Simon & Schuster, 2009
An independent bookstore employee told me that Rain Gods by James Lee Burke took more time than usual to read because the language was so rich and evocative. He was exactly right. Despite the violence and tortured souls which we have come to expect in Burke's novels, the language, the plot, and character development here rise so far above the norm as to place this novel onto an even higher plateau for Burke. It is far more than a good story well-told.
Rain Gods is the most clearly literary novel of Burke's distinguished career as a novelist. After 17 Dave Robicheaux, four Billy Bob Holland, six miscellaneous golden novels and two collections of short stories, Burke has struck platinum. The protagonist is Sheriff Hackberry Holland. He is 74-years-old and suffers from chronic back pain and night terrors due to his Korean War POW experiences. Plus, he has quit drinking and is fending off the attentions of his young deputy, Pam Tibbs. Although this is Holland's first full-length treatment, he first appeared in three short stories and as the narrator in Lay Down My Sword and Shield. He is a fully developed character we want to hear from again, and Burke has said he will be telling more of his story.
An independent bookstore employee told me that Rain Gods by James Lee Burke took more time than usual to read because the language was so rich and evocative. He was exactly right. Despite the violence and tortured souls which we have come to expect in Burke's novels, the language, the plot, and character development here rise so far above the norm as to place this novel onto an even higher plateau for Burke. It is far more than a good story well-told.
Rain Gods is the most clearly literary novel of Burke's distinguished career as a novelist. After 17 Dave Robicheaux, four Billy Bob Holland, six miscellaneous golden novels and two collections of short stories, Burke has struck platinum. The protagonist is Sheriff Hackberry Holland. He is 74-years-old and suffers from chronic back pain and night terrors due to his Korean War POW experiences. Plus, he has quit drinking and is fending off the attentions of his young deputy, Pam Tibbs. Although this is Holland's first full-length treatment, he first appeared in three short stories and as the narrator in Lay Down My Sword and Shield. He is a fully developed character we want to hear from again, and Burke has said he will be telling more of his story.
Holland's worthy antagonist is Preacher Jack Collins. Collins (JC) is a moral anti-Christ who knows his Bible intimately. He is a stone-cold killer, but with a powerful sense of morality which continues to surprise throughout this exquisite novel. His reasons for killing or not killing are outside the traditions of thriller novels. Collins is an angel of death who sees himself as "an agent of God, purging the world of abomination." One character says to him that he carries "the abyss inside" him. He is a brilliantly created monster.
When nine young Thai women are found murdered and buried (at least one while still alive!) just north of the Mexican border, the chase begins. At least 13 major characters participate in more than a half dozen plot lines which intersect and loop back upon one another. Burke keeps all this in order and entirely plausible. There is no deus ex machina swooping down from the sky to suddenly solve the initial murders, subsequent murders, or attempted murders. Holland and Tibbs use dogged, persistent police work in their attempt to bring justice to the Thai women.
When nine young Thai women are found murdered and buried (at least one while still alive!) just north of the Mexican border, the chase begins. At least 13 major characters participate in more than a half dozen plot lines which intersect and loop back upon one another. Burke keeps all this in order and entirely plausible. There is no deus ex machina swooping down from the sky to suddenly solve the initial murders, subsequent murders, or attempted murders. Holland and Tibbs use dogged, persistent police work in their attempt to bring justice to the Thai women.
Rain Gods features three of Burke's strongest female characters. Pam Tibbs is no cardboard, country hick deputy. She is a professional and a woman who loves Holland, but does not let that get in the way of doing the right thing. One hopes to learn more about this relationship as Burke continues Holland's story. Vikki Gaddis is a waitress/stripper/country singer (Do not think "stripper with a heart of gold.") who is a strong and determined woman. She has to work hard to help save her man who, unfortunately, was driving the truck that brought the Thai women into the country. Esther Dolan, wife of a strip club owner, must also protect her family, and her quick thinking and ability to stand up to the most difficult of situations brings about one of the most satisfying results I have read in quite some time. Her final solution is the stuff of legend, and so logical.
The juxtaposition of violence, a lyric voice, and unforgettable characters makes for a novel of rare beauty. Rain Gods is a novel to be read slowly and savored. It is Burke's best so far.
The juxtaposition of violence, a lyric voice, and unforgettable characters makes for a novel of rare beauty. Rain Gods is a novel to be read slowly and savored. It is Burke's best so far.
