This book seemed to hold great promise based on the synopsis.

Nonetheless, after trudging through six chapters of tiresome and mediocre writing, I simply had to give up.

Christine Palmer, a doctor, is traveling across the Atlantic Ocean on a sailboat to take a break. She ends up rescuing a man, Mossad's top assassin David Slaton, who was drowning in the sea. David was on a mission for Mossad aboard the Polaris Venture, but the mission was compromised. He then forces Christine to take him to England, which she does despite her fears. The story is set up for David to figure out what happened on the Polaris Venture. It initially sounded good, but unfortunately...

The writing quality was extremely low. The phrasing and wording of the novel were awkward and did not flow naturally at all. For example, the sentence “it was the only thing that could fit so he had no problem commandeering it” is a prime example of poor word choice.

Christine, the woman introduced in the first chapter, was not even physically described until midway through chapter five. The only description given was that she had shoulder-length hair. How disappointingly vague. Larsen rambled on about the surroundings, yet he failed to tell readers what his characters looked like.

Larsen jumps from one person's perspective to another without any clear transition. David Slaton, the so-called “perfect assassin,” has absolutely no character development. He simply threatens Christine with stereotypical speech, and she is constantly afraid and wants to be rid of him. This concept seems more characteristic of a young adult novel. Seriously, why was he threatening her so much? If that was supposed to show how fierce and stupid he was, then it worked, but not in a good way. The few exchanges between the two characters are unbearable and pointless, adding nothing to their characters or the plot. Slaton's brutish behavior feels so forced and does not convince me that he is an expert in his field.

I have read the Mitch Rapp books by Vince Flynn/Kyle Mills and have enjoyed the way they wrote Rapp's unrestrained, no-nonsense personality. However, unlike Slaton, Mitch's behavior was not unsolicited and pointless. His aggression added to the plot and his proficiency in espionage. Slaton's aggression and rude behavior towards Christine Palmer, an innocent woman who saved his life, are completely unnecessary. One would think he would be kinder to her to gain her trust and prevent her from reporting him to the authorities! It's infuriating that “the perfect assassin” David Slaton appears to be an amateur rather than an expert. Pathetic. This character is outwardly stupid.

This book had so much potential, but Larsen's inept writing skills have completely ruined the plot and the characters.

It was an enjoyable read with lots of twists and turns.

However, there were some unbelievable parts. I mean, really, would a trained, professional assassin really tell a woman he has just met some of his methods?

Also, I agree with someone else's comments on how he portrayed England. I don't think the author has been there in this century.

And, of course, there is a beautiful woman who saves his life, then he kidnaps her, then they fall in love and live happily ever after - so Bondish!

Overall, despite the flaws, it was still an entertaining story that kept me engaged from start to finish. The twists and turns added an element of excitement, and the romance between the main characters was quite charming.

Although the portrayal of England could have been more accurate, it didn't detract too much from the overall enjoyment of the book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good thriller with a touch of romance.

If you are a lover of international intrigue, just as I am, then this story has all the essential ingredients. There are Scotland Yard inspectors, Mossad agents, and even stolen nuclear weapons.

A female American doctor is sailing her recently departed father's sailboat across the Atlantic to America. Suddenly, her boat crashes through some floating debris, and among it is a man hanging on to a cooler. Miraculously, she manages to pull him aboard, and from there, the adventure begins.

This is Mr. Larsen's debut effort, and I am eagerly looking forward to his more recent renderings. I have a feeling that his future works will be just as captivating and full of excitement as this one.

It's always exciting to discover a new author with such potential, and I can't wait to see what else Mr. Larsen has in store for us.

This book is truly one of those that reads like a movie. It offers a fun and exciting reading experience, filled with all the elements you would expect from an anti-hero action thriller.

There are quite a few books in this series, and I am looking forward to following along and seeing how the characters develop. It has been a while since I've been on one of these reading kicks, but I kind of feel ready for some light reading where the bad guys finally meet their match.

The story unfolds in a thrilling manner, keeping you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The author's writing style is engaging and vivid, making it easy to picture the scenes and actions in your mind.

Whether you're a fan of action thrillers or just looking for an entertaining read, this book is definitely worth checking out. So, grab a copy and get ready to embark on an adventure with the anti-hero and see how it all plays out.

This is a rather good and solid first attempt at an espionage thriller.

The story manages to build up a certain amount of tension and keep the reader engaged throughout.

The characters are well-developed, and the plot has some interesting twists and turns.

However, the ending does leave a little to be desired.

It feels a bit rushed and not as satisfying as it could have been.

There are some loose ends that could have been tied up more neatly, and the resolution doesn't quite have the impact that one might have hoped for.

Overall, though, it's still a promising start, and with a bit more work on the ending and perhaps some further refinement of the plot, this could be a really great espionage thriller.

This is an OK book, not a great one (hence the 3 - stars).

The story, while interesting, does have a touch of far - fetchedness. It manages to engage the reader, but at times, one can't help but think that some of the events are a bit too unlikely.

The characters are also interesting, yet they lack a certain believability. They have their unique traits and personalities, but there are aspects of their actions and behaviors that seem a bit off.

The plot is sort of plausible, but not really. It has its moments where it makes sense, but then there are also elements that feel forced or contrived.

One of the major drawbacks of this book is the number of deus ex machina elements. There are simply too many of them. It's as if the editor told the author "I don't see how the protagonist gets from 'a to B'" and similar, and the author resorted to these convenient plot devices to move the story forward.

Overall, though, it's still an OK read. It has its flaws, but it can still provide some entertainment and keep the reader occupied for a while.

So Mossad has a Mitch Rapp. He is a highly skilled and resourceful operative.

And he is chased around England by a technologically challenged, old school, ace detective from Scotland Yard. This detective, with his traditional methods, presents a unique challenge to Mitch Rapp.

And there’s a beautiful, young American doctor unwittingly caught up in the middle of it all. She becomes an unintended pawn in the dangerous game that is unfolding.

So there’s a few familiar characters thrown into a story about stolen nukes and power hungry politicians. The combination of these elements creates a thrilling and suspenseful narrative.

In the end it works and I have a new series to read. I am excited to see where this story will take me and what adventures await the characters.

It seems like it will be a captivating and engaging read that will keep me on the edge of my seat.

I really liked the action and intrigue that was present throughout the story. It served as a rather good example of the genre, being quite similar to other books of its kind. The characters were well-developed and seemed believable, which added to the overall enjoyment. However, towards the end, the story kind of bogged down and then suddenly raced to an ending that I didn't particularly care for.

So, if I understand this correctly, the real estate lady pulled the cord to fire the rifle, which could have hit who knows? Some innocent bystander - just to force the Israelis to hustle back to the airport? It DID fire a live round, right? Am I missing something here?

I didn't like the ending as it was kind of preposterous and complex just for the sake of being complex. But I guess that's the nature of this type of story. Nevertheless, I do plan to try the next one just to see what happens to the characters. I'm curious to see how their arcs will continue and what new adventures and challenges they will face. Maybe the next installment will have a more satisfying ending that ties up all the loose ends and makes more sense. Only time will tell.

This book initially seemed to have the potential of a great story. The plot was engaging and held promise. However, it appears that at some point, the Diversity Editor got involved and unfortunately, mangled it.

It's a real shame because it could have been a remarkable read. Without giving away any spoilers, if you're in search of a story that truly hits the mark in terms of plot and character development, the Victor the Assassin series might be a better choice.

Based on my experience with this particular book, I don't think I'll be continuing to read more in this series. It's disappointing to see a potentially great story derailed in this way.

I hope that in the future, authors and editors can work together more effectively to ensure that the integrity of the story is maintained and that readers are not left feeling let down.

Apart from being somewhat slow at times, this spy novel is truly a gem. One has to suspend judgement a bit to accept the ending, but that doesn't overshadow the overall excellence of the work. It is a well-written, highly satisfying cracker of a story that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

What makes this novel stand out is the author's ability to create a complex and engaging plot, filled with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the very end. The characters are well-developed and believable, adding to the authenticity of the story.

For a reader who is generally disappointed by the genre, this novel is a pleasant surprise. It shows that there are still great spy novels out there that can capture the imagination and keep the reader entertained from start to finish. If you're a fan of spy novels or just looking for a good read, this one is definitely worth checking out.

Too much good luck to be plausible

The first three-fourths of the book was engaging and held my interest well. The story had a good flow, and the characters and plot were developing in an interesting way. However, as I reached the end, I found myself increasingly disappointed. The events that unfolded seemed far too contrived and lacking in believability.

The idea of stealing the rover and the rifles, and then going through all the elaborate preparation to get to the attic and set up the rifle was just too much. It felt as if the author was trying too hard to create a dramatic and exciting conclusion, but in doing so, sacrificed plausibility.

Overall, while the beginning and middle of the book were enjoyable, the ending really let it down. It made me question the entire story and left me with a sense of dissatisfaction. I would have preferred a more realistic and believable conclusion that tied up the loose ends in a more satisfying way.

What a thrilling experience!

After devouring all my favorite characters and having to wait for new novels from my beloved authors, I have finally been rewarded in my search for the perfect character to read. Ward Larsen has masterfully combined the striking characteristics of Flynn's Mitch Rapp, Ludlum's Jason Bourne, and Silva's Gabriel Allon to create David Slaton. That's precisely why spy thriller enthusiasts would adore Slaton.

The pace of the book is incredibly fast and exciting, leaving you reeling and constantly thinking about it in your subconscious until you can tear yourself away from other tasks and return to reading the next page.

The beginning of the book has a strong resemblance to Ludlum's Bourne Identity. David Slaton, an Israeli assassin (kidon), perhaps the most perfect assassin ever created, is rescued from the sea by a young American Dr. Christine Palmer on her boat (actually her father's). She nurses Slaton back to health, but in return, he hijacks her boat and forces her to change course and drop him in England. With this opening sequence, the journey into "The Perfect Assassin" commences.

Slaton's past and the plot are gradually revealed. We learn how he was molded into the deadliest assassin in the world, how he lost his family in a jihadist massacre in Tel Aviv, how he became involved in the latest scheme to bring two cold war era nuclear missiles from South Africa to Israel, and how the mission was sabotaged, leaving him in the water as the ship sank.

After that, Slaton embarks on a journey to uncover what exactly happened, who the leak was within Mossad or the Israeli government that led to the failure of the mission, and how he ended up as a fugitive with his best friend Yosef dead. In this journey, Dr. Palmer transforms from his foe to his partner and eventually his love interest.

What I truly appreciate about Ward Larsen is his effortless ability to tell a fast-paced story, create just-in-time characters. He doesn't clutter the book with a million characters but focuses on a few strong and important ones who play a crucial and consistent role until the end. The hero, the heroine, a few reliable support characters, and the villain - the focus is sharp and purposeful.

All of these elements lead to the discovery of the mole, elaborate planning on how Slaton will eliminate the mole, always staying one step ahead of the police and other Mossad agents, considering every possibility, creating excellent diversions to keep his primary plot on track, the chemistry between the hero and heroine that develops throughout the book, the respect between Anton Bloch (Mossad head) and Slaton, and the final execution of Slaton's plan and the ultimate ending - all of which combine to make this a cracking good book.

I absolutely loved this novel and can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series. I'm hoping that the character and writing style will remain in the same vein as this book.