Assassin

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Summary: Blah, Blah, Blah..........ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz
Review: Again, this book was as thick as his former ones, but again, it was going nowhere but blah, blah, blah. Sigh...... I've tried very hard to finish it but---sigh---it's awfully thick. The only way to finish it is flipping thru quickly like watching cartoon character changing and moving if you could flip fast enough. This guy is strongly recommanded to retire ASAP in order to save some trees.

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Summary: Assassin...formula for success.
Review: As the situation in Russia deteriorates, a Stalin-esque figure emerges. The Tarantula, riding the tide of burgeoning popularity and corruption throughout the military looks to seize power and put the world back in the throes of Cold War. The plot is well laid, including the armored train that "can't" be destroyed by the military, who due to corruption, respond with a planned under powered attack that leads the "people" to believe that the Tarantula is their savior and cannot be stopped. Kirk McGarvey to the rescue!! Lovers of this character will love this book, those who fail to understand the undercurrents throughout Russian society will see only shortcomings. A must read.

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Summary: Not bad, but not his best work
Review: Assassin is a difficult book to get into, the hook is not as enticing as it could have been, so it took me several weeks of picking it up to take the hook. Once it got to the point and the action started I had trouble putting the book down. The introduction of McGarvey's daughter I though was an interesting touch and I enjoyed the rest of the book. I thought the end was a bit anticlimactic with the two villains not putting up the fight I probably expect from fictional villains. Over all not the worst read but not his best work.

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Summary: How not to write a techno-thriller
Review: Don't you hate being on the 20th page of a book when you realize you've been thinking about clipping your toenails for the last five minutes? This is one of those books. Its not as bad as the trash Tom Clancy has been shamelessly dishing out to an unsuspecting public for the last five years, but its not far off the mark. There are huge flaws in the plot. For example, the Russian Air Force currently has the capability of effortlessly obliterating an armoured train from 40,000 feet up and 50 miles away, yet, in this book, such a rail-slaved supertank is supposed to be unbeatable. The hero, I can't remember his name, was uninteresting and half-formed. Save your money and wait for this one to hit the bargain bins. Then get it for Christmas for someone you don't like.

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Summary: Excellent thriller
Review: From the ashes of the old Russian regime rises a new threat to democracy. His name is Yevgenni Anatolevich Tarankov, nicknamed the Tarantula, and he's poised to take the world's second most powerful country back into the dark ages. The CIA, however, is not about to let this happen without a fight. Enter Kirk McGarvey, an ex-CIA operative who is given the task of stopping the Tarantula any way he can. But when Tarankov is alerted to McGarvey's presence by the KGB, McGarvey becomes the hunted man

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Summary: one of the best thrillers of 1998
Review: Great book & a fast read. Hagberg is in top form. Exiting from start to finish. I just hop this is not the end of Kirk Mcgarvy. After all Branden Scoffield is nearing 60. & McGarvy is by far better. Great book. Thanks from one of your fans.

Rating:
Summary: A decent spy thriller
Review: Having thought about trying a Hagberg novel in the past, I decided to take a chance on Assassin and picked it up from the bargain-book table. While not a spectacular read, it was definitely worth the money. The story itself puts ex-CIA assassin Kirk McGarvey in a situation where he must contemplate coming out of retirement due to a rapid deterioration of the political landscape in Russia and the seemingly irreversible rise of an evil leader of Russia. Although the plot pushes the envelope of reality a bit, the story is nonetheless within the spectrum of believability. McGarvey portrays a cool, confident, cerebral agent, yet also displays emotion sufficient to indicate that more than ice water runs through his veins. I felt that the story moved along with a reasonable pace, with sufficient action and suspense. All-in-all, even though this was not in the ranks of the best spy novels that I've read, there clearly is enough here to be of interest, and enough to make my pick up another of Hagberg's books.

Rating:
Summary: A decent spy thriller
Review: Having thought about trying a Hagberg novel in the past, I decided to take a chance on Assassin and picked it up from the bargain-book table. While not a spectacular read, it was definitely worth the money. The story itself puts ex-CIA assassin Kirk McGarvey in a situation where he must contemplate coming out of retirement due to a rapid deterioration of the political landscape in Russia and the seemingly irreversible rise of an evil leader of Russia. Although the plot pushes the envelope of reality a bit, the story is nonetheless within the spectrum of believability. McGarvey portrays a cool, confident, cerebral agent, yet also displays emotion sufficient to indicate that more than ice water runs through his veins. I felt that the story moved along with a reasonable pace, with sufficient action and suspense. All-in-all, even though this was not in the ranks of the best spy novels that I've read, there clearly is enough here to be of interest, and enough to make my pick up another of Hagberg's books.

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Summary: Not exactly a page-turner
Review: I got this one for Christmas and read it on the plane ride home because it was only slightly more entertaining than the inflight magazine or the guy sitting next to me. Where to start? Two-dimensional characters, implausible plot (how hard is it really to destroy an armoured TRAIN?!!), outrageous coincidences, a hero I couldn't have cared less about, silly and misinformed integration of the Internet into the plot, the list goes on. Its unfortunate because I think the author was onto something good by writing about the dangers of another Stalin emerging from Russia's current crisis.

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Summary: When I grow up I want to be Kirk McGarvey!
Review: I have read almost all the books that Hagberg/Flannery has written, with the exception of two of the early ones written as Hagberg, which are not available even in used book stores. I find the author to be twisted and morose and truth be told, I love it! His cold war mentality suits me just fine. As Flannery, you really can't trust anyone. But as Hagberg, when he writes about Kirk McGarvey, you can trust the author to deliver a perfect, and dare I say, lovable protagonist. Kirk McGarvey (Along with Bob the Nailer for you Stephen Hunter fans), is one of the most unlikely heros you could find. Yet, you must root for and applaud the guy. Assassin brings Kirk McGarvey back after too long a wait. He's older and slower, but he's still got the right stuff. Mr. Hagberg, bring McGarvey back for another adventure. For all you readers who thrive on the "Techno" in techno-thriller, then by all means read Clancy, Coonts, Bond, et al. They are good reads too. But, if you just like to feel adventure in your gut, without testing your knowledge of the "gadgets" of war and spying, then Hagberg's your man!