The Neon Rain

A Dave Robicheaux Novel

By: James Lee Burke

Narrated by: Will Patton

Length: 8 hrs and 22 mins

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)

So well written!

Loved the story and the narrator! I will be reading more from James Lee Burke!

Prepare to be completely drawn in...

A few weeks ago, I stumbled across the movie "Into the Electric Mist." I really enjoyed the film and figured it must have been based on a book. Imagine my surprise and excitement to find out that, not only was it based on a book, but a book in a rather long series!

I was thrilled to find "The Neon Rain" on Audible, and finished in two days. I was a bit apprehensive about the narrator, as I was not a fan of his recent recording of Stephen King's "Doctor Sleep," so I was relieved to find that Will Patton's style was quite suited to the character of Dave Robicheaux.

I don't like to discuss plot points in a review, but I will say that this was a pretty action packed read. There are many levels to the story, and the author aptly weaves together the current events, local history, and Robicheaux's own past in Vietnam and his struggles with alcoholism.

The characters, while not all hugely developed, are written with a lot of personality and detail, so that you feel like you have met them in person. The dialogue is sharp and funny, with phrases like "It was like having bread mold for neighbors..." that stand out in my mind and make me laugh upon recalling them.

Burke incorporates descriptions of New Orleans and the bayous that bring the setting to life. The book is filled with colorful images and local twists that make it that much more intriguing than a crime novel set in Anytown, USA.

A few parts are a bit hokey or slightly less than convincing. There are a few characters who lean heavily toward stereotypes, although not without accuracy. The romance element seemed to develop implausibly quickly. It's not that the reader cannot see how Dave would fall for the beautiful, empathetic classical musician... it's just that so little time elapses between meeting and declarations of love that it doesn't quite jive, particularly with how much more depth his character has.

I immensely enjoyed this quick, wry-witted and quirky crime novel, and since the audio version of book two is abridged (boo!! hiss!!) I am eagerly awaiting the transfer of the paperback to my library. Even with the few flaws, I think this was a great book with captivating style and would highly recommend it.

James Lee Burke at his best!

Love anything written by James Lee Burke. Now listening to his story... even better!

Thrilling, haunted, tortured moral battleground

What an amazing book. James Lee Burke, you are one hell of a writer. I can't wait for the next book of yours I read -- and I definitely can't wait to return to the bleak, tortured, moral battlegrounds of Dave Robicheaux.

A great suspense Novel! Great Characters!

I was looking for a new series that I could look forward to listening too while already knowing the characters so I began with the first in this series. Although it started off a bit slow, it grew on my quickly and my evenings became a routine of dinner, the hot tub and listening to Dave Robicheaux. I left this novel in my device for almost a month before I decided it was time to listen and now I can't wait to start the next in the series. James Lee Burke has definitely climbed onto my list of favorites!

Violent but an Incredible Writer

I feel as if I'm in New Orleans. The narrator's voice takes me there, beautifully reading Burke's almost poetic descriptions of the Bayou, Louisiana, it's people and culture. He paints an artistic picture of Louisiana"s unique quarters and characters.
Yet this is a rough story of the famous detective, a Vietnam vet, who gets into deep trouble with government agencies and his own police department, until he's has enough. And there's a woman, sharpe contrast to the life Robicheaux has been used to for so many years. I don't enjoy the descriptions of violence, and had to fast forward some parts, but even with these scenes, I have to admit it's worth listening to the end because of the outstanding writing.

Great Listen and terrific performance

Will Patton made this book a great listen. We liked it so much that my wife and I carved out an hour of our day to drive the roads of our county to see the sights and enjoy this book! Will Patton really made this book

bleak and violent

What made the experience of listening to The Neon Rain the most enjoyable?

The old cliff-hanging part; I kept expecting human nature to redeem itself.

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

no

Any additional comments?

I'm not sure of the purpose of writing quite so much bleak and violent humanity into a story.

Not quite as good as other Dave Robicheaux Novels

I have really enjoyed other Dave Robicheaux novels, but this one was a bit too scattered. The plot was unrealistic - cops that off the reservation wouldn't keep their jobs or be given one back. Dissappointed.

No one can beat James Lee Burke

James Lee Burke is one of the finest authors of the 21st century. His books are so difficult to put down and stop thinking about that I am captivated until I finish them. I also re-read them. He and Michael Connelly are my favorites. Don't miss any of them. This one is an early one where Robicheaux is still drinking and meets his wife Annie. Narration is very very good.