This thriller has been sitting on my TBR shelf for several years patiently waiting to be read. If only I had known how good it is, I would have read it when I bought it. This one is a real winner.The plot begins with the death of Princess Diana in Paris. You'll remember, I'm sure, that various conspiracy theories got a lot of attention at the time, and actually some people still believe them. Tom Cain has built an intricate, frightening tale which takes off from that fatal accident.The major character is an assassin who goes by the name Samuel Carver. Old military friends know him as Pablo Jackson and he has various other identities as well. He is a loner, wouldn't you know, who was given away by his mother when he was born, and who doesn't trust anyone except for a very few close friends. (Sorry about the snide remark about loners. It's a pet peeve of mine.) He seems to be able to survive anything and to be fearless. He is fit and healthy, but mainly he's smart and able to plan ahead quickly. He doesn't know who he works for, only that he has the job because of his old commander in the British military. Someone he knows as Max calls him, gives him the target and then provides him with the supplies he needs. Afterward he deposits lots of money in Carver's bank account. His assassinations are always supposed to look like accidents.The other major character is a young, beautiful Russian woman. She is supposed to kill Carver but instead stays with him. Their's is the strangest love story you'll ever read but it makes sense in this story. It's also quite odd that I liked both of them even though I knew they were killers.I must warn readers who are squeamish about violence that this is a violent book; of course, since it is about a killer. I sometimes shy away from violent books, but I was so caught up in this one that I simply expected it and greedily read until the final page. I've been lucky to read several page-turners lately. When I finished this one, I looked at my husband (who was smiling at my edge-of-the-seat reading) and said, "Wow! What a book!" I can't tell you any more about the plot without possibly slipping in spoilers. All I can say is that this is a winner. It has well-drawn characters, everyone from the truly evil to people capable of evil to achieve a good end. The settings, whether French, Swiss, or British are beautifully depicted. The plot is intricate and ever-changing, but yet easy to follow. And the ending simply took my breath away. Highly recommended reading, with warning of violence.Source: probably a book sale
Ever wonder what would happen if you threw Ian Fleming's James Bond, Dan Brown's Robert Langdon, and Steig Larsson's Mikael Blomkvist under one cover? Read Tom Cain's "The Accident Man" and you'll find out.Tom Cain takes us on Samuel Carver's journey on one last hit that turns out to be Princess Diana. With the factual event as the backdrop, we're free to let the conspiracy theories run wild. Enter corrupt British spies, the Russian mafia, some greedy Frenchmen, etc. This book was, at times, predictable, at times, unexpected, altogether entertaining. The sexual tension between Alix and Carver is believable and the way that Cain depicts Carver's vulnerability is a welcome addition to the standard tough-guy spy character. And while I can certainly say that I enjoyed this one and that I would sometime entertain reading the subsequent Samuel Carver novels, I can't say that I was completely blown away.The second half of the book definitely read much easier than the first half...such is the case in a novel with a number of characters.I must also admit that this novel made me want to do a little research. I know shamefully little about the fall of Communism in the Soviet Union and eastern Europe and the subsequent formation of Russia and the Baltic states. While my wife knows a good deal about Diana's death, I do not and realized that I should at least understand the basics.So, as a good friend (@Dave Brown) said in a recent post about this one, "It's a good story that makes us think, what more could you ask for in a summer read?"~J.
What do You think about The Accident Man (2008)?
Tom Cain takes a look behind a piece of recent history, the accident that killed Princess Diana and asks, What if?.... Cain’s protaganist , Sam Carver is a former member of the British Special Boat Service. He is now a paid killer, but still a man with a conscience, who is able to justify what he does by his belief that he is eliminating evil men who have no conscience at all. Eliminating criminals who think they are above the law. His life takes a dramatic turn when he accepts and carries out a job in Paris. He discovers that he has been double crossed by the people who hired him. There are Russian hit men trying to kill him and the victim was not a terrorist as he was told, but Princess Diana. This book is one big adrenalin rush from beginning to end. Cain’s tale unfolds like one big free fall and the reader keeps turning pages to see if the ripcord will ever be pulled or even if there is a parachute at all!
—Jim
I've read reviews of this and seen it in the shops and tried to stay away from it. It just seemed a little bit too exploitational - basing such a story on real events, to which there are already too many conspiracy theories. It almost seems irresponsible to add more.As a thriller, it is utterley absorbing and breathless. Very shorty chapters, double and triple crosses and many set piece action scenes.Told in classic thriller/cinematic style. A header showing our ace assasain Samual Carver taking out an eastern european despot. Yes he is a hired killer but he is taking out the scum.Then it moves on to his next assignment and this is handled beautifully. He completes his task in the tunnel through the aid of a high powered light but then has a couple of russians on his back who have been sent to finish him off. Great sense of location as he makes his escape through the streets and nightlife of Paris - in complete ignorance of who he has killed.The story then moves into Bourne Identity hocus pocus - cross european locations as he befriends one of the russians (a beautiful woman of course) and the pair of them go on the run together.Breathless from start to finish - obviously would make a good book. Would just say that its morally a bit dubious.
—Ian Mapp
If you want international adventure and thrills this is the book for you. And no CIA! Samuel Carver arranges accidents all over the world, accidents to bad people. One particular job in Paris seems ridiculously simple for the extraordinary high price he's paid. He doesn't figure it out for a while but is stunned when he realizes he's helped kill Princess Diana; caused the accident in the tunnel--half the accident anyhow. The other half is dome by unscrupulous Russian Mafiya. Yes, finally the Lady Di conspirators have some here to sink their teeth into. Then it's everyone cover up the assassination and bodies fall everywhere. Samuel Carver is a good protagonist, better than Bond, as he sweats it out, and how he ends up in the last pages will surprise you. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. A good read. If you like this story, read Gerry's War.
—E.R. Yatscoff
