This one has Echo team doing an extraction of US hostages in Iran and as soon as they get out he has to go back in for a second mission. But he finds backup from a new ally. Granted the group she works for is known by Mr Church, just not Joe. As they work together to stop the nukes from going off, the reader finds out more about this ally and the people she comes from. This one does have flashbacks telling of the founding of the group of the bad guys. And the new group is very secretive for good reason. A great story and leaves the reader wanting more. ( )

Great beach read. ( )

Overall, this is a fascinating world that Maberry is building. And I've gotta say, his vampires are very cool. I also enjoyed the whole thing about the Sabbatarians, considering I was also born on a Saturday.

In fact, really, the only thing I kind of hate about these books (aside from at least four typos/grammatical errors/goofs) is the women.

Don't get me wrong, Maberry writes some fairly badass women, but seriously, does every single damn one of the, with the exception of Aunt Sallie, have to be not just cute, not just beautiful, but absolutely drop-dead gorgeous? Why? Is this some sort of fantasy to have the hottest badass women? Circe O'Tree is apparently so beautiful that no one takes the poor dear serious, instead, all the men can't shut down their groins and end up hitting on her uncontrollably. Lydia, one of the DMS team members, looks like Jennifer Lopez, but has that Michelle Rodriguez tough girl sneer. And now Violin, presumably Joe's new love interest, is also gorgeous.

And yet, at no time does Maberry go to any lengths to describe how drop-dead gorgeous any of the guys are. This is the only reason this book didn't get a five-star rating.

Gotta say though, he backed off on the real-world celebrity drop ins this time, thank God. They're annoying, though, I think, none more annoying than in the last book when U2's Bono actually made Joe some tea. Ah-noying. ( )

I'm glad Maberry went back to the supernatural. This story was almost as crazy as the first book. I think Joe gives the best synopsis:

In my trade, confidence is built on a platform whose legs are made up of good intelligence, continuous training, proper equipment, and field support. I had a sick dog, a dead man’s gun, a stolen briefcase, a vampire hunter’s stake in my belt, and a cell phone; and I was walking down a street in Tehran less than a day after breaking three political prisoners out of jail. I was involved in several murders and had left sufficient physical evidence behind to convict me on enough charges to lock me up until I was a thousand years old. Or enough to have me put against a wall.

Oh, yeah, and there were seven hidden nuclear bombs and somehow vampires were tied up in that.

My life used to be a lot less complicated.

Assissin's Code is the fourth book in the Joe Ledger series by Jonathan Maberry. This has to be one of the roughest 48 hours in Joe's life. Poor Ghost too! It seems like both of them kept getting the crap beat out of them as they attempt to make sense of an insane situation. The action is heart poundingly relentless making for the first time I seriously thought Joe wouldn't survive even though I know there are 6 more books in the series.

Violin and ArcLight are a great additions to the cast. Anger these ladies at your own risk! I can't wait to see how their organization works with the DMS in future books and how Joe's relationship with Violin progresses. They would make a nearly unstoppable pair. The implication of Nicodemus leaves a lot of room for to explore the mythology being created in this world. It was very satisfying for a couple of the villains we love to hate to get their comeuppance. Mr. Church continues to be his enigmatic best and it was heartwarming that Rudy has found some happiness in his life.

Ray Porter's narration of the audio book is brilliant as always. It won't be long before book 5 cycles in to my listening rotation. ( )

This one was better then the second and third. ( )