Barry Eisler The Last Assassin

The Last Assassin

Barry Eisler

Putnam, Jun 2006, $24.95

ISBN: 0399153594

Japanese-American killer for hire John Rain is euphoric to find out that his former lover, Midori, is a single mom raising her fifteen month old son, who might be his only progeny, in New York's West Village. John sees this as an opportunity to reconcile with Midori and normalize his own life within the folds of a family though he has been sharing a bed with Agent Delilah.

However, Rain fails to grasp how much his enemies want him dead. While he considers reuniting with Midori and spending quality time with his child Koichero, she reminds him he killed her father. Besides lethal adversaries also observe Midori as they see the civilian as bait to entrap Rain. The mercenary hitman soon concludes that for him there is no way out except death as he realizes the storms he brought upon Midori and his offspring. Still he will not sit idly by while his perimeter is breached so with the help of Japanese Agent Tatsu and peer Dox, he plays cat and mouse with his unknown deadly opponents dangling himself as the lure to entrap them.

This is a bittersweet thriller as Rain realizes the torrent he has brought upon Midori and Koichero. The action never stops as he tries to clean up the mess he caused because of his desire to see Midori and meet his son. Fans will appreciate Barry Eisler's latest yarn that spins a more humanized hit man who learns some life (and death) lessons in his quest to have a family.

Harriet Klausner