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The Last Job
Eric Lamb is a world renowned hit-man. He's the best there is. He's the number one go-to man when a job pops up. But Lamb is getting tired of his profession. The constant killings, some seemingly innocent, have finally taken their toll on him. And he's about to do something about it. After he's contracted to do a new job, he decides he's had enough. All in the hopes of saving a young girl he doesn't even know. And it will probably cost him his life.
- GenresAudiobook
206 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 5, 2018
224 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Mike Ryan
105 books136 followersMike Ryan is a writer living in Bucks County, PA. He's married, has three kids, and three dogs. He's used to a hectic and busy household. During his free time, he enjoys watching sports, movies, and music.
Mike's a huge Star Wars fan and loves just about anything with superheroes in it (both Marvel and DC). He also loves to interact with his readers via his blog, Twitter, or email. Follow him on Twitter @Mike_Ryan36 or email at mikeryan36@verizon.net.
Mike also offers a few readers on his mailing list the chance to be beta readers for all books before they're published.
Sign up for Mike's mailing list or visit his blog at www.mikeryan36.blogspot.com
Mike's a huge Star Wars fan and loves just about anything with superheroes in it (both Marvel and DC). He also loves to interact with his readers via his blog, Twitter, or email. Follow him on Twitter @Mike_Ryan36 or email at mikeryan36@verizon.net.
Mike also offers a few readers on his mailing list the chance to be beta readers for all books before they're published.
Sign up for Mike's mailing list or visit his blog at www.mikeryan36.blogspot.com
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
September 22, 2019
I was planning to write “this is the worst book I’ve ever read,” but I actually listened to it as an audiobook. So, this is the worst audiobook I’ve ever listened to. I found myself feeling sorry for the narrator. Tough way to earn a living. I’m giving it one star only because the author was somehow able to get this thing published and deserves credit for that.
This story is just one long shootout and our hero, who somehow manages to take out half a dozen bad guys, never once needs to reload his weapons.
As far as bad books go, this one is in a class by itself. Who is giving it 4 stars? Can Mike Ryan really be related to that many people?
This story is just one long shootout and our hero, who somehow manages to take out half a dozen bad guys, never once needs to reload his weapons.
As far as bad books go, this one is in a class by itself. Who is giving it 4 stars? Can Mike Ryan really be related to that many people?
September 18, 2019
You know how sometimes a movie or TV show is so incredibly bad that it becomes good because of how bad it is? Like Captain Kirk wrestling a man in a rubber alligator suit?
Or "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes"?
Well, I just had Chirp (it's Audible for the proles) read me a book that was so embarrassingly bad that at first I was just going to turn it off and move on, but the gaffes kept coming so fast that I actually started to enjoy it, listening for the next ridiculous sentence or quirky twist on the language. I started taking notes. Here they are. (Note: I do not believe there are any spoilers below, because the entire book is one big chase scene and shootout.)
Your first clue that things are going to go downhill is when the opening paragraphs contain several constructs like this one:
"After not seeing anyone else around, his phone rang."
But it was when I heard this statement that I decided to start taking notes:
"The smile eroded from his face."
Descriptive language conveys a clear picture of what we should see:
"A small little waterfall..."
I got confused on who thought who had what with this one:
"Swanson probably thought he had all the time in the world, but Lamb knew he probably had less time than he thought."
As we neared the middle, Captain Obvious began narrating:
"The bullets ripped..." (Seriously? Ripped?) "...through the rear window, shattering the glass. As the two cars raced through the streets, Lamb knew he had to lose them as quickly as possible." Ya think?
Apparently, time is warped all through this story:
"The longer they kept this up, the sooner something bad would happen to one or both of them."
Now, Lamb has killed the people who were chasing them. His car has numerous bullet holes and its rear window is shattered. He considers the killers' car. Note his reason for taking it:
"Come on, we're taking the other car," Lamb said.
"Why?"
"Just in case they have friends and told them what car we're driving."
Not sure what to say about this.
"'I guess I'm just going to have to believe you at your word,' Lamb said."
Captain Obvious continues:
"But Brooke wasn't fast enough to outrun the bullets that would surely be following them."
Bullets... following... mm-kay...
"He knew before long the gunmen would start moving toward them, or be joined by some more friends. Either way, Lamb knew they had to go." And now we readers know that, too. Thanks for cluing us in.
This one made my head hurt.
"The longer they stayed in that building, or any building, it gave their enemy a chance to contain them."
Phone conversation during a shootout:
Dunn: "Hey, if you're seriously hurt, I need to know. I'd hate for you to pass out somewhere before I get there. Then I won't know what's going on or where you are."
Lamb: "I'm not going to pass out."
Dunn: "Okay, well, that's a good thing, I guess."
Now, while I'm on the phone with you and simultaneously trying to escape multiple killers, please keep asking me idiotic, pointless questions using bad grammar.
"But can you drive? Are you sure you're not going to crash and injure the both of you?"
Also, while I'm dodging bullets and firing back at the killers, gotta remember to keep that phone hand free.
"If you start taking fire and have to move, call me and let me know as soon as you can. Or if you're pinned down, so I don't walk into an ambush."
Stop, children, what's that sound? Everybody look...
"After a few more seconds, Lamb snapped his head to the left, thinking he may have heard something. It sounded like it might have been a branch snapping. Though he couldn't see anything yet, he thought he detected a few other sounds, indicating someone else was in the area. It sounded like the crunching of leaves and twigs underneath someone's foot."
Captain Obvious, please continue:
"Brooke saw another armed man coming at them, pointing his gun at them, and screamed. Lamb didn't even need to see what it was to know it was bad news."
"From the blood that was just about everywhere on his body, she could tell he was hurt pretty bad." Well, at least he wasn't badly hurt.
Remember that time is warped in this story? Well...
"This time, Lamb was just a hair of a second faster."
Maybe space is warped, too:
"With the turn coming up, Dunn put the brakes on and made a quick turn."
I know we're in a hurry, but by God, we're gonna do this the right way:
"Dunn then sped up to get into the garage as quickly as possible. As they went over a couple of speed bumps, the pursuing car turned around to follow them. They pulled into the garage and received their ticket allowing them into the building."
And finally:
"As soon as the car passed, Lamb started shooting. He took out both back tires, and heard the air coming out of the holes that were now implanted in them."
That's all I could take. I quit after those holes got implanted in the tires.
Or "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes"?
Well, I just had Chirp (it's Audible for the proles) read me a book that was so embarrassingly bad that at first I was just going to turn it off and move on, but the gaffes kept coming so fast that I actually started to enjoy it, listening for the next ridiculous sentence or quirky twist on the language. I started taking notes. Here they are. (Note: I do not believe there are any spoilers below, because the entire book is one big chase scene and shootout.)
Your first clue that things are going to go downhill is when the opening paragraphs contain several constructs like this one:
"After not seeing anyone else around, his phone rang."
But it was when I heard this statement that I decided to start taking notes:
"The smile eroded from his face."
Descriptive language conveys a clear picture of what we should see:
"A small little waterfall..."
I got confused on who thought who had what with this one:
"Swanson probably thought he had all the time in the world, but Lamb knew he probably had less time than he thought."
As we neared the middle, Captain Obvious began narrating:
"The bullets ripped..." (Seriously? Ripped?) "...through the rear window, shattering the glass. As the two cars raced through the streets, Lamb knew he had to lose them as quickly as possible." Ya think?
Apparently, time is warped all through this story:
"The longer they kept this up, the sooner something bad would happen to one or both of them."
Now, Lamb has killed the people who were chasing them. His car has numerous bullet holes and its rear window is shattered. He considers the killers' car. Note his reason for taking it:
"Come on, we're taking the other car," Lamb said.
"Why?"
"Just in case they have friends and told them what car we're driving."
Not sure what to say about this.
"'I guess I'm just going to have to believe you at your word,' Lamb said."
Captain Obvious continues:
"But Brooke wasn't fast enough to outrun the bullets that would surely be following them."
Bullets... following... mm-kay...
"He knew before long the gunmen would start moving toward them, or be joined by some more friends. Either way, Lamb knew they had to go." And now we readers know that, too. Thanks for cluing us in.
This one made my head hurt.
"The longer they stayed in that building, or any building, it gave their enemy a chance to contain them."
Phone conversation during a shootout:
Dunn: "Hey, if you're seriously hurt, I need to know. I'd hate for you to pass out somewhere before I get there. Then I won't know what's going on or where you are."
Lamb: "I'm not going to pass out."
Dunn: "Okay, well, that's a good thing, I guess."
Now, while I'm on the phone with you and simultaneously trying to escape multiple killers, please keep asking me idiotic, pointless questions using bad grammar.
"But can you drive? Are you sure you're not going to crash and injure the both of you?"
Also, while I'm dodging bullets and firing back at the killers, gotta remember to keep that phone hand free.
"If you start taking fire and have to move, call me and let me know as soon as you can. Or if you're pinned down, so I don't walk into an ambush."
Stop, children, what's that sound? Everybody look...
"After a few more seconds, Lamb snapped his head to the left, thinking he may have heard something. It sounded like it might have been a branch snapping. Though he couldn't see anything yet, he thought he detected a few other sounds, indicating someone else was in the area. It sounded like the crunching of leaves and twigs underneath someone's foot."
Captain Obvious, please continue:
"Brooke saw another armed man coming at them, pointing his gun at them, and screamed. Lamb didn't even need to see what it was to know it was bad news."
"From the blood that was just about everywhere on his body, she could tell he was hurt pretty bad." Well, at least he wasn't badly hurt.
Remember that time is warped in this story? Well...
"This time, Lamb was just a hair of a second faster."
Maybe space is warped, too:
"With the turn coming up, Dunn put the brakes on and made a quick turn."
I know we're in a hurry, but by God, we're gonna do this the right way:
"Dunn then sped up to get into the garage as quickly as possible. As they went over a couple of speed bumps, the pursuing car turned around to follow them. They pulled into the garage and received their ticket allowing them into the building."
And finally:
"As soon as the car passed, Lamb started shooting. He took out both back tires, and heard the air coming out of the holes that were now implanted in them."
That's all I could take. I quit after those holes got implanted in the tires.
April 15, 2023
Strangely plotted storyline - bad guy has a heart for children (a good thing). But the twirls this takes keeps interest level high and compassion growing steadily. Most interesting and a different plot from this author. Fine narrator. Clean .
April 7, 2018
Non stop
This fast paced novel, as you can imagine for a last job, is absolutely non stop action right from the beginning to the end.
This fast paced novel, as you can imagine for a last job, is absolutely non stop action right from the beginning to the end.
May 3, 2018
Short plot!
Not much to the book plot, short and sweet. You can see the plot unfold and know what happens anyway.
Not much to the book plot, short and sweet. You can see the plot unfold and know what happens anyway.
June 19, 2019
Good story.
Liked the whole idea and it flushed out the characters in a big way. Look forward to read ing another one of Ryan's story.
Liked the whole idea and it flushed out the characters in a big way. Look forward to read ing another one of Ryan's story.
July 6, 2023
A good premise for a novel, spoiled by bad writing and an implausible plot. An unnamed crime boss seems to have an inexhaustible supply of gun-toting henchmen, yet hires an assassin to kill a colleague and his family. The protagonist, Eric Lamb, engages in shoot-outs with several of the crime boss's henchmen, firing at least 50 rounds from his pistol, but never once does he have to reload. He suffers serious wounds in both shoulders, thigh and back and is bleeding profusely, but is still able to climb a fence, scale a steep hill, and perform other athletic exploits.
March 20, 2018
Very moving story
Ryan has a good touch with these action yarns.... his protagonists seem to always have the ability to analyze each and every situation. They have more than enough moxie for any and all confrontations, and come out in reasonably good shape.
Their style is attack first, in order to get the advantage over their opposition. They also seem to have a softer side, a more humane perspective that makes them more likable
Ryan has a good touch with these action yarns.... his protagonists seem to always have the ability to analyze each and every situation. They have more than enough moxie for any and all confrontations, and come out in reasonably good shape.
Their style is attack first, in order to get the advantage over their opposition. They also seem to have a softer side, a more humane perspective that makes them more likable
July 24, 2018
Outstanding novel!
What a fabulous story this was. This is my first time reading this book. It won't be the last. I never repeat a book because it seems odd when you know how everything happens. But author Ryan crafted a stunning narrative that took my breath away. Unforgettable and mesmerizing. I'm thinking January 2019. and every year after that. Totally loved this book. Can't wait to read every book Mike Ryan writes. Don't miss it.
What a fabulous story this was. This is my first time reading this book. It won't be the last. I never repeat a book because it seems odd when you know how everything happens. But author Ryan crafted a stunning narrative that took my breath away. Unforgettable and mesmerizing. I'm thinking January 2019. and every year after that. Totally loved this book. Can't wait to read every book Mike Ryan writes. Don't miss it.
July 11, 2021
In this thriller, a highly skilled hitman has a change of heart of doing an assignment that crosses lines that he of good conscience refused to cross, making him a loose end to the benefactors. Meanwhile, an FBI agent hot on his pursuit because of his past assignments becomes an uneasy ally once she discovers why he is now targeted for elimination. Great plot and a moving story about redemption and heroism. Recommended.
September 23, 2025
I love a good hitman story, and this one absolutely nailed it. The Last Job hooked me from page one and never let go. Fast-paced action, gritty tension, and a main character you can’t help but root for even while he’s living in the shadows. Mike Ryan knows how to keep the stakes high and the pages turning. Every twist kept me wanting more, and the payoff was worth every second. Tremendous read—easily one of my favorite hitman thrillers. I couldn’t put it down. Five stars all the way.
March 24, 2018
Saď story, amazing charaters.
This story really gripped me from start to finish. While you could see the end coming I kept hoping it would be different. I lived the character development and read it in one sitting. Great story.
Highly recommended.
This story really gripped me from start to finish. While you could see the end coming I kept hoping it would be different. I lived the character development and read it in one sitting. Great story.
Highly recommended.
April 30, 2018
A hitman with a conscious
Best sums up this book. Full of action and non stop page turning excitement, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Another great book by Mr. Ryan
Best sums up this book. Full of action and non stop page turning excitement, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Another great book by Mr. Ryan
May 31, 2018
A Quick Read But Totally Satisfying
I have read both the Caine Series and the Silencer series by Mike Ryan, and now this little gem. I thoroughly enjoyed this stand alone novel, and highly recommend it.
I have read both the Caine Series and the Silencer series by Mike Ryan, and now this little gem. I thoroughly enjoyed this stand alone novel, and highly recommend it.
July 19, 2018
The last job
Good time killer but not as many killed as Rambo. Hero took more rounds to go down permanently than seemed reasonable but was one of the poorest shots for a professional I've seen.
Good time killer but not as many killed as Rambo. Hero took more rounds to go down permanently than seemed reasonable but was one of the poorest shots for a professional I've seen.
August 10, 2018
The last job
I enjoyed
This thriller so much. I encourage anyone that really love reading thriller to buy this book especially now that a lot of books have some percentage off and you will not regret it.
I enjoyed
This thriller so much. I encourage anyone that really love reading thriller to buy this book especially now that a lot of books have some percentage off and you will not regret it.
September 21, 2020
This is the first book I have read by this author.
I started reading this thinking it would be something other than it turned out to be.
There was a lot of action, but it also had a lot of character development, which was unexpected for me.
I started reading this thinking it would be something other than it turned out to be.
There was a lot of action, but it also had a lot of character development, which was unexpected for me.
May 16, 2018
ABSOLUTE THRILLER!!!!!
I loved every single minute of it. Thoroughly action packed, heartfelt, and enjoyable. Lamb is a hero. One of my favorite so far. Thank you.
I loved every single minute of it. Thoroughly action packed, heartfelt, and enjoyable. Lamb is a hero. One of my favorite so far. Thank you.
August 21, 2018
So what about Eric???
This story was a total surprise!!! I expected a different outcome, but then there is always the unexpected...! Keep reading!
This story was a total surprise!!! I expected a different outcome, but then there is always the unexpected...! Keep reading!
September 16, 2019
Good story. Nonstop action. I now plan to read some more by this author. The Silencer is next.
September 29, 2019
2.5 stars.
February 27, 2020
Review of: "The Last Job".
I didn't like the ending, but all in all, this is a fast moving story well worth the time and money.
I didn't like the ending, but all in all, this is a fast moving story well worth the time and money.
Read
December 8, 2020starts out good goes downhill
February 19, 2021
Quick entertaining read
December 16, 2021
Chirp Audiobook
February 24, 2022
A great redemption story about an assassin who turns bodyguard and sacrifices everything for what is right
March 10, 2023
I enjoyed this book about a hit man taking on his last job. I had better endings in my mind though and could even have seen this being book one of a series.
July 10, 2024
Was slow going in the beginning. To be honest eat this was NOT one of my favorite Mike Ryan books…once the action got going it wasn’t horrible and did keep my interest somewhat.
August 19, 2025
Ryan isn't big on character development but he does have an over abundance of action
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews