The most recommended assassin books

Robin Hobb is one of my all-time favourite authors, and this year I’ve been re-reading her original series, Assassin’s Apprentice. I haven’t read the books in over fifteen years, and going back to the first book again was like coming home.

It reminded me of all the delight I felt reading it the first time; the awesome fantasy world, the fascinating and complex political landscape, and the masterful character work. Fitz (the protagonist) was as (adorably) frustrating as I remembered, but Burrich! And Chade! And Kettricken!

These characters grow on you slowly and steadily with every page you read until you feel like they’re your own family. Reading Fitz growing up amongst the court of Buckkeep was as wonderful on second reading as it was all those years ago, and I’m so glad I went back to re-read this series. Robin Hobb writes epic fantasy—my favourite genre—at its finest.

This book was originally marketed as a “romance for the fans of the Game of Thrones”, and it is one of the books I really enjoy. The main character, Vitala, is sent by her secret order of rebels to assassinate the powerful Emperor of Kjall. When she arrives at court, she is quickly dropped into a torrent of intrigue that makes her question everything she’d learned, including her own mission. 

This book is pure fun, from start to finish. From the assassins’ standpoint, Vitala is a refreshing one, because her powers come from a special skill she possesses rather than weaponry. In fact, most of the imperial guards, as well as the Emperor himself, are much more capable than her when it comes to combat, and yet in the end the danger she brings outpowers them all. This book taught me a lot about writing action, intrigue, and romance.

In this departure from horror, King has penned a truly entertaining crime thriller.

His protagonist is much like that in my latest book. He’s a hitman who has ethics and only shoots bad people. The characters are strong, unique, and, most importantly, human. Unlike many protagonists, Billy Summers has flaws, doubts, and worries.

The book engrossed me and kept me up all night. King captures the essence of life in small-town America and has a great mix of both psychological and physical action. I look forward to more of this type work from one of our most prolific writers.

I loved this book for its combination of fantasy and sci-fi, the gritty and grim world Lawrence has created, and the high-energy and higher-stakes action sequences that fill the book.

I loved that it was unexpected. Lawrence's post-apocalyptic world concept was unique and fresh, compellingly combining the technology of a dying world with supernatural themes. I certainly did not expect the convent setting and nun-in-training protagonist in a sci-fi storyline, and yet that’s what I got in his main character, Nona Grey.

I love the tension and suspense created in the frequent action sequences Nona finds herself in, which left me wanting more and more. This leads to the last thing I really loved about this book: that it continued across two more books: Grey Sister and Holy Sister.

I tend to be very late to the party with certain authors. I'll try them once, not get hooked, then give them a pass for a decade or so. In the case of Nalini Singh, I clearly just hadn't stumbled across her delightful bear-shifter clan on my first attempt!

Usually, I prefer werewolves, but I adored this group of Russian shifters with their huggable alpha protector. The heroine's dilemma (whether to risk feeling emotions) is also a tried-and-true trope for me.

To cut a long story short --- I was six years late trying this series, but once I started it, I couldn't put it down.

I love great stories, and I especially gravitate towards international intrigue. As a big Tom Clancy and Dan Brown fan, I found that Don Bentley honors the great works of Clancy.

While I grew up with the stories of Jack Ryan, I now enjoy reading the new adventures of his son, Jack Ryan, Jr. This storyline is also ripped from today’s headlines as I write this. If only Jack Ryan, Jr. had been on the ground in real life to stop the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas.

Target Acquired provides some insights into the geo-political realities on the ground but in an entertaining format.

The writing is really strong in this one, with vivid descriptions and great metaphors. The badass main character walks a thin line between hero and anti-hero, but she still shows vulnerabilities that make her relatable. The novella features a small cast with a tight story, so it’s a fast read that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat.

What Tom Clancy did for submarines with The Hunt For Red October, Stephen Hunter did with rifles and long-range shooting in Point of Impact, which was made into the movie Shooter with Mark Wahlberg in addition to a cable TV show of the same name. 

Hunter had already proven himself a talented thriller writer when he penned Point of Impact, but the excellent plot (a famous Vietnam sniper framed for an assassination by a shadowy conspiracy) combined with never-before-seen firearms technical detail that enhanced rather than bogged down the story made this novel a huge success and catapulted Hunter to the A-list.  

I chose this for authenticity. Newsday's review said it was "chillingly real" and "the reader himself seems to be traveling with 'the Jackal.'"

That’s because Forsyth, as a foreign correspondent working in Europe and Africa, knew assassins, mercenaries, and arms dealers, which allowed him to craft fantastic but believable characters, settings, and situations. Forsyth opens the novel with the depiction of a real assassination attempt, employs historical figures, locations, and details, then seamlessly weaves his fictional plot into this authentic world.

Forsyth reveals lives most of us can only imagine, and he shows that wall-to-wall suspense does not require wall-to-wall action, but is built on plausible intrigue, sustained tension, and excellent writing.

It was a new spin on the Gingerbread Man folktale and one that gave me goosebumps. It has battles, little whisps of magic, and characters I rooted for from start to finish. It made me feel like the characters I write about, the type I want to have a cup of tea with years from now to see where their lives have taken them.