Mark, a retired assassin, is celebrating nearly a year in his Assassins Anonymous group. Only someone doesn't want him to reach this milestone, and he becomes the target. He notorious in the circuit as the "Pale Horse," with many cowering just at the mention of his name. Armed with P. Kitty, his cat, Mark sets off on an adventure to find who has marked him.

From the colorful cast in AA, Mark must determine who to trust in order to live. Mark is a funny guy as he jet sets around the world finding the hitmen. The story provides glimpses into his recruitment into this lifestyle, and the "why" he walked away.

Assassins Anonymous is a unique thriller with lots of action and humor.

Thank you, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons

***I would like to thank NetGalley and Putnam Books for the chance to read an ARC of this title***

Where can assassins go to talk to someone when they are feeling guilty and wish to change their body-counting days? That is the main premise of this *extremely* enjoyable action novel written by Rob Hart. This is my second Rob Hart read, as I saw that he also wrote Paradox Hotel which I had read a little while back.

The main character Matt (code name “Pale Horse”) has found his way to a support group for wayward assassins, the titular “Assassin’s Anonymous.” The group follows the same basic rules as Alcoholic’s Anonymous and some of the members are not exactly who they appear to be.

I don’t want to spoil anything else. The book starts in the present and has flashbacks throughout that show you how Matt built his legendary persona and also all of the choices he made that made him want to try to live a normal life. The characters are great, the dialogue is fresh and funny and the action scenes read just like a big budget John Wick-esque movie. In fact, I can totally see this book becoming a series and then being adapted for the big screen or streaming services.

I highly recommend this book and you can’t go wrong by giving it a read!

An enjoyable, fast-paced read with a lot of self-awareness and tongue-in-cheek references to the genre.

What a fun ride. Filled with humor. Loved the concept of an assassin trying to no longer kill. Want more Mark and Astrid. "Why is a caterpillar wrapped in silk while it changes into a butterfly? So the other caterpillar can’t hear the screams. Change hurts. —Rory Miller, Meditations on Violence". And “Choosing to change is not something you do once. It’s something you have to wake up every day and choose to do again"

Assassins Anonymous has everything an action movie lover wants: jaw-dropping betrayals, suspenseful reveals, and a redemption story arc. With its fast-paced plot and loveable, morally gray protagonist, I could definitely see this novel being adapted into an action movie someday. In the meantime, you can get your fix by picking up this title and following Mark on his adventure as an ex-hit-man who is forcibly being pulled back into his previous lifestyle

Mark is a former hitman who has turned his life around... or has he? He is a member of Assassins Anonymous, exactly what it sounds like, a 12 step program based on AA for former hitmen. I learned that a hitman is someone who kills for money, or a job. An Assassin is someone who kills for religious or political reasons, but doesn't necessarily get paid. Assassins Anonymous doesn't discriminate between these two, but Mark is the former. His sponsor Kenji is walking him through the steps, as sponsor's do, and he is on step 8; making a list of those we have harmed and becoming determined to make amends to them all.

Mark's higher power then tests his willingness to make amends by sending someone to attack and kill him.

I requested this book on a whim, I liked the title and cover, and premise. I am 13 years sober in AA and I have been to 9 zillion AA meetings. I also read A LOT. While I like thrillers and mysteries, I tend to learn towards female authors with female protagonists and stay away from anything gritty, it's just not for me. Also "Quit-Lit" or "quitting drinking" or "sober-curious" memoirs I find to be just absolutely awful, even harmful. If you want to quit drinking, it is easy to read a milion of these and think you are actually doing something, but you aren't. If they work for some people, great. Again, they just aren't for me.

This is a "man's book" for sure, very action-y. Now I tend to think action movies are really boring and the most action-y parts of this I did skim through those paragraphs. Just...yawn. Want to get back to the dialogue and relationships and internal monologue. If you like action movies, you will really like those parts, I am sure.

I have to say, as someone who has been to 90000 zillion 12 step meetings, the author NAILS this piece. The language is really perfect, creative, reflective of the spirit and intention of not only the program itself but the meeting "culture" and traditions that are a bit of a mixed bag. We often say we are an imperfect program for imperfect people. And so, yeah? Hitmen are pretty imperfect. "If you think YOUR amends list is bad, how about these guys?" I see 12 step being spoofed all the time in pixar and disney movies, tv shows, etc. They are usually pretty funny, I like the Wreck-it-ralph intro the best. And often a character in thriller fiction will be sober, as a side story, and it's fine. I think sometimes the author did some research and went to like 5-10 AA meetings. That is NOT the case here, this one is really creative and true to the spirit... so if you know someone who likes male-centered books that are action, they will love this book. If they ALSO have a background in 12 step they will REALLY love this book.

Book to be published June 11, 2024.
Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this. It was a great balance of a little ridiculous and heartfelt. There's one scene that was down right heartbreaking. I think I will be thinking about it quite a bit for the next few days.

Mark is days away from trading in his six month chip for his one year chip, and he's struggling with the process. With the support of his sponsor, though, he's optimistic about getting there. And then his past shows up after a meeting, stabs him, insults him, and blows up his apartment. Now Mark, his clandestine surgeon, and his cat are on the search for who has it our for him and why. His biggest problem is that he has to keep everyone alive while he figures it out, including all the people trying to kill him, or he'll never get his one year chip.

I'm not ashamed to say I'm very attached to a fictional character, and that character is Mark. His inappropriate and dark sense of humor is absolutely perfect and comes at you from left field at just the right moments.

Mark's struggle with his sobriety was a struggle for me right along with him. In the moments he wanted to let go of it, I was there to back his decision as justified and tell him to go for it. In the moments he held back and tried to maintain his sobriety, I cheered him on and hoped for his success. I really empathized with him the whole way through from both sides of the coin.

I'd love to see another book or ten with Mark and the other members of AA!

Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for an eARC copy of this book.

Read if you like:
🔪 Action & Adventure
☠️ Assassins
🐈‍⬛ Cat Daddy’s
🔍 Mysteries
🧠 Group Recovery Meetings
💕 Romance

This book was nothing like I expected, and I guess I really had no clue what to expect.

I enjoyed the dark humor and lol moments and the way that Mark was so focused on his recovery from his lifestyle as an assassin.

But when shit hits the fan when someone is coming after him, what will he do? Stick with his recovery or turn back to his old ways?

I enjoyed the past and present aspects to give more context to his past, but also felt at times they were a bit over done and took away from the current fast pacing of his ticking clock to figure out who is after him.

The slight romance elements were unexpected but enjoyable but not sure if they were fully needed and if it strengthened or weakened the storyline.

All in all, this is a bit of a genre bending book that I enjoyed and I would recommend to others that enjoy thrillers and dark humor!

Thanks so much to the publisher for my ARC and PRHA for my ALC in exchange for my honest review!

★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S ASSASSINS ANONYMOUS ABOUT?
Almost a year ago, Mark walked away from his old life and into a 12-step meeting. It's been a struggle for him—he's almost relapsed, he came close to suicide, and he's struggled every day. But with the support of the other people in his group, his sponsor, and a little orange cat who came into his life at just the right time—Mark is making it, day by day.

Then one day, Mark's cleaning up after the meeting and he's attacked by a Russian who moves like a professional killer. Mark fights back—incapacitating the Russian and escaping with a serious—but not-too-serious—wound of his own and a burning question: who sent the Russian? The search for the answer takes Mark (and his cat) around the world—into some very dangerous situations, and almost more temptation for Mark to relapse than he could've imagined.

You see, Mark's 12-step meeting isn't for Alcoholics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, or anything like that. As you'll guess from the book's title, it's Assassins Anonymous. Hitmen, Assassins, Serial Killers, and the like, who are tired of the life, who are tired of killing and want to try to live productive, life-affirming lives. They have to fight old impulses, old habits, old attitudes, they have to abandon adrenaline rushes (which are probably pretty addictive) and all the rest for a quiet life. Mark had been one of the best in the world (or the worst, depending on your perspective)—almost legendary—until he went cold turkey. But someone's apparently trying to warm up the poultry.*

* That's a metaphor I really shouldn't have tried to stretch.

Can Mark discover why someone game for him almost a year after he quit "the life"? Can Mark make them stop without having to throw away all the work he's done over the last (almost) 12 months?

THE MOVIES
Like many moviegoers, I love a good hit man movie. I can even enjoy a "just okay" hitman movie (sorry, The Whole Ten Yards you don't qualify as either). Mark, unsurprisingly, isn't a fan of most of them. Sadly, that's where most people get their ideas and information about assassins and hitmen from. So by character, actor, or movie title, they're brought up frequently—usually to Mark's dismay. He'll also just compare his life to those movies on occasion. I enjoyed this aspect of the character a lot—particularly one running bit where people kept expecting him to look more like a particular actor.

Other kinds of movies are used throughout the novel, too—they're a great shorthand way of revealing character. What movies he likes, what movies he refuses to mention liking, and so on are a convenient and efficient way of telling you a lot about Mark. Also, it's just fun to see characters talk about movies and whatnot—as people like Whedon, Tarantino, and Smith have been showing us.

THE 12-STEPS
As the book started to really focus on—and feature—things like the meetings Mark's attending, his recovery, and his working the steps, I started to get worried. Primarily because it was early on, and while I understood that Mark was flippant, even a wiseacre—was Hart going to be flip about the 12-steps? That feels like something you shouldn't touch—like a third rail, a skunk with a hair-trigger, or that Easter Egg you finally found in late June.

But no—the meetings, the steps, the attitude about recovery, and the way the characters interacted about their recovery were dealt with respectfully. Sure, there was a little bit of Mark's attitude (or similar ones) expressed in the meetings and whatnot—but not about the meetings or the program, just about each other or themselves. (much like I imagine happens in an actual meeting)

If anything, this is practically an advertisement for those kind of programs and the good work they can do. Because this is the heart of the novel—yes, there's the violence, the suspense, the twists, and whatnot—let's call them "The Thriller Aspects." Those aspects are what will draw readers to the book, they're what'll keep your attention and get you hooked on it. But Assassins Anonymous isn't so much about the "Assassins" as it is the struggle, the stumbles, and the victories associated with Recovery. In my book, we should get more of those—particularly honest books about the victories.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT ASSASSINS ANONYMOUS?
Imagine Martin Q. Blank, Jimmy Tudeski, and Frank Moses meeting up and trying to take care of business—non-lethally (I guess that'd be something like the pacifist version of The Expendables), and you'll have something like this book.

Let's start with The Thriller Aspects—Hart nailed them. Even—maybe especially—the more outlandish aspects of them (which are really the trickier part to pull off). There's a confident panache to the novel—as well as most of the characters—that lets you know right away that you're in good hands and are set for a great ride. Some twists you'll see coming, and won't care because of the way he executes them. But also,

The 12-Step aspect—well, see above—another win for Hart.

What about the comedy and narrative voice? Spot on—seriously good. It'd be easy to go overboard on the comedy—or to not use enough of it (we are talking about a bunch of people who have killed many others), but I think Hart hits the balance just right. And Mark's the kind of guy you can enjoy being stuck in the mind of for 320 pages.

The first chapter gives you everything you need to know about this novel—it's such a well-written chapter, too. Voice, character, action, comedy. If you read it and aren't hooked, you're probably going to feel that way about the rest of it. If that first chapter works for you? Kick back and enjoy.

Sure, this novel is right in my wheelhouse—I'm practically its target demographic incarnate—but I think even if I wasn't, it would've won me over. I strongly encourage you to pick this one up. I can't tell you what's keeping me from giving it the final full star, but something is (and since I'll have to round up almost everywhere I cross-post, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it)—but, boy howdy, you're in for a great time when you open this one up.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Putnam Books via NetGalley—thanks to both for this.

4.5 Stars!

Really, the blurb says it all. Mark is this close to his one year anniversary of not having killed anyone. However, a brute of a Russian makes an attempt on his life which spurs him to discover the whys of how he’s become a target after disappearing from the life of being the best assassin for over the past decade. If he wants to continue his recovery, Mark needs answers, but things quickly spiral out of control as complications pile up.

Know that the plot is quick, the thrown wrenches hit hard as this alternates between Mark in the present trying to figure things out and the past showing how he arrives at his current predicament. I was not once bored. I loved the struggle Mark goes through, seeing his world through a lens of paranoia and situational awareness, fighting a deeply ingrained instinct to kill to easily solve life’s problems. The ingenuity he comes up with to avoid falling back into old patterns was entertaining to see as he’s basically operating with one hand tied behind his back.

So yes, this had plenty of violence, fights, chases, shady agencies, and rival assassins, all entwined with a plausible existential crisis about the moral dilemma that is Mark’s profession. I love me an assassin/mercenary story, and unlike most of these sorts of books, Hart brings a different perspective to his anti-hero that makes him very likable and sympathetic despite his deadly skill set. Though this is serious in subject matter with some very tragic fallout, the best books that I enjoy the most always have a touch of fun factor and humor to them (and believe me, there's plenty of grim dark books regarding this genre who have none of that) which makes this stand out amongst the masses.

Peppered with pop culture references, Hart knows how to lure the reader through his propulsive writing. So, if you want a slightly less flashy John Wick-esque tale full of action, suspense, betrayals, reveals, and the hope for some peace and redemption, then this right here is the answer. Rob Hart is officially on my radar now, and I’ll be checking out previous and future works to come!

Thank you to the author and GP Putnam’s Sons via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

holy fuck, i was not expecting to love this as much as i did but this was a fun, thrilling, bad ass ride! we follow mark, who is one year clean from killing anyone after joining an assassin version of alcoholics anonymous. after a meeting one night he is almost killed which serves as a catalyst for him to go on a journey to find who is trying to kill him, confronting the ghosts and haunts of his past kills, attempting to make amends, grappling with the obligation to the people who made him, and navigating the difference between the killer he was and the man he wants to be.

this was such a good book! the writing was effortless with its gritty humor, gripping metaphors, and fast paced plot. mark as a character was complex because you could feel his inner turmoil between giving into his ego as an infamous assassin and putting it aside to find moral redemption. there was a found family that i adored, a gut wrenching back story that i wasn't expecting to feel so emotional towards, and a bunch of bad guys trying to kill each other. it was funny, action packed (loved the fight scenes!), and the amount of plot twists and turns had me absolutely GAGGED! the last twenty percent of the book i could NOT put it down, i was at the edge of my seat! i found myself counting down the minutes at work until i could get back to this book because i was so eager to find out what happens next. overall this was a fantastic book and perfect for a summer read!

ASSASSINS ANONYMOUS by Rob Hart follows Mark, a man who was once a very successful assassin. He's disappointed in how mundane this terrible work has become and he's determined to give up the life of murder. There's a super secret support system for people like Mark who are looking to leave the life, a place place much like Alcoholics Anonymous, but for those with an addiction to the adrenaline high of being a killer.

When Mark is attacked by someone unknown, he is dragged back into the life he's been trying to leave behind. On the run across the world, he's trying to piece together who exactly it is who is after him while trying to keep his natural impulses toward violence in check.

I didn't know what to expect going into this, but I had seen some positive reviews so had high hopes. I am happy to report that I really wound up enjoying my time with this one. It wound up being a bit of a mix of dark humor and action and it kept me hooked to finish the whole thing in one day!

This does have dark moments and there is definitely some heavy discussions about the life of an assassins, but I also really enjoyed the humor of it. I liked the main character and his quest for peace. The story was full of some really interesting characters throughout!

Assassins Anonymous is an action-packed, thought provoking thriller that delivers quite a few twists and turns with a healthy side of sardonic humor.

The story starts off with a bang, with Mark, a reformed assassin, getting brutally attacked after one of his Assassins Anonymous meetings. Mark was once the most fear invoking killer-for-hire in the world, but for the last year, he has been "working the program" and learning to live life without using his considerable skills for murdering people. But after a year of mostly peaceful living, someone is trying to kill him, and he needs to figure out who it is without using lethal force. As he sets out on an international journey to discover who from his past is coming after him, he grapples with keeping the murderous, powerful version of himself at bay, trying to keep his sobriety, his enemies and himself alive.

I was so impressed by how this book balances philosophical and psychological questions about life and death with edge of your seat action. Mark's journey to figure out who is coming for him is just really fun reading; it's cinematic and exhilarating, with absolutely no lulls. Hart masterfully created a perfect character to grapple with the morality of killing, and gave him an emotionally harrowing backstory to bring him to the point of questioning his life decisions.

Assassins Anonymous intertwines classically fun action sequences, character development and philosophical thought experiments into one snappy package, and you don't want to miss out on it!

Before I say anything. Mr Hart, you better have at leat 11 books lined up with this character, or we are going to have words!!! And yes it's just a statement 😅🫡

Wowza, I loved every minute of this!!! Solid solid 5 stars, wish I could give it more. I literally ignored this book for months and just picked it up on a whim, not really expecting much. 🤨🤨🤨. Jokes on me, this was a masterpiece and I'm praying we get to see more of the pale horse...

Think of AA, now this time replace the alcoholics with assassins. We meet a renowned assassin who through an unfortunate event is trying to turn a new leaf. When someone tries killing him, he tries to uncover the plot behind it has he navigates the mine field of who he's trying to be and what he's always been......

Memorable line: "Jason Statham eats glass for breakfast " 😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

Thanks for ARC penguin group 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
Very much appreciated!!!!

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Group - Putnam for this advanced reader's copy. I read Rob Hart's book The Warehouse and loved it's fun, yet creepy vibe so when I saw the author had another book coming out, I knew I had to read it. This book was super fun. There are support groups for all kinds of addicts, Alcoholics Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, so it only makes sense that there would be a support group for Assassins, right?! This group of assassins get together and talk and how they want to stop killing people, and how long it has been since there last kill at Assassins Anonymous meeting. Oh, and they fight over whether hitmen really belong at the meetings. And, of course, each person MUST remain anonymous at the meetings lest someone find out who they really are and come after them for someone they have killed in their past. Well, that has happened and now someone knows who Mark was in his past life and they are coming after him. This book had me laughing out loud at times with the assassin code names, fight scenes, and anecdotes. I will definitely read anything Rob Hart continues to write as he puts an interesting spin on general ideas

Assassins Anonymous was completely different from every book I read this year, and I loved it. I enjoyed the concept of an AA group and Mark trying to fight his addiction to killing as Pale Horse. Mark's character was perfect for this book, and I enjoyed the different timelines that explained how he joined the group and left his career as an assassin. Overall, this is an action-filled, fast-paced thriller that will keep you in suspense until the last page.

Assassins Anonymous comes out June 11th.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to review Assassins Anonymous. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

After an accident that led to an innocent death a year ago, Mark, made the choice to leave his job and get clean. After almost a year in AA: Assassins Anonymous, Mark has learned how to breathe through his old thoughts and feelings and is making progress as a reformed assassin when he is attacked following an AA meeting. Now, Mark must figure out who attacked him and why. Is The Agency after him? How can he remain reformed and in recovery when in order to save his own life he has to take another? The worst though, is that Mark must resume his killer persona, Pale Horse, to figure out who is out for blood and lose the steps of recovery he has made.

I struggled with this novel in the beginning. Chapters jump around, so one must pay attention to the setting listed at the beginning of each chapter. Once I picked up on the setting changes, following the text became easier. I liked the plot and Mark as a protagonist. I was not able to piece together the story and characters in order to figure out the ending (which I always enjoy), but others may see it coming. Overall, I think this is a fun read for mystery lovers. I do wish more would have gone into the psychology of the incident that led Mark to AA, but it also wasn't brushed over; it was limited which made sense for the character.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC of Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart. This was a fast paced thriller and interesting story of how assassins formed a group to stop being killers. Does that kind of life ever leave you? Can you walk into a room and not feel like you have to watch your back every minute? Will your past catch up with you? Mark is almost a year into the program and he feels great until one day when he doesn’t.

This is a very different kind of thriller with humor, action, and an assassin to root for to succeed. But succeed at what? Mark is trying to maintain his sobriety not to kill, but changing isn’t easy. It is made all the harder when he is viciously attacked just after one of his AA meetings. What is an assassin supposed to do when he has the skills to retaliate, the will to stay alive but a yearning to be free of his “job” and deadly abilities. Keeping vows and surviving may not be compatible as Mark tries to learn who is behind this attack and who can he trust. Time lines give background and venues change as the author delves into Mark’s motivations and reputation. A great read for those seeking a new kind of hero. Try the book before (most likely to happen) it becomes a movie. Recommended. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this title.