"An acknowledged master of the hard-boiled crime novel,Pelecanos audaciously introduces a new series Pelecanos builds his characters from the ground up, lavishing detail on the idiosyncratic personality traits that allow his people to emerge full-bodied from whatever category in which we might try to place them Pelecanos is unflinching in his portrait of racism What is perhaps most remarkable about this outstanding novel--and, in fact, about all of Pelecanos's work--is the way his plotrich, extremely violent stories paraltel the turbulence of his characters' inner lives. We care about these characters passionately."--Booklist (starred review)

The crime novels of George Po Pelecanos are unrivaled for their authenticity, edginess, and humanity. With Washington, D.C.--the city, not the capital--as his backdrop,Pelecanos explores a violent landscape of drugs and danger,Ioyalty and love. In RIGHT AS RAIN he introduces two new characters, both former cops: one who walked away from the job with his pride and a life--and another who didn"t.Derek Strange is black and successful. Terry Ouinn is white and barely holding on. Now Strange has been hired to investigate a police shooting in which Quinn played a major role.For Strange, a savvy and careful man, the investigation goes against his style and instinct. For Terry Ouinn,Strange"s questions are a chance to absolve his conscience and shake out a little truth. But in a city that lives in the shadow of a nation"s dream, neither man can foresee the dirty little war that will break out around them.., or how deadly being right can be.