John Rain asesina a gente para ganarse la vida. Su especialidad es que parezca que la muerte se ha producido por causas naturales, pero incluso él tiene unas reglas que no rompe jamás: el trabajo debe ser en exclusiva; sólo asesinará a los protagonistas del juego, no a sus familiares; no asesina a mujeres.
Cuando, después de completar un trabajo, le encargan que asesine a la hija del objetivo, Rain empieza a sospechar que alguien no está jugando limpio. En lugar de rechazar el encargo y seguir con su vida, empieza a investigar por qué esa chica es peligrosa y por qué él asesinó a su padre en primer lugar. Y lo que descubre -los vínculos del gobierno con la yakuza. la peligrosa organización mafiosa japonesa- no hace más que ponerlo en peligro y comprometer su anonimato.

Previously published as Hard Rain and Blood from Blood
All John Rain wants is to get out of the killing business. But with his discretion, his reliability, and his unique talent for death by "natural causes," no one is willing to let him just retire. So when an old nemesis from the Japanese national police force comes to him with a new job--eliminate Murakami, a killer even more fearsome than Rain himself--Rain knows he can't refuse.
Aided by an achingly desirable half Brazilian, half Japanese exotic dancer he knows he shouldn't trust, Rain pursues his quarry through underground no-holds-barred fight clubs, mobbed-up hostess bars, and finally into the heart of a shadow war between the CIA and the yakuza. It's a war Rain can't win, but also one he can't afford to lose--a war where the distinctions between friend and foe and truth and deceit are as murky as the rain-slicked streets of Tokyo.
"... a superlative job... entertaining and suspenseful enough to keep you turning the pages as fast as your eyes can follow."
--Chicago Sun Times
Includes a note from the author introducing the new edition. This is book #2 in the John Rain assassin series, though each entry is written as a standalone and you can read them in any order you like.

I just can't get enough of these pulpy Japanese assassin turned good guy books. Even though they aren't exactly classic literature they're still fun and easy to read. I love the setting and all the little details, even if the writing isn't amazing. I look forward to devouring the next one and seeing how John Rain's semi-crusade against corrupt politicians continues to unfold. ( )

I liked this book better than the first one (Rain Fall.) The plot was more interesting, and resolved one of the threads from the first book. Also, Eisler began to show more of the protagonist John Rain's inate goodness. Does a nice job of making Tokyo come alive too. ( )

"A Lonely Resurrection" follows straight on from "A Clean Kill In Tokyo", John Rain is trying to lie low and retire from the killing business but is pulled back into that world by his friend and sometime protector, a police inspector on a crusade against corruption in Japan.

"A Lonely Resurrection" was good solid entertainment all the way through. It spends a lot of time on (very) physical and vividly described combat, John Rain kills more people and with more ease than Jack Reacher normally manages and he seems to have much better sex with the women in his life. The plot provided a satisfying mix of feint and attack and betrayal that kept me guessing.

Barry Eisler narrates his own book perfectly, getting the pace right and squeeting out all the drama without becoming melodramatic.

One of the things I enjoyed most was the verbal love affair Barry Eisner has with Tokyo. He makes me hungry to go there. Read the description below of Tokyo by night and you'll see what I mean.

There's something so alive about Tokyo at night; something so imbued with possibilities. Certainly the day time, with its zig-zagging schools of pedestrians and thundering trains and hustle and noise and traffic, is the more upbeat of the cities melodies, but the city also seems burdened by the quotidian clamor and almost relieved ,every evening, to be able to ease into the twilight and set aside the weight of the day. Night strips away the superfluity and the distractions. You move through Tokyo at night and you feel you're on the verge of discovering that thing you've always longed for- At night, you can hear the city breathe.

It's clear that John Rain, killer and loner that he is, reluctantly and hesitantly, on a journey to discover the possibility of redemption or, perhaps, atonement in these books. He is developing as a character but his true nature is unlikely to change. He will always kill. The questions is, how will he direct his killing? For profit? For personal vengeance? Or for something bigger and more important than himself.

I've booked myself a monthly John Rain entertainment spot until I've read the entire season.

Go to Barry Eisler^s website to hear him read an extract from chapter one and to get more background on the places his stories take place in. ( )