The Quiet Assassin

She is a model citizen of the East German police state . . . She is a respected scientist and mother . . . She is a beautiful woman in love with a man on another continent . . . And she is an assassin.Against the backdrop of the Cold War, a passionate love affair blossoms between K te Frassek, the young wife of an East German official, and Clay Bentley, an American exchange student in West Berlin.

After two years of almost daily border crossings, Clay returns to the States. He becomes a prominent physician, marries a hometown girl and leads what appears to be a normal life. But his love for K te endures, and her distant call for help proves irresistible. He returns to the East.

Not until his reunion with her 20 years after their first encounter does he learn who she is, what she has hidden from the world and what she plans to do; not until then does he learn that she has raised his son.

Clay is swept inexorably into K te's orbit of clandestine resistance. He has the money and the connections to smuggle her out of East Germany. She will go, but not until she achieves the goal to which she has devoted her life.

She unleashes her plan, which is to kill the head of the East German Secret Police. In a painfully suspenseful climax, she finds herself, her son and her lover staring death in the face.

EDITORIAL REVIEWS The Critics on Kirkwood's Writing

"Solid tension, sudden danger, fierce action . . . catches fire." -- Kirkus Reviews

"A moving love story as well as a novel filled with action and suspense ... strong sympathetic characters ... Thomas Kirkwood is a writer to get excited about." -- Rocky Mountain News

"Nail-biting . . . Perfect " -- Norfolk Virginian Pilot

"Powerful ... Truly riveting " -- Chattanooga News-Free Press

"A bubbling thriller . . . The tension builds." -- Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Suspense and intrigue ... A classic adventure." -- Mobile Press Register

"Wryly drawn characters...absorbing."-- Kirkus Reviews

"Tense drama...spectacular."-- St. Louis Post Dispatch

"Riveting and fascinating."-- Lerner Newspapers

"An absorbing tale...the stuff of which movies are made."-- Rocky Mountain News

"Crackles ... a rousing good job." -- Akron Beacon-Journal

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:

"Finally an author who knows how to write with passion "

"A terrific thriller that I couldn't put down, I'll have to read more by this author. The research was amazing."

"This is an excellent page turner with good characterizations and more than ample detail. A good suspense story with tension right up to the end."

"Well written, moving story. I wasn't able to put it down."

"Riveting is a great word for this 5 star book "

"The author did a great job at building up the characters of the book, as well as keeping me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. I personally loved this story and will look forward to reading more by this author."

"I really enjoyed reading this and would recommend it to those who want edge of their seat excitement. This story makes me wonder what life would be like to live it as two different people. Definitely five out of five stars."

SELECTED BY BOOK-OF-THE-MONTH CLUB