Title:	The Neon Rain
	Author:	James Lee Burke
	Published:	1987, Pocket Books
	No. of Pages:	281
	Cover Price:	$16.00 Paperback, $11.99 Kindle US

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The Neon Rain is the first novel in the bestselling Dave Robicheaux series by James Lee Burke. This novel was first published in 1987, and is a good start for those thriller readers who enjoy maverick-type heroes and lots of action. Presently Burke has published 19 subsequent novels in the Dave Robicheaux series.

Set in New Orleans, Robicheaux finds the body of a 17-year old prostitute while fishing in a bayou. He is a Lieutenant for the New Orleans Police Department, but the body is out of his jurisdiction, so he contacts the sheriff who should be investigating and is told the case is closed. Because he pursues it, he gets involved with several suspects in the organized crime scene. He is beaten up, kidnapped, and threatened at every turn. An alcoholic who has managed to stay sober for four years, Robicheaux starts drinking again after being forced to drink a huge amount of alcohol while being held hostage. His actions while drinking cause a scandal, he faces criminal charges, and he is suspended from his job. Since he is a maverick, he still pursues the bad guys, and while trying to get to the bottom of the murder, he goes strictly against orders, creating danger to himself and others.

Burke has a masterful way of writing; it is no surprise that he has received so many writing awards. In this novel, he is able to capture the ambiance of New Orleans, and makes readers feel they are actually there. His characters are believable, albeit a little over-the-top, and despite all of his flaws, readers will like Robicheaux and want him to win in the end. It gets a little much when Robicheaux resorts to violence whenever he is even the slightest bit provoked, and sometimes even when he isn't provoked. He seems to try to find and cause trouble. Robicheaux's antics put him into several situations where he is in danger of getting killed, but he seems to pull through unscathed every time, and the bad guys never win. The book does contain some profanity and graphic violence, and is typical of the comic-book like novels where the hero is able to get out of trouble no matter how dire the circumstances.

For readers who like lots of action, aggressive and macho protagonists, and surprise endings, this and Burke's subsequent novels will surely prove to be good, enjoyable reads.

This book was obtained with personal funds and no promotion of the book was solicited by the author or publisher.

This book may be purchased at Amazon:
The Neon Rain: A Dave Robicheaux Novel (Dave Robicheaux Mysteries)