Loved it!

This was a pleasure read. Exciting, heart pounding intensity and great humor to boot. Tete-a-tete between Rain and Dox were lovely and absolutely hilarious! It was laugh out funny. After nearly dying in an op to remove Belghazi, Rain is deadlier than ever. I am grateful he also has Dox as a trusted partner. This is truly a great read! I loved every minute of it! What a thrill!

Another great read.

I don’t know why I like the Barry Eisler books so much, filled as they are with violence and death. I just know I can’t put them down. I suppose because he is such an amazing and gifted writer. I also love the characters he creates. I mean the man writes about assassins and you root for everyone of them. His assassins are the good guys.
I also like the way the characters appear in each other’s series. It seems the John Rain stories were the beginning and I’m trying to read them one by one. I love the Livia Lone series and was disappointed that there were only 3 - yet. I hope there will be more.
I will also read the series featuring the other colorful characters, and yes, killers every one.
But there is more than the superb writing and unforgettable characters. The plots are engaging, griping and keep you from putting the book down. The personal and romantic aspects sneak in every now and then. It is also true of the minor characters who immediately grab you, and whose growth as people is part of the charm.
As soon as I have finish all the books about the various characters I am going back to re-read The Killer Collective again. I’m sure I will enjoy it even more having become intimately involved with each character.
In the mean time, I don’t think you could go wrong by picking up any one of his books, but they are best read from the beginning and on a binge.

Most likely my favourite so far. A different dynamic where the whole op goes awry from the get go and rain is being hunted, however the hunted part feels it could have been more extensive and fleshed out I liked it. It was great getting to know Delilah and Dox more and now I start to understand why people are fond of the character Dox instead of being just a "must be funny sidekick character" this chapter gave alot more depth to him.

Love these! And the addition of Dox provides some awesome comic relief.

John Rain has a job. He's going to bring in Dox to help him with this hit.

All's going well. He's got the mark right where he wants him.

Until.

He's about to move.

....and John freezes.

But there's still a blood bath. Just not the one that was intended.

Fast moving and interesting.

With age, Rain is developing a conscience. Which is a big liability as an assassin. Good thing Dox and Delilah are there to bail him out. They’re also a welcome addition to the series. Rain’s lone wolf character would have soon worn thin. I especially love the humor that Dox brings. The book delivers what I’ve come to expect: lots of action, intrigue, and swanky locales. True, Leo Tolstoy this ain’t, but you can’t do better for a fun read.

Mills is just not one of my favorite authors, nor is John Rain one of my favorite characters. It seems like there is an awful lot of planning and buildup followed by very quick action. While that is what things are probably like in real life, it doesn't work well for me personally in fiction

John Rain is Always Enjoyable

I’ve read 6 of the 10 now, somewhat out of order, and can’t wait to read the other 4 - except that then there will be no more. This one is as good as the rest, with an engaging story and well-researches insights into the locales, cultures and, of course, the work Rain does.

Redemption Games

Another action packed story with a cast of continuing characters. The fighting techniques and rational how to survive in their hostile environment is quite interesting.

This series in many ways similar to Tom Wood's lone assassin franchise. John Rain is Japanese-American contract killer who lives in Japan. In this story, most actions happen in Manila, Bangkok, Phuket and Hong Kong. The plot revolves around a botched hit on an Israeli terrorist trainer at Manila. The paymaster for the contract, Mossad, obviously unhappy and starts hunting Rain. Two men who were killed in that incident apparently worked for CIA and as such the agency is also on Rain's back. As such, Rain desperately tries to fix the problem while evading Mossad and CIA.

There is no doubt that Eisler's books are superior to the most thriller writers in the market. Being a an ex-CIA and a martial artists with extensive experience in Asia clearly shows up in his writings. He's a good writer too and in this book, there are enough twists and turns to keep us engaged and interested. I find his details on surveillance, martial arts moves and descriptions of Asian locations to be very accurate.

However there are some logical gaps in the story. If Rain fought in the Vietnam War then he would be a pensioner by now. Also being a lone assassin who is being hunted, he seems to be able to move around Asia quite easily and by staying at top hotels. I also found his personal security measures to be poor for an assassin especially in terms of counter surveillance and remain hidden. Another issue I would take up is the usage of Judo which is not a very practical for an assassin.

But all in all, it is a good series and enjoyable read.

"Redemption Games" is a thrilling read that combines a compelling central character, a well-crafted plot, and meticulous attention to detail. While it may require a bit of patience to navigate its intricate storyline, the payoff is well worth it. Barry Eisler continues to excel in delivering thought-provoking and action-packed espionage fiction, and I eagerly anticipate what he has in store for John Rain next.