With an emphasis on crisp action and geographical precision, Ebert ties these threads together as Anna embarks on a get-away-from-it-all cruise, and the killer siblings, who have been given reason to believe there might be an escape from Irene, receive a new assignment: the silentcide of Anna. The traumatized orphan-turned assassin plot feels familiar, but it’s a durable setup that invites the reader to root for these likable killers’ success in securing freedom from their handler—and for their failure in their mission—especially as Chris and Michelle begin to ask the questions that assassins are trained not to: who actually wants this target dead and why.
A dash of romance and a well-drawn cast spices the spy games, as Anna and Chris experience a mutual attraction, and he recklessly allows himself to pursue it. His determination to save Anna compromises Michelle’s safety and puts him at direct and dangerous odds with Irene, who gives the siblings one last chance to save their own lives. The result will please fans of humane but twisty thrillers with deep personal stakes. QR codes throughout the text connect readers to photos online of the novel’s locations, though checking them diminishes a key quality of a thriller: narrative momentum.
Takeaway: Sibling assassins face hard choices when one falls for their biotech exec target.
Comparable Titles: Barry Eisler’s John Rain series, Greg Hurwitz’s Orphan X series.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
