Description:
Nicholai Hel-genius, mystic, and the perfect, formidable assassin-was first introduced to readers in Shibumi, the classic #1 bestseller by master storyteller Trevanian. Now, critically-acclaimed author Don Winslow continues Hel's story for the first time in this all-new, blockbuster thriller. It is the fall of 1951 and the Korean War is raging. Twenty-six year-old Nicholai Hel has spent the last three years in solitary confinement at the hands of the Americans. Hel is a master of hoda korosu or naked kill, fluent in seven languages, and has honed extraordinary proximity sense-an extra-awareness of the presence of danger. He has the skills to be the world's most fearsome assassin and now the CIA needs him. The Americans offer Hel freedom, money, and a neutral passport in exchange for one small service: go to Beijing and kill the Soviet Union's Commissioner to China. It's almost certainly a suicide mission, but Hel accepts. Now he must survive chaos, violence, suspicion, and betrayal while trying to achieve his ultimate goal of satori-the possibility of true understanding and harmony with the world.
Brief description:
Don Winslow is the author of nineteen, award-winning, international bestsellers-including the #1 international bestseller The Cartel, The Power of the Dog, Savages and The Winter of Frankie Machine. Savages was made into a critically acclaimed film by three-time Oscar winner Oliver Stone. The Cartel is scheduled to begin production next year by master filmmaker Ridley Scott and 20th Century Fox. A former investigator, anti-terrorist trainer, and trial consultant, Winslow lives in California.
Review Quotes:
A home run...carefully choreographed, bare-knuckled action...elegant writing, a mature, confident narrative, and characters so real you can almost touch them on the page...Winslow has done the creator of Shibumi and the Nicholai Hel character proud.
-- "David Baldacci, #1 New York Times bestselling author"