Thank you Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read and review Assassin's Mark, A David Slaton Novel, by Ward Larsen on NetGalley.

Published: 11/28/23

Narrator: PJ Ochlan

Stars: 3

The cover immediately caught my eye and I grabbed the opportunity to read Assassin's Mark. Don't be put off by my rating; the book was not written in a style that I enjoy. This was incredibly daunting with names of weapons and positions, parts, etc. These are things I figured out I want to see but not read. Should Slaton make it to the big screen I'm in.

Additionally I wasn't fond of the narrator. I found myself wanting to hush him. I didn't connect to his performance.

I would recommend and would gift to those who already know they like action books.

The author has crafted a fast-paced and highly enjoyable story that is sure to capture your attention from the first page. The characters are incredibly relatable, regardless of whether you find yourself liking them or not. Each one is well-developed and adds depth to the narrative. This book is a focused psychological thriller that masterfully weaves a web of suspicion and tension throughout its pages.

Larsen demonstrates a superb imagination, creating scenes that are both realistic and deeply disturbing, immersing the reader fully into the story. The suspenseful and thrilling nature of this book will keep you on the edge of your seat, eagerly anticipating the next unpredictable twist or turn. It's the kind of story that makes it hard to put the book down, as you find yourself needing to know what happens next.

However, a word of caution: do not start reading this book unless you are prepared to stay up all night, glued to its gripping plot. The story's intensity and excitement are likely to consume you, making it a challenge to step away until you reach the very last page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio who provided me with a copy of this audio book for my honest review.

A fictional read that is on par with many of the greatest in the genre. Great writing and narration. Definitely worth the read.

I jumped into this series with this book and I am now addicted and am going to have to go back and read books 1-8 b/c I loved it and want to know all the backstory! This was my 1st book by Ward Larsen but obviously won't be my last! The ideas in this book are terrifying b/c I can see how this could actually happen in real life today.

Israeli assassin David Slaton is back once again to save the U.S.'s bacon; only this time Slaton is being forced to. Aboard Marine One, the president departs Andrews on her way back to the White House when a massive drone attack is launched and downs Marine One along with the decoy helicopters. The president is alive but only barely. In a coma, the president is powerless when forces inside the White House pull Slaton's family's protection detail and forces Slaton to become the acting V.P's errand boy. As Slaton spans the globe searching for those responsible, the assassin becomes increasingly certain there is a traitor in the White House. And not only are they an enemy of the U.S.--the traitor has threatened and endangered Slaton's family--an even more egregious sin. There's a reason Slaton is feared and those responsible are about to learn why that is.

Assassin's Mark is a great addition to Slaton's world and I was lucky enough to receive a galley as well as the audiobook version. This was my first time listening to an audiobook and have been hesitant in the past. It feels like cheating. I bounced back and forth between reading and listening and can see the appeal of audiobooks. It still felt like cheating.

I will say the audiobook delivers in a way I didn't think possible. I've read all of Ward Larsen's books and in my head Slaton "sounded" different. At least for me, hearing the words out-loud added a nuance to Slaton's voice that wasn't present in my big head. Sarcasm doesn't come through the page nearly as well as hearing it aloud.

If you are looking for a fast paced, smart thriller with some wild aviation theatrics, look no further than Assassin's Mark. Larsen continues to keep the Slaton series fresh and timely and I can't wait to see where Larsen takes Slaton in the future!

Thank you to Ward Larsen, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of Assassin's Mark.

Audio books are tricky. They either grab my attention or I tune them out. In the audio version of Assassin’s Mark, Ward Larsen hits a home run. Filled with non stop action, this thriller held my attention as I was riveted to an engaging, interesting and powerful tale for the duration of a long car trip.

The president’ has been seriously injured when Marine One is attacked. She survives the crash but hangs onto life by a thread. Who would commit such a heinous act? Enter CIA operative/assassin David Slaton , whose mission is to get those responsible for this treachery. Could it be someone in the US government ? As Slaton gets deeper into a cleverly drawn plot, he finds he himself the target of adversarial forces.

Four stars for a highly recommended thriller. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for providing me with a prepublication copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. It in now available for purchase !

Ward Larsen's latest thriller - Assassin's Mark --grabs your attention early and keeps it. At the center of the story is a secret U.S. government weapon -- David Slaton - an off the books assassin brought in to track down the foreign agents behind a complex attempt to bring down the President.

The author skillfully shifts from scenes centering on Slaton and his several ingenious, if somewhat fortuitous escapes from likely death, the efforts of the CIA and others to track down the conspirators and a possible mole within the U.S. government, and the skilled, for-hire assassin out to eliminate loose ends. I found the book entertaining and a worthwhile read that allowed me to suspend disbelief because the author managed to create scenarios that, while unlikely, did not cross over into the completely improbable.

Assassin's Mark (David Slaton #9) by Ward Larsen
Narrated by PJ Ochlan
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: General Fiction (Adult)
Expected Publication Date: November 28, 2023

Assassin's Mark is the 9th book in the David Slaton series by Ward Larsen. This book can be read as a standalone mystery.

Assassin’s Mark is fast paced and filled with suspense! I thought it was masterfully written and kept me on the edge of my seat!

I loved the narration by PJ Ochlan!

Now I need to read the rest of the series!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

In the book Assassin's Mark, author Ward Larsen continues his David Slaton series. Marine One is brought down and while everyone onboard dies, miraculously the President survives but is clinging to life. Slaton is called in to hunt down the perpetrates of this recent attack. Is the Trident really been shut down or are they rising out of the ashes to form a new organization? And who is the young ruthless assassin and who is he working for? This is a great fast-paced action packed story. I would recommend this book. The audio-book narration was very good. I received a copy of this audio-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and it was comparable to anything from James Rollins. Action was non-stop and it was a real page turner.
Will be looking for more titles from this author going forward and have followed him on GoodReads and Amazon.

One hell of a book!

Book#8 was good, but #9 Assassin's Mark is outstanding! I've only read two novels in this series and vowed to start from the beginning and haven't had the chance. Larsen's solid writing will provide ample backstory for readers to enjoy David Slaton's character. Slaton aka "Cosair" is ex Kidon, the elite unit of Mossad. He lives in Montana with his wife and young son and works off the books for the CIA.

After Marine One is attacked over DC, POTUS is found alive, but hanging on to her life. Without a choice, the VP and the rest invoke the 25th Amendment. Slaton is sent to the Far East with the full backing of the CIA to eliminate the suspects.

The mission goes as planned until Slaton faces a lethal adversary and 💩 hits the fan.

The action is non-stop and what a rollercoaster ride of a story. Although the theme has been done before with moles/traitors that make much of the reveal predictable, I just don't care because it was that good! I was gripping my seat on one hand and biting my nails on another to see how Slaton would get himself out of the predicament. And the ending? Loved it! 4.5⭐

Thank you Macmillan Audio for this fantastic audiobook read by PJ Ochlan.

So, although I have read Ward Larsen before, I believe this is the first of his John Slaton books that I’ve read…and this is #9.

That being said, it can certainly be read as a stand alone, as that’s what I just did, and didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything.

Slaton is an assassin for the US government…and a very good one at that.

After a bunch of mishaps, the latest being an attempt to kill the president, he is called in to take care of the problem.
As he has ‘the problem’ in his sights, he starts to feel like this is all just too good to be true…and, the bottom falls out from under him!!

He is literally around the world, and now he is in danger!!

This is another one where you will find yourself sucking in air, sitting on the edge of your seat, and…reminding yourself to breathe!!

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook WHICH IS DUE TO BE RELEASED ON 11.28.23.

#AssassinsMark by #WardLarsen

Keep up with all my upcoming reviews and previews on FB @ #BookReviewsWithElaine or IG @ #BookReviews_with_emsr

Happy Reading!! 📖📚

First of all, the narrator is great. This being the 9th in the series it can be read as a stand alone but the characters are richer, deeper and you, the reader, simply becomes more invested over time. David Stanton is way more than an assassin. He cares about more than hitting his mark. This is fueled with adrenaline packed sequences.

Ward Larsen never disappoints. The story is believable. It seems possible and current which, in my opinion, is hard to achieve. This book plays out like a movie in your head. Highly recommend this

3.5 rolled up to 4

I was on the fence about selecting this as a next read. I’d not heard of the author before and typically do not like jumping into the middle of a series. I was glad that despite doing just that, jumping in the middle, that I didn’t feel lost.
The story was a slow burn with several intricacies.

Assassin David Slaton is not just a hired gun, he is a family man. Looking back through the series, he met his wife in Book 1. Between then and now, they have been married a few years, have a son Davy, and another baby on the way. Because of this David looks at jobs differently, assesses the risks differently.

There are a lot of themes flowing through but I didn’t feel overwhelmed. They all connected with a, sort of an old vs new element to each of them.

I like the number of strong, capable female characters in the story.

I did feel like it was more telling than showing, but that could be due to all of the details that were included.

I am not sure about the conclusion of some of the storylines. I felt like something was missing (or maybe I just missed it). It did end with a lead-in for another book. All-in-all, it was a good read.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to do an early read and share my thoughts on the story.
Happy Reading!

I have never read a book by Ward Larsen before and now I will go back to read this entire series. Though this is the 9th book in the series it was easy to follow and a new reader could certainly follow along easily. I loved this book. It was fast moving and the characters were interesting and sympathetic. Looking forward to reading the series from the beginning.

I haven’t read anything by Ward Larsen before and I decided to try it when I read the book description.
It started off really strong. The downing of presidential aircraft in an attempted assassination is definitely an eye catching opener.
After that, the trek through the halls of politics kept the momentum going nicely.
I liked the way Mr. Larsen writes. He appears to have a nice, fluid style that translates well across both the print version and the audio version.
One thing I thought was great was the pacing of the book. My interest never really waned throughout the story. The action, the political discussions, the personal beats, it all moved well for the entire book.
If I have one negative to say about this book is that the ended seemed a little too sudden. You knew you were reaching the end, but it honestly just ended. If that makes sense.

I had never heard of this series or this author until I stumbled across this book and what a discovery it has been especially since I have had to catch up on the who series.

In what can be read as a standalone, each book of this series has had me on the edge of my seat. In this addition, David is on a mission to find out who attempted to assassinate the President of the United States and to end the group The Trident.

With the return of past characters, this was an action packed read that had a few twists that I did not expect. And the action occurs right up until the end of the book. And just when you think that things are going to slow down for David and his family - one discovers that they are wrong.

Overall this was a great book that I would recommend to others.

'Assassin's Mark' is a literary adrenaline shot that leaves your heart racing and your mind craving more.…..

Book Information

Assassin's Mark, written by Ward Larsen, is a 320-page thriller scheduled to be published on November 28, 2023. The audio version is Narrated by PJ Ochlan with a run time of 12 hours and 14 minutes. This is the ninth book in his David Slaton series. Thank you to MacMillan Audio for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book for review.

Summary

Assisted by CIA operative David Slaton, the United States has thwarted numerous attacks, yet security is shattered when Marine One is boldly brought down with the president aboard, leaving the commander-in-chief clinging to life. Slaton is again summoned into action embarking on a global mission. However, simultaneously, an unknown young assassin with unclear motives sets his sights on Slaton. What becomes evident is that a secret organization is pulling the strings, and a high-level traitor lurks within the U.S. government.

My Thoughts

"Assassin's Mark" by Ward Larsen is a captivating addition to the series, even for newcomers like myself. While previous familiarity with the series might enhance the experience, this book stands confidently on its own.

The narrative is an action-packed masterpiece of suspense and drama, offering a compelling blend of betrayal and intrigue. David Slaton, otherwise known as ‘Corsair’, the central character, is particularly intriguing, navigating a character-driven psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Espionage aficionados will find a rollercoaster of intrigue that's more addictive than a double-shot espresso on a sleepy Monday morning.

Larsen's storytelling is well-crafted, featuring multiple twists and complex characters that evoke strong emotional connections, whether positive or negative. The plot delves into political assassinations, conspiracy theories, corruption, treason, and multiple relentless assassins, all within a backdrop of international intrigue.

One of the book's strengths is its ability to maintain a sense of believability, even amidst its thrilling scenarios. This grounded approach is quite refreshing.

I appreciate protagonists who are highly trained and supremely skilled, yet equally adept at relying on intelligence and ingenuity in challenging situations. "Assassin's Mark" delivers this along with a thrilling battle of wits, akin to a cat-and-mouse game.

While I enjoyed the audiobook version, I found the narration, although competent, felt somewhat flat. The consistent cadence used by the narrator throughout the book gives the impression of reading rather than performing. Others may have opposing opinions as I believe this is not the first book in the series read by this narrator, so your experience may differ.

Recommendation

"Assassin's Mark" is an action-packed masterpiece of suspense with a well-developed character-driven plot, making it a must-read for fans of thrilling espionage and cat-and-mouse games. Be warned, once you start reading, you won't be able to stop. I highly recommend. Preorder it now.

Rating

4.5 Assassin Stars

The author has delivered a fast paced and deliciously wicked tale. The characters are well rounded and come across as believable, whether you love them or hate them. This is a taut, character-driven psychological thriller, filled with suspicion and tension. Larsen has a wonderful imagination and creates very realistic and disturbing scenarios. This is a well-written, suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat thriller will leave you breathless at times in anticipation of the next twist in the plot. Don’t start reading this book if you are not prepared to stay up all night.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Assassin’s Mark
David Slaten #9
Ward Larsen
Assassin's Mark is the ninth book in this series. I have not read the previous books; it stands well alone. David Slaten is an assassin; originally, he worked with Mossad but now works on contract for the CIA. David is adjusting to life in the US, preparing to become a US citizen and to become and father again.
Recently there have been a series of terrorist attacks on the US. terrorist attack on the US President leaves her in the hospital in critical condition. The method the terrorist used was simple and almost effective. The 25th Amendment is invoked making the Vice President the acting President. David is recruited to exterminate the Trident who some think should be held accountable. The government doesn’t play fair; first they asked David to do the job for them, after he agreed they threatened him and tried to intimidate him through his family. The mission went well at first but then things went very wrong. David becomes the target of an assassin. Help comes from an unexpected source. There is a traditor in the White House. Anna Sorenson knows David’s life is on the line and she is determined to protect him.
This is an exciting book. I didn’t want to stop listening. David is a fascinating character. I also enjoyed Ana Sorenson, Kidon, and Jammer Davis. I suspected who the mole was early on in the story but kept doubting myself, but I was RIGHT! I loved the President and her husband. She is one tough cookie! This is a five star read!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy for review. My reviews are always my unbiased opinions.