The Elite Assassins Emotional Support Group

By: J. J. Kennard

Narrated by: David Gurney

In a world where life is cheap and their own deaths mean very little, what is left? What gives an assassin purpose and the drive they need to carry on? People think assassins don’t have feelings. They do, only they’re a bit different and are expressed in ways that may not be familiar.

Guy believed he’d found the answer to overcoming that bleak dysfunctional fatalism they all felt. Bottling up emotions isn’t good, he reasoned. So, he would do what ordinary people did and he would set up an emotional support group. It was only when the newest member joined the group that things started to happen. The tables were turning and the assassins found themselves being targeted. This wasn’t good, but at least it gave an opportunity to get away from the hotel that served the worst tea imaginable.

©2023 Jerry Kennard (P)2023 Jerry Kennard

John Wick would approve

Can you imagine the high table sending John Wick for some much needed therapy? Yeah, it would probably go something like this nifty novella. I was a little skeptical because the summary seemed a bit too introspective and all about deep thoughts, but the genre did include “humor,” so I gave it a whirl.

This is stylish and clever and gives great mystery as Martin presents himself at a support group for the killer elite just in time to join the ranks of the hunted. And yes, there’s some cutting humor (and even a nod to Mr. wick). Maybe it could have delivered a bit more action or sketched out the supporting characters better, but I was impressed at how much of a tight and entertaining story was fit into 2.5 hrs. The narrator was fantastic, especially with the various accents.
If there was a second novella with the surviving crew, I would immediately move onto it.