What do you think?
Rate this book
The WMD Files #1.1
Assassin's Vow: An Espionage Thriller Novella
Her first vow was “I do.”
Her second vow was to hunt down her husband’s killer.
Rachel Jaeger planned to become a linguist, not an assassin, but it works for her. For the first time in her life, she has true love, meaningful work, and a bright future.
That bright future explodes when her husband is captured on a mission. Heartbroken and lost, Rachel throws herself into her work, becoming the angel of Death to those unlucky enough to cross her path.
Finally, Rachel has a chance to go after her husband’s killer. But first she must face a much more formidable opponent.
Herself.
Follow the roller-coaster origin story of covert agent Rachel Jaeger as she battles her inner demons and murderous terrorists in this stand-alone prequel to The Pandora Deception, a national security thriller from the two US military veterans.
Her second vow was to hunt down her husband’s killer.
Rachel Jaeger planned to become a linguist, not an assassin, but it works for her. For the first time in her life, she has true love, meaningful work, and a bright future.
That bright future explodes when her husband is captured on a mission. Heartbroken and lost, Rachel throws herself into her work, becoming the angel of Death to those unlucky enough to cross her path.
Finally, Rachel has a chance to go after her husband’s killer. But first she must face a much more formidable opponent.
Herself.
Follow the roller-coaster origin story of covert agent Rachel Jaeger as she battles her inner demons and murderous terrorists in this stand-alone prequel to The Pandora Deception, a national security thriller from the two US military veterans.
117 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 27, 2020
53 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
David Bruns
68 books260 followersDavid Bruns (www.davidbruns.com) has served as an officer on a US Navy nuclear-powered submarine and traveled the world as a high-tech corporate itinerant. Today, he writes futuristic speculative fiction, contemporary thrillers, and everything in between.
He is the creator of the sci-fi/fantasy series, The Dream Guild Chronicles, the military sci-fi thriller Invincible, and co-author of The SynCorp Saga corporate sci-fi series. A graduate of the prestigious Clarion West Writer’s Workshop, his short fiction has appeared in more than two dozen spec fic venues, such as Compelling SciFi and Future Chronicles.
In his spare time, he co-writes national security thrillers with retired naval intelligence officer, JR Olson. Their next book, Rules of Engagement, will be released by St. Martin’s Press in June 2019.
He is the creator of the sci-fi/fantasy series, The Dream Guild Chronicles, the military sci-fi thriller Invincible, and co-author of The SynCorp Saga corporate sci-fi series. A graduate of the prestigious Clarion West Writer’s Workshop, his short fiction has appeared in more than two dozen spec fic venues, such as Compelling SciFi and Future Chronicles.
In his spare time, he co-writes national security thrillers with retired naval intelligence officer, JR Olson. Their next book, Rules of Engagement, will be released by St. Martin’s Press in June 2019.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 29, 2023
Bruns and Olson are retired U.S. Navy officers, Olson in particular with a background in naval intelligence –and that background is drawn on heavily in the various self-published series that he and Bruns co-write. This particular 117-page novella exists only in an electronic edition; in keeping with my usual practice, I'd never have read it, but for the fact that it's a freebie. Supposedly, it's the fourth in a succession of “Standalone Suspenseful Short Reads.” In fact, although I read it as a standalone, it actually ties directly into The Pandora Deception, the fourth novel in the authors' WMD Files series. (The first novel of that series is premised on the conceit that former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein really did have his infamous “weapons of mass destruction,” but cleverly smuggled them out of Iraq before the Americans closed in –okay, this IS fiction.) Our protagonist in this novella, Mossad agent and top-notch assassin Rachel Jaeger, is an important character in the afore-mentioned fourth novel of that series (and possibly others); and indeed, we can surmise that the reason this work is given away for free is so that it can serve as a teaser to draw readers to the series.
Actually, our heroine's real name is Makda Moretti; “Rachel Jaeger” is her Mossad code name (jaeger means “hunter” in German, and probably also in Yiddish, which is a Germanic language; and Rachel is a name with definite Old Testament associations). Historically, going back to at least New Testament times and possibly back as far as the reign of Solomon, a certain number of blacks in East Africa have identified with the Jewish faith. Rachel was born in Ethiopia, and her mother was one of these (although her mixed race father was half Italian). But though this subculture is mentioned. the authors don't develop it at all. Their concentration is very much on providing the character's “origin story.”
We begin en media res, on her first mission as a fledgling operative in a town on the Egyptian Sinai penninsula, where she's supposed to provide scouting and lookout functions for a team tasked with taking out a terrorist. (But circumstances will cause her role to morph into something more demanding....) Well positioned flashbacks show us how, as a smart, physically fit and observant Tel Aviv Univ. student with a double major in economics and foreign languages, a solid background of martial arts training, and no close family (her mother had recently died, and her brother had emigrated to the U.S.) she was recruited into Mossad. (Later flashbacks show her family's harrowing trek to Israel from danger in an unraveling Ethiopia, on which her father was killed, when she was a very small child, and a later formative experience of standing up to two bullies in order to defend another child, which shaped her penchant for defending innocents.) Levi, the slightly older agent who recruited her, initially used the cover of a dating relationship as a medium to get close to her and check her out; this probably began as a ploy on his part, but quickly became much more serious, and the Makda-Levi relationship plays a very crucial role in the plot here. I don't recommend reading the Amazon book description (the Goodreads database entry doesn't have any description) because it divulges a lot of the plot, not just the premise. But suffice it to say that personal tragedy will be a shaping force in Rachel's career. The time frame of the main tale is apparently about two years.
This is not a deep novel wrestling with moral, psychological, spiritual or political issues. There's no real exploration of the complex roots and merits of the current Israeli vs. Arab hostility. Both Rachel's and Levi's role in Mossad is strictly counter-terrorism, combating and forestalling bad actors who would target and murder innocent civilians for political ends. That these people need to be stopped is a moral no-brainer, regardless of your attitudes towards Zionism or Palestinian statehood. Religion plays no role in the tale; Rachel and Levi are strictly secular and identify with Israel on the basis of peoplehood (which in her case is not exactly ethnic either, but more cultural, in a broad sense). The first time that she has to take a life (in self-defense), Rachel experiences some believable psychological distress at the enormity and finality of it, but is able to work through it and come to terms with it fairly quickly, as an action in successful and needed defense of her people; that kind of issue doesn't arise elsewhere in the book. Despite the Amazon blurb's overwrought reference to her “inner demons,” we don't really meet any of the latter, our authors don't really psycho-analyze her in depth, beyond the obvious feelings.
What it is instead is a straightforward tale of espionage action-adventure, with no real pretensions beyond offering exciting entertainment for readers who appreciate danger, suspense, physical challenges, and the satisfaction of seeing a good gal kick some bad-guy butt. :-) That's exactly what the authors set out to deliver, and they make good on their promise admirably. This is a very well-written, fast flowing novel, with believable characters, all of them presented in life-like fashion. The prose is thoroughly serviceable, and free of bad language, with the exception of a couple of s-words in one place. (I appreciated that restraint, which I regard as a hallmark of good, tasteful writing.) There are a variety of locales here –Rome, France and Tunisia, in addition to Israel, the Sinai and East Africa, as already mentioned-- and while they're not necessarily realized with a deep sense of place (remember, this is a 117-page novella!), all of the physical settings are described vividly enough that we can easily visualize them. Inside knowledge of espionage trade-craft and the inner workings of an intelligence agency is incorporated seamlessly into the narrative, giving it a solid feeling of verisimilitude. Our authors refrain from depicting explicit sex, and they treat sexual matters in general with restraint. It's mentioned that Makda and Levi began sharing her bed after they'd been dating two weeks, but it's left at that, and the feelings between the two, in fairness, are much more intense than the short time span suggests. (Normally I'm skeptical of insta-love scenarios in fiction, especially in a modern setting, but it carried complete credibility here.) One scene had both Rachel and the target of one of her hits naked at one point, because she was posing as a prostitute in order to carry out her mission, but there's no gratuitous physical description and no sexual activity takes place. (It's a disgusting scene only because of the repugnant nature of the target's exploitative and misogynistic attitudes, but he's meant to be disgusting.) As an action adventure yarn with a government-sanctioned assassin for a main character, it's going to feature lethal violence directly described, but there's restraint here too; there's no wallowing in gore for its own sake, and neither the authors nor Rachel are sadistic. (She'll deliver certain death to her marks –who inspire no particular pity!-- with consummate efficiency, but she''ll deliver it quickly and cleanly.)
My high rating reflects the degree of skill with which the authors deliver on the conventions of their genre, as well as my enjoyment of the tale (I'd easily have read it in one sitting if my time had allowed!). The only negative I felt is that Rachel's character arc here doesn't leave her, emotionally, in as good a place at the end as her friends would want her to be. (And by the time you finish the book, if you read it, you'll probably also count yourself among her friends. :-) ) To be fair, however, that's because it's not a complete arc; the authors have at least one more adventure for her, in a full-length novel that will probably allow for much more progress in her personal life journey. Sadly, I don't plan to witness it; at the age of 70 and with a gargantuan TBR, I don't choose to get sucked into the welter of Bruns' and Olsen's various series, so I read this as a stand-alone. But I wish our heroine well; and can unhesitatingly recommend at least this start of her saga to all fans of espionage thrillers and action heroines!
Actually, our heroine's real name is Makda Moretti; “Rachel Jaeger” is her Mossad code name (jaeger means “hunter” in German, and probably also in Yiddish, which is a Germanic language; and Rachel is a name with definite Old Testament associations). Historically, going back to at least New Testament times and possibly back as far as the reign of Solomon, a certain number of blacks in East Africa have identified with the Jewish faith. Rachel was born in Ethiopia, and her mother was one of these (although her mixed race father was half Italian). But though this subculture is mentioned. the authors don't develop it at all. Their concentration is very much on providing the character's “origin story.”
We begin en media res, on her first mission as a fledgling operative in a town on the Egyptian Sinai penninsula, where she's supposed to provide scouting and lookout functions for a team tasked with taking out a terrorist. (But circumstances will cause her role to morph into something more demanding....) Well positioned flashbacks show us how, as a smart, physically fit and observant Tel Aviv Univ. student with a double major in economics and foreign languages, a solid background of martial arts training, and no close family (her mother had recently died, and her brother had emigrated to the U.S.) she was recruited into Mossad. (Later flashbacks show her family's harrowing trek to Israel from danger in an unraveling Ethiopia, on which her father was killed, when she was a very small child, and a later formative experience of standing up to two bullies in order to defend another child, which shaped her penchant for defending innocents.) Levi, the slightly older agent who recruited her, initially used the cover of a dating relationship as a medium to get close to her and check her out; this probably began as a ploy on his part, but quickly became much more serious, and the Makda-Levi relationship plays a very crucial role in the plot here. I don't recommend reading the Amazon book description (the Goodreads database entry doesn't have any description) because it divulges a lot of the plot, not just the premise. But suffice it to say that personal tragedy will be a shaping force in Rachel's career. The time frame of the main tale is apparently about two years.
This is not a deep novel wrestling with moral, psychological, spiritual or political issues. There's no real exploration of the complex roots and merits of the current Israeli vs. Arab hostility. Both Rachel's and Levi's role in Mossad is strictly counter-terrorism, combating and forestalling bad actors who would target and murder innocent civilians for political ends. That these people need to be stopped is a moral no-brainer, regardless of your attitudes towards Zionism or Palestinian statehood. Religion plays no role in the tale; Rachel and Levi are strictly secular and identify with Israel on the basis of peoplehood (which in her case is not exactly ethnic either, but more cultural, in a broad sense). The first time that she has to take a life (in self-defense), Rachel experiences some believable psychological distress at the enormity and finality of it, but is able to work through it and come to terms with it fairly quickly, as an action in successful and needed defense of her people; that kind of issue doesn't arise elsewhere in the book. Despite the Amazon blurb's overwrought reference to her “inner demons,” we don't really meet any of the latter, our authors don't really psycho-analyze her in depth, beyond the obvious feelings.
What it is instead is a straightforward tale of espionage action-adventure, with no real pretensions beyond offering exciting entertainment for readers who appreciate danger, suspense, physical challenges, and the satisfaction of seeing a good gal kick some bad-guy butt. :-) That's exactly what the authors set out to deliver, and they make good on their promise admirably. This is a very well-written, fast flowing novel, with believable characters, all of them presented in life-like fashion. The prose is thoroughly serviceable, and free of bad language, with the exception of a couple of s-words in one place. (I appreciated that restraint, which I regard as a hallmark of good, tasteful writing.) There are a variety of locales here –Rome, France and Tunisia, in addition to Israel, the Sinai and East Africa, as already mentioned-- and while they're not necessarily realized with a deep sense of place (remember, this is a 117-page novella!), all of the physical settings are described vividly enough that we can easily visualize them. Inside knowledge of espionage trade-craft and the inner workings of an intelligence agency is incorporated seamlessly into the narrative, giving it a solid feeling of verisimilitude. Our authors refrain from depicting explicit sex, and they treat sexual matters in general with restraint. It's mentioned that Makda and Levi began sharing her bed after they'd been dating two weeks, but it's left at that, and the feelings between the two, in fairness, are much more intense than the short time span suggests. (Normally I'm skeptical of insta-love scenarios in fiction, especially in a modern setting, but it carried complete credibility here.) One scene had both Rachel and the target of one of her hits naked at one point, because she was posing as a prostitute in order to carry out her mission, but there's no gratuitous physical description and no sexual activity takes place. (It's a disgusting scene only because of the repugnant nature of the target's exploitative and misogynistic attitudes, but he's meant to be disgusting.) As an action adventure yarn with a government-sanctioned assassin for a main character, it's going to feature lethal violence directly described, but there's restraint here too; there's no wallowing in gore for its own sake, and neither the authors nor Rachel are sadistic. (She'll deliver certain death to her marks –who inspire no particular pity!-- with consummate efficiency, but she''ll deliver it quickly and cleanly.)
My high rating reflects the degree of skill with which the authors deliver on the conventions of their genre, as well as my enjoyment of the tale (I'd easily have read it in one sitting if my time had allowed!). The only negative I felt is that Rachel's character arc here doesn't leave her, emotionally, in as good a place at the end as her friends would want her to be. (And by the time you finish the book, if you read it, you'll probably also count yourself among her friends. :-) ) To be fair, however, that's because it's not a complete arc; the authors have at least one more adventure for her, in a full-length novel that will probably allow for much more progress in her personal life journey. Sadly, I don't plan to witness it; at the age of 70 and with a gargantuan TBR, I don't choose to get sucked into the welter of Bruns' and Olsen's various series, so I read this as a stand-alone. But I wish our heroine well; and can unhesitatingly recommend at least this start of her saga to all fans of espionage thrillers and action heroines!
October 6, 2020
Rachel Jaeger’s origin story is filled with action, intrigue, love, loss, and resolve to follow through. While this is a novella, it didn’t lack for anything, once I started reading I was hooked and styed glued to my chair until I had completed the story. Along with providing a few hours of excellent entertainment, this novella has set the hook for more reading more Rachel Jaeger stories.
October 13, 2020
This is a very well written story of espionage and assassins. It lacks a little in story continuity where some details are dropped, but overall an exciting tale of revenge. The plot is fast paced, the characters well developed, and the editing clean. An enjoyable read.
October 10, 2020
Short origin novella for the Mossad assassin Rachel from the WMD series. Tells the back story of her becoming a Mossad agent and the death of her husband, Levi. It was fine for a novella. Not a ton of time to build a huge storyline. It you have read the series, it is worth the time to learn more about Rachel’s backstory.
March 13, 2025
A really good novella on espionage and assassins via the Mossad.
September 28, 2020
Mossad agent Rachel Jaeger and her husband, Levi, work together to bring down terrorists. But when a mission goes terribly wrong, Rachel vows to bring down the man who killed her husband. When he surfaces with a new identity, will she find a way to keep that pledge?
Strong, nuanced characters populate this well-drawn tale of deep undercover missions and the dedicated agents who risk their lives to stop the terrorists. An undercurrent of tension gives the compelling novella an edginess that perfectly supports the narrative and keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Rachel shows herself to be a strong woman; her backstory makes her relatable and gives added depth to the telling of the tale. Readers will find much to appreciate in this unfolding story that serves as a prequel for “The Pandora Deception.”
Highly recommended.
Strong, nuanced characters populate this well-drawn tale of deep undercover missions and the dedicated agents who risk their lives to stop the terrorists. An undercurrent of tension gives the compelling novella an edginess that perfectly supports the narrative and keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Rachel shows herself to be a strong woman; her backstory makes her relatable and gives added depth to the telling of the tale. Readers will find much to appreciate in this unfolding story that serves as a prequel for “The Pandora Deception.”
Highly recommended.
November 5, 2020
Great story! Rachel is a highly skilled Mossad agent who works counter terrorism with her colleague-boyfriend Levi. She came to Israel as a child from Ethiopia and the "job" is a major portion of her life.
This novella has good writing, great plot, and captivating action sequences. It's the origin story of Rachel and I plan to read the next book that features more of her journey.
Rachel at work: "My job is done, she thought with no small measure of irritation. I put the bug inside the room. We're hearing every word they are saying" (kindle p. 38).
This novella has good writing, great plot, and captivating action sequences. It's the origin story of Rachel and I plan to read the next book that features more of her journey.
Rachel at work: "My job is done, she thought with no small measure of irritation. I put the bug inside the room. We're hearing every word they are saying" (kindle p. 38).
November 9, 2020
Intense action in the Mossad. Intrigue, love, death, vengeance. Really makes me want to read more about Rachel in the next book.
August 18, 2023
I think that this book lands in the genre of "impossibly capable hero/heroine." To be fair, there is a good degree of exploration of the heroine's emotions as she goes through the trials of her life and her current adventure. However, that's all there is to this book, other than some page-turning action with predictable outcomes. That's probably all that's possible in a short novella, but nonetheless that's all there is to this novella. What pushed this down to two stars for me was the unbelievable arbitrary outcome of the final action scene.
December 5, 2020
The origins of a lethal undercover operative
This quick read leads into the undercover life and times of a lethal female assassin written by two guys who really know their stuff...
I received a free copy of the book from the authors and I am thrilled to be able to give you my honest review.
This quick read leads into the undercover life and times of a lethal female assassin written by two guys who really know their stuff...
I received a free copy of the book from the authors and I am thrilled to be able to give you my honest review.
April 5, 2024
Assassin's Vow: (The WMD Files #1.1) An Espionage Thriller Novella, my ninth read from authors David Bruns & J.R. Olson. Outstanding, a great page-turning thriller. An exciting, enjoyable read. I received a Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
August 26, 2025
A ripped-from-the headlines thriller!
Fast moving action—keeps the characters AND the reader on their toes! All-to-real characters from the boiling middle east, make this story seem as if you are reading an in-depth Atlantic or The New Yorker researched article. Are these based on real characters, real events? Who can tell? Not me! Excellent geo-political thriller!
Fast moving action—keeps the characters AND the reader on their toes! All-to-real characters from the boiling middle east, make this story seem as if you are reading an in-depth Atlantic or The New Yorker researched article. Are these based on real characters, real events? Who can tell? Not me! Excellent geo-political thriller!
September 26, 2021
Great Short Entertainment!
Great fast action from page one with characters you'll love and others you'll want to see destroyed! Definitely a page turner!
Great fast action from page one with characters you'll love and others you'll want to see destroyed! Definitely a page turner!
October 21, 2021
A Woman Scorned
Never underestimate a woman who has lost everything. Great characters and plot that is non stop from start to finish. Loved it and will look for more.
Never underestimate a woman who has lost everything. Great characters and plot that is non stop from start to finish. Loved it and will look for more.
November 20, 2023
A good, quick read; more about Rachel Jaeger in subsequent books.
October 10, 2021
This book has it all, including a great plot, fascinating characters, believable scenes and plenty of action. The main character is a rookie Massad agent who shows great skill even in her early assignments. As a novella, this is a short read but a good one!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews