I received an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

The story begins with Astrid walking to attend a meeting of Assassins Anonymous. This is a group that is comprised of assassins that no longer want to kill. She doesn't make it and is abducted and taken to a black site. Mark, the leader of the group, notices and wonders where she is. After a month almost goes by, the group is meeting and someone delivers them a pizza. Mark believes that it is a sign that Astrid is still alive. Shortly after the delivery, a group of thugs arrive and a battle ensues.

Mark believes she is alive and makes plans to rescue her. Once Mark, Booker and Lavigne, an assassin that agrees to help, learn where Astrid is being held, they make arrangements to rescue her. Astrid on her part has been moved from solitary after a month and now is part of the prison population. She begins making plans to escape. As she learns more about why she was taken and information about her fellow prisoners, she waits for the opportune time. Once she discovers that they got what they needed from her, she became expendable and knew she only had a short time.

Mark and his team arrive on the island where she was being held while she puts her escape plan in motion.

Find out what steps Mark took to locate her, how he got on the island and what Astrid's plan to escape involved. Learn what they wanted from Astrid, how is was ultimately gotten and by whom.

The ending will supply all of the answers. It is a definite read, don't miss out!

Even though I missed the first book in the series, The Medusa Protocol made it easy to jump right in without feeling lost. Rob Hart does a great job weaving enough context into the story to keep new readers grounded while still delivering plenty of intrigue, action, and emotional weight.

The premise is fantastic. Former assassins working through their trauma and trying to stay “clean” from killing, complete with support groups that feel like 12-step programs for trained killers. It’s original, darkly clever, and oddly heartfelt. The tension between past impulses and the desire for redemption adds real depth to the action-packed plot.

The characters, especially those in the network of reformed operatives, are layered and compelling. There’s a gritty humanity to them that makes you root for their peace, even when the bullets start flying again.

It’s a high-octane read with a conscience. I’ll definitely be sticking around to see how this lethal little support group handles whatever comes next.

Headline: Different, Creative, Hilarious. Unputdownable, too!

Book Review: The Medusa Protocol, Assassins Anonymous #2 by Rob Hart
Published by Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons, June 24, 2025

★★★★★ (4.5 Stars rounded up. Rave!)

I've read both books in Rob Hart's "Assassins Anonymous" series, a reformed assassins' fellowship, that of NYC's Lower East Side chapter which meets near Delancey, to be specific, an amusing, almost satirical take on alcoholism's "AA", complete with a 12-step program, sponsors to guide junior members, and that ubiquitous AA chairs-in-a-circle, bare-your-soul, cleanse-your-conscience session in a darkened room at night. "Hi, I'm ____, and I haven't killed anyone in two and a half years." (Tongue-in-cheek chuckles. - Reader.)

In Book One, the author introduces his Lower East Side band led by star protagonist, Mark, reformed assassin, aka the "Pale Horse", who was once - and still is - the most feared killer-for-hire in the world. Joined by Kenji, Mark's sponsor, former Yakuza, skilled swordsman. Booker former black ops mercenary, five years sober. Valencia, former SOG former CIA, seven years "dry".

Later joined by Astrid, medic, spiritual healer, potential romantic interest. Also known as Azrael, "The Angel of Death", a former Agency hitter, sponsored by Mark.

Last but not least, P. Kitty, Mark's cat and loyal companion, plus Mrs. Nguyen, cat sitter extraordinaire, herself too, with lethal liaisons.

Book Two.

// The Medusa Protocol, Assassins Anonymous #2 (2025) //

Ilha da Queimada Grande,
Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

When one of their own gets abducted, the tight elite group of "reformed assassins", Lower East Side chapter, land on shore under the cover of dark 100 km south of the city of São Paulo, on Brazil's forbidden paradise, Snake Island, to raid the experimental enclave of Dr. Felix Vogt, a modern day Mengele, proponent of the so-called "Medusa Protocol"...

In for four,
Hold for four,
Out for four,
Empty lungs for four."
- "Box Breathing Technique" used extensively by the Special Forces.

And by Mark, the assassin.

Creative, hilarious. Definitely falls in the category of "And now for something different".

Unputdownable, too!

Review based on an advance review copy courtesy of Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley.

My favorite recovering assassins are back! This time, it’s Astrid that is the focus of the book —- her backstory and redemption. The gang is still there, keeping the Assassins Anonymous alive. It is not as action packed as I would like it to be. Instead, there’s more about dealing with one’s past and choosing to be the better person. I really liked the premise of the book… so many sage advices from these experts lol! Though this could be read as standalone, I must recommend you read book 1 first to better understand the cast of characters. I really hope these books could be adapted to a tv series — it would be so cool to watch the story come alive! Thank you Putnam Books for my digital ARC.

AA, in this case, does not stand for Alcoholics Anonymous, but rather Assassins Anonymous, a small group of individuals whose addiction was murder. They all grew tired of their former lives as killers for hire and wanted to do better in the future without falling back into their old ways. Sometimes it’s hard. Very hard. Especially if one of them falls into harm’s way.

Hard to think of a story about assassins as a fun read, but this was, and most of those same assassins as great characters, but they are. Very enjoyable!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

The nitty-gritty: Unexpected twists and laugh-out-loud humor make this assassins-turned-good guys story an excellent sequel.

Assassins Anonymous made my top five books of 2024, so The Medusa Protocol obviously had a lot to live up to. And it was an excellent follow-up, although it didn’t quite have the emotional impact of the first book, which is why I’m rating it slightly lower. If you aren’t reading this series, I urge you to try it and I guarantee you’ll have a rollicking good time! The books are fairly short with lean writing (not a single wasted word), incredibly funny dialogue, and characters you’ll fall in love with—even the bad guys. 

To set the stage, the story is about a group of ex-assassins who have, for various reasons, decided to quit killing people, and they have started an AA group—Assassins Anonymous—to support each other. The last book focused on Mark and was told exclusively from his point of view. This time we get alternating chapters from another ex-assassin, Astrid, also known as Azrael when she was in the business. When the story opens, Astrid has been “sober” for six months with Mark as her sponsor, but one day she stops showing up to the AA meetings. Mark is worried and assumes one of two things: she’s either decided to go back to killing, or her lifestyle has caught up with her and she’s dead.

It turns out neither is true. One day during a meeting, Mark and his ex-assassin friends get an undeniable message that Astrid is still alive—and she’s trying to communicate with them. At the same time, the church they’re meeting at, which Mark has rigged to alert them of intruders, is invaded by a black ops team. Mark and his fellow AA friends—Booker, Ms. Nguyen and Valencia and her three week old baby Lucia—suddenly find themselves fighting for their lives and trying not to kill anyone in the process. Is the strike connected to Astrid’s disappearance? Mark is determined to find his sponsee no matter what—as long as he can stay clean doing it.

What follows is a high octane, high stakes adventure, complete with poisonous snakes, international travel, a harrowing helicopter ride, non lethal weapons, and plenty of old scores to settle. Hart takes his idea of recovering assassins and builds on it in the sequel, putting his characters in even more precarious positions and ridiculous amounts of danger. All this is done with the author’s signature tongue-in-cheek humor, and I literally laughed my way through the entire story. Rob Hart is a genius when it comes to dialog, and I’m sure this would be awesome in audio as well.

I loved getting to know Astrid’s backstory too, and while she’s got a fair amount of skeletons in her closet, her overall emotional arc didn’t hit me as hard as Mark’s did in the last book. But I do love the way Hart formats his flashbacks. Each of Astrid’s flashback chapters is labeled with “Twenty-two Year Ago,” “Thirteen Years Ago,” etc., bringing us all the way to the present by the end of the book. Even though the book is fairly short, this method filled in the gaps of Astrid’s younger years and burgeoning assassin career beautifully.

The other character that stuck with me is Booker, a Marine-turned-Black Ops assassin who has been sober for five years. Hart drops hints about his past (even though we don’t get any real flashbacks) that made me wonder if Booker might be the focus of the next book. In any case, I want to learn more about him, he was hysterically funny, lovable and terrifying, all at the same time. Valencia and her baby are barely in the story at all, but I have a feeling they might have more page time in book three.

And of course, there’s Mark, the leader of the gang, who used to be one of the most mysterious and feared assassins of all time. Mark goes through a lot of mental angst in this book, especially since he’s trying to do things that would normally require killing, but because of Assassins Anonymous, he’s unwilling to break his sober streak. This leads to some very funny scenarios involving stun guns, pepper spray and paint ball guns, and he seems to know just how far he can go to knock out his opponents without causing lethal damage. Hart explores the familiar twelve step program of Alcoholics Anonymous and shows how difficult it can be, especially since Mark has been stuck on step eight (making amends) for a while.

Hart asks the question, can assassins really change? And the answer is: sometimes. Mark, Astrid, Booker and the others are all human, even if their assassin personas seemed larger than life, and I loved seeing all of them both succeed and fail in this story.

According to the author, he’s currently working on the next book in the series, which has the wonderful title of Three Hitmen and a Baby. I broke out of my usual genre to try these books, mostly because Rob Hart has written speculative fiction in the past and I’ll read whatever he writes, and I’m so glad I did. This series is the perfect slump-breaker, a thrilling, fast-paced, funny, feel-good tale with some nice messages to boot. Start with Assassins Anonymous, you won’t be disappointed.

Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.

MARK IS BACK!!!!! And boy am i glad, I didn't get into this one as much as the first, but still a top recommendation from me.

So Astrid has gone missing and the AA team in on the hunt to find out what's happened to her. As she comes to terms with her past; Astrid is still fighting demons and wonders if sobriety is in the cards for her!

Thanks to G.P Putnam's for this ARC, such a fan of this series, bring on BOOK 3!!!!! I'm so thankful

Solid 4 stars!!!!

"THE MEDUSA PROTOCOL" out June 24th 2025!

Strap in and prepare for a wild ride through the pages of "The Medusa Protocol" by Rob Hart, a book that is less of a leisurely stroll in the park and more like a rollercoaster of absurdity, action, and a dash of moral dilemmas.

Imagine a world where technology and ethics meet in a chaotic, laugh-out-loud fashion—where the heroes are a motley crew of reformed assassins with more baggage than at an airport during the holiday season. This book is a delightful story that will have you questioning your own sense of right and wrong while simultaneously chuckling at the ridiculousness of it all.

At the heart of this thrill-a-minute tale are our dynamic duo, Mark and Astrid, whose chemistry could light up a small city. Picture him as a character torn between wanting to be a hero and being really good at being a villain. His past just will not leave him alone. You can’t help but root for him, even when he’s making questionable choices.

In this book we see more of Astrid and her back story. We come to understand who she really is and why. Astrid has been taken to a secret prison that against her will.

Does Mark and the gang find her, or must she fend for herself?

It’s like a giant game of chess where the pieces are constantly moving, and every time you think you’ve figured it out, everything flips upside down. Hart has a knack for crafting twists that are as unexpected as they are entertaining. Just when you think you know where the plot is headed, bam! Another curveball lands right in your lap, and you can’t help but laugh at the sheer absurdity of it all.

Hart expertly balances the tension with humor, making you feel like you’re in on the joke while still exhilarated by the stakes. The action sequences are reminiscent of a blockbuster movie, with explosions, chases, and some truly outrageous scenarios that defy logic but embrace the fun. It’s a wild ride that feels like a mash-up of heist films, buddy comedies, and a dash of existential dread—all wrapped up in a candy-coated shell.

But let’s not forget the heart of the matter: the moral quandaries that lurk beneath the surface of all this absurdity. Hart has a playful way of addressing complex themes of redemption, justice, and the nature of good and evil. While the characters are undeniably engaging, the narrative challenges readers to consider the implications of their actions. Are they truly redeemable, or are they simply glorifying a life of chaos? It’s a slippery slope that Hart navigates with finesse, allowing readers to laugh while also engaging in deeper reflections about the choices we make and the consequences they bring.

In conclusion, "The Medusa Protocol" is a delightful blend of action, comedy, and moral conundrums that will keep you entertained from start to finish. Rob Hart masterfully weaves a tale that is both fast-paced and thought-provoking, making you laugh while simultaneously questioning the nature of justice and redemption.

It’s a book that doesn’t shy away from the absurdity of its premise, instead leaning into it with a playful abandon that makes every character's misadventure feel like an exhilarating ride. As you follow Mark and Astrid on their journey, you’ll find yourself not just turning pages but guffawing at the sheer ridiculousness of their escapades. So, grab your favorite snack, find a comfy spot, and prepare to dive into a world where chaos reigns, laughter is abundant, and nothing is quite as it seems! It goes fast!

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the free Advanced Readers Copy of the book. All opinions expressed are my own because I have freedom of speech.

I’m delighted to return to the world of Assassins Anonymous, which was one of my favorite books of 2024! The Medusa Protocol follows Astrid, the reformed (or reforming) assassin formerly known as Azrael. Much like with Mark’s journey in Assassins Anonymous, Astrid's past is catching up with her and it's difficult to avoid the lifestyle of a killer when people come looking for you.

Astrid is captured and hauled off to some sort of black site prison where she’s drugged and interrogated. The purpose and goal is unknown - it could be anyone when you have as many enemies as her. Mark and Booker decide to find Astrid and break her out when they receive a subtle message that she is alive. The subtle message being a delivery of her preferred pizza order to one of the AA meetings. What follows is a rather exciting dual POV adventure that kept me on the edge of my seat. We bounce back and forth between Astrid’s time in the prison and her past, thus revealing Azrael’s origin and why Astrid decided to drop that moniker and leave her old life behind. The reader also gets quite the adventure following Mark and Booker as they track down Astrid and non-lethally take on enemies of their own.

The Medusa Protocol has some incredibly fun action sequences and emotional moments, but I felt like the impact wasn’t quite as deep as with Assassins Anonymous. Don’t get me wrong - Astrid has a sad story and what led her to dropping the life was a tragedy, but Mark’s was definitely more heartrending. Now, in real life I would say not to compare one person’s pain to another as each is valid, but this is fiction and I’m reviewing a book and the impact to me the reader was just not on the same level. The action bits were super fun though and I liked the scenes in the prison once Astrid is put amongst the general population. 

Overall, The Medusa Protocol turned out to be a good sequel that was just as fun as the first, though didn’t quite give me the emotional gut punch I would have hoped for. I also seriously missed P. Kitty (who’s name has not aged well) though he did get a teensy bit of page time. I would definitely read another book set in this world following any one of the other characters in the Assassins Anonymous group, though I’ll be honest I hope Valencia can just live her life in peace because anything otherwise would stress me out.

What a fun book! The unique premise coupled with the endearing characters, the well paced plot and the unexpected twists kept me turning the pages. I read it straight through in one day. This is the second book in the Assassins Anonymous series. I haven't read the first one but I plan to do that as soon as I can. I didn't feel lost by not having read the first book but if it is as good as this one, you might want to start there for the continuity. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for an advanced reader copy.

The stories Rob Hart tells and the way he tells them just CLICK right in with my brain! I loved Assassins Anonymous last year and was so excited to read the second in the series, and this one did not disappoint.

When Astrid stops showing up to Assassins Anonymous, the group assumes her past caught up to her, until she sends them a pizza that only she would send. Mark and Booker find themselves traveling the world attempting to find her, and with their vows to not kill anymore, the journey is uniquely dangerous.

I loved getting to know more about Astrid's personality and past, and as always enjoyed Hart's creative approaches to action scenes in the world of reformed killers. Fans of action packed thrillers that explore deeper philosophical issues will LOVE this second installment of Assassins Anonymous.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the DRC of #TheMedusaProtocol. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

A found family story about world-class assassins in recovery (assassins anonymous)? Yes, Please! This is a really fun read even when it deals with some triggering topics (sex trafficking).

When Astrid stops showing up at meetings, her sponsor Mark suspects something is wrong. A cryptic message followed by a swarm of mercenaries sends them on a rescue mission. But when you're committed to not kill anymore, rescuing your friend from a black site prison compound is a lot more challenging.

Looking forward to checking out the first book in the series and hoping for more to come. Highly recommend.

The Medusa Protocol is the second book in the An Assassins Anonymous series. This series follows retired assassins who have formed an AA support group. I really love this series. The books are fast paced and very entertaining to read. I highly recommend starting with the first book to understand the characters better, and I hope Rob Hart continues to write more in the series. Thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The second in a series about former assassins in a 12-step program, this one distinguishes itself by weaving the past, via ever-enlightening backstory sequences, with the present’s current emergency. While the uniqueness of the premise of this group of ex-assassins is certainly a hook, it is the evolving nature of their interactions and relationships that is the unexpected yet satisfying draw here. This group, made of former colleagues, profession rivals, and unfortunately sworn enemies, is at times combustible as they navigate acting as a team to try and save one of their own while strengthening the bonds of their shaky yet developing “family.” Full of interesting and quirky characters and fast pacing, this is perfect for fans of the books by Duane Swierczynski, Tom Straw, Lou Berney, or Steve Hamilton.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC to this book.

This is Book #2 in this series about a group of reformed assassins who have created a rehab group inspired by AA for killers who no longer want to kill. This is a short book but a very fun read as we delve deeper into the histories and the evolution of the mindset of these assassins looking to regain their humanity. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it. 4 stars!

A superb series starter like ASSASSINS ANONYMOUS can be a hard act to follow, but Hart delivers another awesome installment.

In THE MEDUSA PROTOCOL, Hart uses two perspectives, following Mark aka the Pale Horse, the protagonist from the first book, and Astrid aka Azrael, the Angel of Death. When Astrid is kidnapped and taken to a remote black site prison, Mark feels compelled to rescue her. Not only does he consider her family, he’s her Assassins Anonymous sponsor. The story delves into Astrid’s past using flashbacks.

The novel is action-packed and infused with the signature dark humor displayed in the first book. For example, Astrid has a pizza with olives delivered to one of their AA meetings. Mark, who believes that only monsters order olives on their pizza, immediately understands Astrid is alive and needs help from her AA group.

The plot brings plenty of obstacles such as various people Mark and Astrid have wronged and dangers related to the island where Astrid is imprisoned. The title plays into the story in a cool way.

In my review of ASSASSINS ANONYMOUS, I called the world “John Wick lite,” and those elements are displayed in this book as well. Beloved characters such as Mark’s cat P. Kitty and former neighbor Mrs. Nguyen are included.

While the characters are well-developed and the plot well-designed and well-executed, my favorite thing about the book is how it handles addiction, the interactions between the characters, and the cool character arcs. I look forward to seeing what Hart has in store for future installments.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to G. P. Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A fun and charming follow up / sequel to Assassins Anonymous. Fans of Stephen Rowley will enjoy this series. You will want to begin with the first book.

The Medusa Protocol is the follow up to Assassin's Anonymous and the gang must rescue Astrid from a black site. Following the AA 12 step program, they have chosen not to kill anymore(all former assassins). The book focuses on Astrid this time and we learn more about her background and history. Mark and company must try to figure out where she is, rescue her, while not killing anyone or getting killed in the process.
My thanks to NetGalley and the Penguin Group for the ARC. I suggest reading the 1st book before you read this one.

Astrid has been kidnapped and is in some type of prison - somewhere. She has no idea who has kidnapped her or why - just that she is being tortured in some rather unorthodox ways. Obviously Mark and the rest of the group are worried. Eventually she manages to contact them and a rescue mission is launched.

I really enjoyed Assassins Anonymous so I was thrilled to hear that there was a second book. The story flips back and forth between Mark and Astrid. And we learn a lot about Astrid's history as she digs into her memories.

Just like the first story, there are overtones of John Wick, James Bond, and even a bit of Indiana Jones! (Snakes...) And some truly awful people are removed from the planet. Hart certainly left the door open for a third book so I'm hoping we will read more about this motley crew.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital ARC!

The Medusa Protocol has an interesting premise with a group of assassins trying to stop killing. The description of the book pretty much tells you everything you need to know until you get into the book. It is an entertaining and quick read. I finished it in two days. I would recommend picking up this book if you are in the mood for a light mystery/thriller. This is the second book in this series. I would suggest reading Assassins Anonymous first because that introduces you to the main characters.

Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced copy of The Medusa Protocol. #TheMedusaProtocal # NetGalley #RobHart