of fast-paced, action-packed suspense with unsuspecting twists and turns.
When he’s not writing or researching, you can find Ethan helping, hiking, hanging out with family/friends, or traveling the world.
Check out Ethan's website ethanjonesbooks.com to learn more and to sign up to Ethan's Exclusives which includes updates, deals, and a free starter pack.
Amazon: http://bit.ly/Ethan-Jones
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His goal is to provide clean, clever and white-knuckled entertainment for his valued readers. Free of sex, language, or excessive violence, but full of fast-paced, action-packed suspense with unsuspecting twists and turns.
When he’s not writing or researching, you can find Ethan helping, hiking, hanging out with family/friends, or traveling the world.
Check out Ethan's website ethanjonesbooks.com to learn more and to sign up to Ethan's Exclusives which includes updates, deals, and a free starter pack.
Amazon: http://bit.ly/Ethan-Jones
Kobo: http://bit.ly/Ethan-Jones-Kobo
Apple Books: http://bit.ly/Ethan-Jones-Apple
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/Ethan-Jones-BN
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/Ethan-Jones-GooglePlay
Add me as a Friend so you can join my Events, Giveaways, and much more...
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 10, 2019
“You’re not the brain of these operations; you’re the muscle.”
“Si vis pacem, para bellum…”
“ If you want peace, prepare for war.”
Another intense and exciting thriller! Max is overwhelmed by the circumstances involved in this first team leader mission, a desperate hide and seek game, with many parties involved. The author weaves a compelling tale of suspense, action, mystery, sadness, death, with edge of seat scenes, multiple jumps to foreign and exotic countries. Another daring and thrilling installment!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and my review is entirely voluntary.
“Si vis pacem, para bellum…”
“ If you want peace, prepare for war.”
Another intense and exciting thriller! Max is overwhelmed by the circumstances involved in this first team leader mission, a desperate hide and seek game, with many parties involved. The author weaves a compelling tale of suspense, action, mystery, sadness, death, with edge of seat scenes, multiple jumps to foreign and exotic countries. Another daring and thrilling installment!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and my review is entirely voluntary.
August 29, 2019
Agent Assassin - a review by Rosemary Kenny
Talk about what you see (or read in this case) is what you get! With its full sub-title, (take a deep breath first), A Max Thorne Spy Thriller: An Assassination Military Suspense Action Adventure Thriller series- thankfully shortened to Max Thorne - Agent Assassin is Book 3 in this great new franchise by Master of Mystery, Action & Suspense Ethan Jones, that's sure to be another 5-star,
book chart-topping winner.
Continuing the backstory as well as perilous ongoing existence of former FSB 'super-soldier' in Russia
now covert Special Ops Team elite assassin, amnesiac (after lab-enforced brainwashing) killer with morals, Max Thorne, as he's become has jumped out of one dangerous, out-of-his-control 'frying-pan' situation into an even more treacherous, deadly and secretive 'fire' of political intrigue that costs him more of his self-respect with every new mission - and could literally cost him his life if he fails or tries to walk away.
Can Max bear it and bite his tongue, while steeling himself to unwilling complicity in the dreadful acts he must undertake?
What further risks could he face if he snaps and tries to walk away from his evil 'paymasters'?
Will he ever find out the truth of what happened to wipe away his former true self in the FSB labs?
To find out where and how Max fails or triumphs against the seemingly insurmountable odds ranged against his sanity and personal freedom you'll have to pull on those thermal overalls, your face protector and heat-resistant gauntlets and venture into the volcanic world of espionage - and venture to your nearest bookstore to buy explosive new thriller Agent Assassin by Ethan Jones - it'll blow your mind!!
Talk about what you see (or read in this case) is what you get! With its full sub-title, (take a deep breath first), A Max Thorne Spy Thriller: An Assassination Military Suspense Action Adventure Thriller series- thankfully shortened to Max Thorne - Agent Assassin is Book 3 in this great new franchise by Master of Mystery, Action & Suspense Ethan Jones, that's sure to be another 5-star,
book chart-topping winner.
Continuing the backstory as well as perilous ongoing existence of former FSB 'super-soldier' in Russia
now covert Special Ops Team elite assassin, amnesiac (after lab-enforced brainwashing) killer with morals, Max Thorne, as he's become has jumped out of one dangerous, out-of-his-control 'frying-pan' situation into an even more treacherous, deadly and secretive 'fire' of political intrigue that costs him more of his self-respect with every new mission - and could literally cost him his life if he fails or tries to walk away.
Can Max bear it and bite his tongue, while steeling himself to unwilling complicity in the dreadful acts he must undertake?
What further risks could he face if he snaps and tries to walk away from his evil 'paymasters'?
Will he ever find out the truth of what happened to wipe away his former true self in the FSB labs?
To find out where and how Max fails or triumphs against the seemingly insurmountable odds ranged against his sanity and personal freedom you'll have to pull on those thermal overalls, your face protector and heat-resistant gauntlets and venture into the volcanic world of espionage - and venture to your nearest bookstore to buy explosive new thriller Agent Assassin by Ethan Jones - it'll blow your mind!!
October 17, 2019
Agent Assassin
Max Thorne #3
By Ethan Jones
Max Thorne's life has taken some unexpected turns in the recent past - all of which started with a transport assignment gone wrong (Eighteen Minutes). Then he is sent to recover a gone-rogue Russian agent who just so happens to be the father he never knew (Agent Recruit) and yet another mission goes wrong. When he, his father, and his girlfriend get betrayed and end up on the wrong side of a persistent agent of British Intelligence, Max makes a rash decision that leads to a new job (Agent Rising). Are you starting to see a pattern here?
Well, now Max is serving in his new role as an operative of SOT (Special Operations Team) an elite international team of assassins picked from various intelligence agencies from around the world. And the main task of this secret group - make problems go away when all other avenues are exhausted - yes our new favorite Russian agent is now part of an international assassination team - a team with no ties to any government so deniability by all is possible. Have a world leader playing all sides of a situation no problem - they'll be the unfortunate victim of an accident.
But Max has a problem with his new role - what about the innocent associate or bystander? With the understanding that there are to be no witnesses how do you live with the collateral damages? This is something he needs to figure out and fast if he plans on making it within the SOT.
Agent Assassin is an intense reading experience as Max and his team move in on their newest target, a target who may or may not be what he seems to be. With a limited window of opportunity to remove a person who could upset the balance of power in the world, Max needs to decide if he will follow his orders without question or let a potential enemy live to see another day. What follows will leave you wondering just how far someone will go to get the job done and what the final outcome will be.
If you are a fan of clean-reading spy suspense you've found it in this winner from Ethan Jones. Action and adventure all from the comfort of your favorite reading corner what more could you want.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Max Thorne #3
By Ethan Jones
Max Thorne's life has taken some unexpected turns in the recent past - all of which started with a transport assignment gone wrong (Eighteen Minutes). Then he is sent to recover a gone-rogue Russian agent who just so happens to be the father he never knew (Agent Recruit) and yet another mission goes wrong. When he, his father, and his girlfriend get betrayed and end up on the wrong side of a persistent agent of British Intelligence, Max makes a rash decision that leads to a new job (Agent Rising). Are you starting to see a pattern here?
Well, now Max is serving in his new role as an operative of SOT (Special Operations Team) an elite international team of assassins picked from various intelligence agencies from around the world. And the main task of this secret group - make problems go away when all other avenues are exhausted - yes our new favorite Russian agent is now part of an international assassination team - a team with no ties to any government so deniability by all is possible. Have a world leader playing all sides of a situation no problem - they'll be the unfortunate victim of an accident.
But Max has a problem with his new role - what about the innocent associate or bystander? With the understanding that there are to be no witnesses how do you live with the collateral damages? This is something he needs to figure out and fast if he plans on making it within the SOT.
Agent Assassin is an intense reading experience as Max and his team move in on their newest target, a target who may or may not be what he seems to be. With a limited window of opportunity to remove a person who could upset the balance of power in the world, Max needs to decide if he will follow his orders without question or let a potential enemy live to see another day. What follows will leave you wondering just how far someone will go to get the job done and what the final outcome will be.
If you are a fan of clean-reading spy suspense you've found it in this winner from Ethan Jones. Action and adventure all from the comfort of your favorite reading corner what more could you want.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
October 4, 2019
I just finished this story and I read it right through in an entire day. This story begins with Max as a member of a squad assigned to perform an assassination. Max is part of the 2nd group who is not part of the team that will do the killing. An unexpected person was with the target and once the target was killed, she started firing at the portion of the team that did the killing. Max followed her and he hesitated in killing this person who was a witness. This is a trait that his team leader, after the killing of the witness, thought that might cause all of Max's team mates to be killed.
Max was given an assignment as the lead for another assassination of an Iranian nuclear engineer. This individual was to attend a conference in Singapore and Max and his team arrived early to scope out the area. During this preliminary activity, Max found out that this person was an asset of the Saudi Intellegence organization and he was asked not to kill the Iranian or he would face dire consequences. Max had his team continue with the mission as planned. After the completion of the killing, max was abducted and taken to Saudi Arabia to be held accountable for his failure to heed the Saudi group's warning.
After Max's team discovered he was missing, his organization (SOT) prepared for a rescue mission. If you want to find out how it was carried out, then I recommend highly that you read this book.
Max was given an assignment as the lead for another assassination of an Iranian nuclear engineer. This individual was to attend a conference in Singapore and Max and his team arrived early to scope out the area. During this preliminary activity, Max found out that this person was an asset of the Saudi Intellegence organization and he was asked not to kill the Iranian or he would face dire consequences. Max had his team continue with the mission as planned. After the completion of the killing, max was abducted and taken to Saudi Arabia to be held accountable for his failure to heed the Saudi group's warning.
After Max's team discovered he was missing, his organization (SOT) prepared for a rescue mission. If you want to find out how it was carried out, then I recommend highly that you read this book.
October 23, 2019
I love this series with Ava and Max together. Lots of action. Ohhhh, the Lamborghini...
November 12, 2020
I‘ve read several of Ethan Jones’ Justin Hall novels, as well as the previous books in this series, and thoroughly enjoyed them. When he offered an ARC of this book, I jumped at the opportunity to get an early read. This review is voluntary and is my honest opinion. As soon as the pre-order was open, I purchased a copy to help support this outstanding author.
The book is well-written; the story pulls you in at once and keeps you engaged in a very fast-paced adventure. There are so many twists and turns, the reader cannot guess who are friends or foes. Mr. Jones continues to prove that a writer can produce a great book using clean language, no sex scenes, and without overly graphic descriptions of blood and guts. As the series progresses, Max, who now is chosen to lead a team, continues to make mistakes through over-eagerness, from which he’s learning valuable lessons and gaining confidence. I highly recommend this book and will certainly read more books in this series.
The book is well-written; the story pulls you in at once and keeps you engaged in a very fast-paced adventure. There are so many twists and turns, the reader cannot guess who are friends or foes. Mr. Jones continues to prove that a writer can produce a great book using clean language, no sex scenes, and without overly graphic descriptions of blood and guts. As the series progresses, Max, who now is chosen to lead a team, continues to make mistakes through over-eagerness, from which he’s learning valuable lessons and gaining confidence. I highly recommend this book and will certainly read more books in this series.
November 15, 2020
Excellent read. Suspenseful, intriguing and fun to follow. Another great volume from Ethan Jones.
April 28, 2025
Max Thorne is given his first lead assignment for the SOT (Special Operations Team). He and his three team members are to carry out an assassination. But with all that can go wrong, it may not be easy. Action packed and fast paced, the team not only has their assignment to do, but also get away alive. Can all be accomplished...
October 7, 2019
Ethan Jones reputation for writing excellent action packed thrillers is safe with this latest instalment in the Max Thorne series. This story has Jones’ trademark action scenes and the story of double dealing in the world of espionage. making it surely a hit with fans of spy thrillers. For those new to this character, and series, you can read this one alone as it works perfectly well as a stand alone, something I’m sure the author works hard to achieve. However, it is part of a series and as such I enjoyed it more having read the previous stories. The story of this book is wrapped up nicely by the end but there’s still hints as to what might happen next, not cliffhangers more like tidbits that there’s more to come. If you like spy thrillers packed with action and suspense then you can’t go wrong with this book. Ethan Jones writes with a style that gives the impression that he could easily write a book a day. Of course, that can’t be the case but it is a compliment to the author. I particularly like His inclusion of more incidental details that add life and depth to the story. This easy read style combined with an engrossing tale meant this one flew by for me like a short sharp hit of action and excitement. Spy thriller fans I can't recommend this highly enough, great stuff.
October 10, 2019
If you don’t know the best way to plan and assasinate a target, then get ready, because Max Thorne in Agent Assassin by great Author Ethan Jones, gets main character Max Thorne thoroughly trained by experts,as he embarks on his assignment with no questions to be asked and who knew..OOPS..NO SPOILERS, you MUST read this MUST READ BOOK and discover a world that mere mortals like this reader never enter. There are rules to the “game” as Max heads out to execute (pun intended) his new orders with a plan he created...and at that point the GAME IS AFOOT!! Action, mystery, intrigue, surprises, twists and turns throughout Agent Assassin by Author Ethan Jones who really does a great job delivering a nicely moving action book!! LOVED the book!! Be sure to not miss this one folks. I HIGHLY recommend Agent Assassin for a wonderful read!! ENJOY!!!
October 24, 2019
3rd Max Thorne and just gets better, starts off with Max and team out to assassinate a person and Max nearly makes a cock up and it's when you think that he has got a heart and is he in the right job, because if you are to eliminate someone you need to do a clean kill no witnesses no collateral damage if it can be helped, and although his life has been turned around very quickly he met his father he didn't know and fell for Ava, and it's her closeness and chats that he realizes that he has a job to do no questions asked, and starts to buckle down. This assignment is his first as a team leader and yes it gets complicated they think they have the intel but more just keeps springing up do they abort or do they carry on, great read, plenty of action, and a thrill a minute and just cause Max is Russian it's more the league of nations, am ready for the next one.
October 1, 2019
Max is finding his feet as an operative outside Russia. He is also settling into his relationship with Eva. In the begining of the book he is finding it difficult to follow orders because he worries about harming innocent people. He wants very much to succeed in his career and everything is a learning curve. If he makes mistakes he could get his colleagues killed so he must make the right decisions. This book is very much about him learning to take the rains and being able to make the tough choices. I think he is doing really well except for a few minor blips. The story was very exciting with a couple of extremely intense scenes I really enjoyed. The series continues to go from strength to strength and I am really impressed with it.
October 24, 2019
Agent Assassin takes off where Agent Recruit left us as we see Max growing and honing his skills as a Special Operations Team (SOT) as an Elite International Team do Assassins.
As Max is given his first assignment as lead agent, we see part of the planning stages and most of the things that can go wrong.
This book is fast paced, action packed, full of unexpected twists and turns, very well researched and ultimately a very well written book. I loved that Max’s character feels very real and not perfect.
While it isn’t necessary to read 18 Minutes, Agent Rising or Agent Recruit, I do recommend it you do so to get a complete picture of the events leading to his first assignment as lead
Another excellent book by Mr Ethan Jones and a must read
As Max is given his first assignment as lead agent, we see part of the planning stages and most of the things that can go wrong.
This book is fast paced, action packed, full of unexpected twists and turns, very well researched and ultimately a very well written book. I loved that Max’s character feels very real and not perfect.
While it isn’t necessary to read 18 Minutes, Agent Rising or Agent Recruit, I do recommend it you do so to get a complete picture of the events leading to his first assignment as lead
Another excellent book by Mr Ethan Jones and a must read
October 24, 2019
A globe-trotting thrill ride with spies everywhere!
This book focuses on Max’s new job at SOT. Things start out on the shaky side but he is given his first opportunity to act as Team Leader. But things are much more complicated than his superiors realized and Max and his team run into all kinds of trouble unprepared. There is plenty of action, twists and turns. And, of course, some amazing chase scenes as Max drives more vehicles I’ve never heard of. Fortunately everything from locations, to vehicles, to plans, to characters are well described. Also a secondary plot has MI5 Agent McIntyre and a partner from SIS on Max’s trail. There are some surprises in store for a few characters, and readers, by the end of the book.
This book focuses on Max’s new job at SOT. Things start out on the shaky side but he is given his first opportunity to act as Team Leader. But things are much more complicated than his superiors realized and Max and his team run into all kinds of trouble unprepared. There is plenty of action, twists and turns. And, of course, some amazing chase scenes as Max drives more vehicles I’ve never heard of. Fortunately everything from locations, to vehicles, to plans, to characters are well described. Also a secondary plot has MI5 Agent McIntyre and a partner from SIS on Max’s trail. There are some surprises in store for a few characters, and readers, by the end of the book.
December 26, 2019
Agent Assassin
I absolutely love this high action and intrigue series by Ethan Jones. Agent Assassin is his best yet. Familiar well defined characters galore, along with a host of new ones. The storyline weaves in and out of several locations and subplots that in the end tie neatly together. From Singapore, to Russia, to Africa and the Mideast, the action is nonstop. Not a single boring moment. While the book is frightful fiction, there is nothing in it that would make you believe that this isn't, or couldn't, be happening now. Once I started reading it was hard to put this novel down. A well written book that deserves a 5 star rating.
I absolutely love this high action and intrigue series by Ethan Jones. Agent Assassin is his best yet. Familiar well defined characters galore, along with a host of new ones. The storyline weaves in and out of several locations and subplots that in the end tie neatly together. From Singapore, to Russia, to Africa and the Mideast, the action is nonstop. Not a single boring moment. While the book is frightful fiction, there is nothing in it that would make you believe that this isn't, or couldn't, be happening now. Once I started reading it was hard to put this novel down. A well written book that deserves a 5 star rating.
October 23, 2019
Really enjoyed this book. Max is given an assignment and he is to assassin a man and make it look like an accident. The job is done and he was leaving the hotel when a car pulled over and then another one showed up and shooting began. Then two people took him and threw him into the trunk of the car. When he woke up he had no idea where he was. Lots of twists, turns and action in this book. Who is working with each other or against each other is the real question. This book keeps you on the edge of your set all the way through. This is a must read if you enjoy a book with lots of action that keeps you involved in the book
October 23, 2019
In book 3 Max is given his first assignment as a team leader. A very simple assignment they said. OK, so when is the life of an assassin simple?! There are lots of twists and turns. Just when you think you have figured out what is going on something happens and you go, “Say what?!” There is a lot of great character development. It is a hard book to put down. I cannot wait for the next installment to learn more about the characters and see what action is in store for Max next.
October 26, 2019
I’ve got only two words: “Mind Blown!” I didn’t have a clue where all the threads that were being tied together were going to take us, but I was desperate to see what kind of Gordian Knot we were going to end up with. Max is growing and maturing and becoming an even more complex character than the one we’ve already grown to know and love. I’m dying to know what happens next.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author.
October 31, 2019
Max Thorn Wins Again
This is another good one by Ethan Jones. Max is once again challenged by his task to assassinate a nuclear scientist who is selling nuclear secrets to the PLO while stringing the Saudi cSecret Service into believing he is working for them. Many twists and turns, beatings, shootings and switching sides comes to an unusual ending. Enjoy!
This is another good one by Ethan Jones. Max is once again challenged by his task to assassinate a nuclear scientist who is selling nuclear secrets to the PLO while stringing the Saudi cSecret Service into believing he is working for them. Many twists and turns, beatings, shootings and switching sides comes to an unusual ending. Enjoy!
November 4, 2019
WOW!
Another Ethan Jones action-packed, spy thriller. There are lots of characters in this unputdownable book and they all work together. I have greatly enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next Max Thorne spy thriller. I would certainly recommend it to anyone. Great story!
Another Ethan Jones action-packed, spy thriller. There are lots of characters in this unputdownable book and they all work together. I have greatly enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next Max Thorne spy thriller. I would certainly recommend it to anyone. Great story!
October 6, 2019
Non stop action and a complex plot with intriguing characters. Max moves into the shadowed area of international covert assignations with the full knowledge you plan for every eventuality you can with the realization that few missions go exactly as planned.
October 23, 2019
Excellent read! This latest addition to the Max Thorne series is even better than the last. If you enjoy fast-paced spy thrillers then this book is for you. And I appreciate that the author keeps it clean while still delivering a realistic story.
October 28, 2019
Agent Assassin Ethan Jones
Max Thorne works for SOT, the special operations team. A joint international group extremely covert. Their assassins. This novel is full of twists and turns, suspense, action. It simply has it all. An excellent read! Enjoyed immensely!
Max Thorne works for SOT, the special operations team. A joint international group extremely covert. Their assassins. This novel is full of twists and turns, suspense, action. It simply has it all. An excellent read! Enjoyed immensely!
November 2, 2019
Intriguing
Great cast of characters, all different countries looking at one person, all different agencies and all for a different reason. A real page Turner
Intriguing to figure out who is who and from where
Great cast of characters, all different countries looking at one person, all different agencies and all for a different reason. A real page Turner
Intriguing to figure out who is who and from where
January 31, 2020
Max Thorne is one of a covert multinational group that target those dangerous characters that normal justice is unable to touch. Unfortunately I was not all that enthused by this one, so will most likely look for others as I have a large stack of books to read.
October 18, 2019
Loved this book it was a great read in fact read in a day
October 23, 2019
Another excellent book from Ethan Jones. Full of action & adrenaline, page turner, well written, great characters. I really love it. Great job.
October 25, 2019
Another great story from Ethan that just keeps getting better and better. Highly recommended. Can't wait to read the next one.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews