Anatomy of an Assassin

Rating:
Summary: Dissection of Anatomy of and Assassin
Review: Promising new author, Phil Taken, has written a well paced book, that keeps your interest with a plot full of twists and turns.

I would not be surprised if many of the characters in the book were based upon real people with whom the author was familiar. This is because the characters are well developed and not sterotypical. A good example of this is the main character who, while manifesting very antisocial behaviour, posesses and lives by a well defined code of ethics. I found myself hoping that this character would, at some point, take a different path because of his clear potential as a human being.

I must admit that (i) when dealing with the childhood of some characters, their dialog seems a bit adult for their years and (ii) rather than foreshadowing, the author sometimes prematurely exposes circumstances instead of letting the reader discover them in the natural course of events. However, neither of these minor irritants detracted from my enjoyment of the book.

In summary, the destructive nature of anger, the redemptive value of love and an incredibly interesting twist of time and fate at the end of the book are the reasons why I would recommend that others read Anatomy of an Assassin.

Rating:
Summary: Through the Eyes of an Assassin
Review: So what is it that keeps us from the edge? Where is that line, and what would happen if we crossed it? Anatomy of an Assassin takes us -- perhaps only briefly -- where we might not otherwise go, and it explores the consequences of the journey with fantastic results.

There is no question that this book starts out slowly; the author takes about 50 pages to set the hook, but he doesn't let go once he does. Taken's exploration of Bobby's rage contrasts sharply with the moral code that guides his actions throughout, resulting in a cold, driving fixation on how Bobby will resolve this conflict. Taken's grip compels his readers to see the world from an assassin's eyes -- from both sides of the edge. It's a journey worth taking.