A dozen Asian women are found in a recently-dug mass grave behind a church, the police tipped by an anonymous caller. This heinous crime involves a colorful--and lethal--cast of characters. There's Nick Dolan, a strip club and restaurant owner who moved up to Texas from New Orleans' ninth ward after Hurricane Katrina; "Preacher" Jack Collins, the pseudonym of a enigmatic gun-for-hire who's never been caught and harbors an agenda of his own; and Hugo Cistranos, a former associate of Dolan's who has few morals and less patience.
Hackberry Holland
The "good guys" are represented by an unlikely "Bonnie and Clyde" duo, Vicki Gaddis and Pete Flores. Pete served and was wounded in the army in Iraq and Vicki is a self-reliant waitress and sometimes Texas folk singer. The pair was barely scraping by when Pete was approached by Cistranos with an offer of easy money. Of course, the money wasn't so easy or so legal and Pete and Vicki have been on the run from Cistranos and his crew since the murders of the Asian women.
The local law enforcement is represented by Hackberry Holland, a veteran of the Korean conflict and a former POW with enough ghosts in his past to populate a cemetery. He's also a cousin to Billy Bob Holland, a regular character in Burke mysteries. Holland's straight-talking, female deputy, Pam Tibbs sees beyond the sheriff's rough exterior and would like to learn even more about him, if he'd just let her.
Rain Gods is a true-to-form James Lee Burke novel, with his signature "Dash Hammett meets the American West" characters and writing style. His heroes are flawed, but no less likable for their shortcomings, and his plot has enough twists and miscues to keep even a seasoned mystery reader interested. Rain Gods is Burke's 29th novel, but it has all of the excitement and enthusiasm of a first effort.
About James Lee Burke
James Lee Burke is the author of more than 25 novels and short story collections, the most famous of which feature NOPD detective Dave Robicheaux and Billy Bob Holland.
Burke has won two Edgar Awards, for "Cimarron Rose" (1998) and "Black Cherry" (1990) and two of his books have been made into films. A third, "In the Electric Mist" with Tommy Lee Jones as Dave Robicheaux was released in 2008.
Burke and his wife have been married for 49 years and have four children. They divide their time between New Iberia, Louisiana and Montana.
Other Recommended Detective Novels
- Last Breath by George Shuman
- Chasing Darkness by Robert Crais
- Murder on the Rue de Paradis by Cara Black
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