Book Review: Assassins Anonymous | Rob Hart

Have I mentioned that I study ideological organizations? My first graduate assistantship was actually comparing violent and nonviolent ideological organizations in terms of what differentiates mobilization towards violence (more on that some other time, perhaps). Anyways, an ideological organization is merely one where people join due to a shared core belief system. One of the nonviolent organizations that I found fascinating was Alcoholics Anonymous. This is an organization that does it right—from hierarchy, new membership, rituals, and how they engage members, AA is an example of the amazing side of an ideologically-based organization.

I found the idea of Assassins Anonymous fascinating and kind of fun! In Rob Hart’s novel, Assassins Anonymous, one of the world’s best killers-for-hire is going sober. But it seems someone doesn’t appreciate this new higher road he’s on…

What is Assassins Anonymous about?

In this clever, surprising, page-turner, the world’s most lethal assassin gives up the violent life only to find himself under siege by mysterious assailants. It’s a kill-or-be-killed situation, but the first option is off the table. What’s a reformed hit man to do?

Mark was the most dangerous killer-for-hire in the world. But after learning the hard way that his life’s work made him more monster than man, he left all of that behind, and joined a twelve-step group for reformed killers.

When Mark is viciously attacked by an unknown assailant, he is forced on the run. From New York to Singapore to London, he chases after clues while dodging attacks and trying to solve the puzzle of who’s after him. All without killing anyone. Or getting killed himself. For an assassin, Mark learns, nonviolence is a real hassle.

What did I think?

Enter the mind of one of the greatest Assassins in the world, Mark. A former Navy SEAL, Mark was recruited into a deep state organization called the Agency to work as a hitman. It isn’t long before Mark (who is known in the assassin’s community as Pale Horse) gains a reputation as the best hired assassin in the world. Until one Christmas, Mark decides he will quit working as an assassin cold turkey.

If you’re thinking that shady organizations like the Agency don’t take kindly to one of their hitmen deciding to quit, you’d be right. I was surprised Mark made it nearly a year into sobriety (from killing) without more hiccups. Perhaps it is because of the anonymity of being an assassin (something that is probably even more anonymous than membership in Assassins Anonymous). The concept of a support group to coach people through ceasing to kill others is both comical and dark.

Even more interesting was the discussion over who should qualify for membership. Specifically, the group caters to people who killed for a living and want to get out of that line of work. But what about if someone who killed on their own wants to join? Should serial killers not be admitted because of the nature of their killing, and what really makes them different? Hart explores the nature of killing as an addiction, and the argument is made that anyone wanting to get “clean” from engaging in murder is inherently a good thing. But not everyone feels that way (this is honestly a minor piece of the plot, but one that fascinated me).

The story kicks off with Mark nearly a year into his sobriety from killing for hire, when a Russian man stabs him and flees the scene. Mark makes it to see a woman named Astrid, who is a doctor and surgeon who also works “for hire” for those who may not want to go through traditional medical services. Mark returns home but finds his apartment on fire. It’s clear someone is after him, and a message passed along from the Russian hitman makes it clear that Astrid is also in danger. Trained killers are not easy to deal with when one has committed to no longer killing!

It worked well to have Astrid on the run with Mark, because it gave him someone to talk to so we weren’t exclusively in his head. I enjoyed the flashbacks to Mark’s pre-sobriety and entry into AA to be some of the most compelling chapters from a character perspective. The central tension for me was less to do with Astrid, and more to do with Mark’s situation. Yes, Mark needs to find out who is trying to kill him. But the Russian’s point stands that Mark’s former boss (the Agency) will not let a trained assassin just part ways amicably. How is Mark going to get away from whoever is trying to kill him and go on to lead a life where he isn’t constantly looking over his shoulder?

Some good twists and the right amount of camp make this an engaging and darkly humorous read. I loved the premise and the inner workings of Assassins Anonymous. I could see a sequel to this book easily, but I also would love a prequel where we see much more of Mark before his sobriety!

How is the audiobook?

This book completely works over audiobook. Narrated by Neill Thorne, Mark’s dark humor and thoughts come to life. I think this is the sort of book that you don’t need to do Audio to truly engage, but it helps due to the dark comedy and often absurd context.

If you liked Assassins Anonymous, what should you read next?

About the Author

Rob Hart is the author of the USA TODAY bestseller Assassins Anonymous, as well as The Paradox Hotel, a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award that was named one of the best books of 2022 by NPR, and The Warehouse, which sold in more than 20 languages around the world.

He is also the author of the Ash McKenna crime series, the short story collection Take-Out, the novella Scott Free with James Patterson, and the comic book Blood Oath with Alex Segura.

Rob is the former publisher for MysteriousPress.com and was the class director at LitReactor. He has also worked as a political reporter and the communications director for a politician, and was a commissioner for the city of New York.

Rob has published more than 30 short stories. He received a Derringer Award nomination for best flash fiction story, and his short story “Take-Out” appeared in Best American Mystery Stories 2018. He received honorable mention in Best American Mystery Stories 2015, 2017, and 2022.

He also wrote “Due on Batuu”, a short story set in the Star Wars universe, as part of From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back.

Non-fiction articles have been featured at sites like LitReactor, Salon, The Daily Beast, Criminal Element, LitHub, CrimeReads, Birth.Movies.Death, and Electric Literature.

His next is Dark Space, co-authored with Alex Segura, due in October 2024.

He lives in Staten Island, N.Y. He is represented by Josh Getzler of HG Literary.

Thank you to Penguin Random House and Putnam for my copy. Opinions are my own.