Just spent the week with Joe Ledger, all 4 in a row, and WOWeee......did I have a good time! Not since I rode the roller coaster 11 times in a row back in high school, (and subsequently lost my corn dog and sno-cone) have I had this much of a wild rollicking ride. When I read the first Ledger book, I thought it was a very enjoyable diversion; I had no intention of continuing on with the books--but 4 books later...I can't think of a funner way to spend the summer than with Joe, Ghost, Bunny, Church, and the rest of Echo Team, on 4 completely different spine-tingling adventures.
Because Assassin's Code is the 4th in a series about Ledger, rather than a continuation of a plot, this book is as strong as the first Ledger installment, and could easily stand on its own. There's no following a strung out plot and dragging to the finish line. (I actually liked the first and this fourth the most.) Instead, Maberry's creativity seems to be picking up speed, and hints at more fun to come. Fast paced, spooky, and crazy fun--but there's just enough reality and science to put a little chill in those thrills; and writting that goes effortlessly from technical, to sarcastic and funny, to down right scary. You'll love the good guys, hate the villains, cheer for the dog, and be intrigued by the mysterious Mr. Church...what more could you want in an action-adventure-thriller?! Ledger may be this era's answer to James Bond. Ray Porter is, once again, outrageously good as narrator/Joe Ledger (is it my imagination, or is he sounding more and more like Ron White?) and gets better with each book.
Assassin's Code is wildly entertaining on its own; don't be surprised if you end up wanting to go again, and again on the Ledger/Porter/Maberry ride.