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mkpatt2024's review against another edition
5.0
Pretty good book. Although I've read a few of the John Rain thrillers, this one gave me a much better sense of the character and what drives him. Rain is an interesting character but how he came to be the man he is has been a question in the back of my mind, an itch I couldn't scratch until now.
It's a pretty fast read and doesn't get bogged down in unnecessary minutiae. There's enough detail though that if I ever make it to Japan I'm going to check out some of the spots in his books.
It's a pretty fast read and doesn't get bogged down in unnecessary minutiae. There's enough detail though that if I ever make it to Japan I'm going to check out some of the spots in his books.
jmoses's review against another edition
4.0
Another excellent entry in the series. It was interesting to see Rain's transition from callow but naive youth to the beginnings of the careful, methodical (yet semi "moral") assassin that he becomes later in his life.
surfmonkey01's review against another edition
4.0
First off, thanks to Netgalley for a free review copy. Now then... I'm a huge fan of the John Rain series, and with the last few books pointing out how old Rain is getting, I wondered where Eisler would go next. The answer? A prequel.
It's a very good read, though. First of all, I love how Eisler brings Tokyo in the 70s to life. Second, the young Rain is very different from his older counterpart, although you can see the beginnings of the modern-day him if you squint a little bit.
I will admit to missing the extended cast that Rain had been cultivating in spite of his loner status, especially Dox. But overall, this was still a great read, and I definitely recommend it
It's a very good read, though. First of all, I love how Eisler brings Tokyo in the 70s to life. Second, the young Rain is very different from his older counterpart, although you can see the beginnings of the modern-day him if you squint a little bit.
I will admit to missing the extended cast that Rain had been cultivating in spite of his loner status, especially Dox. But overall, this was still a great read, and I definitely recommend it
kstumpf's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent prequel. Fast paced and action packed. I have read all of the John Rain novels and novelettes and have NEVER been disappointed.
tribecalledchef's review against another edition
4.0
Note: This book was received as a part of a Goodreads giveaway.
As a fan of the John Rain series, I was extremely excited to get a look into Rain's past, before he was the unassuming but talented spy I've enjoyed reading stories of. I was not at all disappointed. It was still written in the style of the previous Rain books, and it was interesting to see how Rain became the character he was in the previous books.
A very enjoyable read overall, and I hope there will be more looks into Rain's past coming.
As a fan of the John Rain series, I was extremely excited to get a look into Rain's past, before he was the unassuming but talented spy I've enjoyed reading stories of. I was not at all disappointed. It was still written in the style of the previous Rain books, and it was interesting to see how Rain became the character he was in the previous books.
A very enjoyable read overall, and I hope there will be more looks into Rain's past coming.
antonishapolitepeoples's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
afox98's review against another edition
4.0
A look at how John Rain ended up as an assassin. It’s 1972, and Rain is a bagman for the CIA in Tokyo after he finishes up his tour in Vietnam. Rain gets jumped by some yakuza (gangsters) and he goes after them, starting a chain of killings. But it’s not clear what the truth is as he goes along, and he has to figure out whether he’s being set up. I liked the look at his early life.
pam511nc's review
3.0
I wasn't wild about going back to Rain's beginning this late (book 8) in the series.
brucehoward's review against another edition
4.0
Great book that fills in details of John Rain's early backstory, the rough equivalent of "The Enemy" in Lee Child's Jack Reacher series.
4 stars
4 stars