It had been two years since Raymond, alias Ray, a seasoned hitman from New Orleans, retired. When he receives a call from an anonymous woman asking for his services and claiming to have been referred by Ray’s friend Jimmy, he reluctantly agrees to meet her. He soon learns that Claudine, a rich and stunning platinum blonde, wants him to kill her husband Mr. Zenjiro, a middle-aged pedophile. The job would have been a cinch except that Zenjiro is a dangerous, heavily protected, well-connected, and feared high-ranking Yakuza. This does not stop Ray from flying to Japan to take on his target. He finds himself paired with a Zen master and his daughter, both hellbent on taking down the evil pervert. But then, the closer they get to the ruthless Yakuza boss, the more their lives are on the line. Can they get to him before he gets to them? Find out in James McVan’s Through the Eyes of Ray.

If you’re looking for a crime thriller, James McVan’s Through the Eyes of Ray is just the right pick. Weaving an intriguing plot, McVan offers drama, adventure, thrills, romance, humor, edge-of-the-seat suspense, and spell-binding plot twists. The first-person perspective alongside the introspective commentary made reading feel like watching a Hollywood movie with a contemporary voice-over narration. McVan’s great attention to detail, just enough not to bog down the pace, and the evocative depictions of the scenes colorfully brought New Orleans and Japan to life. I was hurled into the grimy, crime-riddled world of hitmen, underdogs, crime bosses, betrayal, murder, secrets, vendettas, blackmail, and so much more. McVan brings out the cast’s traits and emotions, allowing me to connect with them. Ray is a suave, savvy, and daring character you will love.

In James McVan's crime novel, Through the Eyes of Ray, the main character Ray used to be a hitman and was lured back into the criminal world after a two-year retirement. Claudine stumbled upon explicit video recordings of her husband, Inzuh, a Japanese criminal associated with the Yakuza, engaging with underage girls. Due to Inzuh's ties with the Yakuza, Claudine was unable to pursue a divorce. Claudine provided Ray with two locations in Tokyo where he could find Inzuh: his workplace and a home outside the city limits. Miwa, a waitress at Ray's hotel restaurant, cautioned him about being under surveillance by the Yakuza. Miwa drove Ray to her parents' house and told her father, Daisuke, that Ray was working with her on the Yakuza case. Ray enlisted the help of Daisuke and Miwa to abduct Inzuh to interrogate him.

James McVan's Through the Eyes of Ray was both complicated and intriguing. I was hooked from the start until the end, and several plots were woven throughout. It was fast-paced and action-packed. Some of the events were so descriptive that often the smells lingered in my nose. I could not turn the pages fast enough and had to know what would happen next. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat, and it was hard to put the book down. The characters were well-developed and authentic. Some of the characters were not what they pretended to be. I would never have guessed that Ray was a hitman. He seemed so down-to-earth and friendly. The story was incredible and extremely well written. It was an exciting read and far better than I had expected.

Through the Eyes of Ray by James McVan is a crime novel set against the gritty backdrop of the urban jungles of the 1980s, a time marked by rampant criminal activity. The story follows Ray, a retired 'cleaner' who, after being approached by a mysterious woman, decides to take on one last job: targeting a powerful Japanese crime lord. As Ray assembles a team and delves into the dangerous underworld from New Orleans to Tokyo, he confronts his past deeds and seeks redemption. The novel explores the complexities of crime, morality, and the possibility of escaping a life mired in darkness. Powerful imagery and strong dialogue choices evoke the gritty, high-stakes environment of 1980s criminal underworlds, creating an immersive setting that enhances the story’s tension and authenticity at every turn.

Readers are thrown right into the novel’s intriguing opening moments, following Ray's journey from a seasoned criminal to a man seeking redemption without ever quite knowing where the path is going to turn next. The uncertainty and tension of the journey are poignantly rendered, showing James McVan's ability to infuse complex emotional layers into his characters and their personal struggles through natural speech and an up-close narrative viewpoint. The narrative is confidently penned and expertly paced, with a detailed depiction of Ray’s mission and the multi-layered exploration of the criminal world giving readers a lot to sink their teeth into, even in the quieter plot moments. Overall, Through the Eyes of Ray is a powerful personal journey wrapped up in an action-packed crime novel that will thrill fans of well-penned urban adventures.

Through the Eyes of Ray by James McVan takes readers into the underworld of organized crime in the 1980s, blending revenge and redemption. At the story’s center is Ray, a retired cleaner who has spent years doing the dirty work for powerful and untouchable figures. Now living in the shadows of his past deeds, he is offered one last job by a mysterious woman: to take down a seemingly invincible Japanese crime lord. The mission provides Ray with the opportunity to confront the choices he’s made and reclaim a part of himself he thought he had lost.

Ray is a compelling character whose inner conflict drives the first-person narrative. Through Ray’s perspective, readers can reflect on the consequences of living outside the law. James McVan’s exploration of the criminal underworld is multifaceted, covering themes of loyalty, power, and ambition. The novel doesn’t glamorize crime but offers a raw, unflinching look at its realities. Adding the enigmatic Japanese crime lord as the central antagonist raises the stakes, showing international organized crime's cultural and hierarchical complexities. The pacing is tight, and the action sequences are precise, blending tension and emotion. McVan brings the catalyst into the story early, heightening the intrigue and keeping readers interested. Through the Eyes of Ray examines choices and consequences, universal themes of regret, redemption, and the search for meaning. Adult readers who enjoy character-driven organized crime novels with underworld themes won't want to miss this book. It’s a riveting tale of redemption, revenge, and the search for meaning.