- Hardcover: 305 pages
- Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons; 1st edition (July 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0399149104
- ISBN-13: 978-0399149108
- Product Dimensions: 23.9 x 15.2 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,285,906 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'A hypnotic thriller ... it's got it all' James Ellroy
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
A man dies of a heart attack while travelling on the Tokyo subway. Unpleasant, but apparently unremarkable. But he was killed by John Rain, a paid assassin who's speciality is death from 'natural causes'. And his death has unforseen consequences when Rain himself becomes a target. He has to discover who is after him and why, but most of all he has to stay alive. Set against a beautifully drawn Tokyo backdrop, RAIN FALL is atmospheric and intelligent, delving deeper into the complexities and secrets of Japanese society as the mystery unravels.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
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.
"I insist on only a few questions," Rain notes in describing himself and his occupation. "Is the target a man? I don't work against women or children. Have you retained anyone else to solve this problem? I don't want my operation getting tripped up by someone's idea of a B-team, and if you retain me, it's an exclusive. Is the target a principal? I solve problems directly, like the soldier I once was, not by sending messages through unresolved third parties like a terrorist......I'm not a mercenary, although I was nothing more than that once upon a time. And although I do in a sense live a life of service, I am no longer samurai, either."
The son of an American mother and a Japanese father Rain served with Special Operations in Vietnam. For the past two decades he has led a life of scrupulously guarded anonymity aided by only one other person - Harry, a likeable computer whiz who fears he might be located by his electronic signature so doesn't use any unnecessary electrical appliances. To Harry, a refrigerator and air conditioning are easily expendable.
Rain's latest assignment is to dispose of Kawamura, a highly placed government official. A short circuited pacemaker makes quick work of the official; it is a death that appears to be from natural causes. What puzzles Rain is to see a man searching through the dead man's pockets. A petty thief? Or, is there something more to this assignment than Rain realizes?
Complications arise when Rain meets Midori, Kawamura's daughter, a beautiful jazz pianist. Romance is never on his agenda but the attraction between the two becomes undeniable.
When Midori is endangered by those who believe she has information belonging to her father, Rain finds himself fighting not just for his life but hers as well. His cover has been blown, and he has only hours. The enemies he faces are rabid and relentless: a treacherous old foe from Rain's war years in Vietnam; a no-holds-barred figure from the nether world of Japanese corruption; and a won't-quit detective.
Eisler has crafted an intense, can't-put-down read rich with scenes of contemporary Japan and gasp inducing action. Word is that he's already working on a follow-up - this reader can't wait.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A new author (to me), a debut novel, a new hero/assassin on the block. Excellent. I'm delighted I've still another 6 books in the series to follow through.
Although this book was slow to start, the detail of the background to the protagonist's life taking up most of those pages, once the action began to roll, the book certainly moved on rapidly. John Rain - or Fujiwara Junichi - is half American, half Japanese, an ex-special forces trained killer who works freelance for those with enough money to pay him for his activities. Certainly there's little that's PC about him which allows the author to create someone who you will either like or hate. For me, it's the former. We gradually get to learn more about Rain's character as the book progresses. He deals with his enemies in a permanent way and, better still, the author writes well in sustaining the interest and enthusiasm in his main character. As a bonus, we also get an interesting insight into the Japanese city culture, as well as the dealings with criminal gangs and the yakuza.
I really liked this new addition to my library of action heroes and I'm now moving on to 'Hard Rain' ('Blood from Blood' in the UK).
C
Although this book was slow to start, the detail of the background to the protagonist's life taking up most of those pages, once the action began to roll, the book certainly moved on rapidly. John Rain - or Fujiwara Junichi - is half American, half Japanese, an ex-special forces trained killer who works freelance for those with enough money to pay him for his activities. Certainly there's little that's PC about him which allows the author to create someone who you will either like or hate. For me, it's the former. We gradually get to learn more about Rain's character as the book progresses. He deals with his enemies in a permanent way and, better still, the author writes well in sustaining the interest and enthusiasm in his main character. As a bonus, we also get an interesting insight into the Japanese city culture, as well as the dealings with criminal gangs and the yakuza.
I really liked this new addition to my library of action heroes and I'm now moving on to 'Hard Rain' ('Blood from Blood' in the UK).
C
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought this book based on what I'd heard from various friends, who know that I like Lee Child.
It's basically an excellent action thriller, that's been well-written and comprehensivley researched.
You get a real sense of Tokyo, through the author's eyes and whilst the main character, John Rain is fascinating, the various other characters in the book pique your interest.
If you like Lee Child, you'll love Barry Eisler, easily one of my favorite books / authors.
It's basically an excellent action thriller, that's been well-written and comprehensivley researched.
You get a real sense of Tokyo, through the author's eyes and whilst the main character, John Rain is fascinating, the various other characters in the book pique your interest.
If you like Lee Child, you'll love Barry Eisler, easily one of my favorite books / authors.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Achingly Cool
Barry Eisler's literary career in the UK has been criminally mismanaged.
Any thriller aficionado worth his salt will tell you that John Rain is the best anti-hero to grace the... Read more
Any thriller aficionado worth his salt will tell you that John Rain is the best anti-hero to grace the... Read more
Published 2 months ago by David Craggs
Readable, but morally dubious and a tad dull
The John Rain series has done pretty well for itself and I was glad to be given this to see how it all began. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Kentspur
Very good thrilller
Just finished the book and it lives up to its hype as a page turner. Interesting insight beneath the oh so polite, refined veneer of Japan - racism (what do you get if you mix... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mr. G. P. Emsden
Same old, same old?................
............can you say that about someone's debut novel, I don't know but I felt that the story was very derivative. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Colin Phillips
Loved it - Buy it
This book is just great (although Hard Rain and One last Kill are better in my opinion).
Barry has created a wonderful anti hero - how is it that I want the killer to... Read more
Barry has created a wonderful anti hero - how is it that I want the killer to... Read more
Published on 20 Jan 2010 by M. Double
Solid but a bit too cliched
I took this on holiday following a good review in the Economist. It's quite an entertaining read and easy to get through. Read more
Published on 31 Aug 2007 by P. McAllister
Amazing
This book is excellent, i got this on the way back from florida, got itfor the plane, and it was really good. It kept me reading and gripped me. Read more
Published on 29 April 2004 by "janaid"
superb
Exciting, well written, lots of information about living in japan. Great story, just got his second novel, hopes he writes many more
Published on 22 Sep 2003 by A. M. Murray
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