Perfect Assassin

Decent premise. Okay story with an alright end. 6 of 10 stars

Doc Savage became my favorite character when I was young, and I never outgrew him. I've been reading and collecting Doc Savage books since 1968, long before most of you have been alive, and have read the Farmer book and the twenty-two Murray stories in addition to all 182 of the original novels, so it was inevitable that I'd pick this one up as soon as I saw it. I wasn't too impressed with the authors' earlier Shadow book, so I was afraid that I'd -really- despise this one but I was pleasantly surprised. I do have some reservations, like it's somehow much more of a Black Widow book than a Doc Savage story, and Doc wouldn't have called in a support strike from the military, he would've found a way to handle the situation himself (and would the U.S. military really be that quick to respond with a strike on the Russian mainland when some random guy in a leaky submarine calls them up? I hope not.) But there were a lot of odd scenarios in the original originals, too, and sometimes Murray totally jumped multiple sharks. (Remember the time travel book?) This is the story of Doc's great-grandson, who's kidnapped by the descendant of one of original Doc's greatest enemies, and she turns him from weakling to superhero in six months. (This Doc doesn't have the aversion to females (or guns) that his ancestor proclaimed.) There's no mention of what finally happened to original Doc, and no mention of any of his six aids at all. I disliked the idea that original Doc had moved his headquarters from the famous 86th floor in New York to Chicago for some reason, and his Fortress of Solitude seems to have transformed to a floating iceberg, but I enjoyed the read, overall. Perhaps there'll be another and we'll visit the Hidalgo Trading Company and find Habeas Corpus cryogenically preserved... it'd be better than chasing down Red Room graduates with Natasha (oops, I meant Kira), but then again this isn't supposed to be your Grandpa's Doc.

4.5 ⭐<br />First time I've read these authors and based solely on The Perfect Assassin, I feel fairly confident saying at least one of these authors will write more NY Times bestsellers than anyone. Just a hunch. With the bookkeeping out of the way, I loved The Perfect Assassin. Dr. Brandt Savage is a professor of Anthropology and appears to be as dorky as you would expect. Savage is looking forward to playing in the dirt during his sabbatical but before he can don his overalls he is kidnapped off the street. by a beautiful woman, Meed. What follows is a fast paced thriller with incredible characters, fun dialogue, and a story just weird enough to keep you on your toes. <br /><br />There was very little I didn't like about The Perfect Assassin. Patterson and Sitts take a familiar trope and turn it on its head. I'm not sure who the perfect assassin is referring to considering there is a smorgasbord of elite assassins in the book. There is a vagueness in The Perfect Assassin that works to the story's advantage. Not to mention someone gets "Mr. Myagi-ed" which is always fun.<br /><br />The Perfect Assassin is a perfect beginning of a new series with oodles of potential. I can't wait to see what these 'new authors" have in store for Savage and Meed.<br /><br />My sincere thanks to James Patterson and Brian Sitts, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a galley of The Perfect Assassin.

THis book started out so slow, I was rating it a 2 in my head and anxious for it to move along. Half way through the plot was changing and strengthening and becoming more exciting. It wasn't until the last 20% of the book that you realize what was happening and how Patterson was shaping the characters and building the plot. I ended up loving the book and have placed Doc Savage #2 on my to read list.

An interesting continuation of the Doc Savage saga into the modern age. Fans of the original novels will probably be evenly divided between hating it and being fairly indifferent. It is fun and entertaining, but not really sure what audience the authors are trying to target.

I'm surprised that I enjoyed listening to this audiobook! It's the type of story I haven't read before. I find it interesting. Sometimes unable to put down. Luckily I listened during holiday so I stayed up late. There were some intense moments. Although this book isn't all James Patterson, it's my first read from him as well as the co-author Brian Sitts.<br /><br />This story followed Meed. When she was a baby, she was kidnapped. She was sent to this training program that train her and others to become an assassin. The story goes back and forth between past and present. The past starting when she was napped and on until she was 18 and did something no others have done before. The present is of Meed as an adult. She just kidnapped a Professor who just got approved for a sabbatical leave. She's been giving him some rigorous training lessons. She has plans for him and he's about to be surprised. The audiobook is a bit dry, but maybe that's the narrator play acting, I don't know. The story was good.<br /><br />Thank you Grandcentralpub for the opportunity to read and review! I listened to the audiobook via Libby app.

A Riveting and Suspenseful Story <br /> <br />SUMMARY<br />Past: Two beautiful six-month-old babies are kidnapped from their nursery in a small village on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia. Their mother, Marisha, was a physicist, and her husband, Mikhail, was a brilliant mathematician. The parents and the officials were never able to find these babies. What happened to them?<br /><br />Present: Anthropology Professor Brandt Savage has just been awarded a sabbatical from the University of Chicago. On his twenty-minute walk home from the college on a sub-zero, snowy day, the bespectacled Ph.D. is violently shoved head-first in the back of a green panel van. He is taken to an unknown location, where he is held prisoner by Meed. The two have a distant connection through their ancestors. She is the great grand-daughter of John Sunlight, and Savage is the grandson of the legendary action figure Doc Savage, the two of which were determined to kill each other. The demanding Meed begins an intensive training program with Savage, modifying his geeky physique into a superior physical and mental specimen, perhaps even a new superhero. But why is she doing this? Based on their family history, they should never have been in the same room together.<br /><br />On one of their first missions after half a year of relentless training, Meed attempts to take Savage to the Russian training ground, where she escaped when she was 17. They run into trouble along the way. Someone has been looking for Meed. Returning to her old school is the only way to stop the killers after her and attempt to right the wrongs of those now in charge there. <br /><br />REVIEW<br />The Perfect Assassin is riveting and suspenseful. The writing is as superior and smooth as an excellent smokey red wine. The story will keep you on your toes. It flows effortlessly and is smartly structured. The plot goes back and forth in time and uses multiple points of view. The read is quick and exciting, and the conclusion is smashing.<br /><br />Both Meed and Savage’s characters are intelligent and intriguing. Meed’s character is original and unforgettable. She is the pillar of the story, and her strength, courage, and perseverance are admirable. <br /><br />Author James Patterson, one of the most prolific writers of our time, and Brian Sitts have developed a new series to look forward to. Read this one now. You’ll see, by the end of this engaging story, you want more. They have managed to create not one but two dynamic characters in Meed and Savage who may perhaps in the future fulfill the code of striving to help others and “do right to all and wrong to no man.”<br /><br />Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. <br /><br />Publisher Grand Central Publishing<br />Published November 15, 2022<br />Review <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="http://www.bluestockingreviews.com">www.bluestockingreviews.com</a>

Thrilling, fierce, and action-packed!<br /><br />The Perfect Assassin is a gripping, suspenseful tale that takes you into the life of Dr. Brandt Savage, a professor of anthropology whose planned sabbatical takes an unusual turn when he is kidnapped off the street by the enigmatic Meed and is schooled in the fine art of assassination.<br /><br />The prose is taut and intense. The characters are complex, intelligent, and resourceful. And the plot using flashbacks and multiple POVs is a riveting tale of twists, turns, espionage, passion, intrigue, tension, terrorism, violence, corruption, elite training, and murder.<br /><br />Overall, The Perfect Assassin is another successful collaboration by Patterson that features lots of different locales, sexual chemistry, battles, action, and adventure. It keeps you invested, engaged, and on the edge of your seat from the very first page, and if you can suspend disbelief for a little while, you will certainly be satisfied and highly entertained.<br /><br />Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this modern take on Doc Savage. Just loved it. My only criticism? The title? Almost turned me off. Did I need another Will Robie, Victor, or Gray Man clone? A John Wick rip-off?<br /><br />Then I read the fine print and discovered this book was a modern take on Doc Savage. I probably would have tried to tie in the word "Savage" into the title. I am all in for a sequel. Plus, I will soon read James' take on The Shadow as well. If it is not asking too much, how about a modern take on the Ghost Who Walks (The Phantom). Yeah.<br /><br />If you buy into the whole Doc Savage storyline of characters, this novel is a great starting point. Next Doc Savage thriller can lead right off with a world-shattering event and our two heroes will need to use their wits, cool gadgets, and smarts to save the world. Looking forward to it.

Book Review<br />The Perfect Assasin<br />Doc Savage series<br />James Patterson and Brian Sitts<br /><br />Tropes<br />Kidnapping<br />Murder<br />Brainwashing<br />Eugenics<br /><br />Thoughts<br />Easy reading. Fluid writing. No lulls. Potential for series. Played out in my head like a movie (think Red Sparrow or Black Widow). <br /><br />Overall<br />Patterson is a writer who is consistent. I can always rely on his books to “hit the spot”. The collaboration with Sitts gives a fresh feel to the writing. I will be back for more.<br /><br />Thank you to @grandcentralpub for my gofted copynin return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.