The Killer Collective

By: Barry Eisler

Narrated by: Barry Eisler

Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

An Amazon Charts, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal bestseller.

A fast-paced, page-turning novel of betrayal, vengeance, and depraved secrets in high places from the New York Times bestselling author of the John Rain and Livia Lone series.

When a joint FBI-Seattle Police investigation of an international child pornography ring gets too close to certain powerful people, sex-crimes detective Livia Lone becomes the target of a hit that barely goes awry - a hit that had been offered to John Rain, a retired specialist in "natural causes."

Suspecting the FBI itself was behind the attack, Livia reaches out to former Marine sniper Dox. Together, they assemble an ad hoc group to identify and neutralize the threat. There’s Rain. Rain’s estranged lover, Mossad agent and honeytrap specialist Delilah. And black ops soldiers Ben Treven and Daniel Larison, along with their former commander, SpecOps legend Colonel Scot "Hort" Horton.

Moving from Japan to Seattle to DC to Paris, the group fights a series of interlocking conspiracies, each edging closer and closer to the highest levels of the US government.

With uncertain loyalties, conflicting agendas, and smoldering romantic entanglements, these operators will have a hard time forming a team. But in a match as uneven as this one, a collective of killers might be even better.

©2019 Barry Eisler. (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“In this crackling-good thriller from bestseller Eisler, Seattle PD sex crimes detective Livia Lone, assassin John Rain, and former Marine sniper Dox form a testy alliance to combat a vile conspiracy involving corrupt and toxic government agencies…The feisty interplay among these killer elites is as irresistible as if one combined the Justice League with the Avengers, swapping out the superhero uniforms for cutting-edge weaponry and scintillating spycraft. By the satisfying conclusion, the world has been scrubbed a bit cleaner of perfidy. This is delightfully brutal fun.” (Publishers Weekly)

another exciting adventure

for the first time, all of the key characters come together in one place. a great story, and the author has developed his narrating skills tremendously. I don't know how he can do so many different voices!

Great story, killer narration

This is my first Barry Eisler book and the theme is not my usual preference but WHOA, I'm a convert now. I enjoyed every single moment of this book and Barry's narration was amazing. One of the worst things that can happen during narration is that sometimes the speaker fails to "get" what the inflections and pace should be and the story is ruined by a jarring wrong tone or speed. A HUGE perk of having the writer narrate his own work? He knows what he was going for when he wrote the scene! But few authors can voice act and that too can ruin an otherwise well written story and you'd be better off reading, than listening to, their books. This Audible presentation was enjoyable from start to finish because not only did Barry know the proper inflections and pace but he actually nailed the accents, humor, emotion and emphasis because the man can *gasp* act? At least voice acting. So many narrators are rather monotone but not this guy!

Of all the characters, Dox was my favourite, hands down. I personally love a great character that knows all the right things to say because they are sharp AND witty with a plethora of knowledge and savvy social skills to boot. When an author creates a character you'd die to meet in real life because you know you'd love them, it's a great accomplishment. So, Mr. Eisler, well done.

Well done, indeed, because this is the first time I've ever been moved to write a review after listening to hundreds of Audible books.

loved it. can't wait to see what's next!

a little predictable for still a great story because the characters are simply just crazy fun.... a befitting title

What a wonderful read

I finished the book in a day. So sad it was over 😭😭.
I sincerely hope that there will be another SOON.

An embarrassment of riches!

An amazing author AND amazing narrator? It’s simply unfair for one man to have this much talent!

I was taken with this story from the opening pages and it never relinquished its grip. My first book by Barry Eisler and my favorite of the year so far! I look forward to exploring the rest of his catalogue!

Not Your Average Assassin Thriller

What sets Eisler's work apart from all the blood-spattered shoot-em-ups that litter the literary battlefield is the degree of emotional interaction the author allows us to have with his heroes. In "Killer Collective," in particular, the action is not so much driven by the group's response to villainy . . . though there is enough bad guy blood spilled to remind us that our heroes have spent major parts of their lives killing people for a living . . . but by the emotional interaction of our heroes to each other. And, that makes all the difference. The killing never seems casual or mindless or heartless and the love and respect the six team members have for each other feels real and not just cobbled together for the sake of moving the plot from one action sequence to another.

Eisler's narration is the icing on the cake . . . the glue that holds everything together. Not many authors can successfully narrate their own work, but Eisler, is one of the best in the biz . . . right up there with John LeCarre'. I wholeheartedly and unequivocally recommend The Killer Collective.

First time Eisler reader

Great, edge of my seat the entire time. Just enough "love", strong kick ass women, love the strategy of violence.

Great audio

Thoroughly enjoyed audio and characters in book. Doc is the best and is hilarious. Narrator is really good

fun book love the characters

barry eisler does a great job telling this fun tale his characters are likeable and the action never stops

all the creative parts work together in this one

I evidently love this book. The texture of it is a wonder of accomplished effort. I keep listening to it over and over again. Eisler annoyed me when he changed the title of books and replaced his own narrative over narrators I actually liked. In this book the entire effort he has made to create and perform is a forgivable possessiveness in its perfection. All the characters perform and his narration performs them with such a concert of interest in language, action, and plot value that the book is a piece of art as well as entertainment. My opinion is perhaps a simple tolerance of how art becomes a value beyond itself, but like many forms of appreciation the development along the way is how the surprise of perfection is found. All the previous stories contribute to the success of this story. Most are well worth credits and time.