Killing Rain

If you plan to listen to this book, clear your schedule because you won't want to do anything else until it's done. It grips you immediately. I just HAD to find out the truth and was compelled to keep listening to this audio late into the night. Barry Eisler has quickly become a must-listen author for me, right up there with Harlan Coben. John Rain has a new employer, the Mossad who wants him to fix a potential problem in Manila. But Delilah the sexy Israeli agent reappears in his life, is she there to finish him off or to help him??? Fast pace fascinating tale.

First off, can someone out there delete that Schill guy's review? It has nothing to do with Killing Rain and I don't see how a book review is the appropriate forum to whine about politics... Seriously, Schill, get a life... oh, and by the way, I'm not even a Bush supporter, you're just universally annoying. Now, as far as Killing Rain is concerned, this book is very well done. John Rain is a more in-depth, multi-dimensional and conflicted protagonist than I've seen in any international murder/suspense/intrigue thriller in a long time. You should definitely read these books in sequence, as the character development is significant, not just for Rain but for the side characters as well, and it helps to understand both Rain's professional and romantic history to truly enjoy this book. Nevertheless, this is a fine edition to the series and I'm looking forward to number five.

Eisler's talents continue to shine in this newest novel about John Rain: He writes what he knows about, and he does it well. In this latest novel, John Rain runs around Hong Kong, Manila, and Thailand searching for his latest victim - an Israeli explosives expert under the protection of the CIA. Who better to create an "accidental" death than John Rain. It's a busy ride, where the hunter and hunted are ambiguous, elusive loyalties are tested and you never know what turn is coming next. The climax is strong, but leaves you breathlessly waiting for the next one. (More Caffiene for Mr. Eisler - one a year is a fast pace, but we'd like them even quicker!) Similar to previous books in the series, you'll finish this one within a day or two of buying it. (I picked it up at a signing on Friday and finished it by the following Monday) It's just too hard to put down. One suggestion for the reader is to start with book one (Rain Fall) if you're really interested in the series. You can read this one standalone, but the history of Rain as well as the context of his personal changes play out over multiple novels. This is not as purely episodic as the James Bond series. I really hope someone acts on the option to put this series on the big screen. Beat Takeshi - are you listening???

I didn't think that the series could get any better after Rain Storm. I was wrong. Killing Rain is more exciting, more compelling, and one of the best thrillers I've ever read. It's also got the best sex scene (which for Eisler is saying a lot) and some moments of laugh aloud humor---something that hasn't been as pronounced in earlier Rain books. This is a fast, fun, wonderful read. Plus the ending will blow you away. The only downside is that I have to wait a whole year for more Rain...

For those searching for a little more action in their reading diet, you could do no better than Barry Eisler's Killing Rain (Putnam, $24.95), the fourth in a series featuring Japanese-American assassin John Rain, a contract killer who specializes in the "natural causes" hit. Rain is hired by the Mossad to eliminate an Israeli arms dealer operating in Manila. At the crucial moment, though, the target's young son appears on the scene, causing Rain to freeze. The arms merchant escapes and Rain's hesitation haunts him, his conscience plaguing him for the first time with self-doubt. After three action-packed adventures, culminating in last year's stand-out Rain Storm, Eisler has taken his latest book in a slightly different direction, focusing less on the adrenaline, and more on the psyche of John Rain. The result is a more introspective and deeply nuanced story, and a richer look into the heart and mind of this compelling killer. Even given that change of focus, Killing Rain still features plenty of thrills and tense moments, as well as the beautifully rendered exotic settings that have become the series' trademark. All in all, Killing Rain is a satisfying step forward for one of the genre's most gifted writers.