STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Eager for an exciting read? Rob Hart has you covered.
The Stapleton-based author is gearing up to release his latest novel, “Assassins Anonymous,” on June 11 — and the book has already garnered rave reviews.
“Assassins Anonymous” — the rights of which were acquired by Steven Spielberg’s production company Amblin Partners last year — is a recommended summer read by both the Boston Globe and the Washington Post that also earned starred reviews by both BookPage and Publishers Weekly.
“I’m excited for this one to come out,” Hart, the mastermind behind “The Paradox Hotel,” “The Warehouse,” and the “Ash McKenna” series, among several other works, told the Advance/SILive.com. “My last couple of books, I was playing around in a science-fiction and speculative space. On this one, I went for a more straightforward, modern thriller, and people have been really responding to that.
“I’m just really excited for people to read this one.”
The suspenseful “Assassins Anonymous” follows the former most dangerous killer-for-hire in the world, who joined a 12-step group for reformed killers. After he is attacked by an unknown assailant, he goes on the run while trying to figure out who is after him — all while staying true to his no-kill program.
“I wondered what would happen if John Wick got into a 12-step program,” said Hart, “but then used that as a way to sort of dig down a little bit into the emotionality of what that might be like, where you’ve got someone who’s looking at the things they did in their past, who is trying to be a better person, and how hard that would be if what they used to do for a living is kill people.
“I do my best to make my characters really well-rounded and the way that people can see themselves,” Hart added. “You can’t read a book about an assassin and know what an assassin went through, but you can read a book about someone who regrets the things they’ve done in their life, and you can understand how that feels. … I think the best books are the ones that make you put yourself is someone else’s shoes.”
Hart is already working on the draft for the second book in the series.
“‘Assassins Anonymous’ is just a big world with a lot of great characters and a lot of fun opportunities to tell different kinds of stories,” said Hart. “It just felt really natural to write another book. I feel like I can write 10 more of these.”
What’s next for Hart?
“Assassins Anonymous” isn’t the only novel from Hart that has caught Hollywood’s attention.
“The Paradox Hotel” (2022) was optioned for TV by Working Title, a film and television production company owned by Universal Pictures; and film rights for Hart’s novel, “The Warehouse” (2019), were previously sold to Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment.
While Hart wasn’t able to provide specific updates on each project, he could disclose that “exciting stuff is coming up.”
“I can say that everything is in various stages of development, and I’m getting some really exciting updates,” he teased.
In the meantime, Hart is working on a slew of other projects. He expects his next sci-fi novel “Dark Space” — which he co-wrote with critically acclaimed author Alex Segura — to be released in October.
Hart also hinted at a currently unannounced book he’s working on with a yet-to-be-identified co-writer.
“It’s a very, very exciting project, I can’t wait for when I get to talk about that one,” he said.
Upcoming appearances
Hart will be discussing “Assassins Anonymous” during an appearance at legendary Manhattan bookstore The Strand on June 10. He’ll be joined by Segura, with whom Hart created Prohibition-era horror comic series, “Blood Oath.” Tickets are required to attend; general admission to the event runs for roughly $8, while general admission plus a copy of “Assassins Anonymous” costs just under $35. Tickets can be purchased via (keywords: Rob Hart + Alex Segura: Assassins Anonymous).
Hart will show his hometown some love on June 17, when he takes to the borough’s Barnes & Noble — located within the Staten Island Mall at 2655 Richmond Ave., New Springville — to sign copies of his newest work. , and books will be available for purchase at the store.
The stops are part of a nationwide promotional tour that will also bring Hart to Houston and Austin, Texas; Phoenix, Arizona; and Pittsboro, North Carolina.
“Assassins Anonymous” is published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons. It will be available for purchase as a hardcover book, ebook and audiobook at locations and Amazon. For more on Rob Hart, visit his website, or follow him on Instagram (@robwhart1) and Twitter (@robwhart).
