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Island of the Assassin
ISLAND OF THE ASSASSIN is about two kinds of silence in conflict. A covert killer, Kai Landrie, contracted by the CIA to target Islamic terrorists, develops moral scruples. He shares his doubts in confession with Peter Quince, a priest, who gets renditioned for receiving classified information. The result: two unconditional secrecies, sacred and profane, tragically collide.
120 pages, Paperback
Published March 4, 2016
444 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Roccasalvo
22 books20 followersA native New Yorker, Joseph Roccasalvo followed his graduate degrees in Philosophy, English Literature, and Theology with a Harvard Ph.D. in Comparative Religion and a specialty in Buddhism. He has lived and taught in Boston, Bangkok and Chicago. For over ten years in New York City, he was a professor of religious studies at Fordham University´s Bronx and Lincoln Center Campuses. He was also visiting professor of Buddhism at Columbia University in New York City and Franklin University in Lugano, Switzerland.
Now engaged in graduate school mentoring, he is also a fiction writer. He has published five novels: Fire in a Windless Place, Chartreuse, Portrait of a Woman, The Devil´s Interval, and The Odor of Sanctity. Two novellas, The Powers That Be and and Beyond the Pale appeared in print as Double Entendre. There followed three books of short stories: Outwards Signs, The Mansions of Limbo, and Triple Sec; then a play, Waging Waugh, and a memoir, As It Were.
He has guided students in journalism and international studies at The New School for Social Research, and has contributed essays to the New School's newspaper in his online column, A Word to the Wise.
Island of the Assassin, a novel, is his latest work. It has been called "a thriller with a conscience" and "a page-turner from the get-go."
All of Joseph Roccasalvo's works are available through his website www.josephroccasalvo.com and through Amazon.com.
Now engaged in graduate school mentoring, he is also a fiction writer. He has published five novels: Fire in a Windless Place, Chartreuse, Portrait of a Woman, The Devil´s Interval, and The Odor of Sanctity. Two novellas, The Powers That Be and and Beyond the Pale appeared in print as Double Entendre. There followed three books of short stories: Outwards Signs, The Mansions of Limbo, and Triple Sec; then a play, Waging Waugh, and a memoir, As It Were.
He has guided students in journalism and international studies at The New School for Social Research, and has contributed essays to the New School's newspaper in his online column, A Word to the Wise.
Island of the Assassin, a novel, is his latest work. It has been called "a thriller with a conscience" and "a page-turner from the get-go."
All of Joseph Roccasalvo's works are available through his website www.josephroccasalvo.com and through Amazon.com.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 14, 2016
An engrossing read from start to finish. Island of the Assassin challenges the readers assumptions about the war on terror, revenge, and religion, all the while exploring the complexities of conscience within each of us. Peter Quince is a first-rate protagonist that I hope to see in future novels. The book ends with unexpectedly and almost jarringly, only compounding the challenging nature of the material herein. There is also levity brought by a play within the book based on a work of architectural interest called The 13th Floor.
September 10, 2025
I just finished Island of the Assassin by Joseph Roccasalvo and it was such an engaging, thought-provoking read from start to finish. The mix of suspense and depth kept me hooked all the way through. I’m from Heidelberg, Germany, and since I heard there’s a book fair in Frankfurt this October, I’m wondering, Joseph, will I get to see your book displayed there? Hope I can!
October 7, 2016
This is a Goodreads win review. This book is about a covert killer contracted by the CIA to target Islamic terrorists. But he starts to question this as he develops scruples. He then confesses this to a priest who gets into trouble for knowing this. Great book.
July 16, 2016
A Goodreads win
Island of the Assassin by Joseph Roccasalvo is about a author & priest Peter Quince who becomes friends with a covert CIA killer.
I found it an enjoyable read which provoked a lot of thought on various topics brought up. Initially I found reading this required a lot of attention & concentration, this diminished as I became accustomed to the wordy writing style. This is well worth reading.
Island of the Assassin by Joseph Roccasalvo is about a author & priest Peter Quince who becomes friends with a covert CIA killer.
I found it an enjoyable read which provoked a lot of thought on various topics brought up. Initially I found reading this required a lot of attention & concentration, this diminished as I became accustomed to the wordy writing style. This is well worth reading.
August 1, 2016
If you’re looking for a truly unique plot, look no further--Island of the Assassin has it. Written in a style that will keep you turning the pages until the end, this book is chock full of intrigue, compelling characters, and interesting twists and turns. In this short read--only 120 pages--the author manages to craft a story that evokes emotion, empathy, and thought-provoking concepts. I will definitely check out other books by Joseph Roccasalvo.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews