Book Review: Hard Rain

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Hard Rain     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Barry Eisler
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Thriller
Series: John Rain # 2
Putnam, Jul 2003, $24.95, 320 pp.

Half-American half-Japanese assassin John Rain knows his murder for hire business has given him a delightful lifestyle when he is not on a job. However, the freelance killer with a deep personal code of ethics that often irks his employers feels ready to retire. If he gets out of the dirty cleansing business, he leans towards relocating from Japan to Brazil.

Retirement is placed on hold, as he must kill a sociopath peer considered deadlier than John is and he wants John's scalp. In addition to eliminating this lethal rogue agent, his Japanese law enforcement friend Tatsu tries to enlist John into scrutinizing a person running an illegal underground fight circuit. Meanwhile, the CIA, who detests John due to his ethics, wishes to use his particular problem solving skills on another delicate matter. When it rains it pours as the demand for his craft makes it hard to stop working.

The suspense-laden story line takes a secondary role to the Burke- like lead protagonist and to the Japanese setting. The story line is loaded with action, but never grips the reader due to the audience fascination with the survival killing-machine with a morality that seems ill fitted for his work. Fans of macho heroes will enjoy this thriller that stars a super stud.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner