Yevgenni Anatolevich Tarankov, known as the tarantula, is out to turn back the clock in the new Russia and return to the good old days of communism. Ex-CIA officer Kirk McGarvey knows that any chance for Russian democracy rests on his sholders--and on the bullet with the tarantula's name on it.

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From Library Journal

In the world of spy and counterspy, heroes and villains have long memories and may bring their personal battles to the political and military playing fields. Thus, Hagberg's series hero, Kirk McGarvey (last seen in High Flight, LJ 9/1/95), finds himself facing some relatives of his earlier targets when he accepts an assignment to assassinate Tarankov, a hard-line Communist in Russia. Some of the old Soviet bears (Yeltsin, Gorbachev) are still alive, but Russia is spiraling downward. Merciless, ambitious, and well equipped, Tarankov is conquering the country city by city. McGarvey works his way across Europe, but his best plans may be foiled by the well-meaning intervention of his beloved daughter and his French mistress. Assassin is a cut above the competition, mostly because of Hagberg's gift for description, the rapid-fire plot, and the complex nature of his hero. Recommended.?Elsa Pendleton, Boeing Computer Support Svcs., Ridgecrest, Cal.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

This is Hagberg's twenty-fifth novel, counting the ones he wrote as Sean Flannery. Assassin is his sixth thriller featuring Kirk McGarvey, a former CIA agent whose specialty was assassinations during the cold war. Nearing 50, McGarvey now lives in Paris, where he stays in shape by running and swimming daily. Meanwhile, in Russia one Yevgenni Tarankov is close to coming to power; his goal is to return the nation to communism and rule as a despot. Tarankov must be assassinated by a foreigner, and McGarvey reluctantly accepts the assignment. There are some minor subplots and revelations (McGarvey learns that his parents were not spies for Russia but were set up), but the novel deals with Hagberg's usual good guy^-bad guy encounter, death being the final result. There's a little sex and gore and lots of action, the perfect formula for the perfect thriller. George Cohen

From Library Journal

In the world of spy and counterspy, heroes and villains have long memories and may bring their personal battles to the political and military playing fields. Thus, Hagberg's series hero, Kirk McGarvey (last seen in High Flight, LJ 9/1/95), finds himself facing some relatives of his earlier targets when he accepts an assignment to assassinate Tarankov, a hard-line Communist in Russia. Some of the old Soviet bears (Yeltsin, Gorbachev) are still alive, but Russia is spiraling downward. Merciless, ambitious, and well equipped, Tarankov is conquering the country city by city. McGarvey works his way across Europe, but his best plans may be foiled by the well-meaning intervention of his beloved daughter and his French mistress. Assassin is a cut above the competition, mostly because of Hagberg's gift for description, the rapid-fire plot, and the complex nature of his hero. Recommended.?Elsa Pendleton, Boeing Computer Support Svcs., Ridgecrest, Cal.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

This is Hagberg's twenty-fifth novel, counting the ones he wrote as Sean Flannery. Assassin is his sixth thriller featuring Kirk McGarvey, a former CIA agent whose specialty was assassinations during the cold war. Nearing 50, McGarvey now lives in Paris, where he stays in shape by running and swimming daily. Meanwhile, in Russia one Yevgenni Tarankov is close to coming to power; his goal is to return the nation to communism and rule as a despot. Tarankov must be assassinated by a foreigner, and McGarvey reluctantly accepts the assignment. There are some minor subplots and revelations (McGarvey learns that his parents were not spies for Russia but were set up), but the novel deals with Hagberg's usual good guy^-bad guy encounter, death being the final result. There's a little sex and gore and lots of action, the perfect formula for the perfect thriller. George Cohen

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