Cold Steel Rain

Danny Chaisson #1

by Kenneth Abel

In a tense mystery set in New Orleans, Danny Chaisson, an idealistic lawyer who runs errends for a politician on the side to make extra money, becomes the patsy in a power play that may end with him in a body bag. 17,500 first printing.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime

448 pages, Hardcover

First published September 11, 2000

About the author

Pseudonym of Sergei Lobanov-Rostovsky.
Sergei Lobanov-Rostovsky has taught at Kenyon since 1993. He teaches courses on Shakespeare, Renaissance poetry, film, and fiction writing. His research centers on the politics of spectacle in early modern drama, and he has also published a series of crime novels under the pseudonym Kenneth Abel. In 2001, he received the Junior Trustee Award for Teaching Excellence.
He lives in Columbus, Ohio.

Series:
* Danny Chaisson

Reviews

[Asghar Abbas]

A solid thriller.

Actually, it is more than that.

I love how her knees hurt in the Rain.

[Steven Houchin]

Danny Chaisson is a seriously flawed person, who everyone assumes is corrupt. But, he's trying to do the right thing after he barely escapes a gruesome mass murder. The author does a great job drawing the reader into New Orleans slimy politics, corruption, gangs, and even the weather. A great read well worth the time.

[Anne]

After reading Abel's recent book featuring Danny Chaisson, Down in the Flood, I decided to go back to the beginning and read all the books in this intriguing series. An interesting blend of political misdeeds and murder set in New Orleans, Cold Steel Rain is reminiscent of James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux and equally compelling.

[Sam Reaves]

Hard-nosed, atmospheric crime novel set in New Orleans. Lawyer Danny Chaisson compromises his principles in the go-along, get-along political culture of the Big Easy, until the consequences are brought home by a horrific crime. If they ever clean up New Orleans, crime writers will be deprived of a priceless setting. Abel knows the territory and has the voice, jaded and seductive.

[Emma]

This book was pretty good. It had lots of nice twists and likeable characters and an interesting little backstory going on. The downside is that there is probably a little too much going on, and to me it seemed a couple of things weren't resolved.

[Kirk Morrison]

If you like James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux series you'll probably like this one as well. Although not quite a match for Burke's prose, Abel's Danny Chaisson is another down-on-his-luck Louisiana detective trying to outwit tough odds and the bill collectors.

[Marianne]

Kind of a dark tale of graft, and corruption in New Orleans government. Do the good guys win?
I will definitely read more of this series.

[Paul]

Solid but unspectacular crime novel set in New Orleans politics.

[Rosie]

great

[Carla]

Couldn't put it down. Thanks, RB.

[Amanda]

Over-written but entertaining.