Isaac Bell of the Van Dorn detective agency returns in Clive Cussler and Justin Scott's new thriller, "The Assassin."

It's 1905, and Standard Oil has a monopoly on the refinery business. John D. Rockefeller's company has been stamping out any competition that gets in the way of its profit margin. The company knows it is making many people angry, but the money and influence it yields makes it seem unstoppable.

Bell and his team want to investigate. A witness with damaging information is shot and killed by a sniper, and soon other people who oppose the company become targets. Bell has his hands full trying to stay one step ahead of a deadly assassin who seems to have insider access to his plans. This elusive killer will stop at nothing, even it means taking out the entire Van Dorn agency.

The Isaac Bell series is a fun jaunt into America's past, and the books are a wonderful examination of life in the early 20th century. Without reliance on technology and fast access to information, or being able to hop on a plane to any destination, the seemingly impossible case seems even more difficult to solve.

Though the identity of the assassin is obvious, it doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the tale.