Books On Board

John Rain Books in Order

  • 12 Books
  • 2003 – 2021 Published

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Reading order
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The Recommended Reading Path: Where to Start

For the best experience, readers should start the John Rain series in publication order. While Barry Eisler has written prequels that take place decades before the first book, starting with the novel that introduced Rain to the world—A Clean Kill in Tokyo (originally published as Rain Fall)—is highly recommended. This entry sets up Rain's unique skills, his psychological isolation, his strict rules (no women, no children, and no working with secondary teams), and his signature method of making assassinations look like natural deaths. Starting here allows you to experience his character arc and the gradual expansion of Eisler's fictional universe exactly as the author intended.

As the series progresses, it transitions from solitary assassin thrillers into an interconnected web of characters. After the sixth novel, Rain's world begins to overlap with other protagonists from Eisler’s bibliography, making a chronological publication order of the entire shared universe the most rewarding path.

The Core John Rain Series in Publication Order

Due to Barry Eisler reclaiming the rights to his early novels, the first six books were rebranded with new titles. Below is the sequence of the main John Rain novels in order of publication, including their alternative titles to help you track down copies:

  1. A Clean Kill in Tokyo (originally published as Rain Fall, 2002) – Rain is hired to assassinate a corrupt politician and becomes entangled with the target's daughter, jazz pianist Midori.
  2. A Lonely Resurrection (originally published as Hard Rain or Blood from Blood, 2003) – Rain attempts to find peace in Tokyo but is forced back into the shadows by a deadly conspiracy threatening Japan's political landscape.
  3. Winner Take All (originally published as Rain Storm or Choke Point, 2004) – Taking Rain to Brazil, this installment introduces a target that tests his personal moral code under pressure from the CIA.
  4. Redemption Games (originally published as Killing Rain or One Last Kill, 2005) – Rain tries to sever his ties with his handlers, but a request from a friend drags him into a high-stakes conspiracy.
  5. Extremis (originally published as The Last Assassin, 2006) – Rain seeks to protect a woman and her child, forcing him to break his own rules and confront his past.
  6. The Killer Ascendant (originally published as Requiem for an Assassin, 2007) – A rogue CIA operative holds Rain's sniper partner, Dox, hostage, forcing Rain to pull off three near-impossible hits.
  7. Paris Is a Bitch (2011) – A short story focusing on Rain's operations and state of mind while living in France.
  8. The Detachment (2011) – The first major crossover event. Rain is coaxed out of retirement to team up with his partner Dox, along with black-ops soldier Ben Treven and Daniel Larison.
  9. Graveyard of Memories (2014) – A prequel novel detailing Rain's very first contract kill in Tokyo in 1972.
  10. Zero Sum (2017) – A second prequel novel set in 1982, detailing Rain's early recruitment and a high-stakes battle in Tokyo's underworld.
  11. The Killer Collective (2019) – A massive ensemble crossover featuring John Rain, Dox, Livia Lone, and Ben Treven fighting a joint conspiracy.
  12. The Chaos Kind (2021) – The most recent installment, uniting Rain, Dox, and Seattle detective Livia Lone against a dangerous government adversary.

The Chronological Order: Story Event Sequence

If you prefer to follow John Rain's life story linearly from his early days in the 1970s up to the modern era, you should read the books in chronological order. This path places the prequels at the very beginning and introduces his sniper partner Dox's origin story before they team up. Here is the chronological sequence:

  1. Graveyard of Memories (Set in 1972 Tokyo)
  2. Zero Sum (Set in 1982 Tokyo)
  3. Amok (2022) – A Dox-centric spin-off set in 1991 East Timor, detailing his origin story as a Marine and CIA contractor.
  4. A Clean Kill in Tokyo (originally Rain Fall)
  5. A Lonely Resurrection (originally Hard Rain)
  6. Winner Take All (originally Rain Storm)
  7. Redemption Games (originally Killing Rain)
  8. Extremis (originally The Last Assassin)
  9. The Killer Ascendant (originally Requiem for an Assassin)
  10. Paris Is a Bitch (Short Story)
  11. The Detachment
  12. The Killer Collective
  13. The Chaos Kind

The Eislerverse: Spin-offs and Crossover Connections

Barry Eisler's novels are set in a shared universe, meaning that reading the John Rain books in isolation misses some of the character development. To fully appreciate the crossovers, you may want to read the companion series alongside the main Rain novels.

The Ben Treven Series

Ben Treven is a black-ops soldier who first appears in his own standalone thrillers before crossing paths with John Rain in The Detachment. His individual novels are:

  • Fault Line (2009)
  • Inside Out (2010)

The Livia Lone Series

Livia Lone is a Seattle police detective investigating human trafficking. Her gritty, emotional series eventually merges directly with John Rain's world in The Killer Collective. Her standalone books include:

  • Livia Lone (2016)
  • The Night Trade (2018)

Reading Fault Line, Inside Out, Livia Lone, and The Night Trade before tackling The Killer Collective and The Chaos Kind provides the ultimate context for the team-ups, explaining the backstories and motives of everyone involved.

What to Know Before You Start

Barry Eisler is a former CIA Directorate of Operations operative and holds a black belt in judo from the Kodokan International Judo Center in Tokyo. This real-world expertise heavily influences the John Rain series. The fight scenes are highly realistic, utilizing actual martial arts techniques rather than Hollywood theatrics. The espionage tactics, counter-surveillance protocols, and assassination methods are similarly grounded in tradecraft.

Additionally, keep in mind that Eisler’s decision to self-publish under his own imprint after reacquiring his rights led to the title updates. If you are shopping for physical copies or audiobooks, pay close attention to the alternate titles to avoid accidentally buying the same book twice.

For screen adaptations, the first novel was adapted into a 2009 Japanese action film titled Rain Fall (starring Kippei Shiina and Gary Oldman). Additionally, a television series adaptation titled Rain, starring Keanu Reeves, has been in development optioning, though it has not yet aired.

Frequently Asked

What is the best book to start with in the John Rain series?

You should start with A Clean Kill in Tokyo (originally published as Rain Fall). Although there are prequels set earlier in Rain's life, this book provides the perfect introduction to his character, rules, and world.

Why do some John Rain books have multiple titles?

Author Barry Eisler reclaimed the rights to his early books and chose to rename the first six novels. He replaced the original 'Rain'-themed pun titles (like Rain Fall and Hard Rain) with titles he felt better fit the stories (like A Clean Kill in Tokyo and A Lonely Resurrection).

Do I need to read the Ben Treven and Livia Lone books?

While not strictly required, reading them is highly recommended. Characters from those series crossover with John Rain starting in The Detachment and form an ensemble team-up in The Killer Collective and The Chaos Kind.

What is Dox's role in the series, and does he have his own book?

Dox (Carl Williams) is a former Marine sniper who becomes John Rain's close friend and partner. He is featured prominently throughout the series, and his early origin story is told in the 2022 prequel novel Amok.

Is the prequel 'Graveyard of Memories' a good starting point?

Chronologically it is the earliest story, set in 1972, but it is best read after you are already familiar with the character of John Rain. Reading it later in publication order makes the origin elements and call-forwards much more satisfying.