Barry Eisler - Killing Rain (2005)
Those searching for a little more action in their reading diet can 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.
The fascinating plot of Killing Rain is suspenseful and timely, backed up by the kind of intensive inside knowledge and research that Eisler, a former covert operative with the CIA, brings to all of his work.
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.
Eisler’s characters are intriguing and, given their backgrounds, surprisingly sympathetic. The interplay between Rain, his associate Dox and Israeli agent Delilah is all very well done. On something of a different note for the series, Killing Rain also has more humor than the previous books in the series, a contribution which is used to good effect to offset some of the violence that occurs.
After three action-packed adventures, culminating in last year’s stand-out Rain Storm (winner of the Gumshoe Award for Best Thriller), 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.
Posted by David J. Montgomery in Book Reviews | Permalink
