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Tuesday, February 19, 2013

The Fifth Assassin

Caution!  Don't read Brad Meltzer's latest thriller The Fifth Assassin (#268) unless you've already read the first book in this series The Inner Circle (See my post of 4/13/11.).  Otherwise, you'll only be frustrated by the constant references to things, people and events in that book, and you'll miss half of what is going on here.

This time, someone is imitating the assassinations of the four Presidents of the United States killed in office.  The difference is that each of the first four victims are pastors,  but it's apparent that his or her ultimate target will be the sitting president,  Orson Wallace unless they can figure out when and where the assassin will strike next.  Beecher White, Archivist of the United States, is once again drawn into the plot with his mentor, Tot.  Given his past history with President Wallace, is this accidental, or is it deliberate?  The players involved make Beecher think that the plot's roots might be buried somewhere in his own past.  Will the Culper Ring, sworn to protect the presidency, have enough manpower and  resources to prevail against an unknown enemy whose motives are unclear?

If you have read The Inner Circle, you'll find The Fifth Assassin just as exciting.  I burned the midnight oil finishing this one because I couldn't bear to wait until morning to find out what would happen and who was responsible.  I did NOT see it coming!  But be forewarned.  Just like The Inner Circle, Mr. Meltzer intentionally leaves some threads dangling tantalizingly at the end.  There will be more...(Or should I say, there'd better be more!)

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