When Hannah Stern escaped a fake "Black September" raid staged by the CIA, Nicholai Hel was the man she ran to. Half German, half Russian, raised by a Japanese general and a Go master; mystic, philosopher, lover, master of the senses, always striving to epitomize that restrained elegance of being called shibumi...and the most successful retired assassin in the world; one of only three mauve cards in the files of Fat Boy, Mother Company's supercomputer: signifying This person is extremely dangerous. Mother Company (She who alone controls OPEC, the CIA, and all lesser organizations) had allowed Hel to retire in peace...now, should Hel emerge from retirement, the efficient Mr. Diamond might have to destroy him. Nothing personal, of course...

-IBList reader synopsis