I absolutely had a blast reading Assassins Anonymous with its nonstop action, funny quips from Mark, and how hard he tried to not kill anyone and make amends from his past. This time you get to learn all about Astrid, her past and awesomely wicked kills and how she is trying to make amends from that. Unfortunately someone else wants revenge and so Astrid must escape a snake infested island, help others, and do her best not to kill anyone while at it.

I really admire Astrid! Especially as you get to see snippets of her jobs and past and how and why she became an assassin. Yes, Mark and the others are also in this book, drawn into Astrid's plight by a pizza. It is a furiously fast read that is so much fun, quite a bit of maiming and injuring but it somehow still lighthearted and I love to see assassins showing all their skills (which with the Pale Horse, Azrael, and the others is formidable!) in rescuing those locked up on that island.

This is a great series, though you can read this book by itself without feeling too lost, but you should definitely read the first book too as both are really good. Funny how you can become so attached to a group of assassins meeting up like AA groups, trying to stop killing as it becomes just as hard to quit as alcohol. lol!

I found myself enjoying this installment even more than the first. It may be due to the stronger presence of a female perspective or perhaps because the tone felt more balanced this time around. I really appreciated how the first book explored the concept of “sobriety” from a life as hired assassins. That said, I was hoping this sequel might expand a bit further beyond that theme.
Still, if you enjoy fast-paced, action-packed spy thrillers, this one will definitely keep you hooked!

*Thank you to Rab Hart, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and Netgalley for the digital copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

The Medusa Protocol didn’t land for me the way Assassins Anonymous did. That first book had Mark at its center with his dry humor, reluctant vulnerability, and the strange warmth of a support group for killers trying to stay “clean.” It was sharp, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt. This sequel shifts the spotlight to Astrid, whose backstory was deliberately withheld in the first book.

Astrid’s been abducted and dumped in a secret black site off the coast of Brazil, where doctors experiment on humans, poisonous snakes form a protective barrier, and inmates wear pink or blue to signal their value. It’s a bizarre setting and Hart doesn’t hold back when it comes to the depravity. The reveal of why she’s there comes late, and the who behind it either blindsided me or wasn’t clearly seeded because it appeared to come out of nowhere. It felt more like ticking boxes rather than unfolding a layered character arc.

Still, the Assassins Anonymous (AA) meetings continue like clockwork and that consistency becomes Astrid’s lifeline. She manages to get a message out, and Mark, despite risking his hard-won “sobriety”, doesn’t hesitate to answer the call. Their bond, forged in violence and redemption, is the emotional core of the book. Astrid knows that taking out evil might mean starting her sobriety over, but she’s willing. And her AA family? They’re there, no judgment, just support.

A few familiar faces from the first book pop in and out, but they’re more cameo than connective tissue. The real throughline is the idea that even assassins deserve second chances, and sometimes, third or fourth ones too.

This book isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s brutal, bleak, and unflinching. There’s blood, gore, and some deeply unsettling Epstein-esque moments that made me queasy.

Even though The Medusa Protocol didn’t resonate with me like Hart’s earlier work, I still think he’s an underappreciated voice. His ideas are bold, his execution fearless, and I’ll keep watching for whatever he writes next.

Astrid is one of the members of Assassins Anonymous, and when she goes missing the others think she's gone back to her old ways. Mark is her sponsor and thinks something terrible must have happened. When a pizza with olives is delivered to one of their meetings, it's clearly a message that she is alive and in trouble. She's actually in a black site prison, subjected to experimental treatments to get information out of her memories.

It's always fun to contemplate the idea of this kind of AA, where the members vow to never kill again. They have contacts for information and weapons from their former lives as assassins, but they have also made enemies who share those same contacts. While evading attacks and facing an upcoming assault on the prison, they must get weapons and a tactical survey of their surroundings that will allow them to remain true to the beliefs of Assassins Anonymous. The story is fast paced, humorous, and gives us glimpses into Astrid's past as we all try to figure out what memory is the one that triggered her capture.

Mark, Astrid, Booker, Valencia and Ms. Nguyen are all killers belonging to Assassins Anonymous. They meet in the basement of a church that Mark has fortified with security measures and support each other’s efforts to fight the urge to kill. When Astrid misses a meeting, Mark’s calls to check on her go unanswered. After several missed meetings the others believe that she has gone back to her old ways. Mark, however, is her sponsor and refuses to believe it. A pizza with olives is delivered to one of their meetings and they know that it was sent by Astrid as a message that she is alive and in trouble. The delivery is quickly followed by an assault that ends with the destruction of the church. After ensuring that Valencia and Ms. Nguyen are safely hidden, Mark enlists Booker’s help to find Astrid.

Astrid was on her way to the meeting when she was taken and transported to a black site prison. The facility is on an island off the coast of South America that is infested with venomous snakes. Her kidnapping was arranged by an anonymous client who had her subjected to a number of experimental treatments. During her time as an assassin she was involved in an operation involving a number of influential people. The client has demanded access to her memories of the operation and the names of the people involved. Astrid remains safe as long as there is information to retrieve, but her time is running short. The doctor performing the procedures is threatening a more invasive procedure that she may not survive. After attacking a guard and stealing his phone she places the order for a pizza that triggers Mark and Booker’s rescue effort. As former assassins they have developed contacts for information and weapons, but they have also made enemies who share those same contacts. While evading attacks and facing an upcoming assault on the prison, they must arm themselves and plan an attack that is non-lethal if they are to live by their beliefs. Rob Hart gives you a story with humor, non-stop action and characters who may have had a violent past, but have now become a family. Medusa Protocol is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. I would like to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for providing this book.

i'm glad this one kept the pace that was set in assassins anonymous. it really flew by which i appreciate. i think the characters are just a bit too broadly drawn for me to fully invest in them but it's not that big of a problem.

While I enjoyed the fresh perspective this one really wasn’t for me. I felt like the addict meetings were a little on the nose and not as fun to read as I had anticipated

Fast-paced, witty, and full of heart-pounding tension, The Medusa Protocol is a thrilling return to the world of Assassins Anonymous. While this is technically a sequel, it stands on its own two feet just fine!

Rob Hart blends dark humor with relentless action as Astrid navigates a high-stakes game of memory, survival, and redemption—all while sticking to her vow not to kill. Fans of clever banter, twisty plots, and characters with razor-sharp edges will enjoy this one.

Thank you Rob Hart, Penguin Group, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

#TheMedusaProtocol #NetGalley #NetGalleyARC #ARCReview #BookReview #WhatImReading #BookRecommendation #Bookstagram #ReadersOfInstagram #InstaBook #Bookish #AdvanceReaderCopy #ReviewCopyProvided #BookishThoughts #ReviewersOfInstagram

The Medusa Protocol, is the second book in Assassins Anonymous series by Rob Hart in the second book we find Astrid locked up in the secret prison in the middle of nowhere and despite their tactics to irritate and overcome they soon learned they’re messing with the wrong girl when she finally decides to fight and send a message to Mark in the gang the powers that be a.k.a. Dr. Volpi Astrid’s German prison guide of sorts was listening and sent the team out to dispatch the group fortunately for Mark Booker Miss Wee and new mom Valencia it’s as if they sent normal people to get rid of superheroes and that just wasn’t happening. This does cause mark in the group to set a game plan in motion and once again he heads to England with Booker while Miss we is cat sitting with Valencia in new baby Lucia. dr. Volpi tells Astrid whose codename was Angel of death that the prison is not only in penetrable but there is no way she can escape it either but Astrid has lived long enough to retire from her career mainly due to people underestimating her in his arrogance once again will prove a benefit to Astrid and her abilities. The only thing she cannot figure out is who sent her there and what do they want? She soon learns the one thing they’re trying to get from her is the only thing she is unwilling to give. she may be a coldhearted killer but there is a line she will not cross and something she is more than willing to kill for. despite killing being the last thing Astrid wants to do sometimes you have no choice. I love that throughout the book we got to learn Astrid story her heartbreak and even about her abusive childhood. I think Rob Hart writes some of the best action stories with some of the most believable fight scenes not to mention lol moments throughout the story. I have three different series that I actively wait on the next book and this one is definitely one of them. This was a great read and one I definitely recommend you don’t have to read both books but I would recommend doing so just to get a more fuller picture of the group what they’re about in the characters involved. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #RobHeart, #AssassinsAnonymous, #TheMedusaProtocol,

The next adventure in the Assassins Anonymous universe learning about our previous antagonist in a comedic, suspenseful, and engaging way. A read that just makes you want to keep going.

I really enjoyed last year’s Assassins Anonymous, so I was very excited to get an early chance to read this sequel! If you haven’t read the first book, definitely go back and start there - it’s a great series about a very different kind of AA group - one for former assassins who are doing a 12 step program in order to not kill anymore. This one picks up a few months after the first book ends, with two character POVs this time - Mark and Astrid. We see Astrid in the present after she is kidnapped on her way to an AA meeting, along with flashbacks to her past. And there is a parallel plot where Mark and company try to figure out where Astrid is and rescue her.

I enjoyed this one just as much as the first one - another smart action thriller but which also has humor and some deep stuff as well. I couldn’t put it down! I really hope this is not the end of the series!

*3.5 stars.

The second book in the Assassins Anonymous series is more about Astrid this time around. She has joined the Brooklyn chapter of Assassins Anonymous and Mark is her sponsor but she hasn't attended any meetings for a month. Where is she??

Turns out she's being held captive in a prison on an island off the coast of Brazil and when she gets a chance to get word to her friends, what does she do? She orders a pizza with her own favorite ingredient to be sent to their meeting as a clue. Why doesn't she take the opportunity to ask the pizzeria to give her friends a direct message?? Preposterous!

Anyway, if you can suspend your disbelief, these books are quick reads, amusing and fun, with lots of exciting action. The whole premise is a bit off the wall: that hired assassins can become addicted to killing and need help overcoming their addiction. The primary purpose for those who join Assassins Anonymous is to stop killing and help others to achieve the same using AA's 12-step program. But Astrid says, 'And, what now, the path to serenity is to sit around and talk about our feelings while we let the world burn down around us? Some people just need killing...'

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new thriller via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

I’ve had this one for a little bit, but I was saving it. I loved the first book so much because it’s a fun quick easy read that was so entertaining. I wanted to dedicate my attention to this one. So I popped this in my ear while I was fishing over the holiday weekend and it was perfect! Pretty sure it was good luck and helped me catch a bunch of fish! But this is such a fun series and hope it continues! You should definitely give it a read!

In book one, we are introduced to a group of assassins in recovery, determined to lean on each other to succeed until they get sucked back in and have to face past crimes. Book 1 focuses on Mark, and book 2 focuses on Astrid. I loved hearing her story as she was kidnapped at the end of book 1 and must now figure out who has her, why, and how she’s going to get out. And of course Mark is leading a rescue mission at the same time. This book is a fun adventure, a great summer read!

Astrid and Mark are part of a unique support group of retired assassins that meet. When Astrid doesn’t shop up one day, Mark gets a possible message that she might be in trouble in the form of a pizza.

I read Assassins Anonymous when it first came out last year and I was delighted to see the surviving cast of characters return. Delving more into Astrid’s character gives a unique insight into her personality.

Dual narratives and multiple timelines never get confusing or boring and like its predecessor, this story is action packed and thrilling with a cast of characters that beg you to love them.

A good follow up- I appreciated the way info about the last books was sprinkled throughout to subtly catch up the reader.

DNF at 50%

I love thrillers. The premise of this book immediately had my attention and I was intrigued.

Unfortunately I could not get into the story once I started reading. I realized about halfway through that I wasn’t enjoying it very much even though it was action packed.

Additionally, the character saying they’re trying to get sober from killing… I did not like that. It gave me the ick and I truly couldn’t get past it.

I hope this book finds its intended audience, but unfortunately it wasn’t for me.

This fun fast paced action packed thriller had me flying through the pages needing to know what was going to happen next. I liked this one so much I finished it in one sitting. This book the second in the series follows Astrid as she is kidnapped and ends up in a black site prison. Astrid reaches out by pizza delivery to her assassins anonymous asking for help. When Mark and the group receive a pizza with olives they know that Astrid is sending them a message they work on tracking her down and rescuing her. This is my first book in this series and I had a lot of fun with this book it was so fast paced it read like a movie, it almost gave me John Wick vibes at times.The characters were fun and I was easily able to follow this book not having read the first book. This is my second book from this author and I really enjoy his writing, it’s easy to read with great pacing. I am hoping to pick the first book in this series up very soon. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

Rob Hart is a damn talented writer and he takes swings. I loved his Ash McKenna series, Warehouse was awesome, Paradox Hotel so creative. I’m glad to see this series is gaining traction and hope it keeps moving!

“Sometimes you need to let go.” Unfortunately for Mark he hasn’t discovered how to do this and when Astrid goes missing he is going to be really challenged. Who are Mark and Astrid, just your average retired assassins, who sort of care about each other, and the other members of their little club. Imagine an AA sort of organization for Assassins - yep, that is what is going on for over 300 pages. It’s not all bad, nor what you might expect, but it is just a tad “out there”. Men and women who decide they just don’t’ want to kill anymore and make a club and join a club and live by the equivalent of the 12 steps taken by AA.

Despite my difficulty with the basic concept, this was a fast paced action filled thriller, containing some of the most horror filled pages, which I mostly enjoyed. Bottom line, if you can suspend belief or expand your belief in the somewhat inconceivable, this is a better than good book which left me believing that sometimes you have to”let go and let god”.

Thanks to G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for a copy.

When a hit team descends on their AA meeting --Assassins Anonymous, that is-- the attendees are determined to get out without relapsing (killing anyone). The group leader, Mark, realizes the hit has something to do with Astrid, his sponsee who went missing a few months ago, and he and another of the group set out to find her and bring her home safely. I had not read the first book in the series but that did not detract from my enjoyment of The Medusa Protocol. Hart deftly balances action with humor, exploring the nature of good and evil while providing a pulse-pounding, twisty plot.