Title: The Assassin’s Wife
Author: David Stewart Handelman
Publisher: Independently published
ISBN: 979-8377422976
Pages: 157
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Reviewer: Liz Konkel
Hollywood Book Reviews
After the death of his parents following his 17th birthday, Ash became one of the most trusted assassins, and received a steady string of employment from the elite. Everyone from business tycoons to politicians hired him to take care of pesky problems – and he did so with efficiency. Even with his lavish lifestyle, he still feels something is missing and continues to grieve for his late brother. That’s when the lovely Nevada enters his life and turns everything upside down. What he doesn’t know is that Nevada is a trained FBI agent who has been studying him and is determined to take him down. However, taking him down won’t be that simple as the two grow closer and the game of cat-and-mouse between them takes a dangerous turn.
The opening sets the tone of the thriller as suspenseful, and establishes the setting as among the elite with an elaborate party. This is a catalyst for introducing Ash through the target he was hired to take out as it shows the world that he is part of. This is a clever way to introduce the facets of the world which will be explored and provide a great backdrop that highlights Ash’s personality. Ash is established as a multi-layered character with a juxtaposition between the lavish party and him alone in a bathroom. This shows him as being slightly removed from the world he’s part of as the introduction of him is quieter with little details which hint at his position such as a blood-stained shirt. As other characters are introduced, the pacing kicks up and you’re pulled into this world where the wealthy are hiring assassins to get rid of people. These characters are hardened as they view dumping a body in the ocean as just a job and this shows how the setting has shaped them.
The grief of losing his brother is threaded throughout the story and is seen in small moments such as the star named for his brother and visits to his grave. These moments ground Ash and make him feel more human which is an interesting way of first introducing him. This theme is important for the story as it establishes Ash as more than an assassin and gives him more depth. The story weaves between Ash and Nevada’s perspectives which creates a tonal difference. Nevada’s introduction establishes her as a lighter character and the opposite of Ash which creates a balance between the two of them. The romance between them is rooted in a cat-and-mouse style dynamic which makes the story engaging and keeps readers flipping the pages. This dynamic plot twist turns the romantic elements into those of a thriller, and leaves you never really knowing what’s going to happen.
The side characters serve as insight into characters or catalysts for important events. Beau pulls you into the thriller elements of the story with his blunt nature and is an assassin archetype that Ash can be compared to throughout. In a similar sense, Becky is the catalyst for introducing Ash and Nevada which is the core of the whole premise. Each character has a purpose in the story, so time spent with them is never wasted but sends events forward. The story is fast-paced and is an easy read for those who enjoy thrillers, making it perfect for a summer reading list. The Assassin’s Wife is a suspenseful thriller with a tug-of-war between an assassin and an FBI agent comes with romance, danger, and surprising twists.