Victor the Assassin is one of my favorite characters. In Victor, Tom Wood has created the consummate professional, the ultimate assassin. On assignment from his CIA contact in Europe, Victor is in the process of closing the deal, so to speak, when he encounters a female assassin, the venerable and talented Raven. They end up basically in a draw, with both withdrawing, and Victor realizes he must find her, as she will be hunting him as well. His chase takes him to the United States, where he prefers not to operate. In New York our story takes some twists and turns. This book has everything, from betrayal and unusual alliances to car chases and gun battles. It was a fascinating and deeply satisfying read. Through it all, Victor remains consistent, and professional, and we get to assess situations and experience conflict through his eyes. Very few authors get this good. Lee Child is the only other author I can think of that can spend an entire chapter explaining a conflict that only took a couple of minutes, or even just a few seconds. Because in that conflict, there are choices, and Wood takes us in to how choices are made, and why. It's a fascinating series, and Victor, a man who lives constantly on the move, constantly at an awareness of each moment, constantly on guard, constantly looking for the next threat.