The Mark of the Assassin - Softcover

Silva, Daniel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0449225313 ISBN 13: 9780449225318

Publisher: Fawcett, 1999

Synopsis

When a terrorist bomb blows Flight 002 out of the sky off the East coast, there is only one chilling clue. A body found near the crash site bears the deadly calling card of an elusive, lethal assassin--three bullets to the face. Michael Osbourne of the CIA knows the markings. Personally.

Propelled by an obsession that threatens to consume his career, his family, his life, Osbourne is now hot on the assassin's trail. But in a world of shadows and lies, intrigue and cover-up, the man with a mission puts himself and his loved ones in the sights of the most ruthless, diabolical assassin on earth. . . .

About this title

Review

Bestselling novelist Daniel Silva (author of The Unlikely Spy) draws upon his experience as a foreign correspondent and a Washington journalist in The Mark of the Assassin. Set in London, Cairo, Amsterdam, and Washington, the story line follows CIA case agent Michael Osbourne as he attempts to locate the terrorists who shot down an airliner off the coast of Long Island. Osbourne has two main antagonists: Delaroche, a KGB-trained expert assassin ordered to kill the handful of people who know the truth, including Osbourne, and the corrupt political culture of Washington, which ominously stymies him at every turn. There's a love story at the core of this book, as well as a brave attempt by Osbourne to reconcile a mystery in his past with a present he has not fully accepted. The prose is slick, and readers will find themselves racing through these pages as the body count grows and the conclusion nears. The Mark of the Assassin is a worthy effort from a rising star.

From the Back Cover

"Filled with the kind of dark passages that keep fans of spy thrillers guessing as they eagerly turn the pages . . . briskly suspenseful, tightly constructed, and full of well-rounded, believable characters . . . reminiscent of John le Carré's classic The Spy Who Came In from the Cold."
        --Richard Bernstein, The New York Times

"A first novel of remarkable ingenuity and daring that reignites our enthusiasm for World War II skullduggery. A book that will stick in your imagination long after you have figured out where all the pieces fit."

--Digby Diehl, Playboy

"In the mold of Robert Harris's Enigma, and every bit as good: a tense, well-crafted piece of storytelling. . . . Silva brings to life a tale of suspense that spirals its way to an evocative climax."
        --Peter Millar, The Times (London)

"Silva has clearly done his homework, mixing fact and fiction to delicious effect and building tension--with breathtaking double and triple turns of the plot."         

--J. D. Reed, People

"The World at War comes vividly alive. . . . A dandy tale."
        --John Katzenbach, The Washington Post Book World

"The best thriller of the new year. . . . Convoluted, engrossing, and full of deception, this one will keep you nailed throughout."        

--Peter Mergendahl, Rocky Mountain News

"A well-crafted World War II thriller that educates and entertains."
        --Steve Weinberg, Chicago Tribune

"A literate thriller, well researched and fast-moving." --Alix Madrigal, San Francisco Chronicle

Edition details

• Publisher: Fawcett
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0449225313
• ISBN 13: 9780449225318
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 432