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THE FACE OF THE ASSASSIN
by David Lindsey
Warner Books, April 2004
416 pages
$25.95
ISBN: 044652929X


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Paul Bern has lived through tragedy and is at peace. A recent widower, he has made peace with the death of his wife and permanent injury to his goddaughter. He has adapted and he is living a quite content life making his living as a forensic sculptor helping law enforcement identify people by the facial sculptures he makes out of victim's skeletons.

One day a stranger comes to his study with a skull asking him if he would create a likeness to go with the bones. With extreme curiosity he accepts the assignment. When he finishes, life as he knows it will change dramatically. Everything he knows as truth will go out the window and he will not even have an opportunity to process it. His fate will not be his own and time is running out.

David Lindsey's latest novel is an intense and suspenseful novel that takes its time to get to the heart of the matter but manages anyway to catch readers' attention. The protagonist gets drafted into a covert counter-terrorism operation for which he cannot back out. Paul is the only one who can save the operation, but there are things to consider. Why should he do it? Why should he care? Couldn't they just take no for an answer? Couldn't they just abort the mission? Not if they have anything to say about it. If they have to put Bern in an uncomfortable situation to meet their demands, so be it.

The novel's main storyline is way over the top, dealing with a pure escapist tale mixed with some of the realism of today's world. It involves drugs, corruption, terrorism, and murder. Here are people you do not mess with, but they will use a cub scout like Paul Bern in order to salvage their mission.

The main thing that makes this book aggravating is its take on character development. The author tries hard in expressing with each one of the main characters, including at the very beginning of the novel with the relationship of Bern and his goddaughter. It is a touching story but then it is wrenched away from readers when the mysterious woman comes to his studio and begins the fantastic story.

Regardless of that the novel catches up with its suspense as well as an unexpected twist near the end of the book. It is an entertaining book, however with such a great start that acts more like a tease, one's expectations are diminished. If you are looking for action this is a great book, as for character development you might want to try REQUIEM FOR A GLASS HEART. Lindsey has a lot to offer.

Reviewed by Angel L. Soto, May 2004

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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