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John Rain #9
Zero Sum
Returning to Tokyo in 1982 after a decade of mercenary work in the Philippines, a young John Rain learns that the killing business is now controlled by Victor, a half-Russian, half-Japanese sociopath who has ruthlessly eliminated all potential challengers. Victor gives Rain a choice: kill a government minister or die a grisly death. But the best route to the minister is through his gorgeous Italian wife, Maria, a route that puts Rain on a collision course not only with Victor but with the shadowy forces behind the Russian’s rise to dominance—and the longings of Rain’s own conflicted heart.
It’s a battle between kingpin and newcomer, master and apprentice, a zero-sum contest that can only end with one man dead and the other the world’s foremost assassin.
It’s a battle between kingpin and newcomer, master and apprentice, a zero-sum contest that can only end with one man dead and the other the world’s foremost assassin.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2017
1664 people are currently reading
1335 people want to read
About the author
Barry Eisler
87 books3,042 followersBarry Eisler spent three years in a covert position with the CIA’s Directorate of Operations, then worked as a technology lawyer and startup executive in Silicon Valley and Japan, earning his black belt at the Kodokan Judo Institute along the way. Eisler’s award-winning thrillers have been included in numerous “Best Of” lists, have been translated into nearly twenty languages, and include the #1 bestsellers Livia Lone, The Night Trade, and The Killer Collective. Eisler lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and, when he's not writing novels, blogs about national security and the media. www.barryeisler.com
Series:
* John Rain
Series:
* John Rain
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 317 reviews
July 6, 2017
There are few authors out there today who can get my pulse racing like Barry Eisler, especially when it's one of his John Rain thrillers. These books are the perfect balance of excellent character development, crackling action, and heart-in-your-throat tension, and I honestly cannot get enough of them. Why these books aren't as well-known by the general public as some more-mediocre series is beyond me.
I'm happy to report that Eisler's newest John Rain thriller, Zero Sum, is equally as fantastic as its predecessors. This is another book which recalls Rain's earlier days, tracing the rise of this lethal-yet-complicated mercenary. It's 1982, and Rain has returned to Tokyo after a 10-year absence working in the Philippines. When he meets with an old friend in order to find some murder-for-hire work, he discovers that the assassin business has been monopolized by an upstart—Victor—half-Russian, half-Japanese, all psychotic, with a chip on his shoulder and the belief everyone should fear him.
Victor has cornered the market on all murders for hire, upsetting even the crime families. Rain is determined to find out how he was able to get such a toehold in the system so quickly, and find out where his support was coming from. Despite warnings to the contrary, Rain gets hired by Victor, who presents him with an interesting challenge: kill a government minister or face bloody death at the hands of Victor or one of his henchmen.
Although the job should be easy for someone with Rain's skills, Rain isn't one to take the easy path. He's more interesting in stalling in order to get Victor riled up, which would give Rain an opportunity to take him out. But what Rain doesn't count on is Maria, the government minister's beautiful Italian wife, who awakens passions that Rain has tamped down for far too long. Getting mixed up with the wife of the man he's supposed to murder certainly complicates things, and the more he finds out about the forces that brought Victor into play, and what they really want, the higher the stakes get for Rain—and everyone he cares about.
"When you live a little longer, you see the world as it really is. And yes, even then it can be shiny and bright, but also you know it has sharp edges. And sometimes what's shiny is exactly what's sharp. If you want to get close to it, it means you get cut."
Zero Sum moves at a lightning pace, with lots of fantastic action, although the violence gets a bit graphic and gruesome, so if you're bothered by that, this might not be the book for you. There are political conspiracies, psychotic killers, introspection, and some pretty hot sex thrown in for good measure. Eisler and John Rain are once again truly at the top of their game, and it is always so great to be back in Rain's world. (As much as I love his John Rain books, I'm hoping Eisler will write another book with one of his newest characters, Livia Lone, who featured in her own eponymous book last year.)
While Eisler has had a few bestsellers, interestingly enough, they tend to be his more modern thrillers rather than his John Rain books. But truly, these are fantastic, because there's so much to them beyond suspense and action. These are smart, well-written, and, dare I say, even sensitive. Here's hoping there are more John Rain stories to tell!
NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
December 27, 2024
A chronological reading of John Rain’s life would have you coming to this book after
A Graveyard of Memories
and before
A Clean Kill in Tokyo
(aka Rain Fall). Graveyard was written as a prequel in 2014 and is set in 1972. It deals with his early life as a CIA bagman and his conversion to novice assassin. This is a second prequel novel, and it’s set in 1982, where it picks up John’s life once more after he returns to Tokyo following ten years of fighting as a mercenary in the Philippines It shows how Rain began to hone his skills and gain a better understanding of how to read people and situations – in other words, how he became a better killer. Of course, there’s a good deal more to it than that, but the evolution of Rain’s professional capabilities are at the heart of this story.
Keen to earn some money, he contacts an old friend, only to find that the murder-for-money game has now been monopolised by a half-Japanese psycho called Victor. Rain decides to seek him out with the aim of getting hired, and after an initiation (of sorts), he's set to work. You know that John has his sights on the big game here – to replace Victor - but it’s not going to be easy. Victor is careful and nasty, a fearsome foe.
The basic plot is a simple one, but there's a complex story building in the background, and if I'm honest, this element was rather too convoluted for my tastes. However, there is a series of brilliantly choreographed fight scenes with the violence being both brutal and graphic. There is love interest too, with a married woman, some years older than Rain, helping him to sharpen his bedroom skills.
It's a worthy addition to a series which continues to draw me as much for the complexity of the main character – at once a ruthless killer but also a thoughtful lover of Japanese culture, jazz music and fine malt whiskey – as for the excitement and pace of the action sequences. I'm certainly looking forward to more from John Rain. Eisler has said that there's room for one more prequel, to be set in 1992 (note: he wrote and set Clean Kill in 2002, at which point Rain was already an accomplished expert in his field), but my hope is that this might also be followed by a continuance of the series set in real time. Fingers crossed!
Keen to earn some money, he contacts an old friend, only to find that the murder-for-money game has now been monopolised by a half-Japanese psycho called Victor. Rain decides to seek him out with the aim of getting hired, and after an initiation (of sorts), he's set to work. You know that John has his sights on the big game here – to replace Victor - but it’s not going to be easy. Victor is careful and nasty, a fearsome foe.
The basic plot is a simple one, but there's a complex story building in the background, and if I'm honest, this element was rather too convoluted for my tastes. However, there is a series of brilliantly choreographed fight scenes with the violence being both brutal and graphic. There is love interest too, with a married woman, some years older than Rain, helping him to sharpen his bedroom skills.
It's a worthy addition to a series which continues to draw me as much for the complexity of the main character – at once a ruthless killer but also a thoughtful lover of Japanese culture, jazz music and fine malt whiskey – as for the excitement and pace of the action sequences. I'm certainly looking forward to more from John Rain. Eisler has said that there's room for one more prequel, to be set in 1992 (note: he wrote and set Clean Kill in 2002, at which point Rain was already an accomplished expert in his field), but my hope is that this might also be followed by a continuance of the series set in real time. Fingers crossed!
October 21, 2017
Quite a satisfying espionage thriller. The hero of a series I am breaking into, John Rain, is a bit disreputable in his current occupation of a soldier-spy for hire. But he appreciates it when the people he has to kill are bad guys. He may engage in adultery to fulfill his love life, but his desire burns true. In the face of monstrous enemies with nefarious plans for more and more power, Rain gains our permission to grow the body count, dodge death in many forms, while achieving some personal justice and good loving along the way.
We catch up with Rain as he returns to Tokyo in 1982 after a decade of mercenary work in the Philippines, where his efforts on behalf of rebel forces leaves him painted in a corner. An old comrade-in-arms, now an executive for a powerful company with many fingers in the political landscape, refers him for mercenary work to Victor. From all their macho moves and mental wrestling with each other during his job interview, this half-Japanese Russian becomes a fiendish adversary for Rain.
In the few years since Victor arrived from Russia he has somehow managed to make a monopoly out of all the contract killing in the city. The corporate powers, political parties, and yakuza all play ball with this arrangement. Rain wants to figure out what silent international partners are behind Victor’s success and find a way to get his friend and his company out from under Victor’s thumb. Rain goes through the motions of taking on the job of killing a candidate for prime minister, a race opened up due to the recent death of the incumbent, reportedly from a heart attack. Under guise of planning his job, he works hard to sort out his enemies’ intentions and resources. His approach to scoping out the candidate he’s supposed to hit involves developing an undercover relationship with his wife, Maria, a socialite and museum manager.
Something sparks the romance effect, and soon they are spending a lot of time together. His life is so tough, I suppose we must forgive him for violating the rule of not getting involved with the marks in The Game (like we always did for James Bond) While sneaking about town they are attacked by skilled assassins. But our boy is better. For the rest of the book, our hero is desperately pressed to figure out whether their target was her or him and who put the contract out. Some of the candidates include Victor himself, the yakuza, the CIA, a right-wing political faction in Japan, or some combination of the above.
Rain’s affinity for Tokyo appears to be a channel for the author to express his own history with and love for the city with great atmospherics in the narrative on its social rituals, fashions, foods, gardens, temples, bars, and clubs. I liked the sense of place in this tale. I also liked Rain’s character being a cool combination of brain and brawn. He’s not quite the superman package of Trevanian’s Hel, brilliant at all martial arts and deeply wise as a Zen-master. Still, he has significant ju-ju from being a star in the Special Forces and their teamwork with the CIA in the Vietnam War, his growing up in Japan, and a master at swordplay and at harnessing mindfulness to effective crisis response and offensive combat. It all adds up to a fun ride, an energizing mind-twister, and pleasing celebration of old tropes in new bottles.
This book was provided by the publisher for review through the Netgalley program. Thanks for Larry for recommending it in his terrific review.
We catch up with Rain as he returns to Tokyo in 1982 after a decade of mercenary work in the Philippines, where his efforts on behalf of rebel forces leaves him painted in a corner. An old comrade-in-arms, now an executive for a powerful company with many fingers in the political landscape, refers him for mercenary work to Victor. From all their macho moves and mental wrestling with each other during his job interview, this half-Japanese Russian becomes a fiendish adversary for Rain.
In the few years since Victor arrived from Russia he has somehow managed to make a monopoly out of all the contract killing in the city. The corporate powers, political parties, and yakuza all play ball with this arrangement. Rain wants to figure out what silent international partners are behind Victor’s success and find a way to get his friend and his company out from under Victor’s thumb. Rain goes through the motions of taking on the job of killing a candidate for prime minister, a race opened up due to the recent death of the incumbent, reportedly from a heart attack. Under guise of planning his job, he works hard to sort out his enemies’ intentions and resources. His approach to scoping out the candidate he’s supposed to hit involves developing an undercover relationship with his wife, Maria, a socialite and museum manager.
Something sparks the romance effect, and soon they are spending a lot of time together. His life is so tough, I suppose we must forgive him for violating the rule of not getting involved with the marks in The Game (like we always did for James Bond) While sneaking about town they are attacked by skilled assassins. But our boy is better. For the rest of the book, our hero is desperately pressed to figure out whether their target was her or him and who put the contract out. Some of the candidates include Victor himself, the yakuza, the CIA, a right-wing political faction in Japan, or some combination of the above.
Rain’s affinity for Tokyo appears to be a channel for the author to express his own history with and love for the city with great atmospherics in the narrative on its social rituals, fashions, foods, gardens, temples, bars, and clubs. I liked the sense of place in this tale. I also liked Rain’s character being a cool combination of brain and brawn. He’s not quite the superman package of Trevanian’s Hel, brilliant at all martial arts and deeply wise as a Zen-master. Still, he has significant ju-ju from being a star in the Special Forces and their teamwork with the CIA in the Vietnam War, his growing up in Japan, and a master at swordplay and at harnessing mindfulness to effective crisis response and offensive combat. It all adds up to a fun ride, an energizing mind-twister, and pleasing celebration of old tropes in new bottles.
This book was provided by the publisher for review through the Netgalley program. Thanks for Larry for recommending it in his terrific review.
September 15, 2022
Zero Sum is the ninth in the John Rain series by Barry Eisler. Rain is a mixed-race American/Japanese man who has been raised in both countries and, as a result, is fluent in both languages and comfortable in both cultures. During his youth, he began the study of judo and other martial arts at which he attained a very high level of expertise. Not knowing what to do with his life, he joined the army where he developed a range of skills ranging from eluding, tracking, attacking, strategy and tactics and, of course, killing.
After having spent ten years training soldiers in the Philippines, Rain has returned to Japan feeling a need for change in his life. He rekindles friendships with old friends including a cop, Khatso and a political operative, Miyamoto. One thing led to another and Rain soon found himself with a job offer from a vicious Russian/Japanese man who had taken over the business of assassination in Tokyo. Hmmm. Is this the semi-virtuous John Rain that we all know and love? Of course not, yet, due to compelling circumstances, he may have to actually kill the target.
Rain then, in an attempt to view the target, attends a large wedding, bluffing his way past the security. There he meets a charming and beautiful Italian woman who is a bit older than him but he is nevertheless swept off his feet. As it turns out, surprise, surprise, she turns out to be the target´s wife. Gadzooks, what will Rain do?
One of the things that really stood out to me about this book was the ways in which Eisler´s writing has changed. I'm not speaking about the plot or the characters which were both well done, but rather the ways in which Eisler used words to tell his story. His writing was more articulate, more graceful and more fluid than in the past. He´s always been a very good storyteller but now he seems to have matured as a writer in ways that a nit-picker like me found very satisfying.
I am comfortable recommending Zero Sum to anyone who enjoys books about supermen who have all of the physical and cognitive skills to make them virtually impossible to defeat. There are tons of books about this type of person and Rain is one that I have chosen to follow. If you´ve not read any of the John Rain books I would recommend that you start with the first.
Fini
After having spent ten years training soldiers in the Philippines, Rain has returned to Japan feeling a need for change in his life. He rekindles friendships with old friends including a cop, Khatso and a political operative, Miyamoto. One thing led to another and Rain soon found himself with a job offer from a vicious Russian/Japanese man who had taken over the business of assassination in Tokyo. Hmmm. Is this the semi-virtuous John Rain that we all know and love? Of course not, yet, due to compelling circumstances, he may have to actually kill the target.
Rain then, in an attempt to view the target, attends a large wedding, bluffing his way past the security. There he meets a charming and beautiful Italian woman who is a bit older than him but he is nevertheless swept off his feet. As it turns out, surprise, surprise, she turns out to be the target´s wife. Gadzooks, what will Rain do?
One of the things that really stood out to me about this book was the ways in which Eisler´s writing has changed. I'm not speaking about the plot or the characters which were both well done, but rather the ways in which Eisler used words to tell his story. His writing was more articulate, more graceful and more fluid than in the past. He´s always been a very good storyteller but now he seems to have matured as a writer in ways that a nit-picker like me found very satisfying.
I am comfortable recommending Zero Sum to anyone who enjoys books about supermen who have all of the physical and cognitive skills to make them virtually impossible to defeat. There are tons of books about this type of person and Rain is one that I have chosen to follow. If you´ve not read any of the John Rain books I would recommend that you start with the first.
Fini
June 26, 2017
I’ve read all the John Rain books & “Graveyard of Memories” remains one of my favourite books of the last few years. Like that one, this features an older, wiser Rain reliving an episode from the beginning of his career as a hitman.
It’s 1982 & Rain has just returned to Tokyo looking for work. When he gets in touch with old contact & friend Miyamoto, it’s immediately clear things have changed. Miyamoto is now an important man in the government & in Rain’s absence has been forced to use a violent & sociopathic half-Russian named Victor Karkov. To the young & cocky Rain the solution is obvious…..he’ll get himself hired on to Karkov’s crew & kill him. Miyamoto will be out from under his thumb & free to send any jobs Rain’s way. Simple, right? Well…..
Eisler is a gifted writer & one of the things he excels at is creating plots that resemble an iceberg. On the surface is a basic premise, a single act that sets it all in motion. But as the chapters fly by, the complexity of the story becomes apparent as the scope of what was hidden is gradually revealed. In this case, there are many more players than Rain or Miyamoto could have known. And the people actually pulling all the strings make for a wry commentary on US-Japanese relations.
That’s all I’ll say about the plot. It’s much better if you go in blind & stumble along with the MC’s. What has always made this series stand out is the literary style of prose & fully realized characters. Yes, there is graphic violence. But as you spend time with Rain & learn his back story he only becomes more compelling & you begin to care for this damaged man.
Rain is the product of a Japanese father & American mother. As a child, he grew up in both countries but was fully accepted by neither. His “gift” was honed by military tours in Viet Nam & it was there he finally found a place to fit in. But a lifetime of slights has left its mark & you sense that little boy who was shunned by 2 cultures is never far below the surface. At this point, he’s only beginning to think about long term repercussions & the things he will never have…..companionship, someone to love, children. Because of his choices, he has consigned himself to a life of being alone.
This is a relatively short, fast paced read that you’ll whizz through to find out who is left standing at the end. It’s a snapshot of a young John Rain, hitman/budding philosopher, that pushes him a little further down the path of the man he will become. Highly recommend this series.
It’s 1982 & Rain has just returned to Tokyo looking for work. When he gets in touch with old contact & friend Miyamoto, it’s immediately clear things have changed. Miyamoto is now an important man in the government & in Rain’s absence has been forced to use a violent & sociopathic half-Russian named Victor Karkov. To the young & cocky Rain the solution is obvious…..he’ll get himself hired on to Karkov’s crew & kill him. Miyamoto will be out from under his thumb & free to send any jobs Rain’s way. Simple, right? Well…..
Eisler is a gifted writer & one of the things he excels at is creating plots that resemble an iceberg. On the surface is a basic premise, a single act that sets it all in motion. But as the chapters fly by, the complexity of the story becomes apparent as the scope of what was hidden is gradually revealed. In this case, there are many more players than Rain or Miyamoto could have known. And the people actually pulling all the strings make for a wry commentary on US-Japanese relations.
That’s all I’ll say about the plot. It’s much better if you go in blind & stumble along with the MC’s. What has always made this series stand out is the literary style of prose & fully realized characters. Yes, there is graphic violence. But as you spend time with Rain & learn his back story he only becomes more compelling & you begin to care for this damaged man.
Rain is the product of a Japanese father & American mother. As a child, he grew up in both countries but was fully accepted by neither. His “gift” was honed by military tours in Viet Nam & it was there he finally found a place to fit in. But a lifetime of slights has left its mark & you sense that little boy who was shunned by 2 cultures is never far below the surface. At this point, he’s only beginning to think about long term repercussions & the things he will never have…..companionship, someone to love, children. Because of his choices, he has consigned himself to a life of being alone.
This is a relatively short, fast paced read that you’ll whizz through to find out who is left standing at the end. It’s a snapshot of a young John Rain, hitman/budding philosopher, that pushes him a little further down the path of the man he will become. Highly recommend this series.
July 6, 2017
4.5 stars
I was so excited when I saw that there was going to be another book in the John Rain series. I was first introduced to Barry Eisler's John Rain series years ago through a site called bzzagent. I was selected to read a book and give my honest opinion. That book was the 4th in the series (Killing Rain now known as Redemption Games). I was hooked!!! I quickly read the first three books in the series and have been a Barry Eisler (and John Rain!) fan ever since. I have read Eisler's other books as well but the John Rain series remains my favorite! Eisler never disappoints - the action is fast, the plot moves at a great speed and there will be intrigue, mystery, fighting, sex, and plot twists along the way. It is no wonder that he has such a huge fan base. I find Eisler's books to be intelligent, fun, dark, and suspenseful.
In this book, a young John Rain has returned to Tokyo after spending a decade in the Philippines working as a mercenary. The year is 1982 and Rain has been given the task of eliminating/killing a Japanese politician by a man named Victor. Victor is half Japanese- half Russian thug who controls the "killing" business in Tokyo. But is Victor really in charge or is someone controlling him? As Rain goes about completing his task, the bodies begin to pile up and Rain begins a relationship with the politician's wife.
Rain relies on some friends along the way to fill in some background info as he determines his best course of action. Speaking of action, there is a lot of it in this book. I have always enjoyed the fight scenes. They are really vivid. The Author has spent time in Japan, has a covert position with the CIA, and has martial arts experience. It is no wonder that his action and story lines feel real, descriptive and vivid.
This book is a prequel and does a good job showing how John Rain became an assassin. It also works well as a stand alone book but I think hard core Rain/Eisler fans will especially appreciate this book! This book will get your heart pumping and your fingers turning the page.
I received a copy of this book from Thomas and Mercer and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
I was so excited when I saw that there was going to be another book in the John Rain series. I was first introduced to Barry Eisler's John Rain series years ago through a site called bzzagent. I was selected to read a book and give my honest opinion. That book was the 4th in the series (Killing Rain now known as Redemption Games). I was hooked!!! I quickly read the first three books in the series and have been a Barry Eisler (and John Rain!) fan ever since. I have read Eisler's other books as well but the John Rain series remains my favorite! Eisler never disappoints - the action is fast, the plot moves at a great speed and there will be intrigue, mystery, fighting, sex, and plot twists along the way. It is no wonder that he has such a huge fan base. I find Eisler's books to be intelligent, fun, dark, and suspenseful.
In this book, a young John Rain has returned to Tokyo after spending a decade in the Philippines working as a mercenary. The year is 1982 and Rain has been given the task of eliminating/killing a Japanese politician by a man named Victor. Victor is half Japanese- half Russian thug who controls the "killing" business in Tokyo. But is Victor really in charge or is someone controlling him? As Rain goes about completing his task, the bodies begin to pile up and Rain begins a relationship with the politician's wife.
Rain relies on some friends along the way to fill in some background info as he determines his best course of action. Speaking of action, there is a lot of it in this book. I have always enjoyed the fight scenes. They are really vivid. The Author has spent time in Japan, has a covert position with the CIA, and has martial arts experience. It is no wonder that his action and story lines feel real, descriptive and vivid.
This book is a prequel and does a good job showing how John Rain became an assassin. It also works well as a stand alone book but I think hard core Rain/Eisler fans will especially appreciate this book! This book will get your heart pumping and your fingers turning the page.
I received a copy of this book from Thomas and Mercer and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
August 22, 2023
Най-слабата книга от поредицата до сега.
Може би защото е разположена по време на младостта на Рейн-сан, когато той още не е познатата ни безгрешна машина за убийства. Развръзката, а и самата история не са никак убедителни. Дори е използван брадатия виц, за тоя дето отишъл неподготвен на бой с ножове! :)
Публикуваните след края на романа бележки по текста, хипотетична схватка с Ричър и доста интересните съвети за домашна и лична самоотбрана, се оказаха по-добро четиво от него.
Може би защото е разположена по време на младостта на Рейн-сан, когато той още не е познатата ни безгрешна машина за убийства. Развръзката, а и самата история не са никак убедителни. Дори е използван брадатия виц, за тоя дето отишъл неподготвен на бой с ножове! :)
Публикуваните след края на романа бележки по текста, хипотетична схватка с Ричър и доста интересните съвети за домашна и лична самоотбрана, се оказаха по-добро четиво от него.
July 4, 2017
Assassin John Rain is back in Tokyo, after spending many years hiding out in the Philippines. However, the landscape has changed and his services are not needed as a half Japanese-half Russian sociopath named Victor, has a monopoly on local killings. John asks for an introduction because he needs work, and has to earn his way into Victor's good graces at his introductory meeting. He is given an assignment to kill a member of the Japanese Diet or be killed. While he bides his time, Rain assembles his friends and resources to arrange a showdown with Victor, but along the way is able to determine that there are American forces at work too. Rain also manages to fall for his victim's attractive Italian wife. Taut plot, with Eisler's knowledge of Tokyo and espionage showing as always.
February 4, 2019
I am so pumped for The Killer Collective, a John Rain mash up with other Eisler characters. I then realized I had never read #9. This is a slight story, a padded out short story that is set in the past. Not bad, but little New or original.
July 4, 2017
In his early thirties, freelance assassin John Rain returns to Tokyo after ten years in the Philippines. He inadvertently becomes involved with Victor, a Russian/Japanese thug with a monopoly on contract killing in Tokyo. Rain quickly understands he needs to eliminate Victor but his plan gets complicated by possible CIA involvement in the future direction of post war Japan. Unfortunately for me, Rain's long detailed monologues and drawn out trade-craft segments slowed the pace in what is otherwise a solid thriller. Maybe it's my lack of literary patience but my idea of a 4 or 5 star thriller should be 80% action and 20% atmosphere, character studies, romance, amusing anecdotes, etc.
August 6, 2017
It's 1982, and John Rain is back in Tokyo after a decade fighting in various secret wars. He tries to get back into the only game he knows, murder for hire.
Unfortunately for him, there is now a monopoly in that field, owned by a half-Russian thug named Victor. (A nod to Tom Woods's Victor the Russian Assassin series?) Victor is causing problems for the whole country. Rain infiltrates his organization, and of course, meets a beautiful woman.
Very good stuff, with a great portrait of 1980's Tokyo.
Unfortunately for him, there is now a monopoly in that field, owned by a half-Russian thug named Victor. (A nod to Tom Woods's Victor the Russian Assassin series?) Victor is causing problems for the whole country. Rain infiltrates his organization, and of course, meets a beautiful woman.
Very good stuff, with a great portrait of 1980's Tokyo.
December 11, 2017
If you want a fast-paced, easy-reading, fairly mindless book filled with lots of violence and leavened with a little sex, this is for you. A hired killer is hunting people in Tokyo, some of whom are hunting him too. I really enjoyed what seem to be well-researched and realistic depictions of locale and characters.
May 4, 2021
At this point, I feel like I may finally know enough about John Rain, probably more than he is supposed to know about himself. But that doesn't mean I won't miss that terribly flawed, yet admirable, man. He has gotten into my head and under my skin.
June 29, 2017
A new Rain novel, set early in his assassin career, where he is less experienced, prone to self-doubt and not as confident as in the novels set later. Still, he gets the job done.
March 4, 2018
This was a thrill ride. Lots of insight into the strategy aspect of action.
June 21, 2017
After a stand-alone title (The God's Eye View) and the introduction of new series heroine (Livia Lone), Barry Eisler returns with a new John Rain thriller, his ninth, a prequel title that picks up a decade after Graveyard of Memories.
This time around, Rain is tasked with eliminating a Japanese politician after taking a job from Victor, a Russian crime boss who has been displacing the Yakuza. Why Victor wants the politician dead and who he answers to are Rain's central mysteries, and after becoming romantically enmeshed with the pol's Italian wife and with his own life on the line John doesn't have a lot of time left with which to operate.
After last year's Livia Lone, I can almost imagine Eisler turning back to his series staple with a degree of relief. There's a comfortable familiarity to a John Rain book, even as we venture back in time to see a younger, less experienced, less seasoned assassin, and it doesn't have the brooding darkness and emotional torment that Livia brought along with her. While Rain is still an emotionally complex figure, and the author continues to find neat new facets of the character to explore, there's also a certain sense that Eisler is happily unfettered from having to explore the psychological repercussions of long-term abuse and the grisliness of sex crimes that predominated Livia Lone. In fact, there are several moments where this book feels downright fun.
Zero Sum is a leaner, breezier adventure with some great action scenes and a bit of tenderness thanks to Rain's relationship with Maria. It's interesting to see him romantically outclassed by an older woman who takes him to school more than a few times, and who leaves an indelible mark on his development that long-time reader's should appreciate.
Mostly, it's just good to have John Rain back again. I'd love to catch up with him in the present-day, post-The Detachment, but I'll take whatever I can get.
[Note: I received an advanced copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley.]
This time around, Rain is tasked with eliminating a Japanese politician after taking a job from Victor, a Russian crime boss who has been displacing the Yakuza. Why Victor wants the politician dead and who he answers to are Rain's central mysteries, and after becoming romantically enmeshed with the pol's Italian wife and with his own life on the line John doesn't have a lot of time left with which to operate.
After last year's Livia Lone, I can almost imagine Eisler turning back to his series staple with a degree of relief. There's a comfortable familiarity to a John Rain book, even as we venture back in time to see a younger, less experienced, less seasoned assassin, and it doesn't have the brooding darkness and emotional torment that Livia brought along with her. While Rain is still an emotionally complex figure, and the author continues to find neat new facets of the character to explore, there's also a certain sense that Eisler is happily unfettered from having to explore the psychological repercussions of long-term abuse and the grisliness of sex crimes that predominated Livia Lone. In fact, there are several moments where this book feels downright fun.
Zero Sum is a leaner, breezier adventure with some great action scenes and a bit of tenderness thanks to Rain's relationship with Maria. It's interesting to see him romantically outclassed by an older woman who takes him to school more than a few times, and who leaves an indelible mark on his development that long-time reader's should appreciate.
Mostly, it's just good to have John Rain back again. I'd love to catch up with him in the present-day, post-The Detachment, but I'll take whatever I can get.
[Note: I received an advanced copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley.]
December 29, 2017
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley to read and review
ZERO SUM by Barry Eisler is the 9th book in the John Rain Series, and John has returned to Tokyo and has met up with a close friend from the past and offers to help his friend out with a named Victor, an alleged son of a Soviet general and native Japanese mother who has been eliminating employees after threatening to do so at his friend’s firm at an alarming rate, thereby forcing his services to be secured at an exorbitant rate.
Rain is advised strongly by his friend not to get involved, but he insists and goes undercover to join Victor’s group of professional assassins, which puts both he and his friend’s lives in great danger.
Maria is the wife of the target assigned to Rain by Victor, a top level politician, which is both good and bad; good in that it provides him with an inside window into his target’s movements, but bad that John falls for Maria affecting his focus that needs to be entirely on the task at hand.
Will John Rain be able to successfully bring down Victor and his crew without harming those he cares about, and is he capable of separating his feelings for Maria to focus on the task at hand?
Barry Eisler does an excellent job presenting an espionage/special ops novel that is unusual in that it focuses as much on the thoughts of John and the personalities of the others, while maintaining a level of action sufficient to keep the book from being bogged down, and the hand-to-hand combat situations are very well done; even though they are graphic in description I didn’t find them overdone, and would look forward to reading others books in the series having started with this one.
4 stars.
ZERO SUM by Barry Eisler is the 9th book in the John Rain Series, and John has returned to Tokyo and has met up with a close friend from the past and offers to help his friend out with a named Victor, an alleged son of a Soviet general and native Japanese mother who has been eliminating employees after threatening to do so at his friend’s firm at an alarming rate, thereby forcing his services to be secured at an exorbitant rate.
Rain is advised strongly by his friend not to get involved, but he insists and goes undercover to join Victor’s group of professional assassins, which puts both he and his friend’s lives in great danger.
Maria is the wife of the target assigned to Rain by Victor, a top level politician, which is both good and bad; good in that it provides him with an inside window into his target’s movements, but bad that John falls for Maria affecting his focus that needs to be entirely on the task at hand.
Will John Rain be able to successfully bring down Victor and his crew without harming those he cares about, and is he capable of separating his feelings for Maria to focus on the task at hand?
Barry Eisler does an excellent job presenting an espionage/special ops novel that is unusual in that it focuses as much on the thoughts of John and the personalities of the others, while maintaining a level of action sufficient to keep the book from being bogged down, and the hand-to-hand combat situations are very well done; even though they are graphic in description I didn’t find them overdone, and would look forward to reading others books in the series having started with this one.
4 stars.
June 27, 2017
Does anyone actually like to read extremely detailed descriptions of sex and violence? It's the atmospherics around both that are interesting, not the acts themselves. This book is better when Eisler deals with issues of mindfulness, disguise, role playing, and plot analysis, in the culture of Japan. The geopolitics also isn't bad. But the novel is overweighted by the descriptions of sex and violence which are antithetical to the larger point. Also, the Rain books are very repetitive at this point - not just formulaic.
August 20, 2017
Received from Netgalley for honest review.
This is the first one I have read from Barry Eisler in his John Rain series. I know it is way out of sequence,but this was a very good start to get started with.
The writing was crisp and really well thought out and all the characters were really very good.I like John Rain and I will read some more of this series.
Really enjoyable read and well worth a go.
This is the first one I have read from Barry Eisler in his John Rain series. I know it is way out of sequence,but this was a very good start to get started with.
The writing was crisp and really well thought out and all the characters were really very good.I like John Rain and I will read some more of this series.
Really enjoyable read and well worth a go.
October 3, 2017
I had outmaneuvered the son of the most powerful yakuza in Tokyo, a guy who had earned the sobriquet "Mad Dog", picking off his soldiers one by one as they tried to hunt me down. I had spent a lifetime learning and implementing the lessons of guerilla warfare-first, as a half-breed kid bullied in Japan and in the working-class American town my mother brought me to after my father had died; then in Vietnam; and then again most recently, in the Philippines. I was good at violence. Exceptionally good. Exceptionally unfazed by it. There's a cost to that kind of aptitude, and maybe the cost isn't worth it. But for the moment the cost wasn't the point. The point was, I was good.
This is my first John Rain and I have put the others on notice on my to read shelf. I was intrigued by this guy. His Japanese background, not being accepted, finding his way, and his own brand of justice. He has been pulled into a Japanese mob of sorts. A man that is half Japanese and half Russian with his own issues. His own issues that Rain in the end came to an understanding. But I am getting ahead of myself. Rain has been hired in a unconventional way to kill a Japanese diplomat.
One thing that I did not know is that Japan does not allow guns in their country. The author does an exceptional job of introducing to his readers to Japanese culture and using real places that may not be familiar to the average joe. In fact, the author has put in the back of his book, notes of places that are mentioned and the significance of Japanese culture. For me personally, I felt a real connection (my mother in law is Japanese).
Back on track- Rain must find out the reason for the hit before he finds himself 6 feet under. All the while, he finds himself attracted to the diplomats wife and things get a little complicated. The narration is what draws me ...It's the details without being bogged down with the details. There is a methodical way to Rain, he is aware of his surroundings and the people he deals with. It kind of left me spell bound.
A Special Thank You to Thomas Mercer and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
This is my first John Rain and I have put the others on notice on my to read shelf. I was intrigued by this guy. His Japanese background, not being accepted, finding his way, and his own brand of justice. He has been pulled into a Japanese mob of sorts. A man that is half Japanese and half Russian with his own issues. His own issues that Rain in the end came to an understanding. But I am getting ahead of myself. Rain has been hired in a unconventional way to kill a Japanese diplomat.
One thing that I did not know is that Japan does not allow guns in their country. The author does an exceptional job of introducing to his readers to Japanese culture and using real places that may not be familiar to the average joe. In fact, the author has put in the back of his book, notes of places that are mentioned and the significance of Japanese culture. For me personally, I felt a real connection (my mother in law is Japanese).
Back on track- Rain must find out the reason for the hit before he finds himself 6 feet under. All the while, he finds himself attracted to the diplomats wife and things get a little complicated. The narration is what draws me ...It's the details without being bogged down with the details. There is a methodical way to Rain, he is aware of his surroundings and the people he deals with. It kind of left me spell bound.
A Special Thank You to Thomas Mercer and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
September 9, 2017
Decent thriller, too much filler. Lots of unnecessary dialogue and conjecture, especially between Rain and Tatsu.
Despite the criticism above, this book deserves 4 stars from me for two reasons: First, Eisler's reminder and use of the Lockheed bribery scandal to remind readers that there are very few corporate (as opposed to individual) good guys in the world, and second for the head fake he may or may not have given jaded readers with the Maria character. Well done if intentional.
Despite the criticism above, this book deserves 4 stars from me for two reasons: First, Eisler's reminder and use of the Lockheed bribery scandal to remind readers that there are very few corporate (as opposed to individual) good guys in the world, and second for the head fake he may or may not have given jaded readers with the Maria character. Well done if intentional.
February 3, 2021
Începe să îmi placă din ce în ce mai mult de John Rain 😀
În acest volum avem parte un fir narativ intrigant, ce dezvoltă atât o acțiune antrenantă, cât și caracterizarea personajelor, în special a titularului seriei. Barry Eisler face o treabă minunată cu menținerea interesului cititorului, folosindu-se atât de suspans, cât și de răsturnări de situație.
În acest volum avem parte un fir narativ intrigant, ce dezvoltă atât o acțiune antrenantă, cât și caracterizarea personajelor, în special a titularului seriei. Barry Eisler face o treabă minunată cu menținerea interesului cititorului, folosindu-se atât de suspans, cât și de răsturnări de situație.
October 28, 2022
This was hard to put down. Eisler thoroughly immerses the reader in the world of the professional assassin, guiding us through John Rain's observations and learning lessons as he experiences them. I really appreciate the way that Eisler choreographs his close combat fight scenes. His descriptions of the background and 1980's Tokyo are well done.
This was only the second book in the John Rain series that I have read, and a long time between them. I read the first one, HARD RAIN, shortly after the initial release. It was not difficult at all to catch up, since this is a prequel of sorts detailing how Rain learned from his experience and became even better at his brutal and violent profession. Still, he has a heart and a keen sense of how behind-the-scenes politics works and this makes him more than a cardboard cut-out of a character.
I was reminded of that first novel, as Rain seems to fall hard for women only to reluctantly have to end relationships because of the dangerous connections. It happens again here.
I'll probably be on the lookout now for more John Rain novels. This was a good one.
This was only the second book in the John Rain series that I have read, and a long time between them. I read the first one, HARD RAIN, shortly after the initial release. It was not difficult at all to catch up, since this is a prequel of sorts detailing how Rain learned from his experience and became even better at his brutal and violent profession. Still, he has a heart and a keen sense of how behind-the-scenes politics works and this makes him more than a cardboard cut-out of a character.
I was reminded of that first novel, as Rain seems to fall hard for women only to reluctantly have to end relationships because of the dangerous connections. It happens again here.
I'll probably be on the lookout now for more John Rain novels. This was a good one.
June 11, 2018
So these John Rain flashbacks need to go away. I gave A Graveyard of Memories a pass based on the previous books in the series, but Zero Sum was too much to take for me.
July 12, 2017
After the tonally misjudged standalone novel Livia Lone I was hoping for a return to form from Barry Eisler as he went back to his well-established series featuring Japanese/American assassin John Rain.
Unfortunately and disappointingly, rather than coming up with a contemporary Rain thriller that would pick up where ‘The Detachment’ left-off, Eisler has decided to produce yet another prequel to the John Rain series, following on from 2014’s ‘Graveyard of Memories’.
Whilst Graveyard was set in the mid-Seventies, Zero Sum brings Rain forward to 1980’s Tokyo and finds him back in the city looking for work after a stint as a mercenary in the Philippines. The 80’s setting should be a real strength for the book, allowing Eisler to paint a fascinating and evocative portrait of Tokyo in the midst of an unprecedented economic boom that would bring rapid change to all parts of Japanese society. However, whilst Graveryard of Memories was successful in it evocation of 70’s Japan, Zero Sum fails to generate the same tangible atmosphere. At no point do you get a real sense of the changes Japan was undergoing at the time, beyond some passing comments about the number of cranes on the Tokyo skyline. Whilst Japan has almost been a character in its own right in previous Rain novels here its relegated to a bit player at best.
That wouldn’t necessarily be a problem if what Eisler presented instead made up for the lack of atmosphere or a sense of time and place. Unfortunately, with Zero Sum he doesn’t. Instead he offers up many of the same weaknesses that afflicted Graveyard of Dreams.
The most obvious of these, which is insurmountable when writing a prequel to existing stories featuring the same character, is the book’s complete lack of genuine jeopardy. We know from page 1 that John Rain will ultimately survive the events that will occur and will go on to become a master assassin. We also know from the later books that he will not suffer any permanently debilitating or disfiguring injuries. Therefore there is no question or ‘will he prevail’, just of how. This robs the whole novel of any real sense of danger, and with it much of the expected excitement. As a reader you’re never really on the edge of your seat because you already know pretty much how the story will end.
Some may argue that if Rain himself isn’t in any real danger then it’s the fates of the various supporting characters that lend the book its unpredictability, and this is to an extent true. However, to be genuinely gripped by what happens to lesser characters you have to be engaged by them and to care about what ultimately happens to them. However, with the entire story narrated by Rain and everything filtered through his perspective, none of the supporting characters get any real life of their own. Whether bad guys, allies or love interests, they all remain entirely one dimensional. Some might get their backgrounds broadly sketched out but they never become proper, living breathing human beings who leap off the page.
It all makes for a somewhat ho-hum reading experience that never really grabs you. Eisler’s prose remains accessible and easy to read, he keeps the plot moving forward and the bursts of action that pepper the story are well written and dynamic, but everything else about Zero Sum feels rather anaemic.
Even the bad guys in Zero Sum never feel like they pose a genuine threat to Rain, which really says it all. This is despite Eisler working hard to build up one as a psychotic live-wire capable of unpredictable violence and the other as a mysterious, Machiavellian power behind the throne who we don’t even meet until his first and only confrontation with Rain. Again, the foreknowledge that Rain will survive going up against both reduces the danger they pose, but equally Eisler never really convinces you that either man could really, seriously challenge Rain. It doesn’t help that the ultimate ‘big-bad’ remains off-stage until pretty much the very end so that the reader knows almost nothing about him or his capabilities apart from a few vague snippets Rain gleans as the story progresses.
The result of all these issues is that Zero Sum is a thriller that never really sparks into life on any level and has none of the strengths of the other John rain books beyond some punchy action. Which is a shame, because I know first-hand that Barry Eisler can produce excellent and genuinely exciting thrillers. Maybe he just needs to stop with the prequels and bring John Rain back to the unpredictable present day.
Note: I was lucky enough to receive my copy of Zero Sum as a pre-publication copy via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review
Unfortunately and disappointingly, rather than coming up with a contemporary Rain thriller that would pick up where ‘The Detachment’ left-off, Eisler has decided to produce yet another prequel to the John Rain series, following on from 2014’s ‘Graveyard of Memories’.
Whilst Graveyard was set in the mid-Seventies, Zero Sum brings Rain forward to 1980’s Tokyo and finds him back in the city looking for work after a stint as a mercenary in the Philippines. The 80’s setting should be a real strength for the book, allowing Eisler to paint a fascinating and evocative portrait of Tokyo in the midst of an unprecedented economic boom that would bring rapid change to all parts of Japanese society. However, whilst Graveryard of Memories was successful in it evocation of 70’s Japan, Zero Sum fails to generate the same tangible atmosphere. At no point do you get a real sense of the changes Japan was undergoing at the time, beyond some passing comments about the number of cranes on the Tokyo skyline. Whilst Japan has almost been a character in its own right in previous Rain novels here its relegated to a bit player at best.
That wouldn’t necessarily be a problem if what Eisler presented instead made up for the lack of atmosphere or a sense of time and place. Unfortunately, with Zero Sum he doesn’t. Instead he offers up many of the same weaknesses that afflicted Graveyard of Dreams.
The most obvious of these, which is insurmountable when writing a prequel to existing stories featuring the same character, is the book’s complete lack of genuine jeopardy. We know from page 1 that John Rain will ultimately survive the events that will occur and will go on to become a master assassin. We also know from the later books that he will not suffer any permanently debilitating or disfiguring injuries. Therefore there is no question or ‘will he prevail’, just of how. This robs the whole novel of any real sense of danger, and with it much of the expected excitement. As a reader you’re never really on the edge of your seat because you already know pretty much how the story will end.
Some may argue that if Rain himself isn’t in any real danger then it’s the fates of the various supporting characters that lend the book its unpredictability, and this is to an extent true. However, to be genuinely gripped by what happens to lesser characters you have to be engaged by them and to care about what ultimately happens to them. However, with the entire story narrated by Rain and everything filtered through his perspective, none of the supporting characters get any real life of their own. Whether bad guys, allies or love interests, they all remain entirely one dimensional. Some might get their backgrounds broadly sketched out but they never become proper, living breathing human beings who leap off the page.
It all makes for a somewhat ho-hum reading experience that never really grabs you. Eisler’s prose remains accessible and easy to read, he keeps the plot moving forward and the bursts of action that pepper the story are well written and dynamic, but everything else about Zero Sum feels rather anaemic.
Even the bad guys in Zero Sum never feel like they pose a genuine threat to Rain, which really says it all. This is despite Eisler working hard to build up one as a psychotic live-wire capable of unpredictable violence and the other as a mysterious, Machiavellian power behind the throne who we don’t even meet until his first and only confrontation with Rain. Again, the foreknowledge that Rain will survive going up against both reduces the danger they pose, but equally Eisler never really convinces you that either man could really, seriously challenge Rain. It doesn’t help that the ultimate ‘big-bad’ remains off-stage until pretty much the very end so that the reader knows almost nothing about him or his capabilities apart from a few vague snippets Rain gleans as the story progresses.
The result of all these issues is that Zero Sum is a thriller that never really sparks into life on any level and has none of the strengths of the other John rain books beyond some punchy action. Which is a shame, because I know first-hand that Barry Eisler can produce excellent and genuinely exciting thrillers. Maybe he just needs to stop with the prequels and bring John Rain back to the unpredictable present day.
Note: I was lucky enough to receive my copy of Zero Sum as a pre-publication copy via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review
July 29, 2017
This isn't really the 9th John Rain book chronologically but the second. (I had listened to the others and now I've got the first, which I somehow missed, waiting for me.) Those who read--or listened to--the series from 2002 on know that Rain is a half-Japanese half-American assassin. So an anti-hero by profession but one who reconsiders every thought and deed and one with whom we can readily sympathize. He's a good guy, despite his day job, and he puts himself in real danger here doing a favor for a friend in government and taking on a sociopath/assassin who has co-opted the market for hired killings. The story moves at a breakneck pace with lots of violent encounters (hand to hand--or knife to knife often--since obtaining a gun in Japan at this time is almost impossible); Eisler puts us inside Rain's head to provide an immersive immediacy; there's an edgy, melancholy tone. While I don't usually approve of authors reading their own books, Eisler proves the exception, a fine narrator.
June 15, 2018
In the autumn of 1982 John Rain returns to Tokyo in need of a job after ten years of mercenary work in the Philippines. Through enquiries with an old contact he learns that in his absence, a half-Russian ex-soldier named Victor has bulldozed his way into a monopoly on the assassination business in the country by killing all who would oppose him. If Rain wants back in the business in Japan without being under Victor's thumb, the only choice is to take him out. What could possibly go wrong?
Chronologically, this would be the second book in the series following Graveyard of Memories. A decade after we last saw him, Rain is a little older and wiser, having picked up experience along the way, but not yet the stonecold extremely professional killer we know him to become over the next decades. Actionpacked as always, this newest entry in the series fills in another few pieces of the intriguing history that has shaped Rain's character. Barry Eisler simply never disappoints.
Chronologically, this would be the second book in the series following Graveyard of Memories. A decade after we last saw him, Rain is a little older and wiser, having picked up experience along the way, but not yet the stonecold extremely professional killer we know him to become over the next decades. Actionpacked as always, this newest entry in the series fills in another few pieces of the intriguing history that has shaped Rain's character. Barry Eisler simply never disappoints.
November 26, 2019
Another fun read. The crazy thing about reading a good series-- when you don't want the fun to end, you just start reading the next book in the series and get sucked into a story tunnel that becomes your world for a time.
June 8, 2018
Back in history to an early John Rain, returning to Tokyo after 10 years in the Philippines. Victor, a Russian/Japanese has taken over the assassination game in Tokyo. Rain needs money and figures his only way back in is to remove Victor. The plot was thin, the writing felt like it was written by an immature, vapid Rain. Maybe that was the point, but it didn't make for good reading. Graphic sex X 2, language. If this had been the first Rain book I read, I would have never picked up another one. Zero sum. Should have called it zero stars.
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