The Perfect Kill

21 Laws for Assassins

By: Robert B. Baer

Narrated by: Keith Szarabajka

Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

What is the definition of assassination? Robert B. Baer's boss at the CIA once told him, "It's a bullet with a man's name on it." Sometimes assassination is the senseless act of a psychotic, a bloodletting without social value. Other times, it can be the sanest and most humane way to change the course of conflict - one bullet, one death, case closed. Assassination has been dramatized by literature and politicized by infamous murders throughout history, and for Robert Baer, one of the most accomplished agents to ever work for the CIA, it's a source of endless fascination, speculation, and intrigue.

Over several decades, Baer served as an operative, from Iraq to New Delhi and beyond; notably, his career was the model for the acclaimed movie Syriana. In The Perfect Kill, he takes us on a serpentine adventure through the history of political murder; its connections to, and differences from, the ubiquitous use of drones in state-sponsored killing; his firsthand experience with political executions; and his decades-long cat-and-mouse hunt, across the Middle East and Europe, for the most effective and deadliest assassin of the modern age. A true maverick with an undeniably captivating personal story, Baer pulls back the curtain on the underbelly of world politics and the quiet murderers who operate on the fringe of our society.

©2014 Robert B. Baer (P)2014 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“A best-selling author and former CIA operative chronicles his experiences as an assassin while offering chilling insight into the fine art of political murder... Fascinating reading from an expert.” (Kirkus)

"The Perfect Kill's unusual mix of thrilling memoir and political science is a winning combination.” (Shelf Awareness [starred review])

“A fascinating, up-close look at the hunt for Radwan, and it’s packed with intriguing contemporary and historical details on the assassinations of tyrants.” (Booklist)

Good, a little bit sporadic though

It was a great look into political homicide. I've never even thought about it political homicide on a serious level. But this book was very intriguing. I must say though, it was really sporadic and a little hard to follow at times. Wish he would've tried to make it more chronological.

I found it interesting

I have found interesting all of Bob Baer’s books ! This kept my attention
And curiousness about the topic and times for the entire book.

Interesting

Really enjoyed this unusual topic, a good blend of history, politics and personal experiences. I'm glad I listened to it.

Not terrible but have heard better

The story seems to go all over the place and then randomly circles back to the main antagonist. Very ADHD.

great way to narrate

narrator was awesome. he made the author sound like the gruff man that wrote all those stories. the way this was organized into 21 tips was brilliant. weaving the story throughout was the best way to tell. so many ex-cia stories are boring retellings. this one stands out head & shoulders!

There are Bad Guys Everywhere

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I found the stories about Lebanon interesting.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Ho hum.

Any additional comments?

The story line jumps around in time and place from the 1980's to 2010 mostly in the middle east, but some of Europe as well without much continuity. The book is organized more as a collection of short stories about various assassins and their targets.

Decent

Interesting book. Narrators voice was a bit rough. And the author tries to hard to sound educated with words that don't quite fit the telling, but giving the way he presents his mom, he comes by it honest. But overall was a good book and glad I listened to it

filled with very witty comments

I thought there were one liners in here that make the read worth the time spent wading through material that was vague for security reasons. Baer's main point ...that hackers and drone operators should not be the core method of intelligence and defense is well explicated.

The Mind of a Sociopath...

This guy really is a killer, only a murderer wraps himself in the blanket of intellectual assassination.
Truly a peek into the mind of the guy who "comes at night." Scary....

Informative Description of Obscure History

Loved it.
There is a great deal of insight, and somewhat detailed expertise told within the story line of this book.
I've listened to it completely at least three times. There is too much to absorb for just one reading.