Hour of the Assassin

Nick Averose, the star of this nonstop whirlwind from Quirk (The Night Agent), works as a so-called red teamer, testing the security surrounding government VIPs. While on the job one night checking out the protection level at the home of former CIA director Malcolm Widener, Averose is shocked to discover Widener stabbed to death on the floor of his study. Quickly realizing he’s likely been framed, Averose escapes into the Washington, D.C., night. So starts a mad scramble through the nation’s capital and its suburbs with Averose dodging pursuers while trying to figure out why somebody would want to set him up. Though frantically on the move, Averose eventually connects enough dots to determine that what’s going on somehow involves the presidential campaign of Sen. Sam MacDonough. Quirk again displays the infectious pacing he’s known for, but Averose leaves little lasting impression. There’s plenty of action, but readers will be disappointed in how closely this sticks to the contours of a typical chase story. Author tour. Agent: Dan Conaway, Writers House. (Mar.)