A Cold Blooded Rain: From the Files of Maxwell Floyd, Private Eye

by T.R. Leton

—Official Selection, New Apple Literary's 2017 Award for Excellence in Independent Publishing —2018 Award Winner, Northern California Publishers & Authors 25th Annual Book Awards It has been one hell of a fall from grace for former Homicide Detective Maxwell Floyd. He’s hit rock bottom. Broken, bleeding. It took only a New York minute to change his life forever—his marriage, career, and sobriety left to die in the aftermath. He thought he could still make a difference as a private eye, but all the alcohol in the world can’t keep the ghosts of his past from haunting him. Enter Mr. Fletcher, a secret envoy from the police commissioner’s office. He offers Max the opportunity to set things right and hires him to solve the recent and brutal murder of a famous young woman. The Max must use his own resources while staying out of the NYPD’s way. Wary, yet desperate for redemption, he jumps at the chance. Max’s investigation quickly becomes a race to stay one step ahead of the NYPD detectives assigned to the case. Not only are his name and integrity at stake, but also his life once he finds himself a target of the vicious killer. While clues are scarce, personal problems abound, threatening to derail him for good. To make matters worse, it becomes clear Mr. Fletcher hasn’t told him everything. Max doesn’t know who to trust as he's forced to come face to face with his most dangerous enemy. Himself. A Cold Blooded Rain, the award-winning, debut novel by T. R. Leton, is a new addition to the great classic hard-boiled detective tradition of Dashiell Hammett and Mickey Spillane, with a dash of the future noir tradition of Philip K. Dick.

394 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2017

About the author

Despite his menacing profile picture, T.R. Leton is actually a big softy. He was born and raised in Northern California, where he currently lives with his wife and two children. He has spent the last twenty years in marketing, music writing & producing, and graphic design. His lifelong love of writing finally caught up to him in 2011 when he began working on the Maxwell Floyd crime fiction novels. A Cold Blooded Rain, his debut novel was released in December 2017 and the sequel, When Wolves Come Calling was released in August 2019.

Reviews

[Jennie Rosenblum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a Sam Spade fan and when I saw this book – I knew I wanted to read it. Immediately the story lulled me into the comfortable world of what I thought was a ‘50’s detective story. I could hear Sam’s voice in my head. Some dame was in trouble, there was drinking and smoking and a bar fight – fedoras and raincoats – I was hooked. But then the twist – the main character carried a jack (a what? Like for a car?) no it was a phone, computer, unlocked his door to his apartment and when he got home he told the hub to turn on the lights – WAIT WHAT? So not 1950 maybe 2050? All the elements that I love from the Sam Spade era are there but the world and technology are in the future and while that might have thrown me at first – I totally enjoyed it. The supporting cast – barmaids with class, bar owner with heart, ex-wife that still loves this messed up drunk of an ex cop and an old partner – all add the wonderful read. And the ending – well no spoiler here - but it did leave me surprised and in awe. This author is a wonderful storyteller. Now I need to pour myself bourbon and wait for the next book!

[Julia Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very intriguing story about a private eye with many of the noir detective characteristics and yet it is set in the future with very advanced technological developments. Maxwell Floyd is the private eye whose private life is a mess, his career is a mess and yet he has great detective skills. This story offers a complex twisting reveal of the plot with good character development that makes you think it is all going in one direction and then quickly turns the other way. The ending leaves you anxious for the next story in part so that you know what happens to all the characters but also so that Max can continue solving crimes.

[Robin Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is a former Homicide Detective to do if had fallen from decency due to a single incident? Almost nothing for it has caused Maxwell Floyd to lose every single shred of the person he once was. Downtrodden, having loss his marriage, having destroyed the position he once held in his occupation, becoming a drunk he’s in an abyss he can’t seem to pull himself out of.

In his search from salvation out of his predicament he believed becoming a private investigation would do the trick. But his perpetual state of drunkenness along with the baggage of his past has kept him mired in his situation.

The only way for Maxwell to find his redemption now would be for an angel to come along to give him the opportunity he’s longing to have. Fate has a way of suddenly showing up, and this had been the case for him when the police commissioner’s confidential representative shows up in the guise of Mr. Fletcher. For it appears that a celebrated young woman had been viciously slain and the homicide squad is at lost for clues.

Can Maxwell be successful in his quest to solve this crime on this own? Can he overcome the lack of important Mr. Fletcher had conveniently forgotten to tell him? Can Maxwell beat those detectives assigned to this case while at the same time without becoming the next victim of this brutal murderer himself? Can Maxwell overcome the baggage he’s continuously carrying with him? By the end of this book will Maxwell regain the respect of others and the dignity he had once possessed.

All of these questions and others as you read this well-written endeavor by the author, T.R. Leton. The dialogue is on cue with the action that’s taking place. The minimalistic descriptions allow his readers to create their own imagines in their minds, aided by the smattering of discriminating nakedness arising in the mature circumstances of the storyline. So considering all this, I’m giving Mr. Leton and this book 5 STARS.

[thomas davisson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this book and couldn't put it down. Max is a character who just grabs your attention. His supporting cast of characters just mixed in perfectly. The story flowed along making me want to keep going. Max is not some fancy p.i. But a down to earth guy with problems. The mysterious Mr.Fletcher keeps you guessing. Figuring what period they were in took a little time. Only thing I didn't like was the end. Now I can't wait to read the next book.