Customer Reviews

Choke Point

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

John Rain is the Japanese-American action hero of "Rain Storm," Barry Eisler's third installment in his series about a deadly killer for hire. This time around, the CIA has hired Rain to take out an arms dealer named Belghazi, who is supplying munitions to fundamentalist terrorists groups. If Rain wants to be paid, however, he must make the hit appear "natural" to the outside world. Since Belghazi is a suspicious man and a martial arts expert who is heavily guarded, Rain has his work cut out for him.

"Rain Storm" is everything a spy novel should be. It takes place in exotic locales, such as Macau, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Brazil, and, using vivid descriptive writing, Eisler takes the time to describe each place in detail. Rain is a terrific protagonist. He is strong, cunning, schooled in exotic martial arts, and he trusts no one. Wherever he goes, Rain watches his back, and he has many weapons in his arsenal to deflect attacks from potential assailants. Rain, like so many other killers for hire, is at heart an isolated man who cannot sustain a relationship for long. He has to keep moving to protect himself from his enemies, and he is tormented by the many killings that he has committed over the years.

What would an action novel be without beautiful women? There are several in this book, and one is a mysterious operative with impressive credentials, both in and out of the bedroom. There is also a dizzying plot, with twists and turns galore, complicated political machinations, and exciting fight sequences. It's fun to observe Rain conducting surveillance, tracking his prey, or adopting a clever disguise at the drop of a hat. John Rain is a tough man with a sharp mind, who practices his craft with uncommon skill. His exploits make "Rain Storm" a very entertaining and absorbing novel.

John Rain is a hit man, and he's very good at what he does.

In Rain Storm, the third book in Barry Eisler's terrific series of international thrillers, Rain is once again in the employ of the CIA. His assignment: Eliminate Achille Belghazi, a French-Arab arms dealer who is known for supplying several Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian terror groups.

What was supposed to be a simple job, however, turns out to be much more complicated. Belghazi proves easy enough to get close to, but removing him without leaving any evidence behind is far tougher. One of the reasons Rain is the best at what he does is his mastery of the "natural causes" hit: When Rain kills you, nobody even suspects you were murdered.

It is testimony to Eisler's skills that he has created a protagonist who might otherwise be repugnant and made him into a fascinating character with real depth, an intriguing, troubling man, made different from the rest of us by his unique and horrible skills.

So much about Rain Storm recommends it: exotic settings, gripping suspense, thrilling fight scenes and a stellar supporting cast, along with one of the most compelling lead characters in the genre. They all combine to make this a book sure to please even the most discriminating reader.

Reviewed by David Montgomery, USA Today

Barry Eisler has taken the John Rain series to yet a higher level with Rain Storm. Like the first two Rain books, this is a page turner that you won't be able to put down until you finish. Eisler has masterfully managed to add even more creative and suspensful twists and turns, while maintaining and even improving his crisp, clear and incredibly lively narrative style. There is no letting up of the high action drama, but at the same time Eisler digs still deeper into the complex character of John Rain and several of the myserious figures that come into his world. This is a truly unique and unusually intelligent thriller that should appeal not just to readers of thrillers, but to anyone who enjoys a well crafted plot with fascinating character development.

Having read all of Eisler's Rain series I can only say that the already entertaining and thrilling series is getting better. Eisler has really done himself proud with his last outing. The price Rain pays to live the life he does really shows and the inevitable circle a man like this will draw has shown itself (both for good and ill). Rain is a complex character and at times I find myself rooting for him while other times I feel the desire for him to fail and be punished. It is a rare work that makes me loath and admire the same character in the same work.
On a more technical level Eisler really describes his scenes involving violence in a realistic manner. I have been a SOG member for the government for 10 years now and, while Eisler takes certain liberties for dramatic license sake, the violence he portrays and the price one pays to engage in said violence/lifestlye is very well portrayed and realistic. It is obvious he has both had some experience in the field and has done his homework.
It seems to be a foregone conclusion that Eisler is a rising star and an up-and-comer. It will be interesting to see where he goes from here and where Rain's travels, both those without and within, will take Rain, Eisler and the rest of us.
I for one look forward to the journey.

For those of you who like the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child, give Eisler's John Rain a try. Introduced in Eisler's first book in the series, Rain Fall, John Rain has left his beloved Japan and is now living as quietly as possible in Brazil. His background as a half Japanese half American in the US military black-ops and CIA with a speciality is assassination that looks like natural death, Rain as long lived in the gray after his supposed death years earlier. Staying off the CIA's radar is impossible and he's sucked back in for the classic 'one more job'. The carrot, much needed money. The stick, revealing he's alive to the Yakuza who want him dead. An old noir novel premise, but still viable here.

What follows is a deft series of crosses and double-crosses and triple-crosses that leave a nail biting trail across the Macao, Hong Hong, Japan and back to the US as Rain unravels the real reasons for his former CIA controller's sudden interest in his existance

Eisler handles the atmosphere of the Orient like Hillerman does the Southwest, breathing life into his locations and giving it the atmosphere to make his story more than just another spy/assassin story. Attentention to the little details of spycraft, martial arts and eight million ways to kill a person combined with surprisingly snappy dialogue and odd little details about everything from brewing the perfect cup of coffee to the proper etiquette for handling a bar hostess in a high priced scotch bar add that little extra that raises this book well above the level of the typical thriller.

Anyone who loves the off-beat anti-heros like John Sanford's Kidd, Lawrence Block's Keller, even Andrew Vachss's Burke, will want to add all of Eisler's John Rain books to their 'must read' list.

Barry Eisler's John Rain is a perfectly delightful assassin. Certainly not a man you would cross - that could be lethal - but one you'd enjoy knowing. Not a superman and certainly not an oppressed cog in the great game, Rain has left Japan for Brazil where his former employer seeks him out for a project.

For John Rain, gainful employment means that one or more people shuffle off their mortal coil. The corpses are plentiful, nearly all of them dispatched after short exposure to Rain's martial arts skills. The idea of finding a hired killer likeable may seem a stetch for some, but Eisler's John Rain is likeable, even if he does kill easily and often.

Rain finds himself in Macau, needing only to terminate a certain Belghazi in order to collect a substantial paycheck.

Of course things don't go smoothly. There are bodyguards, a mysterious blonde, an old buddy from Afghanistan and enough twists and turns to make a mountain goat nauseous.

But Eisler never fails. His characters are rich, particularly the conflicted Rain. The plot flows smoothly and the bodies fall frequently as Rain seeks his quarry, while staying alive himself.

Rain Storm is a wonderful read for thriller buffs.

Jerry

Eisler's books just keep getting better and better! Don't just take my word for it. Rain Storm recently won the 2004 Gumshoe award for best thriller of the year. The Gumshoes are given by Mystery Ink each year to recognize the best achievements in the world of crime fiction. I can't wait for Killing Rain to come out.

So here's a synopsis of the plot for this one: John Rain is lured out of retirement in Brazil where he has tried to get out of the assassination business for good when the CIA offers him $200k to take out an Arab arms merchant known as Belghazi. Rain takes the job, promising himself (again) that it will be his last, and begins to track Belghazi across Macao, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. Shortly thereafter he discovers that not only is another assassin stalking his target but someone else is after Rain too.

Tatsu is back but in a minor role. There are a couple interesting new characters too: Rain is reunited with an assassin from his past named Dox, as well as a the gorgeous Delilah who is more than she appears to be. There's great plot twists, double-crosses, and all the riveting, highly realistic action sequences that Eisler has become famous for. Once again the pacing is great too! There is also more depth his lead character as we get to know Rain better and see how he has adapted to the scars of his recent past.

Highly recommended!

This is a must-read if you've already read "Rain Fall" and "Hard Rain". In each of the Rain books, the character of Rain is developing and changing because of his experiences. That's why reading all three of the books is more rewarding than just reading one. In "Rain Storm", Rain is still dealing with his loneliness, and when he finally settles down, he's forced to return as an assassin. This time, unlike the other books, he meets someone just like himself, someone who understands his solitude. Hence, I like how the story keeps evolving. And, of course, the fight scenes are well written. Also, as an American, I enjoy reading about the countries Rain takes us... most of which I may never visit.

Barry Eisler's "Rain Storm" is the third novel in Eisler's hugely entertaining saga of Japanese-American assassin John Rain. Few authors have Eisler's command over their chosen genre -- from descriptions of exotic locales to bone-cracking fight scenes to the weird paranoid existence of a contract killer, Eisler is a hard-boiled writer with a hard-boiled anti-hero.

Even into his third book, when so many characters begin to feel a bit stretched (or a bit too super-human), Rain continues to show an evolving human dimension that makes him so darn compelling. Having chosen a life that depends almost entirely on his ability to be invisible as well as anonymous (a contract killer who specializes in killing targets by "natural causes" obviously cannot form too many attachments), Rain still carries scars from his romance with the jazz musician Midori in "Rain Fall." Escaping to the beaches of Brazil, both for a long-needed rest as well as an attempt to escape the life of a contract killer, may numb the pain, but the pain is still there.

And unfortunately for Rain, there are still many out there who cherish his skills, and soon he's back on the job. Taking flight to the gambling paradise of Macao, this time the mark is a French-Algerian arms dealer who may or may not be under the protection of the CIA (or "Christians in Action"), but is definitely the target of another assassin. In no time, Rain is up to his old tricks of intense surveillance, watching his own back, and hand-to-hand combat, all described with Eisler's trademark rat-a-tat style.

The body count in "Rain Storm" is a bit higher than in the earlier books, as several Arabic operatives appear to be after Rain . . . but for unknown reasons. And Rain also runs into Delilah, a gorgeous blonde who is on the target's arm but not on the target's side. And Rain is also reintroduced to his past, as former comrade-in-arms Dox arrives with the dubious promise of CIA riches as well as the threat of a classic CIA doublecross.

For fans of the earlier novels, it's a bit sad that the beloved Japanese cop Tatsu is left on the sidelines for the most part, and that Rain does not sink deeper into the corrupt scene of the Japanese government. But these pangs are easily overcome by the delights of watching Rain maneuver in his new environment against a completely new set of foes.

So put on your favorite jazz CD, pour yourself a healthy single malt, and dive in for another session with John Rain, the master assassin!

There's usually a frisson of excitement and pleasure when a reader comes upon an exciting debut author or a compelling new protagonist. For me, both were found in Barry Eisler's initial thriller, "Rain Fall."

In a review of that book I wrote, "Few fictional characters burst upon the scene fully realized, more than ready to take their place in the pantheon of unforgettable protagonists. Add one to that meager list with the creation of John Rain in Barry Eisler's dynamite debut "Rain Fall." In fact, Rain, an accomplished assassin doesn't just burst upon the scene - he steamrollers into it."

Both Eisler and Rain have been steam rolling ever since. First with the follow up to his debut, "Hard Rain," another thoroughly entertaining and suspenseful yarn that left readers pulling for an ultra cool killer, and now with the eagerly awaited "Rain Storm."

Don't know how he does it but Eisler has created a hit man unlike any other - he's both sympathetic and scary, capable of breaking a large man's neck with an arm chop. The sympathy comes into play because John Rain does not seek out or opt for any of the tough assignments he's given, but rather they "happen" to him. Such is the case with "Rain Storm."

Rain has fled to Brazil in the hope of retiring from one of the world's most dangerous businesses. He's getting away from his enemies. However, he's the one man in the world with his capabilities (making death look like an accident) and able to blend easily into almost any Asian culture. Plus, he does owe a favor or two.

It's payback time and the CIA wants him to "retire" Belghazi, a brutish arms dealer in a Brioni suit with a curvaceous blonde on his arm. Belghazi makes a pile selling stolen arms to the most unsavory groups imaginable in Southern Asia. At this point Eisler scores again with his evocative scenes of that part of the world, the dark streets, the hidden bars, the steamy waterfronts.

With a naive young prostitute for company and cover, Rain awaits Belghazi in one of Macao's plush hotels. But, taking out Benghazi isn't the easy task that Rain thought it might be as someone else wants to put him down, too. Who's the second assassin? The curvaceous blonde, Delilah, of course. She's almost a match for Rain.

She's not the only roadblock - Rain soon has reason to wonder whether or not he's been set up by the people who hired him.

This is the third time Barry Eisler's stepped up to the plate, and he's hit a home run each time. The complex Rain is more fascinating than ever before, the dialogue is rapid fire, and the action fast. Enjoy!

- Gail Cooke