The Ethical Assassin

Eccentric characters, vivid scenes, super suspenseful plot and a large dose of black humor. These elements alone make "The Ethical Assassin" an extremely compelling thriller. But Liss takes it one step further by exploring the ethics of killing for what at first seems like an insane reason, but as the arguments and drama unfolds, you feel might not be so insane, after all. I won't reveal what makes the assassin of the title, "ethical" (or arguably so). But I will say this book made me think seriously about the moral issues raised. Highly recommended.

Encyclopedia salesman Lem Altick had no idea a summer spent in sticky-stinky Florida going door to door in Trailor-Town to earn college money could turn deadly. But when two of his marks are shot dead just as they're handing him a downpayment, Altick knows his life has changed forever. Melford, the killer, offers Lem a deal: forget what he saw and everything's copacetic; rat Melford out and Lem goes down for the murders. What's a guy gonna do? Strangley, Lem finds himself drawn to Melford, a sensitive young man with a conscience, who can turn deadly on a dime. Melford, it seems, is quite charming for a killer, and claims he uses violence only as a last resort. He appoints himself Lem's watchdog and proves his docile nature. So why did Melford kill? He won't say. But Lem needs a protector. He's got a dirty cop sniffing his heels, some missing money to account for, and an employer and some co-workers questioning his every move. Something sinister and smelly is going on here, and Lem's covered in the stench of it. Will he survive? Once again, David Liss has scored a hit with THE ETHICAL ASSASSIN. A bit preachy, perhaps, but this book delivers a wallop. Liss has established himself as one of this country's best writers. I can't wait for his next one.

David Liss, so accomplished in his previous forte, the historical fiction, has penned a highly entertaining contemporary thriller that borders on the absurd in a style similar to Carl Hiassen. The story evolves in the relating of the experiences of 17 year old South Floridian, Lem Altick. Lem, a bright and perceptive young man had been accepted to Columbia University. Circumstances arose which left him $30,000 short of the tuition required. He was attempting to make money by selling encyclopedias door to door, with a mostly motley crew presently canvassing the vicinity of Jacksonville. Lem had apparently struck gold in a foul smelling trailer park known as Meadowbrook Grove. He was giving his best sales pitch to a sketchy looking couple named Karen and Bastard when suddenly someone bursts into the trailer and dispatches the couple with two gunshots to the head. This was Lem's startling introduction to the "ethical assassin", the bleached blonde, ghoulish looking Melford Kean. Kean wishing to assure Lem's silence planted clues that would implicate him should Lem squeal. Kean, a rational psychotic was unwilling to harm Lem and recruited him to help him cover his tracks concerning his actions. We soon learn that Melford is a fervent animal rights activist and vegetarian. All through their interactions, Melford tries to sway Lem to his particular ideology. Meadowbrook Grove, it turns out, is a separate principality governed by corrupt mayor and police chief Jim Doe, who had set up the trailer park as a speed trap. The mullet coiffed, dentally challenged Doe is also a front man for the local enterprises ensconsed in Meadowbrook Grove owned by Miami Vice attired, borderline pedophile B.B. Gunn. Gunn owns a foul smelling pig farm which also serves as a front for an illegal crystal meth lab. Gunn is also connected with the encyclopedia business, whose leader known as the Gambler (real name is Kenny Rogers) was a former leg breaker in Las Vegas. The double homicide witnessed by Lem has potential to expose the whole slimy operation in Meadowbrook Grove. Liss navigates us through the odyssey of Lem Altick as he tries to stay out of harm's way while coming in contact with a bevy of bizarre characters.

The Ethical Assassin, by David Liss, reads like travel brochure about how Florida really is: trailer parks; humidity; and swamps. Our copilot on this vacation is Lem Atlick, a 17-year-old salesman who can tell you all the reasons why you should buy encyclopedias. The excitement starts when, while working, Lem watches two people get assassinated and is forced to clean up the scene of the crime. Lem's life turns out to be rather exciting. We get to meet a whole crew of colorful people: half a Siamese sister, who still talks to her dead counterpart; Lem's motel roomies; and the assassin, who likes to pop up various times throughout Lem's journey. The Ethical Assassin is entertaining and exciting and kept me up through a quite night when I should have been sleeping, because I had an early dentist's appointment. Oh well, the dentist is a friend and he's seen me groggy before, plus he listened intently while I told him about how Liss's motley characters keep the story interesting to the last page.

My dad gave me an advanced reader's copy of this book a little while ago, and I just finished it today. It might sound like a cliche, but you seriously cannot put this book down (even in the face of a heavy college reading load, as in my case). Liss has a very effective sense of character development, and this combines with a very tight and funny (though at times disgusting) plot to form this unique and spirited mystery. Melford ranks up there as one of my most memorable characters of all time, based on his quirkiness and the originality of his conception alone. Let's just say that between Liss and Hiaasen, I am more than ever inclined to stay the heck away from Florida!