For the past week I have been getting up fifteen minutes early and have hurried to eat and dress so I could follow the characters in James Lee Burke's Rain Gods. I thought Rain Gods was the first in the series, but apparently there was a book written in the '70's that introduced you to Hackberry Holland, although he was not the central character. I thought there was no better character in a book than Dave Robicheaux, until I "met" Hackberry Holland. Hack is the sheriff of a border town in the southwest. He has a past that is always in his head, invading his dreams, and the way he moves through life. He will constantly remind you he is old and injuries from war plague his every move. He is strong in his opinions and takes very seriously the job of watching over the townspeople.
The novel revolves around the murder of Asian women, gunned down and buried, some even alive. Burke is very descriptive so if violence isn't something you want in your reading then don't pick up this book. The villain in the book is a Bible quoting crazy man, named Preacher, that justifies his murders by connecting Bible stories to his life. There are many intriguing characters and they keep you turning page after page for a resolution to the murders. The bad news is had this book just been released you would be upset because it ends without resolution and you would be waiting two years to continue on with the story. The good news is Feast Day of Fools has just been released and you can read right on following Hack and his job as sheriff. Burke said in a video on the release of Feast Day of Fools that it is his best work yet. I have read nineteen of his novels and one seems just as good, if not better, than the previous one! Read and enjoy! I did. EP
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