The last assassin

The fifth John Rain novel is the first not to feature the Japanese American contract killer's name in the title. Is this a sign that Eisler is taking the series in a new direction, or perhaps, given the seeming finality of the title, ending it altogether? The book begins with momentous news: Rain is a father, his brief liaison with Midori, the daughter of a man Rain killed, having produced a son. Now Rain sees his best chance of getting out of the killing game. But can he protect mother and child from his enemies, who are trying to use them as leverage to get Rain? And can he extricate himself safely from his relationship with Delilah, the beautiful Israeli assassin? This has been a consistently fine series, and its latest installment is no exception. Rain, the killer who wishes he could stop killing, is an engaging protagonist, and the author's depiction of the world of the assassin is vivid and well imagined. --David Pitt Copyright 2006 Booklist

Japanese-American assassin John Rain would like to get out of the killing business in his fifth action-filled outing (after 2005's Killing Rain), see the son he's only just learned of and perhaps try to reconnect with Midori, the child's mother. But first there's the little matter of the Japanese gangster Yamaoto and Yamaoto's Chinese triad allies, who are watching over Rain's son in New York City, not to mention Delilah, the beautiful Mossad agent who shares Rain's occupation and his bed. Seizing the initiative, Rain enlists the aid of his super-sniper friend, Dox, in a campaign to remove Yamaoto. Rain and allies clash with their many powerful foes in combat scenes full of lovingly detailed descriptions of knives, guns and other martial paraphernalia. Amid the threats to life, limb and loved ones, Rain finds time to enjoy good food, better whiskey and even better sex. While most of the action takes place in Japan, Eisler handles all the story's locales, including Manhattan and Barcelona, with considerable aplomb. 30-city author tour. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Assassin John Rain is back-even if he's not in the title, as in Rain Fall, etc.-and this time his effort to reconcile with former lover Midori and their child puts them in harm's way. With a whopping 25-city tour. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

"Pffft. The man quivered and sank to the ground. . . . The other guy didn't see it. . . . Pffft. I dropped him, too, another head shot." When high-end assassin John Rain is working for personal rather than professional reasons, the bodies pile up fast. This fifth volume in Eisler's series (Killing Rain, 2005, etc.) finds Rain trying to reestablish contact with his former lover, Midori. Through friends, Rain has learned he is likely the father of Midori's baby son. The problem: Midori is the daughter of one of Rain's hits, and she knows it. Another problem: One of Rain's many enemies, the yakuza Yamaoto, is using Midori and the baby to lure Rain into his murderous sights. This will not stop Rain from meeting his son; he also harbors the hope that he can reunite with Midori. Even in his strange and emotionally messy world, that would be improbable--Midori, after all, loved her father. Still, their first meeting offers a glimmer of the prospect. More importantly, storywise, once Rain lays eyes on his son, he will not stand for anything threatening the child's wellbeing. A trail of bodies follows Rain as he tracks the root problem, Yamaoto, and the dnouement is a nice piece of mayhem. Rain's friend Dox, a freelance sniper, returns to lend a hand. So does Delilah, a Mossad agent placed on leave for giving Rain too much help with his last caper, who wants her relationship with Rain to move beyond that of lover. This puts Rain in a quandary regarding Midori, and it highlights Eisler's special knack for bringing nuance to the implications of Rain's nihilism. Can love really conquer all? Is Rain's retirement from work possible? When, if ever, is it acceptable to kill? Is he, purely and simply, delusional? Wicked action sequences, smoothly delineated local color and moments of introspection capture Rain in fine, fraught form. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

The fifth John Rain novel is the first not to feature the Japanese American contract killer's name in the title. Is this a sign that Eisler is taking the series in a new direction, or perhaps, given the seeming finality of the title, ending it altogether? The book begins with momentous news: Rain is a father, his brief liaison with Midori, the daughter of a man Rain killed, having produced a son. Now Rain sees his best chance of getting out of the killing game. But can he protect mother and child from his enemies, who are trying to use them as leverage to get Rain? And can he extricate himself safely from his relationship with Delilah, the beautiful Israeli assassin? This has been a consistently fine series, and its latest installment is no exception. Rain, the killer who wishes he could stop killing, is an engaging protagonist, and the author's depiction of the world of the assassin is vivid and well imagined. ((Reviewed May 1, 2006)) Copyright 2006 Booklist Reviews.

Assassin John Rain is back-even if he's not in the title, as in Rain Fall, etc.-and this time his effort to reconcile with former lover Midori and their child puts them in harm's way. With a whopping 25-city tour. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Japanese-American assassin John Rain would like to get out of the killing business in his fifth action-filled outing (after 2005's Killing Rain ), see the son he's only just learned of and perhaps try to reconnect with Midori, the child's mother. But first there's the little matter of the Japanese gangster Yamaoto and Yamaoto's Chinese triad allies, who are watching over Rain's son in New York City, not to mention Delilah, the beautiful Mossad agent who shares Rain's occupation and his bed. Seizing the initiative, Rain enlists the aid of his super-sniper friend, Dox, in a campaign to remove Yamaoto. Rain and allies clash with their many powerful foes in combat scenes full of lovingly detailed descriptions of knives, guns and other martial paraphernalia. Amid the threats to life, limb and loved ones, Rain finds time to enjoy good food, better whiskey and even better sex. While most of the action takes place in Japan, Eisler handles all the story's locales, including Manhattan and Barcelona, with considerable aplomb. 30-city author tour. (June)