CompleteMartialArts.com - Requiem for an Assassin
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List Price: $24.95
Our Price: $16.47
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Manufacturer: Putnam Adult
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780399154263
ISBN: 0399154264
Label: Putnam Adult
Manufacturer: Putnam Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 368
Publication Date: 2007-05-22
Publisher: Putnam Adult
Studio: Putnam Adult
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Editorial Reviews:
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If you had to kill three people to save your best friend's life, would you do it?
When John Rain decides to get out of the business, his hand is forced by rogue CIA operative Jim Hilger. Hilger kidnaps Dox, Rain's trusted partner and closest friend, and offers Rain a choice: carry out a final assignment, or bear the responsibility for Dox's murder.
For a professional like John Rain, the choice ought to be easy: Do the job-a series of three hits-then walk away. But how does Rain know Jim Hilger won't kill Dox anyway, once the assignment is complete? How does he know that each of the hits isn't simultaneously a setup for Rain himself? And what will he do when he finds out that among the targets of this lethal game of extortion is someone else Rain cares about deeply?
From the urban canyons of Silicon Valley and New York to the lush forests of Bali, the boulevards of Paris, and the old killing fields of Vietnam, Rain must grapple with his age, his enemies, and most of all, his conscience in a battle that not even Rain-"the stuff great characters are made of" (Entertainment Weekly)-can hope to survive intact.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Character Reigns with Rain
Comment: Hilger a CIA operative Rain had crossed in a previous operation holds Dox captive, demanding that Rain complete a series of hits, or his friend dies. Rain realizes he is the intended target and plots his moves to turn the tables.
My first experience with a Barry Eisler novel was a pleasant surprise. In a time when some of my favorite thriller writers are turning to sparse prose; Eisler's John Rain novels plumb for depth of character, inner exploring conflict, character, and motivation. Sure, Requiem for an Assassin is tightly plotted. It isn't so much suspenseful as it is gripping. You have a sense that Rain can handle his own and get through any challenge he undertakes, no matter the stakes. The writing is rich and a rewarding read.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: It's a novel - get lost in it.
Comment: There have been plenty of reviews of this book that describe in detail what it's about, so I will focus on answering the question most people read reviews for-is it worth buying? I say yes. Some of the previous reviewers have complained about one or two facets of Eisler's work that the they find offensive (Rain is wussified, Eisler's portrayal of computer technology isn't realistic) and hone in on that one piece, ignoring the fact that this is a novel, a work of fiction, a group of characters in a world of fantasy. I probably enjoy realism more than the average reader and as a military man I found many parts of this novel surprisingly realistic and the other parts I took as fiction and let myself believe that they were possible. If there was a part I could have done without, it was the sex scene-it's just not the same in a book. If the movie version ever gets made, then leave it in by all means, but reading about sex just isn't my thing.
The bottom line is this is a good read if you're looking for something to fill quiet time or a long plane ride. It was very enjoyable and captivating, worthy of a comparison to Frederick Forsythe.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Comment: Requiem For An Assassin is a fast-paced, thrill-a-minute novel with modern day happenings all woven together to produce one hell of a book. The book is about assassin-extraordinaire, John Rain, and his tug-of-war battle within himself regarding his profession and the role his friends play in his life. In the beginning of the book, Rain is living a somewhat quiet life in semi-retirement in Paris, not far from his girlfriend, Delilah. As Rain is starting to accept his new life, his best friend Dox (a sniper colleague) is kidnapped. The kidnapper, an old enemy of Rain, tells him that he has to kill three targets, and then Dox will be set free. Rain knows he is lying, but he has to buy time to help his friend. Rain slips back into the life without any problems, and he goes about doing whatever is necessary to help his friend, even though he knows he might be being set up to be eliminated. Will Rain and Dox survive, and if Rain survives, will he forever be lost to himself and the darkness that is within?
This book has it all: romance, action, adventure, cool gadgets and great characters. The plot is tight and the dialogue is excellent - funny in one scene, and cold/ruthless in another. Rain's emotional, internal struggle is palpable. If you want intense, pulse-pounding action mixed with a fair share of angst, this is the book to buy. I've read quite a few books this year, and this is definitely one of my favorites. I give Requiem For An Assassin my highest recommendation.
Customer Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Addition to the Series
Comment: The gritty realism, the much-needed paranoia, the driving narrative, and all the other hallmarks of this series are here. John Rain continues to be one of the most interesting heroes around. As always, Eisler laces his prose with geographic and gastronomic details. Most of the fans of the series like the action scenes, which are always good. But Rain's moral struggles are also a fascinating aspect of the books.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great new book in Rain series
Comment: This book builds on the work started several books ago. His characters, John Rain, Delilah and Dox are all getting quite well rounded and the relationships becoming more solid. I won't try to describe the plot, don't want to give anything away, but whether it's your first time reading about these characters, or you are already familiar with them, this is an excellent read.
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