Book 3 (of 52) – The Fifth Assassin

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The Fifth Assassin – Brad Meltzer

When I finished Brad Meltzer’s last book 2 years ago, I noted that the ending seemed rife for a follow-up.  His latest picks up the threads left behind and strings together another tale of Beecher White, the latest member of the fabled Culper Ring, as he tries to protect the man who has vowed to take him down: the President of the United States.

Meltzer again follows his formula of the little man going up against the Washington DC power structure, but it once again works for him.  The one knock I have against this book is that it assumes that you have read The Inner Circle, and read it recently.  This one throws you right into the action with little in the way of introduction for the returning characters.  Once you catch up with what’s going on, though, it is full speed ahead.

Judging from the ending, the story of Beecher White is destined to be a trilogy, so it looks like there will be another two year wait before we get the end of the story.

Book 8 (of 52) – The Inner Circle

The Inner Circle - Brad Meltzer

Brad Meltzer returns with another tale of an ordinary guy who gets swept up into an extraordinary situation.  This time, the guy is a archivist for the National Archives and the situation involves a girl from his past, the President, the secret cabal of insiders protecting his secrets, and the other secret cabal protecting the nation’s secrets.

For a 450 page book, this was a quick and exciting read.  Meltzer certainly has a formula, but it is one he uses to great effect.  The ending certainly seems to leave things open for a follow-up, which, according to Meltzer’s appearance on the Nerdist podcast, we have to wait at least 2 years for.  Personally, I think it is worth the wait.

Taking an overall look at the 52 books in 52 weeks challenge, I have once again fallen considerably behind.  But, I have already tied last year’s mark of 8 books, so I am far ahead of the pace.  I think I’ll end up somewhere around 20, which isn’t great, but better than the 1-3 books per year I’d been reading before the challenge.