What do you think?
Rate this book
John Rain #11
The Chaos Kind
The assassins of Barry Eisler’s #1 bestseller The Killer Collective are back—and this time, it’s chaos.
Assistant US Attorney Alondra Diaz hates traffickers. And she’s determined to put one of America’s most powerful financiers, Andrew Schrader, in prison forever for his crimes against children.
But Schrader has videos implicating some of the most powerful members of the US national security state. To eliminate Diaz, the powers that be bring in a Marvin Manus, an implacable assassin whose skills have been forged in intelligence, the military, and the hardest prisons.
Enter former Marine sniper Dox and black-ops veteran Daniel Larison with an unusual not to kill Diaz, but to keep her alive.
A lot of players are determined to acquire the videos and the blackmail power they represent. But with Seattle sex-crimes detective Livia Lone, “natural causes” killer John Rain, and ex-Mossad honey-trap specialist Delilah, the good guys might just have a chance.
They’re not going to play by anyone else’s rules. They’re not going to play by any rules at all. They want a different kind of fight. The chaos kind.
Assistant US Attorney Alondra Diaz hates traffickers. And she’s determined to put one of America’s most powerful financiers, Andrew Schrader, in prison forever for his crimes against children.
But Schrader has videos implicating some of the most powerful members of the US national security state. To eliminate Diaz, the powers that be bring in a Marvin Manus, an implacable assassin whose skills have been forged in intelligence, the military, and the hardest prisons.
Enter former Marine sniper Dox and black-ops veteran Daniel Larison with an unusual not to kill Diaz, but to keep her alive.
A lot of players are determined to acquire the videos and the blackmail power they represent. But with Seattle sex-crimes detective Livia Lone, “natural causes” killer John Rain, and ex-Mossad honey-trap specialist Delilah, the good guys might just have a chance.
They’re not going to play by anyone else’s rules. They’re not going to play by any rules at all. They want a different kind of fight. The chaos kind.
439 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2021
3469 people are currently reading
3008 people want to read
About the author
Barry Eisler
87 books3,043 followersBarry 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
Series:
* John Rain
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 521 reviews
October 23, 2021
When Barry Eisler is up at bat, you know he is going to knock it out of the ballpark!
I discovered Barry Eisler's John Rain books years ago in a very unusual way. Ages ago, I was sent a copy of "Killing Rain" now published as Redemption Games though a product testing site. From there I was hooked and dove into reading the previous books and then future books in the series. I believe I have only missed one. My point - This is an addictive series with likeable characters - Dox has always been my favorite - who doesn't like a good-ol-boy?
Rain, Dox, and Delilah are/were assassins. They are experts at what they do and even though some are trying to have a quieter life, well, they keep getting pulled back into the game. Plus, there is Livia Lone, a Seattle sex crimes detective with a tragic past, who…well she and Dox....nuff said.
Anyway, the gist is they team up with black-ops veteran Daniel Larison and Marvin Manus (if you have read this series, you will know these names) If you have not read the series - Hop to it, it's worth the investment in your time when you start from the beginning but be sure to read the Livia Lone books as well.
This time, they are taking on some very powerful people who have committed crimes against children. Yes, you are going to get some strong Jeffrey Epstein vibes in this book.
I loved reading about the characters again. This book is full of action and intrigue. Eisler uses what he knows. He is a black belt who spent three years in a covert position with the CIA. So, if some of the fight scenes, weaponry, and ops seen real, it is because he is writing what he knows.
Fans of both series and Eisler will not be disappointed. When I see he has a new book out, I try to get my hands (and eyes) on them. Eisler delivers every time. He does such a fantastic job describing the action that I can see it playing out in my mind.
Could this book be read as a stand-alone? I guess, but I would not recommend it. There are a lot of characters from both book series, and they all have interesting back stories. You will miss out on inside jokes and mannerisms of the characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and was glad to see that the "gang" was all here in this book.
Intense, Action packed and riveting!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
I discovered Barry Eisler's John Rain books years ago in a very unusual way. Ages ago, I was sent a copy of "Killing Rain" now published as Redemption Games though a product testing site. From there I was hooked and dove into reading the previous books and then future books in the series. I believe I have only missed one. My point - This is an addictive series with likeable characters - Dox has always been my favorite - who doesn't like a good-ol-boy?
Rain, Dox, and Delilah are/were assassins. They are experts at what they do and even though some are trying to have a quieter life, well, they keep getting pulled back into the game. Plus, there is Livia Lone, a Seattle sex crimes detective with a tragic past, who…well she and Dox....nuff said.
Anyway, the gist is they team up with black-ops veteran Daniel Larison and Marvin Manus (if you have read this series, you will know these names) If you have not read the series - Hop to it, it's worth the investment in your time when you start from the beginning but be sure to read the Livia Lone books as well.
This time, they are taking on some very powerful people who have committed crimes against children. Yes, you are going to get some strong Jeffrey Epstein vibes in this book.
I loved reading about the characters again. This book is full of action and intrigue. Eisler uses what he knows. He is a black belt who spent three years in a covert position with the CIA. So, if some of the fight scenes, weaponry, and ops seen real, it is because he is writing what he knows.
Fans of both series and Eisler will not be disappointed. When I see he has a new book out, I try to get my hands (and eyes) on them. Eisler delivers every time. He does such a fantastic job describing the action that I can see it playing out in my mind.
Could this book be read as a stand-alone? I guess, but I would not recommend it. There are a lot of characters from both book series, and they all have interesting back stories. You will miss out on inside jokes and mannerisms of the characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and was glad to see that the "gang" was all here in this book.
Intense, Action packed and riveting!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
October 6, 2021
almost 4 ☆
The Chaos Kind is the type of story that either has the QAnon folks nod knowingly or just makes the rest of us more cynical. Oh right, sorry, this is a work of fiction. Andrew Schrader - a Jeffrey Epstein-esque figure - has just been arrested in the Seattle, Washington region. Despite being indicted for human trafficking in South Carolina six years earlier, he barely had his wrist slapped and has thus continued his habits in a different part of the country. His prior brush with the law did teach him to create his own safeguards. Since Schrader is very rich both in money and in political contacts, he chose to film secretly the powerful men who attended his parties to take advantage of the underage victims.
Perhaps Schrader is too clever for his own good. Because although he is locked up in a federal prison pending the case spearheaded by US Assistant Attorney General Alondra Diaz, Schrader has painted a huge bullseye on himself.
Once Schrader's lawyer informs the US Attorney General about the videos, it's the catalyst for action in The Chaos Kind. Because the visual documentation confers massive power upon the holder, many different parties come out of the woodwork to launch a series of battles among a veritable platoon of assassins and black ops personnel from the US intelligence community.
Since Schrader is being detained in federal prison, Alondra becomes a more viable target for the men who don't want to find themselves starring in rape videos. Tom Kanezaki decides to ignore orders from CIA Director Lisa Rispel and instead to use his network of assassins to protect Alondra.
The Chaos Kind is my first novel by Barry Eisler. Given my unfamiliarity with these characters - John Rain, Livia Lone, Dox, et al - I may have missed the insider jokes, but there are enough detail and background to establish their skillsets and roles. So yes, this can be read as a standalone.
The plotline is fast-paced action punctuated by very cold-blooded scenes of killings and seasoned with emotional insights into the many characters. In terms of the plot, the Jeffrey Epstein-esque angle is not original but to be fair, Eisler has written about human trafficking of underage victims through his series featuring Livia Lone. Clearly, there is far too much violence directed at females in this world, and the US is not exempt. For me, this plotline sustained my interest and appeared plausible until the ending, which seemed like dreamy wish-fulfillment. The finale's insouciance with actions and consequences just wasn't consistent with the preceding storyline.
As my introduction to Eisler's novels, it is well-written and for the most part, the action and characters feel authentic. I like the ensemble cast here and its diversity in terms of genders, ethnicities, and abilities. The strong characterizations ensure that The Chaos Kind is more than just a long sequence of dispassionate assassinations sewn together by a thin plot thread. And as another first, this fiction writer provides a long Notes section so that readers can learn about protective measures and Eisler's earlier installments to which he alludes.
Thank you to Thomas and Mercer and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Quotations in this review are from an uncorrected proof and may differ from the published version, which was released on October 1, 2021.
Of course there was a "deep state," or whatever else people might want to call it - not just in America but in every country. How could a society function without a semipermanent core of experts committed to stable governance?
The Chaos Kind is the type of story that either has the QAnon folks nod knowingly or just makes the rest of us more cynical. Oh right, sorry, this is a work of fiction. Andrew Schrader - a Jeffrey Epstein-esque figure - has just been arrested in the Seattle, Washington region. Despite being indicted for human trafficking in South Carolina six years earlier, he barely had his wrist slapped and has thus continued his habits in a different part of the country. His prior brush with the law did teach him to create his own safeguards. Since Schrader is very rich both in money and in political contacts, he chose to film secretly the powerful men who attended his parties to take advantage of the underage victims.
Perhaps Schrader is too clever for his own good. Because although he is locked up in a federal prison pending the case spearheaded by US Assistant Attorney General Alondra Diaz, Schrader has painted a huge bullseye on himself.
Denial has no survival value. If you're going to play, you have to at least recognize what the game is.
Once Schrader's lawyer informs the US Attorney General about the videos, it's the catalyst for action in The Chaos Kind. Because the visual documentation confers massive power upon the holder, many different parties come out of the woodwork to launch a series of battles among a veritable platoon of assassins and black ops personnel from the US intelligence community.
... but of course in the intelligence business good [guy] was a relative term. Relative and flexible.
Since Schrader is being detained in federal prison, Alondra becomes a more viable target for the men who don't want to find themselves starring in rape videos. Tom Kanezaki decides to ignore orders from CIA Director Lisa Rispel and instead to use his network of assassins to protect Alondra.
I don't like the order of battle now. We need to shake up the board and good. Because when order is your enemy, chaos is your friend.
The Chaos Kind is my first novel by Barry Eisler. Given my unfamiliarity with these characters - John Rain, Livia Lone, Dox, et al - I may have missed the insider jokes, but there are enough detail and background to establish their skillsets and roles. So yes, this can be read as a standalone.
The plotline is fast-paced action punctuated by very cold-blooded scenes of killings and seasoned with emotional insights into the many characters. In terms of the plot, the Jeffrey Epstein-esque angle is not original but to be fair, Eisler has written about human trafficking of underage victims through his series featuring Livia Lone. Clearly, there is far too much violence directed at females in this world, and the US is not exempt. For me, this plotline sustained my interest and appeared plausible until the ending, which seemed like dreamy wish-fulfillment. The finale's insouciance with actions and consequences just wasn't consistent with the preceding storyline.
As my introduction to Eisler's novels, it is well-written and for the most part, the action and characters feel authentic. I like the ensemble cast here and its diversity in terms of genders, ethnicities, and abilities. The strong characterizations ensure that The Chaos Kind is more than just a long sequence of dispassionate assassinations sewn together by a thin plot thread. And as another first, this fiction writer provides a long Notes section so that readers can learn about protective measures and Eisler's earlier installments to which he alludes.
Thank you to Thomas and Mercer and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Quotations in this review are from an uncorrected proof and may differ from the published version, which was released on October 1, 2021.
December 6, 2021
Edit: I waited and it was 100% worth it.
------------------------------------------
May of 2021? There is NO WAY I can wait that long!
------------------------------------------
May of 2021? There is NO WAY I can wait that long!
October 26, 2021
I’ve been following the John Rain series for some time now and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know this thinking man’s killer. Often employed by the CIA, he’s somewhat discerning in terms of who he agrees kills at their behest. He enjoys the finer things in life including jazz, good food and fine whiskey and the way the stories externalise his thought processes – not just his decision making but also his planning and his reaction to events – somehow make him feel humane, despite his chosen profession. But in the most recent books it’s become clear that he’s become tired of the chase and kill and has drifted into retirement, happy to spend quality time with his lover Delilah, herself an ex-Mossad agent.
Another character Eisler has created is Livia Lone, a Seattle sex-crimes detective with a traumatic back story and a passion for protecting women from exploitation by the kind of men that abused her and caused the death of her sister. The author teams up Lone and Rain here along with a number of support characters who have populated his books through the years. The mission orchestrator is Tom Kanezaki, a senior CIA officer who is involved in something of a power battle within his own organisation. It involves a cache of videos showing senior figures within US national security, and possibly senior political figures too, having sex with children. There are plenty of people who have a lot to gain by either getting hold of and destroying the videos or by gaining access to them in order to exploit their potential for blackmail.
Kanezaki gathers together this team of male warriors - which include a sniper, a knife man, a martial arts expert (Rain), and another guy who brilliant with hand guns – and adds women whose skills compliment them such as an IT brainiac and an interrogator. It seems to draw on The Magnificent Seven (for those old enough to remember the film) and this sense of a superhero team being gathered together is further augmented by the author providing detailed descriptions of every weapon they have at their disposal. It all felt pretty over the top to me - I preferred it when it was just Rain doing his stuff.
I suppose the story is interesting enough in an over-engineered sort of way, but there is little subtlety here: it’s a special forces operation that relies on frantic action scenes and macho prancing to titillate and excite the reader. Not my thing at all! There’s carnage aplenty and towards the end there’s a vain attempt to conjure up some interest by adding a few somewhat confusing twists - a frenzied over-egging of the pudding in my view.
I’ve seen other writers go down this route – and never successfully. Lee Child ramped up the killing in Blue Moon (a stinker) and Ian Rankin brought an army of his characters together in In a House of Lies which is possibly his worst book. I know that all series reach a point of potential repetitiveness and therefore the author is bound to look for ways to add something new, maybe something bigger. Likewise there’s ever the temptation to merge the lives of characters from different series. Here it’s all come together in one package and I think it’s really a bit of a mess. I struggled to find enough interest to finish the book and my mind drifted off as it closed out. A pity, but I think I’m done with Eisler now.
Another character Eisler has created is Livia Lone, a Seattle sex-crimes detective with a traumatic back story and a passion for protecting women from exploitation by the kind of men that abused her and caused the death of her sister. The author teams up Lone and Rain here along with a number of support characters who have populated his books through the years. The mission orchestrator is Tom Kanezaki, a senior CIA officer who is involved in something of a power battle within his own organisation. It involves a cache of videos showing senior figures within US national security, and possibly senior political figures too, having sex with children. There are plenty of people who have a lot to gain by either getting hold of and destroying the videos or by gaining access to them in order to exploit their potential for blackmail.
Kanezaki gathers together this team of male warriors - which include a sniper, a knife man, a martial arts expert (Rain), and another guy who brilliant with hand guns – and adds women whose skills compliment them such as an IT brainiac and an interrogator. It seems to draw on The Magnificent Seven (for those old enough to remember the film) and this sense of a superhero team being gathered together is further augmented by the author providing detailed descriptions of every weapon they have at their disposal. It all felt pretty over the top to me - I preferred it when it was just Rain doing his stuff.
I suppose the story is interesting enough in an over-engineered sort of way, but there is little subtlety here: it’s a special forces operation that relies on frantic action scenes and macho prancing to titillate and excite the reader. Not my thing at all! There’s carnage aplenty and towards the end there’s a vain attempt to conjure up some interest by adding a few somewhat confusing twists - a frenzied over-egging of the pudding in my view.
I’ve seen other writers go down this route – and never successfully. Lee Child ramped up the killing in Blue Moon (a stinker) and Ian Rankin brought an army of his characters together in In a House of Lies which is possibly his worst book. I know that all series reach a point of potential repetitiveness and therefore the author is bound to look for ways to add something new, maybe something bigger. Likewise there’s ever the temptation to merge the lives of characters from different series. Here it’s all come together in one package and I think it’s really a bit of a mess. I struggled to find enough interest to finish the book and my mind drifted off as it closed out. A pity, but I think I’m done with Eisler now.
September 9, 2024
Story started fine before deteriorating into a morass of incomprehension and crazy chaos.
November 19, 2021
The Chaos Kind is the sequel to The Killer Collective, where the author brought together the main characters of his John Rain and Livia Lone series, here going one better and adding the heroes from some of his other books, Delilah, Marvin Manus, and Daniel Larison. I haven't read those books, and don't think this mattered because you get their relevant backstories, but have added them to my TBR anyway. I purchased the ebook of this soon after publication, but am struggling to read my bought books, because of so many ARCs and Book Club commitments, then had the bright idea of converting it to the audiobook, which doesn't cost much more and meant I got to it much quicker, as we are doing the 4 &1/2 hour drive to Lake Taupo every other weekend, which is great listening time. We both enjoyed this action packed adventure, although both felt there were so many characters that it got in the way of the plot to some extent.
Alondra Diaz is a prosecutor intent on convicting a wealthy entrepreneur for trafficking young girls. Unfortunately he arranged insurance for himself in the form of compromising videos of high ranking politicians, and powerful defence and security officials want the footage for their own ends.
Manus, a former government assassin who has been deaf since childhood, has been blackmailed to kill Diaz, and sniper for hire Dox, and Black Ops contractor Larison have been hired to protect her, but the three realise they’re being played. To ensure they bring in Seattle sex crimes detective Livia and retired assassin Rain, and the team learn that to stop innocent women being traumatised again, they are going to have to sow a little chaos…
I have only read the first John Rain book, but enjoyed it and have picked up the next three to read when I get a chance, although he’s actually the least interesting of the heroes in this one. Conversely I was glad that I had read all the Livia Lone books already, so her complex character made sense. Dox has now supplanted Joe Pike as my biggest Book Crush, although I would not want to compete with Livia for his affections - she’s a total bad-ass. I enjoyed the Manus sub-plot and the sweet relationship between a hulking killer and his also-deaf adopted son, and the good-natured ribbing the tough guys inflict on each other. A lot of the gun and computer stuff went over my head but that didn’t spoil it for me. The main baddie here is chilling in their ice-cold ruthless ambition and while the action was Hollywood-level OTT, the government skulduggery felt scarily believable.
The audiobook is narrated by the author who has a pleasing voice and handles both male and female characters very well. I like being able to follow the text while I listen especially with all the Japanese words and unusual names.
I look forward to reading more of the team’s adventures, whether together or back in their own series.
Alondra Diaz is a prosecutor intent on convicting a wealthy entrepreneur for trafficking young girls. Unfortunately he arranged insurance for himself in the form of compromising videos of high ranking politicians, and powerful defence and security officials want the footage for their own ends.
Manus, a former government assassin who has been deaf since childhood, has been blackmailed to kill Diaz, and sniper for hire Dox, and Black Ops contractor Larison have been hired to protect her, but the three realise they’re being played. To ensure they bring in Seattle sex crimes detective Livia and retired assassin Rain, and the team learn that to stop innocent women being traumatised again, they are going to have to sow a little chaos…
I have only read the first John Rain book, but enjoyed it and have picked up the next three to read when I get a chance, although he’s actually the least interesting of the heroes in this one. Conversely I was glad that I had read all the Livia Lone books already, so her complex character made sense. Dox has now supplanted Joe Pike as my biggest Book Crush, although I would not want to compete with Livia for his affections - she’s a total bad-ass. I enjoyed the Manus sub-plot and the sweet relationship between a hulking killer and his also-deaf adopted son, and the good-natured ribbing the tough guys inflict on each other. A lot of the gun and computer stuff went over my head but that didn’t spoil it for me. The main baddie here is chilling in their ice-cold ruthless ambition and while the action was Hollywood-level OTT, the government skulduggery felt scarily believable.
The audiobook is narrated by the author who has a pleasing voice and handles both male and female characters very well. I like being able to follow the text while I listen especially with all the Japanese words and unusual names.
I look forward to reading more of the team’s adventures, whether together or back in their own series.
November 23, 2021
Barry Eisler has collected a bouquet of badasses just for us, his most ardent long-time fans. Almost all of your favorite characters from all of his novels eventually converge to take on a bunch of corrupt government operators trying to keep some Jeffrey Epstein-style sex videos from surfacing.
John Rain, Delilah, Dox, Livia, Larison, and some other folks you might have forgotten about, all work together to outsmart and outshoot everyone they encounter.
Although Eisler doesn't get too graphic with the gory details, this is a blood bath, so beware if you're not already familiar with his novels.
October 30, 2021
It's been quite a while since I read a Barry Eisler book after being disappointed with the last one that I read after having really enjoyed the previous books (sorry for the horribly run-on sentence.)
The Chaos Kind was fun and while I would not call it wonderful, it was an enjoyable read since the plot was very twisty, quite interesting and introduced some very cleverly developed new characters in addition to keeping many of the old standbys (Damn, another horribly written run-on sentence, sorry).
An Assistant US Attorney has charged an extraordinarily wealthy man with a series of crimes, some of which involve children. Livia Lone, detective, and Dox, sniper, of previous Eisler books, discover that her life is in peril and come to the rescue. Extraordinary details about the crimes begin to come to the surface and it turns out that some very powerful people, many of whom are inside the Federal Government, are involved.
Eisler's old standby, John Rain, is asked for assistance and he reluctantly joins Livia, Dox and assorted others. Chaos ensues but in a rather enjoyable way.
Eisler fans will almost certainly, very much enjoy this book as will those who enjoy a complex, twisty, somewhat convoluted plot with a fair share of action.
Over and Out
The Chaos Kind was fun and while I would not call it wonderful, it was an enjoyable read since the plot was very twisty, quite interesting and introduced some very cleverly developed new characters in addition to keeping many of the old standbys (Damn, another horribly written run-on sentence, sorry).
An Assistant US Attorney has charged an extraordinarily wealthy man with a series of crimes, some of which involve children. Livia Lone, detective, and Dox, sniper, of previous Eisler books, discover that her life is in peril and come to the rescue. Extraordinary details about the crimes begin to come to the surface and it turns out that some very powerful people, many of whom are inside the Federal Government, are involved.
Eisler's old standby, John Rain, is asked for assistance and he reluctantly joins Livia, Dox and assorted others. Chaos ensues but in a rather enjoyable way.
Eisler fans will almost certainly, very much enjoy this book as will those who enjoy a complex, twisty, somewhat convoluted plot with a fair share of action.
Over and Out
October 25, 2021
The Chaos Kind
October 11, 2021
Book Review
The Chaos Kind
Barry Eisler
reviewed by Lou Jacobs
readersremains.com | Goodreads
Anticipation of Barry Eisler’s next novel is always a guilty pleasure. It’s exceedingly difficult not to devour it rather than savor the experience.
Eisler has managed to bring together his “beloved” band of killers and operatives for one righteous mission to assault the forces that would allow and protect the heinous monsters behind child trafficking. In a cinematic narrative akin to The Magnificent Seven (or its antecedent, The Seven Samurai) he craftily assembles his band of seven beloved assassins.
Andrew Schrader, one of the world’s most influential financiers, has for decades cultivated and collected the allegiance of powerful people, such as politicians, corporate titans and media barons. He has wined and dined them, and provided underage girls for their pleasure. Unbeknownst to these sleazy men of industry and politics was the presence of hidden cameras in all the bedrooms of his six homes. Captured on videos in high fidelity were the depravity of these duplicitous scum.
Schrader assembled these videos as a get-out-of-jail-free card. He was arrested by the FBI, because of an investigation spear-headed by Assistant US Attorney, Alondra Diaz. She intends to prosecute him for trafficking and racketeering. He had been under indictment for sex trafficking with underage girls in the past, but it was buried, and he was allowed to plead to a much lesser charge.
The most powerful men of the US National security state do not want him prosecuted. They have arranged for the imminent demise of Diaz by coercing Marvin Manus, an ex-military and CIA trained assassin asset. They will expose his inglorious past history to his newfound family unit, unless he complies. This despicable cabal is comprised of Pierce Devereaux, the Director of National Intelligence, along with Uriah Hobbs, the US Attorney General—both obviously afraid of the airing of these videos for personal reasons—and with aid in plotting and directing the necessary violence by CIA Director, Lisa Rispel. Rispel has not only set up the kill of Diaz by Manus, but also has arranged for his assassination afterward.
The assemblage of the brotherhood initiates by CIA Director Tom Kanezaki, who enlists the aid of his previous associate, Dox, a former Marine sniper and black-ops veteran Daniel Larson, with the unique assignment of stopping the assassination of Diaz and keeping her alive. Sequentially added in unique fashion are the assemblage of the team. Not only is Manus enlisted, but then Livia Lone, a Seattle Police Department sex-crime detective, who herself was trafficked to America as a thirteen-year-old along with her younger sister, and lastly John Rain and his paramour, Delilah. John is a mixed-race assassin who specializes in kills by “natural cause” appearing deaths. Delilah is an ex-Mossad operative who specialized in honeytrap operations. They were living in apparent harmony and spending time between Kamakura and Paris. John was the go-to man for both the Japanese government and the CIA. Both were reportedly “retired.” The group was intent on thwarting the efforts of “the powerful” to obtain and destroy these videos, or to use them as blackmail. The group was more concerned with stopping the destruction of the lives of these underage girls if their image was splashed across the internet.
Eisler proves to be a masterful storyteller, as he spins a fascinating and relentless tale of escalating tension, building to an amazing denouement. The narrative moves at a frenetic pace forcing the reader to turn the pages at a breakneck speed. There is no time to catch your breath between the tactical planning and ensuing violence. This gem can be enjoyed as a standalone due to the seamlessly supplied backstory.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publications for supplying an Uncorrected Proof of this high-octane non-stop thriller in exchange for an honest review.
October 11, 2021
Book Review
The Chaos Kind
Barry Eisler
reviewed by Lou Jacobs
readersremains.com | Goodreads
Anticipation of Barry Eisler’s next novel is always a guilty pleasure. It’s exceedingly difficult not to devour it rather than savor the experience.
Eisler has managed to bring together his “beloved” band of killers and operatives for one righteous mission to assault the forces that would allow and protect the heinous monsters behind child trafficking. In a cinematic narrative akin to The Magnificent Seven (or its antecedent, The Seven Samurai) he craftily assembles his band of seven beloved assassins.
Andrew Schrader, one of the world’s most influential financiers, has for decades cultivated and collected the allegiance of powerful people, such as politicians, corporate titans and media barons. He has wined and dined them, and provided underage girls for their pleasure. Unbeknownst to these sleazy men of industry and politics was the presence of hidden cameras in all the bedrooms of his six homes. Captured on videos in high fidelity were the depravity of these duplicitous scum.
Schrader assembled these videos as a get-out-of-jail-free card. He was arrested by the FBI, because of an investigation spear-headed by Assistant US Attorney, Alondra Diaz. She intends to prosecute him for trafficking and racketeering. He had been under indictment for sex trafficking with underage girls in the past, but it was buried, and he was allowed to plead to a much lesser charge.
The most powerful men of the US National security state do not want him prosecuted. They have arranged for the imminent demise of Diaz by coercing Marvin Manus, an ex-military and CIA trained assassin asset. They will expose his inglorious past history to his newfound family unit, unless he complies. This despicable cabal is comprised of Pierce Devereaux, the Director of National Intelligence, along with Uriah Hobbs, the US Attorney General—both obviously afraid of the airing of these videos for personal reasons—and with aid in plotting and directing the necessary violence by CIA Director, Lisa Rispel. Rispel has not only set up the kill of Diaz by Manus, but also has arranged for his assassination afterward.
The assemblage of the brotherhood initiates by CIA Director Tom Kanezaki, who enlists the aid of his previous associate, Dox, a former Marine sniper and black-ops veteran Daniel Larson, with the unique assignment of stopping the assassination of Diaz and keeping her alive. Sequentially added in unique fashion are the assemblage of the team. Not only is Manus enlisted, but then Livia Lone, a Seattle Police Department sex-crime detective, who herself was trafficked to America as a thirteen-year-old along with her younger sister, and lastly John Rain and his paramour, Delilah. John is a mixed-race assassin who specializes in kills by “natural cause” appearing deaths. Delilah is an ex-Mossad operative who specialized in honeytrap operations. They were living in apparent harmony and spending time between Kamakura and Paris. John was the go-to man for both the Japanese government and the CIA. Both were reportedly “retired.” The group was intent on thwarting the efforts of “the powerful” to obtain and destroy these videos, or to use them as blackmail. The group was more concerned with stopping the destruction of the lives of these underage girls if their image was splashed across the internet.
Eisler proves to be a masterful storyteller, as he spins a fascinating and relentless tale of escalating tension, building to an amazing denouement. The narrative moves at a frenetic pace forcing the reader to turn the pages at a breakneck speed. There is no time to catch your breath between the tactical planning and ensuing violence. This gem can be enjoyed as a standalone due to the seamlessly supplied backstory.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publications for supplying an Uncorrected Proof of this high-octane non-stop thriller in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2021
Read it in one day
Best Kindle first book in over a year. I’ve been bingeing on Agatha Christie, so I wasn’t sure if I’d be up to a thriller. But man, I got sucked in fast! Eisner sure has a way of making dangerous men and women so human and likable. The pacing never lets up, and I enjoyed the references to Lord of the Rings. Worth the wait and staying up late! And I didn’t stop once to play Solitaire-something I do multiple times while reading other books.
Best Kindle first book in over a year. I’ve been bingeing on Agatha Christie, so I wasn’t sure if I’d be up to a thriller. But man, I got sucked in fast! Eisner sure has a way of making dangerous men and women so human and likable. The pacing never lets up, and I enjoyed the references to Lord of the Rings. Worth the wait and staying up late! And I didn’t stop once to play Solitaire-something I do multiple times while reading other books.
November 30, 2022
Not bad but JR getting a bit repetitive!
September 6, 2021
Wow! GREAT addition. The gang is all together and Rain is back in play. Awesome.
Okay, where do I start? I LOVED the heck out of this book.
First of all, I am a huge fan of the John Rain series and have also read all of the spin offs from that series. In this book, we have everyone coming together and it was WONDERFUL to see all of these strong personality types working together, and just being a team. Honestly, I think that was my favorite thing.
The story itself was interesting. It was a take off on the Epstein situation where there is a billionaire who has been providing and grooming young girls for important, high up people for a long time and has the tapes of these encounters for insurance in case anything comes back to him. It does. He gets arrested and his attorney informs the Attorney General of EXACTLY what will happen with these tapes if he is not released. Since the DNI (Director of National Intelligence) and the Attorney General are just some of the people on these tapes, things start happening immediately. Deadly events. It is quite amazing the lengths that people will go to to protect their careers and reputations.
Kanezaki gets the ball rolling by letting Dox know that he is going to call in his favor with Livia, and Dox being Dox wants to keep Labee safe so he volunteers himself and Larison for the job instead. Because no plan survives first contact, things go sideways and they end up bringing in Livia anyway, as well as John and Delilah.
I really liked the addition of 3 new characters. There was Manus, who is a deaf contractor with a talent with pointy things. He comes with his adopted family that includes Evie, a former NSA analyst and her son Dash, who is also deaf. I REALLY liked this family. The character development was phenomenal because I ended up rooting for them from the very start. Seriously great family.
We also add a current young CIA analyst named Maya (and her dog Frodo) who gets involved because of Kanazaki and the team is set. Oh, I forgot that Livia's friend and current AUSA prosecutor - Diaz- is also involved and joins the gang. I think that's 11 in all.
Amazingly, it all works. And not only does it work, but it is seamless in the way the group finds a way to utilize everyone's strengths while at the same time showcasing everyone's differences.
I will admit that the one thing I was not as fond of was the multiple POV's. I can not remember if this is the way that the books have been done in the past, but it was the ONLY thing that ever pulled me out of the story. Even with that being said, it was what it was and I got used to it.
I only have one request for Mr. Eisler. Is there anyway that you can give Dox a break with Livia? I'm trying really hard to understand that it is the issues that she has and not Dox himself, but seriously, Dox deserves so much and it hurts my heart with how hard he tries. Seriously hurts my heart.....
If you are a fan of this series, you will NOT be disappointed. If you've never read the series, I would recommend going back to the beginning and starting with the first book in the series - which introduces you to the extremely unique character of John Rain. I can say with absolute certainty that out of the thousands of books I have read, there is not another character like John Rain.
Okay, where do I start? I LOVED the heck out of this book.
First of all, I am a huge fan of the John Rain series and have also read all of the spin offs from that series. In this book, we have everyone coming together and it was WONDERFUL to see all of these strong personality types working together, and just being a team. Honestly, I think that was my favorite thing.
The story itself was interesting. It was a take off on the Epstein situation where there is a billionaire who has been providing and grooming young girls for important, high up people for a long time and has the tapes of these encounters for insurance in case anything comes back to him. It does. He gets arrested and his attorney informs the Attorney General of EXACTLY what will happen with these tapes if he is not released. Since the DNI (Director of National Intelligence) and the Attorney General are just some of the people on these tapes, things start happening immediately. Deadly events. It is quite amazing the lengths that people will go to to protect their careers and reputations.
Kanezaki gets the ball rolling by letting Dox know that he is going to call in his favor with Livia, and Dox being Dox wants to keep Labee safe so he volunteers himself and Larison for the job instead. Because no plan survives first contact, things go sideways and they end up bringing in Livia anyway, as well as John and Delilah.
I really liked the addition of 3 new characters. There was Manus, who is a deaf contractor with a talent with pointy things. He comes with his adopted family that includes Evie, a former NSA analyst and her son Dash, who is also deaf. I REALLY liked this family. The character development was phenomenal because I ended up rooting for them from the very start. Seriously great family.
We also add a current young CIA analyst named Maya (and her dog Frodo) who gets involved because of Kanazaki and the team is set. Oh, I forgot that Livia's friend and current AUSA prosecutor - Diaz- is also involved and joins the gang. I think that's 11 in all.
Amazingly, it all works. And not only does it work, but it is seamless in the way the group finds a way to utilize everyone's strengths while at the same time showcasing everyone's differences.
I will admit that the one thing I was not as fond of was the multiple POV's. I can not remember if this is the way that the books have been done in the past, but it was the ONLY thing that ever pulled me out of the story. Even with that being said, it was what it was and I got used to it.
I only have one request for Mr. Eisler. Is there anyway that you can give Dox a break with Livia? I'm trying really hard to understand that it is the issues that she has and not Dox himself, but seriously, Dox deserves so much and it hurts my heart with how hard he tries. Seriously hurts my heart.....
If you are a fan of this series, you will NOT be disappointed. If you've never read the series, I would recommend going back to the beginning and starting with the first book in the series - which introduces you to the extremely unique character of John Rain. I can say with absolute certainty that out of the thousands of books I have read, there is not another character like John Rain.
September 2, 2021
Action-packed and fun to read!
I thoroughly enjoyed my First Reads September 2021 pick, THE CHAOS KIND by Barry Eisler. The story has some parallels to the real life cover ups that allowed Jeffrey Epstein to exploit under-aged girls (to the benefit of high level politicians). Epstein avoided prosecution for as long as he did , due, at least in part, to those political connections. In THE CHAOS KIND, a wealthy fat-cat has videotapes of government officials engaging in sexual acts with the under-age girls he procured for them. If anything happens to him, (including prosecution for his crimes) he will release the tapes to the media. Time to bring in the hired assassins!. It is an action-packed and fun book to read.
Here is why I gave this 5 star plot a 4 star rating:
I think, in part, my enjoyment of THE CHAOS KIND was due to my familiarity with the extremely large cast of characters. Ideally, you can pick up any book in a series written by an author and enjoy the story without having read any of the author's other books. I am not sure that applies here. This book introduces an awful lot of characters to the reader in the very beginning. Even I found it a bit overwhelming and confusing (and I was familiar with most of them!)
I think most action readers and those who enjoy "deep state" "government agency-type" thrillers are going to love this book. I also think that reading THE KILLER COLLECTIVE before cracking THE CHAOS KIND will give you a much better appreciation for the fascinating and unique personalities that populate THE CHAOS KIND. The author attempts to give the reader background, to explain the close relationship between 3 assassins and a Seattle Sex Crimes detective; I'm not sure if he is successful, or if it is more of a distraction. THE KILLER COLLECTIVE was easily a 5 star read. (No reason not to read it...right?) I docked THE CHAOS KIND a star because I think it is only a 5 star read if you have read the book that precedes it.
I thoroughly enjoyed my First Reads September 2021 pick, THE CHAOS KIND by Barry Eisler. The story has some parallels to the real life cover ups that allowed Jeffrey Epstein to exploit under-aged girls (to the benefit of high level politicians). Epstein avoided prosecution for as long as he did , due, at least in part, to those political connections. In THE CHAOS KIND, a wealthy fat-cat has videotapes of government officials engaging in sexual acts with the under-age girls he procured for them. If anything happens to him, (including prosecution for his crimes) he will release the tapes to the media. Time to bring in the hired assassins!. It is an action-packed and fun book to read.
Here is why I gave this 5 star plot a 4 star rating:
I think, in part, my enjoyment of THE CHAOS KIND was due to my familiarity with the extremely large cast of characters. Ideally, you can pick up any book in a series written by an author and enjoy the story without having read any of the author's other books. I am not sure that applies here. This book introduces an awful lot of characters to the reader in the very beginning. Even I found it a bit overwhelming and confusing (and I was familiar with most of them!)
I think most action readers and those who enjoy "deep state" "government agency-type" thrillers are going to love this book. I also think that reading THE KILLER COLLECTIVE before cracking THE CHAOS KIND will give you a much better appreciation for the fascinating and unique personalities that populate THE CHAOS KIND. The author attempts to give the reader background, to explain the close relationship between 3 assassins and a Seattle Sex Crimes detective; I'm not sure if he is successful, or if it is more of a distraction. THE KILLER COLLECTIVE was easily a 5 star read. (No reason not to read it...right?) I docked THE CHAOS KIND a star because I think it is only a 5 star read if you have read the book that precedes it.
January 9, 2023
I enjoyed this Barry Eisler thriller more than its predecessor "The Killer Collective" and that is possibly because I needed to get to know the characters in the prior novel in order to enjoy them even more in this one. (Note to self: when all of the reviews are telling you to read the series in order, I should listen to them!) This novel has elements of The Avengers and maybe The Magnificent Seven (minus the fabulous Elmer Bernstein score!) The team gets back together again (with some new additions) to help a dedicated prosecutor with her quixotic campaign to end a powerful child sex ring a la Jeffrey Epstein. The series started around the lead character, an assassin named John Rain. Frankly, I found him to be the least interesting of our heroes. My fav once again was Dox, who is kind of like Spenser (of the Robert Parker series) except that Dox is not exactly a do-good Private Eye. Instead he's a sharp shooting sniper (well, nobody's perfect.) But he's an equally enjoyable wisecracking personality and adores his romantic interest as much as Spenser loves Susan. Be warned there's a lot of violence and in my view a little too much attention to details about weapons used (I get that the author likes authenticity but my eyes kind of glazed over the types of guns, knives etc.) The plot moves swiftly and what it lacks in believability it makes up in good writing. Added bonus for me were the many references to Japan and Japanese culture/history (I attended some High School near Kobe, the author lived and worked in Japan.) I'm going to pay more attention to the First Reads choices going forward, this was a good one I might not have found otherwise.
September 17, 2021
Barry Eisler puts the band back together Avengers style for The Chaos Kind, reuniting his various series characters like John Rain, Dox, Livia Lone, and Larison, along with the addition of the deaf killer, Manus, from The God's Eye.
Initially, Dox and Larison are hired to stop Manus from killing a prosecutor intent on putting Andrew Schrader behind bars for as long as humanly possible. Schrader's a wealthy businessman who has sexually trafficked children amongst the United States's most powerful men, and he has videos of those men's crimes that will be made public if he isn't released. Those videos, and their value for blackmail, quickly become central to either to keeping Dox, Larison, and Manus alive or destroying them all as they and their allies and loved ones become targets for the complicit Director of Intelligence and CIA assassins.
As a former CIA employee, lawyer, and black belt in Judo, Eisler brings a specialized knowledge and air of authenticity to his plotting and storytelling. From the kill scenes, which explore the physiological reactions of the killer and are no less brutal for it, to the sometimes-subtle and sometimes not-so subtle manipulations of operators and those who walk the halls of power, there's an intimate sense of realism about it all.
Of course, we've seen some of this realism play out first-hand, albeit at a distance for most of us, in the newspapers and on TV news programs. Schrader is, you may have already guessed, a riff on Jeffrey Epstein, a financier and sex offender who sexually trafficked children and, like Schrader, had numerous cameras installed in his homes to record the rape of children by prominent, wealthy, and powerful men for blackmail. In case the links between Schrader and Epstein are not clear, Eisler repeatedly reinforces the connections between the two numerous times over the course of The Chaos Kind. The needless repetition of this fact is really the only complaint I have. In the early parts of the book, it felt like every time Schrader's name was mentioned, somebody had to say (paraphrasing, of course), "Oh, he's just like Jeffrey Epstein who also prostituted children and recorded their rapists!", which quickly grew annoying. Thankfully, those forced moments did ease up as the book progressed, but I wouldn't have minded a firmer editorial hand to assure Eisler that we really do get it!
Aside from the unnecessary hand-holding early on, there's not much to fault The Chaos Kind for. Eisler's been around the block more than a few times and very quickly became a favorite of mine when I picked up a copy of Rain Fall nearly 20 years ago. He knows what he's doing and how to do it exceedingly well, giving readers impromptu, in-depth, but never overwhelming, insight into the lives and methodologies of assassins, cops (who moonlight as assassins), black-book operators and kill squads, and the men and women who seek to hold the levers of power for their own, usually malicious, ends. As with his past titles, Eisler shows a knack for putting us directly at the center of this mysterious, hidden world of secret killers - and secrets worth killing for - and does so thrillingly.
Initially, Dox and Larison are hired to stop Manus from killing a prosecutor intent on putting Andrew Schrader behind bars for as long as humanly possible. Schrader's a wealthy businessman who has sexually trafficked children amongst the United States's most powerful men, and he has videos of those men's crimes that will be made public if he isn't released. Those videos, and their value for blackmail, quickly become central to either to keeping Dox, Larison, and Manus alive or destroying them all as they and their allies and loved ones become targets for the complicit Director of Intelligence and CIA assassins.
As a former CIA employee, lawyer, and black belt in Judo, Eisler brings a specialized knowledge and air of authenticity to his plotting and storytelling. From the kill scenes, which explore the physiological reactions of the killer and are no less brutal for it, to the sometimes-subtle and sometimes not-so subtle manipulations of operators and those who walk the halls of power, there's an intimate sense of realism about it all.
Of course, we've seen some of this realism play out first-hand, albeit at a distance for most of us, in the newspapers and on TV news programs. Schrader is, you may have already guessed, a riff on Jeffrey Epstein, a financier and sex offender who sexually trafficked children and, like Schrader, had numerous cameras installed in his homes to record the rape of children by prominent, wealthy, and powerful men for blackmail. In case the links between Schrader and Epstein are not clear, Eisler repeatedly reinforces the connections between the two numerous times over the course of The Chaos Kind. The needless repetition of this fact is really the only complaint I have. In the early parts of the book, it felt like every time Schrader's name was mentioned, somebody had to say (paraphrasing, of course), "Oh, he's just like Jeffrey Epstein who also prostituted children and recorded their rapists!", which quickly grew annoying. Thankfully, those forced moments did ease up as the book progressed, but I wouldn't have minded a firmer editorial hand to assure Eisler that we really do get it!
Aside from the unnecessary hand-holding early on, there's not much to fault The Chaos Kind for. Eisler's been around the block more than a few times and very quickly became a favorite of mine when I picked up a copy of Rain Fall nearly 20 years ago. He knows what he's doing and how to do it exceedingly well, giving readers impromptu, in-depth, but never overwhelming, insight into the lives and methodologies of assassins, cops (who moonlight as assassins), black-book operators and kill squads, and the men and women who seek to hold the levers of power for their own, usually malicious, ends. As with his past titles, Eisler shows a knack for putting us directly at the center of this mysterious, hidden world of secret killers - and secrets worth killing for - and does so thrillingly.
December 1, 2021
Exciting ride
When video's of unimaginable things appears to be ready to be released to the world and some high ups in government are on those tapes it's a life or death race to see who can get to the bottom of things. Good 4-star book.
When video's of unimaginable things appears to be ready to be released to the world and some high ups in government are on those tapes it's a life or death race to see who can get to the bottom of things. Good 4-star book.
April 22, 2022
The band is back together again - this time to take on some less-than-savory operators in the US Intelligence community. Since I'm now caught up with the Eisler novels, it's imperative that Barry not leave home until he's handed in his next book.
February 17, 2022
Light read. I like Eisler as a rule, but this one was predictable. I did like some of the technology. Good travel read. 2.5 rounded up.
September 6, 2021
I usually hem and haw and mutter and research when the monthly Kindle First selections come out, but not this month. I love this series and already had the book marked to read before it came out. It was just a bonus that it was offered as a Kindle First selection.
All my favorite people, with a few more tossed into the mix, doing what they do best. I couldn't wait to read it and I wasn't disappointed.
All my favorite people, with a few more tossed into the mix, doing what they do best. I couldn't wait to read it and I wasn't disappointed.
October 14, 2021
This was a classic thriller by an adept author. All the favorite characters are back together in a tight and twisty tale. Lots of clever tech and tactics. No weak characters here. And of course, there is no hesitancy to shoot the bad guys.
Note that you really need to read most of the previous books, as the past events are referenced, and the bonds between the players is assumed.
But I'm going to nit-pick. First, there were too many perspectives. Instead of establishing 2 or 3 POVs, there are 6+, some only appearing for one chapter. This made it very choppy and difficult to build momentum.
Second, this author has developed a couple of off-beat romances in his series, and he has written a small number of hot sex scenes. Sex isn't a requirement in any thriller, but these characters are intense, and their relationships are complex. He had 3 chances in this story, and didn't provide. In one case, he teased something delicious, and then faded to black. If his editor/publisher drove this, I'm disappointed.
I'm going to keep reading all of these books in the various series.
Note that you really need to read most of the previous books, as the past events are referenced, and the bonds between the players is assumed.
But I'm going to nit-pick. First, there were too many perspectives. Instead of establishing 2 or 3 POVs, there are 6+, some only appearing for one chapter. This made it very choppy and difficult to build momentum.
Second, this author has developed a couple of off-beat romances in his series, and he has written a small number of hot sex scenes. Sex isn't a requirement in any thriller, but these characters are intense, and their relationships are complex. He had 3 chances in this story, and didn't provide. In one case, he teased something delicious, and then faded to black. If his editor/publisher drove this, I'm disappointed.
I'm going to keep reading all of these books in the various series.
August 26, 2021
Excellent book that lives up to the name...
As a fan of Eisler's works, The Chaos Kind includes an "Avenger like" cast of characters: Rain and Delilah who are supposedly enjoying the retired life; Dox and Livia who have had a steamy romance, but have not seen each other in a long while; Larison who is his usual scary self, decides to show a softer side; Kanezaki who typically procures all of the gear, seems to be more invested in this op; Evie, Dash and Manus, who are a new family yet unable to escape the 'hit-man' life; plus a few new characters that add dimension to the story line.
This intertwining cast of characters sets out to battle a corrupt and toxic government agency, which includes some intense and violent combat scenes, sure to enthrall the reader. Not as much detail about martial arts as some of Eisler's previous works involving Rain and Livia, but still a page-turner.
'Chaos' at is's finest, Barry Eisler style.
**I received this as an eARC and have no financial interests or relationships to disclose.
As a fan of Eisler's works, The Chaos Kind includes an "Avenger like" cast of characters: Rain and Delilah who are supposedly enjoying the retired life; Dox and Livia who have had a steamy romance, but have not seen each other in a long while; Larison who is his usual scary self, decides to show a softer side; Kanezaki who typically procures all of the gear, seems to be more invested in this op; Evie, Dash and Manus, who are a new family yet unable to escape the 'hit-man' life; plus a few new characters that add dimension to the story line.
This intertwining cast of characters sets out to battle a corrupt and toxic government agency, which includes some intense and violent combat scenes, sure to enthrall the reader. Not as much detail about martial arts as some of Eisler's previous works involving Rain and Livia, but still a page-turner.
'Chaos' at is's finest, Barry Eisler style.
**I received this as an eARC and have no financial interests or relationships to disclose.
October 16, 2021
I love Barry Eisler’s writing and his narration makes his books come to life. I am so glad he re-recorded all of his earlier books. He knows the characters better than anyone and his voice makes the characters live. This story is about video tapes that are going to expose some high government officials raping children. They will do anything to keep these tapes secret. Of course, there are numerous individuals trying to gain access of the tapes. Whoever gets them can expose or threaten to expose the players. But, what about the girls? If the tapes are exposed, they will always be known as ‘those girls on the tape.’ So, the good guys come together to ensure the tapes do not get exposed. Even John Raines and Delilah are asked to participate. It is an exciting story. The author’s narration made it better.
September 7, 2021
I basically have had a standing order for all things Barry Eisler since I stumbled on the first John Rain book. Granted, there's a touch of confirmation bias involved, as he and I seem to share the same cynical view of intelligence agencies, based on the few times Twitter has seen fit to let him onto my newsfeed, but it's mostly just that he creates fascinating characters and wraps them in a story it's impossible to take more than very brief bathroom and meal breaks from. This one is no exception, and adds in a civilian or two who, unlike the usual order, don't collapse into useless lumps of panic.
So, grab a copy, find a comfortable reading spot, and have at it. If you're a regular fan, it's like a family reunion. If you haven't yet had the pleasure, prepare to become addicted.
So, grab a copy, find a comfortable reading spot, and have at it. If you're a regular fan, it's like a family reunion. If you haven't yet had the pleasure, prepare to become addicted.
November 20, 2021
A classic Barry Eisler novel with suspense, great characters and of course assassins but with out making it cliche or cringe. I suspect there was a hint of Jeffrey Epstein as the bad guy and it's good to see him still blending the characters from his different series together to continue with the 'team'. A good amount of action and intrigue and I always find Eisler writes good action scenes which make it clear what is happening and keeps the heart pumping.
January 2, 2023
Surprisingly readable - and very violent. Loved it
These books by Barry Eisler are really surprisingly readable. They catch you and hold you. I basically just kept reading this one for days, cover to cover (metaphorically since I read it on Kindle). Lots of action, well written, requires just a little suspension of disbelief. Not too deep, but I loved it.
These books by Barry Eisler are really surprisingly readable. They catch you and hold you. I basically just kept reading this one for days, cover to cover (metaphorically since I read it on Kindle). Lots of action, well written, requires just a little suspension of disbelief. Not too deep, but I loved it.
November 15, 2021
3.75/5.0 - Fun fast read
I really enjoyed this book. Yes the heroes were invincible but I liked them enough to not mind that. Lots of interesting characters, believable use of tech, and a story that could bridge the gap from fiction to reality.
I really enjoyed this book. Yes the heroes were invincible but I liked them enough to not mind that. Lots of interesting characters, believable use of tech, and a story that could bridge the gap from fiction to reality.
September 28, 2021
An excellent read. A new author for me but I will certainly read some more of his work.
Would thoroughly recommend
Would thoroughly recommend
January 22, 2022
John Rain - one of my all time favorite characters. Although this had a few leaps and holes in the end it was fun with all the usual gang.
November 25, 2023
I believe this is the first book by this author, and in this series that I have experienced. I also think there are a considerable number of additional books like this by this author. When I had just begun this audible book, I read a brief review by another reader who said that he had found this book fairly predictable. If he meant that there was one murderous mayhem, followed by another murderous mayhem, I think I would agree!
And I think I read that this book is about a group of assassins. And that the series revolves around a number of the characters who appear regularly, and who, therefore have particular personalities and habits that readers come to know and appreciate. Some of the people have some pleasant characteristics to go along with their apparent ability to kill people without much compunction. In this book, there were multiple events where multiple bad guys were killed simultaneously without much damage to the good guys.
Here are some comments from chat on AI
Barry Eisler is a renowned author known for his compelling series of books featuring the character John Rain, a half-Japanese, half-American assassin. The series primarily falls into the genre of crime fiction and thrillers. Eisler's books are known for their fast-paced action, intriguing plotlines, and well-developed characters.
The John Rain series consists of several books, including "Rain Fall," "Hard Rain," "Rain Storm," "Killing Rain," "The Last Assassin," "Requiem for an Assassin," "The Detachment," and "Graveyard of Memories." Each book follows Rain as he navigates the dangerous world of contract killing while also dealing with personal conflicts and moral dilemmas.
Eisler's writing style is often praised for its attention to detail and authenticity. He incorporates his own experiences as a former CIA operative into the stories, lending a sense of realism to the action and espionage elements. The books also delve into the complexities of Rain's character, exploring his inner struggles and the consequences of his chosen profession.
Overall, the Barry Eisler series of books, particularly the John Rain series, offers readers an enthralling blend of crime, suspense, and character-driven storytelling. Whether you're a fan of action-packed thrillers or enjoy exploring the psychological depths of complex characters, these books are definitely worth checking out.
"The Chaos Kind" is the tenth book in Barry Eisler's highly acclaimed John Rain series. In this installment, Eisler once again delivers a gripping and intense story that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
The book follows the skilled assassin John Rain as he finds himself caught in a web of political intrigue and international espionage. Rain is on a mission to save his friend, Dox, who has been captured by a ruthless arms dealer. As Rain navigates through the dangerous world of arms trafficking and government conspiracies, he must use all of his expertise and cunning to outsmart his enemies and rescue his friend.
One of the strengths of "The Chaos Kind" is Eisler's ability to create a thrilling and intricate plot. The story is filled with unexpected twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. Eisler's attention to detail and his knowledge of the intelligence world adds depth and authenticity to the narrative, making it all the more engaging.
Eisler's writing style is crisp and precise, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the action-packed scenes. The pacing is well-balanced, with moments of intense suspense and quieter, introspective moments that delve into Rain's character and motivations. Rain himself is a complex and compelling protagonist, grappling with his own morality and haunted by his past actions.
"The Chaos Kind" is a thought-provoking and thrilling addition to the John Rain series. It showcases Barry Eisler's skill as a storyteller, combining fast-paced action with well-developed characters and a compelling plot. Whether you are a long-time fan of the series or new to Eisler's work, this book is sure to captivate and entertain.
And I think I read that this book is about a group of assassins. And that the series revolves around a number of the characters who appear regularly, and who, therefore have particular personalities and habits that readers come to know and appreciate. Some of the people have some pleasant characteristics to go along with their apparent ability to kill people without much compunction. In this book, there were multiple events where multiple bad guys were killed simultaneously without much damage to the good guys.
Here are some comments from chat on AI
Barry Eisler is a renowned author known for his compelling series of books featuring the character John Rain, a half-Japanese, half-American assassin. The series primarily falls into the genre of crime fiction and thrillers. Eisler's books are known for their fast-paced action, intriguing plotlines, and well-developed characters.
The John Rain series consists of several books, including "Rain Fall," "Hard Rain," "Rain Storm," "Killing Rain," "The Last Assassin," "Requiem for an Assassin," "The Detachment," and "Graveyard of Memories." Each book follows Rain as he navigates the dangerous world of contract killing while also dealing with personal conflicts and moral dilemmas.
Eisler's writing style is often praised for its attention to detail and authenticity. He incorporates his own experiences as a former CIA operative into the stories, lending a sense of realism to the action and espionage elements. The books also delve into the complexities of Rain's character, exploring his inner struggles and the consequences of his chosen profession.
Overall, the Barry Eisler series of books, particularly the John Rain series, offers readers an enthralling blend of crime, suspense, and character-driven storytelling. Whether you're a fan of action-packed thrillers or enjoy exploring the psychological depths of complex characters, these books are definitely worth checking out.
"The Chaos Kind" is the tenth book in Barry Eisler's highly acclaimed John Rain series. In this installment, Eisler once again delivers a gripping and intense story that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
The book follows the skilled assassin John Rain as he finds himself caught in a web of political intrigue and international espionage. Rain is on a mission to save his friend, Dox, who has been captured by a ruthless arms dealer. As Rain navigates through the dangerous world of arms trafficking and government conspiracies, he must use all of his expertise and cunning to outsmart his enemies and rescue his friend.
One of the strengths of "The Chaos Kind" is Eisler's ability to create a thrilling and intricate plot. The story is filled with unexpected twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. Eisler's attention to detail and his knowledge of the intelligence world adds depth and authenticity to the narrative, making it all the more engaging.
Eisler's writing style is crisp and precise, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the action-packed scenes. The pacing is well-balanced, with moments of intense suspense and quieter, introspective moments that delve into Rain's character and motivations. Rain himself is a complex and compelling protagonist, grappling with his own morality and haunted by his past actions.
"The Chaos Kind" is a thought-provoking and thrilling addition to the John Rain series. It showcases Barry Eisler's skill as a storyteller, combining fast-paced action with well-developed characters and a compelling plot. Whether you are a long-time fan of the series or new to Eisler's work, this book is sure to captivate and entertain.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 521 reviews