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This is the book you want to read if you're seeking a blockbusting, thought-provoking tale with near endless twists. For all you thriller fans out there, hungry for a distinctly fresh approach, this is the book. You haven't read anything like THE DISCRETE CHARM OF CHARLIE MONK. David Ambrose doesn't write formula. In fact, this is about as far from formula as I've read in a long time.
Charlie Monk is an enigma from the first paragraph of this outstanding thriller and, with the turn of every page, becomes more of a mystery than ever. Ambrose gives nothing away as each new scene simply adds dimension to the puzzle.
Charlie thinks of himself as a highly trained assassin in a deeply covert department of some obscure government agency. Indeed, maybe he is, but then again, maybe not. You be the one to decide. Charlie not only remembers minute details of his past assignments, he has a host of lethal weapons at his disposal and knows how to handle sticky situations in astoundingly unique ways. In his somewhat peculiar personal life, he indulges his kinky appetites while secretly holding bittersweet memories of a lost love. He has vivid recollections of part of his childhood, with a few gaps here and there. But are his memories real? As he makes some chilling discoveries about himself, the seeds of doubt grow. He begins to doubt who he is and even begins to doubt what he is.
Meanwhile, Dr. Susan Flemying is working in a clinic of some type, trying to help patients with diminished memory, some with a cruel type of amnesia. In her research, she has unearthed some interesting results, results that may aid in memory enrichment --- or is that memory manipulation? Shortly after the story begins, Dr. Flemyng loses her husband John, also a doctor, in a tragic accident. At least it was reported as an accident. As she struggles to help her son cope with his father's death, a journalist contacts her, claiming inside knowledge about John's last days. She is curious but skeptical. Cautiously, she begins to question the official version of the plane crash. Inevitably, her path crosses with Charlie's.
The one constant in Charlie's life has been Control, his superior in the "agency." Their regular strategy meetings have always given Charlie not only his next assignment but also kept him supplied with the entertainment of his choosing. When Control's surprising identity is revealed, Charlie starts to formulate a plan, one he hopes will explain his entire existence. Dr. Susan Flemyng may be just the one to aid him in that endeavor. Their escape from wherever it is they've been is riveting, jaw clenching and quite possibly unbelievable.
You'll say "Hmm" about as many times as there are chapters. The more you read, the more questions you'll have. THE DISCRETE CHARM OF CHARLIE MONK soars to new heights in the thriller realm. As much as I like to savor, I couldn't put it down --- that is, if my memory serves me right.
--- Reviewed by Kate Ayers
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