“America’s best novelist” (The Denver Post ) brings back one of his most fascinating characters— Texas sheriff Hackberry Holland, cousin to lawman Billy Bob Holland—in this heart-pounding bestseller. In a heat-cracked border town, the bodies of nine illegal aliens—women and girls, killed execution-style—are unearthed in a shallow grave. Haunted by a past he can’t shake and his own private demons, Hack attempts to untangle the grisly case, which may lead to more bloodshed. Damaged young Iraq vet Pete Flores, who saw too much before fleeing the crime scene, and his girlfriend, Vikki Gaddis, are running for their lives. Sorting through the lowlifes who are hunting down Pete, and with Preacher Jack Collins, a Godfearing serial killer for hire, in the mix, Hack is caught up in a terrifying race for survival—for Pete, Vikki, and himself.
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"Hackberry Holland is the main character, not Dave Robicheaux. They do have a lot in common. But Hack is a sheriff. This is great melodic writing, painting a picture of the southern Texas landscape that evokes the heat waves and dusty grit to match the gritty characters. Preacher is the bad guy with principles in this one. An Hack and Preacher have a certain kind of respect for each other. The owner of the strip clubs (Nick Dolan) and definitely his wife are characters that you will never forget. This is really good writing, making great reading." — Alex (5 out of 5 stars)
"Hackberry Holland is the main character, not Dave Robicheaux. They do have a lot in common. But Hack is a sheriff. This is great melodic writing, painting a picture of the southern Texas landscape that evokes the heat waves and dusty grit to match the gritty characters. Preacher is the bad guy with principles in this one. An Hack and Preacher have a certain kind of respect for each other. The owner of the strip clubs (Nick Dolan) and definitely his wife are characters that you will never forget. This is really good writing, making great reading."
“Crazy he may be, but Preacher is one of Burke’s most inspired villains—cruel and violent, but also profoundly moralistic and self-loathing, qualities that he shares with Hackberry Holland, as he informs the guilt-haunted sheriff when they finally meet.”
“One of Burke’s most powerful books.”
“Burke is not just maintaining his high level of writing that runs throughout more than thirty books…he’s getting better, tighter, leaner, tougher.”
“The landscape of Rain Gods is harsh, the chase scenes harrowing, the denouement crackling with lightning and mad laughter, not to mention tarantulas and rattlers…James Lee Burke knows how to creep us out, and bring us to ground with a jolt.”
" I'm about 1/3 through. One of our best writers, but at times the artistry overwhelms the story. "
" Good ole' vet cowboy cop and young assistant in Texas trying to catch a bunch of psycho assassins. Got to love it! "
" This is Burke's version of No Country for Old Men, and I think it's probably better than Cormac McCarthy's book. Also now has a sequel that I think is a bit better. "
" I enjoyed this book for its interesting, flawed characters and its depiction of Texas. A bit ponderous in the middle but still a wonderful book. "
" Think I would have enjoyed it more if I could have read it without so much interruption. "
" I liked Hack much better than in the first book, though it took a little while to adjust to the third person narrative and the fact that so much time had elapsed. "
" Not Dave Robicheaux but a Texan. The story is grim but he does describe nature beautifully and delves into his characters' emotions. "
" James Lee Burke brings us a second serving of Texas sheriff Hackberry Holland in a novel full of personality and atmosphere. "
" Wonderful descriptions in a crime novel--sets atmosphere excellently. "
" Good story, gripping. Unfortunately there is way too much violence for me. It kept me involved, but after a while, I couldn't take all the death. "
" Pretty good, but brutal. The main character is pretty interesting. I will probably read more of this guy "
" I enjoyed Huckberry Holland .... there is still hope for us older folks. Preacher is a complex and in some ways appealing villan . The portraits of the various characters were very well done and some of his reflections on both the place and time of Huckberry were outstanding . "
" Good but I like Burke's books that are set in New Orleans better. Pretty bloody. "
" I'm either starting to get over my love of Burke's writing or this story just didn't quite work. I didn't get as emotionally invested with Hackberry as I do with Dave or Billy Bob. "
" This was another great book from James Lee Burke. I would recommend any of his books to anyone. "
" I like the way JLB lays down a story. I was not a big fan of the characters and their curcumstances. It felt like a social documentary where I found it easy to negatively judge them. It was a good read though and I will definately acquire the next Hackberry Holland adventure. "
" James Lee Burke takes you through many emotions in this book. I must admit, I liked Jack Collins. I love the way Burke describes teh landscapes and the people. Great read. "
" Great characters finding a way through various bad situations. "
" Sodden with simile and so thick with purple prose hard to see through it all to the heart of the story. It wasn't a bad premise but it buckled under its own weight. "
" Good development of various odd ball characters from the good guys to the bad. About a small town sheriff in the Tex-Mex boarder who feels his age investigating a mass killing of Asian girls. "
" James Lee Burke is one of best writers of our times. He is one of the few writers whose books I will purchase in hard cover because I can't wait for the paperback version to come out. "
" my least favorite of the James Lee Burke books I have read. TOO dark, although that's what attracts me to his other books. Just couldn't get into the main character, Hackberry Holland. "
" Very good book. I love James Lee Burke. "
" Interesting story. I think Burke tells the story with interesting and different details. Reminded me of No Country For Old Men- Preacher is very like the antagonist of that book / movie. "
" Read 6 chapters & seriously could NOT get into it. Taking it back to the Library TODAY! ugh! "
" This would make a great movie ala "No Country for Old Men." "
" Another classic case od writing read by the absolute finest reader on the scene. Burke and Patton are the ultimate team. "
" Too many similarities to NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN kept me from being too engaged. "
" Even though Hackberry Holland is a solid character, thoughtful, etc., I prefer the Dave Robicheaux books, probably because of the setting. Also, this book was more complicated that it needed to be. "
" James Lee Burke is the best! "
" This was another great read by my favorite Author, to me know one can describe a scene better than JLB. I was a little hesitent at first because this wasn't a Dave Robicheux Novel but I'm glad I decided to read. "
" Minor Burke - his habit of circling his plot rather than trapping it and carrying it home becomes tiresome here. "
" New Character but still one of the best writers I've ever read. "
" What a start to the year a great book . must go down as a classic "
" great mystery, good ending. james lee burke kept the book flowing so i was always wanting to know what was going to happen next. "
" Can't go wrong with James Lee Burke. He has a unique way of describing the most mundane things. His use of the English language is refreshing. "
" I loved the two main characters of this book, the sheriff and the killer. They are both very complex characters with common elements. Yet one is a sociopath and one is a good human being. Very interesting play on things. "
" Burke is by far the best contemporary crime fiction writer I know. "
James Lee Burke is a New York Times bestselling author of forty novels and two short-story collections. He has won the Edgar Award, the CWA Gold Dagger, and the Grand Prix de Littérature Policière He was named Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America. His novel The Lost-Get Back Boogie was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, and two of his books, Heaven’s Prisoners and Two for Texas, have been made into motion pictures.
Will Patton is an award-winning actor and narrator. HIs narrations have earned the prestigious Audie Award for Best Fiction Narration and also won dozens of AudioFile Earphones Awards. His numerous film credits include Remember the Titans, The Punisher, The Mothman Prophesies, Armageddon, and The Spitfire Grill. He starred in the TNT miniseries Into the West and on the CBS series The Agency and won Obie Awards in the theater for his performances in Fool for Love and What Did He See.
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