I started this series after hearing his short story on Audible.com. I really enjoyed that short story. This novel wasn't up to that standard, but this was his first. I am sure that Rain and the other books evolve. Still, I really liked the character of Rain and his outlook on life. It is hard to make a character like this sympathetic and likable, but he really does the job. Much like Jeff Lindsay and his character Dexter.

I love the foray into Japan and its politics. Japanese politics always seem so alien. They seem more so even after being given more information. The love story seemed a little strained, but the main plot was structured nicely and the villains were nasty. It read nicely and was very well-paced. In a lot of ways, it reminded me of a Jack Reacher novel in its pacing. Will definitely pick up the next one.

Pleasure to read.
Of you are not into the Japanese culture though - you can skip it.

This is an ambitious first novel that suffers as such endeavours often do from wanting to say too much. This is, after all, a thriller (maybe a bit too violent nevertheless) and it is a thriller with a devilishly clever plot and a setting that is fresh and intriguing, strongly conveyed. It earns its four stars.

John Rain, the central character, is a Japanese-Ameriican plying a shadowy, not to say shady, trade in Tokyo. He becomes romantically involved with the daughter of a murder victim (to say more would be unfair). Several high-powered ad equally ruthless bodies are pursuing the same objective, with Rain as the man in the middle. As the genre dictates, he is virtually indestructible, surviving numerous near-lethal assaults.

So far, so conventional. But the book stands apart for the things it wants to say about Japanese politics, about loyalty, about rootlessness, about jazz, about malt whisky, and about the dehumanising experience of war (where would American crime fiction be without Vietnam?).

As the first of a series, it encourages further exploration

4 stars, but ultimately not for me.

It’s always nice to find a thriller, or any genre novel for that matter, that’s written with uncommon intelligence and originality.

In this novel I particularly enjoyed Tokyo, jazz, martial arts practice, the man-without-a-country theme, the cultural comparisons, and the unfolding relationship between Rain and the daughter of one of his victims along with the soul searching it provokes.

That said, after finally sampling this series, I know I was right to hesitate to take it on. There is so much full-on grisly physical violence that it eventually overwhelms the positives and becomes the lingering thing I’m left with when I’m finished.

No es nada del otro jueves pero tiene varios puntos a favor. Que el personaje sea un asesino y la narración se haga en primera persona tiene su punto. Probablemente se le podría sacar más partido, pero como idea es atractiva. Se lee rápido porque quieres saber qué pasa a continuación. Está ambientada en Japón, con lo que explota las diferencias culturales y lugares de Tokio. Quizá abusa de las escenas de acción, pero están bien narradas y da la sensación de que el autor sabe de artes marciales.

Veremos si se mantiene en las sucesivas continuaciones.

Good story about a half-Japanese, half-American assassin, who falls for the daughter of one of his targets. Great details about Tokyo.

Almost gave this a 5-star. The story sticks to the action, even when it is flashing back to Rain's Vietnam service...however, there is still enough room left for character backstory....all nicely done. The hero is not one of the myriad politically correct heroes of most crime/spy fiction. This guy eliminates targets for money (his few rules include no women or children).

The setting is Tokyo and Eisler takes pains to give rich details of the areas John Rain visits. There is quite a bit of surveillance that takes place, giving ample time for details of the setting. The only question I had was why after so many successful missions was Rain all of the sudden quite sloppy in his actions. Regardless, this is an excellent first entry in this series.

An enjoyable noir thriller.

Eisler's John Rain isn't a cop or private detective or even on the "right" side of the law: he's a highly-paid assassin, well into middle age, stuck between the Japanese and American cultures represented by his now-late parents. That you can find sympathy for a hit man -- even one with ethics -- is a tribute to how well Eisler sets up his hero and, more importantly, his world, which is if anything sleazier and more corrupt than is Rain himself. The picture of Japan presented here is massively unflattering, one of a neo-Blade Runner swamp of corruption, organized crime, casual murder and slow economic collapse.

While Rain Fall bills itself a thriller, you shouldn't expect the usual modern-day thriller tropes. The world isn't about to end, the body count is reasonably low, and our hero isn't embroiled in big set-pieces every fifty pages. Much of the plot revolves around people talking to each other and trying not to be followed. "Intrigue" is the best description, one that doesn't sell as many books but more accurately sets reader expectations.

Eisler's Rain isn't entirely unique. He has the usual cool-guy qualities (a weakness for jazz and expensive whiskey, a complete lack of attachment to place, etc.) and of course attracts the affections of women young enough to be his daughters. Eisler clearly knows Tokyo well but doesn't always share this knowledge in a manner useful to his readers.

Still, despite these nods to convention, Rain Fall is a fine way to spend a few hours in the company of someone you might not want to be alone with in real life. Maybe he'd buy you a nice whiskey, but he certainly wouldn't tell you this tale.

I really enjoyed this book, so much that I started it this morning and finished it this afternoon.
A thriller with a difference, the main character is an assassin working in Tokyo. The author makes the assassin likeable and very intriguing in a fast paced thriller.
I am interested to read that many of the reviewers on Goodreads consider that this series gets better so I intend to read more.

Loved how twisty and plotted this was.
My only issue was how John Rain is such a smart competent protagonist and yet he was willfully blind to how he was being used.
Thinks he's smart, actually a pawn. :(
But a really great book, otherwise.

Reprezinta primul roman din seria "John Rain", un asasin profesionist japonez care este angajat sa rezolve treburile murdare ale unor organizatii guvernamentale, CIA, partidele politice din Japonia sau in general oricui doreste sa-si elimine un adversar astfel incat sa para o moarte naturala.
Autorul a considerat ca trebuie sa ne lamureasca printr-o scurta introducere de ce a ales orasul Tokyo si ne povesteste despre pasiunea sa pentru asa numitele "cunostinte interzise". Aflam faptul ca il admira foarte mult pe celebrul Houdini si ne dezvaluie si cateva detalii din trecutul sau in cadrul CIA.
In aceasta prima parte a seriei facem cunostinta cu John Rain si cu trecutul sau, aflam traumele sale din razboiul din Vietnam, viziunea sa despre a fi jumatate japonez - jumatate american si discriminarile la care a fost supus din aceasta cauza.
Desigur ca si de data aceasta, eu am inceput sa citesc seria cu cel de-al treilea roman iar acela mi s-a parut mai bun. Desi am aflat anumite detalii despre care nu trebuia sa stiu din primul roman am putut totusi sa ma bucur de roman.
Cel mai mult mi-a placut descrierea foarte amanuntita a strazilor din Tokyo, atat de exacta incat daca vreodata ajungeti acolo si nu aveti ghid sau harta puteti sa va folostiti de aceasta carte fara nici o problema.
Am savurat descrierea mirosurilor de mancare, a imbulzelii de pe strazi la orele de varf, a tonetelor cu street food, a magazinelor medicinale si a tumultosei vieti de noapte. De asemenea se face referire si la celebrele benzi desenate de aventuri numite Manga, foarte populare mai ales in Japonia, sau la Chado, adica ceremonia japoneza a ceaiului prin care practicantii ei se straduiesc prin miscari rafinate de preparare sa atinga wabi si sabi - "un soi de gratie lipsita de efort in gandire si miscare". Aflam si despre scoala de la Kodokan unde se practica judo si faptul ca acest cuvant inseama "calea blandetii" sau "calea cedarii".
M-a amuzat sa citesc despre o metoda a politiei de descoperire a indivizilor care cultiva marijuana in apartamente, monitorizandu-le facturile la electricitate.
Ca o concluzie, mi-a placut romanul, o sa citesc si celelalte carti din serie, sperand ca de data aceasta in ordinea corecta si cel mai interesant mi s-a parut ca John Rain reuseste sa opreasca peacemaker-ul cuiva de la distanta folosindu-se de un magnet si de un gadget inovativ.