• The Neon Rain

  • A Dave Robicheaux Novel
  • By: James Lee Burke
  • Narrated by: Will Patton
  • Length: 8 hrs and 22 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (6,591 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
The Neon Rain  By  cover art

The Neon Rain

By: James Lee Burke
Narrated by: Will Patton
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.19

Buy for $17.19

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux novels began with this first hard-hitting entry in the series.

In The Neon Rain, Detective Robicheaux fishes a prostitute's corpse from a New Orleans bayou and finds that no one, not even the law, cares about a dead hooker.

More mayhem? Listen to more of James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux thrillers.
©1987 James Lee Burke (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"With its fine local color and driving action, this novel is both chilling and first-rate entertainment." ( Publishers Weekly)
"One of Burke's best." ( New York Times Book Review)

Editorial Review

James Lee Burke just gets better with age—or so I’ve heard. Don’t @ me, but I somehow haven’t yet listened to his Robicheaux books! With accolades pouring in for The New Iberia Blues, 2019 is the year for me to make amends. Where else to start but at the beginning? The premise of The Neon Rain—in which Detective Robicheaux finds the body of a sex worker in a New Orleans bayou and struggles to get anyone to care—feels especially relevant now, when we’re giving needed attention to cases involving high-risk victims and marginalized communities. The fact that it’s narrated by Will Patton just sweetens the deal, because he’s often considered the definitive voice of the series. That's more hearsay—for now! —Kat J., Audible Editor

What listeners say about The Neon Rain

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,712
  • 4 Stars
    2,157
  • 3 Stars
    1,138
  • 2 Stars
    359
  • 1 Stars
    225
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,246
  • 4 Stars
    1,160
  • 3 Stars
    420
  • 2 Stars
    123
  • 1 Stars
    110
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,131
  • 4 Stars
    1,598
  • 3 Stars
    899
  • 2 Stars
    252
  • 1 Stars
    157

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Reread It

I have decided to visit some old friends. Burke is a poet whose soul was created at the beginning of times.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

great read. great narrative. anticipating more

great read. great narrative. looking forward to the rest of the series. it is great writing.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

loved it

Will Patton is one of my favorite narrators! Excellent narration and a great story. look forward to the next Robicheaux book!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Did I miss something?....

Liked the character development but I kept feeling like I had missed something in the story... Even after a playback. I'm going to give the next story a try only because Connelly and Sanford aren't churning them out as quickly as I'd Luke and I like series... But I guess they all can't be Patterson......

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Al
  • 07-17-11

It was ok

The reader was really good which is probably why I kept listening. The story for me was depressing and the plot didn't make a whole lot of sense.
I felt like there were too many characters that weren't explained and there were things that happened that didn't really fit in the story line . I felt like a couple of characters and plot twists could have been left out and a couple others better developed and it would have been a better listen. But the reader was really good I thought .

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Will Patton Owns Dave Robichaux

If Dave Robichaux really existed and he didn't sound exactly like Will Patton, it would just be wrong. I have listened to several of these books, and Will is amazing. The best. Never had listened to this first one (not sure if he wrote this as a prequel or if this was the first one), but it's a good, stirring read and Will does Dave justice again. Title is weird and unrelated, though.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I will listen to anything by James Lee Burke

Would you listen to The Neon Rain again? Why?

Yes, I love Mr. Burke's characters.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Neon Rain?

Nothing in particular. It was all memorable.

Which character – as performed by Will Patton – was your favorite?

Dave Robicheaux

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No

Any additional comments?

I really enjoy the way Will Patton narrates. He gives each character their own special voice.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Getting to Know Dave Robicheaux

Where does The Neon Rain rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Great! Burke's prose is strong, lyrical and moving. I had listened to Tin Roof Blowdown and enjoyed it but this one has me hooked on the series. The next book in the Series "Heaven's Prisoners" is not available on audible so I went out and bought it on Kindle and read it immediately - something I almost never do! and I'm going to follow Dave Robicheaux's journey which could be a bit expensive as Burke is prolific. and he has other series too!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Dave Robicheaux is a a great character, driven, haunted, flawed but brilliant and big-hearted. through him we get a strong sense of New Orleans.

Which character – as performed by Will Patton – was your favorite?

Dave Robicheaux of course.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I tried but it is over 8 hours long - and a lot happens in that 8 hours.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed descriptive language

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. This is first time that I've listened to this series. The language was so vivid that I could hear the sounds and smell the odors. I always enjoy the sights and sounds of New Orleans. Time to visit again.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

I'm from south Louisiana

It really bugs me that the narrator can't pronounce "Deshotel" like it is commonly said in that area. And other stuff. The accent is overly heavy and over the top - not necessary for authenticity, although accents can be thick around here. Honestly, we don't all wrestle alligators and have webbed feet.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!