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John Rain #6
Requiem for an Assassin
Hunted and finally cornered, John Rain faces his deadliest enemy ever: himself.
For Rain, "the most charismatic assassin since James Bond" (San Francisco Chronicle), getting out of the life was never going to be easy. But with a new identity in Paris, and the help of his lover, Mossad agent Delilah, he was beginning to leave the killing business behind.
And then he receives a message from rogue CIA operative Jim Hilger: We have your friend Dox. Do as we tell you, or he dies.
For a professional like Rain, the choice ought to be easy: do the job--a series of three hits--and save his friend and partner. But how does Rain know Hilger won't kill Dox, anyway, once the assignment is complete? How does he know each of the hits isn't simultaneously a setup for Rain himself? Most of all, how can he control the killing rage Hilger's lethal game of extortion reignites inside him?
From the deceptively tranquil beaches of Bali, to the backstreets and boulevards of Paris, to the urban canyons of Silicon Valley and New York and the old killing fields of Vietnam, Rain must grapple with his age, his enemies, and, most of all, with the killer inside himself in a battle not even Rain can hope to survive intact.
"With a mix of nifty black-ops scenes and moments of emotional explosiveness, Eisler proves himself to be as coolly efficient a writer as his protagonist is a killer." --Entertainment Weekly
368 pages, Hardcover
First published May 22, 2007
1,170 people are currently reading
1,820 people want to read
About the author
Barry Eisler
87Ìýbooks3,005ÌýfollowersBarry Eisler spent three years in a covert position with the CIA's Directorate of Operations, then worked as a technology lawyer and startup executive in Silicon Valley and Japan, earning his black belt at the Kodokan International Judo Center along the way. Eisler's bestselling thrillers have won the Barry Award and the Gumshoe Award for Best Thriller of the Year, have been included in numerous "Best Of" lists, and have been translated into nearly twenty languages. Eisler lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and, when he's not writing novels, blogs about torture, civil liberties, and the rule of law.
--from the author's website
Series:
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--from the author's website
Series:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 307 reviews
November 21, 2023
This is the sixth John Rain book and I have to say that far from getting tired of the format I’m growing ever more appreciative of how Eisler has grown the character and has developed the stories into something much more, much deeper than a simple action yarn. Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. For those yet to meet Rain I’ll just say that he’s an American/Japanese Vietnam war veteran who now plies his trade as a self employed hit man. His speciality is making his victims appear to have died of natural causes. He's an expert fighter, in the vein of Jack Reacher, though his skills are more refined martial arts than sheer brute force. There’s also a touch of Mitch Rapp about him, though much as I’ve enjoyed Flynn’s books I'm beginning to think the Rain series is superior.
I won't say too much about the plot - it's always the least engaging element of these books to me � other than to say that Rain is coaxed out of ‘retirement� to save a friend of his (Dox, who readers of the series will know from earlier books). The action takes us all over the globe and is competently handled, as always. But the really powerful undercurrent to the book is our hero’s battle against his inner self. He is haunted by his choice of profession and of memories of Saigon and the things that happened there which spawned this killer. He desperately wants to control his urge to kill again but isn't sure he can.
There is an excellent section where Rain recounts tales of Crazy Jake, a childhood friend who also fought in Vietnam. We know of his fate from a previous book and it's left a profound impact on Rain. And he battles too with his feelings for the woman in his life. Can he give up this violent existence and share his life with another? Is he really capable of love? These, in fact, are the really the dominant themes of this book.
I’ll certainly read the remaining books in this series because I really do want to see what happens to John Rain. I'm not too worried about the killing and the espionage that fills some of the pages, this is just in-fill between the good stuff. So if you’re a fan of Lee Child or Vince Flynn and haven't tracked down this series yet, do yourself a favour and grab a copy of the first book � I promise you won't regret it.
I won't say too much about the plot - it's always the least engaging element of these books to me � other than to say that Rain is coaxed out of ‘retirement� to save a friend of his (Dox, who readers of the series will know from earlier books). The action takes us all over the globe and is competently handled, as always. But the really powerful undercurrent to the book is our hero’s battle against his inner self. He is haunted by his choice of profession and of memories of Saigon and the things that happened there which spawned this killer. He desperately wants to control his urge to kill again but isn't sure he can.
There is an excellent section where Rain recounts tales of Crazy Jake, a childhood friend who also fought in Vietnam. We know of his fate from a previous book and it's left a profound impact on Rain. And he battles too with his feelings for the woman in his life. Can he give up this violent existence and share his life with another? Is he really capable of love? These, in fact, are the really the dominant themes of this book.
I’ll certainly read the remaining books in this series because I really do want to see what happens to John Rain. I'm not too worried about the killing and the espionage that fills some of the pages, this is just in-fill between the good stuff. So if you’re a fan of Lee Child or Vince Flynn and haven't tracked down this series yet, do yourself a favour and grab a copy of the first book � I promise you won't regret it.
January 15, 2008
Wow! This book is amazing!
Mr. Rain's best friend Dox is kidnapped by Rain's(and the world's) old enemy Hilger and is forced to make 3 hits to save Dox's life.
Rain is fighting with himself throughout as those who care about him are making him care about them and the walls he has built are crumbling around him, making him less numb, less of the killer he doesn't want to be, but needs to be to stay alive.
It made me laugh and it really made me cry and with the f-word at a higher ratio than ever before it was sometimes hard to figure out where I was on a page as I try to skim past those...anyway, the best part is that I didn't know this latest book in the series was even out so it was very exciting to see it just sitting there waiting for me at the good ol' public library.
Barry Eisler, YOU ARE AWESOME!!!
Mr. Rain's best friend Dox is kidnapped by Rain's(and the world's) old enemy Hilger and is forced to make 3 hits to save Dox's life.
Rain is fighting with himself throughout as those who care about him are making him care about them and the walls he has built are crumbling around him, making him less numb, less of the killer he doesn't want to be, but needs to be to stay alive.
It made me laugh and it really made me cry and with the f-word at a higher ratio than ever before it was sometimes hard to figure out where I was on a page as I try to skim past those...anyway, the best part is that I didn't know this latest book in the series was even out so it was very exciting to see it just sitting there waiting for me at the good ol' public library.
Barry Eisler, YOU ARE AWESOME!!!
August 12, 2022
The action ramped again in Rain number 6 and a bit less of the repetitive romance in the previous.
April 12, 2017
REVIEW OF AUDIOBOOK; APRIL 10, 2017
Narrator: the author
The Narration: The series is a pleasure to listen to because of Eisler's narration. I'm so glad he re-released the audiobooks and narrated them himself, though the earlier narrators were A-Listers like Dick Hill and Scott Brick. Jeff Harding narrated a few, too. It was a mistake on the part of the audio producers not to stick to one narrator so, thankfully, Eisler had the smarts (and the skills) to tackle the issue successfully. This installment was no exception - Eisler gives each character his/her own voice and differentiates between the general narrative and the dialogues.
The Story: Hilger was a different type of villain. Instead of your run-o-the-mill, garden-variety Islamic terrorist, Hilger did what he did for his country. He was a patriot in his eyes, doing what needed to be done to save his country, not destroy it. Unfortunately, not everyone shared his view of things, plus his solution was like chemotherapy to some patients - made them sicker than the disease.
Rain is traipsing all over the globe trying to nab his nemesis who has abducted Dox to use him as bait. Delilah is still there causing grief to Rain (and me!) who, for the first time, has fallen in love. We know from the previous book, already, that Rain wants to get out of the life he's built and dreams of a normal life - well, as normal as he can ever get - and he needs Delilah out of the game, too, if they are to have a future together. As expected, the Mossad agent loves her job more than she does Rain.
...so I'm waiting for her to ask if Rain wants a free haircut. And I'm waiting for her to get bumped off so that I can get back to some uninterrupted Rain time.
Apart from that, there was the fast ride through several countries and the author may have visited those places but if so, he didn't stay long enough to capture the real local character but enough not to make ludicrous mistakes like some other authors I've read. The plot moved quickly and kept me interested to the end. Looking forward to the next installment which will have Rain getting a team of sorts. I don't know if Eisler intends the other characters to continue in this series, seeing as Ben Treven had two books under his name (both were 5-star listens
) and I plan to relisten to them before I start on Book 7, The Detachment.
Narrator: the author
The Narration: The series is a pleasure to listen to because of Eisler's narration. I'm so glad he re-released the audiobooks and narrated them himself, though the earlier narrators were A-Listers like Dick Hill and Scott Brick. Jeff Harding narrated a few, too. It was a mistake on the part of the audio producers not to stick to one narrator so, thankfully, Eisler had the smarts (and the skills) to tackle the issue successfully. This installment was no exception - Eisler gives each character his/her own voice and differentiates between the general narrative and the dialogues.
The Story: Hilger was a different type of villain. Instead of your run-o-the-mill, garden-variety Islamic terrorist, Hilger did what he did for his country. He was a patriot in his eyes, doing what needed to be done to save his country, not destroy it. Unfortunately, not everyone shared his view of things, plus his solution was like chemotherapy to some patients - made them sicker than the disease.
Rain is traipsing all over the globe trying to nab his nemesis who has abducted Dox to use him as bait. Delilah is still there causing grief to Rain (and me!) who, for the first time, has fallen in love. We know from the previous book, already, that Rain wants to get out of the life he's built and dreams of a normal life - well, as normal as he can ever get - and he needs Delilah out of the game, too, if they are to have a future together. As expected, the Mossad agent loves her job more than she does Rain.
...so I'm waiting for her to ask if Rain wants a free haircut. And I'm waiting for her to get bumped off so that I can get back to some uninterrupted Rain time.
Apart from that, there was the fast ride through several countries and the author may have visited those places but if so, he didn't stay long enough to capture the real local character but enough not to make ludicrous mistakes like some other authors I've read. The plot moved quickly and kept me interested to the end. Looking forward to the next installment which will have Rain getting a team of sorts. I don't know if Eisler intends the other characters to continue in this series, seeing as Ben Treven had two books under his name (both were 5-star listens
) and I plan to relisten to them before I start on Book 7, The Detachment.
March 26, 2023
This 😳
This was a dark , hilarious and action packed, my goodness being in Rain’s head is scary, exhausting and super confusing but you can’t help loving him, just WOW
This was a dark , hilarious and action packed, my goodness being in Rain’s head is scary, exhausting and super confusing but you can’t help loving him, just WOW
October 5, 2008
Honestly, I chose this book because it had a cool-sounding title and I was looking for an action book. It did not let me down in the "action" department. The main character, John Rain, is a paranoid assassin trying to get out of the business while destiny itself seems to be against him. His best (and only) friend, Dox, is kidnapped and in order to save him, Rain has to do three jobs. Feeling he has no choice, he starts stalking his victims, knowing that the third job may well be a setup for himself. This book is wonderfully action packed, and you just can't help but sympathize with Rain. Some parts were a bit boring, because they involved a lot of stake-out, and some scenes were rated a bit R-ish, but otherwise I really enjoyed the book. My favorite character was Dox, because even at the hands of his obviously sadistic kidnappers he makes cracks at them and annoys them. You've gotta love a wise-mouth. I aslo liked one of the kidnappers, but he ended up dead pretty early in the book, so that was a bit sad. The book leaves off on a rather optimistic/ bittersweet note, which was very fitting for such a book.
November 13, 2011
One of the few books I finished this year. This is my first John Rain and I have a feeling it won't be the last. The story had an interesting plot, with plenty of action to keep me engaged.
Some say there's too much angst, but I think it was what made him believable for me and kept me reading. He's an unusual man, an assassin who longs to be normal, to have what everyone else has. We often look at our lives in retrospect as we age.
I loved Dox, you always need some humor to the liven up the stoic straight man, and those two are a great pair. Friendship knows no bounds! Would you kill to save your friend?
I wasn't buried in techno babble which was great. We are given just enough to keep the story interesting.
Just when I thought the story was done, Eisler threw a final conflict in there to end it with a bang.
John Rain takes us around the world to some interesting places and takes out the bad guys as he goes.
I found it worth the read.
Some say there's too much angst, but I think it was what made him believable for me and kept me reading. He's an unusual man, an assassin who longs to be normal, to have what everyone else has. We often look at our lives in retrospect as we age.
I loved Dox, you always need some humor to the liven up the stoic straight man, and those two are a great pair. Friendship knows no bounds! Would you kill to save your friend?
I wasn't buried in techno babble which was great. We are given just enough to keep the story interesting.
Just when I thought the story was done, Eisler threw a final conflict in there to end it with a bang.
John Rain takes us around the world to some interesting places and takes out the bad guys as he goes.
I found it worth the read.
August 21, 2017
Best one so far!! God I love this series and John Rain. The dialogue with the boys is just fantastic.
October 11, 2009
Seriously, these John Rain books keep getting better and better. I am sad that I have reached the end of the series as it now stands, but hope that Eisler is busy writing installment #7. In this one, Rain's best (and perhaps only?) friend Dox has been kidnapped by Rain's enemy Hilger. In order to get him back, Rain must assassinate three men. But, of course, Rain knows that it won't be that easy. There's no guarantee Hilger won't kill Dox once the assassinations are complete. And, even more tricky, there's no guarantee that hit #3 isn't actually Rain himself. To complicate matters even further, Rain has finally allowed himself to fall in love - with the beautiful Israeli assassin Delilah. Disappearing to rescue Dox will put his relationship in jeopardy, yet disclosing his assignment to her will risk much more than Rain has ever been willing to do in the past. As all sides fly around the world in an effort to undermine, confuse, and out-counter each other, the reader is taken to Jakarta, New York, Bangkok - and the cosmopolitan Palo Alto, CA - where Rain pleased me to no end by having lunch at my favorite Cafe Barrone and killing time in Kepler's Bookstore. Eisler's development of Rain's character and range of emotions in this one made for a much more interesting read than some of the past Rain books. But, of course, my favorite scenes were the ones involving Dox. While shackled on a boat and terrorized by ex-Marines, Dox manages to keep his wits about him with his constant wise-cracking. He is the perfect counter to Rain's seriousness, and I can't wait to see him portrayed on the big screen. There seemed to be less hand-to-hand combat in this one, and less lengthy descriptions of Rain's surveillance techniques - both of which I appreciated. But, the action and drama were still there, plus a little more love and emotion. Enough love and emotion as would be appropriate for a book about assassins, of course.
October 20, 2008
How does one humanize an assassin? Elmore Leonard does it in the "Hitman" series with humor and a light touch. Barry Eisler takes a darker road and introduces self-doubt and introspection as a way of showing us John Rain's human side.
In this, possibly the last book in the series, Rain regresses to his "iceman" personna when forced to kill two strangers in order to save the only man he trusts, Dox. In the process he is forced to trust additional people, his lover, Mossad operative Delilah, her associate, bomb expert Boaz, and Rain's contact in the CIA, Kanezaki. Rain does not surrender easily to "trusting" but eventually gives in to the inevitable.
The story does drag in places, especially when Eisler goes "Clancy-like" describing weaponry in excruciatingly unnecessary detail. The set-ups for the assassination are as detailed as always and fascinating in a way. His description of the various sites in the book are extremely accurate. I once lived two blocks from the Palo Alto Hotel he stays in.
As a thriller, this entry in the "Rain" series is average. As an exploration into the psyche of the Vietnam trained killer trying to come to grips with who he has become, it is exceptional.
I hope this isn't the last we will see of John Rain.
In this, possibly the last book in the series, Rain regresses to his "iceman" personna when forced to kill two strangers in order to save the only man he trusts, Dox. In the process he is forced to trust additional people, his lover, Mossad operative Delilah, her associate, bomb expert Boaz, and Rain's contact in the CIA, Kanezaki. Rain does not surrender easily to "trusting" but eventually gives in to the inevitable.
The story does drag in places, especially when Eisler goes "Clancy-like" describing weaponry in excruciatingly unnecessary detail. The set-ups for the assassination are as detailed as always and fascinating in a way. His description of the various sites in the book are extremely accurate. I once lived two blocks from the Palo Alto Hotel he stays in.
As a thriller, this entry in the "Rain" series is average. As an exploration into the psyche of the Vietnam trained killer trying to come to grips with who he has become, it is exceptional.
I hope this isn't the last we will see of John Rain.
September 24, 2009
The 6th and perhaps final or next-to-last John Rain book. By far the most emotional, Rain is fighting a more and more dangerous inner conflict between the man who wants out and the "iceman" that keeps him alive. The cracks in his hard exterior are beginning to show and he has gone from an absolute loner in the first couple of books, to a man who will risk it all to save his friend and partner, Dox. He is falling harder and harder for Delilah, and she may be the only thing that keeps th...more The 6th and perhaps final or next-to-last John Rain book. By far the most emotional, Rain is fighting a more and more dangerous inner conflict between the man who wants out and the "iceman" that keeps him alive. The cracks in his hard exterior are beginning to show and he has gone from an absolute loner in the first couple of books, to a man who will risk it all to save his friend and partner, Dox. He is falling harder and harder for Delilah, and she may be the only thing that keeps the "iceman" at bay. Eisler once again spins a riveting tale with great action sequences and moments of eloquent descriptions or Rain's inner turmoil. I would be satisfied if the series ended here, but will always look forward to another visit with John Rain.
March 21, 2015
(Previously published as "Requiem for an Assassin")
I so enjoyed Tom Wood's series with Victor, that I went looking for another to feed my fix/need.
I stumbled across Barry Eisler and have read the entire 8-book series. And was very pleased. As such, this is the same review for all 8 books.
The author reads his own work, and after listening to Tom Wood's series with Rob Shapiro as the wonderful narrator, this took me a while to adapt to the reading style.
But don't let that dissuade you. Barry Eisler does a really really fine job of narrating, and you get to hear the different personalities, and understand who is who pretty quickly.
Barry Eisler has a nice knack of leading the reader on, enticing them to continue the story, and understand the predicaments the protagonist (John Rain) finds himself in. In addition, the growth of the character is wonderful. Kudos to Barry Eisler, and his real-life background that leads him to be able to write this well (check out his website as well!).
As I mentioned above, I have read all 8 books. Once I got through book 1, I could not put down the entire series.
I liked this series so much, I'd love to meet the author, and can't wait to read more of his works as well.
I so enjoyed Tom Wood's series with Victor, that I went looking for another to feed my fix/need.
I stumbled across Barry Eisler and have read the entire 8-book series. And was very pleased. As such, this is the same review for all 8 books.
The author reads his own work, and after listening to Tom Wood's series with Rob Shapiro as the wonderful narrator, this took me a while to adapt to the reading style.
But don't let that dissuade you. Barry Eisler does a really really fine job of narrating, and you get to hear the different personalities, and understand who is who pretty quickly.
Barry Eisler has a nice knack of leading the reader on, enticing them to continue the story, and understand the predicaments the protagonist (John Rain) finds himself in. In addition, the growth of the character is wonderful. Kudos to Barry Eisler, and his real-life background that leads him to be able to write this well (check out his website as well!).
As I mentioned above, I have read all 8 books. Once I got through book 1, I could not put down the entire series.
I liked this series so much, I'd love to meet the author, and can't wait to read more of his works as well.
August 16, 2011
John Rain is a professional assassin who is trying to retire and lead a somewhat normal life. However, to force him to come out of retirement, rogue CIA operative Hilger kidnaps Rain’s best friend Dox. Hilger knows that Rain is an expert assassin. To save his friend, Rain agrees to do the jobs Hilger asks. Following Rain as he plans and accomplishes his missions with precision is fascinating. He travels around the world, Saigon, Los Angeles, New York, Amsterdam, rents cars, melds into whatever environment he’s in, uses internet cafes to communicate, purchases what he needs, sets up surveillances and thoroughly covers his tracks. Part of Rain is cold blooded; he is the Iceman. Another part is a man struggling to understand himself, and control the other side. Because of Rain’s sensitivities, it’s easy to empathize with him. Eisler has written a number of books featuring John Rain. This is the first one I’ve read and I’m eager to read more.
October 3, 2007
I have now met Barry Eisler on two occasions and each time I refuse to be one of 'those' fans...
You always see them at book signings or events hanging on and hoping for one last word with the author, or hoping to ask some asinine question... usually they look a little suspect to begin with....
So each time I have seen him i refuse to linger and be a hanger on... That being said I love this guy's writing and his signings... he knows how to work a crowd and truly enjoys answering questions about his books and writing.
So Barry, next time your in Seattle lets hit the town. I can show you a great Whiskey bar i know, some of the best coffee shops around, and a martini that would make Bond raise an eyebrow. Consider this a standing invitation.
Oh, and this book is also great. I panicked for awhile that a certain southern gentleman might be leaving us.... you had me guessing.
You always see them at book signings or events hanging on and hoping for one last word with the author, or hoping to ask some asinine question... usually they look a little suspect to begin with....
So each time I have seen him i refuse to linger and be a hanger on... That being said I love this guy's writing and his signings... he knows how to work a crowd and truly enjoys answering questions about his books and writing.
So Barry, next time your in Seattle lets hit the town. I can show you a great Whiskey bar i know, some of the best coffee shops around, and a martini that would make Bond raise an eyebrow. Consider this a standing invitation.
Oh, and this book is also great. I panicked for awhile that a certain southern gentleman might be leaving us.... you had me guessing.
August 16, 2012
I have been pretty pleased with Mr. Eisler technical knowledge up until this edition of John Rain.
John was commenting how how good the photos from Google Earth were and said something like "used to be Keyhole would have never been available to the public." Google Earth photos are great, but they are from commercial satellites.
John was commenting how how good the photos from Google Earth were and said something like "used to be Keyhole would have never been available to the public." Google Earth photos are great, but they are from commercial satellites.
January 31, 2019
Rain has been trying to leave his life as an assassin behind, but when his friend Dox is kidnapped by an old adversary, his lethal skills are very much needed once again.
I've loved these books from the start, but this one was clearly the best in the series so far IMO!
I've loved these books from the start, but this one was clearly the best in the series so far IMO!
February 22, 2017
**4.5 stars**
WOW! WOW! WOW!!! I'm so overwhelmed right now that I don't know what to say. The story was so psychologically complex and the narration was brilliant. The conversation with the Ice Man was chilling (for a lack of a better word.) I'm in freaking awe of Mr. Eisler.
RTC
WOW! WOW! WOW!!! I'm so overwhelmed right now that I don't know what to say. The story was so psychologically complex and the narration was brilliant. The conversation with the Ice Man was chilling (for a lack of a better word.) I'm in freaking awe of Mr. Eisler.
RTC
March 4, 2014
I came across these books a year or two ago and I'm so glad I did. I love John Rain. I've really enjoyed these books. For me, they are not as good as the Mitch Rapp series, but definitely a close second. An assassin who enjoys high end scotch...I mean, what's not to like.
August 13, 2015
Rain is another Bond.
Came back to these series about Rain, because of action. It's like watching 007/Bond movies, but Rain has only one girl. Radical Islamist Hilger, dirty bomb and control of oil prices. Author narrated book himself and makes it better.
Came back to these series about Rain, because of action. It's like watching 007/Bond movies, but Rain has only one girl. Radical Islamist Hilger, dirty bomb and control of oil prices. Author narrated book himself and makes it better.
June 18, 2009
Dox is kidnapped to get Rain's assistance in assassination. Rain needs the help of his Israeli, Japanese and Israeli friends to avoid his own and Dox's death.
October 4, 2016
An ok John Rain thriller. Hope they get better because this one just fizzled out part way through. Picked up toward the end, so just ok.
December 28, 2019
Eisler and Rain deliver
I don’t know if these books are really five star, but I like them so much I can’t be objective. The characters Rain accrues around him are fun. The bad guys are a little one dimensional, but that’s the only critique I can offer. And I wish Eisler had written more of them.
I don’t know if these books are really five star, but I like them so much I can’t be objective. The characters Rain accrues around him are fun. The bad guys are a little one dimensional, but that’s the only critique I can offer. And I wish Eisler had written more of them.
June 24, 2023
5 stars
Dox is kidnapped and John *must* rely on the help of others.
I enjoyed everything about this book. It might be my favorite in the series, so far.
I think my next Barry Eisler book is in the Ben Treven series. I'm looking forward to something else, but I'll be happy to see John Rain back in my queue next month.
Dox is kidnapped and John *must* rely on the help of others.
I enjoyed everything about this book. It might be my favorite in the series, so far.
I think my next Barry Eisler book is in the Ben Treven series. I'm looking forward to something else, but I'll be happy to see John Rain back in my queue next month.
July 20, 2023
Character progression
July 25, 2017
Now this is the kind of story which brings readers to Rain, an interesting human that is not a nice man. His "Iceman" is in full play here and his paranoia puts it on steroids. At his age, I can't see him doing this much longer. Terence says that the future books go into "prequel mode".
March 30, 2019
Since I started this series with the most recent addition (The Killer Collective) before going back and picking up the previous books, my favorite character is Dox. Wouldn't have missed this one for anything.
April 21, 2017
An above average rating for this one with a solid 4. Well written, good story.
October 16, 2023
Rain is an assassin. He has the mind of one, he acts like one, he is one. His small transformation at the end just makes us like him, but remember he is a killer. I read this book sort of non-stopped. It is written to keep you on the edge of your seat. The strange phenomenon is that one can side with a criminal. Is it all in the writing?
August 18, 2014
Eisler truly hit all of the thriller pre-requisites, intrigue, spy craft and unbridled excitement with Requiem for An Assassin.
This is the first in the series where Eisler took Rain to locales that were wholly unfamiliar to me, Amsterdam and Saigon. Initially, I had my doubts. The essence of Eisler’s previous Rain installments has been that Eisler has traveled to parts near and in many cases dear to the travel geek in me. As a result, I have been able to relive my experiences in those locales through the lens of Rain’s exploits.
But, after 5 previous iterations, it was actually enlightening to allow Rain take me on a journey through unfamiliar territory. It added to the mystery.
This novel pitted Rain against his nemesis Hilger, a villain with such misguided patriotism you almost wished that hated his country.
The highlight, without a doubt was Dox and the situation that Eisler forces Dox and thus Rain into could not have been better conceived and more importantly executed. And, of course, Eisler finds a way to incorporate Delilah and her Mossad counterparts. It is quite the triumvirate.
I must admit, this was more than a guilty pleasure. I was disappointed to see its conclusion, but as always, I look forward to the next Rain installment.
I highly recommend this one.
TD
This is the first in the series where Eisler took Rain to locales that were wholly unfamiliar to me, Amsterdam and Saigon. Initially, I had my doubts. The essence of Eisler’s previous Rain installments has been that Eisler has traveled to parts near and in many cases dear to the travel geek in me. As a result, I have been able to relive my experiences in those locales through the lens of Rain’s exploits.
But, after 5 previous iterations, it was actually enlightening to allow Rain take me on a journey through unfamiliar territory. It added to the mystery.
This novel pitted Rain against his nemesis Hilger, a villain with such misguided patriotism you almost wished that hated his country.
The highlight, without a doubt was Dox and the situation that Eisler forces Dox and thus Rain into could not have been better conceived and more importantly executed. And, of course, Eisler finds a way to incorporate Delilah and her Mossad counterparts. It is quite the triumvirate.
I must admit, this was more than a guilty pleasure. I was disappointed to see its conclusion, but as always, I look forward to the next Rain installment.
I highly recommend this one.
TD
October 5, 2015
I found this book in great condition at a thrift store in Coastal NC. At a .50 price tag and with a compelling synopsis, I figured I couldn't lose, even if it was not a life-changing read.
John Rain is a captivating protagonist, and the fast-paced plot mixed with assassinations, torture, and lots of action kept me enthralled. Not to mention the supporting cast is, for the most part, a riveting bunch (the womanizing Dox, the ex-patriot turned domestic terrorist Hilger). I'll definitely be reading more of the Rain series.
The only narrative hole that kept me from giving this book a 5 Star rating was the weird romantic tryst between Rain and a semi-forgettable Israeli Intelligence Agent (I'm having trouble remembering her name). To me it felt like this character's central purpose was to A) provide an awkward sex sidebar to "relieve" John during a stressful time and B) to prevent him from giving into the "Iceman" (I haven't read the first few books yet, so I'm not extremely familiar with Rain's alter-ego quite yet). I'm not averse to romance injected into the narrative per se, but this felt a bit forced.
Overall, I'd absolutely recommend this book. Just grit your teeth and push through the cheesy/awkward romantic content. It's not terribly long, and totally worth it.
John Rain is a captivating protagonist, and the fast-paced plot mixed with assassinations, torture, and lots of action kept me enthralled. Not to mention the supporting cast is, for the most part, a riveting bunch (the womanizing Dox, the ex-patriot turned domestic terrorist Hilger). I'll definitely be reading more of the Rain series.
The only narrative hole that kept me from giving this book a 5 Star rating was the weird romantic tryst between Rain and a semi-forgettable Israeli Intelligence Agent (I'm having trouble remembering her name). To me it felt like this character's central purpose was to A) provide an awkward sex sidebar to "relieve" John during a stressful time and B) to prevent him from giving into the "Iceman" (I haven't read the first few books yet, so I'm not extremely familiar with Rain's alter-ego quite yet). I'm not averse to romance injected into the narrative per se, but this felt a bit forced.
Overall, I'd absolutely recommend this book. Just grit your teeth and push through the cheesy/awkward romantic content. It's not terribly long, and totally worth it.
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