Explosive Little Firecracker
The contract was simple: take out Wesley Gage, a disgraced vet with a homemade explosive and a lethal grudge against Governor Monroe. At least, that was the briefing.
But watching him stumble through the operation made one thing obvious. Gage isn't the mastermind. He's the patsy.
The real targets hide behind polished shoes and manufactured smiles. They don't care who gets caught in the blast, as long as the carnage dominates the news cycle and spikes their poll numbers.
Now I'm playing a dangerous double game—disarming the real threats, taking out the political trash, and spilling exactly enough blood to keep my handlers blind to the truth.
- Marin - Professional assassin
- Jane - Marin’s agent
- Wesley Gage - Survivalist
- Jefferson Monroe - Governor of Missouri
- Maribelle - Jefferson’s wife
- Gage plans to assassinate Monroe during the 4th of July festivities, so Marin is sent to eliminate Gage first.
- Marin gets a text from Jane instructing her to let Gage kill Monroe before taking Gage out.
- Marin sneaks into Gage’s barn and sabotages the bomb he is building so it won’t detonate.
- After the parade, Monroe gives a speech, and Marin sees him give a subtle nod to Gage. She realizes the bombing was Monroe’s idea to gain political favor by surviving an ‘assassination attempt.’
- Gage tries to detonate the bomb but nothing happens.
- Marin follows Gage and Monroe into the forest.
- Marin overhears Monroe reveal that the plan was to frame her for the bombing.
- Marin cuts Monroe’s throat and shoots Gage in the head, killing them both.
- Monroe’s security guards open fire on Marin as she flees back into the crowd.
- Maribelle is informed of Monroe’s death, but Marin sees through the ‘tears’ and realizes Maribelle was the mastermind behind it.
- Marin follows Maribelle to a party at her estate and overhears security discussing how the bomb was brought there to keep it hidden.
- Maribelle sneaks off with a lover, and Marin follows and shoots him in both knees.
- Marin detonates the bomb, destroying Maribelle’s helicopter and part of the estate.
- Maribelle apologizes for sending the security guards to kill Marin, and Marin leaves.
- Jane texts Marin to thank her for not killing the client.
Joan De La Haye nails the Fourth of July atmosphere right from the jump, using the holiday backdrop to feed the tension. This is another solid addition to the series following Marin the assassin, and the story never gives you a chance to catch your breath. The short chapters make this book a quick, exciting ride that builds momentum without dragging anything out.
What really hooked me this time around was the twisty mystery of who is actually pulling the strings behind the scenes. Just when the plot felt settled, the dynamics shifted, keeping the suspense sharp all the way to the end. If you like assassin protagonists, holiday-themed thrillers, and unpredictable power dynamics, then you will enjoy this book.
- Murder
ASIN: B0FDGJD9Z7
Publication Date: June 17, 2025
Note: Details are for the original edition. Other formats, editions, and audiobook versions may be available.
