I'll nominate Neon Rain by James Lee Burke.
From Amazon:
Quote:
From New York Times bestselling author James Lee Burke comes his definitive, must-read first title in his famous Dectective [sic] David Robicheaux series.
New Orleans Detective Dave Robicheaux has fought too many battles: in Vietnam, with police brass, with killers and hustlers, and the bottle. Lost without his wife's love, Robicheaux haunts the intense and heady French Quarter—the place he calls home, and the place that nearly destroys him when he beomes involved in the case of a young prostitute whose body is found in a bayou. Thrust into the seedy world of drug lords and arms smugglers, Robicheaux must face down the criminal underworld and come to terms with his own bruised heart and demons to survive.
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And for those who like review blurbs:
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Critical acclaim for James Lee Burke and his classic Dave obicheaux novels
THE NEON RAIN
“Dialogue that’s so right, so real, so true to the personality you’d swear the guys were right there in the room with you; and a setting … that’s so vivid you can feel the heaviness in the air, see the heat lightning, and taste the sauce piquante. I love this book!”
—The Washington Post Book World
“Burke writes with honesty and tough compassion. … An intelligent and intriguing story of greed, vengeance, and the precarious redemptive qualities of love.”
—San Francisco Chronicle
“The Neon Rain is a dream come true, a detective novel that bridges the gap to serious fiction with marvelous characters, an intricate plot, and lyrical prose. … This is a novel I really admire.”
—James Crumley, author of The Last Good Kiss
“Horrifying. … Nerve-racking. … If Robert Mitchum wrote books, he’d write like this. … The Neon Rain has all the right components.
—St. Petersburg Times (FL)
“Bloody, ripsnorting suspense. … Fine scenes that fairly crackle with menace.
—Kirkus Reviews
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Available at libraries everywhere.*