Barry Eisler Requiem for an Assassin

Requiem for an Assassin

Barry Eisler

Putnam, June 2007, $24.95, 368 pp.

ISBN: 0399154264

John Rain is an assassin ready to retire. He lives in Paris with his lover Delilah an Israeli agent who kills when the situation warrants it which doesn't make it easier for Rain to shed his old habits. Half a world away a mercenary group led by Jim Hilger has worked out a plan to kidnap Rain's friend Dox in order to get the professional killer to do three hits. When Dox is in their hands they contact Rain and order him to kill three people but if he makes it look like accidents they will free Dox.

Rain doesn't believe Hilger will let Dox go but he agrees to do the assignment in order to buy time. He needs to locate where Hilger has stranded Dox and free him because he knows the man will kill him just as he knows that Jim plans to take him out as hit number three. The first hit is the CEO of a CIA funded neural net database company; the second victim is Michael Accinalli CEO of petrochemical industries. After Rain kills the two targets, one of Hilger's henchmen tries to take him out and fails. Now Rain has to find Dox and rescue him and foil Hilger's plan that would cause panic throughout the world.

Barry Eisler writes a great thriller with an unusual protagonist. Part of him is the cold murderer he calls the ice man while the evolving Rain starts to feel and care. There is plenty of action as Rain travels around the world trying to find his enemy's goal which is not what the audience believes it is. Hilger has become what Rain was and Hilger likes that person which makes the audience dislike him and root for Rain to take him out on top. REQUIEM FOR AN ASSASSIN is the quintessential cat and mouse thriller with fans wondering just who the rodent is and who the feline is.

Harriet Klausner