This is #5 in the John Rain series. It’s another assassin book. Author Eisler again gets into the psyche of the hitman – the thinking process, taking the reader through the thoughts of Rain prior, during and after every activity. To this point in the series, I thought Eisler’s results were mixed. Well, this is a pretty good one. It’s exciting.

Rain had a Japanese father and Americans mother and, as usual, there’s interesting background on Japan and it’s culture. In the series, this super-assassin started out with him being a ‘bad guy’, but now he’s a ‘good guy’. The Japanese FBI has manipulated Rain (in a good way i.e. for the good of Japan) into doing its dirty work. Both the Japanese yakuza and the Chinese triads are in play. There’s also a rather strange love triangle – Rain needs assistance from a friend(lover)/enemy to see/protect his son (with the woman whose father he killed!) ... Complicated. Now, this assassin has ‘family’ to worry about.

I hadn’t kept up with the series for a couple of years and, actually, his writing is better than I remembered. (The Chinese bad guys from the last novel are still after him in NYC and this book would be kind-of tough for a new reader.) There’s even more humorous banter than I recall in past books, with a more prominent role of a previously introduced partner, Dox. While “Victor the Assassin” series is my favorite, John Rain seems to be getting better. (Gee, I have a favorite assassin!?) I will certainly read more of the series.

A superb series

I absolutely love John Rain and all of his friends and lovers. He's like the Terminator, but with a soul and with all of the failings of a human being. Flawed, but at the same time, perfect. I want more, please.

Character, John Rain, the philosopher and executioner is at it again. This is a very good read even if some of the personal stuff with the character is not really my thing. Still, it has great characters and action throughout and I highly recommend reading this series from the beginning.

Another page tuner in the series

I've enjoyed all the books in this series up to this point, but this was the best yet. It has terrific characters who evolve and are quite human, strong plot lines, and plenty of intense action.

Lots of action! Below some comments in regards to this book, so if you haven't read it as yet, be aware:

1) The author has his characters dump lots of drugs into waterways. I just finished reading his first "Lone" book (which is action-packed), and the protagonist dumps drugs into a river! In this book, Rain dumps lots of drugs into the ocean! WTF!
2) Why does Rain always think of using a condom after the fact? But in the case of Delilah, and her very obvious job duties, shouldn't she always be on some type of BCP? Or is the author's continued reference to condoms due to STDs?
3)When Delilah is in the restaurant with the bad guys and is hooked-up to an audio/listening device, Rain asks her twice to confirm that she can hear him by clearing her throat. So, if he could hear her clear her throat, why couldn't he hear that her cover had been blown????!!!
4) The bit where Delilah confronts Midori was too "Fatal Attraction" for me! Silly and unnecessary. And, the way her character has been written, I do not believe she would have ever pulled a stunt like that!
5) The author/editor continually misspells "Biceps" and "Triceps"; they are written as "bicep" and "tricep". You would think a supposedly intelligent author would know how to correctly spell those words.
6) And, finally, Tatsu. Why the author chose to kill-off the character is unknown, but, Holy Smokes! What an ending to his life!

Another excellent edition to the John Rain series. Eisler does a good job of bringing the Yamato story arc to its inevitable conclusion, with a tender arc for Tatsu, and a bitter betrayal of sorts for Rain. Rain also seems to make some emotional growth as a character in this arc. Looking forward to more of the series.

John Rain faces a nice emotional issue instead of the usual task of quietly removing someone. Still mostly by himself in this exciting novel but a little more open to the "team" approach. Lots of action and more character.

John Rain #6. Dox, Delilah, and Tatsu help Rain battle his archenemy Yamaoto when Midori and Rain's son are threatened. Rain wrestles with leaving the assassin business to become a father.

I just stumbled onto this book in my local library and given the pressures on my time the last month, almost returned it unread. But I took to reading it over the last weekend, and boy, it turned out to be a surprisingly good read. Tight in its plotting, just about the right length, and populated with characters that can, perhaps, grow on you, this book was a happy experience. Indeed the only thing is that there is a bit too much of killing - some avoidable and some not - that sort of detracts from the overall effect.

John Rain is a conflicted master of the black arts trying to get away from his mercenary past but tied down by too many strands that keep pulling him back in. In this story too, enemies from his past chase him. Using some ingenuity, some incredible contacts who give him all the firepower he needs, and a bit of luck, Rain comes out intact and successful. But he is faced with the bigger question of is this what he wants in life? A question that the author may resolve in his own way.

In any event, I will read the earlier books and look forward to finding out how the story pans out.

5 stars

After five John Rain books, it probably goes without saying: I love this series.

I liked the love triangle, but I really enjoy Rain's interactions with Dox, Delilah, and Tatsu. Like the past couple of books, Rain has to rely more and more on his "team." Eisler really does well with the interplay of these characters. His detail is always perfect.

These books are fun, exciting spy thrillers. Describing the fifth book in a series is moot, but I really liked this one.

I have enjoyed all the books in this series, but the last two have really been a lot of fun to read. The characters are engaging, the action is interesting and well thought out.

Looking forward to the next installment....

I'm going through the books in order - although I have read a couple of them years ago - and loving the story and the character development that grows in each book. I feel like I know them all - good and bad - and enjoy getting to know them better!