Review: The Reluctant Assassin

The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



In Victorian London Riley is apprenticed to an illusionist and assassin. He is taken on his first assassination and if he does not complete this job, he will be killed himself. While his trainer, Albert Garrick, is watching the murder, Riley hesitates and the victim wakes. Unfortunately, this victim has his own magic and vanishes, taking Riley with him.

In modern London Chevron Savano has been assigned to the FBI’s Witness Anonymous Relocation Program (WARP) as a punishment for messing up an undercover assignment in Los Angeles. She believes it is just a babysitting job because nothing ever happens and the capsule they guard hasn’t been used in 30 years. Unfortunately, the capsule is activated in Victorian London and Riley and his would be victim arrive in modern London. This capsule is actually a wormhole connecting the two time periods. Shortly after this transport Chevie learns the truth of this department and is on the run from Garrick. He has also come through the wormhole, but he has been altered. He is not only an evil assassin; he possesses all of the knowledge of the scientist who tried to stop him.

With Victorian ruthlessness and modern knowledge, Garrick wants his apprentice back and the timekey from Chevie. This timekey is the only thing that can get Garrick back to Victorian London where he plans to “invent” new technology and dominate the world. The Reluctant Assassin jumps from period to period and person to person to give the reader the heart pumping feeling of a true chase. Colfer bring depth to the characters with back story and lost memories thrown in at vital moments. Although this is a series I can see novella stories sprouting up as part of these back stories and memories. Readers of Colfer’s Artemis Fowl series will not be disappointed in this new series.




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