Hard Rain Book

This is the second in the series of books featuring John Rain, the America/Japanese soldier turned freelance assassin. This time Rain is up to his neck in a complex web featuring an underground fight club and a collection of some of the most unpleasant characters you'll ever wish not to meet.

You'll have to keep your wits about while it plays out as a multitude of interlinking characters created, for me, a foggy plot. But Tokyo is brought alive and a few more layers are peeled off the John Rain onion. I am realising more and more what a complex and haunted man our anti-hero is.

The descriptions of Rain's journey of self-discovery, his interactions and the expert way the action scenes are laid out are the real strengths of this series. A convoluted plot, with the intrigue and complexity created by the actions of the various law enforcement agencies and underworld characters may or may not be your thing. If it is then Eisler's career history ensures there's plenty of authentic detail. If not, I still believe these stories are multi-layered enough to fulfil most tastes. I'll certainly be going back for another helping.