John Rain is a fascinating, unpredictable character. He's of Japanese-American heritage, has lived in both America and Japan, but feels like he truly belongs in neither. The only place he seems at home is in the shadows. Having endured harrowing firefights in the jungles of Vietnam during America's most controversial war, Rain sharpened his skills as a fighter. After the war, he moves to Japan where he continues his martial arts training, channeling his skills as a professional soldier into beco...

An excellent read. Barry Eisler delivers great character dialogue and compelling plots in Rain Fall (John Rain, #1). A true thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Highly recommended for fans of suspenseful book reviews.

I absolutely devoured this book; I started it this morning and couldn't put it down until I finished it this afternoon. "Rain Fall (John Rain, #1)" by Barry Eisler is a thriller with a twist. The main character is a morally ambiguous assassin operating in Tokyo. Eisler manages to make this killer likeable and deeply intriguing, all within a fast-paced plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. This is a fantastic example of crime thriller books.I've seen a lot of Goodreads reviewers say this ...

**4.5 stars**This book blew me away.I’m not usually into assassin main characters, so I wouldn’t normally pick up a book like this. But *Rain Fall (John Rain, #1)* was on sale at Audible, and I liked the narrator, so I decided to give it a shot. Oh boy, am I glad I did. The story starts a little slow, but then it gets incredibly exciting, deeply sad, and really makes you think. Why would a man like John Rain – who isn’t really a “bad person” – choose this kind of life? The answer isn’t simple or...

I really got into "Rain Fall (John Rain, #1)" because I was hooked on watching the main character, this super-skilled assassin, navigate the twisty plot and take out his enemies, usually with just his bare hands...Now that I look at that sentence, I'm wondering if I *shouldn't* be a little disturbed by how I feel. I mean, I just admitted to enjoying a story about a guy who makes his living killing people. Ask me straight up if that's okay, and I'll say, "No, of course not!" You can't just go aro...

I'm a little torn because 3 stars might suggest I liked *Rain Fall (John Rain, #1)*, but it would be more accurate to say I don't intensely dislike it, hence the 2 stars. There are some interesting parts in Barry Eisler's *Rain Fall (John Rain, #1)*. Unfortunately, between these parts are long sections that are not only fairly uninteresting but often have little or nothing to do with the story. There are sections like "the surveillance was going nowhere so..." and we get a section where he sits...

I downloaded the Audible version of *Rain Fall (John Rain, #1)*. According to Barry Eisler's website, he has a black belt (and it shows—Rain's fights are described with loving detail, naming each judo and karate move). He also worked for the CIA (and clearly doesn't think much of them, because, at least in this first book of the series, the CIA doesn't come across well). Plus, he lived in Japan for years (and clearly respects Japanese customs).You almost feel guilty enjoying a book like this bec...

Rain Fall, the first novel in Barry Eisler's "John Rain" series, introduces us to a Japanese professional assassin hired to handle the dirty work for government organizations, the CIA, Japanese political parties, or generally anyone looking to eliminate an adversary and make it look like a natural death. Eisler explains his choice of Tokyo as the setting in a brief introduction, sharing his passion for so-called "forbidden knowledge." He expresses admiration for Houdini and reveals details from ...

This is the first book in the John Rain series, **Rain Fall**. I really enjoyed the Japanese setting of the story and the "stuck-between-two-cultures" struggle that Rain faces. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more books by Barry Eisler in this series. It's a great read if you're looking for a **thrilling espionage novel** with a unique perspective.

Having previously read a book from the middle of the series, it was a relief to go back to the beginning. My first experience with John Rain in *Extremis* showed me a rather one-dimensional man – a hired killer, cold and efficient, but not much else. However, *Rain Fall* brings the character to life, fleshing out his background and the key events that made him who he is. The first half of the book is my favorite part, as Rain reveals himself to be a rather complex dude with a lot to offer, above...