Warner Books, February 2005

Reviewed by Barbara Fielding

 

THE PRESIDENT'S ASSASSIN opens with Sean Drummond ordered to accompany FBI profiler Jennifer Margold to a house in a Virginia suburb with six dead bodies inside. The President's Chief of Staff, his wife and four of his security staff are dead. The killers leave a note behind informing investigators that this is just the beginning -- "the president will be history in the next two days."

 

Drummond is currently "on loan -- or maybe banished" from the Army to work in the Office of Special Projects for the CIA. As the FBI, CIA and White House form a joint task force to discover who the killers are, Drummond is partnered with the beautiful Agent Margold. Right away he senses this case will spell disaster for those assigned to work it. Margold says, "They need two sacrificial assholes to take the fall, in the event this thing doesn't work out and the President dies." Drummond wants out, but Margold promises to watch his backside if he will watch hers. It's a complicated partnership with lethal consequences if they fail.

 

They soon discover there is a $100 million dollar bounty offered online to anyone who kills the President. Drummond and Margold find themselves in a race against the killers, who always seem to be ahead of the curve despite the vast resources of the US government. Could there be forces from inside the government itself aiding the terrorists?

 

THE PRESIDENT'S ASSASSIN is Brian Haig's new political thriller featuring Sean Drummond. Drummond's abrasive attitude and smart mouth keep him moving from one department of government service to the next. He's a heroic character who ultimately ends up ticking off everyone he works with. This time we follow Drummond inside the highest levels of the CIA and FBI.  Haig reveals to readers his version of the law enforcement rivalries and what it might be like if terrorists were to strike against our public leaders. It's a terrifying plot that will keep readers up long into the night. 

 

This is a spellbinding read, but, I'm sad to say, it's not my favorite Sean Drummond novel. In this story, as with the others, Drummond has a weakness for women -- usually the wrong woman. It would be great if he could show some growth in this dysfunctional area of his life. I also missed his sidekick Imelda Pepperfield, who does not appear in this novel. Overall this is a grim story and the subtle hints of who the true villain might be, and the ultimate motives for their killing spree, left me dissatisfied. But not dissatisfied enough to give up on this series. I am still eager for another story from this author and better times for this character. This is Haig's fifth installment in Sean Drummond's series.

 

March 2005