The President's Assassin

By: Brian Haig

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 13 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

Shortly after Army lawyer Sean Drummond starts working for the Office of Special Projects, a CIA cell which handles the most dangerous threats, the White House Chief of Staff is found brutally murdered. A note left by the killer promises more victims, including the President. Teaming up with a beautiful colleague to try to stop the assassin, Sean begins the investigation. The killer is stalking the campaign trail, apparently driven by a $500 million bounty on the President's head. When a dramatic hostage rescue culminates in an intense shootout, Sean realizes law enforcement's horrible miscalculation and what to do about it.

©2005 Brian Haig (P)2005 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Plenty of believable action plus heavy doses of insider atmosphere add zest to Haig's fifth suspense thriller to feature army lawyer Sean Drummond." (Publishers Weekly)

EXCELLENT

I have not read this author before and was sort of unsure as to buy or not, but after reading all the reviews I decided to. GREAT STORY . If you like to read Stephen Coonts and Nelson Demille, then this book is for you. I usually like to start at the beginning of a series but with this book you do not have to and you do not feel that you are missing anything. I would recommend this book.

Terrific Plot

This is a very well written and expertly narrated book. The plot is thoughtful and written with an insider's eye for detail. The DC bureaucratic infighting is told very well. The principal character is tightly drawn, and even though to an extent a first-person narration destroys some of the "will he survive" tension, it was still a very enjoyable book. If you like plot twists and you appreciate an inventive approach, you'll like this book.

Excellent book

Haig's book had me ignoring my cell phone and sitting in my driveway just to inch a little closer to the 'end game.' I will definitely be getting another Brian Haig book again very soon.

I don't know if there's a book that narrator Scott Brick could ever do an injustice to. He's truly masterful at his craft. If you liked this book, check out Robert Ludlum's "The Company" (also narrated by Brick) if it's still available.

No title

Great book. Kept me glued to my seat. I too got a little tired of Sean Drummond's incessant wise guy sarcasm. It's a bit over the top at times. I was a bit disappointed with the plot solution, as I thought the author backed himself into it by eliminating (most of) the rest of the possibilities. As for the reviewer who's offended by the treatment of the south? Um...Pay attention: No one except his arrogant and judgmental protagonist is spared. Everyone in the book is mostly unhinged with one character defect or another. The seven deadly sins are well represented, with pride, envy and greed showing up in spades. Add plain old sloppy thinking, bureaucratic backstabbing and the results of bad parenting to the mix, and it seems that the author has most of the federal government payroll neatly compartmentalized in one overly simplified psychological stereotype or another. Except, of course, for our hero Sean.

But a very good ride with some really good plot pyrotechnics, compelling and clever police-work writing and tight plot construction. If I could make one adjustment it would be to add more one or two more actually likable characters to the mix.

Goofy story, thank goodness for Scott Brick

Would you try another book from Brian Haig and/or Scott Brick?

The only thing that saved this performance was Scott Brick's reading. The author seems to have written a story of silly one dimensional idiots who eventually morph into two dimensional goofs. If the Secret Service, FBI, CIA and politicians are this stupid there is little hope for the country.

Has The President's Assassin turned you off from other books in this genre?

Love the genre, but I am embarrassed when the characters are this petty and silly.

Did Scott Brick do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Scott Brick is a welcome voice and an excellent narrator but there is only so much he can be expected to do with this flimsy tale

Do you think The President's Assassin needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Noooooooooooo

I loved this book

Brain Haig's story,prose, humor and sarcasm make for great listening and entertainment. I can't wait for his next book. Each of his Sean Dummond novels have been equally entertaining.

Good, but something less than the before.

Any additional comments?

This was one of those books that makes you wish you could give half stars. I have read or listened to all of the Sean Drummond series of books by Brian Haig (son of Alexander Haig, Nixon era white house administration, FYI). Admittedly I am late to that party as the series was first published in 2001, and this book came out in 2005. Even given that the dating is 11 or 12 years old and technology and people's understanding of it has changed greatly, this book is just a little less.... something... than the previous books.
It could be that the underlying premise is a little less plausible or possible. The idea that bombs can be planted next to a front door, munitions stolen from an Army base, a sniper can shoot the SAC of the FBI Washington Field Office, all without being captured, or seen on video in this land of ubiquitous video, is stretching it. That no one thinks to ASK for someone to look for it where we have the greatest minds on the case is even crazier.
It could also be that the sarcastic and caustic whit of our hero Sean Drummond is a little more subdued. In my opinion this is in part because Scott Brick was the narrator for this book. Brick is an AMAZING performer but I have come to know him as the reader for all the Clive Cussler series of books and particularly the AMAZING Isaac Bell series. He is perfect for them but all are G-Rated, nice guy hero/heroin, no cussing allowed stories. Sarcasm through the voice of Scott Brick sounds to me more like a soft edged butter knife than sharp whited retorts.
It also and most definitely is some of the proselytizing that Brian Haig allows to creep into this one. The last 15 minutes for example can be completely skipped as it is sermon on life and humanity. Strewn throughout the rest of the book are various somewhat false assertions or at least opinions open to argument (Army CID is the most elite investigative force in the world... really?).
But, I think the most noticeable difference is that I quite literally knew who the criminal was and what the "big twist" was going to be at the end, before half way through the book. This is not because I am an amazing arm chair detective or I have an IQ larger than the number of pages in the average phone book. Although that could be true (particularly the latter), it is because there were gaping holes in logic and story line that had to be left purposely. Everything pointed me to the correct solution and it was annoying because the genius heroes weren't asking the obvious next question or bothered by the obvious problem with their solutions to various events.
Also there are several factual and technical flaws salted throughout the story that if not for the other issues would either not be noticed or not worth mentioning. Again it is in part due to 12 more years of exposure to technology, but come on, tracing a cell phone has NOTHING to do with how long the caller stays on the line. It is quite simple connections made to a cell tower. Once the phone touches a cell tower, the log is created and the trace is there for the reporting. Here, our vaunted FBI is constantly thwarted by the clever crooks hanging up their cell phone before the trace can be obtained.
In the end, an ok book but to me the whole thing was a 3.5, not a 3 and not a 4 but that somewhat disappoint 1/2 star that takes the edge off a previously 5 star series. A good read but not a particularly memorable one.

Excellent book. I'm hooked.

After reading two Sean Drummond books I'm hooked on the series. What a fantastic writer!

Great Book and Excellent Narration!

The President's Assassin keeps you interested right to the end. Drummond's character was a tough nosed former covert soldier turned JAG officer turned C.I.A. spook. He had a keen sense of humor and Scott Brick nailed it perfectly. Drummond was never afraid of the authority figures trying to ride roughshod over him.
John Corey + Paul Brenner= SEAN DRUMMOND!!!!!!!!

A Great New Find

I've always been a fan of a good narrator. With over 300 titles in my library, Scott Brick, Dick Hill, Roger Guidall, Ron McLarty/Orla Cassidy, Richard Ferrone and Eric Conger narrate 95% of them, so I'm always on the lookout for their work. Unlike most, I guess, I look for the narrator and then check the books they are performing and make my purchase choice that way. They have read some (to my mind) real lemons that have not interested me, but when the right combination of author, storyline, plot, characterization and narration pushes my nottons, I buy it and I've rarely been wrong. Sometimes buying by author, especially when you've become familiar with the body of work can lead you astray, as It has on occasion for me. Robert Crais is a good example. I've read all of the Elvis Cole/Joe Pike series and bought the last installment without hesitation, only to be disappointed by the narration on this last entry. Not only is Haig a brilliant writer and stategist, his plot twists and hairpin turns make for that 'just one more page' before turning it off dilemma. Scott Brick makes it all seem real and uncontrived. A really good read.