Jeff Gabbard, our kung fu contributor is back once again with a review of Barry Eisler’s Requiem for an Assassin!

Read along for a tease and follow the jump for the full review at Jeff’s new blog, A View from the Crossroads!

I first discovered the Rain series from an ad in Grappling Magazine when I first started training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu a few years ago. I bought the first book, Rain Fall, and quickly devoured it. This was the first series I had ever come across that took grappling seriously and showed how effective it could be in real life-or-death situations. There are no “wire-fu” moments or magic tricks in these books. The action is very gritty and believable. Eisler has done extensive research in quick, efficient hand-to-hand combat techniques. This, and the fact that he is a Judo black belt himself, has helped him create one of the most believable Thriller/Mystery characters ever. This attention to detail shows in every aspect of the Rain series. The characters, locations, politics, technology, and even sex are the most realistic you will find in a Thriller or Mystery series.

Click here for the rest!