Paris Is A Bitch

by Barry Eisler

For most couples, a quiet dinner for two at Auberge de la Reine Blanche on the Ile Saint Louis would be just the thing to smooth out the complications in a romance. But for gorgeous Mossad operative Delilah and trying-to-retire contract killer John Rain, nothing is ever easy, and when Rain sees a crew of hard-looking men setting up outside the restaurant, he realizes someone has been bringing her work home with her. Is it a hit -- or something even worse? When it comes to killing, business and pleasure is the most dangerous mix of all.

Includes an essay called Personal Safety Tips from Assassin John Rain, which contains information that will be at least as valuable to civilians as it has been to Rain.

This story is approximately 8500 words --
Listening Length: 49 minutes

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Action, Short Stories, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Espionage

44 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 22, 2011

About the author

Barry Eisler spent three years in a covert position with the CIA’s Directorate of Operations, then worked as a technology lawyer and startup executive in Silicon Valley and Japan, earning his black belt at the Kodokan Judo Institute along the way. Eisler’s award-winning thrillers have been included in numerous “Best Of” lists, have been translated into nearly twenty languages, and include the #1 bestsellers Livia Lone, The Night Trade, and The Killer Collective. Eisler lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and, when he's not writing novels, blogs about national security and the media. www.barryeisler.com

Series:
* John Rain

Reviews

[John Paxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really short basically 1 - 2 chapters!

[donna backshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure what I was expecting from a "short" in the John Rain series, but this was certainly a satisfying peek into the John-Delilah dynamic, explaining the ultimate demise of this doomed-from-the-get-go couple. I will never cease to be amazed at how Barry Eisler manages to make fight scenes so engaging.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never read/listened to Barry Eisler's fiction before. From this small snippet, I do feel inclined to move on to his longer fiction.

[Barry Eisler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naturally I love this short story... the tale of Rain's break-up with Delilah in Paris.

[The Cats’ Mother · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paris is a Bitch is a short story set in the latter half of the John Rain series, about a half American half Japanese assassin. I’ve only read the first two, and his lover Delilah has not appeared yet, so I only know her from the more recent Killer Collective books. I don’t normally like reading series out of order, but have been using short stories (alone or in collections) to get through a mini-reading-slump this week, and this fit the bill for a quick 15-20 minute read.

This has Rain and Delilah attempting to have a romantic dinner out in Paris, and discuss their future, but work just has to get in the way… Noticing some shifty characters lurking outside, they both use their “very special set of skills” to neutralise the threat.

This was a fast exciting read with the author’s trademarked cinematic action - I was just sorry it was over so soon. It’s a reminder that I need to bump the main series books up the TBR!

[Bettie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Flash Fic: How to fit a square into a circular hole.

Love Love Love Rain to a high 3* yet this was way too short to be of any use

3* A Clean Kill in Tokyo (John Rain, #1)
3* A Lonely Resurrection (John Rain, #2)
3* Winner Take All (John Rain, #3)
3* Redemption Games (John Rain, #4)
3* Extremis (John Rain, #5)
3* The Killer Ascendant(John Rain, #6)
2* Paris Is A Bitch

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set between books 6 and 7, this short novella gives a little glimpse of Rain's life in Paris with Delilah who is still actively working for the Mossad while he is trying to retire. During a romantic dinner for two, her work comes back to haunt them. Good, quick read.

[gert · Rating 4 out of 5]

well, barry eisler can't really do wrong in my eyes, so i'm going to overlook some stuff in my rating. like, when this is referred to as a short story - its practically a lie. its more of a chapter of a book. there's resolution at the end, to some extent, which is why it can be called a story. i guess. but the whole thing is basically a teaser for the next book. which i would not have a problem with if it was 1) spelled out in the descriptor and 2) if i hadn't had to pay over $3.50 CAN for it.

so there you have it - its a 4 star rating. but w/the caveat that the 4 stars are related totally, soley and absolutely to john rain.

[Jon Seals · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This was the perfect John Rain short story. Just two operators trying to have a nice dinner when they realize they're probably being watched. [Stuff] goes down. That's it.

I liked this one much better than Eisler's previous short story. A lot of that is probably because I've read several books with John and Delilah. I know their backstories. I know their relationship.

Again, I'm not sure these short stories are necessary, but I liked this one a lot.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

After finishing "Graveyard of Memories", I wanted a little more John Rain so picked this up for a buck. It's a quick, easy read, ostensibly about one evening in the relationship between he & Delilah but the end makes it seem like a turning point.
John is fighting to go straight. The psychological effects of all he's done over the years have caught up with him & he wants a shot at "normal". He can't change the past so he's working on the future. But it's hard to shut off instincts & habits that are ingrained & doubly so with Delilah still in the business. He was an assassin because he was good at it & stuck to a set of rules, weirdly moral for a hit man. Delilah does it because working for Mossad is like breathing to her, natural & necessary to exist.
It should have been a romantic interlude. Nice restaurant in Paris, great food & wine, a beautiful woman to go home with. Unfortunately, there's also a loud guy on a cell at the next table, Delilah's casual comment about leaving tomorrow for God knows how long & a ferret-faced guy outside, taking way too much interest in those inside.
John's inner bad boy takes over & together they formulate & execute a plan. Really well. At about 40 pages, it's a fast paced read about a kickass showdown but the real message is how fundamentally different these two lovers have become. The ending makes you wonder what's next for them, if John can stay out of the game & accept playing second fiddle to Mossad. For him, it's like trying to quit smoking while watching his partner constantly light up.
This is not a HEA & although the final page may come as a surprise or disappointment to some, it makes sense. Let this also serve as a cautionary tale to all of you yakking on a cell during dinner. And a mouthful of wine can double as a weapon...huh...who knew?

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about John Rain, who is similar to Jason Bourne, a highly
trained assassin. Rain is half Japanese and half American and lived in
both worlds. He is a former Vietnam War commando. He is haunted by
his past and by his present. Eisler has written a brilliant series of
books, novellas, and shorts about his character. This story is a short
piece. It's a kind of vignette about a dinner date with a hot blonde
Mossad agent and the fallout. It feels like the start of a new novel but
it isn't. It has all the feel of A Clean Kill in Tokyo except they are in
Paris not in Tokyo. Most of the reviews are gripes about the price. I'm
not complaining. For less than a buck I was entertained. It serves to
continue the story of Rain. It is also a prequel to the novella London Twist, which makes a number of references to the fight scene in this
short. London Twist continuesMossad Agent Delilah's story. All in all, this is well worth your time especially if you are reading this series. If you are not, then start with
the full length novels.

[Russell Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read a story with one of my favorite characters, John Rain. It was a welcome return. Again, Rain is faced with a complicated relationship with his girlfriend, Delilah - a Mossad agent - who won't leave the spy business when Rain is trying to get out of the Assassin-for-hire business. What's even more complicated is that while eating at a gourmet restaurant in Paris, Rain suspects that they are both being watched by a group of hitmen.

This is an excellent dose of Rain in order to prepare us for his return in Eisler's upcoming thriller, THE DETACHMENT.

Russell Brooks

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is just a short story cleaning up and finishing(?) Rain's romance with Delilah. It could have as easily been tacked on the end of Book 6 or the beginning of Book 7 but I reckon old Barry needed some walking around cash.

[William · Rating 1 out of 5]

Advertising marketing tool. I hope that you got it for free? The sample excerpt of "The Detachment" was longer than this "nowhere" story. I would give it a minus star if I could so Eisler could average his overall ratings while looking at his bank account.

[Ronald Keeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paris Is a Bitch by Barry Eisler is a Kindle Short Story I downloaded through Kindle Unlimited (KU).

It was supposed to be a quiet dinner in Paris. Mossad Agent Delilah was going on a mission; Trying-to-retire freelance agent for hire John Rain wanted to know where she was going and when she was coming back. Mossad agents seem to answer with enigmatic smiles, especially when they are beautiful. The Mossad doesn’t hire ugly (females). Rain was frustrated and angry. He was trying to get out of the murder-for-hire business. Delilah was devoted to her work even more than she was devoted to Rain.

Voice volumes were starting to rise. But that was OK because they were sitting next to a Yuppie plus one that was raising his voice as he tried to close a trading deal. To avoid Rain killing him, Delilah tried to teach manners to the Yuppie with a request to turn down the volume. Rain helped by trying to crush the Yuppie’s wrist. Rain was not challenging his anger well.

Meanwhile, a Middle Eastern man with the mannerisms of a thief casing a place for theft attracted Rain’s attention by repeatedly looking through the window and finally entering the restaurant then immediately leaving without a purpose. Rain thought it was a preparation for a hit. Rain and Delilah argue about this. Rain exits to do a reconnaissance of the street and discovers the set-up of an attempted kidnapping. Rain and Delilah decide to go on the offensive, take out the kidnappers, separate, then meet later in a nearby park. No killing, just some serious injuries. Delilah takes out two potential kidnappers, Rain ruins four others.

Rain and Delilah meet in the park and Rain serves an ultimatum. Delilah doesn’t return the serve which leaves Rain with nothing to do but walk away. As he walks away with his frustration, he crosses a bridge only to meet Yuppie plus one with the cell phone.

Read the story to find out what happens next. I avoid spoilers. This was a nice story of frustration and revenge. I will read more Eisler longer novels.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice little novella. It's been a very long time since I read the first Rain book and I have no knowledge of Delilah's entrance into the storyline, so couldn't put their relationship in context. On the hold though, I enjoyed the story and it made me want to go in search of more of the Rain series and catch up. Eisler, as narrator of his own work, did an excellent job. Short, though it was, this was a great listen and well worth the 50 minutes it took. I will definitely be jumping back into the Rain series after this one.

[Luca Trovati · Rating 3 out of 5]

Con questo racconto parte ufficialmente quella che chiamo la "pausa estiva".
Romanzi d'azione, thriller, avventura. Da leggere a cervello sconnesso, per puro divertimento.
E John Rain per me è intrattenimento purissimo.
Un racconto veloce, lineare, efficace per farmi riprendere confidenza con il killer nippo-americano che anni fa mi tese la mano verso il suo mondo nel quale ciclicamente faccio capolino.
Bentornato John, sarà un'estate meravigliosa

[Matt Demian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it a lot but I felt rushed, and I felt like the final conclusion (dropping her) was a quick one. Not that I'm ungrateful but I'd have liked to see this 6.5 never exist and rather wind this story more intricately into 7 or the end of 6. That being said, I've yet to read 7 yet and maybe he already thought of this and wanted it this way for a reason.

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to rate this one...its a very short story, but it fits into the series and furthers the arch of the relationship between the main character, John Rain, and his girlfriend. Its really a very well written scene that could have fit into one of the main books. So, I rated it as I would have had it been such a scene.

I continue to rank this series as one of the very best in the genre.

[Bryan Mcquirk · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short and sweet story about an eventful date night for Rain and Delilah. While this story is only 21 pages long, it gives Eisler enough time to flesh out the deep tension and power dynamics that are festering in the relationship. It also clears up why Delilah is not available to assist in the Detachment and the cornerstone for London Twist.
Three and a half stars.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the story but the way it stopped left me saying to myself “what the fuck!” It just abruptly ended and I thought it should have maybe gone a bit longer. I also thought if the story continues then please tell me which book I should read next!

I do love all of the Barry Eisler books I have read so far. I will continue with the John Rain series because I love this type of genre.

[Luca Cresta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barry Eisler è una certezza, anche quando si cimenta con un semplice racconto. Fulminante come i due protagonisti, questo testo è quasi perfetto. Inarrivabile la capacità dell'autore di portarti sulla scena e di farti entrare nella testa di Rain. Unico neo: la lunghezza veramente troppo corta.

[Dr. Pj Forrest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Short

They are not kidding when they say short story. It wasn’t even $.99 worth. But it does explain a link in the Rain and Delilah saga which is not included any where else in the series.

[Ruben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little short story of Rain and Delilah or on a date. Rain is trying to get out of the life and his mix of emotions are in constant battle with what he wants from Delilah. It feels like an interlude to his next book.

[Benny J. Lum · Rating 5 out of 5]

A John Rain short story

This is a brief short story of John and his girlfriend enjoying a meal in Paris when they suspect something is amiss. This could evolve into a new story but we only get a glimpse into the tale. Still worth reading of you are a fan of John Rain.

[Andre Skates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paris is a Bitch is an intelligent and entertaining read that offers a unique spin on the detective thriller genre. Barry Eisler’s brilliant storytelling and well-developed characters make this book a must-read for fans of spy fiction. Maybe not perfect, but close.

[Linda Look · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of short stories but thought I'd try this one. Dinner between a Mosad agent and a killer for hire was intercepted by five thugs trying to kidnap the agent. Not an uplifting read but it was short and held my interest. I rate this a 3.6.

[Ken Bour · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short story, but it is packed with action and intensity! I knocked it out in one evening. The strange part is that Amazon charged me 99 cents for it while all the regular longer e-books are INCLUDED with my Prime Reading membership. Go figure...

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little story definitely would have rated much higher for me in the series if rain wasn't so arrogant. And couldn't control his emotions yet. the initial kidnap attempt story is kind of fun. and the getaway and separation etc. but it is definitely the end of the relationship with Delilah

[P R · Rating 3 out of 5]

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