David Slaton #1

The Perfect Assassin

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A young woman sailing solo across the Atlantic makes an incredible discovery. In the open ocean is a man narrowly clinging to life. But David Slaton is more than he appears. He is a Kidon, an Israeli assassin who soon hijacks her boat with a new destination in mind - England. There the two are targeted by a secretive and lethal organization. Christine Palmer finds herself forced into a tenuous partnership with a killer, and the two become pawns in a high-stakes struggle for power in the Middle East.

The key is a mysterious ship and its deadly cargo that have disappeared without a trace. Or have they? The Perfect Assassin opens the world of the Kidon. He evades Scotland Yard and a traitorous cell high in his own government. Soon, however, the tables turn. With calm precision Slaton hunts down the one man who would drive the world to monumental disaster.

360 pages, Hardcover

First published April 28,2004

Series
Literary awards

This edition

Format
360 pages, Hardcover
Published
April 28, 2006 by Oceanview Publishing
ISBN
9781933515014
ASIN
1933515015
Language
English

About the author

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Community Reviews

Rating(4.1 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
31(31%)
4 stars
45(45%)
3 stars
24(24%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
100 reviews All reviews
July 15,2025
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Ah, those despicable Israeli undercover agents! They are colliding with Hamas agents and creating troubles for an innocent sailing person. This person rescues a man in the frigid waters of the Atlantic near Gibraltar. It turns out that the Israelis were transporting atomic bombs, and traitors sank the ship. All on board perished except for the one man who was picked up by a doctor sailing her boat. The man is an Israeli agent, and he forces her to take him to England. There, he cleverly eludes both the British authorities and the Palestinians who are out to kill him. The novel initially holds the reader's interest, but then the story becomes dragged out as the Israeli agent keeps avoiding termination by various people from both sides. There is a brief scene of action, and one must be quick to determine if the sailboat intruder is lying or if the sailing doctor needs another boyfriend. It's strange how the bombs never detonate in those pleasant little towns where unsuspecting people go about their daily lives.

July 15,2025
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I truly enjoyed reading this book.

The exploration of the complex relationships among the personnel within Mossad and the Government was fascinating. It made me wonder how they function and interact in real life.

The storyline about a possible dirty bomb from a country undergoing a leadership change added a sense of urgency and realism. In today's global political climate, such a scenario is not far-fetched.

Interestingly, 60 Minutes recently aired a program on this very subject, highlighting the efforts to reduce the inventory of radioactive material provided by the US to other countries under President Eisenhower's policy.

The developing relationship between the main character and the female doctor who rescued him was beautifully portrayed. It added an element of romance and humanity to the story.

Moreover, the details leading up to the main character's transformation into the perfect assassin were captivating. It made me question the nature of morality and the lengths one might go to in the name of duty or survival.

Overall, this book was a thrilling and thought-provoking read that kept me engaged from start to finish.
July 15,2025
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Okay - sums this one up for me.

The character is interesting. However, having come across numerous good reviews and witnessed other authors lauding this book as a fine example of the assassin genre, I was rather disappointed.

You can peruse the plot outline in the book summary. So, all I will state is that if you desire a top-notch Mossad-based assassin thriller, you need not look any further than Daniel Silva and the Gabriel Allon series. It is far superior to this initial offering by David Slaton.

The Gabriel Allon series offers a more engaging and intricate plot, with well-developed characters and a greater sense of authenticity.

David Slaton's book, while having some redeeming qualities, fails to live up to the expectations set by the rave reviews and the praise from other authors.

Perhaps with subsequent installments, he will be able to improve and create a more captivating and thrilling assassin series.
July 15,2025
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Excellent whodunit!



In this fast-paced novel, author Larsen masterfully portrays David Slaton by meticulously fleshing out each principal character. The story also introduces us to an oceangoing solo skipper who comes to the aid of a man perilously hanging on to a cooler in the middle of the ocean. We are privy to the world of a most personal yet coldly efficient assassin.



The narrative takes us on a thrilling journey across multiple locations, including South Africa, the mid-Atlantic, Libya, Israel, England, and Austria. We get to read about the diverse landscapes, cultures, and political climates of these places, which adds depth and authenticity to the story.



In the end, Larsen weaves a breathtaking ending that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat until the very last page. Well done, Mr. Larsen! You truly deserve my 5-star rating for this outstanding work of fiction.
July 15,2025
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This is the first book in the David Slaton military/espionage series.

I made a rather unfortunate mistake of starting with the 8th book in the series. However, it had a silver lining. It actually piqued my interest and encouraged me to seek out the rest of the series.

Nonetheless, it did have a drawback. It contained character and relationship spoilers for the beginning of the series.

Despite that, the book is truly remarkable. The characters are great, each with their own unique personalities and traits. The plot is well paced, never dragging or becoming dull.

Moreover, there are enough twists and turns to keep me on the edge of my seat and reading almost straight through.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves military/espionage thrillers. It is a must-read for fans of the genre.

July 15,2025
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Wow! What an incredibly engaging and fast-paced thriller this is! I found myself completely unable to put this book "down" and ended up reading it in one sitting. It is thoroughly engaging and truly thought-provoking. Just imagine, you, an ordinary John Q. Public, suddenly getting sucked into an international spy game where they are out to kill you and there is only one person standing between you and a horde of foreign adversaries. Could such a thing really happen? Realistically speaking, it is possible. Hopefully, it never does. But that is precisely what makes this book so edge-of-your-seat gripping. The very realization that this could theoretically occur.
July 15,2025
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84-2021. Our hero, David Slaton, is an extremely capable assassin. He discovers a sinister plot that aims to destabilize the entire world. Without hesitation, he decides to take matters into his own hands and fix this pressing problem.

As he embarks on his mission, mayhem quickly ensues. The situation becomes increasingly chaotic as various forces are set in motion. However, David Slaton is not one to back down easily. He uses his skills and wits to outmaneuver his opponents and bring justice to those responsible for the plot.

The story unfolds in a manner similar to "Day Of The Jackal", as we follow both the assassin and his pursuers in their wild chase towards the conclusion. It's truly good stuff. I've already read books 2 and 3, and it was a great pleasure to finally get to the origin story in this one. I'm looking forward to visiting with Mr Slaton again in the future and seeing what other adventures await him.
July 15,2025
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The Perfect Assassin was truly my longest read this year. It took me a whopping 18 days to complete!

Generally speaking, when I spend that much time on a book, it often implies that the book failed to maintain my interest. However, with this particular one, there was something that continuously compelled me to keep going.

And I'm extremely glad that I persevered and finished it. Despite having a (slightly slower) pace at times, it is indeed a remarkable thriller. The story builds up magnificently towards a thrilling climax. It doesn't rely on excessive heroics but rather on excellent story-telling. The author has managed to create a captivating narrative that keeps the readers on the edge of their seats throughout. It's a book that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good mystery or thriller.
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