The City When It Rains [Hardcover]

Thomas H. Cook (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is first-rate crime noir and much more; it is the affecting story of a man forced to choose among painful alternatives that compromise his independence. Freelance photographer David Corman is "the type of guy who ought to have a board hanging over his chest, saying 'No sale.' . . . Not 'Loser.' . . . Just 'No Sale.' " He has thrown away career, marriage, and security in pursuit of his obsession with capturing in one "single exquisite photograph . . . what . . . really happened." He sits at night in his apartment, listening to police broadcasts, waiting for the call to go out after another snapshot of New York's underside. When an unknown woman throws herself from the fifth-floor window of a Hell's Kitchen tenement, Corman pursues her history, seeking a story to sell. He is unprepared for what he finds. Two-time Edgar award nominee Cook has written a haunting story of great emotional depth, which contains within it a first-rate detective story. Highly recommended.
- David Keymer, Inst. of Technology, Utica, N.Y.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Putnam Adult; First Edition edition (January 10, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399135553
• ISBN-13: 978-0399135552
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,007,374 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

THOMAS H. COOK was born in Fort Payne, Alabama, in 1947. He has been nominated for the Edgar Award seven times in five different categories. He received the best novel Edgar for The Chatham School Affair, the Martin Beck Award, the Herodotus Prize for best historical short story, and the Barry for best novel for Red Leaves, and has been nominated for numerous other awards.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cook's best book, April 21, 2000

By 

David J. Forsmark "Book Reviewer" (Flushing, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The City When It Rains (Hardcover)

Thomas Cook is most known for his small town mysteries-- except for a couple of books starring Atlanta cop Frank Clemons.

But this atmosphere drenched, big city noir is a perfect example of the genre. A free lance photographer is determined to solve the mystery of a beautiful woman who jumped from a high rise to her death. As he becomes obsessed with the case, he is determined to prove that she did not commit suicide.

The City When it Rains is to noir novels what "Laura" and "Vertigo" are to the movies. This is a masterful book about the risk of chasing a dream. About the balance of risking too much through negligence and of risking too little in the name of love.

Thomas Cook's popularity has risen with his terrific books like "Breakheart Hill" and "The Chatham School Affair." Someone should take that opportunity to reprint this, his finest work.

5.0 out of 5 stars The First Book of his I started with...., November 20, 2010

By 

torie77 "Artbabe252" (Jackson, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The City When It Rains (Hardcover)

I recently reordered this book, having loaned it out. I first read it in 93, it was a rainy night when I did and it became my favorite...the woman who jumped from a fifth story building with a doll intrigued me. Ithink it all depends on what book you start with, this one started my obsession with his books. I've read 90% of his works. Another great was 'Sacrificial Ground', very good, a woman found in a shallow grave in a lot with her hair carefully spread out...begins a weird journey. All of Thomas' books are moody, atmospheric, and you feel as if your there. I remember in one part he describes where the neighbor indoor apts in New York was cooking sausage again and the smell permeated from the hallway.

If you love a rainy night mystery to curl up with read his.

An avid Fan...

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not his best, July 25, 2000

By 

anne johnson - See all my reviews

This review is from: The City When It Rains (Hardcover)

This is my 11th book by Cook and it is very readable, but it is not his best book. It is very sad, considering that the main female died in the beginning and Corman spends the rest of the time trying to get to the bottom of the mystery. Add his personal situation plus the other people in his world and it is worthy of tears. I learned a lot about the underbelly of New York nightlife. But the more recent TC books are much more interesting and mysterious. PS I wish he would get another picture on his book jackets. He looks like a street person. But maybe that's what he wants to look like.