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James Lee Burke makes his sixth appearance on the show this week. We discuss his new novel RAIN GODS, published by Simon & Schuster. I have run out of adjectives to describe Mr. Burke's work.

He writes with a prose style unmatched in today's world of fiction. RAIN GODS is his finest novel (he agreed when I said this during the interview). Long-time listeners know I avoid hyperbole. I believe James Lee Burke has his finger on the pulse of our country right now in a way that is frighteningly accurate.

RAIN GODS features Hackleberry Holland, the cousin of Billy Bob Holland. Hack appeared in LAY DOWN MY SWORD AND SHIELD, published in 1971. During the interview Mr. Burke discusses his reasons for bringing Hack back in his new novel . The book is filled with a fascinating cast of characters; Pam Tibbs, Pete Flores, Vicky Gaddis, Nick and Esther Dolan, and others join the ranks of Burke's unforgettable characters. The book revolves around the mass murder of nine Asian women. One of the suspects is referred to as The Preacher, and he is the most frightening character Mr. Burke has created.

There are two crime writers at work today that are creating bodies of work that will rival, if not surpass, Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, and Ross Macdonald when all is said and done. I believe Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch series is unsurpassed in the quality of his plotlines. Connelly, like Burke, now writes more than one series, and keeps getting better with each book. Burke, however, makes me put a bookmark in the middle of a chapter and simply stop and admire the prose. No one writes sentences and paragraphs like James Lee Burke. The plots are excellent, but it is the prose that shines.

If you only have time to read one book this summer read RAIN GODS. If you have been reading carefully you will notice I have not mentioned Dave Robicheaux. That is how good this book is. Enjoy the interview!