The Hit List : Book

Despite a derivative plot, The Hit List has a solid backbone derived from author (and ex-SAS) Ryan's explicit knowledge of death-laden situations. Armed with the vivid technical detail of raw experience, danger is omnipresent, evaded only by finely tuned intuition and training, rather than by well-worn cliché. This is marvellously evident in Neil Slater, the Ex-SAS serviceman whose chances at a peaceful life are shattered when he is approached by elite assassination squad "The Cadre", who need his anti-social skills in dispatching "enemies of the State". Slater is under no illusion about what he is and, as such, is a perfect vessel for Ryan's hardened brand of realism, thrust into situations where each act of violence is measured to provoke an exact response. Ryan's tale translates well to audio format, losing little of the tension and thrills that are so abundant in the novel. Christian Rodska's gravelly tones and enthusiastic reading certainly evoke the tension a tale like this demands. However, you might question Rodska's penchant for providing all the characters with their relevant accents. Mostly, it works, but it's unfortunate that his interpretation of an Eastern European woman sounds like a splicing of Monty Python and Zsa Zsa Gabor. However, that's forgivable, hardly detracting from this gripping, intense glimpse into an all-too-possible underworld of intrigue and extreme violence. --Danny GraydonRead More