Book Review: Avenger

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Avenger     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Frederick Forsyth
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Dunne, Oct 2003, $26.95, 384 pp.

Fifty-one year old attorney Pete Dexter practices law on the Jersey- Pennsylvania line and runs triathlete events relatively successfully. People who know him picture a quiet unassuming friendly fellow, but Pete has a second job as the AVENGER, a renowned bounty hunter, that he keeps secret from his neighbors. Pete maintains a Manhattan apartment as his center of human hunting operations in which he answers ads in Vintage Airplane magazine asking for the AVENGER.

Billionaire Canadian mining mogul Steve Edmond hires the Avenger to kill Serbian Zoran Zilic, Milosevich's sadistic henchman for murdering his grandson. Following the trail from Serbia to South America just like he did the Cong in the tunnels of Nam, the Avenger closes in on the kill. However, the CIA does not wink this time, as they fear the consequences of this particular murder. To avoid global chaos Agent Kevin McBride must stop the Avenger anyway he can.

THE AVENGER is a typical Forsyth tale in which the action-packed plot uses real world events as a backdrop to a non-stop thriller that deeply focuses on a specific incident. The story line moves rather quickly forward as Pete begins his latest quest of vengeance for his client. Pete is an extraordinary individual who feels his soul is clean though he is obviously a paid killer. Kevin commiserates with Pete, but also knows orders and fears the outcome of a successful output by the Avenger. A strong tale though no DAY OF THE JACKAL, fans of the author and anyone who appreciates a taut international thriller will enjoy THE AVENGER.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner