In the dystopian 22nd century, Lauren Ramirez is an Assassin 13, the best at her profession. Betrayed by her employer, the President of the United States, on an off-planet op, she escapes when her spacecraft hurtles through time and crash lands in 1927 prohibition Hollywood with its silent film stars and bootlegging gangsters.She finds herself an alien in an alien land.Becoming friends with Pauline Windsor, one of Hollywood's top actresses and girlfriend of mafia chieftain Benny Sorrentino, thrusts Lauren into the middle of a gangland war. Even as she clings to her burning need for vengeance in the 22nd century, her relationship with the people she meets, stunt pilot boyfriend Remy Garnett, Pauline, and Pauline's young children Rolly and Emmy, all begin to change the hard surface of her heart.Now she must decide whether to use her 22nd century talents and technology in their defense or abandon them to the vicious thugs and slip back into her own time to wreck vengeance on her enemies.“A striking tale…” —Kirkus Review “Riveting!”—the Reader“Page-turning excitement!” —Foster Cline, author of Parenting with Love and Logic“I couldn’t put it down. Great read!”—Captain Bill Collier, author of Cia Super Pilot Spills the Beans: Flying Helicopters in Laos for Air America“A delightful, mind-stretching adventure into the rough and tumble early days of Hollywood.” —Jim Payne, author of Worlds to Discover; Kayak Adventures One Inch above the Water“Assassin 13 is a riveting novel that melds science fiction with accurate historical fiction. Lauren Ramirez is a complicated woman with deadly skills and a very humane AI intelligence in her head. She is stuck in the 1920’s Hollywood and I loved reading the history through the lens of the future.—Mary Haley, author of The Great Potato Murder (Ghost Writer Book 1) “...a strong protagonist who’s resilient in any time period.” —Kirkus Reviews A 22nd-century assassin inadvertently travels back to Prohibition Hollywood in this sci-fi-infused historical thriller. After losing her loved ones to violent men, Lauren Ramirez lives her life as the highly skilled killer-for-hire called Malinche. She handles jobs for the U.S. president, who in 2131 assigns her the task of assassinating the vice president, who’s allegedly planning a coup. With limited time, the off-planet job requires a quick exit, and Lauren’s descent to Earth ends in a spaceship crash-landing. She’s injured but rescued by Pauline Windsor, a renowned film actress in 1927 Hollywood. Lauren is soon aware of her 200-year journey and also that there’s a chance at returning to her own time, provided she can repair her downed ship. It’s feasible with help from Matt, the ship’s AI who’s downloaded himself into Lauren’s neurobots, becoming a voice in her head. Meanwhile, the typically apathetic assassin surprisingly befriends Pauline and acts as protector for her and her family. And Pauline will need defending: her boyfriend is gangster Benny Sorrentino, who’s caught up in a dangerous rivalry with the Colombini mob. Historical accounts furthermore cite Sorrentino as the most likely cause of Pauline’s death, which Lauren knows is imminent and is determined to stop. Reppert ( The Captured Girl , 2016, etc.) proficiently amalgamates action and drama. The well-established protagonist endures tragedy as a girl, so that later she convincingly struggles with emotions while dispatching bad guys with cool efficiency. Characters are dynamic, especially headstrong Pauline, but Matt is a real surprise; he adds comic relief and Hollywood trivia to keep Lauren informed, even if she occasionally threatens to scrub the opinionated AI from her neurobots. The old Hollywood backdrop imbues the story with authenticity, including the name-dropping of classic film stars and the impending introduction of movie sound, a possible detriment to the current silent-era actors. Reppert wisely simplifies the time traveling, with its explanation decidedly less important than rich character development. Regardless, the oddly practical ending should appease fans of the subgenre. A striking tale flaunting a strong protagonist who’s resilient in any time period. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tom Reppert is a former Green Beret with a BA in English and History, as well as MAs in Creative Writing and Professional Writing. He spent twelve years in Africa and Asia teaching English Literature and Composition to international students. Previous writing includes educational essays, short stories, and novels Past Murders, The Far Journey, and the Captured Girl. Tom lives in Sandpoint, Idaho on idyllic Lake Pend Oreille. He can be reached at repptomauthor@gmail.com or on his Facebook page.