Assassination Protocol was a fast paced, high stakes, sci-fi romp that feels like the beginning of a wildly bingeable series!
This book throws us into the action from page one! Nolan Garrett has been given the task of taking out a key player in the cities drug ring; no easy feat when you are reliant on technology to make sure you get out of these situations alive. Lucky for us, Nolan is Cerberus, a highly trained, highly capable assassin of this worlds Government gifted with a high tech suit and incredible skill.
This job should have been easy, kill the bad guy, get the pay check and pick up the next contract. If only it were that simple. Nolan is thrown into a world of intricate mafia-esk politics, his name on the lips of powerful players who want him dead and an organisation he thought he could trust. All of this before he finds a dishevelled ex-solider high as a kite and in desperate need of help on his doorstep. Faced with powerful cartels, moral obligations and a drug filled past that can’t seem to leave him alone, Nolan will have to dig deep to save not only himself, but everyone he holds dear.
This book was a blast! Peloquin delivers non-stop action while giving us a good look at the inner workings of a complicated main character. I was entertained and pleasantly surprised by how deep the conversations surrounding the main character got in a short, sharp book one built for entertainment. The author doesn’t shy away from some harder topics while keeping us on the edge of our seat. Although I would argue we only scratch the surface and get a taste of what the side characters and wider world has to offer, we are still introduced to disability rep, struggles with addiction and the need to be a decent human being in the face of dire circumstances.
I really enjoyed the inventive technology, the main characters internal good-guy dialogue and the underbelly of this world coming out in explosive snippets. Let’s start off with the tech and an AI that is actually helpful! Nolan doesn’t go anywhere without his powerful and extremely handy AI in his ear, from powering vehicles to turning his wheelchair into a weapon! Is there anything they can’t do! I enjoyed that the author has given us a good mix of classic sci-fi weaponry with his own original flare (did I mention the wheelchair?!?), it was really, really cool.
Next up, Nolan as a main character. If Harry Dresden and Rohan from the Hybrid Helix series had a lovechild, you would get Nolan. His dry tone and underlying good guy nature had me wanting to know what actions he would take next and trust that whatever these were, his heart was in the right place. Nolan is a character who has gone through hell, but he refuses to let it hold him back. I get the sense he would love a life living one contract to the next, but he can’t help but be drawn back into the intricacies of world hell bent on taking out the weak. Ultimately, he is driven by his desire to see his people and his city safe. Which, I suppose for an assassin is quite noble.
Finally, the world. It’s dirty, it’s grungy, it feels like a cyberpunk fever dream with gang wars, brothels and everything in between. I had a blast traversing the streets, travelling over rooftops and feeling like danger was at every corner. The author gives us some super cool imagery that makes this world feel immersive, skilfully using familiar scenes while also being creative giving these streets and even Nolan’s home a real-life atmosphere.
I had a great time with this series starter and have the next two ready to go! If you are a fan of military sci-fi, bookish popcorn and a hard done by protagonist with his heart in the right place, give this one a go!
Keen to know more about the author? Check out his interview with us!
Love this book!