There’s nothing like curling up to a great thriller novel and being drawn in to the plot twists, murder and mayhem. You want to feel like you’re part of the action and when it ends you want to feel satisfied yet, thirst for more. I think that last part is why thrillers tend to have sequels.
I received a copy of The Artisan – An Artistic Assassin Thriller and was greatly satisfied to receive everything I described and more.
For this addition of our author spotlight series I share my review and thoughts on the book in addition to a 5 quick questions interview with the talented author, Dyal Bailey.
The Artisan, a romantic suspense thriller opens with CIA agent Rafaela putting the cold and calculated finishing touches on yet another failed attempt at her kidnapping.
The action and suspense continues to build from there as she effortlessly goes through her daily routine fending the kidnappers off with the same ease the average person manages to squash a fly.
Rafaela, a biochemical assassin who makes her executions look like ‘natural’ deaths is one of the CIA’s most important assets and as a result is equally as wanted and needed by powerful corporations and crime families seeking even more power.
While she comes off as stiff in the beginning of the book, you get to see many sides of Rafaela as the story unfolds her passions, her fears and her regrets.
The other characters in the book may not have as much ink time but, they are equally developed. Most especially Gunter, a manic depressive, OCD assasin, who merges with his wry sense of humor and high quality taste to pull off his killing assignments.
The twist and turns the story takes as the calculated scramble to be the one left holding the most potent biochemical sample created leaves you turning page by page to see who will come out on top.
Through the madness there is, of course, room for romance as Rafaela comes face to face with her deepest passions and a lost love before abruptly being swept back into the world of murder, blackmail and betrayal.
This is a really an enjoyable book that you’ll have a hard time putting down. It’s a great story of love, greed and calculated plotting with plenty of laughter in between.
I do have to say that as I read, I would get a twinkle in my eye whenever Gunter, the assassin, was mentioned. Just reading him describe in detail what he was planning was hilarious. I had a perfect visual painted in my mind.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys thrillers with a bit of dark sense of humor sprinkled throughout and you even get a touch of romance.
The Artisan is the first in a series that the author is developing and I’m looking forward to the rest.
5 quick questions with author Dyal Bailey:
What are the last three books you read?
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks – I loved it. It was the perfect blend between an American style thriller and literary fiction.
Lee Child Without Fail – This read was a fun ride. Also a great American style thriller and Child never cheats the reader.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt – excellent characters. I liked this book which was given to me by a friend. It was lovely, though not normally my thing.
Who is your favorite author & why?
Mario Puzo is probably my favorite author, because his writing is plush and mesmerizing. He’s like a hypnotist.
He takes you away from this world like nobody else. And although I love reading him and I’m also very big on creating vivid characters, I write and format for a lot more speed. I’m more of a roller coaster.
What inspired you to become a writer?
I’ve been a seriously avid reader from a very young age and all my life I’ve been scribbling my thoughts into notebooks.
Describe The Artisan in 30 words or less.
The Artisan is a thriller with dark humor where Rafaela, the CIA’s biochemical assassin, takes a few days off to help her mentor, but unknowingly heads into a trap.
What other books have you written?
I’ve published a humor book called “FishGutting for Newlyweds” under a different name and I’m 25% of the way finished with book two in this Artistic Assassin Series.
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