Ex-Mossad assassin David Slaton is laying low with his wife and son when he is pulled back into the game by an assassination squad, with the sole clue being the name of a rising star in the French counterterrorism unit (Xavier Boland.) Meanwhile, a suicide bomber kills many in the sleepy town of Grenoble, dispatched by an unknown woman, with her own personal agenda. After seeing Boland, Slaton is sure he is an Arab terrorist he killed many years ago miraculously returned from the dead. Boland claims to be a twin sent to France while his brother was radicalized. However, Boland is playing a dangerous game with his handler, her bosses, and Slaton. The showdown at the end is pretty cool. Decent thriller, but should have been shorter and in the critical meeting with Boland's mother, someone should have caught that she served coffee before offering a second cup of tea. ( )

Israeli assassin David Slaton is sadly mistaken if he thinks he can retire and enjoy a peaceful life sailing the oceans and seas of the world with his wife and son. A four-man team is dispatched to the Philippines to murder him. Slaton has carefully avoided contact with the world outside his sailboat, so the ability of the assassins to determine his location means that powerful forces are behind the attempt. He concludes that he must investigate and neutralize the threat or future attempts will occur that will endanger not only him but also his wife and son.

Slaton’s investigation leads him to Paris. There the attacks on him continue and expand to include citizens at numerous locations throughout France. As the events unfold I particularly liked Larsen’s ability to humanize some of the terrorists. I found myself hoping for the survival and rehabilitation of some of the terrorists.

This is an intricately plotted book with numerous, plausible, twists and turns. Each is foreshadowed with careful attention to detail. Just when you think you have everything figured out, Assassin’s Code is guaranteed to surprise you again. ( )