What do you think?
Rate this book
Cliff St. James #1
Storm Damage
In the aftermath of a Category 5 hurricane in New Orleans, Private Eye Cliff St. James, a bare-knuckled ex-cop and mixed-martial artist, is stuck with the case of finding a missing person whose disappearance may have ties to Washington.
When a Category 5 hurricane devastates New Orleans, the fresh murder of a politically-connected bar owner gets swept under—literally—until in the gritty aftermath of the city’s recovery a bare-knuckled ex-cop and mixed-martial artist attacks the case like a hungry dog chasing a meat truck. With no forensic evidence, a destroyed crime scene, and no corpse, Cliff St. James uncovers possible CIA involvement and learns that his duplicitous client, as well as each of his other suspects, are guilty of—at the very least—multiple felonies. It’s New Orleans, after all. With a contract on his head as Fat Tuesday dawns, Cliff calls in every chit and breaks every rule to solve the murder and end a new wave of murders.
When a Category 5 hurricane devastates New Orleans, the fresh murder of a politically-connected bar owner gets swept under—literally—until in the gritty aftermath of the city’s recovery a bare-knuckled ex-cop and mixed-martial artist attacks the case like a hungry dog chasing a meat truck. With no forensic evidence, a destroyed crime scene, and no corpse, Cliff St. James uncovers possible CIA involvement and learns that his duplicitous client, as well as each of his other suspects, are guilty of—at the very least—multiple felonies. It’s New Orleans, after all. With a contract on his head as Fat Tuesday dawns, Cliff calls in every chit and breaks every rule to solve the murder and end a new wave of murders.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published December 6, 2011
6 people are currently reading
294 people want to read
About the author
Ed Kovacs
11 books16 followersED KOVACS is the author of six novels, including the critically-acclaimed Detective Cliff St. James series set in New Orleans, post-killer hurricane.
LOCKED DOWN, Nicole Grant #1, is now available as an e-book at most of the online retailers.
"When a former NSA analyst is targeted for assassination by rogue elements of the Chinese and U.S. governments, she’s forced to team with a renegade CIA spy and fight back using technology to extract the ultimate form of justice. The tension and suspense locks in on the first page and doesn’t let up until the last."
------------------------------------------------------
THE RUSSIAN BRIDE from St. Martin's Press:
“Quick, entertaining action.” Kirkus Reviews
“Brisk, easy-to-read thriller... Readers who like their heroes fearsome and focused... will want to see more of (the hero) Kit Bennings.”
"This is a thriller packed so full of action, it leaves readers breathless. Kovacs does an incredible job at being technically accurate and easy to understand, so readers of all levels are engaged throughout. A must-read for fans of fast-paced stories that don’t let you go till the very end." RT Book Reviews
---------------------------------------------------
BURNT BLACK, Cliff St. James #3.
"The vibrant description of occult doings mixes well with the movements of the earthbound characters, making this Cliff and Honey’s best outing to date." -- Kirkus
"What lingers after the demons are downed is St. James’ obliquely funny personality. A fine, offbeat procedural." -- Booklist
"This series has a definite southern noir feel, and its rough around the edges locale will be catnip to some readers, like myself." -- Criminal Element
---------------------------------------------------
GOOD JUNK, Cliff St. James #2.
"The scenes of New Orleans are rich and real." --The New York Times Book Review
Publisher's Weekly gave Good Junk the rare honor of a *starred,* boxed review.
"Powerful prose elevates this well above most other contemporary P.I. novels." --Publisher's Weekly
"With so many twists and turns, even the most devoted noir fans may wish they had a map. But it’s well worth trying to find the way." --Kirkus
"Kovacs maintains a fast pace, and his descriptions of a steamy, seamy, badly managed city that is failing to recover from Katrina are jolting and plausible. Good Junk has plenty of action—and high-tech gadgetry, too--" --Booklist
----------------------------------------------------
STORM DAMAGE
"Powerful as a Category Five hurricane, Storm Damage is a riveting journey into murder, politics, and greed. Kovacs writes like a master." -- Gayle Lynds, New York Times bestselling author
-----------------------------------------------------
UNSEEN FORCES
"A spellbinding thriller that will keep you riveted well past midnight." St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"A real page-turner rivaling The Da Vinci Code." --Phenomena Magazine
-----------------------------------------------------
Ed is a member of AFIO, Association for Intelligence Officers, American Legion Post 299, the International Thriller Writers organization, and the Mystery Writers of America.
"Ed Kovacs is a vivid addition to the thriller genre." –Steve Berry, NYT Bestselling Author
LOCKED DOWN, Nicole Grant #1, is now available as an e-book at most of the online retailers.
"When a former NSA analyst is targeted for assassination by rogue elements of the Chinese and U.S. governments, she’s forced to team with a renegade CIA spy and fight back using technology to extract the ultimate form of justice. The tension and suspense locks in on the first page and doesn’t let up until the last."
------------------------------------------------------
THE RUSSIAN BRIDE from St. Martin's Press:
“Quick, entertaining action.” Kirkus Reviews
“Brisk, easy-to-read thriller... Readers who like their heroes fearsome and focused... will want to see more of (the hero) Kit Bennings.”
"This is a thriller packed so full of action, it leaves readers breathless. Kovacs does an incredible job at being technically accurate and easy to understand, so readers of all levels are engaged throughout. A must-read for fans of fast-paced stories that don’t let you go till the very end." RT Book Reviews
---------------------------------------------------
BURNT BLACK, Cliff St. James #3.
"The vibrant description of occult doings mixes well with the movements of the earthbound characters, making this Cliff and Honey’s best outing to date." -- Kirkus
"What lingers after the demons are downed is St. James’ obliquely funny personality. A fine, offbeat procedural." -- Booklist
"This series has a definite southern noir feel, and its rough around the edges locale will be catnip to some readers, like myself." -- Criminal Element
---------------------------------------------------
GOOD JUNK, Cliff St. James #2.
"The scenes of New Orleans are rich and real." --The New York Times Book Review
Publisher's Weekly gave Good Junk the rare honor of a *starred,* boxed review.
"Powerful prose elevates this well above most other contemporary P.I. novels." --Publisher's Weekly
"With so many twists and turns, even the most devoted noir fans may wish they had a map. But it’s well worth trying to find the way." --Kirkus
"Kovacs maintains a fast pace, and his descriptions of a steamy, seamy, badly managed city that is failing to recover from Katrina are jolting and plausible. Good Junk has plenty of action—and high-tech gadgetry, too--" --Booklist
----------------------------------------------------
STORM DAMAGE
"Powerful as a Category Five hurricane, Storm Damage is a riveting journey into murder, politics, and greed. Kovacs writes like a master." -- Gayle Lynds, New York Times bestselling author
-----------------------------------------------------
UNSEEN FORCES
"A spellbinding thriller that will keep you riveted well past midnight." St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"A real page-turner rivaling The Da Vinci Code." --Phenomena Magazine
-----------------------------------------------------
Ed is a member of AFIO, Association for Intelligence Officers, American Legion Post 299, the International Thriller Writers organization, and the Mystery Writers of America.
"Ed Kovacs is a vivid addition to the thriller genre." –Steve Berry, NYT Bestselling Author
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
November 27, 2017
I have read several post Katrina mystery novels and this one was very good.
I liked the voice of Cliff St. James and the set up was interesting.
It turned into an action/adventure with the protagonist getting beat up but coming back for more. This is not what I read regularly, but by then I had bought in to the story and did not really care as long as there was a resolution to the investigation.
I will be reading more of this series.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
I liked the voice of Cliff St. James and the set up was interesting.
It turned into an action/adventure with the protagonist getting beat up but coming back for more. This is not what I read regularly, but by then I had bought in to the story and did not really care as long as there was a resolution to the investigation.
I will be reading more of this series.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
December 24, 2018
Although this might really only be a 2 star read, for me, a former New Orleanian, I cannot resist the mix of genuine local color with a fast paced mystery as well as a haunting image of post-Katrina devastation.
September 11, 2019
I enjoyed the glimpses of NOLA, even as an apocalyptic wasteland. The main character was interesting. The mystery kept me guessing. I could have done without the rants against political correctness at every turn. So very much a mixed bag. Not sure I'll be picking up any more of this author's stuff.
May 14, 2020
Very good
Not a bad debut. Cliff St. James is an interesting character and the story kept me engrossed all the way through. I will definitely check out more of this series.
Not a bad debut. Cliff St. James is an interesting character and the story kept me engrossed all the way through. I will definitely check out more of this series.
August 17, 2020
It was a slow being and picked up pace till the end!!i enjoyed it very much
November 6, 2024
More of a mystery than a survival book like I was expecting. It was an ok read but kind of drawn out.
May 8, 2014
2.5**
Cliff St James is on his last shift as a New Orleans police officer just as Hurricane Katrina is about to hit the Crescent City hard. He goes on one last call to a well- known bar, where the owner has apparently been shot and robbed. There’s no time to call the medical examiner or the CSI team; all first-responders are ordered back to headquarters in an effort to keep them as safe as possible in the face of the storm’s wrath. Months later, a now-retired Cliff is asked by the dead man’s daughter to investigate. She wants answers and her father had always told her that St James was a good guy, the only trustworthy cop he knew.
There is a kernel of a great story here. But Kovacs who, according to the book jacket, has a background in intelligence that sounds suspiciously like a former CIA agent, seems intent on bringing in every possible conspiracy, counter-conspiracy, subterfuge and secret relationship that ever graced the pages of a crime or espionage novel. The plot gets so convoluted that Cliff (and the reader) completely forgets the purpose of his investigation and instead goes after numerous drug dealers, gang-bangers, corrupt public servants, and highly-connected “businessmen” (i.e. crime bosses). Only in the last twenty pages does he go back to the main purpose of his investigation and manages to conveniently solve the case with nary a clue or foreshadowing anywhere in the rest of the book.
Kovacs does have some skill in writing a page turner. The plot moves quickly, and there are enough scenes where the hero is in a dangerous situation to add drama and suspense. But he also tends to be repetitive. More than once he described the Mardi Gras revelers as celebrating “countless cocktail parties, brunches, high teas, coffee klatches with ubiquitous king cakes, rehearsals, banquets and dinners” using almost the exact same litany of events.
It was a fast read, but not a particularly good one.
Cliff St James is on his last shift as a New Orleans police officer just as Hurricane Katrina is about to hit the Crescent City hard. He goes on one last call to a well- known bar, where the owner has apparently been shot and robbed. There’s no time to call the medical examiner or the CSI team; all first-responders are ordered back to headquarters in an effort to keep them as safe as possible in the face of the storm’s wrath. Months later, a now-retired Cliff is asked by the dead man’s daughter to investigate. She wants answers and her father had always told her that St James was a good guy, the only trustworthy cop he knew.
There is a kernel of a great story here. But Kovacs who, according to the book jacket, has a background in intelligence that sounds suspiciously like a former CIA agent, seems intent on bringing in every possible conspiracy, counter-conspiracy, subterfuge and secret relationship that ever graced the pages of a crime or espionage novel. The plot gets so convoluted that Cliff (and the reader) completely forgets the purpose of his investigation and instead goes after numerous drug dealers, gang-bangers, corrupt public servants, and highly-connected “businessmen” (i.e. crime bosses). Only in the last twenty pages does he go back to the main purpose of his investigation and manages to conveniently solve the case with nary a clue or foreshadowing anywhere in the rest of the book.
Kovacs does have some skill in writing a page turner. The plot moves quickly, and there are enough scenes where the hero is in a dangerous situation to add drama and suspense. But he also tends to be repetitive. More than once he described the Mardi Gras revelers as celebrating “countless cocktail parties, brunches, high teas, coffee klatches with ubiquitous king cakes, rehearsals, banquets and dinners” using almost the exact same litany of events.
It was a fast read, but not a particularly good one.
October 27, 2011
Did you know you could still drive through New Orleans today and see blue tarps on the homes and signs with red X painted on them nailed to the outside walls? Even after all of the time that has elapsed since Katrina hit the city is not even close to being restored. Along Interstate 10 you can see a large field with FEMA trailers in it that stretches as far as the eye can see. The media (as well as everyone in America) have moved on to other problems while New Orleans is still trying to get back on her feet. The reason I said all of that was to say this, Ed Kovacs brings you back to New Orleans after the storm and reminds you of the terror the people of that city have fought through. This is a good mystery with several twists you will not see coming, it has an underlying love story that leaves you pulling for the parties involved and it has enough violence to keep you interested but not so much as to turn your stomach. It is a good solid read and I am glad I won this one off of Goodreads giveaways because I may not have ever heard of it had it not been for this site. One post on this site said this was a slow read, well that may be true if you read slow. The action starts off on page one and the plot thickens until the last few pages where you find the solution to the crime. Go ahead and indulge yourself and read this book, I am sure you will enjoy it.
February 14, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. It helped me get out of my sci-fi niche. I really felt like I was in New Orleans when I read it. I like his gritty and dark portrayal of the people but especially the cops. He really showed that people, even good ones, can still have a dark side but doesn't mean they don't have an honor of their own. I was able to piece some of it together but he kept me guessing until the end which is good because nothing is worse than having to finish a book when you solved the mystery half way through. Some people complained that the plot was too convoluted and there were too many extraneous characters. After having read Robert Jordan or Brent weeks this doesn't even come close to convoluted.
April 2, 2017
Not Kindle Unlimited, must have received on freebie day from somewhere. Conspiracy Thriller or maybe that's redundant. Haven't received #2, sad. Plot or description? Read the blurb or just go ahead and read the book.
STORM DAMAGE: A CLIFF SAINT JAMES THRILLER (CLIFF ST. JAMES Book 1)
GOOD JUNK: A CLIFF SAINT JAMES THRILLER (CLIFF SAINT JAMES, BOOK 2)
Merged review:
Not Kindle Unlimited, must have received on freebie day from somewhere. Conspiracy Thriller or maybe that's redundant. Haven't received #2, sad. Plot or description? Read the blurb or just go ahead and read the book.
STORM DAMAGE: A CLIFF SAINT JAMES THRILLER (CLIFF ST. JAMES Book 1)
GOOD JUNK: A CLIFF SAINT JAMES THRILLER (CLIFF SAINT JAMES, BOOK 2)
STORM DAMAGE: A CLIFF SAINT JAMES THRILLER (CLIFF ST. JAMES Book 1)
GOOD JUNK: A CLIFF SAINT JAMES THRILLER (CLIFF SAINT JAMES, BOOK 2)
Merged review:
Not Kindle Unlimited, must have received on freebie day from somewhere. Conspiracy Thriller or maybe that's redundant. Haven't received #2, sad. Plot or description? Read the blurb or just go ahead and read the book.
STORM DAMAGE: A CLIFF SAINT JAMES THRILLER (CLIFF ST. JAMES Book 1)
GOOD JUNK: A CLIFF SAINT JAMES THRILLER (CLIFF SAINT JAMES, BOOK 2)
January 18, 2012
This book is very hard to put down! It was a good, solid mystery from page one and unlike so many books in this genre, it keeps you guessing until the very end. I found the setting and context to be fascinating. The descriptions of the cultures and sub cultures for New Orleans, gangs, and the Asians were fascinating and believable. The character development was wonderful. As a reader you get to know and understand the characters, flaws and good parts alike.
Overall, a great read or someone who enjoys a good mystery.
Reader received a complimentary copy from Good Reads First Reads. This in no way affected the review of this book.
Overall, a great read or someone who enjoys a good mystery.
Reader received a complimentary copy from Good Reads First Reads. This in no way affected the review of this book.
April 13, 2015
Storm Damage takes place in and around New Orleans shortly after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans is my favorite American city and I've visited numerous times on business and for pleasure. The places described are very familiar to me, so as PI (private investigator) St. James describes each area he travel while solving the murder mystery, I felt like I was right there with him. Mr. Kovacs' writing kept me interested in the story, just enough details to help me keep track of what's going on, but not so much details as to be distracting. I also like how the author kept me guessing until the last few pages. Good book!
December 19, 2011
this book was alright. the beginning was kind of slow and repetitive, but still a good read. This book is about a hurricane/murder of a politically involved bar owner and how everyone is trying to solve the case. i feel like this is a book that most people can relate to since the author describes the setting so well, and feeling are familiar with this hurricane. I also like how the author keeps you guessing until the end. He also has a wide knowledge of New Orleans, and the police tactics and methods which are good qualities to creating a good conflict.
January 20, 2012
Ex-cop and sometimes private eye Cliff St. James looks into the murder of a friend in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. St. James runs a martial arts training facility and knows a lot of interesting people. Kovacs writes well in his first outing, and endows the book with a strong sense of place, though it doesn't take tons of insight to spot the bad guys and the almost-bad guys. (Spoiler alert: It is a convention of p.i. novels that really good looking women represent trouble, so why doesn't St. James know that, smart guy that he is.)
December 16, 2011
Great book! The author keeps you guessing until the very end. No way to figure this out. And it is such a believable story in a setting we are all familiar with beacause of all the media attention during and after the hurricane. Kovacs has a remarkable way with words and details. His knowledge of the New Orleans area, police tactics and methods, food, aviation related details,and Asian culture are all right on. You won't be able to put it down once you start.
January 29, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. A must read for anyone who enjoys a good solid detective novel with twists and turns up to the end. I had a hard time putting it down. Kovacs is a great story teller. I felt like I was right there in New Orleans with Cliff. Kovacs brought the characters to life and kept me intrigued and engaged to the end. Fast paced and exciting! Enjoy!
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
December 24, 2014
I picked this up not knowing anything about the author. What I got was a pretty solid mystery that kept me guessing. The characters and the plot were convoluted, but never enough so that the story got lost. The characters were also engaging and the writing was solid, with no left over loose ends that can really unravel how well a thriller is put together. The book reads quickly and I look forward to reading another book by this author.
December 29, 2011
3.5 Fascinating reading about New Orleans before and after hurricane Karina and to top it off a disappearing crime scene and body because of the hurricane. Liked the character Cliff St. James and the semi noir tone to the book which covers the political corruption and violence pf the city. Well done by someone who knows or seems to know every inch of the city.
February 1, 2013
I enjoyed this book a lot and will definitely read the follow up: Good Junk. Storm Damage introduced the reader to Cliff St. James PI, a character I would liken (only a little!) to Connelly's Harry Bosch. The book had a lot of quirky episodes and was full of New Orleans "We do things our own way" action.
December 10, 2012
An ex-NOLA police officer turns PI to find out the truth about a senseless murder that happens just as Katrina hits the city. Love this novel. The descriptions of the city right after the storm are heart-breaking.
April 3, 2013
Great book. Reminds me of the golden age of private detectives--a litte dark, a little sexy, and plenty of deception and excitement. Set in New Orleans 6 months after Katrina, it's also a terrific setting. As a former New Orleans resident, I can tell you that it's very culturally accurate.
October 26, 2011
This was an okay book. Kind of slow, but still a good read. A few twists that I didn't expect. That's always good. I recommend this if you are in the mood for a slow read.
December 12, 2011
Really enjoyed reading this book! Some surprising twists along the way!
March 13, 2012
Noir, set in post-Katrina New Orleans. Very hard-boiled, nonstop action.
September 7, 2012
Fantastic book,New Orleans crime and a MMA aspect. Check it out.
April 18, 2013
First in the series. Not bad start. Brings the plight of NOLA into focus. The main character reminds me of john corey, breaking most rules
May 7, 2013
Well-written, fast-paced murder mystery set in New Orleans with a "jack reacher" type hero (but more plausible). I couldn't put it down and liked the references to bars and restaurants in the city.
November 4, 2013
I think this is one helluva good mystery novel. The reviews from literary critics were all very good. Booklist raved about it. But then, I'm not completely objective!
January 18, 2014
An excellent gritty story about the harsh realities of New Orleans after Katrina. Very much a noir story, this is a great start to the series. I look forward to more of the same!
May 26, 2015
very cool. I'm on a NOLA streak and am enjoying the different takes on the city. I will definitely be cont this series and revisiting my favorite city.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews