I didn't enjoy this book as much as the other four or five I've already read by Barry Eisler (the first two John Rain books and then all the Livia Lone ones, the latter being my favorites and the reason I started reading John Rain). I don't think the reason is entirely the books fault. I'm just having a bad reading month due to the loss of my grandmother, but not all of the books that I've read have become secondary victims of this experience, so I do believe it's possible to break the curse with some exceptional writing that also caters to my taste at that exact moment. It might also factor in that I read the last John Rain book a year ago.

We got off on a rocky start in this book because Rain was already on said job and then things just got more complicated and escalated and nobody trusted anyone (the characters). Anyway, that meant it got complicated for me too and I struggled to keep up and therefore to stay motivated. The book never showed me, the reader, why I should care about his mission or why John Rain should care either, beyond getting paid, you know (he is a princip guy, not a profit guy). And the mission was uninteresting.

My favorite moments are when we learn more about John as a character, other that his fighting skills or military career, but through friends, family, childhood and relationships. He didn't have a friend the whole book but in the last chapter and another chapter there was a lady rival agent, then occasionally a short phonecall to his handler. John pretty much talks to himself and only about tactical stuff. Even hobbies could help, particularly if he had any outside of fighting or jazz, because those he will both frequently use tactically at jobs. I just think it would have given him more personality to have something else.

Oddly though, some of my favorite parts about Eislers books are the action scenes, I really enjoyed the very descriptive fight scenes. I kinda felt like I was in a self-defense class or something, truly watching the guy to all the moves. The author has a really good talent for writing immersive scenes. He didn't have a friend the whole book but in the last chapter and another chapter there was a lady rival agent, then occasionally a short phonecall to his handler. By the way, the desciptions of said lady ticked me off, and I'm rather laid back. If you're gen-Z and get easily offended, this book is not for you (no hate or anything).

John pretty much was was on a stake-out through the first half. I felt like I was on the boring stake-out too and drifted in and out of consciousness. I know real spy work is even less eventful, so how people can work as such is beyond me. The second half is where things began picking up and I started to get interested, especially the last quarter. That was the best part. When John had a teammate, the stakes got higher and I liked the scenes better, so I think that I just didn't enjoy him being nearly completely solo throughout the book. It didn't work for me.

That being said, it ended on a high note and it's still a series I will continue, plus it is a time in my life when I'm hard to please, so that's worth considering.

I know it is crucial to the Rain character, but the amount of story dedicated to the details of Rain "checking his 6" and other miscellaneous activities begins to become tedious and overshadow the mystery, intrigue and action inherent in the series. I hope the action will increase in future installments of the John Rain series.

Der 3. Teil der Tokio Killer-Reihe: John Rain ist nach Brasilien getürmt. Doch auch dort spürt ihn die CIA auf, um ihn als Freelancer für Exekutionen anzuwerben. John hat zwar keine Lust darauf, doch sein Vorruhestand ist kostspielig - er kann die Zusatzeinnahmen gut gebrauchen.

John bekommt den Auftrag, in Macao (mittlerweile chinesisch) einen Waffenhändler zu töten. Doch John entdeckt, dass noch ein anderer Profikiller und eine israelische Geheimagentin ebenfalls auf den Waffenhändler angesetzt. Zudem machen fünf arabische Killer Jagd auf Rain. Zum Glück bekommt er Unterstützung durch den ehemaligen Afghanistan-Kämpfer Doc, der ebenfalls für die CIA tätig ist.

Mit diesem Roman erweitert sich der John Rain-Kosmos um die Mossad-Agentin Delilah und den Scharfschützen Dox. Wer Spaß an Agentenromanen hat und zudem mehr über das Leben in Macao und Hongkong erfahren möchte, kommt hier auf seine Kosten. Die Handlung hätte aber ruhig etwas raffinierter und spannender sein können. Trotzdem 3,5 = 4 Sterne ****

John Rain is back with Christians In Action (not the most playful synonym, right?), but he's not on his turf and he's getting older. And there are people in the CIA working against him while he's working for the CIA.

So everyone is playing everyone else, as these things go.

This is the third book in the series, and John has clearly evolved. I like this progression of character, but I hate the fact that Midori still seems to hold a lingering presence on John. It makes John kind of dull sometimes, and I think it is not in sync with the overall perception of John, especially by himself.

What is clearly brilliant is the background of the story, which is as dirty and realistically as it can get. That the CIA could be protecting an arms dealer is no stretch of imagination, it looks downright authentic, especially the way Barry describes it here.

It gives you the feeling of reading something that could just be real, and while the action is not as high octane as, say, the Gray Man, it certainly is authentic and exciting enough, fitting right into the story.