Having reread "Rain Fall" (2002), the first of the series of six novels, I've finally gotten around to the series. "A Lonely Resurrection" (international title is third in the series (Rain Storm" in the US, I think). John Rain, the child of a Japanese father and an American mother, grew up in two cultures, but was never a part of either. Largely as a result of that isolated state, he has worked as an assassin, though one with rules (no women, children, or collateral targets). Having created a new identity, he is disappointed to be roped back into doing the company's business, as lucrative as it is. In this case, his target is an international arms dealer who is playing the tables in Macau's gambling palaces. There are complications, though, for the target is heavily protected and the target of at least two other groups. Rain is very smart, so he is constantly interesting, but so are some of his adversaries, especially a woman named "Delilah," who works for another intelligence system. But which one? Finding out is part of the many pleasures in this book.

As a man with the skill to make murder look like a natural death, John Rain influences international intelligence agencies, governments and yakuza members. Tasked to take down a sociopathic killer to prevent the power balance to tilt towards the Japanese mafia, he needs to balance between the CIA, Japanese FBI and the mafia - whose leader, Yamaoto, tries to tip the financial balance to gain power in Japan by playing the CIA, using his assets while trying to have Rain killed - protect the few friends he has and come out alive.

Втора книга от поредицата. Рейн-сан е все така безмилостен и перфектен. Интересно четиво, особенно добре е представено постоянното напрежение съпътстващо героя, както и параноичния му подход във всичко, помогнал му да оцелее в толкова опасен свят.

Продължавам с третата част.

A Lonely Resurrection made a pretty good follow up to the first John Rain novel, A Clean Kill in Tokyo, but I don't know if this book was as good as the first. There was something compelling about the first novel where it felt like an assassin for hire rethinking his life and maybe looking for an out by trying to help someone with the unfortunate conclusion that he couldn't get out. At least not yet.

The second novel picks up a little bit after the first book where he is finally deciding that he needs to get out of Japan for good to escape the events of the first book. However, he gets dragged back in by his friend, Tatsu, who wants John's help to continue to go after the more corrupt aspects of Japan's political structure.

I think where this book fell a little short for me from the first book is in the story. There didn't seem anything as compelling in this one that carries John forward other than the fallout of trying to help out his friend and realizing that maybe his latest target isn't worth the risk. That leads John into a series of events that end up turning out poorly for him. That's not to say that this isn't a good book. It was really good, and I found myself reading it over the other book I had picked up recently because I was hooked. I really like John Rain, even if he is a ruthless killer at times, but he seems to be struggling with his lifestyle choice a little more each time. That makes for some compelling reading as I watch the character struggle with his choices.

I'm curious where John Rain will go from here. I'm committed now to see where this story goes especially now that it seems John will stay in Japan to continue to do something. What that something is looks to be up in the air. I've already picked up the third book. I can't wait to get started on that one too.

If you are a fan of thrillers, I'm starting to feel like this is a must-read. The character is fairly unique for me considering many of the thrillers I've read in the past two years seem to have main characters with similar military backgrounds working for some American agency or secret organization dealing with Middle Eastern stuff. I still like the location of the books so far. Reading about his adventures in Japan has been a refreshing change of pace.

The second book in the John Rain series and my third, Hard Rain is an earlier publication of the title A Lonely Resurrection. The book relies heavily on the contents of the series's first book, so I would recommend starting with Rain Fall/A Clean Kill in Tokyo before reading this. I still enjoyed reading Hard Rain, but it was only an echo of the first, with similar action, romance, descriptions of spycraft, and political machinations in Japan. I like that the plot doesn't always take the expected route, though there aren't many surprises here. The final surprise might have been how anti-climactic the denouement felt to me. I'm still looking forward to the next book in the series; having read the most recent episode, I expect more characters to develop and new frontiers to open up.

Un thriller che comincia molto bene, nella sua aria di mistero e con un personaggio "invisibile"per poi perdersi un po' e scadere nel prevedibile e banale, un po' più di tre stelle ma non ancora quattro. La serie, di cui questo è il secondo episodio, nella versione originale gioca sul cognome del protagonista, John Rain, cosa che si perde completamente nella traduzione italiana dei titoli. Alla fine del romanzo la porta è apertissima e la strada spianata per successive puntate delle avventure di questo ex veterano, killer di professione dalle doppie radici nippo-americane.

I liked that it was set in Japan & apparently was accurate both geographically & in many other instances. Rain is a fairly interesting character. I enjoyed it, but it's pretty much another assassin thriller & I guess not terribly memorable. I had this marked as having read it once before. Must have been some time ago as it was all new to me.

I had given the first John Rain book the full five stars, so I was a little disappointed when I finished this one. The main character is still just as interesting and the Japanese setting seems to be highly realistic. The plot was complex and seemed to drift a little - it was mainly about other characters trying to recruit him, kill him, or interrogate him (sometimes all three!) John shows no emotion or regret as he efficiently dispatches many other people left and right. I will read more in the series, but I'm hoping the next one in the series has a more goal-oriented plot.

His turn of phrase is amazing! His descriptions are very pictorial, especially his vivid phrases about the city and its atmosphere. Alive and pulsating! John Rain is a complex character.

Tatsu had been upbeat. I wondered what deep wellspring fed his optimism. I wished I could share it...Fat droplets of rain started spattering against the city's concrete skin, against the glass windows of its eyes. A few people with umbrellas opened them. The rest ran for cover. I walked on, through it all. I tried to to think of it as a baptism, a new beginning. Maybe it was. But what a lonely resurrection.

This is the second in the series of books featuring John Rain, the America/Japanese soldier turned freelance assassin. This time Rain is up to his neck in a complex web featuring an underground fight club and a collection of some of the most unpleasant characters you’ll ever wish not to meet.

You’ll have to keep your wits about while it plays out as a multitude of interlinking characters created, for me, a foggy plot. But Tokyo is brought alive and a few more layers are peeled off the John Rain onion. I am realising more and more what a complex and haunted man our anti-hero is.

The descriptions of Rain’s journey of self-discovery, his interactions and the expert way the action scenes are laid out are the real strengths of this series. A convoluted plot, with the intrigue and complexity created by the actions of the various law enforcement agencies and underworld characters may or may not be your thing. If it is then Eisler’s career history ensures there’s plenty of authentic detail. If not, I still believe these stories are multi-layered enough to fulfil most tastes. I’ll certainly be going back for another helping.

John Rain has left Tokyo and is contemplating giving up his role as an assassin when the head of the police asks him to do a job, which leads to another favor - kill another assassin. This new target is highly dangerous and it seems the few friends John has left are wrapped up in the danger.

I listened to the audio version and it's well done. The author is the narrator and seems to know a lot about the Japanese language and culture. Because I find that subject interesting, it doesn't bother me that the author sometimes explains things in more detail than might be necessary. I am also becoming rather fond of John Rain's character as he develops. Poor John suffers some loses in this book that I think will bother him in the next one. I look forward to seeing if he makes any new relationships in the next book that will ease his loneliness.

Another good one in the John Rain series, although I've been reading them out-of-order. I read this one under the name "Hard Rain" and it is #2 of the John Rain series. I've now read #1 through #4. Back on track as #5, The Last Assassin/Extremis, is next.