A Clean Kill in Tokyo

A John Rain Novel

By: Barry Eisler

Narrated by: Barry Eisler

Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Previously published as Rain Fall

Name: John Rain.

Vocation: Assassin.

Specialty: Natural Causes.

Base of operations: Tokyo.

Availability: Worldwide.

Half American, half Japanese, expert in both worlds but at home in neither, John Rain is the best killer money can buy. You tell him who. You tell him where. He doesn’t care about why...

Until he gets involved with Midori Kawamura, a beautiful jazz pianist - and the daughter of his latest kill.

A Clean Kill in Tokyo was previously published as Rain Fall, the first in the bestselling John Rain assassin series.

©2002, 2013 Barry Eisler (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Eisler provides a cracklingly good yarn, well written, deftly plotted, and surprisingly appealing… Thomas Perry and Lawrence Block need not retire their hit men quite yet, but Eisler is clearly a challenger." ( Boston Globe)

Barry Eisler doesn't disappoint.

I am absorbed by the imagery and flavor of the setting and the pace of the novel. The characters felt real and not over done. Can't wait to hear the next in this series.

Good one

I probably overrated this book but I really enjoyed it. By mistake I listened to it not realizing at first that I have already read it. I enjoyed it, particularly that it’s set in Tokyo as it brings memories. I speak Japanese and I like Japan.
Book is good too, John Rain is one of my favorite characters (along with John Milton)

It felt like I see Japan and each character

There is nothing not to like in the story not the Narrator. So well done you can put it down for days be right back, fully emersed when you next pick the story up again.

Beautiful Flaws

The human mind is so complex, so vast, yet, so inherently primal. Barry Eisler captures this oxymoron in a very ingenious set of ways.

This is the first audiobook that I have listened to that was narrated by the author, so I was a little skeptical at first. Eisler does a good job, not a superb one, but he nailed the protagonist, so in my humble opinion, that's all that really matters.

The way the story is laid out takes you through the mind of an imaginary man that could be any one of us. Half american, half japanese, Eisler takes you through the struggles of being born of two cultures. Although the protagonist is mixed, his struggles are strikingly similar to any immigrant's story of living in two places, and having to adjust to both after living in one place for a while then returning to the land of their birth.

Tons of action in this story, and the storyline has lots of coincidences, that in the end turn out to be beautiful flaws of not just the main character, but mankind in general.

Enjoyable virtual Tokyo visit - interesting story

I really enjoyed the author's narration and writing in this book. The virtual visit to Tokyo and listen to Japanese language was fun. I bought the next book in the series, eager to continue this fun experience, but ended up not finishing the second book and will not buy anymore. In the second book, the "male gaze" experience goes overboard on describing women's bodies and indulging in at least one lengthy sex scene which seemed to take a while to fast forward through. I'm not into reading about old man/young woman sex fantasies, so there's no point in spending my time and money on further books. But, the first book is very good and can be a stand alone.

A Clean Kill? Maybe Not.

What starts out to be a simple killing on John Raines part turns into an all out race to possess that which could bring down the Japanese government. Through a series of twists and turns Barry Eisler narrates his own story engulfing John Rain and a beautiful musician who helps him and several "players" who are after them both. How to stay alive when everybody wants you dead.

the man

I like the story. I am a sucker for western type books. Walt is the man.

This was a fun book

first time listening to this author and this type of book. It was a fun read I enjoyed the storyline and Hope to read the other books

yeah

👍great way to cross the country
Will look up more from this author
can't wait

Author as narrator is great

This is the first book I’ve listened to where the author did the reading. He did a great job, clearly knew the story/characters etc so his reading was seamless. His inflections and emotions were done really well.
It took me a little time to adjust to the insertion of Japanese language in sporadic areas of the book. On one hand it was great as part of the history or back story. But it tended to disrupt the flow of it as the translation was then explained.
This was a good “first in series” and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next as I continue to listen to the series.