Rain Storm [Paperback]

Barry Eisler (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 437 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; Open Market Ed edition (August 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0141022078
• ISBN-13: 978-0141022079
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (69 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Barry Eisler spent three years in a covert position with the CIA, then worked as a technology lawyer and startup executive in Silicon Valley and Japan, earning his black belt at the Kodokan International Judo Center along the way. Eisler's bestselling thrillers have won the Barry Award and the Gumshoe Award for Best Thriller of the Year, have been included in numerous "Best Of" lists, and have been translated into nearly twenty languages. The first book in Eisler's assassin John Rain series, Rain Fall, is now a minor motion picture (kidding, it's reasonably major) starring Gary Oldman. To learn more, please visit www.barryeisler.com. Or Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars James Bond, Asian style., September 26, 2004

By 

E. Bukowsky "booklover10" (NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rain Storm (John Rain Thrillers) (Hardcover)

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.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rain Storm is drenched in intrigue, October 15, 2004

By 

David Montgomery "Book Critic" (davidjmontgomery.com) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rain Storm (John Rain Thrillers) (Hardcover)

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

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Rain Yet, November 4, 2004

By 

Bonzo Clemanzo (Newton, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rain Storm (John Rain Thrillers) (Hardcover)

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.