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Assassin's Manuscript
When former CIA assassin Adam Hunter’s last hit goes awry, he attempts to leave behind his world of espionage and murder by embarking on a career in ministry. But soon, he is pulled back in to crack a code hidden in an ancient manuscript in order to foil a terrorist plot. In the meantime, Renie Ellis, a lawyer in the small town he’s moved to gets caught up in his dilemma and falls in love with him, not realizing he killed her fiancé by accident. What will she do when she finds out who Adam really is? The heist of a famous Codex from the British Museum, Papal intrigue in the Vatican, both Sicilian and Russian Mafia, and a US President who knows more than she admits all play key roles in a story that keeps the reader guessing until the end, a conclusion that no one sees coming. From Rome to Jerusalem, from Egypt’s Mt. Sinai to Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains, the characters scramble for their lives, racing the clock to prevent an international disaster.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 21, 2022
7 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 14, 2024
Carl grounds his debut thriller in Tennessee and ties it to international settings and characters from London to Rome to the Middle East. His extensive real-world experience in professions involving religion, history, and ancient languages serve the reader well as Carl brings exceptional insight to the locations and plot. Nor does he hesitate to take on big global conflicts. These include an extraordinary final action scene.
Readers who like novels by Dan Brown and the Kyle Mills/Vince Flynn thrillers will especially enjoy Assassin's Manuscript.
Highly recommended.
Readers who like novels by Dan Brown and the Kyle Mills/Vince Flynn thrillers will especially enjoy Assassin's Manuscript.
Highly recommended.
February 26, 2023
I enjoyed this novel not only for the intriguing plot, but also for the local flavor at every turn and the frequent excursions to notable locations around the world. Clearly well researched from theological, historical, and cultural perspectives, the author also developed characters with depth, and I cared about their individual stories.
March 23, 2024
A Complex Tapestry
Assassin’s Manuscript is analogous to a fine, handwoven rug. Author William J. Carl pulls his first wool thread into this tapestry of Assassin’s Manuscript in Cairo, Egypt. Here he weaves a dark beginning in the heist of a famous Codex with hand-tied hints of coming destinations that will be woven into this colorful plot: St. Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai and the British Museum.
Turning the page on this chapter, we have our first corner of this magic carpet for readers to ride from Cairo to the next destination. The rug is further woven from one destination to another: London, Tennessee, Washington, D.C., Sicily, Rome, Sinai, Moscow, Toronto, and Berlin. With each setting adding its own colorful, culture and cast of characters to the tapestry. Obviously only an author who has thoroughly researched on site all the settings could develop the authentic details spun throughout the book, as Carl did. I understand because I have traveled to most of them myself.
Settings are time and place, a backdrop for the people in the story. And Carl’s characters are many, from evil, “The Animal” to good, The Pope. The main character, Adam the assassin, is juxta-positioned as the hero. He never kills anyone from the time he is introduced in Tennessee. As a Southern minister his killing days are behind him. All he wants is peace, but Adam’s past life won’t let go of his future. Meanwhile his lonely heart longs for healing.
I highly recommend this love story interwoven into a thriller, with phenomenal flashbacks. I expect it will be made into a movie. And the ending lends itself to a sequel. The book is also an audiobook with the author's multitalented son, David Carl, narrating. Perfect for those who have no time for reading or want to revisit the novel without rereading.
Assassin’s Manuscript is analogous to a fine, handwoven rug. Author William J. Carl pulls his first wool thread into this tapestry of Assassin’s Manuscript in Cairo, Egypt. Here he weaves a dark beginning in the heist of a famous Codex with hand-tied hints of coming destinations that will be woven into this colorful plot: St. Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai and the British Museum.
Turning the page on this chapter, we have our first corner of this magic carpet for readers to ride from Cairo to the next destination. The rug is further woven from one destination to another: London, Tennessee, Washington, D.C., Sicily, Rome, Sinai, Moscow, Toronto, and Berlin. With each setting adding its own colorful, culture and cast of characters to the tapestry. Obviously only an author who has thoroughly researched on site all the settings could develop the authentic details spun throughout the book, as Carl did. I understand because I have traveled to most of them myself.
Settings are time and place, a backdrop for the people in the story. And Carl’s characters are many, from evil, “The Animal” to good, The Pope. The main character, Adam the assassin, is juxta-positioned as the hero. He never kills anyone from the time he is introduced in Tennessee. As a Southern minister his killing days are behind him. All he wants is peace, but Adam’s past life won’t let go of his future. Meanwhile his lonely heart longs for healing.
I highly recommend this love story interwoven into a thriller, with phenomenal flashbacks. I expect it will be made into a movie. And the ending lends itself to a sequel. The book is also an audiobook with the author's multitalented son, David Carl, narrating. Perfect for those who have no time for reading or want to revisit the novel without rereading.
June 7, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fast paced thriller that will keep you guessing to the very end.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 15, 2022
Years ago when I had more time to read uninterruptedly and through the night, I read all of Robert Ludlum’s books in order. I savored the novels of Ken Follett, Patterson, Clancy, and Baldacci to name a few. William Carl brings back that feeling of intrigue and suspense with his debut fiction novel, Assassin’s Manuscript. Fast moving, with more twists and turns than the switchbacks in the Smokey Mountains that provide one of the locations, this book takes you to different continents and locations at a dizzying speed. Carl clearly did his research on locations. There is a plethora of detail lending authenticity to the various scenes.
A true wordsmith, Carl’s use of descriptive similes and metaphors and rich vocabulary paint vivid pictures that invite the reader in.
One word of caution - there are a lot of characters, locations, and activity to keep track of. There is a list of characters at the back of the book, but if you need to take reading breaks, you might want to highlight characters and events as you encounter them in case you need to go back and refresh. Reading on a kindle would be helpful here.
It would be easy to see this made into a movie and I look forward to Carl’s next novel, maybe a sequel to this one with the characters he didn’t kill off. I just hope it doesn’t take another 30 years
Fast paced thriller that will keep you guessing to the very end.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 15, 2022
Years ago when I had more time to read uninterruptedly and through the night, I read all of Robert Ludlum’s books in order. I savored the novels of Ken Follett, Patterson, Clancy, and Baldacci to name a few. William Carl brings back that feeling of intrigue and suspense with his debut fiction novel, Assassin’s Manuscript. Fast moving, with more twists and turns than the switchbacks in the Smokey Mountains that provide one of the locations, this book takes you to different continents and locations at a dizzying speed. Carl clearly did his research on locations. There is a plethora of detail lending authenticity to the various scenes.
A true wordsmith, Carl’s use of descriptive similes and metaphors and rich vocabulary paint vivid pictures that invite the reader in.
One word of caution - there are a lot of characters, locations, and activity to keep track of. There is a list of characters at the back of the book, but if you need to take reading breaks, you might want to highlight characters and events as you encounter them in case you need to go back and refresh. Reading on a kindle would be helpful here.
It would be easy to see this made into a movie and I look forward to Carl’s next novel, maybe a sequel to this one with the characters he didn’t kill off. I just hope it doesn’t take another 30 years
June 10, 2023
A non-stop race around the world from Tennessee to the Vatican and everywhere in between! You can’t help root for the main characters as they scale mountains, dodge bullets and search around every corner for the historic stolen pages.
July 12, 2023
Entertaining and suspenseful plot and characters that will keep the book close at hand and on your mind. Well crafted and pithy imagery. The author’s meticulous research is evident throughout. You will enjoy this well written thriller.
October 29, 2022
Very fast paced and full of intrigue! Vast amounts of research must have gone into this book and it makes it all that much more fascinating to read.
March 23, 2026
This novel delivers a high-stakes thriller packed with action, secrets, and global intrigue. From the very beginning, Adam Hunter’s past as a CIA assassin creates tension, especially as he tries to leave that life behind but keeps getting pulled back in.
The story moves quickly across multiple locations, with twists involving coded manuscripts, political power, and organized crime. The mix of espionage and personal conflict keeps things engaging throughout.
It’s an entertaining, page-turning read for anyone who enjoys fast-paced thrillers with a blend of action and mystery.
The story moves quickly across multiple locations, with twists involving coded manuscripts, political power, and organized crime. The mix of espionage and personal conflict keeps things engaging throughout.
It’s an entertaining, page-turning read for anyone who enjoys fast-paced thrillers with a blend of action and mystery.
March 20, 2024
Several of the blurbs compare this to Dan Brown. 'Nuff said!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews