Title: The Detachment
Author: Barry Eisler
First published October 18, 2011
296 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781612181554 (ISBN10: 1612181554)
Rating: 4.16
Overview
John Rain is back, and this time he’s facing his toughest challenge yet. The Oligarchy, a powerful group made up of political, military, media, and corporate factions, has become Rain’s latest adversary.
In Tokyo, legendary black ops veteran Colonel Scott “Hort” Horton tracks Rain down with a tempting offer. Multi-million dollars in exchange for the “natural causes” death of three ultra-high-profile targets who are dangerously close to launching a coup in America.
But Rain can’t do it alone; he’ll need a detachment of deniable irregulars, including his partner, the former Marine sniper Dox, the covert operator Ben Treven, and Larison, a man with a hair trigger and a deadly secret. Can they work together to take down the Oligarchy, or will they fall victim to their own conflicting motives and loyalties?
Barry Eisler’s The Detachment is a thrilling ride through the world of black ops and high-stakes espionage.
About the Author
Barry Eisler has had a diverse career path. He spent three years working for the CIA’s Directorate of Operations in a covert position.
After that, he worked as a technology lawyer and a startup executive in both Silicon Valley and Japan. Along the way, he earned his black belt at the Kodokan International Judo Center.
Eisler is also a bestselling author of thrilling novels. His books have received acclaim, winning awards such as the Barry Award and the Gumshoe Award for Best Thriller of the Year.
They’ve been included in numerous “Best Of” lists and translated into almost twenty languages.
Currently, Eisler resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. When he’s not busy writing novels, he passionately blogs about important topics such as torture, civil liberties, and the rule of law.
Editoral Review
The Detachment by Barry Eisler is a thrilling espionage novel that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. Published in October 2011, the book is the seventh installment in the John Rain series and follows the titular protagonist as he navigates a dangerous web of spies and assassins.
Eisler, who is himself a former CIA agent, brings his expertise and experience to the forefront of the novel, crafting a believable and captivating world of espionage and intrigue. His writing style is crisp and clear, allowing readers to easily follow along with the fast-paced narrative.
The Detachment takes place in various locations around the globe, ranging from Macau to Pakistan. The key conflict of the novel revolves around a group of CIA operatives called The Detachment, who are tasked with carrying out the United States government’s dirty work.
But when the Detachment’s leader goes rogue, it’s up to John Rain and a small team of operatives to stop him before he can cause irreparable damage. The characters in The Detachment are well-developed and engaging.
John Rain is a tough but flawed protagonist, and his interactions with the other members of The Detachment add depth and complexity to the story. Eisler does an excellent job of balancing the action-packed plot with character development, ensuring that the reader becomes invested in the fate of all the characters.
One of the strengths of The Detachment is the amount of research that Eisler clearly put into crafting the novel. From the technical aspects of spy craft to the political realities of various countries, Eisler’s attention to detail is impressive.
This immersion in the world of espionage makes the novel feel authentic and adds weight to the stakes of the narrative. However, while Eisler’s attention to detail is impressive, it can also be a drawback at times.
The novel can feel bogged down by the amount of technical jargon and historical context that Eisler includes. Additionally, some of the action sequences can feel stilted and forced, taking away from the otherwise naturalistic tone of the novel.
Overall, The Detachment is an engaging and thrilling espionage novel that will appeal to fans of the genre. Eisler’s expertise in the field is evident throughout the novel, and his characters are well-drawn and compelling.
While it can suffer from too much detail at times, The Detachment is a solid entry in the John Rain series and a worthwhile read for fans of the genre. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
