Rating: 
Summary: Terrific Follow-Up to Rain Fall
Review:
I really enjoyed author Barry Eisler's first novel Rain Fall and wondered he could deliver and second novel as good as his first. And deliver he did. I thought Hard Rain was as good if not better than Rain Fall. Excellent complex plot with the requisite twists and double-dealings. Great, great heavy action sequences. But those are not the hooks that keep you riveted to the book. It's protagonist John Rain himself that keeps you so enthralled. John Rain is that enigmatic hitman who lives as a shadow figure blending inconspicuously into Japanese society until his specialized services are upon by both government agencies and underworld enterprises alike. John Rain, who has both the technical skills to make his hits look like natural causes and the martial arts skills to brutally vanquish rivals in a dojo. Throughout this novel Eisler has you racing and breathing that exotic and alluring Japanese atmosphere. Hard Rain is a very polished and provocative action novel. I loved it.
Rating: 
Summary: I eagerly anticipate the continuing story of John Rain.
Review: "Unpredictability is the key to being a hard target, but the concept applies to both time and place... Seriously protecting yourself calls for the annihilation of ties with society, ties that most people need the way they need oxygen. You give up friends, family, romance. You walk through the world like a ghost, detached from the living around you.""I made a point of visiting some of the places near Osaka that I knew I would never see again... I supposed it was strange to feel the urge to say goodbye to any of this. After all, none of it had ever been mine. I had understood even as a child that to be half Japanese is to be half something else, and to be half something else is to be ... chigatte meaning "different," but equally meaning "wrong." The language, like the culture, makes no distinction." Some authors create a fictional world, and then milk it for everything it is worth - but not Barry Eisler. In only his second novel, HARD RAIN, Eisler's interest lies in telling a tale of a character, not plot. Interestingly, plot is almost non-existent in HARD RAIN - which makes this novel that much better. HARD RAIN is more an examination of character, of society, of relationships, of the connections between people than the usual plot-driven thriller in which the characters move about duex ex machina. Make no mistake, John Rain is a fully formed character: plagued by doubts, uncertainty, melancholy, even age in a world where he is an assassin with little forgiveness for others no matter how important each might be in his own life. (The novel's title assumes multiple meanings, shadings, intent.) There are many scenes (not enough, in my opinion) wherein John Rain thinks, recalls, reflects, becomes wistful, even regretful; all very Zen, existential... for a killer. In fact, Barry Eisler handily eludes the much feared 'sophomore jinx,' as he uses his supple prose to edify his readers as well as entertain them; Eisler retains full command of his reader's attention on each page. Has any author - in particular, any genre author - ever invested so much effort to make scene and setting as integral to the tale as characters and plot? The Midori, Tatsu, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Juki Net that live in Eisler's fictional world lives in ours as well, not solely as metaphor, but alive. HARD RAIN offers exciting moments of frisson, as we learn more of Rain's profession, of his isolated, insular lifestyle, of his life. He is a likable character, even though he is an assassin. Rain's likeability, along with his desire to move among the living as a 'ghost,' serves as an intriguing dichotomy to his perception of himself as divorced and isolated from his own country, his own people. The paradox is that Rain is a particularly astute and keen observer. So while he moves through the various strata of Japanese society as a ghost, he still breathes life into the world he inhabits. Even as he kills. Barry Eisler is simply magisterial in his dual feat of creation: both John Rain AND Japan is a successful rival to Chandler's Phillip Marlowe in Los Angeles and Hammet's Sam Spade in San Francisco. Highly recommended. I eagerly anticipate the continuing story of John Rain.
Rating:
Summary: The best novel I have read in ten years
Review: "Hard Rain" is perhaps the best novel I have read in ten years. Although I originally thought I wouldn't have much interest in a novel set in Japan, Eisler's excellent writing and compelling characters pulled me into the story. A great, great read that I highly recommend.
Rating:
Summary: A gripping read
Review: After reading Rain Fall last year, I was hoping for an equally engaging sequel. Fortunately, Hard Rain is even better than I'd hoped. It contains riveting details about the intricacies of the intelligence world, plus unique insights about the seedy underground of the Japanese "mafia." Couple this with graphic fight scenes and suspenseful storyline, and it makes for a terrific read. Great book to take on vacation!
Rating:
Summary: Very good
Review: As good as original. If you liked the first one do not miss it.
Rating:
Summary: A Literary Home Run!!
Review: Barry Eisler has arrived..........
If there were doubts whatsoever of his ability to entice, intoxicate, or have readers on the edge of their seats, HARD RAIN has perpetuated what was started with RAIN FALL! Eisler brings to life John Rain on the pages of these two novels and leaves the reader anxiously awaiting the release of the third book. I picked up RAIN FALL and within a day had devoured the events in the life of John Rain. HARD RAIN was a momentary fix for the interest Eisler had stirred within me for the on-going adventures of John Rain.
Can't wait for the next book!!!
Rating:
Summary: Lean, Mean Continuation of John Rain Saga
Review: Barry Eisler's "Hard Rain" picks up where his first novel, "Rain Fall," left off. Japanese-American assassin John Rain is still "at work" in Japan, carrying out assassinations with his rare talent for creating the appearance of death by accidental causes.
But Rain's life is precarious. Despite his earnest work at remaining anonymous in one of the world's most crowded areas, Rain has forged some connections with real people . . . connections that may get Rain (or the connections!) killed. First there is Tatsu, the crusading cop who's sole purpose is to bring down Yamaoto, the man pulling all the strings in the corrupt Japanese political culture. Yamaoto, burned by Rain in "Rain Fall," is another connection - Rain knows that Yamaoto is out for revenge. Another connection is Harry, computer hacker extraordinaire and Rain's some-time apprentice. And of course, there is the beautiful jazz musician Midori, who believes that the reports of Rain's demise in "Rain Fall" have been greatly exaggerated.
Working with Tatsu, Rain learns that another assassin has adopted a cruder version of Rain's modus operandi - he creates the appearance of an "accidental" death by throwing people off tall buildings to create the appearance of a suicide. And Rain soon learns that this assassin is the kind of guy even Rain has to worry about -- he rose to notoriety in the underworld fight clubs taking on men and fighting dogs with his bare hands.
Delving deeper and deeper into the corrupt Japanese political scene, Rain gets several opportunities to practice his unique craft, and Eisler writes action scenes with an economic clarity that is very compelling. Equally thrilling are his descriptions of Tokyo (and a good single-malt) -- Eisler is definitely emerging as a writer of noteworthy style as well as one who can create an interesting character.
Not for the squeamish (there's a pretty high body count here), "Hard Rain" is an excellent follow-up to the audacious "Rain Fall," and John Rain continues to be an anti-hero worth your time. Check it out!
Rating:
Summary: Action, suspense and single malts, does it get any better?
Review: Barry Eisler's second installment in the John Rain series is even better than the first. The vividly described Tokyo of "Rain Fall" becomes even more integrated into Rain's psyche and persona. If Japan isn't exotic enough, "Hard Rain" takes us to underground places few will ever see; opening new doors in a world where only the paranoid survive. Eisler's writing has a way of grabbing your attention and immersing you into the world John Rain sees. With multiple layers to enjoy, "Hard Rain" went straight to the top of my bed stand (but didn't stay long, since I couldn't put it down).
Rating:
Summary: REAL
Review: Both Hard Rain and Rain Fall are excellent martial arts, espionage silent but deadly thrillers. Eislers description of Japan, as if it is another character in the book, is near perfection. I have been there seven times and his perspective illuminates my memory of this beautiful nation.
What is also incredible is the explanations of martial art techniques that John Rain uses to subdue his opponents. Eisler, being a martial artist himself, describes the blow by blow action of some of the best fight scenes Ive ever read. Being a black belt in Judo as well as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu I am constantly reminded of the skill and effectiveness that comes from those arts by reading these books. A must have!
Rating:
Summary: REAL
Review: Both Hard Rain and Rain Fall are great martial arts, espionage silent but deadly thrillers. Eislers description of Japan, like another character in the book, is near perfect. I have been there seven times and am reminded about Japans beauty and intrigue through his powerful and accurate accounting. What is also incredible is the blow by blow action described by Eisler, who is a martial artist himself. These fight scenes are the best ive ever read. Being a black belt in Judo and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu I am constantly reminded, when reading these books, of the effectiveness of the two arts. Reading these books will make you feel like you are signing up for a Judo lesson from the great John Rain.
A must have!
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