A propulsive narrative filled with action, intrigue, and ethical tension
The President’s Assassin by Alex Contorno is a taut, high-stakes political thriller that blends espionage, moral conflict, and breakneck suspense. CIA Deputy Section Chief Roger Commer is thrown into crisis when undercover operative Dean Page uncovers a terrorist plot by the extremist group Nightwatch to strike Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, threatening thousands of U.S. troops. But President William Seibert, riding high after securing a lucrative deal to extract Afghanistan’s natural resources, dismisses the warning and threatens Roger for pushing the issue. As Roger and Dean dig deeper, they uncover evidence of a Nightwatch sleeper cell just outside Washington, D.C., escalating the stakes from battlefield to homeland. With the Vice President reluctantly enlisted to their cause, Roger faces a devastating moral dilemma: stand by as a reckless president endangers American lives, or take matters into his own hands. The closer the attacks loom, the clearer it becomes that saving the country might demand sacrificing the man elected to lead it. Contorno’s novel delivers a propulsive narrative filled with action, intrigue, and ethical tension, asking readers to consider the perilous balance between loyalty, justice, and survival in the volatile world of politics and power.
Alex Contorno has a flair for action and suspense that is present on every page of this brilliant novel. That frenetic style and sense of pacing result in a white-knuckle thriller that feels like it was ripped from today’s headlines. The terrorism thriller subgenre can feel a little dry and repetitive these days in the hands of some authors, but Contorno masterfully weaves an old-school style of espionage and politics into the relentless suspense of a modern blockbuster, balancing action, intelligence detail, and moral complexity to brilliant effect. Readers are sure to be gripped by the big stunts and exciting twists, but it’s the characters that you’ll ultimately stay for and get totally hooked on. Right from the first moments of meeting him, Roger Commer is a compelling hero caught in an impossible bind that you want to see him figure his way out of. He’s painted with bold descriptive terms and vibrant dialogue to put him firmly in the spotlight of every conflict. The Nightwatch terrorist network becomes a worthy adversary for his wits, chillingly believable and realized without relying on typical clichés or cheesy references. Equally impressive is President Seibert, a disturbingly timely antagonist looming over the events of the novel with a constant tension that keeps readers on a knife-edge. The President’s Assassin is a fast-paced, tightly written, and impossible to put down read that raises provocative questions about loyalty, duty, and justice under the surface. It’s certainly highly recommended and a must-read for fans of political and espionage thrillers everywhere to enjoy.
