ASSASSINS Read online

  ALSO BY

  MIKE BOND

  Holy War

  The Last Savanna

  House of Jaguar

  Saving Paradise

  Killing Maine

  Tibetan Cross

  CRITICS’ PRAISE FOR MIKE BOND

  “The master of the existential thriller.” – BBC

  “One of America’s best thriller writers.” – Culture Buzz

  “One of the 21st Century’s most exciting authors... spellbinding readers with a writing style that pits hard-boiled, force of nature-like characters against politically adept, staccato-paced plots.” – Washington Times

  “Bond never loses the reader’s attention... working that fatalistic margin where life and death are one and the existential reality leaves one caring only to survive.” − Sunday Oregonian

  “One of the best thriller writers, in the same league as Gerald Seymour and Frederick Forsyth.” – NetGalley Reviews

  “Mike Bond is not only an acclaimed novelist... His intellect and creativity dance together on the pages, braiding fiction into deeper truths about ourselves, our nature, our government, our history and our future.” – Where Truth Meets Fiction

  “Bond touches on the vast and eerie depths that lie under the thin crust of civilization and the base instinct within man to survive.” − Nottingham Observer (UK)

  “Mike Bond’s books are a national treasure.” – Art Zuckerman, WVOX

  Bond uses his gift for fiction to teach us hard truths about religion, human nature, and warfare.” – Masterful Book Reviews

  “Bond’s specialty in producing thrillers that editorialize human weakness and bring to light pressing world problems.” – Yahoo Reviews

  “A highly distinctive writer.” − Liverpool Daily Post (UK)

  “Each character is gradually laid bare so that there is no good or bad, nothing written judgmentally. It is as if Mike Bond is saying, this is the story, it is as it is, these are the people, nothing more, nothing less.” – Great Book Escapes

  Holy War

  “One of the best reads of 2014... A fast-paced, beautifully written, heart-breaking thriller.” – NetGalley Reviews

  “Mike Bond does it again – A gripping tale of passion, hostage-taking and war, set against a war-ravaged Beirut.” − Evening News (UK)

  “The suspense-laden novel has a never-ending sense of impending doom... The dual protagonists are laudable, not just for the missions they’ve undertaken, but for their emotional investments as well. But the book’s most remarkable character is Rosa... She represents the story’s cogent theme of peace achieved through hostile means... An unyielding tension leaves a lasting impression.” – Kirkus

  “A profound tale of war, written with grace and understanding by a novelist who thoroughly knows the subject... Literally impossible to stop reading...”− British Armed Forces Broadcasting

  “This is a terrific book that does not favor any side in this messed up Holy War, but shows the futility fighting something which can never be won... The smells, taste, noise, dust, and fear are communicated so clearly... a brutal and honest account that sets out to describe the war in the Middle East without leading the reader in any direction, giving each side a history of their own.” – Great Book Escapes

  “A supercharged thriller set in the hell hole that was Beirut... Evokes the human tragedy behind headlines of killing, maiming, terrorism and political chicanery. A story to chill and haunt you.” − Peterborough Evening Telegraph (UK)

  “A rough, vivid window into the brutal reality of modern conflict... If you are looking to get a driver’s seat look at the landscape of modern conflict, holy wars, and the Middle East then this is the perfect book to do so.” – Masterful Book Reviews

  “Intense, chilling and unforgettable.”– Suncoast Reader’s Reviews

  “Eye-opening, terrifying and realistic, Mike Bond writes from the heart... I promise you, if you read Holy War, you will come away changed.” – Tometender Reviews

  “A pacy and convincing thriller with a deeper than usual understanding about his subject and a sure feel for his characters.” – Daily Examiner (UK)

  “A marvelous book – impossible to put down. A sense of being where few people have survived.” − London Broadcasting

  “This is a true saga that concentrates on a religious war where various factions fight for their own beliefs. Included in the thrills are terrorists, hostages, and enemies fighting in a place that simply cannot find peace... It will also provide a look into how peace can be achieved, how the innocents of the world can survive, and the passion that ignites just as fast as the exploding of a bomb.” – Suspense Magazine

  “A tangled web and an entertaining one. Action-filled thriller.” − Manchester Evening News (UK)

  “Short sharp sentences that grip from the start... A tale of fear, hatred, revenge, and desire, flicking between bloody Beirut and the lesser battles of London and Paris.” − Evening Herald (UK)

  “A novel about the horrors of war... a very authentic look at the situation which was Beirut.” − South Wales Evening Post (UK)

  “A stunning novel of love and loss, good and evil, of real people who live in our hearts after the last page is done... Unusual and profound.” − Greater London Radio

  The Last Savanna

  FIRST PRIZE, 2016, Los Angeles Book Festival: “One of the best books yet on Africa, a stunning tale of love and loss amid a magnificent wilderness and its myriad animals, and a deadly manhunt through savage jungles, steep mountains and fierce deserts as an SAS commando tries to save the elephants, the woman he loves and the soul of Africa itself.”

  “Tragic and beautiful, sentimental and ruthless, The Last Savannais a vast and wonderful book.” – NetGalley Reviews

  “One of the most realistic portrayals of Africa yet... expertly captures the ravenous, chaotic and frustrating battles raging across the continent... and paints a vivid picture of life in the savanna. Dynamic, heart-breaking and timely to current events, Bond’s latest book is a must-read.” – Yahoo Reviews

  “Exciting, action-packed... A nightmarish vision of Africa.” − Manchester Evening News (UK)

  “The novel is sheer intensity, depicting the immense, arid land and never-ending scenes of people trekking across it... The villains are so strongly developed... but it’s the volatile nature of nature itself that gives the story its greatest distinction... Will make readers sweat with its relentless pace.” – Kirkus

  “A powerful love story set in the savage jungles and deserts of East Africa.” − Daily Examiner (UK)

  “An intense and emotional story about the African wilderness... masterfully done... so many characters and themes that come into this, it’s amazing... The Last Savanna is intense, beautiful and completely captures the powerful emotion in this story.” – RealityLapse Reviews

  “A manhunt through crocodile-infested jungle, sun-scorched savannah, and impenetrable mountains as a former SAS man tries to save the life of the woman he loves but cannot have.” − Evening Telegraph (UK)

  “A fast-paced action novel set in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia... an intense and personal portrayal of the beauty and violence of Africa, from the brutal slaughter of iconic wildlife species, the stunning wildness of the landscape, and the growth of terrorism.” – Out There Monthly

  “Pulsating with the sights, sounds, and dangers of wild Africa, its varied languages and peoples, the harsh warfare of the northern deserts and the hunger of denied love.” − Newton Chronicle (UK)

  “A gripping thriller.” − Liverpool Daily Post (UK)

  “You could feel the action, adventure, and thrill. The action, animals, characters were all real, the fact that the challenges faced by Africa is highlighted in the story made it more interesting to follow
. Bringing us between nature and greed, men been pushed to devour nature because of their lost love. The book made me realize adventure could be found in almost everything in life.” – BookFreez

  “The imagery was so powerful and built emotions so intense that I had to stop reading a few times to regain my composure.” − African Publishers’ Network

  “An unforgettable odyssey into the wilderness, mysteries, and perils of Africa... A book to be cherished and remembered.” − Greater London Radio

  “The central figure is not human; it is the barren, terrifying landscape of Northern Kenya and the deadly creatures who inhabit it.” − Daily Telegraph (UK)

  “An entrancing, terrifying vision of Africa. A story that not only thrills but informs... Impossible to set aside or forget.” – BBC

  “The Last Savanna is shot through with images of the natural world at its most fearsome and most merciful. With his weapons, man is a conqueror – without them he is a fugitive in an alien land... A thoroughly enjoyable read that comes highly recommended.” − Nottingham Observer (UK)

  “The opening of the book alone is so beautifully written that it was hard not to fall instantly into the story. It definitely feels like you are right there in Africa... the kind of book where just about anyone can enjoy it because it encompasses so much and is placed in such a beautiful and yet dangerous setting.” – Exploring All Genres

  “The Last Savanna is an unflinching look at the beauty and violence of Africa, the horror of the slaughter of the great beasts, the delicate balance of tribal life, the growth of terrorism and the timeless landscape. Its insights into how elephant poaching and drug sales are used to fund Islamic terrorist activities by Al Qaeda offshoots like Al-Shabaab are shockingly relevant and little known.” – Insatiable Readers

  “Each of the characters, both man and beast is both the hunter and the hunted, literally and figuratively, and the tension in the novel begins in the first pages and clutches the reader in its grasp until the end... The violence is unsheathed and unforgiving, and the trek across the savanna escalates into a feeling of near-insanity, the characters confusing reality with their inner demons, clarity and madness only a breath apart, hope dancing just out of reach on the horizon. Bond expertly draws in the reader, using the brutal beauty of Africa to show the blurry line between humanity and the animal world, letting the readers question for themselves which is the most savage. Readers will find similarities to the emotional tension and themes in William Golding’s The Lord of the Flies, and The Last Savanna sheds light on the dark corners of Africa — and mankind.” – Angela Amman Reviews

  “The Last Savanna is an unflinching look at the beauty and violence of Africa, the horror of the slaughter of the great beasts, the delicate balance of tribal life, the growth of terrorism and the timeless landscape.” – Book Binge

  “There were many parts that set this book apart from other books about Africa, but most notably the characters and beautiful writing... The plot was strong before the love element was introduced, but after that I found myself having a difficult time putting the book down... Although the plot and characters are strong throughout the book, I thought that the strongest point for this book would be the writing. There were numerous times throughout the book where I paused in my reading and thought to myself, “Wow, that was a really beautiful sentence”. And while the sentences were beautiful on their own, together they painted a wondrous picture of Africa and a beautiful wilderness... I think it’s worth mentioning that the start of this book is really strong and unique. – Book Reviews

  “From the opening page maintains an exhilarating pace until the closing line... A highly entertaining and gripping read.” – East African Wild Life Society

  House of Jaguar

  “A riveting thriller of murder, politics, and lies.” − London Broadcasting

  “Tough and tense thriller.” − Manchester Evening News (UK)

  “A high-octane story rife with action, from U.S. streets to Guatemalan jungles... Bond’s kinetic novel abounds with intense scenes... The characters are fully limned... Not surprisingly, the novel ends with a shock, one that might have a few readers gasping.” – Kirkus

  “A thoroughly amazing book... And a terrifying depiction of one man’s battle against the CIA and Latin American death squads.” – BBC

  “There are not enough words to describe how outstanding and entertaining this book is. Intriguing, exciting, captivating, sexy... absolutely incredible... a great thriller.” – NetGalley

  “Vicious thriller of drugs and revolution in the wilds of Guatemala, with the adventurer hero, aided by a woman doctor, facing a crooked CIA agent. The climax is among the most horrifying I have ever read.” − Liverpool Daily Post (UK)

  “A riveting story where even the good guys are bad guys, set in the politically corrupt and drug infested world of present-day Central America.” − Middlesborough Evening Gazette (UK)

  “Based upon Bond’s own experiences in Guatemala... With detailed descriptions of actual jungle battles and manhunts, vanishing rain forests and the ferocity of guerrilla war, House of Jaguar also reveals the CIA’s role in both death squads and drug running, twin scourges of Central America.” − Newton Chronicle (UK)

  “Bond grips the reader from the very first page. An ideal thriller for the beach, but be prepared to be there when the sun goes down.” − Herald Express (UK)

  Saving Paradise

  (Pono Hawkins Book 1)

  “An action-packed, must read novel... taking readers behind the alluring façade of Hawaii’s pristine beaches and tourist traps into a festering underworld of murder, intrigue and corruption... Saving Paradise is a powerful editorial against the cancerous trends of crony capitalism and corrupt governance.” – Washington Times

  “A complex, entertaining... lusciously convoluted story.” – Kirkus

  “Saving Paradise will change you... It will call into question what little you really know, what people want you to believe you know and then hit you with a deep wave of dangerous truths... Saving Paradise is a thrill ride to read and pulls you in and out of plots until you don’t know who to trust or what to do any more than the character. You trust no one, you keep going, hoping not to get caught before figuring out what is happening.” – Where Truth Meets Fiction

  “Saving Paradise is an absolutely fabulous book... a wonderful book.” – Art Zuckerman, WVOX

  “Saving Paradise is a rousing crime thriller – but it is so much more. Pono Hawkins is a dedicated environmentalist, a native of Hawaii who very much loves the islands but regrets what they have become. Pono is a thinker, a man who sees a bigger picture than most, and Mike Bond deftly (and painlessly) uses the character to instruct the reader in Hawaiian history from an insider’s point-of-view. Saving Paradise is a highly atmospheric thriller focusing on a side of Hawaiian life that tourists seldom see.” – Book Chase

  “An absolute page-turner” – Ecotopia Radio

  “An unusual thriller and a must-read.” – Fresh Fiction

  “He’s a tough guy, a cynic who describes the problems of the world as a bottomless pit, but can’t stop trying to solve them. He’s Pono Hawkins, the hero of Mike Bond’s new Hawaii-based thriller, Saving Paradise... an intersection of fiction and real life.” – Hawaii Public Radio

  “Mike Bond’s Saving Paradise is a complex murder mystery about political and corporate greed and corruption... Bond’s vivid descriptions of Hawaii bring Saving Paradise vibrantly to life. The plot is unique and the environmental aspect of the storyline is thought-provoking and informative. The story’s twists and turns will keep you guessing the killer’s identity right up until the very end.” – Book Reviews and More

  “From start to finish, I never put it down.” – Bucket List Publications

  “Saving Paradise is one heck of a crime novel/thriller and highly recommended!” – Crystal Book Reviews

  “You’re going to love the plot of this book.” – KFVE TV

  “A v
ery well written, fast-paced and exciting thriller.” – Mystery Maven Reviews

  Bond “incorporate(s) a lot of the reality of wind turbines and wind energy hype and fantasy into Saving Paradise along with a very spectacular character, former Special Forces veteran Pono Hawkins...” – Chris DeBello, Issues and Ideas, WNNJ-FM

  “A fast-paced thrill ride... The descriptions of Hawaii are beautiful and detailed.” – Romancebookworm’s Reviews

  “A wonderful book that everyone should read.” – Clear Channel Radio

  Killing Maine

  (Pono Hawkins Book 2)

  FIRST PRIZE, 2016, New England Book Festival: “A gripping tale of murders, manhunts and other crimes set amidst today’s dirty politics and corporate graft, an unforgettable hero facing enormous dangers as he tries to save a friend, protect the women he loves, and defend a beautiful, endangered place.”

  “Another stellar ride from Bond; checking out Pono’s first adventure isn’t a prerequisite, but this will make readers want to.” – Kirkus

  “The suspense, mystery, and intrigue will keep you on the edge of your seat.” – Goodreads

  “The action is exciting, and a surprise awaits over each new page... Bond is clearly one of the master authors for thrillers of this century.” – NetGalley Reviews

  “A work of compelling fiction... Very highly recommended.” – Midwest Book Review

  “Bond tackles many important social and environmental issues in a fast-paced, politically charged plot with a passionate main character. Killing Maine is a twisting mystery with enough suspicious characters and red herrings to keep you guessing. It’s also a dire warning about the power of big industry and a commentary on our modern ecological responsibilities. A great read for the socially and environmentally conscious mystery lover.” – Honolulu Star-Advertiser

  “Killing Maine is quite a ride for those who love good crime thrillers. But, too, like its predecessor, it is much more than just another rousing crime thriller. This is another of Mike Bond’s environmental eye-openers that will leave readers a lot wiser about alternative energy plans, state and federal politics, and the huge profits that are being stolen from the pockets of American taxpayers by the scam artists who often surround an industry like this one. I can’t recommend this one strongly enough.” – Book Chase