As good a book as any to see if you like Burke’s style of leisurely, philosophical crime novels. It’s the second in one of his minor series, about an old Korean War vet who is sheriff in a remote Texas county. This one focuses on nine young women massacred and buried in a churchyard as various hit men, mobsters and down-and-out types try to contain the mess while the sheriff closes in. You can practically feel Burke grinning as he types every poetic, rambling, metaphor-filled sentence. Certainly too long, still I liked how strong and perceptive every female character was — maybe someday Burke will actually have a woman be a main character instead of fodder for worship by flawed men. Bechdel test: fail. I read three JLBurke books in a row, this was the only one that didn't feature Dave Robincheaux. But, I would have been able to figure out that it was Burke anyway - the descriptions of the environment give it away, even here, where the flat, dry lands of Texas couldn't be more different than the lush landscape of Lousiana that Robincheaux inhabits. The story was slow to start - mostly good innocent people down on their luck, pulled into the midst of the schemes of evil men. I considered giving up on it, but eventually was pulled in and rooting for the good guys, and even the mostly good guys. In Burke's later books, I've noticed an increasing focus of the evil that exists within man. That was especially true in this book.
What do You think about Rain Gods (2009)?
Texas detective novel. Good but too many characters. Hard to keep them all straight.
—Dhea
