Harriet Klausner's Review Archive
His assignment is to take out Belghazi, an arms dealer that is on the CIA hit list since 9/11. John travels to Macao where he scopes out the terrain prior to Belghazi's arrival and he believes he has everything covered. He does not count on a second hitman, Belghazi's lover who has an agenda of her own that is in conflict with John's as well as a Saudi hit team who are prepared to take John out. Even for John, the kitten who leaves no tracks, completing the assignment and getting out alive will take a miracle.
The world as seen through the eyes of a paid assassin is a fascinating place for a short visit; it is not a place to stay for along period without feeling tainted. Barry Eisler is a suburb storyteller who writes about a hitman with a heart and conscience, a man who will not kill women or children. The protagonist is a fascinating complex man who cannot always separate the various parts of his life leading to his inability to always tell friend from foe, which leads to trusting no one.