Assassins Anonymous is the kind of thriller that unexpectedly drops in on you when you least expect it and by the end of it, you come out feeling more vulnerable to the beauty of human banality and the dangers that lurk out there. It’s a heavy read at times but one that is well-worth the intensity and emotional baggage that comes along with brutal action and strong storytelling.
Mark is a man trying to make amends for his previous life as a formidable killer-for-hire. He’s staying true to his commitment with a 12-step group of like-minded individuals who’ve forsaken the life of violence when he’s suddenly targeted by a rather vicious assailant, putting Mark right back in the very world he so desperately tried to escape. As he dons his dark persona, the ensuing complications aren’t just a matter of life and death, but it also becomes a battle for salvation of his soul and all that he has worked for since he gave up his guns and knives. When taking a non-lethal approach to his issues put him in much more danger, will he yield to the darkness of his prior life or will he persist for goodness even if it kills him?
Rob Hart masterfully weaves a narrative propelled by philosophical discourse and thoughtful concepts set in a world that is full of violence and chaos. This helps tremendously to set a brilliant pace, alternating between Mark’s point of view as a man struggling to hold onto his reformed spirit versus his desire to let his old vengeful spirit lay waste to all that stand in his way. For the first time in a long time, I actually rooted for a protagonist in a situation ripe for action to actually take the path of non-violence. Such is Hart’s ability to get the readers truly thinking and feeling for the situation as if it’s happening for real. It also becomes a real treat when we do see Mark having to put up a fight when his adversaries do not share the same moral principles as he does.
Assassins Anonymous is a heartfelt tale of violence and hope in a dark world with the promise of redemption for those who truly seek it. It’s a thriller, sure, but it’s also a reflection of human flaws and betterment when one strives to make the lives of others better by molding themselves first.
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