Another James Lee Burke protagonist, good and decent, but haunted by his own propensity for violence, and by the past. In love with a beautiful, strong-willed young woman, best friend to a volatile self-destructive good-hearted thug. A decideldy lyrical bent when it comes to describing landscape, weather, love or the shimmering outlines of human souls. And in trouble. Lots and lots of trouble. Aaron Holland Broussard intervenes in a lover's quarrel and walks away with the girl and leaves the rich boy fuming. But the rich boy has mob connections and soon Aaron is being bothered in all directions, and he has to overcome his own fears and anxieties and step up to protect the people he loves. Another James Lee Burke book, another guzzled, gorgeous read.