Frank H. (perryfran) reviewed on 3/20/2020 + 1177 more book reviews

I recently read and really enjoyed Burke's Creole Belle which is the 19th book in the Robicheaux series. I have also read two or three others in the series but not in any specific order. Well I decided I should go back to the first book so I checked The Neon Rain out from the library.

In this one, Dave is still a police lieutenant with the NOPD and is partnered with Clete Purcell (who also had a big role in Creole Belle). Dave finds out from an inmate waiting to be electrocuted on death row that someone is interested in maybe putting Dave away. It appears this is probably related to a dead prostitute who Dave pulls out of the bayou when he was there fishing. The ones interested in offing Dave look to be involved in the Colombian mafia who are also involved in prostitution and gunrunning for the regime in Nicaragua. Or could the Italian mob in New Orleans be involved? Dave weaves his way through the world of drugs, prostitutes, and possibly CIA involvement to try to avoid being a target himself. Along the way, his brother faces peril and Clete apparently does some shady work on the side. Dave had also been sober for four years but being force-fed a mixture of alcohol, Quaaludes, and castor oil sets him back to his drinking ways.

This was a very good first entry in the Robicheaux series and sets up what is to come in future books which I will be looking forward to reading at some point.

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