Hard Rain (John Rain Thrillers)
by Barry Eisler
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Book Summary Information
Author: Barry EislerEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-07-06
ISBN: 0451212460
Number of pages: 384
Publisher: Signet
Book Reviews of Hard Rain (John Rain Thrillers)
Book Review: Another Highly Satisfying Chapter in the John Rain Story
Summary: 5 Stars
Barry Eisler's first novel, "Rain Fall", introduced the audience to John Rain, a protagonist conflicted to the core by his own duality. Half-Japanese and half-American, Rain finds no genuine comfort or acceptance in either homeland. A former Special Ops superstar in Vietnam turned principled mercenary, he continually wrestles with the hard facts about how he makes his living. From the difficulties growing up in a mixed-race family to the deceptions foisted on him by amoral superiors during his tours of duty, Rain has some pretty heavy baggage and understandable trust issues. When he's on the clock, he is remorseless and efficient - very reminiscent of the low-key intensity of Ian Fleming's early Bond books. In this second book of the series, we begin to see the more human side of Rain, who yearns to retire from the business and escape to a simpler life abroad. Of course, his allies and adversaries alike have other plans in store for him. . .
Eisler's writing remains top-notch - he is definitely a gifted wordsmith capable of condensing action, setting and emotional content into some wonderful passages. He also displays some brave resolve with his treatment of his characters in "Hard Rain". Without giving up any spoilers, I'll say that the reader is will be guided through some surprising events. Lesser authors would shy away from such shake-ups out of fear of alienating fans or else plain creative laziness, but not Eisler. He is committed to providing a credible, interesting story regardless of what dark turns it inevitably must take.
The setting remains modern-day Japan, and Eisler's familiarity with the locale and its flavor is just as appealing as it was in his debut. I find myself wanting to book a trip to the East whenever I finish one of these books. FYI, Eisler's website actually contains photos of many of the real-world settings of his books.
While "Hard Rain" contains just enough explanation that it could be read as a stand-alone, it really deserves to be paired up with its predecessor. Otherwise, many of the elements of Rain and Tatsu's evolving battle against political corruption (specifically, the ever-shifting allegiances) might become unnecessarily confusing.
"Hard Rain" makes good on the promise that Eisler's debut held. Finding such an interesting character in the hands of such a skilled writer is a rarity these days. If you enjoy credible spy fiction, then treat yourself to this series.
Summary of Hard Rain (John Rain Thrillers)
In his critically acclaimed Rain Fall, Barry Eisler introduced half Japanese-half American freelance hit man John Rain, a "dashing and dangerous hero...as likable as he is lethal." Now Eisler's back. So is Rain, the master of death by "natural causes" whose new target threatens the fragile political balance of an entire country.
Barry Eisler's half-breed freelance assassin John Rain returns to Tokyo for a second outing in Hard Rain, the sequel to Eisler's stunning 2002 debut, Rain Fall. Once again Rain is working with, or at least parallel to, Tatsu, a wily veteran of Japan's FBI equivalent, who aims to cleanse the Japanese government of its systemic corruption. To further this goal, he's persuaded the ever-cautious Rain to take out Murakami, a brutal gangster and hitman who specializes in making his killings look like suicide, a specialty Rain thought was his alone. Liquidating the dangerous and elusive Murakami proves to be a difficult task, however, one that leads to personal loss for Rain, and sets the plot on course for a climax that hits with the power of a well-delivered roundhouse kick.
Eisler builds on Rain's self-enforced isolation and loneliness as he expertly shows the reader Tokyo as channeled by Chandler, transforming the burgeoning metropolis into a noir catacomb of dimly lit hostess bars, scheming bureaucrats, shadowy intelligence agents, and outlaw martial arts dojos where thugged-up yakuza train for illicit death matches.
While the plot becomes complicated toward the novel's conclusion, Rain is a refreshing and complex character whom readers will want to see return for another installment. If you've a yen for a thriller that mixes suspense, intrigue, and action with a Japanese flavor and a hardboiled American attitude, Eisler's Hard Rain is an excellent choice. --Benjamin Reese
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